The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-03-12
Secretary..M Daisy Dallam;
Earl, MethOdism in Hartford County.
Cnrrcsnnndencn of Inc RnlIirnnre Pinnnnr

remember Bel Air, the county seat, when
there was not a church in the town. AT that day
my fathers house was the regular preaching
place Services were held every two weeks.
Then the Circuit took in the entire county.
Preaching was usually in the morning. | was
boy at the time, and often piloted the ministers
to Or. Bonds, in the afternoon, where they
would preach and stop for the night, and next
morning continue their journey to Abingdon,
where was located the parsonage. Sometimes
the stationed preachers would have me 90 home
with them, when would enjoy fishing excur-
sions to Winters Run. The days of which l
write were prolific OF grand men of God such as
Alfred Griffith, John Davis Nathan b Mills and
a host Of others. They often laid their hands on
the heads OF us boys, saying, God bless the
boys" That prayer has been answered many a
time.
My fathers family and a Mr.. Dean and his
family were the principal Methodists OF the To-
eaty. Glass meeting was held at our old home.
In the course of time the necessity became ur-
gent for church edfce in Bel Air. My father
hired team from aneighhor, and with the addi-
they hauled stone and the necessary material for
the erection of a church.
omitted to state that at an intermediate peri
cd prior to building the church and preaching at
my fathers house, as the congregation increased,
services were occasionally hell at the Academy
and in the old Court House.
If lam correct the date would be the year 1927
think the Rev. Charles b. rppet, who was
noted preacher in his day and generation, preach
ed the dedication sermon. This edhce was now
the assembling place for services. 1t was free
for use by al denominations and was known as
union church.
In the days of William Prettyman, Robert
Emory, and Others, interesting revvas were held
and great numbers added to the denomination.
Methodsm then grew and ngthened, so as TO
be able to construct church of its own, also n
parsonage. Time has wrought great changes in
Bel Air 1t now has five churches, and breathes
the progressive spirit of the age.
The first effort 10 establish Il sunday School in
Bel Air was by Rev. Elijah Miller. who was after
wards transferred to the Phi Philadelphia Conference.
Ii failed Robert Emory, who was Junior preach
err with William Prettyman, organized the second
one. Not man could be found to act ms super
iDtelleut. A devoted v. Mary ipllDtt n
sister of the present Chief Judge Yelott, of this
Circuit, accepted the place. and performed its
derson was afterwards sent to the Circuit, and he
made choice of the lady superintendent for his
wife She was a santed character, and has pass
ed with her husband within the peary gates
On Deer Creek, or at Waters Meeting House,
noted in history as being the place where the first
Conference was held in the days of Bishop Asbu
ry, composed of six or eight preachers, Il new
church has been erected on the old foundation:
There are graves in the cemetery bearing the
date of a hundred years ago. The old homestead
of the Waters family is still owned by one of
the descendants of that family. Judge James d.
Waters is of that good old stock.
Just on the line, In full view, is Bulls Camp
Ground, noted place, where for years the
Divine power was always expected, and the null
titudes we're swayed by it. People would travel
in their wagons thirty and forty miles to enjoy
season of refreshing from the Lord
This old spiritual battle-ground had long poles
dividing the seats occupied by the ladies from
those where the gentlemen were seated. A fence
was around the altar, and there were two gates,
at each of which was keeper Unless you were
penitent or disposed to work, you could not
gain an entrance. The place was always filled,
so that it was hard to find room to kneel.
Years ago the camp-ground was cleared and
cultivated, and was succeeded by the camp join
ing Calvary Church. There have seen such
multitude assembled that the tents would not
accommodate them.
A wonderful man was Robert Emory. He
graduated at Columbia College, New York, at
the age of seventeen. He commenced the study
of law under Hon. Reverdy Johnson but being
converted on the MONTGOMERY Circuit, at n quar-
terly meeting he left off the study, and at twenty
was professor of languages in Dickinson Col
lege.
Shortly after 1889, he was probationer in the
Baltimore Conference, and was appointed to the
Hartford Circuit; his memoir says where he re-
NAMED one year. which was full of fruit as it was
ton, Baltimore in 1912 acting President of Dick
inson College. drrng DR.. Durbin's absence in
Europe; In 1874, Columbia Street Thereafter,
until death, he was President of Dickinson Col
lege, dying at the early age of thirty-four years
have known him, at the Calvary Church. to
stand on an old wagon, beneath large poplar
tree, that still flourishes and preach to spell
bound audience. =
Friendship Church, now in the bounds of the
West Hartford Circuit, is not far from Fallston.
1t was originally small log chapel. A young
buried beneath its shade Since that day a new
church has taken its place. Three Circuits and
two stations have been carved out of Hartford
county, and are now denominated as such,
Whether Methodsm has improved of late | need
not state. But this do declare, that now, past
my threescore and tenth year. love her all the
same. l.. NJ. G.