Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-11-03
How James K. Polk became Member of
the Church.

the Cnurcn.
Rev. V. c. Randolph, pastor of the
Spruce Street Northern Methodist Church
OF this city, contributes the following Incl
dent to the press:
I'm the year 1888, young Methodist
itinerant preached at camp meeting near
Columbia, in Tennessee, from the text,
blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ" In the congregation
was young man. his senior by 10 years,
who was rapidly coming into public notice,
having already been elected to the State
Legislature and the National Congress.
AS time rolled on the one became noted
preacher and an able correctional officer,
Known and honored throughout the bounds
OF his denomination the other advanced
in political career till his name was fainil-
lar not only in the remotest corners of this
land, but he was respected everywhere in
the civilized world.
Sixteen years had elapsed since the camp
meeting. when Elijah, the body servant of
the statesman, was sent to request the
preacher to call on his master. who was
at home quite i'll. Doctor" said Elijah,
"do you know why my master thinks 80
much of you?' The minister replied: ''We
have been good friends for a number Of
years; we are both Democrats; but do
not know any special reason why he should
be attached to me-" ut is" said Elijah,
because of the sermon at the camp-meet-
ing" When the doctor arrived he found
the pastor Of his friends wife, who was
and is now, member of the Presbyterian
Church. and going together into the room
of tbs sick, they learned that they had
been called for religious conversation.
During the visit the dying man expressed
the following sentiment: II believe in
Jesus Christ; trust in him alone for sal
walton. l wish to acknowledge him as my
Saviour. am Methodist, but for the
pressure Of public duties 1 have neglected
to join the church. do not wish to die
out of the church. would prefer acknowl-
edging Christ in the public congregation,
in view of what he has done for me that Is
little enough for me to do for him. 1t may
seem little cowardly for me to unite with
the church in private. l should prefer do
ing it publicly, but may not recover."-
He was assured that his desire for men,
bership in the church and its ordinances
should be gratifed.
A few days later the symptoms became
more alarming, and but slight hopes of re-
covery were entertained. The Methodist
preacher was again summoned. Among
the persons present were the pastors of the
mans mother and wife, both Presbyte-
rians, his mother and brother, and color
ed nurse, still living. In the presence of
these friends, that eminent man acknowl-
edged his dependence on Christ alone for
salvation, was baptized by tho itinerant,
whom he heard with delight and profit in
1888, Joined the church of his choice, and
part0ok of the holy communion.
Not many days after the same minister
was called on to perform the last sad rites.
The body was laid to rest in the beautiful
lawn of his spacious mansion near tho
capital of his adopted State. Over the tomb
has been erected some canopy under which
is block of gray marble. The following is
part of the epitaph:
JAMES KNOX POLK,
10th President of the U. s.,
Born Nov. I'd, 1875; died June 18th, 1849.
The mortal remains
of
JAMES KNOX FOLK
are resting in the vault beneath.
He was born in Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina,
and emigrated with his father,
in 1906.
The beauty OF virtue
Was illustrated in his life;
The excellency of Christianity
Was exempliied in his death.
The preacher was j. B. McFerrin, D. D.,
the present venerable and efficient agent
of the Southern Methodist Publishing
House, from whose lips the above facts
were gathered. --NashvitIe Bonner.