The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-10-14

The exercises by which the Methodist Epsco
pal Church in this place celebrated the laying o
the cornerstone of its first house of worship
began, according to the published program, witt
| a lecture on Saturday night, October 8th, deliv
cred by Bishop Cyrus d. Foss, D. D, of Philada
He gave, as very interesting prelude of his lee
ture, an account of natural objects in India Thel
he turned to the terrible poverty and degradation
of the masses of that land, the benificent natur
of British rule, and the great desire the part
the natives for instruction in Christianity. He
a most pleasing speaker and left deep impres
sion on the large audience.
On Sunday morning, at $3.50, Rev. Amos R
Brown, of Sylmar, led the love feast, and though
all too short it was much enjoyed. AT 1890 tn,
Bishop preached to still larger audience OF
Heb. XI, 1, a sermon which stirred and instructed
all who heard it, and enabled them to understand
how it was that as young man of twenty-sever
he had been called to the chief pulpits of the
Church and had occupied continuously since
then the highest and most responsible positions
in the gilt of the Church. A feature of some in
terest is the fact that in his first charge, Chester
Orange county, N. Y, he was the pastor of Rev
j. p Otis. the present pastor in charge of Rising
Sun M. E. Church; and again in Brooklyn, when
in 1864, the latter united with the Church.
In the afternoon the Sunday school gave
Rally-Day service. very ably conducted by the
Superintendent, w. Louis Ryan, and much appre.
ciated by all present.
But it was at night, after all, in tThe Old
Times meeting, that the interest of the day
reached a climax. The house was crowded, and
listened with eager interest to the thrilling and
often mirth- provoking "reminiscences given by T
]. Wilson and Revs. Jos Cook and Elm Kirk. II
was an especially delightful feature OF these that
there was in them no tinge OF the pessimism into
which those advanced in years often fall, but a
hearty acknowledgment of the good things of the
present.
On Tuesday night October 11th, good audi
ence was present to greet the beloved former
pastor, Rev. H. A. G. Westerfield, who discoursed
with much force and wisdom on the subject, "The
Conditions OF Revival"
report of the three remaining services will
appear next week. brief historic sketch is
subjoined
The principal visible agency of the planting OF
Methodism in Rising Sun was great revival at
Mt. Pleasant, in 1s49. conducted by Rev. T. W
Shippers. and attended by number of people from
Rising Sun. 1t was not thought very remarkable
then for people to walk that distance, or further
to and from such service. As a result a class
was organized in Rising Sun, probably the next
year, with John Barnes as leader. As nearly as
can now be ascertained this class was made up as
follows Elm Kirk, Caroline Kirk (now Krauss),
Sarah Kirk (now McCardle). Charles H. Krauss,
deceased, William A. Lockard, deceased Ann
Eliza Kirk, deceased, Mary Jane Kirk. deceased,
Simeon W. King. Maria Kirk (now Lockard),
John 7. Egan. William Nelson. William Cain.
deceased, Lewis Cain, deceased, Isabella Egan
(now Brickley) Rachel Egan (now Cunningham),
Charles Harris, deceased, Emelne Clayton (now
Williams), and James Ackinson. Some of those
who Joined this band within few years after the
start are: Hetty Kirk (now FOSTER, Hannah
Matthews (now Selfridge), Sarah F. Dawson (now
Ryan,, Annie E. Coulson (now Reynolds) Mary
NJ. Chambers, Mr.. and Mrs. T. J. Wilson and w.
T. b. r. Robertson.
In 1858 preaching services were begun in Rising
Sun, and it became an appointment on Zion Cir
cult, of which the headquarters were at Brick
Meeting House. now Calvert. The list of pastors
is as follows
1S5S-4-S. r. Gillingham and W. NJ. Dalfymple.
1s54-55-H. Sanderson and John Palmer.
In October, 1s45, the struggles to build house
of worship reached victorious stage in the
laying of the cornerstone of the first edifice on
the present lot, donated by Edwin Haines, grand.