Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-02-06

Rev John Crosdale, d. d. No citizen,
of Newtown was ever esteemed, re-
spected and loved more than he was.
He seemed to be a big brother to the
entire community, regardless of de
nomination He went into the homes
of his parishioners and friends as an
honored guest for over thirty years.
1 am sure he was very happy when
on an errand Of mercy and his name
was a household word in many homes
in the town and surrounding cOun-
try. He was born in the city of Balti-
more on July IS, 1918, and died in the
midst of his labors in this town on
March II, 1878, before he reached his
siXtieth year. Much hard work and
many good deeds were crowded into
those fifty nine busy years. He built
ST. Mary's and spent his entire min
istry as its devoted rector, COnsecra-
ted, cultured, benevolent and public
spirited, his beneficient influence eX-
tended beyond his own denomination.
He was a bachelor and during the
years that I knew him, he resided in
the home Of one of his most devoted
parishioners, the late Mrs. Elizabeth
Sturgis Cannon, in the residence on
Market Street extended, now owned
and occupied by Judge James NJ.
Crockett and family. Mrs. Cannon's
husband, the late Mr.. Gibson Cannon,
who died in 1889, was a relative of
mine on my paternal hide. In my boy
hood, l was a frequent visitor in the
home of Mrs Cannon and there l be-
came we'll acquainted with DR.. Cros-
dale.
l will digress right here to state a
pleasant experience l had several
years later-really a sequel to my
vivid recollections of st. Mary's.
1t was my acquaintance once with
the late RI Rev. Henry Champlain
Lay, D. D. (1823-1885) 1 enjoyed
hearing him preach. He had mag
nificent voice and delivery and his
reading of the Scripture and the Rit-
ual was inspirational. He was the
Bishop of the Diocese of Easton from
1869 to 1885. There is a beautiful
memorial stained glass window in the
chancel of the All Hallows P. E.
Church, in Snow Hill, Md, commem-
Grating his useful life. My personal
acquaintance with Bishop Lay occur
red under the following circum-
stances
During the five years l spent as
Principal of Rehoboth Academy in
Somerset County, 1 was boarder in
the home of the late Nj. and Mrs.
Charles C. Witherill, who lived on the
present Cuff farm near the School.
The original name of that farm was
"Rehoboth" and it was the home of
Col. VIM. Stevens (1630-1687) who
figured SO prominently in the early
history of Somerset County and af-
ter whom (Pocomoke City, this town
was first named Stevens Ferry.
Bishop Lay, at the time I made his
acquaintance was making a tour of
his Diocese in his own carriage and
was a guest at the Wetherild home,
on his way to Pocomoke City. The
time was Friday afternoon. The
Bishop on learning that l wished to
spend the weekend at my home call
ed at my school and invited me to ac-
company him to Pocomoke City. The
reader can imagine what a rare treat
it was to me to take that drive with
the charming Bishop. Our interchange
of thought through our conversation
made the ride a memorable expert
ence-one that l recall with great
pleasure even at this distant day.
Among the prominent heads of
families who were intimately connec-
ted with the church life and the work
of st. Mary's during the 1867, I re-
members so we'll the following: S. S.
McMaster, c. c. Lloyd, James Mills,
John E. Hayward, Robert Cuff, Sr..
Kelland Jas. and VIM. 7. Broughton,
Henry Dryden, VIM. R. DR.. D. J. O..
and George T. Truitt, Jas. w. Daugh-
erty, E. X. B. Landlord, Henry King,
DR.. ]. L. Adreon, Theodore Stage,
DR.. Henry Bohm, L. P. Ewell,-Phil-
ips-Rowley VIM. E. Crisp, John
w. Powell, Stephen E. Mason, Thos.
Evans, and among the women were:
Mrs. Elizabeth Sturgis Cannon, Mrs.
Curtis and her three daughters, Mrs.
Levin P. Rowland, Mrs. Sarah Stur-
gis, Mrs. Anne Mcnamara, Mrs. Mary