October 20, 1905

On Wednesday evening members of the M. P. Denomination decided to repair and remodel their church on the following plan: The spire will be taken down, and the building raised 2 feet higher from the ground. The new entrance way will be made in the northeast corner of the building, with a vestibule inside, and a large fancy glass window will be placed in front. The chimneys will be taken down and built on the outside. The pulpit will be a recess of half octagon form extending, nearby, the whole width of the back part of the house, and a belfry will be built on the church perpendicular with the entranceway. The floor will be carpeted all over, and the pews removed to the center of the room, and the aisles will extend on either side. The ceiling will be of stamped metal and the church will be painted outside and inside, with suitable paper put upon the walls. The contract for doing the work will be awarded in a few days, and the job is expected to be completed by the 15th of December.[i]

Rev. R. T. Coursey, the M. E. Minister, has extended an invitation to the M. P. Congregations through their minister, the Rev. G. J. Hooker, to worship in the M. E. Church while their church is undergoing its repairs, and Rev. Hooker has accepted the invitation. During this coalition, the two ministers will preach alternately; i. e., the Rev. Coursey will preach on one Sunday morning, and the Rev. hooker in the evening; and the Rev. hooker and next Sunday morning, and the Rev. Coursey in the evening. The M. P. congregation will also hold its class meetings, prayer meetings, and Sunday school in the M. E. Church. This action on the part of these ministers shows a spirit of Christianity they should be reciprocal and the community.

We may differ in the mode of church government, yet no worship for the same god, have the same father, and expect to go to the same heaven; then why not intermingle while we’re here, making use to one another before we enter the future state.

Extra meetings are in full blast at the Weigand’s Chapel.

Mrs. James Ponder and child, of Wilmington, have been visiting Mrs. Sallie Ponder and other relatives.

The W. C. T. U. held a business meeting last week, and which the following superintendents of work were elected: evangelistic, Mrs. Virgie Mason; Sunday school, Miss Lillian Cade and Mrs. L. M. Fearing; Sabbath observance, Miss Mary Coverdale; Scientific Temperance instruction[ii], Mrs. Nannie Atkins; literature and flower mission, Mrs. Alexine Collins; social meetings, Mrs. Emma Wilson; press, Mrs. Clara Starkey.

Joseph L. Welch died suddenly at Ellendale on Friday, aged exactly 51 years. Funeral services were held at Ellendale M. E. Church on Monday by the Rev. H. E. Truitt, and the body inhumed in the New Market Cemetery by S. J. .Wilson & Son. It is remarkable that the deceased was born on Friday, the 13th of October, and died on Friday, the 13th of October, 51 years later. He was a nephew of J. B. Welch, of this town.

Bishop Coleman has lectured in school hall on Friday evening on his recent trip to the “Holy Land.” There was a small attendance. It appears that every person who visits the east has a burning desire to write a book, or embark on a lecture tour, to tell what he has seen. So common has this become that people are surfeited with it. Only a little more of this kind of literature, and every boy and girl of reasonable age will know every donkey path in Palestine.

William Warren will occupy the new storehouse now nearly completed by Mrs. Emma Hazzard, on Union Street.

John R. Lank has lost nearly all of his pigeons he had for raising purposes. Other 200, all have died but five.

A little excitement was caused on Saturday afternoon in front of the times office, when a horse that was hitched to one of the porch posts fell down, and would not get up until the carriage was taken from him. Then he bounced up all right.

The remains of john Edward blizzard, who committed suicide at his home number 689 Mercy Street, Philadelphia, on Wednesday, the 13th, were brought to Georgetown on the evening train of Saturday, and their met by S. J. Wilson and conveyed to the home of his father, John Blizzard, near town. Funeral services were there held on Sunday morning by the Rev. Johnson, of Georgetown, and interment made in the Blizzard burial ground. Deceased was about 47 years old and leaves a father, three brothers, a widow and seven children. He was formerly a resident of Milton, and recently moved to Georgetown, and from thence to Philadelphia.

On Friday George Warrington, while digging clay went too far under the hill and the overhanging part fell partly burying him. He was dug out, and is strained and otherwise hurt. The femur and a hip bone are supposed to be much injured, and he is incapable of moving himself.

The phosphate factory has been enclosed by J. C. Clendaniel.

The following ladies have been appointed a committee of entertainment to secure homes for the delegates and others, who may attend the Sussex County Sunday school convention, to be held here on the 24th: Mrs. William T. Starkey, Mrs. Josiah Culver, M. E.; Miss Fannie Leonard, Miss Emma Johnson, M. P.; Miss Lizzie Hazzard, Mrs. Ida Fox, P. E.

The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors held a public hearing in School Hall on Monday afternoon. These were present, beside the engineers: Congressman Burton; Collector of Customs, R. G. Huston; Eli Sharpe, Frank Maull, and many others from Lewes who came up the Broadkiln in the custom house launch Delaware. Milford was represented by George H. Hall. The businessmen and others, of Milton, turned out en masse. The views in regard to deepening the Broadkiln of many were expressed, but no definite conclusion was reached. After a short session the meeting adjourned; and Congressman Burton with the engineers was taken down the river to locate parts represented on their chary. Dr. R. B. Hopkins with his launch Cornelius chaperoned the party. The matter is now up to the engineers and to the government, whether the Broadkiln shall be deepened or not.

A deputy U. S. Marshal came to Milton on Sunday, and on Monday morning libeled the steamer Mary M Vinyard at Milton dock[iii]. The libelant is the Megee Coal Mining Co. The case will be heard before the U. S. District Court at Wilmington, on the 28th inst.

The revival services has Zion M. E. Church are becoming attracted to some of the people of Milton. On Monday evening the Rev. Coursey with a retinue of young people, both married and single, walked there and back, a distance of three miles.

The boiler for the phosphate factory has arrived, and is being placed in position.

On Monday, as Joseph Carey’s team, driven by Alfred Clifton and loaded with piling, was turning out of Magnolia Street into Union, one of the forward wheels smashed down, breaking every spoke out of the hub.

The bazaar and festival held in the lower room of the Masonic Hall, under the auspices of the ladies of the M. P. Church, netted the management $74.45.

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[i] The announcement of the M. P. Church congregation’s remodeling plan is an important milestone in its history. What is interesting about the announcement is the difference between what was planned and the actual results. The work was planned to be completed in December 1905, but went on well into 1906. The stamped metal ceiling and walls were not installed until 1919. No mention is made of the stained glass windows that sat in storage since 1901, except for the one large grouping that would be placed on the East Wall (“The Clergy”).

[ii] Scientific Temperance instruction had, by 1906, been discredited by the medical community as being the opposite of the fact-based teaching method it purported to be. One of the main sticking points was the insistence by the Temperance movement in labeling alcohol a “poison” in all cases.

[iii] In admiralty (marine) law, to libel someone means to bring suit against them.