Autobiography of Peter Cartwright
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. His Birth - Parents remove to Kentucky - Dangers and Difficulties of the Journey - Halt at Camp Defeat - His Father shoots an Indian - Escape of a White Man from the Indians - His Companions shot - Arrival at Crab Orchard - Massacre of seven Families - Pursuit of the Indians - Their Slaughter - Perils of the Early Settlers - Fertility and Resource of the Country
CHAPTER II. Settlement in Lincoln's County, Kentucky - Methodist Ministers - Parents remove to Logan County, Kentucky - Rogue's Harbor - The "Regulators" - Native Luxuries - Saltpeter Caves - Advantages of Navigation - Falls into Bad Habits - Is sent to School - Makes little Progress - Fate of his Teacher
CHAPTER III. Increase of Population - Danger or Extremes in Doctrine - Sacramental Meeting - Great Revival - First Camp-meeting - Presbyterians censured for engaging in it - Origin of the "New Lights" - Their Leaders - "Republican Methodists" - The Shakers - Want of Ministers severely felt
CHAPTER IV. Goes to a Dance - Is convicted - Obliged to leave his Business - Thought to be Insane - His Convictions are Strengthened - Attends a Sacramental Meeting, and is Converted - Joins the Methodist Episcopal Church - Organization of the Western Conference by Bishop Asbury - Early Western Itinerants - First Secession - Wilson Lee - The Pet Lamb - Taking up the Cross - Happy Conversion - Mr. Lee's Death
CHAPTER V. Wide-spread Revival in the West - Rise of Camp-meetings - Methodists and Presbyterians unite in the Work - Camp-ground Accommodations - Great Extravagances among the Presbyterians - The Presbytery grant Licenses contrary to the "Confession of Faith" - Some are censured, some suspended, and others expelled - They propose to join the Methodist Episcopal Church - Proposal declined - Formation of the "Cumberland Presbyterian Church" - Splitting the Difference - The Jerks - Horsewhipping escaped - Dreadful Death - Fatal Delusions - Trouble with the Shakers - Debates with them - Numbers received into the Church - Organizes a Circuit
CHAPTER VI. Attends numerous Camp-meetings - Opposers overcome - Meets Bishop Asbury - Receives an Exhorter's License - Removes to Lewiston County, Illinois - Enters an Academy - Exhorts large Congregations and gathers a Class - Suffers Persecution - Ducks his Tormentors - Leaves School - Forms a Circuit - Good Success - Gives up the World - Travels Red River Circuit - First Sermon - Its Effect - Transferred to Waynesville Circuit - Revival at Stockton Valley - Baptist Proselyters - They entice his Converts - His Scheme to recover them - Is crowned with Success - Organizes a Society - Increase in the Western Conference - Is received into the Traveling Connection
CHAPTER VII. Conference of 1804 - Travels Salt River and Shelbyville Circuits - Simplicity in Dress of early Methodists - Studies with Mr. M'Kendree - Profits much by his Instructions - Duties of Presiding Elders - Pioneer Methodist Preachers - An educated Ministry - Meets one of the "Regular Graduates" - Confounds him - A striking Illustration - Danger of Congregationalism in the Church - Secular Offices should be filled by Laymen - Evil Effects of the present System - Conference of 1805 - William M'Kendree elected President
CHAPTER VIII. Appointment to Scioto Circuit - Favored with good Superintendents - A drunken Minister - Strange Apology - Powerful Awakenings - Afflicting Dispensation - Father Teel - His Eccentricity cured - Large Camp-meeting - The Rowdies troublesome - A drunken Magistrate - A knock-down Argument - The Meeting progresses - Cheering Results - James Axley - Scene at the Governor's Table - A useful Preacher
CHAPTER IX. Starts for the Conference of 1806 - Increase of Membership - A new District - Meager Salary - Is ordained Deacon by Bishop Asbury - Sent to Marietta Circuit - A Colony of Yankees - Hard Appointment - The Halcyon Church - Brimstone Angels - A vile Impostor - Deluded Fanatics - Want of an Outfit - Goes Home - Timely Assistance - A Friend in Need - A Generous Landlord - Singular Conversion - Arrives at Home - New Outfit - Starts afresh - Conference of 1807 - Appointed to Barren Circuit - Dying Convert - A knotty Case - Affecting Scene - Methodism obtains a Footing
