Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-21
First Methodist Parsonage in America.

| Flrst metnoulst parsonage IN America.
This was building IN tho antique
style OF tho Dutch, which stood partly
in front Of the chapel. They did
not dignity 1t with the name Of parson-
age, -br pdsons were scarce, but "thc
preachers house, AS this WAS the first
house of the kind occupied in America
by Methodist preachers, we will be q
little particular in describing it, and
show how IL was furnished. IL was a
little old building that stood upon one
of tho lots the trustees purchased from
Mr.. Forbes, David Morris, who did much
OF tho carpenters work to the preach
ing house, repaired this house. This
record in the sold book" is on page IL;
l...April %, t770, 70 cash paid David Nor
iris, on account Of work done the
1 preaching house and dwelling house,
E25." aiai rsfa ei ~ : ers
The house was rough in its exterior
and interior, and very gloomy place,
with very few windows, and ms cold rs
n barn in winter. twas bettcr ''snm.
mer house" than winter. They were
not troubled for want of ventilation. IL
was connected with the chapel by u pair
of stairs in the rear lN i
Tho early Methodist in New York,
set a good example in furnishing their
preachers house, which it would be
we'll for others 10 initiate,
Humble was the plaoo and humble
the furniture. ~ II tss fafsqnr Z
a few articles they bought, some were
given, and others lent by those who did
not feel able 10 give them. Seventeen
persons gave, and six lent articles OF
furniture Tor the preachers house. These
were mostly women. The women have
generally furnished the NJ ethodlst par
sonagcs whore tho preachers and their
families are made so comfortable. Paul
makes honorable mention OF the Phebes
and Driscillas, "and the honorable wo-
men not q fcw," and says "Ifoip those
women who laborcd with me in the Cos.
pel--whoso names are Ia tho Book of
Life" From that time, devout women
have been ever ready TO do good, and
tho women Of Methodism have not bccn
n whit behind others in this respect -
The devout llannahs and holy Eliza
boths, tho humble Marys and active
Marthas, ought ever TO be held in crate.
tul remembrance.
think | 500 the women OF 1870 as.
scmbling IN the frat parsonage, and
they inquire, GLOW can we furnish this
house ~ Ono says, II can furnish this
thing for IT, another can lend an ar.
ticle not ftclag able 10 give II. Tho
day IN appointed for collecting the
things together. / see Mrs Sennet,
with her "gridron" and opalr of bel
lows" vending her way 10 the parson.
nge There goes Mrs. Earnest, with
her "six cups and saucors," determined
tho preachers should have good cup Of
tea with which 10 refresh themselves af.
ter their pulpit sweat. Mira Dcadbot.
ter sends her tea 'chest aud eanistcrs,"
knowing that cups and sauccrs, no mat.
tor how beautiful, amount IN but little
without tho ten, and 10 being first well
drawn out OF the canister. Mrs. Charles
White sonds "toa.kcttlo," knowing
canstcrs aud cups and saucors can &c.
complish but littlo without thnt ndls.
pcnsable thing toward housekeeping,
namely, a toa.kottlo. There goes Mrs.
Sauso, with her "slx knives and forks"
which she gave most willingly, and four
teaspoons, which she was willing TO
'lcnd," though she felt unable to give
thom.
Mrs, jarvis, vito of james, one Of the
trustees, gaso 'half dozen croam.ool.
ored plates, and dish" The very col.
OF Of the plates Is transmitted TO U.s.
Mrs. Harrison helps to furnish the ta-
bic by giving "throo burnt china plates
two china cups, and four silver tea.
Spoons The excellent Mrs Crosfcld,
OF precious memory furnishes "two Ia
bio cloths" al
Mrs. Newton makes provision for the
preachers washing and shaving, and
therefore sent ''wash hand basin, etc.
Mrs. Cook gave two towels" rs well us
1.-TWO pillow cases" and "thrcc table
cloths Mrs. Lupton, IN order that
they might sleep well, gave "bed-
quilt" aud Mrs. Ten Eyck u "bcd-
sprcy;" Mrs. Fcwtown ''two blankets"
Mrs. Triglcr lent "set of curtains for
the bed.
Chairs were also necessary. Mrs.
Hickey gave "ono Windsor chair and
cushion" This was the only chair be-
longing to the preachers house, but
Mrs. Taylor kindly lent ur chairs and
"onc ght chair.'s This made six chairs
in all. There were two "wlndow cur
tainsr-their color was "grccn "---one
lent by Mrs. JAWS and the other BY Mrs.
Benningcr. Ono was TOR the window
fronting tho street, and the other the
window fronting the churchyard. That
the preachers might behold their natu-
raj faces in mirror, Mr. Triglcr sup
piled thom with ''small looking-glass;'
and Mrs. Moon, in order that the preach
crs might take "littlc wine for their
country's sake, and their often infirmi-
ties" gave throe "wine-glasscs."
They went in for the ornamental as
well as the useful, and therefore one fur
nished "rcd rug" Nothing said
about carpets they were not very fash
ionable in those days; "throt pictures"
wcro supplied by Mrs. Newton. Mrs.
Harrison gave one and Mrs. Taylor lent
five, so that there were nine pictures
with which to adorn the walls OF the
first house fitted up for the accommoda-
ton of Methodist preachers in America.
/ have been thus particular, as this
was the first parsonage, to show how it
was furnished, and by whom. 1t :,
singular that We have every par' o,,,. :. !"
''to teaspoon" :iwindow G.. .'9 "Hus.i
'wash -dis,a va" ""'
~@<u