hyperbole
Some Yankees would rather voluntarily splay themselves upon the alter of state, even a collective one, and take one in the hind area in the name of the Constitution rather than leave the church. Thus sanctified, they will then hunt down the heretics who left the church drag them back to the church and chain them upon the alter so as to receive their ‘gift’ of state also.
/hyperbole
In other words you've learned about as little about Yankees as you have about the War of Southern Rebellion.