The circuit riding preacher [usually a Methodist, but there were Baptist and Presbyterian "circuits" as well] was a frontier figure that has never really been given his due. But that's OK... eternity will bear out his great contribution to this great country.
Two really good books that touch on the subject are BIBLE IN POCKET, GUN IN HAND by Ross Phares and SOUNDING FORTH THE TRUMPET by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. The latter book contains a chapter entitled "On The Stretch For God," which is the best thing I have ever read about the circuit riders.
Also highly recommended is the fact based 1977 film SHEFFEY which gets my vote as the greatest Christian movie ever filmed.
In any case enjoy this old time Cowboy gospel classic:
THE CIRCUIT RIDING PREACHER
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
His truth is marching on
His truth is marching on
The circuit ridin' preacher used to ride across the land
With a rife on his saddle and a Bible in his hand
He told the prairie people all about the promised land
As he went ridin' singin' down the trail
With a rife on his saddle and a Bible in his hand
He told the prairie people all about the promised land
As he went ridin' singin' down the trail
Leaning leaning safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning leaning leaning on the ever lasting arms
The circuit ridin' preacher travelled thru the mire and mud
Told about the firey furnace and of Noah and the flood
He preached the way to heaven was by water and the blood
As he went riding singing down the trail
There is power power wonder working power in the precious blood of the lamb
There is power power wonder working power in the precious blood of the lamb
His rifle may be rusted as it hangs upon the wall
And his Bible old and dusty may be never read at all
But until the resurrection when we hear the trumpet call...
his TRUTH will ride along!
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
His truth is marching on
His truth is marching on
"Whatever may be said of this peculiar man and his eccentricities, he was a man who walked with and knew his God. The brilliance of his itinerant ministry lit up the dark hollows, valleys and mountaintops of early Appalachia and covered and filled them with the glorious light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hell shook when he came to town. He died in peace with God and man, and all who knew him revere his memory. His mantle of ministry did not fall to the ground when he died. Elijah's mantle fell upon Elisha at Elijah's departure. Sheffey's mantle has been kept on hold until an Elisha Generation would come along and pick it up. That generation has come. It is time to pick up this fallen mantle and finish what this old circuit rider started long ago!"
Description of Robert S. Sheffey from the book A History of Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory by David Emmons Johnston, 1906
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
--ROMANS 10:14
PEACE
