Milford chronicle., 1908-10-30
I2srh Anniversary Of Barratt's Chapel.


The day, dusty. and consequent djsasreesbl
, weather that had prevailed for MANY dsvs ,va
! partly miteaied, on Friday and saturda,
: morning by light showers Of rain which restored
natures equilibrium. and on Sunday the Stain
quo oi general autumn weather obtained. Tbi
was the day to be celebrated as the one.bun
dred and twenty-eighth anniversary of Barratt',
chapel. During the week previous the sexton.
Oh thls old historic structure Of Methodisrp took
down the stoves and carried them outside the
building and polished them, cleaned the lau,p
chlmneys, and did other things TO give the in
terror OF the building genteel appearance. and
the exterior a look that would captivate Metbo-
dist pride. 1--WE were on the ground while mart
oi TINS work was being done and an eve witness
to what we are writing On the afternoon. of
this day Sunday the conditio zine ana non were
all that could be desired; the air was fragrant
with October's valedictory flowers .be atmos
phere was redolent with morning glories while
man and beast enjoy ed the weather and the spr.
roundings; the former made TO order bv the
meteorological bureau at Washington. In order
10 get as much as possible out of this our debut
al an occasion of this kind we went early. chief
amongst our objects to meet acquaintances from
other towns. Two O'clock was The hour for the |
the service to commence, but long before that
'iine every aVai'ab space in the grove was oe-
cupled Dy vehicles of almost every description
'Or country use. Several automobiles Of ee uisite
workmanship. were there amongst The rest
reoPie rom Dover, Camden, Magnolia, FELTON,,
Milford, and throughout the intervening countv
came to pay their respects TO this old time re.
igious edihce; many of the ladies' bearing :
boquets, wreaths and gariands of flowers vvbio5
were finally, deposited upon the last resting J
places OF their
possible to estimate with degree of accuracy
the number Of persons present. The Old cbnrcb ]
was crowded, the galleries were full. and tbe Z
vesu6ules around the three, front, out side {
1oors' were occupied by those who could not {
sit, and were compelled to stand. And ever and I
anon 1t was like unto a swarm of bees ooipo +
hto ana coming out Of their hive-a continual i
Work continual molten. Besides the mass 4
hat was crowded into the building, many were e
eated IN their carriages, many were strolling
hrough the grove, and many more were in the Il
cemetery walking around admiring the manv z
ostly monuments therein. and others still were i
eated on the grassy sward resting themselves d
rev. H. ". Bolton, D. D. of Wilmington was the 4.
rator, being assisted in the service by the Rev \
-elso OF Magnolia. The sermon, we did not q
ear as the crowded condition Of the room looked Z
20 uncomfortable inviting for Us; besides our i
isit, like many Others, was more matter of 4
nrlosity than desire for oratory or ediication 4
historical "reminiscences. The celebration OF \
Barratts Chapel Anniversary is of late origin a
ling inaugurated about fifteen years ago; yet it
likely to be permanent institution, or to last \
It'll thelast trumpets shall awaken the departed. L.
ne meeting together of mass of people both Z
heterogeneous and homogeneous. is a source of +
easure and edification to all concerned The 8
rious form and contours of the genus homo z
IA az such gatherings, enables one 10 study Z
yhognom by diagram rather than from book z
q ana tne conclusions drawn, while not al Z
tys correct, viii embOdy great deal of truth I (
ls Old church that has Weathered the storms Z
one-hundred and twenty eight years is still in K
oou STATE OF preservation; 1t looks no older X
"a, N " Wheh We 1rst knew it and barring accident X
VIII stand for centuries to come The old \
hi ,ned camp meeting is ''played OUT IN this I
alty. The Anniversary Of Barratt's Chanel 4
the big Thursdays" at Bowers Beach viii 4
lTd coDgenial gatherings for Kent County z
luelansi and Kent County SOciality many Il
Is henee. May we be permitted to duplicate 4
sunday many times more D. ~.