The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-10-24
A FalsehOOd Exploded.

We made cautious allusion, a short
time since, to certain reports designed
to affect the standing of General HoYT
our candidate for Governor, before the
religious portion of the community.
Our attention was first attracted to the
subject by receiving postal card, in.
quiring if we knew anything concern
Ing his religious belief, the writer stat
ing that it was reported he was an in
fidel. Further inquiry established the
fact, not only that such reports were
current, but that a brother of Mr..
DILL, the Democratic candidate for
Governor, was helping the circulation
of such reports. We denied on our
own knowledge, the correctness of this
report; but learning that Rev. DR.
NELSON, one of the agents of the
Methodist Episcopal Book Concern, at
New York, knew General HoYT quite
intimately, we took the liberty of writ.
ing him on the subject. He was natu-
rally surprised at such reports, and be-
fore replying to us, took the precaution
to fortify his own knowledge by writ
ing to friends in Luzerne county, and
now forwards to us replies received.
Our friends will please notice that all
speak from personal knowledge. The
following are the letters:
New York, Oct. 4, 1878.
]. VANNoTE, ESQ.,,
Pittsburg, Pa.
DEAR SIR Your note informing
me that General Henry M. Hoyt is
charged with being an infidel surprised
me beyond measure. 1 have known
him well from his boyhood. He pre-
pared for college at the Wyoming Con-
ference Seminary under my charge,
and having graduated at college, at |
my earnest request, the trustees elected |
him as one of our teachers in the Sem
mary. Both in the institution and
among all its patrons, as well as
thrughout the entire community, he
was universally and deservedly held
In high esteem. l have always regard
ed him as q firm believer in the Bible
and revealed religion. From his youth
up till the change of my residence from
wyoming Valley to this city, six
years ago, so intimate was my ac-
quaintance with General Hoyt that
had he been in the least degree inclin-
ed to infidelity, could not have
failed to discover it. When 1 read
your note, I said to myself, lit cant
be that within the past few years my
friend Hoyt has fallen pray to scep-
ticism," SO firmly had regarded him
established in the belief of Christian
ity. However, to be absolutely sure
that no such change in General Hoyt's
religious views had taken place within
the past six years as to give any occa-
sion, whatever, for charging him with
being an infidel, wrote Rev. DIR. w.
H. Olip, presiding elder of Wyoming
and resident of Wilkesbarre,
the Generals home.
Herewith l hand you DR.. Olin's let
ter, and also one from Rev. DR.. Hodge,
OF the same city. Permit me also to
say that Mr.. McClintock, to whom DR..
Hodge refers, is known throughout
The State as one of the first and most
highly respected lawyers of the Lu-
serne bar. 1 write in the interest of
ruth, and not to eulogize General
doyt, though L have always had a
high regard for him as a man of decid-
I'd ability and sterling merit. unite
with Rev. Drs. Olin and Hodge in de-
'laring the charge that General Hoyt
$ an infidel, to be wholly without
Very truly yours,