Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-15
nook NorIoss.


METHoDfsM or THR PENINSULA; or,
sketches u Notable haras'ters and Events In
the History Of MethOlism In the Maryland
and DrlawHre Peninsula. By the hev Robert
". Todd Win an Introduction by the Rev
Bishop John +. Hurst, d. b. Price, $3.50
Mr.. Todd deserves the thanks OF every
reader on the Peninsula for having written
this book, Apart from It's entertaining fea-
lures, for 1t Is rarely and quantity enter
tanning until II runs into medley of rnWish
poetry In the concluding chapter, II has a
very marked historical value. 1t begins
with the planting and growth Of Methodlsm
on this Peninsula, sailing down, as II were,
the characteristics and salient points Of the
work Of the primitive fathers Of the church
who rode their circuits through the almost
trankless forests and sparsely settled clear
ings OF century ago, and follows them and
their SUCCESSORS up to the present day. Sim
pie men Of stalwArt faith were they, as In
cIdents handed down by tradition and still
current among families descended from
their parlshioners abundantly testify. In
resculng from the oblivion with which they
were threatened some OF the best authenti-
Gated Of these stories OF manifestations OF
the power Of that unquestioning faith
which modern Methodism appears To
have outgrown, the author has
done an important work. Thirty
years ago, before railroads and the
peach fever had done their work OF lnnoya-
ton on the Eastern Shore and In the lower
counties OF Delaware old grand
fathers and grandmothers, whose lives
reached back nearly or quite to the days Of
the revolution, smoked their pipes, knit
stockings or ran the spinning wheel in the
chimney corner within the same old walls
and beneath the rOoi.tree where they first
saw the light-these and other stories OF
like character were often retold, not then as
mere traditions. but with the fervent sim.
plteity Of narrative characteristic OF things
which had happened often under the re-
lators personal observation. Strange and
tinctured with superstition they seem
now, but with these old Inhabitants, shut
out as they were from the skepucal world
the days Of their childhood came up before
them as an sra In which the occasional
working OF miracles through zealou:
fathers in the church had In it nothing O.
incongruousness. They were nearer Il
nature than their descendants and, whether
rightiully or wrongfully believed themselves
| also nearer TO natures God.
| OF generation OF pastors who have bu
| lately gone to their reward and who seryet
20 fink the church Of to-day with tn,
/ pioneers Of Peninsular Methodlsm, the Rev
| Ma Todd relates many quaint and fire.
greatly amusing "reminiscences. Neares
I'd Niilningtonians among these come
billy barnes who occupied the pulpit II
the "a Union church, on west SeconC
street IN 1850. The famous story Of Bill,
With his wig aud Billy without his wig \
ono Of those which the author Of
ihis book has saved from forgetful
ness, but the record OF his wasp hunt Is still
more amusing and new to many Whining
rouHns. These and similarly good stories
Of others who were noted pulpit character
"a heir day are very well told by Mr. Todd