Full text of "Barratt's Chapel and Methodism, historical address delivered before forty-third Wilmington annual conference, at Asbury Methodist Episcopal church, Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday, March 17th, 1911"

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BARRATT

Barratt's Chapel and
Methodism

PAPERS OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF DELAWARE

LVII

BARRATT'S CHAPEL
AND METHODISM

HISTORICAL ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE
FORTY-THIRD WILMINGTON ANNUAL CON-
FERENCE, AT ASBURY METHODIST EPISCO-
PAL CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ON
FRIDAY, MARCH 17th, 1911

HON. NORRIS S. BARRATT

Judge Court of Common Pleas No. 2, Philadelphia, First Judicial District

of Pennsylvania ; Member of the Historical Societies of

Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF DELAWARE

WILMINGTON

1911

PAPERS OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF DELAWARE

LVII

BARRATT'S CHAPEL
AND METHODISM

HISTORICAL ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE
FORTY-THIRD WILMINGTON ANNUAL CON-
FERENCE, AT ASBURY METHODIST EPISCO-
PAL CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ON
FRIDAY, MARCH 17th, 1911

HON. NORRIS S. BARRATT

Judge Court of Common Pleas No. 2, Philadelphia, First Judicial District

of Pennsylvania ; Member of the Historical Societies of

Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF DELAWARE

WILMINGTON

1911

Press of

The new Era printing Compani

Lancaster Pa

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Hon. Norris S. Barratt Frontispiece

Barratt's Chapel (Chromotype) Facing page 3

St. George's M. E. Church, Philadelphia " 4

James Barratt, Sr " 6

James Barratt, Jr " 8

Rev. John Wesley " 10

Rev. Joseph Pilmore " 12

Captain Thomas Webb " 14

Alfred Barratt " 16

Philip Barratt, autograph 17

Caleb Barratt Facing page 20

General George Washington *' 22

Hon. Nathaniel Barratt Smithers " 24

Col. Allan McLane " 26

John Dickinson " 28

Governor David Hazzard " 30

Governor Thomas McKean " 32

PeiTy Hall, Baltimore " 35

Governor Richard Bassett " 36

Bishop Francis Asbury " 39

Bishop Francis Asbury (Burial Slab) " 40

Judge Andrew Barratt's " Bible " " 42

Dr. Elijah Barratt " 43

Bishop Thomas Coke " 47

Philip Barratt's Homestead (Chromotype) " 49

Lovely Lane Church, Baltimore, Md. " 50

Rev. Thomas E. Martindale, Salisbury, Md " 52

Rev. F. J. Cochran, Pastor BaiTatt's Chapel, 1911 " 54

BARRATT'S CHAPEL AND METHODISM

MONG the historic buildings of Del-
aware Barratt's Chapel, known as
the ''Cradle of Methodism,"
holds a prominent place, not
only because it is the spot
where Bishops Thomas Coke
and Francis Asbury first met in Amer-
ica and arranged the preliminaries for
forming the Methodist Episcopal Church
in this country, but for the additional
reason it was there sacramental ordinances
were first administered in America by duly
authorized Methodist preachers to Methodist com-
municants. It has a history to be proud of and Meth-
odists are proud of it. To them it has always been a
sacred place. To those who know its history the re-
vivals of religion, the prayers and blessings, the un-
selfish work and labor of those great preachers Coke,
Asbury, Garrettson, Pilmore, Cooper and others who
as faithful ministers of Christ carried the message
of salvation to the people of this country, this chapel

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

cannot be entered without emotion. It is also the
third oldest Methodist church edifice in the world, St.
George's, Philadelphia, the first, having been dedicated
November, 1769. I do not intend to give you an ex-
tended account of the origin of Methodism, when there
are so many histories of it easily accessible. Tyer-
man, Stevens, Lednum, Bangs, Daniel, Wakeley,
Simpson, Buckley, and a host of others have done such
full justice to the subject that it leaves nothing to be
desired. It seems like an affectation of ecclesiastical
learning to even refer to them and I merely do so now,
by way of grateful acknowledgment for my indebted-
ness for many facts and as a verification of family
traditions — ''Which we have heard and known and
our fathers have told us — That the generation to come
might know them, even the children which should be
born; who should arise and declare them to their
children. ' '^

As Delawareans by birth and ancestry, it is interest-
ing to us particularly, because this great religious
work was planned and commenced by our forefathers.
Among my ancestors on the Delaware-Maryland Pen-
insula were:

Philip Barratt, who was in Cecil Co., Maryland, 1678
William Merritt, who was in Cecil Co., Maryland, 1676
Francis Neall, who was in Talbot Co., Maryland, 1661
James Wilson, Sr., who was in Talbot Co., Maryland, 1690
Thomas Nock, who was in Talbot Co., Maiyland, 1691.
Thomas Eyre, who was in Northampton Co., Virginia, 1657
Thomas Heathered, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1679
' P.salms LXXVIII., 3 and 6.

,.;.j SAINT GEORGES ChU,>O.S ial1
FOURTH STREET BELOW VINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNA., REV. JACOB S. HUGHES,
PASTOR. THE OLDEST METHODIST CHURCH IN CONTINUOUS USE IN THE WORLD.

SYNOPSIS OF ITS HISTORY ON NEXT PAGE.

SAINT GEORGES METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

on the east side of Fourth Street near Vine Street, Philadelphia. It
was erected in 1763 by some members of the German Reformed
Congregation who, becoming embarrassed, they were for a time
imprisoned for debt, and the Church was sold by order of the Pro-
vincial Assembly. It was purchased by a weak-minded young man
for ^700. His father sold it to one of the Methodists for ^650, Penn-
sylvania currency, in November, 1769. It was immediately occu-
pied by the Methodist Society and dedicated by Rev. Joseph Pilmore.
Captain Thomas Webb preached the first Sabbath sermon. In 1777,
when the British Army occupied Philadelphia, after the Battle of
Brandywine, it was made a riding school for their cavalry'. Francis
Asbury, on his arrival in America in October, 1771, preached his
first sermon here, as did subsequently Thomas Rankin and Dr.
Thomas Coke. The first Methodist Conference in America, held in
1773, met in this Church, as did the second in 1774 and the third
in 1775. Bishop Asbury labored for its completion ; in 1772 he
raised /"ISO on its debt ; in 1782 he took a subscription of ^270 for
its ground rent, and in 1786 he was trying to raise /"500 to pay the
entire debt incurred for its improvement. About 1791 the galleries
were finished. From it has sprung directly or indirectly all the
Methodist Churches in Philadelphia, and to-day it is the oldest
Methodist Church in continuous use in the world.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

John Cubley, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1683
John Curtis, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1679
Richard Walker, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1680
Nathaniel Hunn, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1689
John Clarke, Sr., who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1679
Garrett Sipple, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1698
William Brinckle, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1698
Elizabeth Green Manlove, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1652
Ann Farrell, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1690
John McNatt, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1698.
Abner Dill, who was in Kent Co., now Delaware, 1752

They all owned from one to two thousand acres of
land, and most of them were of the Church of Eng-
land; the balance were Friends or Quakers. Thomas
Heathered refused to pay taxes to William Penn in
1684.2 Thomas Eyre was the agent of Penn to estab-
lish Quaker meeting houses on the peninsula.^ John
Curtis was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly
from Kent County 1682-3, and was a Provincial Coun-
cillor of Pennsylvania 1689-1690-1691-1697-1698.'^
Eichard Walker was granted the tract of land upon
which Dover, the capital of Delaware, was laid out in
1717 by three commissioners, one of whom, William
Brinckle, was also an ancestor.^

' Henry C. Conrad's " History of Delaware," Vol. I., p. 64.

Register Maryland Society Colonial Wars, John Curtis; Register
Pennsylvania Society Colonial Wars, John Curtis; Register Colonial
Society of Pennsylvania, pp. 32 and 33, Philip Barratt; Register
Pennsylvania Society Sons of Revolution, 1906, p. 37, Philip Bar-
ratt; Register Society of War of 1812, p. 34, 1908, Philip Barratt.

'Hilda Justice's Warner Mifflin (1905), p. 11; Virginia Magazine
of History and Biography, Vol. XIX., pp. 10-12.

* Henry C. Conrad's " History of Delaware," Vol. I., 275 ; Penna.
Archives, 2d Series, Vol. IX., pp. 659-623.

" Conrad's " Delaware," Vol. II., pp. 580 and 633. For an exeel-

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

I say our forefathers advisedly, because most of the
old Delaware families, those who have been here two
hundred years and upwards, are related in some
degree to each other, so that it is entirely safe to
address most of you as cousin. I am myself descended
from Philip Barratt's two sons. Judge Andrew Bar-
ratt and Caleb Barratt. My grandfather, James
Barratt, was the son of Caleb Barratt, and my
grandmother, Ellen Leighton Dill, was the only
daughter of Dr. Eobert and Ann Barratt Dill. He
was Adjutant General of your state during the
war of 1812. She was the daughter of Judge
Andrew Barratt, so my grandfather and grand-
mother were first cousins once removed to each
other. This made me third cousin to my father, James
Barratt, Jr., third cousin once removed to myself and
full fourth cousin to my own children, — rather absurd
relationships I think you will agree with me.®

I feel proud of the fact that Philip Barratt, my

lent account of this period see " The Days of Makemie, 1680-1708,"
Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1885.

•See "Barratt Family," Henry C. Conrad's "History of Dela-
ware," Vol. III., p. 892. Judge Conrad in his valuable history men-
tions nine families, viz.: Rodney, Read, Bayard, McLane, Mac-
Donough, Barratt, Ridgeley, Clayton and Dupont in their respective
periods as the influential families of Delaware,

James Barratt upon his removal to Philadelphia in 1831 with his
uncle Samuel Neall carried on the grain business at Pine Street
Wharf, as Neall & Barratt. He helped organize the Corn Exchange
and was its president in 1859. He was a member of Ebenezer Church,
Southwark, prior to incorporation; class leader, 1833; trustee, 1835;
Stewart, 1837. See "History of Ebenezer M. E. Church" (1890),
pp. 103, 104, 157, 158, 160, 173.

^j^j^jr-foV ^J^S^<^iS2^

1797-1862

REPRESENTATIVE SUSSEX COUNTY 1831. DIRECTOR, 1831-1832, FARMERS BANK OF
DELAWARE. MEMBER OF UNION LODGE, NO. 7, F. AND A. M., OF DOVER. REMOVED
TO PHILADELPHIA IN 1831. AN ORIGINATOR OF PHILADELPHIA CORN EXCHANGE AND
PRESIDENT 1859. MEMBER OF FIRM OF NEALL & BARRATT, GRAIN MERCHANTS, PINE
STREET WHARF. PHILADELPHIA.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

great-great-great-grandfather, did his part by donat-
ing the ground and aiding in the building of the chapel
which has since borne his name, and which now re-
mains as his monument. By reason of it I have been
asked to tell you of Barratt's chapel and early Meth-
odism, and urge its preservation by endowment. It
did not need your cordial welcome, although I appre-
ciate it, to convince me that I am among my own
kindred. I realize at once that my name is MacGregor
and that my foot is upon my native heath. I have
now that feeling of home which is so unusual to Amer-
icans, because you rarely find eight generations who
inhabit the same house or the same spot such as you
would find in the British Isles, France or Germany
where the '' homestead" is entailed, except perhaps it
be in old Kent County, where the home feeling and its
cherished memories which can never be effaced have
always been maintained.

The unpretentious and modest building in which
American Methodism as a church had its birth, al-
though to the rude forefathers of the hamlet, and
among them our own, it was the grandest country
chapel the Methodists had in America, is in striking
contrast to the great majority of the splendid gothic
Methodist churches of today. '^ Contrasted they illus-

^ Captain John Smith in his " Pathway to Erect a Plantation "
tells us of the first place of divine worship in Virginia. " Wee did
hang an awning which is an old saile, to three or foure trees to
shadow us from the Sunne; out walls were rails of wood; our seats
unhewed trees till we cut plankes; our Pulpit a bar of wood nailed

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

trate progress and the wonderful changes that have
taken place in the last one hundred and thirty-one
years. It was a greater undertaking and a matter
of more importance to build a modest chapel in the
midst of a forest in those days than for us to build the
finest church edifice. The very plainness and colonial
simplicity of Barratt's ChapeP where there are no
''rich windows that exclude the light and passages
that lead to nothing" points the moral that the life
which it typifies and is an inseparable part is that in
which the best men have been nurtured, and it helped
to produce and strengthen those rugged virtues for
which the early Methodists were noted. What Mount
Sinai was to the ancient Jew, Mecca to the true Mo-
hammedan, and Independence Hall to the patriotic
American, Barratt's Chapel is to the Methodist, the
cradle of his faith — a shrine. That it is a shrine like
one of the holy places of Jerusalem in the affections
of pious Methodists who know the history of their
church, is attested by the fact that while occupying an
isolated position of lonely greatness in a country dis-
trict with a meagre church territory and Dover the
largest town twelve miles away, it is still used as a
place of public worship, visited yearly by thousands,
not forgetting that at its annual anniversary of Coke's

to two neighboring trees. This was our church till we built a homely
thing like a barn set upon cratchets, covered with rafts, sedge and
earth: so also was the walls; the best of our houses were of like
curiosity that could neither well defend from wind nor rain.

'Barratt's Chapel and picture, Vol. II., Conrad's " Historj' of
Delaware," pp. 664-782.

1826-1873

REPRESENTED SEVENTH WARD IN COMMON COUNCIL, PHILADELPHIA, 1862-1865. JAN-
UARY 12, 1865, COMMISSIONER TO PAY BOUNTIES TO VOLUNTEERS, AND DISTRIBUTED
OVER TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS. MAY 25, 1865, PORT WARDEN. 1867, VICE-PRESIDENT
CORN EXCHANGE. MEMBER COMPANY D, FIRST REGIMENT, PHCENIX HOSE COMPANY,
LODGE 51, F. AND A. M., AND UNION LEAGUE, PHILADELPHIA.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

and Asbury's meeting, which is always fittingly ob-
served, the attendance is from 1,000 to 1,500, who
gladly come from all over the peninsula as well as
from distant cities to take part in the services.

