The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-02-21

The Rev. Joseph Cou.lon, who, the
reader will recollect. had been chosen
curate of North Elk Parish. in 11S5, was
ordained two years afterwards. and the
same year was installed rector of that
parish. The minutes of the Ncstry for
1888 show that he had then been labor
ing faithfully in the parish for six years.
and had received on an average only
about t31 4 year. though the subscrip-
ton list for his support amounted to up
wards of e11s. Probably part of what
he did receive was the intercS, ON the
money obtained by the sale OF the glebe
that was disposed Of in l,S5 and the
money placed in his hands. he being al
lowed to use the interest upon giving
bond for the payment Of the principal.
In 1888 he was allowed to labor part Of
the time i'll st. Augustine Parish and
Appoquinimink. Delaware, which he con
timed to ,lo until the time Of his death.
which occurred April 18Th. t.,22, on his
farm (now owned by Rev. James NcIn-
tire) near EllSton. Mr.. toudon was sue
ceedcd by Rev. William Duke, who took
charge of North Elk Parish. ~ 193, and
the same wear married Hottie Coudon.
the daughter OF the former rector. Mr..
Duke was native of Baltimore county.
and was licensed to preach by Rev. Mr..
Asbury, when he was only Ii or II years
Of age. His name appears upon the min
utes of the first conference held at Phila-
delplia. IA, as one of the seven minis
ters who were that year admitted on trial.
The next year lac was admitted to full
membership, and remained i'll cunnec~
ton with the conference as a travelling
preacher until 1,,9, when he ceased to
travel. and subsequently took orders in
the Episcopal church. heing impelled TO
do so by his opposition to the erection of
the Methodist society into an indepcnd-
ent church.
Mr.. Duke was learned man. and the
Rev. Mr.. Allen remarks in his manu-
script history of North Elk Parish. that
.'he was more of the student than the
preacher" He was the author of sew
cral religious and l'oetical works. the
principal one OF which was published
while he resided i'll Elkton. in l,95. It
was entitled Observations on the Pres
ent State OF Religion in Maryland and
was a valuable contribution to the reli-
gious literature of that period No per
son would imagine. however. after read
ing it. that the author had ever been Il
Methodist preacher, for he severely cen
cures iiicsc who were instrumental in
obtaining the independence Of the Meth
odist church, and intmates that the
| means used to effect that end were not
very creditabIe. He also criticises their
manner Of worship. and. while admitting
that in general they seemed to seek an
experimental knowledge of Col, zap
pea!s to themselves whether they do not
both, by example and express direction.
excite the people to noise and uproar:
ard whether they do not avail them
|
selves. not Only Of that noise but also Of
a confined air, violent gesiicHlationS. and
other circumstances calculated rather IL
surprise than inform the human mind,
and whether they Ito not estimate their
success in proportion to the disorder ant!
! tumu!t of their audience Strange Ian
| guage this to be used bT one who. few
years before, had been a Jealous Method
list himself: and yet there is no reason to
think that he was not entirely sincere
when he used it. for in this pamphlet he
is more severe, if possible. in his animal,
versions upon the Episcopal church than
he is upon the Methodists.
The fact seems to be that the early
Methodists were both noisy and demon,