| N 6w l ANDTHEN ,, ' , ' ~tTj
I, Who boarded the local preachers
K>ne hundred years ago, when they
■"boarded out” one month at one pa
■yishioner’s house, and the next month
■at another’s?
■ What were the preaching stations
■out in the county?
I ; What did they preach about and
■how long did they preach?
1 These and many other questions
■were answered in the diary of Over
■ton Bernard of Portsmouth Virginia,
■the entries made 113 years ago, by
I Eden ton’s youthful new Methodist
■pastor of 1824, and sent to The
■Chowan Herald by a great grand
■daughter, Rebecca Phillips, of Mont-
Igwnery, Alabama.
■ t Overton Bernard was born in 1798
Ha Portsmouth, Virginia, the son of
IlCartha J. Thomas and Allen Ber-
Inard, a major in the Revolutionary
I War. He was therefore, only 26
■when he wrote of attending the Con
■Eerence at Petersburg, Ya., as fol
lows:
I March 23, 1824: “Our conference
I this year was held in the town of
■ Petersburg, Virginia, commencing
lon the first day of March. Good old
I Brother Whitehead, Allen Bernard
I (his brother) Brother James Moore
land I boarded in the family of Mr.
■ Peyton Lynch on Sycamore street.
I “Having traveled two years, I pass
led my examination at this Conference
land was appointed on the Board of
■Deacons March 21st. Samuel Har-
Iroll, William D. Goode, James Mor-
Irison and mjjself, of the Traveling
I Commission, were set apart for that
I office by the laying on of hands.
I Reverend Enoch George was one of
■ the Bishops. After much debate,
land many resolutions being passed,
I the conference adjourned. I was ap-
I pointed this year to Edenton.”
I There follows an account of his
■return trip, on which there was miuch
■stormy, weather encountered, many
■ swollen streams forded, with a re-
I suiting case of what we would today
■ call a “light case of flu.”
L March 28th: “Tarried all night with
Pbrother James D. Edwards of Surrey
I County. Feeling somewhat ill, I tra-
I veled about 30 miles to Smithfield,
■ where I remained until I could rest
I and recover my health.”
I Tuesday the 30th: ‘'My brother ac-
I companied me to Suffolk where we
I tarried all night with Brother Wills.
I The next morning-1 took leave of my
I brother and set out for my new ap-
I pointment. Stayed Wednesday
I night at Brother Isaac Hunter’s in
I Gates County, North Carolina.”
I Thursday April Ist: “This evening
I about two, I arrived at Brother
I Henry Holmes, on the suburbs of
I Edenton. After dinner I took a walk
I with Brother Holmes into town. I
I was some of the brftt-
I hren and friends of my new charge
I and found a pleasant, cordial people.
Am still somewhat unwell, with sore
throat and hoarseness.”
Then follows an account of his
first Sunday in the pulpit, written in
a very fine hand, but a hand as clear
as copperplate. No such writing do
we see in these hurried days, b
spite of the fact that he comments
on having “pushed the goose-quill”
all morning,, there is no trace of hur
ried or careless writing.
“Preached my first sermon in
Edenton Sunday, April 4th, at 11
o’clock from 2nd Corinthians, Chap
ter 4, verse 6. Hied a tolerably good
congregation. They gave close at
tention. I felt some degree of em
barrassment at making my first ap
pearance before a strange people.
This may have arisen from a tinge
of diffidence irrevocably attached to
my characteristics. Too hoarse to
preach any more today.”
April 11th 1824: “Preached three
times today at the Methodist Cha
pel in Town.”
And most of us think we have
“done ourselves proud” if we have
been to church and sat through one
sermon.
Monday the 12th: “After remain
ing at Brother Holmes a few days
I commenced boarding with the fami
ly of Captain Henry Flavey in Eden
ton, as it is intended that I shall
-board about among the brethren a
month or two at a time during my
stay in this place. There are four
appointments in the country, which
I am expected to attend once in
three weeks which will form an
agreeable excursion out into the
country. Except for the fact that I
have to go often and lose so much
time from my studies, I would think
this the best part of my ministry. If
I can be rendered instrumental in the
hands of the Lord, of .doing tfiq peo
ple any good I sh§lljsg very- happy.”
