Smyrna times., 1933-10-04
AT CRADLE OF
METHODISM
Old Barratt's Chapel Near
Frederick, Celebrates 154
Anniversary of Founding
CROWD OF 5000 THERE

A number from Smyrna Joined
on Sunday the attendance on the
account of the 154th anniversary
Of Barratt's Chapel, one mile
north Of Frederica on the State
highway, famed throughout the
country as the Cradle of Meth
odism" in America. "A crowd of
1000 or 5000 people were pres
ent on the church lawn The ser
vices were more interesting than
usual because of several features
not heretofore witnessed at these
annual observances, chief Of which
was the ordination to full elders
orders of the Rev. Sydney B.Brad-
ley, pastor of Chester-Bethel NJ.
E. Church, at Boothwyn, Pa.
Bishop Edwin H. Hughes,of Wash
ington, p. O., the presiding bishop
Of the Washington area in which
is included the Wilmington M. e.
Conference, presided and preached
the sermon. He also oficiated at
the ordination Of the Rev. Mr.
Bradley. assisted BY several min
isters Of the Conference A spec
ial musical program was another
feature Of the anniversary. The
Rev. J. H. Wheedbee, pastor of
Magnolia NJ. E. Church and the
pastor in charge of Barratt's
Chapel, was in charge of the pro-
gram as master of ceremonies.
The musical selections were by a
male quartet from Salisbury, Md,
and there were vocal solos by the
Rev. Q. r. Carpenter, of Reho-
both, and the Rev Mr.. Basher, of
Bridgeville. There was also
combined chorus formed by the
choirs of the Frederick and Mag
nolia Churches and Barratt's
Chapel. When the services began
on the lawn where a platform had
been erected, Bishop Hughes was
introduced by the Rev. Benjamin
Warren, formerly an active mem
Der Of the Wilmington conference
but now retired and living at Re
hoboth. In his Introductory re-
marks recalled that he preached
his first sermon in Barratt's Chap
el when he was 16 years old.
Bishop Hughes took for his text:
Comfort One Another" He
stressed the necessity of Chris
tians becoming more possessed
with the Holy Spirit of Christ in
order that they may be more
Christ like and ready and willing
at all times to comfort one an
other. He further emphasized the
fact that the most important
thing in life is the salvation of a
mans soul rather than the pos
session of great wealth. Bishop
Hughes touched briefly on the
liquor question when he said it
seems the people have been drawn
away from spirituality in allowing
the liquor business to get the hold
it seems to have. The bishop
spoke for nearly an hour. The
ordination service of the Rev. Sgd /
ney B. Bradley was held in the
Chapel, the first service of this
kind that has been held at the
anniversary observance for sever
al years. When the Rev. Thomas
Coke and the Rev. Francis Asbury
came from England to America to
found a new church they had new
er seen each other and met for the
first time in Barratt's Chapel. /
They came face to face for the
first time at the entrance to the
chanceI in the ancient church and
the spot is marked with a brass
sar. The Rev. Bradley knelt upon
this star during the service at
which he was clothed with the full /
rights of a Methodist Episcopal
In the ordination, a
service, Bishop Hughes, /
was assisted by the Rev. w. E.
Habbart, district superintendent /
Of the Dover District of the Will f
mington M. E. Conference, the /
Rev. J. II. Wheedbee, pastor of
the church, and the Rev. ]. ID.
Davis who had accompanied the
Bishop from Baltimore. Bishop
Hughes placed his hands upon the
head of the Rev. Mr.. Bradley and
the other clergymen placed their
hands upon his. An unique SER
vice which has not been seen at