Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-02-14
Methodist Clerical Anecdotes.

Wherever the rifle and the x Of
the hardy pioneer we're seen, there were
also sur to appear not long afterwards
the saddle bags Of the Methodist min
lister. An anecdote which we find in
the sketch of Richmond Motley we'll
illustrates this. Mr.. Motley was one
Of q small band of missionaries sent
out from South Carolina conference,
about 1872, to labor in the wilds Of
Mississippi and LOUISIANA, which were
then very scarsely settled, and occu-
pied to some extent by tribes of not al
ways friendly Indians. Mr.. Motley
was a man Of great energy, zeal and
courage. He was exposed to many
dangers in the prosecution of his work,
both from the hostile savages and the
opposition of white men. But he was
rigidly faithful, and omitted no oppor-
tuni.y Of doing good to persons Of any
color or condition, in whatever obscure
corner he could find them. On ore
occasion, while travelling, he came up
on a fresh wagon-track, and following
it, he discovered an cmigrant family,
who had just reached the spot where
they nt,nded to make their home.
The man, who Was just putting out his
team, saw at once, by the costume anu
bearing Of the stranger, what his call
ing was and exclaimed, "What!
another Methodist preacher! l quit
Virginia to get out Of the way Of them,
and went into new settlement in
Georgia, where l thought should be
quite beyond their reach, but they got
my wife and daughter into the church.
Then, in this late purchase, Choctaw
Corner, I found a piece of good land,
and was sure 1 should have some peace
Of the preachers , but here is one be-
fore my wagon is unloaded." "My
FRIEND" said Motley, elf you 60 to
heaven, you'll find Methodist preach
ers there :; and if to hell, Pm afraid
you'll find some there; and you see how
it is in this world. So you had better
make terms with US, and be at peace y
Hope Hull was che Of the pioneers
of the denomination Of Georgia, and
his fame was very extensive in thai
section. He was not at all a facetiOus
man, but his wonderful penetration
into character, together with his homes,
directhess in dealing with souls, some
times gave to his language all th>
appositeness Of genuine wit. On on:
occasion, while a circuit missionary
after preaching he mel the class, o.
members OF the society, and spck'
with them, as is customary, respect
ing their religsous experience. Ate
going through with the members, ht
turned to an elderly mai sitting apart
and inquired after his spiritual state
The old gentlemen, after some hesita
ton, replied 81 am like old Paul., =
when l would do good, evil is presen
with me TO which Mr.. Hull answer
ed: Pm afraid you are like old Noa!
too,--get drunk some,imes!" lie wa
a perfect stranger to rim, but it wa
a center shot; for the poor old ma!
was a drunkard.
Billy Hubbard was n of the mos
5 eccentric of characters, but withal
most agreeable person, and a man o
unboanded and unlvesal good will. 0
large general information, with al
; ease of manner which made him equal
at home in the hlghesS and in the low
est circles, his remarkable powers o
: conversation and exuberant yet sensi
bic pleasantly, together with his enter
} frisiag religious zeal, made him won
ierfu!ly popular and successful in ri
calling. No man was eve a hea.tle
t Arminian that he, and the Five Points
Of Calvanism we're almost sure to re
ceive a blow somewhere in his sermon
no matter what the theme or the text
Yet he was always on the most intimate
terms with the preachers Of the antsg
on!stic theology. Brother Hubbard,
SAID a cool Presbyterian friend, 'yo'
hurt my feelings yesterday 'Why
how Brother did | do that? He refer.
ed him to some doctrinal remark i,
the discourse. 'Oh,, said llibbard
I'm sorry you took that,-I mean
that for the devil, and you have step.
ped in and taken the blow. Don't Gel
between me and the devil, brother
and then you won't get hurt.
On che occasion he had a newsDa,
per cont oversy on some theological
topic with DR.. Lyman Beecher, the
dlsputan,s being personally Strangers.
Not long after while %journeying or
horseback in Connecticut, the two met
Mr.. Beecher suspected his companion
to be a preacher, but could not draw
out the fact by any indirect canversa-
ton till he asked hin plump.y. 'Are
you not Il minister Of the gospel?' 4
am" sall ulbbard. DO yon belong
to the standing ordtr?' no, 1 belong
20 the kneeling order.' So character
lstic a reply Enthusiastically indicated
Billy Hubbard to lie shrewd mind of
his %interlocutor, and he at once intro
duced himself. The acquaintance thus
begun was an amicable one.
His ready Wit seldom failed hirn.
Once when the roll-call Of the confer
ence gave his name as William, he
arose aad objected to answering to
that name, insisting that his name was
Billy. why Brother Hibbard,' said
Bishop Asbury, BILLY is little boys
name.' yes, bishop he replied, and