Mxku

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY Gift of

REV. E. CLOWES CHORLEY

SEMI-CENTENNIAL

OELEBRATION

OF

St

% IIP

W ILMINUTON, DELAWARE,

Wednesday and Thursday, November
12th and Ioth, 1X7!'.

<S^gN.5>

J^

WILMINGTON, DEL.
FERRIS BROS., PRINTERS.
1879.

The Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the
consecration of the first St. Andrew's Church,
^Vilmington, was held on Wednesday and
Thursday, November 12th and 13th, 1879.
As the Consecration took place October 1st,
1829, the exact anniversary was a few days
earlier, but the celebration could not be con
veniently held at that time. Another cause of
delay was the illness of the Rt. Rev. W. B.
Stevens, Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsyl
vania, who had kindly promised to be present
on the occasion and preach one of the sermons.
Much to our regret, his health was not suffi
ciently recovered to enable him to attend.
There were present at the different services
seventeen of the Clergy of the Diocese of
Delaware, and several from other Dioceses.
Among these were two of the former Assistant
Ministers, the Rev. W. A. Newbold and the
Rev. George A. Latimer. There were also in
attendance quite a number of former members
of the Church who had removed from Wil
mington. The weather was delightful and the
congregations large.
The published order of services was fully
carried out.

On Wednesday the opening service began
at 10J o'clock. At Morning Prayer the 8th
selection of Psalms was read, and the lessons
were Leviticus xxv: 8-28 inclusive, and Luke
iv: 14-32 inclusive. Hymn 277, (the same
which had been sung us the 100th Psalm at
the Consecration fifty years before) was then
sung. The Ante Communion service was that of
the previous Sunday, 22d after Trinity. Then
followed the special Hymn written for the
occasion.
HYMN.
" Thou erownest the year with Thy goodness." — ?s. i.xr., 11.
The flight of time is bringing
The seasons, circling still ;
Now harvests, ripe and golden,
The bounteous garners fill ;
While autumn skies are beaming
On plenty far and near,
We own that with his goodness,
Our Father crowns the year.
Thus far, led kindly onward,
We reach a mountain high,
And looking o'er a landscape
Where fifty autumns lie,

We see, though clouds of sorrow
Have sometimes veiled the sun,
That still our Father's goodness
Has crowned them, one by one
Here has the sower labored,
Nor labored on in vain,
For oft the holy planting
Has felt the Spirit's rain ;
The first fruits of the harvest
Are garnered safe above,
And other sheaves are ripening
Beneath the light of Love.
0, happy are the people
Who are in such a case ;
Who come to thank the Father
For years of sov'reign grace ;
Still may His hand protect us,
His smile dispel our cares,
His love call forth our praises,
His answer bless our prayers.
And when our course is ended,
Our earthly toilings o'er,
May all who here have worshipped,
Meet on the eternal shore ;
To lay each crown with meekness,
Before the Father's feet,
To Whom, with Son and Spirit
All praise is ever meet. Amen.

6
Historical Sermon, by the Rector.
The Offerings were appropriated to Missions
in the Diocese of Delaware.
The Holy Communion was administered to
a large number of the Clergy and Laity. The
Hymn was No. 184.
On Wednesday evening, the service was
opened by the " Te Deum laudamus," the
choir being increased by the addition of a
number of singers who had kindly offered
their assistance. The lessons were Isaiah lxi.
and Ephesians iv. The special hymn, sung in
the morning, was repeated. The Sermon was
preached by the Rev. William A. Newbold,
Assistant Minister during the years 1857 and
1858, from Isaiah iv : 5, 6.
After the sermon was sung the following
anthem.
ANTHEM.
" Hallelujah !"
Hallelujah ! Power and glory to the Lord
Jehovah's name —
Praise our God, all ye who love the Lord,
in holy songs of joy —
Sing Jehovah's power and glory. Hallelujah !

