Free and easy as he was in his manner, our preacher had a deep sense of the dignity of his mission, and he was resolved that others should share the feeling, and accord him, in his ministerial capacity, the respect and deference that were his due.  His manner of accomplishing this was characteristic, as the following incident will show:  Traveling on his circuit in 1805, he put up on one occasion at the house of an old man known as Father Teel, a whimsical old fellow, and supposed to be Cartwright’s match in oddity.  He had been warned that the old man, though a good Methodist, showed little deference to preachers.  It was his custom to rise early, and, as soon as dressed, to give out his hymn, sing it himself, and then go to prayers, without waiting for his family to get up.  He served preachers in the same way.  Cartwright resolved to beat him at his own game, but the old man was too wary for him.

“Just as day broke,” says Cartwright, “I awoke, rose up, and began to dress, but had not nigh accomplished it when I heard Teel give out his hymn and commence singing, and about the time I had got dressed, I heard him commence praying.  He gave thanks to God that they had been spared during the night, and were all permitted to see the light of a new day, while at the same time I suppose every one of his family was fast asleep.  I deliberately opened the door and walked out to the well, washed myself, and then walked back to my cabin.  Just as I got to the door, the old brother opened his door, and, seeing me, said, ’Good morning, sir.  Why, I didn’t know you were up.’

“’Yes, said I, ‘I have been up some time.’

“‘Well, brother,’ said he, ‘why did you not come in to prayers?’

“‘Because,’ said I, ’it is wrong to pray of a morning in the family before we wash.’

“The old brother passed on, and no more was said at that time.  That evening, just before we were about to retire to rest, the old brother set out the book and said to me:  ‘Brother, hold prayers with us.’

“‘No, sir,’ said I.

“Said he, ‘Come, brother, take the book and pray with us.’

“‘No, sir,’ said I; ‘you love to pray so well, you may do it yourself.’

“He insisted, but I persistently refused, saying:  ’You are so fond of praying yourself, that you even thanked God this morning that he had spared you all to see the light of a new day, when your family had not yet opened their eyes, but were all fast asleep.  And you have such an absurd way of holding prayers in your family, that I do not wish to have any thing to do with it.’

“He then took the book, read, and said prayers, but you may rely on it, the next morning things were much changed.  He waited for me, and had all his family up in order.  He acknowledged his error, and told me it was one of the best reproofs he ever got.  I then prayed with the family, and after that all went well.”