Evening journal., 1913-09-30
OLD ASBURY
NEARS l24TH
YEAR OF LIFE
Congregation Will Observe
Anniversary During Week
Beginning October IL
Is TIE "MOTHER OF
DELAWARE METHODISM"

An event OF exceptional in
terest IN Wilmington Methodist
Church circles is the approaching
celebration OF the one hundred and
twenty-fourth anniversary Of Asbury
NJ. E. Church. Third and Walnut
streets, which will take place during
the week OF October 1919, and for
which an elaborate program Is being
prepared. Down through the ages
from 1879 to 1913--the history OF As
bury Church--the mother of Metho-
dism,' is a thrilling record OF long
preparation, mighty struggle and glor-
ious Victory and no one who looks at
/ the splendid substantial building to-
day can imagine the little one story
church, thirty-flve feet square, which
stood on the same lot IN 1889, built by
Methodist forefathers in the Same year
that the United States government
bought the eight lighthouses that
formed the nucleus OF the present
fine lighthouse system which shows
an Increase since that time OF more
than 1000 lighthouses and 5000
buoys and other life saving devices
The following notes taken from the
Historical Records OF Asbury Church
are of special interest
MethOdism was born I'm 1861
when Captain Thomas Webb came
from Philadelphia to Wilmington and
preached under some trees near the
corner Of King and Kent streets. now
Eighth and King. Later the first as
semblage OF Methodists worshipped in
an upper story of Captain Joseph Gill
pins storehouse on King street
wharf, and still later. occupied by
invitation, John Thelwells school
room at Seventh and King streets,
where the society was formed.
Among the earlier preachers we're
John King IN 1863; Francis Asbury
in 1872 and Benjamin Abbott in 1880.
On May ~, l7S9 a lot OF ground at
the southeast corner of Third and
Walnut streets was purchased from
Caleb and Sarah Way, for the sum of
lO5 pounds, and the cornerstone Of
Asbury was laid that summer. and Il
was there that Francis Asbury came
l24 years ago to dedicate the first
Methodist church OF Wilmington
The church was incorporated in
I 1902. and on May %. of that year,
! the first corporate trustees were elect
ed, they being Henry Colesbury, Isaac
Hews. Samuel Wood Henry Metz.
George Jones. Maurice Williams Cal
cd Kendall.
A small two story frame building
/ was erected near southwest corner Of
church as a parsonage in the fall of
| 1902. In 1918, the Sunday school was
organized and a Sunday school build
ing was erected near the church i'm
1922 and stood there until 1886 when
better arrangements were made.
J improvements were made at in
tervals during the intervening years.
and the most radical one was made in
lS45, when the church was trans
formed into a two story building.
In 1874 considerable agitation was
caused in the church by the action Of
the General Conference and the
formation of an Independent church
| by the Southern brethren, and in 1861
I the division of the conference terri
tory was agitated. but the church
officials decided not to consider it
because of the excitement, at that
/ time, caused by the Civil War.
! In 1872 improvements costing So
600 were made TO the church.
An organ was installed in 1866.
with c. Wells as the first organist and
Ashley Simpson first choir leader.
The church was dedicated on Janu-
airy 10, 1873, the Rev c. n. Lummis,
d. d.. L. L. d.. Of Syracuse, n. Y,
preaching the dedicatory sermon.
The outward appearance was
changed during the pastorate of the
Rev. w. L. s. Murray i'm 1SS3-S5, and
since that time, on through the years,
ministers of prominence. including
J the Rev. James Grove. vice-chancel-
/ lor Of the American University have
occupied the pulpit, and each year
has shown favorable results. The
year 1913 has shown noted in
crease in attendance and organiza-
tons; and Mother Asbury marches
on determined to do her part in
bringing the world to Christ.
The list of the pastors of Asbury
| Church is as follows:
l7S9, William Jessup; 1890. John Nc.
Continued on Page Thirteen).