The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-12-21
OLD EXTRAORDINARILY
METHODTNlF

OLD METHODISM-NEW
METHODIST.
But few people of the present day
have any adequate idea what Method
ism was in this country sixty-fve years
ago. No Protestant denomination has
undergone such almost marvellous
changes. The Methodists of olden
times were as unlike the Methodlsts of
the present day as any two different
nationalities of the white race on the
globe. Sixty-fve years ago there were
but few stationed Methodist ministers
in the state of New York; the few
such were in the larger towns; four
fifths of the preachers were known as
"circuit riders" The circuit rider was
usually known over a large district of
country; his preaching places were
generally from six to fifteen miles
apart, requiring six days to complete
the circuit, bringing him to his start
ing point on the seventh day, which
was his home. To this arrangement
there were exceptions. The preaching
services were almost Invariably held at
the houses of the brethren of the
church, as there were but few meeting
houses in the country.
The circuit rider was noticeable
parsonage, and usually known by his
dress. Nearly every preacher travelled
on horseback, that being best adapted
to a new country and bad roads. He
always had a good and well fed horse;
that animal being his daily travelling
companion, received the best of care.
He wore high-legged boots with red
leather tops; the tall boots kept the
mud from bespattering his pants His
coat was single-breasted, the Quaker
style of rounded front, and he COM
monty wore a white hat. His equip
ment on horseback consisted of leather
panniers, suspended across the saddle,
in early times called saddle bags
In these he carried bible, a hymn
book, and few articles of underwear.
With these, both earthly and heavenly
equipments, the circuit preacher rode
his weekly round heralding the gospel.
The preachers were generally unedu-
Gated men; few had ever studied the
higher branches taught in the common
country schools. Many prided them
selves on being uneducated, quoting
the authority of the Saviour, who call
| ed illiterate fishermen TO preach the
gospel. Some of these preachers made
up in noise what was wanting in SUBJ
| stance, seeming to believe the louder
their utterances the more unctious
would their words fall on the brethren
and sisters. If the preacher was par
ticularly emphatic, the responsive
amens came in at the end of every
sentence in full chorus from the con-
gregation. Just here it must be men
toned, that in those early times there
a0as excuse for illiterate preachers. The
advantages for an educated ministry
were extremely limited; seminaries of
learning were few; with the increas-
ing population there came demand for
/ preachers; those who felt themselves
called to preach took to the ministry
without educational preparation, trust
ing in the Lord, as they said, to put
words into their mouths. In justice it
must be said there were uneducated
preachers of marked natural ability,
whose services were worthy of COM
| mendation. The preacher, after being
put to his work on the circuit, had
little or no time for study; those who
distrusted the Lord to fill their mouths
with right words studied their sermons
on horseback, fixing the leading
thoughts in their minds.
The Methodist people, especially the
women, were distinguished by the SIM
plicity of their dress. Their bonnets
were usually of drab color, ribbonless,
without trimming of any kind; their
dresses were close fitting, without folds
or founces. A plain white collar fold
ed on the breast, without ornament of
gold, silver or brass. Members of the
church were forbidden to wear orna-
ments or any superfuity. 1t is recol-
lected, on pleasant afternoon a
preacher, while inveighing against
worldly fashions. remarked. there are
women in the congregation who have |
ribbons enough in their bonnets to hang |
a dog" Church buildings were always
called meeting houses these were
plain structures, without steeples or
any exterior work for show. Cushion |
ed seats, stained glass windows, fresco-
ed ceilings would have been regarded
sacrilegious. The audience room was
plain. lighted with tallow candles,
fastened to the side wall in tin holders
or with common table forks. There
were no musical instruments of any
sort tolerated to assist the singing,
which was congregational, all singing
the same part in full volume of voice.
NEW METHODIST.
New Methodism has had marvel
lous growth. From small beginnings j
it has become numerically the largest s