The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-04-20

ine uisclpl!he OF t0ls w eStern Church Is ra-
ther rough when compared with that Of Oxford
and Cambridge, and the method of impartrne
the art OF 'zIempore preaching seems somewhat
analogous to that OF teaching our dogs 10 swim.
| The neophy:e was ''chucked in,' aud had to
land himself how be could in this fashion.
"William, eXhort - cried the presiding elder
quite uneXpectedly,I one meeting night, to our
young author, who had never before opened bis
mouth in public. 81 had no resource but to
stand up, frightened as | was almost to death.
behind my splt-bottom char, 10 lieu Of pull
| plt, in front OF tie huge fireplace, and attempt
to speak by the light oft snoudering embers,
and one or two candles fast sinking TO their
sockets, 10 the crowd of hunters and farmers
| filling the cabin, who gaped and stared at
palld, beardess boy. OF course, words were
! few, and ideas fewer, and oD resuming my seat,
| had the uncomfortable impression that tina,
congregation had listened 10 about as poor a
! discourse as ever was delivered. Sach was NV
first attempt al preaching"
| The bishops of this community, although
much respected, seem to OBTAIN by no means an
unanswerlng obedience from their saboTdlnates.
| One OF these was explaining to his diocesan
that he pracilced medicine (Which had been
made ground Of complaint against him) only
! for the good of his flock. "Now, Mr.. Bishop,
you know that we are commanded to DO good to
! the bodies as we'll as the souls Of men. II l
were travelling in region where the doctors
! were scarce, and were to find man in bad
spell Of bilious fever, ye know ] would throw
! him into sweat, then give him dose OF Io5elia
| or thoroughwort7-
''No. slr,' interrupted the bishop rather haugh-
! Z thaP do f,gNv arI hot
more, | 10 not care, what YOU would do"
every we'll sir, very wei" retorted the O.
| ther 'fyou have as good right to live and die
fool as any other man."
! Another preacher, remarkable for his humor
as well as his godliness, was reproved b. his
superior for induIging in such drolIery as set
! the sober Methodist Conference IN roar.
"Brotber,' inquired he in monitory tone,
| ''do you think yon are growing in grace 2"
eyes. Bishop was the reply I think / am
in spots %
| This man was no less than the celebrated
Peter Cartwright, an apostle exactly fitted for
those scenes wherein he wrought his mission
out so we'll
He had then been backwoods preacher for
nearly forty years, ranging the country from
the Lakes 10 The Gulf, and from the Allegha-
MES TO the Mississippi. He was Injured TO everv
form of hardship aud had looked calmly at per
II OF every knd-the tomahawli Of the Indian,
the spring OF the panther, the hing OF the bear.
the sweep OF the tornado, the rush Of swollen
torrents, and the f-arful chasm of the earth
quake. He had lam in the canebrake, and
made his oed upon tie snow of the prairie and
on the oozy soil of the swamp, and had wander
ed hunger-5itten amid the solitude of noun
tans. He had been in jeopardy among robbers,
and IN danger from deSperadoes who had sworn
to take bis life. He had preached in the ca5n
OF the slave, and in the cabin of the master: TO
the Indians. and TO the men of the border. He
had taken his life in his hand, and ridden in the
path Of whlzzing bullets, that he might pro-
clam peace. He had stood on the outskirts Of
civilization, and welcomed the first comers 10
the woods aud Praifies. at the command oil
Him who said, -"Go into all the world" he
had roamed through the wilderness; as a disci-
pjIne OF TIE man who SAID .sThe world is nv
parish" His travels had equalled the limits OF
an empire. All this be had done without hope
oi lee or reward not 10 enrich himself or his
poSterlty, but as preacher of righteousness IN
the service OF God and his fellow men. Eve
rywhere he bad confronted wickednesg, and
Eebuked It ; every form OF vice had shrunk a
dashed from his irresistible sarcasm and ridcule,
or qu:vered beneath the fiery look OF hIs indig-
nant invpctIve.
This was hero whom no church-and in
deed no man worth his salt-woud venture 10
desplse or make light OF and since the thews
OF Anak, it would have been a dangerous thing
to do so. He, on his part, was by no means
wanting IN the exactIon OF such respect as was
due TO him. A room had once been reserved
ior hlm at the Irving House, in New York but
having arrived there late at night, the sleepy
hotel clerk did not recognize his name in the
somewhat Ilegl5le characters which the back
woodsman inscribed in the regisprs-book. nor
Cartwright himself in the farmer-h -hke-Iooking
man before hIm. The great preacher was there
fore lodged very high up, and immediately un-
der the tile.
The patronizIug servant explained 10 the
traveller the use OF the various articles in the
Ioom, and said, on leaving, pointing 10 the bell
rope II you want any thing, you can Just pull
that, and somebody will come up.
The old gentleman waited until the servant
had had time to descend, and then gave the
rope furious jerk. Up came the servant,
bounding two or three steps al time, and was
amazed at the reply in answer 10 bis "What
will 1ou have sir ~
"How are you all coming on down below !
1t is such way from here TO there, that BODY !
can have no notion even OF the weather where |
you are"
The servant assured him that all was going
on well, and was dismissed but had scarcely !
reached the office before another strenuous pull |
at the sell was given. The bell in the City |
Hall bad struck fre-alarm, and the fremen, |
with their apparatus, were hurrying with con-
fused noises, along the street.
"What's wanting, sir 2" said the irritated |
servant