This is commendable and as it should be. Gover-
nor Pennypacker of Pennsylvania had this thought in
mind when he said:

'^Xo people are ever really great who are neglectful
of their shrines and have no pride in their achieve-
ments. The history of the world shows that a correct
sentiment is a more lasting and potent force than
either accumulated money or concentrated authority.
The theses which Luther nailed to the church door at
Wittenberg still sway the minds of men,"

I shall tell you of the building of Barratt's Chapel,
the causes that led to it. and its history, from which
you will perceive why it is regarded with such peculiar
veneration by Methodists.^

What Dr. Stille said of Dickinson is equally appli-
cable here. In undertaking the work which has been
assigned me I have been led to discuss many historical
questions which may appear at first to have little con-
nection with Barratt's Chapel and early Methodism or
Philip Barratt but according to the plan I have adopted

* Barratt's Chapel and picture, " Encyclopaedia of Methodism,"
Bishop Simpson, p. 90, 1878 ; Barratf s Chapel and picture, '" Rise
of Methodism." John Lednum. p. 265. 1S59; Barratt's Chapel and
picture, " Lost Chapters," J. B. Wakeley. p. 203, 1S5S ; Barratt's
Chapel and picture, " History of Delaware," Judge Conrad, Yol. 11.,
pp. 664-782, 1906.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

it was essential to a proper understanding of both that
some fair account of Philip Barratt's environment
should be given.

The first Methodists to come to America were its
leaders, John and Charles Wesley, who spent the years
1736-7 in Savannah and Frederica, Georgia, where
they formed a society. Charles was in Boston, Massa-
chusetts, and preached, and John preached in Charles-
ton, South Carolina, before their return to England.
This was the first and only time either was in America,
and it cannot be said that their work was attended with
success. George Whitefield came in 1738 and preached
from Georgia to New England, and Mr. Wesley says
of him, *'and all men owned that God was with him
wheresoever he went, giving a general call to high and
low, rich and poor, to repent and believe the Gospel.^^
In 1758 he was followed by Robert Strawbridge and
Philip Embury, who were in 1760 reinforced by Cap-
tain Thomas Webb, Robert Williams, Richard Board-
man, Joseph Pilmore, from 1804 to 1821 Rector of St.
Paul's P. E. Church, Philadelphia, John King,
Thomas Rankin and others.

Professor Chas. J. Little says of them: ''Williams
was an Irishman — Rankin was a Scotchman, the others
were English. They were all young men, Pilmore, the
oldest, being thirty-five, Asbury, the youngest, twenty-
six. Pilmore educated at Kingswood School; the
others. King excepted, had no such training. Williams

" Tracy, " Great Awakening," p. 222; McMaster's " History of the
People of the United States," Vol. II., p. 580 ; MeConneU, " The
English Church in the Colonies," pp. 141-142.

REV. JOHN WESLEY

BORN, EPWORTH, Li MCOLNSH I R E, ENG., JUNE 17, 1703
DIED LONDON, ENG., MARCH 2, 1791

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

was madly in earnest; King was blunt, simple, cour-
ageous; Boardman was pious, good natured, sensible,
greatly beloved by all who knew him. Pilmore was
Yorkshire built in body and character, intrepid, elo-
quent, full of unction and of power ; Rankin austerely
earnest, untiring in his devotion to his Master, but
without unusual gifts of mind or character. Williams,
King and Asbury died in America as Methodist
preachers. Webb, Boardman, Wright, Rankin and
Shadford left America when the troubles of the Revo-
lution thickened about them and never returned. ^^

Captain Webb was the apostle of Methodism in Dela-
ware, as well as of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and
it is stated he first preached in Wilmington in 1769,
which was at that time hostile to Methodism.

While the early Methodists were derided for their
extreme strictness in dress and manners, yet we must
remember that in the colonial times there was more
formality and narrowness than prevails today. So
in that respect they were more in accord with their sur-
roundings than one would now suppose and it is mani-
festly unfair to judge them by the standards of today.

In Wilmington among those who joined the society
were Isaac Tussey, Isaac Hersey, Thomas Webster,
David Ford, Robert and Adam Clark. While Meth-
odism was introduced in New Castle as early as 1770
it was fifty years before they built a church, and in
Wilmington progress was less encouraging than New

" Chas. J. Little, " Methodist Pioneers," p. 217, Centennial Con-
ference, 1885.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

Castle. Asbury Church was built about 1790. The
population of Kent County in 1780 was about ten
thousand. The English predominated.^^ jn religion
it was Church of England and Quaker. Infidelity pre-
vailed both in England and America, of which Thomas
Paine was an active exponent. ' ' Christianity was re-
duced to the lowest terms," says Mr. Lecky. Montes-
quieu tells us ' ' Not more than four or five members of
the House of Commons are regular attendants at
church, ' ' and Bishop Meade of Virginia adds, ' ' Scarcely
a young man of culture could be found who believed in
Christianity." It was not unusual at this time when
a young man of position in England had no prospects
or profession or was unsteady to put him in the church
and then for the good of his family he was sent to one
of the American Colonies, or may be he was one of that
motley company of damaged reputations who had re-
sponded to the invitation to emigrate, or as Dr. McCon-
nell tells us ''took to colonial work as a refuge from
poverty or scandal. ' ' And in America, far from home,
as he regarded it, and its restraining influence, he often
did not mend his ways. He was exiled to some extent
and he felt he was entitled to all the pleasure he could
obtain. His habits were charitably described as ' ' easy
going." He attended horse races, gambled, hunted
foxes, often drank to excess and generally led the jovial
life of the English squire. This was especially so in
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, although there

" Scharf s History of Delaware, "Methodism in Dover," Vol. II.,
1062.

REV. JOSEPH PILMORE

THE FIRST PASTOR OF ST. GEORGE'S M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA,

WHO PREACHED AT 'BARRATT'S CHAPEL "

BORN, ENGLAND, OCTOBER 31, i730

DIED, PHILADELPHIA, JULY 24, 1825

[^From copy in possession of Norris S, Barratt]

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

were many notable exceptions among the colonial
clergy whose churchmanship, piety and position were
undoubted, and on Sunday he officiated and preached
at his parish church. Emerson was thinking of this
type when he exclaimed, "Alas for the unhappy man
that is called to stand in the pulpit and not give the
bread of life. " It is not remarkable that the Anglican
church declined and that he lost the respect and lacked
influence with our God-fearing ancestors. Although
it might also have been said with a degree of truth of
some of the laity at this period as it had been said ear-
lier of Claiborne of Kent Island, that "He could be
churchman, puritan, caviller or roundhead with equal
ease and equal sincerity. "^ ^ With such conditions
prevailing, the time was ripe for a religious revival,
as the Church of England gradually lost ground and
lost character. In addition to this our forefathers
after the Revolution commenced and when we we;re
rebels resented and felt insulted by the reading of the

" Letter April 10, 1724, Giles Rainsford, " Historical Collections
American Colonial Church," Wm. Stevens Perry, Vol. IV., p. 233.
Also "Men, Women and Manners in Colonial Times," by Sydney
Geo. Fisher, Vol. I., p. 61; Bishop Meade's " Old Churches," I., 162;
Hawkes, "Maryland Contribution," 63; Rev. James Williamson,
rector of All Saints, Calvert Co., Md., an idiot and tory; Rev. James
Donaldson, rector of King and Queen, St. Mai-y's Co., a good tory
and a rake ; Rev. Daniel Mainadier, rector of St. Peter's, Talbot Co.,
a whig of the first rank and reputed a good liver but a horrid
preacher; Rev. Thomas Phillips, rector of Christ Church, Kent Island,
tried for his life in Virginia for shooting a man. Reformed " Report
to Bishop of London," 1723, Vol. IV., "Historical Collection Ameri-
can Colonial Church," Wm. Stevens Perry, D.D., 1878, pp. 128-129;
Anderson, "English Church in the Colonies," Vol. III., p. 149; Mc-
Connell's " English Church in the Colonies," pp. 101-111, 1894.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

prayers and collects ordered by special command of
his Majesty King George III. for the express purpose
of invoking Divine assistance in subduing his unhappy
deluded subjects in America now in open rebellion
against the crown. As Dr. Tiffany says: In losing
affection for King men lost affection for the Church
and the cry was : No King — no Bishop.^ ^ The ' ' prayer
for our enemies" especially enraged them. As you
have probably never heard it I will read it — "0
Blessed Lord, who hast commanded us by thy beloved
Son to love our enemies ; and to extend our charity in
praying even for those who dispitefully use us, give
grace we beseech thee, to our unhappy fellow subjects
in America, that seeing and confessing the error of
their ways, and having a due sense of their ingratitude
for the many blessings of thy Providence, preserved to
them by the indulgent care and protection of these
Kingdoms, they may again return to their duty and
make themselves worthy of thy pardon and forgive-
ness : Grant us in the meantime not only strength and
courage to withstand them, hut charity to forgive and
pity them, to show a willingness to receive them again
as friends and brethren, upon just and reasonable
terms and to treat them with mercy and kindness, for
the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."^^
Religious conditions were also unsatisfactory with

"American Church Series, Vol. VII., p. 45, C. C. Tiffany, New
York.

" Dr. Julius P. Sachse, " Form of Prayer for Fasting and Prayer
Appointed by George III. in December, 1776, on the Breaking Out
of the Revolution," p. 13. Am. Philo. Soc, 1898.

CAPTAIN THOMAS WEBB,

OF THE BRITISH ARMY, LOST H:S RIGHT EYE AT QUEBtC IN 1759
WITH GENERAL WOLFE. THE APOSTLE OF METHODISM IN DELA-
WARE, PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. HE HELPED DR. PILMORE
TO PURCHASE ST. GEORGE'S. DIED, BRISTOL, ENGLAND, DEC. 20,
1796, AGED SEVENTY-TWO YEARS.

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

the Baptist Churcli, but let us hope they were not as
bad as the report of the Cowmarsh Baptist Church,
which was: "No minister — no fixed salary — nor many
rich."i«

"Never," says the North British Review, "has a
century risen in England so void of soul and faith as
that which opened with Anne (1702) and reached its
misty noon beneath the second George (1732-1760), a
dewless night succeeding a dewless dawn. The Puri-
tans were buried and the Methodists were not born."
This testimony is convincing that a condition then
existed which Methodism subsequently met and over-
came, because whatever has been charged against her
it has never been said that Methodism had not soul and
faith.^^ And in recognition of this great work Eng-

This prayer has a familiar sound. Perhaps its foundation was
Chas. Townshend's celebrated speech in the House of Commons to
which Col. Barre made his brilliant reply: "They planted hy your
care! No; your appression planted them in America. They fled
from your tyranny to a then uncidtivated, unhabitable country. . . .
They nourished by your indulgence! They grew by your neglect of
them. . . . They protected by your arms! They have nobly taken
up arms in your defence; have exerted a valor amid their constant
and laborious industry for the defence of a country whose frontier
was drenched in blood, while its interior departments yielded all its
little savings to your emoliunent. And believe me — remember I this
day told you so — the same spirit of freedom which actuated that
people at first will accompany them still. ..." ("Life of Chas.
Jared IngersoU," by William M. Meigs, p, 14, 1897.)

" Pa. Mag. Hist, and Biog., Vol. 9, 199.

""The Century's Religious Progress," by George Edward Reed,
S.T.D., LL.D., p. 147.

Bishop White was mistaken, when February 7, 1794, he reported
to the Bishop of London that a considerable proportion of those
who during the destitute condition of our Churches in and after the

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

land in 1876 placed memorials of John Wesley and
Charles Wesley in the south aisle of her Temple of
Fame, Westminster Abbey in London. In accepting
them Dean Stanley of Westminster said: ''They
preached those great effects which have never since
died out in English Christendom." He also said at
another time: ''The Methodist movement in both its
branches, Arminian and calvinistic, has moulded the
spiritual character of the English-speaking Protest-
antism of the world."

Emerson says that nothing great was ever achieved
without enthusiasm, and we know now it was the soul,
faith, energy and untiring self-devotion of the early
American itinerants of which Asbury, Garrettson,
Webb, Pilmore, Abbott, Watters, and Cooper were the
type which built the foundations upon which the church
rests so securely today.

Barratt's Chapel is situated near Frederica, South
Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, State of Delaware.
It can be reached either by way of Dover or Felton on
the Pennsylvania Railroad. South Murderkill Hun-
dred as late as 1780 was a dense primeval forest of
gigantic oaks and pines except the marshes and
cripples near the Murderkill Creek and here and there
where the indefatigable pioneer had cleared one hun-
dred to one hundred and fifty acres of his land for
farming purposes. It was built in May, 1780, upon
grounds donated for that purpose by Philip Barratt,

war joined the Methodists are returning, as those who did return were
inconsiderable. Wilson, " Life of Bishop White," p. 167, 1839.

^y^/^.{XJ^C^^~^

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

a member of the General Assembly, lately High Sheriff
of Kent County, through whose exertions, aided partic-
ularly by his father-in-law, Waitman Sipple, the pro-
ject was accomplished.

t%*^^2^^. ^O/

The deed bears date August 17, 1780, and is from
Philip Barratt to Eeynear Williams, David Lewis,
Waitman Sipple, Samuel Smith, Caleb Furbee, Jona-
than Furbee, Andrew Purden, William Virden, and
Daniel James, trustees for part of a tract of land
called ''William's Chance," beginning from corner of
brick building now carrying on, and intended for a
preaching house or chapel.^ ^ It provides that those
entitled to preach shall be persons appointed at the
yearly conference of the people called Methodists,
held in America to preach and expound God's word,
and no other doctrine shall be taught than is contained
in the Rev. John Wesley's notes on the New Testament
and four volumes of sermons, etc.

