Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-12-11
JOHN POSTLEY
Gets MONUMENT
Erected For His Leaving Money
With Which To Educate
Poor Children

TUul UllIIuI I'll
Friday afternoon an attentive and APP
preciative assembly filed the auditorium
of Buckingham Presbyterian Church,
Berlin, the occasion being commemo-
rative service in honor of John Postley,
a philanthropist who lived near Berlin a
century ago, and Of whom Worcester
County is proud. When he died in 1875
Mr.. Postley provided for the education
Of poor children in Buckingham and
Worcester Hundreds" by establishing a
fund Of si,l00. originally in the hands
of trustees, but now and for many years
past in the care Of the Worcester Coun-
ty School Board. Buckingham High
School, teachers and pupils, attended in
a body and the children as well as their
elders seemed profoundly interested in
the history. as we know it. Of this man
who, having no children of his own,
cared for the sons and daughters of the
poor.
Mr.. Calvin b. Taylor, as a committee
of one, and acting in behalf of Bucking-
ham High School. recently purchased
and set in place handsome monument
on the Postley farm, a few miles from
Berlin. 1t was decided to hold the COM
memorative exercises in the church of
which John Postley was an elder. After
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Beauchamp, of the
NJ. E. Church, Mr.. C. b. Taylor read
some extracts from the will of John
Postley. Besides his bequest to Buck
ingham school. Mr.. Postley provided for
the son of his pastor, for his slaves. and
for the Christian education of the Ameri-
can Indians. In these days of public
schools and missionary societies it is
hard to realize the need existing in Post
ley's day for such gifts as his, but white
haired men and women are still living
who profited by his benefcence. OF
the three trustees named in the will as
custodians of this fund. only one has
living descendants, and one of these,
Miss Nellie McGregor Purnell. presided
at the organ and later unveiled the
monument. Mr.. Taylor read letter
from Superintendent Z. w. McMaster
telling how the Postley fund is invested
at the present time. II now amounts
to over 81, 300, invested chiefly in mort
cages.
r. J. Shovel, Esq, as chairman,
then introduced Rev. l.. p. Bowen, d.
D., the orator of the occasion, in a
graceful and appropriate speech, bear
ing testimony to the fine qualities and
attachments of this distinguished East
ern Shoreman, who by pen, voice and
untiring reseach has done so much to
throw light on the dark past. The
audience gave flattering attention to DIR.
Bowen as he paid an eloquent tribute to
John Postley, the friend of poor chill
dren. The speaker deplored the incom-
plete records which rendered his task
of learning something of the life of
Postley so difficult. The names of his
parents and of his wife are unknown
and only his will remains to tells of his
sympathy with the poor and distressed.
DIR. Bowen said that he is proud to
acknowledge his allegiance to the Land
of the Evergreen" and his personal debt
to John Postley. He concluded with an
original poem entitled, 1.-The Old Plan
tation Graveyards. 3" A choir composed
of school girls led the whole congregation
in singing two hymns composed for the
occasion by Rev. w. H. Bancroft, pas
tor of Buckingham Church, and Rev.
DIR. l.. P. Bowen, pastor of historic
Rehoboth Presbyterian Church.
The remainder of the service was held
on the Postley farm and consisted of
prayer by Rev. MIR. Bancroft, singing,
and unwilling the monument, which is
of granite, seven feet high and three
feet thick. and marks the resting places
of both Postley and his wife. An APP
propriate inscription gives the date of
Postley's death and states that he was
an elder of Buckingham Church and giver
of the Postley fund. Much interest and
feeling were manifested by the children,
who are not likely ever to forget their
debt of gratitude to this man who is
remembered because in his life he re-
membered others.