Thursday, 10| A. M.
Morning Prayer.
Lessons — Isaiah, lxii. John xv : 1-17.
Sermon by the Rev. W. H. Gallagher, Rec
tor of Trinity Church, Muscatine, Iowa, from
Jeremiah xxiii : 7, 8.
(The Rev. Mr. Gallagher, a child of St. An
drew's Church, was baptized there in infancy, con
firmed, received to the Holy Communion, and or
dained to the Diaconate.)
Thursday, 3} P. M.
Eveniug Prayer.
Tenth Selection of Psalms.
Lessons — Micah iv : 1-8. Hebrews, xii.
Hymn 496.
Sermon by the Rev. Richard Newton, D. D.,
from 1 Chron. xii : 32.
(Dr. Newton was a teacher in the Sunday School
during the Rectorship of the Rev Mr Coit.)
Hymn 197.
On Thursday evening there was a numerous
gathering of the members of the congregation
and their guests, and visitors, in the Lecture
room. After some time spent in pleasant

social intercourse, the Rector made a brief
address and read extracts from letters writ
ten by Ministers formerly connected with the
Church, who were unable to be present, and
from other absent friends. He then requested
George H. Bates, Esq., to take the chair.
This Mr. Bates did, with appropriate remarks
on behalf of the Vestry and congregation.
Short addresses, in response to the call of
the chairman, were made by the Rev. W. J.
Erost, D. D., Rector of Trinity Church, Wil
mington, the Rev. W. A. Newbold, the Rev.
George A. Latimer, and the Rev. Charles E.
Murray, of Philadelphia.
The closing hymn, No. 315, was sung, and
the services of this interesting occasion were
closed by the Rector pronouncing the blessing
of peace.

SEMI-CENTENNIAL

11%
PREACHED IN ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH,
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ON
WEDNESDAY, NOVEM
BER 12th, 1879,
BY THE
Rt. Rev. ALFRED LEE, Rector.

ttttMtsiljisi) by request of tljc Wcstrij.

SERMON.

Leviticus xxv., 11. A Jubilee shall that fiftieth
year be unto you.
The remarkable appointment, recorded
in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Book of
Leviticus, has left a sacred impress upon
the fiftieth year for other people than the
Israelites. Such an observance, of divine
origin, suggests to us that when an insti
tution, civil or religions, has completed
such a period of existence, it is a seemly
and appropriate thing to acknowledge
publicly God's guiding, sustaining hand.
The Hebrew Jubilee had much import
ance in its national bearing, and a still
higher interest in its typical character.
On the solemn day of annual atonement,
after the sins of the people had been

12
acknowledged in the general fast, and the
symbolic expiation had been made by the
High Priest, entering into the most holy
place and sprinkling the blood upon the
mercy seat, the sound of the trumpets
gladdened expectant ears. Then the
alienated inheritance of the poor man
was restored and the Hebrew bondman
Avas to go free. The land could not be
sold forever because it was the Lord's.
He had never parted with the ownership.
Neither could the Israelite be a bondman
forever. " For they are my servants
which I brought forth out of the land of
Egypt ; they shall not be sold as bond
men." Instead of the hard and exhaust
ing labor that was usually • required for
the products of the soil, during this year
as well as the previous sabbatical year,
the people should live upon spontaneous
fruits, and the superabundant harvest of
the year preceding. "And if ye shall

18
say, What shall we eat the seventh year?
behold, we shall not sow nor gather in
our increase : Then I will command my
blessing upon you in the sixth year, and
it shall bring forth fruit for three years.
And ye shall sow the eighth year, and
eat of the old fruit until the ninth year ;
until her fruits come in ye shall eat of
the old store."
This promise involved the recurrence
of a perpetual miracle, and we never
read any complaints that it was not
fulfilled. How far the ordinance was
observed by the nation during its history
is a matter of some doubt, but there is
no charge that the Lord's promise ever
failed. The typical import of this institution
is presented in the sixty-first chapter of
the prophet Isaiah, the same scripture
which our Saviour took as the text for
his sermon, in the synagogue at Naza-
2

14
reth : " The Spirit of the Lord God is
upon me ; because the Lord hath an
ointed me to preach good tidings unto
the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up
the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty
to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound ; to pro
claim the acceptable year of the Lord; to
comfort all that mourn ; to appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give unto
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy
for mourning, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness : that they
might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he might
be glorified." The dawn of this accept
able year of the Lord was heralded by
the proclamation of John, and the com
ing of the Son of God in the flesh : its
culmination shall be signaled by his
coming in glory, when he shall reign
from sea to sea, and from the river to

