A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

enlarged and improved in 1835. The Rev. Samuel Mervine laid the corner stone of the church in
1827.
Asbury M. E. Church was opened for worship, in Philadelphia, abut 1830. In 1850, it was
enlarged and improved. Fifth Street Church was built by the Presbyterians, and bought by a number
of the St. John's Methodists, with the Rev. Joseph Rusling at their head; it first appears on the
Minutes as a station in 1832.
[See reference to the following passage in the Introduction] St. Paul's is a slip from Ebenezer,
about 1833. The Methodists, who founded it, built a small brick church in Fifth, near Catherine
street. About 1837, Paul Beck, a pious Episcopalian, caused a large church to be erected in modern
style, on a fine lot which he had set apart for the purpose. The gift of Mr. Beck, including the cost
of the church and the value of the ground, was equal to fifteen thousand dollars; this church has the
finest front yard of all the M. E. Churches in Philadelphia.
In 1831, the Rev. Edward T. Taylor, the far-famed mariners' preacher, in Boston, came to
Philadelphia to collect money to establish a Sailor's Boarding House, in Boston. While in this city,
his preaching in the churches and on the decks of vessels had its effects, one of which was to incite
in some of the Methodists a desire to do something for watermen. There were a few young men, such
as Jacob Walters, William Wright, William Farson, William Hanley, William W. Barnes, David H.
Bowen, and John M. Hines, who were members of Ebenezer M. E. Church, who first moved in this
enterprise: they were soon joined by C. F. Mansfield, Joseph Mason, and others. Of the above named
nine, Messrs. Mason and Hanly are in the itinerancy, and Messrs. Walter and Bowen are in the local
preachers' ranks. At this time the Rev. George G. Cookman was in charge of St. George's. At the
request of the above named brethren, an appointment was made for a Sunday afternoon sermon on
the wharf in Southwark. The spot chosen was south of South street, the retreat of inebriates on
Sunday. Some stones and a pair of scales formed the pulpit. The people coming from Jersey in
ferryboats to South street, seeing the people assembling about the drunkards rendezvous, supposed
there was a regular row and hastened to swell the congregation. Isaiah, lv. I was discoursed upon by
Mr. Cookman, and this was the initiatory sermon of the Methodist Episcopal Mariners' Bethel.
In fitting up a place of worship for sailors by this band of young men, a spirit of sacrifice was
shown. In a high degree: they had raised a fund to charter a boat for a Fourth of July excursion on
the Delaware river; some of them mooted that the money would be better applied in fitting up a place
for religious worship; it was argued successfully; and when the Fourth of July came, these young
men, instead of gliding on the Delaware, were seen using saws, planes, hammers, and nails, making
benches for a congregation to use in worshipping the Lord, and receiving religious instruction.
This meeting was kept alive for nearly three years by those who founded it, assisted by local
preachers, and occasional visits from the preachers stationed at St. George's. In 1834 the Rev. D. W.
Bartine was sent, who served it efficiently. In 1844 a brick church was erected, and finished off since
very neatly. This meeting has as much, if not more, of the primitive spirit of Methodism, as any one
to be found in this city. It has sent out some preachers of the first order of mind, such as Dr. Wythe,
and the Rev. W. H. Brisbane.