Smyrna times., 1880-06-02
For the Smyrna Times
Methodist History on the Peninsula.

In the afternoon the Rev. Joshua Soule
preached from the thirteenth chapter and
eighth verse of Paul's Epistle to the lie.
brews, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
and to-day, and forever" He was a large,
stately looking man, and very dignified,
and used the word SrS instead of 6rethrcn
In the great division of the NJ. L. Church
in 1914 he went with the South.
Rev. Francis Waters President of Wash
ington College, Chestertown, Md, preached
at night. Though a young man he had at.
tanned great celebrity and his sermon on
that occasion was equal to his fame. Rev.
James Smith (known in the Conference as
Baltimore Smith) went as a critic to hear
him, and so far as know found the sermon
equal to his expectations.
Rev. VIM. Ryland another distinguished
minister preached in the Old Presbyterian
Church on the Hill, and some Of the con-
gregation pronounced it the best sermon
they had ever heard. OF all the Confer
ferences that have ever witnessed this
made the greatest impression on my mind.
1t was productive of so much good, that its
effects are felt here to-day. 1t was the
means of stirring up the minds of many
young ladies of the village to conscious
ness of the Importance of relinquishng
the vanities of this world, and of seeking
more substantial enjOyments in prepara-
ton for q future existence.
1t is natural for a soul awakened to all
the responsibilities of this life, and its in
adequacy to do any good without divine
| help to cry out, Lord what wilt thou have
me to doW The christian is not indolent,
but finds rest in work. lie or she seeks
| employment in doing good. So these
| ladies perambulated the streets of the vii.
lage, and the roads leading to the suburbs
in search of the children, to gather them
together on the Lords day to teach them
the Scriptures, Catechisms, and spiritual
songs.
Thus was the moral railroad built in
Smyrna by the ladies when there were but
| few Sunday Schools in the United States
to carry the children with locomotive speed
over the quagmires of vice and ignorance
and the leveled mountains OF SectarianiSm
by forming them into a Union Sunday
| School,"
l need not now relate the history of thii
school, as | wrote and published it in July
| 1870. | then stated out of the eight young
ladies that were its founders there were bu
two living. | am pleased to say las they
are yet aliVe) they have reason to con
gratulate themselves that through grace
they were so early in life, engaged in 81
good a work. There is another still living
though not one of the original founders
who saved it by strong effort and arduou
toll from failure in 1925.
Nearly quarter of century had passed
since the Methodists had the control of
college, and it was thought to be favor
able opportunity to arouse the dorman
powers of the church with regard TO collie
giate instruction, since there was one nov
in their midst that was calculated to tax
charge of such an institution. 1t wa
thought expedient to make an effort t
procure his services.
Accordingly on q certain evening tn
Rev. VIM. Ryland, and Rev. James Smitl
(the great) came to the house of Rober
Patterson where they met with Bisho
George, Rev. Joshua Soule, Rev. Ezekie
Cooper and Rev. Francis Waters. Thos
that met on that memorable evening wer
a constellation of preachers that | have i
my Imagination compared to that magnif
cent one in the Heavens known as Orion
and spoken of in the Scriptures by bot
Job and David. There seems to have bee
no preparatory thoughts or acts previous
the Conference, nor anything done by i
but the subject was brought forward in thi
| /
effected. They had no location in view
and no funds to endow a college and unde
such circumstances the learned Presider
declined enlisting his services to the probi
BILE effort they were desirous of making.
,, Some of the preachers that met on tn
, business were delegates to the General Coz
ference that convened in Baltimore, Md
the following month. At that ConferenC
J there were resolutions passed in favor
. denominational education, which soon r
suited in the establishment of colleges an
seminaries supported and controlled by ii
Methodists.
> Such was the incipent step towards ii
y revival of colleges among US as peopl
: and this was taken in Smyrna, Delawar
The Conference closed on the Goth
April, and the General Conference cor
, mencsd its session on the first day of Ma
? 1920. S. P. NJ.
SMYRNA, May 23d, 1880.