Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-04-03
CEwritter History.
[By Il Scptuagcra!-i,un.l

The Eastern Shore of Virginia, though
embracing an area of territory about
seventy miles in length, continued as
one pastoral charge from 1854 until the
Conference Of 1856. III the meantime
the demands upon the two pastors had
so far increased us to make il impossible
to supply them. The Necks on both
sides of the Peninsula suffered especial
". Some of these were so remotely
situated that many Of the Inhabitants
never heard asermon and rarely saw Il
preacher.
About this time the Rev. Levi Scott,
afterwards Bishop, was sent us pre-
siding elder to Snow Hill district. this
district embracing Accomac circuit
The Rev. jefferson LEWIS was the tin
Grant in charge, (lSS5). Fortunately,
the latter was not only al able preacher
but live pastor. He began his pastor
ate With the speedy enforcement Ofmany
wholesome but neglected rules, and may
lie said to lave Instituted Il lew epoch
in Methodism on i. Shore. Though
The membership Of the circuit was large.
the collections had heen hitherto quite
mcagre and insufficient. 1t had been
the habit of the stewards to warn all
new preachers that the subject of
church collections mas an unpopular is.
sue. aud one to be always avoided when
possible. The salary Of the pastor lad
become accordingly mere pittance, no
allowance being made Portable expenses
or feed of u horse. and the parsonage al
most uninhabit;lhle for want of proper
furniture. When Mr.. Lewis complain
cd to the stewards in regard to the lack
of parsonage furniture, lie was duly in
formed by the brethren that his prede-
cessors had occupied the house without
complaint, and there seemed to be no
reason why he should not do the same.
But on the second round Of his circuit
the reverend gentleman made direct
appeal 10 every male member of his diff
fercnt churches, and i'll this way sue
cceded in raising the funds necessary
for the purpose. And the parsonage was
furnished.
On the occasion of the first quarterly
meeting of his year, he moved that a
committee be appointed to estimate the
expenses of his table and the feed of his
horse. He ultimately talked the Con-
ference no to it. and the sum of two
hundred dollars Was promised, provided
it could be raised. "Quarterage" in
those days meant twenty-five cents, pay
able at each quarterly meeting: few paid
more, many less and some none at all
Tie subject of Missions was pretty gen.
orally ignored. The writer recalls u
good old brother who used to state with
manifest pride that IN thirty years his
church had cost him thirty dollarsl
Another brother, a man of considerable
means, and a late accession to the
church, was duly called upon at the next
quarterly meeting for the regular asses.
ment. "Quarteagel what is that?" lie
inquired. Tie steward explained. "But
thought The gospel was free" he re-
piled; "ir I'm to he taxed twenty-five
cents for hearing preaching, You c;ln
take my maine Off - Evidently the good
brother could not blend the merccnary
idea of dollars and cents with the free
gift Of gospel light. 1t was not in the
eternal fitness of things, and the associ-
alton shocked him. He always remind
ed me of an incident of my boyhood
days. 1t was hog,killing time at my
grandfather IS, and some of the neigh
boring hands had been called in for as
sistance. The old gentleman was very
devout, and always began the day with
family prayer. "Boys ,"he SAID to them
Crow that The rocks are hot and mat
tiers pretty we'll arranged to begin, you
can all come in to duty" One old col
ored man, rather perplexed by the invi-
tation, wanted TO know what old master
meant by ''juty." lie supposed it was
a dram. On beinginformed by the 9TH
ers that duty in that house meant fam
lily prayer, he opened his eyes i'll holy
horror, and walked of, mutterng he
'didn't know what use there WAS for
family pra'ar at og-killin'."
But the Rev, Mr.. Lewis, in spite OF
such deeply rooted prejudices, gradually
wrought out the needed innovations,
and after a few rounds of his circuit
conquered all opposition. The church,
IN fact, took anew stalt under his min
istration. Revivals were held in differ
ent parts of the circuit, aid many &C.
cessiol.s made to the churches. The
writer recalls very distinctly the pro-
tracted meeting held at old Burton's
CHAPEL. Good sister Sallie Ashby, yet
a living and shouting member, and Bro.
VIM. Martin. awhile since dead, were
among the fruits CT Mr.. Lewis labors.
The order and system observed during
these meetings was likewise an innoya-
tion upon long established custom, and
no less remarkable than others already
referred to. And this change was per-
haps even more noticeable in the con-
duct of the campmeeting held that year
ON Tangier Island. New rules were not
only established but insisted upon. Or
der WIS declared by the preacher to be
one Of Gods special laws, and all rant
ing and excessive excitement especially