The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-22


Eloquent Mission Talks by
Atkins ard Galloway Much Feeling
Aroused on Resolutions Against State
Aid 10 the University.
Salisbury, y. C., Nov, 2h-( Editorial
Correspondence,l About a hundred
years ago. more or less. a Methodist con-
terence was held in this town. Then all
the preachers came on horseback, with
8 Bible and hymn book in their saddle.
haSs. They came up from circuits EN-
hraeing dozen counties, and If the
salary az any of them exceeded one hun
dred dollars he was regarded as very
fortunate man. They belonged to the
heroic age when q circuit rider had to
endure more hardships than Cuban
patriot of to-day. Primitive OF speech and
plain Of dress, weather-beaten and with
cheeks furrowed by care these heroes
met to recount their victories and press
forward to another year of conflict and
labor that would make the modern
preachers heart sink within him. Speak
ing of these pioneers-the brayest men
Of their time-Dr. kilgo was telling me
last night of the feeling that came over
him when he stood either at Morgan
ton or Shelby and looked over upon the
low range of South mountains that
lies between these two towns.
MY father" said the Doctor,
''had circuit that embraced these noun
tains in the days before the school or
the church had found much Judgement
in them. He was a man with family,
and though he travelled up and down
these mountains, preaching and laboring
as few of the younger men know any
thing about, he received salary of only
500 a year. / honor his memory be-
cause he so loved this work that no pri-
yations and no stains of travel and no
hard fare seemed to concern him. Ii
happily he could carry the gospel to those
who had not received it, he felt that he
had received the reward for which he
labored."
Talk about inheritances, and blue
blood and coats of arms and heral-
dry, as / listened to DIR. Kilgo tell of
some of the hard experiences Of his
y
poor and those in the businesses of the
mountains, | thought he had an inheri-
tance far worthier than any kindly title
or royal rank. The men who planted
the gospel where the pioneers axe rang
out upon the stiffness of unbroken
forests-they are the noblemen Of Amer
lea, they are our heroes, our martyrs,
our hlue-bloods. There are sections Of
our State now, almost neglected by gos-
pei preachers, that need the same self
sacrificing spirit that was found in the
old circuit riders-men who will leave
the railroads and well-paying churches,
and carry the gospel to those who need
it and its uplifting power. DIR. Kilg0
says that every year Trinity College
graduates young men who are consecrat-
ing themselves to those neglected fields.
But there is need of more The harvest
is great-where are the laborers!
I wonder what would be the feelings
Of the old circuit riders of the last cen
fury il they could walk into the elegant
new Methodist church here and see the
array Of well-dressed- some stylishly
dressed-preachers who are their success
sors. Homespun has given place to
broadcloth; broad brimmed common
hats to beavers and stiff hats; saddle
bags to gold walking canes; lining out
the hymns to an organ and fashionable
choir; circuit extending from Mobile,
Ala, to Asheville, N. c., to city stations
and compact circuits; class meetings
and experience meetings to Epworth
Leages and choir practises; saddle
horses over rough roads to travelling in
Pullman cars; pay in h0mespun, corn
and hogs to gold and silver, and salaries
increased from 800 TO $1,000 and even
$1,000, with fine parsonages. | say, sup
pose that, without knowing anything of
the transition periods that have passed,
one Of your 6fH-time circuit riders could
drop in here at this conference, wouldn't
he be tempted to think that the Metho-
dist church had changed much toward
worldliness since he travelled on horse
back and pitched" his own tunes in the
log houses of mountain and plain? /
rather think he would be tempted to lee
.ture those who follow him in the line
Of true Methodist apostolic succession
upon deYoting too much energy to cuI-
tivating the easier town and city fields
and too little to working in the more
difficult highways and mountain coves.
If SO, would his criticism be a righteous
one? In building fine churches, and keep
ing up with the spirit of the age, has
Methodism lost its old time camp-meet-
ing simplicity, fervor and self-sacrifce
Or il the ministry to-day walking as
truly in the old paths Of the pioneers, but
in a modern way?
But If the last century circuit rider
would be astonished at the transformation
from his day, what would the modern
Methodist say il an old-time circuit
rider should suddenly come to life and
preach as vigorously against wearine
iewery, worldly amusements and fine
dressing as he did in his day? Would
they tear off their jewels and put them
in the contribution baskets rs Of yore
and welcome the stern, rigid, simple
living and preaching Of the fathers? On
would some modern Methodist 90 up to
the old fellow and say: My good man
you no doubt mean very well, but you
must remember that your teaching anG
bao oh Jtay