CHAPTER X. Poverty of Preachers - Enters into Matrimony - Conference of 1808 - Ordained Elder by Bishop M'Kendree - Father's Death - Has leave of Absence for a Time - Returns to the Regular Work at the Conference of 1809 - Appointed to Livingston Circuit - Holds a Camp-meeting - Good Results - A bigoted "Dunker" - Turns Methodist - Bought by the Baptists - Tries the Shakers - Objects to hard Work - Resorts to the New Lights - Last Session of the Western Conference in 1811 - Increase of Membership - First delegated General Conference - Division of the Western Conference - Goes to Christian Circuit, Tennessee Conference - Glorious Revivals - Overcomes Prejudice - New Appointment - Another Camp-meeting - A Methodist Fit - Preaches at Red River - Opposed by a Presbyterian Minister - Results of Opposition - Forms a Society
CHAPTER XI. First Session of Tennessee Conference in 1812 - Made Presiding Elder by Bishop Asbury - Objects to taking the Office - Travels Wabash District - Holds several Camp-meetings - Agitation on the Slavery Question - Testimony of the Church against it - Harm done by Rabid Abolitionists - Breckenridge Camp-meeting - An impudent Dandy - Threat of a Horsewhipping - Dandy escapes with a Ducking - Decrease of Membership at Conference of 1813 - Causes thereof - Returned to Green River, formerly Wabash District - New Fields of Labor - A Baptist Goliath - Slander on the Methodists - Vulgar Comparisons - Goliath Defeated - Is blown to Never - A Whisky-drinking Preacher - Charging full Price
CHAPTER XII. Tennessee Conference of 1814 - Bishops Asbury and M'Kendree - Their Ministerial Labors - Privations of the Preachers - A Fatted Calf - Camp-meeting at Christian Circuit - Disturbance from Rowdies - A stroke of Policy - A Disturber roached - Another soused, and afterward Converted - The String of Frogs - An enraged Father - Evil Surmisings - His Conviction and Conversion - A singular Dream - Its Fulfillment - Baptist Proselyter - Extended Argument - An unanswerable Question
CHAPTER XIII. Bishop Asbury attends the Tennessee Conference of 1815 - His feeble Health - Election of Delegates to General Conference - The Bishop's Advice to them - His Endeavors to reach the General Conference - Increasing Weakness - Death and Burial - Reinterment - Epitaph - The Bishop's Talents - His Knowledge of Character - General Conference of 1816 - Difficulties of Travel - Election of Bishops George and Roberts - A Year of Prosperity - Introduction of Pro-slavery Feeling into the Church - Injurious Effects - Clamors for Lay Representation first heard - They increase at the Conference of 1820 - Other Radical Measures then brought forward - Presiding Elders to be Elected - An entering Wedge - Bishop Soule's Opposition - Suspension of the Elective Rule - Harmony destroyed in the Church - Expulsion of the Radicals - Peace restored - Formation of the Methodist Protestant Church - Schisms originate among the Ministers - Examples cited - Wretched Policy of the Church South on Slavery
CHAPTER XIV. Sessions of Western Conferences for 1816 - Is appointed to Christian Circuit - New Conference formed - Introduction of Methodism into Indiana and Illinois - Increase of Members and Ministers - Glorious Revivals - Preaches to Slaves - Numbers converted - Want of faithful Preachers among them - Quarterage not twenty-five Cents - Hospitable Farmer - Nothing lost by entertaining Ministers - Meets with a Wealthy Wesleyan - He builds a Church - Dedicated by a Protracted Meeting - A great Concourse attends - Several converted - Scarcity of Bibles - Organization of Bible Society
CHAPTER XV. Earthquake of 1812 - Consequent Excitement - Numbers Join the Church, of whom many fall away - Is stationed on Red River Circuit at Conference of 1817 - Preaches to a single Hearer - His Fame is spread abroad - Draws crowded Congregations - Dram-drinking - Reasons for and Against - Deals summarily with Breakers of the Rules - A Revival springs up - Class-meetings with closed Doors - A New-Light Tormentor - How she is got rid of - Young America - Sermon on Worldliness - Dr. Bascom reproved - Is kept in the Shade - "Who is General Jackson?" - His Independence approved - Need of a Hell - Conference of 1819 - Complains of Violators of the Discipline - They are obliged to conform - General Conference of 1820 - Plan of the Pro-slavery Party - Formation of Kentucky Conference - The Church in the West - Conference of 1820 - Publishes two Anti-Calvinistic Pamphlets - A Satanic Reply - The Rejoinder
