Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-06-24
The Fighting Parsons of Thinking Spring.

The Fighting Parsons of Thinking Spring.
1t would sonnd a little strange to the
Young Presbyterians of this generation to
| hear the grave and reverend DR.. q. Is.
Strickler of Union Theological Seminary,
spoken of Corporal Stricken, yet that is one
oftitles to which he can justly lay claim,
and there are now living many of his old
| Confederate comrades. who have so address,
ed him when he was gallant yaung soldier
of 1861.
/. The attention of the writer has been at
tracted in this direction by reading list OF
the members of the Liberty Hall volunteers
the company, which at the beginning OF the
late war, went from Washington college.
| Upon its organization. young Stricken was
elected 1sl corporal, and l will venture the
assertion that lie was prouder of the title OF
Corporal of the Guard than of any he
afterwards won and wore, and at the first
battle in which his company participated,
| Manassas, among the long list OF killed and
wounded appears Corporal e. B. Strickler
wounded"
| By the time the second battle OF Manassas
was fought he had won a lieutenant's conf
mission, and we find again in the list of
wounded the name of Lieutenant Strickler.
He must have been good soldier as he was
rapidly promoted in company OF such fine
material that nearly every man i'll it would
have made good officer, and at the battle
of Gettysburg lie commanded his company
and among tho captured we find the name OF
Capt. Stricken; and he probably was held
a prisoner to the close of the war as we see
he was the last captain the Liberty Hail
volunteers had. Nearly all the older read
ers of the SPECTATOR-VINDI know
that DR.. Stricken for :many years held
higher Office than either of those just named
that of pastor of the good old church OF
Thinking Spring i'll this county.
1t is a strange coincidence that the history
of another pastor Of that church, Rev. Geo.
W. Finley, D. D.. the present one, should
have been so similar Both theological
students when the war began, both volun-
teers at the first of it, both rapidly promot-
ed, both of conspicuous gslantry, both cap
tains at the battle of Gettysburg, both
captured in that great and bloody battle,
and both surviving the terrible ordeal Of
captivity in northern prison. The parallel
does not stop here. After their return home
the two young soldies of the Confederacy,
still loyal soldiers of the cross, re-eDlisted
in the ministerial army flying the old blue
banner this time the Presbyterian blue.
just as gallant and true under this flag as
the other, they entered upon larger and
harder service, but more glorious one un-
der grander commander than even Robert
] inns difforpnt fnI0S
J some on the same, around the Notifications
Of Tinkling Spring. Again have they won
laurels and honOrs. Proud as was the day
: for young Strickler when he fell fighting
on the victorious field of Manassas. Gallant
as was the charge of young Finley with
Pickett's men up to the breastworkS at
Gettysburg and over them; they wear green
er laurels and more enduring hOnOrs now
won in fiercer battle with the Prince OF
Darkness. and in due time the fighting par
sons of Thinking Spring will again furl
, their banners on but one more battle field.
unfurI and wave them ever more before the
King Of Kings. T. c. NJ.
RocKBRIDeE Co, VA, June Dist, 1897.
To the Editor Of the Spectator indicator:
We anxiously awaited The SPECTATOR and
| VINDICATOR OF last week knowing full we'll
:, when it came that it would give us an ac-
count Of William j. Bryan'S speech made
! before the Literary Societies OF the Uni
yersity 4 Virginia. And now that we have
, read the account of Mr.. Bryan and his
o speech as especially reported for the Spec
q tator and Vindicator, we express what we
know large majority OF the readers of the
a Spectator feel viz: deep sense of gratitude
! to it for giving its readers who were unable
! to attend the commencement such an excel
. | lent account.
y Mr. Editor, you were once student OF
n the University OF virginia and as former
= student you will bear witness to the state
: nent that for the country people to flock to
i the University of ' q. to hear the joint ora
i tor of the Literary Societies is something
= unheard of in the history of that Institution.
= 1t has been the good fortune of the writer of
: this to attend more than one commencement
: of the University Of Va, aud to hear the
= greatest orators of the land, but no Preston
Z or Grady could bring the country people by
= the hundreds to say nothing of the thousands
, Your correspondent speaks of the great
!, number OF tickets sold in Staunton to attend
I the late commencement. Why Mr.. Editor,
- an average Staunton man don't know when
u the commencement OF the University of Va
p does take place. He only knew last week
- that he was going to hear VIM. Jennings
u BRYAN, and have no doubt some of the PEG
= pie who attended after the speaking was
i over. wanted to know "what place is this?'
+ And may not now ask why was all this Z
4 May we not repeat with all solemnity
-. what went We out for to see? A reed shak
=. en- with the Wind?" Nay these people wen
" to hear the greatest champion of truth, ant
~ of the common peoples rights that nov
ne lives.
ar When we reflect Oh the almost superhu
ID man effort made by Mr. Bryan i'll the las
If wears campaign to overcome the creates
I combination ever made on earth, then W
w. can in some degree appreciate the goodnes
y and greatness of his character. AS a reade
al of your paper | have been no little amuse'
no at the correspondence between "A Brya
ne Democrat and "a Lifelong Democrat
~ each advocating his favorite candidate fo
nd Governor of Va. the Bryan Democrat seen
Of to score q good one, when he disputes Ma
es. IT'S title to the highes Office in the gift
an the people on the ground of promises. Acco
ding to the late Col. VIM II. Terrell,
| mans promise to vote is no good aitho
be in writing and under seal, al therefor
by should never be depended upon. Col. Te
nd rell was authority on all questions of h
es- man nature. Mr.. Editor. why can't yo'
,ed correspondents agree on candidate I.
the Governor and take the Hon. Edward Echo
ne of your city, as this mutual choice? Sen
es- tor EcholS is tried and faithful publ
servant; personally he is most agTeeeab
man, and can be approached by the COM nl'
people. Mr.. Echols' ancestry have be-
people who have been noted for their p
ltriotism and charity, as a democrat
loyalty can not be questioned. His We
name would be tower OF strength befC
the democratic party Of Va.
With great respect,
A SUBSCRIBER
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