The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1893-09-15
THE OLD CIRCUIT RIDER.
"REMINISCENCES OF A METHODIST
PRESIDING ELDER.


An Interesting Type OF Character That
Has All hut Passed Away : Joys and
Trials of the Dissemination Of Religion
Forty Years Ago.
1.-THE Methodist preacher OF to-day,
standing In his costly broadcloth In Q
fine church. preaching to large and
well-dr ssed congregation, Is a far differ
emit parsonage from the Methodist cir
cuit-riders of forty years ago, said Rev,
E. G.. Trusdell presiding elder OF the
Chicago district, as he leaned back In
his comfortable armchair and fell into a
reminiscent strain OF thought, to Chi
cago Evening News reporter.
"When look back to the old days"
continued the divine, land recall the in
cidents that befell me when, as u young
man, was circuit-rider, it seems as il
they were terribly hard times. Yet when
was a cirouit-rider l did not much
mind it, and l suppose i endured as
many hardships as the average circuit-
rider Looking back to those days they
seem strange enough, and listener
hearing of the trials Of circuit-rider
would naturally say that his was hard
lot. Well, perhaps 1t 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
as the regular preacher was stationed
at some place where there is a congrega-
tion sufficiently large to require all his
time and energies in looking after it.
But a circuit-rider was Methodist
preacher who, taking the word of God
under his arm. would mount his trusty
steed and ride from place to place in his
circuit, preaching to the farmers who
gathered to hear him. He often preached
every day In the week, and perhaps
three times on Sunday. 1t was no un-
common thing for Methodist circuit
| riders to have 200-mile circuit, with
| perhaps dozen appointments. So you
see they never had q moments leisure,
| but made thei, hones where chance or
their horse b. ought them.
MY first circuit vas in Iowa, and
was obliged to travel through Tama,
| Marshall and Story cougties. had from
six to ten aprointn ents, and you may
rest assured l was kept busy. Every
Sunday in the year l preached three
times morning, AFT ernoon and ev ming
and ofttimes during the week.
would get up early Sunday morning and,
after eating my breakfast and seeing
that my horse was properly cared for.
start off for my first appointment, ten
OF fifteen miles away. / carried my
Bible with me, and went merrly along
over the country roads, singing to my
self and exchanging salut tions with the
few people met on the road. When I
arrived at my first appointment, which
was about ten o'clo (, | would generally
hold services, and tnen take my dinner
at some farmers house. And oh, how
| the PEOPLE would turn out ON those oc-
casons tell you, they didn't have a
| chance to go to church every day in the
| week, nor every Sunday, and when a
| preacher did come along, no natter how
bad the weather was, they turned out to
man, and gave him a rousing welcome
that half did away with the discomforts
of ones long journey.
After good s, bstantial dinner at
some farmers l would set out again and
ride to my next place. l would preach
there in the afternoon, and then ride TO
the next place and preach tn re. that
night. Then I'd stay all night at some
farmers, and the next morning COM
plete my circuit. The people always
used me WE'LL believe they always did
use circut-riGers well, and whenever
stopped l was a,w vs. sure of getting
the best the house could afford. It
was those little things that made me
forget the hard and disagreeablc part Of
my work. Forit was hard and disagree
able, there is no use in denying that.
would like to see sem of the ministers
Of to-day riding over all kinds of roads,
in all kinds of weather, travelling
through rain. snow and sleet, perhaps
with garments soaked or frozen; SWIM
ming creeks and putting up with hard
fare; p each ng in a miserable little
sohool-house, or in the open air. or in
some farmers dwell ing
"A eli cuit-l der dn't draw princely
salary, either. The first year / was a
circu ri Ter / didn't get cent of pay
saw only TIVE nty-flve cents during the
entire time. But then l didn't mind
that. There were hundre DIS more circuit
riders not it be, ter off than myself,
very few got 500 year. Ready money
was a scare article in those days but,
the LACK of 1t never stopped circuit
rider from fulfilling his duties. Oh, 1
could go ahead and talk all night about
my exp ,rience as circuit rider, but
there is no use in it. Why, 1 re member
one day during rainy spell I tried to
urge my horss to sv i'm across a creek
that was swollen by recent rains, but
the horse couldn't make it, and / mar
rowly escaped with my life. But the far
mer's boys Were ! was going dragged
me out and loaned me dry clothes, and
went on my way + 'joicirg. That was
but one Of my incidents taat served to
make up my life as circuit rider"