Circuit riders were employed by growing churches to ride a circuit through the newly settled and soon-to-be settled regions of the American west. Their job was to set up new congregations and preach the gospel to the settlers, who were going through many difficulties of this life. I am interested in the period of 1870-1900.
My question encompasses the following:
- What were the typical activities and tasks of these itinerant priests? What would an average day-in-the-life be like?
- What sermons and bible passages would they have addressed to the settlers?
- How involved did they get in the settlers lives? Did they help them build buildings and clear land, or just pass through?
- Were there external factors that affected their work? Examples: American Indian rebellions, businesses, railroads, settler nationalities, local and state governments
- Did they solicit settlers for money?
- What sources can I consult to learn more about this?
A source you can consult to learn more is Paul H. Boase, "The Methodist Circuit Rider on the Ohio Frontier," 2 vols. (PhD dissertation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1952).
I recommend a book entitled, "A Sketch of the Life and Labors of Rev. Fletcher Thomas" by Fletcher Thomas. (Published by the United Brethren Publishing House, 1907.) This book gives a real detailed look at the life of a United Brethren circuit rider. He served 12 churches in north central Indiana as I recall. Talks about having no horse and walking for hours to get from church to church, often in deep snow. Talks about living in one room cabins, appointment after appointment. Talks about having to have the latest silk hat and not being able to afford it. Talks about praying with a dying 20 something year old. He began preaching in 1853. Fletcher preached his last sermon on June 13th, 1907 and died June 17th of the same year. He is buried in North Manchester, Indiana. This book had a profound impact on me as a young and newly appointed pastor. In the preface he says, "With the confident hope that this little volume may be read with interest and profit by some discouraged Christian, or by some young minister whom God has called to the work of the ministry..."
A colleague writes me:
When I pastored in Texas, I did some research for a church program on a circuit rider's journals in the Univ of Texas archives. He lived an adventurous life! His days were spent journeying from one far-flung station to the next, depending for his meals on the kindness of people he met. There would be entries like "spent 3 days repairing road" or "joined family X for a dinner of cougar roasted on the fire. It was tough and stringy." Most circuit riders preached daily. They were single men only. The life was so difficult that most lasted only a few years before "wearing out." Hope this helps.
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