Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-05-23
POTOMAC CHAPEL.
ITS RE-DEDICATIoN ON SUNDAY LAsT-ITs
EARLY HIsToRy--ITs PROSPERITY
AND FUTURE

The spot on which Potomac Chapel stand
has its story of love and labor It. is cnnse
Grated by tie blessings of heaven and tn
prayers Of the righteous. The dead res
there and the living go there to worship
God and let their flight so shine" that other
seeing may come out of the storm.
Whilst every impulse of our heart ant
mind prompts US to dwell at length npo
the long chapter of interesting incident
connected with the growth and develop
ment of christianity at this chosen place O
worship-want of space precludes any ex
tended remarks and we must content our
self with mere running and condensed facts
Towards the middle OF the seventeenth
century, almost upon the very spot wher
now stands Potomac Chapel, body o
christians almost direct from the old Scotch
Presbyterian Covenantors, erected hous,
OF worship known as "Cabin John Church.
The erection OF this church was the adj
vance to an era Of culture and refinement il
this section of the county, which perhaps
has never been equaled or surpassed il
the State. Not only from the surrounding
neighborhood and throughout the county
but from the lower counties OF Maryland
and the District of Columbia numbers were
present at the services. Rev. James Hum
was among the earlier pastors, and his
remains rest there to-day. A stone slat
planted in 1898 tells of his birth and death
and bears the inscription OF verse which
he is said to have fully exempted in life
"Be We followers of me as vast Of Christ
Jesus and by grace are you saved But strive
TO enter in at the straight gate" 1t was
then and here under the tutelage Of this good
old man that William Writ received those
earlier lessons, which in after life enabled
him to atfix his monogram ON the pages d
American history in the days of intellectual
giants.
AS early as 1909, and in all probability
just US the sunset of Presbyterianism al
this particular point set in, the Rev. John
Mines commenced his labors here in con
junction with those of Rockville. For TWEEN.
ty-seven years Rev. Mr. Mines continued the
devoted and faithful pastor at this church
closing his labors in 1886.
Dust to dust is the great law, and it is
written all over the lace oil the earth. In
1888 Cabin John Church was without q
minister and II congregation, save those who
called occasionally as though To perpetual G
the cherished memories of better and hap
pier days. 1t was in this year, Or close by,
that Cabin John Church and grounds were
sold and the venerable and lanented Thos.
Scott became its purchaser. Mr.. Scott at
once tore down the old church and from
the timbers erected barn at his home near
by. Mr.. Scott was noted for his piety and
charity, and 1t was in this same year and in
his house that the pioneers Of Methodism
kindled their first fires in this part of the
county. Every other Saturday afternoon
service was held in his parlor, and such
men as the Rev. Alfred Griffith, who had
continent for a circuit, as il were, and
whose mighty intellect could shake bat
talon OF your modern doctors of divinity,
came here TO preach, and then the venerable
and much loved Reys. Basil Barry, Thomas
Meyers, Richard Watson Brown, Nelson
Head and others. These Saturday alter
noon meetings gradually increased in inter-
est and strength and multiplied in numbers.
Mr.. Scott perceiving this interest inaugu-
rated an all-day summer meeting in the
month ol August in the old barn. These
meetings were largely attended from all
parts of the county and continued until the
close of Mr. SCOTS life. Mr.. Scott died in
1S43. Mr.. CRATIC Clagett, his son-in-law
inherited the old homestead, and these meet
ings were continued until 1851, or when
Rev. William Prettyman was sent to this
circuit. Mr.. Prettyman realized that he
had before him field rich with promise
and he changed the place Of holding the
meetings from Mr.. Clagetts parlor to the
old school house which stood few rods
from where the new church now stands, and
on the very spot where William Writ taught
singing school whilst reading law in Rock
Vile
Rev. Thomas Sewell, the silver clarion Of
the Baltimore conference, as he was called
succeeded Mr.. Prettyman. 1t was under Mr.
Preityman's or Seweil's ministration thai
Potomac was made one of the regular ap
pointments OF the circuit, at any rate Mr.
Sewell was known to be extremely partial
to Potomac, and some of his finest and ables
efforts were at this point 1t was under Mr.
Sewell that the first Sunday School was or
ganzed here and DIR. Zadoc Offutt, now o
Baltimore county, was its first president. Al
Mr.. Sewell progressed with his labors the lol
school house was inadequate to the necessi
ties OF the growing congregation and it was
determined that church should he bull
and known as Potomac Chapel.
Aided in the enterprise by the lat
DIR. Heaton and Mrs. Mary Frey, Of Vir
ginia, many OF the Methodist congregations o
the county, the immediate congregation ant
his own generosity, the church was erected
and dedicated in 1854, Mr.. Sewell preaching
the dedication sermon. The ground was
donation from Mr.. CRATIC Clagett.
From the period Of its dedication Potc
mac Chapel became one of the most promi
nent stations of this circuit. The member
ship increased in numbers and zeal, willis
the Sunday School was ever an attractiv
and fiourishing feature. During the minis
tration of Rev. G.. r. Tyler the csngrega
ton so increased that the propriety Of en-
larging the church was discussed. Nj
Bond coming in charge at the Termination
Of Mr.. Tyler's stay of four years encoul
aged the idea, and over year ago com
mttee from the membership, consisting {
Messrs. Philip Stone, John W. Clagett an
Daniel Cfamer, were appointed 10 max
collections and proceed with the enlarge
ment How faithfully they have executes
the trust imposed, the taste they displaye
is best attested IN the strikingly neat an
handsome church which was re-dedicatet
n