Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-29
Old Asbury's Anniversary.

The celebration Of the l3l st anniversary
Of Asbury Nj. T.. Church, which is IN
progress this week. recalls that the follow
ers of John Wesley were among the first
of our carly religionists TO build and deoi-
cate houses Of worship here. Strange, 1T
seems that the truth as just then revealed
by the famous founder Of the sect was
preached hero by soldier servingin the
uniform of King George, who enlightened
people Of New Castle on the new doctrine
as far back as l7Go. Soon after the folks
of Wilmington also were instructed ny TINS
evangelist, and this form os worship meet
ing with immediate favor, there soon
were many converts who met weekly IN
one another's houses until the church was
built in 1889. The Swedes, followers oil
Martin Luther, and the Friends ana the
Presbvterians all had preceded the Metho-
dists in establishing a place OF public
Worship, and had fairly large congrega-
tons at the time Asbury Church was dedi-
Gated.
"Old Asbury'' may be regarded as the
cradle Of Mcthodism for all this section.
Here. under the direction and instruction
Of the famous divine, reputed to have
been the only clergyman who stuck TO h's
post when Others had fed in anticipation
of the outbreak Of the revolutionary war.
and whose name the church bears, some OF
the foremost steps for the advancement
Of the sect were conceived and put INTO
oncration It was the Methodists Of this
State who voted among the first to seps-
rate themselves from the communicates oi
the Church of England, and also to adopt
the name of the church Methodist
Episcopal.
II has been a big part that Asbury has
plaved in Methodism, and she has worth
ilv born the name of the distinguished
prelste whose love and interest in the
we'll being of little children caused him to
be hkened to the Saviour by his admIring
followers. which quality seemed strangely
AZ variance with his attitude as a mihtant
when the church or it's principles Its doc
trines or its creed were brought under
profanc criticism
There were hundred followers Of We'-
Iev when George Whitfield thundered
forth his anathemas against sin and arous-
ed the people to the exercise of greater zeal
and faith and more fervent love for the
Master as expressed in public worship ana
IN their daily deeds. All the city 5'ooo
people crowded the lot on Market street
and assembled under the shade q inc
forest trees to hear tho ringing words oi the
great evangelist who came across seas
with message to the New World follow
ers of Wesley
Old Asburv ha. always been foremost
In the good work Of advancing the cause oi
Christianity: even in her earliest days she
was regarded as a fountain from when
freely issued the doctrines Of John Wesley,
undefled and uncontaminated- Many q
her members. later as preachers, nave
flled pulpits in almost all lands, and men
and women missionaries who were taught
In the sunday school of Old Asbury have
carried their light and hope and taIth 70
the unbelievers and benighted q every
country.
Surely, Asbury has done a splendid work
in her more than century and 2 quarter
IF usefulness She doubtless has Had iar
wider influence in the cause Of the Master
than even her most jealous members
could have dreamed of when the religious
fervor 81 tho first Of the faith here founded
= house OF PRAYER in which to give ex-
preston to their gratitude "nd voice
their thanks Without and within the
confines Of Methodism. Old Asbury has
PLAYED a noble part in the uplift and
Characterization Of mankind for influences
If good are never circum ecr.h,d. theH are
world wide.