The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-13
pAYroN, Va, March Bal, lssl


Editors Valley Virgiaian:
There appeared in the Spirit of the Vdtiey of
March lst O letter written by Geo. ID. Keezell,
and addressed to the State board of Education,
the Confirmation, by the Senate, of Rev. A. P.
FunkhOuser as superintendent of Schools OF
pie 1aa a county mneTe are Two t9ings
1t did not say and second, in what 1t did say. IL
did not say anything about Mr.. F.'s ability or
inability to discharge the duties of the office.
He did not bring any charge of partlality shown
or preference given. He said nothing about the
political character of the appointment. All
these things he did not mention. Doubtless he
had good reason for making no reference to
these reasons, which others have seen proper to
do through the columns of The Rockingham Reg
dster. But the charge that he did bringl
correctly 1t makes no difference, as believe he
has not yet!decided 1t for himself does actually
charge the said A. P. FunlShouser with social
equality doctrines. and practices. Now think
that charge is fully set aside in Mr. Funkhousers
letter to MIR. D.. q. Martz, in which he tells,
without a bubble, Just what he did do and why
he did it.. Possibly nine out of ten persons i'll
Rockingham countyswould have done the-same
thinglunder the circumstances. l know that
there have been like practices, and many much
worse INDUCED in by .our best people, without
any excuse ta, Nv Whatever, save political gain
the law, and the exercise of the privileges
granted by law, for lthe colored race ms well as
for the white race, but doubt not that Mr..
Keezle took an oath to the same effect when he
took his C?l seat in the Senate of Virginia.
When the one acts accordingly, as his sworn
duty, and the other from his convictions of
right, and 1t may be his sworn duty ais O, it is
with very poor grace that any of us can present
an accusation. But this Is not social equality.
But the Hon. Senator from Rockingham is
not satisfied to stop with Mr.. Funxhouser, He
would fasten the stigma of social equality upon
the entire church of which Mr.. F. is q member.
He eliminates that the United Brethren
Church has very "udUanceCC' ideas on that sub-
tect. Where does the Sena tor get his facts? He
has surely depended upon his extreme ignorance,
or drawn upon his fertile imagination. But can
1t be that he is ignorant of the United Brethren
Church2 am creditably informed that the
1900 members in the county, and that some of
his blood relations, (they spell their name Kee-
zle,) are communicates at its alter. He must
know If he is not too forgetful. Perhaps the 100
their ballots for Mr.. Kezell last November will
feel that they are not properly represented. AS
an ogantzatiOn, the U. b. Church was opposed.
to human slavery before the late war, chung TO
Its CONVICTIONS through the trying ordeal, has
not changed since; nor is it ashamed of its
record. believes in fitting the colOred for
the duties and privileges of citizenship 1t be-
ieyes In practical piety; and that, be the skin
believes that Christ taught the doctrine of the
Brotherhood of the human race, but that that
means social equality, never.
But Mr.. Keezell has charged the u. B. Church
with social equality, in theory and practice,
with him. Let him show one instance in which
a member of that church advocated button-hol-
ing negroes for their votes, or standing treat,'
FOR the same purpose Let him show one case,
In which q member of the U. b. Church advo-
Gated the co-education of the races They do
not want mixed schools Lastly let him point
out one Ofthat communion who either proctised
or even advocated inter-marriage, to say nothing
about the evil of Legitimate race analgama-
ton. Let him do that, or acknowledge thatit Yves
his fertile imagination! Yours &C,
A FRIEND OF THE CHURCH