USA > Indiana > Indiana miscellany : consisting of sketches of Indian life, the early settlement, customs, and hardships of the people, and the introduction of the gospel and of schools ; together with biographical notices of the pioneer Methodist preachers of the state > Part 13
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Near the close of the Conference year, Mr. Ep- person entered the preacher's cabin one evening, and said with some emotion, "I do not expect the Bishop will send you back to us another year, and, indeed, I could not ask him to do so. The circuit is a hard one to travel, and you have received but little pay." Addressing the writer's wife, he said, " You will want to go and see your father and mother while your husband has gone to Conference. Pack up all your things, and when he leaves for Conference I will take you and the children to your father's." And to the writer he said, "As soon as Conference adjourns write me, and let me know where you are sent-at what time and place to meet you with your goods, and I will bring them and your cow to you." The week before Conference was to commence the goods were carefully packed, and when I started to Conference Mr. Epperson
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started with my family to their friends, fifty miles distant.
At the close of Conference, a letter was addressed to Mr. Epperson, as he had requested, and accord- ingly on the evening of the day appointed, at the place specified, he was promptly on hand with the goods, the cow, and a fat hog, neatly dressed ready for use. The next morning, when he was about leaving, he was requested to receive some compen- sation for the much he had done for the preacher's family, but he refused, saying, “ I have been an un- profitable servant. I have done nothing more than it was my duty to do." When he bade the preach- er's wife farewell, he said to her, “Sister S., when you find another as good a friend to you as I have been, write to me." She never wrote. Though moving from place to place in the itinerancy, she has found many kind friends, she has often been heard to say, " I have never found such a friend as brother Epperson."
James Epperson was born and brought up in Kentucky. Up to manhood he had never attended a Methodist meeting, but had been taught rather to hate them. When he was a young man, he and several of his wicked associates concluded to attend a Methodist camp meeting which was to be held some miles distant, for frolic and fun. When the time arrived, they set out. On the way they made their arrangements and laid their plans for sport. They arrived at the encampment on Saturday, in
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the afternoon. As they drew near they heard the sound of singing, praying, groaning, crying, and rejoicing mingled in, to them, strange contrast. When they entered the inclosure of tents, a strange feeling came over young Epperson, and he began to tremble. Such a scene he had never beheld, and such sounds had never before fallen upon his ear. He approached near the altar, where a prayer meet- ing was going on, and took a seat. Ever and anon the shout of a new-born soul rose high above the songs, and groans, and prayers that were ascending from the altar. Young Epperson soon found his heart all broken up, and tears fast falling from his eyes-all thoughts of sport having left him. One of the preachers seeing him weeping and trembling approached and requested him to go into the altar, and let the pious pray for him. He consented, and, led by the preacher, he went in, and falling upon his knees commenced pleading for mercy. Before the sun arose the next morning the Sun of Righteous- ness had arisen upon him, dispelling all his moral darkness, pouring a flood of light, and joy, and peace into his soul. The holy Sabbath was a day of sacred peace such as he had never enjoyed before. He seemed to be in a new world. He was "a new man in Christ Jesus." He united with the Church and continued a faithful, devoted member to the day of his death.
After he had married a wife he came to Indiana and settled in Morgan county, where he spent the
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remainder of his days, serving his day and genera- tion to the glory of God and the weal of the Church.
He was quite gifted in prayer, a tender class- leader, a kind neighbor, a generous, warm-hearted friend, devotedly attached to the Methodist Episco- pal Church, ever ready to devote his time and means to her support. Several years since he quietly passed away to his home in heaven. The reader may, perhaps, desire to know why that local elder gave the writer such an account of "one James Epperson." The reason is briefly this: that local elder and another local preacher in the circuit were "at outs," and Mr. Epperson was a friend of the other local preacher.
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CHAPTER XXX.
HON. JAMES RARIDEN.
