The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-01-10
ECIL MLIlfuDr>.u.
HOpEWELL M. z. CHURCH AND
CEMETERY.
CHAPTER !.

all CIStuS Oh tiic
the entire globe. In America it has long
been recognized power that had much to
do with the civilization ofthe Western world
Though Barbara Heck first melted Philip
Embury to preach at his own house in New
York, until his labors (assisted by Captain
Webb Of the English Navy secured the old
John Street Meeting House. and though
Captain Webb'S Efforts afterwards proved
successful in Philadelphia, and mainly
through his eNertions St. Georges Church
Tin an unfinished state) was purchased for
a Methodist meeting house; Yet Maryland
and Virginia, having been settled by Eng
fish colonists, proved to be much more fer
tile soil for the gospel seed sown by Mr..
Wesley's preachers. And nj the time of
the breaking out of the Revolution, there
were, perhaps, more MethodStS in those
two colonies than in all the OF hers combined.
The clergy of the Church of England and
Mr.. Wesley's preachers, in the colonies,
We're nearly all Englishmen, and were loyal
to the Crown, and hence returned home.
Francis Asbury done, of "H the preachers
Scll ~ -Aiitlitst ny III W cSltNs ItilistiHtu
at his post, determined, Give or die to
stand by the Society with which his whole
being was identified.
The withdrawal Of the English preachers,
and the well-known fact that Mr. Wesley,
the recognized head of the Societies, was
loyal to his King, caused the M-thcdists to
fall under the ban of suspicion and bitter
prosecutions: and they We're generally sup
posed to he roliticoiiy hostile to American
freedom. So widespread and bitter was
this sentiment, that even Mr.. -Asbury, in
June, 1716, was arrested in TIE vicinity of
Baltimore and fined 81 for i,geoching. He
was then compelled to desist from general
work. and for nearly two years remained in
comparative seclusion at the house of Judge
Thomas White in Kent county, Delaware.
About this time most fortunate circum-
stance occurred for the infant Societies. Mr..
Asbury had written 4 letter to Mr.. Wesley,
or some one of his cc-laborers in England,
in which he expressed the deepest interest
in the struggles of the colonies, and his earn
est wishes and tervent prayers for their sue
cess and independence. This letter was i'll
tercepted, and his enemies, instead of find
ing it breathing forth treason, We're aston
ished rs well as gratifed to find that, i'll
Mr.. Asbury, the colonies had 4 Staunch
friend of liberty, and one whose tongue and
pen could do them good service. Hence
forth Mr.. Ashury grew in favor, and was
permitted openly to proceed with his minis
terial labors.
Prior to this, in Maryland-famed and
praised for religious tolerance,-even her ""
tire barn Methodist preachers were rrtiPpe|
stoned, ,fned, inairisoaed and placed under
bonds and penalties, for no other otfense
than that of being Methodists and rreach-
ing. Free-born Garrettson was beaten in
one county and imprisoned in another: For
rest and Wren We're committed to Jail in
Annapolis, the capital of the State: HEARTILY
was placed under bonds, in the sum of 900,
not TO preach in Queen Anne's county; and
in the same county Garrettson was knocked
off his horse and beaten insensiby by a
Judge Of tie courts. After Heartley ad been
placed under bonds in Queen Anne's coun-
ty, he went to Talbot county, where he was
beaten aad cast into prison. From the win
dow of the Jail he preached to the people
who gathered there to hear him, until his
enemies were glad to have him released, lest
his preaching should convert the whole town
and vicinity. Pedicord was obedten on the
public highway, in dorchester county, that
he carried his scars to his grave. Many
other similar cases might be cited, but these
must suffice to show the trials and hard
ships and relentless prosecutions the hethod-
ia preo,ihe,S endured in hose days in "My
Maryland"
Before the Revolution, Captain Webb had
preached in Baltimore, and MethodiSm had
been introduced into Frederick, Baltimore,
and Hartford counties, by Robert Straw
bridge. In Frederick county, he preached
in his own house In Baltimore county,
at the house of Daniel Evans, where Rich
ard Owens, the first native American atetho-
dist local preacher, was licensed, and at the
same place William Walters, was licensed
the first native American dineru,! Metho-
dist preacher. In Hartford county, Safer
Stephenson, Nathan Perigua, and Richard
Webster, We're among the first fruits of
Methodisrn. Daniel Rufus house, near
and Ruff was soon noted, first as 4 l0rul and
afterwards rs au itiner',h.t Methodist preach
Ell, Of great zeal and usefulness. Hartford
county became IL favorts field Of labor to
Mr.. Asbury. and in 1883 he laid the foull-
dation of "Cokesbury College" at Abng-
don, in that county, thus early evidencing
his high appreciation of education. Prior
to the Revolution, Mr.. Asbury had gathered
into the infant society quite number of
persons from influential families, both in
Maryland and Delaware, whose wealth and
social position, and exemplary piety, gave
material aid and moral and religious tone
to Methodism. Prominent among them,
may be named Henry Dorsey Cough, whose
wife WAS a daughter of Governor Eidgely
Mr.. Cough was one Of the wealthiest men
then i'll Maryland and his mansion, " Perry
Hall, near Baltimore. was one of the most
elegant in America. He entertained on
the most liberal scale, in the highest style,
of those days. His guests were numerous,
and of the aristocracy of the country; yet
he was not ashamed of his religion, or
Methodisni, and never failed TO assemble his
visitors and family for morning and even
ing devotionS. Also mention might he
made of Governor lIaSsett and Judge White
(before referred toy, both wealthy and high
officials i'll Delaware. Metholisms first
fruits on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
=. l.n1- IL a,,t Il
Hynson Chapel, in that county, the first
Methodist meeting house erected between
the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays
have recited these incidents of ea,}y
Mcthodism in Maryland and in Delaware.
for the purpose of referring to the fact that
while historians of Niethodism lave given
MS accounts of its Else and progress, in
baltimore, Hartford and kent counties, in
Maryland, and in New Castle and Kent
counties in Delaware, there is no mention
made by them, Of its Introduction Into Cecil
county, in those early times. Though Mr..
Asbury, in his journal, makes notes of his
having once preached in El!stnn. We have
no record. so far as know, Of any Metho
dist society existing in Cecil county ut that
da:e. And | have failed to find any his
torical refernce to the introduction of Meth
odism into that part of Cecil county, to
which | propose, in my next chapter, to
call the attention of the readers of The
Hhig, viz: That section bordering on the
Susquehanna river, in which is located
WopeweH " L. %Nrch, tie nonored mother