In
the end of the earth ; when his name
shall be hallowed and his will done on
earth as it is done in heaven ; when his
people shall be all righteous, and shall
inherit the land forever.
With the Jubilee as a national Mosaic
ordinance we are not concerned, except
with its fraternal and benevolent spirit.
In its foreshadowing of the latter-day
glory we have no less interest than they
to whom it was given. We await " the
times of restitution of all things, which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all
his holy prophets since the world began."
The lapse of a half century, in the his
tory of a church or congregation, may
well bring more forcibly to our minds
the hastening on of the grand consum
mation which awaits the Church of
the redeemed. Since the first house of
prayer, erected on this spot, was set apart
from all unhallowed and common uses

16
for reading God's holy word, for cele
brating his holy sacraments, for offering
to his glorious Majesty the sacrifices of
prayer and praise, and for the perform
ance of all other holy offices, so much
of the interval of time ere the coming of
the Lord has elapsed. We are fifty years
nearer to the outburst of his glory than
those who then gathered here for that
solemnity. " The night is far spent, the
day is at hand — let us cast off the works
of darkness and let us put on the armor
of light."
While this celebration will not be in
vain, if our faith grasp the sublime im
port of the Jubilee and our hope be
directed more strongly towards the com
ing Christ, it is natural for us, as we meet
to-day, to glance over the past and review
the history of this congregation. I feel,
dear friends, in discharging my present
duty, as if I were carried back, from year

17
to year, through the space of a lengthened
pastorate, extending over three-fourths of
this half century. I live again solemn
and joyful occasions, mournings and
thanksgivings, seasons of trial and sea
sons of rejoicing. I see not only you
who are present to-day, but other forms
that have aforetime occupied these seats
and knelt at this chancel. Those who
have fallen asleep in Jesus seem to join
as of old in the voice of supplication and
in the hymn of praise. There come up
to-day our fellow worshippers who, one
by one, have gone from our midst to
unite in a nobler, sweeter song of praise
to Him who redeemed them. I seem to
be compassed about with a great cloud
of witnesses, who once hung upon my
lips as I spake of the things which ac
company salvation, and many of whom
came to me with the question, "What
must I do to be saved ?" And is the

is
bond, so sacred and strong, in which
they and we were united, sundered and
parted? Ah, no! The union of those
who were one in Christ is not a transi
tory thing. Not only do their good ex
amples and precious memories survive,
but we are still parts of the one body,
members of "the general assembly and
Church of the first born," one in "the
holy Catholic Church," " the blessed
company of all faithful people." And
we realize more vividly to-day our un
broken fellowship with the sainted —
"One family we dwell in him,
One Church above, beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death "
Let the thought animate and quicken
us. Let not those who have gone wait
in vain for us to rejoin them on the other
side. Let former happy hours, when

10
we took sweet counsel together and walk
ed to the house of God as friends, be the
prelude of meetings full of joy, never
more to part, in the new Jerusalem.
The first movement tending towards
the foundation of this church was the
desire of many of the inhabitants of
Wilmington, who were attached to the
Episcopal Church, for a place of wor
ship more conveniently situated and
accessible, than the Old Swedes' church.
The space between French Street and
that venerable sanctuary was then en
tirely open, and the distance naturally
seemed greater than at the present
day. There was no pavement, and it
was a difficult thing in wet or un
favorable weather for pedestrians to
attend. The necessity thus felt led to
the formation of what is called in its
records, " The Episcopal Association in
the Borough of Wilmington." At a

20
meeting of this Association, on Wed
nesday, April 26th, 1815, John Lynam
was chosen Chairman, and James M.
Broom Secretary, and it was "resolved
that John Rumsey, Henry Rice, Dr.
John Brinckle, John Hedges, and Fran
cis O'Daniel, be appointed a committee
to purchase, at a price not exceeding
the cost thereof, the Second Baptist
church in this Borough, and the lot
thereunto belonging, to be held in
trust or disposed of according to the
directions of a majority of members
of the Protestant Episcopal Church
who may, within twenty days, become
subscribers for the purchase of the
same." This committee proceeded to
make the purchase directed, to which
an adjoining lot was afterwards added,
the property being at the north-east
corner of King and Sixth Street, then
known as Hanover Street. A buildine- o

