Smyrna times., 1902-09-24
FORMER PASTORS JOIN IN
JUBILEE At OLD ASBURY
WEEK OF SERVICES BEGAN SUNDAY WITH
LARGE CONGREGATIONS PRESENT.
Pastors, Former Pastors and Members of As
bury Church Unite in Celebrating the l25th
Anniversary Of MethOdism In Smyrna.

The Jubilee IN commemoration of
the one hundred and twenty fifth
anniversary of the entrance of Metho-
dism in Smyrna, began at Asbury M. :
E. Church last Sunday under auspi-
cious circumstances. The weather
was inclement and the clouds were C,
lowering, but this did not deter a
large number from attending the SER
vices throughout the day. Old Asbury,
sweet with the association that have
clustered about it for many genera
tions, was tastily decorated with a
simple arrangement of golden rod and
other antumnal flowers, supplemented
here and there with roses banked in
chancel, and on the window lodges.
There has been much of the spirit of
the jubilee, and pastor, former pas
tors, members of the church who have
walked the paths of duty for many
years, and those of the younger gen.
Grafton, all united in rejoicing over
the splendid history, the glorious
work at old Asbury since Methodism |
made its entrance and became power |
for good.
Rev. c. A. Hill Gives MasterfuI Discourse.
The committee in charge of the
Jubilee is composed of the Rev.
Vaughan S. Collins, Chairman, Rev.
William FAIRIES, Mr.. Joseph Smithers,
Mr.. George NJ. Stevenson and Prof.
A. S. Griffith. In making out their
program they deemed it advisable that
the first speakers of the jubilee should
be the latest pastors Of the church.
Consequently, the appearance of the
Rev. Charles A. Hill, Salisbury, Md,
and the Rev. Adam Stengle of George
town, was the occasion of cordial
greet ing. The pastor and former
pastors occupied the pulpit and some
special music was rendered by the or
ganist and choir. The morning SER
mon was delivered by the Rev. Charles
A. Hill, who took for his text the
tenth and eleventh verses of the thire
chapter of the Epistle of Paul, the
apostle, to the Philippians: ''That l
may know Him, and the power Of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of
His sufierlngs, being made conform
able unto His death; if by any means
l might attain unto the resurrection of
the dead" In vigor of thought, in
terseness Of style, in strength of ora
tory, combined with the simple, plain,
spiritual understanding of his subject,
it was a magnificent pulpit effort and
held the close attention of his congre-
CATION for over an hour. His graphic
description of Christ before PLATE was
picture painting of the highest class
and called forth comment. The ser
mon dwelt particularly on Christian
duty and the reward of a life well
spent.
Rev. Stenge breaches at Evening Service.
In the evening the. Rev. Adam Sten
gle occupied the pulpit, and the mes
sage he brought to his former parish
oners was found in the fifteenth chap
ter of Romans and the thirteenth
verse: ''Now the God of hope fill yo'
with all Joy and peace in believing
that We may abound in hope through
the power Of the Holy Ghost" 1t wa
a sermon full of spiritual thought
and was deeply appreciated by hi
congregation.
What Asbury Has Done for Members.
Monday evening, the s ond nigh
of Jubilee week, was aAiaembershi
meeting and in the ablia2ce of ID
John f. Clymer, the ldeaer of th
meeting was the Rev. At D Stengl
1t was one of the most e,koyable e.
perience meetings held in Gears, whe
former pastors and membelB told VIII
the religious fervor in old Asbury be
done for them in the years OF the
connection with the church. III
testimonials we're interspersed wit
singing and there was hardly o.
PRESENT who was not deeply impresss
with the spirit Of the meeting. La
evening the Rev. S. w. Thomas,
Philadelphia, took the place Of i
Clymer and preached a powerful Sc
mon. The program for the rest
Jubilee Week is as follows:
Wednesday 80 P. NJ, Sermon by ~
Aaron Rittenhou4e. ID. ID. u.
Thursday-7. .3O P. NJ, Sermon by %
John ID. Rigg.
Friday-a-iO ri NJ, Reception 70 all me
hers and frienda of Asbury and visit
ministers, in charge OK tne Laoles W
sunday Sent 2s-9.0O A. NJ. Old-Fa
ION Love Feast ied by the Pastor. Doc
closed promptly lat 9.3O a; M O.oo a.
Preaching by Rev. ". ". Mhsoni u
200P. NJ, Sunday School, 5.OO p, NJ y
eran's Meeting, John Is. cooper, Esq' ~ =
togmyrna . Nv Rev. George A. Phoeb
ID. d., Rev. Il. II ! Haynes, visiting past
aud other memberslpf the church; 1;..ecb; o.gg