Tuesday, April 13th, 1824: “Start
ed my appointments in the country
t this ‘week and preached first at- the r
'home of Zachariah Evans, one of the
local brothers in Chowan County,
abput ten miles from Town.”
Wednesday April 14th: “Was about
five miles out at Center Hill, or Skin
ner’s Meeting House. After preach
ing I went to old Sister Skinner’s, a
mother in Israel, and one of the ex
cellent of the earth. I dined there
-and accompanied Brother Henry
i£ki»ner home, about nine miles from
the last appointment, in Perquimans
County. I preached to a small con
gregation in a house not much over
fifteen feet square. Went to Broth
er Langley Blllup’s and tarried all
Friday April 16th: “Rode three and
a half miles to Sandy Cross meeting
i house and preached. This is about
' 26 miles from Edenton. Dined this
• evening at Mr. Reuben Nevin’s.”
i Saturday 17th 1824: “Returned to
Edenton today at noon. To an Up
i lander, some of the people of this
country, somehow, seem swarthy, and
[ not of so ruddy a complexion as our
people at home (Portsmouth) but
i they are a hospitable people, and as
cultured as any to be found in the
, Old Dominion.”
Sunday the 18th: “Preached in
; town twice today. The congregation
i was tolerably good. The Lord grant
that my labors may prove a blessing
to His people here.”
i 1824:
“Have been reading today “Memoirs
' of Benton”-—a devout man. It is said
i that on. occasions.he preached seven
times in one day.”
(.There is no doubt that had the
good burghers of Chowan County
known of their pastorfs unbounded
admiration for all the acts of this
man Benson, they would have trembl
ed in their shoes for fear their young
preacher might have emulated his
example—seven sermons per Sun
day).
He goes on to relate more of Ben
son: “In the latter years of his life,
when alone, it is said he never heard
the clock strike that he did not fall
upon his knees and pray to God.
“So help me to imitate this pious,
devout man, that I may become more
prayerful.
“I had heard so much of Mr. Ben
son; had seen some of his writings
and had already formed a high opin
ion of him, which is increased upon
reading his miemoirs. Great was his
humility during the half century he
served his people. . . I have not
been as prayerful as I should have
been. From henceforth I will be
more devoted to His service. God
grant me grace to fullfill the resolu
tion, for without Him I can do noth
ing.”
June 24, 1824: “The early part of
this month Brother Holmes, our
Presiding Elder, returned from Gene
ral Conference in Baltimore, after
an absence of five or six weeks. I
do not suppose that he has ever been
so long a time from Edenton, since
he was ordained here, in 1812. The
brethren and friends here were much
pleased at his return.
“From Brother Holmes I learned
that great diversity of sentiment pre
vailed at the General Conference on
what is termed the Presiding Elder
Question: Whether they should be
elected by preachers or appointed by
bishops. It seems opinion was equal
ly Some of our lay members
loudly call for reform in church
government. I hope the parties for
and' against reform will not manifest
tpo warm a feeling on the matter.
avert the evils that seem to
thr&fcten. And prosper Thy Church.”
June 2nd: “This morning I have
moved from Captain Fiavey’s to
board in Brother Holmes’ family.
Through great mercy my health has
been preserved in these Lowlands.”
(Evidently our “uplander” was no
great believer in “the lowlands,” as
a. healthful country).
"I have preached twice, and often
three times each Sabbath, in Town,
and once on Wednesday nights, pray
er meetings on Monday and Friday
nights. And four regular appoint
ments in the country every three
weeks.”
I SIGN PINE 1
V t
Tom Berryman, Mr. and Mrs. D. H.
Berryman, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Berry
man were in Edenton Thursday.
Miss Dorothy Hoffler, of Sunbury,
visited her sister, Mrs. C. A. Perry,
Thursday evening.
Mrs. James F. Ward and Mrs. R.
S. Hoskins called on Misses Inez and
Vera Newby Perry Monday after
noon.
Miss Pauline Byrum, a student at
Chowan, College, Murfreeriboro, is the
guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Isaac Byrum, for the spring holi
days.
