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diff --git a/old/64765-0.txt b/old/64765-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index cd20879..0000000 --- a/old/64765-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3237 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Twenty Years on Horseback, or Itinerating in -West Virginia, by W. M. (William Marion) Weekley - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Twenty Years on Horseback, or Itinerating in West Virginia - - -Author: W. M. (William Marion) Weekley - - - -Release Date: March 9, 2021 [eBook #64765] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWENTY YEARS ON HORSEBACK, OR -ITINERATING IN WEST VIRGINIA*** - - -E-text prepared by MFR and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team -(http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org). This ebook was created in honour -of Distributed Proofreaders' 20th Anniversary. - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 64765-h.htm or 64765-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/64765/64765-h/64765-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/64765/64765-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/twentyyearsonhor00week - - - - - -[Illustration: BISHOP W. M. WEEKLEY, D.D.] - - -TWENTY YEARS ON HORSEBACK -OR ITINERATING IN WEST VIRGINIA - -by - -W. M. WEEKLEY, D.D. - -Author of “Getting and Giving,” -“From Life to Life,” Etc. - - - “Take thy part in suffering hardship as a good - soldier of Christ Jesus.”—2 Tim. 2:3 - - - - - - -Nineteen Hundred and Seven -United Brethren Publishing House -Dayton, Ohio - -All Rights Reserved - - - - -Preface - - -It was not my purpose, in the preparation of this little volume, to make -it an autobiography, but rather a narration of incidents connected with -the twenty years of humble service which I tried to render the United -Brethren Church among the mountains of West Virginia. - -These incidents present an all-round view, in outline, of the real life -and labors of the itinerant preacher, a third of a century ago, in an -isolated section, where the most simple and primitive customs prevailed. - -While some of the things related will doubtless amuse the reader, others, -I trust, will lead to thoughtful reflection, and carry with them lessons -inspiring and helpful. The introduction should first be carefully read by -those who expect to be profited by a perusal of the pages which follow. -That good may come to the church, and glory to our Redeemer through this -unpretentious publication is the prayer of its - - AUTHOR. - -Kansas City, Mo., May 1, 1907. - - - - -I have examined the manuscript of “Twenty Years on Horseback, or -Itinerating in West Virginia,” and cheerfully submit this note of -commendation. - -The author, Bishop W. M. Weekley, D.D., I have known for more than thirty -years. He entered the ministry when young, with an undivided heart -and determined purpose. During the years he served the Church in that -State he traveled over almost the entire territory of the West Virginia -Conference. The country then was extremely primitive; but simple as the -mode of life was at that time, the field was an interesting, even an -enjoyable one for a minister who could endure hardness as a good soldier -of Christ. I am acquainted with nearly all the sections of the State -referred to, and am therefore familiar with many of the places, facts, -and persons mentioned, and can assure the reader that the author has -given a faithful account of these in his book. No statement is overdrawn -or warped for the sake of effect. - - W. W. RYMER. - -Columbus, Ohio, May 3, 1907. - - - - -An examination of the following pages caused me to live my early life -over again. Having spent twenty-three years in the ministry within the -bounds of the West Virginia Conference, and having been intimately -associated with the author of this volume during the most of that -period, I am very familiar with many of the places, persons, and events -mentioned, and can testify to the correctness of the record he makes, -and to the faithfulness of the pictures drawn. This book will stir the -thoughts and rekindle the fire within the old itinerants, and, as well, I -trust, arouse the young to larger activities in soul winning. - - R. A. HITT. - -Chillicothe, Ohio, May 4, 1907. - - - - -The author of this book and myself were boys together. We were born -and reared within four miles of each other, were converted in the -same church, and for years were members of the same Sunday school and -congregation. We were licensed to preach on the same charge, and spent -the earlier years of our ministry in the same conference together. -In many instances we traveled the same roads, preached in the same -communities, and mingled with the same people. - -After having examined the contents of this volume in manuscript form, -I am sure it contains a faithful description of the varied conditions -which made up the life and experiences of the United Brethren itinerant -minister of that time among the hills and mountains of West Virginia. - - A. ORR. - -Circleville, Ohio, April 30, 1907. - - - - -Contents - - - PREFACE - - INTRODUCTION 9 - - CHAPTER I 15 - - CHAPTER II 27 - - CHAPTER III 44 - - CHAPTER IV 58 - - CHAPTER V 70 - - CHAPTER VI 86 - - CHAPTER VII 100 - - CHAPTER VIII 121 - - - - -Illustrations - - - BISHOP W. M. WEEKLEY (_Frontispiece_) - - W. M. WEEKLEY AT TWENTY YEARS OF AGE - - W. M. WEEKLEY AT THIRTY YEARS OF AGE - - TRAVELING A DISTRICT - - HOUSE WHERE BISHOP FIRST WENT TO HOUSEKEEPING - - - - -Introduction - - -The past lives through the printed page. The ages would be blank if books -were not made recording the events and achievements of men. No form of -history is more interesting and profitable than that which recites the -career of those who, obedient to their divine commission, proclaimed to -fellowmen the sweet message of Christ’s redeeming love. The completeness -of their consecration, their undaunted courage and persistency in the -face of many difficulties, and their marvelous success evidence in them -the presence of superhuman power. It is the genius of Christianity -to inspire and develop the unselfish and heroic in men. The splendid -specimens of self-sacrifice and moral courage, which adorn the pages of -Christian literature, charm the reader and inspire him to more Christlike -endeavor. These life-stories constitute a rich, priceless legacy for -present and future generations. - -In this admirable volume, Bishop Weekley has modestly removed the -curtain from twenty years of his own strenuous ministerial life spent -in the mountains and valleys of West Virginia, and given the reader a -conception of what it meant to lift up the Christ and extend his kingdom -in that rugged region. The book is biographical in character, but since -“biography is the soul of history,” it is history in reality. The -scenes and events which he presents suggest the character of the work -which others had to do in laying the foundations of our Church in those -sections. - -It would be difficult to find more striking examples of Christian -altruism and heroism anywhere in this country than the godly men who -preached the gospel among the mountains and in the valleys of the -Virginias in the early years of our denominational history. These men -embodied those elements of character and graces of the Spirit which -are essential to success in Christian work anywhere. Having heard the -call of God, and having felt the spell of the divine spirit, they -yielded themselves unreservedly to the gospel ministry. They possessed -strength of conviction, singleness of aim, earnestness of purpose, and -concentration of effort. As a rule these pioneer preachers had but one -business—that of the King. They were so absorbed in the saving of men and -women, and in extending the kingdom, that they gave but little attention -to present physical comforts and future needs. Many of them were without -property, and when they sang, - - “No foot of land do I possess, - No cottage in this wilderness,” - -there was a literalness about it which would have dismayed men of less -faith and consecration. Without seeking to enrich themselves in material -things they labored earnestly to bring the spiritual riches of heaven to -the hearts and homes of others. - -They were busy men—men of action. They omitted no opportunities to -do good. Intervals of rest were few and far between. The modern -minister’s vacation was to them unknown. They met their “appointments” -with surprising regularity. Neither storm, nor distance, nor -weariness thwarted their plans. Their announcements were always made -conditionally—“no preventing providence”—but they never calculated for -providence to prevent them being on hand at the appointed place and -hour. The strain of toil was constant, but their iron resolution, and -the work itself, proved a strong tonic. The success of one service was -inspiration for the next. Visiting from house to house, exhorting the -people to faithful Christian living, distributing religious literature, -and preaching week days as well as Sundays made their lives full of heavy -tasks, all of which were performed with happy hearts. They possessed the -glowing and tireless zeal of the preaching friars of the Middle Ages, and -with many of them the clear flame of their zeal was undimmed until the -fire was turned to ashes. - -They were men of thought as well as action. Their preparation was made in -the college of experience, in which they proved themselves apt students. -They studied few books and only the best. They cultivated and practised -the perilous art of reading on horseback. They pored over books and -papers in humble homes by flickering candle or pine-knot light long -after the family had retired. It is remarkable what extended knowledge -of the English Scriptures, methods of sermonizing, oratorical style and -forceful delivery these men acquired. They knew well, and by that surest -form of knowledge—the knowledge born of verified experience—all they -proclaimed in message to the people. There was freshness of thought, -aptness of illustration, and forcefulness of expression that was native -to them. The majestic forms of nature in the regions where they toiled -inspired in them the sublimest thoughts of God and his eternal truth. The -marvelous results of the sermons of such men as Markwood, Glossbrenner, -Bachtel, Warner, Nelson, Graham, Howe, Hott, and others proved them great -preachers in the highest and truest sense. - -They were men of tact as well as thought, and adjusted themselves to the -conditions. They preached wherever the people would assemble—in leafy -grove, by the river bank, in the humble home, in the log schoolhouse, -in the village hall, in the vacant storeroom, and in the unpretentious -church-house. They did not always have the exhilarating and inspirational -effect of great crowds, but they preached “in demonstration of the -Spirit,” kindling the deepest emotions in their hearers, often arousing -them to tremendous intensity and causing waves of overpowering feeling to -sweep over them. Saints shouted the praises of God and penitents pleaded -for mercy. These heralds of the Cross employed none of the familiar -devices of modern times for securing crowds and reaching results. There -were no specially-prepared and widely-scattered handbills, no local -advertising committees, no daily newspapers with flashing headlines -and portraits, no great choral or orchestral attractions. What made -these fallible men so forceful and successful in winning others? The -explanation lies in the fact of their spiritual enduement. They wrought -in the name of Christ and under the influence of the Holy Spirit. - -In no portion of our Zion have ministers made stronger and more lasting -impression upon the people. Whenever present in a home they were -the guests of honor. Their strong personalities and noble traits of -character, as well as their calling itself, won for them the esteem of -old and young. Parents named their children after them, and exhorted -their sons to find in them their models for manhood. In thus honoring -these noblemen of God they exalted the work of the ministry in the minds -of the young, and prepared the way for the Lord to call them into his -service. This may account, at least in part, for the great number who -have gone into the ministry from these mountain districts. - -Let no one fancy that somber shadows rested continually upon the pathway -of these ministers. There was a joyous side to their ministerial life. -When together as a class, or among their parishioners, their stories -and jokes were abundant, spontaneous, and of the purest type. When they -met at institutes, camp-meetings, and conferences they enjoyed one round -of good cheer and solid comfort. Their services of song drowned all dull -cares. Their lives had shadows, but they refreshed themselves in the -rifts and glorious sunbursts. - -The people to whom these men of God proclaimed the gospel were not, as a -rule, rich in material things, but they possessed great hearts, in which -love and kindness flowed as pure and refreshing as the streams of water -that rippled down the mountain side. - -We rejoice that Bishop Weekley has given to the Church this book. Many -aged ministers, who once toiled in the Virginias, will live over again -the scenes of their lives as they read these pages. Young men will be -stimulated to more earnest endeavor as they learn of the hardships and -complete consecration of God’s servants in pioneer days. No one will -weary in reading this excellent volume. The good Bishop has written in -harmony with an established sentiment in book-making—“it is the chief of -all perfections in books to be plain and brief.” - - W. O. FRIES. - -_Dayton, Ohio._ - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -The Virginias have turned out more United Brethren preachers, perhaps, -than any other section of the same size between the oceans. These -pulpiteers have ranged in the scale of ability and efficiency from A -to Z. Some achieved distinction in one way and another; others, though -faithful and useful, were little known beyond their conference borders. -Nor have all remained among the mountains. Dozens and scores of them have -gone out into other parts of the Church. At this writing they are to be -found in no less than nineteen different conferences, and, as a class, -they are not excelled by any in devotion to the Church, in unremitting -toil, and in spiritual fervor and downright enthusiasm. Some—many who -spent their lives in building up the Zion of their choice among the -Virginia hills, have gone to glory. Among these heroes I may mention J. -Markwood, J. J. Glossbrenner, Z. Warner, J. Bachtel, J. W. Perry, J. W. -Howe, S. J. Graham, I. K. Statton, and J. W. Hott. Other names, perhaps -not so illustrious, but just as worthy, are to be found in God’s unerring -record. The historian will never tell all about them. Their labors, -sacrifices, and sufferings will never be portrayed by any human tongue, -no matter how eloquent, or by any pen, however versatile and fruitful it -may be. Footsore and weary, dust covered and battle scarred, they reached -the end of their pilgrimage and heard heaven’s “well done.” What a -blessed legacy they bequeathed to their sons and daughters in the gospel! - -“Old Virginia” was, in part, the field chosen by Otterbein himself, and -by his devout colaborers. This was more than a hundred years ago. In 1858 -the Parkersburg, now West Virginia Conference, was organized out of that -part of the mother conference lying west of the Alleghanies—a territory -three hundred miles long, roughly speaking, by two hundred in width. In -its physical aspects the country is exceedingly rough, and difficult -of travel. But the people, though mostly rural in their customs and -mode of living, and many of them poor, so far as this world’s goods are -concerned, are warm hearted, genial, and hospitable. When a preacher goes -to fill an appointment among “mountaineers,” he is not troubled with the -thought that perhaps nobody will offer him lodging, or willingly share -with him the bounties of his table. I have found things different in -other parts of the country. - -[Illustration: W. M. WEEKLEY, Twenty Years of Age - -Traveling Circuit] - -The new conference was organized at Centerville, in Tyler County, by -Bishop Glossbrenner, in the month of March. Only a few ministers were -present, but they were brave and good, ready to do, and, if need be, to -die for their Lord. Five miles from this historic place the writer was -born on the eighteenth day of September, 1851. - -My parents, though poor, were honest and honorable, and toiled -unceasingly to provide for and rear in respectability their ten children, -of whom I was the oldest. - -The neighborhood was far above the average in its religious life and -moral worth. A man under the influence of liquor was seldom seen, and a -profane word was hardly ever heard. The United Brethren Church was by -far the leading denomination in all that country. The old log church -in which we all worshiped stood on father’s farm, and our home was the -stopping-place not only of preachers, but of many others who attended -divine service. At times our house was so crowded that mother was -compelled to make beds on the floor for the family, and not unfrequently -for others as well. But to her it was a great joy to perform such a -ministry for the gospel’s sake. Her loving hands could always provide for -others, no matter who they were, or how many. For the third of a century -father was the Sunday-school superintendent in the neighborhood, and, -for a longer period, teacher of the juvenile class. Thus he saw little -children pass up into other and older classes, and finally to manhood and -womanhood, when by and by their children came in and were given a place -in “Uncle Dan’s” class. - -At the age of fourteen I was born the second time, and united with the -Church. The occasion was a great revival held by Rev. S. J. Graham, -of precious memory. Seeing my oldest sister, Sarah, bow at the altar, -greatly moved my young heart. A few moments later I observed father -coming back toward the door, and thinking perhaps he was wanting to speak -to me on the subject of religion, I immediately left the house. My state -of mind became awful. The next evening I saw mother pressing her way -toward me through the standing crowd. I knew what it meant, and sat down -with the hope of concealing myself from her; but how vain the effort! -What child ever hid himself away from a mother’s love? Putting her hand -on my head, she said, “William, won’t you be a Christian?” I made no -reply, but said to myself, “I can’t stand this; I must do something.” How -her appeal, plaintive and tender, made me weep! It was really the first -time she had ever come to me with such directness and warmth of heart. -To this very moment I can feel the touch of her hand and hear her loving -appeal. The next day I talked with other boys who were with me in school, -and asked them to accompany me to the “mourner’s bench,” which they did. - -At that time the class, though in the country, numbered one hundred and -seventy souls. Three months later, I was appointed one of its stewards, -and with this office came my first experience in raising money for the -Church. - -The next year I was elected assistant class-leader, and though young and -inexperienced, I rendered the very best service I possibly could. - -My educational advantages up to this time had been only such as the -common schools afforded, with the addition of a close application to -study at the home fireside, aided by the historic “pine torch” and -“tallow candle.” - -From the day of my conversion I could not escape the thought of -preaching. The duty of being a Christian was never set before me more -forcibly and clearly than was the duty of preaching; but I hesitated. -My ignorance, and lack of fitness otherwise for such a high calling, -appeared as insurmountable barriers. I could not understand why God -should pass by others, better in heart and far more capable, and choose -me. So the struggle went on. In the mean time I began to read such books -as I could secure. The Bible, “Smith’s Bible Dictionary,” and “Dick’s -Works,” constituted my library. The last named was rather heavy for a lad -only in his teens, but I rather enjoyed such studies. The first book I -ever purchased was “Religious