Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-06-28


martyr to missionary zeal, he next took
charge of Port Penn and Drawers churches
In Delaware, where also his labOrs were
abundantly blessed. At this period the
abolition element in the New School Pres
byterian church was making vigorous war
upon the Southern ministers who rejected
their meddlesome interference with slave
holding Christians, Mr.. Handy as a South
ern man became prominent as defender
of Southern interests. although deplOring
the holding of slaves as a lamentable evil.
A speech made by HIM in defence Of the
Southern churches at Philadelphia meeting
OF the Synod of Pennsylvania more than
thirty years ago. is still remembered for
its eloquence and effectiveness. Although
such man as the celebrated Albert Barnes
was his opponent on this occasion, the
young Southerner carried This point and won
substantial evidence Of popular approval.
About this time he was unanimously and
by Reclamation elected Moderator Of the
Synod on motion of Dr.. Barnes. Soon af-
ter. he became an evangelist for the PENN
sula, consisting of Delaware and the Eas-
tern shore of Maryland and became known
in every hamlet as preacher of ability,
vigor and unvarying success.
THE YELLOW FEVER sCOURGE AT PORTS
MOUTH.
In 1854 he accepted call to the First
Presbyterian church, Portsmouth, Va.
This was then an Important field, being
the seat of the government navy YARD and
the terminus of great railway and steam
boat lines. He at once took a prominent
position and became known throughout
Virginia as he had in other States, as a
successful minister. He had been here only
few mon his when the great pestilence of
1866 descended upon the cities of Norfolk
and Portsmouth and decimated their pop
ulation. Mr.. Handy believed it his duty
to stay with his people and did so caring
for the sick and dead of all denominations,
even after he and his whole family had
been FRUSTRATED at the same time by the
yellow fever. His heroic and self denying
course in this matter gave him for while
a national celebrity and elected encomi-
ums from all quarters.
SEPARATION OF THE NEW SCHOOL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In 1857 Mr.. Handy was member of the
General Assembly at Cleveland, Ohio,
when the New School Presbyterian church
was divided. He took a prominent part in
its deliberations, and next to the Rev. DIR.
Rose, of Alabama was probably the most
influential in determining the course of
the Southern members. His name ap-
pCdl GU oCCOlll VII Ul1C AlSU VI dOlCS1VCo PlO.
testing and seeding from the church that
had gone crazy on the subject of abolition.
The organization of the New School Pres
byterians in the South, into what was
known as The United Synod, speedily fol-
lowed, and Mr.. Handy was among the
foremost men of the new ecclesiastical bO-
dy which subsequently, united with the
Southern wing of the Old School church
to form the Presbyterian church of the
Confederate States. Politically Mr.. Han
dy was strong Union man" until the
calling out of volunteers to coerce the
South. just after the election of Mr..
Lincoln he preached a sermon on "Our
National Sins.'' which being published in
pamphlet form was reproduced and CON-
mented upon by the press all over the
country He entered heartily, however,
into the Southern movement for independ-
ence, as som as it was demonstrated that
peaceful union was impracticable. Two
of his sons, and nephew who was a men,
Der Of his immediate family, served in the
Confederate army, and the martyrdom
which was the result Of his own devotion
to the cause, constitutes the browning
glory of a noble life.
PRISON LIFE.
After the Confederate occupation of
Portsmouth he went North, on safeguard
from General Dix to lake his sick wife to
see her venerable parents. While there
he was treacherously arrested on the COM
plant of a brother minister whom he had
befriended, and thrown in Fort Delaware
as political prisoner. There he lay for
fifteen months subjected to continual suf-
ferings. privations and indignities, in ad-
diton to separation from his dependent
family. He was never Off cially informed
of the nature of,the charges against him,
but would have been released, as many pO-
licic.ll pris oners were at any moment, upon
taking the oath of allegiance to the U. S.
Government. This he positively refused
to do so long as there was possibility of
the establishment of Southern ndepend-
ence. During these months of trial his
strong constitution was shattered and his
hair, which had been very dark, was turn
ed prematurely gray and hung in profusion
around his shoulders. He was an object
of interest and curiosity to all visitors to
the Fort, when the false report was eirou-
lated that he had made Il vow never to cut
his hair again until the South was free.
Meanwhile he walked as ministering
angel among his fellow prisoners and was
known a,.d loved by all for his pure life,
kindly bearing, inspiriting words to the
downhearted, and above all for his coura.
geous devotion to the cause which all of
them had at heart. There as elsewhere,
his duties as Christian minister engaged
his best thought and labor. He preached
every day during the fifteen mouths, ex-
cept when Frustrated 10y sickness, and
once fell from sheer exhaustion while ex-
pounding the Scriptures to his fellow suf
ferers. He organized Bible and Theologi-
cal classes and a Young Mems Christion
Associate n, and tried to keep alive relig
ious influences in every form. Under his
great revival occurred, among
the plisoners and seyepty-fye Confederate
officers professed cpngersioh, gope Of
whom we're baptised and all were admitted
to the Lords Supper while in prison.
Some of them at once began studying for |
the ministry, and are now respected and eff
fectye preachers IN tne ral sever as %s5