USA > Delaware > New Castle County > Wilmington > Centennial services of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilmington, Delaware, October 13-20, 1889 > Part 17
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To I) T. Hawkins who died in June, 1881, must be also ascribed part of the success of Asbury Sunday-school. His devotion to the interest of the school was untiring and persistent. So examplary was his character, that his memory, wherever he was known, will be cherished.
The school is at present holding two sessions, one at 9 o'clock, a. 11. and at 2 p. n1.
Number of scholars, 900, with an average attendance of 500; 111111 - ber of books in library, 700; average collections to missions for past five years, $700.
Present officers-superintendent, Jas. E. McKay: assistant super- intendent, Win. Johnson; secretary, A. Fielding; financial secretary, Frank Cannon; librarians, Frank Willing and Elmer Perry; treasurer of Home Missions, A. Dennis; Foreign Mission, Geo. F. Hartman; musical director. W. B. Genn; Superintendent of infant school, M. A. Taggart; assisted by Mrs. Chas. Moore and Miss Georgie B. Carver.
REV. CHARLES MOORE,
Local Preacher and Mission Worker for more than a half-century.
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"Our Local Preachers."
BY THE REV. CHARLES MOORE, LOCAL PREACHER AT ASBURY M. E. CHURCH.
In writing the history of Asbury Church, the Centennial of which is now being observed October 16th, 1889, memories of heroic struggles are awakened, and gratitude to our fathers' God and ours is excited. The services for the Centennial occasion commenced on Sunday, October 13th, and continued till October 20th, the whole affair being a grand success spiritually and financially.
In this report of the labors of the 'local preachers who were mem- bers of Asbury Church, I first give a list of them as my memory calls them up. I notice the names of the Revs. John Hagany, Samuel Wood, Edward Kennard, John E. Simmons, Samuel H. Higgins, William Kirkman, John Quinby, Robert Thompson, A. T. Scott, William L. Taylor. William Zimmerman, Thomas Lamplugh, Charles Moore, David Ricords, David Dodd, William Galway, John M. Simms, Asbury Burke, W. W. Sharp, William Genn and Nathan Genn.
The first named local preacher, John Hagany, was associated with Asbury Church from the year 1808 till the time of his departure for his better home with the saints in glory. He was one of the early helpers in the time when the church most needed men loyal to Methodism. His house was always open to the preachiers ; and especially was it a home for the young itinerant, who was not only cared for in his tem- poral needs, but received such instructions and advice as, in the early history of the church, was much needed to protect the young from the errors of false teachers, who often attacked the doctrine and discipline of the Methodist Church. This good old loyal man of God was truly an Israelite indeed, guileless and fearless in the cause of Christ, his Master. He died in a good old age, much respected by the community,
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and beloved by the church of his choice. One of the sons of Father Hagany, the Rev. John Bishop Hagany, was an itinerant of the first- class, a profound theologian, known throughout the Philadelphia and New York conferences. He was stationed in one of the first churches in Brooklyn, New York, when he died. His remains lie in the Wil- mington and Brandywine Cemetery.
I notice next on the list the name of the venerable Father Samuel Wood, another old standby in time of need; he was exceedingly apt in his scriptural quotations during his preaching; a Methodist of the early school, believing fully in the doctrines of free grace, as taught by Mr. Wesley and his followers. He died at a good old age, well known and respected. He and Father Hagany would alternate in their preaching at Asbury Church, and thus keep the pulpit regularly sup- plied in the absence of the stationed preacher. The local preachers following these old veterans of the cross were generally useful workers in the church. Samuel Hale Higgins, one of the list, was a physician with a good practice, when serving the church as a local preacher; a inan highly esteemed for his good social qualities and usefulness in the church of his choice.
All the local preachers named in the list as belonging to Asbury Church, were men engaged in some active business to support their families, and none of them were idlers, but men of good standing in the community where they resided.
Much might be said of their labors in church matters, and of their charity and general good works.
We notice one of them who was also a leader in Asbury for fifty- four years, and who, in looking over his books, found that he had col- lected from his class during that time $6,700.55 for the support of the gospel, and thinking of the positions he had occupied in the church during that time, discovered that he had served nine years as a trus- tee ; thirty-four years as a steward ; sixteen years as a local preacher ; was assistant secretary of the leaders, and stewards, meeting for forty years, and from 1836, forty years voluntary chaplain of the New Castle County Alms House. During his work in the church, he associated with one hundred and forty-two class leaders up to October 16, 1889. He yet holds the office of local preacher, steward and leader and has a list of the leaders, numbering one hundred and forty- two, since his first leading class in the year 1835. In writing the history of Asbury Church for the past one hundred years, it is impos- sible to describe the work done through the instrumentality of that church, but in naming some of her working places, some idea may be formed of a great deal of good done in that time.
