The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-06-01

great Republic. The illiterate voters
who can neither read nor write NAV
decide, the destinies of the country.
The mistake mentioned at the head of
this article is that some degree of in
telligence was not made a requirement
for a legal voter.
METHODlSTS--OLD AND NEW.
The General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, in New York
city, occupied several weeks. The Con-
ference represented one of the largest d.
visions of Protestant christians in this
country. Its history is remarkable for
rapid growth. No other denomina-
ton in past times furnishes a parallel;
no Protestant body has undergone
such almost marvellous changes during
the past seventy years. The Metho.
dists of olden times were as unlike the
Methodists of the present day as any
two different nationalities of the white
race. Seventy years ago there were
very few stationed preachers in the
state of New York; four-ffths of the
preachers were known as circuit
preachers" The circuit rider was W ell
acquainted over considerable district
OF country; his preaching stations
were commonly from six to twelve
miles apart, requiring six days to com
plete his circuit, and leaving one day
OF the week to be with his family, if
he had any. To this arrangement there
were some exceptions. The services
were generally held at the houses of
the brethren; there were very few
meeting houses, and school houses
were not found ready lighted and
warmed as were the private dwellings.
Nearly every circuit rider travelled
on horseback, that being best adapted
to new country and bad roads. He
always rode good, well fed horse;
that animal being his daily travelling
companion, the brethren took good
care that the horse as well as the rider
should be we'll fed. The circuit
preacher wore high-legged boots with
red tops, pants inside the boots; this
shielded from the mud and duse. His
coat was single-breasted with round
front. the Quaker style. The most
noticeable mark of his profession was
his white hat. His equipage on horse.
back consisted of leather panniers sus-
pended across the saddle, called sad.
die bags.n In these he carried Bible
and hymn book. With these equip.
ments for both the earthly and heaven
ly journey the circuit preacher rode his
weekly round, heralding the everlasting
gospel. The preachers were generally
uneducated men; but few had studied
the higher branches taught in the COM
mon schools. There were not a few
who prided themselves in not being
educated, quoting the authority of the
who called ignorant fishermen
to preach the gospel. Some of the
made up in noise what was
wanted in substance, seeming to be-
lieve the louder their voices were
raised the more unctious their words
would fall on the brethren and sisters.
and the more convincing would be the
effect on unrepentant sinners. With
the degree of loudness of the preacher
came the responsive amens, and at the
close of an emphatic sentence the re |
ponses came in full chorus.
Just at this point it must be men, |
toned that at the period here described |
there was an excuse for illiterate
preachers; the advantages for an edu-
:ated ministry were extremely limited
In the great state of New York there
was but one literary Institution in the
interior Of any Importance, which was