The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
ONE OF THE OLD PREACHERS.
Dr. James Hill Gives an Interesting Account
of His Experiences in Indiana.

The Rev. James Hill, ID. D., was once
leading Methodist minister in this State.
His experiences are recounted in an article
that recently appeared in the New York
Advocate. Il was licensed in the spring of
1885," wrote Dr. Hill. by the quarterly
conference of Wesley Chapel, now Meridian
street, Indianapolis. Augustus Eddy.
father of DR.. Thomas NJ. Eddy. was in the
chair as presiding elder. My first effort to
preach was from Matthew vi, 80, early in
the summer, at IL A. NJ, at twO-days' meet
ing in the woods near a log-cabin school
house, in the McLain neighbOrhOOd, on the
banks of Lick creek, about four
miles southeast of Indianapolis. The meet-
ing was held by John Edwards. the circuit
preacher. and several local preachers. in
Guiding the writer. On Saturday night the
service was held in the schOol-hOuse. An
aged local preacher named Francis Nc
Laughlin, Familiarity called Uncle Frank, ,
rose to preach and after reading the text,
They that say such things declare plainly
that they seek country began by say
ing: 1t was given out this morning that
Uncle Frank would preach tonight. He is
going to talk to you, and when he is done
You may call it preaching, or exhortlng, or or
talking, or what you please, my dear, 1t
won't hurt his feelings; but, by the grace
of God and the aid of your pray ers. he is
going to do the best he can "A bishop
could do no better than that exclaimed
another eccentric and apt local preacher
named Townsend Truslow, sitting in the
congregation. and Immediately in front of
the preacher. Uncle Frank replied: My
dear. if he was bishop, and could do no
better than i. he would be a mighty poor
S SsoS BROTHER came ne back Sss the t1ap
1 understand you perfectly, brother
replied the preacher. The discourse then
began, and from beginning to end was full
of oddities and quaint expressions. have
not heard it excelled for either:
Il was recommended by the fourth quar-
terly conference of the same charge, III the
autumn of the same year, to be received
into the Indiana Conference. / was re-
ceiyed by it IN October, 1888, at Rockville,
nd and pIGntsd
Eddy as presiding elder and VIM. w. Hib-
ben as preacher in charge. i then thought,
and now think, the latter was the most
efficient circuit preacher in Indiana. lie
could stand in a common road wagon for q
pulpit and preach to a thousand people on
q Sabbath day in the woods with as much
ease, impressiveness and eloquence as any
one have ever heard. He also had superior
business and executive abilities He
passed away some years since. AS soon as
/ could settle my business and get an outfit,
l left my fathers house. very early one
morning. for my circuit. My outfit con-
sisted of the usual paraphernalia of cir
cult preacher Mounted on tilly not four
years old, made my way to knightstown.
thirty-three miles east of indianapolis.
My first night as an itlnerant was spent in
the Christian and hospitable home of Ed
ward X. Hart, young and prosperous mer-
chant, and leading official member OF the
church. Mrs. Hart was refined Christian
lady, and an only sister of the late Gov.
Oliver p. Morton.
The circuit embraced the following
preaching places: Nashville, Cougars,
Burlington. Culbertsons. Carriers. Balls
Brook, Bentleys Middlet0wn. Knights
town, Carthage, Walkers. Roberts, Char
lottesville, Thomas, Samples. Harrolds,
JohnsOns. Kingdom and another appoint
ment about four miles west of MOrristOwn,
on the indianapolis road. the name | have
forgotten. My salary was 800, and 81 for
families of the church. My first appoint
1no ens % in p a log school-house IN
Charlottesville. The villagers were
not aware of the appointment. as
it had not been given out. My congrega-
ton consisted of a frozen-footed school
master, who was said to be Mormon, and
about dozen school children. The teach
er suspended the school for the service.
Before closed several ladies of the village,
them, a Miss Hare. whose brother kept the
hotel, had an invitation to dinner. My
colleague and / preached alternately
at each place, giving to each one
preaching every two weeks. We began
prOtracted meeting early in January, 1889.
The first was at Knightstown. and lasted
five or six weeks. 1t was held in little
frame church. The season was very rainy
the streets and roads were unimprOved and
deep in mud; but the zeal was SO great that
women put on their husbands old boots
and waded through the mud to and from
the meeting. About hundred and seventy
five were converted and added to the
church. Our next meeting was at Walkers
Chapel, where We had another great re-
yival.
.In April, 1889, we began at Nashville. 1
arrived on Friday evening, and was enter
tanned by Roland L. Carr. He and his
noble wife kept the preachers home, and
better and more cordial home no weary
itinerant could have or desire. Both have
gone to their reward in heaven. Sister Carr
said ON my arrival: DO you think you can
have a revival in Rushvlllef' l said: Ger
tainly, we CAM WELL said she. Il have
been looking around. and can't think of
three persons you can GET On Saturday
night three young men. one OF them q
prominent business man. knelt at the altar.
and there began a revival that took hold of
the whole town, and religion was the alb
sOrbing theme. Such crowds attended
that we improvised an altar on the sward
in front of the little brick church. and had
as much of a crowd outside as inside. The
meeting went on with increasing power,
and in twenty one days 21S souls were con-
verted and joined the church. Wonderful
incidents took place in connection with
this revival showing the mighty
power of God. The year was
one of great prosperity, and be-
tween 800 and 900 were converted. Not
less than 800 were united with our church.
At the close of the conference year the cir
cult was divided, and the northern half
was called Knightstown. was returned as
preacher in charge of the Rushville part
..It would afford me great pleasure to re-
visit the towns and preaching places of the
old circuit. / often wonder if any that were
members then are living. am now, though
member of Indiana Conference. supplying
pleasant and prosperous charge in that
beautiful suburb of Chicago, South Engle-
wood, in the Rock River Conference
He Never Forgot.