USA > Delaware > New Castle County > Wilmington > Centennial services of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilmington, Delaware, October 13-20, 1889 > Part 25
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The devil and his infernal army having combined with the whisky men, seemed to destroy our God-given Sabbath, our blessed sanctuaries and our Christian homes, and make that section of Wilmington a wilderness, and men and women brutes. They had hoisted high the black flag and were defying the righteousness of our church, but we smote them with our sermons, our prayers and our in- fluence, and thank God that He is coming to our rescue. Some of the liquor dens have been closed, and we pray God they shall all be closed and buried beyond the hope of a resurrection, and our God-blessed sanctuaries preserved from this cursed evil. In this place I found much missionary work to do and with the burden of souls upon me and the upbuilding of my race and humanity, I took the opportunity of going not so much where I was wanted but where I was needed. I visited some of the most degraded houses in the place, and found many who had not attended any church for several years. The sound of prayer had been silenced by the blaspheming of God's name, and His holy word knew no place in the family. Yet among them were some who had been nursed at a Methodist breast, rocked in a Methodist cradle, reared in a Methodist church and converted under Methodist preaching. They had come here strangers and poor, were neglected by pastors and church people, and feeling themselves forsaken fell into this state of degradation. By our earn-
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est entreaties and best advice, good results were accomplished. Last year our membership increased considerably and we had a good revival.
The lot 30 x 100 feet on the east side of Townsend street was exchanged for one 40 x 100 feet on the west side, nearly opposite, cost- ing $600, which was paid for, and a brick parsonage adjoining costing $700, was purchased. At the Conference of 1889, held in St. Daniel's M. E. Church, Chester, Pa., Whittington was taken from New Castle Circuit, and again made a station, and the writer reappointed as pastor . Efforts were immediately put forth for the erection of a new brick church, 34 X 55 feet, costing nearly $6,000; and on April 29, Leal Collins broke the ground for the cellar. The foundation was completed June 12, and the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, on Sunday, June 23, by Rev. Harvey W. Ewing, assisted by Rev. J. R. Waters and the pastor, at which time $325 in cash were raised.
Many, like Simeon, had waited long for the consolation of Israel. It was the joy of every heart in Whittington Chapel, and on account of the joy which filled the hearts of the people arising from the posses- sion of a fit temple for the worship of God, the name was changed to Mt. Joy M. E Church. The benevolences and ministerial support have been increased each year of my pastorate, the membership is now 85. Earnest attention is given to the child army which is being marshaled for the future conquest of the world. The Sunday school has increased from five to one hundred and forty-eight, and under the superinten- dency of L. H. Bantum, is in a prosperous condition.
Whittington is spiritually alive and financially is not dead. I have learned in my experience here, that the sweet that man chooses turns bitter, but the bitter that God chooses turns sweet. A more heroic band than the members and congregation of Whittington cannot be found. God helping us we are coming up higher, and though poor, we ask for a recognition of kinship among her wealthy relatives of aunts and cousins, and as relatives in distress we shall certainly call on our relatives for help who are in better condition. The secret of our success lies in the one word, union; pastor and people have worked in perfect harmony, and in looking over the past we may exclaim together, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped us."
The day now dawns upon Whittington, the true character of Christianity is being better understood, and the evils of the past are fading. Order and peace now predominate. Our wants are the prayers from every Methodist pulpit and family altar for the success of our work. and as children of the same family, born of the same father, filled with the same Methodist blood, we shall look for sympathy and help from every Methodist hand. I beseech you who boast in your wealth and great-
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ness to heed the cry which comes to you from this once degraded place, and now a struggling people for God, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." It may cost you sacrifice, but I hazard nothing when I say that God has placed the work of redeeming from ignorance, vice and superstition the race whom centuries of oppression have placed at so terrible a disadvantage, not in the hands of political adventurers, but very largely upon the hands and hearts of the Christian people of the great Methodist church. We need just now prayers whose amens shall be cash, and a little while from now the saints on earth, the saints in heaven, and all the angelic host of heaven and the army of the dark region shall hear these soldiers of the cross with General Jesus at their head, making this known city of Wilmington ring with the triumphant shout,
"All hail ! the age of crime and suffering ends, The reign of righteousness from heaven descends; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be."
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History of the Swedish Mission.
BY THE REV. W. L. S. MURRAY, PH. D., PRESIDING ELDER OF THE WILMINGTON DISTRICT.
