USA > Delaware > Methodism of the peninsula, or, Sketches of notable characters and events in the history of Methodism in the Maryland and Delaware peninsula > Part 7
USA > Maryland > Methodism of the peninsula, or, Sketches of notable characters and events in the history of Methodism in the Maryland and Delaware peninsula > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
To stand near the chapel on a bright morning, when the assembly is gathering, and scan the horizon around, presents a spectacle never to be forgotten. The mingled picture of little green isles ; the glistening and rippled streets of water ; the scores of snowy sails, like angel wings, dotting the horizon in every direction for miles, and converging towards the humble sanctuary ; the mingled snatches of cheerful, sacred melodies from many of the approaching crews, floating over the waters from every direction in sweet and witching confusion, stamp an impression on the sensitive canvass of the soul, so weird and picturesque as to remain forever indelible.
It was night when the " Bugeye " that bore us across from Crisfield arrived; and, in a little while, the tired
102
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
voyager was snugly tucked away in the preacher's room at "Uncle" Haney Bradshaw's. The little one-story cottage having proven too strait, the proprietor had sawn it asunder, moved one-half twenty feet away; and, between the two parts, had erected a two-story addition for the special purpose of having a suitable and com- fortable chamber for his ministerial visitors.
Haney Bradshaw was, at that time, the patriarch of the Islands ; everybody's uncle; and, by common con- sent, proprietor of the Hotel d' Itinerante. Uncle Haney was sui generis, and perhaps even a little more so. Among his many striking peculiarities, was his propensity to coin words and phrases for his own con- venience in utterance or expression. He neither knew nor cared anything for dictionaries or usage, and set all the laws of lexicographers and grammarians at defiance. The phrase, "In that form," or sometimes, "In that manner and form, sir," was interjected into almost all his utterances. Taking down his old, blackened clay pipe from the mantel, for the indispensable smoke after the meal, said he: "Formality times, in that form, sir, I allers used to stick my pipe in my waistcoat pocket, when I warn't smokin'; but Polly she kept up a reg'lar blundeguster about it. In that manner and form, sir, she allowanced it perfumegated my clothin' with a solid con- function of a dark smell, and to pleasify Polly, in that way and manner, brother, I quit the practize." This would constitute a sufficient reason for every one to cease carrying the pipe in either the pocket or the mouth.
HANEY BRADSHAW.
103
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
Uncle Haney greatly enjoyed the preaching of the Gospel, and was not slow to express his high apprecia- tion of our efforts. After our return from church one night, he took it into his head to compliment the writer in the following style : " I tell you, brother, you had a mighty bunctious tex' to-night. In that way and form, sir, you got things into a solid smother. Why, sir, if you'd 'a combusticated at that dyin' rate a little longer, I'd 'a splodified right out in the consanctum! In that form, sir, why haint they made you a Bishop long ago ?" Uncle Haney was equally complimentary to a sermon preached on the Island, by Rev. Bro. H .- , of the Wilmington Conference; when, in giving an account of it to one of that gentleman's parishioners at Crisfield, he said : "I tell you, Bro. Hance Lawson, in that manner and form, your preacher's a regular Bonytholimar. He norated powerful well in the mornin', and then went home with me to dinner and tuck in a cooner load of pervisions ; and I tell you, sir, I didn't think he could preach much of a sermont in the arternoon, and I jest rared my head back agin the wall for a good nap; but I tell you, sir, in that way and manner, when he let on the steam and got under full headway, he jest funked out the preachin' to excess!"
