Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-06-19
BISHOP HAMILTON
DELEGATES CHURCH
The Methodists at Blades, Sus-
sex County, Have a Day OF
Great Rejoicing.

Special Correspondence Every Evening.
| Seaford, June 19.-Yesterday was a
| great day for the people OF Blades and
the surrounding country. 1t being the
dav for the dedication OF their hand
some new Methodist Epiecopal Church,
which had been in course OF construc-
ton for several months. The cost OF
the new edifce Ia upwards of S1o.-
| 900 Bishop John w. Hamilton, Of
Washington, Rev. w. r. Mowbray.
SUPERINTENDENT of the Dover district
OF the Wilmington Conference, Rev.
Frank Rhines, OF Baltimore, Rev. Mel
win l. Wheatley of Ridgely. Md. Rev.
]. A. Hudson OF Williamsburg. Md.
Rev. J. Thomas Price, Of Hurlock. Md.
and Rev. ID. w. Jacobs. of Milford,
participated in the services.
The morning exercises opened with
a classmeeting, which was followed
by preaching by Rev. Frank Rhines.
In the afternoon there was Sunday
school and a life service call for young
people followed by preaching by Bish-
90 Hamilton. The evening exercises
opened with an Epworth League ser
vice. after which Bishop Hamilton
building.
Blades Methodist Episcopal Church
has an interesting history. In or about
, the year 1870 the first church building
was erected on what is known as
Concord street. The site on which 1t
stood is now an old cemetery. 1t was
organized and made possible under
the leadership of Greensbury Cannon,
who was afterward class leader OF the
church. 1t was a frame building about
"a by So feet and was known as Can
; mons Chapel.
: Rev. Mr.. Fisher was the first pastor
= Services were conducted In the chapel
and the church. with few exceptions
was served or supplied by a preacher
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and
r continued 10 grow in number and spirit
, until in the year 1887 the congregation
i under the leadership OF the pastor
3 Rev Mr.. Gregg. saw the need of q
= better location and secured It and
= built a more modern church building
upon il, in keeping with the improve
ment and more fully meeting with the
. needs Of the congregation. This build
ing was frame, 80 by AZ feet. two
stories high and was completed and
=. dedicated in January. 1889. and was
, regularly supplied with preachers OF
: the Wilmington Conference, at times
being n part OF Bethel charge and al
other times being connected with Sea
= ford.
. In 1909 the conference made tho
church an appointment and sent 10 Il
a as pastor Rev. Melvin +. Wheatley
!. He proved to be a very capable anC
II competent pastor and inspired thu
9 people for higher church ideals. Tn
people caught the vision of their pos
sibiltics as an appointment AM
10 faithf lily supported their pastor. VIII
Or served them three years. He was sue
-. ceeded by Rev. j. a. Hudson, who's
he appointment was made by the con
I'd ference in the spring Of 1912. III
lie served as pastor until the spring o
v 1913, when Rev. ID. w. Jacobs wa
appointed, he serving the churc
faithfully and inspiringly for tw
of years At the session of the confer
r ence in the spring of 1915, Rev. j. ]
w. Price was appointed and became pas
o5 tor. He served the church two year
ne and was followed by Rev. A. e. Smith
". he being appointed in the spring
1917 and serving until November {
the same year, resigning To go TO
o. church In Baltimore. The church wa
SIS then without "a pastor until Januar
he 1918, when the present pastor, Re
OF Ward Mills, was appointed To fill III
remainder of the conference yea
His work was of such character tn;
d. 1t an. l.. fN,- -
OF in the spring Of 1919 he was reappoin
VI ed
en- a revival IN the church, conduct'
&c by Mr. Mills, brought the vision of Il
n'' needs of a larger and more adequa
church building to meet the needs
growing Sunday school and regul
ne congregation. Plans were propc So
y. committees appointed, investigate
VI made and all seemed to fab in wi
" the accomplishment Of the purpose
- build the present church. HoweV
the organiza ton of the young peel
into the Epworth League put to VIC
a number of determined girls and be
that inspired the church to high
AZ" ideals, and year after year the VIC
seemed 10 take on new life, and
1e the spring Il 1920 Asbury Church "
,ss added to the charge, more heav
No.. taxing the vitality and strength
t. the pastor. But determined To excel
ner the purpose to build the church,
am kept on the job, calling meetings a
ed appointing committees until Move
FRS. Der, 1921, when the board of truste
M named a committee of four and I
Apastor They were invested "