Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-08-22
on FAMILY journal
r,ove NIeetinr on sunday.

Grove MttLuA oA 1AANNJs
ON sabbath morning last the bright sun
shine and pure breczes tempted US to vary INC
usual ouictuJe Of tho day by ride TO thewoods'
anil an attendance on the grove meeting then
in PROGRESS at Wiltshiros SchooIhouse' some
e,rr miles from this town. Accordingly after
"a, ,.l;.b would have been more agreeable
~ En-. hem fewer rocks to encounter, we
-. - n. Ground and found already gathered
-, and intelligent congregation from all
- ~ the country rouud-drawn, no doubt,
- tbs charming novelty Of hearing tho pure
r,,-I Of God dispensed in The Groves, His
FIRST Temples" Asthe hour Of preaching drew
rc,r. the attention of the scattered crowd was
attracted by many childish voices joining in the
singing Of a sweet Sunday School hymn, and
quickly and silently all found seats either on
the benches in front Of tho speakers stand or
in the numerous carriages and wagons which
were drawn closely round the circle ana Win
in easy hearing distance &C che speaker.
The morning service was conducted by Kew.
w. G. Coz Of Shephcrlstown, faithful min
lister Of Christ who has known what it is to SUI
f.r persecution for his Masters sake. He
p--sclel am able and eloquent discourse from
John iH-0-"IIow can these things be -
dwelling especially on tho necessity Of an IN
questioning. unwayering faith, to salvation,
and bringing from the scriptures many forci-
Die examples and illustrations Of bis topic.
Aler a quiet and orderly attention to the
morning sermon, the congregation dispersed
TO their various cquipages, and refreshed them
selves bv partakiug Of their collations. To US
There are few greater Injuries than a cold din
rc- uat,r the spreading branches Of the forest
tree.-ft creates an alarming appetite, and on
this occasion said appetite was only surpassed
by TIE ample provision our friends had made
TO apre1ss it. The iutermission between din
rcr and The time Of afternoon service was i'm
proved Jy pleasant intercourse between friends
aud acquaiutanccs who Perchance had not met
for many days; and again at the sound ofsing-
ing the attentive audience gathered to their
places On the rustic seats in front Of the pulpit
The afternoon discourse By the Rev. 1. Il.
SugruEeD, Of this town, was from Deus, xxxil
-io-5o-on the subject Of the recognition OF
friends In Heaven. In support Of tins Pecu-
IarIy comforting doctrine, he drew many able
arguments from the Old aud New Testaments,
and the strong feeling and earnest application
of the sermon produced a serious impressionon
many oCls hearers.
The afternoon service over, the grove was
soon cleared, and in a few minutes all was
eu.e. and solitude where but 50 lately the hum
Of living voices filed the air. We fingered a
little with q feeling Of regret that such pleasant
DAYS must end, and presently found ourselves
az near sunset rafting over the road, along by
waving corufelds. green meadows and here and
there a cosy farm house; and, as the steeples
and spires Of town came into view the beauti-
fil Ola maxim "Goi made the country, but
man made the town was more strikingly than
ever before brought home to our minds.