The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-08-28
The Ola sscircuit Riders =

The Old .circuit 1idsrs.''
Among the memories Of the West Of
forty years ago, no figures loom upvgith
more prominence than those Of the
circuit RIDERS" They are almost ex-
hnct 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 goodly stroke.
Their memory has been handed down
mostly of tall, gaunt men, with strag-
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 and hun
ger they journeyed through "blazed"
paths in the forests aud by dead
reckoning over treeless prairies, preach
ing and praying. They stopped not
for storm or torrent, or the roughs or the
heather, but went on enduring to the
end. The grass by the wayside fed
their shabby ponies and gave 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 and
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. It was not tho riders fault.
He had not changed. His audiences
had, however. In the old days the
pioneers we're of different stamp from
now-brave, hardy men, who went on
in the van of civilization, seeming
~ for the pleasure of going, for,
having toiled and suffered to i'm
prove a country, they moved on
to commence 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
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.
Permanently would have been unendur-
able to the circuit rider. So perhaps it
is just as we'll that he is dead. When
the rider was in his glory, meetings
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 cov
cred by the average made his visits Oft
times like those of angels, and his COM
ing was q 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 and business ceased
for the moment. Then came the SER
mon-a marval of matter and delivery.
strongly impregnated with birthstone,
and withal little molasses; true
Hickory sermon" plain and practical,
in which the little failings of the audit
ors were plainly noted and the conse-
quence marked. After this there was
little friendly social discourse, perhaps
brief stay, and then on to the next
little flock.
The riders were outocratic in their
ways, and held in fear neither man nor
Satan. They worked for almont moth
ing and boarded themselves, hence they
had rights which their people were
bound to respect, and exercised them.
In addition to the mania of local
hoodlums for disturbing meetings, the
riders had to contend with boys whose
parents were of the Dunkard faith, who
were hostile to the Methodists, and, if
anything, encouraged the youths in
disorder. Many fierce contests, both of
words and blows, between the rivals are
on record, wherein the riders usually
triumphed. A famous man to disturb
was Elder Finlay, preacher of much
note in his day, who once wrote a book
in prose on the descent of the Indians
from the ten tribes of Israel. He was
quick of wit as we'll as strong of voice
and limb, and at times could make
things very interesting. Once, while
holding services in q picturesque locality
known as Hog Greek, his discourse
was interrupted by some juvenile
roughs. Said he with much en-
phasis, II want those Hog Creek
shoats to shut up!" The shoats were
abashed and kept silence for moment
and then the racket recommended.
Then, without more ado, the elder
shook out his long white hair, aud step
ping into the aisle pointed out the
shrinking culprits, and addressed the
local guardian of the peace next: "Con-
stable, 1 want you to take those Hog
Greek shoats out and pen them up!"
Then the officer fell upon them and the
Hog Greek shoats were duly collared,
locked up in the Hog Greek pen and
left to kick at it's oaken walls until
morning, while the elder, having dis
posed of the Amalekites, went on to
portray the pleasing difference between
glory and the other place.
Rude as these men we're, they did
much that was good; indeed, all they did
was meant for good. They were break
ing-up ploughs of religion and educa-
ton, and as such and for what they did
and suffered deserve to be remembered
kindly.-Brooklyn Eagle.
A correspondent says that Barnum
did more for Shakespeares home than
any living man. This sounds passing
strange, but it is true If it had not
been for Barnum the birthplace of the
great bard would not be in a state of
preservation as it is to-day. When
Barnum was in England in 1847 in
search of curiosities, he learned that
Shakespeares birthplace was for sale,