The building is almost square in appearance, being
42 by 48 feet, two stories high with a gallery inside

" Recorded at Dover, Deed Book W, Vol. 1, p. 247-

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

and is built of brick said to have been imported for
that purpose from Holland. This I doubt very much,
as good brick clay could be obtained nearby. The high
pulpit which very nearly concealed the preacher from
the view of the congreation unfortunately has been re-
moved, and it should be restored although the same
seat upon which Bishops Asbury and Coke and the
early fathers of the church sat is yet preserved, other-
wise the chapel presents very much the same appear-
ance today as it did when finished. Previous to the
erection of the chapel it was customary for the people
to meet at the drawbridge or go to each others ' houses
which were miles apart, as agreed upon beforehand,
for the purpose of having prayers or listening to the
exhortations of some itinerant. In October, 1778,
Freeborn Garrettson preached with his usual virility
in Murderkill at the house of David Lewis, and among
those converted or awakened to self -consciousness
were Philip Barratt, Sheriff of Kent County, and
his brother-in-law, Jonathan Sipple, Coroner of Kent,
whose house became a preaching place as well as
Philip Barratt's. After his death in 1780 his father,
Waitman Sipple, Jr., took his place. This often re-
sulted in from two to three hundred people being
present, which was more than could be comfortably
accommodated, especially on Sundays or during re-
vivals. The inconvenience was particularly felt dur-
ing the winter season. A regular place of meeting
was sadly needed, and it was to supply this want and
to have a fixed place of public worship where regular

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

services could be held that determined Philip Barratt
to erect this chapel.^ ^ We can think of Philip Barratt,
Asbury and all the original trustees of this chapel con-
sulting together about its erection in the living-room
of the Barratt farmhouse, and while they may not
have used the exact words the thought was there which
Euskin in ''The Lamp of Memory" so beautifully ex-
presses when he says ''When we build, let us think we
build forever — let it not be for present delight nor for
present use alone — let it be such work as our descen-
dants will thank us for and let us think as we lay stone
on stone, that a time is to come when these stones will
be held sacred because our hands have touched them
and that men will say as they look upon the labor and
wrought substances of them 'See this our fathers did
for us.' " Mr. Asbury arranged the rules of the
chapel when it was opened, appointed stewards and
made arrangements for the preachers to meet and
instruct the children.

Philip Barratt was the youngest son of Philip Bar-
ratt, planter, of Bohemia Manor, Cecil County, Mary-
land. His father is supposed to have been the emi-
grant. He settled upon the Sassafras River prior to
1678 and his last wife was Jane Merritt, daughter of
Thomas Merritt. By her he had four children, An-
drew Barratt, Catherine Barratt, Eoger Barratt and

" See Rfev. Robt. W. Todd's " Methodism on the Peninsula," 1886,
pp. 49, 307, 281, 286; George Alfred Townsend's "Poems," Dover,
p. 227, 1899. Bishop Asbury's personal Bible, the one he used at
this time is now preserved in the United States National Museum,
at Washington, D. C.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

Philip Barratt. Philip Barratt's birth is recorded
by Rev. Dr. Richard Sewell, of the Church of England,
the Rector in St. Stephen's Parish Church, Cecil
County, Maryland, as October 12, 1730. Philip Bar-
ratt, Sr., died in August, 1733, his widow, Jane M.,
married Joseph Price, a farmer of Kent County, Dela-
ware, where she subsequently resided upon the tract of
land upon which Barratt's Chapel was afterwards
erected. Upon her marriage she brought her two
minor sons Roger and Philip with her, and it was in
this manner our Philip Barratt became a Dela-
warean.-^ Roger Barratt married Miriam Robinson
and numbers among his descendants the late Barratt P.
Conner, James Barratt Conner and Alvin Barratt Con-
ner of Felton, your present efficient State Senator
from Kent County, and Rev. Dr. Horace Edwin Hay-
den of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, the well-known
historian and author. In 1755 Philip Barratt married
Miriam Sipple, daughter of Waitman Sipple. Philip
Barratt was commissioned High Sheriff of Kent

"Will John English, January 8, 1678, Liber 2, Cecil Co. Wills,
folio 89, Philip Barratt ; Land Commissioners Office, Annapolis, Liber
D.S.F. 35, p. 308, Philip Barratt; Rent Roll, Vol. 2, Kent Cecil, No.
2, p. 296, Annapolis, Md., Philip Barratt; St. Stephen's Parish
Records, Md. Hist. Society, Philip Ban-att ; Will of Philip Barratt,
Liber CO., No. 3, p. 847, Land Office, Annapolis, Md. ; Deed Joseph
Price et ux. to Andrew Barratt, 2 Nov., 1752, Cecil Co. Deed Book,
7, p. 508 ; Will Andrew Ban-att, 10 Sept., 1790, WiU Book 5, Cecil
Co., p. 248; Deed Andrew Barratt to Catherine Barratt for two
slaves, George and Grace, also two slaves to his granddaughters
Mary and Carrie Williams, deed dated August 28, 1790, Cecil Co.
Records, p. 53; Scharf's "History of Delaware," Vol. IL, note, p.
483, and pp. 582, 1040, 1141, 1157-410, 1145, 1039, 1126, 1151, 1169.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism,

County, October 6, 1775, and served until September,
1779, when lie was elected a member of the Assembly
from Kent County.^^

The Assembly met in Wilmington, October 30, 1779,

'^ In the campaign of 1775, when Philip Barratt was elected Sheriff
of Kent, Caesar Rodney, who signed the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, wrote to his brother, Thomas Rodney, from Philadelphia,
September 26, 1775 : " One circumstance, relative to your politics
gives me infinite concern — it is this (as related to me) that you
intend to leave Mr. Barratt out of your ticket as Sheriff. , . . Mr.
Barratt has much at stake and I believe an honest man therefore
hope you and your friends will carry him steadily." Caesar Rodney
felt that Philip Barratt's absence from the ticket imperiled his poli-
tical future when he significantly added : " and perhaps events
brought about in consequence of it that neither you or I would wish."
Original letter New York Public Library, Astor and Tilden Annex.

The fear expressed by Caesar Rodney in September, 1775, in this
letter, was realized one year later when his brother, Thomas Rodney,
and his friends were defeated as delegates to the convention to be
held at New Castle, August 27, 1776, and which formed the Delaware
Constitution of 1776. The reason for this defeat is told by Caesar
Rodney in a letter of August 21, 1776 (Scharf, "History of Dela-
ware," p. 233) : "Last night by the post I received an account of
your defeat at the election and in which I was not disappointed,
being convinced you continued to be too sanguine in your expecta-
tions without taking the necessary steps to carry a point of that sort ;
added to all the rest of your bad policy, you suffered Caldwell's Com-
pany to march away just before the election when there was no
necessity for it, as the other companies were not half full in any of
the counties. Parke tells me the conduct of your light infantry here-
tofore had drawn down the resentment of the people which put it in
the power of that party who were opposed to you to make this use
of it."

The views expressed in this letter by Caesar Rodney are sound; it
shows him to have been a judge of men and a keener politician than
his brother Thomas. It is peculiarly interesting in connection with
his first letter of 1775, when he insisted Philip BaiTatt should be
supported by Thomas Rodney for sheriff and put upon his ticket,
and in view of the further fact that Philip Barratt himself was again
elected sheriff at this election.

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

and while the minutes from 1776 to 1782 are not in ex-
istence Philip Barratt seems to have taken such a
prominent part that many of his legislative services
are foimd in the minutes of the Council, as the Senate
was then called, more especially when its concurrence
was necessary. Briefly they show — December 8, 1779,
Nicholas Van Dyke and Philip Barratt a Committee to
settle and adjust accounts of State Treasurer ; Decem-
ber 20, 1779, Philip Barratt and John Cook, Committee
General Loan Office ; December 22, 1779, Philip Barratt
voted for John Dickinson, Nicholas Van Dyke and
George Eead, who were elected delegates to the Con-
gress of the United States.

December 23, 1779, Philip Barratt was appointed by
the Assembly to pay the militia of Kent County £3,600,
he to be accoimtable for the expenditure thereof and
to render an account of his proceedings in the premises
to the General Assembly at the next meeting. The
records of the Adjutant General's Office, War Depart-
ment, Washington, D. C, show Philip Barratt served
as a member of a Committee of public accounts ap-
pointed by the General Assembly in 1782. February
4, 1782, he presented to the Council certain letters and
certificates of General Washington and secured the
necessary legislation. He took a prominent part in
the assembly until 1783, doing his utmost to aid the
patriotic cause.^^ He was the owner of a large landed

°^ Minutes of Council Delaware State, 1779-1792, pp. 178, 179,
461, 472, 488, 489, 495, 496, 631, 643, 658, 711, 712, 762, 783, 807,

%^':

ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
"To THE President of the United States :

>^ Sir.— We, the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, humbly beg leave, in the name(
our society, collectively, in these United States, to express to you the warm feelings of our hearts,
and our sincere congratulations on your appointment to the presidentship of these States. We
are conscious, from the signal proofs you have already given, that you are a friend of mankind ;
and under this established idea, place as full confidence in your wisdom and integrity for the
preservation of those civil and religious liberties which have been transmitted to us by the
providence of God and the glorious Revolution, as we believe ought to be reposed in man.

" We have received the most grateful satisfaction from the humble and entire dependence
on the great Governor of the universe which you have repeatedly expressed, acknowledging
Him the source of every blessing, and particularly of the most excellent Constitution of these
States, which is at present the admiration of the world, and may in future become its great
exampler for imitation ; and hence we enjoy a holy expectation, that you will always prove a
faithful and impartial patron of genuine, vital religion, the grand end of our creation and
present probationary existence. And we promise you our fervent prayers to the throne of grace,
that God Almighly may endue you with all the graces and gifts of his Holy Spirit, that he may
enable you to fill up your important station to His glory, the good of His Church, the happiness
and prosperity of the United States, and the welfare of mankind.

" Signed in behalf of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

" Thomas Coke,

"New York, May 29, 1789." "Francis Asbury. i

The following is the reply of President Washington :

"To thr Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
United States of America.

" Gentlemen. — I return to you individually, and through you to your society collectively in
the United States, my thanks for the demonstrations of affection, and the expressions of jo)
offered in their behalf, on my late appointment. It shall be my endeavor to manifest the purit}
of my inclinations for promoting the happiness of mankind, as well as the sincerity of m)
desires to contribute whatever may be in my power toward the civil and religious liberties ol
the American people. In pursuing this line of conduct, I hope, by the assistance of divint
Providence, not altogether to disappoint the confidence which you have been pleased to repos(
in me.

"It always affords me satisfaction when I find a concurrence of sentiment and practici
between all conscientious men, in acknowledgments of homage to the great Governor of th(
universe, and in professions of support to a just civil government. After mentioning that
trust the people of every denomination, who demean themselves as good citizens, will hav
occasion to be convinced that I shall always strive to prove a faithful and impartial patron o \
genuine vital religion. I must assure you in particular, that I take in the kindest part th
promise you make of presenting your prayers at the throne of grace for me, and that I likewis
implore the divine benediction on yourselves and your religious community.

"George Washington."

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism,

estate of 800 acres surrounding the chapel, which
upon his death he devised to his children, Judge
Andrew Barratt, Caleb Barratt, Dr. Elijah Barratt,
Nathaniel Barratt, Philip Barratt, 3rd, Miriam Bar-
ratt and Lydia Barratt, and all historians agree that
he was a most earnest supporter of Bishop Asbury
and was one of the friends like Dr. Edward White of
Dover, Eeynear Williams of Milford, Judge Thomas
White, Harry Dorsey Gough and Eichard Bassett, who
opened their houses for this purpose and aided and
protected him and other suffering itinerants in the
troubled times of the Eevolution. He also owned two
sloops, the "Friendship" of twenty tons, and the
''Dolphin" of fifteen tons, in which he shipped pork,
beef, corn, bark and staves to Philadelphia via the
Murderkill Creek which ran through his plantation and
which was navigable to what is now the town of Fred-
erica for sloops, shallops or light draught schooners.

Bishop Asbury made the following note in his journal
under date of Monday, March 20, 1780: "Eose early,
wrote an hour, then rode twenty-four miles to Caleb
Furbee's to preach; was late but came before Caleb
Boyer was done meeting the class. Spoke on John
III. 24, and felt quickenings. Went home with Wait-
man Sipple; he and Philip Barratt determined to go
about the chapel and to set it near the drawbridge."

Asbury in his journal has the following entries:

808, 812. Also see Henry C. Conrad's " History of Delaware," Vol.
III., p. 892 ; Vol. 10, " Colonial Records," p. 270 ; Penna. Archives,
2d Series, Vol. 9, p. 672.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

''Saturday, May 8, 1779, yesterday being a public
fast day, we had a large congregation and a solemn
time while I preached on the fast of the Ninevites. I
found about forty in society at the Drawbridge.

''June 16, 1779, preached at Barratt's.

"August 8, 1779, rode to the Drawbridge, preached
to 300 there.

"August 22, 1779, rode to the Drawbridge, preached
to 300 there.

"September 5, 1779, at Williams, then rode to the
Drawbridge, preached to 300 there.

"October 3, 1779, rode to the Drawbridge, preached
to 200 there.

Johnnycake bridge here mentioned was higher up
than the present crossing into Frederica, which was
built at a later date across a marsh and cripple and was
at a place called Johnnycake crossing on the same
stream which had fast land on both banks and was on
the north side of land lately owned by Mrs. Mary
Darby.2^ Philip Barratt married Miriam Sipple, and

"Scharf in his "History of Delaware," Vol. II., p. 1169, states:
" The family names of early settlers in Murderkill Neck and espe-
cially of those who afterwards rose to a controlling influence in the
affairs of the neighborhood and who having died, are now remem-
bered only by what they have done may be mentioned in the f oUoiving
order : "Wan-en, Barratt, Nowell, Sipple, Gray, Chambers, Van Natti,
Neill, "Walton, Darnell, Cramer, Montague, Boone, Loekwood, Ed-
munds, Hewston, Fisher, Cole, Lindale, Smith, Anderson, Smithers,
"Wilson, George, Manlove, Bowers, Reed, Grier, Clark, Harper,
Melvin, Burchenal, Hirons, Vickery, "Williams, "West, Baker and
Emory —

' Lamented dead and names of men,
Who built the school house, drained the fen.'
24

NATHANIEL BARRATT SMITHERS, LL.D.

