The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-03-26
REV. E. R. STRICKLAND
\. 0. Christian Advocate.

y. o. Christian Advocate.
Rev. Erastus Root Strickland. a
superannuate of the Mississippi
Conference, died at his home near
Summit, Miss. on Feb. %, 1892.
iii the eightytifth year of his age.
l. is well for preachers of the
present generation to stop oc-
casionally and ponder the lives of
sacrifice, zeal and toll of our faith
rrs in the gospel who have Just
preceded us. We would scarce
dare compare ourselves with them.
Bro. Strickland was one of the
last who knew the self-denills,
exposures and tolls of the pioneer
Methodisfs OF Mississippi. He was
born IN Delaware county, N. Y,
April 6, 1907. He was converted at
Maple Ridge, Orleans county, N.
T., in the twenty-seeond year of
his age, and soon after joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He
was licensed TO preach at Colades.
vile, Ga., at the age of twenty
eight. In October, 1888, he was
admitted on crial in the Mississippi
Conference, and for thirty-seven
years, without a break, he con
tinued most jealous and faithful
travelling preacher. He was never
stationed, aud his circnits generally
consisted of twenty-six appoint
ments.
The earlier years, especially, of
his ministry were marked by great
success. In the first three charges
that he served he received ,O57
persons into the church. On the
Paulding circuit, in two years he
increased the membership from
l11 to 700. The Wattses and
many other Of the most prominent
citizens were among his converts.
HIS work abides. a few Of his
original converts still survive, and
are faithful; and the descendants
OF those brought to Christ by him
are to-day pillars in the church.
He was Instrumental, in the hands
OF God, in the conversion of thous-
auds.
He was noted as church build
er. On the Crystal Springs circuit,
in two years he built eight
churches. These were at Edwards,
Brownsville, Terry, Utica, Cayuga,
and other places -ail these points
at this time being embraced in his
charge.
His cheerful self-denial was I'M
surpassed. In the poorest charges
aud hardest places he gladly
worked. His yearly salary ranged
from $93 to $500, the average fall
ing below 5000. He received as
hlgh as S50D one year only. Think
of man with a circuit of twenty
six appointments, with territory AS
large as our present district, preach.
ing every day in the week except
Monday, delivering forty or more
sermons monthly, holding daily
experience meetings, baptizlng anu
receiving hundreds of converts in
TO the church, doing much pastoral
visiting, building numerous
clutches, constantly reading the
Bible, visiting he sick, burying
The deal, spending much time in
prayer, and on salary of $93
year, aud still all the time satisfied
with his work, cheerful and happy,
and you have type of Methodist
itinerant OF forty years ago.
Do such lives afford no lessons
for us; Is not the great secret Of
their success plant Can we not,
when we consider them, easily see
why we so nearly fail?
Let us thank God for having
given us such examples, and 70
b wing known them aud been as
sociated with them. May their
mantlcs rest upon the younger
sons of the prophets!
i. $. RAYNER.
VOssburg, Miss.