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I would notice here a plan gotten up for the regulation of the work the official members were required to do. This plan was written in 1877 by the leading preachers in the city at that time. It embraced the following named places: Brandywine. Old Academy, Riddle's Banks, Edgemoor, City Mission, Browntown, Richardson's School House, the Alins House, Oak Hill, McDowellville. School House half way to New Castle, Silverbrook, Kingswood, and other places.
The pastors in this plan were T. B. Killiam, W. P. Davis, J. B. Mann, W. G. Stevenson, C. M. Pegg, L. E. Barrett, J. F. Mowbray, and H. Sanderson. There were fourteen local preachers, and twenty- two exhorters. The committee on plan consisted of J. B. Quigg, pre- siding elder, Henry Sanderson, Charles Moore, Jabez Hodson, and Isaac McCabe. I would here notice the workers sent forth by the con- mittee to work wherever they were ordered; they were as follows: Henry Sanderson, William L. Taylor, Thomas Lamplugh, John Simmons, David Todd, Charles Moore, Bro. Vanhorne, S. A. Young, of the United Brethren Church, W. Rawlins, and John Gray; exhorters, Bro. McKaig, J. Jones, Bro. Bruce, Bro. Shipley, Thos. Moore, A. Thatcher, Bro. Raymond, Bro. Mckeever, and Bro. Peters.
These law efforts outside the regular ministerial work, resulted in the building up of eleven other Methodist churches in the city of Wil- mington. Asbury to-day is free from debt and in a glorious condition for good work, her success not being second to any other church in our city. The writer of this sketch remembers her seventy-seven years ago, when she was alone, weak and persecuted, her name a by-word and reproach, and her members treated with scorn and derision, but ever true to hier Master, and through the instrumentality of the earnest and spirit-annointed preaching of Christ crucified, she stands firm to-day, with the bow of promise above lier, and a prospect of noble conquest for the future.
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Ezion Methodist Episcopal Church.
BY JOSEPH R. WATERS, PASTOR.
Mr. Chairman : We come to represent Ezion, the oldest daughter of Asbury. Asbury is the oldest Methodist Episcopal Church in the city of Wilmington, and the mother of us all. Ezion comes next in age, born more than four score years ago.
Ezion, the rather novel, but Biblical name, given to this church, was for a long time a puzzle to the most of us. but to the founders and fathers it was not so ; and we may say of them, as it is said of Paul : "according to the grace of God which was given into them as wise master builders. They laid well the foundation, upon which we are building." But when we consider that our fathers were deprived of educational advantages, therefore having little, or no knowledge of words, much less the history of words, the selecting of a name for their church almost a century ago, which name is suitable to be adopted by this generation, is worthy of giving thein a place among the prophets. Ezion-Gaber was a very ancient city lying not far from Elath on the eastern arın of the Red Sea. It is first mentioned in the book of Numbers, 33d chapter and 35th verse as one of the stations where the Hebrews halted in their journeyings through the desert. Ezion-Gaber was a seaport and harbor ; King Solomon selected it for his navy. Here he built a fleet to go to Ophir, from which country they returned with four hundred and twenty talents of gold. This gold was brought to adorn the temple of the Lord. It is the name of this city that we find inscribed on the corner-stone of our church, having been done by our fathers more than eighty years ago.
The inference which may be drawn from this name is that as Solomon's fleet went forth from Ezion-Gaber in search of gold, so did our fathers go forth from this Ezion, in search, not of the gold that perisheth, but for the golden treasures of heaven which
Too. R. Pratero.
Pastor of Ezion Methodist Episcopal Church.
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perisheth not; not to Ophir but to the land of the blessed ; not to return, but to dwell there forever; and nearly all of them have long since reached that country and are to-day walking the golden streets, singing the songs of the redeemed. The meaning of this name Ezion-Gaber, "the giant's backbone;" is also very suggestive. In those days, when our race was oppressed and when in many parts it was a crime for our people to assemble even to worship God, it required not a weak backbone, but a giant's backbone to withstand the heavy pressure which was brought to bear against them. Again at this period when the Methodist Episcopal Church was about to be ex- tinguished among the colored people, it took a giant,s backbone to hold up the white flag of the grand old mother church. I am sorry to say, just here, that we will not be able to give you the full and correct history of Ezion, owing to the fact that no records have been preserved, and what we did have were destroyed by the fire of 1886.
