The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931, February 24, 1909, Page 8, Image 9

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s THE PRESBYTER! Contributed MAKEMIE MEMORIAL CHURCH Celebrates the Two Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Anniversary of Their Organization?The Pastor Cele brates the Tenth Anniversary of His Pastorate. By M. M. North. The "eastern shore" of Maryland was certainly the birthplace of organized Pre>l?\ torianisnt in America, and tradition points to the year 1<>S^ as the auspicious time. The story has been told so many times, that surely all Presbyterians know that the earlv settlers of this section, many of whom were Protestant Irish. k * M * 1 ' ^9 ' /W - .jrf - V \ w > ,A t Makemie Presbyterian Church, at Snow Hill, Md. longed for the church service of their fathers, and wrote to their old home, begginj* that a minister he sent them. A young licentiate of the Presbytery of Laggan, Ireland, Prancis Makeniie. heard the Macedonian cry, and at once responded, landing upon these shores, presumably in l<>S^. and losing no time in organizing churches. Snow IIill 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 ground and that the chimneys >hould he huilt of brick. In all the vast territory which Somerset county comprised, this was the only town'so recognized lor fortysix years. Somerset county was afterwards divided into Somerset, Wicomica and Worcester. I lie church at Snow llill was one of the live organized l?v Francis Makcmic. 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. .Makcmic Memorial Presbyterian Church is built of brick, with red sandstone AN OF THE SOUTH. February 24. ig0g. trimmings. There are five beautiful memorial windows in tin- eburcli. Three of them very large, ami two of medium size. The one in flout i> The Sowers, ami i*? a splendid work of art. It i> a memorial to Joint Richardson, who was for tn.attv \ ears an elder in the church : ami the money was furnished by his daughter, l.adv 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 I landy. of Philadelphia. In the grave yard adjoining the church among many outers < ?i sainted memory, lie the remains of two members of (ieneral Washington's staff. Lieutenant Lolonel Levin Handy and Major James llamly. The earlv 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 1705 was superseded by a brick structure, which cost I4_'ll>> *5> 4<1 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 (.'by. preached in this church thirty-seven years. It was his first and only pastorate, lie was the pastor of Madam \nne llohlen. 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 the service himself. The Snow 11 ill church is the only one of the five historic churches that stands u]M?n tlu* original site. It is not known positively how long Uev. Francis Makemic served, but it is presumed until just before his death, which oe curred in 170S. 7tJS" ?1 Tt'S. Rev. Francis .Makemie, Pastor, and Rev. Samuel i ?a vis. iTOS? Rev. John Hampton, Pastor. 170S Rev. John Purviance. Supply. 1774?177!t Rev. Samuel Mc.Master. Supply. 1S11 ? IS'.L'. Rev. Stuart Williamson, Supply. 1812?1S14. Rev. Stuart Williamson, Pastor. 1814? IS".S I-nl.iit vsK-fiiu - >- * " .?? , r?\. ? ? I\ cr* ^UlHMUU'd |)V .Ml*. J. r. Rutiieid. 18'!8? Rev. Stephen Saunders, Pastor. 1*20?18211. Rev. Thomas R. I'allch, Pastor. 1831? Rev. Alexander Campbell. Supply. 1831?183.1. Rev. Cornelius II Mustard, Supply. 1840?ISIS. Rev. .lames J. Graff, Pastor. .Nov .7846? io .March. 1S49. Rev. Mr. Munnis, Supply. 1S49? May to November, Rev. .?.ohn Atkinson, Supply. 1 *."?( ?1857. Rev. Renjamin Grigsbv Mephall, Pastor. (let. 1857?1859. Rev. Klknnah I). Maekey, Pastor. 1859?ISfi*. Rev. William I) Maekey, Pastor\ 1 Stilt?1870. Rev. Charles Reach. 1872?1876. Rev. Renjamin P. Myers, Pastor. 1*79?iSSJ. Rev. David Conway. Pastor. 1885?1891. Rev. James Campbell. Sunnlv. 1S90?1893. Hcv. David Hruee Fitzgerald, Pastor. iS94?1S98. Rev. William Wvann, Pastor. 1S99? Rev. Joseph P. North. LI,. 1)., Pastor. The exact ilatc of the organization of the Snow li'ill church is not known, lint for convenience tlie celebration was on February 7th. as at that time Rev. Joseph