The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-10-18

| uo Aatc AVvs ActoH NOItWIIButs
One of the oldest and most widely
known Methodist preachers in America
died recently, at hishome, near Pleasant
Plains, Ssngamon county, Ill. Peter
Cartwright was eighty-seven years old.
He was native of Amherst county, Va,
and was born in 1855, two years after
| the close Of the Revolutionary war.
While he was still a child his parents re-
moved with him TO Kentucky. His
early years were spent in that wild from
tier land, where the war.whoop OF the
savage often aroused his father and his
neighbors to the defense Of their liv, s
ana homes. Peter was scarcely sixteen
years old when he was converted by an
itinerant preacher, and became mem
Der of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The event determined the career Of his
whole life. He conceived the idea that
he had been called to preach the gospel
in the wilderness, and almost immedi-
ately he entered upon that duty. In
his autobiography, published about fif-
teen years ago. he related MANY inter.
esting and often amusing incidents OF
his early labors in the backwoods. Like
|
ton, he had an iron constitution and
strongly marked individuality, and was
a bold, courageous, and jealous worker.
He feared neither man nor the devil,
and for his cause was ready at any time
to fight both if they stood in his way.
His speech was homely, but it was ear.
nest, ana went straight TO the hearts Of
his rough audiences. He was heard to
say few years ago that ne had received
into the Church no fewer than $4,000
persons, and that in his long career he
had preached $4,000 sermons.
In tie early pioneer days he naturally
met some hard characters, who, insti.
gated by the adversary, wculd endeavor
his autobiography that once brutal fell
low threatened to whip" him. Peter
said, swell, sir, never like to live in
dread. If you really intend to whip me,
come and do ii now" The man con.
tinred to blustsr, whereupon the fight
ing preacher, dismounting from his
horse, walked up to him and said, "Now,
sir, you have to whip me, as you threat
ened, or stop eursing me, or will put
you in the river and baptisn you in the
name Of the devil, for surely you belong
to him." This cowed the bully. An
anecdote is also related which illustrates
his singular holiness and independence.
He was preaching before the Nashville
Conference, when the time-serving
clergyman whose pulpit he occupied,
seeing Gen. jackson standing in the
aisle, leaned over and said in loud
whisper, Gen. Jackson has come in.
Gen. Jackson has come in" Who is
Gen. Jackson?' cried Cartwright in
voice of thunder, If he don't get his
soul converted GOO will damn him as
quick as he would Guinea negro"
This did not convert Old Hickory at the
time, but it commanded his respect for
his monitor, and he treated him with
the greatest consideration ever after
wards.
Mr.. Cartwright was first appointed q
presiding elder in 1872. He spent eight
years in the Old Western Conference,
four years in the Kentucky Conference,
eight years in the Tennessee Conference,
and over forty.tive years in the Illinois
Conference. lie held at different time,
many of the most important Offices in
the church, and was delegate to General
Conference thirteen times. In 1888 and
1898, in the absence of the bishop, he
was President of the Conference. 1t is
recorded Of him that in all the years Of
his ministry he WAS never continued,
located, or superanuated, ard was never
dismissed for time for misdemeanors
Of any kind. In 1856 he published the
story Of his life in volume entitled
" Autobiography of Peter Cartwright,
the Backwoods Preacher" The book
had wide circulation and made the old
man better known in the East, where
he seldom had visited. During the last
few years the feebleness Of advanced
years Frustrated him, and it was only a
few months ago that his death WIS pre-.
maturely announced.-New York World.