Mrs. James F. Ward had as her
guests Sunday evening Misses Cortez
and Lavelle Ward and Vera Newby
Perry.
Mrs. Herbert Brinkley had as her
guest last week ner sister, Miss
Bond, f from near Valhgllr.
Mrs. W. B. Blanchard and daugh
ter, Miss Homer Blanchard, visited
Mrs. C u W, Ward and Miss Avis
Ward Friday ; afternoon. ” - '
Mr. ana Sirs. D. H. Berryman and
children visited Mrs. Berryman’s sis
rter*W Ahoskie Sunday:
Mrs. Christine Modlin and Mrs. C.
M. Lawrence, of Gatesville, spent
Sunday afternoon with Mr. and Mrs.
C. A. Perry.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Hoffler and
daughter, Dorothy, were supper
guests of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Perry
Sunday evening. j
Mr. and Mrs. George Asbell, of
Edenton, spent Sunday with Mr. and
Mrs. Jimmie Dale.
Mrs. James F. Ward, Mrs. R. S.
Hoskins, Misses Cortez and Lavelle
Ward and Vera Newby Pet-ry were
in Gatesville Friday.
Mrs. R. S. Hoskins and Mrs. James !
F. Ward visited Mrs. J. D. Ward on
Thursday afternoon. ]
TB* CHOWAN HERALD.EDENTON, N. cFIKmPAY. APRIL 8,
! A Beauty!
i -> m
¥ ■ Hi
■ I \ TOny
||f; |S| >
Just one of the number of
ful dancers who will appear in
“Parisian - Follies of 1967.” -the vau
deville program at the Taylor Thea
tre Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Spivey and
children, of Hobbsville, visited Mr.
and Mrs. W. B. Blanchard Sunday
afternoon.
Mrs. Willie Spivey spent Thursday
with Mrs. D. H. Berryman.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Webb and
children, of Edenton, called on Mr.
and Mrs. James F. Ward Sunday af
ternoon.
Thomas Davis, Misses Cortez and
Lavelle Ward, Miss Vera Newby
Perry, Mrs. James F. Ward and Mrs.
R. S. Hoskins attended the show in
Edenton Wednesday evening.
“Groceries” Topic At
Todays Rotary Meet
Earl Goodwin will have charge of
the program at the weekly luncheon
of the Edenton Rotary Club today in
the Parish House. This being na
tional retail grocers week, Mr. Good
win’s program will deal with his vo
cation, the retail grocery business,
and interesting information no doubt
will result from the meeting.
At last week’s meeting Harry Can
field, technologist and culturist of
the United States Bureau of Fish
eries, who is here in the interest of
studying the diminisnmg supply of
shad, addressed the Rotarians. Mr.
Canfield said it was his purpose, in
cooperation with the North Carolina
Board of Conservation and Develop
ment, to attempt to get a greater
collection of shad eggs to be hatch
ed and put in streams. He said that
the shad had fallen from 47,000,000
pounds to 9,000,000 pounds last year,
and that to increase this amount it
is necessary to hatch shad artificially
and turned back in the water when
they will escape many of the natural
enemies.
v “Shad is a very elusive species .of
fish as well as delicious,” said Mr.
Canfield, “there is no fish that has
any greater sense as to condition of
water and surroundings. The female
sh.vi is very sensitive as to where
she spawns, and would rather retain
eggs if conditions are not satisfac
tory.”
Mr. Canfield very interestingly
told his listeners about the habits of
shad but was*very frank to say that
after returning to sea as fingerling
nothing is known about their doings
until they return in two or three
years to spawn. “All is in dark
about that part of their life,” he
said.
In telling of the many enemies of
shad, aside from nets, Mr. Canfield
— —
Announcement..
Mr. Mack Gregory, who for many years 1
.has been serving the public in the garage I
.business in Edenton, is now with us as our |
< ►
service manager. As you know, Mr. Gregory |
x
has the reputation as being one of the best
automobile mechanics in this section. You |
may rest assured that when you bring your I
car to him for repairs or service of any type I
he will give his personal attention to the mat- |
I ter in the same courteous and efficient man- I
nef as heretofore. - |
Mr Gregory has under his supervision I
several factory trained mechanics to assist I
him. I
| CHOWAN MOTOR CO.
