Smyrna times., 1868-02-05
RELIGION IN SUSSEX.

A correspondent of the Commercial writing
from Frankford, Dagsboro HID, Sussex county,
says that no section of our country has been
more thoroughly transformed by religion than
the !'South corner of Delaware" In the early
history of the county it was inhabited by q
VIGOROUSLY wicked people: swearers tight
ers, drunkards, hOrseracers, gamblers" &c.
Now morality, religion and industry are oharsc
teristics of the inhabitants. He gives the fol
lowing concerning the early history of the
churches:
The NJ. E. Church dates back to tho year
1869. The first Methodist sermon was then
preached in this waste bowling wilderness
by the sanity Freeborn Garretson, to a vast
concourse of eager souls; his pulpit, the green
sod; his sanctuary, the arching vault of the
star.studded heavens. His earnest effort soon
resulted in the awakening of many, and the
conversion Of thirty souls. These constituted
the first Methodist society of this section. In
1887 the first NJ. +. Church was erected. It
is know in Methodist history by the name of
! the Sound, though the proper name is
Williams Chapel" The frame of this ven
cradle relic of days bygone, is still unmarred
by the decaylng touch of time, and having
been repaired, presents very neat and COM
Portable appearance still. The immortal Gar
retson cut the first through in a tree, out of
which part Of the frame was hewn. Since
those memorable days, the old Sound has
sent out several colonies, whom she has sta
toned at convenient distances, each worshiping
In commodious houses, While others arc quit
ting her maternal roof to do likewise. Her
membership of 80 has increased to 700; organ
lied eight Sabbath Schools, with an average
attendance of at least 500 scholars, and in all,
her interests is steadily advancing, though not
so rapidly as is Methodism in multitude of
other communities.
1.-The Protestant Episcopal Church dates
back to times anterior to the dark days of the
revolution; hence, in years, is entitled to first
rank. The frame of st. Georges Chapel,
standing near Dagsboro, was shipped from
England, put together, and worshipped in
while yet we were Britain's tributaries, and
still is standing. An effolt is now being made
to rebuild this cherished memento of the by
gone. For several years this congregasiou has
been worshlping in neat sanctuary they built
near Lambs Woods. But their member
ship has gradually decreased until they can
count only about score, inclusive of their
average congregations. Once they welded
commanding influence throughout this entire
community, and were self-sustaining but to-
day behOlds them with an influence abridged
and poweress, and, though surrounded by two
or three Others of the same ecolesiastio persua-
sion, the P. Z. Church here is mission. Il
her work done? If more of the Catholic
spirit of her ,pious, Bishop Lee was Infused
,hCo her uLy poneS we snoulu soon conclude
her work of evangelizing and reforming is flot
done. Prince Georges pleads earnestly for
more = OF that sanity and eyangeizing spirit
Fresbyterianism is of more recent origin
here; Two commodious churches claim y
membership OF about sixty, and these are
noble hearted Christians, evincing a grade of
traternal regard and charity entirely foreign 20
that sectarianism we see often developed in
narrow minded religionists Though an infant,
compared with the NJ. e. Church, in both age
and influence, she has contributed no little To-
wards evangelizing the Masses May she toll
on in her noble labors.''as, dsss IS! siasysoYa