If from a few fossil bones, comparative anatomists can construct a skeleton of the entire animal whose species is now extinct, why may not the future historian bring together in chronological order and in historical form, fragmentary statements from various boards, Quarterly Conference records and pastoral reports ? To aid the historian in his work, and to give some account of the Swedish Mission is the object of this paper.
A thought conceived by a brain always thinking about the poor; spoken by lips now sealed in death, which have plead eloquently for the needy; written by a hand that wielded the sword against slavery; backed by liberal laymen; fashioned into a church building by skilled mechanics, some of whom toiled at night, making overtime that they might see the desire of their heart, has become a house of worship for foreigners and strangers, brought nigh by the blood of Christ. The thought originated with Rev. Lucius C. Matlack, D. D., Presiding Elder at the time of Wilmington District.
We take the following from report, of the Rev. Charles Hill, Presiding Elder to the Wilmington Annual Conference, March, 1884:
"The Swedish Mission organized by Dr. Matlack last October, one year ago, and recognized by this Conference at its last session, and rec- ommended to the General Missionary Committee, now numbers thirty members and five probationers, with a Sunday-school of forty- one officers, teachers and scholars. In April, a lot at the corner Eleventh and Claymont streets, in East Wilmington, was purchased. A deed was executed in due form of law and in accord with the discipline
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to a corporate board of trustees. On this lot a brick chapel 30 × 50 has been erected. The liberality of the friends of the mission has provid- ed for this amount, $1,000, all except about $800. I am inclined to the opinion that the whole amount would have been provided for had it not been for the continued sickness of the president of the board of trustees. For the success of this enterprise we are largely in- debted to the large-hearted liberality and the untiring Christian zeal and energy of Capt. Alexander Kelly." The first pastor was Rev. Carl O. Carlson, who served the church nearly two years ; when it was left to be supplied. Rev. Charles Hill to the Annual Conference, March,
1885, says: "The Swedish Mission of Wilmington was without a pastor from March, 1884, until August. After making several ineffectual attempts to supply it from the Swedish work, I obtained, through the influence of Rev. B. T. Carlston, the delegate from Sweden to the late General Conference (1884), Rev. Alexl. Z. Fryxell, direct from Sweden, who is extending his labor among the Swedes in Chester and Philadelphia, and has formed a class in each place. This is an important work.
There are many Swedish families in these cities, and yet there is not an ordained Methodist minister among them in all the region of country extending from Wilmington to New York.
Rev. Alex1. Z. Fryxell served the church in 1885-7, when he was succeeded by Rev. Konrad Hartwig, direct from Sweden, who con- tinued pastor from 1887 to 1889, when he was transferred to Phila- delphia Conference, by Bishop R. S. Foster; but in the absence of a supply for the Swedish Mission of Wilmington, he has been appointed to give half of his Sabbaths to its service.
The alternate Sabbaths have been filled by a Wilmington member, an exhorter who has been very faithful and earnest in his labor of love. It is but due Sister Hartwig, the wife of Rev. Konrad R. Hartwig, to say that she rendered most efficient and acceptable service in the mission, aiding her husband in every possible way, serving as organist for the church and as superintendent of the Sunday- school. Her good English education prepared her also to act as interpreter and as secretary of the Quarterly Conference. The salary of the mission was made at first $500, $300 of which were paid by the General Missionary Society.
At a meeting held at Capt. Alexander Kelly's residence, Decem- ber 15, 1886, it was advanced to $600.
The first board of trustees elected October 22, and organized Octo- ber 25, 1883 :
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Alexander Kelly, president; John W. Deifendorf, secretary; Geo. W. Todd, chairman finance committee; Josepli Pyle, O. M. Fandin, Andrew Nilson, Gustaf L. Gustafson, Adolph Erickson, Andrew Wall.
The present board : Alexander Kelly, J. W. Deifendorf, Robert W. Wheeler; terins expired February, 1889. John Hedlund, Chas. Fosberg, Chas. Osholm; terms expire February, 1890. Joseph Pyle, Andrew Neilson, C. Berg; terms expire February, 1891.
On acount of the indisposition of the president of the board no election was ordered in February, 1889.
