Milford chronicle., 1940-03-08
CConlinusd from Flrs. Page,

This phenomenal growth cannot be
attributed TO any one particular
cHuse. Rather, 1t is the result Ol
many streams of influence joining
the main current of evangelism. the
cohesive element Of the Methodist
Church born under the conviction
that all Christians are the evange-
list Of an ever present God.
We do not glory in numbers fOT
we recognize that unless bulk can
be mOtivated by conviction, II be-
comes a liability instead Of an asset.
We do, however, take pride in all
accomplishment that add to the
good of the race by spreading the
gospel Of good tidings and peace on
earth.
Any movement, secular or religi-
GUS, will be helped or hindered by
the personnel of those constituting
the force. If the common denOmina-
tor OF the group averages high, then
you may expect results In ratio to
their Intelligence and integrity.
Otherwise, if the ratio Is low.
The Peninsula has a unique stand
ing in the annals of MethOdism, To-
day we are recognized by having
more Methodist per thousand pOpu-
lation, than any other section of the
United States The reason for this is
not hard to determine. In the pioneer
days of MethOdlsm, the gentry united
with us in such large numbers, and
lived such gOdly lives, we began and
still do, exercise a powerful inllu-
cnce throughout the Peninsula. To
call only a partial list of those on
the roll in Methodist Societies prior
to 1884. sounds like we are reading
from the pages Of Who's Who on the
Peninsula. The list would take you
from Cape Charles to Wilmington.
Tn addition to the prominent and
Influential families belonging to
Methodism throughout the ReToIu-
tionary War. We had the outstanding
preachers harbOring on the PENN
sula. Hartley served two of the large
circuits, PeddicOrd spread the gOs-
pei over three counties, Abbot and
Turner, Alfrse and Moore were free
ovangelists, Carrettson ranged over
the entire Peninsula and local men
such as Cooper. Cromwell, Gill and
Everett united with the others in
cvangelistic zeal. For more than a
year we had the guiding genius of
Asbury and, while he could not for
part OF the time do much actual
preaching. he nevertheless, rendered
valuable service, while hiding at
Judges Whites. Thus the cause pros
perod here while languished else
where. due to the ravages Of the war
During this period the greatest gains
III all Of the McthOdism were here on
the Peninsula.
a comparison of the figures for the
period is quite interesting. The first
time the Minutes report any circuit
on the Peninsula was IN the year
1T7a, when Kent Circuit 10 listed as
having 150 members. The total mem
bersbip of the Church was 2,073 with
Il preachers. BY 1776 the number in
the society grew to 4,92t with "a
preachers. The Minutes tail 10 re-
port Kent Circuit In 1881 there were
1883 members in American with
81 preachers. OF this number 2.475
were on the Peninsula, almost one
fourth of the total membership.
Thirteen of the preachers were Pen
insula born. When VIC organized the
Methodist Church in America in 1884,
there were l4.9SS members with SO
preachers. The Peninsula had fur
nished twenty-five OF these timer
ants and had eight circuits with a
membership of 1904. OF the six lar
gest circuits. five of them were ON
the Peninsula Dover had 9S2 mem-
beTs. Baltimore $50, Talbot 7S2, Dor
chester 7G0. Caroline zoe, and Kent
100 Thus we furnished numbers.
men Of geninA and insplratiOn to q