, 1874-02-14
METHoDESm IN lLLlA0iS.
faaunecy Eobert, Ono Of the Veterans
Of the Church,
Frontier Theological Training in the
0{den TIME,
lSaIary sf SM a Tear, and Sermons ;" s"i;ree
to Fige Hours Long.
HoT q Hunter Was Converted --- Thu
"President of t}lc Tract Society,",

How a Hunter Was Converted --- Thu
''President of t}ic Tract Society,",
Correspondence ef 7As cntca3c 1rfb.sne.
:AcKsoSy1tLE, H., February, 1874.
ch.uncey hobert Was one OF the noblest men
I.selor=d in the old illinois Conference. His
ts.her removed NTH bis family from Vermont A.
II early day, while Chauncey and his tEin-broth-
..Sor1is we're boys, and settled in the Military
lr.ct, between the Illinois and Missigsiuui
sivsrs, then an almost uupeopled region. I
ank that thslr home was not far from
TIE "n1a srnra,"
shere Daniel Boone speht the winter of 1897 mr.
Son hn way to the Missouri, aud where he uas
. delighted with the country that he vell-nich
hanged his mind about crossing the Mississippi
nd Just escaped becoming citizen Of our State
describing the country twenty ynars after. he
sid: "N'hen first knew it, theto yere n1ora
bataIoes than ever will be oxen, more wolves
th.a dogs, sud more deer than there will ho
sasep."
1hs buraloes had disappeared before the
f,uily from the Green Mountains arrived. but
ttere we're wolves and deer in abundance. with
eez aod then q panther and wildcat .ghile
toi far oil were the uigwama and the hunting
f1cands OF the sacs and Foxes, where Black
aa#k and tho Prophet held sway. Growing IN
% the frontier, our friend Chauncey, although
o2ssessed Of q keen and vigorous intellect en-
iosed but few literary advantages. but such as
fell in his way he usod and with such energy a.
"a lay the foundations for
1EsrEcTAnIE ArTA1SMES1s IN scuoiARsur.
But the schools have not yet brought into this
ss.nculum ali it behooved man to know. and
uzuy wholesome lesson is to he learned in
groye sud prairie, in the corn-feld and squatter'a
cabin, in the common round, the daily task
nd he who has learned the use OF his eyes and
ears, and Of the faculties behind them, has at
fsst-hand the materials out Of which books
ths best books-are made, and msy perhaps AZ
fefd to dispense with libraries and colleges. a
reading man is obliged to digest so much chat
that be might fear mental dyapepsia, were ne not
ss1ed that "brau, el1orts, and nidd1iugs" arc
=rceueat and most nutritious articles Of Diet
However that may be. he who gets his
learning at the cost Of selfdenial and great exer
ton Is apt to hoard and put it out at large in
terest, and, in the end, may be richer in know1-
e5Se and wisdom than lifelong bookworm.
Tic young Hoberts wero trained in those
manly arts and sciences which are most salued
il 8 new country: Labor, courage, sclf-reliance,
fertility Of resource, the quick eye and ready hand
and in the houaely duties and virtues which make
snanB best estate. They were found by somo OF
sas pioneer Methodist preachere, Who in their
jearneyings, rarely missed settlement, or even
aaonely cabin and the brothers becams
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. j.
The clAss-meetlng has been the training-schoo1
{u1 the Methodist pulpit, and, 60 far rs mortal
agencies go, has contributed more than any
other single cause to it's efficiency. In the sim
pie aud halowed exercise Of this broiheriy re-
union. that most important Office was accom-
plshed: the harnessing Of the tongue to the
mind, while the heart gained more steadiness
from spiritual fe1yor and baptisnal emotion
& How Go your Methodist preachers know 80
7ztion to Bishop Asbnry. I'VE tell one
another" was the old msns laconic answer. The
classroom is the easy level On which the first,
md ofteutimes themost salutary and significant,
biological education takes place; and in the
ight Of Gods word, and in the unfettfrcd inter
:haDge OF experiences, men como to read them
sasyea, and thus the whole volume Of hu1nRn
sature. Charles Wesley states the rationale:
What We have felt and known,
With confidence We tell;
And publish to the sous Of men
The signs infallhle.
J.
preach, is furnished with license to exhort and,
h1y1ng made proof Of his gifts, he is furnished
Nth authority to preach. recommended to the
Annual Conference, and received on trial us =
travelling preacher. BY these gradat1ona, Chann-. |
cey and Norris Hobert entered the Conference !
ABOUT FORTY YEARS AGO.
By reason Of failing health, Norris has been laid
Aside fIomt time to time from the actye duties OF |
the ministry; but Chauncey, more fortunate in |
he ownership Of tough and wi1y frame, which
eeaed heat, cold, rain hungec,-eyery for1n
:. :; s, exposure, hardship, and fatigue, -has b.;
IN that long period. His tail, 1a1ge-boned form.
e. oil by head OF noble proportions, NTH
broad, high brow ard conaely face, has done him |
good service in his long and arduoua it1nerancy.
Eh1n one thinks OF it. the life Of b Methodist
issTeline preacher is not . mode Of existence to
Be coveted by those who seek ease aud self graft
ieation> At frat Mr. Asbury changed the cir
edta Of the preachers every three, six, or twelve
zaoHths, aud WAS OF opinion that all, following
rs example, ought to remain bachelors, content
slh their salary Of SG4 per annum,-Hmch In
eladed III the stockings and other clothing that
might te presented by their followers. This
aessIs pay was next advanced to $50, then to
SMo year, but no provision was made for q
tlte. Later abe vas taken into account, and al
sioSance made her Of S100; but nothing for
1saase, s toz fuel, lights, and table-expenses. At
I'd, tbe Stewards Of the circuit, whose func- I
IONS we're considered to be half mporal and
t,f tpiritual, we're expected to aasoss the SUN
"a which preachers family could 1
Isc4pE NAxEDSEss, FREEZING, AND STARVATION,
snea collect and pay it. WAS your vile
t'ought mp to Washing ?" said > Steward, ca1ar-
k1tel1stic Of the olden time. to the new preacher
NO had just como to the circuit ''No," said
tae man Of the saddle-bags, with some asperity:
tut Rha has been brought down to it since ahe
11an1ed a Methodist preacher" II thank God
ln 4, Tres Gospel" eaid saint Of The good
o9 tunes, rich in this worlds goods. II have
becnged to tue Methodist Church forty years,
1aa 1sli i has never cost me- but Is cents" The !
~ I'm haye mercy On your stlngy cid soul, vas
~ ~ tervent ejaculation Of his pastor. ~
seasht sou preached for souls, and not TOR
nacey," ssid = sneering Steward when his
Et:eaeaer told him that he must have part Of
= : : Allowance to Keep LIS family from want. SO
tsN ao taid the preacher, meekly; but We must
,a. ...e Some money to keep our souls and bodiea
sssesher. We can't eat souls and, II We could,
= 'aotd take great many the size OF yours to {
..19 .s9sa me breakfast" The times have a- :
:!sa greatly, aud for the better; insomuch that
suppose the Methodist preachers are now
4, TIE BEsI-pAID BODY
- y oufrstlan ministers in the country. But, {
i 3esss ago, the emoluments were not prince
=, ~, " whoever joined the Conference must e1-
- atfc service and short rations..