THE CIRCUIT RIDER

CHRISTIANITY OWES MUCH TO HIS ZEAL AND ENDURANCE.

His Life During the Early Days of Methodism in Canada was Often One of Great Hardship-The Story of One Now Enjoying a Ripe Old Age.

From the Simcoe Reformer

[Welland Tribune, 30 April 1897]

In the early days of Methodism in Canada the gospel was spread abroad in the land by the active exertions of the circuit rider. It required a man of no ordinary health and strength; an iron constitution and unflagging determination to fulfill the arduous incumbent on one who undertook to preach salvation to his fellow men. It was no easy task that these men set themselves to, but they were strong in the faith and hope of ultimate reward. Many fell by the wayside, while others struggled on and prospered, and a few are today enjoying a ripe old age, happy in the knowledge that a lasting reward will soon be theirs. Most of these old-timers are not now engaged in active church work, but have been placed on the superannuated list, and are now living a quiet life in town or on a farm, free from the cares of the world. They await the call to come up higher.

Rev. David Williams, who lives two miles southwest of Nixon, Ont., in the township of Windham, Norfolk county, was one of those early days circuit riders. He was a man of vigorous health and, although without many advantages in the way of early education, he succeeded by dint of hard and constant study to be admitted to the ministry. He was the first born in the first house built in Glen Williams near Georgetown, Mr. George Kennedy, the founder of Georgetown being a brother of his mother. Today he is 70 years old and for the past 26 years has lived in this country. For many years he had been a sufferer from kidney and kindred diseases. He tried all kinds of remedies, and although sometimes temporarily relieved he gradually grew worse until in October, 1895, he was stricken with paralysis. From this he partially recovered and recovered his powers of speech, but his mind was badly wrecked, and his memory was so poor that he could not remember the name of the person to whom he wished to speak without thinking intently for some minutes. One day driving to church he wished to speak of a neighbor who had lived next to him for twenty years, but he could not recall the name for an hour or more. In addition to his mental trouble, he had intense bodily sufferings; pains in the head, across the forehead, in the temples and behind the ears, across the lower part of the skull and in the joint of the neck. He had great weakness and pains in the back, hips and legs. In fact, so much did he suffer that sleep was almost an impossibility, and he fell away in weight until hs weighed only 145 pounds. By this time, Dec., 1895, he became despondent and felt that if he did not soon obtain relief, he would soon bid adieu to the things of the world. On the 20^th of December he read of a cure in the Reformer by Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills, and being seized with a sudden inspiration, at once wrote to Brockville for a supply of that marvelous remedy. Immediate good results followed their use and he has improved wonderfully during the past year. He has recovered his bodily health and strength, is comparatively free from pain and his memory is nearly as good as it ever was, and as the improvement continues the prospects are very bright for complete recovery. He has gained 20 pounds in weight since beginning the use of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills. Mr. Williams says: “I cab heartily endorse the many good things said of these pills in the papers, and strongly recommend them to anyone suffering as I was.”

Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills are a blood builder and nerve restorer. They supply the blood with its life and heart-giving properties, thus driving disease from the system. There are numerous pink colored imitations, against which the public is warned. The genuine Pink Pills can be had only in boxes, the wrapper around which bears the full trade mark, “Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People.” Refuse all others.