Evening journal., 1912-10-07

opens his mouth but some are cut TO
the heart. Mr.. Cromwell continued
70 be- useful for about 10 years. In
l7G he was expelled for immoral
conduct and died In the shadows of
a blighted career.
Worshipped In Homes.
Up to the year 1850 the Methodlsts
OF this locality worchipped in private
homes. but principally at Robert
CLOUDS, Soon the congregations be-
came 80 large these private homes
could not accommodate them. To pro-
vide for this emergency, O log house
"a feet square, was erected In 1880
in the yard on the north OF his house,
where the old stone church now
stands, In this log tabernacle, with
its "iean-to" stone chimney and open
fireplace. the people worshiped for
10 years, In honor of the builder II
was called Clouds Chapel anc at
once the people began to bury their
dead on the north side of this chapel.
In the year of 1880 Chester Circuit
was merged into the Philadelphia
Circuit and this arrangement con-
tinued for several years. Thus Clouds
Chapel was built f, IT years before
the organization of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in America In 1724.
When Benjamin Abbott travelled the
circuit in 1850 he evidently preached
somewhere every day. The month Of
December of this year he spent in
this community and the extent OF his
l'bors is known by the fact that dur
ing this month he preached 20 times,
met IL classes, held 5 prayer-meet-
ings, and l watch night service. His
18th service was held in David Ford's
house. Here he said. the people
were afraid to sit near me, having
heard that many on the circuit fell
like dead men. | preached and we had
powerful time. Many were cut to
the hear, some fell to the floor, and
several cried aloud for mercy" Mr..
Abbott's next appointment was at
Clouds Chapel, which has lust been
opened for worship. After preaching
he held a prayer meeting at night.
ut was a powerful melting, shouting
time, and many were lost in the ocean
of love" The first Methodist class
meeting in this neighborhood was
probably formed at this time
In 1888 Philadelphia circuit was
divided and Philadelphia was made a
station. In 1883, Wilmington was set
off as station from Chester circuit.
In. 1898 Chester Circuit was again
divided and new circuit called Ian
caster was formed. This year VIII
mington ceased to be a station and
was placed again on the old circuit
On August IA. 1897, Robert Cloud
and his wife Magdalene Cloud, decided
one acre of ground to the Methodist
Episcopal Church of America The
consideration price was five shillings
and the following persons were nam
ed as trustees; Powell Clayton
Aaron Mats0n, Thomas Webster
Robert Pyle, Jr., Daniel Pyle, David
Ford, William Ford, William Handy
and Benjamin Handy. This acre oi
ground is identical with that on
which the log church stood and
where the people had buried their
dead. But In 1893 these trustees tore
down the log chapel and built a stone
church, 32 by 40 feet, one story, ant
called It Bethel. This building Is still
standing, Just south OF the cemetary
When the trustees enlarged tn,
church in 1886 they heightened i
about 90 feet and put I'm galleries a
the sides and back for colored peo
pie
Old Deed on Sheepskin.
The old deed, written on Sleeps.
skin, is preserved as an honored relic
and will be exhibited at the anniver.
sary services by w A. Talley, oi
Elan, Pa He came into possession
Of it by virtue Of being the Oldest
trustee of the church.
In 1870 Chester Circuit was sc
large that with three preachers
preaching three times every Sunday
{
quir six weeks to AXE their
@-nds. Owing to the scarcity OF or
dained ministers the Sacrament was
administered by Presiding Elders on
the quarterly occasions In 1903
chesapeake district was formed and
included the four cclnties of Talbot
Queen Anne, Kent and Cecil in Mary
land. and Chester Circuit in Della
ware and Pennsylvania. This year
Chester Circuit extended as far north
as Bristol, In the record Of the
quarterly conference held at Bethel
February s, 1868, the name of George
Clark, father of Mrs An. Clayton
appears as class-leader and on March
II 1910, we find tha this quarterly
conference thinks it not proper tC
renew s. G. IS (unknown) license as
an exhorter as he has not oficiated
OF late and been in the habit OF
lneglecting his classmeeting."
From 1901 to 1903 Chester Circuit
experienced the greatest and widest
revival in her history. 1t broke out
under the preaching Of William Hunt.
er in Bethel Church and continued
day and night with unabated interest
from October until March Peopl,
were not only converted, in the church
but at their homes on the roads, ir
the fields, and at their work. An ole
record says that every morning
there was family worship in the
homes Of all the members to which
all the servants were invited. This
revival resulted in the salvation of
more than 1900 persons and was the
means of starting new societies III
various parts of the circuit Solomon
Sharp, presiding elder, said, Every
service was a Pentecost"
Campmeetings were held in con.
junction with the church, the first in
1910 and continuing each year unit
1921. The question of food supplies
lperplexed the church folk Of Bethel
for they sent a suggestion TO the
managers of a similar gathering al
Upper Darby, recommending tha
there be no boarding tents, no breat
tents, and that all tradesmen be bar
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