21
committee was appointed, with in
structions to provide a plan for the
church building, to make estimates of
the cost of materials and workman
ship, and to receive proposals for the
performance of the work. " In this,
however," the record states on a sub
sequent page, "they proceeded no fur
ther than to contract for the digging
of the cellar, for although the pro
gress made in the new subscription,
on the instant of its being presented,
was highly propitious to their views,
yet the change which afterwards took
place in the prosperity of the town
and neighborhood, and which began
to be felt in the loss of individual
property and the decline of business
of every kind, determined the commit
tee in the spring of 1817, very reluct
antly, to desist from the undertaking."
Some time afterwards the lots that
3

22
had been purchased were sold to defray
the expenses incurred, and the enter
prise, which had started under circum
stances apparently favorable, fell to the
ground. But the want of a more conveniently
situated church was deeply felt. The
Rev. Ralph Williston, Rector of Trinity
Church, Wilmington, in his report to
the Convention of the Diocese, June
7th, 1823, says : " On the subject of the
contemplated accommodation for public
worship in the Borough of Wilmington,
it is hoped that a new church will
be commenced in the course of the
summer, considerable progress having
been made . in raising funds for that
purpose." The hope expressed by Mr.
Williston was not. then realized. The
next effort was more successful, and
resulted not only in founding St. An
drew's Parish, but in stimulating the

23
members of Trinity Church to erect a
chapel in the heart of the city. A
number of those who had taken part
in the first Association, some ten years
after the failure of that effort, united
in forming a new and independent
congregation. Divine service was estab
lished, and the Rev. J. Howland Coit
called in June, 1828, as their pastor.
Service Avas held in the ancient Pres
byterian church, Market and Tenth
Streets, the use of which was offered
with much christian courtesy. Before
the end of the year, the congregation
felt themselves warranted in taking
measures for erecting a church build
ing. I read an extract from the Minute
Book of the " Board of Trustees of the
Episcopal Congregation of the Borough
of Wilmington, and its vicinity." "At
a meeting of the said Trustees held at
the house of Dr. John Brinckle, on

24
Tuesday, the 23d of December, 1828,
present, Dr. John Brinckle, Henry Rice,
Dell Noblit, John B. Lewis and Albert
Wilson, Dr. Brinckle was chosen Chair
man, and Albert Wilson, Secretary.
The Trustees present, deeply feeling the
many and serious disadvantages which
the Episcopal Congregation labor under
in not having a place of worship of
their own, do resolve that they will
endeavour, by the blessing of the great
head of the Church, to erect such a
building, as early as practicable, and
that immediate measures be taken to
carry this resolution into effect. Re
solved, that the Trustees purchase the
lot offered by S. McClary and C. Bush,
situated at the South-west corner of
Shipley and Kent (now Eighth) Streets.
Resolved, that the building proposed to
be erected shall be of stone, 45 feet
on Shipley Street, and extend 55 feet

on Kent Street. The Trustees also ac
cepted with much gratitude a liberal
offer from Edward Tatnall to furnish
the stone, at a rate considerably below
the market price. The building of the
new church commenced in May, 1829,
and it was completed and ready for
consecration, on the 1st October fol
lowing. I find the following record of
this service: "St. Andrew's Church.
This edifice, situated in the Borough
of Wilmington, State of Delaware, erect
ed by and for the use of the Episco
pal congregation under the pastoral
care of the Rev. J. H. Coit, was
dedicated to the service of Almighty
God, on the first day of October, 1829.
The ceremony of consecration was per
formed with great solemnity by Bishop
White, of Pennsylvania, assisted by a
number of the clergy of Pennsylvania
and Delaware. The Rev. Mr. Bedell,
3*

26
of Philadelphia, read the service for
the day, and after the 100th Psalm,
the Rev. Dr. Bull, formerly Rector of
Trinity Church, Wilmington, delivered
a very appropriate and impressive ser
mon, from those beautiful expressions -
of Solomon, when he dedicated the
temple, 1 Book of Kings, 8th chapter,
27th verse: "But will God indeed
dwell on the earth? Behold the hea
ven and heaven of heavens cannot
contain thee ; how much less this house
that I have builded !" At a meeting
of the congregation held March 24th,
1830, rules and regulations were pre
sented, and subsequently adopted, and
on Easter Monday following, the first
election was held of a Vestry.
The public ministration of the Rev.
J. H. Coit began in June, .1828. At
the first celebration of the Lord's Sup
per, twenty-four persons communed.

