Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-03-13
CoMMUN VACATIONS
THE UNION AND FATHER M'ELHENNY.
The people ahead ofhe Politicians.

In one the counties in Western Virginia resides
venerable minister Of the Presbyterian Church,
whose aye, talents and character have won for hun,
10 remarkable degree, the affection and confluence
of the community in which he lives. For many
years he has ministered in holy things to The edca-
lion of the same congregation and IN more than one
respect he resembles that minister OF God WHO,
Remote from cities, ran his godly race, :,
Nor ever changed, nor wished to Change, his pace
Every body in that region Of country knows the
venerable Father M'Elhenny.
Some few years ago it was dlscos cred by few
"nroOressIves" in his flock that father M'Elhenhy
was getting dldJdshonsd, and s,raishtway they be-
pan 10 devise ways and means 10 get rid of him.
THE attack began with whisper dissatisfaction,
and woud most probably have ended there, bnt for
the ndiscleet zeal of snme warm friends of the pas
tor, who by undertaking. vehement defence, gave
countenance and importance to the assailants. The
ma. contents and the defenders grew excited and
violent while the large mass OF the congregation
looked ON and laughed at the vehemence ofthe coa-
test.
AT length the assailants, having succeeded in max
ing must noise mistook themselves for the majority,
and demanded vote of the congregation upon the
question. whether the union between them and
their old pa ,tor should not be dissolved. A day
was appointed for the vote and notice was given far
and wide through the mountains and vallies inhab-
tied by the congregation.
When the day arrived the church was thrown
open for the meeting and the two parties were su-
silly engaged in mastering titer forces, when sud-
denly there appeared new and most startling fea-
ture in the proceeding. Along every road and by
every path leading 10 the church were approach
inc, crowds Of men, women and children, many oil
whom had not been seen there for years. Old men
appeared, dressed in the carefully preserved coats
in which they had been married-marred BY Ia
Their M'Ehenny. Old women came in bonnets as
old fashioned their pastor mastering whole troops
of young men and women. who, when ,hOse NcnnetS
were new and fashionable, had been chrislened by
father M'Elhenny. They filled the church, crowd
ed the doorway, pressed in al the windows, anx
ous to know what was to be done with father Nc
Elhenny.
They waited in vain, for the assailanis, over
whe,med and confounded, did not even dareto bring
forward their proposition, and Snally the meeting
was dismissed by the reverend father M'Elhenny
with prayer for those who had "dispitefully used
him."
He still remains the pride Of his flock and wher
it is desired 10 rebuke any proposition too absurd fo
discussion il is only necessary to- say TO the propo
ser. Perhaps you ,eOuld ike to turn off Father
JNcI2ihenny9"
Neutrality-suspicious. and mal.contents may tall
as they please about disunion, they may imagine
that the people are aheadof the politicians in the mad
excitement of the day they are either dsregarded o
laughed at. But let any politician Try a practca
movement towards disunon-let them set day anc
give the notice, and they will find the largest crowt
they eversaw anxousy inquiring from beneath quee
hats and Old fashioned bonnets "Whatare you doing
10 father M'Elhenny?" STRAWS.