New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
rHE PIONEERS o. THE WEST. B., w. P. srrrcx.
LAID. line. ~ <d Carlton Porter.

In the prcCess Of exploration, from the time Of
De Soto TO the most recent pioneers, every step is
marked BY incidents which require no embeltsh-
ments Of fancy to afford theme for exciting de-
,erip,ion. Mr. Strickland fully appreciates the ca
liabilities of his subject and has wrought up the
fertile materials which il presents into Volume no
lees attractive than it is informing.
Passing by the chapters on the Hunters OF 'ne
West," and the Pioneer Settlers" We come 70
an account of the Pioneer Preachers, who were
among the earliest adven'urers 10 pene'rae Tue
wilderness in the discharge of their great comms-
sion 10 seek and save the lost. Even before the
cabin was ready for It's occupant, or any places OF
public worship had been erected, these vaian'
heralds of the Gospel "blazed " their way through
the forests, declaring the message OF salvanon 10
the echoipg woods. The theological training OF
the pioneer preachers was such as could not pass
muster ct the present day. Bot perhaps II W"
none the worse on that account.
The pioneer preacher had not the helps enjoyed by
the preacher Of the present day. II ne coaid nos
walk alone no crHtches were provided. Skestons ana
sketch-booke pulpit assistants aud preachers manuHs
and sermoDs and commentaries were then OUT OF toe
them With him In his saddle bags They were smut up
10 the Bible ard it's study alone apd this we may safely
affirm. wss the secret of their power Communing,
a. they did, with the Divine Mind, torough the written
Word they came before the people as Moses ca ne
down from the burnng mountsio, aud the Sofos toey
spoke full Of spirit sfd lite Much 10 sAiu sua
written about the ministry needed Tor the unee Shu
great stress is laid upon thorough theological tram
ing all which is right, and no minister OF the present.
dsy with the facilities enjoyed should content himself
without it; but after all there IL one thing neeoih
a sire qua non-s thorough baptism INTO me uutu aao
Spirit OF God a consscra'ion OF soul ana oody 10 uo
work of the ministry, to the Ignoring OF everyuus
ese that can only make successful ministers OF Jesus
Christ The pioneer preachers did not get tneI sys-
tematic theology from human productions filled with
humsn epecuaticns and fine spun theories ABOUT eiec
ton reprobaton eternal filison ct caersi but toey
drew their systems directly from the Biole the living
fountain of eternsl truth. When, therefore, mey
preached q doctrinA discourse, II was tnorougny
Biblical and sound Nor did they go to any system
Of moral philosophy to learn what were man sSI.
on the one hand his duties on the othet Inc ethcs
of the New Teetament were sufficiently copious ana
clear to shed light on all these subjects
Nor were they landed on the lap of luxury into
efftminacy and iDglorious ease.
Our pioneer travelled through the wilderness, preach
ing from place TO place until the Indians sded tue
country and commenced their depredstions S though
thus Interrupted wherever he could get congregs
ton in the woods or in cabin, he was always ready
and willing to preach to them the Gospel he did not
receive salary enough to keep hs horse had ne been
under the necessity of purchasing his feed All that
was allowed him was q sum hess than one hundred dol
lars; and should he, by chance have received more,
il must be accounted for and the proceess taken 70
Conference to make up the deficiencies OF those VINO
had not received their pay. ANY small present tnas
might have been made had also to be accounted for;
and we recopec distinctly of reporting pair OF SOCKS
given to Us by an old lady in lieu OF qusrerage, when
travelling French Grant Circuit in 1888, the whole
amount Of salary received during the year by the Pre-
sid SppnCpr.
amounting TO one hundred dollars. Well did Gen.
Harrson say, that Though the circuit preachers OF
early times did not take, like the Jesuits the vow OF
poverty their condition and circumstances were pre-
ccifely the same as if they had taken such vow"
Here is an Illustration of the manner in which
they encountered difficulties, drawn from real life.
About the same period, preacher by the name
of Wilkinson was transferred from the Virginia Confer
cree to the Western Conference. He was young and
eloquen-a OF thunder; and many stout heart At
the camp meetings among the sturdy pioneer hunters
and setteIs had been smtten oy he power oi ms
words. Az legste of heaven,
"By him the violated law
Spoke out It's thunders"
And Whether In the rude log church, at the campmee
pgs In the forest in the crowded CITY lhe power vi
his eloqueDce was felt.
Having attended conference in Tennessee, and re-
ceved his appointment, he started, accompanied WIN
Others 10 cross the Wilderness for the destined held
of his labors They had not proceeded far on their
Journey before his horse became lame that 1t was
impossible for him to proceed The company un.
willing to wait. and not knowing how long 1t would
take to restore biz horse, proceeded on without hi
After remaining some days his horse had so Tar recoy-
cred as 10 enable him to proceed but he found himself
in dilemma almost as great as the one fren which ne
had been extricated. His horse feed, OF which ne
thought he had brought sufficient to last the Journey
doubtless would haveproyed adequste Out ior
the detenon-w 1baused; and in addition TO this
his own provision spoiled, with the exception OF
small piece of dried beef. At Bean Station, on the
frontier be obtained cup of milk and piece OF corn
bread. The people there endeaVored TO dissuaoe hh
from the undertaking, and earnestly advised him 10
wait until he could obtain company to travel with hn
But be would listen to advice he had sent on his
appointments in advance and he was resolved fit was
possible 10 reach them that the people shoud not be
die appointed The station was so scarce OF provision
that be could obtain supply for HIMSELF and all he
could get for his horse some frost-bitten corn.
On, therefore, with bis meager supply be Joarneyed.
Between bin and Cab Orchard distance OF one hun
drfd ard thirty niles, there was naugdt but enaness
wilderness. Occasionsly he would stop and let his
horse Craze upon the he,bsge while he would sparlnsy
psrteEe Of his dried beef At length the settlements
were reached; put preacher and horse ere go muca
exhausted that they csrc.ly had strength TO eat be-
uerbspe would not have suffered 50 much from waat,
u be had not met halfway in the wilderness starving
SOLDIER returning home from nes army, with whom
be divided his ast morse. The pioneer soldier, as well
az the roneer preacher of those days not only smet
poyder but often were subjected to other trials 10
which the epsuleed bress buttoned soldier aud white
cravad, black vested preacher of The present day are
strangers.
And another showing that they had no respect Of
persons in the performance Of their GRAND.
A certain PRECEDING elder, on bis round, came to a
town Oh che Of the cicuts where quarterly meeting
was to be ED, and putting up bis bose late SNur
cay evening waited for the Sdbbah The church. as
il usual tuch occasions was crowded in every part
The preacher in charge was young man OF not much
elpeiience though coveted to his work. aud striving
hard 10 pesse the people il all things that he might
win them to religion. Just the elder, fine, sturdy
ecimen Of backwoOds preacher, announcing his