Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-16
For, the Spectator.
A Word to the Editors of the Spectator.

For. the Spectator.
A Word to the Editors of the Spectator. Z
Aessrs. Editov:-I was very much surprised
to lind in your columns over fictitious sigma
ture communication purporting to be an at
tack upon camp-meetings, but evidently slur
at the NJ. E.. Church.
l hold you, gentlemen, responsible for the
publication of that article, which to say the least
is highly insulting to the moral sense Of those
who have chosen that form of christianity
known as Methodism. 80 S.-it4 >
Insulting, | repeat, because it makes the
charge against meeting somewhat peculiar to
the Methodists, (but which originate among an
other sect of being accessory to the basest
crimes on record such as theft, drunkenness,
lewdness" &c.
The question at issue between us is whether
newspaper the organ Of large and very in
huentlal party in this portion OF Augusta should
denomination is sandered, their religious meet
ipss denounced as productive of the "perpetra-
ton of almost every crime" ~.
do not presume that you would wilfully and
deliberately perform an act which would reflect
upon yourselves as Editors or be calculated to
ipjure the character of your paper, yet must
sssure you that the appearance of the article to
which have referred, while it has not added
one laurel to the crown of its author (whoever
he may be, and we care not who) it has certainly
detracted from your fame and attached stigma
to your paper
1t is matter of fact that majority of the
members OF that very CHURCH Tin this part OF the
county, which have been uDjustihably misrepre
sented in your columns are of your political
sentiments, aud subscribers to your paper
Think you, gentlemen, that it is right tor such
a villifcation of their camp-meetings to be pub
lished in the Staunton Spectator (the paper Of
their choice) over fictitious signatures tbat
is you allow the meetings of the methodists to
be denounced, their church slured at, and no
one particularly responsible for it'll
90 You may las many doubtless do) look upon
the people called Methodists as very meagre
and insignificant part Of the community, but you
should remember that what is seen here Tin
this Valley is only the remnant of our 1sreal,
for we have many more than seven thousand in
the old dominion who have not bowed the knee
to Rasl, ~
Ifyol'll look beyond the limits OF our own
beautiful valley and extend the circle Of OBJ
seryaton until you embrace the entire s'and OF
the free and home of the brave" you'll see that
our name is indeed "legi0n," and that numeri-
cally, nfuentialy and afiuently wen compare
favorab with any other religious denomination
in the Union. 1t you doubt this we refer you
to the statistics of the Nation. ...
You may entertain the thought that the writer
of CHS (although his church is mighty in the
|land) is fearful in regard to the effect of that
communication upon the public mind, especially
as it comes through your paper. Not at all,
gentlemen, for we never believed that any article
like that would arrest public attention except as
source of amusement affordng an opportunity
of merriment oyer the ignorance, not to say
impotence of Its author. The judgement Of
many is, that it is too weak and unimportant
to deserve passing notice, q mean of many
who are called Methodists, and surely youth
not prescribe US in our opinions) although you
have allowed US to be prescribed through your
paper in regard to the kind of meetings we
should hold. 1t is encouraging to know that
we are enjoying the civil and religious liberties
for which our "Fathers nobly fought and bled"
that cannot in any sense tolerate prescription
either in regard to the expression of opinion OF
the holding of camp.meetipgs. 1.4
With sloh verdict, from persons whose
views are to be respected, | had rather be in
the place of the Brethren of the Camp Meeting
committee, loyal citizens of good old Augusta
Notwithstanding they are Methodsts) than in
yours, Messrs Editors, who have allowed the
cudgeS to be upltted against them in your COL
umns, yea, in the very paper for which most
of the camp.meeting committee subscribe
think yours is not very desirable position
and it will require vast deal of editorial in
genuity to get out of the difficulty into which
} you have placed yourselves.
Why gentlemen, you certainly were sware
that it would not do to associate politics and
} religion or in other words apolitioal newspaper
with church matters. How did you happen to
: bluuder in this instances That you have made
"a mistake and indeed, great one is evident,
and if you had made o similar one in any Of
the political contests through which YOU and
your paper have passed, you would have fallen
to rise no more.
You may be my seniors and yet ought to
suggest to you the propriety of letting the
Methodists and especially their camp meetings
lalone.
If you say you are not attacking that denom-
nation or any of their meetings we reply you
have allowed your paper to be used for that
purpose, which is the specific charge we bring
against you, and the public can Judge whether
that charge is sustained or whether you are
Unsuitable in allowing such an article to come
: to light (as the one to which l have alluded)
The author OF this resides in 0hurehville and
if either or all of you, gentlemen, should favor
us with call You'll find as hearty welcome
after the Old Virginia style as you can meet
with anywhere, and if you'll attend our contem.
plated camp meeting, l9tk Aug, pledge my.
self to make your soourn as pleasant as possible,
and especially so, as our meeting is to be held in
the very midst of the enlightened public senti-
ment" of this praiseworthy old county.
Yours respectfully, F. 9. TKBBs.
Ohurchvile. Aug. 9th, 1859. a