Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-01
From the Autooigrnphy Of Peter Cartwright
$50. Earthquake in the South. I

+ the winter of 1912 we had avery severe
eartbouake: IT seemed 20 stop the current of
She Mississippi, Srake fatboats lose from
their mornings, andsopning slage cracks or
6ssores in the earth.u This earthquake
sfrsts terror 10 stisvusaadss efTea 1nLd
under the mighty panic hundreds am, thou
sands crowded to and joined the different
churches, and thoiga many were sincere,
and stood Arm, yet thereswere hundreds
that no doubt joined from mere fright. Ny.
predecessor had for several years he ID the
reins of discipline with syery loose hand,
and when Bishop NJ 'Kendrees told me Pri;
vatelv he wished me to oto the Red River
Circuit at the Conference of 1917, my heart
was troubled within me, for | knew the
state of the circuit There were many
wealthy, fashionable families inthe Church;
slavery abounded in it.and the members had
been allowed to buy and sell without being
dealt with; moreover, these wsre the days
ofcommon,, fashinnao dram-drinking, be-
fare the great Temperance reformation was
started; and ex,r Nagant dressing was the
unrestrained order of the day; and there
were about twenty talented local preachers
lin the circuit. many of them participators in
these evils. and dreaded tire war that must
fellow Under this conviction / begged
Bishop M'Kendree not to send me, theret-
He very sgravely replied: "There are many
members in that circuit that may be saved
BY a firm, judieious exercise of discipline,
that otherwise will be lost, and | wish you to
90 and do for them the best you cam" 81
"Enough said, replied /, Ill 60 >, iaf
AT the upper end of the circuit. not more
than eight or nine miles from Nashville,
there was large society and meeting
NV predecessor had left "a conditional ap-
pointment for his successor Twas atotal
stran ger in this region. The day of my
conditional appointment was dark day,
m isting with rain ,abut got there in due
time. After waiting till half-past twelve
o'clock one man came, who had the misfor-
tune to lose one of his eyes. We set lit.
Tile while, and asked if there was not an
appointment for preaching that day. "o' a
I "Yes," said he, but there will be nc
preacher or people, | suppose" l saw from
his answer he did not suspect me tor the
peacher. a-s ..tts s5.-sz za-
He further said: nAs it is late, and no
preacher nor people, we had as-wehgo.- =
Come home with me, and get some din
ner" $500 f-- ..t.rs .a
"Nn," said l., We must have meeting; ant
if YOU will preach, will conclude a!te
you.'
mo, no." said he, ''if you will preach,
will conclude after you f- i-.f.
"Aereed +" said aud up rose in th'
stand, sung and pray ed, took my text, ant
preached as best | could for forty minutes
and then called on him, and he rose sung
and prayed, and prayed we'll. ., 'e'a,'
Il went home with my one man. my en-
tire congregation, and found him'o Ibe- a pi
6{iss ire ligious elder in the Presbyterian
Church! from the novelty Of the effort o
1.-THE day, my friepd irofes7ed TO think
was one dsthe greatest sermons ne had ev-
er heard in all his life, ,...,, - e.'' q
Il left another appointment, and went OIL
my way round the circuit. For weeks5 m
one man congregation Proclaimed and .eIr
lcuIa,ed my next text appontment, ellini
the peopls what great preacher.liad com
to the circuit; aud when came to my mex
appointment. the whole. hillside was cove'
ed " ith horses and c irriages, ,andthe chnrc
crowded to overhowing. My heart 'amos
tainted within me. for fear ] should nd
meet the expectations of The people; bat III
2 Lord helped lne, and We h I'd u mighty shak
ing among the dry bones end "a revivt
broke out Our meetings lastetJsevert
> days and nights. and many, souls were ZAP
PLY converted. TO G9d, and joined fth
? church on my first round on this circuihgH
When tgotto the lower end of sthea eli
tcait found a. large society, a fine elias
leader, and very pieus old superannuate
{ travelling preacher. He told me tie societ
vast in 30 most swre,ched condition tn,
'tihers vas sa.very popular local prescher i
'd1 - sIsq 01s sas ,sld..z.a.s,o.. w t'ij ssIl