The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-10
DR.. Lanahan's Call Upon Hancock.

HOW THE GENERAL WAS INDUCED TO
CHANGE HIS ATTITUDE IN REGARD TO \
REBEL PREACHER-A HURRIED REPORT.
A telegram from Washington to the n.
y. Tribune, dated July It'll, says: Gen.
Hancock is Il brave man. but he was once
forced to retreat by Methodist preacher.
The Rev. John Lanahan, pastor of the
Foundry Church i'll this city, the same
man who i'll connection with the Metho-
dist Book Concern troubles chose rather
to go to Jail than abate the severity Of
his accusations of fraud against the man
agement of that institution, was deputcd
by the authorities of his church, at the
close Of the war, to reorganize the Meth
odist churches in Virginia. One of his
charges was at Winchester, where, for a
time, he filled the pulpit himself. One
Sunday he announced that he had secured
u pastor for the charge and would intro
duce him the next week. When the day
arrived, DR.. Lanahan and the new minis
ter entered the pulpit. just before the
hour for beginning the service, a minis
ter named Wilson, who had once been
prominent in the Baltimore Conference,
but had become q violent rebel, entered
the church and took his place in the pull
pit. He opened the hymn book and pro-
ceeded to conduct the service. DR.. Lam
ahan and his companion glared at the
rebel, and the latter glared back. His
sermon was of the fire eating order, and
when he had concluded he announced
that he would otficiate at the evening ser
vice and on the following Sabbath, and
then he dismissed the congregation.
DR.. Lanahan arose and requested the
people to remain. He said he had re-
Trained from interrupting the proceedings
out of respect to the day and the place,
but he announced, with emphasis. that
he or his companion would preach there
that evening and thereafter.
During the afternoon DR.. Lanahan
called upon the commanding officer, and
at his instance an officer in civilian dress
was sent to the rebel minister's house, to
request that he abstain from further at
tempts to seize the pulpit, which request
was needed,
Two or three weeks later the COM
handing officer at Winchester told DR..
Lanahan that his report of the affair had
been twice returned to him by General
Hancock for revision. When next in
Baltimore, DR.. Lanahan called upon Gen.
Hancock in relation to the affair, and
was taken severely to task for his part i'll
it.
"You had no right" said the General
gruffly, in conclusion, -" to interfere with
those people,
DIR. Lanahan bore for time the COM
ments of the General. but at last became
angry. General Hancock" said he,
"you think you are dealing with coun-
try preacher who has no friends. | am
probably Us well known here and in
| Washington as you are, and all | have to
ask of you is that you make your deci-
sion one way OF the other without delay.
It's an outrage to allow those rebels to
try to capture our church in the very
presence of our troops, and | give you
warning, if you decide for them, will
have your decision reversed over your
head" With this he stalked out of the
office.
The next morning he called to ask if
| the revised report had been received
from the commanding oflicerat Wimches-
ter. 1t had not come. but he was treat
ell with the utmost Difference by General
Hancock, and WAS pressed, on going
away, to make use of the Generals car
riage. Two OF three days later. being in
| Washington, DR.. Lanahan called upon
| Secretary Stanton, and began to tell the
story of the affair at Winchester
"Why," interrupted the Secretary,
"that is all fixed. General Hancock has
been here to-day and made Il report in
! YOU favor