The earliest Register contains twenty-
seven names of those who had been
previously communicants of the church,
and who united in forming the new
congregation. The list was headed Avith
the names of John and Elizabeth
Brinckle. One alone of the twenty-
seven remains a member of the church
at the present day, Mr. John B. Lewis.
One of those who was latest called
from earth was the venerable Dell
Noblit, who fell asleep on the 21st
day of January, 1878, having attained
the patriarchal age of one, hundred
years. If others survive, they are no
longer residents of Wilmington. In the
Journal of the Convention, of the Dio
cese of Delaware for 1830, is found the
first report from St. Andrew's Church,
signed by the Rev. J. Howland Coit.
" The Rector of this church begs leave
to report that the congregation with a

28
commendable zeal have, since the last
Convention, erected a commodious and
neat place of worship, which was con
secrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop White,
of Pennsylvania, in October last. Since
the erection of the edifice, the congre
gation has been gradually increasing,
so that the pews .ire nearly all taken.
The whole number of families is about
fifty. By the blessing of God, the
spiritual interests of the church have
been prospered. Within the last two
years, between twenty and thirty have
been added to the communion of the
church. The Sunday School is in a
very flourishing condition. The whole
number of scholars on our books, is
about 250, though the average attend
ance cannot be stated higher than 130.
There are twenty teachers. Whole num
ber of communicants about 50. Bap
tisms, adult 10, children 11, — 21." The

29
first confirmation was held by Bishop
H. U. Onderdonk, Whit Sunday, May
30, 1830—14 persons.
The church was for the first time
represented by lay delegates in the
Diocesan Convention of 1831, John B.
Lewis and James L. Devou being the
delegates. As far as I can ascertain, this con
secration was the last public service
performed by Bishop White in Dela
ware, of which Diocese he had pro
visional charge, and it is pleasant to
associate this opening solemnity with
his venerable name, as well as with
those holy men and honored servants
of Christ, Doctors Bull and Bedell. In
his report to the Convention of 1831,
the Rev. Mr. Coit states that the Lord
had mercifully prospered his work.
During the past year thirteen had
been added to the communion. Aver-

30
age attendance on Sunday School 150.
Five of the -scholars and three of the
teachers, within the year, had joined
themselves to the Lord. Social prayer
meetings have been held from house
to house, one evening in the week.
They have been attended with deep
interest and, in the Rector's opinion,
have been means of much spiritual
good. Number of communicants, 56.
Baptisms, 7 adults, 2 infants.
The Parish continued under the
charge of the Rev. Mr. Coit until April,
1832, when it sustained a grievous loss
by his resignation. This was owing, in
part at least, to the difficulty of sup
porting his family on the scanty salary
which the church was able to pay.
He accepted a call to Plattsburg, in
the State of New York, in which place,
says a Memorial sketch, prepared by
his son, Dr. Henry A. Coit, on the

31
evening of October 1st, 1866, "he pass
ed peacefully from this land of prayer
and tears, to the land of praise and
rejoicing." The highest testimony was
borne by those who knew him to his
fervent piety, his consistent life, his
abundant labors, his extensive useful
ness, and the loveliness of his christian
character. Among the people of his
first charge his memory has been affec
tionately cherished. It is a coincidence
worthy of note that the day on which
his spirit took its flight to Paradise
was the anniversary of the consecra
tion of his first church, thirty-seven
years before.
The report presented by the Vestry
to the Convention of 1832 notes " con
tinued prosperity, although deprived of
the valuable services of their late wor
thy Rector. The pulpit had been regu
larly supplied. Twenty-three persons

