The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-02-07
LOCAL HISTORY.
HISTORICAL RESEARCHES
THAT QUILP MADE AS A BOHEMIAN
INTRODUCTION OF METHoDIsM.

INTRODUCTION Oh MEL HODiSM.
Cecil Cirouit-Hart's Meeting House-Its Early
History and First Trustees North East Society
then Called the Ebenezer Chapel-Bethel
Goshen, now Ebenezer-The First So
ciety Organize Agreeable to the
Act of the Legislature-Nort
Sassafras and St. Augustine.
We learn from Mr.. Asburys journal
that he visited Elkton in May, 49,, upon
which occasion he preached to a large
congregation, and that he was received
by the Rudolph family with great respect.
This family were probably at this time
members of the Episcopal Church, for the
next year Tobias Rudolph was appointed
delegate to represent North Elk Parish
in a convention in Baltimore tOtch. They
lived in the old brick house now stand
ing on Main street three doors east Of the
court house, which was built by Tobias
Rudolph, in 1858.
The name of Cecil Circuit appears for
the first time upon the minutes of the
conference in 1888, but after diliyent in
quiry. we have been unable to ascertain
its bounds. There is reason, however, to
believe that. in connection with the ap-
pointmentS in this county. it embraced
| much of the territory of New Castle
county. and probably some of the north
ern part of Kent, in Maryland. John
Smith and George Wells We're the first
preachers in charge. They We're Sic
| ceeded the next year by George Moore
and Benjamin Roberts. That year the
number of members in all the societies
in the circuit is put down in the minutes
of the conference as follows--25. white
and 252 colored.
Seventeen years had now elapsed since
the introduction of Methodism on Bohe-
mia Manor. and it is probable that there
was preaching regularly in Elk Neck and
at North East: for Mr.. Asbury states i'll
his journal. under date of October 18th.
1874, that he preached at Hdrt'S meeting
house on that day. and the fact of a house
that there had been preaching i'll that
ncighborhood sometime before. This is
the first reference we have found to this
meeting house, though there is tradi-
ton that the early superintendent preach
ers. when passing back and forth from
the southern part Of the county to their
appointments west of the Susquehanna,
preached to the people in that ncighbor
hood under the shade of some large wal
nut trees that stood about two miles
southwest of where the meeting house
now stands. Many of the first settlers
| of Elk Neck had been Jealous church.
men, and an effort had been made to
| erect a chapel of ease in that part of the
county while it was part of North Sas-
safras Parish.
The descendants Of the first settlers
still adhered to the religion of their faith
ers. which accounts for the alacrity with
which they embraced the new faith. Ow-
| ing no doubt to their strong predictions
for the manners and customs of the EriS-
copalians, the Methodists Of Elk Neck.
until comparatively recent period, oh
served the Whitsuntide holidays. and
every year had services upon Whit sum
day and Monday, which were largely at
tended by their brethren from Delaware
and other places many miles distant.
Harris meeting house was 10 doubt the
first one erected i'll the county north OF
the Elk River: and though it seems, as
before stated. to have been in existence as
early as 1894. the society. there is reason
| to think. did not have deed for the land
on which it stood, till seven years after
wards We learn from the land records
Of the county, that, on the 21st of Au-
gust, 1901. Samuel Aldridge and Mill
cent, his wife. in considera ton of the
great desire they had to encourage and
promote the religious worship of God.
and in consideration of the nominal sum
of five shillingS. sold half an acre OF
ground, which is described as being on
the great road leading from Turkey Point
to Elkton. to Robert Hart Thomas Hart.
Chas. Ford. Frcdus Aldridge. and Zebu-
lon kankey. trustees Of the Methodist
society III Elk River Neck and their sue
cessors. 1t is generally believed that
Robert Hart gave this society the land
upon which the first meeting house stood,
but this record seems to indicate very
clearly that such was not the fact: and
there seems to be no doubt that the meet
ing house mentioned by Mr.. Asbury
which stood until the present house was
erected, was built upon land donated b,
Mr.. Aldridge and wife. 1t was a small
frame house, ceiled with boards and
| weather-boarded on the outside. and con.
tanned quaint and curious old-fashioneG
pulpit.
The next Methodist meeting house, %
which we have any account, was at Nortl
East. 1t appears from the land record,
of the county, that on the 25th Of Octo
Der, 1894, Jacob Jones conveyed an acr,
of land-which is described in the deco
as lying to the northward of the road
leading from North East Church towart
Beacon HW-to William Howell. JOIN
George, David SweaZey, Jacob Jones
John Ford, Robert Hart, and Samue
Aldridge. for the sum of go, i'll trust
for the society of religious people called
Methodists, and their successors foreve
thereafter. who were to have full powc
and authority to erect on the said land ;
house for the public worship of God.
This was the first land owned by tn,
society at North East. and is the same
now used for the cemetery. It is worth,
of remark that Robert Hart was also
trustee of the church called by his nam
in Elk Neck
Mr.. Asbury, under date of the 5th o
, June, 1875, says he preached i'll Nortl
East within the frame Of a church tina
was just begun He, no doubt. referre,
to the first church, which stood near tn
center Of the cemetery. 1t was about 3
by 40 feet. weather boarded without AM
: ceiled with boards within, and was re
moved bodily in the early part Of tn,