Brother H-'s description of the introductory to the above-mentioned sermon is unique. While he was looking up his hymns and Scripture lessons, a tall, lank brother, in his shirt-sleeves, and somewhat resembling a pair of oyster tongs, arose in the amen corner; and,
104
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
with a very emphatic and significant gesture with his index-finger, drawled out: "Mister Preacher ; it's time for to begin !" The preacher was about to arise in obedience to the admonition, when Uncle Haney came crawling into the pulpit, and said to the preacher, in what was meant to be a whisper, but in a growl loud enough to be heard all over the house: "Brother H-, Aunt Levina Bradshaw, an old 'oman ninety and odd year old, in that form, and weighin' two hundred and odd pound, fell overboard, in that way and manner, in ten foot of water, and lost everything she had in the world, even to her shoes. And I tell you, sir, it's a mighty feelin' sense-thing, in that manner and form, and I feel for the circumstances, and I want to take a col- lection." He then straightened up, told the same story of misfortune to the congregation; and was about to proceed to make his levy on them; when the tall oyster- tongs in the amen corner again arose, entered his protest, " Agin Uncle Haney a 'sturbin' the meetin' in that way;" and then repeated, with additional emphasis : "Mr. Preacher, I say it's time for to begin." Uncle Haney, however, went right on with his appeal, and after "'sturbin' the meetin'." for about fifteen minutes, secured for Aunt Levina a "right bunctious" collection, "in that form;" and then gave his permission for the preacher to "drive ahead." The patient dominie then arose to begin the service; when another pair of human oyster-tongs came running to the door; and, beckoning to the minister, with panting breath, implored: "Mister
105
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
preacher ! Hol-hold-on a while! Don't-don't say- say yer tex' now. Ther's some a comin'-comin' to meetin' what's not got yer yit!" A precisely similar circumstance occurred, on the Sunday morning of the writer's visit; and while the "congregation, a comin' from Holland's Island, what's got becalmed and not got yer yit," were laboriously "toiling in rowing" for a full half-hour to reach the point, Uncle Haney growled out: "I don't see the use 'n people's bein' so disconstitu- tional lazy. Why don't they git up Sunday mornin's same es they was gwine a oysterin'; and then they could git to meetin', in that form, with some kind o' tem- poraneous decency !" Brother Shilling improved the opportunity by extemporising a baptismal service; and, although it was "not a good day for a christenin'" Uncle Haney said, the names of twenty-nine boys and girls were taken by the pastor for entry on his record of baptisms !
Uncle Haney Bradshaw's appearance was as uncouth as his mode of expression; but, beneath all this rough exterior, there was the most child-like simplicity and earnest sincerity. One summer it was very dry and hot, and the little corn-field, a short time before so luxuriant and promising, wilted and faded, until it made the old man heart-sick to look at it. Finally, at morning devo- tions, Uncle Haney prayed most earnestly that the Lord would send a refreshing rain, and save his little crop from destruction. That very same afternoon, a storm- cloud swept down the Chesapeake; the lightnings sent
5*
106
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
their bolts crashing along the galleries of the heavens; and the winds shrieked their weird and awful accom- paniments. But all this was music in Uncle Haney's ears, who thought only of the copious and refreshing ยท rain, that, in answer to his prayer, was blessing his thirsty corn-field. At last it was over and the sun shone out, transforming every rain-drop on the corn- blades into a glistening diamond; and, contentedly humming "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," Uncle Haney started out barefoot to walk around his little field and mingle his rejoicings with the gladness of the corn. But, alas! what havoc met his vision ! Tangled in utter confusion ; with torn roots exposed to view; with many noble stalks broken and ruined; the luxuriant corn of which he had been so proud as the biggest on the Island, seemed damaged by the storm beyond recovery. Coming back with fallen countenance and doleful groans, he entered the door and saluted his wife in the following discouraged language: "Well, Polly, in that way and manner, I've about come to the conclusion that the Lord sometimes answers prayer a little too much, and does about as much damage as he does good! I don't see, in that form, but what he mought jest as well burn up the corn with heat as tear it all to flinderations with a thunderguster !" To those who knew Haney Bradshaw well, this will not seem to be the utterance of angry complaint or irreverence. He simply gave honest expression, to about what many of us feel under parallel circumstances, and without a single thought of rebellion.