32
had been confirmed by Bishop Onder
donk, and the number of communicants
had increased to 66."
The names of the Rectors since Mr.
Coit up to the year 1842 are, the
Rev. J. V. E. Thorn, C. S. Hedges,
Wm. C. Russell, Wm. James Clark, and
Wm. H. Trapnell. Four of these are
no longer living, Messrs. Coit, Thorn,
Russell, and Trapnell. Of thirteen
assistant ministers five haA'e finish
ed their earthly course, the Rev. N.
C. Pridham, James Leason Hood, Ed
ward Hale, Charles H. Williamson, and
Charles E. Mcllvaine. To these names,
of those who no longer serve in tem
ples made with hands, may be added
that of the Rev. Samuel C. Brinckle.
This honored and faithful servant of
Christ, who had inherited from his
parents a warm interest in St. An
drew's, although not an elected assist-

33
ant, rendered gratuitous and highly
valued services to the Rector for a
considerable period. The ministry of
the Rev. Wm. C. Russell is worthy of
especial mention, as attended with holy
influences and an abundant blessing.
Previously to his entrance upon his
duties in November, 1834, the church
had been for six months without a
rector, and the congregation must have
diminished, as he found but forty fam
ilies. By him was established the
Missionary organization of the Sunday
School, then a new thing. This has
been sustained with steady zeal up to
the present time and has been exten
sively copied. The school has main
tained a scholarship in the Cape Pal-
mas Female Orphan Asylum, Africa,
since 1857, by an annual payment of
$75, and contributed largely towards
the establishment of Calvary church
4

34
and Sunday School, Wilmington, giv
ing not only money, but faithful
teachers and numerous scholars. It
has raised for missionary and kindred
objects not less than $7,500.
The earnest and acceptable labors of
the Rev. Mr. Russell were brought to
a close by the failure of his health,
compelling him to tender his resigna
tion, at Easter, 1837. In his last
Parochial Report he says, "The dis
pensation has been severe, but he bows
in submission to him by whom it
was ordered, and is enabled to say,
Thy will be done." About six months
afterward he was called to his rest.
In 1839 a spire was placed upon
the church and other improvements
made which were completed by Christ
mas day. The rejoicing on this ac
count was soon turned into mourning.
A short month after, January 25th,

35
1840, the whole structure was con
sumed by fire. The work of years,
the subject of prayers, the fruit of
self denial and exertion, the place of
sweet and hallowed associations, was
swept away in an hour. By this ca
lamity the Parish was left, after dis
charging its indebtedness, with merely
the lot, and the ashes of their former
temple. Trusting hoAvever in him
whose help had never failed them,
they set about rebuilding with so
much energy that, on the 15th Octo
ber following, a new and larger church
was completed. While deprived by
this unexpected stroke of their house of
worship, the congregation were most
kindly tendered the use of the Hano
ver Street Presbyterian church, an
offer which was gratefully accepted,
and a minute, expressive of their
sense of this courteous act, was placed

36
by the Vestry on their Records. The
new church was erected on the for
mer site — its dimensions 48 feet by
80, number of pews 76, cost about
$11,000. It was consecrated by Bishop
H. U. Onderdonk, October 15th, 1840,
the sermon being preached by the Rt.
Rev. W. R. Whittingham, Bishop of
Maryland. Bishop Whittingham 's con
secration to the Episcopate took place
only four weeks previously, (Sept. 17th)
so that while the setting apart of the
first church was the last official duty
performed in Delaware by Bishop
White, the sermon at the consecration
of the second was one of the earliest
services rendered as a Bishop by the
eminent and godly man Avhose labor
ious Episcopate has so recently closed.
It is difficult for me to realize that
three-fourths of the half century Ave
are reviewing has passed aAvay, since

37
my entrance upon the duties of Rec
tor of this church. The period is not
a small one in any point of view,
especially not a small one at the pre
sent day, when pastoral connections are
so generally of very brief duration.
Were I to indulge in the memories
that come crowding so thickly at the
retrospect, dwell upon the scenes of
deep and solemn interest that have
attended my work, call up the forms
that have vanished from sight, stand
again at the many death beds, follow
once more to the house appointed for
all living, the aged and the young,
the worn out pilgrim and the bloom
ing youth, the venerable and the lovely,
the attempt would overtask my forti
tude and that of some of you.
Statistical tables show forth most
imperfectly ministerial acts, public ser
vices, private intercourse, pastor and
4*

