Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-16
RELIGION TO SUIT.
HOW SENATOR VANCE ELECTION
ERRs AMONG THE NOUN
TAINEERS.


mixes with strangers and would be
treated with clyility he should not
do anything or say anything that
rms against their opinions, their
interests, or their prejudices. Zeb |
Vance said that one time away |
hack when he was running for Con-
gress against Holden he had TO 90 |
over a mountain range and down |
into valley where he had meyer
been before. The humble people !
in that valley were almost cut of
and hid out from the rest Of the
world, and especially from that side
of the world in which Mr.. Vance
lived. He knew nothing about
their politics or their religion
"North Carolina is a curious State"
said he. "Her religion is speckled
and spotted like it had the measles.
In one valley you will find the peo-
pie all Eplscopalians, however poor
or primitive. The ancestors or first
settlers came from old England and
brought that religion with them,
and, as nobody moved in or moved
out, their descendants kept the
faith of their fathers. In another
valley you will find them all Pres
byterians, because the ancestors
came from Scotland. In another
they will be all MethOdists or all
Baptists, and every one of these
separate communities will have an
old patriarch working in the lead,
and he is looked upon as the
belI.wether of the flock. Now it is
necessary that politician should
know the religious faith Of those
with whom he IS 'electioneering'
for votes If he can't chime in
with it exactly he mustn't say any
thing 'agin' it. Now" SAID Vance,
"when I got over into the valley to
meet my appointment, | found
about seventy.fve of the humble
sovereigns gathered at the cross
roads where there was little store
and a wagon shop and a meeting
house. They had on their home
made clothes aud were standing
around chawing tobacco and talk
ing about 'craps' and waiting for
me to come. | soon got familiar
with them aud got them in first
rate hnmor, but as Holden was to
come over in day or two | want
ed to fix things in some way so
that he couldn't unfx them. Hold
en- was Methodist and | was
afraid that these people were. |
noticed an old pan sitting off on a
: chnns and marking IN the sand
with his long walking stick He
had on big brass spectacles and his
heavy shaggy eye brows and big
long nose indicated character, and
so set him down as the bell.weth-
er of the flock. After a while | got
, up close to him and was about to
address him when he gave a pray
eriul grunt and got up and braced
himself on his stick, and, looking
at me, said in a solemn voice, This
is Mr.. Vance, I believe 2 Yes, sir,
said I, giving him my hand. 'And
I am Emanuel Stenor,' said he, 'and
= | suppose you have come over the
mounting to talk to my boys about
their votes 'Yes, sir said |, that
l is my principal business and =
o sWell, Mr.. Vance, said he, inter
/. rupting me, 'before You proceed
5 any further with that business,
=. would like to AK you question OF
. two Certainly, SIR said |; GER
y tainly. 'Well, Mr.. Vance, allow
me to ax you what church do you
/ belong to?
= "Well, that was Il sockdologer
r and it come right straight at me-
h. and for a moment was demoral
: lied. bnt | rallied and as the boys
4 had all gathered around to heal
r the old man put me through,
n cleared my throat and said THAI
n is a fair question, my friend, a fail
= question, and | will tell you about
that. Ny grandfather came from
o England, and as over there the es
q tablished church was Episcopalian
t of course he was an Episcopalian.
r 81 paused a moment to see thu
{ effect of this but there was none
J, that was favorable. The old mar
. marked little more IN the sane
G and spit his tobacco away on one
: side. SO | continued 'But my
p grandmother came from Scotland
and you know that John Knox LEI
h his mark upon that whole nation
s and SO of course, she grew up
y Presbyterian paused again. buI
y there was no sien,no awakening,nC
. chord struck, and the old man mark
= cd some more in the sand. 'Bul
q NV friend. my father was born anC
v grew up in Methodist community
who were in this country, and con
yerted by John Wesley, and, o
a course, he became a Methodist
IS thought that now had him sure
. but | didn't. There was no slgI
y of $, ,mpatby from him or the boys
II and so took my last shot. But N!
| good old mother, sir, was born an'
x raised Baptist, and itsalways bee'
. nv opinion that man has got t.