Smyrna times., 1939-07-06
BLACKISTON'S MEETING
HOUSE

BLACKISTON'S MEETING
HOUSE
This place SO celebrated in Meth
odist history is not indebted so
much to the family of that name
for the assemblage that gathered
there to worship God, as it was to
the arduous labors and expense of
the writer's grandfather, Abraham
Parsons. He came from Kent
county, Maryland, and settled on
his wife's property in Kent county,
Delaware, where there was neither
a building to worship in or a con-
gregation to preach to. Being fill
ed with the strong faith of the
early Methodist he believed moth
ing was impossible with God, and
commenced raising a congregation
in his own house, where the Lord
greatly blessed his efforts. At the
beginning of the Revolutionary
war most of the Methodist minis
ters that came from England re-
turned to their native soil. Francis
Asbury, however, remained and Sc
cured himself in the house of his
friend Judge White the most of
the time. Doctor McGaw, how
ever, was a native Delawarean,
and remained sustaining the Meth
odist by his efforts who at that
time had not separated from the
Church of England. They were
nicknamed Methodists on account
of the strictness of their lives, and
have since retained that name. He
met the people of Abraham Parson
and preached to them, and admin
istered the sacrament of baptism
and the Lords Supper. He not
only encouraged them in this way
but built them house of worship
not far from Dover. This chapel
was erected and opened for wor-
ship in 1779. It was called the
'sForest Chapel" and was the first
meeting house that the Methodists
had in the State of Delaware. II
was afterward called Thomas;
Chapel" About two years aftel
the introduction of Methodism by
the writer's grandfather neal
Blackistons Cross Roads, Blacks
toms Chapel was erected. Tit
plan of the house, which was fort,
by sixty feet, was a number Q
years the largest Methodist churcl
on the peninsula. Some large an
poWerful meetings were held IN II
Sometimes the religious feeling
was so great that the meeting
continued all day. The multitud
gathered here from an immens
distance, and from other States t
quarterly meetings. From tn
present year 1889 the writer ca
trace back one hundred and te1
wears at least of her family beint
connected with the Methodists. 1
reviewing the traditional histor
of Abraham Parsons, I find hin
fighting for liberty against Kin
Georges uspuration, or hom
striving to plant Hethodism in
section that afterward became re
nowned for having the larges
chapel on the peninsula. His wife
the writer's grandmother, ais
contributed her part toward tn
erection of the chapel, and in sup
plying the wants Of the preacher
families whose salaries were not
in that day, adequate to their nee
essities. Her daughter Rachel, tn
writer's mother, though a chilc
rendered what assistance she coul
and that was to ride on horsebac
to pilot the preachers to the ar
Pointments. God prepared he
then for the work she was to &C
complish in after life, to welcom
the preachers to her home fo
nearly half a century. The grea
multitude that came to hear tn
preaching and attend class meet
ing at the writer's grandparent
frequently remained to eat thei
meals, and in this way increas
his expenses and financially il
jured him. During the powerfl
revivals that occurred there, th
writer's mother was admitted as
member of the society when sh
was so young as to be held up
her fathers arms. 1 know frol
experience that very young chi
dren are powerfully convicted {
times, and do not for the momer
doubt the probability of their col
version
SARA B. MASO