Evening journal., 1913-09-24
,dETHODISN
In MARYLAND
interesting Paper Read by
Rev. I. S. Barrett at Anni-
verSary Service on
Sunday
SERVICES DATE FROM
1850 UNDER TREE

At the one hundred and thirticth anni-
Fersary Of the Introduction Of Method
Ism in Elk Neck Cecil county, Mary
land held in Harts Chapel seven miles
below North East, on Sunday, the fol.
loving historical sketch was read by
the Rev. +. S Barrett, OF Elk Neck.
The meetings. called the walnut
Tree Meetings, began probably in 1880,
and were held under a large walnut tree
on the farm Of the late Robert Hart, Sr
These meetings we're held first by two
Methodist local preachers from Kent
county, the Rev. Thomas Sewel and the
Rev Mr.. Bivens. II Is said that after
this meeting was commenced it did not
rain ri that time, namely, on Whit
Sunday and Monday, for fourteen years.
This meeting was afterwards. fer many
wears. held in the church at Hart's
Chapel. on Whit Sunday.
The first Methodist church in this vi
cinitv stood near the head OF piney
creek but Just how long the people wor.
ehinped there Is not known They soon
outgrcw that church and a part of the
material Of IN old church was used in
constructing the one now known as
Hart's Chapel
The decd for the LOT of ground on
which this latter church stands j. dated
tbc 2ist OF august. 1901 II was 10y
Samuel Aldridgc and his wife. Milliecnt
Aldidgc. conveyed 10 Robert Hart
Thomas Hart. Charles Ford, freedu-
Aldrdcc and Zcbulon kankey trustees
Robert Hart. ST.. wns first class leader
IN the vicinity ot Wesley Chapel about
l1p7 al the homes of the late John
Ford and the Rev ifrecdus Aldridgc
First pleachine was IN privctc house,
The frs, regular proachirg place was a
school house. which burned down, and
wa. rebuilt Tho first class leader wa-
Nathan Crouch First Methodist preach.
err were the Rev. Dr Chandler Daniel
Crouci and the Rev. Thomas jackson
The first presiding elder was The Rev
Thomas Ware. about 1903.
Wesley hapc was built in $50. cor
nc, stone laid hv tlIe Rev. William
RYDER Dcdicatory sermon by the hcN'
d.. p. Hodson FIRST quarterly meeting
held in it by the Rev. Lawrence Ne
Con,nhs. First board oi trustees. Joshua
H,land. Francis Gothier and Nathan
Crouch
The first sunday School was or
canizcd in 1891. Brother trahcis
Gothler founder and superintendent
From 1881 TO 1866. we have no record.
Flk Neck Circuit was originally par'
OF Nottingham Circuit Philadelpnla
Conference. Later was united WIN
North East Circuit, and years later
Il formed part of Charlesiown CIRCUIT
from which il was separated at the
session Of conference held AT ~
Georges Church in Philadelphia
March 1865, and was lett TO he SUP
piled.
Rev. James Cunningham. presidinl
elder Of the Wilmington District. ap
pointed Rev. II c. Shippers, preacher
In charge. There were three appoint
ments connected with the charge
namely. Hart'a. where there was an
old church. Wesley chapel, this Is
small church recently repaired. an'
linton: this was small bulldinl
erected some years since by the citi
zens of the community Jointly To-
church and public school purposes
There we're four Sunday schools u
the bounds of the circuit, one at cacl
Of the places named above and on
at the stone school house.
The first Quarterly Conference TO
that year lS66l was held az Wesle
on April 9Th. The official board con
sisted OF Andrew Barrett, Jane
Merr. Franklin Lort Robert Har
James Pugh and John A. Wilson
They fixed the pastors salary at S25
Robert Hart was class leader
Harts and there were thirty-siX fu
members and probationers Frankli
1ort was class leader at Wesley an
there were nineteen members an
probatoners James Pugh was clai
leader at Union and had thirty-ei eigl
members and probationers on roll
In 1870 Rev William T Tull su
ceedcd the Rev. H. G. Shippers ;
pastor OF the charge. and Rev. j.
Curtis was presiding elder Of q
district That year Hart's Chur
was rebuilt and was dedicated
Sunday. November H. Revs. James
Houston. Thomas l.. Pouls0n, Thom
+. Plummer and Henry c. Simpe
vices The cost was $780, which W
we're present and assisted in the 81
raised that day. The board Of trl
tees consisted of John A. WilsC
Thomas y. Gainor. Robert Hart Jo
a. Crouch and Mark Mousdale.
In 1871 Wociox was rpnQirCd "A