MR. RARIDEN came to Indiana at an early day, and while he himself was yet a young man. He was about five feet seven or eight inches in hight, with a broad chest; high, well-developed forehead, black hair, thickly set upon his head; with keen black eyes. His left arm was withered and hung uselessly at his side. He usually carried it in a "sling." Though he had the use of but one arm, he per- formed manual labor till he arrived at manhood. It was said that he had split as many as two and three hundred rails in one day. He was a poor young man, having nothing to rely upon for sup- port except his own energy and his own indomita- ble will. He had not enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate nor even an academical education, but by his own effort he succeeded in acquiring a very fair English education. When he came to Indiana he stopped in Wayne county, which was then new. Salisbury was the county seat. Here he made his first location. He soon obtained the place of deputy under David Hoover, who was then clerk of the county. This was his entrance into public life. Writing in the clerk's office, together with his at-
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tendance upon the courts, gave him a thirst for legal knowledge and a desire to be a lawyer. He wrote in the clerk's office for some two or three years. In this way he obtained quite an extensive knowledge of law and the manner of doing business in court, while at the same time his office as deputy clerk rendered him a competent support. During the time he was deputy clerk he devoted all his leisure hours to reading law, so that when he ceased to act in that capacity he was licensed to practice and admitted to the bar.
Mr. Rariden had a vigorous, active mind; could analyze a case presented to him, and knew well how to present the strong points in the cause of his client and the weak ones in the cause of the oppo- site party. He was surpassed by few, if any, in his skill in the examination of witnesses. In his cross- examinations, many a poor wight who undertook to swear too much, or to be too positive, found him- self confused, confounded, overwhelmed, and in the midst of self-contradictions-his testimony destroyed. He had a pleasant voice and knew well how to use it. He spoke with great fluency and ease to him- self, and was sometimes truly eloquent. Often when addressing a jury in a criminal case he would bring tears, like raindrops, from the eyes of the jurors. When he entered upon the practice of law he rose rapidly in his profession, and continued rising till he stood among the ablest in Indiana. He sel- dom lost a case. Such was his distinction as a
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lawyer that he was sought for with great eagerness by litigants. In a few years he accumulated by his profession a very handsome property.
When the county seat of Wayne was moved from Salisbury to Centerville, he removed his office to the latter place, and when he had well established himself in business, and accumulated a sufficient amount of property to justify him in taking to him- self a wife, he married an amiable and intelligent young lady, the daughter of Judge John Test, of Lawrenceburg.
Mr. Rariden took an active part in the politics of the country. He was a very decided Whig of the Henry Clay school, and a great admirer of that distinguished statesman. He represented Wayne county several years in both houses of the State Legislature, and was twice elected to the lower house of the Congress of the United States. He was also a member of the State Convention which formed the present Constitution of Indiana. In each of these bodies he occupied a high position, and was considered an able debater. Unfortunately for Mr. Rariden and the country, he was not relig- ious. Had he been, with his talents and influence, and the high position in the community which he occupied, he might have accomplished much good. He did not indulge in wickedness as many men of his profession did. His most common sin was pro- fanity. To that he was much addicted. In a con- versation with a friend, on one occasion, he very
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frankly confessed his great error in this particular, and related the following incident: One Sabbath day, in the Winter season, his wife and little son, who was some six years of age, went to Church, while he remained at home. After they had re- turned from Church, the family being seated around the fire, Mr. Rariden engaged in reading, his little son began to cry most bitterly. His mother asked him the cause. For some time there was hesita- tion. Being urged to tell what it was that so much grieved him, he said, "My pa will go to hell." His mother asked him what made him think so. He answered: "The preacher said to-day that all swearers will go to hell, and my pa swears." Mr. Rariden said it was the severest reproof he had ever received. It affected him much. He resolved then and there to make an effort to quit using pro- fane language.
