The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-02-16
SKETCHES
CECIL COUNTY M. E. CHURCHES.
CHERRY HILL AND UNION HIS
TORICALLY.
BY REV. T. A. H. o BRIEN.

BY REV. L. A. ii. U BRlEN.
y. THIRD PAPER.
e The Rev. Joseph T. Brown was born
e in Cecil County, Maryland, between Elk
Y ton and Glasgow, Del, on the 4th day OF
= January 1910; and died at his home in
Cherry Hill, Nd, on the Sth of May 1865.
! AT the age of fourteen he was placed with
John Kennedy of Newark, Del, shoe
maker to learn his trade, where he served
as all apprentice for seven years. In 1882,
he opened shop in Cherry Hill and be-
gau business for himself He was mar.
ried April 9th, 1885, to Miss Milicent j.
Shippers, the daughter of William and
SAlle Shippers. Six children were the is
sue of their marriage. He was converted
B in early life and united with the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, of which he con
tinued faithful member until death
transplanted him from the Church mill
tant TO the Church triumphant. His name
appears for tue first time in the Quarterly
Conference record for Cecil Circuit,
September 9th, 1884, at which time he
was the superintendent of Cherry Hill
Sabbath School, which office he held IN
til 1916. At the Quarterly Conference
held at Cherry Hill, November 22d 1884,
he was licensed to exhort; at the Quar-
terly Conference held at Newark, Del,
January 18th 1916 he was licensed as d
Local Preacher; and at the last named
place, January 18th 1S49, he was recon-
mended to the Annual Conference for
Deacons Orders, and years later he was
ordained Elder.
Brother Brown was holy man; care
fu!, studious and thoughtful preacher.
His sermons were always good and tended
to bring men into closer walk with
| God. He loved the work of the ministry
and attended to all of it's departments
with diligence and fidelity. While
engaged in shoe making he frequently
occupied the pulpit in the church of
which he was "a member, and elsewhere
and rendered good service. He was fire.
quently called upon to preach at funerals.
| The following is an outline of the sermon
he preached at Rev. Thos. Warburton's
funeral in Union Church July Both 1857:
Text, Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his Saints" Psalms 116
10.
An important character spoken of in |
the te1t-The Lords Saints.
1. The term Saint, signifies Holy One |
This term is applicable to the deceased, |
he was good man, yes-a holy man of |
God.
2. The Lords Saints are distinguished |
as spiritual persons. The deceased was
spiritual christian, this was manifested |
in his iervent prayers, his earnest ap-
peals. in preaching and exhorting, and |
also in his holy example.
3. The Saints are distinguished as a
peculiar people, they walk in a peculiar
path, they have peculiar guide, a glor-
ious death, and happy home. They |
differ from the masses; they do not go
with the multitude; their speech betray-
eth them.
ii. SOLEMN EVENT.
1. The Lords Saints have to die, in
this respect they do not differ from the
rest of mankind; but the manner of their
death far exceeds the death of the sinner.
The christian dies in triumph.
;y ho |
church on earth, it is so in the present
case.
3. Their death, is their gain. "To die
is gain" While the church on earth has
lost valuable member, the church above
has received one. He has gained eternal
life through the blood of Jesus.
III.
The interest the Lord takes in the
death of his saints. They are the sub
jects of his notice and regard; he comforts
them in sickness, and makes their bed
feel soft, as downy pillows are" He be-
slows peculiar blessings upon them, takes
down the earthly tabernacle; Jesus d.
vides the Jordan of death, and leads them
triumphantly over.
".
saints and the death of the sinner. 1.-THE
wicked is driven away in his wickeduess;
but the righteous hath hope in his DEATH"
Prov. 10, 80. 1t is fact that the death
of his saints is exceedingly precious in
his sight. Brother Warburton has gone
from labor to reward; may we follow him
as he followed Christ
On the 9th of October, 1862, he left
home in company with Major Ben. Rick
etts for Washington, to get his commits
sion as Chaplain of the 9th Md. Vol. H.
iantry. Through the kindness of the
Major he received his commission and re,
turned home on the 10th, after a trip OF
four days. On October 23d 1862 he left
home for the army. and reported to the
Col. of the Reg, G. r. Howard at Will
Transport, Md, on Saturday the 25th at
4. 80 p. m. He says, Sunday the Goth
was very wet and cold. Had no service
during the day; but at night exhorJed
ana prayed in tent, when Corporal
Stork of Co. X, was converted" Thus
he began his duties as Chaplain, which
were continued until June 18th 1868.
when he was captured at Winchester,
Va, and taken to Libby Prison. First
letter from Libby Prison.
"Dear Wife and Children Il am in
Libby Prison. The prison is kept clean.
| am well. JOSEPH 7. Brown"
Just seventeen words. The letter came
unsealed and had to be answered the |
same. The following written by John F.
Porter. late Major and Brevet Lieuten
ant Colonel, New York State Volunteers, |
explains itself:
EARLY in July we were called upon to
pass through an ordeal as trying as any |
man could sustain. 1t was given out |
that all the captains were wanted for |
parole. We numbered seventy eight,
and our hearts beat high with hope as
we were marshalled out ostensibly to |
sign and accept our paroles. Certainly |
no thought of wrong was in any mind |
nor had any word been spoken to imply |
it. Laden with loving words and mes
sages to friends at home from those we |
left we were taken TO vacant room of |