The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-12-03

Religious Character of Mr.. Buchanan.
The following letter from q clergyman
in Philadelphia addressed to a gentleman
in New York, which appears in the New
York Observer, will be read with interest
by the friends of Mr.. Buchanan, and may be
peruded with profit byhis political enemies
These who have claimed that q vote for him
was n blow at Christianity and "a stripe on
the back of Christ" ought to blush for
shame:
PHILADELPHIA, Saturday, November 8.
Reverend and Dear Sir: Your note
of inquiry was duly received, and 1 take
pleasure in saying that you were correctly
informed as to my account of Mr..
Buchanan, the President elect and of
my favorable opinion of his moral and
religious character.
l became personally acquainted with
him in the spring of 1912, in the city of
Washington, at which time he was, think,
a member of the United States Senate,
and when introduced to him I found him
with a Bible in his hand, and our first
conversation was with reference to the
Divine authenticity of that book, in which
he most unequivocally expressed his firm
belief-he not knowing me to be cler-
gyman at the time.
My much loved father, now deceased,
who knew Mr.. Buchanan most intimately
for many years, and who was associated
with him in the Twenty-seventh Congress,
always spoke Of him as a man of the stric-
test Christian morality, and cherished for
him an undying affection.
Mr.. Buchanan is of Presbyterian an
cestry, and / am informed that he has a
pew in each of the Presbyterian churches
in Lancaster though I believe that be
generally attends the Second Church, OF
which the Rev. Alfred Nevin, D. D., is
the pastor, and is said to be very regular
and devout also in public worship with
christians of ethe- denominations when
opportunity offers
/ have been informed. by one of the set
tied ministers of Lancaster, that Mr..
Buchanan is believed, by those who know
him best, to. be Christian-that he has
an hour each day set apart for the study
Of the Scriptures and devotion; that he
makes jays Norniag and Evening Er-
ercise his daily companion, and it is 8
matter of wonder and regret with many
of his intimate friends, that he like toe
many of our public men, has so long neg
iccted to unite with the church by pub;
lie. profession of his faith in Christ. In
Conversation which l have had with him
he more than once expressed with great
tenderness and feeling his desire for re.
tirement from the duties and cares of pub.
lie life-the Importance of a due prepara.
tion for his last and final account. and
his unwaveriug confidence in the gracious
and overruling providence of Almighty
God. That he may have an interest in
the prayers of the pious, and that his ad.
ministration may be just what might be
expected from his experience and univer.
sally acknowledged craftsmanship, should
be the earnest desire Of every truly patri
otic heart. a..
l have thus promptly answered your
inquiries and frankly communicated what
| know and believe concerning our Chic
Magistrate elect, and feel entirely justified
in so doing, because of the very natura
and reasonable anxiety so generally fell
concerning the moral and religious prin
ciples of one called to fill station of sucl
prominence and influence. ,
Yours fraternally,
To the Rev. DR.. i x * X X X.