Peter Cartwright – death, Sep. 25,1872

“The people crowded to this meeting from far and near. They came in their large wagons, with victuals mostly prepared. The women slept in the wagons, and the men under them. Many stayed on the ground night and day for a number of nights and days together. Others were provided for among the neighbors around. The power of God was wonderfully displayed; scores of sinners fell under the preaching, like men slain in mighty battle; Christians shouted aloud for joy.

 

“To this meeting I repaired, a guilty, wretched sinner. On the Saturday evening of said meeting, I went, with weeping multitudes, and bowed before the stand, and earnestly prayed for mercy. In the midst of a solemn struggle of soul, an impression was made on my mind, as though a voice said to me, “Thy sins are all forgiven thee.” Divine light flashed all round me, unspeakable joy sprung up in my soul. I rose to my feet, opened my eyes, and it really seemed as if I was in heaven; the trees, the leaves on them, and everything seemed, and I really thought were, praising God. My mother raised the shout, my Christian friends crowded around me and joined me in praising God; and though I have been since then, in many instances, unfaithful, yet I have never, for one moment, doubted that the Lord did, then and there, forgive my sins and give me religion.”

                                                                        – Cartwright’s account of his conversion

 

Peter Cartwright died this date,9/25/1872, in Illinois.   He was born 9/1/1785, in Amherst County,Virginia.  He came under Holy Ghost conviction at 16, and after several weeks (months?) of seeking was converted to Christ.  He was an ordained a Methodist minister, in Kentucky(1806) and married Frances Gaines (1808).

 

Cartwright was twice a member of the Illinois legislature.  He ran against A. Lincoln for seat in US Congress and was defeated (1846).  There was only one Peter Cartwright, frontier rough, limited in “book learning,” but willing to do what he felt God directed.  He spent over 50 years spreading the Gospel and reflects the same in his Fifty Years a Presiding Elder (1871).  He also produced Controversy with the Devil (1853) and his colorful Autobiography of Peter Cartwright (1856).

Read Full Post »

Henry Grattan Guinness – birth, Aug. 11, 1835

“I do now most heartily desire to live but

to exalt Jesus; to live preaching and to

die preaching; to preach to perishing

sinners till I drop down dead.” 

                                                              – Henry Grattan Guinness

 

Henry Grattan Guinness was born this date, 8/11/1835, in Kingstown In Taney, Dublin, Ireland.  He was converted to Christ 1855 and began preaching that same year.  In 1860 he married Fanny E. Fitzgerald.

 

In a separate work of grace he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  So great was the blessing that came to him then that, he wrote, “I sought solitary places in the woods where I could pour out my soul in prayer, with strong crying and tears.  Old things passed away, and all things became new.  How could I keep silence, knowing as I did, that those around me (inIreland) were utterly ignorant of the salvation in which I was rejoicing, and most of them abject slaves of Roman superstition.”

 

Judges, members of Parliament, orators, Fellows of College, lights of the various professions, the rank and fashion of the metropolis came to hear him preach Christ.

 

“One priest threatened that I should be treated like Mr. Sprong, who had been shot at two months previously.”  But he went on preaching and wrote “Many of the poor Roman Catholics in the neighborhood seem deeply impressed by the message of the Gospel and tears sometimes stole down their faces.”

 

Henry and his wife Fanny started the famous East London Missionary Training Institute (also called Harley College).  He was thus responsible for training and sending hundreds of “faith missionaries” all over the world.  He passed away 6/21/1910.  Seven of his children entered Christian ministry.

Read Full Post »