Emblems,” which proved exceedingly helpful -to my young life. - -When seventeen I preached my first sermon, or, perhaps I should say, -made my first public effort. It was in an old log church on Little -Flint Run, in Doddridge County. Brother Christopher Davis, a local -preacher, was holding a meeting, and at the close of the morning services -announced that I would preach at night. What a day that was to me! How -I tried to think and pray! When I reached the church I found it full, -with many standing in the aisle about the door. I felt so unprepared—so -utterly helpless—that I immediately retired to a secret place, where -I again besought the Lord for help. Returning, I started in with the -preliminaries, but was badly scared. No man can describe his feelings -under such circumstances. Many a preacher who scans these pages will -appreciate my situation. I spent a good part of the first fifteen minutes -mopping my face. I seemed to be in a sweat-box; but by the time I reached -my sermon, or whatever it might be called, the embarrassment was all -gone. I still remember the text: “And I will bring you into the land -concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to -Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage. I am the Lord.” It was -immense; but the most of young preachers begin just that way. At this -distance from the occasion, I do not recall anything I said, and am glad -I cannot. However, there was one redeeming feature about the effort, -and that was its brevity. In twenty minutes I had told all I knew, -and perhaps more. I have never been able to understand why the people -listened so patiently. They really seemed to be interested, but why, or -in what, I have never known. I have not tried that text since, and I do -not think I ever shall. It is too profound to even think of as the basis -of a discourse to common people. - -Dr. J. L. Hensley, when pastor of Middle Island Circuit, early in the -sixties, had a somewhat singular experience in this same log church. -While preaching one Sabbath morning in midsummer from the text, “The seed -of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head,” the people at his left -suddenly became excited, and looking around quickly for the cause, he -observed a snake, about two feet long, crawling in a crevice of the wall -near the pulpit. Reaching for his hickory cane, which he always carried, -he dealt the wily creature a blow which brought it tumbling to the floor, -remarking at the same time, “The seed of the woman shall bruise the -serpent’s head.” Thus in the midst of his discourse he was furnished an -illustration which made a profound impression upon his hearers, and aided -greatly in bringing the truth home to their hearts. - -The presiding elder, Rev. S. J. Graham, my spiritual father, by authority -of a quarterly conference held at the Long Run appointment, October 23, -1869, gave me a permit to exercise in public for three months. Shortly -after this I was prostrated with lung fever, which soon developed the -most alarming aspects. Though the ailment was outgeneraled, the process -of recovery was slow. In fact, one of my lungs was so impaired that -consumption was feared. A noted physician, after carefully diagnosing my -case, frankly told me that nothing could be done for my lung; but I did -not believe a word he told me. I had decided that I would make preaching -my life work, and believed that God would give me a chance to try it. -It might be noted here that ten years later this same doctor was in his -grave, while I was a better specimen of physical manhood than he ever -was. - -“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it -to pass.” What will he bring to pass? The right thing, and in the right -way. Such has been my observation and experience in all the years that -have come and gone since the hand of affliction was so keenly felt. - -December 25, 1869, I was granted quarterly conference license in a -regular way, and attended the annual conference which met in Hartford -City, Mason County, the following March. Much of the time while there I -was not able to walk from my stopping-place to the church, though not a -half dozen blocks distant. Some of the brethren feared that I would not -live to get back home again. But I wanted a circuit. With that end in -view I had gone to conference, and no amount of persuasion could turn me -aside from the one great purpose that had taken complete possession of -my soul. I was entering the work with a full knowledge of what it meant. -I had heard the brethren talk of their privations and abundant labors, -and, as well, of their victories and joy of heart. The report of the year -then closing was most suggestive. The eighteen fields of the conference -contained one hundred and sixty-seven preaching places, and had paid -twenty-four men a little less than $140 each upon an average, not -counting outside gifts. West Columbia Circuit paid its two pastors, Revs. -W. B. Hodge and I. M. Underwood, $400. The next highest was $339.19, -and was paid the brace of pastors who served the Glenville charge—Revs. -W. W. Knipple and Elias Barnard. The other sixteen pastorates ranged -from $267.15 down to $35, the last named amount having been received by -Rev. J. W. Boggess, on Hessville Mission. The Parkersburg District paid -Elder Graham $227.87, while West Columbia District only reached $152.85 -for its superintendent, Rev. J. W. Perry. To the support of each of the -districts, however, the parent missionary board added $100. - -When the Stationing Committee reported, my name was read out as the -junior preacher for Philippi Circuit, with Rev. A. L. Moore, pastor in -charge. This appointment was given, as more than one assured me in later -years, simply to satisfy my mind. No one expected me to go to it. As the -field already had a man, my failure to reach it would make no difference -in any way. - -Returning home I told father what had been done, and that I must have -the necessary outfit for a circuit-rider; namely, a horse, a saddle and -bridle, and a pair of saddle-bags. No matter what else a man had, or did -not have, in those days, these things were essential to efficiency among -the mountains of West Virginia. - -At once I began preparations for leaving home. Mother was thoughtful -enough to make me a pair of leggings which buttoned up at the sides and -reached above the knees. No one article made with hands was ever more -valuable to a Virginia itinerant than leggings. - -Philippi Circuit was seventy-five miles distant among the mountains, and -would require, owing to the bad roads, two and a half days of hard travel -on horseback to reach it. At the appointed time, April 11, 1870, early in -the morning, I rode out of the old lane and up the hillside. All I had of -earthly possessions was in my saddle-bags. One end contained my library, -(Bible, Hymn-book, “Smith’s Bible Dictionary,” “Binney’s Theological -Compend,” “Religious Emblems,” and one volume of “Watson’s Institutes,”) -while in the other was stored my wardrobe, scant and plain. When far up -on the side of the hill I looked back and saw mother standing on the -porch. She had not ceased to watch me from the moment I started. Tears -unbidden filled my eyes, and with these came an appreciation of our home -that I had never experienced before. The home had been humble, to be -sure, but it was Christian. We had a family altar, from which the sweet -incense of prayer ascended daily to God. I could truthfully say: - - “Jesus, I my cross have taken, - All to leave and follow thee.” - -A mile distant I joined, by a prearranged plan, Rev. G. W. Weekley, my -uncle, and Rev. Isaac Davis, both of whom were also en route to their -distant fields of toil. - -At the end of the second day we reached Glady Fork, on Lewis Circuit, -where my uncle lived. How weary after so long a ride! At that time my -health was still so precarious, and my strength so limited, that I could -not walk a hundred yards up grade without resting. To dismount from -my horse, open and close a gate, and then get back into the saddle, -exhausted me. Remaining over a few days with my uncle, I tried to preach -on Sunday morning, but found myself exhausted at the end of twenty-four -minutes. In a few days, however, I was sufficiently rested from my long -ride to journey on to my own circuit, where I soon found the preacher in -charge, and plans were discussed for the year’s work. This was historic -ground. It was an old United Brethren field, having been traveled by -Statton, Stickley, Warner, Hensley, and others, in the late fifties and -early sixties, when it included twenty or more preaching-places, spread -over portions of several counties. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Philippi Circuit contained at this time the following appointments: -Romines Mills, Gnatty Creek, Peck’s Run, Indian Fork, Mt. Hebron, Green -Brier, and Zeb’s Creek. Later I added two more—one on Big Run, and -the other on Brushy Fort, at the home of “Mother” Simons. Two of the -preaching places lay “beyond” the Middle Fork River—a rolling, dashing -stream, fresh from the mountains, and at times dangerous to cross. It -was so clear that a silver piece the size of a quarter could be seen at -a depth of several feet. The first time I attempted to ford it I put my -life in jeopardy. Because the bottom could be seen distinctly, I imagined -it was not deep, but after a few paces I was in mid-side to my horse, -and going deeper every step. Perceiving the danger I was in, I tried to -turn my horse about, and did so only after the greatest effort, owing to -the almost irresistible current which was gradually bearing horse and -rider downward. Going to a house near by I made some inquiry about the -stream, and was told that if I had gone ten feet farther I should have -been swept away by the swift running waters. How grateful I was to God -for the deliverance. During the following winter my life was endangered -by floating ice at the same crossing-place. Brother Moore about the -same time, perhaps a little later, seeing he could not ford the stream, -decided to lead his horse across the ice at a point below the regular -crossing, where there was but little current; but when twenty feet from -the shore toward which he was headed, the ice gave way, and the faithful -animal went under. Having hold of the bridle rein, however, he managed to -keep his head above the water until a passage way was broken through to -dry land. - -One instinctively shudders as he recalls the dangers which at times -thrust themselves suddenly across the pathway of the early preachers of -the Virginia and Parkersburg conferences when the fields were so large -and travel so excessive. Brother Moore informed me, as we looked over -the charge, that I would have to take the “outsiders” for my support, as -the circuit only paid $300, and he could not get along on less and pay -rent. It struck me that he was about right, so I readily agreed to his -proposition. Then what? Well, at each preaching place I found a “sinner” -who agreed to serve as my steward, and these men did well, everything -considered. For the year I received $97, including an overcoat and -several pairs of yarn socks. - -At one of the appointments an unfortunate episode occurred over my -salary. The steward one day stepped over the line, and got after some -of the church-members for money. He very well knew they were abundantly -able to help, but they flatly refused. This so upset him, so I was told, -that he expressed his opinion of them in language far more vigorous than -polite. It is a joy, however, to note in this connection that some of -these stewards soon became Christians, and active helpers in the Church. - -Out of the pittance I received, possibly all, or more than I was worth, -I added to my little library, which could easily be put in one end of -my saddle-bags when I left home, the following books: “Bible Not of -Man,” “Conversation of Jesus,” “Jesus on the Holy Mount,” “Pilgrim’s -Progress,” “Dying Thoughts,” “Bible Text Book,” “Jacobus on John,” “God’s -Word Written,” “Paley’s Theology,” “Our Lord’s Parables,” “Webster’s -Dictionary,” “Bible True,” “Rock of Our Salvation,” “Companion to the -Bible,” “Dictionary of the Bible,” “Credo,” “Rise and Progress of -Religion in the Soul,” and “Hand of God in History.” This, of course, was -not a lavish purchase of books, but it did pretty well for one with a -cash income of not more than $75. - -We had some good revivals that year. Ninety-nine were received into -church fellowship, while many more were converted. At Indian Fork we held -meeting in a little log cabin, about twenty feet square, with a great -fire-place in one side. It is surprising to see how many people can be -crowded into so small a place when they are anxious to attend a revival. -Night after night for weeks this little room was packed like a sardine -case. But the outcome was glorious. Some of the best citizens of the -community were reached and won to Christ. - -After a few services were held, and it was seen how insufficient the -little room was to accommodate the many who wanted to come, we put -on foot the project of building a church, and immediately set about -the work. The plan was so unique that the whole neighborhood became -interested. Some felled trees; others “scored and hewed” the logs; those -who had teams volunteered to haul them, while others still made shingles, -or helped with the foundation; “for the people had a mind to work.” -Before the meetings closed the house was up and ready for use—an edifice -which served as a place of worship for many years. - -The people all over the circuit were kind and forbearing, and greatly -encouraged me by waiting on my ministry, and hearing what little I had -to say. I visited all classes of persons, rich and poor, and had all -kinds of experiences. In some homes I enjoyed the hospitality offered; -in others it was not so highly enjoyed, but keenly appreciated. At one -of the preaching points a certain brother insisted upon my going home -with him for dinner after the morning service, which I consented to do. -It was a rainy day. He lived in a cabin of one room on the hillside. On -either side of the dwelling was a shed. Under one of these he kept his -corn; under the other, where we entered the house, the hogs slept and the -chickens roosted. His only piece of regular furniture was a chair. As to -where and when he got it I did not inquire. Long poles reaching across -the room and fastened to the walls, with a forked stick under them in -the center, constituted a kind of double bedstead. When I entered the -door I observed a large “feather tick” piled upon these poles. Finally, -something moved under it, and then a boy of ten or twelve summers, almost -suffocated, crawled out and made for the door. His purpose, no doubt, was -to hide from the preacher when he saw him coming, but finding he could -not get his breath, decided to retreat to another place of concealment -where there was more fresh air. I did not eat much dinner. I told “mine -host” that I was not hungry, and, in fact, was not. They had only a -broken skillet in which to bake bread, fry meat, and “make gravy.” As -soon as possible I excused myself, and started for my next appointment. -Indeed, I was glad I had another one that day. - -Many other amusing incidents occurred during the year. These always find -a place in the itinerant’s life, and it is well, perhaps, that they do, -as they offset in a measure his somber experiences. I am frank to confess -that it is easy for me to see the funny side of a happening, if it has -one, and to enjoy a joke though it be on myself. - -In the early days of the West Virginia Conference, what was known as the -“plug hat” was much in evidence among preachers. Such “headwear” was a -distinguishing mark, hence no circuit-rider with proper self-respect, or -wishing to give tone to his calling, could afford to don anything else. -Being young, and somewhat ambitious to hold up the ministerial standard, -at least in appearance, I determined to secure one as soon as I could get -a few dollars ahead. However, the way opened for the gratification of my -wish sooner than I had expected. Brother Moses Simons had one he didn’t -care to wear, so I bantered him for a trade. It was in first-class -condition, but entirely too large for me. Even after putting a roll of -paper around under the lining, it came down nearly to my ears. What was I -to do? I must have a high-topped hat, but was not able to purchase a new -one. At last I decided to wear it, if my ears did occasionally protest -against its close proximity to them. It distinguished me from common -people for the next two years, and so answered well its purpose. - -One day as I was riding up a little creek between two high hills I passed -a group of urchins who evidently were unused to preachers. They watched -me in utter silence till I had passed them a few yards, when one of them -piped out, “Lord, what a hat.” No doubt they had an interesting story to -relate to their parents when they returned to their humble cabin home. - -Not long after this I met a gentleman, so-called, in the road, and bade -him the time of day, as was my custom. He returned the salutation with, -“How are you, hat?” and passed on without another word. To me this was -exceedingly offensive, for I was sure there was something in and under -the hat, and any such remark was an uncalled-for reflection upon my -dignity and the high calling I represented. I did not know the man, and -to the best of my knowledge have never seen him since, but to this day, -though removed from the event more than a third of a century, I harbor -the thought that if I ever do run across him I shall demand some sort of -reparation for the insult. - -The annual conference met in Pennsboro, Bishop Weaver presiding. During -the year I had improved much in health, owing to my horseback exercise -and the great amount of singing I did, which doubtless had much to do -with the development of lung muscle. - -At conference I went before the committee on applicants with eight -others, five of whom were referred back to their respective quarterly -conferences for further preparation. For some reason the examination was -unusually critical. One question propounded to each was, “Do you seek -admission into the conference simply to vote for a presiding elder?” -There was some doubt in my case on a doctrinal point, according to the -report of the chairman, Rev. W. Slaughter, an erratic old brother. -He said the boy was all right, except “a little foggy on depravity.” -Possibly I was, for I didn’t think much of that portion of our creed. -However, I see more in it, and of it, after all these years, than I did -then. In the light of my observations and experiences with men, I am not -inclined to deny the doctrine. - -I was appointed by this conference to Lewis Circuit, an old, run down -field, embracing parts of three counties. Rev. Isaac Davis was sent -along as a helper “in the Lord.” We had grown up together in the same -neighborhood, and were members of the same congregation. He was a young -man of sterling moral qualities, and proved himself a loyal and valuable -coworker. - -After spending a few days with our parents and friends, we started, early -in April, for the scene of toil to which we had been assigned for the -year. From the day we left home we ceased not to pray that the Lord of -the harvest would give us at least one hundred souls as trophies of his -grace, and to that end we labored constantly. - -We found the following regular appointments: Glady Fork, Hinkleville, -Union Hill, Little Skin Creek, White Oak, Waterloo, Indian Camp, -Walkersville, Braxton, and Centerville. Soon we added two more, namely, -Bear Run and Laurel Run. The charge agreed to pay us $210, but fell a -little short, reaching only $170. Of this I received $90, and Brother -Davis the remaining $80. The assessment for missions was $25, and about -$10 for other purposes, which we regarded as a pretty high tax for -benevolences. Yet the entire amount was raised after a most vigorous and -thorough canvass of all the appointments. As I now remember, no one gave -more than twenty-five cents. - -Our protracted meetings lasted more than six months, and resulted in -the reception of one hundred and one persons into church fellowship. -While in the revival at Hinkleville, a great shout occurred one night -over the conversion of some far-famed