Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-05-04
Anniversary Sermons.

Yesterday being the 46th anni-
versary of the Presbyterian church of
this city, Rev. Robert I'll Williams
remarked 1--WE have satisfactory
evidence that there were Presby-
terians in the State before the famous
Act of federation was passed, in
April 1649. As the Protestants were
in the majority in the assembly in
which this act was pass d, we may
suppose that Presbyterians bad part
III the adoption of that act.
"a few months after the adoption
of that act, there came to Annapolis
a colony of Puritans. or, as some
would call them Presbyterian Puri.
tans. Durand, the elder Of the church,
represented the church as having one
hundred and eighteen members, and
the number of adherents as being
nearly one thousand
"These people came to place, then
wilderness, which they called Provi-
dence; subsequently the name was
changed several times, until it re.
ceived the name of Annapolis in l708
Before three years had passed,
Lord Baltimore required them to take
what was known as the Oath of FL
deity, under penalty of the loss Of
their lands. This they declined to
do, because, as they said, st was not
agreeable to the terms on which they
came hither, nor to the liberty of their
consciences' They declared further
that they looked upon it as real
grievance, and such an oppression as
they we're not able to bear.
Resolving that they would rather
die like men than live like slaves
they met the issue in battle, not q
halt mile from Annapolis, March
Is, 1856, in which fifty men were
slain and wounded. They completely
overturned the government, and held
the authority nearly two years, when
Lord Baltimore signed an agreement
by which they were protected in their
religion, aud their lands secured to
them by patents This condition of
things showed how the act Of tolera.
ton was violated, and set forth the
character of the settlers of 1649.--
Francis Doughty, an English Presby.
terrain minister, Prof Briggs tells us,
preached in Maryland from 1850 to
1863, and probably much longer. Az
this was the only locality in the State
occupied by Presbyterians in any
number, Doughty must have been the
minister to this people.
Before many years these people
claimed lands far up on the Patapsco
river in Baltimore county. Before
the end of the century, we have no
doubt, that some of them penetrated
as far as the SusQuehanna river. AS.
early as 1917, Lord Baltimore speaks
Of the ministers of the Presbyterians
and some other bodies, being main
tanned by q voluntary contribution of
those Of their own persuasion
"On July 10th of the same year he
said: The greatest part OF the in.
habitants (of Maryland) three or four
at least, do consist Of Presby terians,
Independents, Anabaptists and Quak-
ers, those of the churches of Eng
land, as well as those of the Romish,
being the lowest
1.-THE history of the Mt. Paraa
church, the oldest church in the Pres
bytery of Baltimore, 10 tolerably clear
down to Ills, but when we have
reached that date we feel that we
have not come to the origin Of the
church, for at that date we fnd y
congregation already gathered, and i
church edifce already built.
"The history OF the Churchville
church, tho next oldest church ID the
Presbytery, we can trace to 1888, but
this date is not the beginning Of its
history, for WhiteReld found q church
already gathered when he visited that
part Of the State. It had ! grave
yard, We are told, at that early date.
and the church was said Is Be Oh
grave yard creek. Ia spafcely sew.
kled country i takes years % estab.