He was gentlemanly in all his intercourse with society, and always treated religious people and re- ligious worship with great respect, and was quite a regular attendant upon the ministry of the Word. He was frequently heard to say, "I would not have my wife backslide or leave the Church for any con- sideration." His house was always open to minis- ters of the Gospel, and from himself and family they received a cordial welcome and a hospitable en- tertainment. He was liberal to the Church and all benevolent enterprises. He abhorred parsimonious- ness. When the Rev. John Everhart traveled the
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old Whitewater circuit, he had the misfortune to lose his horse. Being a poor man, as Methodist preachers generally were in those days, and not able to purchase another, he was greatly embarrassed. Toward the close of the Conference year, a camp meeting was held at Doddridge's camp-ground, a few miles from Centerville. The circuit had fallen far behind in meeting the claims of the preachers. Mr. Everhart was without a horse, and there was not money enough brought in to pay for one, though horses were cheap. What was to be done ? The official members concluded to get up a subscrip- tion-paper, and make an effort to raise a sufficient amount of money to procure a horse for Mr. Ever- hart. Accordingly, a subscription-paper was drawn in due form, and several names were put down, with the amount varying from twenty-five to fifty cents. They then started round the camp-ground to see what they could do. They soon came to Mr. Rari- den, who was then a young lawyer rapidly rising in his profession. To him they presented the paper and politely requested him to subscribe. He took the paper and read it, with the names and amount attached. After a moment's pause, he said, "No, not one cent will I subscribe on this paper. Do you expect to raise money enough to pay for a horse for Mr. Everhart with such subscriptions as these?" Turning to a gentleman who stood near, he said, "Mr. A., what will you take for that fine horse you bought the other day?" "What do you
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want with him ?" asked the gentleman. "It is none of your business," said Mr. Rariden. "What will you take for him? is the question." "I bought him for my own use," said Mr. A. "I gave seventy- five dollars for him. If you want him for Mr. Ev- erhart you shall have him for sixty-five." "Hand him over to Mr. Everhart," said Mr. Rariden, "and I will pay you the money when I return to Center- ville;" then tearing up the subscription-paper he threw it upon the ground, saying, "Go to - with your subscription-paper." The horse was handed over to the preacher, and Mr. Rariden paid for him. This act of liberality raised him in the esti- mation of the public, and, doubtless, brought him professional business; but it is not to be supposed that he did it for that purpose. He had a liberal soul, and seeing the small amounts subscribed by others, and believing the object a good one, he made the preacher a present of the horse. In this he gave an exhibition of one trait in his character.
So far as is known to the writer, he never con- nected himself with any branch of the Christian Church. His preferences were for the Methodist Episcopal Church. His residence was in Wayne county from the time he came to Indiana to the close of his life. He was a favorite with her citi- zens. He lived to a somewhat advanced age, and died a few years since, much respected. 21
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CHAPTER XXXI.
AN ECCENTRIC CIRCUIT STEWARD.
A. M. C. G. resided in the town of B. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the stewards of the circuit. A. K., who was also a circuit steward, lived in the same town. The circuit in which the town of B. was situated had been districted so that each steward had his portion to attend to, financially. The town of B. was in the district assigned to Mr. K. as steward. The people were not very liberal in paying their "quar- terage," and Mr. K. could not bring them to the proper standard. Mr. G. having acquired quite a reputation for making "quarterage speeches," Mr. K. requested him, at different times, to make a quarterage speech to his people, but Mr. G. persist- ently declined. The appointment for circuit preach- ing in B. was on a week-day.
On one occasion when the preacher in charge of the circuit had arrived in B .- it was on the morning of the day he was to preach in the place-the class- leader came to him with a list of the names of some fifteen or twenty members who were delinquent in attendance on class meeting, and desired him to at- tend to them "under the rule," that day after
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preaching. Heading the delinquent list stood the name of Mr. G., the steward. The class-leader in- formed the preacher that the other delinquents hid behind Mr. G .; that they refused to attend class meeting till the steward did, and that he could not get him to go to class meeting. When the class- leader had made an end of the presentation of delinquents, the preacher stepped across the street to the shop of Mr. G. and informed him of the com- plaint entered by the leader, and showed him the list. He told him what the leader had said in re- gard to the other delinquent members hiding be- hind him, refusing to attend class meeting till he did. The preacher labored to impress the steward with a sense of the evil influence of his example, telling him that it would be a painful thing to have to exclude him from the Church "for willful neglect of class meeting," but that such would be the result if he did not reform. He also told him that he would that day, after preaching, retain the members of the Church, and call over the names of those who were delinquent and see if they would promise ref- ormation. While the preacher was lecturing Mr. G., he stood and listened attentively, but did not ut- ter a word. As soon as the preacher was through, he threw off his apron and went across the street to Mr. K.'s store, and said to him, "Brother K., I'll make that quarterage speech for you to-day, if you wish me to." Said Mr. K., "I wish you would, brother G .; indeed, I will be very much obliged to
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you if you will." And so the two brethren made their arrangements accordingly.
