The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-09-05
The Old "Circuit Riders"

Among the memories of the West OF
forty years ago, no figures loom mp with
more prominence than those of the
"circuit riders" They are almost ex-
tinct now, but at that time they were
mighty men who went about in the
name OF the Lord and John Wesley,
and smote the children of Belial hip
and thigh, with many agoodly stroke.
Their memory has been handed down
mostly of tall, gaunt men, with stray
Cling locks, nasal voices and meagre
purses, allowed defects neither in educa-
ton nor surroundings to interfere with
the energetic prosecutions of their chos-
en- work. Regardless of fatigue n hun.
ger they journeyed through "blazed"
paths in the fore SITS aud by dead
reckoning over ~treeless prairies, preach
ing and praying. They stopped not
for storm or torrent, orthe roughs or the
heather, but went on enduring to the
end. The grass by the wayside fed
their shabby ponies and gave a place OF
rest to their weary limbs. A Bible was
often their sole property, and the sue
culent corn dodger formed their staff OF
life. They were the newspapers n
physicians, both of body and soul, in
that rude time.
When the iron horse commenced as
sisting empire on its westward way, and
affording men better opportunities for
lodging their creditors, the circuit-ri-
der's fame began to fade. Fleeing to-
ward the setting sun did no goodwill
the railroad their glory departed for
ever. People ceased to care for circuit
preaching. 1t was not tho riders fault.
He had not changed. His audiences
had, however. In the old days the
pioneers were Of a different stamp from
now-brave, hardy men, who went on
in the van Of civilization, seeming
ly for the pleasure of going, for,
having toilcd and suffered to i'm
prove a country, they moved on
to ommenc the struggle over.
These were the material for the circuit
riders ministrations; men who took
their religion as they did their whiskey
straight.
True, there are missionaries to-day
who go out on the worlds edge, backed
by q comfortable home-mission fund, to
preach to waiting audiences of Eastern
people who have been lured West by
enterprising railway companies and the
advance guard of real-estate agents.
The towns grow up so quickly as to be
able soon to support permanent pastors.
Permauency would have been unendur-
able to the circuit rider. So perhapsit
is just as we'll that he is dead. When
| H. .,la,, 1,,oe -, h, ~1orr rooo+po ~
were held anywhere, houses, barns or
the open air doing duty as churches,
though these were built as soon as pos
sible. The great extent of country COW
cred by the average made his visits Oft
times like those of angels, and his COM
ing was a great event among the
people, who would assemble at an
early hour. The waiting time was
passed pleasantly in various ways; the
women gossipping and knitting, while
the men snapped yarns and horses,
while some one watched for the parson.
When the latter hove in sight, the wait
ing, watchful brother struck up some
such hymn as "Alas! and did my Savior
bleed" and gossip aud business ceased
for the moment. Then came the SER
mona marval of matter and delivery.
strongly lmpregnated with orimstone,
and wlthai a Little moiasses; a true
.Mckofy efmon pam and Practicai'
IN Whlch tne NIUE alnng OF me audlt
ors We're plainly noted ana the conse-
little friendly social discourse, perhaps
a brief stay, and then on to the next
little flock.
Inc r'aers were outoeratlc IN thelr
wass, anu Helu ~ iea1 nei1ler ma nor
oa.ah' lheg IoiAeo i9r ainons noun
ing ana poafoee themselves renee tney
had Ilghts Whlcn thelr people were
pound 10 respect, ana exercised them:
IN aoolsloh 70 ene mania OF local
.:a".a LIS 1oi sastul1 III nA1 aans 1he
l.ueis nau oeuY gl WIN poys *hose
parents were OF she 1a1tn, VINO
were nos'ile w sne ana
say.nlne' encoueagea sne yousns IN
asol M an neiee oonV1s1s' oGeh VI
"oius ss anu oioMs, pesween Tue fiyals are
" ieculu, ~ue'eln .ne lloels usually
sllui ~ 1eN a famous man 10 disturb
was .lIel liniay. . preacher OF mucn
no1e M AZ uay' sino once ~lote q pooK
u PROSE On 1ne aesceh1 OF Inc Indians
" ~ .en elioes VI 1slaeA' ne was
qalIA ~ WV as ~e.i as s1rong o. voice
s.;aa .Nnlo, ":u ~ ZINES couio MAKE
l'a1Is LIES .eiy .nes.is. once, Wn.ie
noi ne serves Ices M aplceu1esque localltv
hhowA as AAo& Oreeh, his discourse
was m'eelupsea py some juvenile
nhas;s ct want those Haa GIL
shoats to shut upm The shoats were
abashed and kept silence for a moment
md then the racket recommended.
linen, WITHOUT more ado, the elder