From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Wed Jul 26 2000 - 23:12:23 MDT
there's also a Methodist meaning that might be on the mark:
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/2/0,5716,84872+1+82688,00.html
"circuit of congregations"
..and that might be a reference to a loverman "getting in there" under
color of authority, too.
ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA
circuit rider
Methodist ministerial role that was originated in England by John
Wesley. The first of
the American circuit riders was Robert Strawbridge, who arrived in the
colonies in
1764. A few years later Wesley sent missionaries to the American
colonies, but most of
them departed when revolution threatened. One who remained was Francis
Asbury,
who, as Wesley's general assistant, was responsible for organizing the
circuits.
Each circuit of congregations--sometimes comprising as many as 25 or 30
meeting
places--was under the supervision of a Methodist conference preacher
who might have
several lay assistants. Any young man who could preach and was willing
to ride a
horse for weeks over wild country might become an assistant and finally
a circuit rider.
Circuit riders numbered about 100 by the end of the American
Revolution. The salary
was $64 a year until 1800, when it was raised to $100, with the horse
furnished.
There were few actual meetinghouses; church services usually were held
in cabins, in
barrooms, or outdoors.
Circuit riders were a religious and moral force along the frontier and
in rural areas of
the South, and they were largely responsible for the propagation of
Methodism
throughout the United States. The practice was soon adopted by other
denominations,
too.
Spike Jones wrote:
>
> Cooool! Thanks Mike! Waaaay cool, mystery solved. spike
>
> "Michael M. Butler" wrote:
>
> > "County Circuit". Originally referring to a judge who handled cases by
> > traveling around to various rustic locations to handle major/capital
> > cases. It might have been used as a metaphor for, e.g., a girlfriend
> > that played around.
> >
> > > > >Non extropian trivia please: has anyone here heard of a
> > > > >song, perhaps going back to the 1950s, called CC Rider?
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