107
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
In Uncle Haney Bradshaw's apparently rugged bosom, there beat an honest heart, full of generous impulses ; and, at times, glowing with a fervor of feeling and a vividness of imagination that was simply astonishing. Never will the writer forget the effect of the old veteran's thrilling experience of his awakening and conversion, related on Sunday afternoon, as we sat under the pleasant shade of the great pear-tree that grew in his yard. No pen-portraiture can do the scene justice. It was largely the heaven-lighted face of the simple-minded old saint, that made the vivid impres- sion. He began the story while sitting smoking his pipe; but, ere long, the fascinating narcotic was for- gotten, and Uncle Haney was on his feet; his unstudied action most strikingly and gracefully dramatic; his lion-like voice softened and attuned to sympathetic tenderness; and tears of grateful remembrance of God's goodness stealing down his furrowed cheeks. His story, as nearly as I can remember, was as follows:
"I tell you, brothers, in that form, when the Lord got arter me, I was a permegatin' my own devices like a young devil; and I didn't want nothin' to do with the glimmerations of the Sperit, 'cause it took all the flavorin' out'n my confectionary, like. So I run this place, that place and the tother; and dove into all sorts o' mud-puddles, a tryin' to disgustify the Lord, so's he'd lemme be. Well, sir; in that way and manner, I was jest like one o' these ornery, cunnin' old crabs; that, soon's you git arter 'em, 'll cut stick for the place where
108
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
your paddle's stirred up the mud, so's to scapen away and hide. Well, 'bout that time, ther was a camp- meetin' over on the Somerset Main; so, in that manner and form, sir, I 'cluded to 'tend it, and performerate all the jimmycracks I could think of, so's to bust the Lord's holts loose, and do 's I pleased a spell; and then arter a while I thought, when I was fulfilled with my own cir- cumlutions, I'd turn to the Lord. Well, sir, in that form, when I got over there and hearn the singing, and begun to think what I was a tryin' to do, it seemed like to me every wind that whistled through the pine-tree tops, was like the growl of a chained devil that could almost reach me with his red-hot pitchfork; and I tell you, sir, I begun to feel powerful ramshacked-like, and wished myself back on the Island. Then I hearn a voice that seemed to say : 'Haney; now's the day of salvation-turn to-day.' "'Bout then my knees come right weak and trimblin'; and my heart jumped out and in-up and down, like it was a cork on a fishin' line, and all the eels and catfish in pandehonium a nib- blin' at the bait. Well, sir, in that way and manner, about that time the preacher said: 'Young man ; turn now, or you're lost;' and the singers struck up 'Turn to the Lord and seek salvation !' and, sir, 'bout then the earth cracked open; and the flames shot up from the stiflin' furnace; and I felt myself a sinkin' down, down, down, in that form, sir, where God Almighty's arm couldn't reach me, and the angels, they'd all forgit me. And then, thinks I-'yes; you've broke God's holts on
109
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
you, sure enough; and you're lost forever !' and that's the last I remember, till three hours after-they said it was-I found myself about a mile down, a lookin' out at the top of Hell-as I was afeerd; and it was so near closed I could only see, away off, one little star, like the eye of Jesus, a lookin' down kind o' pitysome-like on me. And then, brothers, in that form, that star begun to dimensionize bigger and bigger, and come nearer and nearer; and I looked and looked, till the eyes of my 'mortal soul blazed like the top peaks of the waves in the first kisses of the mornin' sunshine; and jest then I begun to rise out'n that drearysome hole. They say the lumigatin' moon, drawin' the water, raises the high-tides from the see, and makes the rivers run up stream. And jest so, that mornin' star drawed my perishin' soul out'n damnation; and flung its arms of light, in that form, about me ; and lifted me up higher and higher, and come nearer and nearer, until Heaven busted open ; and then I saw that the star was nothin' but the face of Jesus, shinin' down from the mercy-seat; and, when I fully come to myself, I was in the snow- white 'cooner' of salvation, a skimmin' over silver waves of peace, tipped with pearls and gold of joysome love; and a fair breeze, in that way and manner, for the uncrumpled cove of glory, where no flurry of sin can ever blow !"
A few years after the date of the above glowing recital, Uncle Haney's "cooner," dropped anchor in the peaceful, "uncrumpled" haven, for which he was
110
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
so long a hopeful voyager. Aunt Polly-dear old soul-who stood on the little wharf in front of the door, wiping her eyes with the corner of her checked apron, as the "bugeye" bore the historian away, still lingers on the shore, looking out over the waters for the approach of the kindly ferryman to bear her over.
Equally remarkable in characteristic personal traits, but with large advantage as to general knowledge and culture, is Captain William Frazier, familiarly known as "Capt. Billy," a product of the "Neck," stretching below Cambridge, between the little and the great Choptank, and projecting into the Chesapeake. Captain Frazier was somewhat of a politician, and very influen- tial in Dorchester as a leading Whig, and afterwards as a Republican ; several times, and with much credit, representing his county in the halls of legislation. For many years, until recently, he occupied an important position in the Baltimore Custom House; but has lately been invited to retire; and now again takes up his resi- dence at the old homestead on the beautiful Choptank waters.
