The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-10-15
METHODIST PILGRIMAGE.
Several Hundred From Baltimore and Many
From Westminster Go To Points Where
MethOdism Was First Preached in America

MethOdism Was First Preached in America
| Under the auspices of the American Meth
| odlst Historical Society, pilgrimage to the
scenes of the labors of Robert Strawbridge,
who first preached MethodiSm in America,
was arranged for Tuesday last. About $50
ministers, laymen and ladies came to West
minister on a special train, accompanied by
Gov. Edwin War6eld and Mayor Timanus,
Of Baltimore. Here they were loaded into
vehicles of all descriptions, including the
wagon Of the Mayberry Band. The excur-
siUnists were more numerous than expected,
and extra vehicles had to be obtained, conse-
! quenty number were late in starting.
The weather was ideal. The roads were
dusty, but the kindly breeze carried the dust
to the fields, and the trip was very enjoyable.
Probably 400 persons started from West
minister, and they were joined by others on
the route, until Bethel Church was reached.
Here dinner was served by the ladies of that
charge, and the number of persons present
reached close up to thousand.
The pilgrimage took in the following points
of historical interest-Poulson House and
| Strawbridge Tree, Stone Chapel, the Evans
home, which was purchased by Mr. George
W. Albaugh, of Westminster, seven years ago
and presented 10 the trustees of the Baltimore
| Annual CONFERENCE. Deluel 1uulCu' TUE " at
! field home, site of the Strawbridge meeting
house, and the Strawbridge home.
The first long stop was at the John Evans
| home, which was built of uuhewn logs, and is
! II stories high. At this point Gov. Warfeld
made an address. He said in part
GOV. WarReId's Address
| The fathers of your church laid here deep and
| sure foundation upon which grand and enduring
! superstructure has beeu reared, the influence OF
which has reached tC the uttermOSt OF the
| earth.
The pioneer preachers of your faith are veneratei
| as heroes in thousands of American homes end en-
titled be cias>ed with the patriots and heueaCtors
themes of song and story. and the names of straw
bridge, of AsbuTy, of owens, of Waters, OF Mcheu-
dree and host OF Others viii live forever IN the
annals Of Methodsm, ofciyization, Of Christianity
i have deep personal interest in the history Of
MethodiSm. especially IN the events which you are
commemoratng today, because two OF those IS hose
warfield and Jemima Dorsey Mar;ield.
This Christian man and wife both sprung from
ancestors from whom have ACKNOWLEDGMENT War
field. who came TO Mar yiand in loo and Major Ei
ward Dorsey the immigrant. Of colonial fame and
distinction.
'AlI the paternal ancestors Of Alexander Warfied
were pious members of the Church OF England.
The immigrant Richard was a ycsgryman Of -
Anne'S Church. in Annapolis, in l62. aud upon his
death in 1908 he was succeeded By his son Richard
who was followed by his son Alexander iu I7jd-
This. Alexander was the grandfather Of the
Alexander whose memory We honor today. Col
Charles A. Wartield his laiheT removed from Anne
Arundel to Frederick county tn the middle Of the
eighteenth century. He WAS one OF the patriots 81
the Revolution who espoused early the cause Of
liberty or death in The pursuit Of H. sud iook an
active part in all Of the movements which LED Up
10 the burning Of the Peggy stewart The Eevolu-
ton and the Declaration Of Independence He
stood with his udewAier kinsPeopie representing
this section % the state upon the committees q OBJ
servaiion aud CORES p0ndeufe and contributed 81
his substance TO the cause Of freedom
The pure air and free life 81 these bills of the
then Western frontier inspired NOT only love 90
liberty but spirit OF freedom from religious re
sirAiutS. tenets and forms
with such environment and under the stress aud
strain OF people hght for political !ree1Uu young
Alexander warfieid The Methodist Was reared and
thus he fitted for the hgnT he 90 make fUF
the faith that was ~ him.
1t required moral courage in those cagiY DAYS 20
Aethodistl for churchman % csuouso the teach.
ings Of Wesley Is exPoundei hy straw bridge and
ridicuei sect Men and women Of the thea ruiiue
classes and Of the church ot Eaglzud looked with
di~iain sud disgust upon those 10 esI-ousei this
new fAith.
