The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-02-25
BY REV. JOSEPH MILLER.

BY REV. JOSEPH MILLER.
Prior to the introduction of Methodism
into the upper part Of Cecil county, MARYLAND,
where my father was born and raised, the
churches had become very low in christian
experience. So much so that their religion
did not prevent them from the commission of
many gross sins: with some exceptions many
of them would drink, frolic, and dance upon
the Sabbath, and all passed off well, for 1t was
like priest and like people.
One old preacher was solicited to go to Elk
ton and give them a sermon every two weeks.
which he agreed to do if they would give him
five dollars a sermon. They declined and
offered three dollars. lie said. "you had bet
ter pay five dollars and get a good sermon e,
for tell you three dollar sermon is darncd
poor thing" This was told me by preacher
for fact.
As far as I can learn the Methodists were
not introduced there till about 1900, although
there had been much preaching in Virginia
md other parts of Maryland long before that
date. The vicinity above referred TO was
under Presbyterian influence generally So
much so that Methodism struggled hard and
long before it could gain the asccndancv.-
They worshipped in barns, mills, school
houses and private dwellings,. 1t was twenty
three years before they could muster strength
to build little log house twenty by twenty
four feet called the Union, and then in 1881 a
frame building at Cherry Hill with larger pro-
portions. Tue Cherry Hill class was first
formed at father Spcnce's, in q little old log
house in the woods where they were served
with week day preaching. From there it was
moved to the poor house or to Lulton's IT
Roads and thence to Cherry Hill, in an upper
room. to which they asccndcd by ladder. -
Here the Methodist itinerants held forth for
many years, unit! the churches above men
toned were erected Now we have new
brick church forty by sixty feet, we'll finished
and nearly paid for, strong membership and
scarcely any other ism but Methodism is
named in that neighborhood.
lie was born about the year ITO and died
in 1913, in the 18th year of his age. His
father was an lrishnan, but with his mothers
nativity am unacquainted. She was mem.
Der of the Presbyterian church, woman Of
much prayer and zeal She trained her son
up in that faith, so that at an early age h,
became a member of her church, and then an
elder, and was reputed as very exemplary
and pious man, and so deeply rooted and
ground in the Presbyterian doctrines that he
thought them right and all others wrong.
On his return home from church one Sun
day about the year 1900 he remarked to Mr..
kilgore, who was also an elder, that the Meth.
odsts were preaching some Is miles off. and
he had learned that they preached a different
doctrine from theirs, that is free grace for all
and that men could fall from grace, &c
which he thought was perfectly ridiculous
and that he could not see how sane men could
In ch,.tl 49, 1t~.,,
So scIiptural and so reasonable.
The first opportunity he had he went to
hear for himself, was awakened and converted
and when he came home and told his wife
Oh what trouble it gave her She thought he
was ruined, and said that he would be a by.
word, and reproach, and that he would be n
song for drunkard. He replied "Sally, |
ain content 10 have my name cast out as evil
and now Sally before we say anything more
let US pray" and down he got and began to
pray that her eyes might oc opened and be.
fore he prayed long she began to pray, and
they continued to pray the balance of the day
and nearly all that night, and little before
daylight the Lord in mercy converted her.
He soon became an official member, and
think it was in 1908 that he was licensed to
exhort and preach, though am not positive.
/ was informed by him that his itinerant life
commenced in 1909, under the elder DR..
Chandler and continued till 1913 nearly forty
years. In his early ministry he was healthy
anc strong and never spared his strength in
fact his health and strength served him well
through all his ministerial course. His voice
was strong and soad, and while preaching and
praying could be heard long way off, and
so powerful were his prayers that have heard
great shaking under them. He scarcely
ever failed in preaching or cxhortation, tc
make powerful impression upon his audi
ence. lie was truly man of one business
and gave himself continually to reading and
prayer. During his short visits to his family
and when lie was home, We never asked hial