Smyrna times., 1879-07-23

Circuit as it was in 1903. 1t must have
embraced about all of Kent County to-
gether with some appointments in Mary
land.
Methodism had won its way in the
county, and already had several churches
besides preaching in school houses and in
some places still continued in barns and
private dwellings. "When Thomas Ware
travelled the circuit in 1883, he received
an invitation to preach in the Protestant
Episcopal Church, which stood between
Smyrna and Duck Creek village. As he
was officiating, having gone through with
part of the morning service, still standing
in the desk, he gave out his text, but
before he finished his introduction, three
men marched into the church, in Indian
file, and stood before the desk. The foremost
one said he was a vestryman, and ordered
him out of the desk and out of the church,
or he would compel him to 60 out. As
Mr.. Ware did not obey his mandate he
seized him by the collar and dragged him
from the desk. A daughty friend seized the
prosecutor in like manner, raised his fist
and ordered him to let the preacher 60 or
he would knock him down. Justice Ray
mond called out, Don't strike him, Mr..
Skillington, and if he does not let the
preacher alone, and cease disturbing the
congregation will commit him. By this
time he had loosened his hold of Mr..
Ware, and he and his companions retiring
from the church, the preacher finished his
discourse. Mr.. Raymond, who interposed
his authority, if he was not II Methodist at
the time, became one soon after, and lived
and died worthy and useful member"
In the spring of 1904 Dover Circuit was
divided and Duck Creek Circuit was formed.
What appointments were set off to this
new circuit, and were embraced within its
| territory we cannot tell. In 1872, eight
years after, the following are named, viz:
Middletown, Thoroughfare Neck, ,Webster's,
Head Of Sassafras. Union, Cecilton, Johns
town, humans, Blackistons', Kenton, Far
rows, Raymond's, Seversons', Smyrna,
Simons', Wright's School House, 16 in all.
At Farrows Tor Bethel it is now) preaching
was held at the house of Joseph Farrow,
who lived on the farm now owned by
| Franklin J. Smith, and situated about one
mile from Bethel. And in the neighbor-
hood of Central Church, preaching service
was held at very early day at the house OF
Abraham Moore, the grand father of Jos.
Moore. lie lived about q mile from the
site of the present church. Richard Lyon
preached there in 1906.
| nc hESJ OOulSTSuCG Vi Tue nSN
circuit was held at Union, now on Appo-
quinimink, August 18th, 1904. VIM. Penn
Chandler was elder and Thomas Everard
and Thomas Stratton the preachers. The
members of the Quarterly Conference and
present were Joseph Whitby, James Latti.
nous, Daniel Crouch, Major Tayler, Geo.
Kennard, Edward Martin, John Merriot
John Burlow, Isaiah Riggs, John Anderson
| VIM. Wiley, Daniel Nc Dowel, David Githon
Joseph Rothwell, John Floyd, William
Wilkinson, Andrew Spear, Charles Mitchell
Abraham Stats, John Walker, Thomas
Mayberry, James Raymond, Timothy Cum
minis, Piner Mansfield and William Hart
No important business was transacted al
that Conference. George Kennard was theil
secretary.
At the Quarterly Conference held a
Duck Creek Cross Roads, November 10th
1904, Joseph Whitby, Zebulon Kankey
and Daniel Crouch are named as local elder
and Joseph Farrow, deacon, John Barlow
and Isaiah Riggs were also local preachers
Lednum informs US that Kankey in l79C
entered the Conference. After travelling
awhile he must have again located-as diC
many of the early preachers.
The following minutes appear in the re
cords of the Conference, November 10, 1904
, viz: Isaiah Riggs local preacher, born Sept
10th, 1851, near Milford, Del, converted
1881. James Mcdowell, born in Cecil, Nd
April Sth, 1856, converted ITS, joined tn
society 1885, appointed leader 1887. Dan
McDowel, born in Cecil, Md, Dec. 18th
1853, converted November, 1870, appointe
leader March 1lth, 1900. John Merriot
born l772 converted May 1903. appointe
steward November 18th, 1903. Thoma
Mayberry, born December 2lst, 177l. cor
j; verted March lst, 1900, appointed leade
1903. Piner Mansfield, born Septembe
9th, 1871, converted October, 1901, al
J pointed leader April I'd, 1902, was license
y to preach October Sd, 1912, at quarterl
, meeting held at Blackstone. No repor
: were presented by the preachers in thos
i early days of the number of members
the societies nor of any Sunday Schools.
q such reports were made, they were not el
u tered upon the minutes of the quarter
= conference. Much time was taken in col
= sidering the relation of master and slav
- as all slave holders who were members
= the church were required to manumit the
+" slaves at certain ages.
The Quarterly Conference of July %
I, 1905, passed the following:
" ResOlved That this Quarterly Conference oppose
preeept and example the daily Of spurious lquo
d In the same year member was reproV,
" for Incidence and neglect of the payne
N of his debts. This year the name of La
40 renee Laurenson appears as one of Il
x members of the Quarterly Conference, al
IA at the meeting held at Union on March
is 1907, was licensed as local preacher.
lo 1903 the circuit is called Smyrna Circuit.
ad Lawrence McCoomb, who had travell
n for several years, located in 1906 with
lti the bounds of the circuit and his name
or enrolled among the members of
10 Quarterly Conference. John Durborow, W
ng had been an official member in the chur
ng for a number of years and local deaot
lTS was recommended for elders order
de January 30th, 1918. November LIST, Is
.as Levi Scott, now the senior Bishop of I
20" church, was licensed at the Quarterly G.
ne 1, ference, held at Union, as an exhorter
ms the church. On the 4th of February, Is
Iry' at a Quarterly Conference, held in Smyr
MS was licensed to preach and on Janu
me 28th, 1926, was recommended to the Phi
us delphia Conference to be received on +
en- in the itinerancy.
At the Quarterly Conference of Februs
ns, 4th, 1926, Piner Mansfield and Ephri
OF jefferson received recommendation
es' deacon's orders. In 1926 action was tai
lec by the Conference toward procuring a
ne sonage for the circuit, and collections orr
nr. cd in each society for said purpose.