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Chapter II · Twenty Years on Horseback; or, Itinerating in West Virginia

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Chapter two of twenty Years on Horseback or Itinerating in West Virginia. This LibriVox
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recording is in the public domain. Chapter two Philippe Circuit contained at this time
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the following appointments Ramin's Mills, Natty Creek, Packs Run, Indian Fork,
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mount Hebron, Greenbrier, and Zeb's Creek. Later I added two more,
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one on Big Run and the other on Brushy Fort at the home of Mother
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Simons. Two of the preaching places lay beyond the Middle Fork River, a
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rolling, dashing stream fresh from the mountains and at times dangerous to cross.
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It was so clear that a silver piece the size of a quarter could be
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seen at a depth of several feet. The first time I attempted to ford
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it, I put my life in jeopardy because the bottom could be seen distinctly.
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I imagine it was not deep, but after a few paces I was
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in midside to my horse and going deeper every step. Perceiving the danger I
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was in, I tried to turn my horse about, and did so only
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after greatest effort, owing to the almost irresistible current which was gradually bearing horse
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and rider downward. Going to a house nearby, I made some inquiry about
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the stream, and was told that if I had gone ten feet farther,
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I should have been swept away by the swift running waters. How grateful I
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was to God for the deliverance. During the following winter, my life was
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endangered by floating ice at the same crossing place. Brother Moore about the same
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time, perhaps a little later, seeing he could not ford the stream,
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decided to lead his horse across the ice at a point below the regular crossing,
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where there was but little current. But when twenty feet from the shore
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towards which he headed, the ice gave way and the faithful animal went under.
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Having hold of the bridle rein, however, he managed to keep his
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head above the water until a passageway had broken through to dry land. One
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instinctively shutters as he recalls the dangers which at times thrust themselves suddenly across the
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pathway of the early preachers of the Virginia Parkersburg Conferences, when the fields were
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so large and travels so excessive. Brothermore informed me, as we looked over
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the charge, that I would have to take the outsiders from my support,
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as the circuit only paid three hundred dollars and he could not get along unless
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and pay rent. It struck me that he was about right, so I
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readily agreed to his proposition. Then what well? At each preaching place I
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found a sinner who agreed to serve as my steward. And these men did
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well everything considered. For the year, I received ninety seven dollars, including
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an overcoat and several pairs of yarn socks. At one of the appointments,
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an unfortunate episode occurred over my salary. The steward one day stepped over the
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line and got after some of the church members for money. He very well
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knew they were abundantly able to help, but they flatly refused. This so
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upset him, so I was told that he expressed his opinion of them in
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language far more rigorous than polite. It is a joy, however, to
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note, in this connection, that some of these stewards soon became Christians and
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active helpers in the church. Out of the pittance I received, possibly all
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or more than I was worth, I added to my little library, which
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could easily be put in one end of my saddle bags when I left home.
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The following books Bible Not of Man, Conversation of Jesus, Jesus on
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the Holy Amount, Pilgrim's Progress, Dying Thoughts, Bible text Book, Jacobus
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on John, God's Word Written, Pilley's Theology, Our Lord's Parables, Webster's
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Dictionary, Bible, True Rock of Our Salvation, Companions of the Bible,
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Dictionary of the Bible, Credo, Rise in Progress of Religion, in the
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Soul and Hand of God in History. This, of course, was not
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a lavish purchase of books, but it did pretty well for one with a
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cash income of not more than seventy five dollars. We had some good revivals
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that year. Ninety nine were received into the church fellowship, while many more
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were converted. At Indian Fork, we held meeting in a little log cabin
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about twenty five feet square, with a great fireplace in one side. It
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is surprising to see how many people can be crowded into so small a place
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when they are anxious to attend a revival night after night for weeks. This
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little room was packed like a sardine case, but the outcome was glorious.
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Some of the best citizens of the community were reached, and one to Christ.
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After a few services were held, it was seen how insufficient the little
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room was to accommodate the many who wanted to come. We put on foot
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the project of building a church, and a meeting least set about the work.
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The plan was so unique that the whole neighborhood became interested. Some felled
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trees, others scored and hewed the logs. Those who had teams volunteered to
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haul them, while others still made shingles or helped with the foundation. For
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the people had a mind to work. Before the meetings closed, the house
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was up and ready for use, an edifice which served as a place of
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worship for many years. The people all over the circuit were kind and forbearing,
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and greatly encouraged me by waiting on my ministry and hearing what little I
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had to say. I visited all class of persons, rich and poor,
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and had all kinds of experiences. In some homes I enjoyed the hospitality offered.