38
people in the church and the house.
They seem dry and sapless branches,
rather than mellow, clustering fruits,
and mock solemn and tender emotions
by stiff and precise details. But it is
sometimes the best we can do. The
everlasting register, the record on high,
contains the true history, the heart-
work, the souls quickened, the blessings
imparted, the triumphs of grace, the
sighs of penitence, the prayers of faith,
the victories of Jesus Christ, the jewels
that have been polished for his diadem.
And so, also, the failures, the declen
sions, the success of the tempter in
snatching away the seed and spoiling
the harvest. All the inner-life of the
church — the field as God sees it, is
hidden now from our scrutiny. But
it will all come out at last. " The
Day will declare it." I can only give
some fragments of the outward history

39-
which inadequately represent it. And
in so doing I own that manifold as
have been our shortcomings, God has
not forgotten to be gracious.
I took temporary charge of the
Parish in June, 1842, and accepted
the rectorship, July 30th, 1843. I
found between 70 and 80 communi
cants, and about fifty families. The
number is less than mentioned in Mr.
Russell's last report, and the church,
owing to frequent changes of pastoral
relation, seemed to have retrograded
rather than advanced. It Avas bur
dened with a debt, large for the means
of the congregation, which proved, as
church debts usually do, a source of
vexation and hindrance. In my report
of 1853, I was able to say : " The in
cumbrance of debt which has weighed
so heavily upon the church for many
years, has by an [energetic and liberal

40
effort been removed, and we now owe
no other debt than that of christian
love." The year following, 1854, the
place Avas found too strait for us, and
we had to lengthen our cords. The
building was enlarged b}' adding one-
third to its capacity, at an expense of
$4,000. In 1857 a mission was started in a
portion of the city then ill supplied
with religious advantages. Services
Avere opened in a carriage shop at
Front and Justison Streets, and sus
tained by the Rector and his assistant.
The attendance increased, and a large
and flourishing Sunday School was
gathered. The fruit of this effort was
the erection of Calvary Chapel, on
Washington, corner of Third Street, at
a cost, Avith the lot, of 0ATer $5,000,
opened for divine service, October 20th,
1859. The growing work there con-

41
tinued to be . a part of the operations
of St. Andrew's church until April
15th, 1868, when it was organized as
an independent Parish, and was re
ceived into union with the Convention
of the Diocese, June 3d, 1868. At the
last Convention this church reported
100 communicants, and 250 Sunday
School teachers and scholars.
The Sunday School of St. Andrew's
has been always kept up with energy
and spirit, and has seldom wanted for
a good supply of faithful teachers. In
1852 a colored Sunday School was
commenced with small beginning, but
with steady growth and much encour
agement. For a number of years it
has enrolled from 200 to 250 scholars,
a large proportion of whom are adults.
The financial exhibit is to be viewed
in connection with the means of the
congregation. The beginning was with

42
slender resources. When the lot was
purchased the first five-dollar bill had
not been received, and for a number
of years the church could only offer
$400 to $500 as a salary to the Rec
tor. The amounts which I name in
clude only the period of my own
Rectorship, and are taken from the
annual reports to the Convention.
Leaving out of consideration what has
been raised for the current expenses,
salaries, &c, I find the contributions
since 1842 to be nearly as follows :
Payment of debt, Church enlarge
ment and improvement, $1S,000
To invested funds of Diocese of
Delaware, and Diocesan
charges, 10,500
Missions and Charities, (includ
ing contributions of Sunday
School), 41,500

Not including current expenses, $ 70,000

43
During the same period there have
been :
Confirmed, . 653
Baptized, adults 211, infants 825, total, 1036
Added to the communion from 600 to 700
Marriages, 204
Burials, - 605
Of communicants the deaths have been, 144
What words can express the hopes
and fears, the self denials and rewards,
the joy or anguish, the dealings of the
Spirit with immortal souls which these
figures represent.
The church hath been instrumental
in adding to the ministry men who
have done good work. Of those
who have sat on our Sunday School
benches as teachers or scholars, sixteen
have been ordained, and while some
have served in large city churches,
others have been engaged and are now
laboring as frontier missionaries in the