The benevolent citizens of Wilmington were encouraged to aid the Swedes for two reasons; first, their great need of divine services in their own tongue on the holy Sabbath, and also their need of an ordained minister to administer the sacraments of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, and to do pastoral work for the sick, despondent and dying among this people. In the second place, because that portion of Dela- ware where Wilmington now stands was largely settled at first by Swedes, and the Christiana, on which so many of our large industries are located, bears the name of a beautiful Queen of Sweden. A few of the inost liberal towards this much needed enterprise have been Alexander Kelly, Josepli Pyle, J. Taylor Gause, G. W. Todd, R. W. Wheeler, Win. M. Fields, C. Wesley Weldin, Job H. Jackson, H. C. Robinson and John G. Baker, Hillis & Jones, Seidel & Hastings Co., St. Paul's and Grace Churches.
The debt which was referred to in Brother Hill's report as having provided for, except s800, increased to SI,350, for which Capt. Alexan. der Kelly holds a mortgage.
The probable value of the property is $3,600. The society is earnest and systematic in all its business. Removals to different parts of the country and occasions which make it necessary for others to return to Sweden, forbid a rapid growth, and the society may be considered a suc- cess if it but fills the vacancies caused by removals and death. It will also be well to remember that but one Methodist has come to the society from Sweden. pastors excepted, since its organization.
The friends of the mission have often been called on to aid, and Rev. Jacob Todd, D. D., pastor of Grace Church, delivered a lecture in St. Paul's Church, April 25th, 1888, on "Jaunting Through Ire- land," from which the board of trustees realized $268. I close this paper by expressing my appreciation and the gratitude of the mission to the General Missionary Committee and also to the generous friends who have so liberally assisted this worthy society of toiling Meth- odists.
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History of Silverbrook Methodist Episcopal Church.
BY THE REV. CHAS. K. MORRIS, PASTOR.
There being no date from which to write, we appear before you. with a very incomplete sketch of the history of Mother Asbury's seventh daughter, Silverbrook, some four years older than her baby sister, Wesley. Silverbrook having no records to refer to, the items that make up this paper have been picked up wherever we could find them. We are indebted to Rev. G. Howard Smedley for the most of them; and if we don't get excited we'll try and read them to you as we have collected them.
Silverbrook, a missionary enterprise of Mother Asbury, was started in the summer of 1880. On a bright Sabbath afternoon in the month of June, Andrew J. Dalbow, a licensed exhorter of Asbury M. E. Church, with a friend, took a walk to the little hamlet of Silverbrook, situated just outside the city limits, on the Lancaster Pike. In their walk they came to a beech tree, very large and beautiful. Under this tree were several gentlemen seated in conversation, in which Brother Dalbow and his friend joined. After conversing for a while about the place and its surroundings, Brother Dalbow, ever on the lookout for opportunities of doing good and building up the waste places in Zion, remarked that this would be a delightful place to hold meetings on the . Sabbatlı. The gentlemen replied they would be glad if some one would do so, as there was no place of worship near for them to attend. So it was agreed they would begin the next Sabbath afternoon. When Brother Dalbow arrived the following Sabbath, he found quite a con- gregation assembled for divine worship. He then commenced evan- gelistic services in the open air, beneath the shade of that beautiful
Rev. CHAS. K. MORRIS,
Fastor of Silverbrook Methodist Episcopal Church.
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beech tree, after the fashion of Jesse Lee, in his pioneer work in New England. The people came from all directions, and of all denomina tions, from city and country, to these open air services. Many times several hundred people were assembled under and around that tree, in their carriages and wagons, in regular old camp-meeting style to engage in these open-air meetings. In the summer of 1881 a Sunday- school was formed, with Chas. A. Foster as superintendent. These meetings were continued through two summers and part of another; much good was done, and many souls were saved. In the meantime Brother Dalbow resolved to establish an M. F. Church there. He col- leeted mouey sufficient to buy a lot, and to build the foundations of a church, when along came the new B. & O. railroad and took both tree and lot. Financially they made something by this operation, as the railroad company paid them liberally for their loss. They then made application to be a mission of Asbury Church, which application was accepted. The money received from the railroad company was then turned over to the trustees of Asbury Church, who then purchased another lot some five squares farther north; but being beyond the new railroad, it was deemed too far out of the way.
