Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-07-18
An Interesting Letter Bearing Upon Mr
Rlsines Early Life and Religious Ed
ucatiOn.

ucauOh
In the same year the late DR. James King
of Pittsburg, Surgeon Gen'l of Pennsylvania
during the war; addressed the following let
ter to the Gaz-tte.
PIrTsBuRG. Pa, January 18th. 1876
To the Editors 0fthe PittSburg Gazette:
| observe that anonymous writer's in
various parts of the country are furnishing
what they term "reliable information" IN
regard to ex-Speaker Blaine's family and
early religious education. As Mr.. Blaines
name is often mentioned in connection with
public affairs, an authentic statement on the
subject may be of general interest. | give it
therefore over my own name and from long
and intimate acquaintance with Mr. Blaine
and with hi- family
was member of the faculty of Washing
ton College when MIR. Blaine was a student
there. He entered the preparatory depart
ment when only II years of age, and from
that time until his graduation, he was a
constant attendant upon the service of the
Presbyterian church, which had and still
has the exclusive control Of the college.
There was no Catholic church in the town
Attendance upon church service was required
of the students. and their absence from it
was noted. and it was said. and | believe it
To be true, that Mr.. Blaine never missed at
tending church a single Sunday during his
collegiate course. 1t was also true that he
never was absent from recitation during his
whole course; and this boyhood punctusIity
must have followed him into public life. for
have often seen it It ,ted in the papers that
during his Speakershjp of six wears he was
never out OF the chair for a single dav Mr.
Blaine graduated in ls47, before he was
lItr al at had ,t lar I
well remembered class.
Mr. Blaines father came from a well
known and distinguished Carlisle family of
the old Colonial AMI Revolutionary stock
family specially marked in all its branches
for strict adherence to the PRESBYTERIAN faith
tIls mother, a talented beautiful, widely be-
loved and truly Christian lady was from an
equally prominent Catholic family. aud this
fact has probably given rise TO all the uu-
founded gossip about Mr. Blaine having been
a Catholic No one knew better than his
mother that he was firm Protestant. for |
very frequently conversed with her upon the
matter during the last twenty years of her
lite-for the greater part OF which was her
attending physician.
MIR. Blaine simply followed the traditionarv
faith Of his fathers family. and when. in his
early manhood, me settled in New EnEland he
naturally attended the Orthodox Congregs-
tional Church, of which he has been a member
for more than twenty years.
As a Jealous supporter of Mr. Greeley in
1872, and a Presbyterian. believing in perfect
religious freedom for all, it may well be as
sumed that do not admire or approve the
tone of political discussion that renders these
details in regard to Mr.. Blaine necessary.
But since the question is raised. it is better
that the actual facts be fully set forth All
papers that have copied anonymous commu-
nications on the subject should, in justice,
copy this statement, the correctness of which
| am sure no one will dispute.
Very respectfully, JAMES KING,