The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-23

look US month 10 get around the CIR
cult, preaching a sermon every day in
the wear and three sermons on SUNDAY.
Our sermons were grea test and broad
est when measured lengthwlse- Our
plan for the circuit called for thir-
ty-eight sermons and this. of course,
necessitated much repetition News
travelled slowly in those days, and we
were not afraid OF criticism. Some
times three sermons were the only
stock taken for q whole months jour
ney, but they were added unto at every
place and modified and made better as
we went along. We had wonderful
faculty Of selecting texts for our SER
mons The same sermon was preached
from many texts A sermon could be
improved by repetition We were con
tinually in thesaddle from one months
end to the other, except when we
stopped to refresh ourselves or, 70
preach. We were always cordially re-
ceived everywhere, and the best in ths
house, and that was such as we would
call rather plain fare now. WAS
placed at our disposal We would
call at one place in the morning, eat
4 hearty meal. preach sermon,
mold class meeting in the evening.
catch what sleep we could, and start on
our wav again as early as possible in
the morning No matter whg: the
weather, we had 10 make our circuit,
for the people depended on "a and
would gather at our stopping placs
from miles around to await our coming
and get the news The circuit rider
was the most speedy and reliable mail
service of the day. Upon our plan or
schedule were the names of places and
people with whom we were expected TO
stop, and at whose houses, usually log
cabins, we were expected IN preach.
Here the people gathered and waited
for us. Our sermons were usually an
hour and half or two hours long. but
those who came to hear us never tired
of them, though the sermons, especial
ly if we had repeated them good many
times, sometimes tired US.
MANY times we did not stop at the
places put upon the schedule because of
special invitation, but we always went
to the house allotted to US 10 preach
and to see if there were any notices left
there for weddings or funerals Some
times bridal couples would meet as at
the house and would be married there,
though such were exceptional instances.
II there was a notice of a funeral we
were expected to leave our circuit and
cut across country TO the house, some
times thirty miles or SO. 10 perform the
burial rite. leaving the station 30 be
supplied by some local preacher.
Though people could time their mar
riages so that we could serve them,
people could not so time their deaths.
We had to go to the graves from great
distances, through rain and snow,
through mud and rivers, that those
whose friends desired them to have q
Christian burial might do so.
After the burial we would sgain
mount and get baclS to our circuit as
soon as possible Although our hard
ships were not few. we usually enjoyed
ourselves and we had many blessed
meetings on our way. We were some
times overtGken in n snow suuall or n
rain storm, or we stopped by river
which had overlooked its banks. But
was never delayed in my travels, though
many were. ! was always fortunate
enough to get some farmer TO ferry me
over the stream, and then | would get
n horse on the other side and go on.
One night ! was overtaken in great
storm and had to stay out in the woods
all night. Hundreds OF times ] have
been so chilled through that / have had /.
TO be lifted from my horse. Then I
would get good rubbing, = warm meal f.
and would preach one of the best SER
mons Of my life. can never speak Of
those times without becoming awpk- /
ened and feeling new life within me. /
"A wonderful affection usually 1
sprang up between the circuit rider and /
his horse. Many times l have started /
out with only twenty-five cents in nv /
pocket and no place on my plan where I.
I could stop and get anything 20 eat. /
In those cases would stop at some inn .
and let my horse have something 70 .
eat while ! went all day long fasting. /
Sometimes we would come TO a nire in /
the road in the woods, and the horss l
would get stuck. Then we would have /
to dismount, ges rail or stick o. some 4
kind and pry him out II we knew 4
that we were coming TO q rire, ws |
would disnount and let the horse get |
across alone, and then make our way |
to the other side as best we could. /
At our stations ws gave oar
horses the best care We could
though we oftentimas were obliged 1
TO let them stand in q woodsheA
Then one neighbor would bring IN
bundle OF hay, another would fetch
few ears Of corn, and another would
supply something else We circuit
riders were clothed In mBch I'll same
way our horses were fed. II orr cloth
ing became seedy we would get a pair
of paBtaloons II one place. . vest At
the next station, and = coat further On.
Our paw Vas always in store paw u
was very seldom that we saw bit Of
money. a married circui. rider usually
had what was called rest week
That means that he could stay with his
family three days cut Of the noz "a
The rest Of the month be Wa en- tas
road. and would not see his A. mfy
again anti hs had COLE 2let~d hls cir
cult ! bavs slept many times vita
two 90 three inches OF Snow en- ray
bed "-syrAcGss Standard
GOOD WORK BY The BIRDS. I