The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-26
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
= a. fscc

PETERSBURG, January ., 1866.
The number Of churches, with the attehu
ance thereon, constitutes, probably q ia,i ''.
terion by which TO Judge OF the mo'a's o."
intelligence of community, while the pie,M.
ing order of architecture Is good iho'.'',o"
OF their culture and refinement. Men ''s'.e
ALWAYS find their appropriate expressio" -
the objects of art by which they arc sur
rounded. s,,,,
-, .orora, new churches were erected In TINS
CITY viz: ST. Paurs (Episcopal), In place OF the
old one destroyed by fire, but on another site !;
Grace (also Episcopal)-the former church OF
the same name being too small for the grow
ing congregation, besides being in an unsuita-
BILE locality: the Second Presbyterian, on
Washington street, in place Of the old struc-
,ure on High street; the First Baptist. also
on Washington street, in view OF the an.
,iouated building on Market street; and
the Market Street Methodist, erected by n
portion of another congregation "hich hao
grown TO be SO numerous rs TO require TWO
houses of worship. Thus. five OF the nine OF
ten prominent churches in Petersburg are OF
recon, date The old ones are the Tabb Street
PRESBYTERIAN, solid and imposing structure,
which will always hold high position among
the churches of the city; the washington
Street Methodist, plain and unpretending, bnt
built of massive materials the High Strect
Methodist of n still palmer character ana
the Catholic tSt. Joseph'sl at the corner OF
Washington and Market streets, simple pu'
neat edifice, which has been standing for many
years. should also mention the SECOND Dap
list, on Byrne street, which, however, pre-
sants but few attractions 10 the spectator.
Comparing the edifices one with another
in an architectural point of view, though
they all possess merit, yet the precedence
must be awarded to Grace. 1t is, In fact, yet
unfinished, but in process of completion. Inc
exterior is grand and imposing, with turrets
after the Gothic style, and the interior VIII
fully correspond in beauty. The Baptist
church, after it's order, was perhaps the
chastest Of all the sacred buildings in the city.
l say tcds, for il was fired last summer by n
stroke of lightning, and all the perishable part
consumed: but the walls were not injured,
and ii is now being rapidly restored to its
original beauty. The Second Presbyterian Is
of the same order, and is q fine building, bul
the steeple was blown down two or three years
ago during a violent gust, and has not been
replaced. It's symmetry is very much marred
in consequence. The Market Street Metho-
dist is n neat and handsome structure, though
not after the modern style.
Efforts have been made TO organize chess
club in this city, and 10 revive the game OF
which our people We're so fond before the war.
Alas. many who played with cunning hand
then will not be present now they have
fallen in a bloodier strife; but there are good
PLAYERS vet remaining, and il is hoped the
effort may succeed.
The room of me Freedmen Court presents
at times scenes more appropriate to Il slaugh-
ter-house than to well-kept apartments
TO- day there were several dead hogs displayed
ON the floor, some half cleaned, and others
still in the hair. A crowd of negroes were in
attendance, for they are implicated in almost
every petty theft. 1t may well be doubted
whether, as a rule, the negroes of Virginia,
under new order of things, will produce as
much as they consume.
The weather last night was too inclement for
the entire success of the concert at Phoenix
Hall given by Messrs. Grau Bricken. The
music is spoken of as having been very fine
SSowDFS