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s THE PRESBYTERL Contributed MAKEMIE MEMORIAL CHURCH Celebrates the Two Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Anniversary of Their Organization?The Pastor Celebrates the Tenth Anniversary of His Pastorate. By M. M. North. The "eastern shore" of Maryland was certainly the birthplace of organized Presbvterianism in America, and tradition points to the year 1O83 as the auspicious time. The story has been told so many times, that surely all Presbyterians know that the early settlers of this section, many of whom were Protestant Irish, Makemie Presbyterian Church, at Snow Hill, Md. longed for the church service of their fathers, and wrote to their old home, begging that a minister he sent them. A young licentiate of the Presbytery of Laggan, Ireland, Francis Makemie, heard the Macedonian cry, and at once responded, landing upon these shores, presumably in 1683, and losing no time in organizing churches. Snow Hill at that time was a town, and three years later was recognized as such by the General Assembly in "an act" in which it even prescribed that the houses should cover four hundred feet of A 1 AL.X il ? givuuu cinu inai tne cnimneys should be built of brick. In all the vast territory which Somerset county comprised, this was the only town'so recognized for fortysix years. Somerset county was afterwards divided into Somerset, Wicomica and Worcester. The church at Snow Hill was one of the five organized by Francis Makemie, and when the two hundredth anniversary came, the people decided to build a memorial to the founder, and the present handsome structure is the result. Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church is built of brick, with red sandstone I * ' ' y \N OF THE SOUTH. February 24. igog. trimmings. There are five beautiful memorial windows in the church. Three of them very large, and two of medium size. The one in front is The Sowers, and is a splendid work of art. It is a memorial to John Richardson, who was for many years an elder in the church; and the money was furnished by his daughter, Lady Martha Kortright, of England. The font, a superb piece of workmanship, is of sandstone, and represents an open water lily, springing from a cluster of leaves. It stands three feet high, and is a" memorial to Edward Smith Handy, of Philadelphia. In the grave yard adjoining- the church amnnnr mnmr others of sainted memory, lie the remains of two members of General Washington's staff, Lieutenant Colonel Levin Handy and Major James Handy. The early records state that the first edifice was a "plain country building," so it is presumed that it was built of logs. This gave place in 1751 to a frame building, which in 1795 was superseded by a brick structure, which cost i42lbs -5s 4-d exclusive of pews, and the pastor's salary at that time was 44lbs. 13s. 2d. It is worthy of note that Rev. Samuel McMaster, great-grandfather of Mr. John S. McMaster, of Jersey City, preached in this church thirty-seven years. It was his first and only pastorate. He was th<* . . *-'* Madam Anne Holden, Francis Makemie's daughter, and the executor of her will. From the organization of this church to the present time there have been continuous services, for it is a matter of record that when the pulpit was vacant for any length of time, an elder found a supply, or conducted tlie service himself. The Snow Hill church is the only one of the five historic churches that stands upon the original site. It is not known positively how long Rev. Francis Makeinie served, but it is presumed until just before his death, which oc curred in 1708. 1683?1708. Rev. Francis Makpmip * . MM?va, unu ivc*. Qauiuci Davis. 1708? Rev. John Hampton, Pastor. 1708 Rev. John Purviance, Supply. 1774?1779 Rev. Samuel McMaster, Supply. IS 11?1812. Rev. Stuart Williamson, Supply. 1812?1814. Rev. Stuart Williamson, Pastor. 1814?1818. Pulpit vacant; services conducted by Mr. J. F. Duflleld. 1818? Rev. Stephen Saunders, Pastor. 1820?1829. Rev. Thomas B. Fallch, Pastor. 1831? Rev. Alexander Campbell, Supply. 1831?1839. Rev. Cornelius H. Mustard, Supply. 1840?J848. Rev. James J. Graff, Pastor. Nov.1846? to March, 1849, Rev. Mr. Munnis. SudoIv. 1849? May to November, Rev. John Atkinson, Supply. 1850?1857. Rev. Benjamin Grigsbv McPhail, Pastor. Oct. 1857?1859. Rev. Elkanah D. Mackey,' Pastor. 1859?ISfiK. Rev. William D. Mackey, Pastofs 1S69?1870. Rev. Charles Beach. \ 1S72?1876. Rev. Benjamin F. Myers, Pastor. A . 1879?1883. Rev. David Conway, Pastor. 1885?1891. Rev. James Campbell, Supply. 1890?1893. Rev. David Bruce Fitzgerald, Pastor. V 1894?1898. Rev. William SVann, Pastor. V 1899? Rev. Joseph E. North, LL. D., Pastor. ^ The exact date of the organization of the Snow l7ilt church is not known, but for convenience the celebration was on February 7th, as at that time Rev. Joseph