sinners, during which the floor of -the church gave way and went down some two feet. Before dismissing the -people, I announced that we would meet and make repairs the next day. -At the appointed time it seemed that nearly all the men and boys in the -country round about were on hand, ready to render what service they could -in repairing the house of the Lord. - -This was a revival of far-reaching influence. The country for miles -around was thoroughly stirred. One of the leading men became interested -one night, and decided upon a new life. As he approached the church the -next day he heard us singing what was then a very popular song—“Will the -Angels Come?” The words and melody fairly charmed him, and kindled new -hope in a life that had been given over to sin. As he opened the church -door, the key of faith opened his heart’s door to the Savior, and he -rushed down the aisle to tell us of his wonderful experience. It was all -victory that morning. The conversion of such a man profoundly affected -the people, and led to many more decisions for Christ. - -During this meeting my colleague arose one evening to preach. As he had -the test, with book, chapter, and verse all by heart, he did not open his -Bible, but began by saying, “You will find my text in Revelation, third -chapter, and twentieth verse.” Just then an apple fell through a hole in -his coat-pocket on to the floor. As he stooped to pick it up, another -fell out. Returning them to his pocket, he again started—“Revelation, -third chapter and twentieth verse,” when suddenly the two restless apples -dropped out again. After picking them up, he started in the third time, -“You will find my text in,”—but all was gone. He couldn’t even think of -Revelation. The audience was at the point of roaring, so in the midst -of his confusion he turned to me and said, “Brother Weekley, what is my -text? I don’t know what nor where it is.” I answered, “Behold, I stand -at the door and knock.” “Yes, yes,” he said, “I remember it now,” and -proceeded with his discourse, but did not recover that evening from the -knock-out blow he had received. - -Preaching through such a long revival campaign was no easy thing, when -I had only a few sermons in stock, and these were all “home made.” I -think the material in them was all right, but the mechanical construction -was not according to any particular rule. I endeavored to give my -hearers plenty to eat, but I did not understand how to serve the food in -courses. It was like putting a lot of hominy, and pork, and cabbage, and -beans into the same dish, and saying to the people, “Here it is; help -yourselves.” But as a few sermons could not be made to last indefinitely, -I was compelled to apply myself to study, no little of which was done on -horseback. Every itinerant in West Virginia at that time had to do the -same thing. While this method of study was not the most desirable, it -nevertheless had its redeeming features. Ofttimes, after riding a dozen -or fifteen miles over rough, hilly roads, I would alight, hitch my horse, -and while the weary animal was resting, mount a log near by and practice -to my heart’s content the sermon I was preparing for my next appointment. -Again and again did I make the welkin ring as I preached to an audience -of great trees about me. Does this appear amusing to the reader? Do you -doubt that such experiences ever occurred? If so, ask some of the earlier -preachers of the conference who are yet living if they ever did such a -thing while circuit-riding among the mountains. - -Did we ever feel lonesome as we traversed the forests or climbed the -hills? Not for a moment. It was an inspiring place to be. The birds sing -so sweetly there. The gurgling, murmuring streamlets are ever musical -as they steal their way along through gulches, over their rocky beds. -The scenery is sublime. Nature’s book stands wide open, and abounds with -richest lessons and illustrations. No wonder Glossbrenner and Markwood, -Warner and Howe, with a host of others, could preach! The very mountains -amid which they were born and reared conspired to make them lofty -characters, and majestic in their pulpit efforts. While Union Biblical -Seminary, and our colleges generally, are grand, helpful schools, let it -not be forgotten that “Brush College” is not without its advantages, and -should be given due credit for the inspiration and rugged manliness it -imparts to its students. - -My home this year was with Brother James Hull, on the headwaters of -French Creek, fully forty miles from the nearest railroad station. Mother -Hull was one of God’s noble women. She professed sanctification, and -lived it every day. I can never forget her helpfulness to me, a mere -child in years and service. I must see her in heaven. - -If I returned home after each Sabbath’s work, it required one hundred -and fifty miles travel to make one round of the circuit. My associate -also had a good home on another part of the charge; but unfortunately -for him, and for some others as well, his zeal led him into trouble. -Brother Mike Boyles, with whom he stayed, was a good, true man, and was -ever delighted to have a preacher with him. One Sunday he went to see a -friend a few miles distant, and innocently carried home on his horse a -large, nice, well-matured pumpkin. His purpose, no doubt, was to prepare -a special dish for his guest; but his preacher was not pleased with such -an infraction of the Sabbath law. A short while after this he discoursed -in the neighborhood church on the text, “I stand in doubt of you.” Among -other things, he said he stood in doubt of a church-member who would go -visiting on Sunday and carry “pumpkins” home with him. Brother Boyles -very naturally made the application a personal one, and ever afterward -refused to be reconciled. - -During the year I married two couples. One of the men was a horse -buyer, and was considered “away up” financially. Of course I expected -no insignificant sum for my services; it ought to have been ten dollars -or more; but let the reader imagine, if he can, my disappointment, -if not disgust, when he handed me forty cents in “shinplasters.” By -“shinplasters” I mean a certain kind of currency which circulated -during our civil strife in the early sixties, in the form of five, ten, -twenty-five and fifty cent certificates. - -Speaking of this wedding recalls the fact that it was on this circuit, -while visiting my uncle the year before, that I married my first couple. -I remember, too, that I approached the occasion with great trepidation. -It was an awful task. But the eventful hour finally came. The parsonage, -so called, where the nuptials were to be celebrated, was a log cabin of -one room. The kitchen, which stood several feet from the main building, -was the only place offered in which to arrange the toilet. At last -I stood before the young couple and began the ceremony, which I had -committed to memory. Yes, I had it sure, as I thought. I had gone over -it twenty times or more. In practising for the occasion I had joined -trees and fence stakes, and I know not what all, together; but at the -very moment when I needed it, and couldn’t get along without it, the -whole thing suddenly left me. There I was. After an extended pause and a -most harrowing silence I rallied, and began by saying, “We are gathered -together.” Just then my voice failed me; it seemed impossible to make -a noise, even. I fairly gasped for breath, for that was the one thing I -seemed to need most. At last the effort was renewed. How I got through I -never knew. I seemed to be in a mysterious realm, where the unknowable -becomes more incomprehensible, and when all the past and future seem to -unite in the present. Finally I wound up what seemed to be long-drawn out -affair, and pronounced the innocent couple man and wife. I am glad they -always considered themselves married. I have but little recollection of -what I did or said during the ordeal. In fact, I do not care to know, -since I am so far away from the occasion. Yes, that was my first wedding. - -The year was not without its material enterprises, for we completed the -churches at Glady Fork and Waterloo, repaired one at Indian Camp, and -started a new one at Laurel Run. Some of these stand yet as moral and -religious centers, and, at times, through the intervening years, have -been the scenes of great spiritual awakenings. - -Conference was held at New Haven, in Mason County, with Bishop D. Edwards -in the chair. While our report was thought to be fairly good, I asked for -a change, believing that I could do better work on another field. The -favor was granted, and Hessville Mission assigned me as my third charge. - -At the close of this year there were thirty-one ministers employed in -the conference, whose aggregate salary was $4,551.77, or an average of -$147 each. The three presiding elders received, all told, $843.83. These -figures indicate something of the sacrifices made by the men who gave -themselves to the early work of building up the Church in the Virginias. -Greater heroism of the apostolic type was never displayed by any of -the sons of Otterbein, nor can any part of the country show greater -achievements for the work done. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -Hessville Mission embraced portions of Harrison and Marion counties, and -was made up of the following preaching places: Quaker Fork, Glade Fork, -Indian Run, Big Run, Little Bingamon, Ballard School-house, Salt Lick, -Plumb Run, and Paw-paw. In all this territory we did not own a single -church edifice. By fall I had added Dent’s Run, Bee Gum, and Glover’s -Gap, making twelve appointments in all. At the last named place I held -a revival in a union church. The meeting was good, and telling most -favorably upon some of the best families of the town, when an unknown -miscreant at an early morning hour applied the torch and reduced the -building to ashes. All I lost in the conflagration was my Bible and -hymn-book. Moving into a schoolhouse near by, the meeting was continued, -and a class organized. By the middle of the winter there had been -sixty-five accessions, but from that on till spring I had to lay by on -account of measles. - -At Little Bingamon we had a great meeting. The entire community was -deeply stirred. “Aunt Susan” Martin was my main helper and standby. -While devout in life, and strong in faith, she had a blunt, honest way -of saying things which often amused the people. At this meeting two of -her children made a start. One was a son of some fifteen winters. He -literally wore himself out by his night and day pleadings at the altar, -and became so hoarse that he could scarcely talk. His mother was greatly -agitated over his condition, and grew exceedingly anxious to see the -intense struggle terminated. One evening she bowed at the altar with him -that she might, through instruction, show him a better way. She did not -believe that bodily exercise could be made to avail anything in seeking -salvation. Finally, for a moment, she lost her patience, and said, “Now, -if you don’t quit this kind of praying you will kill yourself. Stop it, -I tell you, or I’ll box your ears good. The Lord isn’t deaf, that you -should ‘holler’ so loud.” Then turning to her husband who, at the time, -was a professed moralist, though faithful in attending and supporting the -church services, she said: “George, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. -Not a word have you for this poor child. Now come and talk to him. To -stand and look on is no way to do.” - -The dear sister was right, not only in thinking that the father ought -to help the son, but in protesting against unnecessary physical -demonstrations in seeking religion. It is not the loud praying or -constant pleading that saves men, but faith in the world’s Redeemer. Rev. -H. R. Hess, one of the leading ministers in the West Virginia Conference, -was soundly converted and received into the church during this meeting. - -What a good home I had while on this charge! Brother Daniel Mason, a -father in Israel, whose life was as pure as a sunbeam, took me to his -home and heart, and treated me very much as the Shunammite did Elisha. -He built me a little room on his porch, and put therein a bed, bookcase, -table, and candlestick. The worth of such a place to a young minister is -next to incalculable. Twice a day he read the Word and prayed. He was on -good terms with his Lord, and talked to him with the greatest assurance. -Some of the sweetest memories of my earlier ministry cluster about this -Christian home. The fruition of the upper and better life he now enjoys -as the reward of his faith, service, and devotion while here below. - -The circuit agreed to pay me $100, and kept its contract. The first -quarter I received $14.81, the second, $18.35; the third, $17.75; and -the last $49.05. The conference added $50, which pushed my support up -to $150. With this salary, much above the average for a single man, I -could afford to pay $21.50 for a new suit of clothes, and $4 for a new -“two-story” silk hat. - -On my way to conference a few days were spent with friends in the home -neighborhood. Rev. E. Lorenz, father of the music writer, was living -and preaching in Parkersburg at this time. He had organized a German -congregation, and held services in the lecture-room of our English -church. The Committee on Entertainment sent me to stay with him during -the conference session which was held in the city. Thoughts of that -superlatively Christian home linger with me to this day. I shall never -forget how parents and children bowed together in prayer, morning and -evening, and how each took part in the devotions. Too much emphasis -cannot be placed upon the importance of prayer in the home. Nothing else, -on the human side, so anchors the family and builds up character. The -fact that the fire has died out on so many domestic altars is, itself, -proof that family religion does not receive the attention it once did. - -At this conference I was permitted to pass the second and third years’ -course of reading, which put me in the class to be ordained. I can never -blot from memory the prayer offered by the lamented Doctor Warner at the -ordination service. He seemed to pour out his very soul in petition to -God for the young men being set apart to the work of the ministry. I wept -like a child while he thus prayed, and anew pledged to Jesus and the -Church the service of my life. - -Grafton at this time was constituted a mission station, and made my field -for the coming year. The town then (1873) had a population of about three -thousand souls, and was located mainly on a steep hillside. In fact, it -stands about the same way yet, though containing several thousand more -people. We had no church-house, and no organization, though there were -a few members scattered through the place. Seventy-five dollars were -appropriated by the conference toward my support. A preaching-place -called “Old Sandy,” some twelve miles distant, was also given me. Here -we had a gracious revival. I later took up two more points—Maple Run -and Glade Run—and organized a class at each. At the close of the year -these country classes were formed into a separate charge, and became -self-supporting. - -[Illustration: W. M. WEEKLEY, Thirty Years of Age - -Presiding Elder] - -At Grafton the work progressed slowly, and with some difficulty for -a time. A friend gave us, free of charge, the use of a church-house -which, by some means, had fallen into his hands. The first thing was to -organize a Sabbath school, which started off well. When certain church -partisans saw the outlook, they offered to take part in the school, -and adroitly got possession of the offices. When I discovered the real -situation, I determined to bring the matter of control to an issue, -and did. I deliberately stated that I had been sent there to organize -a United Brethren Church and Sabbath school, and proposed to carry out -my instructions. I was pleased to have teachers and other helpers from -sister denominations join in the work, I added, but the school would be -reported to my conference. The result is easily imagined. Our friends, -so-called, suddenly dropped out, and from that day to this the identity -of the school has never been questioned. - -The seventy-five dollars appropriated by the conference was about all -I received, and twenty-five dollars of that went in a lump to the -centennial fund. If a kind family had not taken me in, free of cost, I -could not have remained the year through. For the second year the support -given was about the same. The third year there were two of us to support, -hence a special effort had to be made to increase the pay. Three hundred -and twelve dollars was the amount actually received, eighty dollars of -which was paid on rent; but we lived well; no such thing as want seemed -to be within a thousand leagues of our humble home. We were thankful for -cheap furniture and home-made carpet. Yea, more, we were happy. God’s -ravens carried us our daily portion. - -In the early spring of 1875, we began the erection of a chapel which -cost, lot and all, $2,800. But a part of it had to be built the second -time. Just as the frame was up and ready for roof and siding, a storm -passing that way piled it in a promiscuous heap. This occurred on the -seventeenth of July. Immediately, however, the work of reconstruction was -undertaken, and the edifice was completed in early fall, and dedicated by -Doctor Warner. Such experiences try a young man’s nerve and purpose, but -invariably prove a blessing when the difficulties accompanying them are -overcome. - -That year I took up an appointment at the Poe School-house, two miles out -of town, and organized a class. In those days the preacher was expected -to look around for new openings, no matter where he was or how large his -field; there is no other way to expand. My criticism of many of our young -preachers to-day is that they do not try to enlarge their work. They seem -never to look beyond the nest into which the conference settles them. -They will live on half salary, and whine about it all year, rather than -get out and look up additional territory. Under fair conditions, the -young man who is devout and active can secure a good living on any field. -Faith and purpose and push will win every time. The year closed with -fifty-three members, and ninety-five in the Sunday school. - -The conference again convened in Parkersburg, with David Edwards this -time as bishop—the last session he ever presided over. - -At this period the battle in the Church over the secrecy question was -waxing warm. West Virginia had lined up on the liberal side. The bishop, -being pronouncedly “anti” in his views, determined to enforce the rules -of the Church in the matter of admitting applicants into the conference. -A brother who appeared for license was known to belong to some fraternal -order, so the good bishop held him up. This brought on a crisis. All -was excitement. Some things, it was clear, would have to be settled -then and there, and they were. Doctor Warner arose, in the midst of the -flurry, and demanded that the young brother be sent to the appropriate -committee, which he said was thoroughly competent to deal with the -question. The bishop was on his feet also with the fire of determination -fairly flashing in his eyes. However, when he fully realized that, with -an exception or two, the entire body was against him, he gracefully -yielded, thus happily bringing the unfortunate conflict to a close. By -morning, matters had again assumed a normal condition, and the bishop -kindly requested that all reference to the controversy be expunged from -the records. - -Notwithstanding Bishop Edwards’ somewhat radical position on the secrecy -question, he was greatly loved by all our brethren, and by none was -his death more sincerely mourned. On Sunday he preached on Elijah’s -translation; a few days thereafter he was himself translated. - -From Grafton I was sent to New Haven circuit, in Mason County, one -hundred and sixty miles west. To get there I was compelled to borrow -twenty-five dollars. Dr. J. L. Hensley kindly entertained us until -a house could be found; for as yet there was not a parsonage in the -conference. This was considered one of the best fields we had. The -first year it paid me four hundred and sixteen dollars, and the next, -four hundred and twenty-seven dollars, with a few presents in the shape -of