Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-06-11

M. e. church will be half century
old, and the occasion will be celebrated
most fittingly by the members OF the
congregation. The anniversary cere-
monies, of which mention has been
made, will be of an interesting and
impressive nature and will be largely
attended by members of the denomina-
ton throughout the district and their
friends. On the day preceding the Ep-
worth League will tender a reception
to the former pastors of the church.
The present pastor is Rev. w. ]. Hark-
ness.
The Rev. Wilbus Lee, a noted, elo-
quent and able minister of the Balti-
more conference, preached the first
Methodist sermon in the little hamlet
of Wheeling. The first converts were
Col. Ebenezer Zane and his wife, Eliz-
abeth. They organized the first class,
which became part of the Redstone
circuit of the Baltimore conference.
Although but of a small beginning, 1t
has grown to be one of the strongest
churches in the West Virginia confer
ence. Instead of the rustic hut, we see
the beautiful edifice now situated on
Chapline street, known as the Fourth
Street M. E. church.
This little vine of Methodism has
grown into a large and thrifty plant.
From it's side has sprung various
branches, each bearing much fruit to
the glory of God, until to-day Method
Ism is the largest Protestant denomina-
ton in the city, numbering in all ten
congregations within the city limits
and large number in the immediate
vicinity.
Chapline Street church is the Oldest
daughter of this venerated mother OF
Wheeling Methodism among the Eng
lish churches, for in 1889 the German
portion of the membership separated
and built a church on Chapline street,
south of the creek, which had the dis
tinction of being the first German M.
e. church in the world.
The history of the organization of
the Chapline Street M E. church is as
follows: At quarterly conference of
the Fourth Street church held March
II, 1S4S, an estimating committee pre-
viously appointed reported plan,
specifications and estimates Of house
42x63 feet, supposed cost, $2,516. They
also reported a subscription Of 81, S29.50.
On the basis OF this report the quar-
terly conference authorized the trus-
tees to proceed at once to the erection
of the church. Following are the
namAs of the official board: Elijah
Day, John Fisher, Daniel Zane, William
]. Bates and Robert Hamilton. At
the ensuing quarterly conference, July
26, 1S4S, the trustees reported that
Thomas Hornbrook and Henry Echols
had made to the church the generous
offer of lot 6Ox120 feet, on the condi-
ton that house of worship should be
built thereon to be ready for occupancy
by the next Christmas, and to cost not
less than $4,000; and further that VIM.
Exley had agreed to erect building
costing not less than $4,000 At the
quarterly conference held September
80, 1S4S, the preacher in charge was
requested to appoint a separate board
of trustees for the Chapline Street
church (South Wheeling). At the
quarterly conference held June 8. 1S49,
the old board of trustees was released
from all responsibility and liabilities
by the new board assuming the same.
This new board consisted of Thomas
H. List, Henry Echols, Joseph Pedley,
S. C. Stevens. @. CARROLL, A. A. Adams
and c. S. Hubbard. The first quarter
ly conference of the South Wheeling
church-this was the name first given
the charge-was held July 7, 1S49. The
Rev. G.. D. Battelle was the presiding
elder, and Rev. Israel Dallas preacher
in charge. c. S. Hubbard. recording
steward; John Gowdy, Peter Ripley,
Arthur Little and G. A. Wakeman
were leaders. Thomas H. List was
president, c. D. Hubbard secretary, and
Thomas c. Stevens treasurer of the
board of trustees, and for fifty years
the church has struggled on for the up
building of Christ's cause. Although
she has pessed through many dark
cloud, yet has always shown a spirit
of aggressiveness and spirituality.
Through the untiring efforts of her
earnest pastors, twenty-six in all, hum
dreds of sinners have been led to
Christ, and by their influence have
either connected themselves with some
branch of the church or have gone into
the mission field, or. into the ministry.
Her future is bright and encouraging
Following is list of the former pas
tors
Israel Dallas, 1S49-1851, now deceas-
ed: Wesley Kenney. 1S51-1s52, now de-
| ceased; E. G. Nicholson, 1S52-1S53, now
| deceased; jacob S. Patterson, 1S53-1S55,
now deceased: Samuel r. Dawson,
1s55-1S57, now deceased: Thomas H.
Munroe, 1S57.1S59 now deceased:
James L. Clark, 1s59-1S61. now at Tar
entum, Pa; Gideon Martin, 1s61-1s63,
now at Fairmont; James B. Blakeney.
1S63-1S66, now deceased: Samuel Steele.
1S66-1S6S. now deceased; A. J. LYDIA,
1s6S-1S71, now at Mason City: Edward
w. Ryan, 1s71-1S73, now at Ypsilanti,
Mich: ]. F. Thompson. 1S73-1S76. now
at Brooklyn. n. Y: Winfield C. SnOd-
grass. 1S76-137S. now at Plainfield, ~
j.; ". r. White, 1S7S-1sT9, now de-
/ ceased; Thomas B. Huges, 1879-1sS1.
now at Bloomfield. Iowa; George E.