BORN OCTOBER 8, 1818; DIED JANUARY 16, 1896; SON OF NATHANIEL SMITHERS AND
SUSAN FISHER BARRATT. HIS MOTHER WAS THE DAUGHTER OF DR. ELIJAH BARRATT,
SON OF PHILIP BARRATT. ADMITTED TO KENT BAR IN 1841, AND WAS FOR MANY YEARS
THE FOREMOST LAWYER IN THE STATE. IN REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS 1860,
1868, 1880. SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1862 AND AGAIN IN 1895. MEMBER OF CONGRESS
IN 1863 AND A FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

Caleb Furbee married Anna Sipple. They were
daughters of Waitman and Mary Hunn Sipple, and
Mary Hunn Sipple was the daughter of Jonathan
Hunn. So we have here a father and his two Sons-
in-law. In November, 1780, the first quarterly meet-
ing was held in the chapel and it is recorded one
thousand people were in attendance. Dr. Samuel
Magaw, "a kind, sensible, friendly minister of the
Episcopal church," rector of the Episcopal church
in Dover, afterwards rector of St. Paul's P. E.
Church of Philadelphia, preached Saturday afternoon
*'an excellent sermon, "^^ says Asbury, on "Who
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord"; Brothers
Hartley and Glendenning exhorted. We all stayed
at Mr. Barratt's. Mr. Magaw prayed with much
affection, and we parted with great love. The
next day, he continues, Sunday, November 5, we had
between one and two thousand people. Our house
was crowded above and below and numbers remained
outside. Our love feast lasted about two hours.
Some spoke about the sanctifying grace of God. I
preached on John 3 : 16-18, a heavy house to preach in.

The latest dates found on any headstones of the Van Nattis or
Nowells are 1787. The private burial ground of the "Warrens is the
oldest but that of the Barratt's best denotes wealth and refinement.
These inhabitants had social culture and repute before Frederica was
a town and most of them were related."

" Dr. Magaw was the last minister sent to America in 1767 by the
Venerable Society for the propagation of the Gospel. He minis-
tered from 1767 to 1780. Scharf's "History of Delaware," Vol. II.,
pp. 1055 and 1101. Afterwards rector St. Paul's P. E. Church,
Philadelphia, 1781.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

Brothers (Caleb B.) Peddicord and (Joseph) Crom-
well exhorted.

This may be regarded as the dedication of the chapel
though services had been held in it earlier in the year.
Three days after this quarterly meeting, Wednesday,
November 8, 1780, we find this record in Mr. Asbury's
journal: Engaged the friends to subscribe seven hun-
dredweight of pork toward the meeting house at Bar-
ratt's, showing the people contributed in merchandise
as well as in money and labor. The first time Mr.
Asbury refers to this new edifice by its name is under
date of September 28, 1783, when he records preaching
Sunday afternoon ' * at Barratt 's Chapel. ' '

In early times the colonists agreed ''There is no
room in Christ's triumphant army for tolerationists,"
the only notable exception being Lord Baltimore, who
had a law in favor of religious freedom passed in
Maryland as early as 1649.2^ So that as Mr. Justice
Wilson of the Supreme Court of the United States
remarks, before the doctrine of toleration was pub-
lished in Europe the practice of it was established in
America.26 Dr. Charles J. Stille in his learned article
on ''Eeligious Tests in Provincial Pennsylvania"
(Vol. IX Pennsylvania Magazine of History, page 374)
so completely sustains this that I cannot refrain
from quoting him. I do this with less diffidence as

" Rev. Ethan Allen, " Who were the Early Settlers of Maryland?"
BaltuBore. McMahon's " History of Maryland."

""The Works of James Wilson," James D. Andrews, Vol. I.,
p. 4, Callaghan & Co., Chicago.

ALLAN MCLANE.
BORN AUGUST 8, 1746; DIED MAY 22, 1829.

A FRIEND OF PHILIP BARRATT AND FRANCIS ASBURV.
AT DUCK CREEK CROSS ROADS NOW SMYRNA, DELAWARE.

in 178f. he gave the ground for asburv church
(see over)

ALLAN McLANP:.

It is a remarkable fact that early Methodists like Philip Barratt, his
son Dr. Elijah Barratt, Hon. Richard Bassett, Judge Thomas White,
Col. Allan McLane and Harry Dorsey Gough of Perry Hall, who were
personal friends, through Asbury's influence either gave ground or
erected chapels.

Allan McLane, born in Philadelphia, Pa., August 8, 1746, and re-
moved to Kent County, Delaware, 1774. In 1775 was appointed Lieu-
tenant in Colonel Caesar Rodney's Regiment of Delaware Militia, and
in 1776 joined Washington's army and was distinguished in actions at
Long Island, at White Plains, Trenton and Princeton. Commissioned
Captain and assigned to Colonel John Patton's Additional Continental
Regiment, January 13, 1777. His partisan company was in service on
outposts of Philadelphia, Pa., during its occupancy by enemy, 1777-
1778; attached to Delaware Regiment, Continental Establishment,
December 16, 1778, and to MajorLee's Partisan Corps, July 13, 1779;
February 4, 1782, as a member of Assembly from Kent County Philip
Barratt offered a resolution at request of Allan McLane empowering
State Treasurer to purchase a sum of money in specie for benefit of
officers of Delaware regiment who were made prisoners ou Long Island ;
present at siege of, and surrender at, Yorktown, and retired from ser-
vice November 9, 1782. Member of Lodge No. 2, F. and M. of Phila-
delphia, 1779.

He and his wife were Methodists and his children, including Hon.
Louis McLane who was a member of Gen'l Jackson's Cabinet and
Minister to England, and father of Hon. Robert M. McLane Governor
of Maryland (1884), were baptised by Bishop Asbury.

/;/ /lis Journal Asbury states :

1797 July 12, I rode to Wilmington and stopped at Allen McLane's,
now living there.

1801 July 31, I stopped with Allen McLane at Wilmington.

1802 April 28, I lodged for the night with Allen McLane — my fever
rose.

1802 Aug. 2, I proceeded on to Wilmington in the rain and lodged
with Allen McLane.

1804 ^lay 13, I dined with Allen McLane — rode 45 miles to-day.

1814 April 3, I baptised the children of Allen and Louis McLane
these people have not forgotten the holy living and dying of their
mother, nor her early and constant friend, the writer of this Journal.

The friendship between the McLanes and the Barratts did not sur-
vive the third generation. See account of duel, 1807, between John
Barratt and Louis McLane, who were then studying law with Hon.
James A. Bavard, mentioned bv Judge Conrad in his " Historv of
Delaware." Vol. Ill, p. 895.

After the war he settled at Smyrna, Delaware. He was a member
of the State Convention that ratified the Constitution of the United
States in 1787, was a member and Speaker of the Delaware Legisla-
ture, for si.x years was a privy councillor, for many years Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas and United States Marshal of the Delaware
District from 1790 to 1798. Also collector of the Port of Wilmington
from 1808 to date of his death, which occurred May 22, 1829. Buried
in Asbury Church cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware. See "Barratt
and Sachse Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727-1907." Vol. II, p. 109.
Conrads " History." Vol. Ill, p. 877.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

De Quincy tells us ''people read nothing in these days
that is more than forty-eight hours old, so I am daily
admonished that allusions, the most obvious to any-
thing in the rear of our own time need explanation."
Hear what he says about this intolerance.

''In New Jersey, after the surrender of the Charter,
when the Colony came directly under the royal author-
ity, in 1702, liberty of conscience was proclaimed in
favor of all except Papists and Quakers; but as the
latter were required to take oaths as qualifications for
holding office or for acting as jurors or witnesses in
judicial procedings, they, of course the great mass of
the population, were practically disfranchised. But
the story of the arbitrary measures taken by the Gov-
ernor of this Colony, Lord Cornbury, to exclude from
office or the control of public affairs all except those
who conformed to the Church of England is too well
known to need to be retold here. In Maryland the
English Church was established in 1696, and one of the
first acts of the newly organized Province was to dis-
franchise those very Catholics and their children by
whom the doctrine of religious liberty had been estab-
lished in the law of 1649. In Carolina, after the fan-
ciful and impracticable Constitution devised for it by
the celebrated philosopher John Locke had been given
up, by which the English Church had been established
and endowed in the colony, the church feeling was so
strong and the determination to secure its supremacy
so unjaelding, that an Act was passed in 1704 requir-

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

ing all members of the Assembly to take the sacra-
ment according to the rites of the Church of England.
**The result of this review is to show that in all the
Colonies I have named, except perhaps Rhode Island,
liberty of worship was the rule, excepting, of course,
in the case of the Roman Catholics. Throughout the
Colonies, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, the
man who did not conform to the established religion of
the Colony, whether it was Congregationalism in New
England, or the Episcopal form elsewhere, was not in
the same position in regard to the enjoyment of either
civil or religious rights as he who did conform. If he
were a Roman Catholic, he was everj^where wholly dis-
franchised. For him there was not even the legal right
of public worship. If he were a Protestant differing
in his creed from the type of Protestantism adopted
by the rulers, although he could freely celebrate in
nearly all the Colonies his peculiar form of worship,
he was nevertheless excluded from any share in public
affairs. He could neither vote nor hold office, and he
was forced to contribute to the support of a religious
ministry whose teachings he in his heart abhorred.
And this condition of things, extraordinary as it seems
to us now, had not been brought about by any
conscious, arbitrary despotism on the part of the rul-
ers, but was the work of good but narrow-minded men
who were simply following out the uniform practice
of the Christian world, and who no doubt honestly

JOHN DICKINSON.

BORN MARYLAND, NOVEMBER 13, 1732; DIED DELAWARE, FEBRUARY 14, 1808.

(see over)

JOHN DICKINSON

was the " Penman of the Revolution. In the literature of that strug-
gle his position is as pre-eminent as Washington in war, Franklin in '■
diplomacy, and Morris in finance." The Dickinsons first settled in ^

Virginia, but were in Talbot County on the eastern shore of Maryland
in 1659. John Dickinson was born at Crosia-dore, November 8, 1732.
His mother was Mary Cadwalader of Philadelphia. His father, Samuel
Dickinson, removed to Kent County near Dover in 1740. Dickinson
and Philip Barratt knew each other from boyhood and were friends
although they did not always act together politically. July 19, 1770,
Dickinson married Mary Norris the daughter of Isaac Norris, the
Speaker, of Fairhill, Philadelphia. December 22, 1779, as a member
of the Delaware Assembly Philip Barratt voted for John Dickinson,
Nicholas Van Dyke and George Read who were elected delegates to
the Congress of the United States. Philip Barratt later was asked to
vote against Dickinson. His reply was, as related by Hon. Nathaniel
Barratt Smithers "I will not do it he is from my own county, we
were boys together and he thinks he is right." Asbury was forced
to seek shelter and protection of Judge White and Philip Barratt in
Delaware which their official positions enabled them to afiFord him,
but it was not until John Dickinson gave Asbury a letter of commenda-
tion to the Governor of Maryland that he resumed his work within that
State, which he had discontinued from March 10, 1778— as he could
not take the required State oath. He also recalled his experience of
June 20, 1776, " I was fined near Baltimore five pounds for preaching
the gospel." We must not forget also the close relations politically of
Pennsylvania and Delaware, as up to the Revolution Delaware had the
same Governor as Pennsylvania but a different Assembly.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

thought that in so acting they were dong the highest
service by obeying the will of God."

Today anyone whether he be Protestant or Catholic,
Jew or Gentile, Christian or Mohammedan, may in
this country worship his God in any way he pleases not
injurious to the equal rights of others. Congress
under the Constitution and its amendments can make
no law respecting an establishment of religion or pro-
hibiting the free exercise thereof as the whole power
over the subject of religion is left exclusively to the
State.2^

Eeligious liberty is our dearest possession, and while
secured to us by our State Constitution, we should not
forget its origin or that it has only been ours little
more than a century.^^ The Constitution of Delaware
of 1792 provides that it shall be 'Hhe duty of all men
frequently to assemble together for the public worship
of the author of the universe, and piety and morality,
in which the prosperity of communities depend are
thereby promoted ; yet no man shall or ought to be com-
pelled to attend any religious worship or support of
any place of worship, or to the maintenance of any min-
istry against his own free will and consent; and that
no power shall or ought to be vested in or assumed by
any magistrate that shall in any case interfere with,

"Davis vs. Beason, 133, United States Reports, p. 342; Holy
Trinity Church, 143, United States Reports, p. 471; In Re Spies,
125, United States Reports, p. 181; Reynolds vs. U. S., 98, United
States Reports, p, 145.

" " Law of Delaware," Vol. I., p. 28.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

or in any manner control the rights of conscience, in
the free exercise of religious worship, nor a preference
given by law to any religious societies, denominations
or modes of worship. No religious test shall be re-
quired as a qualification to any office or public trust
under this State. The rights of conscience and relig-
ious liberty as you will at once perceive are fully
protected by this declaration in the Constitution of
Delaware of 1792, and it is also worthy of mention that
Judge Andrew Barratt was one of the eight delegates
from Kent County who helped to frame the constitu-
tion of which this is a part. Ministers not ordained
were silenced by the public authorities and the very
men who had left England to gain an asylum for relig-
ious freedom were refusing toleration to any religious
opinions but their own. While Pennsylvania and Del-
aware were not without their sins of intolerance, yet
they evinced a more liberal spirit than characterized
some of their sister States.

Pennsylvania was peopled by the Dutch, Swedes,
English, Germans, Welsh, Scotch, Irish, and they
brought with them their different religions — Quaker,
Lutheran, German Calvinists, Episcopal, Tunker or
Dunker, Mennonites, Schwenkfelders, Mennonites,
Moravians and Presbyterians. It must not be forgot-
ten that while Pennsylvania was peopled by Quakers
and Germans, it was also the stronghold of the Pres-
byterians, as the first American Presbytery was estab-
lished there in 1705.

BORN MAY 18, 1^81 ; DIED JULY 8, 1864. ENSIGN WAR OF 1812; GOVERNOR OF DELA-
WARE JANUARY, 1830; JUDGE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, 1844. HE WAS A RESIDENT
OF MILTON AND A BUSINESS PARTNER OF JAMES BARRATT PRIOR TO 1830. HE WA^
RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE LEADING METHODIST LAYMEN IN THE STATE. HE FRE-
QUENTLY ATTENDED SERVICES AT BARRATT'S CHAPEL.

