Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-29
LOCAL HISTORY.
MARTInSBuRG n. {. CHURCH.

. MARTInSBURG n. E. CHURCH.
On June I'd, 1882, Francis Asbury,
who was elected Bishop oftlle Meth.
odist Episcopal Church in 1884, deliv-
cred sermon in the market-hOuse IN
! Martinsburg.
The first Circuit of the Methodist
Church, West of the Blue Ridge, was
| formed in 1889, of which Martinsburg
was the centre. The Society in Mar
tinsburg occupied q small log building
on John Street until the erection OF
the stone structure ON the same street.
From thence they removed to the
bIck building on the s. E. Corner OF
the Square. In 1868, this edifice was
| found too small to accommodate their
increasing congregation, and the pres
ent Church, modelled after the First
| M. E. Church, Annapolis City, was
commenced. During the administra-
! ton Of Rev. E. d. Owen, the lecture
room was opened for worship; and
the main audience room completed
and dedicated during the pastorate of
Rev. s. v. Leech, ID. D.
Rev. M. F. b. Rice was pastor
when the tower was put up, and the
late Hon. G. ]. Faulkner contributed
one hundred dollars toward its erec-
ton.
| Among the noted Presiding Elders
of Winchester District, when it in
cluded Martinsburg, were Revs. Jno.
Baer, N0rval Wilson and John A.
Collins.
In l849, Martinsburg was separated
from Berkeley Circuit, and constitut-
ed "StatiOn /" of the Baltimore Con-
ference. Rev. Henry Furlong was
the first pastor.
| His successors in chronological or
der, were: David Thomas, George
w. Cooper, James III. Brown, John
Landstreet, Solomon McMullen, Chas.
A. Reid, John M. Green, John H.
Swope, HI. C. Mcdaniel, E. ID. Owen,
S. V. Leech, A. r. Kelley, J. c. Ock-
erman, j. w. Cornelius, j. E. Amos,
NJ. F. B. Rice, Geo. V. Leech, A. s..
Hank.
| Among the present members are
Mrs. Charlotte Gardiner, VIM. Math-
ews and wife, who have been connect
ed with the church for more than fifty
years. VIM. Mathews has been q
Trustee since 1888.
The total membership reported at
the last Conference is 369.
Major J. H. BristGr is Superintend-
ent of the Sabbath School. Mrs. Fan
ny Westall has charge of the Infant
Department. PA. Rohrbaugh, Esq,
is leader of the Choir.
| PRESENT CHURCH AND PASTOR.
1t may not be out of place to state
here that in publishing history OF
our native county some years ago. the
greatest difficulty was encountered in
collecting the church history. In nine
cases out of ten there were no existing
records, and the only open sources OF
information were the few old men,
bers who survived, and scattered
scraps from the early local papers,
For this reason we take the liberty of
making personal mention as we deal
with the present. much against the
wishes of all who shrink from pub
licity, that those who are to come af.
ter and carry on the same work, may
have less difficulty in finding the
milestones that once marked busy
highway, then hidden by time and
displaced by Others IN the ceaseless
march of the ages from the cradle to
the grave. AT first judgment and
modesty may not approve of such lib
erty, but afterthought will admit that
there can be no objection when exer.
cised with prudence.
TIE present building of the M. E.
Church of Martinsburg is a fine edi.
flee, with a desirable location on the
corner of Burke and Maple Avenue
A large brick parsonage adjoins the
church. The church is strong in
membership, successful in the various
branches of its work, in which pastor
and congregation are Zealously en-.
gagged.
The present pastor, Rev. A. Sum-
merfield Hank, is son of William
Hank, who was one of the early Meth
odist workers through Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia. Mr.. VIM.
Mathews, an old member of the Mar
tinsburg church, from whom we OBJ
tanned these facts, remembers his
work sixty years ago. He was sweet
singer, which in the conversion OF
souls, is often more effective than
preaching. He gave his son a liberal
education, to which has been added
that polish and affability acquired by
extensive travels in this country and
Europe. Rev. A. S. Hank entered
the ministry in 1852 and was station
ed at Patapsco in 1858, after that at
South Branch and Rockingham, Va. /;
Principal of Cassville Ky.) Seminary
from 1856 TO 1857, and from 1858 to
1859 Principal of Moreantown Fe-
male Seminary !; from 1860 to 1876 in
Maryland and Va; at Hagerstown in
1877, and came from Govanstown to
Martinsburg in 1884. All his time
and attention are given to his calling.
Such devotion to the cause in which
he is Observation-Disclosures the exclu-
sion of all others-cannot help but
make him we'll liked. The man him.
self bears a striking resemblance to
Lincoln, the martyred President,
which one cannot fail but remark
Lincoln's mother, we are told, was a
Hank.