The Fair at Harper’s Ferry: Catholic vs. Protestant

MR. EDITOR: As I have promised to drop you an occasional letter, when anything occurs in this vicinity worthy of special notice, to make good my word, I must take up a fair subject.

The Fair, which has been in progress in Harper’s Ferry for a number of days past, under the auspices of the members of the Methodist Protestant Church, terminated last evening with a success that exceeded, by far, the most sanguine expectations of all concerned, the net proceeds amounting to about eight hundred dollars.

The most interesting feature attending the season of its duration, was the polling of votes for the presentation of a silver service to the most popular resident minister, but was soon narrowed down to two candidates, the Rev. J. C. STEWART of the M. P. Church, and Father KANE of St. Peters. A vote was represented by twenty-five cents, and no restrictions placed upon the number polled by each individual. Therefore, the contest was governed by an ensemble of strange compositions; the length of individual pockets; their measure of ful[l]ness of the wherewith; the liberality of their owners; their respect for their favorite candidate, and their amount of devotion for worldly gain, abbreviated of late to greenbacks. Upon this hypothesis, I will attempt the outlines of a pen picture, of scenes at the polls, and elsewhere. The first night exhibited but little display of the voters nerves, there being but few votes cast, with a balance in favor of Father Kane. During the following day, electioneering became prevalent, and the eager conversations of little groups on the streets and in the stores, betokened to the observer of our town affairs, the coming storm of competition. The interest continued to increase until Tuesday night last, when, centripetal in its nature, friends of the candidates were drawn eagerly together, and stood, oblivious to everything else, around the table, upon which sat the coveted prize. The index to human emotions never, to my mind, was more strongly marked and verified. The torch of a heavy vote for one candidate, would throw its brilliant rays over the countenances of some, till they gleamed with the smiles of expectant success, while it cast a shadow over others, and marked them with the melancholy gloom of defeat. And so, mutatis mutandis. As faces spoke their silent language, I listened, if I may so express myself, with the ocular ear of detection, and these are the whisperings of individual soliloquies: “This money in my pocket, I worked hard for! It is a very convenient article for a person to have in possession, but we must have that silver ware for our minister, so, here goes.” “Well, they are ahead of us. I don’t like much to spend any more money for this service; I have other use for it. But our minister is worthy of all the honor we can pay him; I’ll go it a hundred more. Almost to the bottom! very little left! I have voted the other, and this would’nt be of much benefit to me, any how. Put me down a few more.” (Old stager, standing off to one side, flush, pocket full of rocks, came to vote, came to win.) “I’ll just stand around and let ’em all vote till a few moments of the time to close the polls, and then I’ll give ’em a warmer.” The polls were closed at 11 o’clock with the following result: Father Kane, 912; Rev. James C. Stewart, 869; scattering, 14. A misconception of the state of the polls was the means of keeping back several hundred votes, already canvassed, otherwise the price of the service would have been materially enhanced.

The very proper finale, following the announcement of the vote took place last night in the fair room by a formal presentation to Father Kane of the beautiful present, by Mr. Chas. Davies, on behalf of the managers of the fair, followed by the Rev. gentleman, in a most liberal, lucid and appropriate manner. The contest being one, principally between protestant and catholic denominations, naturally, reference was made to the fact. Not in a spirit of sectarianism, not in a strain of bigotry, that absorbs but the elements of its own composition; but with that spirit of christian devotion to the important duties of humanity, which expands the smallest fibres of the heart with love, till it takes within its sympathetic grasp, Gods whole creation. Such was the tenor of Father Kane’s remarks, such is the mark of a true christian. When illiberality shall be erased from the minds of men; when bigotry shall sink into the bosom of the grave; when sectarianism shall find no resting place within the precincts of moral philosophy; we shall be able to meet upon the broad platform of universal fellowship, and joyfully extend the right hand of brotherly affection.

To the standpoint of ethical science, we must look for the highest type of civilization, and when it shall be reached, when christians of every denomination can join in paens to God, for the gracious gift of an only begotten Son, “that whosoever will believe, shall have everlasting life,” the death blow to infidelity will be struck; the excrescences which have lately shown themselves, or rather, which the Phillipses, the Frothinghams, the Collyers, the Clarkes, the Browns, the Nathans, and others of that ilk, are endeavoring to engraft upon the body of social science, will have sunk beyond the hope of resurrection. If this be episodical, I shall plead but one excuse, and that the social feeling exhibited between Protestants and Catholics upon the occasion which has drawn out these cursory remarks, is so in harmony with my own sentiments and impressions, that my every tho’t upon questions of religion, is involuntarily awakened, and were it not for extenuation, prolixity, and the inappropriateness of place, I should be pleased to dwell upon the important question, why christians of all denominations should act in harmony, as to the one great end to be attained.

Preparations are now being made for a Catholic Fair, to be held at Harper’s Ferry, and to commence on the 15th inst. As their Fairs are always conducted successfully, there will be little risk in a prediction of success for this one. At this Fair, the test of who is the most popular man in our county, (young men not reckoned in the contest,) will be decided by a vote for a gold headed cane.– The names entered by the committee are, W. F. Cochrane, Robt. N. Duke, James T. Reed, Capt. D. J. Young, Dr. James S. O’Donnell, W. D. Fitzpatrick, S. V. Yantis, M. Walsh, and Thos. N. Heskitt. Others will be entered at the suggestion of any voter desiring it. The young men will enter the arena of personal popularity, for a pair of cuff buttons– 25 cents will represent a vote for the cane, and 10 cents a vote for the buttons. No test oaths, no registration laws. Bring in your voters, big, little, young and old.
MORE ANON.

N. B. Enter the names of Wm. H. Travers of Charlestown, and Benjamin F. Harrison of Shepherdstown, for the cane. M. A.
Bolivar, June 5, 1868.