The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-03
PARSON WEEMS.
4 Maryland Believer IN the Truth Of the
Cherry Tree AneCtiOtc.

Cherry Tree Anectiotc.
To TINE EDITOR OF THE suN-str:
read the article In last Sundays Sun
about George Washington with q great
deal Of Interest, but the attacks on Pr.
son weems are not Justified.
The parsons story about the youthful
Washington, his little Ratchet and the
famous cherry tree has been assailed 20
often that some one ought to speak In
behalf Of Its author. on the face OF II
there 10 nothing improbable or suspicious.
Given a small boy. new sharp hatchet
and . smooth young cherry tree ana no.
body looking. the cherry tree 10 In peril
every time. The writer OF your article
demands proof Of the truth OF the anec-
dote. He Is dissatisfied with Parson
weemss statement that he got II from
an old lady, because the parson oidnt
I've the name Of the old lady. II 10 un-
,rtunate that the name Of the old lady
was not given. But the world has &C.
cepted that cherry tree story a. true.
an associate and friend Of Washington
whose character and profession entitle
him to credit and respect
Mason Locke Weems was born In Anne
Arundel county, Maryland. In 1883. He
was a grandson OF David. third Earl OF
Wemyss He went to England In 1892
to be ordained a minister In the Episcopal
Church. there being at that time no
Bishops in America. The Church Of Eng
land, under the law a. II stood then,
could admit to holy orders only those
who took the oath OF allegiance. This
weems could not do. He appealed to
Banjamin Franklin for aid. Or. Frank
lin could do nothing; Indeed he thought
1t absurd that those who were qualified
to preach and pray had TO ask leave Of
"a cross old gentleman at Canterbury.
In two years Parliament changed the
law and In 1884 Mr.. weems was or
dained In England. From 1884 to 1883
he was rector OF All Hallows parish In
Anne Arundel county. lie was later in
charge OF the old Pohick church where
Washington was an attendant and ves-
tryman. He was a frequent visitor at
Mount Vernon and his wife was related
to the Washington family. All these are
facts which can be verified by evidence
sufficiently strong to establish them In
any court OF Justice.
Weems wrote great many books,
His style Of writing was that of his time
and generation, and II he made Washing
ton to apear something more than human
he was not alone In that Even such
man as Thomas johnson. the first Gov
ernor OF Maryland, the war Governor"
OF the Revolutionary war, the organizer
Of the Maryland line. wrote OF Washing
ton In O letter Of which I have copy
as follows:
I enclose two Of many letters I received
from General Washington in the course OF
a long and intimate acquaintance and
friendship. which was honored with, nor
were our frequent conversations less re-
served. Some OF them could now repeat
almost verbatim. so impressive wee his
penetration, his wisdom and the purity OF
his mind. These two letters with my
rough draft OF an answer leave as .
rich legacy OF honor to my descendants.
with the hope that 1t may stimulate them
In tho course Of virtue, to the active prac-
tice Of that which is founded In truth and
sincerity. How loved him and how
love his memory. There were doubtless
specks OF our nature In him. but l am more
and more fixed In the opinion that he
nearer approached the order OF superior
beings than any man ! ever personally knew
OF from the report OF history or my limited
Acquaintance with the story Of those who
occupied the stage before US.
On the authority of Parson Weems
believe the cherry tree story and the
wild colt story and the apple tree story
and the &c. w" which grew In flowers.
and do not want my faith to be shaken
or disturbed by anything published. even
in so great a paper as TIE SUN. Please
leave my faith undsturbed by doubts
1t may be that the old lady who told
Wesms the cherry tree story was his
wife. relative OF the Washington
family. and that the tsrson was afraid
to give her name after referring TO her
as an "oid lady" F. W.
CUMBERLAND, Md, February 2s.