O. B. PERRY, Manager i
Phone 150 Edenton, N. C. j |
said other fish as well as fungus and
larva of insects destroy many of the t
eggs. In this connection he told of
6,000 catfish being caught at Cape
hart’s Fishery several years ago and
all of them were filled with shad
eggs.r
According to records at the local
hatchery, thfe shad catch should be
at its peak between April 20 and May
6, and as'many eggs as possible will
be secured and sent to various hatch
eries to be developed.
In closing his remarks Mr. Can
field, digressing from shad, said re
creational facilities was one of Eden
ton’s greatest assets.
Reappointment of Wood
Urged Upon Governor
(Continued from rage One)
lm* '• '“V* <&¥' '3+*. —“* * ’
- business men and citizens of the
i town.
: *■ TW resolution as passed follows:
“On motion duly seconded the fol
lowing resolution was duly adopted!
by the County Commissioners of
Chowan County in a meeting held
April 6th, 1937.
“In view of the fact that the im
provement of the road leading from
the Albemarle Sound Bridge to the
Town of Edenton will carry out the
original idea of connecting county
seat with county seat.
“And whereas the road from the
Albemarle Bridge via of Poplar
Neck and Moran’s Store to Edenton
I JAPANESE OIL
Mate la U. S. A.
FOR HAIR AND SCALP
DHferaat fro* Ordiaary Hair Took*
IT'S A SCALP MEDICINE!
Mcttl. FEEL IT WOMCI At All DntggtsK
Wrlta hr FREE Baaklit “Tha Troth Abort
T^Jalr^lrtl^^lwk^^tejiMhrhJ
/ \
Preston's
Announcing
An
After Easter Clearance
of
Spring Coats
oi t , .. < :
Suitsy Hats
and Dresses
New Shipment
of j
Evening Gowns
——*
is now a part of the State Road Sys
tem, is in urgent need of improve
ment and will furnish to all North
Bound traffic from the bridge, a
route shorter by twelve miles than
any other route, and, whereas, a con
tract has been let for a road leading
from the bridge to Highway No. 17
which runs four mises outside of
Edenton and whereas it would be
most unjust and harmful to the Town
of Edenton to have such a road lead
ing around the town and neglect to
improve the short and direct road to
the town.
“Therefore, be it resolved that we
State Theatre
fflffiTFOKiyNi Cr - \ ‘ I “Carolina's Finest-Theatre” ’ -
CLEAN COMFORTABLE ENTERTAINING
Today (Thursday) April 8—
■HBs9|flfl Diane lives '
loves in
at* the romance
JnPR* /-‘"HI that fires the
heart of the
world)
® wk
SIMONE SIMON
JAMES STEWART «
_
Saturday, April 10—
ADMISSION
Children 10c Adults 15c
MATINEE AND NIGHT
REDSKINS 0W THE WARPATH!
djffik' > MPE - -
"L/arkest Africa” No. 13 Comedy
Latest Major Bowes Act
Monday and Tuesday, April 12-13
ON OUR STAGE
MATINEE—4:4S NIGHT—9:OO '
AMERICA^
GREATE^jgI
Mil
MYSTERIOUS SMITH CO. |
ON THE SCREEN B
j 0 -BRIAN
; And Comedy, Act and News
Wednesday, April 14— .
PRIZE NIGHT
Added ’
“March of Time” Sport Headlines of 1936 Comedy
request the Highway Commission tor'
improve and rebuild the three mUeac
necessary to complete this road
known as the Poplar Neck Road di
rect to Edenton at the same time <
that the road to No. 17 is construct
ed.”
Spot Only
kill .11 it, a,.,
I'D* ”
MITCHENER’S PHARMACY
Friday, April 9 '
If • . . '■■l
k , s*. HI
M-G-M PICTURE
■ Also
H Good Comedy
k HERRMANN I
|§L JIKCEJTOR 1
-ygi I
i K
PAGE FIVE