, 1874-02-15
METHODIST In ILLINOIS.
ctaunccy Eobcrt, Ono Of the Veterans
Of the Church.
Frontier Theological Training in the
0lden Time. =
/ Salary Of SCI a Year, and Sor:x:;;as Three
to Five Hours Long.

go,T d Hunter Was Converted --. The
*sPresident of the Tract Society.v
Correspondence. Of Tbs Chicago Tribune
JACKSONVILLE, H., February, 1874.
Chauncey Hobert WAS one OF the noblest men
developed il tho old Illinois Conference. His
father removed with lis family from Vermont ut
~ carly day, while Chauncey and his twin-broth-
fr Norris we're boys, and settled in the Military
Tract, between the Illinois and Mississippi
Rivers, then an almost unpeopled region. 7
think that their home Was not ;ar from
THE A. ZIG SPRING."
Fhere Daniel Boone spent the winter of 1881 or
son his wa7 to the Missouri, and where he was
20 delighted with the country that he well-nigh
ehsngedhis mind about crossing the Mississippi,
md Just escaped becoming citizen OF our State.
Describing the country twenty years after, ho
k,id: "When I first knew it, there we're more
turaloes than ever will be oxen, more wolves
Than dogs, and more deer than there Will DO
heep,"
The bunaloes had disappeared before the
family from the Green Mountains arrived, but
there were wolves and deer in abundance, with
now aud then a panther and q wildcat while
not ia oil were the wigwams and the hunting
grounds OF tho 6acs and Foxes, where Black
HawK and the Prophet held sway. Growing up
III the frontier, our friend Chauucey, although
possessed OF keen and vigorous intellect, en-
loved but few literary advantages. but such as
fell in llis way he used, and with such energy as
to lsy the foundations for .
RESPECTABLE ATTAINNESTB N SCHOLARSHIP.
But The schools have not yet brought into this
curriculum all it behooved man to know, and
many . wholesome lesson is to be learned in
grove and prairie, in the corn-deld and squstter's
esbn, in tho common round, the daily task
and no who has learned tho use of his eyes and
ears, and Of the faculties behind them, has at
frst-hand the materials out OF which books
tie best books-are made, and may perhaps af-
ford to dispense with libraries and colleges. a
reading man is obliged to digest SO much chafr
that he might fear mental dyspepsia, wore we not
assured that ''bren, shorts, and middlings" aro
excellent and most nutritious articles Of diet:
However that may be, ho who gets his
learning at the cost Of sef-deria and great exer-
tion is apt to hoard and put it out at large in
tercst, aud, in tho end, may BE- richer in knowl-
edge and wisdom than lifelong bookworm.
The young Hobcrts were trained in those
manly arts aud sciences which are most valued
in . new country: labor, courage, self-roliance,
fertility Of resource, quick eye ready hand,
and in the homely duties and virtues which make
sman's best estate They we're found by some OF
tue pioneer Methodist preachers, who, in their
journeyings, rarely missed q settlement, or even
alouely cabin; and the brothers became
MENBEEs OF THE CHURCH
Tho c1ass-meetns Las been the training school
for the Methodist pulpit, and, 30 far Us mortal
agcncies 20, has contributed more than any
other single cause to its efficiency In the SIM
pie and hallowed exercise OF this brolherly re-
unlou, That most important Office WIS accom-
plisled the harnessing of the tongue to the
mind while the henrt gained more steadlness
from spiritual feryor aud baptismal emotion
"How do your Methodist preachers know SO
uuchi" said a divine OF another denomi-
nation to Bishop Asbury. ave tell one
another" was the old mans laconic answer The
classroom is the easy level on which the t1rst,
and oftentimes The most salutary aud significant,
theological education takes place; aad N the
light or Gods word, and in the untettered inter-
change Of experiences, men come to read them
selves, aud thus the whole volume OF human
nature. Charles Wesley states the rationale:
What nc hare felt and known,
With confidence we tell:
And publish to the sons OF men = .
The signs in{ailhle.
The graduate Of the class, if ho be moved to
preach is furnished with license to e1hort, and.
la7ing made proof Of his gifts, he Is furnished
with authority to preach. recommended to the
Annual Conference, and received on trial as
travelling preacher. BY these gradatlons, Chaun-
cey aud Norris Hobert entered the Conference
ABOUT Fon1T TEARS AGO.
Br reason Of failing health, Norris has beon laid
aside from timo to time from the active duties Of
the ministry; but Chauncoy, moro fortunate n N
the ownership OF tough and wiry frame, which
Ga6ed heat, cold, rain, hunger,-every form
Of exposure, hardship, and fatigue, has
hardly known q days respite from toll
in that long period. His tall, 1nrge-boned form,
get oil by head OF noble proportions, WIN IA q
good service in his long and arduous itinernncy.
When one thinks of it. the'life Of q Methodist
travelling preacher is not mode OF existence TO
he ee:ssad by those WHO seek ease aud self-gratl-
fcatiop. 1T first, H. Azcuzy c11=ss@d the cir
cults Of the preachers every three, six, c. tEG@
months, and was of opinion that al, following
his example, ought to remain bachelors. content
with their salary Of S64 per annum.-Wh1ch N
cluded al the stockings and other clothing that
might be presented by their followers. Ih1s
meagre pay was next advanced to $50, then to
500 year; but no provision wss made for
wife. Later ehe Was taken into account, and an
allowance made her Of 500; but nothing Tor 8
house. for fuel lights, aud tabla-exIenses@; ~ Al
lsst the Stewards Of the circuit, whose fulst-
tons were considered to be half temporal and
dalf spiritual. we're expected to assess the sum
On which preachers family could
ESCAPE SAEEDsEss, FREEzISo,: IND s1AnVA11oS,
then collect and pay it. "Was your wife
brought up to washingl" said Steward, char
scterlstic Of the oldon time. to the new preacher
who had just come TO the circuit. mo-" eaid
the man OF the saddIe-bags, with some asperity ;
hut she has been brought down to it elnce she
married Methodist preacheI." ~ thank GOO
for free Gospel" said saint of 1.-THE good
old times," rich in this worlds goods. II hnye
belonged to tho Methodist Church forty years,
md It has never cost mo but Is CENTS" 1.-The
Lord have mercy On your stingy. old soul,' wa4 ;a4
The terrent ejaculation of his pastor: ~ ~
thought you preached for souls, and not Tor
money" said sneering Steward when his
Preacher told him that he must have part Of
bis allowance to Keep his family from want. so
ido," said the preachor, neek1y; but re must M
ta5e noms money to keep our SOULS anu ooo1es
together VTe can't eat souls and, if We could,
itxould take great many the size of yours to
furnish me breakfast The times haye al
tered greatly, and for the better; insomuch that