When Pocomoke Was Young- Conclusion of Rev. Murray's book.

 

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 (CONCLUDED.) 



In 1845, November, 13th the St. Mary's Protestant 
Episcopal Church in New Town was consecrated, by 
Rt. Rev. William Rollinson Whittingham D. D. Bishop 
of Maryland. This church was built through the inde- 
fatigable labors of the Rev. John Crosdale D. D., who 
from the day of its consecration to the day of his death 
was its rector. This is a beautiful church, particularly its 
inside look, and there is connected with it a fine cemetery.. 
The Church also owns a good parsonage with a spacious 
lot attached. The whole property cost between seven 
and eight thousand dollars. This church has 85 com- 
municants and a fine Sabbath School of 65 scholars 
enrolled, with an average attendance of 35. It has ten 
teachers and 150 volumes in its library. The current 
expenses of this church, including rector's salary, benevo- 
lent contributions, and incidental expenses amount to 815 
dollars. This church has a small invested fund, the 
interest of which is appropriated to the rectors salary. 
This is a growing, prosperous church with Rev. Francis 
W. Hilliard, a man of erudition, for its Rector. 

As the Rev. John Crosdale, D.D., was the originator of 
this church, it is but doing justice to his memory that a 
record of his life, in connection with his church which he 
served so faithfully, should here be recorded. He was 
born in the City of Baltimore on the 18th day of July, 
1818; died in Pocomoke City March ninth, 1878. Ordained 
in Rehoboth Church on the 4th Sunday in Advent, 1842, 
he thenceforth, with occasional intermissions, ministered in 
Coventry Parish. When Pocomoke Parish was set off there- 
from, he became and continued until death its devoted 
rector. The diocese of Easton, established chiefly by his 
exertions, preferred him to every post of trust and respon- 
sibility. His brethren and children in the faith loved him 
dearly, while integrity, wisdom and benevolence led all the 
people to hold him in honor. 

"Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I 
might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which 
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of 
the grace of God." 

The foregoing account of him I have taken from his 
monument in the cemetery of St. Mary's Church in 
Pocomoke City. 

In 1874, he received the honorary degree of D.D. from 
the Washington College, Md. There are but few men 
who for thirty-five or more years could sustain themselves 
in ministering to one congregation, with that acceptability 
which Dr. Crosdale did. He literally devoted his talent 
of mind, time and means to the interest of his church and 
the cause of the poor. His history speaks in tones louder 
than words, ''The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up." 
Here is a record that is worthy of admiration. 

The Baptist Church in New Town, now Pocomoke City, 
was built in 1853, and was dedicated by the Rev. J. W. 
M. Williams, D.D., of Baltimore, Md. It is situated at 
the corner of Market and Fourth Streets in an eligible 
part of the town. This church is built of good material 
and by one of the best workmen in the country, Mr. Isaac 
Marshall, deceased, of Somerset County, Md. It is well 
proportioned and has the handsomest steeple upon it of 
any church in the town. 

The Baptist Church in Pocomoke City has a membership 
of 87 on the church roll, and has a fine Sabbath School of 
75 pupils enrolled and an average attendance of 50, with 
100 volumes in the library. This school has had but two 
superintendents from the time of its organization to the 
present time, namely, J. C. Riley and I. H. Merrill, Mr. 
Merrill being the present one. The church has a good 
parsonage in the heart of the town and a cemetery but a 
short distance in the country. The estimated value of the 
church property including parsonage and cemetery, is 
5600 dollars. The running expenses of this church and 
Sabbath School, annually, including the pastor's salary, 
benevolent collections incidental expenses, etc., amounts 
to 610 dollars. The names of the ministers who have 
served as pastors to this church from its organization to 
the present time are as follows, Revs. S. C. Boston, A. 
Harley, O. F. Flippo, James G. Council, E. M. Burns, L. 
D. Paulling, H. J. Handy and James A. Wolf, Mr. Wolf 
being the present pastor. These men have served the 
church with fidelity, and have been the chief instrumen- 
tality in building it up and giving it a name, and standing 
for usefulness among its sister churches that reflect honor 
upon them. 

