Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-03-13
BOyhOOd RGCOllGCtiOnS
Oh
The Five Churches OF POCOmOkG
City
By EBEN HEARNE
Chapter Six
Salem Methodist Church

Notwithstanding the fact that
have entitled my series of articles on
Pocomoke City's five churches, boy
hood Recollections," yet have con-
sidered it advisable to include some
outstanding facts connected with the
beginnings or early history of the re-
spective churches.
Tradition says that a Mr.. Reville
suggested about 1855 that this town
be given the name of Newtown. 1t
was therefore known by this name
until the year 1878, when by an Act
of the Maryland State Legislature,
it's name was changed to Pocomoke
City. Methodism probably had its
beginnings here some time during
the latter part of the 18th century. Be
fore the founding fathers of Metho-
dism were able to build a church, So
cieties were formed and religious ser
vices were held in private homes.
Preaching appointments were at Lev
in Longs house Tin Henderson's
Neck about a mile from the present
town limits, at VIM. Melvin's Gather
of Rev. Avra Melvin) on Market
Street extended, where the Pocomoke
Inn now stands, and at Capt. James
Furniss' on Front Street on the site
of the present home Of Miss Maude
Berry.
The first Methodist Church in New
town was built in 1905. 1t occupied
the site of the present Salem Church
at the southwest corner Of the pres
ent 2nd and Walnut Streets. 1t faced
on End Street, which at that time was
known as Cedar Hall Road. 1t was
in the suburbs of the little village
and probably partially surrounded
by a pine thicket. The church was a
small frame building only 30 81
feet in dimensions. 1t had three doors,
two. in front and one at the side lead
ing out into the graveyard which
surrounded the church. The church
had three galleries, two side and one
end gallery. 1t was neither lathered
nor plastered for 80 years. In its
erection, some gave lumber, some
work and some money. The Act of
Incorporation was signed on March
II, 1884, twenty five years after the
church was built A Board of Trus-
tees was elected under the name, style
and title of the "The Trustees of the
Methodist Episcopal Salem Chapel in
Newtown." At that time the trustees
were John, Thomas and Josiah Long,
Jesse Powell, Thomas Maddox, John
Williams and Justus NJ. Bratten. 1t
is interesting to me to know that Jo-
siah Long was my great-grandfather
on my mothers side and John Will
liams was my great-great uncle on
my fathers side For many years, the
ground around the church was the on
ly cemetery in the town and it was
a general burying ground for the in
habitants of the little village, regard
less of religious belief. The church
of my boyhood, the successor of the
1903 church, which had been in eX-
istence for AZ years, was built in 1865
during the pastorate of Rev. John F.
Chaplain. Of course, l do not remem-
Der him but my parents informed me
when l was old enough to comprehend
that Mr.. Chaplain baptized me on
Ut /
than fourteen months old. The Church
Records for that year also cOrrobo-
rate that statement. The 1855 church
was frame building 30 by 46 feet.
1t contained one gallery and was sur
mounted by a spire in which hung a
bell. The gallery was constructed to
accommodate colored folks who at that
period had no church of their own.
In my boyhood, / have heard colored
people while they stood in the gallery,
relate their religious experiences dur
ing the Love Feasts that were held
previous to the sermon period at the
Quarterly Melting occasions, and l al
so have seen them march down from
the gallery and pass down the aisle
to the altar and partake of the Holy
Communion after it had been admin
istered to the white people of the
congregation. In later years after a
Cabinet Organ had been introduced,
the gallery was occupied by the choir
of the church. However, in my child
hood days, there was no choir but
there was congregational singing.
The leader of the singing was the
late Mr.. Littleton T. Clarke. He was
capable and efficient and with my