Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-09-02
THE BIG QUARTERLY
The CoIored Peoples Sixty
Seventh Annual Jubilee.
THE PREACHERS AND THE PREACHING
Celebration of the One Hund-edth
Anniversary Of Dorchester
Methodism--0yer and
-.".5 Terminer Jurors.
THE NEGRO NEAL REPRIEVED
4 MErHoDIsT cESrENNIaL.

Celebration Of the Hundrc,ith Hirth-
day Of Dorchester Methodisin-t
Big Crowd and ~ Ifis Succes>--
NIRstcriy Addresses by Itcv. Dr.
Gaurd, of Baltimore, and itev.
Dr. Edwards, OF Ricbmond.
Special Correspondence oi State journal,
CAMBRIDGE, MD, August ~ The
centennial Of the Introduction of
Methodism into Dorchester county was
celebrated with great tciat in this town
to day. Long before the Appointed time
for assembling steady stream OF carriages
aud vehicles bearing visitors began to
flow in by the various roads leading into
Cambridge, while several car loaos of
people came by special train over the
Dorchester ~ Delaware railroad. Many
also arrived on tho steamboats,. BY L. 30
o'clock about 3 GOO people had assembled
in the well shaded and we'll adapted yard
in front OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church, where extensive arrangements
had been made TO accommodate thu
audience.
The question Of the advisabiity of this
celebration was agltated some months
ago, and after u little discussion com
mittee WAS appointed, consisting of well
known members of the various Methodist
denominations throughout the county.
The members of this committee, who
were, i'll the strictest sense, men of ennrgy,
soon got 10 work, gave the subject u good,
| practical send of, and made such prepara-
| tions IN to insure success in every partcu-
lar. Such was realizsd to-day, and the
| people owe much to those gentlemen for
| the laudable manner iu which they Rave
| performed their duty in giving Dorchester
a "big day." ana furnishing additional
enthusiasm to the Wesleyjtos III the per
petuation of the Msthodistic doctrines for
the incoming century.
| . THE FIRST NErHoDIsTs.
Methodism was introduced into Dor
chester county in the year 1880 by Free.
born Garretson, that eccentric, albeit
whole-souled, Marylander who itiueHted
SO largely and who preached so success
fully throughout this country. Tho COM
| mencement of the work of the followers
of Wesley in this county began, as l am
informed, 10y means OF d young lady, H
sister-in- law of Judge BasseJ, subsequently
governor of Delaware. This lady per-
suaded Ghrretson TO come into Dorset
| (now DOrchester) county and preach This
he did and at tire house OF Mt. Henry
| Airey, man Of aiilience aud power, he
delivered the first Methodist sermon ever
heard in the county. lie was almost
Immediately appreheuded 10y the law, led
to Cambridge about eight miles distant
and incarcc rated i'll the jili which reniuins
to this day, and is dilapidated frame
structure, utilized as stable In this
place of filth and pollution, with bis
saddle bags for pillow, he was confined,
but his surroundings did not dsmpen his
ardor, not bit He preached TO througs
every day through the prison bars. Many
were converted and the excitement reached
such pitch that the authorities had to
turn him out. The magistrate who wrote
his mittimus afterwards became convert
to the faith of Garretson and remained in
it to the day of mis- death.
The seeds of AIethodism sown as they
were in this unUongenia soil, soon tooh
root, and have since produced abundant
fruit throughout the whole country, until
it has become the principal denomination
of this section.
OPENING THE CELEnRATION.
Ths exercises TO day were inaugurated
with music by the choir, which was led by
Prof. Robinson, of Baltimore, who is wei
known on the Peninsula and the Western
Shore of Mary land The music during
the whole day was noted for its excellenc,
and adaptation to the occasion. Mrs
Fobe presided nj .he organ aud her iunn
pulatious evoked the SWEETEST stra,n,
from the most musical of instruments
Rev. Mr. Hall next offered feryen
prayer. The statistics of the varlou'
branches of the Methodist church wer,
then read by Rav. Mr. HofTecker. tn,
pastor in charge Of the N. Il. church o
this place. appeud them
|