Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-27
TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
A Church That Has Had . Long and Sue
cessful Existence.

A"o YEARS OLD.
Church That Has Had . Long and Sue
cessful Existence.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ELKroN, Nd, May rs. 1898.
Professionalism early found a fOothold in
America, and in the course of time some Of its
seed fell upon the soil of old Cecil.
1t proved to be good ground for out of this
seed grew ST. Stephens Church, in North Sas-
safras, near the old historic village of Earle
vile, at the head Of the placid waters OF the
Bohemia river, and within sight Of the grave
that marks the last resting place of the illus
trious Augustine Hermen. This seed first took
root in 1892, and from that time to the present
day large congregations have worshiped at
her shr inc, and hundreds Of men and women
who there learned the way of truth and life
have gone where congregations ne'er break
up and Sabbaths have no end"
She ID now in the third century of her exist
ence. yet there is no halt in her step nor haze in
her vision she moves respondent as in the dew
OF her youth" Starting with feeble begin
ming: this old historic church has proven n
power for good in the cause of Chi stianity and
stands today as bright as the sun, as fair as tine
moon aud as terrible as an army with ban
ners" against sin and unrighteousness. This
church has been in continuous existence since
the 10th day OF January, 1893, according to the
records kept in the parish registry since that
time.
For more than two centuries the history of
this noble old church goes back. Upon the
time worn pages of its registry are to be found
the names of some Of the most honored In
the church and the state.
THE FIRST CLERGYMAN.
The first clergyman who expounded the pos-
pei from its pulpit was Rev. Lawrence Wander
bush, of whom little is known except that he
died in the year 1886. The parish was formally
organized in January, 1852, and its first vestry
consisted OF the following gentlemen Casparus
Hermen. William Ward. John Thompson, Ed
ward Jones, Henry Riggs and Matthias Wander
huyden. At a meeting held the following year it
was ordered that the l2.440 pounds Of tobacco
be disposed Of as follows: To the minister
S,00O to the sheriff for receiving it, $40 pounds.
and to the clerk, 800 pounds. The residue,
SOS pounds, was placed in the hands of Ed.
ward Jones, to detray some necessary charges
in fitting and repairing the meeting house.
The next minister that appears on the registry
is Rev. James Crawford, Of whom nothing is
known. The taxables in this year were 32l.
In 1854 the taxables were 1913, and the amount of
tobacco raised for ecclesiastical purposes was
l3, $50 pounds. The vestry concluded in 1886
to purchase more land upon which to erect a
church. and accordingly 100 acres was pur-
chased fromW. Ward for 1000 pounds OF tobacco,
Casparus Hermen wac entered into contract
with to build church of brick or stone. to be
25x35 feet. the walls to be two inches thick at
the foundation and eighteen inches above
For SO doing he was to receive 1900 pounds of
tobacco. year passed and still no church
was built, and the vestry questioned Hermen
as to why he had not fulfilled his contract He
replied that the building of the state house
took longer than he supposed. and also that he
was prevented by unreasonable weather and
the losing of sloop of materials. The same
year the vestry purchased 200 more acres of
a no n ha1 ,S
globe land Rev. Richard Sewell was the next
minister. In the year 1893 the taxables were
329, yielding Is l60 pounds of tobacco. In this
year the vestry lost one of its most active men,
bers III the death OF Casparus Hermen.
CONTRACT TO BUILD THE CHURCH.
Hermen having failed to build the church
the contract was given to Matthias Hendrick-
son aud James Smithson for $1,000 pounds of
tobacco. In lila the taxables at North Sassa-
fras parish, which now embraced all the coun-
try between the Sassafras and Elk rivers, had
increased to 500, and in 1921 numbered 726.
Dr. Seweu resigned as pastor in l726. after
Passionate OF more than twenty-six years. In
l724 the parish was without rector and Thomas
Paesley was appointed reader by the vestrv
and was to put up the greens at the usual time,
for which he was to receive 1000 pounds of
tobacco. Rev. John Urmstrom indicted
into the parish in 1924. He was an Incorporate
man. and the records show that upon one &C.
was unable to read the services, SO that the
people went out complaint was made and
he was tried on libel exhibited against him
by the wardens for many wicked and immoral
actions, which were proven before the commits
sioners appointed IN his case. He was about
to bring suit for the recovery of his salary and
to prosecute the president of the commission
ers that tried and disposed him. when one day
he, in drunken fit, fell into the fire and was
burned to death. Urmstrom was succeeded by
Ia ,.,A
bles in the year 1749 were l.44S. Rev. Hugh
Jones died in the year l760, at the ripe old age
OF ninety years. His successor was Rev. Will
lam BarrolL.
A SMALL SALARY.
On October 10. 1903, the vestry entered into
an agreement with Rev. Henry Lyons Davis as
rector for one year. He was to receive 100
pounds specie. pound was 81. 662S. In 1904
his salary was raised to $50 pounds. The ves-
try at this time was composed of the following:
William Ward, Richard X. Heath, John Mercer
James Morgan, Thomas Severson, John Com
eggs, Richard Davis and Peregrine Biddle.
tax collectors receipt Is on file for GA. CO. and
the tax last year was Sll4.43. In August 1915,
Rev. Mr.. Davis resigned owing to i'll health.
He was the father of Mr.. Henry Winter
Davis of Maryland The latter part Of 1915
the vestry advertised in the New York news
papers for rector and Bishop Kemp appointed
Matthew Pearce lay reader. On July 20, 1877.
Rev. William Ninde was called and entered
upon his duties as rector He died the follow
ing September. October 81, 1923, Rev George
Waller was made rector. The old church at
this time being in ruinous condition and un-
safe for use the vestry decided TO tear it down
and rebuild. On August 80, 1923. u contract
was entered into with Matthew Weir, a carpen-
ter, to complete the church 30x40 feet high
with chancel in the rear for 81 200
COHsECRATED By BISHOP KEMP.
This building was consecrated by Bishop
Kemp, July q, 1924, and stood until 1873. The
names Of twenty-nine families appear on the
list Of pew renters, only Ave of whose descend
ants are now connected with the church. In
1896 Mr.. Waller resigned. He was succeeded
as pastor by Rev. Mr.. Hotchkiss April Is. 1923.
Peregrine Biddle died. and out of respect for
him the vestrymen wore Grape on their left arm
for thirty days. He served twenty three years and
was present at every meeting of the vestry.
Rev. Mr.. Sitgreve was the next minister, but
he died shortly after he entered upon his du-
ties. In 1881 James Mckinney was called. He
resigned in the following year owing to poor
health. 1885 found Rev. John Coleman as pas
tor. On January z, 1887, Mr.. Coleman having
resigned. Rev. Mr.. Piggott of Pennsylvania was
chosen. He resigned in 1910 and WAS succeeded
by Rev. John Wiley. On August 16, 1912, reso-
buttons were passed to the memory Of Governor