Says Rev. Adam Wallace, D. D., in his interesting sketches in the Peninsula Methodist: "The Captain's stories of sea and land ; his practical sense in business and church affairs, and his unquestioned influence as the adviser of his neighbors, made him an entertaining host." Of his introduction to Capt. Billy, he speaks on this wise: "It was a chilly afternoon, when my first appointment down the 'Neck' led me to Spedden's
111
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
meeting-house. They had hastily made a fire in the one large ten-plate stove, standing in the centre of the plain old church. The stove-pipe was shaky, as it had a long reach up to the flue. The house became filled with smoke. Preacher and people felt a smarting about the eyes; and we could not commence the exercises until all the windows had been opened and the house cleared of smoke. Before preaching, I suggested that the interrup- tion would not occur again if the trustees, or some thoughtful friend, would see to the proper fixing of the pipe ; and that it ought to be attended to the first thing on Monday morning.
"'Here, young man," said a plain, sturdy and very outspoken brother in the congregation, 'you just mind your own business, and we will attend to ours : go on with your preaching.'
"I had never met Capt. Frazier, but from what I had heard of him I suspected this must be the man, and I was not mistaken. The way he knocked the wind out of my sails-to use one of his own sailor phrases-was a caution ; and, with fear and trembling, I proceeded with the service. I had my turn, however, four weeks from that day. It was a backward spring, and they made a fire in the old stove; but early enough to have the house cleared of smoke before I ascended the pulpit. As I arose to give out the opening hymn,-always the signal for out-door loiterers to enter the church in a body,-the vibration of so many feet upon the floor disturbed the equilibrium of the stove-pipe; and I saw
112
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
it topple. We had just raised the tune; but down came that forty-foot cylinder, parting into three sections, and every joint nearly full of the accumulated smut of time immemorial. Part fell over on the women's side, part towards the 'amen corner,' and the remainder came down with a crash among the sinners in the rear. The first man to leap to the rescue was 'Captain Billy ;" and, seizing the falling pipe, he let it go again suddenly and began to blow on his hands. The pipe was very hot !
"Our singing was suspended until the dense cloud of soot settled down on the people's Sunday clothes, and the roaring fire had been put out. I kept my eye on the Captain, and, catching his, inquired : 'Well, whose business is it now to repair damages?' He possessed a streak of the ludicrous, and, moreover, had a very big, generous heart; so he made an apology that set every body in a good humor; and from that day he and I became the best of friends. We had some trouble, however, in resuming our hymn, and still more in composing our minds and faces into the proper frame for prayer. He insisted that I should go home with him ; and a pleasanter home picture does not hang in all the gallery of my recollections, than I found at the old family dwelling of Capt. William Frazier."
Rev. Thos. L. Poulson, D. D., was Capt. Billy's pastor in 1860. While engaged in an extra meeting that fall, the preacher was one night detained by a pastoral duty, so that he failed to be on time for the beginning of the
113
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
service. Becoming impatient, Captain Billy had sung a hymn; and, at the time of Bro. Poulson's arrival, was vociferously leading the congregation in prayer. Stealing in softly, the pastor took his position a little in the rear of the unsuspecting leader, who, in the course of his petition, took occasion to notify the Head of the Church as follows ; "O Lord, we are here like sheep without a shepherd ; we've got a preacher who ought to be with us, but he's out somewhere, a galivantin' around, and we don't know what he's about. O Lord, we pray thee to look after our preacher, and have mercy upon him and bless him !" "Amen !" responded the parson; when Capt. Billy, looking round at him in surprise, growled out : "Humph ! you got here at last!" after which he speedily reached the "amen."
With all the old sailor's blunt ways and pugnacious antics, none of the many victims of his keen but hu- morous sarcasm, have ever questioned his profound honesty and Christian generosity. The writer most heartily joins in the prayer of Dr. Wallace, that " his sunset of life may be serene and cloudless ; and that the Saviour he has loved so long and ardently, may be the support and joy of his failing heart, and his portion forever."
