The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-11-07
HISTORY OF METHODISM
Historical Sketch of Rising Sun M. E. Church
Compiled And Read By Edwin L. Haines In Commem-
grafton of Seventy Fifth Anniversary of the Church

i hounds, and while Father Cru
Der was preaching put them on
the trail, in order that their
yelping might break up the
meeting. However, the word
of God was preached, and thus
bread was cast upon the waters
that would be seen after many
days.
Later, services were held in
the Old Stone School House,
where occasional sermons were
preached by passing strangers
and wandering messengers OF
the Cross. Among these was
one Peter Miller, a colored man
from the neighborhood of the
Welch Mountains, who would
come around about twice a year
to warn his neighbors TO flee
from the wrath to come. But
this "Old Colored Worm," as he
called himself, had very little
influence, both on account of
his color and his style OF adj
dress, the latter frequently
causing more mirth than con-
viction. However, it may be
that there are some now in
heaven wearing white robes
who were first warned by our
old brother in black, and by
him Influenced for their eter-
nal good. 1t is certain that at
these irregular services in the
Old Stone School House there
were some who genuinely re-
pented of their sins and by
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
began to live the Christian life.
In October, 1849, successful
revival services were held in
the neighborhood of Rising
Sun, under the oversight OF
Charles Shock and Thomas w.
Shippers, preachers on Noting
ham Circuit, which resulted in
forming the nucleus of the
present James Methodist Epis-
copal Church. The meetings
were held at Mt. Pleasant, then
generally known as Vinegar
hill, and attended by several
young people from this place.
Tradition has it that the name
was changed from "Stony Bat
terry" to Vinegar Hill" because
a certain storekeeper, forbid
den to dispense spirituous
liquors, had continued to sell
the same, claiming the fluid to
be vinegar, a deception that
fooled no one, especially those
who purchased it.
Vinegar Hill, then, marked
the real beginning Of the
Methodist Church. There were
a score or more of converts.
One of these converts, Elm
Kirk, afterward became a very
Jealous and efficient local
preacher and a useful servant
of the church for many years.
He organized the converts into
a class and continued as min
lister to them in the school
house on Pearl street.
Not a long time after this,
the Rev. Davis Hambright and
! Rev. VIM. Boyer, both Albright
Methodists from Lancaster
county, came to Rising Sun
and conducted another revival
meeting. This was continued
for several weeks and was very
successful. For a time, the
services were held in the
school house; then they were
transferred to the wheelwright
shop of Jacob w. Kirk. Mr..
Kirk attended to his business
duties during the day and when
night came he cleaned up his
shop for the coming religious
services. Although an uncon-
verified man at the time, God
graciously rewarded him in
after years by bringing saliva
ton to him, to his wife, and to
his daughter.
During these meetings in
the school house and black
smith shop, held by these Teu-
tonic sons of the Gospel, Ham
bright and Boyer, many things
were said and done which seem
strange to modern eyes. These
men would throw off their
coats when prayer meeting be-
gan and would go to work as
if they were mauling rails, and
such noise and confusion would
follow as beggars description.
L L q