When the hour for preaching arrived, and the people began to collect at the small log church, Mr. G. came in with his Bible under his arm, and took a seat. At the close of the sermon the preacher requested the members of the Church to remain for a short space after the benediction was pronounced. While those who were not members of the Church were retiring, Mr. G. went to the preacher and said, "Brother S., I am going to make a quarterage speech for brother K. to-day ; I want you to let me make my speech before you attend to your business." He insisted so earnestly that he might be allowed to do so, that the preacher consented. When all had become quiet, Mr. G. arose, and, addressing those present, informed them what he proposed doing. He opened his Bible, read several texts of Scripture, and proceeded to explain them, as teaching the duty of the people to support the Gospel. When he had explained and enforced all his texts, he added, “Our class-leader has presented to the preacher a list of the names of fifteen or twenty persons who do not attend class meeting, and he is going to attend to their cases to-day. My name stands at the head of that list. Brother S. came to see me this morn- ing. He told me that the leader represented that those delinquent persons were hiding behind me ; that is, refusing to attend class meeting because I do not, saying, 'Make your steward go to class, then
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we will go.' Brother S. said if I did not attend class meeting the Church would be under the neces- sity of 'laying me aside.' He gave me a pretty good scourging, but did not give me a lick amiss. I did not say any thing to him. I reserved it all for
you. You all know I once was class collector for this class; that I did come regularly to class meet- ing; that I never professed to be very religious. When at class you got happy and shouted, till I expected to see the shingles fly off the old meeting- house. You know I never shouted any. When class meeting closed and I asked you for your quar- terage you were almost angry enough to destroy me. Thus it continued till I came to the conclusion that I was doing you a harm, and I knew that you were doing me a harm; that you had one kind of religion and I had another. Your religion made you shout, but did not make you pay your preacher, while my religion made me pay my preacher, but did not make me shout, and so I concluded to quit attend- ing class, thinking my religion was better than yours. Now, the preacher says I will have to be expelled from the Church if I do not attend class, and I tell you I am not going to be expelled from the Church. Henceforth I am coming to class, and by the grace of God every time you shout I'll dun you for quarterage." From the time Mr. G. made that speech the class at B. sent up to the quarterly conference an enlarged financial report.
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CHAPTER XXXII.
REV. L. W. BERRY, D. D.
LUCIEN WILLIAM BERRY was born in Alburgh, or Alburg, Vermont, in 1815. His parents were members of the Baptist Church. His father was a physician of some eminence; he bestowed much at- tention on the cultivation of the mind of his son. At a very early age Lucien exhibited aptness to learn, and a fondness for books. He had a retentive memory, and retained well what he read.
While he was a boy his father moved to Ohio. Here, in the fourteenth year of his age, he was con- verted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. After his conversion, his thirst for knowl- edge increased. He divided his time between the study of the sciences and the reading of religious books. Such were his piety and talents that in the seventeenth year of his age he was licensed to preach. Rev. W. B. Christie, who was presiding elder of the district where young Berry lived at the time he was licensed to preach, saw his brilliant talents and promising usefulness, and took him under his special care, pointing out a course of theological study for him. The kindness of Mr. Christie to young Berry was such as to cause him
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ever afterward to look upon him as his best earthly friend. There was no living man he so much admired.
In the Fall of 1833, Mr. Christie, who was then presiding elder of Wooster district, in Ohio, em- ployed young Berry, who was then but eighteen years of age, to travel Roscoe circuit with Rev. J. M'Dowel, who was preacher in charge. Mr. M'Dowel took the young preacher into his kind em- brace, and instructed him in all the duties of an itinerant Methodist preacher. Their hearts became closely united in the strongest bonds of Christian and ministerial affection, which time did not weaken nor changing circumstances sever. Here young Berry commenced his itinerancy, and labored through the year with great acceptability to the people. His youth, zeal, and talents attracted much attention, and often brought crowds to hear him preach. Though the circuit was large, requiring much traveling on horseback, he pursued his studies closely. He read Watson's Institutes so attentively that by the close of the year he could repeat a large portion of both volumes memoriter.