According to the date of the church-seal, the old stone church was build in 1805. Previous to this date our people were members of Asbury, but of their connection with Asbury as members we have no account. Neither have we any account of them for a great many years after this date. Perhaps Father Jacob Pindergrass was one the first members in the organization. The pastors of Asbury Church supervised the work. Jacob Pindergrass was licensed a local preacher and placed as a sub-pastor over the flock. Under his management the church grew in numbers and power until about 1812, when trouble com- menced. Some of the members began to manifest a spirit of inde- pendency. This feeling continued until it monopolized nearly all of the young people in the church, so much so, that a dissention was unavoidable. The offices of pastor, presiding elder and bishop, did not come to them as fast as they desired, so they resolved, like Mohammed, to go to it.
The church was now involved in a lawsuit. The church was closed, and the few struggling members who still clung to the old mother, (the Methodist Episcopal,) had no place to worship. The dissenters had now moved on Tatnall street in a barn which was after- wards known as the old pigeon house. Asbury, our mother, seeing the few who were faithful and true to the church, without a place to worship, like a kind and loving mother, said, "Come back and worship with us, " assuring them at the same time that she would not leave nor forsake them. The invitation was gladly accepted.
In the meantime the lawsuit was in progress, which was finally settled in favor of the old stone church. The doors of this old church
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were once more thrown open, and with great rejoicing the members and friends returned. The church was re-organized by the pastor of Asbury, with two trustees, viz: Michael Stirling and Ralph Harding, and three stewards, Jacob Pindergrass, Michael Stirling and Ralpli Harding. The membership, consisting of thirty-nine in all, was organized into three classes with Jacob Pindergrass, Michael Stirling and Ralph Harding as leaders. These three men had to fill all of the offices in the church.
Again Father Pindergrass was placed in charge of the flock as speaker or sub-pastor. The church now had peace. The dissenters liad organized under the leadership of Rev. Peter Spencer, and denomi- nated themselves the F. C. A. U. M. P. church, [which church is known by that name to this day. Ezion, having the Presiding Elder of the district, and the pastor of Asbury at her side, increased daily in mem- bership and influence, but it was not long before the church was called to mourn the loss of their leader, Father Pindergrass, who died in full triumphs of faith. Bro. George S. Hagany, (who is now perhaps the oldest member of Asbury,) informs us that he visited Pindergrass in his death sickness, and also attended his funeral, that he died happy and his funeral was the largest that he had ever seen. But God at this time, as he does in all cases when a good inan falls, raised up another full of faith in the person of Rev. Josepli Whittington, who took charge of the flock. Brother Whittington and his cabinet managed the affairs of the church so as to exert a great influnces in the community. It was not long before it was found that the old stone church was too small and something had to be done to accommodate the congregation. It was resolved by the officials to enlarge the build- ing which they did by extending it front. This was acoomplished in 1844. Soon after the church was re-opened, there was organized what was known as a Local Conference. This Local Conference made our people to feel throughout the states, that a new era had dawned upon them; at this Conference all of the local preachers met once a year, and the Presiding Elders arranged the appointments for the year.
Methodism had spread through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, all of the work among our people in these states was under the Local Conference. This new arrangement proved a great incentive to the growth of the church1.
