Evening journal., 1909-10-30
TO OBSERVE
CENTENNIAL
Continues FROM First PAGE.


consented 10 visit Newport and preach
The school house. was secured for tho
service, and 80 great was the novelty OF
the proceedings that the house was
crowded, while many stood around and
listened at the windows.
Here began Methodism at Newport, and
there Is every reason to believe that from
that time. 1856 or 1881, TO the present there
has always been Methodist society
there. There does not seem to be much in
formation obtainabie at this distant
date. as TO just where they worshlped.
or how they prospered. No debut they
had their share Of persecution and oppo-
sitlon. IN the years that followed. but It
is found that in the year 1926 at the an
nual conference held In Philadelphia.
Ezekiel Cooper was appointed pastor OF
Asbury Church, Wilmington. and New
port lie preached at Asbury IN the morn
ing and evening. and at Newport In the
afternoon.
Under date OF February 1. '17s7. which
would be the following spring after his
appointment. he gives an account OF the
society at Newport. which is perhaps the
first reliable account Of this society In ex-
stance. He says 'Our society here Is
small, but / am very much pleased with
IL. Mrs. Latimer. mrs Robertson and Mrs.
Miller. are three excellent souls. There is
but one white man IN the society. that Is
Mr. Miller. After a service OF hve months
az which time the Philadelphia Confer
ence was again convened Mr. Cooper re-
ported an Increase OF members at New
port OF eight whites and eleven blacks"
Thus they went on meeting in tho
school house. I'm private house or shop.
wherever they could. until finally. in
1909 the first church was built Tho lot
on which the church stands was sold by
Thomas Latimer for one dollar. the origi-
nal deed bearing the names OF Joseph
Lyman. Benjamin Hersey. John Miller.
Dennis Dougherty and Samuel Wood
In 1854, during the pastorate Of Samuel
Powers, the present church building was
commenced and completed the following
year and dedicated by Rev. Thomas T.
Tasker.
From the dedication the following
preachers have been in charge. ls65-e6.
william II. Fries; ts67-es: II. II. Bodine;
iS69-7O. Joshua Humphriss; 1ssi-72, John
Allen; ls7s-7i-75, John d. Risg. is1S-77-7s.
Henry S. Thompson: iS1o-So John ID.
Higg lsi-S2-S3 James Il. Bryan issi-s5-s6,
Edwin II. Nelson isSl-Ss. John d. c.
Hanna; lsse-9o. James Il. Bryan; d uring
his pastorate. In 1890. the church was re-
modelled as II now appears; lssi-92-s3-ei.
Alpheus S. Alowbray; ls95-9s-97 IS, julius
Dodd. 1909. Walter r. Avery; isco-ol, Alloy
slus Green and Ralph t. coursey (the lat
! ter serving about six montha). lo92-o8-oA-o
l. w. o. Hurst 1906, c. w. Strickland Asol
os-0e. w. w. sharp. the present pastor.
h Mention should be made Of some OF q
n. early laymen OF the church who we
io- class seyards. truff (
- -.-5arrs. srysaksI 2ses 49,
!, pastors assistants IN those days. Al
a Thomas was one OF the early pioneers
Methodism IN Newport. IL was at n
house preaching was often held previot
to the building Of the church. BenJami
, Hcrsey was another. He lived near Mar
shallton and with him Bishop Asbur,
sometimes stopped. John Miller. who
owned a horse and carriage was often
called on 70 take the preacher from one
place TO another. Mrs. baltimore mem
toned by Mr.. Cooper was the mother OF
John r. and Henry baltimore. then iiv-
ing IN Newport. She was deeply inter-
ested in religious services and the pro-
gress Of tho church.
Joseph Lyman. J. Springer lyman and
Jacob Lyman. a father and two sons.
were zoalous for Gods house. The first
named was known as Father Lyman and
lived to be nearly i02 years OF age. and
died February A. 1872. and was buried IN
Newport. His wife Joanna, was de-
voted woman whose appeals TO sinners
: were hard TO Withstand. She visited from
house to house and besought the people "a
be saved.
Nivin O. Miller. Thomas Lamplugh
Joseph Grubb, Peter Torbert. Joseph xii
!, gore fifty years a class leader. and later
Il on John r. lyman. Albert S. Lyman
Is Lewis Weldsn, Vincent G. Finn. Abra.
=. ham Chandler, Ephram. Megargal and
?. others that might be mentioned were ac-
tive men Of the church guarding her in
4 terest with jealous care. These have
e passed from labor 10 reward but the
J. church owes them a debt OF gratitude for
9 their faithful services.
The present official board remain 70
I push the good work along Now who can
tell what has been accomplished IN the
, past hundred years? In 1872 there were
17s conversions at Newport It began
February u with both Of the preachers
away. but that man Of God, J. Springer
Lyman. nlled with the Holy Ghost. gave
the exhortation and the revival was on.
In 1855 and Sc there was another large
lngathering. Of souls and in 1874 and rs
there we're over one hundred and nifty
converted
May a gracious revival break out dur
ing these anniversary services and New
port Church enter upon a glorious career
for her second century.