New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-28
146 YEARS IN JOHN ST.
Methodism North and South
Reunited at Its ''CradIe."
0NE-CREED IDEA LAUDED
Various Denominations and So
cieties Send Delegates to
Historic Site.

The l46th anniversary OF the John Street
Methodist Episcopal Church was cele.
brated yesterday with services morning
afternoon and evening, at which many
oldtime Methodlsts, as we'll as members
Of other denominations, gathered. In a
sense II was also a reunion, for Bishop
John c. Kilgo. OF Durham, n. c.. brought
cordial message from the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. which has been
separated from Methodism in the North
since 1915.
Aside from UNCONVENTIONAL interest, the
anniversary Of the cradle OF Methodlsm
in America" attracted many old church.
men Of New York, who inspected anew
the famous relics OF a century ago that
are still housed in the church Among
these are a clock which John Wesley gave
to the church, an altar rail and pulpit
desk from the first edifice and memorial
tablets Of Bishop Asbury, Barbara Heck,
Philip Embury and others.
The first service, love feast, was led
by Captain Henry NJ. Randall At this
meeting the bread OF love was passed by
T. L. Bibbins, eighty-four years old
Relic Of 1868.
At the preaching service the pastor, the
Rev. Dr. Lewis r. Streeter, exhibited the
Bible from which the text was taken by
Philip Embury at the dedication service
in 1868 Of Wesley Chapel, the first church
building OF the society, which was re-
placed in 1917 by a second church. and
L., tt.fp In 10 ha
present edltce.
In presenting Bishop Kilgo to deliver
the anniversary sermon, Dr. Streeter re-
marked upon the significance Of the dis
tingulshed dignitary. His declaration that
the Northern and the Southern wings of
the church were fraternally united was
hailed with fervent "Amens." There were
many EXPLANATIONS OF approval, also,
when Bishop Kilgo declared he was
progressive. not politically, but in the
matter of wishing to forget the past so
far as that held memories Of the rift be-
tween Methodsm in the North and In the
South.
Addresses of greeting and congratula-
ton by representatives OF various denomi-
nations and religious societies were made
at the afternoon meeting. Speaking for
the New York Avenue Methodist Church,
in Brooklyn, the Rev. Dr. f. w. Hannah,
the pastor, said the John street church
had exerted an untold influence for good
on American life and institutions.
Recalling the times when Baptists and
Methodists used to fight. the Rev. DR..
Edu ard Judson, pastor Of the Judson Me-
mortal Baptist Church, declared the era
of good feeling had arrived. THE de-
nominations" he said, ''are coming to-
gether as the result OF pressure from
without. The partitions have come to be
pretty thin. and some fine day We may
wake Up and find that the liquid has
leaked through the partitions and that In
all the UNCONVENTIONAL compartments IL is
the same. That is to say we are all
Christians"
All Nearing One Creed.
In accord with this thought, George
Gordon Battle, who spoke for the Epis-
copal Church, said the sects and denomi-
nations were coming together under one
creed, the fatherhood Of God and the
Of man"
President John H. Finley, Of the College
OF the City of New York. expressed the
opinion that the message Of the city TO
the old John street church was one of
for steadfastness in re-
"a the old ground OF its activity.