Revs. Philip Scott, Benjamin Brown and John G. Manluff were respectfully appointed to Ezion by the local conference, Rev. Scott and Brown each remained but a short time. They then connected themselves with the Washington Conference. Rev. John G. Manluff,
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who was one of the ablest preachers of his day, remained in charge of Ezion until 1864, when the Delaware Annual Conference was organized. Rev. John H. Pearce was the first pastor of Ezion appointed by a regular conference presided over by a Bishop, Rev. Pearce served one year, Rev. Chas. Wing, three years, he being fol- lowed by Rev. Peter Burrows. By this time the membership and Sunday-school had grown so large that is was necessary to tear down the walls and rebuild. Rev. Burrows found several thousand dollars in hand when he arrived. He called the officials of the church and constituted a building committee, and the work was commenced. But before the walls of the new building were up the conference met at Cambridge, Md., and Rev. Burrows was removed, and Rev. Joseph D. Elbert was appointed pastor of Ezion. He found the work in progress with a well qualified official board, and building committee. He had only to begin where his predecessor left off, which he did. The new church was completed in 1870. It reflected great credit on the pastors, and people, as well as the architect and builders, as it was the finest church edifice in the conference. The Sunday-school had now become one of the most prominent features of the church, with Abram Murray as the superintendent, and the splendid new church grew rapidly in members and interest. Rev. J. D. Elbert served the church three years ; then followed, Rev. Hooper Jolly, one year ; Rev. Solomon Cooper, two years; Rev. L. Y. Cox, two years ; Rev. W. F. Butler, D. D., three years ; Rev. W. J. Parker, three years ; Rev. H. A. Mon- roe, three years. During Dr. Butler's administration a fine pipe organ was purchased at a cost of $1, 100, and some changes were made in the pulpit and gallery.
In Rev. Parker's time a parsonage was secured at a cost of S1,800. Some slight improvements were made in the Sunday-school room dur- ing the first year of Rev. Monroe's administration.
The greatest epoch in the history of Ezion occurred on the 6th day of January, 1886, when the church was almost entirely destroyed by fire, just at the time when the church was in the best condition. having only a small debt which the congregation expected in a short time to remove, and perhaps for the first time worship God in a church free from all indebtedness. But all their anticipations were blighted. Imagine the anxiety and grief of this people on this memorable day, when an alarm is sounded throughout the city that Ezion is in flames. Men, women and children left their work, homes and schools and rushed to the scene. The greatest excitement prevailed. Strong men, as well as women and children, wept when they saw their beloved Zion wrapped in devouring flames, and that in the dead of winter they were turned out of doors with no place to worship.
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Great sympathy was manifested throughout the city for this sor- row-stricken people. But the people, remembering the promise of God, that passing through the fire they should not be consumed, they came together and decided at once to rebuild. Aid was now coming in from all sides. A building committee was constituted, consisting of the following : B. L. Tomlinson, P. T. Laws, Wm. H. Caldwell, Wm. E. Grinnage, N. B. Waters, James A. Benton, and John M. Kirkman.
The architectural plan was obtained from B. D. Price & Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., and a contract was made with Mr. Archibald Reed. The congregation met in the sister churches, until they could obtain a place to worship, which they did in one of the rooms in the Opera House at fifteen dollars a week. While the work was in progress the people made great sacrifices so that in September of the same year, the beautiful church in which we are now worshiping was completed. Ezion is now one of the most convenient, as well as one of the finest churches in Wilmington. In the spring of 1887 Rev. Monroe was succeeded by the writer. Our church is valued at $45,000. Parsonage at S1,800. We have a membership of five hundred and eighty-one; probationers twenty-two; total, six hundred and thirteen; raising for
ministerial support $1,230; for benevolences $513. Ezion, like Asbury, has become a mother, having three daughters, Whittington, Haven and New Castle, under the respective pastorates of Rev. J. A. Richard- son, and Rev. J. H. Scott, and Rev. L. W. Deakins. These churches were organized by Ezion as missions, later they were placed under the charge of pastors, and called Wilmington circuit; but since they have become self-supporting, and each church has a pastor, Ezion, and her three daughters, daughters and grand-daughters of Asbury, are Methodist Episcopal, first, last, and all the time. We shall never forget the sheded blood, the scoffs and frowns that our mother has borne for us. We shall never forget 1844, when, on account of our race, she sustained a loss of millions of dollars worth of property, and about one-half of her members. Like Ruth, we say "entreat us not to leave Thee or to return from following after Thee, for whither Thou goest we will go, Thy people shall be our people, Thy God our God."
It has been said that the Methodist Episcopal Church sent more soldiers in the field, and more prayers to heaven, for the country, during the late war, than any other church; also that it was our beloved Bishop Simpson who nerved the arin of President Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, by which four millions of poor slaves were set free. We are still looking to our mother for help. No church in this country has done more than the Methodist Episcopal toward solving the race problem in the South. The Freedmen's Aid
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Schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church are educating our race in the South intellectually, morally, and spiritually, and raising them from ignorance, immorality, and superstition, so that to-day there is little or no trouble, caused by those under its care. I am of the opinion that this great race question will finally be settled by this great church of the living God, not by the sword, but by Christian education and the preaching of the cross of Christ. .
