The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-05-17
Letter from Baltimore.


BALriNoRE, May -, 1879.
10 one who bas travelled over our State il
is a matter Of interest to mark, not only the
topography, but also the peculiar social habi-
tudes and traditions and the historic land
marks Of its different partsi and, if his heart
be as large as every Marylander's ought to
be, he finds in each section much to admire.
We have here some relics Of the time when
this was Baltimore town, but Il is not oi
this city that propose now to write, save to
say that il il had always been the metropolis
Of Maryland we should naturally expect TO
find here the most valuable monuments OF
the thought, industry and piety Of our ances.
tors; for a metropolis, gathering from many
tributary regions, must, as matter Of course,
contain more Of what is best, as well as more
Of what is worst than any one Of them.
The cities Of ST. Mary's and Annapolis,
however. preceded us in establishinga claim
to that yeneration to which antiquity is en-
titled; and, though the glory of the former
has long since faded, and il has been oblitera.
ted from the map and almost from popular
remembrance, the latter, IL shorn of its met.
ropolitan prestige, still lives in quiet dignity
as the capital of the State and its centre Of
historic interest. need only allude, in
passing, to the old Senate Chamber, in which
Washington performed an act OF moral great
ness unique in the annals Of our selfish hu
mainly.
But not few antique objects-using the
WORD antique of course, in the American
sense-are to be found in other parts of the
State. Amongthese the most notable in some
Of the counties are the Episcopal churches
built in colonial days, of brick brought from
England. What beautiful light they throw
Al. AZ.
fathers, and typical TO us Of the peaeefulness,
unison, and dignity of their lives, there is u
perpetual charm about them.
Though have in mind more than one Of
these, and though the remembrance of them
brings with it spell Of attraction of which
many know the power, must ask permission
to say something about an old building Thaye
seen in your own county, q sanctuary Of
different and more recent, but very interest
ing origin; sanctuary moreover, of which,
and of whose worthy founders and their sue
cessors, the world can afford to know more
than it does.
Last Saturday in booking over my Advo
cate, which by your kind thong htfulness | still
receive, my eye tell upon notice OF a quar-
terly meeting to be held next Sunday, by
the Presiding Elder at "Stone Chapel"
What tlutter among the pious Methodists
of Poulson's Meeting house, AS it was then
called, would such an announcement have
caused in the olden days
In passing along the road from Sans
Creek aud Mount Vernon to Westminster,
one cannot fail to observe, standing on the
roadside upon a spot whence may be had
view extending over rich valleys to the heights
of the distant Blue Ridge, this little church,
built mainly Of undressed stone and modest
throughout in its architecture; but probably
few of the passers by realize that, the old
Sans Greek Meeting. House no longer stand.
ing, it is the oldest church of its denomina
ton in Maryland, and is year older than the
Methodist Episcopal Church itself The
Methodist Episcopal Church. as an organiza-
ton distinct from that of the English Wesley
aus, was formed in the city of Baltimore in
the year 1884. Poulson's Meeting house was
built in 1888, and rebuilt in 1900, When it
received the name Of Stone Chapel am I'M
able to state, but perhaps the local authori.
ties cah do so. 1t may DO that it received
the new name at the time of the re.dedica
ton, and that the two were interchangeable
for awhile, the present name coming into
general adoption gradually. Much matter
relative to old Methodist heroes, as well as
some distinguished men of later days, who
have preached in it, might be laid before
your readers, but forbear.
For detailed information upon the subject
| am principally indebted to a gentleman of
Sans Creek. This respected gentleman,
veteran in the service of his church. can
point the visitor TO room in his house in
which reposed, from time to time, after
wearying travel, Bishop Asbury and other pio-
neer worthless of that denomination which, be-
ginning feebly, has, in the period of Stone
Chapers history, grown to be numerically the
strongest Protestant ecclesiastical organiza
ton in the United States.
As all men lay aside differences of creed in
their admiration of the historic piles of older
denominations, so may we in the same spirit
in the little rural church in Carroll
county known as Stone Chapel, landmark