The local workers of Silverbrook then went to work independently and purchased a lot 36x84 feet from Mrs. M. E. Riley, at Second and Rodman streets, upon which the foundations and corner-stone for a new Methodist Episcopal church were laid on Thursday afternoon, Jan- uary 8th, 1885, by Rev. W. L. S. Murray, pastor of Asbury M. E. Church, assisted by Rev. E. L. Hubbard, of Brandywine M. E. Church. The attendance was large and respectable, and much interest was manifested, as laying the corner-stone of the first church building in the place was an occasion of no small importance. A copy each of the city papers, a Methodist discipline, and other mementoes of inter- est were placed within the stone. Between $70 and $So was taken up in a collection to aid in the erection of the building. The Asbury authorities recognizing this movement of the local workers, Rev. W. L. S. Murray organized the society, comprising twenty members and. some fifteen probationers. We are sorry we have not been able to get the names of those members, so they could have the credit which is due them, but having never seen the class-book or any other record of the church, we are compelled to pass them by. The second lot purchased and paid for is still held by the Asbury trustees, but in such a way as to be of no use whatever, unless they could sell it to some denomina- tion to build a church on. When the beech tree was cut down to make way for the new railroad, the meetings were suspended for a while. For about three months in 1883 two rooms in the house of a
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Mr. Robert West were placed at the service of the society, with Brother Chas. A. Foster as leader, Brother Dolbow having taken up new terri- tory elsewhere. Subsequently, the stable of a colored man was rented at $2 per month ; the horses and mules were turned out and the stable fitted up with seats, platform pulpit, and provided with an organ. Here Dr. J. H. Simms and Rev. Chas. Moore, with a good portion of Asbury fire in theni, preached some of their soul-stiring gospel ser- mons, under which many were awakened and converted. The memory of the grand glorious meetings held in that stable will not soon be for- gotten by those who took part in them, and by those who were there born again and made new creature in Christ Jesus. From that time forward the enterprise was carried on mainly by Brothers Chas. A. Foster, Harry C. Webb and Edward Spencer.
Although the enterprise originated among members of Mother Asbury, it was helped very liberally by members of other M. E. Churches, notably by Joseph Pyle and Mrs. Riley, and others living in the immediate neighborhood. Other denominations also contributed very liberally. The whole cost of the church and lot, Rev. Chas. Hill, in his report to Conference says, was $2,242. The building, which cost $1,800, is of frame and built in gothic style. It is 28x42 feet, with an extreme height, beneath the crown of the roof, of forty feet. It is surmounted by a tower and bell, and has a vestibule 6x10 feet where the library is kept, and the pulpit platform occupies a recess in the rear of the church. The seating capacity is about four hundred. The pulpit furniture was donated by Dr. J. H. Simms of Asbury. May 31st, 1885, was fixed upon as the day of dedication. Brother Chas. A. Foster conducted a prayer meeting at 6 A. M. and Rev. W. L. S. Murray a love-feast at 9 A. M. The Rev. E. L. Hubbard preached a sermon at 10.30 A. M. from II Cor. iii : 2, " Known and read of all men." At its close it was announced that $825 of the $1,800 must yet be provided for before the church could be dedicated, and $351 was subscribed. Rev. R. C. Jones preached at 3 P. M. from Songs of Solomon iv : 4, "The Church of Christ is a tower of strength." The collection amounted to $160, which, with an old subscription list of $153 handed in, left still $161. Consequently, the dedication was postponed. In the evening Rev. C. W. Prettyman preached from 51st Psalm, 7th verse, " Wash mne and I shall be whiter than snow."
