Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-01-05
THE CIRCUIT-RIDER.
"reminiscences Of q Methodist Pre-
siding Elder.

HUI CnurCn, preaching 10 d large anu
well-dresscd congregation, is far diff
ferent parsonage from tho Methodist
circuit-riders Of forty years ago." said
Rev. G. G. Trusdell, presiding elder of
the Chicago district, as he leaned back
in his comfortable armchair and fell
into reminiscent strain Of thought, to
Chicago Evening News reporter.
"Whcn l look back to the old days."
continued tho divine, land recall the
incidents that befell me when, as
young man, l was a circuit-rider, it
seems as if they were terribly hard
times. Yet when l was Il circuit-rider 1
did not much mind it, and 1 suppose 1
endured as many hardships as the
average circuit-rider. Looking back to
those days they seem strange enough,
and listener hearing of tho trials of
circuit-rider would naturally say that
his was hard lot. Well, perhaps it
was; but after all they were fulfilling
their duty and their aim was a higher
one than many who have easier times.
"A circuit-rider was distinguished
from stationed preacher by having
two or more appointments to fill, where
us the regular preacher was stationed
at some place where there is a congrega-
lion sufficiently large to require all
his timo and energies in looking after
II. But circuit-rider was q Methodist
preacher who, taking the word of God
under his arm, would mount his trusty
stced and ride from place in his circuit,
preaching to the farmers who gathered
10 hear him.
MY first circuit was in Iowa, and
VAS obliged to travel through Tama,
Marshall and Story counties. had from
six to ten appointments, and you may
rest assured l was kept busy. Every
sunday in the year | preached three
times-morning, afternoon and evening
and ofttimes during the week. 1
would get up carly Sunday morning and,
after eating my breakfast and see
ing that my horse was properly cared
for, start off for my first appointment,
ten or fifteen miles away. I carried
my Bible with me, and went
merrily along over the country roads,
singing to myself and exchanging
Halutations with the few people 1
met on the road. When arrived ut my
first appointment, which was about ten
o'clock, would genc-tlly hold services,
and then talzo my dinner at some far
mer'S house. And oh, how the people
would turn out on those occasions! l
Tell you, they didn't have a chance to go
to church every day in the week, nor
every Sunday. and when u preacher did
come along, no matter how bad the
weather was, they turned out to man,
and gave him rousing welcome that
half did away with tho discomforts of
ones long journey.
'After a good substantial dinner at
some farmers l would set out again and
ride to my next place. i would preach
there in the afternoon, and then ride to
tho next place and preach there that
night. Then Id stay all night at
somo farmers, and the next morning
complete my circuit. The people al
ways used me wcll-I believe they al
ways did use rircuit-ridors well, and
wherever stopped was always sure of
getting the best the house could afford.
1T was those little things that made me
forget the hard and disagrooable part of
my work. For it was hard and disagree
able, thcrc is no use in denying that.
would like to see some Of tho ministers
of to-day riding over all kinds of roads,
IN ell kinds. of weather., travelling
through rain, snow and slcet, perhaps
WIN SOuhCu OF frozen. SWIM
ming creeks and putting up with hard
larc; preaching in a miserable little
&chool-house, or in the open air, or in
some farmers dwelling.
"A circuiJ-rider didn't draw princely
salary, cithcr. Tho first year / was a
circuit-ridcr didn't get II cent of pay
saw only twenty-five cents during the
vntiro time. But then l. didn't mind
that. There wcro hundreds moro cir
Cuit-ridcrs not a bit better off than my
solt, very few got 500 year. Ready
money was u scarce article in those DAYS,
hat tho lack Of it never stopped u circuit
rider from fulfilling his duties. Oh, I
could GO ahead and talk all night about
ry experience as a circuit-rider, but
there ia no use in it. Why, l remember
ono day during rainy spell l tried to
urge my horse to swim across q crock
ihat was swollen by recent rains, but
GAO horse couldn't make it, and I nnr-