.'AiexAnder WatieId bad the courage % his con
vlcuous. broke away from the TEACHINGS 90 hts
fathers and eSIou-d The ChE stlaulty taught BY The
pioneers Of this CEecd. ffe became one ~ the
leaders in the fight for religious reform s1d hrgssi
in laying the Cornerstone q this great gospel which
has become such power far gooi IN the land and
which now aumtcs more than - - ministers.
more than 6.7s7 churches. snd Hlca has marr
than Gu 0l0 enmtanicaats ami more than - ,s,l
90 beings ~ DO are Influenced by is teachings,
Address OF DIR. Herring
After dinner. which was served 10 ihs grove
~ Bethel Church, service was held. Dr.
Goucher presiding PRAYER vas offered by
Rev, Don 5 Colt and Rev. r. F. Clarkson
read poem au ''S'raEbudee.
An Interesting address vss delivered by Dr.
j. ". Herring. of Westminster. former Comp
,rullpr Of the Stale, and for righi ycars Press.
dent of the General Conference Of the Neiho. .
dist Protestant, Church 81 America After 4
referring 10 the spots visited during the day
aud The beruism aud devotion displayed by
the Methodist pioneers aud the old circa.i I.
riders he spoke of the influence % American .
Methodism on American Institutions,
mo r,an csn ever meas,s'e be ssld. the sHan- 4
ence which American N"'hoi'sEu hal Sea gaaiBiHS 4
Tie thought and character OF the Amcrcsn people +
Almost coineidcpg sith tho sdoPssaH c' thr F,ers1
Constitution Meiho.iista tecaue rc ggus farce ~
eNeriet iuB acncv which has lei, IT'S iupsess or
the laws Of the c1uutrv and far character 81 tas
people. that there Is >csrgviy aUythiHE wur1a T.
talking about OF AtucFica h4sh Is nos iountrl nEr
Christian religion. n AG4greau lurffi8 tltis
ernmoie. over ihc grave y lhf Espab',f wi g
written these words 'ieFrtsi'1fc aufn iso!' Itcrv
Is danger fof The ludiytiszsl 90 uagioa sH5rh z
looks to God. and no agency has 5une mo-r than .
Aeihoiisln 70 prove that rEAteuasuezS rrsitetA
nation,
Al the conclusion % H. Hcria-'. -iirss,
Rev Dr. C. W Baldwin offered rs-.tiaIiau
expressing sympathy for Rev & -. Saith. 1
who Is now in al the home ct his SITTER. Mis-
Mary Smith. n Westminster. NJ smith
who is pastor Of Oxford Church. Baltimore,
took leading part iu iurthrrInE the irsi F.i
grimnge 10 the same scenes 10 wears ago suJ
has always displayed much Interest in the
early history If Meihodisn.
resolution expressing sympathy Tor Rev
J. II. DAshiell. of Annapolis, who Is Alsa 49,
was likewise adopted.
site Unmarked
The exact site OF the StrawbriIge mey.i.ur
house. kuowu a. the "Old Log Chapel " &.
unmarked. but DT. Goucher said ths, from
three different sources be had received such
description Of the place a. 20 make the iueaiion
certain. The chapel WIS torn down years
ago. II was - feet BY - feet iuctps. and
the pulpit which WAS used there vas afterWaFd
removed 30 th- old Evans house and suisse,
quently taken TO Baltimore. where &c vas
rrverently kept With other relies ~ Wesley
Hall Before the CREST Gre Of last February
destroyed that building this puipi, was rescued
By Revs T. l.. Watson and C. W Baldwin
and i nov in the keeping If Mr. Watson.
Since the hrsi pilgrimage 60 these scenes 10
years ago additional data has been secured
so that the question Of Sirawhriage being The
FIRST Methods; minister IN America can no
longer be eontroyerted Dr. Goucher read
extracts from letters aud journals including
the journal Of Bishop Asbgry. which proved
conelusively that Robert Slrawbridge came 10
this country from ireland about 1860; that he
preached and baptized in he neigh borhood q
Sans Greek certainly as early as 1862. which
antedaled by at least four years the preaching
Of Emberry in New York: that the "oii log
chapel" was the first Methodist meeiinghouse
in America and that the first Methodist society
organized IN the New World worshipped there.
Gov. Wartield, having engagements al An
napoIis. drove to New Windsor and took the
afternoon train TO Baltimore. The other ex-
cursionists took the cars TO Baltimore from
New Windsor later in the afternoon
Personal Notes.
Persons having friends as guests aud desire the
{ Dublica 81 the same will panSa send their