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In others it was not so highly enjoyed, but keenly appreciated. At
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one of the preaching points, a certain brother insisted upon my going home with
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him for dinner after the morning service, which I consented to do. It
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was a rainy day. He lived in a cabin of one room on the
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hillside. On either side of the dwelling was a shed. Under one of
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those. He kept his corn under the other. Where we entered the house,
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the hog slept and the chickens roosted. His only piece of regular furniture
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was a chair. As to where and when he got it, I did
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not inquire. Long poles reaching across the room, and fastened to the walls,
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with a forked stick under them in the center constituted a kind of double
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bedstead. When I entered the door, I observed a large feather tick piled
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upon those poles. Finally something moved under it, and then a boy of
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ten or twelve summers, almost suffocated, crawled out and made for the door.
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His purpose, no doubt, was to hide from the preacher when he
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saw him coming, but, finding he could not get his breath, decided
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to retreat to another place of concealment where there was more fresh air. I
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did not eat much dinner. I told mine host that I was not hungry,
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and in fact I was not. They had only a broken skillet in
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which to bake bread, fry meat, and make gravy. As soon as
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possible, I excused myself and started for my next appointment. Indeed, I
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was glad I had another one that day. Many other amusing incidents occurred during
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the year. These always find a place in the itinerant's life, and it
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is well perhaps that they do, as they offset on a measure his somber
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experiences. I am frank to confess it is easy for me to see the
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funny side of a happening, if it has one, and to enjoy a
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joke, though it be on myself. In the early days of the West
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Virginia Conference, what was known as the plug hat was much in evidence among
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preachers. Such headwear was a distinguishing mark. Hence, no circuit rider with
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proper self respect or wishing to give tone to his calling, could afford to
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don anything else. Being young and somewhat ambitious to hold up the ministerial standard,
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at least in appearance, I determined to secure one as soon as I
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could get a few dollars ahead. However, the way open for the gratification
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of my wish sooner than I had expected. Brother Moses Simons had one.
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He didn't care to wear, so I bantered him for a trade. It
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was in first class condition, but entirely too large for me. After putting
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a roll of paper around under the lining, it came down nearly to my
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ears. What was I to do? I must have a high topped hat,
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who was not able to purchase a new one. At last, I
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decided to wear it. If my ears did occasionally protest against its close proximity
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to them, It distinguished me from common people for the next two years,
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and so answered well its purpose. One day, as I was riding up
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a little creek between two high hills, I passed a group of urchins who
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evidently were unused to preachers. They watched me in utter silence till I had
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passed them a few yards when one of them piped out, Lord, what
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a hat. No doubt they had an interesting story to relate to their parents
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when they returned to their humble cabin home. Not long after this, I
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met a gentleman so called in the road and bade him the time of day,
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as was my custom. He returned the salutation with how are you hat,
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and passed on without another word to me. This was exceedingly offensive,
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for I was sure there was something in and under the hat, and any
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such remark was an uncalled for reflection upon my dignity and the high calling I
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represented. I did not know the man, and to the best of my
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knowledge, I have never seen him since. But to this day, though
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removed from the event more than a third of a century, I harbor the
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thought that if I ever do run across him, I shall demand some sort
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of reparation for the insult. The annual conference met in Pennsborough, Bishop Weaver
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presiding. During the year I had improved much in health, owing to my
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horseback exercise and the great amount of singing I did, which doubtless had much
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to do with the development of my lung muscle. At conference, I went
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before the Committee on Applicants with eight others, five of whom were referred back
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to their respective quarterly conferences for further preparation. For some reason, the examination
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was unusually critical. One question propounded to each do you seek admission into the
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conference simply to vote for a presiding elder? There was some doubt in my
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case on a doctrinal point. According to the report of the chairman, Reverend
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W. Slaughter, an erratic old brother. He said, the boy was
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all right, except a little foggy on depravity. Well, possibly I was,
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for I didn't think much of that portion of our creed. However,
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I see more in it and of it after all these years than I did
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then. In the light of my observations and experiences with men, I am
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not inclined to deny the doctrine. I was appointed by this conference to Lewis
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Circuit, an old run down field embracing parts of three counties. Reverend Isaac
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Davis was sent along as a helper in the Lord. We had grown up
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together in the same neighborhood and were members of the same congregation. He was
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a young man of sterling moral qualities and proved himself a loyal and valuable co
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worker. After spending a few days with our parents and friends, we started
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early in April for the scene of toil, to which we had been assigned
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for the year. From the day we left home, we ceased not to
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pray that the Lord of the Harvest would give us at least one hundred souls
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as trophies of his grace, and to that end we labored constantly. Found
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the following regular appointments Gladdy Fork, Hankleville, Union Hill, Little Skin Creek,
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White Oak Waterloo, Indian Camp, Walkersville, Braxton, and Centreville.