vegetables, groceries, and the like. Of course, I paid rent out of -this—thirty-six dollars one year, and fifty the other. I had only four -appointments—New Haven, Bachtel, Union, and Vernon, and these were close -together. During the two years, one hundred and thirty were received -into the Church. - -The next conference was held at Bachtel, which gave me my first -experience in caring for such a body. Bishop Weaver presided and preached -the word mightily on Sunday. He had been popular even since his first -visit to that section, in 1870. By request of Hon. George W. Murdock, a -wealthy business man in Hartford City, three miles west, he went down -there and preached in our church on Sunday evening. Mr. Murdock was an -ardent admirer of the bishop. Six years before he had entertained him in -his home, and was charmed by him as a preacher and conversationalist. -After spending the first hour with him, he slipped into the kitchen and -said: “Wife, he is the most wonderful man I ever met. Do come in and hear -him talk.” The old gentleman never forgot the bishop’s sermon on Sunday. -For weeks afterward he would talk about it in his store, and elsewhere, -sometimes in tears, nearly always ending with the observation, “He is a -wonderful man.” It might not be out of place to note here that the good -bishop more than once shared the benefactions of his wealthy friend. - -During my second year on this charge, a peculiar and most trying -experience came to our home. A great revival was going on at the Union -appointment. The altar was nightly crowded with earnest seekers, some of -whom belonged to the best families in the community. Early one morning a -young man came hurriedly to the place where I was stopping, and calling -me out, said, “Mr. Weekley, I have been sent to tell you that your babe -is dead.” Hastening home I found the faithful mother watching at the side -of the withered flower, and anxiously awaiting my coming. How loving the -ministry of friends had been; nor did their tender interest abate a whit -until the little lifeless form was put away to sleep in the cemetery on -the hillside, in the family lot of Dr. Hensley. - -The reader may be anxious to know what I did under the circumstances. -There was but one thing to do, that was to seek the guiding hand of -duty. Our little one was gone. Just as the thoughtful florist takes his -tender plants into their winter quarters before the frost appears, or -the chilling winds sweep the plains, so a wise, loving, merciful Father -had plucked up the little vine which had rooted itself so thoroughly and -deeply in our hearts, and transplanted it in his own heavenly garden. -Yes, Charley was safe; so I returned to my meeting with a tender spirit, -and the work continued with great power. - -More than one preacher who reads this incident will recall the time, -or times, when he, too, passed under the cloud, and walked amid the -shadows. Again and again I have been made to feel that some people do -not sympathize with the minister and his wife, as they do with others, -when the death angel tarries and lays his withering hand upon a young -life. Somehow they seem to think that the cup, when administered to -the preacher’s family, is not so bitter—that the thorn does not pierce -so deeply. But I know better, and so do a thousand others. It is said -of Dr. Daniel Curry, a great man in Methodism in his day, that he was -so grieved over the death of his little boy that after returning home -from the cemetery he went into the back yard, and observing his little -tracks in the sand, got down on his hands and knees and kissed them. -Words cannot express my sympathy for the faithful pastor and his family, -and my admiration of that faith, devotion, and heroism which in so many -instances are necessary to keep them in the work. - -Mason County was one of the first fields occupied by the ministers who -crossed the Alleghanies westward. Among these were G. W. Statton, J. -Bachtel, and Moses Michael. However, prior to this, preaching had been -kept up on the Virginia side by pastors of the Scioto Conference. The -main one was Jonas Frownfelter, whose name deserves a place alongside the -heroes enumerated in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. On one occasion, -when the Ohio River was out of its banks, and too dangerous for the -ferryman to venture across, he plunged in a little below the town of -Syracuse, swam his horse across, and came out at Hartford City, a half -mile below, singing like a conqueror: - - “From every stormy wind that blows, - From every swelling tide of woes, - There is a calm, a sure retreat,” etc. - -All honor to those who put their sweat, and tears, and blood into the -foundations of the conference, thus enabling others to build safely and -successfully. - -Early in the fifties a paper known as the _Virginia Telescope_, was -started in West Columbia, ostensibly in the interest of the whole Church, -but later developments proved that the object was to organize a Southern -United Brethren Church, making the slavery question the basis of the -separation. When the presiding elder, G. W. Statton, became aware of its -purpose, he threw his official influence against its continuance, and -succeeded, by the aid of others, in eliminating it as a disturbing factor. - -The reader will pardon me for taking up these early historical threads, -woven long before my day as an itinerant, but I have done so with the -view to preserving in permanent form interesting facts not generally -known, and nowhere written into the history of the Church. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -In March of 1878, the conference assembled in Grafton, with Bishop J. -J. Glossbrenner as its presiding officer. At this session the brethren -greatly surprised me by electing me one of the presiding elders. No -thought of such a thing had ever entered my mind. I could not see the -propriety of putting a young man, not yet twenty-seven, over men of age, -ability, and experience, hence it was with no little diffidence that I -accepted the West Columbia District, in the bounds of which I had already -worked two years. The district contained only eleven charges, but these -were widely scattered, embracing all or parts of Cabell, Mason, Jackson, -Wood, Putnam, Kanawha, and Roane counties, and were as follows: Milton, -Point Pleasant, Cross Creek, Thirteen, Jackson, Red House, Fair Plain, -Sandy, New Haven, Wood, and Hartford City. Later, Walton was added. - -The salary assessed the district was $425; out of this I had to pay -traveling expenses, provide a house to live in, and pay a hired girl. -Under such conditions I could afford a house of only three rooms. I -never believed in a preacher, or any one else, for that matter, living -beyond his income. Debt is an awful devil for the itinerant to contend -with, and should be avoided at all hazard. In all the years of my -ministry I have never left a pastoral charge or district owing any one -thereon a nickel. If a man is fit to be a preacher, debt will distract -his mind and put a thorn in his pillow; it cannot be otherwise with a -sensitive nature. God save our young men from the habit and curse of -debt-making. - -No little of my travel, while on the district, was by boat on the Ohio -and Big Kanawha rivers. Only one of my fields was touched by a railroad, -and that was sixty miles from where I lived. My custom was to go by -boat to the point nearest the place of the quarterly meeting, and then -walk the remaining distance, whether it be five or twenty-five miles. -Often I might have secured conveyance for the asking, but I felt that it -was humiliating to be always annoying somebody for favors, nor have I -changed an iota in all these years in this regard. If a preacher wants -to make himself a nuisance among his parishioners, he can easily do so -by constantly making demands upon them which look to his own comfort and -that of his family. Many a time I walked from twelve to fifteen miles -in a day, held quarterly conference, and preached twice. Occasionally -the distance would stretch out to twenty miles. I did not mind the labor -so much as I did the suffering from sore feet; walking in the hot sun -or over frozen roads, hour after hour, often caused them to blister and -bleed. In these experiences I was not alone; many others, some of whom -yet live, suffered the same or kindred hardships. - -In February of 1879 I was called home to my father’s. After a day or -two I tried to return, but upon reaching Parkersburg found the river -so frozen and clogged with ice that the boats could not run. It was -Thursday afternoon. My quarterly was at Oakhill, fully forty miles -distant, the next Saturday at two o’clock. The roads were badly frozen -and almost impassable. When I saw the situation I determined to make the -trip overland as best I could; if I could not find assistance along the -way, I would walk it. Leaving the city at four o’clock, I traveled on -till darkness overtook me, when I turned aside and knocked at the door -of a humble cabin and asked for lodging, which was cheerfully granted; -but I had made only a few miles. In addition to the rough roads, I was -burdened with a good-sized grip and overcoat. The next morning at daydawn -I resumed my journey. Once during the day I rode two or three miles in -somebody’s sled, but beyond this I got no help. Long after the dinner -hour I secured a cold lunch, which the reader may be assured was relished -by a tired, hungry man. An hour before sundown I reached Sandyville, -where a warm supper was enjoyed at a little hotel. Still I was fifteen -miles away from the point for which I was aiming, and felt that I could -go no farther without help; but a kind friend generously agreed to loan -me his horse to ride as far as Ripley, seat of justice for Jackson -County, from which place the mail-carrier was to lead it back the next -day; but the poor animal was shoeless, and went crippling along at a -snail’s gait over the rough ground. - -Two miles distant I had to cross Sandy Creek, and found it partly frozen -over. It was too dark to discern the danger of fording the stream. After -repeated efforts, I succeeded in getting the horse on to the ice, but as -quick as a flash it fell broadside, pitching me—I never knew where nor -just how far; but the horse beat me up, turned its head homeward, and -disappeared in the darkness. What did I do? Well, what almost anybody -else would have done under like circumstances. I took the back track -and returned to the village where the animal belonged, and found that -it had returned in good order. The next morning my feet were so sore -that I could not wear my shoes, but was fortunate in securing a pair of -arctics in which to travel the rest of the journey. By noon Ripley was -reached, where conveyance was secured which enabled me to make the place -of meeting and call the conference on schedule time. - -Some one may suggest that I was foolish for making such an effort to -reach the quarterly when nothing apparently unusual was at stake; maybe -I was, but such was my way of doing. I always believed that a preacher -ought to fill his engagements promptly unless providentially hindered, -and then he ought to be fair enough not to blame providence with too -much; but few days are ever too cold and stormy, or nights too dark to -keep a man from his appointments if he is anxious to preach the word -and minister to his people. I here record the fact, with feelings of -satisfaction and pride, that in more than a third of a century I have -not disappointed a dozen congregations. As I see it, a preacher succeeds -in his work just as business or other professional men succeed in their -respective callings. He must bestir himself, and permit no obstacle -to get between him and duty; any other policy means failure. At it -everywhere and all the time, and keeping everybody else at work, are the -only ways to win for the Church and maintain a good conscience before -God. - -Conference met in Hartford City. The chart showed that a good year had -been enjoyed, 1,354 new members being reported. Of this number, 535 were -credited to West Columbia District. - -The second year on the district was like unto the first—full of toil, -responsibility, and peril betimes. - -As an indication of what was required of a presiding elder in order to -aid his pastors and keep the work of the district well in hand, I relate -the following experience: A rainy winter morning found me on Milton -Circuit—the last charge in the southwestern part of the conference. I had -an appointment that evening at Cross Creek, thirty-five miles east. The -mud in some places was knee deep to my horse, but on and on I traveled, -over hills and along meandering streams, sometimes walking myself up -and down steep places in order to relieve my weary horse. At last, when -it was nearly dark, I halted on the bank of the great Kanawha, opposite -the town of Buffalo. But how was I to get across the threatening stream? -The ice lay piled in great heaps on either shore; the man who tended the -ferry hesitated to come after me when I called to him, but he was given -to understand that in some way I must be gotten over. Finally he agreed -to make the attempt, and after hard rowing, landed me on the opposite -side but below the regular coming-out place, and where the ice was badly -gorged. Then the real difficulty of the venture was apparent. We had to -get the horse up over the great blocks of ice that lay at the water’s -edge, and it was to two of us an exciting time; no one can describe it on -paper. Holding on to the animal, pulling my best at the bridle-rein all -the while, the ferryman pushing with all his might, we finally scrambled -over the ice and through narrow passageways until a place of safety -was reached. How thankful I felt when it was all over, and how I loved -that horse! Doctor Warner used to tell how his faithful horse once swam -an angry stream, and that after the shore had been reached in safety -he dismounted, put his arms around the neck of his deliverer, kissed -his lips, and wept for joy. Itinerating in the early days of the West -Virginia Conference meant all this, and sometimes much more. - -When I got to the church, two miles farther on, I found the congregation -waiting and ready to join in the service. It might be stated, in -this connection, that in those days the coming of the “elder” was an -extraordinary event, and seldom failed to bring out the entire community. - -The following evening I had an engagement to preach at Mount Moriah, -still farther east some thirty miles. It rained the day through. A part -of the journey I followed a single trail, popularly known as a “hog -path.” Such a route relieved me somewhat from the mud, but, being in the -woods, I could not carry an umbrella over me, hence had to take the rain -as it came; but I must not disappoint the people. They had my word for -it that I would be there, and the promise must be sacredly kept. It was -a little after dark when I caught a glimpse of the lights in the old log -church; but, hold! I suddenly found myself up against another serious -difficulty—Parchment Creek was out of its banks. There seemed no show -for getting over except to plunge in and swim my horse. I hesitated; -already wet and cold, I was loath to make the attempt. I would have to -carry my saddle-bags on my shoulder if I saved my Bible, hymn-book, and -sermons; the water would come to my waist, to say the least. Then another -trouble appeared; it was too dark to see the road or landing-place on the -opposite side, and I might drift below it with the current and not get -out at all. While thus cogitating, I heard some boys talking on the other -side as they were going to church. Calling to them, I said, “Boys, can’t -you in some way help me over the creek?” “Who are you?” was the reply. -“I’m the preacher,” I answered, “and want to get to the church.” After -a short consultation among themselves, one of them shouted back, “All -right; we’ll bring the skiff after you.” Soon I heard them push out from -the shore, and in a few moments they landed near me. “Now,” said one, -“you get in here with Bill, and I’ll swim your hoss over,” and in less -time than it takes to pen the happenings, he was in the saddle on his -knees and starting for the water. Did he get over safely? Yes, indeed; -he entered the stream above the usual place of going in, hence the horse -swam, not against the current, but at an angle with it. In every way -possible I thanked those boys for their kindness to me, for they had -certainly kept me from putting my life in peril. If they are still living -and should happen to glance over these pages, they will readily recall -the event. - -The church was nearly full of people, and I certainly enjoyed preaching -to them. The great Father had been graciously with me to guide my ways -and to protect my life. How glad I will be if, on the morning of the -eternal to-morrow, I shall find that the service that evening helped some -soul heavenward! - -Rev. W. W. Rymer, over thirty years ago, nearly lost his life in this -same region on account of high waters. His horse either could not or -would not swim, but plunged furiously when beyond his depth. The heroic -itinerant stayed in the saddle as long as he could, but was finally -dislodged and went down. In the midst of it all he retained his presence -of mind and aimed for the nearest shore, which was not far away. Being -unable to swim, he crawled on the bottom a part of the way, and at -last found himself where he could stand with his head above the water. -The horse, fortunately, came out on the same side. Commenting on the -incident, Mr. Rymer says: “After my deliverance, it was clear to me -that I had been near death’s door, and also near heaven. Two thoughts -followed; one was: ‘If I had not escaped, I would now be in glory,’ and -I confess I felt good over the reflection. The other was: ‘No, it is -better that I got out, for if I had drowned, my parents would have had -great sorrow.’ I took it all to mean that my work was not yet done, and -soon experienced great peace of mind. Almost thirty-one years have come -and gone since then, but the ruling purpose of my heart all the while has -been to preach Jesus. Before thirty-one years more have rolled around, -I shall have gone through death’s river—yes, through to the other side, -where I shall see my Lord face to face.” - -Let the reader be assured that there is a profound satisfaction in -looking back to those times of trial and suffering, of battle and -victory, when the ways of Providence were so plain, and when an -unspeakable jay crowned the years of toil and service. - -After another ride of twelve miles from Mount Moriah, I reached my home -in Cottageville, near the Ohio River. How inexpressibly delightful to be -at home again with wife and little ones! What a heavenly place home is -when love and sunshine await the itinerant’s coming! While he ministers -to them, they also minister tenderly to him; such mutual love and -helpfulness is to be found nowhere else. - -My support for the year consisted of $427.83 in salary and $22.41 in -presents. Fifty dollars of this went for house rent, and fully as much -more for traveling expenses. Beside these outlays, we kept hired help in -the home all the time. - -Buckhannon, Upshur Country, was the seat of the next session of the -conference. The noble Bishop Glossbrenner was with us in the fullness of -the Spirit, and charmed us with the warmth and sweetness of his gospel -messages. As recording secretary, I edited a little “daily,” which gave -the proceedings of the conference. This was the first and last attempt of -the kind. Such an arrangement is nice, to be sure, and sounds well when -we talk about it, but it always costs more than it is worth. The town -papers are usually willing and anxious to report the work. - -During the session a most amusing incident took place. A colored brother -by the name of Waldo came to me at the noon hour on Thursday, and asked -me to marry him that evening at eight o’clock. I said, “Waldo, I cannot -grant your request. We have an evening session of conference, and I must -be there. However, if you will put it off till nine o’clock, I will be on -hand.” But to such an arrangement he would not agree. The long-looked-for -moment could not be delayed. Eight o’clock was the hour about which -clustered the sweetest anticipations of his life. The goal toward which -he had striven must be reached and won on schedule time. So, with a -twinkle of the eye, characteristic of the negro, he exclaimed: “Good -Lawd! the thing’s gone too fah now; no putting it off.” Of course I had -to arrange for another secretary under circumstances so vitally essential -to the brother’s happiness and welfare. The reason why he chose me to -perform the ceremony, he said, was because I had converted him eight -years before. