Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-21
PARsON WEEMS.

All who have read Weem's Life of Marion, will
feel an interest in the following sketch of that cleri-
cal oddity, by Bishop Meade, who wrote it for the
last Southern ChurehmaR:
&c In his youth, Mr.. Weems was an inmate of the
family Of Mr. Jennifer, of Charles county, Mary
land. They confded in him a boy of principle
and had no doubts Of his uprightness and morality
until about his fourteenth year. When at that age
he was seen to leave the house every evening after
ten, and to be often away until late at night The
family began to be afraid that he 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 IN
easy. He scOrned the idea of abusing their conf
dence, but 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 distance in the pines they to
an old hut, in which they found Mr.. Weems sur
rounded by the bare-headed bare footed, and half
clad children of the neighborhoOd, whom he had
been in the habit of thus gathering around him at
night, in order to give them instruction.
% He acknowledged that he was in the habit of
having the servants assembled in private houses
where he would spend the night, and recite por-
ton of Scripture for he read it out of q book
and perhaps say something to them, 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 long even pre-
tended to be the rector of any parish From my
earliest knowledge Of him he was travelling book
seller for MIR. Matthew Carey, Of Philadelphia, WIS.,
ting all the Sta south of Pennsylvania, and per-
haps some north Of it, in a little wagon, with his
fiddle a constant companion to amuse himself and
others If he would pray with theservants at night
in their owners houses, he would play the fiddle on
the roadside for them by day. One instance of his
good nature is well attested At the old tavern in
Carolina county, Virginia, called the White Chin
Heys, Mr.. Weems and some strolling players pup
pet showmen met together one night. notice of
some exhibition had been given, and the neighbor-
hood had assembled to witness it. fiddle was ne
cessary to the full performance and that was want
ing. Mr.. Weems supplied the deficiency.
''He was of very enlarged charity in all respects
Though calling himself 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.. Cary, his employer WAS
Roman Catholic, but dealt in all manner, of books
On an election court day at Fairfax Court house.
one day, in passing to or from the upper country,
found MIR. Weems with bookcase full for sale in
the pOrtico of the tavern; on looking at them saw
Paine's Age of Reason and taking it into my hand
turned to him and asked if it possible that he
could sell such book. He Immediately took out
the Bishop Of Landaf's answer, and said, Behold
the antidote' The bane and antidote are both be-
fore you He carried this spurious charity into the
sermons. In my pulpit, at the old chapel, in my
absence, it being my Sunday in Winchester, he
extolled Tom Paine, and one or more noted infdels
of American, and said if their ghosts could return
the earth, they would be shocked to hear the false
hoods that were told of them. l charged him with
what heard of his sermon, and well remember that
even he was confused and speeches..
''Some of Mr.. Weems's pamphlets on drunkenness
and gambling would be most admirable in their eff
ects but for the fact that you know not what to be-
leve of the narrative. There passages of deep
pathos and great eloquenoe in them. His histories
of Washington and Marion 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 those of
Marshall, Ramsay, Bancroft and Irving put to-
gether. To conclude, all the while that Mr.. Weems
was thus travelling the land and object of
amusement to so many and of profit to Mr.. Carey
he transmitting support to an interesting and
piOus family, Dumfries, who, if 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"