44
far West, in Iowa, Kansas and Mon
tana. A faithful pastor in Pennsyl
vania, formerly a scholar, was quite
recently called to his rest.
Any institution, under human con
trol, is ahvays liable to drift away
from its original design. Churches are
not exempt . from tendencies to diverge
from their true model. Pride and
vanity, emulation and party spirit, self
indulgence and luxury, are influences
against which we need at the present
day to be on our guard. For what
does a particular church exist? For
the same great reasons for which the
whole Church of Christ exists, to be
the Lord's witness and messenger, to
stand fast for his truth, to set forth
his name and worship, to build up
the spiritual house with living stones,
to spread abroad the knowledge of his
salvation, to extend that kingdom

45
which " is righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost." When the
diffusive, disinterested, outgoing spirit
of the gospel is forgotten, and the
church becomes engrossed Avith its OAvn
magnificence, beauty, prosperity, aggran
dizement, cares more for the appear
ance it makes and the prestige it
gains than for the glory of Christ, the
promotion of holiness, the saving of
souls, it rapidly degenerates. A chris
tian church is not a Sunday club,
where Avell-dressed people can meet
and enjoy music and rhetoric on the
Lord's day. It is not a place of
amusement, where assemblies are to be
entertained with spectacular exhibitions,
parades, ceremonies, concerts, festivals,
declamations and spicy oratory. Its
congregations are not to be gathered
by the same arts of self laudation,
advertising, and stimulating public curi-
5

46
osity that are used to crowd the
theatre and the lecture-hall. Its ab
sorbing thought is not to be hoAv may
the pews be filled and the income in
creased. Neither are the instruction
and edification of its own members,
important as they surely are, the sole
object of its being. To be true to its
charter it must go out of itself. The
candle is not lighted to be put under
a bushel ; nor the fountain unsealed
that it should stagnate at the head ;
nor the broken bread put into the
hands of disciples of Jesus Christ that
they should consume it all themselves,
and distribute none to famishing mul
titudes around. The church is to look
abroad as Jesus did over the Avorld
Avhich he redeemed, and Avhich he
claims as his oavh ; to make him
known to them that are far off and
to them that are nigh ; to lift up the

47
standard, to go out into the highways
and hedges, and .compel, with kind
persuasion, the outcast to come in.
And herein is it an exceeding privi
lege to belong to a great Communion,
Avhose heart pulsates Avith love for the
world, and Avhich stretches forth its
arms across continents and oceans ;
which puts forth various instrumental
ities of christian benevolence, and calls
upon her children to come up to the
help of the Lord against the mighty.
No branch of such a Church can turn
a deaf ear to her appeals, without being
unfaithful to its trust and recreant to
its head. And to itself the result
Avill be leanness and atrophy, a lan
guishing sickly life, and, if it die, few
to mourn its dissolution. A church of
Christ without the mind of Christ, of
him who came to seek and to save
the lost?. who sought not his own

48
glory, who came not to be ministered
unto but to minister, such a church
is a contradiction and a sham, a cloud
without Avater, a tree .devoid of fruit,
however grand its temple, or imposing
its ceremonial. And selfishness is the
worm at the root of many a goodly
plant. The most precious and costly
ornaments of the sanctuary are the
willing mind, the open hand, works
of faith and labors of love. Oh, that
the heart of every one, who kneels at
the table of the Lord, throbbed with
desires to walk in his footsteps and
exemplify his teachings. The church
that seeks not her OAvn, but the things
which are Jesus Christ's, will not be
forsaken. And as a church increases
in strength and numbers its active
charity should increase, and, forgetting
the things that *are behind, it should
reach forth to the things before. Oh

49
that he who walketh among the
golden candlesticks might address, in
the years to come, to this church the
words which he spake to Thyatira,
"I know thy works, and charity,
and service,, and faith, and thy pa
tience and thy works, and the last
to be more than the first.''1 Then,
if so long the Lord delay his
coming, fifty years hence, when the
church shall have completed her round
century, there will be a brighter record
to unfold, a loftier song of praise to
chant, than ours to-day. And although
we cannot expect to participate here
in another Jubilee, we may through
God's grace share in its joys, as per-
ad venture in ours sainted ones to-day,
Avhere they see the King in his
beauty.

50
The twenty-second Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.
Lord, we beseech thee to keep thy household
the Church in continual godliness ; that, through
thy protection, it may be free from all adversities,
and devoutly given to serve thee in good works,
to the glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

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