The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-07-23
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

The Presbyterians and Methodists be-
came strong in this county and soon made
short work of its disjonted Episcopalian-
ism. That noble foundation, the Protest
ant Episcopal Church, was committed to
weak, venal hands in the province, and the
form of Professionalism best adapted to raise
man to the highest condition of civiliza-
ton, culture and Christianity hence lapsed
into inefliciency. A revival came; good,
earnest men worked in the field, but it
was too late; the disciples of Melville and
Wesley had reaped the harvest And this
reminds us of story OF love, old portraits
and Methodsm which we will relate.
Far bac'- in the dim antiquity of Mary
land in reality not two hundred and fifty
wears ago but then in the New World one
hundred years seems in antiquity equiva-
lent to one thousand in the Old there
looms up palatine among men, certain
gentleman. Living chief, he was so sue
.ceeded by his descendants A hundred
wears a.o and more, one of these was an
officer in the British army. He won the
heart of young and rich widow, but mar
riage was impossible to her without the
loss of her dover. She did not hesitate
resigned her fortune and received her lord :;
love was supreme. They lived their life
as other mortals live, but dying left more
slaves, with broader lands, and richer
plate Among the portraits were those
OF the British colonel and his wife; he
brilliant in scarlet and gold, she in satin,
lace and pearls, with lovely neck and
bosom but half concealed.
But time flies on; and now men think
of naught but wrestling with the Lord
with sudden shout and mighty, voiceful
prayer; great "revival" ragged. No
wonder ii the ancient portraits, stately in
lace and brocade, stare in blank amaze at
this puaSe OF religion. Still a chief among
men, the heir Of the old patricians would
yield 90 none the palm of leadership, even
in long, loud prayerfulness. Groveling on
the ,l1cy in self-imposed abasement, when
le should have knelt in reverence to his
God, it is no wonder if the eyes of those
old dead worthless glared upon him from
The canvas and followed with dsconcerting,
Teproving and relentless stare his eyes
where sr they turned. Away away with
them!' he cried, 81 cannot pray with them
around mer' and so down came the worship
ful aptain-commander, the gallant colonel,
his fair dame and all the other ancient may
mates Of the house, the walls left sheer and
blank, the ancestors huddled together in
the garnet. Dust and cobwebs covered
them, through blistering heat and cracking
frosts they lay neglected year by year;
while the hard, bare walls, freed from
those argus-eyes, gave ready echo to the
constant shout
But men and manners change with ever
changing time; the old house knows an.
etheI master- young, handsome, gay. One
day he clamhered to the garnet and turned
The dusty portraits DER and DER. Then,
colonel, fiat against the wall-'Gad, by
your coat, you should not finch at fire!
dumb: come, come, I'll open your mouth,
now speak! and, bang" he sent bullet
through his lips. The others followed
<'rubbsh only fit for pistol practice" and
SO, thus he entertained the courtly bevy
with succession of rattling balls.
Although the old planters may have been
n little 100 much addicted to a certain dis
tillauon of molasses, and the gentlemen Of