Smyrna times., 1889-01-23
Methodism at Delaney's, Del.
BY REV. c. K. MORRIS.

OAaPCA was DullC. II meJlOulSG prayer,
or class meeting in those days was
usually a scene of great spiritual
power, and brought together not only
the immediate neighbOrhOOd, but many
others from distant parts, the greater
part travelling on foot, from five to ten
miles. They had their reward in see
ing sinners converted, and in seeing
the society baptized with the HOLY
Ghost. The first society of what is
now Delaney's chapel; was formed in
1883 or '36, at the house of Mr.. Joseph
MOtfett, on what is known as the
Line Stone Farm; now owned, and
occupied by the brothers, Henry and
Thomas Holt
The old dwelling, in which the fa-
theirs wOrshiped, and where many
precious souls were converted, some of
whom have gone to their reward, is
still standing as a beacon light. In
lS4l or '42, Grafton L. Delaney, a very
prominent and wealthy gentleman,
whether a Methodist or no, we have
not been informed, but being friendly
to their doctrine and resolved to bid
them God speed, donated them two
acres of ground, on which to erect a
house of worship, in which the word of
the Lord could be faithfully preached,
and the Sacraments duly administered;
and also gave the little society all the
timber they would need to build the
chapel which bears his name. And.
as the people generally were poor and
hadn t much money to give, they gave
their labor, and in due time a com
fnr1 a hIe. lnor hatrea I
on beautiful site at the junction of
the public roads leading from Massey's
to Blackiston's and Clayton. The
founders of that society have passed to
their reward: among them were
Brothers HobsOn, HOllett, Wilson,
Gordon, Clayton, Cheffins, Sapp, and
others, who with many of the mothers
in Israel have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the
Lamb and whose sacred dust sleeps
In the beautiful cemetery surrounding
the church. Delaney's was an ap-
pOintment on Smyrna Circuit until
1852, when it was set off as a Mission.
with Rev. Samuel Webb as Pastor.
This was done very much against the
wish of the society, who for a time
showed the spirit of rebellion, and as
we learn, went so far as to lock the
door against the preacher. At the first
Quarterly Conference, however, the
matter was satisfactorily adjusted with
all except the class leader, Brother
William Clayton, who sooner than
submit, severed his connection wita
that society. Bro. Webb soon succeed
ed in establishing three other preach
ing places; viz. Vandyke's school
house, near Townsend, and where Rev.
James Webb now has an independent
Methodist church the second was at
Brother John d. VansaEt's near what
IS now Colts Station, where they have
a very comfortable house of worship {:
the third was at the house of Bro.
Maslin, where they frequently had
some of the old fashioned meetings ::
the ceiling being so low the heads of
those engaged in shouting frequently
came in contact with the upper floor.
These four appointments furnished
Brother Webb with an abundance of
labor, and great amount of rough
travel, for three years. In 1865, and
'66, David A. Price was appointed to
the Mission. In 1867, Vandyke's Van
SAINTS and Maslin's were dropped, and
Massey's and Holden's, were annexed
with Delaney's, John M. Clark, pastor
In 1868, Holden's by request, was
transferred to MillingtOn Circuit, leav-
ing Delaney's and Massey's as Mis-
sion TO which Q. K. Morris was ap-
pointed. When he came to Delaney's
he met with a very warm reception,
the people receiving him gladly.
The house was somewhat in need of
repairs; never having been plastered
it was rather uncomfortable in cold
weather. During our protracted meet
ings the old fashioned box pulpit,
which was reached by a fight of steps
on one side, served a two fold purpose,
when preaching was over, the mothers
generally used it as a sleeping room
for their babies, so they would be out
OF the way during the prayer meeting,
always placing some one on the steps
to prevent the little ones from rolling
out. Sometime in August we usually
held bush meeting in the beautiful
grove opposite the church, which
lasted about ten days, generally at
| tended with good results; the local
brethren very kindly assisting Us at
these meetings.
On one occasion the Brother en-
gagged for the afternoon failing to put
in an appearance, the pastor had to gill
the gap, preaching from St. John IA
chap, 1st, I'd, 81, verses, Let not
your heart be troubled We believe in
God, believe also in me. In nv Fa-
| theirs house are many mansions if it
were not so / would have told you. /
go to prepare place for you. And if
60 and prepare place for you, will
come again and receive you unto my
self; that where / am, there ye may be
also" After the sermon while the
prayer meeting was going on, gen.
tleman walked up to the back of the
stand, spoke very pleasantly to the
/ pastor, and thanked him very kindly
for his sermon, sad, II know you
don't know who am I'm from Black
iston's, my name is Pratt, "Old Hick-
ory," they call me, I'm not a member
of church but my wife is a shouting
Methodist, and if you will come over to
Blackiston's some time and preach
that sermon, I'll take you home with
me and give you as good a dinner as
ever man sat down to-"
Some three years after this, being
called upon by the pastor of Blackis-
toms to supply for him one Sabbath,
he concluded that he would comply
with this gentleman's request. While
the first hymn was being sung Mr.
Pratt walked in, stopping about mid
way the church; he paid marked at
tention to the sermon, and as soon as
the benediction was pronounced, walk
ed straight up to the pulpit and reached
out his hand saying, come my friend
and get that dinner / promised you
three years ago. The preacher went
and we have to say though it was the
first. il was bv no means the last din.