Year: 1867

Mr.. RUcKrEs "oRDINATIoE or BISHOP AsBURY"


M, Thomas Coke RuokIe, of Baltimose has placed
ON exhibition at the store OF Mr. ~ Tbbas No 81 Park
row large picture which he has lately painted repre-
sentne the Ordination Of Asbury the first Bishop Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church In America.


The missionaries out from England to look after
the scattered but steadily increasing flock Of Methodts
in this country had been warmly welcomed and hospit
ably entertained by Harry Cough, wealthy farmer ly
ing near Baltimore, in his seat called Perry Hall; ana


while at his hOuso had decided that It was necessary FOR
the welfare OF the body bishop should be set over
IT, Acting promptly upon their decision, they selected
Asbury ono their number, as hehttest TO perform the
laborous duties Of that office, and summoned eonYen
ton of all interested in the spread OF Mehodsn to sane
ton the choice by heir presence at his ordination This
ceremony which marks important in the history OF
the Methodist body took place in Baltimore In the winter
OF 1906 In Lovely Lane Chapel, and was witnessed by
large audience Of interested spectators Is indicates
curious feature the customs OF the ne tha Dr. CoKe IN
opening the convention prased the managers Tor having
made the room comfortable by putting in unplate
stove and adding backs to few Of the seats Some OF
our more elderly readers may remember the war that
ragged over tho question whether it were not base sur
render to tho carna nature, TO attempt to make Gods
house warm with any fire but that OK ZEAL or TO look Tor
support TO anything but his promises Many e1cehent
people became heated the proposed introduction OF
stoves and the Christians backs were up at the
mere meUtiOn Oh putting ptSh' " eaeh pN"S""' ~-S
question which to most OF us to-day will seem mere
matter OF mint and cumk felt by our grandfathers
TO involve Important principle, and they foresaw ana
mourned over the that ustlogcay follow
from the slightest concession. But concessions were
made and the innovation, had been predicted, crept
from point TO point until at length, see the whole
principle quietly abandoned Mr. Ruckle has shown by
his introduction OF the stove pipe and also by that OF
the rude baco the bench which Freeborn darretsoh
Is sitting that he has just OF the historical value
Of details such picture. IL gains immensely by the
addition OF these homely incidents


In selecting ths Ordination OF Asby for the subject OF


MISUNDERSTANDING tho artist has OF course had In view


more limited audience than the general public since no
could hardly have hoped that many persons outside OF
the Methodist body would be much interested In It, Yet
so oya has he shown himself to the truth OF history and
with such sincerity ccanesshas he treated the facts
OF the story that the picture hardly fail to prove at
tractve to many who but little for the event it COM
memorates In point of technical execution 1t betrays
unpractced hand. and In several places the
paint is rather coarseiy laid but the composition s
thoroughly good aud the grouping natural while no de-
tail has omitted that could add fulness and conf
pIetenes to the pictured story In these respects inc
work deserves high Igse and must be coupted among
the very fewuhsorca pictures. rightly so called that
have be on painted In America We should Ike To see IL
In place bettcx suited to s deserts either In Mr Der
bys new and handsome gallery, or IN that OF Messrs
Miner & Someryio. We could spare few hundred
feet OF foreign believe art for the pleasure OF
seeing in good light genuine historic picture, painted
by an American. from an American theme.