Smyrna times., 1902-09-10
REMINISCENCE OF BETHEL CHURCH
Recent Re'Opening Recalls Former Days
When that Place of Worship was KnOwn
as "FarrOw's Meeting House"

recollections of more than half a cent
ury. 1t happens that the writer was
an attendant of the first Sunday school
that was ever held there-thsn known
as "FarrOw's Meeting House." This
was in May 1910 Ga charter member so
to speak, the school organizing with
jacob Williams superintendent in |
which office he continued for many |
years. The writer was boy between
nine and ten years of age and was a
member of the school some ten years.
1t was a good school and in the pri-
mary purpose ofstudying the scriptures
the modern schools and methods have
made little advancement In the pro"
gress of time many of us had been pro-
NOTED to the bible class. Joseph Carey
our teacher had to a large degree the
faculty to assist and instruct. There
was not one of the boys L think but
what loved him and reverence his
memory. The class had the uppermOst
seats in the little old frame building.
The hour before the morning service
alwas seemed too short, so interesting
did he make the scripture study. Some
of the names now occur to me: Robert
d. Crockett, VIM. T. Smith, Ephraim
S. Garrison, John Severson, Alfred P.
Crockett, Robt. Denney, Robt. John
Moore, Robt. D. Hoffeeker, Jacob P.
Dickson and others. Every depart
ment of the school was carefully taught
as we understand has been the case
/ in the sixty-two years since it was or
ganized.
Prominent Men Of the Church, at That Time.
The good men who were prominent
in that neighborhood, stood by the
society and helped in the Sunday
school or anything else that would pro-
mote the church, were Joseph Farrow,
John Denney, Joseph Hoffecker, VIM.
Smith, Isaac Register, Nathaniel Sew
erson, james T. Farson, William
Sharp, Robert George, VIM. Bishop,
John H. Rash, James Jones and others.
In later period the names of Elihu
Jefferson, VIM. p. Smithers, Jona-
than Brown, VIM. Il. Dawson, Moses
Price, John Truax, John M. Collins,
Geo. G. Simpson, David Boggs, Will
liam Surgen, we're also added to
the society to fill vacancies caused
by removals and deaths. The las
quarter of the century many changes
have been made, bringing in Richard
NJ. Cooper and sons prominently Il
the front.
The Biggest Event to Old Bethel Church.
: The biggest event to Bethel Churcl
= was the supplanting of old Farrow
Meeting House which stood in tn
q north west corner of the present ceme
terry by Bethel NJ. E. Church. This
/ we remember rightly was in 1856
, The day was a serene one in the sun
= mer. The venerable Bishop Beverl
:, Waugh preached the dedication sci
I mon. The choir of Asbury church, {
Smyrna, assisted with the singing
The stately brick that took the place
C. the little frame structure might |
q more modern and artistic, but ca
# never be excelled in "reminiscences {
q the scenes and events that cha
IF acterized early Methodism, as whe
q. James F. Houston mounted the top
70 the pulpit at a revival meeting six
n years ago and called to the excited co
ye gregation, "Take thy shoes from {
10 thy feet for the place where thou sta
so dest is holy ground" Or when Hem
r. Sutton preached from the text: 81
K sure your sins will find you out" @
c. when George Deakyne, of Thoroug
e. fare Neck, gave one of his impressi
IN and characteristic exhortations.
when old Jacob Moore at Quarter
rs conference experience meeting won
give thrilling experiences of his CO
flicts with the devil Gas if rel
when he would flee from him VIII
. resorted fully to faith and prayer.
Bethel Now the "MOther Of Churches"
=" 1t came the turn for old Bethel q
its earlier days and memories were nj
mt scarcely remembered in the vicinit
IL to take its place among what is call
IRA the mother of churches" CheswC
at was not in existence during the peri
m above referred to, but now 1t has spru
up to be thriving town and DR.. 10
of f. Smith, J. H. Anderson, VIM. F. G
of Inns, A. 7. Hoffecker and 9th
ais thought the people of that sect
ON should not have so far to go to chui
1st particularly as the most of them
of no teams.) And almost before IL
to knew it they had a beautiful cha
at erected and paid for, before they
secured preacher. At the approa
of ing annual conference il was set of
A. r.. l.. A