The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-20
Pioneer Work.
Methodism and Methodists-Polis VS..
Power-Peculiar Preaching-Ameri
can Opportunity.
BY REV. L. W. NUDGE, D. D.

Rev. Peter Cartwright, in his autobi-
ography, gives this characteristic descrip-
ton of early evangelistic work: A
Methodist preacher in those days when
he felt that God had called him to preach,
instead of hunting up college or BibE-
cal institute hunted up hardy pony of
horse and some travelling apparatus,
and with his library always at hand
namely, the Bible, hymn book, and dis
cipline-he started and with text
that never wore out nor grew stale, he
cried: Behold the Lamb of God that
taketh away the sin of the world In
this way he went through storms of
wind, hail, snow, and rain climbed
hills and mountains, plunged through
swamps, slept with his saddle blanket
for bed, his saddle or saddle bags for
his pillow, and his old big coat or ban
ket (if he had any for covering"
Things had changed by the time the
autobiography came to be written. Min
listers had begun to locate" Colleges
were being planted up and down the
country, and with a more settled and
educated class of hearers, book learning
had come to be greatly in repute. But
the change was not, in Mr.. Cartwright's
opinion, one for the better. What
Methodism gained in polish, it lost, he
thought, in power, and almost every
chapter contains its lamentation over
retrogressing age. Educated ministers
reminded him of lettuce growing I'M
der the shade of peach tree" Other
denominations had tried them, and the
result was failure. al awfully fear"
he says, for our beloved Methodism. +"
In the multiplication of colleges and
academies he foresaw the doom of itine-
racy, and the death of Methodism "pre-
clsely where other denominations start
ed"
This may sound to some nothing bet
ter than the patter of ignorant and old
fashioned conservatism but on re-read-
ing 1T is not, we are persuaded, entirely
destitute of sense. 1t is literally true
that the strength of Methodsm has been
IN Its peculiar preaching system. 1t is
IN great measure owing to it's employ
ment OF warm-hearted, though unlettered
men in proclaiming the Gospel, that it
has been able to do such noble work in
spreading the truth throughout destitute
| localities.
The backwoods preacher regarded the
field of his own labors, and his words
have their connection with a question
that is forcing itself upon the mind OF
the Church. We certainly need an edu-
Gated ministry. The time may not be
far slant when the demands Of our
churches in the centres of culture will
call for an additional year in the semina-
ry course. [ would not desire certainly
to be considered as suggesting shorten
ing OF the course of study, or of convey
ing the idea to our young men, candi-
dates for the ministry, that the most
diligent improvement of their opportu-
mites will be less than their duty or
unit them for their life work.
Two facts are prominently before the
public. One is the vast influx of emf
grants and their flow with the tide from
our own East to the unoccupied terrific
RES OF the West. Taking the two crowds
together, and we are told that last year
more than million people found homes
west. OF the Mississippi. This year the
nsmber will be greater, and the cry is
still they come. Our present provisions
for supply In the graduates of theologi-
cal seminaries, hardly more than meet
existing demands in settled localities.
If they were available our missionary
boards and societies are finding that
young men trained under the culture
and with the conveniences of our mod
ern institutions of learning are illy-ftted
for this pioneer work physically or men
tally. Such was the testimony Home
Secretary gave me personally. Now
what shall we do with this vast horde, a
nation in year? Shall the Church ne
glect them to a practical atheism, or
shall she confess her inability to meet
the crisis? Again it must be remem-
bered that were powerful revival of
religion to reach our colleges, four years
must elapse before even those of the
coming senior classes whom God might
call to the ministry could enter the field.
Another fact is that our churches are be-
come FESTIVE under the work of evangel-
lists self-appointed. AS 1 have it the op-
position is not to the men personally,
nor does it call in question the good they
do, but it is an opposition to- an unau-
thorized, irresponsible ministry. And
yet when the matter is considered these
so-called evangelists are not the only un-
ordained workers in the field of the min
lstry. Voluntary societies and even
churches have appointed other orders.
The 'olporteur, the missionaries of our
mission societies in large cities, laborers
m