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

This then was the condition of affairs ecclesiastically
speaking when John Wesley, the apostle of Methodism,
determined to send a missionary to America in the
person of Francis Asbury who arrived in 1771, then in
the twenty-sixth year of his age, having been born on
the twentieth of August, 1745, in Handsworth, about
four miles from Birmingham, Staffordshire, Eng-
land. From the period of his arrival he commenced
preaching the Word and making converts to the cause
with a full knowledge of all the difficulties enumerated,
and in many places with great personal danger to him-
self. In Asbury 's journal he says : ''Oct. 8, 1779. Our
difficulties are great, we have not a sufficient number
of proper preachers. Some who are gifted cannot go
into all the States on account of the oaths, others are
under bail and cannot move far," and again March
15, 1780, ''Bro. Garretson expects to come out of jail
by the favor of the Governor and Council of Maryland
in spite of his foes. So the Lord works for us. ' ' This
was indeed a time of trial and suffering. There were
only ten preachers altogether and they were all English-
men and supposed to be loyal to King George with the
exception of William Watters of Harford County,
Maryland, who was the first native American to become
a regular itinerant preacher. These noble men with
Asbury at their head suffered every privation and per-
formed herculean labors, preaching in private houses,
balconies, market places, barns, and in the country in
forests and open fields in order to minister to the relig-

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

ious needs of their flocks, or as Wakeley eloquently
says ''With no sword but that of the Spirit, no banner
but that of the Cross and no commander but our spir-
itual Joshua, the leader of the Lord's host, they went
forth to glorious war having for their motto 'Victory
or Death.'" They were the heroes of Methodism,
their great object being to promote Christianity in
earnest.

Christianity (as Judge Duncan held in Updegraph
vs. Commonwealth, 11 Sergeant & Rawle, 394) is and
always has been a part of the common law of Pennsyl-
vania— Christianity without the spiritual artillery of
European countries, for this Christianity was one of
the considerations of the royal charter, and the very
basis of its great founder William Penn; not Chris-
tianity founded on any particular tenets ; not Christi-
anity with an established church and tithes and spir-
itual courts, but Christianity with liberty of conscience
to all men.2®

But by comparison, darker days were yet to come.
The murmurings of a people enraged by the stamp
act, oppressed by taxation and unjust laws, began to
be heard. The Farmer's letters of John Dickinson
stated the colonial view, and produced a profound im-
pression that England was acting unfairlj^ If any

" Lectures, " The United States a Christian Nation," by Mr. Justice
David J. Brewer of U. S. S. Ct., also, "Our Duty as Citizens and
The Promise and Possibilities of the Future," 1908. Also see " A
Reply to Justice Brewer's Lectui-es," by Isaac Hassler, Young Men's
Hebrew Association of Philadelphia, 1908, denying the United States
is a Christian Country.

THOMAS McKEAN.

BORN CHESTER CO., PA., MARCH 19, 1734; DIED PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 24, 1817.

(see over)

THOMAS McKEAN

one of the friends of Philip Barratt, who on several occasions did
kindly acts for early itinerants at his request. Born in Chester County,
Pennsylvania, March 19th, 1734. in 1757-1758 Clerk of Assembly of
Delaware. In 1756 Deputy Attorney General Sussex County. 1762
was chosen with Caesar Rodney to revise and print the laws. Dele-
gate from Delaware to Stamp Act Congress 1765. Judge Court of
Common Pleas Delaware 1765-1766. In 1771 Collector of Customs
New Castle. Member of Constitution Convention of Delaware of 1776.
Dec. 20, 1777, Commander-in-Chief of Delaware authorized by Assem-
bly to pay Thomas McKean ^90 and Philip Barratt ;^29 for public ser-
vices (Minutes of Council of Delaware p. 178). Member of Assembly
1773-1779 although he really lived in Philadelphia. Signer of Declara-
tion of Independence. From 1774-1783 member of Congress from
Delaware. President of Congress and Chief Justice of Pennsylvania
1777-1797. When in Dover it was his custom to spend at least a night
with Philip Barratt as he had done on his way from Sussex in 1756-
1762. On Tuesday, January 14, 1783, Thomas McKean, Philip Barratt
and Nathaniel Waples of the House, and John Banning and Joshua
Polk of the Council were appointed a joint Committee of Public
Accounts (Minutes of Council, p. 762). Governor of Pennsylvania
1799-1808, nine years altogether. In 1781 he occupied three offices.
Member of Congress from Delaware, President of Congress and Chief
Justice of Pennsylvania. He died June 24th, 1817, aged 87 years and
is buried in Christ Church, Philadelphia.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

pretext were needed in addition to tlie intolerance of
tlie mass of the people at this time, and calculated to
increase and inflame their prejudice and mistrust of
Methodists, especially preachers who were generally
looked upon as fanatics and misguided people, it was
supplied by John Wesley's supposed opposition to the
American Eevolution which had now commenced. Dr.
Buckley truly says, ' ' The venerated Wesley dabbled in
political affairs in the old country and his followers
were looked at askance on that account in this coun-
try." So the hardships Methodists were obliged to
endure were increased, they were despised, persecuted
and derided. It was hardly safe for a man to openly
avow himself and it no doubt kept hundreds away
from the Methodist faith who might have been open
to conviction and favorably disposed. The colonial
government ended with the Declaration of Indepen-
dence on July 4, 1776, and as George Alfred Townsend
remarks in his ^' Early Politics of Delaware," the
"Church of England ministers left the country and
their flocks fell to the Methodists." Methodism there-
fore had its highest social status on the Delaware pen-
insula, where it succeeded the Anglican church.

March 27, 1778, Asbury writes in concealment at
the house of his friend. Judge Thomas White, of Kent
County, Delaware: ''I intend to abide here for a sea-
son until the storm is abated. The grace of God is
a sufficient support while I bear the reproach of men
and am rewarded evil for all the good which I have

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

done and desire to do for mankind. I want for no
temporal convenience and endeavor to improve my
time by devotion and study. ' ' On the second of April,
1778, the Light Horse Patrol under Brigadier General
Smallwood in pursuance of an order of Congress of
26th of March, 1778, came to the house and arrested
Judge White and bore him off, leaving his wife and
children with Asbury in great distress of mind, who
spent the next day in fasting and prayer. Judge
White having been seized upon the charge of being a
Tory and a Methodist after five weeks' detention was
allowed to return home on parole wliich Congress
did not discharge until August 3, 1779 (Journal Con-
gress, 1776, p. 30). 30

Stevens in his "History of Methodism" says: "In
the year 1778 when the storm was at its highest and
persecution raged furiously, Asbury advisedly con-
fined himself to the little State of Delaware where the
laws were rather more favorable and the rulers and in-
fluential men were somewhat more friendly. For a
time he had even then to keep himself much retired.
He found an asylum in the house of his firm and fast
friend, Thomas White, one of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas in Kent County. From this place
of retreat he could correspond with his suffering breth-
ren who were scattered abroad. The preachers often
met him in the hospitable family of Judge White, and

""History of the Methodist Episcopal Church," by Rev. Abel
Stevens, Vol. I., pp. 307-314, 316, 159, 319, 321; Vol. II., pp. 173,
360. " Women of Methodism," Stevens, p. 220.

THE HOME OF HARRY OORSEY GOUGH, ON THE BEL AIR ROAD, TWELVE MILES FROM BALTIMORE, MD., WHERE
BISHOP ASBURY WAS ENTERTAINED. ALSO PHILIP BARRATT, GOVERNOR RICHARD BASSETT AND JUDGE THOMAS
WHITE WERE THERE FROM TIME TO TIME. IT WAS PARTIALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE BUT WAS REBUILT BY
JAMES CARROLL IN 1823.

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

lie privately held with them a conference in 1779. The
family which thus gave refuge to him and to not a
few of his brethren during this stormy period were
notable in the early days of Methodism. Like that of
Gough at Perry Hall,^! of Bassett at Bohemia Manor
and of Barratt at Barratt's Chapel, Kent, its name
continually recurs in the journals of Asbury, Coke,
Garrett son, Abbott and in other early Methodist pub-
lications.^2 xjp ^^ ^i^^ ^^^^g ^f j^^g conversion, Philip
Barratt was a member of the Church of England, as
were his friends. Judge Thomas White^^ and Hon.
Eichard Bassett.^*

"^ Henry Dorsey Gough was the friend of Judge Thomas White,
Philip Barratt and Richard Bassett. His home, "Perry Hall,"
twelve miles from Baltimore, was where he entertained Asbury. He
and his wife Prudence Gough were prominent Methodists. Their
daughter Sophia Gough in 1787 married James Carroll. They num-
ber among their descendants James Carroll and Charles Ridgely
Carroll, the Van Ness's, Ridgeleys, Sargents, Milligans, Poultneys,
Shippens, Denisons and the Edwin Sehenck's, all prominent families
of Baltimore. "Eneyclopsedia of Methodism," by Matthew Simpson,
1878, p. 415. "Carroll Family," Old Kent, Maryland, by Hanson,
Baltimore, 1876, p. 155. Lednum, Rise of Methodism (1859), chap.
XXIII., p. 153. Life of Rev. Wm. Black of Nova Scotia— Recolle* -
tions of an Old Itinerant, p. 191, 192, 193, 201.

" " Methodism in America," by John Lednum, pp. 265, 410, 267-
270, 205, 206. Also see journals of Coke, Asbury and Abbott.

" Henry C. Conrad's, " Samuel "White and Judge Thomas White,"
XL., Papers Hist. Soc. of Delaware, 1903. Also Lednum's " Rise of
Methodism," p. 267. Judge White witnessed the signature of Philip
Barratt to his deed donating the ground for Barratt's Chapel.

" Richard Bassett was born on Bohemia Manor, as was Philip
Barratt, and they were always friends. Fourteen days after he be-
came Governor on January 23, 1799, he appointed Andrew Barratt
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the State of Delaware.
(Deed Book F, Vol. II., folio 166, Kent Co.) The Delaware Mirror

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

He realized the annoyances sure to follow, or as it is
ably put by Dr. Stevens: ''These memorable historic
families who though associated with the highest social
circles of their times, counted not their opulence nor
their lives dear unto them, choosing rather to suffer
persecution with the people of God." Philip Barratt
died on the twenty-eighth day of October, 1784, aged 55
years, two weeks before the memorable meeting of
Bishops Coke and Asbury at the chapel now known by
his name. By his will, dated May 18, 1783, and which
was probated November 23, 1784, he devised his real
estate to his children above named, and requested his
friends, Judge Thomas White, Governor Eichard Bas-
sett and Eichard Lockwood, to partition the same
among them. His beloved wife, Miriam S. Barratt,
and son, Andrew Barratt, he appointed executors.^^

All church historians, including Bishop Simpson

of the Times, December 18th, 1802, states Governor Bassett removed
Hall, Rodney and Dr. Tilton because they were republicans and not
a republican remained in commission from Governor down to Con-
stable. He drew and witnessed Philip Barratt's will. See Hon.
Robert E. Pattison's " Life of Richard Bassett," XXIX., Papers of
Hist. Soc. of Delaware; "Colonial Mansions," by Thomas Allen
Glenn, 1899, p. 136 ; "Ancient Families of Bohemia Manor," by Rev.
Chas, Payson Mallory, VII., Papers Hist. Soc. of Delaware, 1888;
Lednum's "Rise of Methodism," p. 272, 1859.

'^Dr. Edward White was the nephew of Judge Thomas White.
Member State Convention to ratify U. S. Constitution, December 7,
1787. State Senate Kent Co., 1793. Member of House of Repre-
sentatives with Philip Barratt in 1782. (Conrad's "History of
Delaware," Vol. 1, pp. 155, 266, 276.) Dr. White became a
Methodist in 1777, and in 1778 removed to Dorchester, Md. See
Lednum's "Rise of Methodism," pp. 202, 220. After death of Philip
Barratt of Barratt's Chapel he married his widow, Miriam Sipple
Barratt.

RICHARD BASSETT

1735—1815

CAPTAIN CONTINENTAL ARMY; STATE COUNCIL OF DELAWARE, 1776-1786;
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1787; UNITED STATES SENATOR,
1787-1793; CHIEF JUSTICE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, 1793-1798; GOVERNOR
OF DELAWARE, 1797-1801; FRIEND AND POLITICAL ALLY OF PHILIP BARRATT, OF
BARRATT'S CHAPEL; BUILT WESLEY CHAPEL, DOVER DELAWARE.

FROM COPY IN POSSESSION OF NOHRIS S. BARRATT.

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

and Eev. Dr. J. M. Buckley, have fallen into an error
in supposing that Philip Barratt was ''Judge Bar-
ratt, " who in point of fact was his son, and in this way
Judge Andrew Barratt has received credit for his
father's work in the vineyard of the Lord in addition
to his own, which although of a different character
was no less earnest or effective. Asbury pathetically
notes in his journal, February 26, 1810: ''Most of my
old friends in this quarter have fallen asleep but their
children are generally with me, and the three genera-
tions baptised — Dined with Philemon Green and lodged
with Andrew Barratt — Preached at Barratts Chapel. ' '
Some time after the decease of Philip Barratt on Mon-
day, March 28, 1809, Asbury paused there with no little
emotion in his rapid course over the country; "I
preached [he writes] at Barratt 's Chapel and bap-
tized some children. I had powerful feelings of sym-
pathy for the children and grand-children of that holy
man in life and death, Philip Barratt.'' When in ex-
treme age shortly before his death on Friday, April 14,
1815, the veteran Bishop passed over the same region,
for the last time, he ascended the old pulpit of Bar-
ratt's Chapel and preached once more, amid its hal-
lowed memories, though in great feebleness of body.
Judge Andrew Barratt, then fifty-nine years old, the
son of his old friend, was there to welcome him to
dinner. ' ' Ah ! ' ' said the Judge, ' ' I know that my father
and mother thought more of him than of any other man
on earth, and well does it become their son to respect

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

him." It must not be forgotten there was only eleven
years difference in their ages. He took pleasure in
his old age in recalling such recollections to early
scenes and early friends continually occurring in his
diary.^^

Journal of Francis Asbury, N. Bangs, New York, 1821.

1779, May 3. Preached at Drawbridge to 40. (Barratt's), Vol. I.,
238.

1779, June 16. Preached at Barratt's house. Vol. I., 240.

1779, August 8. Preached at Drawbridge to 300. (Barratt's),
Vol. I., 246.

1779, August 22. Preached at Drawbridge to 300. (Barratt's),
Vol. I., 248.

1779, September 5. Preached at Drawbridge to 300. (Barratt's),
Vol. I., 249.

