Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-02-16
For the Herald and Tribune.
AN INTERESTING ARTICLE.
The Religious Sentiment Of the People
of East Tennessee.
BY N. A. PATTERSON.

tants and divide them by three, and
one part would be Presbyterian, one
Baptist and one Methodist. Outside OF
these three sects are representatives of
almost all other church organizations
-Universalist, Catholic, Brethren and
Quaker, and Hebrew. AS to each of
which there is no need to speak in
this communication, as the reader
would know as much or more than the
writer.
The Quaker organization, however,
may be specially referred to, as no 9th
er religious body has SO little said about
it; yet, in fact, the Friends, as they
call themselves, are entitled to high
place in social and religious history.
AS religious people they come nearer
being what they profess than any other
sect Their spirit and practice is well
illustrated by the following incident:
Two well to do neighbors often ac-
commodated each other with loans of
money. One day Peter came to John
and wanted the use of 800 for five
months. John brought the money
from his great wooden chest and count
ed it out Nov, John, said Peter,
suppose give thee a note for this
money"
"No," said John, 'thy word is
enough" ...
But might die, " said Peter, 'and
if l give thee note, as hear of others
doing, this note would show that the
money must be returned to thee"
This looking reasonable note was
decided on. Neither of them had ever
examined such legal paper, but their
united suggestions resulted in the fol-
lowing: ....
august 10, 1917.
''Peter has this day borrowed of John
one hundred dollars, and is to return
it in five months" ......
The question then occurred, which
one was to to sign the note. 1t was
finally decided that both should sign
it, and thus the above form had added
to it: ''PETER.
JoHN.n
The next question was, which should
keep the note. Peter said:
"Why John, thou art the one to keep
the note, and it will show that | have
borrowed the money of thee"
mo, said John, "thee must take it,
Peter, and it will show thee how much
and when thee has to pay"
This seeming reasonable, Peter took
the note and money home with him.
At the end of five months he returned
the money, and handing John the note,
said:
"Now John, thee must keep the note
and it will show that | have paid thee"
The only comment will add is, to
ask the readers who may be of other
religious sects, or of, simply, the hon
orable world, to compare this Quaker
business transaction with the mode
usually adopted. .r.
l will add another incident bearing
on different phase of morals. Over
fifty years ago gentleman now living
at the age of 91) told me that at the
age of 10 he came with family from
North Carolina to find home in East
Tennessee. The family consisted of the
man, his wife and several small chill
dren, travelling in two horse wagon.
They crossed the mountain in Novem-
Der into what is now Blount County,
with the snow falling rapidly, and by
the following morning the ground was
covered twelve inches deep. Their
team struggled forward until PM,
passing number of residences, at all
of which they were refused shelter for
the reason that there were too many to
be accommodated. The next inquiry,
however, received this response: "Yes,
thee can come in and stay with us, for
it is too bad for thy team to work, or
for thy wife and children to travel"
The Quaker's kitchen was surrendered
to the movers and the following in.
structions given: "There is stable
for thy horses, and corn and fodder to
feed them, Here is plenty of wood;
keep good fire for thy wife and chill
dren." When the snow had melted 80
as to allow them to travel, the Quaker
accepted reasonable pay for the corn
and fodder supplied, but refused COM
pensation for the use of the room, and
for wood burned, and turnips and cab
bages brought in by the plainly dressed
woman wearing the old fashioned cap.
East Tennessee's largest societies of
Friends are found in its central por-
tion. In Upper East Tennessee is found
numerous church organizations of the
sect known as Brethren, which are
classed as Quakers. In fact, the two
organizations are very much alike, not
only in modes of worship and religious
belief, but of church government, sim
plicity of dress and social moral re-
lations among themselves but with
all others.
Among themselves there is little if
any use for courts of law except in the
winding up of estates; and if all the
world was like them, there would be
no wars or rumors of wars. They are
by no means cowardly. They simply
believe it is wrong to fight; but let the
evil disposed,determine thatpeace shall