CHAPTER XVI. Sets out with Father Walker for the General Conference - Lodges with a shouting Local Preacher - Resumes his Journey - Finds a loaded Pistol - Met by a Robber - Pistol becomes useful - A Universalist Landlord - Praying off a Bill - Return from Conference - Effects of "New Cider" - A surly Host - Refuses Payment in Bills - Second Thoughts the best - Dance at a Tavern - Is asked to join - First offers a Prayer - The Dancing ceases - Prays and exhorts - Many converted - Being instant in and out of Season - A Preacher up to the Times - Dumb Devil - Evil of Dram-Drinking - Makes an Enemy by his Temperance - Use of Liquor defended by Methodists - Appointed Presiding Elder of Cumberland District at Conference of 1821- First round of Quarterly Meetings - Prayerless Professors - Roaring River Camp-meeting - A Disorderly Congregation - Arrests their Attention - Defends the Divinity of Christ - Vanquishes its Disputants - Outpouring of the Spirit - An Arian Devil cast out - Simon Carlisle - He Reproves a young Profligate - His Revenge - Carlisle arrested for Robbery - Requests his Conference to suspend him - Restored to his Standing in the Church - His Innocence proved
CHAPTER XVII. Poplar Grove Camp-meeting - Spunky Widow - A Proselyting Baptist - Induced to hear Mr. Cartwright preach - Hears part of the Sermon and then runs - Promise of Immortality scouted - Publicly reproves a young Lawyer - Is challenged in consequence - Chooses his Weapons - His Opponent is Conscience-stricken - Requests his Prayers - Finds Peace in Believing - Revival at Quarterly Meeting - Regulates the Altar Exercises - Sanctified Wealth a Blessing to the Church - Needless Church Expenditures - Might be better applied - Rowdies at a Camp-meeting - They determine to break it up - Essay to carry out their Plans - They are dispersed - Conversion and Reconciliation of bitter Enemies - Ungentlemanly Infidel - Sessions of Kentucky Conference for 1822 and 1823 - Delegated to General Conference of 1824 - Close of his twentieth Year in the Itinerancy - Retrospective View
CHAPTER XVIII. Determines to remove to Illinois - Reasons for so doing - Makes the Journey on Horseback - Selects a Location - Returns through Springfield - Is transferred to Illinois Conference - Parting with old Friends - Fatal Accident to one of his Daughters - Kindness from Strangers - Settles in Sangamon County - Vicinage of Indians - Extent of Sangamon Circuit - Appoints a Sacramental Meeting - "Cartwright's Flood" - A close Brother - A Word in Season - Its good Effect - Scarcity of Money - James Dixon - Hunters' Expedients - Their Privations - Dixon loses his Eyesight - Singular Dream - His Sight restored - Good Luck - Voyage to St. Louis - Escapes from the Indians - A successful Trip - Becomes a Methodist - His peaceful Death - Increase on Sangamon Circuit - Conference of 1825 - Violent Bilious Attack - Journey homeward - An unkind Companion - His Dismissal - Stops to recruit - Proceeds on his Way - Is Sick on the Road - Lies down to Die - Good Samaritans - Is met by his Wife - Partial Recovery - Crossing the Grand Prairie
CHAPTER XIX. Sent to Illinois Circuit by Conference of 1826 - Is a Candidate for the Legislature - Hears himself defamed - Faces his Reviler - He apologizes - Another Calumniator - Proves his Assertions to be false - An aspiring Lawyer - He is taken down - Becomes friendly - Dangers in the Use of Liquor - Preaches to a highly expectant Congregation - Annoyance at Camp-meeting from a Drunken Crew - They are dispersed by an Artifice - An Insane Enthusiast - Various Delusions - Expulsion from the Church of an Impostor - A good Investment - Value of Useful Books - Appointed Superintendent of Pottawattomie District - Meeting with Indian Chiefs - Expenses of this Mission - Conference of 1827 - Voyage to General Conference at Pittsburgh - Immoral Fellow-Passengers - An exciting Debate - Comes off Victorious - Preaches on the Steamboat
CHAPTER XX. Absent from Conference of 1828 - Sickness of Mrs. Cartwright - Formation of Oneida Conference - Organization of Canada Methodist Episcopal Church - Attends the General Conference of 1828 - Gets the Cold Shoulder - Hearty Reception - Spiritual Darkness - Obtains Relief - Dangers of New Circuits - A Rough Pulpit - Death of Bishop George - Illinois Conference of 1829 - A hen-pecked Husband - He is relieved - Written Sermons not liked - A Union Church - Unfair Dealing - A Methodist Church built - Great Sacrifice - Sangamon Camp-meeting - Groundless Stories - Tormented by Mockers - They stick in the Mud - The Tables turned - A bigoted Mother - Her impotent Rage - A Providential Escape
