Smyrna times., 1895-03-20

~ WAAA khno DC 0CCh bho0 NhO A1pAGCO-
al Church had virtually retired from
he field when the Methodists came,
nd many had been associated with the
after, as would appear from the list of
rustees and other officers, in the
hirty-six years, and the church thus
and revivified into a new
'eligIOus life.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian Church of Smyrna
was organized in 1888, at least a church
sdifice was built just over the millpond
On the site that now constitutes the
Presbyterian cemetery, known then as
Holly Hill" The society kept up,
with pastors most of the time, the last
One being Rev. John Miller, who died
ia 1871. There was much complaint
against him because he used Watts
version of the Psalms. There was no
attempt to hold worship here after his
death for twenty.seven years, when an
effort was made to renew
the church services, the ediice finally
going into a state of decay and was fin
ally torn down, in the memory of our
old people. A new society was formed
in 1876 by Rev. Thos. G. Murphey, and
the Methodist Protestant Church on
Mt. Vernon street purchased, where
stated services were held until the
erection of the beautiful green stone
church on Commerce street in 1884.
1t will thus be seen that both the
Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches,
had gone out, so to speak, before the
new sect had scattered its fire, and may
credit the latter for a renewed life.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodist Church came, as be-
fore stated, when the county, religious
ly and civilly was in chaotic cOndit-
ion, and many in a certain sense in a
more receptive mood than if in active
and we'll defined church work. The
first sermon in Smyrna was about the
middle of the Revolutionary war.
They preached in houses, barnes, or
chards, anywhere where they could
get the people together, the celebrated
Abbotts, father and son, and Francis
Asbury, being especially conspicuous
The first Methodist church was erected
in 1856, directly after the close of the
war, frame structure thirty feet
square. The new society took i'm
mediate and strong root, and in few
years became the dominating religion:
influence, and in decade or so Smyr
ma Circuit had sixteen appointments.
The first sermon by a Bishop of this
denomination on the Peninsula prob
ably, was that of DR.. Coke, 1874, il
Smyrna, then on his way to Barratt'i
Chapel for the historic meeting will
Mr.. Asbury, who was made Bishop al
the noted christmas Conference" il
Baltimore a few weeks after. Thes'
were the ''heroic days" of Methodism
ANIMAL CONFERENCE.
This makes the Eleventh Annual
Conference held in Smyrna. Six o
these were between and including tht
yesrs from 1890 to 1903. AS there wer'
no missionary and other societies witt
their anniversaries 10 engage the at
tention of Conference, the tine wa
largely devoted to earnest worship, AM
it is stated Of one of these Conference
that the revival influence WRs SO grea
that the church was given up to then
and the necessary business to be trans
acted adjourned to another building
out of hearing.
The intensity of faith and worI
characterized the church for fifty yearl
The preachers, Eapy of them, wer
born leaders, and OF great pagneti
power. Among them besides those a
ready named were, DIR. Chandler
Ezekiel Cooper, Thomas Ware, Henr
Behm, Wm. Bishop, Lawrence Laurer
son, Lawrence McCOmbs, Matthe'
Sorin, Solomon Sharp, (whose remsip
rest 10 one of our cemeteries) Henr
White, David Daley, John Lednnn
lthe histOrian), and many others VIII
have figured prominently since th
Conferences go, '27 and 81, and esp,
cialiy in the great reviyals in the churc
here, conspicuous among which wei
those Of '2D. Al, "a, '67, '76, '93, etc.
The Conference of 1851 is remen
bered for two things-the great me
among its members, In the list bein
Levi Scott (afterward BishOp), D
Thompson, DR.. Durbin, DR.. Hodgso
DR.. Castle, BILLY" Barnes, DR.. r.Quigle
DR.. VIM. Cooper, DIR. Roche, (then II
pastOr) and many others who took
leading part ia tbe churches affair
and-the length of it's session, Dearl
two weeks. There are number
the town who remember yet DIR. Du
bins great sermon on Sunday mOrnil
on the "Couversion Of Paul." as lik
wise the sermop of DIR. Jesse T. Pee
afterward Bishop.in the afternoon. II
Presbyterian and Episcopal church
were likewise filled by members Of Il
Conference, Alfred Goodman, (th'
young man attracting attention
preaching at st. Peters.
The Conference held here TWEEN
years ago, (the FIRST after it bad be,
set off as the Wilmington Conference
is too fresh in the minds of our Feadt
to be treated as reminiscence exec
that DR.. Curry, editor Of the Christi
Advocate. New York, preached in /
morning and DIR. McCanley, of Dick
son College, at night, Reys. G. d. W.
son and r. w. Todd at the Fresbyt'
ian church, and J. M. McCarter, at t
. Town Hall in the afternoon, but
) numbers and general interest it b
) the "right Of gay'' oyer everythi
( else at the time. The Conlerep
> which convened this morning "
, doubtless measure up in interest q
) attendance with any of It's pFedecesso
The old joke about the preaehe
and the rooster Is played out and /
a l rs..tGoonoo o1rf.u.~oa