Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-10-09
Peter Cartwright.

"reminiscences of Peter Cartwright, the
celebrated Methodist revivalist. Cart.
wright was born in Virginia in l785
and while an infant was carried by his
parents to Kentucky, at that time g
wilderness inhabited by hostile In
dians. At the age Of sixteen he was
converted, and at eighteen began
preaching. For more than twenty
years he travelled over the States Of
Kentucky, Tennessee, Southern In
diana and Illinois. preaching to the
people of the frontier settlements and
carrying with him everywhere the
peculiarities of his strong and original
character.
In 1924. when thirty-nine years
old, he removed to Illinois and set,
tied in Sangamon county at a place
called Pleasant Plains, where be lived
or rather made his headquarters, till
his death, which took place in 1872
at the age of eighty-seven. During
his thirty-eight years residence IN
Illinois he travelled over every part
of the State, and probably preached
in every county Of the State, and in
most of them preached many times.
He was powerful in body and in
mind, always ready for an argument
and no less ready for fight. BE
was in the habit of saying that he
loved everybody, but feared nobody,
not even the devil, and be was ready
at any time to fight Satan or any Of
his satellites. | heard one of his col
leagues say once that Uncle Peters
success in making converts was due to
the pugnacity of his nature. He con-
tinued.
1.-THE wild, unruly population of
Illinois had contempt for religion as
it had been taught them, because it
meant gentleness and forbearance, the
forgiveness of our enemies, the return
of good for evil, and 30 on. Mr..
Cartwright came among them preach
ing the same theory. but thrashing
those who disputed with him. He
taught them to love one another, but
to be ready for physical battle at all
times, to fear no man and to show it.
His practice was almost equal to pros
elyting by the sword and was almost
as effective. The wild, untamed
youth in Illinois glorifed in being
followers of Peter Cartwright, for to
them it meant not only to be religious
and sure of salvation, but to be inde-
pendent, fearless and able to take care
of themselves. And this suited them.
Like Uncle Peter, when smitten on
one cheek they turned the other only
to get better view Of the antagonist,
and they felt that by belonging to his
church they enjoyed much of the re-
spect accorded him
Many stories are told of his meth
dds of converting sinners and dispos-
ing of the unruly. On one occasion,
says Mr.. Hinrichsen, large number
of rowdies undertook to break up one
of his meetings by interrupting the
speaker. Uncle Peter, as he was
called, left the stand and the rowdies
shouted in triumph. But not for long.
In few minutes Uncle Peter appeared,
carrying a great bludgeon, and fol-
lowed by group of twenty-five or
thirty young men similarly armed, the
famous preachers guard" Uncle
Peter took the lead and he led the
guard straight at the rowdies. 1 can
not describe the fight which followed,
for I was trying to get out of the way,
but saw Uncle Peter tear the ruffles
off the shirt of the ringleader of the
rowdies, and l saw the latter go down
under the preachers weapon. Clubs
were flying in every direction, knives
and pistols were used, but the rowdies
were defeated. a dozen or so being
made prisoners and the remainder
driven from the camp.
He was strong Democrat in poll.
tics, and was, of course, warm ad'
mirer of General Jackson, with whom
he was well acquainted. l have
heard him describe his first meeting
with the hero of New Orleans and he
seemed proud of it. 1t was shortly
after the close Of the war of 1872 that
he was preaching at Knoxville, Tenn
when jackson entered the church. He
was telling the people how wicked
they were, and the preacher whose
pulpit he was filling stepped behind
him and whispered that jackson was
present.
Mr.. Cartwright, speaking in hl'