Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-10-07

(By ]. T. Leonard 2oA Register Edi
toriaI Staff

Hon. George r. Vending, 4 noted
lecturer and author who has lectured
in Gainesville on several occasions,
died at his home in Charles Town, w i.
Va. September 18th, after a pr0trdsf-
ed illness, at the age of 10 years.
Mr.. Vending has lectured in Gain
esyiIle onat least three occasions, un-
der the auspices of local Eyceum Bu-
reaus. His. first lecture here was de-
livered in the old Opera House on
North Dixon street, more than twenty
years ago, his subject being sStDnewali
. Jackson alecture that made him fa-
nous in the South and in fact thru
out the United States.
His second lecture here wass deliv-
cred some years later in thu High
School auditorium, subjects g ile Man
Of Galilee." *
Some years following he was
brought here again to fill number
of the Lyceum Course and he lectured
in the City Hall Auditorium, his sub
ject being "Mirabeau and his career,
That was the last lecture he delivered
in this city.
Among the many noted lectures he
delivered over the country during his
speaking career, were, "a reply to
Ingersoll from secular standpoint"
which gave him wide fame as lee
turer and logician. This lecture he
prepared and delivered throughout the
north and east, when he was quite
young, and during the days when the
great agnostic Col. Ingersoll was in
his zenith, lecturing over the country
on "The Mistakes of Noses" and 9TH
er features Of the Bible which he de-
clared erroneous and inconsistent MIR
Vending was called upon to deliver
that lecture not only by Lyceum man.
agements, but by hundreds of church
es, and he spoket from multitudes of
pulpits as well as lecture rostrums in
reply to the eloquent Ingersoll who
had created an intense opposition to
himself in religious circles throughout
the land
Mr. Weddings lecture on saul of
Tarsus," was mastery commenda-
ton of the history and character of
that marvellous Saint. Another lecture
of his which was considered one Of
the best ever delivered by this elo-
quent and logical speaker of a Biblical
nature, was entitled eff man dies,
shall be live AGAIN." Mr. Vending
probably delivered that lecture more
IMAM d lnOuSdnQ 4LlIlSSJ IL DIS IldHS
different audiences.
Mr. Vending who was lawyer BY
profession and at one time a polti-
clan of great influence in his native
state, being born and reared in Shell
byville, Illinois, by humble but honest
parents, he was given university edu-
Arbor law school, and entered upon
L No nf Iay no hn 20
his majority age, He was Democrat
| in politics and though still youth,
he was engaged by the Democratic
State Executive Committee of Illinois
in 1868 to canvass the State and speak
for the election of Seymore and Blair,
| the Democratic candidates for Pfesi-
dent and Vice-President, respective
lily. Coupled with his tender age and
his brilliancy and forcible speaking
ability, he attracted state wide motor
| iety and could not fill one half the
| speaking demands made for his service
during that campaign they being so
numerous.
| In 1870 he was elected a member
of the State Constitutional Convention
which gave Illinois her present con-
stitution.
After practicing law for few years,
| in which pursuit he was remarkably
successful and was regarded among
| the biggest legal lights of that State,
he decided to abandon that profession
and give all his time to the lecture
field, in which he was marvelously
successful and accumulated hand
some fortune as the result of his,work
on the lecture platform. Mr.. Wend-
| ling was a Jealous and Dromine mt
/ member of the fraternal order of Odd
Fellows, and the first public lecture
hedelivered over his State, while still
practicing law, was in the interest OF
that fraternity, the title of his dis
course being the "Stone Easel"
Mr.. Vending was happily married
in early life to Miss Stephenson,
daughter of prominent Virginia par
ents and lifelong citizens of that not
ed Southern commonwealth. He is
Survived by his wife and several chill
dren, all grown.
| George R, Vending was one of
Gods noblemen. morally, socially, in
Itellectually and consistent follower
of the teaching of the "Man lof Gal
Iilee."
| The writer knew this brilliant man
when they were each in the youthful
state, and was frequently in touch
with him, more or less during his ac-
tive and busy lifetime, and to know
him was to admire and love him for
his broad intellect, fine accomplish
ments, intrinsic knowledge and human
kindness. The lecture platform oil
| America has lost one of its most bril-
liant and influential speakers, a man
who spent most of his noble life in
4 efforts for human uplift and the gen.
eral betterment of mankind.
Peace to his soul!
From the Gainesville, Texas, Reg.
lister of September II.