About the close of this year, an incident occurred which made an impression upon his mind that never left him. He attended a camp meeting which was held in another part of the district from that where he had been laboring. His youthful ears had not been altogether deaf to the praises bestowed upon him as a preacher. He felt some anxiety to main-
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tain the reputation he had acquired at the camp meeting to which he was going. Accordingly, he prepared a sermon, which led him to draw largely from Watson's Institutes. He studied his sermon till he thought he had it "at his tongue's end." Thus armed and equipped he went to the camp meeting, feeling very confident of success when his time should come to stand before the congregation. On Saturday, in the afternoon, the presiding elder appointed him to preach. The congregation which assembled at the stand to hear the young preacher was large. He gave out his hymn intrepidly-the congregation joined in singing. At the close of the hymn he kneeled in prayer. Rising from his knees he announced his text. He had uttered but a few sentences when he began to falter and "catch at his words." Darkness overspread his mind. He forgot, for the time being, all he had thought upon the subject. After a few minutes' vainly struggling to recover his thoughts, he was compelled to give it up and take his seat overwhelmed with confusion. His kind presiding elder arose, and, as he was capa- ble of doing, took up the subject and delivered a powerful discourse. Young Berry was so mortified he could not remain in the stand. He retired to the preachers' tent, took his hat, made his way to a secluded place in the woods, where he remained alone till after nightfall.
The next morning the presiding elder appointed him to preach the first sermon for the day. He
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begged to be excused, saying he "could not preach." The presiding elder said, "If you can't, the Lord can through you, and you must try. You were anxious to preach on yesterday. You went in your own strength and failed; now go in the strength of the Lord and he will help you." Finding there was no excuse to be accepted by the elder, he took his Bible and once more sought seclusion in the woods, where, in great agony of mind, he poured out his soul in prayer till the hour for preaching arrived. At the signal to call the people together for worship, he returned to the encampment. With much trembling and fear he went upon the stand and commenced the opening services. In his
prayer he threw himself wholly upon the Lord. With a tremulous voice he read his text. He had not proceeded far till all fear of man left him, and with his eye fixed upon the glory of God in the sal- vation of souls, he passed through to the close of his sermon. The congregation was greatly moved, and tears fell fast from many eyes.
At the close of this Conference year, 1834, he was admitted on trial in the Ohio Conference, and appointed junior preacher to Oxford circuit. At the close of the year he discontinued, and entered Miami University as a student. In this institution he made rapid advancement. During his residence at Oxford he was united in marriage to Miss Ada- line Fay. He did not remain in the University to complete his collegiate course, but he laid the
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foundation of an education which he afterward pur- sued without the aid of an instructor till he took high rank among learned men. After spending a few sessions at the University, he determined to again enter the itinerancy. In the Fall of 1838 he was admitted on trial in the Indiana Conference and appointed in charge of Noblesville circuit. Here the writer saw him for the first time, and formed his acquaintance, which ripened into friend- ship and intimacy-an intimacy closer than he ever enjoyed with any other man.
Mr. Berry spent two years on this circuit, and was much admired and esteemed by the people. At this time Campbellism was rife in that region. By request, Mr. Berry preached a sermon on baptism, in Noblesville, which was such a staggering blow to exclusive immersion that the friends of that the- ory rallied to its support to save it from its fall. In a short time after the delivery of that sermon, Mr. Berry received a challenge from Rev. F. W. Emmons, a disciple of Alexander Campbell, for a public debate on the mode of baptism. Mr. Berry respectfully declined to accept the challenge in a private letter to Mr. Emmons, in which he assigned his reasons for so doing. That private letter Em- mons published, in a garbled form, with his com- ments, making many misrepresentations. In reply to these misrepresentations, Mr. Berry published a pamphlet of forty pages, entitled, "The Deformer Reformed ; or Corruption Exposed : being an ad-
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