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Soon we added two more, namely bear Run and Laurel Run. The charge
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agreed to pay US two hundred and ten dollars, but fell a little short,
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reaching only one hundred and seventy dollars. Of this I received ninety,
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and Brother Davis the remaining eighty. The assessment for missions was twenty five dollars
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and about ten dollars for other purposes, which we regarded as a pretty high
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tax for benevolences. Yet the entire amount was raised after a most vigorous and
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thorough canvas of all the appointments. As I now remember, no one gave
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more than twenty five cents. Our protracted meetings lasted more than six months and
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resulted in the reception of one hundred and one persons into church fellowship. While
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in the revival at Hinkleville, a great shout occurred one night over the conversion
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of some far famed sinners, during which the floor of the church gave way
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and went down some two feet. Before dismissing the people, I announced that
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we would meet and make repairs the next day. At the appointed time.
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It seemed that nearly all the men and boys in the country round about were
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on hand, ready to render what service they could in repairing the house of
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the Lord. This was a revival of far reaching influence. The country for
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miles around us was thoroughly stirred. One of the leading men became interested one
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night and decided upon a new life. As he approached the church the next
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day, he heard us singing what was then a very popular song, Will
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the Angels Come. The words and melody fairly charmed him and kindled new hope
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in a life that had been given over to sin. As he opened the
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church door, the key of faith opened his heart's door to the Savior,
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and he rushed down the aisle to tell us of his wonderful experience. It
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was all victory that morning. The conversion of such a man profoundly affected the
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people and led to many more decisions for Christ. During this meeting, my
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colleague arose one evening to preach, as he had the test with book,
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chapter and verse all by heart. He did not open his bible, but
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began by saying, you will find my text in Revelation, third chapter and
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twentieth verse. Just then an apple fell through a hole in his coat pocket
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onto the floor. As he stooped to pick it up, another fell out.
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Returning into his pocket, he again started Revelation third chapter and twentieth verse,
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when suddenly the two restless apples dropped out again. After picking them up,
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he started in a third time, you will find my text in but
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all was gone. He couldn't even think of revelation. The audience was at
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the point of roaring. So in the midst of his confusion, he turned
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to me and said, brother, weekly, what is my text? I
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don't know what nor where it is. I answered, Behold, I stand
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at the door and knock. Yes, yes, he said, I remember
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it now, and proceeded with his discourse, but did not recover that evening
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from the knockout blow he had received. Preaching through such a long revival campaign
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was no easy thing. When I had only a few sermons in stock,
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and these were all home made. I think the material in them was all
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right, but the mechanical construction was not according to any particular rule. I
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endeavored to give my hearers plenty to eat, but I did not understand how
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to serve the food in courses. It was like putting a lot of hominy
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and pork and cabbage and beans into the same dish and saying to the people
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here it is help yourselves. But as a few sermons could not be made
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to last indefinitely, I was compelled to apply myself to study, no little
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of which was done on horseback. Every itinerant in West Virginia at that time
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had to do the same thing. While this method of study was not the
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most desirable, it nevertheless had its redeeming features. Ofttimes, after riding a
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dozen or fifteen miles over rough, hilly roads, I would alight, hitch
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my horse, and, while the weary animal was resting, mount a log
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near by, and practice my heart's content to the sermon I was preparing for
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my next appointment. Again and again did I make the welkin ring as I
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preached to an audience of great trees about me? Does this appear amusing to
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the reader? Do you doubt that such experiences ever occurred? If so,
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ask some of the earlier preachers of the conference who are yet living, if
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they ever did such a thing while circuit riding among the mountains. Did we
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ever feel lonesome as we traversed the forests or climbed the hills? Not for
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a moment. It was an inspiring place to be. The birds sing so
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wheatly there. The gurgling, murmuring streamlets are ever musical as they steal their
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way along through the gulches over their rocky beds. The scenery is sublime.
