Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-07-03
Amusnng 8eaotng,
MIR. MILBURN's LECTURE.

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MR.. MILBURN's LECTURE.
On the early preachers in the West-Anec'
e7otes of Francis As6ury, 'Jimmy Ha1.
= ley,' sBiNey Craven' and Pete Cart
aorigM.'
To my mind, said Mr. Milburne, with all
due regard to the great divines of New En-.
gland-Edwards and Dwight, and Chan.
ming, Francis Asbury is the most notable
name in the ecclesiastical history ofthis Con.
tinent. He had the care of all the churches
of this order, he travelled for forty years from
Maine to Georgia, from the Atlantic to the
limits of population in the West and South
west, bore upon his shoulders the weight
OF the affairs of what is now the most numer-
ous of the Protestant bodies in the country
was instant in season, and out of season,
warning and encouraging, and stimulating
and yet his name is not recorded by single
historian of the United States, and many
wal-reading men are not even aware of his
existence.
Asbury had some striking peculiarities
Among other things, he was never married
Indeed, like many of the early Methodist
3 pioneers, he was decided advocate Of the
celebacy of the Methodist clergy. One Of
the three rules laid down for the guidance
of the young preachers was to the effect that
they must be 'very sparing ftheir conversa
tion with women Considering the timer
ant life they were to lead, and the scanty
amount of their salary-which, in those days,
was fixed at maximum of sixty-four dollars
year, all presents they might receive in
cluded-celibacy seemed in manner strange
to them Indeed, it was generally under
stood when young brother was so unfortu
nate as to link himself with female com
panion, he must relieve the ranks of the
itinerants, and 'locate, preaching when he
could, but deserving no sustenance from the
Church. Asbury himself said that he could
form no ties that would Interfere with the
prosecution of his duties, and he had founc
no woman who would be content with the
society of her husband for but single weel
in the year, and if he should find such al
one he would not marry her. Still he main
? tained to the duty of every man to supper
woman and he, accordingly devoted ;
large share Of his scanty income to the main
tenance of kinswoman in England, ant
when she at length died he bestowed it up
on another.
The early Methodist preachers were no
learned men. Their libraries not seldom
consisted CT but two books-the Bible ant
the Hymn Book !; but the contents of thes
they mastered, as we'll as the great book Q
human nature Far out upon the lovel
prairie, where they had passed the nigh
with the earth for mattrass, and the broa
sky for covering, and their saddle for
pillow, when they awoke in the early morn
ing, cold and hungry, their first duty was
read, upon their knees, a few chapters fror
the little pocket Bible often believing tn
pages with their tears; and then commend
) ing themselves to the care of their Heaver
ly Father, they would saddle their horse:
and proceed on their solitary way.
Their Hymn Book was ther great armor
furnished, they believed, with every neee
ed spiritual weapon. They we're, almost
man, great singers-and this accomplish
meut often stood them in good stead, as tn
following anecdote of one of them will SHOW
besides illustrating some other points in the
character
Among the most noted of these earl
preachers was James--, or as he W;
usually called Jimmy Haxley. In 1906
1907, he was sent as a missionary to tt
Attakapas country, in Louisiana, a regic
chiefly Inhabited by French Catholics. Il
had little comfort to expect from unpal
kindness, and he had no money with whlc
to purchase it. At one time he was redu
ed to the very verge Of starvation. He ha
passed the previous night in the ope
swamp.
Towards evening, cold, wet and hung
for be had eaten nothil for SO hours
he reached plantation. He entered Il
house, and petltl0ned l0f food ana iougln
The mistress of the house, a widow, Wi
sundry daughters and several negro childrf
playing about, recognized his calling al
refused his request. She would have
such cattle about her. The most that
could gain was permission to warm hlmse
by the fire, before be set out into the co
aud darkness As he sat warming himse
he thought Of his empty stomach. +
thought Of another night in the swamp. +
thought that it might be his last night upc
earth He thought of the dark, rolling ri
er, and of the celestial city beyond H
heart swelled with gladuess, and his emotic
found vent in one of his fayorite hyms
Peace my soul, thou necd'st not fear,
The Great Provider still is near