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Pocomoke Public Eye-
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(Chapter flow:)
ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS
TOWN LIMITS
GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.
MERCANTILE ASPECT
MANUFACTURING
TRADES ETC.
SHIPPING INTERESTS
EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.
SHIP BUILDING ETC.
HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.
PHYSICIANS
LAWYERS
POST OFFICE
PRINTING OFFICES
SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.
MORAL ASPECT
TEMPERANCE CAUSE
SCHOOLS
CHURCHES
Note: In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.
CHURCHES (CONTINUED)To close up the history of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in New Town and not give a list in detail of its
ministers would be, to say the least of it, a partial history.
I shall, therefore, give as correct a list of their names as I
am able. I shall first name the Bishops, then the Presid-
ing Elders, and lastly the traveling preachers.
The Bishops were: Francis Asbury, Beverly Waugh,
Edmund S. James, D.D., and Levi Scott, D.D.
The Presiding Elders were: Dr. Chandler, Lawrence
Lawrenson, Henry White, David Daily, Levi Scott, D.D.,
Jas. A. Massey, John D. Onins, Thos. J. Thompson, D.D.,
Henry Colclazer, Adam Wallace, D.D., Solomon Cooper,
Vaughn Smith, John L. Taft, N. M. Brown and Thomas
J. Williams.
The traveling preachers were: Lorenzo Dow,
Bayne, Avra Melvin, John Collins, Matthew Sorin, D.D.,
Lummas, Sparks, William Connally, John
A. Roach, D.D., Samuel McElwee, James L. Houston,
W T william Quinn, George Lacey, M. D., Isaac R. Willetts,
Shepherd Drain, James Hargis, John S. Taylor, Leeds K.
Berridge, Charles Karsner, M.D., William Bishop, John
Allen, Joshua Turner, Zachariah Webster, Jas. A. Brindle,
Charles Schock, Thomas J. Burroughs, Charles Hill,
Jonathan Turner, Curtis Turner, Robert Pattison, D.D.,
Daniel Titlow, William Merrill, John F. Chaplain, D.D,
N. W. Bennum, Charles McDermond, Edward G. Erwin,
George S. Conway, T. B. Killiam, John W. Pearson, Jas.
Miller, Albert Jump, George W. Covington, T. E. Mar-
tindale, James Murray, George D. Watson, D.D., A. A.
Fisher, Thomas Poulson, William Potter, George W.
Wilcox, E, J. Ayres, A. P. Prettyman, William Passwater,
William L. P. Bowen, Thomas O. Ayres, Charles A.
Grice, Robert Roe, William I. Baine, John D. C. Hanna
and George V. Townsend.
A brief sketch of incidents of some of the above list of
preachers, may be of interest to the reader. John Collins
was a positive, burly Irishman. He was preaching at a
certain place on a certain occasion, and there was a young
man in the congregation who stood up during preaching,
much to the annoyance of the preacher; Johnnie Collins,
for that was his ordinary name, seeing the young man
would not sit down, said: "He wished when a tailor made
a coat for a man, that he would publish it, and not put the
man who wore it to the unnecessary trouble to stand up
in the congregation to show it; that had the desired
effect and settled the young man for the time being. But
when the services were over, and Mr. Collins went to get
his horse, where he had hitched him, the young man and
his young associates were there waiting for him.
He called Mr. Collins' attention to the insult which he
had passed. "O yes!" said Mr. Collins, "are you the
young man that stood up in the congregation during
preaching?" "Yes," said the young man, "and I am
going to whip you for insulting me so." Johnnie Collins
said, "I have preached this morning, and have to ride
many miles and preach twice more to-day, and it would
be a pity to get a flogging in the bargain." This kind of
talk only made the young man more bold, and he told
Mr. Collins to get ready for he was going to whip him,
"well!" said Mr. Collins, "if I must, I must, but before you
begin this business, I want to inform you that, before I
embraced Christianity, my name was fighting Jack Collins,
and when I became a Christian, I promised the Lord that
I would whip the Devil wherever I found him," and with
that he brushed up his sleeves and said, "now come on
and I will whip every devil of you." The fight was then
over without a blow, and Mr. Collins mounted his horse
and rode off.
