The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-10-10
THE LATE PETER CARTWRIGHT.
"reminiscences of the Great Preacher.

RoHiIulSC6nC6S OF Inc TREAT Preacher.
A writer of the Cincinnati Commercial
says of the late Rev. Peter Cartwright.
From his own account it seems that
the first religious impressions besides
those OF pious mother were made at a
Presbyterian camp meeting. This was
the first camp meeting ever held in the
United States. 1t took place at Cane
Ridge, Kentucky, in the iall of 1900
In many respects this was the most re-
markable religious gathering that ever
took place, and the revival one of the
most powerful on record. Taking its rise
among the Presbyterians it spread among g
other denominations until it reached all
classes, and aroused the attention and en-
gagged almost the whole conversation of
the people of the three large States. 1t
was attended with many extravagancies
In religious enthusiasm, beside strange
and well attested mysterious manifesto.
tion of the Spirit
Hundreds would fall insensible, while
multitudes were seized with what has
ever since received the name of clerks" 4"
People came on foot and horseback dis.
tance OF over hundred miles, and re-
manned for weeks engaged in this meet
ing. Much evil, indeed, grew out of this
state of things, for "Satau himself came
aiso," but the good accom- plished and the
beneficial influences resulting, far out
weighed all else
From that revival, in the language OF
Scripture, went forth streams that have
ever since made glad the City of God =
During this revival Peter Cartwright was
converted. In his biography, speaking
of this meeting, he says: Il suppose that
since the day of Peutecost there was hard
ly ever greater revival than that of Cane
Ridge"
He has been member of the Illinois
Conference for forty eight years, and has
never been absent from a regular session
but once. He has held the Office of Pre-.
siding Elder for upwards of fifty years
He said not long since that this was long
er than any man had ever held the Office
before, or ever would again. He was an
earnest opponent of all radical charges in
the polity of the Methodist church. He
set himself against by represen entation, and
prophesicd that its adoption would spite
the church. He was an old-lne Demo
crat, but during the war stood by the
government, and vigorously opposed seces
sion.
For the last few years he has sustained
the relation Of conference missionary, and
has been chiefly occupied 10 dedicating
churches and delivering lectures on the
"reminiscences of his eventfuI life. Not
long since he met lady on railroad,
train, who remainded him that he had
baptized her when a child, and requested
him to baptize her whole family, which
was with her in the cars. As they were
moving to a new country, Cartwright OBJ
tanned permission of the conductor, and
while they were running at the rate of
thirty miles an hour he baptized the en-
tire family.
10 brief. Cartwright was a man of tact,
that which, more than talent, genius or
wealth, enables man to brave the ex-
tremities of life That he had faults all
will acknowledge. But he was prophet
sent from God, thousands will bear wit
ness. Until within the last few months
it could be said of him, as of Moses,
g. His eye was not. dim, neither was his
natural strength abated." But we spend
our years as a tale that is told, and even
the hardy old pioneer, who had endured
the frost of eighty-seven walters, who had
braved so much, aud dared the age in
which he lived, was at last compelled to
hang out a truce to time. The silver
cord is loosed, the golden bowl is broken;
the pitcher broken at the fountain, and
the wheel at the cistern. The dust has
returned to the earth as it was. and the
spirit to God who gave it. Humanity
has lost brother, aud great man in
Israel has fallen to-day.
Peter Cartwright is dead.