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Nature's book stands wide open and abounds with richest lessons and illustrations. No wonder
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Glossbrenner and markwood Warner, and how while a host of others could preach the
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very mountains amid which they were born and reared, conspired to make them lofty
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characters and majestic in their pulpit efforts. While a Union Biblical seminary and our
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colleges generally are grand and helpful schools, let it not be forgotten that Brush
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College is not without its advantages, and should be given due credit for the
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inspiration and rugged manliness it imparts to its students. My home this year was
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with Brother James Hull on the headwater is a French creek full forty miles from
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the nearest railroad station. Mother Hull was one of God's noble women. She
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professed sanctification and lived it every day. I can never forget her helpfulness to
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me, a mere child in years in service, I must see her in
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heaven. If I returned home after each sabbath's work. It required one hundred
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and fifty miles travel to make one round of the circuit. My associate also
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had a good home on another part of the charge, but unfortunately for him,
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and for some others as well, his zeal led him into trouble.
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Brother Mike Boyles, with whom he stayed, was a good true man,
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and was ever delighted to have a preacher with him. One Sunday, he
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went to see a friend a few miles distant, and innocently carried home on
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his horse a large, nice, well matured pumpkin. His purpose, no
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doubt, was to prepare a special dish for his guest, but his preacher
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was not pleased with such an infraction of the Sabbath law. A short while
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after this, he discoursed in the neighborhood church on the text I stand in
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doubt of you, Among other things, he said he stood in doubt of
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a church member who would go visiting on Sunday and carry pumpkins home with him.
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Brother Boyle's was naturally made the application a personal one, and ever afterward
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refused to be reconciled. During the year I married two couples. One of
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the men was a horse buyer and was considered way up financially. Of course,
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I expected no insignificant sum for my services. It ought to have been
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ten dollars or more. But let the reader imagine if he can mysa appointment
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if not discussed when he handed me forty cents in shin plasters. By shin
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plasters, I mean a certain kind of currency which circulated during our civil strife
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in the early sixties, in the form of five, ten, twenty five
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and fifty cent certificates. Speaking of this wedding recalls the fact that it was
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on this circuit while visiting my uncle the year before that I married my first
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couple. I remember, too that I approached the occasion with great trepidation.
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It was an awful task, but the eventful hour finally came. The parsonage
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so called, where the nuptials were to be celebrated, was a log cabin
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of one room. The kitchen, which stood several feet from the main building,
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was the only place offered in which to arrange the toilet. At last,
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I stood before the young couple and began the ceremony. Which I had
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committed to memory. Yes, I had it, sure, as I thought
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I had gone over it twenty times or more. In practicing for the occasion,
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I had joined trees and fence, steaks, and I know not what
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all together. But at the very moment when I needed it and couldn't get
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along without it, the whole thing suddenly left me. There I was.
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After an extended pause and a most harrowing silence, I rallied and began by
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saying, we are gathered together. Just then my voice failed me. It
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seemed impossible to make a noise. Even I fairly gasped for breath, for
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that was the one thing I seemed to need most. At last, the
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effort was renewed. How I got through I never knew. It seemed to
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be an mysterious realm where the unknowable becomes more incomprehensible, and when all the
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past and futures seemed to unite in the present. Finally I wound up what
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seemed to be long drawn out of fair and pronounced the innocent couple, man
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and wife. I'm glad they always consider themselves married. I have but little
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recollection of what I did or said during the ordeal. In fact, I
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do not care to know, since I am so far away from the occasion.
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Yes, that was my first wedding. The year was not without its
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material enterprises, for we completed the churches at Glady Fork and Waterloo, repaired
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one at Indian Camp, and started a new one at Laurel Run. Some
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of these stand yet as moral and religious centers, and at times, through
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the intervening years have been the scenes of great spiritual awakenings. Conference was held
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at New Haven in Mason County, with Bishop d Edwards in the chair.
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While our report was thought to be fairly good, I asked for a change,
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believing that I could do better work on another field. The favor was
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granted, and Hessville Mission assigned to me as my third charge. At the
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close of this year, there were thirty one ministers employed in the conference,
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whose aggregate salary was four thousand, five hundred and fifty one dollars and seventy
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seven cents, or an average of one hundred and forty seven dollars each.
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The three presiding elders received all told eight hundred and forty three dollars and eighty
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three cents. These figures indicate something of the sacrifices made by the men who
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gave themselves to the early work of building up the church in the Virginias.
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Greater heroes of the Apostolic type was never displayed by any of the sons of
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Ravine. Nor can any part of the country show greater achievements for the work
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done. End of Chapter two