Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-06
CLOCK GOES 1853 YEARS
NEVER MISSING A TICK
Timepiece Presented by John Wes-
ley to New York Congrega=
ton Still on Duty.

New York, Sept. / IL Clockmakers
nowadays would have little repairing If
their work stood up as we'll as that Of
an unidentified maker almost 200 years
ago In the midst OF New York busiest
district, at ~ John street, stands the
famous old John Street Methodist Church
and witness TO the long history of the
church hangs an old pendulum clock on
the wall Of the basement meeting room
More than 1873 years ago John Wes-
icy himself, founder Of Methodism in
England sent the clock over here 10
Philip Emhury for use in the original
building Of the church, erected through
the efforts of Embury. Once week
John V. Westland assumes the respon-
sibility of winding up the single heavy
weight with the original handmade KEY,
land il folks would just leave the clock
alone he declares, "and not try 10 set
IL so often, as though il were one Of
these modern up-to-second affairs. il
would keep the best time in the world.
At any rate the works-which are
said to be of wood, though Mr. Westland
has never had occasion to open the big
painted face and examine them-have
marked of the hours for hundreds OF
services without murmur
Two buildings have preceded the pres
ent church edifice. The first, erected
in 1866 through the valiant efforts OF
Embury, was outgrown In time; the
second was found by city ruling TO be
out of the building line, and the pres
ent edihce, while comparatively mod
ern, retains, the appearance OF age by
its dignihed, unpretentious interior and
the simple lines of pillars and galleries.
In the downstairs meeting room are
the plain, strongly built wooden desk
and altar rail in daily use-the handi-
work of the pioneer hands of Philip
Fmbury. In this room noon day meet
ings are conducted, not by the church, but
by the business mems meeting group,
composed of business men and women in
the vicinity, who arrange for the lay speak
ers and music themselves.
On Sundays services are held in the
church auditorium, and members of the
congregation or society attend from
many distant parts of the city. The
bulk OF the attendance is made up Of
visitors, who come to worship, at the
ancient shrine of Methodism," as the
church is reyerently termed
Evidentence of the fine old traditions of
the church is a tablet near the pulpit
To the memory of the strenuous "Ffan-
els Asbury, pioneer bishop of American
Methodism and the foremost among her
tireless itinerants. He was born in
England, August 30, 1745. Entered
the ministry at the age of II, preached
his first sermon in this church on No
vember l3. 1771; was ordained bishop
December "a, 1884, and died near Fred
ericksburg Va, March 81, 1916, He
ordained over 5000 preachers and preach
ed over 1900 sermons. Dying he left
the whole church the legacy of Ibis
labors, patience, perseverance and love to
God and man.
Among the interesting relics of the
church is the print of sweet-faced Bar
bara Heck wife of Philip Embury But
tremendous strength of character is
read in that face Strong natures were
needed in those early days, when troublous
times were aplenty. A musket, rusty
and battered, lies near the picture. 1t
was usei by some staunch Methodist in
the defence of the little mission opened
by Barbara Heck in the top floor or sail
ors' loft" of a quaint little house in William
street.
Children of the water front in nearby
West street know the old church as their
friend and come to the Sunday school on
Sunday mornings.