1779, October 3. Preached at Drawbridge to 200. (Barratt's),
Vol. I., 252.

1780, March 20. Barratt's Chapel— Philip Barratt. Vol. I., 275.
1780, November 3. Barratt's Chapel — Quarterly meeting. Vol.

I., 316.

1780, November 3. Stayed at Barratts. Vol. I., 316.

1780, November 5. Barratt's Chapel — preached. Vol. I., 316.

1780, November 6. Barratt's Chapel — preached. Vol I., 317.

1780, November 18. Barratt's Chapel — rode to and exhorted.
Vol. I., 319.

1781, January 24. Barratt's Chapel — preached. Vol. I., 325.

1781, October 27. Barratt's Chapel — quarterly meeting. Vol. I.,
352.

1782, September 27. Barratt's Chapel— preached 3 P.M. Vol. I.,
360.

1784, October 2. Barratt's Chapel— preached. Vol. I., 374.

1784, November 15. Barratt's Chapel — met Thomas Coke, Vol.
I., 376.

1789, July 31. Barratt's Chapel— preached. Vol. II., 52.

1791, September 16. Dr. Elijah Barratt built Chapel, Camden,
Del. Vol. III., 143.

- Vol. II., Scharf's " History of Delaware," p. 1156.

BISHOP FRANCIS ASBURY

BORN, HANDSWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE, ENG., AUGUST 20, 1745
DIED, SPOTTSYLVANIA, VA., MARCH 31, 1816

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

1809, March 27. Barratt's Chapel — preached and baptised. Vol.
III., 261.

1810, March 25. Barratt's Chapel — Lodged with Andrew Barratt.
Vol. III., 286.

1810, March 26. Barratt's Chapel— preached. Vol. III., 286.

1813, April 20. Barratt's Chapel — preached, dined at Dover.
Vol. III., 346.

1815, April 14. Barratt's Chapel — preached, dined with Andrew
Barratt. Vol. HI., 379.

Upon Asbury's first appearance in Delaware as a
missionary appointed by Wesley so earnest and con-
vincing was lie in preaching the Gospel that conviction
and conversion in large numbers followed. He visited
all parts of the Delaware-Maryland peninsula and was
most successful in interesting and awakening not only
the plain people, but some of the most prominent citi-
zens and their families, who through him became ser-
vants of Christ and allied themselves with the Meth-
odist Church. Dr. McConnelP^ places the number at
one hundred thousand souls and laments, ''The Church
in America lost the most active part of its membership
at the very time it was about to need them most.
He found Delaware in extremis in a religious sense,
but when he died the Methodist Church was not only
organized but firmly established and mainly through
his efforts. Genial in manner, persuasive in speech
and a warm-hearted living exponent of the Gospel
which he preached, he was one of those rare personal-
ities whom contact with and labor among men always
leave a lasting impression for good.

"Dr. McConnell's "The English Church in the Colonies," pp.
144, 171, 172.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

As Dr. H. B. Eidgaway tells us: "He became at
once the miglity personality around which Methodism
gathered. What Washington was to the nation As-
bury was to the Methodist Church — its center of
strength. He was everywhere present animating by
his zeal, guiding by his counsels and shaping into a
living unity the widely scattered societies. He did not
so much say to the preachers, Go, as. Follow where I
go. . . . His love of family, country, possessions, wit,
comfort — all were placed on the altar of methodism.^^

' He lived to turn his slower feet
Towards the western setting sun.
To see his harvest all complete,
His dream fulfilled, his duty done.' "

Charles Chauncey in 1743 in his ''Seasonable
Thoughts" attacked revivalists in New England, and
at the present day writers like T. M. Davenport, ana-
lyzing the psychology of revivals, decry emotional
preaching by which religious enthusiasm is excited
and tell us the path of Christian nurture and not re-
vival rapture is the saner method of awakening the
religious sense, but however this may scientifically
appear now, the earnest methods pursued by Asbury
and his preachers produced results of which no Meth-
odist need feel ashamed, and it is admitted the fervor
of their piety, and the enthusiasm of their methods

"Ridgaway, "Personnel of the Christmas Conference," 1885,
p. 136.

BfSHOF

.;>COFAL CHURCH

BISHOP ASBURY, ON HIS WAY TO ATTEND THE GENERAL CONFERENCE AT BALTIMORE,
DIED MARCH 31, 1816, AT THE HOUSE OF HIS FRIEND, GEORGE ARNOLD, IN SPOTT-
SYLVANIA, VA. HIS BODY WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INTERRED UNDER THE PULPIT OF THE
EUTAW STREET CHURCH, BALTIMORE. THIS CHUkCH IS BOUNDED BY EUTAW STREET,
MULBERRY STREET, JASPER STREET, AND EUTAW COURT. BISHOP McKENDREE
PREACHED THE SERMON. THIS SLAB INCLOSED THE DOOR OF THE VAULT AT THE
BACK OF THE CHURCH. FORTY YEARS AFTER THE BODY WAS REMOVED, BUT WHERE
IT WAS REINTERRED IS UNKNOWN.

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

tended to create a distinction between them and the
lethargic clergy of the Church of England.^^

Andrew, eldest son of Philip and Miriam Barratt,
was bom September 22, 1756, and on December 10,
1778, married Ann Clarke, daughter of Hon. John
Clarke,^*' who was an earnest and highly esteemed
Methodist. He was admitted to the Kent County bar
in 1779. The positions of honor and trust he held —
Sheriff 1780-1792; member of Constitutional Conven-
tion, 1792; Judge Court of Common Pleas and High
Court of Errors and Appeals, 1799-1812 ; Speaker of
the Senate, 1812-13 and 14; Commissioner under Act
April 15, 1813, for general defence of State of Dela-
ware; Presidential Elector, 1816 and 1820, besides
other appointments by the Assembly — show the high
regard in which he was held. He must have had great
influence with the people of Delaware to have thus held
public office almost continuously for forty years from
1780 to 1820, within one year of his death.^^

On the tenth day of January, 1796, by a Deed of
Emancipation duly recorded at Dover in Deed Book H,
Vol. 2, p. 264, Andrew Barratt, to use his own words,

""American Church Historical Series," Vol. 7, C. C. Tiffany,
p. 45.

" John Clark, Member of Boston Relief Committee, Kent Co.,
July, 1774 (Vol. 1, Scharf 218), Member Constitution Convention,
August 27, 1776, Kent Co.; Judge Coiui of Common Pleas, Kent
Co., Apiil 5, 1777, and again February 6, 1779, when he was com-
missioned Chief Justice ( Scharf 's "History of Delaware," Vol. I.,
523 and 563).

" Conrad's " History of Delaware," p. 892.

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

''being fully persuaded that liberty is the natural

birthright of all mankind and keeping any in perpetual

slavery is contrary to the injunctions of Christ," for

which reason ''he did manumit and set absolutely free

all his negroes, thirteen in all, so that henceforth they

shall be deemed, adjudged and taken as and for free
people. "^2

The question arises. Who persuaded Andrew Bar-
ratt to do this noble act? Why Asbury of course.
Andrew Barratt, while regarded as well-to-do for his
day, could not have been worth more than twenty-five
thousand dollars, so his voluntary manumission of
his slaves, without which he could not carry on his
farm, who were worth in the market several thousand
dollars in gold, for conscience sake alone, is a devotion
to principle such as can only excite our warmest ad-
miration and commendation when one stops to con-

" Scharf in Vol. II. of " History of Delaware," p. 1155, states
Andrew Gray (the Grandfather of Hon. George Gray, now Judge of
the Circuit Court of the United States) owned 465 acres and lived
upon Bartlett's lot in 1775. This was devised to him by Andrew
Caldwell (Kent Deed Book G, 2, 169), whose daughter, Jean Cald-
well Gray, was first cousin of Miriam Sipple Barratt, wife of Philip
Barratt. February 25, 1831, Andrew Gray sold this tract to Susannah
"Warren except his burial ground (Deed Book D, 3 p. 332, Kent Co.),
and on p. 1169, Vol. II., Scharf states in a note, Drumner Gray, an
aged freeman, who died in 1840, could be seen in his cart drawn by
his oxen early Sunday morning on his way to Barratt's Chapel,
where in the gallery the colored people worshipped in those days and
held class meetings before the white folks arrived. Back of these
historic walls of Methodism and of the more recent mortuary city of
evergreen and marble are the graves of those early Christians of the
colored race." Drumner Gray said the last herd of buffalo on Murder-
kill Neck was in a meadow on the farm of his master, Andrew Gray.

DR. ELIJAH BARRATT

SON OF PHILIP BARRATT, OF BARRATT'S CHAPEL. BORN APRIL 29, 1770; DIED APRIL,
1809; STUDIED MEDICINE UNDER HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, DR. NATHANIEL LUFF; READ
IN 1791 ESSAY ON INFLUENZA BEFORE DELAWARE STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY, OF WHICH
HE WAS A MEMBER; MARRIED MARGARET FISHER, A DESCENDANT OF JOHN FISHER,
WHO CAME ON THE " WELCOME " WITH WILLIAM PENN. (See Fisher Genealogy.)

Barratfs Chapel and Methodism.

sider the financial sacrifice involved. It speaks well
for Methodism and her teaching which was opposed to
slavery. It required great moral qualities to do as he
did and too much credit cannot be accorded him for
it. His father Philip Barratt, his brothers Caleb Bar-
ratt and Dr. Elijah Barratt, and a cousin Samuel Bar-
ratt also manumitted their slaves. The fact that two
of these deeds were acknowledged before "Andrew
Barratt, one of the Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas of the State of Delaware," is more than a coin-
cidence.^^ In Andrew Barratt 's family Bible are the
following entries in his handwriting:

"Mariah, daughter of Bet, was born in May, 1813.
This child I gave to Sack, its father, at the death of
the mother, which happened in February, 1814, same
day after my son."

"Bill, the son of Liza, was born August 10, 1813.
Harriet, daughter of Liza, was born, February, 1818.
Negro Comfort, formerly the property of Grand-
mother Sipple (nee Mary Hunn, wife of Waitman
Sipple, Jr.), is supposed to be 74 years of age Christ-
mas Day, 1813. She departed this life winter of 1817
about 80 years of age."

Andrew Barratt took a lively interest in all that ap-

" Manumissions, Caleb Barratt, Deed Book K, Vol. 2, p. 227,
Dover, Kent County, Delaware, 1808; Manumissions, Caleb Barratt,
Deed Book Q, Vol. 2, p. 74, Dover, Kent County, Delaware, 1815;
Manumissions, Caleb Barratt, Deed Book G, Vol. 2, p. 11, Dover,
Kent County, Delaware, 1801. Dr. Elijah Barratt built a Chapel at
Camden, Delaware, September 16, 1791. See Asbury's Journal,
Vol. II., 143. Dr. Barratt was Justice of the Peace, 1793. Scharp,
" History of Delaware," Vol. I., pp. 473-483; Vol. II., p. 1133.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

pertained to the Chapel upon which he expended the
sum of $1,000 after the death of his father. He is
described physically as a large, fine looking man and is
always spoken of as the "pious Judge Barratt" upon
the authority of Asbury, in whose journal his name
frequently appears but always in brief, though signifi-
cant allusion. Such (says Stevens) were some of the
influential supporters of Asbury in his persecutions
when the Revolutionary storm swept over the country.
They protected him and at last procured him liberty
to travel and preach. He seems to have had peculiar
success in gathering about the Methodist standard in
these days of its humiliation, devout families of the
higher classes. In most of the middle provinces there
were now examples of wealth and social influence con-
secrated to the struggling cause; opulent mansions
opened with pious welcome to the travel worn itiner-
ants, and made not only asylums for them but sanc-
tuaries of worship for their humble people. On Sun-
day, November 15, 1784, wearied and worn by travel
and preaching he arrived on Sunday during public
worship, at his friend Barratt 's Chapel. A man of
small stature, ruddy complexion, brilliant eyes, long
hair, musical voice, and gowned as an English clergy-
man was officiating. Asbury ascended the pulpit and
embraced and kissed him before the whole assembly,
for the itinerant recognized him as another messenger
from Wesley come to his relief after the desertion of
all his English associates, a man who had become a

Barr alt's Chapel and Methodism.

chieftain of Methodism in England, Ireland and Wales
only second to Wesley himself. This man whom
Asbury mourning his death years afterwards, charac-
terized him as ''the greatest man of the last century
in Christian labors," not excluding Whitfield or Wes-
ley, represented in the humble pulpit of Barratt's
Chapel the most momentous revolution in American
Methodism. He was the Eev. Thomas Coke, LL.D., of
Jesus College, Oxford, but now the first Bishop of the
western hemisphere. Asbury 's consecration to the
episcopate was the first Protestant ordination of the
kind in the new world, but Coke's was the first for it.
Lednum mentions the following chapels in Delaware at
the time of Coke's arrival in America. Kent County,
Forest, Barratt's, White's, Bethel and Moore's. In
Sussex County, Cloud's, Blackiston's, Friendship in
Thoroughfare Neck, and Wesley Chapel in Dover.

Up to the close of the year 1784 "the people called
Methodists" in this country, as in England, were
simply "societies," under the supervision of Mr. Wes-
ley, none of their preachers being permitted to baptise
or administer the Lord's Supper, but being required
to counsel and direct all the members to follow their
example in seeking these sacred ordinances at the
hands of ministers who had been ordained by Bishops
of the Established Church of England. There is small
wonder that some of them, preachers as well as not a
few of their people, grew very restive under such irri-
tating restriction; especially after Lowth, Bishop of

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

London, refused Wesley's request to ordain at least
two priests who could administer the sacraments to
American Methodists/^ but the affectionate reverence
felt for Mr. Wesley and the towering influence of his
American representative, the intrepid and self-sacri-
ficing Asbury, had hitherto stayed the rising tide of
dissent, with a brief exception of very limited extent.
Now, however, the United States had been recognized
by Great Britain as an independent nation, and ecclesi-
astical independence was naturally coincident with
civil and political freedom. Wesley did not intend it
to be a separate church but a missionary movement
within the Church of England, of which he was a mem-
ber and which he believed to be the best church in the
world. Dr. McConnell sums it up by stating: ''But
the great spreading branch grew too heavy to be sus-
tained by the slender stem of the American Church,
. . . and it broke away by its own weight."^'

Mr. Wesley showed himself equal to the demands
of the situation. Hence his carefully prepared plan
for organizing his American societies into an inde-

" Steven's " Methodism," p. 75. McMaster's " History of the
People of the United States," Vol. I., p. 56.

