The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-24

of Scranton and vicinity met at Elm
Park church yesterday at the usual
hour. Rev. Joseph Madison, of this
city. read an interesting paper on
High House Chapel, Built in 1760--My
Early Church Home"
The paper was the most enjoyable
read before the meeting this year; 1t
abounded In wltticisms, humorous an
ecdotes of Methodism and the personal
history of the writer in England. A
vote of thanks was rendered the essay
list with a request that he continue his
reminiscent writing, especially dealing
with his personal experience in the
ministry of this country. The follow
ing is an extract of the paper:
THE relation of facts and traditions
of home life sometimes appear to SAVIOR
of egotism, but we will try to avoid
such feeling, for 1t Is not in the mind
of the writer. l was born in Wear
dale, Durham county. England, Sept.
30, 1880. I Joined the Wesleyan Metho-
dists in 1S41. 1t was during the min
istry of Scotch evangelist, who had
been employed by a wealthy man who
had been, previous to his conversion, a
great hunter and gambler. / was
licensed to eXhort when quite young
man, and after studying Richard Wat
sons Institutes, Wesley's published
sermons and his work on christian
Perfection" with biographies of emf
nent men, l was licensed to preach
and put upon the plan with others.
WHERE WESLEY PREACHED.
II was a member of the High House
chapel, which was less than a mile
| from my home. There is a thorn bush
near the chanel, under which Wesley
and his missionaries preached, and it
still stands there. Rev. Hugh Price
| Hughes preached to the people a short
| time ago under the branches of this
same tree. During the century of
| Methodism in 1889 (when 1 was nine
| years of age) some poetry was written
and put upon the old chapel door.
Mr.. Wesley quotes from an account
written by John Glousick of a wonder
| full work of grace which took place in
| Weardale, and the society at that time
numbered one hundred and sixty mem
bers, forty-three of whom were chill
dren.
when John Wesley was in advanced
| years and riding up the road towards
High House chapel, he caught sight OF
a young lad whom he knew and loved
| very much. Dismounting from his
| horse, he called to the young fellow,
| but unwilling, from his present relig-
| ious standpoint to face Mr.. Wesley,
he proceeded on his way through the
| field towards his home. Mr.. Wesley
| tied his horse to the gate post and ran
| through the field, followed him into an
| abandoned lead mine, talked to him
| like a father; the young man broke
down, confessed all, and began a new
| life.
| Think for a moment, my brethren,
of a graduate Of Oxford university, an
| author of scientific and religious works,
the founder of the great Methodist
church, running that he might speak
to that young backslider; the ruddy-
faced shepherd prince of the new Israel
rescuing the one soul as David res
cued the lamb out of the jaws of the
| lion.
RICH IN MEMORIES.
"The region round about High House
| chapel seems rich in Wesleyan asso-
Citations and earliest memories. The
| people loved him so much that at the
| faintest sound or rumor that he had
come into the dale, the whole country
would tramp over field bog and moor
to greet the man who brought glad
tidings to the people. But aside from
his preaching, they remembered him as
the scholar and gentleman.
| John Wesley's first visit to Wear
dale was in 1852. High House chapel
was built in 1860; it's last renovation
was in 1872, just twenty years after I
left my native country to come here
Aaron Ritson. the young lad referred
to above, after whom Mr.. Wesley ran,
was a class leader in the chapel.
AN amusing incident is told of q
man in the upper part of the dale, who
was not very bright, but who had at
all events sense enough to bring his
luncheon to church, especially when
the preacher spoke from two to three
hours past the dinner time. He used
to hide his parcel of provender under
meath an ample old fashioned waist
coat. His seat was Immediately in
front of the preacher. One Sunday
morning the preacher was vehemently
urging his hearers to cast away their
bosom sins. He repeated the exhor-
|
creasing emphasis. The man with the
burden of dinner in his bosom began
to think him personal in his remarks.
The effect. however seems to have
been less spiritual than eXasperating.
At last, in hot temper the man thrust
his hand under his waistcoat and,
pulling out the dinner, flung it at the
preacher, saying: Take it, for l know
thee wants it,
| TOOK UNTO HIMSELF A WIFE.
"Instead OF following the plan ot
many others in remaining single a
number of years after joining confer
ence,I became acquainted with "A young
lady by the name of Wallace, who
claims to be a descendant of Sir. Will
lam wallace. We attended the same
church and school, and / thought she
would make me a good wife, and so
she has. We We're married in 1852 in
High House chapel. Henry Needle per-
formed the ceremony, and if there is
anything in name, we were well mar
ried-sewed together-made one, for we
have never seen the necessity of being
divorced. If l am spared to see the
third dav Of next September, / will
celebrate my SEVENTEEN birthday"