Smyrna times., 1880-03-17
Tor the Smwaa Times
Methodist History Oh the Peninsula,

have already noticed the unobtrusive
manner IN which MethodsrA was intrOdu.
ced into this ngighbsrhOod. A trustee of
the BlAckiston's Meeting House, who lived
at Duck Creek Cross Roards, opened his
house for revival meetings. The unOr-
daiRed people wers the instruments in
Gods hands in spreading this work.
The diversified religious proclivitiss of
the inhabitants of Duck Greek, (Only q mile
dstant) were wenderiul. Yet ! do no not
read in the histories | have consulted Of
any effort Of those sScts who already had
the vantage ground to oppose the march OF
Methodism 1t seems to be a law OF nature,
that strength expended lavishly does not
last long. If the functions OF our animal
nature require rest 10 strengthen and per
petuata thena, so the soul In its loRsIngs
after life eternal caanOt forget the necessi,
ties of the body without relaxation of its
spiritual forces. If we judge of this Hamlet
by the number of SPCts found there, it
seems like the spiritual life OF a city inten.
sified. is subsequent history in Church build
ing propensitiesssems to be dwarted, by the
prepsnderaHcs of religious activity III its
infancy.
In those early days there were ia the
village Of Duck Creek two ether denomina.
tions of christians, viz: the Baptists and
PrRsbyterians who held religi0us services in
the same house alternately. How long
this continued ! have not been able to
ascertain. The Baptsts left and went to
the neighborheOd of KentoR, about six
miles west OF Duck Creek. The most
prominent member of the Brynzion or
MountZ;en Church, near Kenton, was DR..
James Jones who had been a surgeon in
the Revolutionary army, and sfter the war
was over, retired to his farm near this
church, which has been in existence
ever since. For fifty years he served as
pastor without salary and contributed Of
his means to its support, and entertained
| the visiting ministers from abroad that
came to their special meetings. He died
| in 1890. leaving behind him the fragrance
of well spent life. have had less knOwl-
edge OF this church from the fact that it
was situated six miles from my home.
The few OF the congregation that | knew
| have long aimee gone to the invisible world,
though there is enc still living whom | ad-
mire as an intelligent friend.
| | now cOme to tho Presbytsrians who
though last mentioned, are not the least in
my affections. Ny grandfather by the
]
| of England, and held an office under the
crown while living in Ireland. Ny grand
mNther was Presbyterian, and she cap.
ture 4 all her children, except my father,
who came to this country youth and
settled in this section contrary to his
| expectat ions. He was converted in 1871
at prayer meeting when Rev. Christopher
Spry travelled this circuit. lie joined the
! Methodist Church, and was the only Meth
| odist OF his family that | ever heard Of
consequently nay relatives by him were
| within the pale OF the Presbyterian Church
| Added to this, one of the oldest, anC
among the most prominent Of the Presby
teran families of this place were friends o
nay parents, and their desceRdents were
my Juvenile companions. A friendship
was then formed which continues unti
this day.
The minister of the Presby yterian Church
at Dover served the Presbyterian congre
satien at Duck Creek, and contemplate
the erection Of a new Meeting House TO
themselves. Many of this denomination
like the Msthodists prefer that their house
where they assemble to worshipG God shOulC
be called Meeting Houses, instead Of Churches
They say the spiritual members are the church
" the course Of time the transition becam
easy Of fsubstitutingthe house for the Churcl
instead Of the spiritual wsrshppers it con
tanned. The minister that preached a
Dover and Duck Creek died before h
realized his expectations of building a nsv
Meeting House. 1t is thought by som
writers that the Duck Creek Presbyteria
Church was among those first organized i
] America, and "althOugh not as historic a
Rehoboth, it is safe to assume it was nc
far behind that church in its formation.
From what have gathered from reading
| think the Church near the mill pom
n south Of the present town Of Smyrna wa
erected ia 1772 or 1913. This was abou
six or seven years before the era Of MethC
dist Meeting at d. C. G. Road. This churc
was in old style, built Of brick, with tn
, gable end towards the pond, oRe-and.i
half steries high. There were tive fror
doors adjoining each other, one of which le
= into the gallery, and door at each ent
The interior was plain, with arched c0ilin
and gallery on three sides; brick aisle
u and some large square psws, and som
smaller. After having been occupied Il
a number Of years, it rested for period
about two decades
, On the first day Of Nov, 1918, meetir
was held by the friends of this churc
) and resolution passed to open a subscri
ton paper for collecting funds for its r
pairs. This was accordingly done and Il
amount of $44S.50 were subscribed. Sixt
six signatures wero obtained, and there we
very few indeed Of that number that | W.
not then or afterward acquainted wit
The Church was repaired, and the pulu