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -The third year on the district brought the usual routine of duties and -hardships. By the help of Brother John Dodds, who gave me fifty dollars, -I was enabled to purchase a horse and buggy, paying $125 for the entire -outfit. This arrangement relieved me of much walking. The horses and -mules occasionally used during the previous years were borrowed or hired. -My muleback riding, however, was suddenly broken off by a rather painful -incident which occurred one night. Striking a bit of good road, I spurred -the animal into a gallop, but something happened; its forelegs seemed to -give way, and it turned a complete somersault. With my arms extended, I -went on, like a flying-machine, several feet before I struck the ground. -The fall nearly killed me. I rolled about in agony for a while before -I thought of the mule, but when I was able to get up I observed the -treacherous beast leisurely eating grass in the fence corner near by, as -if nothing had happened. I never liked a mule after that, and, to the -best of my knowledge, have not been on one since. - -I never thought it out of place to have a little innocent fun once in a -while. “Laugh and grow fat,” is an old adage which has more in it than -some people suppose. A long, wry face is a poor sign of piety. To assume -a look of seriousness, as though religion were made up of clouds and -shadows and disappointments, is a false representation of the Christian -life. If any person on earth has a right to be cheerful and to smile all -over his face, it is the one who honestly endeavors to serve God, and has -his eyes throneward all the while. Yes— - - “A little nonsense now and then - Is relished by the wisest men.” - -Certainly, then, there is nothing wrong in those not so wise enjoying it. - -One blustery March day, after a long, irksome ride over the hills, I was -passing a farm-house where two young lads were chopping wood. Here is an -opportunity, I thought, to have a little sport; so, reining in my horse, -I called, “Say, boys, can you tell me how far it is to where I want to -go?” In an instant one of them replied, “Yes, sir; three lengths of a -fool; get off and measure.” It was no time to talk back, or to interpose -objections to such rudeness with a presiding elder. I had gotten myself -into the difficulty, so had to get out as gracefully as possible. Bidding -them the time of day, I passed on, descanting in an undertone upon the -subject of depravity, and wondering what was to become of the rising -generation. Since then I have deemed it wise to approach the average boy -somewhat cautiously, as one never knows when or in what direction his gun -will go off. - -About this time, and perhaps in connection with this trip, I had an -amusing experience with a brother who appeared before the quarterly -conference for license to preach. When asked to state his views on -depravity, he frankly admitted that he did not fully understand the -doctrine, but said he believed that man was “_teetotally deprived_.” -Before the examination was over the conference was clear in its judgment -that it could not afford to credential a man who was _deprived_ of common -sense. - -During the year it was my privilege and pleasure to convey the greetings -of my conference first to the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist -Episcopal Church, and then to the Baptist Association of the State. Both -were large, influential bodies, and received with marked cordiality the -messenger sent by the United Brethren. - -While our people of the conference were loyal, and believed in a robust, -aggressive denominationalism, they were free from that narrow, bigoted -sectarianism which is so unlike the religion we profess. They were -cordial and generous in their treatment of others, and always ready to -grasp the hand of fellowship, no matter by whom extended. They believed -in _union_, and do yet. As far back as 1870, the following was spread -upon the conference minutes: - -“WHEREAS, The tendency of the times is toward a more intimate union -among the various religious denominations of the country; and, whereas, -negotiations are now going on between the Evangelical Association and the -United Brethren in Christ, looking toward their union; therefore, - -“_Resolved_, That we, as a conference, entertain the idea of such a union -most favorably, and hope that it can be effected on terms alike honorable -to both denominations.” - -Bishop Glossbrenner again presided at the next session of conference, -which convened in Parkersburg. The aggregate salary reported by my -district for pastoral support was $2,036, and for the presiding elder, -$411.21. The thirty-four pastors in the entire conference received, all -told, $6,535, or an average each of $192. Think of it, ye who scan these -lines! Men of God working twelve months for a pittance; men of brains -and character, of devotion and heroism; think, too, of their families! -The wife and mother at home continually, with but few social, or other -advantages; the little ones barefooted the year ’round, and sometimes -far removed from school and church—all that the husband and father might -preach, and win sinners to the Cross. Glorious record, this! the dear -Lord has it in his book. - -Does some one ask how our men died? Like conquerors. Awhile before -conference William H. Diddle, my predecessor on the district, and a -comrade in toil, was called to the heavenly home. The end was beautiful, -and found his soul in rapture. When far out in the river he shouted back, -“Do not be excited. If this is death, I am not afraid to die.” His life -had been as pure as a sunbeam. His unselfishness was a marvel to many. He -literally gave himself for the good of others, and thus became one with -his divine Christ, both in sacrifice and service. As he entered the gates -I think Jesus said: “Stand back, Gabriel; stand back, Michael; stand -back, all ye angelic hosts, and make room for one who must be next only -to myself.” What a change from a poor, three-hundred-dollar circuit! - -For the fourth time I was sent back to the district, but I returned with -the feeling that this must be the last year. In my report to conference -I had asked to be relieved from district work, but the brethren did not -see fit to grant the request. - -I am, and always have been opposed to long terms of office. The duties -entailed by positions of trust usually are such as to interfere with -systematic study. This is the main reason why many officials narrow down -in their pulpit work to a few sermons. They do not have time to prepare -new discourses. Then there is a tendency among those who hold office, -whether in the annual conference or general Church, to develope a spirit -of bossism, which is incompatible with United Brethrenism. Perhaps the -men in office are not so much at fault as is the system which keeps -them there. They somehow get the notion that they must have a finger in -everything, and that nothing can be done exactly right without them. -There may be, and are notable exceptions, of course, but they are few and -widely separated. - -Having been elected to the General Conference, with Z. Warner and E. -Harper as associates, I attended the meeting of that body which occurred -in Lisbon, Iowa, the following May. This was all new to me, but the -conference was hardly so interesting as were the vast prairies of -Illinois and Iowa, and the marvelous products of the great farms to be -seen on every hand. In feeding our horses and cattle in West Virginia, -we almost invariably allotted to each just so many ears of corn. Even the -swine we expected to butcher were given a daily allowance; but in Iowa I -was surprised to see chickens, hogs, cattle, and everything else given -free access to the compile. But such is their way of doing out West. The -rich soil is transmuted into corn, the corn into pork and beef, and these -into gold, which has developed on the material side a wonderful country. - -During each of the four years I spent on the district, we held a -ministerial institute. This portable school of the prophets was suggested -by Rev. E. Harper, now a presiding elder in North Nebraska, as far back -as 1875. A whole week at a time would be spent in hearing recitations and -lectures, and the work was most thorough. Our studies embraced Old and -New Testament history, systematic theology, Christian ethics, homiletics, -church history, mental and moral philosophy, English grammar, the English -Bible, etc. Some of the textbooks used were gone through again and again -in the course of a few years. We used charts, maps, the blackboard—in -fact, everything that would aid in the study of the Word, quicken a -desire for knowledge, and increase the preacher’s efficiency in the -pulpit. Dr. Warner was at first our main preceptor; and what a teacher -he was! thorough, clear, and enthusiastic; he knew what he wanted to say, -and how to say it. He was mighty in the Scriptures; and as a pulpiteer -and platform speaker had no equal in his conference, and perhaps nowhere -else in the Church. Later, others took part in the work of instruction, -which greatly pleased him, relieving him of much of the burden assumed in -the outset. - -A resolution was adopted to the effect that any preacher who wilfully -absented himself from these gatherings, designed especially for his -mental and moral improvement, should be left without work until all -others had been employed. This policy was drastic, to be sure, but in the -end it proved a blessing to our ministry. Much of the clerical material -we had on hand was exceedingly raw, but genuine, nevertheless, and -susceptible of being wrought into a highly-finished and useful product. -One young brother affirmed, publicly, that the crucifixion occurred -seventy years before the flood; another, in preaching on Daniel in the -lion’s den, said he didn’t know how he got to Babylon unless he had been -shipwrecked. Both of these were good men, and one of them proved very -successful as an itinerant. Cases of such dense ignorance were rare, of -course, but to such brethren the institute was of incalculable value, -as history, geography, chronology, and other features of biblical study -were made a specially. But let no one be deceived into thinking that -all, or a majority were illiterates. Far from it Some were giants in -the pulpit, and were heard with gladness by the multitudes. One after -another, other conferences took up the institute idea, until it prevails -to-day in one form or another in nearly all the conferences, and no -doubt will remain a permanent fixture in the methods of the Church. The -plan is a good one, and commends itself especially to young men who are -striving for self-improvement in the pulpit, and along lines of practical -work. However, before the institute should come the _college_ and -_seminary_. At a time like the present, when money is abundant, and the -beneficiary aid of the church may be drawn upon, every one looking toward -the ministry should seek and secure the help proffered by these great -institutions. The character and mission of any denomination depend upon -the type of its preachers. The United Brethren Church is no exception to -this rule. - -Grafton was the seat of the next conference, Bishop J. Dickson directing -its business. The year had been fairly successful in various ways, but -the salaries remained exceedingly low. Over the conference they average -$202.88. My own was $433.18, with the addition of $74.50 in presents. Of -the thirty-seven charges reported, only two paid as much as $400; five -paid from $300 to $350; eleven from $200 to $300; while all the rest fell -below $200. But the brethren were ready and willing to try it again. The -secretary says at the close of the proceedings: “The unanimity among the -preachers and delegates, and the deep solicitude manifested by all for -the prosperity of the conference, made the entire session remarkably -pleasant.” Referring to the Sabbath evening service, he adds: “At the -close a number of the ministers made brief remarks relative to their past -hardships, and bespoke the prayers of the conference for success during -the coming year. This part of the service was deeply affecting.” Yes, I -remember the occasion well. Dr. Landis, of the Seminary, was present, and -wept with the rest of us, as he listened to the story of more than one -who was willing to “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” - -The following will indicate the courageous attitude of the conference on -questions of moral reform: - -“WHEREAS, the use of tobacco is expensive, filthy, unnecessary, and, -therefore, an evil, and, - -“WHEREAS, it is especially unbecoming for ministers of the gospel to -surrender to an acquired appetite, defile the body, the temple of the -Holy Ghost, and thus, by example, encourage the young to do likewise; and, - -“WHEREAS, this evil cannot be remedied so long as ministers freely and -openly indulge in it, therefore, - -“_Resolved_, 1. That from this time forward no person be granted license -to preach by this Annual Conference who persists in the use of tobacco. - -“_Resolved_, 2. That all licentiates who indulge this habit be required -to give it up before taking upon themselves the vows of ordination.” - -The significance of this action will be more fully appreciated when it -is understood that West Virginia is a tobacco-producing States and that -its use, in one form or another, is pretty general among the people. A -report on temperance, which mercilessly arraigned the liquor traffic, and -its political abetters, was also adopted. Here is a sentence or two from -it: “Believing as we do that prohibition is both humane and holy, we can -have no sympathy for a policy, or a Christianity that ignores it at the -ballot-box.” Men who were willing to work for a pittance, which meant -that they and their families were to go scantily fed, and half clothed, -all for the sake of redeeming their native State, could not be expected -to condone the offenses of the liquor dealer, or to have decent respect -for those who did. - -[Illustration: House Where the Bishop First Went to Housekeeping and -Where His First Child Was Born, Grafton, W. Va.] - -The next two years were spent in Parkersburg. During the first we had a -blessed revival which continued several weeks; in all, more than seventy -joined the Church. But during the second year the work was hindered by -circumstances beyond human control. A great sorrow came to our home. By -degrees the shadows deepened, until the mother of my three children bade -us a final adieu, and pushed out into the unseen. God pity and help the -itinerant to whom such an experience comes! But my own mother, now of -such precious memory, was ready to take the little ones, and to bestow -upon them that wealth of care and love which never fails to enrich the -life. - -The next year was given to the financial management of the West Virginia -Normal and Classical Academy, located at Buckhannon. While the school -did excellent work for a few years, it eventually went down for want -of material support. In view of the losses and disappointments and -alienations caused by its failure, I am not sure that the conference -did a wise thing in starting it. Little colleges have their advantages, -I grant, but trying to operate one at every crossroads on faith and -enthusiasm, is too much of a good thing. - -By consent of the conference I agreed to give a few months to the -business management and associate editorship of the _West Virginia -Freeman_, the State prohibition organ. During this period I made a -partial canvass of the State in the interest of a prohibition amendment -then pending. It would require a whole chapter to tell of my experiences -with the old political partisans, some of whom fairly went into spasms at -the very mention of prohibition. Our presidential candidate, John P. St. -John, had defeated James G. Blaine, so the Republicans affirmed; hence -they were ready to vote against anything, or anybody, the angel Gabriel -not excepted, who believed on any point as St. John did. Many of these -were Christians, so-called, and some of them members of my own Church. I -knew them well; and be it said to their everlasting shame, that they went -against the amendment, just as did every whiskyite in the State. - -Under our system of government the ballot has in it a moral element, and -therefore will meet us at the bar of final reckoning. It not only has -to do with our political, industrial, and educational affairs, but with -the church and family as well. What show will a man have at the last -day whose ballot has constantly belied his profession as a Christian? -I have never been able to understand how he could enthrone his Lord -in the affairs of state by voting a ticket perfectly satisfactory to -the drunkard-maker. It remains for an allwise God to determine what -disposition shall be made of these vicious ballots when the judgment day -comes. Personally, I have no respect for, or confidence in any United -Brethren or member of any other church who, knowingly, votes for a man -for any office who is opposed to my Christ and the cause for which he -stands. - -Being ever ready to “speak my piece” against the saloon and its allies, -I was constantly stirring up a “hornet’s nest” over the business. When I -spoke against it, whether in public or private, I never hesitated to pay -my respects to the machine politician, since I regarded him and rum as -closely related. As the result, some of the newspapers and office-seekers -got after me with a vengeance. This I confess was to my liking, since -I felt sure I was making at least some kind of impression upon them. -Then it gave me a chance to answer their criticisms, and puncture their -fallacies. The following extract from one of my replies may be of -interest to the reader. The principle laid down will always hold good: - -“All at once the saloonist and politician are becoming greatly concerned -over the question of ‘pure and undefiled religion’; and well they may, -for if religion is effectually taken into politics they will as certainly -go out. This they fully understand, hence yell themselves hoarse in -trying to divert attention when the pulpit begins to let the light in -upon their devilish business. While a man is a minister of the gospel, he -is also a citizen in common with other men. The fact that he pays taxes, -lives under, and is subject to the laws of our commonwealth, makes him -such. Then most assuredly he has the same right as other men to be heard -upon great political issues that affect the well-being of his country. If -not, why not? Touching all moral and political affairs which have to do -with the home, the individual, and the general good of the community, the -pulpit has ever stood at the front, and so it ever will, unless it sells -out to the saloon. - -“The truth is, under a government like ours, presumably Christian, -all political questions have a moral phase, and to a greater or less -extent involve the question of religion. In other words, every question -in politics touches at some point the work of the pulpit, therefore -it is right and proper for the minister to discuss before his people, -prudently, of course, the moral bearings of all these issues. There is -nothing that the liquor ring, and old-line politicians would rather do -than to stifle the utterances of the pulpit, for well they know that the -molding of sentiment, and the training of the moral forces by which the -eternal God proposes to overthrow and dash in pieces their strength, must -there begin.” - -In May of this year, 1885, I attended my second General Conference, which -met at Fostoria, Ohio, in company with Z. Warner, E. Harper, and S. J. -Graham. The occasion was an historic one. Radicalism was given a black -eye; the forces of the Church were realigned, and the clouds which had so -long hung over our Zion were pierced by the sunlight of a new day. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -The time of holding the annual conference having been changed from -spring to fall, the next session was held at the Simmons’ chapel, in -Lewis County. I was again made presiding elder, stationed on Parkersburg -District, and soon moved to Pennsboro, where my headquarters remained for -the next four years. My diocese extended from Parkersburg to Irondale, a -distance, east and west, of one hundred and sixteen miles, and from the -Ohio River on the north far interior to the south. The fields embraced -were Parkersburg Station, Parkersburg Circuit, Volcano, Pennsboro, Troy, -Middle Island, Littles Mills, Grafton, Irondale, Hessville, Tanner, -Sylvan Mills, and Smithton. - -A vast amount of hard work, I soon discovered, would be necessary to make -anything like a commendable showing in a territory so large and difficult -to cultivate. The first duty with me was to care for my preachers. It -was my notion then, and my views have not changed in all these years, -that if a presiding elder wants his men to do good work he must, first of -all, do his best for them financially. If the salary was insufficient, -and it nearly always was, as I have shown many times over, it had to be -supplemented in one way or another. If the stewards were worthless, I -asked them to resign. If they did not know how to collect, I went along -and instructed them as best I could. In some cases we would canvass -the entire neighborhood with a two-horse team and wagon, and gather up -flour, corn, potatoes, chickens, meat, eggs, sorghum, butter—in a word, -anything and everything that could be used at the parsonage, or exchanged -for groceries. When nothing better could be done, I would load up my own -horse with flour and meat and lead him to the preacher’s home with his -precious cargo of provisions. Then what a good time we would have! Some -who are yet at work in the conference were helped in this way. I also -found it profitable to have the people on each field, if at all possible, -make the pastor a present of a new suit of clothes each year. The plan is -usually a popular one, and in most cases can be worked, if placed in the -hands of the right persons. It is the equivalent of just so much extra -cash to the preacher. But with some it may be a query as to how I managed -the indifferent pastor. Sometimes one way, and sometimes another. Every -presiding elder, I suppose, has his own methods. My plan was first to -aid and encourage him all I possibly could. I tried to prove to him, in a -substantial way, that I was his friend, and wanted to help him make his -work a success. If, after all this, he persisted in being a failure, I -frankly told him he would have to drop out. Such a step requires courage, -I know, but it must be taken once in a while. No railroad company -or any other business concern would think of employing inefficient, -untrustworthy men; such a policy would be suicidal; nor can an elder -afford to supply his fields with those who are utterly devoid of fitness -for a work so high and responsible. - -A man may be a “good fellow” in many respects, and promise to support -his elder if continued in active service, but these things should have -no weight in the matter of appointments. The welfare of the church -should always be considered before that of the individual. If either -must go down, let it be the preacher. Why put him in a position to -chill, discourage, and perhaps wreck a whole charge? Nor should a man be -employed if inefficient by reason of age or poor health. The fact that a -minister was once successful is no reason for continuing him indefinitely -in the pastorate. A record of usefulness, I know, is a crown of glory to -any old, worn-out toiler, but with such glory he ought to be satisfied. -I have always hoped, and still do, that I may have sense and grace enough -to retire of my own accord before my conference is compelled to put me on -the shelf. The church, however, should provide a comfortable living for -her servants when they can no longer remain at the front. They deserve -such recognition, and to withhold it is to sin against them and the God -whose they are, and whom they have served. - -With reference to the presiding elder, or superintendent, I will further -say that he is the most useful and important man we have if he does his -duty faithfully; otherwise he is the biggest bore in the church. He is -not a success if he does mere routine work and nothing more. He must -reach out. He must be larger than his district, yet strive all the while -to make it as big as himself. He must keep things going. If resourceful, -he will always find a way to inspire and profit his men, if there is -anything in them to respond to his efforts. If he is not a general, he is -not fit for the place. He must go panoplied with helmet and breast-plate, -shield and sword, ready to fight, preach, or die, on a moment’s notice. -How the church and pastor are to be pitied when compelled to suffer three -or four official visits during the year from an old, dry stick, destitute -of sympathy and enthusiasm. - -The year was not without its incidents, both serious and amusing. During -one of my quarterlies held in the Big Fishing Creek region a fight -occurred among some of the toughs as they went from church on Saturday -evening. In an article to the county paper I took occasion to criticise, -rather sharply, such behavior, and emphasized the fact that the officers -of law ought to do their duty in all such cases. In fact, the derelict -officials were as severely arraigned as were the offending pugilists. - -Three months later I was in that section again; after the Sabbath morning -services, at Mt. Olive, I went to Laurel, some miles away, to fill an -evening appointment. After riding quite a distance along a high ridge, -which overlooks all the country around it, I turned down a little ravine -which lead to Laurelrun; but suddenly my cogitations were interrupted by -a big, burly sixfooter, who knew of my coming and was waiting for me. -Stepping in front of my horse, he blurted out, “Are you the feller what -wrote that piece in the paper about me?” I replied that I did not know -who he was, or what “piece” he referred to. “I’m one of them fighters -you wrote about in the _Star_,” he said, “but what you writ wasn’t true, -so I thought I would wait for you here.” In the meantime we were both -moving slowly down the hill, and he was at my side. If ever I did hard, -double-quick thinking, it was then. I knew what he was there for, and a -general mix-up seemed inevitable. I at once decided on a policy. I would -talk him out of any evil intent he might have, if it were possible to do -so; if not, and nothing else would suffice, I would get off my horse and -stay with him just as many rounds as I could, with the hope that somebody -might come along and help me out, if help was needed. I began to explain -how and where I got my information, and how I felt over such unbecoming -conduct on the way from divine worship. At this point he interjected the -remark that my informant was a liar, using adjectives and expletives -which would not look well in print. But I kept on with my speech, -using all the eloquence and fervor at my command. I expatiated on the -sacredness of worship, and portrayed in the most vivid colors possible -the beauty and praiseworthiness of the young man who honors the gospel, -and loves and lives in peace with all men. Though there was blood in his -eye at the start, I soon observed that I was gaining on him. By and by -he began to sanction what I said. It was clear that I had his attention, -so I kept on talking something good to him until he finally stopped me -as abruptly as when we first met, saying, “Wal, I guess I’le go back. -I kinder thought I’d like to ax you about it. Good-by.” What a feeling -of relief came to me as the fellow disappeared. A scrap, and possibly -something worse, had been avoided. I at once decided, however, that the -country editor thereafter would have to look elsewhere for information -when such brawls occurred. Such a narrow escape from—I did not know -what—convinced me that at least in that particular locality the work of a -newspaper correspondent was incompatible with that of a presiding elder. - -It was on one of my visits to this same field that I made some of our -own dear people very cross over a little verse, purely original, which I -wrote on the blackboard. Nearly everybody used tobacco in some form. Many -of the women were snuff dippers, and smoked the pipe, while nearly all -the men either chewed or smoked, or did both. The stanza ran thus: - - Who can chew the dirty stuff, - In the sacred place of prayer? - Who can smoke or rub snuff, - And feel that God is there? - -Years afterward, I was told that some were still talking about that bit -of poetry. - -The district paid a salary of $496.53 to the elder. Out of this he paid -for house rent and car fare, $110. The thirty-seven pastors of the -conference received an average of $140 each. The highest salary, $480, -was received by Rev. R. A. Hitt, on Parkersburg Station, $100 of which -was put into rent. The good Lord only knows how he managed to keep his -family in respectability, entertain his many visitors, and meet other -legitimate expenses, on the pittance of $380. And the same query may -be raised in the case of nearly all his colaborers; but they somehow -succeeded in making ends meet. As one of them expressed it, “When my wife -scrapes the bottom of the flour barrel, God always takes notice.” “This -is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” In addition -to the aggregate salary received, the “presents” amounted to $1,276.28, -or about $34, upon an average, to each pastor. The net increase in the -membership of the conference was 564, an excellent showing. But the most -vexing problem was financial. Times were hard, money scarce, and the -people generally poor. Yet we believed and wrought in expectation of -larger things. Thank God, they are coming. - -Pennsboro was the seat of the next conference session. Bishop Weaver -presided. Perhaps the most striking event of the occasion was the -presence of Dr. Lewis Davis, of Union Biblical Seminary. It was his -first appearance among us. Probably the wide difference between his views -and those of the conference on the secrecy question had kept him from -making an earlier visit; but his presence was highly appreciated by us -all, and in turn he greatly enjoyed the courtesies accorded him by the -brethren. As I bade him good-by at the train, he said, “Didn’t we have a -glorious time? I am glad I came. Wish I had come long ago.” - -The second year on the district was more trying and laborious than -the first. The preacher placed in charge of Volcano Circuit resigned -before the holidays, and not being able to secure a suitable supply, -I decided to keep up the work myself in connection with the duties of -the district. The nearest point was ten miles from my home, and the -farthest twenty-five; this gave me seven preaching-places; namely, Zion, -Volcano, St. Paul, Long Run, Big Run, Harmony Grove, and Freeport. I -could give the charge only an occasional Sabbath, hence was compelled -to do my preaching and visiting among the people on week days. I held -three revivals, preached eighty-three sermons, and collected all the -conference benevolences; for this extra service I received $150. Serving -as pastor and presiding elder both, kept me from home nearly all the -time. It was no uncommon thing to reach home late at night, and then -leave early the next morning; but to work was a pleasure and joy; I did -not mind the loss of sleep. There was not enough terror in the storm, -or “warring elements,” to prevent the filling of my engagements. No day -was too cold, or night too dark to travel, if, by so doing something -could be done toward lifting up the district. I hope there is no egotism -in what I here say. _There is none._ I simply state the facts. I lay no -claim to superior devotion over my brethren who worked at my side, and -were loyal to the core. No others but brave, true men can succeed among -the mountains, or anywhere else for that matter; but in some places more -faith and courage and sacrifice are necessary than in others. - -How I pitied my family. They were alone almost constantly year in and -year out. Under such circumstances it was impossible for me to know my -children well, or for them to know their father. This statement may be a -revelation to many. If any are in doubt as to its correctness, let them -ask the opinion of those who have done district work for years at a time. - -I never left home without first commending my loved ones to the care of -the sleepless Eye; nor did I at any time while absent forget them in my -devotions. - -Too much cannot be said for the faithful wife of the itinerant. But -alas! her worth, I fear, is not appreciated by the church as it -deserves to be. People watch and criticise her, to be sure, as they do -but few other women, but as a rule she is not accorded a very large -place in the achievements of her husband. Indeed, I sometimes fear the -minister himself does not realize her true relation to his success in -soul-winning. God only knows her anxiety and heart-yearnings as she -struggles with the problems of the home in the absence of her husband. -What a care the children are to her! But she toils on, as best she can -with the means, sometimes sadly limited, at her command. - -The fact is, many a successful preacher to-day would be out of the work -but for his devoted wife. When ready to quit, and turn aside to some -other occupation more lucrative, she put her womanly heart up against -his, and urged him on to duty. - -Said one of these noble helpers: “Husband, I know we are poor. Our -carpets are old and faded, and our furniture is scant and plain. I know -our dear children are barefooted, and can’t go to school; but I want -you to keep on preaching.” With a faith unfaltering, and a courage -invincible, she was willing to stay in the field—ready to serve, ready -to sacrifice, ready to die, and, thank God, ready for heaven. - -Her interest in her husband, God’s servant, knows no abatement. Day and -night she is before the throne in his behalf; and are not her petitions -heard? If not, whose will be? We must not deceive ourselves. She has a -divinely-appointed place in the work of redemption, and one of tremendous -significance—_a helper in soul-saving_. Her reward is sure. As she stands -by her husband’s side on coronation morning, she, too, will hear heaven’s -“well done” for the loyal, royal part she has taken, and the service she -has rendered in the “ministry of reconciliation.” - -In the earlier days of the conference, district work was exceedingly -laborious, because of the vast mountainous territory to be traversed. If -some of the circuits embraced from ten to twenty appointments, extending -over portions of three or four counties, it is evident that the presiding -elder had his hands full in superintending twelve or fifteen of these -fields. The journeys on horseback were long and fatiguing; it was no -uncommon thing to change horses at the end of a twenty-five mile ride -through the mud, or over the frozen roads. In the midst of one of these -long trips, Dr. Warner once stopped a few minutes in Pennsboro, at the -home of Mrs. Caroline Sigler, one of God’s jewels, and after putting -his tired animal away, mounted a fresh one and started on toward his -appointment, eating a piece of cold corn-bread. As the good woman looked -after him she could not keep the tears back. She knew something of the -hardships which had fallen to his lot; yet those hardships were borne -with a martyr’s courage for the sake of the Church he loved, and in which -he died. - -On a certain Friday morning I was to leave for my second quarterly on -Littles Mills charge, a circuit with which the reader is already familiar -because of the happenings I have related in connection with it. The -distance was some thirty-five miles. The day brought with it a fearful -snow-storm, which seemed to make it unwise for me to attempt the trip -on horseback; but I meant to hold the meeting. Wife and children said, -“Don’t go this time.” Others interjected: “You are foolish. Nobody will -expect you.” But they were mistaken. The people did look for me. Taking -the train in the evening I went to Parkersburg, forty miles, and the -next day to New Martinsville, fifty-seven miles, and then walked sixteen -miles, partly Saturday evening, and the balance of the way the next -morning, arriving in time for the 10:30 services. I was glad I went The -pastor needed me, and anxiously awaited my coming. I should never have -felt right over the matter if I had disappointed him. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -In the days of which I write, a quarterly meeting was a great event, and -to many it was a rare privilege to see and hear the “elder.” During the -summer and fall, especially, the attendance in many instances would be -immense. Not unfrequently the women and children present would more than -fill the house, which made it necessary to seek a “shady bower,” if one -could be found. If convenient, the seats were removed from the church -and used in the grove, but often this could not be done. More than once -I have backed up against a tree, or mounted a log, and preached to a -crowd scattered over a quarter acre of ground. On one of these occasions -a young girl, of fifteen summers, perhaps, but large for her age, went -to a house nearby and got a bucket of fresh water, and bringing it to -me in the midst of my discourse, asked me if I would have a drink. I -paused long enough to accept the courtesy, and, after thanking her for -her thoughtfulness and kindness, continued my talk. Such an infraction of -the rules governing divine worship to-day in many sections would greatly -amuse the people, no doubt, and perhaps greatly annoy the preacher; but -it was seldom noticed by speaker or congregation a third of a century ago -among the mountains. When there was no grove near, or the atmosphere was -too chilly, or the ground too damp to hold out-door services, we were -sometimes sorely defeated by the crowds that came. I here give in full an -article which I furnished the _Telescope_ on the peculiar provocations of -the elder: - -“To be a presiding elder in the Parkersburg Conference means to travel -over a large territory, and to do a vast amount of hard work on small -pay; but all this is nothing compared with some other things that we -have to endure. It is no uncommon thing in this country for a presiding -elder to make a failure in the pulpit because of some circumstance, or -a combination of circumstances over which he can have but little or no -control. - -“Many of the houses in which we worship are by far too small to -accommodate the congregations that generally gather on quarterly meeting -occasion. Indeed, many of our meetings are held in schoolhouses, only -intended to seat fifty or seventy-five scholars. Now put two hundred -persons, or more, into such a space, standing the most of them around the -wall, and in the aisles, and then distribute from fifty to one hundred -around the house on the outside, each striving to get his head in at a -window, and any one, though he be unused to such things, can see the -difficulty of preaching under such circumstances. If the people listen -with interest they must be comfortably situated. - -“In many country districts away from the railroad, the time kept by the -people varies so materially that it is next to impossible to get them -together at the same hour. No two clocks agree, hence the people begin -to assemble at ten o’clock in the morning and keep on _assembling_ till -noon. At the appointed hour the elder announces the first hymn, and then -leads in prayer. During these opening exercises, perhaps twenty-five -persons have come upon the ground, and as soon as the _amen_ is heard -they make a rush for seats. - -“Another hymn is sung, and still they come. The text is finally -announced, but what of it? The people keep on coming. The middle of -the sermon, by and by, is reached, and the preacher is still annoyed; -not for three minutes at any time has he had an open field. Only one -more proposition to discuss; it is the most important one. His strength -has been reserved mainly for it; but just as he begins to lay it open, -having secured the attention of the audience, the door creaks and in -come a half dozen women. A