Smyrna times., 1889-09-18
nor the smyrna Times.
Methodism at Colts Station.
BY REV. c. K. MORRIS.

In this uninteresting section O.
country, Methodist prayer meetings
! were first held in the house Of Brother
Joseph Merrideth, who lived on q
small farm situated in what was then
called Maryland forest in much out.
of-the-way place; the only way oi
reaching it from the outside world
being by rough winding wagon roads
Inese meetings were commenced in
l843 or "A, under the leadership OF
Brother Nathaniel Meginnis, licensed
exhOrter, who for many wears lived
near Masseys Cross Roads; once in a
great while Bro. Meginnis could find a
Methodist preacher who was willing to
go and preach to those neglected peo-
pie who were thirsting for the water of
life. Revs. j. Lednum and Joshua
Humphries were the pioneers of Meth
Odism in that forest. Religious meet.
lngs were held at Brother Merrideth's
house until his death, which occurred
IN 1916. The meetings were then dis
continued for few years, until Bro.
John ID. Vansant came in possession
OF the little forest farm; when the
house was again opened for religious
services. In the summer of 1851 a
Sunday-school was organized with
William Morris as superintendent, and
Mrs. 5. w. Boyer and Mrs. w. A.
Brlce as assistants. Mrs. DR.. Il. G.
Wroth, Mrs. E. Z. WrOth, and Mrs.
y. Z. BlackistOn, of the Protestant
Episcopal church at Masseys, also took
very active part in the Sunday school
work, and rendered very efficient SER
vice as teachers. As the people in that
section were uneducated, and some
distance from public school, Mrs. Z,
1. Wroth made a proposition to the
Sunday-schoOl they build house for
church and school purposes, free for all
denominations; the proposition being
favorable without consulting the
preachers, Bros. q. w. Lybrand, and
Z, l.. Steinman, who occasionally
preached for them arrangements were
entered into for the erection of such
house, when Bro. Steinman objected to
building a union church, thought it
should be a one denomination church.
and as the MethOdists started the en-
terprise, and had been preaching there
for some time, it should be a Methodist
church. So there it ended. Sunday
school was continued during the sum
mer months at Bro. Vansant's house
for several years. In August 1861, two
local preachers Samuel Webb and
James III. Rich, procured a large can
vas tent, pitched it in u beautiful grove
at Bro. Vansant's gate, where thev
held meetings for two weeks; several
were converted, and class was form
ed with Bro. Vansant as leader, and
superintendent Of the Sunday school
At the Conference of 1862, Delanev's
Chapel, an appointment on SMYRNA
Circuit, was set of as a mission. with
Rev. Samuel Webb as pastor. Van
SAINTS was one of the appointments.
Ln August 1864, Bro. Webb had a large
board tent put up in the grove. and
calling Brother Rich to his assistance.
hey held meetings in it for two or
.hree months with good results.
Arrangements were then entered |
nto the second time for a church and |
school building with Samuel Webb. |
William Morris, and John d. Vansant !
IS building committee, a plan was |
irawn for the house and work com |
nenced. The timber necessary for the |
rame was kindly donated by those
'wning woodland near; and those who
lad no money to give, went into the
woods, hewcd the frame and hauled it |
o the grove where the house was to be
'uilt. The logs for shingle laths were
:ut and hauled out of the swanps on
asst land ready to go to the saw-mill.
he board was purchased and deliver
d on the ground. At the conference
Il 1865, Brother Weeb having served
hree years on this charge, was re.
moved. His successor, Rev. David A.
rice, took no stock in church building
o the responsibility fell upon the other
wo, who determined after thew were
through with their corn planting to
roceed with the building. Just at
hat time one of the committee. vii.
lam Morris, was removed by death.
'rother Vansant, being left alone
With no one to assist him, gave up the
nterprise, and there it ended a second
Ime. Those who had given the frame
auled it home and made use of it. the
oard was sold for trihe and proceeds
pplied to the NJ. E. Church at Sassa-
ras. In 1866, Brother Vansant re-
loVed from his farm, and the tenant
etused to let the society worship there
1t went down. In 1868, C.. X.
lOrris was appointed to Delanev's and
iasseys; in the winter of $50 he called
ne people together in the neighbOr-
ood of Vansant's to make the third
tempt to build a house for church
nd school purposes.
Inc woodland owners were again
aited upon and gave us what timber I
e might need the same hewers of
ood soon had another frame ready
II the carpenter, who Immediately
ent to work, and by spring had a
1ilding l6 by 20 feet, raised to the
luare. That was as far as we could
without money, and of that we had ,
one SO we were compelled to rest
lere for awhile.
In the summer of 1869, the pastor
lth his wife, organized a SUNDAY ,
hOol IN the framework, using the {
eepers for seats we soon had some |
rty pupils in the school, the M. f. q
Id M. p. Schools of Sassafras. kindly {
FINISHING us with books and papers. 1
@O'Oi WO AOOIBdulLeu our school in !
10 frame, and on the 28th of August '
cid a bush-meeting. Rev. E. b. c
ewnam preached for us in the after {
bon, and at the close of the sermon q
asked for a collection towards COM a
citing the building we had commenc- i
!, giving five dollars himself to start a
% ball in motion $50 was raised in q
sh. The next day we went to Can't. I
ndrew WoOdall's and expended that 8
r inch boards which we use asd '
Gather boarding, and which was suf- a
'ient to enclose the house and nut in f
Q window frames; we were still h
lthout roof or floor, and there we had b
rest again. In 1871, finding we could 1
It no further with our enterprise il
3 resolved to lay the matter before s
Q school board and ask them to help n
out of our difficulties; accordingly a
April we met the board at their b
ice in Chestertown, presented our Q
mmunication, stated the facts in the 6
Sc, told them what we had done.
w far we had gone, had exhausted
r means and could proceed no fur .,
or, that the children were growing :.
in Ignorance, and that school was y
ally needed in that community. So =
ey resolved to organize a school y
pointed o. X Morriq M taooha, ,,,;tb u