Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1905-07-01

bring the facts to the attention of men o
influence. He gained the ear of boil
the archbishops and many other digni
taries, and brought home to many the
conviction that America needed not only
books but also clergymen of piety and
zeal. The result of his energy was that
the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel was founded and received its
charter on June sixteenth, 170l. The
first work of the society was to send out
clergyman to visit the colonies in order,
to study conditions and needs, to encour-
age adherents Of the Church of England
wherever they might be found and to
present a report to the society at home
which might serve as basis for future
action. The clergyman selected was the
Rev. George Keith, an able and jealous
servant of Christ. lie landed in Boston
on St. Barnabas Day, 1702, and for two
years travelled through the colonies from
New Hampshire to North Carolina, carry
ing ont faithfully the instructions with
which he was charged. We know that
Mr.. Keith came to New Castle in the
course of this journey in the early part
Of 1903, and it is all but certain that
about that time he visited other places in
Delaware, this neighborhood among them,
and encouraged the people to take steps
toward parochial organization. 1t was
close upon this visit of Keith that our
own parish and also that at Dover began
their organic life.
1t is hard for us who are gathered here
to-day to form a correct idea OF condi-
tions in this neighborhood in the early
part of the Eighteenth Century. Vigor-
Gus men were toiling hard to subdue ma
ture to their will. 1t was a day of be.
ginnings. Almost all the people were of
English birth. Many of them doubtless
were adherents of the Church of England.
Over the Maryland border parochial lines
were already established and there were
churches with settled ministers. The
people of this neighborhood would lie
strengthened by these newly established
strongholds of the faith and look forward
with hope to the day when they might
enjoy like spiritual privileges. Such was
the state OF affairs when Keith visited
this region in 1903. His part it was TO
kindle the flame Of interest, to suggest
course of procedure, to advise doubtless
the building of church and the securing
Of occasional ministrations which should
serve to prepare the way for the coming
Of a missionary. Keith would probably
larry but few DAYS and then go upon
his way, leaving behind him however the
desire and hope of what was soon to find
The first document re-
ierring to the history of the parish bears
.he date of September first, l704. 1t
reads as follows :"Whereas Richard Can't
we'll and William Dyre with several others
inhabitants upon and near Appoquini
mink Creek in the county of New Castle
nave requested us (the Commissioners of
Property that we would grant them
convenient piece of ground for erecting a
Chapel for the use and behalf Of them
'elves and the other members of the
Church of England. These are to au-
horize and require them to survey and
ay out for the use aforesaid, in the place
~ them designed, for erecting the said
.hapel, on the left hand of the Queens
Road below the said creek, the quantity