general stir follows. The seats are all full; -something must be done, so a half dozen men get up and surrender their -places. Still the people come. The preacher is on the home stretch, -but is badly disheartened. He has preached to the people, to be sure, -but a good part of the time to the backs of their heads. Not half of -those present when he began can tell what his text is. Indeed, he is -so confused sometimes that he hardly knows himself what it is. He has -just one more illustration to give. He hopes to make it tell, and is -succeeding well. The audience for a moment is silent as death; but of a -sudden the door opens again and a few more try to enter. In an instant -every eye is turned, and the thread of thought is dropped, and the -preacher sits down disgusted and dissatisfied. - -“Of course it is not always this way, but frequently such is the case. On -such occasions the people go home no wiser than when they came. Having -been to _meetin’_ is the only pleasing thought enjoyed. - -“Too many dogs go to church. I am not much of a friend to the canine race -at home, much less at church. Dogs piously inclined are the meanest dogs -in existence. If they would go under the house or even under the benches -in the house, it would not matter so much, but they will not do that. -They walk up and down the aisle, and dare even to enter the pulpit where -the presiding elder is. All this attracts attention, and detracts from -the sermon. Once in a while a dog fight occurs during service, and two -or three men have to interfere to adjust the difficulty. If the elder -intimates that the congregation or neighborhood is a little too _doggish_ -to suit him, somebody gets mad and calls him a ‘stuck up’ sort of a man. -‘Beware of dogs,’ said Paul. Many a good sermon has been spoiled by them. -In West Virginia, especially, they are disturbing elements. I would favor -a war of extermination. - -“But things are much better with us now than they were twenty-five -years ago. We have larger and better houses of worship, and fewer dogs -in proportion to population. We expect a great improvement in the next -quarter of a century.” - -It was not an uncommon thing to see a glorious revival start at the -quarterly meeting. The love-feast, which almost invariably occurred -on Sunday morning before the sermon, was usually an occasion of deep -interest. How the old veterans would talk! How eloquent some of them -were in their simplicity! How they relished such spiritual feasts! for -such they were; and no wonder they were enjoyed by some, for they had -traveled, maybe on foot, twenty miles or more to get there. To such the -day was a veritable Pentecost. Sometimes in the midst of the sermon or -sacramental service, “hallelujahs” would be heard. Yes, once in a while -the people shouted, and nobody objected to the noise or excitement. I -am no prophet, but will risk the statement that when the church gets so -far along that no more hosannah’s are heard, it will be about time to -reconstruct things and start anew. - -A red-hot testimony-meeting in many of our city churches, on the -quarterly communion occasion, would make the recurrence of the day and -the coming of the elder an event of greater significance than it seems to -be at present. Such a service would doubtless lubricate the machinery of -the church, and make the work go better. The present plan of enlarging -districts has its commendatory features, to be sure, and in some respects -it works well, yet the old _régime_, which made it possible for the elder -to be present at all the quarterlies, had its advantages. - -A word here respecting the genuine hospitality of the people might not -be out of place; this, however, is characteristic of Southerners. The -presiding elder was not compelled to put up with the pastor all the time -because nobody else wanted or invited him; far from it. A half dozen -or more at a time would claim him as their guest. Instead of wondering -where he would or could go, he was puzzled to know which of the many -invitations to accept. How it embarrasses a man to be in a neighborhood -where no one seems to want him. Or, if entertainment is proffered he may -be further embarrassed by a question mark at the end of the invitation, -“Well, are you going with me?” or, “If you’ve no place else to go, come -with us.” I have been chilled many, many times since leaving the mountain -State by just such half-hearted treatment. - -Nor were the presiding elder’s official duties performed without an -occasional break caused by a wag or ignoramus. Rev. G. W. Weekley was -traveling a circuit in Gilmer County with Rev. E. Harper as his elder. -At a certain meeting the latter was presiding with his usual grace and -dignity while the pastor, being a stickler for law, was making the -Discipline the rule of his business conduct. A young man was before -them for license to preach. He seemed to be all right, and had made a -favorable impression upon his pastor. “You will please state before the -chair and conference,” said the pastor to the applicant, “what your -reasons are for desiring permission to preach the gospel.” In an instant -the young brother was on his feet. The question was easy, he thought, -and so his answer was clear-cut. “Well,” he said, “I always had a desire -to see the country, and I thought that being a preacher would give me a -chance to do so.” - -Then it was that the elder wilted and the preacher collapsed, and the -quarterly conference looked blank, while the dear young brother felt -himself the hero of the occasion. - -We met at the Bethel church in Mason County, in September of 1887, to -make reports and to review the work of another year. Bishop Kephart was -with us for the first, and Dr. Warner for the last time. To show our -appreciation of Dr. Warner, the conference gave him a purse containing -$25.00 in silver. My district paid, in salary and presents, $526.20, out -of which $153 was expended for rent and car fare; 3,720 miles had been -traveled by rail, 941 on horseback, and 415 on foot. The average salary -in the conference was a fraction over $200. Including “presents,” which -were considerable in some cases, only one charge, Parkersburg Station, -went above $500. One other, Pennsboro, reached $400; eight got above -$300, while seventeen paid less than $200 each. The financial report -generally was much better than that of the previous year. The aggregate -increase in ministerial support on Parkersburg District was $600. Slowly -but surely we were pushing ahead and making progress, but at a cost known -only to those who were on the field. - -The third year on the district was similar to the preceding one, fraught -with toil and responsibilities, but not without its spicery, which often -did much to enliven the routine work required. One of the first things -I did was to secure a horse and buggy. By using the carriage when the -roads would admit of it I relieved myself of a good deal of horseback -riding. During the winter and early spring no sort of vehicle could be -used because of the bad, and sometimes dangerous condition of the public -thoroughfares. Nor is the situation in this respect very much different -at present from what it was forty years ago. Great changes have been -wrought in other regards, but the roads, for the most part, remain the -same, and will so continue through the centuries to come. - -I had a somewhat provoking experience, once upon a time, as I journeyed -with my uncle from Troy to West Union, a distance of twenty-five miles. -As the roads were exceedingly muddy I was concerned more than usual -about a new suit I was wearing, having pinned the skirts of my clerical -coat around my waist in order to keep them clean. We finally struck a -place where the thin mud was half knee-deep to the horses. Midway in -this mud-hole was a good-sized rock, but not being visible, my steed -stumbled over it onto his knees, running his nose into the mud up to the -eyes. When he went down I went over his head, and into the puddle face -foremost. Fearing that the animal would get on me, I suddenly rolled -over and then bounded to my feet. What a picture I presented! I am sure -I was no subject for artist or poet. My sleeves were full of mud and -water to the elbows, my hat and umbrella both were submerged, and, to -add to my chagrin, when I looked up at my uncle, from whom I had a right -to expect at least a little sympathy, he was lying over on his horse’s -neck laughing his best. Going to a stream nearby, I took off my coat and -plunged it into the water many times over, much like washing and wringing -a bed quilt, until the worst of the mud was off. But such an experience -was a mere incident with a mountaineer. When my clothes got dry and the -mud was brushed off they seemed to be all right, and I went on with my -work just as though the awful mix-up had not occurred. - -During the year a great sorrow came to the conference. On the 24th of -January the news was flashed over the wires that Doctor Warner was dead. -In the next week’s _Telescope_ “Delta” referred to the sad event as -follows: - -“The announcement of Dr. Warner’s death has cast a deep sadness over the -conference. No other conference can feel his loss as we feel it. In a -peculiar sense he was ours. No man ever had the hold upon our preachers -that he had. We can scarcely realize that he has gone from us to return -no more. He may have made mistakes in some things, like other men, but -he was a good man. That his soul during his last earthly hours should he -‘wonderfully filled with the peace of God,’ is just what we might have -expected. For thirty years he endured the hardships of a West Virginia -itinerant, sometimes traveling day and night, and making the greatest -sacrifices to build up the church he loved. Naught but devotion to God’s -cause ever led him to do so much for it. But his work now is done. -Perhaps we should not grieve over his departure, but we cannot help doing -so. The entire conference weeps. Said a brother, ‘Why didn’t the Lord -take me, and spare Brother Warner?’ This expression serves to show how -keenly his loss is felt.” - -Bishop N. Castle held the next conference at New Haven. During the -session I received a telegram that I had been nominated by the -prohibitionists of the fourth district for Congress, a compliment which -I appreciated all the more because the honor came unsought. Yes, I was -a prohibitionist, and am yet, and expect to remain one until something -better claims my support. The four hundred votes cast for the ticket -in the district represented a thoughtful, moral, courageous element of -which I have always been proud. Only such people, as a rule, vote the -prohibition ticket. As I entered upon the fourth year of district work I -determined it should be my last, at least for a while. I had been kept -away from my books already too long, and consciously realized that, -while I might be gaining a little some ways, I was losing in others. The -church cannot find its highest ideals in men who live wholly outside -their libraries. It is study—familiarity with the thoughts and methods -of others—that broadens a preacher. The map studied by many of us is -too small, and needs to be enlarged so as to extend the vision. If we -would see and know things, we must look and search after them. The man -is exceedingly unfortunate who, having eyes, refuses to see, and having -intelligence, neglects the acquisition of knowledge. My advice to the -young man at the threshold of the ministry is, “Buy good books and read -them; study your discourses thoroughly and with an eye to somebody’s -salvation, and then give the people the very best that God has put in -you.” - -This was a good year for the district. As it was to be the last, -I determined to make the best record possible for my successor, to -duplicate or excel. To succeed meant to go all the time. Distance, bad -weather, dangerous roads, swollen streams, or any other circumstances -were seldom allowed to get in the way. When Lincoln was asked if he -thought the war would close during his administration, he replied, “I -don’t know, sir, I don’t know.” “What, then, is your purpose?” was -further asked, to which the characteristic answer was given, “Peg away, -sir, peg away.” It is this, everlasting “pegging away”—forcing one’s way -through difficulties, and surmounting obstacles—that wins, not only in -West Virginia, but everywhere else. - -Buxton wrote: “The longer I live the more deeply I am convinced that -that which makes the difference between one man and another—between the -weak and powerful, the great and insignificant—is _energy_, invincible -determination, a purpose once formed, and then victory or death.” I -quote Buxton’s words because they are gold, and have in them the ring of -triumph. - -[Illustration: TRAVELING A DISTRICT] - -The year brought its usual harvest of incidents—some serious, others -laughable and amusing. It is well to have a streak of fun occasionally -flash across our pathway to enliven a journey, or some task to which we -have set our hands. - -One bleak Monday morning in December I was riding along a high ridge in -Wetzel County on my way home from a quarterly just held in that region. -To my right a few rods I observed a young man husking corn. He was -evidently working his best to keep warm, and, of course, not in a very -good condition to be fooled with by a stranger; but I thought I must say -something, and run the risk of an explosion. Reining up my horse and -getting his attention, I called to him, “Go it; that’s the way I got my -start.” “Yes,” he said, with lightning speed, “and a thunderin’ start you -got,” and then made the fodder rattle so that if I had replied he could -not have heard me. To be honest, I had not the disposition to talk back, -for nothing suggested itself at the moment as an appropriate response; -but for the next mile I laughed over the episode and considered myself -fortunate that nothing more serious had happened. - -I might add that not far from this place Rev. S. J. Graham, years before, -suddenly found himself in a kind of menagerie one frosty morning. In -those days laymen would frequently make long trips with the preacher or -elder; spending several days from home. They thought less about business -and more about the church than some do at present. On the occasion -referred to, Brother N. Kuykendoll was with the elder. One night they -lodged with a friend in his little log cabin of one room. Of course -they were well treated and given the best the humble home could afford. -Their host arose early next morning and built a fire in an old-fashioned -fire-place, which admitted of a “back log” and “fore sticks” before the -“kindling” was put in. Soon the shanty was warm. The lay brother awoke -first, and, glancing about the room, said to his bed-fellow in a low -tone: “Brother Graham, get up; the millennium has come.” The preacher -raised himself on his elbow and looked, and sure enough there was a -strange mixture of animals lying on the hearth before the fire—a pet -lamb, a pet pig, a huge dog, and two or three cats. Years afterward I -heard these brethren talk and laugh over the experience with as much zest -as if it had occurred only the week before. - -To indicate something of the work done this year, and that had to be done -to carry out the program of a presiding elder, I here insert a few pages -of a brief diary which I kept: - -January 1, I wrote: “I now begin a new year. God help me. My time, -strength, soul—all must be given to the work of the church. With my -family I took dinner with Brother C. R. Brown, a precious man.” - -2.—“Worked on a sermon on coveteousness. Got ‘Sweet Sicily’ and read it.” - -3.—“Voted for town corporation officers. Wrote a number of letters. -Brother Poling came in the evening, and spent the night with me.” - -4.—“Worked hard on my sermon on coveteousness.” - -5.—“Went to Parkersburg in the forenoon, and held business meeting at -night. All was pleasant. Lodged with Pastor Martin.” - -6.—“Preached from 1 Cor. 13:12 in the morning. Good meeting. Audience -melted to tears. Attended Sabbath school at 2:30 p. m., conducted the -quarterly experience meeting at six, and preached again at 7:30. House -full of people.” - -7.—“Returned home on early train. With wife went to hear Methodist -preacher at night.” - -8.—“At home, studying and answering correspondence.” - -10.—“Went to Parkersburg again. Dined with Brother J. H. Spence. Assisted -in meeting at night.” - -11.—“With the pastor visited eleven families. Large crowd at evening -service.” - -12.—“Went to Red Hill, six miles distant, and held quarterly at 2:00 p. -m. Preached in the evening.” - -13.—“Preached at 10:30 a. m. from Titus 2:9. Good feeling. Large -sacramental service. Shout in the camp. Pastor Devol leaped for joy. -Preached again at night.” - -14.—“Came to the city and returned home. All well.” - -15.—“In study all day. Attended M. E. Church at night. An interesting -revival in progress.” - -16.—“At home preparing for dedication.” - -18.—“Left home on early train, and reached Buckhannon at 4:00 p. m. Went -to Mt. Washington, eight miles in the country, and preached at night on -the ‘Prodigal Son.’ Thirteen seekers at the altar and four more asked -prayers. Lodged with Brother Reese.” - -19.—“Rode fourteen miles to ‘Uncle Jimmy’ Hull’s for dinner, and then -went to Union Hill where I preached at night. Met Elder Graham.” - -20.—“Rained hard. Congregation small. Raised $85. At night tried it -again. Good feeling. Secured $68.50 more and dedicated church. Opposition -from another church.” - -21.—“Rode sixteen miles to Buckhannon through a fearful snow-storm. Went -to Weston on train and rode seven miles in the country.” - -23.—“Returned home. Found all well.” - -I now turn to the March record because it has to do with one of the sad -things which not unfrequently comes to the itinerant. - -15.—“I started at noon for Troy Circuit, reached Auburn late in the -evening.” - -16.—“Visited Father Williams and wife. The latter has been in bed three -years. Read the Word and prayed with them. Both got happy. Sung a hymn or -two for them. Held quarterly at 2 p. m., and preached on ‘Stephen, the -First Martyr.’ A good time.” - -17.—“Sunday. Held prayer-meeting at 10 a. m., and preached at 11. Large -communion. Big shout in the camp. Collection $20. Talked again at night. -One of the best quarterlies I ever held.” - -I pause here. On Monday evening Father Perry came, and preached for us. -After returning from church he turned to me and tenderly said, “Now, -Brother Weekley, I have a little news for you. As I came through your -town this noon I was told that your youngest child was critically ill. -The doctor regards her case as dangerous. I would have told you sooner, -but I knew it would so trouble you that you could not enjoy the service. -I knew also that you would not dare start home in the night, and thus -endanger your life. So I waited. Now leave her with God; get what rest -you can, and then be off by daylight in the morning.” But I got no rest. -It was a long, long night of tossing and anxious waiting. At day dawn -I started. The muddy roads were frozen over, but not sufficiently to -bear up my horse. A part of the time I walked. It seemed I could make -no headway at all, and didn’t make much in some places. When within two -miles of home, I called at a farm-house and inquired if they had heard -from my family, and they told me they had not. This brought me relief, -for I was sure they would have heard the news if the child were dead. At -1 p. m. I landed safely and found, sure enough, that a blessed Providence -had kept the black-winged angel from our home. - -How such harrowing experiences try the very soul of the over-worked, -half-paid, care-worn man of God, who must spend all his time and strength -away from home in some obscure field! They test the material that enters -into his composition. To put the Cross and sinful souls before one’s own -family requires great faith—faith in the Redeemer, faith in his church, -and faith in the winning, victorious power of the gospel; and this is -what every itinerant in West Virginia had to have. - -To indicate the nature and work of our preachers’ institute. I return to -my diary and give the items of a few days. - -July 9.—“At home preparing for institute which meets to-morrow.” - -10.—“Went to Smithton, and took charge of institute. Rev. H. T. Athey -assisted some. Lessons were in Old Testament history and homiletics. -Revs. H. T. Athey, H. R. Hess, R. M. Hite, G. A. Davis, J. P. Piggott, -and W. H. Albert were present.” - -11.