The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-09-22
Methodist shrines in Maryland.
" LucIEN CLARK. D. D.
From the n. Y. Christian Advocate


enee, | recently made a pilgrimage through
Carroll county. Nd, visiting certain localities
made sacred to Methodists by the labors OF
Robert Strawbridge and other pioneer itine-
rants. The journey proved so intensely inter.
esting that it seemed good to me to lay the
results of my personal observations before the
readers of The Christian Adrocate.
1t is well known that Methodism entered
America by two different routes at about the
same time-the one through New York by
Philip Embury, the other through Maryland
by Robert Strawbridge. Many Of the original
places of worship in Maryland are still clearly
identified, and some of the houses in which
Strawbridge preached are still standing.
The old log Westinghouse on Sans Creek,
in Carroll county, was the first Methodist
church in Maryland. 1t was built by Mr..
Strawbridge soon after his immigration to this
country. The site of the church is on a farm
now owned by Mr.. Cover The building has
long since disappeared, and not single trace
of it remains. The spot where the church
stood is not marked by any monument, but is
easily identified in cultivated field by ira
dition we'll preserved in the neighborhood.
This house was erected near the place where
Mr.. Strawbridge lived The evidence squite
clear that Mr.. Strawbridge came to the United
States in l760, and at once opened his house
for religious services. He organized Meth
odist class and began to administer the ordi
nances of religion not later than l762.
i II is well known that Mr.. Strawbridge re-
fused to conform TO the order of the Methodist
itinerancy and to receive his appointments at
the hands of Bishop Asbury. He became an
itinerant evangelist on his own account, trav
cling through Maryland, Virginia, and Penn
sylvania, according to his own judgment. He
also persisted in administering the saera-
ments, without authority from Mr.. Wesley or
anyone else He assumed charge Of the work
on SANS Creek. and became an independent
Methodist pastor in this region.
Although no trace of the original Sam $
Greek Church remains, it has lineal success
sor in the Stone Chapel, located about two
miles from the log westinghouse. church
was erected on this site in 1888. 1t was called
Poulson's Chapel, because it stood on ground
donated for that purpose by Mr.. Poulson, but
it took the place Of the original Sans Creek
Church built by Mr.. Strawbridge. 1t was
rebuiltin 1900 and again in 1880. The pres
ent structure is built Of stone, and is a com
modious house of worship.
A stone tablet high up on the front of the
church bears the date OF the building of the
original house of worship, together with the
dates Of rebuilding, and the initials j. B. and
j. ID. These letters are said to stand for
John Baxter and Jesse Durbin, who were
prominently interested in rebuilding the
church. Above this tablet is another which
was taken from the old structure, aud
bears rudely carved eagle. No one in the
neighborhood appears to know the signif-
canoe of this figure, and | WAS not able to
find any tradition concerning it.
Not more than half mile from this church
q majestic oak, under which Mr.. Strawbridge
frequently preached, is pointed out. 1t stands
l l. GaIl nd SapJS ito yt,r
orous branches in every direction, atfording
an ample shade under which two hundred
persons might assemble.
| Regular religious services were frequently
held in private houses in this community.
About four miles from the site of the log
| Westinghouse one of the most interesting of
these places of worship is still standing. IL
was originally the property of Mr.. John Evans,
one of Mr.. Strawbridge's earliest converts.
1t is built of unhewn logs, one story and a
half high, and has been in its day comforta-
BILE dwelling. Here Mr.. Strawbridge began
| to hold religious services soon after he settled
in Maryland, and it continued to be used as
regular preaching place until 1909.
| A curious and interesting relic of primitive
Methodism was discovered in this old house
a few..years ago. The Rev. c. d. Smith, of
/ Baltimore Conference, who was born and
| brought up in this neighborhood, having
| learned that an old pulpit was slowed away
among heaps of rubbish in this venerable
house, after diligent effort secured and pre-
scented it TO the Methodist Historical Society
Of Baltimore Conference. 1t may be seen at
the rooms of the society at Wesley Hall, III
the city of Baltimore. 1t is an exceedingly
plain structure, made of oak, and has evident
y never been touched by paint or varnish.
1t consists of low platform about two feet
do nd m raa foe lOnU n N which the rraaph.
er stood, and board supported by posts
about four feet in height, on which the Bible
rested For more than a hundred years this
rude pulpit remained in the house of Mr..
Evans, and during large part of that time
Kits importance was not understood or appre-
ciated From this sacred desk Mr.. Straw
bridge proclaimed the word oflife to listening
multitudes, who were attracted by his elo-
quent voice and charming singing, and the
fact that he preached without manuscript
and prayed without book.
In no other building now standing in the
United States were Methodist services held so
early as in this This statement is ungues-
tionabe. The original John Street Church,
in New York, was long since replaced by Il
more modern house of worship. The old log
Westinghouse built by Mr.. Strawbridge has
disappeared so completely that the farmers
pillow turns over the sod on the spot where it
stood without nnnovarin0 mr. tOuphinV a yes,
80 80 Of ;,s foundation Rnt The vsnerabIe
Jgo, " of iobn Fee ain stonJs as !, s,nnd
hnadreJ and I've years 90 400 ''
o" III ma nr;o;nai owner ~ dis 6onss r. John
Evans died here in 1897 and was bnried in
the family graveyard not far away. The
haors his isG ;ncr;nt;on an memory Of ,Iohn
Evans. who departed this life February l3.
1927 aped ninety two wears ~
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