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CHAPTER V
DEDICATION OF THE ASBURY
MEMORIAL
March 31, 1916 was the one hundredth
anniversary of the death of Bishop Francis Asbury, the founder,
under God, of American Methodism. That year was observed as Asbury
Centennial by many branches of American Methodism. By a special act
of Congress, ground was donated in the National Capital for an
equestrian statue of Bishop Asbury, to be paid for by popular
subscriptions taken in the Methodist churches of the United States
and Canada. The prospective cost was $50,000.
The Executive Committee of the Free
Methodist church, in its annual meeting in October, 1915, adopted a
long series of preambles and resolutions relative to the Bishop
Asbury Centenary, of which the last three resolutions were as
follows:
Resolved: That we earnestly
recommend our societies and preachers throughout the entire
connection to observe the proposed Centenary by appropriate services
in connection with which a sermon shall be preached emphasizing
Asbury's deep spirituality, his great influence in promoting and
conserving Scriptural holiness in the New World, and magnifying his
work as "the pioneer, the builder, the hero of the first half
century of American Methodism."
Resolved, That we also recommend
each annual conference to plan for an appropriate service during its
session in 1916 in celebration of the Asbury Centenary; and, unless
others have been designated for so doing, we request our district
elders in the several conferences to act in advance as a committee
on preparation of a program for the occasion.
Resolved, That we
recommend that at each Centenary service a voluntary offering be
lifted towards the erection of a bronze equestrian statue in the
City of Washington, D. C., in commemoration of this devoted man
among the statues of the other great men of the nation.
The late Bishop Wilson T. Hogue was
deeply interested in the project and was largely responsible for the
definite action taken by the Executive Committee. By pen and voice
he gave the matter his heartiest support and constantly urged a
general observance of the Centenary by our people.
The Asbury statue is the first purely
religious memorial erected on public ground in the National Capital.
The Act of Congress donating the ground referred to Bishop Asbury as
"a pioneer itinerant, whose continuous journeyings through our
cities, towns, villages and early settlements, from 1771 to 1816,
greatly promoted the interests of patriotism, education, morality
and religion and were a distinct aid to the American republic."
Bishop Asbury was born in Staffordshire,
England, August 20, 1745; landed in the United States, October 27,
1771; was ordained bishop in 1784; and died at Spottsylvania, Va.,
March 31, 1816. He has been most appropriately called, "The Prophet
of the Long Road." It is estimated that he traveled 270,000 miles
and preached 16,000 sermons. When he landed in
America there were but three Methodist preachers in the country.
When he died he left a denomination numbering 214,000 members with
2000 ministers.
The completion of the statue and its
dedication was long delayed on account of the late war and other
reasons. The formal dedication has just been observed and those who
contributed to this worthy object will be interested in reading the
following account of the ceremonies connected with the unveiling, by
Rev. F. F. Shoup, of Washington, D. C.:
The equestrian statue of Francis Asbury,
pioneer Methodist bishop in America, was unveiled and dedicated
October 15 at Washington, D. C. It occupies a beautiful and
prominent site on Sixteenth and Mt. Pleasant Streets. The statue is
a full-sized figure in bronze of Bishop Asbury on horseback. The
faithful horse is trudging wearily along, while the bishop sits
erect with the reins in the left hand and the Bible in the right.
Representatives from the following
churches occupied seats on the platform: Methodist Episcopal;
Methodist Episcopal, South; Methodist of Canada Methodist
Protestant; Free Methodist; African Methodist Episcopal; African
Methodist Episcopal Zion; Colored Methodist Episcopal. Bishop Sellew
was to have represented the Free Methodist Church, but as he was
providentially hindered, the invitation was extended to the writer.
The monument was presented to the
government by Bishop Wm. F. McDowell, and accepted for the
government by Lieut. Clarence D. Sherrill, Corps of Engineers, U. S.
Army. With the assistance of a great amplifier the voices of the
different speakers were carried out in every direction, making it
possible for the large audience to hear distinctly. Music for the
occasion was furnished by the United States Army Band.
President Coolidge occupied a seat on
the platform and delivered an address. The President said, "We can
not depend upon the government to do the work of religion. An act of
Congress may indicate that a reform is being or has been
accomplished, but it does not itself bring about a reform. The
government of a country never gets ahead of the religion of a
country." Religion was described by the President as the foundation
of this government. "It is as a result of the preaching of Bishop
Asbury, his associates, and other religious organizations," he
declared, "that our country has developed so much freedom." "It is
well to remember this," he added, "when we are seeking for social
reforms. Of course we can help to restrain the vicious and furnish a
fair degree of security and protection by legislation and police
control, but the real reforms which society in these days is seeking
will come as a result of our religious convictions, or they will not
come at all. We can not escape a personal responsibility for our own
conduct. We can not regard those as wise or safe counselors in
public affairs who deny these principles and seek to support the
theory that society can succeed when the individual fails." "There
is no way by which we can substitute the authority of law for the
virtue of man. Peace, justice, humanity, charity-these can not be
legislated into being, they are the result of a Divine grace."
From the life of Bishop Asbury, who came
to this country as a preacher before the Revolutionary War, the
President drew a lesson of sacrifice and devotion which he said "has
gone into the making of our country." He recalled that the pioneer
bishop traveled about 6000 miles a year, preaching about 16,100
sermons and receiving as his highest salary eighty-five dollars a
year." "He had no idea," Mr. Coolidge said, "that he was preparing
men the better to take part in a great liberal movement, the better
to take advantage of free institutions, and the better to perform
the functions of self-government. He did not come for political
motives. He came to bring the gospel to the people."
Two hymns were sung, "Jesus, the name
high over all," by Charles Wesley, and "Behold the Christian warrior
stands," by James Montgomery. The services were simple and deeply
impressive; and in every way a splendid tribute to the memory of the
man who literally wore himself out in the service of his Lord and
Master for the salvation of men.
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