Smyrna times., 1866-01-10
MIS- SCELLAN EOUS.
Written for the Smyrna Times
Thoughts Suggested upon Visiting the
Old Cemetery CT the nj. e. Church In
Smyrna.


One afternoon, during those pleasant Indian
Summer days Of November, | took ramble
with an accompanying friend in the old Gene
terry Of the Asbury NJ. Z. Church Though
the precious remains of our own consanguinc-
Gus friends bad been exhumed and removed
to the New Cemetery, we still felt that we had
many, and very strong ties Of love and friend
ship remaining in the old church yard
Ihlther We went and searched for the graves
OF those with whom We had been associated in
early life, and had many pleasant hours and
days IN social, intellectual and religious enioy-
hent. Some of them were called away in ear
/ ly lite, from homes that their presence made
CHEERFUL to take possession Of their mansions
above. 4 bright hope fits across our minds
that we shall meet again; and when we shall
arrive at our Fathers house, all things will not
look strange to US, but We shall speedily rccog-
Ike our friends who have reached there be-
fore US
;, Here is the grave of the Rev. CHRISTOPHER
Olry, one OF the earliest American Methodist
ministers. He was man of God, and great
preacner IN his day. With his name and min
lsteTlai influence Is associated the recollection
vi one, VINO, when youth, left home and
friends and emigrated from the Emerald Isle
10 America. A few months afterwards he was
Providentially led to take up his abode in Del
aware, and under his powerful preaching was
converted. The doors of that young man
house were ever afterward open for his enter
tainment, and the ministers of she Gospel il
general. He administered the ordinance O
Baptism to all his children, among whom is in
cluded the writer of this fugitive piece; and sh,
still cherishes recollectiOns of his stalwart ap
pearance, and powerful convincing pulpit dis
. courses.
The graves Of five of her class-lea6ers ar,
here three of whom were local preachers
who were useful in their day and generation
and the other two were fathers in the church
1t was said of one Of them, (by an Itineran
preacher who had travelled twenty years, tina
lie had the best talents for q elass-eader tina
he had ever met with There was also anoth
or grave, from which the remains had been re
moved to the new Cemetery,) which fOrmerl
contained another -class-leader, to whose ban
she was attached. And without doubt he ha
extra qualifications for his Office. And all @
these having obtained a good report throug
ialth, are now enjoying their inheritance above
Another grave sOlIcits my attention, in whic
Is deposited the body of the Rev. SolOmO
Sharp Oh, who that has known that man @
Tod can ever forget him. His Patriarch,
appearance, his strong voice, his benign look
ais powerful prayers, and faith that took n
uenlal, left such an impression on the mind
,nst nelther time nor change can cancel
Inhile on Smyrna Circuit, two Of the Loca
Preachers mentioned in this brief were danger
oualy NJ, aud he called to see them; and sue
were his prayers for their recovery, that the
we're restored to health A female member {
the cnurch being sick, like prayer was offere
for her with Ike success. Before leaving th
slck rooms OF each Of them, he told them tha
they would recover. lie was ike Elijah m
prophet when praying for rain, for the narche
earth was soon watered. Onone OCCASION whe
praying for rain at class-meeting, She that a,
oompanied me in my stroll through the grav,
yard returned home, and saw the tran do,
closed in faithful expectation thas his praye
would be answered land so it was, for a gre
raih SOON came to refresh the earth and veg
| tation. a139s ~ ; 4
A glorious revival Of religion commenced 1
nrst year he was on the Circuit. His colleag
was the Rev. III. G. King. remember W
ne Sabbath it commenced. In the morni
while DIR. King was preaching, there was
Aw,ui solemnity resting upon the congregatic
sna curing the evening service the spiritl
are was kindled which continued to burn a
sspreao Tor Two successive years. Every mig
.os s6 weeks, preaching, prayer meetings
1c msefings were continued Many w
nverted and added to the church, ConT
sI shs we're not confined 10 the church, but 10
g'ac as private residences and business plac
oessfss Touus mea cha. were converted In G