Smyrna times., 1879-07-30
For the Smyrna Times.
For the Smyrna Times.
A Brief History ofSmyrna Circuit Com
piled from the Old Records.
CONTINuRn
BY REV. P. II. RAWLINS.

Inc following resolutions were passed this |
year (lS26) on the subject of temperance,
viz: "The official members of the NJ. E. |
Church on Smyrna Circuit, comprising the |
Quarterly Conference, taking into con- |
sideration the baneful effects which attend |
the indiscriminate distribution of ardent |
spirits during what is termed electioneering |
campaign and feeling it duty so far as in !
them lies to stem this torrent of vice and |
dissipation, and believing that the united
exertion of the members of said church
will 60 far toward suppressing this enor-
NOUS demand and growing evil, have there
fore
ReSOlued, That we will discountenanee the system
adopted by candidates o short time previous to the
| ardent spirits.
Resolved That we will not vote for any man or set
| Of men whom we know to engage in this pernicious
practice to employ others therin far our in
huence extends we will try to prevail the people
ResOUed That the cooperation of all other religious
societies in the State be requested to forward this
measure"
In 1923 the following appears as the ap-
pointments of the Circuit, with the number
of members, viz: Union, 100; Middletown,
AZ; Lees Chapel, 56 Webster's, 33; Black
iston's, Al Massey's 10; Head of Sassafras,
"a; Jonstown, "a Cecilton, so; Smyrna,
IA; Kenton, 55; Farrows', 43; Raymond's,
81; Severson's, 20; Friendship, 29;-entire
membership of the Circuit, 759 At that
time there was an organized missionary
society on the circuit which requested the
Presiding Elder, Laurence Lawrenson, to
preach missionary sermon at the camp
meeting
In 1880 parsonage lot was purchased of
Isaac Davis in the town of Smyrna and
trustees were appointed for the same.
Steps were taken in 1928, toward securing
such lot and building a house for the
preacher.
We cannot stop to note all the little
items of interest named in the minutes.
The work had spread out over all the
country and the societies had increased.
Churches had been built for most if not all
of the congregations, and there was de-
rnand for division of the work so that the
field could be better cultivated. Milling.
ton Circuit had been organized and to
strengthen it sought to have added some OF
the appointments of "old Smyrna Circuit"
In 1888 Middletown and Cantwell's
Bridge were formed into an independent
charge, and had preacher sent them from
the conference. In 1876 Smyrna appears
s as a seperate station.
We look to-day over the territory once
,s occupied by Smyrna Circuit and may name
as forming q part OF other now indepen.
dent charges :--Middletown, Cecilton, John.
ston, Union, Lees Chapel, Webster's
Blackston's, Masseys, Head of Sassafras
Smyrna, Raymond's, Friendship. The work
Us of disintegration has gone on until there
are but three of the societies or churches
e which formed part of cold Smyrna Cir
NJ cult in 1880 left to bear its honored name
p viz: Bethel, (Farrowsl which represents
10 the society organized at the house of JOSEPH
OF Farrow; Kenton, the successor of those
- nd II 3 .,
81 1778 or 1779; Seyerson, which stands neal
2Ss to the very spot where, in 1878 or l779, tn,
Is songs and shouts of early methodists wert
o5 heard as they gathered to listen to Asbury
4411 Garrison, and others of those mighty mel
.S3 who pioneered and planted Methodism il
- this land-or in their class meetings told o
.2i the goodness of God to them and in thei
a prayer meetings shouted over new bori
20 70 souls.
IA Central the.other society of the circuit
az deserves honorable mention. Though sh
S6 cannot claim to be the direct successor Q
Ia any society formed in the former century
llSS q she has done good and noble work. Tn
lao seed sown by the early ministers VIII
ssT preached at Abraham Moore's were no
~ ~ lost; and though she cannot link herse
NJ with that early society, it was the grand so
9ao of that worthy man who was.appointed he
i'n leader when the present society was forme
T. at Moore's school house, about mile an
-- half from the present church in 1866
m Central Church was built largely throug
III the influence, labor and money of Josep
ID' Moore, her first leader, and was dedicate
Nov. 18th, 1868, by d.. Charles Cook, WI
IN, was then stationed at Smyrna.
The present church at Bethel was bui
in 1858. 1t supersedes the former hous
which was known as Farrows-in honor
ship is lis. Her record in the past b
NJ yard rest the ashes Of many who on
80 Worshipped around her altars. The nam
~ of Farrow, Garrison, Smith, Boggs, j
Los ferson and many others will always be
100 it were engraVen on her walls.
boo While the new and beautiful church
Kenton stands as a monument to the labo
NJ and prayers of the early Methodists w
NJ worshipped at Scotterl's and the Wide
Hcward's, and in later years in the hou
built in 1919, which the present structu
supersedes, the name of John Durboro
together with his colaborers and brethe
HaT. of three fourths of a century ago, will neV
dSRs dSRs be forgotten. The present church "
completed in 1877 and opened for worsh
New on November 1lth of that year, and form
f ly dedicated by Bishop Scott, Septemt
pt 18th 1878.
- A century has passed since the foun,
Ixa tions of Methodism were laid in the tel
A>o tory Of this charge by the early Method
ministers, who traversed this country
horse back, preaching wherever door '
open to them. They have long since 1
down their arms; their ashes slumber
Il run various grave yards, but their work lives
The congregations to whom they preacf
H. A are gone-even the children then b.
pm. passed away. A generation that kr
1922 1879 them not, now worship in these church
..i0oS Many of their names are not known,
:. $50 their lives and their words have born,
- sa0 ~ fruit that continues ever fresh and new.
:. Si5 In our search through the old mint
oo- we find names of many who were o
' So sS5 identified with this Quarterly Confsre
.. s.45 that deserve mention, men who in the |,
.' ~ ~ ranks of the church served their gen
- = ,eost S ton and accomplished good works
erwise men as Piner Mansfield, John Apple
Ephraim jefferson, James Mcdowell, ]
sShsS sresbt Durborow DIR. John d. Perkins and ho
others whose memories are precious
uP't' whose descendants are among the hone
members of this and other charges WI
LSs formed part Of sold Smyrna Circuit.