The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-12-11
Dedication Of the Cokesbury Memoir.
iaI at Abingdon.

/
Cokesbury Memorial, the new Methodist
EniscopaI Church, situated at Abingdon, wa;
dedicated on Sunday. Persons began tc
gather at the church long before the opening
hour of service, and in the large crowd Were
nersous from almost every part Of Hartford
comfy, and also parts of Baltimore county,
Baltimore city and Cecil county. \ special
feature of the days exercises was the old-time
| Methodist love feast, which was held as the
first service of the day. Bishop hurst, OF
| Washington, d. G., delivered a most excellent
sermon, following the loye-feast, touching
| briefly the history of the church, and It's ad-
vance for more than a century. In the alter
noon the dedicatory services proper were held
| Rev. Dr. Goucher of the Woman's College,
Baltimore, preaching the sermon, ana being
| assisted by Revs. Hurst, MOulsdale, Fleming
and Edwards Tie church at this hour was
not nearly large enough to accommodate the
| large number of persons WHO were compelled
| to gather around the building on the outside.
At night Rev. G.. G. MoulSdalc Of Railway,
y. j.. preached mastery sermon, which
was followed by a revival service, TO continue
during the week. As Bishop Hurst entered
the pulpit at the morning service, the choir
sang the old hymn, Zion Stands With hills
Surrounded"
The new church, which is of red brick, Is
built upon the foundation of the old church at
abingdon, which was torn down in July last,
and which, up to that time, was the oldest
church building standing within the Baltimore
Conferences aud also upon the site OF the first
educational institution established by the
Methodist Church in Ame:Ica-that OF the
Cokesbury College. As early as l'oO-t9ur
wears before the church was organiZed-ReYs.
John Dickinson and Francis Asbury formula
ted plans for all educational institution, ami
MIR. Dickinson was the first TO start subscIip-
ton list for that purpose When DR.. Coke
arrived from England. the project was sub
mitted to him, and met his hearty approval.
At the Christmas Conference, which met IN
Baltimore, in 1874, nearly five thousand dol
lars was raised, and DIR. Coke at once CON
tracted for the building material, but return
ed to England before the work began, but the
work progressed, nevertheless, and ON Sun
day, June 5, 1885, the cornerstone OF the col
lege was laid. The college was of brick, and
was 4OXl0S feet, and three stories high. The
institution was opened with appropriate ser
vices on Dec S TS7, which lasted days, on each
of which Bishop Asbury preached. On Decem-
Der I, 1875, the building was burned to the
Ground. 1t was with great difficulty that the
stone church stood
In 1895 the pastor, Rev. j. w. Fleming, APP
pealed to the lovers Of Methodsm to assist him
in his efforts to place substantial building |
upon the sacred spot. With untiring efforts
Rev Mr.. Fleming received the cooperation OF
the members and friends generally, and, in |
July last, the much-needed Improvement was
begun. The cornerstone was laid on Septem-
Der ,, with appropriate ceremonies, it being |
the gift of Messrs. Gaddess Bros, of Balti-
more The church is of Gothic style, with |
many modern improvements. The walls are
fourteen inches thick, of three layers
of bricks, the two inside layers being
brick from the old building, the outside
layer being new. The ceiling is OF oiled
hardwood while the walls are prettily fres-
coed, the gift of j. NJ. Watts, of Baltimore.
The pews were made in Worthwhile, Mich, and
are of modern style. The pulpit is made OF
oak, while the chaucel railing is of ash. Tie |
entire structure cost 400, about $1,000 of
which had already either been paid or sub
scribed, the balance being raised at the SER
vices ON Sunday.
Much credit is due the pastor, Rev. Mr..
Fleming, for his faithful and constant labors !
in The erection Of the new church. He was
educated at Dickinson Seminary, and has been
stationed on this charge for three years, hay
ing removed there from Darlington.