The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-09-29

which has withstood sunshine and
and is a striking proof tina. a strong
band of Cody, militant men and
women, with more than ordinary
vision reared its walls. This Society
must have been exceptionally strong
and wealthy for that day, otherwise
Methodist Churches equally as old.
! would be dotting our land, yet it -
/ the only one | know of reared by Me-
thodist hands, of materials furnished
or bought by MethOdists. which stan Is
today in Maryland or the United
ago. Who founded this Methodist So
ciety and when?
/ The Early Society.
! Looking back before the Reyolu-
ton | see Robert trawbridge settling
at Sans Creek, to the West OF us
along the Old Indian Trail, Il man
! filled with the grace Of God and love
+ LOT HIS ItlIo" "IOSC VhbI
reared the first Methodist Meeting
House in America in 1864, and formed
society among which appears such
familiar names as Cassell, Durbin,
Evans, Willis and Warfeld. His ar
dent Celtic blood would not let him
rest, and we know that he travelled
hn ahnnt n IN N n
the gospel and organizing Societies.
Through here would he ride to Bal
timore Town and | can see him STOP
ping and preaching at Welsh'S Tavern
He lived ut Sans Creek until the year
1876 when he moved his family to
Long Green in Baltimore county, aud
it is impossible to escape the conclu-
sion, that the voice of this great tim
Grant Methodist minister, whose bones
rest in Mt. Olivet Cemetery was heard
and gained many converts in this
neighborhood before be died in 1871.
At that time this was part of st.
Thomas Parish Of Baltimore county,
which was created in the year 17i2
when 4 Chapel of Ease was directed
To be built, for the benefit of the for
est inha bitants tBacon's Laws 1T42,
Oh. l5). This Chapel was built in the
Green Spring Valley near the Reist
erstown road, and IS known now rs
st. Thomas or the Garrison church.
Beyond it then in Baltimore county
the Indians rOamed and the wild
just beginning to be settled. The
boundaries of the Parish included
what is now Freedom. Berrett and
Franklin Districts. then known as
SOLDIERS Delight Hundred" 1t in
creased IN population. so rapidly that
by 1862, it was divided into Delaware
and Pipe Creek Hundred, Delaware
Hundred being on the Forks of the
Patapsco History OF Baltimore CRY
and County. Scharf, p. S59).
And St Thumas's Parish had many
members at The Forks" Its first
warden was Peter Gosnell, who live.
then, as do his descendants today on
the same land near WaterSyille. He
was also a Nestryman in 1852 and
1854. Abel Brown. Robert Tevis. Ed
ward Dorsey, Thomas Beasman. John
Elder, names identified with Freedom
District, were all Vestrymen of ST.
Thomass Church up to the Revolu-
ton, and Elias Brown afterwards.
The membership of the Church in
creased so rapidly that a movement i'll
the early seventies was made to build
Chapel of Ease" on the Forks ii
the patapsco for Delaware Hundred"
and two acres of land was given tn"
parish by John Welsh and conveyed
ON March 3, I'LL to Abel Brown
Robert Teyis, Edward Dorsey and
John Elder, Trustees. The records OF
the Parish show that on Easter Mon
day, April /, 177l. the YeStrymen
| elected were Thomas Owings. William
Randall, John Elder, Christopher
/ Randall and Nicholas Dorsey, Jr..
/ familiar names in this locality. On
Tuesday, October II, 1873 the Vestry
! allowed fifty pounds to put seats III
/ the chapel and appointed Robert
Tevis and John Elder Ito lay out the
money above mentioned for the use Of
the Chapel" and the next year
ordered a Prayer Book for it. AMI
spoke of it as the chapel near MIR.
Welsh's" (Vestry MinutesD
But it was not long that Trinity
was to serve an Episcopalian Con-
gregation for the political Revolu-
ton which had long been ripening
had now come and the Rector of ST
Thomas's, Mr.. Edmiston. was Tory.
This was enough, the whole popuIa-
ton was arrayed against him and he
was compelled to flee sailing for
England on September 10, 1775, and
St Thomas's Parish had no Rector
from September 1875 until April 4,
1850, during which time its people