Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-07-14
BUNKER HILL LETTER.

INDEPENDENT contain articles
which il Is useless for ito say
are calculated to create unpleasant
relations in the community. And
although / have not Teen attacked
in person or by direct imputation,
| will assume the responsibility Of
replying to the last article written
by Mr.. Marion Henshaw, who
sails under the nom de plume oil
IA Member of the NJ. Z. Church
sin defence of himself and others
and in personal abuse OF the Pres
byterian Church, which he styles
"Mr. Strong and his party /
would however, disclaim any in
tent upon my part to Witty any
branch of the church, and especial
ly the M. E. Church; because l
venerate it. l am not a mber
of any church, fact which does
not add anything to my credit, but
having been brought up under its
teachings by christian mother, l
love il. l dare say some Of your
readers will say that I have no
right to Interfere In the matter.
Now I will repeat again that am
not going to fight the church, but
l deem it my duty, as correspon-
dent of your paper, and in justice
to Mr.. Strong and our community
to cast the odium where it proper
ly belongs The members of the
Presbyterian Church did arrange
to hold their festival before the
MethOdists did, ana they were
told so by lady member of their
church, but as their Pastor remark
ed it was not an official notice, and
consequently they would not re-
gard it. They (the Presbyterians)
had no more right to give them
an official notice than they had to
issue a proclamation and compel
every church in the land TO obey
their mandate. 1t was entirely
their own affair and they had The
time to hold their fes,ival whether
for a frolic or a fight it was no bus
mess of theirs. What l am trying
to get at is the abuse given to Mr..
Strong, a worthy citizen of our
community by a worthy citizen.
| am sorry that Mr.. HenShaW has
been induced to pen the article TO
which he acknowledges, in such
palpable malignity toward. Mr..
Strong and his party" or what l
would designate the Presbyterian
Church. There is no occasion for
tnis exhibition of spleen. They
are both worthy men and If l can
be the means of bridging the
bloody chasm aud of bringing
them together AS christian breth-
rem, I'l achieve greater victory
than they ever can by cultivating
feeling of enmity and allowing
predjudice TO override their bet
ter judgement. Whilst l desire to
be governed by a sense of justice
to a community and charity to-
ward all churches as well as that
high degree of Difference aud re-
spect which Mr.. Strong demands
as a good citizen. independent of
his party, l do say that Mr.. Hen
shaw did wrong to critisiSe his
quotation from scripture or to en-
courage that spirit Of revenge or
enmity emanating from the I'M
kind heart Of another man. We
all know the man whom he refers
to as 1.-THE power behind the
throne" and we know too that he
belongs to the Presbyterian
Church-just like | do the M. e.
Church. The only throne that he
claims is his counter and there he
Is power in authority. No use
in casting slurs at Us outsiders, he
cause we will take care of our
selves and when we want the
prayers OF a christian, we want a
man Of pure heart, 4 clear con-
science aud sound mind. l think
it reflects grossly upon minister
ial dignity for any man to rush in
to print 10 a secular paper with
their grievances, expecting to elic-
it the sympathy OF the public.
Eacn one doubtless claims that he
il right, but they nurse their
wrath TO vent it at a time when
they had better be asleep, and al
low Reason 10 hide itself behind
the throne of Prudence. Bunker
Hi is not the place for one man
power or party clique. We have
three we'll organized evangelical
churches, and but for A few people
who would like to be "ihe power
behind throne" and control every