* Dr. McConnell's " English Church in the Colonies," pp. 171-172.

Thomas Vasey, two years after his arrival, for some reason
accepted reordination at the hands of Bishop "William White of
The Protestant Episcopal Church. He soon afterwards returned to
London and accepted a curacy. But the old Methodist habit was
strong, and he returned to the Wesleyan connection and was
stationed at City Road Chapel, where he read the liturgy of the
Church of England as Mr. Wesley's will directed. He subsequently
lived in Leeds, where he died, December 27, 1826.

REV. THOMAS COKE, LL. D.

THE FIRST BISHOP OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN
AMERICA, WHO WAS PREACHING AT BARRATT'S CHAPEL,
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1784, WHEN REV. FRAN-
CIS ASBURY CAME UP IN THE PULPIT

Barratt^s Chapel and Methodism.

pendent Episcopal Church. Having ordained two of
his preachers, Eichard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey,
deacons and elders, he set apart Thomas Coke, LL.D.,
a presbyter of the Church of England, and one of his
own most accomplished and efficient helpers, as super-
intendent of the Methodists in North America, con-
secrating him for the same, after the form of the
Church ritual, by prayer and the imposition of his
hands, with those of two other presbyters. This
occurred September 2, 1784, Dr. Coke being appointed
by Mr. Wesley to act jointly with Mr. Asbury. With
Messrs. Whatcoat and Vasey, the doctor landed in New
York, November 3, and in two days reached Dover.
He states in his journal: ''Here we were kindly re-
ceived by Mr. (Richard) Bassett, of the Executive
Council, who is building us a large chapel. Here we
met Freeborn Garrett son. Sunday, November 14,
Richard Whatcoat preached in the courthouse at 6 a.m.
to a very good congregation. About eleven o 'clock we
arrived at Barratt's Chapel, so called from our friend
who built it, and who went to heaven a few days ago.
In this chapel in the midst of a forest I had a noble
congregation to whom I endeavored to set forth the
Redeemer as our 'wisdom, righteousness, sanctifica-
tion, and redemption.' After the sermon a plain, ro-
bust man came up to me in the pulpit and kissed me.
I thought it could be no other than Mr. Asbury, and I
was not deceived." In his journal Mr. Asbury has
this reference to the meeting : ' ' Sunday, 14, I came to

Barratt's Chapel and -Methodism.

Barratt's Chapel; here, to my great joy, I met those
dear men of God, Dr. Coke and Eichard Whatcoat.
We were greatly comforted together." Evidently he
had heard the sermon, for he adds, ''The doctor
preached on 'Christ our wisdom, righteousness, sancti-
fication, and redemption.' " The occasion was a quar-
terly meeting at which were present "fifteen of the
preachers and a host of the laity. ' ' One of the latter
thus describes the scene: "While Coke was preaching
jisbury came into the congregation. A solemn pause
and deep silence took place at the close of the sermon,
as an interval for introduction and salutation. As-
bury and Coke, with hearts full of brotherly kindness,
approached, embraced and saluted each other. The
other preachers, at the same time, were melted into
sympathy and tears. The sacrament of the Lord's
Supper was administered by the doctor and Whatcoat
tn several hundred, and it was a blessed season to
many souls, while in the holy ordination they dis-
cerned, through faith, the Lord's body and showed
forth His death. It is the more affecting to my mem-
ory as it was the first time I ever partook of the
Lord's Supper, and the first time that the ordinance
was ever administered among the Methodists (in this
country) by their own regularly ordained preachers."
So writes Ezekiel Cooper, then a young man of twenty-
one, who was induced at this meeting to join the itin-
erant ranks, and subsequently became one of the most

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

useful and distinguished preachers of Methodism.^^'*
Dr. Coke adds: ''I administered the sacrament, after
preaching, to five or six hundred communicants, and
held a love feast. It was the best season I ever knew,
except one in Ireland. After dining with eleven of
our preachers at Sister (Miriam) Barratt's about one
mile from the chapel, Mr. Asbury and I had a private
conversation on the future management of our affairs
in America. He informed me that he had received
some intimation of my arrival on the continent and
that he thought it probable I might meet him that day
and have something of importance to communicate to
him from Mr. Wesley, and that he had therefore col-
lected a considerable number of preachers to form a
council; and if they were of opinion that it would be
expedient immediately to call a conference it should
be done." The council of preachers unanimously de-
cided to call a Conference of all the preachers to meet
in Baltimore on Christmas Eve; and Freeborn Gar-
rettson was sent off to give notice throughout the con-
nection. Dr. Coke further records that "Mr. Asbury
and I have agreed to use our joint endeavors to estab-
lish a school or college. I baptized thirty or forty
infants and seven adults. We had indeed a precious
time at the baptism of the adults. ' '

These are the facts that invest Barratt's Chapel
with rare historic interest:

*'" Rev. Ezekiel Cooper baptised the late Ambassador to England
Thomas F. Bayard in the rites of the Methodist Church.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

1. The place in which Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury first
met.

2. The place where sacramental ordinances were
first administered in this country by duly authorized
Methodist preachers to Methodist communicants.

Stevens says, ' ' Thus we reach again the memorable
interview at Barratt's Chapel, and here in the forest
solitudes the momentous scheme of Coke's mission are
fully disclosed. The first general conference of Ameri-
can Methodists was appointed, and Garrettson set
off like an arrow to summon it together and the pro-
ject of Dickins for a Methodist College revived. It
was with prayerful counsels, sacramental solemnities,
liberal devisings and with singing and shouting that
the young denomination prepared in the Woodland
Retreat to enter upon its new and worldwide des-
tinies. ' '

The Christmas Conference or the First American
General Conference was held in Lovely Lane Church
in Baltimore, Md., on Friday, December 24, 1784.
Garrettson had sped his way over 1,200 miles in six
weeks, summoning the itinerants to the Conference,
and on his return found sixty out of eighty ministers
present.^^ Bishop Coke on taking the chair presented
his credentials, and in accordance with Mr. Wesley's
design, says Mr. Asbury, it was agreed "to form our-
selves into an Episcopal Church and to have Superin-
tendents, Elders and Deacons," The laymen did not

*• Dr. Bang's " Life of Garrettson," p. 146.

o
<

ro rn
> t-

r- <

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

participate in this convention and were therefore not
bound by it, but the new form of church government
met with their approval. Dr. Buckley says: ''The
prayer-book was regularly used in these early days at
least once on Sundays. Asbury even appeared in
canonicals, but sturdy Jesse Lee rebuked him for it
and the gown and band disappeared."

The Lovely Lane Church in Baltimore is no more.
It was torn down in 1787 by William Wilson & Son,
tea merchants, whose warehouses on what was Lovely
Lane, now German Street extended, were partly built
of its materials. These warehouses in turn have dis-
appeared and the ground is now occupied by the Mer-
chants' Club on German Street east of Calvert Street.
The destruction of the Lovely Lane Church where the
actual organization of the Methodist Church took place
was a sacrilege and should not have been permitted.

The American Methodist Historical Society has
placed this tablet to mark the spot: "Upon this site
stood from 1774 to 1786 the Lovely Lane Meeting
House in which was organized December, 1784, The
Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of
America."

Now a word as to Methodism itself. As your late
Chief Justice Lore truly said, Methodism is easily a
leader in American Protestantism.

Methodism and Americanism, so to speak, are
closely akin.

Each was a protest against tyranny and corruption

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

of the old world. The one against religious corrup-
tion and vice; the other against civic corruption and
licentiousness.

Each repudiated and broke loose from the forms
and systems of the old world and started on new lines,
with unbounded freedom, seeking new ideals and
higher possibilities of human development.

The psalmist tells us to ''Walk about Zion, and go
round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye
well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may
tell it to the generation following. "^^ — And this I have
endeavored to do. To use the eloquent words of the
Eev. Frederick Merrick: "We have spoken much, and
very naturally and properly of Methodists and Meth-
odism, of Methodist doctrines and Methodist usages.
It could not have been otherwise. We have spoken
eulogistically, perhaps at times too much so, but let
not those of other church organizations who have
heard or who shall read, these utterances, deem this an
evidence of a narrow sectarianism. We claim to be
liberal — to be truly catholic. We ought to be so. Not
only is this the spirit of our common Christianity, but
it was eminently the spirit of our founder. To all who
honor and love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and
truth, we say Hail, all hail, the blessings of the highest
be upon you. Gladly will we join hands with you
against the common foe, fighting the good fight of

" Psalm XLVIII : 12 and 13.

REV. THOMAS E. MARTINDALE, D. D.

MEMBER OF WILMINGTON CONFERENCE. HE IS THE GREAT-GRANDSON OF PHILIP
BARRATT. HE DISTINCTLY REMEMBERS HIS GRANDMOTHER, MIRIAM BARRATT, WHO
MARRIED JOHN MARTINDALE. HE IS (l91l) PASTOR OF THE ASBURY METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT SALISBURY, MD.

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

faith until the kingdoms of this world have become
the Kingdoms of our Lord.

When Barratt's Chapel was projected a prominent
man inquired what use was to be made of it. Being
informed it was to be a place of worship for the Meth-
odists, his reply was, "It is unnecessary to build such
a house, for by the time the war is over a corncrib will
hold them all." History shows this person's fears
were not realized. No corncrib ever constructed could
hold even a fraction of them, as they are today a world-
wide Christian communion. Its regular clergy num-
bers over twenty thousand, its actual membership over
six million, four hundred and seventy-seven thousand,
two hundred and twenty-four communicants, and its
adherents fifteen millions of souls. And that there
may yet be a closer communion is foreshadowed by the
suggestion of Hon. Kobert W. Perkes, M.P. for Lin-
colnshire, at the annual conference in England held in
London, July 18, 1907, viz: "The establishment of
Methodist bureaus in all parts of the world for mutual
aid."

As a nation, says George William Curtis in his ora-
tion on Mr. Lowell, we did not invent the great monu-
ments of liberty, trial by jury, the habeas corpus, con-
stitutional restraint, the common schools, of all of
which we were the civilized heirs with civilized Chris-
tendom. So the Episcopal Church did not create epis-
copacy, nor extemporize a liturgy, nor invent a creed.
To apply to the church what Mr. Curtis says of the

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

state, *'the higher spirit of conservatism was its own
and it cherished a reverence for antiquity, a suscepti-
bility to the value of tradition, an instinct for contin-
uity and development, an antipathy to violent rupture
— the grace and claim of an established order. And
can we not say this is equally true of the Methodist
Episcopal Church r^

The time has now arrived when the trustees of Bar-
ratt's Chapel, through their Pastor Eev. F. J. Coch-
ran, have asked permission of this Wilmington Con-
ference to raise an endowment of $50,000 and place
the fund in charge of the Board of Home Missions and
Church Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Church
to insure its preservation for all time. This object
must appeal strongly to all American Methodists when
called to their attention. A little from each one can-
not fail but attain the sum desired from the Methodist
Church at large, because Barratt's Chapel is the little
crystal spring, the source from which flowed the
mighty river of Methodism.^^

** " American Church History," by Chas. C. Tiffany, p. 290.

**At Wibnington Annual Conference held March 17, 1911, Judge
Norris S. Barratt, of Philadelphia, was presented to the Conference,
and spoke with reference to the proposed endowment for Barratt's
Chapel. The bible of Judge Andrew Barratt, used in the Chapel by
Thomas Coke, Francis Asbury, Richard Whatcoat, Ezekiel Cooper
and others was exhibited for Conference examination.

Rev. F. J. Cochran, Pastor of Barratt's Chapel, presented the
following :

" Whereas, It has been predicted time and again that Barratt's
Chapel would be abandoned as a place of worship on account of its
proximity to other churches, which have been erected during the
nineteenth century.

REV. F. J. COCHRAN

PASTOR OF BARRATT'S CHAPEL, 1911

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

Do not let it be said of us at least as far as Barratt's
Chapel is concerned:

" They all are passing from the land,
Those churches old and gray,

" We the trustees of said chapel, desiring to provide for the future
prosperity and continuance of public worship at this place, made
sacred by the pioneers of Methodism, the meeting place of Bishop
Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, the place in America where the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first administered by a regularly
ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the place
at which announcement was made of the First General Conference of
Methodist ministers now called the ' Christmas Conference,' to meet,
which they did on Friday, December 24, 1874, at Baltimore, Md.

" Resolved, That acting on the advice of our pastor, the Rev. F. J.
Cochran, we endeavor to obtain an endowment for Barratt's Chapel,
and kindly request of friends and the church at large their approval
and cheerful assistance for this worthy object.

" James W. Grier,
" William E. Davis,
" Caleb B. Williams,
" Robert J. Russell,
" Walter S. Camper,
" Luther R. Robbins,
" Trustees Barratt's Chapel and Cemetery.
" December 2, 1910.

" On hearing this the quarterly conference took the following
action :

* We, the members of the quarterly conference of Magnolia charge
(of which Barratt's Chapel is a part) in quarterly conference
assembled, December 19, 1910, heartily endorse the action of the
trustees of Barratt's Chapel, December 2, 1910, concerning the en-
dowment for the chapel, and earnestly recommend the Wilmington
Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at its next
session in Wilmington, Delaware, March 15, 1911, to favorably
recommend the endowment of this historic place to the Methodist
Episcopal Church and to American Methodism in general.

"H. C. Johnson,

" Secretary.
"R. K. Stephenson,
" District Superintendent."

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

In which our forefathers used to stand
In years gone by to pray."

Our ancestors built Barratt's Chapel and helped to
organize Methodism for love of God and desire to ben-

Besolved, That the Pastors be requested to bring before each con-
gregation Barratt's Chapel Endowment, and secure free wiU offer-
ings and

Resolved, That we request the District Superintendents to present
this matter to at least one of the Quarterly Conferences of each
charge duiing the year.

On motion of R, K. Stephenson the resolution was adopted as read
and on motion of W. E. Tomkinson, the funds were ordered deposited
with the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension. (Journal
Wilmington Conference, 1911, p. 31 and 38.)

