The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-09-26
MEREDITH P. GENTRY
The Greatest Orator Tennessee EGer
Produced.
His Place in Ante-Bellum Politics.
Story On Him in Connection
With Mr.. BroWnloW.
Correspondence of the Knoxville Journal.

Correspondence of the Knoxville Journal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20-A rather
prominent Tennessee democrat, who
seems to be lacking in respect or rever-
ence for our reforms" president and
who, like very many OF his party doubt
less has grievance, occasionally has a
seat near me in q Presbyterian church
in this city. Meeting him the other
day, he asked me il had noticed the
fervent and eloquent prayers OF the
ministers for the president and all in
authority" ETC., and said that these
petitions always remind him of an
antebellum incident which occurred in
Tennessee. It is rather sacreligious,
and the facts as detailed here may not
be thoroughly accurate, but as the
story is good one, and its application
TO the chief magistrate lie pointedly
and forcibly made by the gentleman
referred to, it will probably interest
the readers OF the Journal.
1t was in 1855 Meredith P. Gentry,
one OF Tennessee's most brilliant and
eloquent politicians of that period, had
recently been defeated as the Wing
and Know-Nothing candidate for gov
ernor Of Tennessee, by Andrew John
son, the democratic candidate.
The distinguish ed church and po-
litical leader" "Parson" Wm.G Brown.
low, then the editor and proprietor Of
the Wing at Knoxville, had ardently
and ably supported his personal, as
well rs his political friend, Gentry, in
the contest. The canvass was spirited
and hot, and many bitter things had
been said OF each other by opposing
candidates, which engenderpd consid'
ersble personal feeling between them
The election resulted in the triumph
of Mr.. Johnson by small majority Of
1920 (Which was just 20 votes less
than his majority as candidate fol
governor in 1882 and the consequent
defeats of Mr.. Gentry. Not long alter
the election, Parson Brownlow had
occasion to go from his home ink nox
vile to Nashville. On the way he
stopped one day near Shelbyville tC
visit his friend, Gentry. After supper
these distinguished gentlemen and 8
few OF their friends who had dropped
in TO pay respects to the well-knowr
editor and popular stump-speaker, en-
gagged in earnest and lively converse
ton until late, when Col. Gentry wa
reminded that il was time for retiring
He arose, with the remark that h,
had promised his sainted vile (Mrs
Gentry had not been long dead) tina
there should be family prayers regu
larly ia his house and placing the fam
lily Bible on the table beside the talloy
candle, which lighted the room
requested Brother Brownlow to lea
in family prayers, which he proceede
to do. A few verses in the Bible wer
read, a favorite Methodist hymn Wa
sung with earnestness, and all knel
aud reverently bowed their head
while Brownlow, with eloQuence an
increasing feryor, presented petition
in behalf of all classes and condition
of mankind, the church and its sewers
interests, and finally coming to III
usual prayers for the president on
others in authority at Washington,
D wound up by asking the Lord to "ble
aud save the governor Of the state
! A few days alter this Gentry AZ
Brownlow met in the formers room