The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-12-24
BILL ARP
What he Thinks OF Preachers.
atlanta Constitution.

auu WuOIe lUt mUIo VA 10y uOu ono WI
: tors and professors of colleges and the
board of education. 1t is the north
, Georgia Methodist Conference power
j. in the land and power for good. There
are some bishops here, too, notable men
notable for piety, learning and eloquence
1t is feast to our people to listen to their
picked men as they dispense wisdom from
pulpits. They are casting bread upon
the waters, they are scattering seeds oi
repentance and love and kindness that
! will grow and grow and bear fruit
Their influence is all for good. Our city
fathers did not increase the police force
like they do when circus comes, OF
when a political meeting or an election
! agitates the community. We don't lock
our doors nor hide our chickens. They
didn't come hungry and they don't look
hungry and those who have honored our
{ mansion only feasted on Mrs. Arp's good
things out of respect to her. They know
it is bad manners for guest to slight
the bounties of providence at generous
table, They are good company-rich in
pleasant memories and wit and anecdote.
A more unselfsh, genial and self sacrifc-
ing assembly than Methodist conference
cannot be found in this sublunary world.
If the love of money is really the root of
all evil, just think what giant curse
these ministers escape. Most of them
have families to support, for it is phi
losophic fact that a preacher will marry
if he can, and it looks like they:all can.
And they get good wives, too, for wo-
man is obliged to be good who makes up
her mind to marry preacher, and 'espe-
cially Methodist preacher. She has got
to forswear the fashions and the folies of
life, and live for her husband and her
children-ber duty and her God. 1t is
entirely possible for a woman to do that
and be happy, and move every two years
besides. Their children are trained to
economy, and they always have children
lots of children who are born on the
fly, sorter like some of ours we're when
my wife was running from the foul inva-
der and lodging their scouts at every
crossroads; and sometimes they are in
pretty good house and sometimes in a
poor one that has leaky roof and walls
that are lively by night.
But the comforts of the circuit riders
are being gradually improved. Most of
them have four Churches to suffer with,
and have to provide their own transpor-
tation, whether it be an old Methodist
mare and saddle-bags, or Presbyterian
horse and buggy. Sam Jones says he
furnished his own nag the first year he
rode the circuit and received s65 for the
support of his family. The average cir.
cult riders pay in the conference is now
about $400-some more and some less. I
see one name on the list who received
only S134. I wouldent live in that ma
borhood if I could help it; would
not settle down in any neighbor-
hood where the people dident pay the
preacher. 1t is bad sign. 1t is sign
that the land is poor or the people mean.
But, the preachers must go where they
are sent, and it is missionary work to 60
to the poor and the ignorant and pro-
claim the gospel. The preacher can do
this from sense of Christian duty, but
it is hard on the wife and children. II is
school where the young preacher can
learn how to preach and can develop, if
there is any gum in him. 1t is like
young lawyer practiciug in q Justices
court 1t gives confidence in himself,
and if he makea blunder there is no
one who knows il. 1t ia like railroad
man beginning his railroad life as track
raiser and climbing higher and higher,
until, like Mr.. Thomas, he reacheB the
highest place. These bishops and pre-
siding elders were all circuit riders
at the start, and are f':ll of memories
about their first experience and their
many hardships. The example of John
Wesley still animates these Methodists,
for be crossed the ocean to preach to
savages. He fofded rivers, crossed
swamps, slept on the ground, and went
bare footed and with all that he lived to
be lightweight years old and has left a
name with more namesaEes than any
Christian man in the world. But he,
too, had troubles worse than Indians or
swamps. He married too late, and mar
ried too much-a widow with four chill
dren can hardly mate man fifty years
old. She robbed him of his substance
and ran away several times, and at last
he let her go and wrote in his journal: "1
did not forsake her, / did not dismiss her,
will not recall her." Fortunately there
were NJ children born to them.
It seems to me that I could very easily
be Methodist. To say that could not
would be reflection upon thousands of
great and good men who kave lived and
died in the faith, and are now among the
blessed. And 80, too, I could be 8ap.
tist or an Episcopalian. I wouldent have
far to go. But I like my own church
government the best. The other day the
preachers answered the question why are
you Of your faith, and each gave some
plausible reasons, but all of them left out
the reason that auinlates most Christians
when they choose Church. am
Baptist because my father is or because
nv mother was. This is the kind of rea.
son that controls IS out of every 100
members of any Church. Most every
Church member went to particular
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