Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-05-29

the story of Methodism compiled by
Rev. Adam Wallace, under the title
"The Parson of the Islands" describes
the character of the people of the sec
ton in 1861.
The people, Mr.. Massey says, are
excellent folk who have to work very
hard for a living. They are practical
ly amphibious and every family on
the island must own its own boat,
known colloquically as 'pungy."
The means of existence, when Mr..
Wallace's book was published in 1861,
as at the present time, was wrested
from the sea, and oysters marketed
in Baltimore and other northern cit
les formed the principal industries of
the islanders. In the months when
oysters are not good for food, great
deal of the time is spent in trans
planting them from crowded oyster
beds to less crowded sections Of the
Bay. The person transplanting sets
up his marker and his oyster field
becomes his own exclusive property.
1t was among these God-fearing
people that Joshua Thomas, an eccen-
trio but sincere parson, proved such
an effective exponent of the old-fash-
toned brand of Methodism. Born in
1776 in Somerset county, Maryland,
upon the death of his father and the
remarriage of his mother, Joshua
Thomas faced a hard scramble for
existence. His home was a dingy
cabin, equipped with none of the SIM
plest comforts of life.
The life time of Joshua Thomas
saw change in the islands from an
Indifferent following of the Protest
ant Episcopal church to a widespread
acceptance Of Methodism which has
won for the Eastern Shore the title,
"The Cradle of Methodism in Ameri
ca" When Thomas was but a young
man he was invited to attend Meth
odist service one Sunday.
A little later he was prevailed upon
to attend at Pungoteague one of the
camp meetings held outdoors in
grove, which have continued popular
on the Eastern Shore until the pres
ent day. Later he frequently spoke
Of his amazement on that occasion at
the religious fervor and abandon of
the Methodists who shouted aloud
their faith in the redeeming power of
the Lord.
1t was about this time that Thomas
heard the noted Lorenzo Dow preach
ct meeting and was profoundly i'm
pressed. Eventually he went to the
altar, though resolved not to shout at
my cost. His resolution was broken,
however, and his name has gone down
in history as the shouting parson of
rangier."
Subsequently, Father Thomas came
g be loved by all the Islanders for
MS earnestness and sincerity as a
nan of God. Working hard for a liv.
ng, his greatest pleasure in life was
n exhortation. He possessed a power
to move the hearts of men that was
strange, since he ordinarily stammer-
ed and spoke very haltingly. It was
only when he preached that he achiev-
I'd an eloquent flow Of language. He
would never announce a text in the
hearing of another minister.
The story of his life is bound up
with the history of the Island. Re-
moving later in his life from Tangier
to Deals Island which was originally
named after having been discovered
by Captain John Smith in 1907, Dew
IFS Island, Father Thomas attended
all church services and preached the
gospel increasingly. His canoe, "The
Methodist" was used to transport Wis
iting preachers to their charges and
they always found welcome at his
home Tho hoa+ was heuueathed to