Evening journal., 1912-10-07

Shestcl-belnel Melnoulst EplSCOpdl
Church, on the Foulk Road in Brandy
wine hundred, will celebrate It's both
anniversary next Sunday. The Rev.
Edwin Gardner is pastor Of this his
toric church, which Is said TO be the
oldest Methodist congregation In the
United States, even older than Bar
rats Chapel which Is termed the
Cradle Of Methodism." Pastor Gard
ner has arranged for elaborate all-
day services next Sunday.
Rich in history and unusual incl
dents is this old edifice, as a perusal
Of its annals will disclose.
The history of Bethel Methodist
Church in Brandywine Hundred be-
gan in those Colonial times when
American independence was but q
dream, Long before the deeds Of the
Boston Tea Party or the Liberty Bell
sent out it's thrilling peals proclaim
ing liberty throughout the land the
doctrines of those peculiar" people
called Methodists were preached and
heard by many who lived in this COM
munity,
Sometime during the year 1888
Captain Thomas Webb, quarter
master in the English army, and
converted under the preaching Of Rev.
John Wesley, preached at Marcus
Hook and the region thereabout. He
had been a soldier under General
Wolf and at the Battle Of Quebec In
1853 lost his right eve and ever at
terward wore green shade over 1t.
His military uniform made him a
conspicuous figure, Mr.. Wesley said
of him, He was a man Of fire and
the power of God attends his words"
John Adams, second president OF
United States, in 1774 also said, Il
went to a Methodist meeting and
heard Captain Webb and he is one
of the most eloquent and fluent
speakersc l ever heardi" He died in
Bristol, England, December 10, 1895.
The early Methodist II Brandywine
Hundred were the Clouds, Websters,
and Fords. David Ford was born
about 1850 When is years of age
lie went to Marcus Hook with a load
of ship timber and heard Captain
Webb preach in his regimentals. This
10 Ford was a great novelty, as he
had been ised Quaker. The serm-
on was the means of his conversion.
He soon Joined the MsthOdists and af-
te- his marriage Ope. ed his house TO
Methodist preaching. This house is
still standing about one mile north
east from Chester-Bethel Church and
is ow ed by Harry Handy.
The early preachers who preached
at David Ford's were John King
Robert Williams, Richard Boardman,
Joseph Pilmoor, Richard Wright, and
Francis Asbury, who in passing from
Philadelphia 20 Maryland took in
these places en- route, preaching to
the people, "Jesus and the Resurrec-
ton" The other preachers We're Ben
ljamin Abbott and Thomas Haskin, the
latter famous as the only minister
who obtained money from Stephen
Girard for a church.
While attending one of these SER
vices at David Ford's Miss Siba Cloud
sister of Robert Cloud and an aunt
of Rev Robert Cloud. was awakened
and soon rejoiced in the conscious
ness of Divine Pardon.
Hurrying across the fields to the
home of her brother, Robert Cloud,
who lived where Warren P. Missimer
now resides, she persuaded him to
have Methodist preaching in the
house He did so and Robert Clouds
became a regular appointment. Here
a Methodist society was formed in
i
i Declaration OF Independence was
signed in Philadelphia and from this
home two of the sons, Robert and
Adam, became travelling preachers.
Robert went out in 177S as the second
Methodist itinerant from the State of
Delaware. Later in 1894 he was
pastor of the circuit which then in
cluded his own home. In 1881 Adam
Cloud became the seventh travelling
preacher in the state. He afterward
joined the Episcopalians and became
a settled pastor in one of the West
India islands.
The name Of Chester Circuit first
appears in the minutes of the annual
conference held in Philadelphia, May
25, 1774. At that time, SO members
weie reported The next year the
number had increased to "A. The cir
cult was probably formed about 1863,
but by whom it is unknown. 1t is
probable, however, that it was done
/ by William Waters at a suggestion
of Richard Boardman. In IVA the
circuit embraced all of the preaching
places that the Methodists then had
in the Stat of Delaware and in Ches-
ter county Pa
biected to "Ranting, Preacher.
In the summer Of 1874 Abraham
Rollins, of Potapsco Neck, Md, de-
sired to become travelling preacher
among the Methodists of this circuit,
but they would not accept him be-
cause Of his "roughIess and ranting.
However, he settled himself upon
t. m as a minister of the gospel.
This Intrusion created a division in
the society at Goshen, Chester county.
b William Waters providentially at
tended one of their eetings and was
invited by George Smith to preach
in his house. He did so and soon
the husband, wife, and two daughters,
with several others, were restored to
the Valley, or Grove Society, they had
SO unnecessarily forsaken. Abraham
Rollins was dismissed from the local
society and soon left the neighbor-
hood
Near old Chester lived James Bar
ton, who had been reared in the
ranks of the Established Church.
Awakened to the need of an inward
religion that was power and not form
he thought he could find his hearts de-
sire among the Quakers and so Joined
them. He remained in their fold for
90 years and often spoke in their
public meetings. About the time that
Daniel Ruff and Richard Webster
We're preaching on Chester Circuit
Mr.. Barton dreamed that he saw two
men going through the neighborhood
welding iron fails, with which they
I.