The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-10-20
THE CIRCUIT RIDER.
A story of Home Twenty Years Ago

Every Methodist who has failed to
read Edward Eggleston's "Tbe Cir
cult Rider" has missed volume of
fun as well as much information.
The author was himself Methodist
preacher in the earlier days when
conferences we're held in log cabins
that sent preachers among the alliga-
tors of Mississippi as we'll as into the
bear forests of Michigan.
just now we remember one of the
stories that afforded US much amuse-
ment when we read the book In
those days preachers went to the
Almighty for directions upon any
eubject that perplexed them. They
believed they got direct orders just as
subordinate in the Treasury De-
partment at Washington now gets
directions from Hon. John G.. New.
One good brother was in doubt bout
thA mode Of baptism and SO, to be
sure that he was right, went to head
quarters for solution of the vexed
question, question that very foolish
ly is vexed one to this day. As was
the custom, he went to the woods-it
was generally believed then that Deity
inhabited the groves more than he
did the fields or villages. This broth
er determined to pray until he got an
answer and he did it, but it took
long while-seven days. At the end
of that tussle, the brother was seen
coming from the woods, his hair
ing gaunt his stomach feeling gaunter.
but with Joy beaming from his eyes.
He was running at full speed and at
l. tik II, ,Soh
mersion hallelujah! immersion p
(We don't charge our "Campbellite'
friends anything for this advertise
ment of their mode).
This story reminds US of another
nearer home and one that did not end
so satisfactorily. About twenty years
on what is known as the Covalt farm,
seven miles east, had joined the Unit
ed Brethren church and thought he
had call to preach but was not GER
tain-it might be indigestion or some
other ailment. One day while he was
blowing the subject had distressing
bearing on his mind and he determined
to have the question settled. He stop
ped the plow and betook himself to the
woods. Before starting, he decided
tuol tuC iIkAl piaIC ~ pay "dc no q
certain large stump by an old sugar.
camp. and to make the matter more
certain he agreed with himself that
he would shut his eyes and so if he
got over the fence and to the partic-
ular stump with his eyes shut the fact
would be quite as much of an answer
to his serious inquiry as the return
order report from his praying. He
started. got over the fence and soon
was inextricably entangled in the
bush OF the top Of fallen tree. He
had to open his eyes to get out. Still
not discouraged, he closed his eyes
and after taking the bearings started
again. tie proceeded scautiously but
finally fell over rotten log. Rolling
the log in his fall, large nest of yell
low Jackets were stirred. The little
venomous animals made him open his
eyes wide and they stung him almost
to death. He fought them off, slap
ping his face, 'mashing" the jackets
under his pants. on his legs and other
parts of his body. When he got rid
of them he discovered that he had
taken course directly away from the
selected stump. He decided that he
had no call and went back to his plow.
Some years afterwards he left the
"Brethren" church and united with
the Dunkards. This sect don't wait
for s'calls'' but elect their preachers.
Brother Lindley was elected and is
still preaching.