The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-11
THE CIRCUIT RIDER.


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the service, that rejoices my recollec-
ton as does that period of itineracy,
during my first years in the work,
when / sat in the saddle Of the circuit
rider" said Rev. James Erwin, d. D.,
recently.
"Our ministers Of to-day would be
ill-ftted to endure the fatigue and
which we were called upon
to endure in those days." said he.
''Our circuits were often four hundred
and five hundred miles long, and 1T
took us month to get around the cir
cuit, preaching sermon every day in
the year and three sermons on Sunday.
Our sermons were greatest and broad
est when measured lengthwise. 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 whole months Jour-
ney, but they were added unto at every
place and modified and made better a.
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 the,saddle from one months
end to the other, except when we
stopped to refresh ourselves or to
preach. We were always cordially re-
ceived everywhere, and the best In the
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
hearty meal, preach a sermon,
hold class meeting in the evening,
catch what sleep we could, and start on
our way again as early as possible in
the morning. No matter what the
weather. we had to make our circuit,
for the people depended on us and
would gather at our stopping place
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 to preach.
Here the people gathered and waited
for u.s. Our sermons were usually an
hour and half or two hours long, but
those who came to hear us never tired
of them, though tho sermons, especial
~ if we had repeated them good many
times, sometimes tired us.
"hlany 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 to preach
and to see If there were any notices left
there for weddings or funerals Some
times bridal couples would meet us at
the house and would be married there,
though such were OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
If there was notice of a funeral we
were expected to leave our circuit and
cut across country to the house. some
times thirty miles or SO, to perform the
burial rite, leaving the station to 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 tn great
distances, through rain and snow,
through mud and rivers, that those
whose friends desired them to have a
Christian burial might do so.
"After the burial we would again
mount and get back 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 overtaken in snow squall or a
rain storm, or we stopped by river
which had overhowed its banks. But
was never delayed in my travels, though
many were. I was always fortunate
enough to get some farmer to ferry me
over the stream, and then would get
horse on the other side and go on.
One night was overtaken in a 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
would get good rubbing, a warm meal
and would preach one of the best SER
mons of my life. can never speak Of
those times without becoming awak.
ened and feeling new life within me.
"A wonderful affection usually
sprang up between the circuit rider and
his horse. Many times have started
out with only twenty-five cents in my
pocket and no place on my plan where
could stop and get anything to eat.
In those cases would stop at some inn
and let my horse have something to
eat while l went all day long fasting.
Sometimes we would come to mire in
the road in the woods, and the horse
would get stuck. Then we would have
| to dismount, get rail or stick Of some
kind and pry him out. II we knew
that we were coming to mire, we
| would dismount and let the horse get
across alone, and then make our way
to the other side as best we could.
At our stations we gave our
horses the best care we could,
though we oftentimes were obliged
to let them stand in . woodshed.
Then one neighbor would bring in q
bundle of hay, another would fetch q
few ears of corn, and another would
supply something else. We circuit
riders were clothed IN much the same
/, way our horses wero fed. II our cloth
ing became seedy we would get . pair
of pantaloons in one place, vest at
/, the next station. and a coat further on