Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-02-25
For the Smyrna Times
Methodist History on the Peninsula.

One year after tho Acknowledgement OF
the Independence of these United States.
the Methodist Episcopal Church was or.
ganized in this country. 1t never had ex-
lStence anywhere previous to that date.
The societies were numerous, held together
by band OF love, scattered over a vast
extent OF territory but destitute of church
organization. However it has the honor
OF being organized the first in the United
States. Other churches were here before
the revolution, only as branches of the
several denominations which had their
orlgen and distinct organizations in Eu-
rope"
In 1885 Bishops Coke and Asburv called
on General Roberdeau in Alexandria. d.
e., who was great friend to the Metko
dIsts, and who was to introduce them to
General Washington. On the 9th of Nav
they arrived at Mount Vernon, and re-
ceIved very polite reception. The Gen.
erai gave them his views on slavery which
were adverse to it, In this am sure the
Bishops concured.
The M. f. Church was the first religious
body to recognize the organization OF the
national Government, and the Presidency
Of Washington. Bishops Coke and AS.
bury, IN the namo Of the Conference ia
session ct New York, waited on Washing
ton, then just inaugurated on Nav 29th.
l69, and Asbury read to him the address
OF the Conference. "The address (say.
contemporary preacher and the answer in
few days were inserted in the public
prints.
In 1889 the Conference made this rule.
From this time forward no person shall
he owned as a member of our Church
without six months trial."
! A superficial reader OF these sketches
may think | have abandoned Peninsula
Methodism, for Methodism in general.
Not SO, followed the preachers from Bar
retts Chapel TO the Baltimore Conference.
whore they csnsummated what was 50
ardently desired by our people, the organi.
cation of the NJ. T. Church. There are oc.
currences which take place in the economy
OF MethOdism in distant States, which con.
Germs us IN our isolated homes between
these two bays, and affects our destinies as
much as If they TRANSFERRED in our midst.
mat conference was part of our history.
he Bishops ordained then and there in 1884.
ana IN 1900 were our Bishops and 17dad over
us in the appointment of our preachers
There Is very little interesting matter
that can find in books relative to Metho.
dlsE on the Peninsula from 1854 to 1900.
| The battle was fought hare between the
hosts OF Satan, and the disciples of Christ,
and victory Won by the latter and psacs
ensued. The work went OR steadily, the
numbers increased, and the church was
established. In no part Of the country
was Methedism Prospering more "In
1900 Bishop Asbury on account Of feeble
health desired to res ign his office AS Bishor.
and to take his seat in the Conference on
level with the elders. At the solicitation
OF the preachers who vencrated and loved
him so much, he continued in Office as the
Conference was disposed to render him as.
sIStance by the election Of another Bishon.
On the first balloting no one had a majority.
hey balIoted second time, and there was
tie between Richard Whatcoat and Jesse
Lee. On the third ballot Richard What,
coat was elected by majority of four
votes. The common diocese of the Meth.
ediSt bishops in that day was the entire
country. On the 18th of MAY, 1900 Rich.
ard Whatcoat was ordained bishop by
the laying on of hands, by Dr. Coke, Bishop
Asbury, and some of the elders.
Dr. Coke thsn obtained liberty to return
to Europe again, upon the condition that
he should return to America. as soon as
his business would allow; or, at farthest by
the next general conference.
TRIALS OF a DIAMOND Neutrality-suspicious.
OF the present whereabouts Of the magnif.
cent diamond necklace which was pre-.
scented by the Khedive Of Egypt to Mrs.
Fitch, daughter of General Sherman, seems
to have been obtained from diamond mer.
chant by the Cincinnati E,lquircr 1t will
be remembered that this necklace was
deemed worth 100000, and Congress re.
mitted the duties, $4,000, for the non.
payment Of which it was long detained in
the New York Custom House. CATER
this" says the informant, "the neck
lace was sent to Washington and. with
General Sherman's sword, deposited in the
United States Treasury for safe keeping
Upon further inquiry, Lieutenant Fitch as.
certained that the yearly taxes on the da
mondS in st. Louis County, whore he then
resided, would be much more than his
salary, and he once more found them an
elephant on his hands. His fatherin. law,
General sherman, took pity on the boy
and returned the necklace, with thanks, to
the donor in Egypt. Upon receiving them
the Khedive wrote to tho General saving
that it was not his desire that the dia.
monds should be given to any one member
of his family, and, having learned that he
had four daughters, it was his wish then
that the diamonds Should be mounted in
sets and divided equally between them.
These daughters are Mrs. Fitch, nee Minnie
sherman. Ella Sherman, Lizzie Sherman
and Rachel Sherman. The necklace was
then returned to the Sherman family and
mounted in four magnificent pendants,
four pairs of splendid solitaire earrings
and eight rings. These four ladies are now
the happy possessors of four complete suits
of diamonds, the value of each suit being
at least $4,000. This makes each of them
rich in her own right through the gener-
osity ct Egypt's late ruler"
AS Spring draws near, Russia, as usual,
manifests disposition to renew the inter.
mlRabie war in Central Asia. 1t is a pecu.
llarity of this war that Russia always is
drawn into fighting by tho iAsolont and
unprovoked attacks of savage tribes, or
else by the piteous appeals for aid on the
part OF some particular tribe oppressed by a
powerful and indicative neghbor. Thus,
1t will be remembered, the Khivans assailsd
the gentle Russians and forced the Car, in
sslt'defeRse, to conquer and annex the
Khanate; thus, later, Bokhara the Holy
assalled Khiva-and then the Gar, in the
interest of his new subjects, was forced to
conquer and annex Rolxb Worv ,,,,,oL