A further sum of $61 was raised, when all present felt they had contributed all that they could afford. Then a number present pledged themselves to raise the remaining $100 in sums of $5 to $10 each, so that the church could be dedicated free of debt. Dr. J. H. Simins, president of the board of trustees, then presented the building for
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dedication, and the dedicatory services were performed by:Rev. W. L. S. Murray, assisted by Rev. C. W. Prettyman. Until the Conference of '87, the pastor of Asbury supplied the pulpit with local preachers, with occasional preaching by the pastors of the city churches. Of the local preachers, Rev. Chas. Moore, Father Taylor, of precious memory, Dr. J. H. Simms, who also preached under the beech tree, Brother Thatcher, and Brother Rodgers, were the most punctual, never disap- pointing a congregation. Revs. Henry Sanderson and A. T. Scott, of the itinerant rank, also, were very efficient laborers in that part of the vineyard, and whenever the Macedonian cry was heard, Come over and help us, were always ready and willing, and we find them so to this day. In 1887 Rev. W. E. Tomkinson was appointed by the presiding elder as the first pastor of Silverbrook, and served them faithfully a part of the year, when he was appointed to Hockessin to supply the vacancy caused by the death of its pastor, Rev. Joseph Dare. After which the local brethren supplied it with preaching under the direction of the pastor of Mother Asbury, Rev. J. E. Bryan. In April, 1888, the writer having removed from the eastern shore of Maryland, and just here permit me to say with Dr. Roche, that I consider it an honor that I was born in Kent county, Maryland, near the village of Sassafras, at the head of Sassafras River. My grandfather was a local preacher, his house was a preaching place for the early Methodists; so you see if I am not a very good preacher, I come from good old Methodist stock. For twenty years I was engaged in mission work in what was called the big forest, lying between Sassafras and Smyrna, and all the way from Chestertown to Smyrna I was known by the familiar title of the swamp preacher. Many of the inhabitants of that region were consid- ered little better than heathen : and in going through that forest visiting the sick, and burying the dead, I have gone into some as mean, low. dirty, and filthy hovels, as Father Abbott ever entered. Coming from that rough field to your beautiful city, and be- ing well acquainted with Rev. J. E. Bryan, pastor of Asbury Church, I was requested by him to serve as a supply for Silverbrook, saying they will pay you probably $200 or $250. To their credit, be it said, they paid me $400. A stranger, among strange people, it was with much fear and trembling we entered upon our work. Not for fear of being stoned, however, or otherwise roughly used ; but, lest we should not be acceptable as a preacher of the gospel in the midst of such a refined and cultured people. But owing to their indulgence and ready willingness to pass our many imperfections by, and their earnest prayers to the God of Heaven for our success, we were soon led to say with the Psalmist, "Truly, the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places ; yea, we have a goodly heritage." We had a
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very pleasant, happy and prosperous year. The church raised last year for all purposes $875. At the fourth quarterly conference last year, the trustees of Silverbrook asked Mother Asbury to set them off as a separate charge, which request was granted; they also asked the presiding elder to return their pastor for another year, which he did at the ensuing Conference. The first Thursday evening in April, the annual election to fill vacancies in the board of trustees was held, and there were four vacancies. J. W. Coley, J. W. Hyrons, J. L. Vandyke, and A. W. Brilely were elected. The present board of trustees for Silver. brook are, J. W. Coley, of St. Paul's, president; Dr. J. H. Simms and C. A. Foster, of Asbury; J. L. Vandyke, J. W. Hyrons, A. W. Brile- ly, J. C. Jones, F. R. Wilde and J. F. Leach, of Silverbrook. May 2d Dr. Murray held our first quarterly conference, and organized Silverbrook as a separate charge. The following were elected a board of stewards: J. L. Vankyke, J. W. Hyrons, J. C. Jones, Chas. Sim- monds, A. W. Brilely, Sallie Vandyke, and Retta Jones. We have a Ladies' Aid Society which is doing good work. We could not get along at all without the good Christian ladies who have been such efficient workers from the beginning of this enterprise unto the present, both in church and Sunday-school. The Sunday-school which numbers one hundred and twenty-five scholars and twenty officers and teachers is in a flourishing condition, with bright prospects for the future. The Misses Laura and Bertie Harris have been teachers in this school from its first organization under the beech tree until the present, and none more faithful than they have been can be found. Sister Annie Vandergrift has also been a very faithful and efficient teacher for a long time, but whether she taught under the beech tree or not we have not been informed. Sister Parr also comes in as a faithful co-worker in the good cause. The present board of officers and teachers are as follows: A. W. Brilely, superintendent, G. H. Smedley, first assistant superintendent; Sister Retta Jones, second assistant superintendent; secretary, G. T. Vandyke; treasurer, Katie Morris; librarian, Miles Barrett; first assistant librarian, Clarence Hyrons: second assistant, Albert Wilde; chorister, J. W. Coley; organ- ist, Mrs. Etta Briley; assistant, Albert Wilde. Female teachers, Mrs Margaret Hyrons, Miss Bertie Harris, Miss Laura Harris, Mrs. Annie Vandergrift, Mrs. Retta Jones, Miss Katie Morris, Mrs. Sallie Vandyke, Mrs. Etta Brilely, Mrs. Emma Barratt, Mrs. Hiller. Male teachers, Chas. Simmons, J. L. Vandyke and J. W. Hyrons.
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