The colored Methodist Episcopal Church in New Town, 
now Pocomoke City, was organized in 1864. It has a 
membership of 186 including probationers. It has a good 
Sabbath School of 115 pupils and teachers, with an 
average attendance of 85, and 150 volumes in the library. 
This church has a missionary chapel in connection with 
the church, a parsonage and cemetery. The whole prop- 
erty is estimated, in value, to be worth 1,710 dollars. 
The running annual expenses of the church, including the 
pastor's salary, benevolent collections, incidental expenses 
etc., amounts to 355 dollars and 50 cents. The ministers 
who have occupied the pastorate of this church from its 
organization to the present time are as follows: Revs. 
Handy Long, David Eaves, Isaac Broughton, James 
Webb, Abraham Brown, William Phillips, Charles Wing, 
G. M. Landon and George H. Washington, Mr. Wash- 
ington being the present pastor. 

The African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Town, 
now Pocomoke City, was organized in 1872. It has a. 
membership of 79 including probationers, a Sabbath 
School with 51 pupils enrolled, and 25 in average atten- 
dance, with 66 volumes in the library. The church 
building is a good one, and quite creditable and it, 
together with the lot of ground on which it stands, and 
an adjoining house are estimated in value at 1,200 dollars. 
The pastors who have served this church since its organi- 
zation are as follows. Revs. George W. Jones. Charles C. 
Reeder, John Budd, Charles Young and Thomas M. Cole, 
Mr. Cole is the present pastor. In reviewing the history 
of the two Colored Methodist Churches in Pocomoke 
City, I will say they have made decided advancement 
over their former condition in ante bellum days. When 
I think of their intellectual and moral degradation in the 
days of slavery, when on the large plantations in the South 
they would sing, in their religious meetings, their degen- 
erated ditties, such as the following: 

" Oh ! where shall we go when de great day comes. 

En' de blowing o' de trumpets an' de bangin' o' de drums, 

And if a poor sinner is kotched out late, 

Der'll be no latch ter de go1den gate. 

De song o' salvation is a mighty sweet song, 

De Paradise winds dey blow fur and blow long. 

An' Aberham's bosom, it is saft an' its wide, 

An' right dar whar's de sinner aughter hide. 

Ch! don't be stoppin' an' a lookin', 

If you fool wid old Satin you'll get took in; 

En' you'll stand on de edge an' git shoved in, 

If you don't quit stoppin' an' a lookin'." 

I say, when I think of the degradation of their intellec- 
tual and moral powers in their former condition and draw 
the comparison between that and the present, they have 
made decided advancement intellectually, morally and 
religiously. They have their regular pastors, their regu- 
lar appointments, and they worship in their public 
congregations like the white people, and they sing the 
standard hymns of the Methodist Church. 

In summing up the religious outlook of Pocomoke City, 
I will say there are seven churches in the town; the total 
number of members and probationers is 705. There are 
seven Sabbath Schools, and the number of scholars and 
teachers aggregating 638 names on the school rolls, with 
1,171 volumes in the libraries, and a good supply of Sab- 
bath School papers. The total amount of church property 
in Pocomoke City is $37,610. The running annual  
expenses of all the churches and Sabbath Schools is something 
over $4,300. 

We have also four orders of secret societies in Poco- 
moke City, namely, Ancient and Accepted Order of Free 
Masons, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of 
Hephtasophs and Ancient Order of United Workmen. 
Some of these societies are benevolent while others are 
both benevolent and insurance. They are composed of 
many of the chief citizens of the town. 

It is but simple justice to say that there are gentlemen 
living in the neighborhood of Pocomoke City, who have 
given material aid to its business life, and whose interest 
in it has been so great that they have helped on its suc- 
cessful course by their influence and the use of their names, 
and chief among these are Thomas W. Hargis, Samuel S. 
McMaster and Samuel K. Dennis. 



THE END. 

NEW FEATURE-

Recollections from generations past begins next Saturday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.