Smyrna times., 1866-01-17
MARYLAND AHaIrS.


Sun, in speaking of the centennial celebrations
in that city, gives the following item
Robert Strawbrldge, an Irish emigrant, is
generally conceded to have been the founder of
the Church in Maryland The history of the
church records the fact that he was eloquent
as speaker and mclodiOus singer; he loved
adventure and travel Robert Strawbridge
arrived in this country from Ireland previous
to l765, and settled on Sans creek, then in
Frederick, but now Carroll county, a section of
country which had then just been reclaimed
from the savages 1t was here that the "LOg
Meeting House" was built, rude structure,
OF sawed logs, and although used for many
years was never finished, being without win
dowS, doors, or even Il floor. Here it was that
Strawbrldge promulgated the doctrine of
| MethOdlSm, frequently jOurneying to other
portions OF the State, and to Delaware, Penn
sylvana and Virginia, preaching with an ardor
and ttuency that surprised his hearers, and
drew them III multitudes to his rustic assem-
bes. The first Methodist society in Bati-
more county was founded by Strawbridge, at
the house OF MIR. Daniel Evans, near the city,
and the first chapel in Baltimore county was
erected by this society In his itnerant trav-
els i'll Baltimore and Hartford counties, the un-
firing Irish preacher raised many who after
wards became ministers of nutc-Sater, Ste
phcnSOn, Nathan perigo, Richald Webster,
" alters, Catch, Bawhan, liaggcrty, Durbin,
Garrettson and many Others were prepared
for the ministry, either directly or indirectly
through his lnStrumrntality. Stmwbridge final
ly died IN 1881, at Long Green, in Baltimore
county, where the then opulcnt and generous
public citizen, Captain Charles Ridgely, who
admired his character and Sympathizcd with
his poverty, had given him farm. free trent,
} Tor HE. Ills body was buried in an orchard,
OF ms friend, under tree, from the foot Of
which can he seen the great city which boasts
, INN L, It, Mcth0dI>tlc apostle anI which ever
since his day, has been prc-cmincnt among
American communities for its Mcthodistic
strength and zeal. From the small beginning
OF the great Strawbridge, Methodism has ItcSdi-
ly gone on gaining its strength until now, ac
J cOrdlng to the minutes Of 1854, there are in
Maryland IS, 9S7 members and probationcrs
, les preachers, 5l4 churches, with church prop
erty valued at 81, lbs, 34j 4l5 Sunday schools
with an aggregate attendance of 26,S05 SchOl
ars. AS monument to the memory of thl:
founder of Mcthodism in Maryland, stands the
/ Strawbrdgc church, a large and crcditabl,
brick edifcc at the corner of l}dlle and Gar
den street, III tho northwestern section Of the
city.
> ASSAULTED ON TIE HIGHwAY-As Mr.
r VIM. j. Jones' constable in the third district
l. and residing near Smithvillc, was returning
q home from ChestertOwn on Thursday evening
. Of last week, he was attacked in the publ
y road short distance beyond Washington Col
u lege by two men, one of whom seized hold o
= and stopped his horse, while tho other assault
ir ed him from the rear of his sulky, draggin
i, him theretr0m and beating and bruiSing hlI
= severely. Just at this timo a carriage wa
io seen approaching when one Of the aSSailant
s. jumped into the sulky and drove off, while tn
es other escaped over the fence. Mr.. Jones WEI
" to the residence of Capt. Simon WickeS, ne;
= by, had his wounds dressed, and remained a
-, night The horse was found next mOrnu
III hitchcd to the orchard fence of DIR. WOrrel
some two miles from the place of assault al
a several hundred yards from the public roa
with the sulky and buffalo robe uninjurcd.
MIR. Jones thinks the intention was to rob hin
10 --Kcnt News.
TALL EATING.-Somc tall eating was dol
in Elkton. last Saturday night. BY Mr. Benz
ND min Is. Wolf, residing but Il short di>tan
er from town, lie ate 4 hogs liver. wcighil
nc over four pounds, and several stews of oyster
ng This was all eaten before stopping-constit
ting one meal only. This feat was perform
on wager of $1,000. lie received no injur
.. whatever, from this excessive gormandzin
!. and, we are told, offered to lay wager
IT. $50 90 that he could cat three geese, weighil
ne respectively thirteen pounds each, with
Z, twelve hours. Whether he found any one
III take the wager or not, we could not positive
1t ascertain.
70 ARREST oP Two HORsE TnIEvEs.-Sher
rly Janney, on Tuesday last, at IIarvey's rolf
MILL three miles from ElktOn, arrested t,
men, named Short and Rutter, for stealing
d, horse and carriage, the property Of CHM
me Evcn, of Wilmington Del. The arrested D;
IA tics were handed over to the authorities Of Il
on State.