In conclusion, Ezion has a host of living stones in the building, and when Asbury, our mother, with her daughters, St. Paul's, Grace, Union, Scott and others, shall ascend on the beautiful morning of the resurrection to meet the Lord in the sky, Ezion and her daughters will be there to take their part in the great corronation.
I2
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History of St. Paul's Methodist Epis- copal Church.
BY JOSEPH PYLE, EsQ.
In the absence of the Rev. L. E. Barrett, owing to his sickness, and thinking that the historical sketch of St. Paul's ought to be pre- sented on this glad and happy occasion; that the mother church should know how her oldest white daughter had proven her early training and conducted herself generally since setting up house-keeping on her own account, this brief sketch has been hurriedly prepared this morning by one of her members, while knowing that Brother Barrett's would have been more entertaining and instructive, yet he hopes this will prove satisfactory to Mother Asbury.
For some years previous to 1844, there was a feeling amongst some of the leading members of Asbury Church, that the Methodistic field in the city of Wilmington was not thoroughly cultivated, that there was room for at least one more church where the gospel of free grace could be preached with benefit and a rich harvest could be gathered. Old Asbury had been doing a grand and noble work. Since her dedication, in 1789, she had grown so rapidly that her stakes liad to be twice extended, hier borders twice enlarged, and already her colored members had withdrawn from her communion and established a church at Ninth and French streets, where they could, as they said, enjoy more spirituality and do more good amongst their own race.
Asbury had increased numerically, numbering in her ranks some of the most prominent men in business circles, some leading profes- sional men, and some of wealth and influence. Other denominations were pushing their ranks into popular favor, preaching their peculiar dogmas and extending their influence by building churches and establishing Sabbath-schools, while the Methodists were calmly letting their religious influence be confined to one church and that church embraced within the limits of walls 50x70 feet. This could no longer
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be tolerated; this state of affairs must be corrected, and, remembering the motto of the founder of Methodism, "The world is my parish," and knowing from happy experience the elastic power and holy influ- ence of the bonds that bind all Methodistic hearts, some members of this mother church, in the year 1844, agitated the project of organizing another society and building another church, if possible in or near the center of the city.
This movement, of course, was opposed by some (I think I am safe in saying by more than one-half ) of the members. This oppo- sition was, of course, to be expected, for in all movements for the ele- vation and betterment of the human race has in all ages of the world been opposed by men ; yea, by good inen, by pious and God-fearing men-men whose faith, though strong enough to save their souls through the mercy of God's free grace, yet is not strong enough to trust the Almighty power, for the apparent weakening of God's host by withdrawal of a part or a separation of that host under new leaders. But that God who sent Abraham into a strange country, protected and blest him there, also blest and protected the founders of St. Paul's as they left the pleasant associations and holy influences of one who had been their kind and loving mother.
The movement, amid opposition, assumed tangible proportions and soon became a fixed fact, a reality. The first meeting was held at the residence of Hyland B. Pennington, corner of Fourth and Market streets, on the site where Wm. B. Sharp's store is now located. The chairman of the meeting was the Rev. John Kennaday, pastor of Asbury. After the opening by singing and prayer, and a thorough discussion of the subject, in which the hopes and fears were prayer- fully considered, a motion was unanimously adopted to organize a society to be known as St. Paul's M. E. Church, of Wilmington, Del. The trustees then were elected as follows : Hyland B. Pennington, Henry Hicks, Wm. H. Calvert, Miller Dunnott, Samuel McCaulley, Jacob M. Garretson and Edward Moore. A purchasing committee was then appointed as follows: Miller Dunnott, Samuel McCaulley, Henry Hicks, Thomas Young, Edward Moore, John Flinn, John M. Turner, Wm. H. Calvert, and Hyland B. Pennington, nine members. This committee purchased a lot on Market street, 50 x 117 feet, above Seventh street, from John McKnight and Samuel Newlin for the sum of $3,000. A building committee was then appointed as follows : Wm. H. Calvert, Samuel McCaulley, Edward Moore, Henry Hicks, and Miller Dunnott, five members. The material and labor were sup- plied at a reduced figure. Samuel McCaulley, a brick manufacturer, furnished bricks at $6.00 per thousand, and John Flinn, a brick mason, laid them for $2.25 per thousand, while John M. Turner, being equally
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