—“Met at 8 a. m. Recitations. Hess gave a talk on the ‘Apocalypse.’ -Davis preached at 7 p. m. Good sermon.” - -12.—“Recitations as usual. Davis made an address on ‘Prayer.’ Good. Hite -read a paper on ‘Fore-ordination.’ Discussed. Piggott preached well at -night.” - -13.—“Recitations as usual. I read a paper on ‘Divorce and Adultery.’ Also -presented a diagram of Solomon’s Temple. Hess preached. Good meeting.” - -14.—“Sunday. I preached at 11 a. m. Large crowd in grove. Good liberty, -and good attention. Athey preached at 3:00 p. m., and did well. Returned -home.” - -The records of a few days immediately following may also be of interest. - -24.—“Drove with my family to father’s, fifteen miles distant.” - -25.—“Started for Hessville quarterly. Drove thirty-seven miles to Father -Mason’s.” - -26.—“Drove to Bee Gum Station fifteen miles further east. Good meeting in -afternoon. Preached at night.” - -27.—“Sunday. Discoursed at 10:30 a. m. on ‘The New Testament Church.’ -Preached again at three o’clock on ‘Benevolence and Honesty.’ Led song -service. Drove fifteen miles back to Brother Mason’s.” - -28.—“Left at 6 a. m. and drove thirty-seven miles to father’s.” - -But it is needless to further reproduce here the jottings made long years -ago. The brief memorandum given is but a fair index to the activities -of the entire twelve months, or, I might say, to the forty-eight months -spent on the district. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -Buckhannon was again the seat of conference, and was in charge of Bishop -Weaver. This was his last visit to West Virginia. My district reported -about 600 conversions and accessions to the church. The average salary -for the pastors of the conference was $230. After paying house rent and -car fare, I had $365.79 left for the support of a family of five, and -with which to purchase books, papers, and stationery; but I did not -complain; it was more than the average circuit-rider was getting. On -this little sum we seemed to live fairly well, and imagined ourselves as -respectable as anybody in the town. - -In looking over my report, I see at its close the following significant -statement: “Now, brethren, suffer a word more. I kindly and earnestly -request that you relieve me from district work. Eight years out of the -past eleven have been given to this kind of service. While I certainly -appreciate what you have done for me, I must say that I am tired of the -place, and am anxious that some one else take it. All there is in it, -whether money, distinction, responsibility, or hard work, I cheerfully -surrender to some one else, with the earnest wish that he may prove more -efficient than I have been, and that under his labors enlarged blessings -may come to the district.” - -This was my last year as a presiding elder in the dear old conference. - -It is now many years since I was transferred to another field, but almost -daily my thoughts go back to my native home, and to the twenty years of -unceasing toil given to the building up of the church in that mountainous -region. Indeed, I could scarcely get away. It was no easy matter to sever -the relations of a life-time. In looking over my brief record of daily -happenings I find that July 16, 1889, while pastor at Buckhannon I wrote: - -“Received a letter to-day from Rev. C. Wendle, urging me to come to Rock -River Conference. Bishop Kephart also writes in like manner. Do not know -what to do, but must do right. Lord help me.” October 3, I expressed my -thoughts and feelings as follows: - -“At home trying to pack our goods. What a task it is! Is God in this? I -do hope so. It is so hard to leave West Virginia. These hills and valleys -all seem sacred to me.” - -The last time I visited my parents before removing West, I was deeply -affected to see how frail they seemed, and thus referred to it: “Parents -are getting old. How they are bending beneath the weight of years! Alas, -how short life is! Twenty years ago when I left home father had no gray -hairs. Now his head is white as wool. Mother! what a faithful soul! -How self-sacrificing! Anything to help her children and make herself a -blessing to others. Heaven is anxious to get such an angel. May earth -keep her yet a long while.” - -These excerpts from my diary indicate that it cost me something—a -heart-struggle, at least, to turn my back upon scenes and associations -which were as sacred as life itself. But in making the change I felt I -was following the leadings of Providence, and that all would be well in -the end. - -The fellowship of the brethren I left behind was sweet. Those who looked -on were compelled to say, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for -brethren to dwell together in unity.” There was as little jealousy and -self-seeking and rivalry in the conference as I ever found anywhere. We -all were poor, and could sing like the old Methodist pioneer on his four -weeks’ circuit: - - “No foot of land do I possess, - No cottage in the wilderness; - A poor wayfaring man, - I lodge awhile in tents below; - Or gladly wander to and fro, - Till I my Canaan gain. - - “Nothing on earth I call my own; - A stranger to the world unknown, - I all their goods despise; - I trample on their whole delight, - And seek a country out of sight, - A country in the skies. - - “There is my house and portion fair; - My treasure and my heart are there, - And my abiding home; - For me my elder brethren stay, - And angels beckon me away, - And Jesus bids me come.” - -There was another verse we all cherished, and often sung it, as it seemed -so appropriate: - - “A tent or a cottage, why should I care? - They’re building a palace for me over there; - Though exiled from home, yet still I may sing, - ‘All glory to God, I’m the child of a King.’” - -In all my travels throughout the Church I have never found any conference -that could sing as the West Virginians did. Diddle, Harper, Graham, -Orr, Hitt, Holden, and Wood were among the earlier men. Later their -places were taken by Cunningham, Piggott, Sallaz, Slaughter, Carder, and -Robinson. But it is hardly fair to name a few. All could sing; and so -they can to-day. - -Singing was an inspiring feature of every conference gathering. It made -the air electric, and caused high voltage pressure. We would sing on the -train, on the boat, at the hotel—everywhere. On our way from conference, -in 1879, we all stopped at a hotel in Weston for dinner. As usual, the -singers were lined up in a little while, and fairly shook the old inn -with some of their latest and freshest selections. Before we quit, the -town was thoroughly stirred up. People left their business places and -came to listen. Women and children stood in the doors of their homes, or -looked out at the windows, and wondered what it all meant. Two young men, -some blocks away, heard the singing and started on a run for the hotel. -As they passed some parties one of them was heard to say, “I’ll bet five -hundred dollars they are Brethren preachers.” - -Professor Diddle, assisted by others, published the _West Virginia Lute_ -in 1868, which had a tremendous sale, both among our people and those -of other churches. Then Baltzell’s music, probably _Golden Songs_, came -next among our own publications. This was also a popular book, and one of -great merit. While it contained many imperfections, it was nevertheless -thoroughly “orthodox” from our view-point. The author was not a -scientific music writer. He did not grind his songs out at the organ in -a mechanical way, but manufactured them in his heart. Such music always -takes. There is something about it that gets hold of the soul and stirs -its deepest emotions. I do not understand what that something is, but it -is there, all the same. - -It was a very common remark among the people of other churches: “If you -want to hear singing, get a lot of Brethren preachers together.” We had -no organs or pianos in any of the churches, with skilled performers to -lead the audience. To aid in getting the “pitch,” a “tunningfork,” or -horn was used—a clever little device which every leader carried. But few -of the brethren, however, understood the grammar of music. They had had -no special training—but no difference; they could sing anyhow. They were -not poets, but had the poetic touch. I have heard these men of God again -and again sing until the audience was fairly entranced, and until the -fire of joy was kindled to a flame in their own hearts. They were rivals -of Israel’s shepherd king, and wrought things more marvelous than he, -through the melodies they sang. - -While their music was not classical, it seldom failed to strike fire. -The people liked it, and were charmed, encouraged, and, in a thousand -instances, saved by it. Mr. Alexander, the great revival singer, has the -right view of things. He writes: “Musicians often say to me, ‘Why do -you not use classical music, above the style of gospel songs?’ I reply, -‘When you can show me similar effects following such high-class music -in moving the hearts of men and women, I will use it fast enough. Until -then I shall keep to gospel songs, which have a wonderful way of reaching -everybody, because they touch the soul.” - -Volume, fervor, soul, enthusiasm, is what we want in all our church -music. Away, forever, with that operatic nonsense which the artistic -would introduce into our present-day religious services. - -What glorious revivals were promoted. Like cyclones they seemed, at -times, to lay everything low in their course. How sinners wept and -repented! How saints shouted aloud for joy! “Wild fire!” does some one -suggest? May be it was; but it achieved wonderful results. The present -ministry of the conference, with a great majority of the true and tried -laymen who constitute the very backbone of the church, were converted in -just such meetings; and it is quite likely that the leading ministers -and laymen of every other conference in our Zion were converted under -like circumstances. Call it “wild fire” if you will, but I would like to -see a good deal more of it. - -A revival that arouses a whole community and brings fifty or a hundred, -or perhaps two hundred into the kingdom, some of whom become prominent -preachers of the word, while others become very pillars in the church, -is not to be ignored or decried by those who are too slow and formal and -dull to create a stir. Better have a little “wild fire” than no fire at -all. - -Personally, I believe in excitement. Nothing worth thinking about is ever -accomplished in its absence. We cannot relish food, or enjoy sleep, until -first excited by hunger or fatigue. Why should not the church manifest as -much zeal and enthusiasm in her work as political parties or commercial -clubs do in theirs? I am tired of that contemptible sentiment which -stands ready, everywhere, and all the time, to denounce everything that -has to do with the emotions. Religion, I readily grant, does not consist -of noise and bluster. It means vastly more than that. Nor does it consist -in sitting around like so many lifeless knots on a log. - -We are told that it is the lightning and not thunder that kills. True -enough, but lightning in the absence of thunder is harmless. Lightning -makes the thunder. - -In our work but little was said about the new theology, or higher -criticism. Watson and Ralston in their theologies, and Smith and Clark -and Lange and Barnes in their expositions, seldom referred to the -new-fangled theories which confuse and chill and curse some of the -churches to-day. We all believed that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, and -Paul the Epistle to the Hebrews; and personally I have never had any -reason for changing my views. It had never occurred to us to put Job and -Jonah on the fictitious list. We actually believed and preached that -they lived and wrought, one in the land of Uz, and the other in Nineveh, -after escaping from the whale’s belly. We tried to tell of the awfulness -of sin, as well as the joys of religion. We believed in a heaven, and -would often talk and sing and preach about it until we felt ourselves -within its very suburbs. When Jesus said, “And these shall go away into -everlasting punishment,” we supposed he meant it, and no one attempted -to put an artificial bottom in the “bottomless pit.” We divided our -time pretty well between Sinai and Zion. The decalogue and beatitudes -were included, ofttimes, in the framework of the same sermon. We knew -there were some inaccuracies in the authorized version, but nothing -sufficiently serious to affect the fundamentals of Christianity. We -were justified, as we thought, in preaching the whole Bible, as it was -commonly understood and interpreted, because in doing so we were blessed -and sinners were saved. - -The “mourners’ bench” was always a part of the program in our revival -work. While no one insisted that a man must be saved at the bench, -if saved at all, we believed, nevertheless, that coming forward and -bowing at the altar was a good way of confessing sin, and of plighting -fidelity to Jesus Christ. I would not serve as pastor of a people who -objected to the use of an altar. If some of the unsaved wanted to seek -their Lord elsewhere, and in some other way, I should not object; but I -should insist upon it that those who wanted to come forward for prayers -should have the privilege of doing so. It is refreshing to see how -simple and direct Dr. Torry, “Billy” Sunday, and “Gipsey” Smith are in -their methods, and the wonderful results that follow. They do not mince -matters. They go to the people with a burning message from the Throne, -and deliver it, no matter what anybody may think or say about it. With -sledge-hammer blows they drive it home to the hearts of their hearers, -that no man can be saved until he confesses his sins and his Savior. -They follow, largely, the old line of revival work—and _succeed_. - -The preacher who cannot build a fire in his church is a failure. In no -other way can he attract attention. The church of God has been used to -fire from the beginning. Moses got a good warming-up before the burning -bush on Horeb; so did Elijah, and others, on Carmel. The disciples were -not ready to preach or the church to work until a burning Pentecost came, -and fire-flakes fell from heaven upon them. We need great revivals, and -can have them, if we are willing to pay the price. - -One serious hindrance to the work is the fact that too many profess to -have found a “new way.” They council moderation, and would have us go -about the business with that cold, mathematical precision which the -astronomer employs in measuring the heavens. As the result, many of -our revival efforts turn out to be very _moderate_ affairs. They are -self-constituted appointees to shut off steam and put down the breaks, -and they succeed. What we need is more steam; that is, purpose, push, -and power. And I rejoice in the thought that the thing for which we have -waited and prayed is at hand. The semi-skepticism and indifference which -have so handicapped the work of evangelism in the last twenty-five years, -are giving place to larger activities and simpler methods. We are facing -the morning light. The reaction and readjustment will bring in a new era -of moral and spiritual triumphs in soul-winning. - -The church at large knows but little about the excessive labors and -sacrifices of the earlier ministry in West Virginia. My heart still weeps -as I think of what some of the brethren endured. But, brave souls they -were, they did it because they loved the church and her Christ. - -Only three or four remain who were in the conference when I joined -thirty-seven years ago. Four others—Revs. E. Harper, I. M. Underwood, A. -Orr, and Dr. J. L. Hensley—have located in other conferences, but the -great majority have gone to heaven. From hillside and mountain-top they -ascended to a place of honor by their Lord, to live in the white light of -the throne forever. - - “Oh, how sweet it will be in that beautiful land, - So free from all sorrow and pain; - With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands, - To meet one another again.” - -Does any one inquire to know the real secret of their power? It is -not easily explained. They had intellectual girth, but this was only -incidental to their success. Their surroundings were inspiring, their -spirits exuberant, their physical endurance tremendous, their zeal -unflagging, but the secret lay deeper; these were only tributary. It -seems to me that the one quality which exalted them, and gave them the -mastery over men was _reality_. They were _genuine_. God counted them -among his captains, and they were loyal to the last. _Duty_ and _destiny_ -were to them overwhelming suggestions. In them were wrapped up the -present and the eternal hereafter. - -I can still hear Brother Graham singing as he rode through storm and -heat, carrying aloft the banners of the church: - - “Above the waves of earthly strife; - Above the ills and cares of life; - Where all is peaceful, bright and fair, - My home is there, my home is there.” - -Chevaliers, divine! - - “Their burning zeal no langour knew, - For Christ, his cause, his tempted few; - At home, abroad, where’er their lot, - Their much-loved theme they ne’er forgot.” - -“One soweth and another reapeth,” is the divine law. The foundations -of the church among the Virginia hills and mountains were laid amid -self-givings, known only to Him who gave to his servants their marching -orders, and who accompanied them every foot of the way. A better day has -come to the conference. The fields of labor have been greatly reduced in -size, pastoral support has been improved, educational advantages have -been increased, which means so much to the itinerant’s family, and in -other respects conditions made many-fold better. - -The present membership is 15,000 divided among sixty circuits and -stations. Two hundred and six church edifices, worth $243,869, are -reported, and thirty-eight parsonages valued at $31,939. - -The territory embraces four districts. While the number of presiding -elders might be diminished, it would not be wise to try the experiment of -giving one superintendent charge of the whole conference. The country is -too rough, the distances too great, and the public facilities for travel -too meager for one man to do it all. - -The average salary paid the pastors in 1906 was $379.45, including -house rent and special gifts. Three of the charges went to between $800 -and $900; one paid from $600 to $650, and eight others over $500 each. -The presiding elders averaged $563.97. For all purposes $50,589.49 was -collected. These figures show that in spite of the adverse circumstances -with which we have had to battle for the last half century, real progress -has been made. But more ought to be done in the next fifteen years than -has been accomplished in the last fifty. - -Some portions of the State are becoming immensely wealthy through the oil -and mining industries. Our people are sharing in the general prosperity, -and many of them are growing rich. The commercial possibilities of the -State are great and promising as its hidden treasures are brought to the -surface, and put on the world’s market. The work of the present ministry -is to broaden the benefactions of our membership by teaching them the -true meaning of Christian stewardship and the obligations which it -imposes. In proportion as this is done, salaries will be increased more -and more, the offerings to the various benevolent societies multiplied, -and larger sums provided for Otterbein University and Union Biblical -Seminary. - -There is quite a stretch of time between the penning of these lines and -the day I started for my first circuit. Thirty-seven years is a good -while. My experiences have been numerous and varied. The way at times has -been rough, the tasks difficult, and the responsibilities great, but, -after all, if I had my life to live over _I should spend it in the gospel -ministry, and start again in West Virginia_. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWENTY YEARS ON HORSEBACK, OR -ITINERATING IN WEST VIRGINIA*** - - -******* This file should be named 64765-0.txt or 64765-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/4/7/6/64765 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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