Facing Tomorrow, Understanding Yesterday, A History of Orange ...

INTRODUCTION
John Wesley wrote to Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury in the
American Colonies on September 10, 1784 and noted that "In America
there are (no Bishops), neither any parish ministers. So that for some
hundred miles together there is none either to baptize or to administer the
Lord's supper."* Mr. Wesley concluded his letter with the following
paragraph:
As our American brethren are now totally disentangled
from the State, and from the English Hierarchy, we dare not
entangle them again .... They are now at full liberty , simply
to follow the scriptures and the primitive church. And we
judge it is best that they should stand fast in that liberty,
wherewith God has so strangely made them free. *
Lessthan fifty years later, itinerating Methodist ministers planted seeds
that have become Orange United Methodist Church today.
ByUNDERSTANDING YESTERDAYthrough the History of Orange
UnitedMethodist Church, the reader today will recognize that the life of
Orange Church retains characteristics of its earliest Methodist roots:
centering in the Scriptures, depending upon strong lay leadership and
FACINGTOMORROW as Jesus leads.
The Orange United Methodist Church History Committee merits
recognitionand special prayers of thanksgiving. It has worked diligently
andprayerfully over several years considering, deciding, and vigorously
gathering historical information and photographic memories for the
publishing of this work.
May we who cherish Orange United Methodist Church dedicate
ourselvesto retaining the strengths in UNDERSTANDINGYESTERDAY
and,FACINGTOMORROW, "stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has
sostrangely made (Orange Church) free"* to serve her Lord.
ReneO. Bideaux, Pastor
May 1992
* Allquotations are from a letter of John Wesley to Dr. Coke and Mr.
Asburyand the Brethren in North America. Bristol, September 10, 1784.
FACING TOMORROW, UNDERSTANDING YESTERDAY
Rene O. Bideaux
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