Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-03-09
NINETY YEARS !
THE OLDEST LYING MINISTER
or BALTIMORE CONFERENCE
H. 81. CHURCH, SOUTH.

him on having attained that unusual age
though their congratulations we're temper
ed by the fact that the venerable servant
of God had but a few days before lost his
wife, for many years the companion Of his
life and labors. Except the feebleness
that attends great age, MIR. Eskrldge is in
good health, his eYesisht does not require
the aid of glasses, his hearing is perfect.
his voice clear and round, and his
memory most remarkable. He is passing
the evening of bis life in the house of his
daughter Mrs. Maj j. W. Newton. and
in the same city with his other children,
MIR. A. A. Eskridge, Deputy Postmaster,
and Mr.. B. b. Eskridse. M snager Of
Adams Express CO. 4 representative of
the VINDICATOR called on the venerable
minister to have talk with him On sub
jec5 that would not only interest Method
ists, but many beside-a minister's life in
the early days Of Methodism. He found
him kindly obliging In speaking of those
early days, as far as his own life had been
connected with them.
ministerial capacity with the NJ ethodist
Church? asked the reporter.
I was licensed to exhort, said Mr.. Es-
kridge, on the 29th of November, 1899.
The Incense was signed by Chas. B. Tip
petit, then the pastor at Leesburg. Before
the annual conference met in the follow
ing March [ was licensed to preach, In
1882 [ was ordained q Deacon by Bishop
McKeniree and here, by the bye, is the
certificate. Here Mr.. Eskiidge got out of
box little yellow, time-stained piece of
paper, about three by four inches in size
bearing these words
''Know all men by these presents that I,
William McKendree, one of the Bishops of
the Methodist Episcopal Church in America,
under the protection of Almighty God and
with single eye to His glory, by the impo-
sition of my hands, and prayer. have this
day set apart Alfred A. Eslridge for the Office
of Deacon in the said Methodist Episcopal
Church, man whom judge to be well quail
fled for that work, and I do hereby recon-
mend him to all whom it may concern, as a
proper person to administer the ordinance of
Baptism, Marriage. and the Burial of the Dead
in the absence of an Elder, and to feed the
flock of Christ. 50 long as his spirit and prac-
tee are such as become the gospel.
SIN testimony whereof have hereunto set
my hand and seal this 18th day of November,
1892 VIM. McKENDREE,
Baltimore"
In the corner of the old document is a
patch of red sealing wax on which some
letters Of the Bishops name are still faint
" discernible. On the 10Th Of March,
1884, Mr.. Eskridge went on to say, was
ordained an Elder by Bishop j. o. An
drews.
What was your first Station
| had no Station. There were few Sta
lions in that day. L was put on circuit
and my first was the Northumberland cir
cult, which extended from the forks Of the
Susquehanna river up to the State Of New
Yord. The circuit was 500 miles around
There were but five OR six churches in the
whole circuit, and my preaching was done
in farmhouses, schoolh0uses, ard the like
1 had twenty appointments TO fill il
four weeks. The most of the people in thai
region at that day were Presbyt erlans and
Episcopalians; there were few Baptlsts
aid not many Methodists. 1t was uphill
work then preaching Methodism, for thu
opposition among the Presbyterians ant
Episcopallaps was very strong. And yetto
day that circuit is divided into three cir
cults and there are two or three stations IL
it. That was my first circuit, and in it were
400 conversions In my first year.
The pay of Methodist ministers, sup
pose, was not large In that day !?
Well, said Mr.. Eskridge with gentle
smile, not gerry large. My pay was, or wa
to be 500 tor the year; but l only got So
OF it. rode the circuit On horseback, ant
everything had in the world-except th'
horse-was IN my saddlebags lived will
the people, and where l would hold q ser
vice would go home with some of them
They lived what would now be called queer
Iy, in those primitive times. We often al
slept in one room of the cabin. TIE mel
would 60 in and go to bed and [ as th'
minister would put out the light, AID thel
the women and girls would come in an6
undress in the dark and go to their beds
What was your next circuit
My next circuit, for [ have travelled
thirty of them during my ministry, wa
st. Mary's, in Maryland. 1t extended
away out to Point Lockout, and then aftel
! that, my circuit was in what is now
called West Virginia and included Point
Lookup. on top Of the Warm Springs
Mountain. Ny first station was at Eben
ezer church, IN Washington City, in 1874
There were two congregations, white an(
colored. ana my eo!league, Rev. solomon
McMullen. was in charge of the oo.oret
congregation. l have travelled every CIR
cult in this Valley from Winchester up Il
Christiansburg, in Montgomery county.
You are the Oldest member of the Bal
timore Conference South, are you lot MI
Eskridge?
Yes, / am the Oldest member Of tina
body, and one Of the only two sulvivin
ministers who belonged to the Oh
Baltimore Conference. The other sur
yivor is Rev. VIM. B. Edwards. Excep
he and l. all are dead. He staid with tn
Baltimore Conference Moth. and L wen
with the Baltimore Conference South
He now resides. think, in Baltimore.
The old Baltimore was divided i
1857 into Baltimore and East Raltimor
ConfereL ces, ard | was thrown into th
East Baltimore. My first appointment i
that Conference was at Williamsburg, ~
1 belonged to that Conference until til
commencement of the war.