Tangier Island: A Protest Against a Recent Letter in Relation to It.

Tangier, Va., July 26, 1899.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:

In your paper of July 19th is an article taken from the Washington Star concerning the people of Tangier Island. In view of the falsehood of the article it is but fair that you should give place in your paper to what is the truth about this matter.

I have lived among the people of Tangier Island as their pastor for more than four years, and have most diligently studied the people and customs, and I claim to have some knowledge of the place and its inhabitants.

I could answer the said article by using one terse sentence. To those who know the truth in the case, no refutation is needed; to those who do not, I would justly answer by saying the article is the work of some one whose profession is evident by seeking to make statements as wide of truth as it is possible. There is hardly a truth in it. And in evading so carefully the truth, he showed also his lack of knowledge of State lines, and has affairs which took place in Maryland, far from the Virginia line, and by Maryland officials, put down to the credit of the people of this land.

In the first place, the writer of the article under review says that Tangier Island is the spot where one is made to feel that he is entirely out of the world. It may have been thus with his feelings, as I presume that one who can write so far from the truth can also feel with sensibilities very far from the normal; but to those whose feelings are still natural, it cannot be so. Our island is visited by the beautiful steamer of B. C. and A. Railway Company, the Pocomoke, four times each week, as she plies between Snow Hill, Md., and Baltimore. The steamer Dixie, carrying the United States mail comes to us at 12:15 P.M. each day in the week, except Sunday, bringing to us the information and misinformation of the world, as it is given in the press. It may be, however, that one who could get truth so awry is not sufficiently informed to read the great dailies, and has to have his knowledge imparted to him at second hand; if so, our people, being a busy people, did not have time to give him a synopsis of the news of the day, and he felt very lonely.

I do not think there can be found twenty people here over the age of 10 years who have not been off the island many times, though said article make it appear otherwise.

The statement that only a few years ago the people were "worshipping in a small, ramshackled cabin" is a barefaced falsehood. In 1835, when there were only a few people here, they built a small framed church, 18x18 feet. In 1842 they enlarged the building to 22x26. In 1860 the house was again enlarged to accommodate the ever-increasing congregation. In 1870 a new building was erected, 36x50, at a cost of $2,400, and in 1890 this house was remodeled at a cost of $1,000, and made to cover about 2,000 square feet of ground floor and to seat 600 people. In 1896 it was found that a larger building was needed, and the present structure, modern in its construction and conveniences, lighted with gas and heated with steam, was erected at a cost of $10,000, about $7,000 of which has been paid in cash, and the rest is all subscribed.

The writer of said article states that a preacher from the Virginia Conference was sent to them and succeeded in "working up" one of the best charges, etc. While it would not have been any stigma to have hailed from the grand old Virginia Conference, yet truth is truth -- the preacher in question is a member of the Wilmington (Del.) Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He did not have to "work up" a church, but worked hand in hand with a noble-hearted people who had builded without him four churches, and who would have built the present structure if he had not been in the world.

It would appear from the tone of said article that the people here are simply dupes, to be cajoled or bossed at the pleasure of the parson. That is not so; they are very largely a liberal people, but do require to know for what they are to contribute, and when properly informed, many of them give freely to help any good cause.

His monstrous yarn about the smuggled whiskey and beer is too big a thing to be answered by the one work which had such frequent use in the words of General Eagan some time ago; but it is simply not so. Some one had prepared a few dozen bottles of beer a few years ago for the purpose of supplying the wishes of a few guzzlers, and the writer, helped by a few faithful men, destroyed it in open daylight, but not till the man who owned the boat in which it was gave permission. They then got themselves at the mercy of the law to take the consequences; but the place being a local option district, the whole affair was found within the purview of the law and conceded to be wise in view of all facts. The parties who owned the beer were not molested and have always been on friendly terms with the writer.

I have never seen a woman inside the church without shoes, nor have I ever seen one carrying her shoes in her hands to or from church.

The ladies here dress as neatly as they do anywhere in the world, and the dresses of the young men and women are as modern as are those of any place on earth.

The statements as to superstition are almost entirely untrue. A few may hold some vague ideas of witchcraft, and among others some old popular signs may be adhered to; but to no greater extent than in communities in any State of the Union. We have a physician, a native of North Carolina, a graduate of the Maryland University of Baltimore, and, if he is to be judged by his success, he is away above the average doctors of today.

The Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, The Golden Chain, and the American Fraternal Insurance Union are all represented on this island.

We have fair schools and good morals. A law and order league sees to it that good conduct prevails. We are not out of the world, but it would be a blessing if some newspaper correspondents were.