Smyrna times., 1880-04-14
For the Smyrna Times
Methodist History on the Peninsula.

After the exit of Mr. Lyon from the Cir
cut the pulPits were flied 10y preachers al
different character, who attended to the
spiritual interests Of their congre egations
successfully. 1t was no uncommon thing
to have revivals here and on the circuit, in
which many conversions took place. The
dreadful hurricane that threatened the
demolition of the churches passed over
them without destroying them. yet in its
march 1t shook the temples, and left traces
of the storm.
la 1910 the Rev. George Pickering was
raising money for church in Boston, and
came to the Peninsula, (the garden of
MethodlSm) for sympathy and funds. He
came to smyrna in company with Bishop
Asbury who preached a sermon, and was
followed by Mr.. Pickering, and then a
n06le collection WAS taken for Boston Chanel.
1t may not be uninteresting to state as it
Is III chronological order, that in 1911 Bishop
Asbury, while travelling in the State of
Ohio, christNned little infant by the
name OF Matthew. This child grew up to
be man, he became a Methodist preacher.
and his fame extends now all over the
United States, and is known to us as Bshon
Simpson.
The youths Of the present day can form
no adequate conceptions of the vast amount [
OF travelling done by the Methodist preach.
ers and their families in private carriages.
IN the early part of the present century.
Railroad conveyances, and city and village
stations Tor preachers, have produced a
great change in the travels of our ministers
In former years we uspd to seq twenty
preachers visiting or paSsia2 through Smyrna
whore wa now see u onr.
In 1913 large retinu7 Of preachers and
their families drove up to my father, door.
and allghted for Il nights cnttrt tininent.
Two OF our neighhors. Mrs Kennedy a
Presbyterian, and nci.hi,or Morris, a
Friend, called and kiniiv offered To lo1.s
part OF oar guests. My parents apnr, i.
Grated their klndn"$>, hlt .jld not acceI I
the offer as their hcdIt> an means we've
equal to the eI~prE"ucN. lac flowers from
the garlahds worn 10y the Pres byterians and
Friends at this time. We'd with each other
IN odor, beauty, and bloom Tnpv *.
panded their petals emitted their fragrance
winch comes travelling down through many
decades and greets our olf4ctnries at this
distant day with their o lofiferous salu.
brity
In 1915 Bishop A<jurv visited Snyrna
and held mPrtin. iu the old ASlurv
[.
II sat on q high stand or table. and talllt d
to the people. ll~was very pale. wrinkled,
gray and feeble. This was hi, last visit 10
smyrna. Rev. Henry BO"hm travelled
forty thousand miies with him, and in his
old age he often lifted him iruta his horse,
and carried him in his arms into private
houses, and churches, whore he would sit
down, and expound the ward Of life to the
astOnishment Of all that heard him. He
was mighty man in prayer, and was in
the habit OF presenting each conference,
and the preachers by name before the Lord.
tie often received presents, and one gentle.
man in South Caroline frequently gave him
one hundred dollars lie was reStles.
TIL 1t was gone. so anxious was he to do
good with it. lie would give the most Of
1t away at the next conference 20 the Iaost
necesstous cases. lie gave much in this
way before the formation Of Missionary
Society. Like John Wesley, Bishop Asbury
was constantly in advance ct his age.
). P. NJ.
SMYRNA, April 4th, 1880