Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-08-19
ParsOn Weems.

Every school-boy is family with Weems' life
of Marion, and will feel an interest in the follow
ing sketch of that clerical oddity-the author
given by Bishop Meade in the last Southern
Churchman:
In his youth Mr.. Weems was an inmate of
the family of Mr.. Jennifer, of Charles county,
Maryland. They confded in him as boy of
principle and had no doubts as to his upright
ness and morality, until about his fourteenth
year. When at that age, he was seen to leave
the house every evening after tea, and to be Of
ten away until late at night. The family began
to be afraid that he was getting into corrupt
habits and Notwithstanding his assurance that
he would do nothing that would render him un
worthy of their esteem and friendship, they felt
uneasy. He scorned the idea of abusing their
confidence, but as he persisted in the practice of
going away, at length they determined to find
out what was the cause of it. Accordingly one
night plan was laid by which he was tracked.
After pursuing his trail for some distance into
the pines, they came to an old hut, in which
was Mr.. Weems, surrounded by the bare-headed,
bare footed, and half-clad children of the neigh.
borhood, whom he hal been in the habit OF
thus gathering around him at night, III order to
give them Instruction.
81 acknowledge that he was in the habit of
having the servants assembled in private houses,
where he would spend the night, and recite
portion of scripture, for he never read it out OF
book, and perhaps say something to them, or
in the prayer, about them, but then it was in
such way as only to produce merriment among
them and the children. This have experienced
in my own family and at my mothers, and have
heard Others testify to the same. do not think
he could have long even pretended to be the
rector of any parish. From my earliest knowl.
edge of him he was q travelling bookseller for
Mr.. Matthew Cary, of Philadelphia, visiting oil
the States South of Pennsylvania, and perhaps
some North of it, in little wagon, with his id.
die as constant companion to amuse himself
and Others. If he would pray with the servants
at night in their owners houses, he would play
the fiddle on the road side for them by day.
One instance of his good nature is well attested.
At the old tavern in Caroline county, Virginia,
called the White Chimneys, Mr.. Weems and
some stroing players or puppet showmen met
together one night. notice of some exhibition
had been given and the neighborhood had as
sembled to witness it. A fiddle was necessary
to the full performance, and that was wanting.
Mr.. Weems supplied the deficiency.
"He has very enlarged charity in all re-
spects. Though calling himself an Episcopal
minister, he knew no distinction of churches
He preached in every pulpit to which he could
gain access, and where he could recommend his
books. His books were of all kinds. Mr. Gary,
his employer, was Roman Catholic, but dealt
in all manner Of books On an election or Court
day at Fairfax Court House, |, one day in pass
ing to or from the upper country, found Mr..
Weems with book case full for sale in the por-
tico of the tavern: on looking at them, | saw
Pane's Age of Reason, and taking it into my
hand, turned to him and asked if it was possible
that he could sell such book. He immediate
ly took out the Bishop of Lsndaff's answer, and
Behold the Aptidote.' 'The Bane and Anti
dote are both before you He carried this spu-
rious charity into his sermons. In my own pul
pit, at the old chapel, in my absence, i! being
my Sunday in Winchester, he extolled Tom
Paine and one or more inidels OF America and
said if their ghosts could return to the earth,
they would be shocked TO hear the falsehoods
that were told of them. | charged him with
what had heard of hissermon.and we'll remem-
Der that even he was confused aud speechless.
"Some of Mr.. Weems' pamphlets on drunken
ness and gambling would be most admirable in
their effects, but for the fact that you know not
what to believe of the narrative. There are
passages of deep pathos and great eloquence in
them. His histories OF Washington and Marion
are very popular, but the same must be said OF
them. You know not how much of fiction there
is in them. That of Washington has probably
gone through more editions than all Others and
has been read by more persons than those OF
Marshall, Ramsey, Bancroft, ana Irving put to-
gether. To conclude, all the while that Mr..
Weems was thus travelling over the land, an OBJ
iect of amusement to so many, and of profit to
Mr.. Cary, he was transmitting support to an in
teresting and pious family, at or near Dumfries,
who, if am rightly informed, were attached to
the Methodist Church. If in this, or anything
else which ! have written, any mistake has been
made should be glad to receive its correction"