Another remarkable character, belonging in this cate- gory, was Garretson West, who lived and died at St. Michaels, Maryland. He was born in the early part of the present century, and died on the 23d of February, 1853. Mr. West was poor in this world's goods, but
114
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
rich in faith and good works. His sphere was circum- scribed by his lowly condition ; but most admirably did he fill its measure and meet all its requirements. Owing to his environments in childhood, he was debarred from all privileges and blessings of literary culture, not re- ceiving even the most primary elements of education. Indeed he was such a simple-minded child of nature, that the merely casual acquaintance might perhaps have adjudged him mentally weak, if not indeed bordering closely on imbecility. Such a conclusion, however, would never have been reached by any but a superficial observer ; and, in such case, largely owing to his singular deadness to the things that ordinarily engage human attention, and his absorbing devotion to religious enjoy- ment and conversation. It might appropriately be said of him, his "conversation was in heaven." One of the most devoted and discriminating laymen of Easton, Maryland, Mr. Leonidas Dodson, Sr., says of him : " It must not be supposed that he was, in any sense, weak-minded or deficient in natural intelligence. If he appeared to be indifferent to business pursuits, and literally without care for the morrow, it was for the reason that the religious element of his nature had absorbed the man."
Garretson West was converted to God in early man- hood ; and, to the end, retained such a vivid recollection of that blessed hour and event, that he seemed ever to be rejoicing in the exhilarating ecstacies of his new, first love. Religious life with him was a great protracted meeting and a revival without intermissions, ending only
115
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
with the victorious shout of the dying warrior. Imme- diately upon his conversion, he came to the front in the spiritual activities of the Church; and such was the touching simplicity and effectiveness of his humble efforts in that line, that, despite his apparent disquali- fication, he was instantly recognized as " called of God to be an apostle," and commissioned by the Church to be a sort of independent ranger, or evangelist without limi- tations or restrictions in St. Michaels and surrounding regions. Says Mr. Dodson : "Methodism in St. Michaels, Md., and its vicinity, owes more to the heroic services of Garretson West than to any other single individual, living or dead."
Early in his Christian career, recognizing his pre- eminent spiritual qualifications to feed Christ's lambs, Mr. West's pastor appointed him leader of a class ; and so wise were his counsels, so attractive his sweet spirit, and so inspiring his fervor and enthusiasm, that even the refined and cultured esteemed it a privilege to be enrolled as members of his little flock. For like reasons, he was soon licensed to exhort; and many a time his rude and simple but really eloquent and stirring appeals, and his glowing utterances of Christian sentiment and experience, saved a dull meeting from failure, and turned apparent defeat into victory. "He was always in the lead at extra meetings and at camp-meetings. His exhortations were pungent and awakening, vehement in the denunciation of sin, and true to Methodistic orthodoxy. They were ofttimes truly eloquent, and
116
METHODISM OF THE PENINSULA.
always the outcome of a heart deeply imbued with a simple, unquestioning faith in the great verities of the Christian religion."
Early in life Mr. West followed the occupation of an oysterman. While thus engaged, it was no unusual thing for him to lay down his tongs to engage in a prayer meeting, all by himself, to which his busy brother oystermen's attention would finally be called by his lusty singing and triumphant shouting. Sometimes whenever the rakes were lifted on board with their load of bivalves, his hearty ejaculations of "hallelujah !" or "glory to God !" would mingle with the sound of the oysters as they rattled down upon the pile or on the bottom of his canoe. After laboring and rejoicing thus all day, he would spend half the night in leading the singing at some protracted meeting that happened to be going on within reach of his humble home. He afterwards secured a team, and became a carter. In this business much of his time was employed in conveying goods and freight for the merchants of St. Michaels, between their places of business and the packet wharf and steamboat landing. But if, while thus engaged, he chanced to meet any one who was willing to tarry for extended religious conversation, no matter what the exigencies of trade, he would forget his errand, and allow the needed goods to remain on the wharf for hours after he was expected to deliver them to the anxiously waiting merchants. Sometimes Mr. West became the innocent victim of little conspiracies on
117
PATRIARCHS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
this line-the young men arranging to meet and stop him, at intervals, for conversation upon his favorite theme; until the merchants, weary with waiting and sometimes quite out of patience with the carter's zealous negligence, would go or send a clerk to hunt him and "jog his memory," or even gently reprimand him, and thus recall him to the duty of the hour. Says Mr. Dodson again: "Religion beamed from his countenance, and the bright smile that played upon his features was the index of the sweet power filling the soul." He was a shouting Christian, but however demonstrative- whether jumping, clapping his hands, or voicing his hallelujahs and amens in the public services or the class- room, he was privileged, for all knew he had something over which to shout."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.