The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-01-10

lnuelln1te. seems TO nave been SatiSfdc-
tory to the vcstry, for no further refer
ence is made to the case. The records in
this old volume contain many references
to eases of this kind, and disclose a re-
markable degree of laxity in the morals
Of the people. Not only the lower classes
Of society, but in some cases those high
in authority were charged with this or
similar ofienses. Generally the cu!prits
made the antende honorudlc, and some
times produced certificates Of marriage
given by clergymcn eff other denomina-
tons who resided out Of the parish.
The Presbyterian churches, as before
intimated, We're i'll Il weak condition at
this time, caused by the emigration of
many Of their members to the South and
West. Their influence had also been
lessened by the unhappy disSensinns that
arose among them from the preaching of
Nhiteficld and his adEerents. which rent
the Rocl. and Nottingham Churches in
twain, and, there is some reason to be-
hiS's' Nh'iiSis bestipJeu tlic CHufcll III
Broad Creek.
Another cause that lesscncd the leli-
sious influence of the clergy of this de-
nomination was the part that many of
them felt constrained to take in the con-
troversy between the colonies and the
mother country. Their form of church
government was cminently democratic
and most if not all of them were the de-
ScendantS of those who, in some form,
had suffered for conscience sake. on the
other side of the Atlantic Hence, it
was not strange that they joined the
crusade for liberty and denounced the
encroachments Of the British Parliament
with an eioqueIce and vehemence that
would have done credit to their founder.
We do not wish to intimate that either
the Presbyterian ministers OF their con-
gregations sacrificed their godliness upon
the altar of their patriotism, but We do
mean that the commotion and turmoil
which at this time shook society to its
WI y Wa ll'i tolltluClNt W a
high development Of religion or morality.
Their fault-if fault it can be callei-was
not that they loved the gospel less. but
that they loved their country more. and
it is consolation to know that if society
lost little in morality, it gained much
in patriotism,
From what has been said, ii is appar-
ent that the spiritual condition of the
people was quite as deplorable as had
been that of the people of the mother
country when Wesley and Whitefeld
commenced their crusade against the for
mality and wickedness OF the Established
Church, and there was quite as much
need of a revolution in church affairs as
there was in the administration of the
government. Much of the credit of
etfecting 4 reformation in the spiritual
condition fthe people belongs to the early
Methodist missionaries. though it must
not be forgotten that Whitetield. whose
doctrine differed but little from that pro-
claimed by Wesley, had in some measure
prepared the way. Richard Wright was
the name of the first Methodist mission
AIRY who preached the gospel in this coun-
ty. He had been received as a travel
ing preacher by John Wesley, in ITO.
and the next year came To Philadelphia
and shortly afterwards found his way to
Bohemia Manor. where he seems to have
been kindly received Whitetield had
been there. as the reader Of these sketches
will recollect a quarter Of a century be-
fore. and there is no doubt but the nl-
preston he made by the feryent manner
in which lie proclaimed the gospel had
much to do with the success OF Method
ism. Mr.. Asbury long after this time
spoke of his followers ON Bohemia Manor
as Whitetield Mcthodists. and remarked
that 1.-The Wesleyan Methodists were
heirs to them according to the gospel
Mr. Wright is believed to have organ
lied the first Methodist society in this
county at tie house OF Solomon IIersey,
i'll III, and it is u singular coincidence
that its place Of meeting was within the
hounds Of the Labadie tract. Mr.. IIersey's
house being near the mill that was then
called Sluyter's and had formerly been
called Van Bibber's mill, on branch of
the Bohemia River q short distance
southwest of St: Augustine. This soci-
ETY. the Rev. iIr. I,ednum believes to
have been the first one that WAS organ
lied on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
This society afterwards worshiped at
Bethesda Chapel. which stood some dis
lance west of where the present Manor
church stands. The MethoGists at this
time, or very shortly afterwards, had an
other appointment ut Thompsons school
house, which was somewhere between
Broad and Back creeks, probably not
very far from Bethel This latter society
was the germ that produced the Bethel
Church.
The first Methodist preachers were
rigid discinlinarians, and very austere i'll
their manners. They denounced slavery
rs being contrary to the law of God and
an iniraction Of the golden rule. They
considered il their duty to rise at four
in the morning, and il not then, yet at
five and that it was shame for
preacher to be in bed till six in the morn
ing They required their followers to
observe the Friday preceding every quar-
tcrly meeting is a day af fasting. They
discount The manufacture of dis
titled liquors and threatened 10 diSown
their friends who persisted in making
them. They were enjoined to avoid su-
pcriiuity in dress themselves and to
speak frequently and faithfully against
it in all the societies. Until 1.S5. the
Netholists We're under the spiritual guild
ance and direction of John Wesley, who
lived and died III full communion with
the Church Of Englaud, and whose origi-
nal intention was only to effect Ief"rna
ton by infusing more godliness and
picty into the daily lives and con-
duet of the members of that church
Accordingly. at the meeting of the first
i