Another incident is related of Mr. Collins to the follow-
ing effect. He was leading a colored class, which met on
Sunday mornings before preaching, when he called Jacob
so and so; before this, however, he was informed that Jacob
had stolen a pair of breeches, " Jacob " said he, "let us
hear how you are getting along?" Jacob said, "my breath-
ering, I-s-e come here to give in my sperience, I've come to
tell you that I am sometimes up and sometimes down, but
yet any soul is heaven bound, and if you never no more sees
me, you may look for me on dat mornin', for I spec's to
scale heaven and get to glory." As it was usual to give
a word of advice or encouragement after the experience
was given; Mr. Collins said, "Jacob let me feel your pulse?"
Jacob held out his hand and Mr. Collins felt his pulse
when all of a sudden, he exclaimed in a loud tone, "what!
what! Jacob does your pulse beat breeches? breeches,
and then addressing himself to all, the class said, "Jacob
has been stealing a pair of breeches!"
Lawrence Lawrenson was a man of great pulpit power,
and although it has been said that he was most self-distrust-
ing; he was an orator of the first magnitude, and were he
living now, he would stand abreast the first pulpit orators
of the day. Henry White and David Daily were men of
precious memory, though very dissimilar in their make up.
Henry White was a positive man, he had no compromise
to offer in preaching the gospel; indeed he was the most
powerful man in the pulpit, in wielding the Sword oi the
Spirit that I ever knew. I have witnessed the effect of his
preaching, when with streaming eyes and tremulous limbs,
he would deliver his message, the most intelligent men of
the place would be in tears like little children. David
Daily was placid and pleasant, he was a strong preacher,
and was also a poet; he was one of the committee who
revised the hymn book in years past.
Matthew Sorin was raised and educated a Roman
Catholic, and it has been said that he was intended for the
priesthood; but when he embraced Christianity he became
a traveling preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
An incident occurred in relation to him while he traveled
Snow Hill circuit (which embraced this place), which is
here recorded.
He was preaching at a certain appointment and some of
the most aristocratic of the county were to hear him.
During the discourse he said something to which excep-
tions were taken by one of the above class. After the
services were over this gentleman stood at the door until
Mr. Sorin came out. He called his attention to the remark,
and said he was going to whip him for it.
They were both large men, standing at least six feet in
the clear. If there was any difference in size, I think Mr.
Sorin was the lighter of the two; but he was clear built,
muscular and plucky. He wore a straight-breasted frock
coat that buttoned up to the neck, and when the other
told him what he was going to do, he commenced button-
ing up his coat until the last button was fastened, when he
said to him then: "Sir, it takes a man to whip me."
That was the last of it.
He filled some of the best stations in Philadelphia;
became an author, and for distinguished talent, he received
the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He died but recently,
at the probable age of four score years.
In reviewing the history of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in New Town, I am authorized in saying that it
has been a great power for good. It has given force and
strength to moral sentiment, and has reached out a helping
hand to the lost and straying and has been instrumental
in saving an untold number that otherwise might have
been lost. It is the mother of churches in New Town,
and like a fostering mother, it has furnished to all its sister
churches a member now and then. In its present outlook
it has church property, including church, parsonage and
cemeteries, amounting to, in original cost and present
improvements, probably $7,000. It has a membership of
ninety members and probationers and a fine Sabbath
School, which has already been described.
In taking the past year as a basis in calculating the
running expenses of this church, including preacher's
salary, conference collections, etc., will amount to some-
thing over $1,100. It holds a very elevated position as a
great evangelizing power, and is now, as it has been in
the past, like the beacon-light to the ocean-tossed mariner,
warning sinners of the breakers and pointing them to the
harbor of rest. CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.
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thank you for these excerpts. Is there a way to get a copy of this book? Thank you.
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