Philadelphia Annual Conference
Park Avenue Church^ Philadelphia.

Apternoon Session, Tuesday, March 21, 1911.

"Judge Norris S. Barratt and F. J. Cochran addressed conference."*

"' From the Journal of the Philadelphia Conference, 124th session,
p. 85.

The Hon. Norris S. Barratt, Judge of Court of Common Pleas No. 2,
Philadelphia, and F. J. Cochran, pastor of Barratt's Chapel, were
introduced and addressed the Conference."

"Endowment Plan for Barratt's Chapel Endorsed. — J. D. C.
Hanna presented the following, which was adopted:

"Resolved 1, That we have heard with great pleasure the admirable
historical address of Judge Norris S. Barratt, and the address of
Rev. F. J. Cochran, and we are in full sympathy with the movement
to preserve Barratt's Chapel. We join the Wilmington Conference
in endorsing the action pertaining to the Barratt's Chapel En-
dowment."

"Resolved 2, We recommend to the pastors that they present this
cause to each of their congregations during the year, and if prac-
ticable secure a free-will offei*ing for the same.

"Resolved 3, We recommend that the District Superintendents
present the subject to at least one of the Quarterly Conferences of
each charge during the year."

Barratt's Chapel and Methodism.

efit man. It stands today a shrine reared by their
work and self-denial and speaks in no uncertain tones
to the American Methodist of their humility and faith.
Methodists will never forget what they did there. The
duty of Methodists today is to preserve Barratt's
Chapel, the cradle of Methodism, that it may always be
maintained for the glory of God with all its thrilling
associations for the instruction and the inspiration of
Methodists yet unborn.

One hundred and Twenty-Seventh Session of Baltimore Annual
Conference — Sixth Session, Washington, D. C, April 3, 1911.

Barratt's Chapel, C. M. Levister offered the following resolution
and it was adopted.

Resolved, That we commend the purpose of the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Conferences in their efforts to perpetuate the historic
Barratt's Chapel through a sufficient endowment, and that we will
aid them in this laudable endeavor in every feasible way.

E. L. HUBBAKD,

W. W. Barnes,
C. M. Levister.
(Journal of Conference, 1911, p. 53.)

INDEX.

Asbury Church, Wilmington, Del.,
12, 54, title page

Asbury, Bishop Francis, 3; seats
in chapel, 18; trustees of chapel,
19; personal bible, 19; arranges
rules, ib.; preached at Furbee,
23; obtained subscription of 700
cwt. of pork, 26; address of the
bishop to General Washington,
23

Asbury, journal entries, quoted,
24, 26; preaches at Barratt's
Chapel, 26; arrives, 31, 36;
quoted, 37; lodges with Andrew
Barratt, 37; extract from jour-
nal, 38; portrait, 39; memorial
tablet, Eutaw St. Church, 40;
persuades Barratt to manumit
slaves, 42; preaches at Barratt's
Chapel, 44; journal quoted, 47;
mentioned, 49 ; appears in canon-
icals, 51; Eev. Ethan Allen, 26

Barratt's Chapel (Cradle of
Methodism), 3, 7; simplicity of,
8; situation of, 16; dimensions,
17, 18; dedication, 26, 35; As-
bury preaches, 37, 38; portrait,
38; Andrew Barratt expends
$1000, 44; historic facts, 50;
quoted, 53; endowment to be
raised, 54; trustees appeal, 55;
historic address of Hon. Norris
S. Barratt, 56; resolution en-
dorsed by Wilmington, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore Confer-
ences, 57

Brinckle, Wm., 5

Boardman, Eichard, 10, 11

Barre, Col., quoted, 15

Bohemia Manor, 19

Bassett, Eichard, 23, 35, 36; por-
trait, 36; entertains Coke, 47

Buckley, Eev. James M., 33-37,
51

Brewer, Mr. Justice David J., 32

Bangs, Dr. Nathan, 4, 50

Barnes, W. W., 57

Baltimore, Lord, 26

Barratt, Sr., Philip, in America,
1678^, supposed to be emigrant,
19; death of, 20

Barratt, Philip, 4, 6; environment,
10; birth, 20; donates ground
for Barratt's Chapel, 16; auto-
graph, 17; sheriff, 18-20;
trustees of chapel, 19; marries,
in Legislature during Eevolu-
tion, 21, 22, 23; owns two sloops,
23; determined to build chapel,
23-35; death of, 36, 37, 41, 43;
homestead, 49

Barratt, Norris S., genealogy, 6,
27; Conference addresses, 56

Barratt, Sr., James, portrait of, 6

Barratt, Jr., James, portrait of,
mention of, 8

Barratt, Alfred, portrait of, 16

Barratt, Caleb, portrait of, 23;
manumits slaves, 43

Barratt, Dr. Elijah, portrait of,
43; mentioned, 23; built chapel,
Camden, Delaware, 38

Barratt, Andrew, of Cecil Co., Md.,
20

Barratt, Judge Andrew, of Kent
Co., Del., 6, 23, 27, 35; delegate
to Constitution Convention, 1792,

Index.

30; executor, 36, 37, 41; manu-
mits slaves, 42; records of
marriage and births, 43; lawyer,
sheriff, 1780-1792, judge,
speaker of Senate, commissioner
and presidential elector, 41

Barratt, Catharine, 19

Barratt, Eoger, 19; marries, 20

Barratt, Miriam S., 5, 23, 36, 41,
42; entertains Dr. Coke and
Asbury, 49; marries Dr. Edward
White, 36

Barratt, Nathaniel, 23

Barratt, Lydia, 23

Coke, Thomas, 3; seat in chapel,
18, 36; preached at Barratt 's
Chapel, 45; portrait, 47; ap-
pointed superintendent, 47; dines
at Sister Barratt 's, 49

Cubley, John, 5

Curtis, John, 5; provincial council-
lor, 5

Clark, John, Sr., 5, 41; father of
Ann Clarke Barratt

Clark, Eobert, 11

Com Exchange, Philadelphia, 6

Clark, Adam, 11

Conner, Barratt, P., 20

Conner, James Barratt, 20

Conner, Alvin Barratt, 20

Cook, John, 22

Cromwell, Joseph, 26

Cornbury, Lord (quoted), 27

Chauncey, Charles, attacks revival-
ists, 40

Clarke, Ann, 41; wife of Andrew
Barratt

Curtis, George Wm. (quoted), 53

Cochran, Rev. F. J., to raise en-
dowment, 54; portrait, 55

Colonial Society of Pennsylvania, 5

Carrall, James, 35

Carrall, Chas. Ridgeley, 35

Cooper, Eev. Ezekiel, 49

Conference at Wilmington, Del.,

1911, 54
Conference at Philadelphia, Pa.,

1911, 56
Conference at Washington, D. C,

1911, 57
Campes, Walter S., 55
Conrad, Judge Henry C, quoted,

5, 6, 8, 9, 23, 35, 36, 41

Dill, Ellen Leighton, 6

Dill, Abner, 5

Dill, Dr. Eobert, 6; Adjutant gen-
eral, 1812

Dickinson, John, 22 ; portrait of,
28; biographical sketch, 29;
farmer's letters, 32

Dequincy (quoted), 27

Davenport, T. A. (quoted), 40

Duncan, Judge, 32

Davis, William E., 55

Eyre, Thomas, 4; Penn's agent, 5
Emburg, Philip, 10
Ebenezer M. E. Church, Philadel-
phia, 6
Emerson, Ealph Waldo, 16

Farrell, Ann, 5

Ford, David, 11

Furbee, Caleb, 17, 23, 25

Furbee, Jonathan, 17

Fisher, Sydney George, quoted, 13

George III., form of prayer, 14
Garrettson, Freeborn, 18; comes

out of jail, 31, 47
Gough, Harry Dorsey, 23, 35
Glendenning, Bro., exhorts, 25
Green, Philemon, 37
Gray, Andrew, 24, 42
Gray, Hon. George, 42

Index.

Gray, Drumner, 42
Grier, James W., 55

Heathered, Thomas, 4; refuses to

pay taxes, 5
Hunn, Nathaniel; 5
Hersey, Isaac, 11
Hayden, Kev. Horace E., 20
Hartly, Bro., exhorts, 25
Hazzard, David, portrait, 30
Hunn, Mary, 43
Hassler, Isaac, 32
Hanna, J. D. C, 56
Hubbard, E. L., 57

James, Daniel, 17
Johnny Cake Bridge, 24
Justice Hildas, 5
Johnson, H. C, 55

King, John, 10, 11

Lewis, David, 17

Lamp of Memory (Euskin), 19

Lovefeast at Barratt's, 25

Locke, John (quoted), 27

Liberty of vrorship in the colonies,

28
Lockwood, Kichard, 36
Lowth, Bishop, refuses to ordain

Methodists, 46
Lovely Lane Church, Christmas

conference at, 50 ; picture of, 51 ;

destruction of, 51
Lee, Jesse, 51

Lednum, Eev, John, 4, 9, 35, 36
Low, Chief Justice Chas. B., 51
Levister, C. M., 57
Little, Chas. J., 10, 11

Merritt, William, 4

McNatt, John, 5
Meigs, William M., 15
Montesquieu (quoted), 12
Meade, Bishop (quoted), 12
McConnell, Eev, Dr. (quoted), 10,

12, 39, 46
Merritt, Jane, 19
Merritt, Thomas, 19
Magaw, Eev. Samuel (prays at

Barratt's), 24, 25
McLane, Allan (portrait of), 26;

biographical sketch, 27
McKean, Thomas, 32; historical

sketch, 33
Methodist doctrine, John Wesley's

notes and sermons, 17
Methodism simply societies, 45
Methodism, word about, 51
Merrick, E«v. Fred (quoted), 52
Mifflin, Warner, 5
Maryland Society Colonial Wars, 5
McMaster, John B., quoted, 10, 46
Minutes of Council Delaware, 22
Mallory, Eev. Chas. Payson, 36
Martindale, Eev. Thomas E., por-
trait of, 52

Neall, Francis, 4
Neall, Samuel, 6
Nock, Thomas, 4
New Castle, Del., introduction of

Methodism, 11
North British Eeview (quoted), 15

Pattison, Eobert E., 36
Pennypacker, S. W. (quoted), 9
Pilmore, Joseph, Eev., 3, 10, 11;

portrait of, 12
Prayer for our enemies, 14
Purden, Andrew, 17
Price, Joseph, 20
Peddicord, Bro., 26
Pennsylvania peopled by different

religions, 30

Index.

Presbytery, First American, 30
Perry Hall Mansion, 35
Perry, Wm. Stevens, 13
Pennsylvania Society Sons of the

Revolution, 5
Pennsylvania Society Colonial

Wars, 5
Perkes, Hon. Eobt. W., 53

Eankin, Thomas, 10, 11
Robinson, Miriam, 20
Rodney, Caesar (letter from), 21
Rodney, Thomas (mentioned), 21
Read, George, 22
Religious toleration, 26
Religious liberty in Delaware, 29
Ridgaway, H. B., eulogises As-

bury, 40
Record of marriage and births, 43
Reed, Dr. George Edward, 15
Roman Catholics, 28
Russell, Robert J., 55
Robbins, Luther R., 55
Ruskin, John (quoted), 19

St. George's, Philadelphia, 4; pic-
ture of, 4; synopsis of history,
5

Sipple, Garrett, 5

Stanley, Dean (quoted), 16

Stille, Dr. Chas. J. (quoted), &, 26

Shadford, Rev., 11

Strawbridge, Robert, 10

St. Paul's P. E, Church, 10, 25

Sachse, Julius F., form of prayer,
14, 27

Sipple, Waitman, 17, 18, 20, 23,
25, 43

Smith, Captain John, 7

Smith, Samuel, 17

Sipple Jonathan, Coroner, 18

Sewell, Rev. Richard, 20

Sipple, Miriam, marries Philip
Barratt, 20

Smithers, Nathaniel Barratt, por-
trait, 24

Sipple, Anna, 25

Sipple, Mary Hunn, 25

Smallwood, Genl., arrests Metho-
dists, 34

Stevens, Rev. Dr. Abel, 4, 34, 36,
46

Simpson, Bishop, 36

Slaves, manumitted, 42, 43

Society of War of 1812, 5

Schenck, Edwin, 35

Stephenson, R. K., 55, 56

Scharf, J. Thos. (quoted), 12, 20,
24, 41, 42

Tussey, Isaac, 11

Tiffany, Rev. Dr. C. C. (quoted),
14, 41, 54

Townshend, Charles (quoted), 15

Townsend, George Alfred (quoted),
19, 33

Thoroughfare Neck, 45

Trustees, Barratt 's Chapel, ap-
peal, 55

Todd, Rev. Robt. W., 19

Tomkinson, W. E., 56

Updegraph vs. Commonwealth, 32

Vasey, Thomas, 46, 47

Wilson, James, Sr., 4

Walker, Richard, 5

Williams, Robert, 10, 11

Wright, Rev., 11

Webster, Thomas, 11

Wesley, Rev. John, preaches in

Georgia, 10; portrait of, 10;

memorial, 16; notes of, 17;

Index.

sends missionary, 31; opposition
to revolution, 33, reverence for,
46; appoints Dr. Coke, 47; men-
tioned, 49

"Wesley, Charles, Eev., preaches in
Georgia, 10; mentioned, 13, 16

Whitfield, George, preaches in
Georgia, 10; mentioned, 45

Whatcoat, Eiehard, 47, 48

Webb, Thomas, 10; apostle of
Methodism, 11

Wakeley (quoted), 32

Watters, William, 31

White, D.D., William, 15, 16

White, Dr. Edward, 23, 36; mar-
ries Miriam Barratt

White, Samuel, 35

Wilmington, Del., Methodism in-
troduced, 11; assembly meets,
21

White, Thomas, Judge, 23, 33;
persecuted, 34, 35, 36

Williams, Eeynear, 17, 23

"William's Chance," 17

Wilson, Justice (quoted), 26

Washington, Genl. George, 22; as
President, 22; reverse address
from bishops

Wilmington, Conference at, 55

Wilson, William, 51

Williams, Caleb B., 55

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Full text of "Barratt's Chapel and Methodism, historical address delivered before forty-third Wilmington annual conference, at Asbury Methodist Episcopal church, Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday, March 17th, 1911"

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