The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-04-21

publishing biographical sketches of the
delegates elected to represent the Will
mington Conference in the General Con
ference which meets next month. The
last issue contained the following notice
of Rev. N. NJ. Browne, who is native OF
the Fifth district and has many friends
in this county. We take pleasure In re-.
producing it.
Brother Browne was born liz North
East, Cecil county, Md, September 10th,
1887. His parents, Hugh and Eliza
Browne, were lifelong attendants upon
the ministry of Methodist preachers. His
mother was member for more than fifty
years, with words of holy triumph on her
lips. Their youngest son, Nicholas, was
trained In the Sunday -school from in
fancy. In 1858, before he was sixteen
years old, he was converted, during a
great revival in his native village, under
the ministry of Raw. Frances H. Harvey,
who is still an effective member of the
Philadelphia Conference.
Impressions of duty to preach the gos-
pei weighed upon bis mind from the time
of his conversion. R,v. Henry F. Gilroy,
now supernumerary member of the
same Conference, gave him license to ex-
hort, and the North E ,st quarterly con-
ference recommended him for license as
local preacher.
After availing himself of the best
schools of the town, and receiving special
instruction from private tutor, Brother
Browne entered, in September 1856, the
Biblical Institute, Concord, N. H., now
the School of Theology of Boston Uni
versity, and after completing full course
of three years, graduated In the class of
1859. In July of the same year, he be-
gan his itinerant career, under appoint
ment OF Presiding Elder Pennell Coombe
on Holmesburg circuit, Pa. At the ensu-
ing session of the Philadelphia Confer
ence, in March, 1860, he was received on
trial, and appointed to Morrisville, Pa,
where he served two years. From 1868
to 1866, he was junior preacher on Mil
lington, Easton, and Dorchester circuits
successfully.
In February, 1866, Brother Browne was
married to Miss Clintonia Cook. daughter
of Hon, Clinton Cook, prominent law
Yer of Centreville, Md, and a leading
member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in that town
The next nine years Brother Browne
served three full terms on Kent Island,
on Dorchester circuit, and in Salisbury,
Nd, and at the Smyrna session of the
Conference, in 1875, Bishop Edmund S.
James appointed him presiding elder of
Salisbury district, position which he
held for the full term of four years, dis
charging it's difficult and arduous duties
with eminent success, under the great
embarrassment of unprecedented fpan-
cial depression which Frustrated business
throughout the country.
The reaction, from the inflated condi-
ton of affairs following the war, was
severely felt on this territory, and only
the most careful and prudent manage
ment, was our church work saved from
collapse.
Bishop Scott, resident on the Peninsula,
and we'll acquainted with the territory,
highly commended the faithful work
done in these critical days. by the pre-
siding elder of Salisbury district, and the
preachers under his care.
At the close of this term of toll, trial,
and triumph, Brother Brownies friends
il Salisbury, where he had resided for
seven years, expressed their appreciation
of him by inviting him to become their
pastor second time. This compliment,
however, he declined, and he was ap-
pointed to Port Deposit, Md, where in
a gracious revival during his second year,
more than eighty persons were converted.
His term in New Castle. Del, 1SS2-S5
was sigualized by paying the church
debt and adding one hundred to the
membership.
His last term 1SS5-SS, Brother Browne
served in Scott M. E. Church, Whining
ton. His work here was as successful as
in any former field, if not even more so.
An incubus of debt that had oppressed
the church for thirty years, was removed
and at the end of his term, all claims
had been met, and not one dollar of in-
debtedness on any account remained
against the charge; not less than $l2 900
having been raised aud paid over for
church purposes, during these three
years, and the offerings for missions hav-
ing been doubled. Besides this financial
success, peace, harmony, and love pre-
vailed among the members, and "much
people was added unto the Lord
Brother Browne was ordained deacon
in Philadelphia, March 23d, 1862, by
Bishop Thomas A. Norris and elder, in
Wilmington, March 18th, 1864, by Bishop
| Edward r. Ames. Among the official
positions in which his brethren have
| placed him, are trusteeships in the Cen
tenary and Tract Fund. the Conference
Educational Society, add the Conference
Academy.
Brother Brownies present appointment
is Newark, Delaware.