The Coolidge examiner., 1935-08-30

iA1AflLIAAlk N~IAsAAAL LGAf(I
l5r17rs osvC - "79-L Cut
ay; and 50 sudden would be- the Jerking OF the
head that their long loose hair would crack al
most as loud as a waEoners whip"
From this Il may be inferred that this ex-
FOUNDER Of the "old dtlme religion" didn't ap-
prove of ladies Of fashion" This impression
Is strengthened by his statement that they
would faint II they had 20 walk 100 yards In
the sun without parnsol they were braced and
stayed 10 such an extent that they could not
step more than six eight inches az n time.
should thcy by aty accident happen 10 lose their
moorlnEs and fsll. they are imprisoned with so
many uumentonables that they could not get Up
again"
Just as be tisapproved OF such vaInglorious
folk IN the larger settlements OF the Middle West.
So dd he have his own methods of rebuklng the
supcrcillous attitude of big city dwellcrs toward
country folk on his FIRST visit TO New York
be went 10 the famed Astor House naughty
clerk regarding The roughly-ciad frontlersman
as a regular bayseed." assigned him 20 a room
away up under the rcot In little while a bell
from that room summoned the servant who had
shown the circuit rider 20 fis quarters
No sooner had the servant returned from his
trip up several flights % stairs Cfor there were
no elevators ia these days. than he was called
back. This was repeated several times until
nnnlly the servant reported 10 the clerk that the
guest IN that room must be- crazy" Asked 20
explain. he replied: The FIRST thine be called me
up there be wanted 20 knoa how we were get
ting along down here. The next time be was
bothered by The bell on the city bali and want
ed 10 know where the fire was. THIS last time
be said be wanted au AK"
AN ak" asked the clerk lncredulously.
Yes sir an Ak"
what IN creation does be want with m ak"
4 don't know. sir. but be insisted that he must
nave one"
So the clerk climbed up 10 the distant room
and demanded an explanation OF the unusual re
quest.
why. you see" said Cartwright cheerfully.
back IN my state when a man has n distance
10 90 IN n strange country be blazes his way
with an ax. 80 that be may know how 10 get
back want 10 leave my room. and want 90
blaze my way SO that l can ind IL again"
who are you. anyway asked the astonlshed
clerk
My name is Peter Cartwright" replied the old
man humby and Immediately he was given a
better room, for the fame OF the great circuit
rider had penetrated even TO the benIghted in
habltants of Manhattan
Cartwright was not only one OF the most noted
he was also n prominent figure in politics In the
period before the Civil war When the Metho-
dist church divided on the slavery question In
1874 Ga schism which lasted for 80 years) Cart
wright stood firmly upon his principles decar-
Ing God viii show my deluded brethren the
error of their way and bring them back 10 the
way OF righteousness However. he was not IN
favor Of trying TO solve the slavery problem by
force. for he said Il believe the most successful
way 10 ameliorate the condition cf the slaves
and Chrlsuanize them and finally secure their
freedom Is TO treat their owners kindly and not
meddle politically with slavery
In 1916 Cartwright was the Democratic candI-
date for congress from an Illinois district but
be lost In the election 10 young lawyer named
Abraham Lincoln. Thirteen years later he was
an ardent supporter of the candidacy of Lin
coins famous debate opponent. Stephen A. Doug
las. for the Democratic nomination for President
and made impasscned speeches In Douglas be-
half
BY 1868. when the Civil war was at its height
Cartwrights views slavery had undergone a
change. In that year a Methodist conference
was held at Springfield, H., and II was TO be
opened with prayer meeting TO ask for success
for the Union army and a speedy peace. The
venerable Uncle Peter Cartwright was chosen
TO offer up the first prayer 20, Lord, II slavery
be the cause of this cruel war, remove It," he
cried. A loud chorus of amens followed Then
Cartwright cried out 20. Lord, remove It any
way - and a louder chorus of 'amens :" than
ever before went up from the throng gathered
there.
Cartwright lived to see his prayer answered.
He died at his home near Pleasant Plains. H.
on September %, 1872 at the age of Lightweight,
leaving behind him a record which has few
equals In the annals of the church in America.
Western Newspaper Union.