The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-07-20
Death Of Rev. Dr.. stnha..

Death OF Kew. DR.. Stokes.
Rev. DR.. Elwood Ii. Stokes, one OF th,
best known Methodist clergymen in th,
country, died at Ocean Grove on FRIDAY
evening, aged 80 years He was i'll lesl
than two weeks The cause of death wat
heart failure, superinduced by over-exer
ton during the hot spell.
His last public appearance in Ocean
Grove was on the morning of July 4, when
his nephew, Senator Edward Stokes, Of
MilIville, delivered the independence
Day Grafton. Since that time he had
been confined to his home, but his symp-
toms were not alarming until Sunday
week when prayers were offered at the
several services for his speedy reco very
Three doctors attended him and so great
was the desire to learn particulars of his
malady that the physicians were finally
induced to issue hourly bulletins When
the news of the doctors death was made
public the Association bell was tolled 80
times. DIR. Stokes was president of the
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
DR.. Stokes was born in Medford, Bur-
lington county, on October 10, 1916. His
parents were Quakers. At the age of Is
he was apprentlced to book binding firm
in Philadelphia and learned the business
thoroughly. While IN Philadelphia he
attended the Sunday school connected
with the Union Methodist Church and
waa corvortod hoforo ho vuao IF o0a ,rdar
the preaching of the late Rev Charles
Pitman. In August, 1912, at a camp
meeting held near Swedesboro, N. j., he
was greatly blessed, and the next month
ford Methodist Episcopal Church.
In January, 1S4S, he was given local
preachers license, and in April of the
same year, there being a vacancy for
single man on the Salem Circuit, Presid
ing Elder Charles 7. Ford asked young
Stokes to fill the vacancy. The doctor at
the time was working at his trade. He
threw up his job, accepted the appoint
ment on the Salem Circuit, and COM
menced his new work on the 21st of May,
1843. His fret sermon was preached at
Lower Bethel, New Salem.
At the New Jersey annual Conference,
held in the Greene Street Methodist
Episcopal Church, Trenton, in April, 1874,
the doctor, with seventeen other young
men, were received on probation and as
signed to charges The Rev. George
nd DnlI
President of the Ocean Grove Camp Meet
ing Association, are the only surviving
members of the Conference class.
DR.. Stokes first appointment after being
received into the annual conference. was
to the Medford circuit, the place of his
birth. His co-laborer on the ciruit was
the late Rev. Samuel Jaquet. After this
he was appointed successfully to Glouces-
ter City, Lambertville, Clinton Circuit,
Halsey Street, Newark; Morristown,
Belleville. Pitman Church, New Bruins
wick Third Street Church, Camden
Greene Street Church, Trenton; Pitman
Church. New Brunswick (second time)
Bordentown, Central Church, Trenton
Presiding Elder New Brunswick and
Camden Districts, each four years. St.
Paul's'Church, Ocean Grove, West Grove
and Bradley Beach, Halsey Street Church,
Newark, and Central Church, Trenton,
were built while Dr. Stokes was pastor in
charge.
DR.. Stokes was delegate to the Gener
al Conference of the Methodist Church
and has been member of the New Jer-
sey annual conference for SO years. He
was one of the organizers of the Pitman
Grove Camp Meeting Association, and
has been the President of the Ocean
Grove Camp Meeting Association since its
organization in Trenton. on Wednesday,
December %, 1859 At the time of his
election to the latter Office he was the
Presiding Elder of the New Brunswick
District of the New Jersey Annual Con-
ference.
The funeral services took place yester-
day, at the auditorium, Ocean Grove.
Interment will be made at Haddon-
field to-day