Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19
AN 0LD-TIME EDITOR
Visits Pittsburg to Attend the Meth
odist General Conference.
his IMPRESSIONS OF THE TOWN
Written Over Forty Years Ago and Printed
in an Old Magazine.
SIDE LIGHTS ON THE YOUNG CITY
WRITTEN FOR THE pIsPATcH.J

Over 4O years ago the General Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church met in
Pittsburg. Who remembers it? The meet
ings must have been held in old Birthstone
Corner or the Liberty Street Church, as
those were the prominent Methodist meet
ing houses at that time. In an old volume
OF the Ladies' Repository, Methodist maya
zine, find an account of visit to Pitts
burg to attend this conference, written by
the editor, which is both interesting and
amusing.
Travel in those days must have been un-
usual for religious editor, since in the
opening chapter of his account he sets forth
good reasons why he should take the con-
templated trip from Cincinnati to Pittsburg,
which he designates as "the smokiest and
darkest and dirtiest of towns" His main
argument is that the editor, like other mon
archs, is apt to get narrow in his notions
unless he enlarges himself once in while
by travel. Then he cites precedents in
favor of his taking the trip. Ulysses, the
Greek King of Ithaca, had no scruples
about leaving his dominions and sailing the
wild seas over. Several of the ancient
Roman Kings used to make journeys, and
their illustrious successors, the Emperors,
spent much time in the same business.
Charlemagne and Charles V. were great
travellers. Napoleon and Louis Philippe
were greatly experienced in going about on
land and water. Victoria has also visited Scot
land Germany and France. He might have
added that presidents were given to swinging
around circles, but he was satisfied to con-
fine himself to the example OF monarchs.
Preparations for a Formidable Trip.
l. L. -oI -
up by royal precedents, he relates how he
prepared for this extensive journey, "red-
ding up" his sanctum and selecting books
to take with him to secure him from intel
lectual starvation. With proper amount
of clothing, with quantity Of books in
German, French and English slowed away
in his bunk, and bundle of dailies, month
lies and quarterlies, tied up, and goodly
supply of green pippins and oranges, his
outfit for the journey was complete. A trip
from Cincinnati to Pittsburg in 1848 must
have been a vast undertaking as compared
with the same trip to-day, when q man
oftentimes starts off merely with q satchel
and an overcoat to cross the continent, and
when woman can 60 around the world
with one dress and shawl strap.
However, after all his preparations, the
reverend brother embarks on steamboat
advertised to start at precisely 9 A. NJ, but
which did not steam out until sunset, or as
he practically puts it, l'the great god of day
had just completed his journey and worn
and wearied was Just unbuckling his horses
at the edge OF the big, wild Western for
est" The steamer was "the Cam
bria." Who can remember it? On
board this boat going to attend this
general conference he tells US there
were 80 Christian ministers, "some with
a Of Loo
others of great heart and soul from the big
woods where the sun united his chariot,
many with less years and with less honors
won In the great war of righteousness
against irreligion, but all as true and genu-
inc troop as ever drew the sharp sword of
old st. Peter"
An Early Pittsburg Editor.
Among the passengers was DR.. Elliott,
who was one Of the early editors of the
Pittsburg Christian Aduocate, but who went
to Cincinnati to become the editor of the
Western, Advocate He is described as having
"a huge, massive head that towers up like
the summit Of Cotopaxi, and is as well
ribbed with granite. His learning in Greek
and Latin and Hebrew is proverbial, and
his heart is as big and warm and active as
rolling mill full of forges. The ideas of his
mind, like the words of his mouth, come
melted iron, making everybody scamper
from the fat Jumps of fire jumping out of
them" The early Methodist thus described
must have been q veritable combination of
Daniel Webster, Henry Clay and Dewitt
Talmage.
Among the 80 preachers on their way to
Pittsburg was Peter Cartwright, the fa-
nous backwoods preacher of Kentucky,
whose zeal in the cause of Methodism and
success in conversions fill large chapters in
the history of the Methodists of the West.
He is said to have preached as many as 15,-
600 sermons that in effect kept the mourn
he went During the journey he is de-
scribed as being the life of the party, and
as the most sociable, amusing and interest
ing companion that ever existed since the
world was made.
Another noted minister In the party was
Father Mitchell, who, although past four
score, was as CHEEKY and jolly as anybody.
He had been rich slave holder, but be-
coming convinced that slavery was wrong,
he had given freedom to every slave he
owned, and thus reduced himself to almost
poverty. No one ON board that boat, says
the writer, had better sight, better appe-
tite, younger spirit or gayer heart than
this good old Brother Mitchell.
This merry party of preachers had ample
time to get acquainted and swap stories and
experiences, for it took the Cambria more
than two days and two nights to make the
trip. When they reached here they were
distributed around in the hospitable homes
of Pittsburg Methodists for entertainment
This occasions something in the line of COM
plant from the reverend brother. How it
was arranged he does not pretend to say,
but the fact remained that the stout, active
healthy man who needed exercise had his
quarters near the church; the lame brother,
limping along on q cane, was assigned to
Mt Washington (and there were no
inches in 1S48); the old, feeble man was
quartered in Allegheny (when there were
no street cars), while the lank, tall man was
quartered in a town up the river named
Birmingham. However, latter all these mlstits,
the reverend brother reaches the conclu-
sion that the Committee on Entertainment
did the best they could. At this time the
Methodists in the vicinity were compare
lively few-not perhaps more than 2,000- |
and it must have been a difficult matter,
even in those days of open hospitality, to
find families willing to receive the members |
of the general conference during session |
of four weeks. The women then were not |
to be admitted to the conference,
nor were they attendants at the meetings. |
They were aiding the good work Of advanc-
ing Christianity and promulgating the |
views of John Wesley by cooking chickens |
and waf1es and good things generally for |
the preachers to enjoy.