CHAPTER XXI. Elected to the General Conference of 1832 - Prevented from attending by Family Sickness - Annoyed at Camp-meeting by a Huckster - Prosecutes Him - He refuses to pay his Fine - His Stores seized, and himself taken to Prison - Pays, and is released - His Companions desire to retake his Liquor - Their Ringleader quieted - Revival among the Persecutors - Division of Illinois Conference - Is Superannuated for ten Hours - Quincy District formed - None willing to go to it - Takes the Appointment - Character of the District - A long Shower - An encouraging Motto - Watery Journey - A High-strung Predestinarian - Hater of the Methodists - The Eternal Decrees - Barton Randle - His Privations and Usefulness - Visit to Rock Island Mission - A rascally Ferryman - Former Site of an Indian Town - Fording Rock River - An unexpected Wetting - Galena Mission - Dangerous Ride with his Daughter - Contrast between Traveling then and now - D. B. Carter - A beloved Minister - His Death - Fort Edwards Mission
CHAPTER XXII. Rise of the Mormons under Joe Smith - Their Expulsion from Missouri, and Establishment at Nauvoo - Acquaintance with Joe Smith - His Ignorance and Cunning - Controversy concerning his Doctrines - Relates to him an Encounter with Mormons at a Camp-meeting, and how they were silenced - Smith grows Restive under this Recital - Cures him in the Name of his God - Mormons driven from Illinois - Illinois Conference of 1833 - Bishop Soule's Western Tour - Travels with him to a Quarterly Meeting - Visitation of the Cholera - The Bishop attacked with Fever - Preacher stationed at Jacksonville - First Quarterly Conference there - Rapid Growth of the Town - Illinois Conference of 1834 - Religious Excitement in Rushville Circuit - A Papist Convert
CHAPTER XXIII. Knox County Camp-meeting - A Yankee Family - Parents' Dislike of the Methodists - Efforts to keep their Children from the Meeting - The Daughters seek Religion - Opposition of their Mother - Laughable Incidents - Whole Family becomes Religious - Unhealthiness of Quincy - A Dying Stranger - Takes Charge of his Affairs - A Campbellite Debater - He resists the Spirit - Becomes Insane - Commits Suicide
CHAPTER XXIV. Missionaries sent to the West - They make Evil Reports of the Land - Their Preaching productive of no Good - Election to General Conference of 1836 - Church Paper at Cincinnati - Morris, Waugh, and Fisk elected Bishops - Slavery pronounced a Blessing - Ultra Abolitionists - Plan of Separation - Opinions of Southern Members in regard to Slavery - The True Wesleyans -Wilbur Fisk - Confidence of the Church reposed in him - Declines being ordained Bishop - Six new Conferences formed - Funeral Sermon of Bishop M'Kendree - Sketch of his Life -Unhappy Delay in the Publication of his Memoirs
CHAPTER XXV. Extent of Illinois Conference - Session of 1837 - Revival in Jacksonville Station - A New-School Minister - Change of Purpose not Conversion - Gracious Revival - A live Yankee Minister - Abortive Attempt to Preach - A powerful Exhortation - Anxious Inquirers - Easy Way of becoming a Christian - Elected Delegate to General Conference of 1840 - Agitation on Slavery revived - Abolitionists led by O. Scott - Opposes the Election of new Bishops - Several new Conferences organized - Abolitionists opposed to Colonization - They refuse to assist poor Churches in the South - Winchester Camp-meeting - A large Attendance - Numbers of Renegades - Determines to maintain Good Order - Rising of the Mob - Their Leader taken - A mock Camp-meeting - Rowdies put to Flight - Their Captain converted - Trial of the Disturbers
CHAPTER XXVI. Growth of the Country - Its State in 1824 - Determines to build a Church - A Union Church proposed - He strongly objects to it - Success of his Enterprise - First Church in Sangamon Circuit - Waters's Camp-ground - Quarterly Meeting at Alton - A Methodist Ball - Crowded Attendance - Christ rejects none - Answering a Fool according to his Folly - Universalism a conscience-soothing Doctrine - Quarterly Meeting at Exeter - A Company of Mockers - Happy Conversion - A noted Gambler - He burns his Cards - Obtains Religion - Goes to Utah - Becomes a Mormon - A despairing Sinner - Dies without Hope - Revival at Winchester - The Campbellites present in full Force - They provoke Controversy - Their Preacher nonplused - Advice to Public Speakers - Conference of 1843 - Bp. Andrew presides - General Conference of 1844 - Church Statistics - Success of early Ministers
