The Autobiography of Peter Cartwright

by Peter Cartwright

Peter Cartwright (1785-1872) was an American Methodist revivalist in the Midwest, as well as twice an elected legislator in Illinois. Cartwright, a Methodist missionary, helped start the Second Great Awakening, personally baptizing twelve thousand converts.

Genres: Biography, Church History, Christian, Memoir, Autobiography

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2009

Reviews

[John Uit de Flesch · Rating 4 out of 5]

He shared some great stories. He was a man of sacrifice and focus. His involvement with America’s Second Great Awakening was of peculiar interest. His Methodism was interesting (I’m Baptist). Also of interest were his views on slavery/abolition, family altar, and plain dress. Book was dry in parts due to recitation of boring data and geography. No mention of his political campaigns which was a major reason I wanted to read his story (he beat Abe Lincoln once). I think he wrote the book prior to these events. This book is not for everyone.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this (I think it was another edition) in middle school or high school. It has always stuck with me as a very engaging and spiritually edifying read. I am sure that I will reread this at some point.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Cartwright was one of the first circuit-riding Methodist ministers in early Kentucky and Tennessee. The book was recommended to me because he was a contemporary of my ancestors who settled Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, and also because I have early Methodist ministers in my family. It was fascinating to read his description of the times and the places; I had no idea that when my 3G grandparents left Virginia they were migrating to a place then nicknamed Rogue's Harbor, "because it was the home of the lawless from almost all parts of the Union-murderers, horse thieves, highway robbers, and counterfeiters." The law-abiding people who went there for the rich farm land had an uphill battle for many years, trying to bring law and order to the area.
The struggles with lawlessness made the area ripe for the revivalist movement which was spreading throughout the country. Cartwright describes camp meetings where thousands of people gathered from far and near and camped out for days and weeks at a time to hear preachers. It sounds like these were some pretty crazy events with people showing their religion by loud praising, falling on the ground with shakes (but not Shakers), loudly praying for mercy for hours.
The life of a traveling preacher was challenging as they rode horseback for miles on end through hostile environments, swimming across rivers with their horse, riding days sometimes without seeing another person, trusting that settlers along the way would put up a stranger for the night. Cartwright was often gone 4-8 weeks on his circuit. He eventually moved to Illinois and rode the circuit near Nauvoo, an "idolotrous city," and he met and debated with "uncle Jo." It was interesting to read a contemporary's description, which of course was quite negative.
At times the book is slow, being written in mid-19th century style and sometimes focusing too much on church politics, but all in all it was a fascinating look at a time period that mirrored those of my early Kentucky-settling ancestors.

[Diane Lybbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting autobiography of one of the first circuit-riding Methodist preachers in the US during the 1800s. He was quick with his wit, his scripture, and his fists when circumstances called for it. He tells of the difficulties getting from appointment to appointment, sleeping on the ground, or in a stranger's home if he could find one. Miles and miles of dirt roads, or no roads, fording swolen rivers and icy streams, for little or no money. He spent 50+ years on the circuit, and tells rousing tales of the pioneer west. There is also quite a bit of dry early-church history, but the stories more than make up for that.

[Tuesdayschild · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to learn about American circuit-riding preaching in the early Methodist church, two topics I know very little about, so I figured reading Cartwright’s autobiography, an original source on both topics, was a good beginning: he definitely lived, worked, and served God in an era vastly different to ours.
The book does feel rather weighted down with church politics, and, inter-denominational 'scrapping' (the ‘correct’ way to baptise features front and centre in so many of their fights); yet, as the excerpts of Cartwright’s personal life and own experiences were interesting, I kept reading.

Cartwright believed that heaven was high and hell was hot, and the stories recounted in this book definitely support that. He held definite opinions and succinctly described his own personality in these few words, They knew I was outspoken, loved every body and feared nobody. They were afraid I would get into some difficulty with somebody. I thanked them very kindly for their special care over me. "But," said I, "brethren, take care of yourselves; I think I know how to behave myself, and make others behave themselves, if need be."

Extra: For anyone that is easily offended by what is, now, racist terminology - Cartwright talks about raiding Indians etc (it’s a bit jolting to read it!) – then you might want to skip this book. Slavery is up for discussion (Cartwright was against it.) He sees many of those unconverted to Methodism as second rate citizens regardless of their origins, race, or religion (Baptists, Universalists, and Mormons especially come in for some “discussing’).

*Completed for a Christian non-fiction reading challenge.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Cartwright was an early 19th century Methodist circuit-rider in Kentucky and Illinois who became one of the most famous men in the country and wrote this best-selling autobiography. I enjoyed this revealing look at the church on the western frontier, even if it was a bit too long and repetitive.

Cartwright clearly loved the simple, plain-spoken, and resourceful settlers of the frontier. The frontier comes to life in his writing - the hard paths through forests and plains; the eccentric characters; the rough, witty humor; the brawls and practical jokes. His is a constant battle against agnosticism, apathy, and drink, not to mention the competition with the Presbyterian "predestinarians" and Baptist "water-worshipers." The complete lack of interest in winsomeness can be amusing. He's not above fist-fights and wrestling matches with persecutors, and certainly uses his biting wit to great advantage. Everywhere he preaches repentance and faith and against slavery, whisky, and superfluous dress.

The tragic climax of the book is when southerners secede from Cartwright's beloved Methodist Episcopal church and form their own pro-slavery church. Cartwright hates the cruelty of slavery, and even left his native Kentucky for the free state of Illinois as slavery ideology became more entrenched in the South. He fights hard against the southern pastors who begin to preach slavery is good and who try to relax Methodist rules against it. But he also is against the New England abolitionists, who he believes are too extreme. As the southern churches separate, he sees a bad omen for the country on the whole.

By the end of his life, he can look back on an incredibly fruitful ministry. The gospel has spread, with churches in every Western community. Now he warns that the Methodist church is becoming too wealthy, comfortable, and institutionalized. In the end, this book is a call to return to the simplicity of the gospel.

[Rick Casteel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wonderful Trip Back in Time

This is very witty and informative. It reads more like a raw memoir, unpolished and unedited. I think more religious leaders would do well to study Mr. Cartwright. It to mention how the populace itself could benefit greatly by stepping back in time.

[Angela Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! A wonderful glimpse of what the nature of life on the frontier was like as settlers moved into the West after the American Revolutionary War. Truly a book that allowed time-travel. Also an enlightening education on the kind of determination and commitment to the Christian faith that was required and shown by the Methodist Circuit Preachers. They served their communities in both practical and spiritual ways. In addition, having been published in 1857, the book gives a unique insight into the varying viewpoints on the 'peculiar institution' of slavery, and a real sense of the atmosphere brewing as the Civil War storm-clouds loomed. And through it all, the memorable character of the author and the (at times) laugh-out-loud experiences that he relates helps to pepper the history with a seasoning that makes even the more tragic elements endurable.

[Albert Mock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because Peter Cartwright is one of my ancestors. The stories of his travels and adventures are great. It's a great view into the American frontier. Sometimes the book is a bit slow when Cartwright goes too far into the politics of the church, but the book is worth reading.