Evening journal., 1910-10-10
METHODISM In
CECIL COUNTY
Interesting Facts Recalled by
the Semi-CentenniaI Of the
Church at ElktOn
GEORGE WHITFIELD
ESTABLISHED CHURCH

ELKTON, Md, Oct. 10-The semi
centennial celebration marking the
fiftieth anniversary of the present
ediflce of the Methodist Episcopal
Church here began yesterday and will
last over next Sunday. Services will
be held each evening during the week
In charge of former pastors Of the
church. The services yesterday were
conducted by the Rev. Isaac l.. Wood,
of New Jersey, and the Rev. Fl. 5.
Thompson, of Delaware. This even
ing the Rev. l.. +. Poole, of Pocomoke
City, will preach. Tuesday evening
the Rev. T. e. Terry, of Laurel, will
preach; Wednesday evening the Rev.
DR.. r. X. Stephenson, presiding elder
of the Easton district of the Whining
ton Methodist Episcopal Conference,
will preach; Thursday evening the
Rev. DR.. Thomas E. Martindale, OF
Salisbury, will fill the pulpit; Friday
evening the Rev. DR.. A. S. Mowbray,
of Smyrna, Del, will preach, and Sun
day next the Rev. ]. p. Otis of Green's
boro, Md, and the Rev. Louis e. Bar
rett, of Chestertown, will preach.
Methodism was established here
many years before the present church.
AS far back as 1740 the celebrated
George Whitfield, co-worker with the
Wesleys, visited Head Of Elk" and
preached under an oak tree then
standing a short distance west Of
Bow street, and about 100 yards
from the creek. In 1887 Bishop AS
bury came to Elkton and preached to
large congregation. In 1888 Cecil
Circuit, Chesapeake district, Philadel-
phia Conference, was instituted, with
Richard Whatcoat as presiding elder,
but II was not until 1893 that a regu-
lar organization was formed in Elk
ton. In 1880 Thomas Jackson and
William P. Chandler were assigned to
Cecil Circuit, and It would appear
that the gospel work of the latter laid
the sure foundation Of Methodism IN
Elkton. His diary gives the list of
the first society formed In this town.
He was noted revivalist and an
earnest temperance worker. Mr..
Chandler had previously studied medi-
cine under the famous DR.. Rush, OF
Philadelphia. The society was formed
| in 1899 at the home of Rirchard Up
degrove, on Red Hill, just east Of the
town. Services were publicly held In
the town proper as early as 1901. but
not until 1913 were there any steps
taken to erect a regular place of wor-
ship. In that year a half acre OF
ground was purchased on East High
street. Bishop Asbury records in his
journal that he preached in Eth
Chapel in 1915. The church was en-
larged in 1912 and was used unit
1860, afterwards becoming the public
school and later passing to the use o
the Free Methodists. later still pass
ing to the control of the A. y. M.
congregation, who are worshipper
there to-day.
The present church edifice wa
:. planned during the pastorate Of tn
: Rev. H. f. Hurn in 1858. with whoI
! the idea of the new building origin
ated. 1t was not begun until Ser
/, TENDER. 1859. when the conversion
was laid. Bishop Scott dedicated IN
= lecture room June II. 1860. Tn
work was finished and the auditorium
' dedicated on September 8, 1860, by III
Rev. d. w. Bartrine. In 1865 fire brok
out in the church, doing considerable
damage. During the pastorate of tn
Rev. r. X. Stephenson the churc
was improved and modernized, the II
{ opening services being held on Sur
: day, January II, 1902.