CHAPTER XXVII. Attends the General Conference of 1844 - Government of the Church - The Bishops have no Legislative Power - They do not Hold the Church Property - The Methodist Episcopal Church essentially Anti-slavery - Ground taken by the Northern and Southern Delegates respectively - Bishop Andrew's Connection with Slavery - Course which the Conference should have pursued - Course of Bishop Soule - The Conference had no Power to divide the Church - Dr. Elliott's History of the Secession - Abolitionists have done nothing for the Slave - Course to be pursued toward Slaveholders - Is clear of guilt in the Action of this Conference
CHAPTER XXVIII. Illinois Conference of 1844 - Non-concurrence in the Measures of the General Conference - Statement of Facts in the Case - Slaveholding never a Test of Church Membership - Conservatism the true Ground - Its Benefits to the Slave - Attends a nameless Meeting at Cincinnati - Taken ill on his Way to Conference - Reaches Alton City - Has Medical Assistance and Proceeds - Arrives at the Conference - A gloomy Year - Southern Delegates call a Convention - Renounce the Methodist Episcopal Church - Form a separate Organization - Foul Means resorted to - Bishop Soule chiefly to be Blamed - Bishop Andrew not without Fault in the Matter - Fate of Extremes - Fearful Results of Schisms
CHAPTER XXIX. Session of Illinois Conference for 1845 - Returned to Blooington District - Traveling hazardous in Winter and Spring - Commences his Round of Quarterly Meetings - An intensely cold Storm - Dreary Ride - Reaches a Local Preacher's Cabin - One of his Sons converted at Prayers - Pursues his Journey - Crosses Sangamon River - Reaches the Meeting - The Church triumphs over her Foes - A Week at Waynesville - Nightly Meetings - Frightful Death - A fair Conclusion - Paying Universalist's Bills - Elected to the General Conference of 1848 - An exciting Session - Southern Delegates come resolved on Secession - The Louisville Convention - Measures of the General Conference of 1844 null and void - A peaceful Settlement evaded - German Mission - Its Formation by Dr. Nast - Death of Charles Holliday - Election to the General Conference of 1852 - Feebleness of Bishops Hedding and Hamline - Affecting Address of Bishop Waugh - Superintends the Mission to the Pottawattomies - Change in the Country - Increase in Wealth and Population - Methodism dying out - Prejudice of the Minister at Warsaw against him - Offered the Use of the Presbyterian Church - Power of God on the Congregation - Notified to vacate the Church - Supposed Reasons therefor - Building of a Methodist Church - Numerous Accessions to the Society - Revivals the Net of the Church - Quincy Station - A Time of Refreshing - Sugar Grove Camp-meeting - A prosperous Year - Failing Strength - Conference of 1852 - Pleasant Plains District formed - Is appointed to it at Conference of 1853 - Incidents at the Boston General Conference - His Sermons pronounced Failures - The Charm broken - Characteristics of the Yankees - Their Hospitality - New-England Farms
CHAPTER XXX. General Conference of 1852 - Death of Bishop Hedding - Election of four new Bishops - A Yankee Triumph - Evil of Pewed Churches - Parting with kind Friends - Pioneer Preachers - Their Labors and Success - Jesse Walker - Abundant in Labors - Becomes Superannuated - Final Triumph - Samuel H. Thomson - His Early Conversion - Great Usefulness - Sinks under Privations - His Ardent Zeal - Last Message - Victory over Death - John Dew - Talents as a Preacher - Has Souls for his Hire - Is greatly Beloved - Goes to his Reward
CHAPTER XXXI. Illinois Conferences of 1854 and 1855 - Election to the General Conference of 1856 - Slavery Agitation - Multiplying of Stations tends to Congregationalism - Changes in Church Economy - Longer Term of Ministerial Appointment - New Rule on Ordination
CHAPTER XXXII. A Wealthy Physician - Avowed Infidelity - Moral Benefit of Christianity - An Inexplicable Mystery - Breach in the Walls - Evidences of the Senses - The Doctor convinced - His Wife's Conversion - Fervent Prayer - A Peaceful Answer - Glorious Revival - Preaches the Gospel - Seals to his Ministry - Taken to Abraham's Bosom
CHAPTER XXXIII. Plainness of Early Methodists - Extravagance of the present Day - Duty of Family Prayer - Results of its Faithful Performance - Neglect of many on this Score - Benefits of Prayer-meeting - They are the Seed of Revivals - Class-meetings owned of God - Their Attendance should be a Test of Membership - Value of faithful Leaders
CHAPTER XXXIV. Review of the Past - Entrance into the Itinerant Ranks - Children and Grandchildren - All striving to reach Heaven - Amount lost on Allowance - Value of Books sold - Collected for Benevolent Purposes - Ministerial Labors - Decrease of Camp-meetings - Plan for their Revival - Growth of the West - Thanks for Mercies - Prayers implored