The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-28

(fOrreSDCnIcnCe oil Inc hiShIhbha '''Nf'~'>
r5nrr;sonburg and It's Vicinify-Ex-
rraorGinary Religious ENrf'eneh'
among tnc NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Changes. 1880
HARRIsoSBURG, October "a, 1868.
This PROSPEROUS and busy mountain town
1yaors to-dav an unusually animated ana
fheerr,l aspcct. The weather is bright, the
orr l. orre and bracing, and the streets are
olive with people. 1t being Saturday, an
unnsual number OF the country people
seem &c have business in the city; besides
This. the Circuit Court, now in session,
draws together others; and last, but not
least, the synod Of Virginia attracts its
share of the crowd.
There are some things about the place
that arrest the attention Of an Eastern Vlr-
cinian. Take, for example, the fat horses; ;
their enormous bodies and limbs, and
steady, well contented gait. The appear
ancc of these animals tell us Of recupera-
ton, abundance, comparative prosperity.
The aspect OF the horse is key to the
general state Of the community III many
other particulars. 1t is pleasant to see
some hale old mountaineer Of three-score
years or more mounted on safe and easy
going steed, pursuing the even tenor of his
way, man and horse equally well satisfied
with the world and the way it has used
him. But the riders are not all Of the male
sex. Aged women in long cared bonnets !;
Young mothers with attendant husbands
holding babies in their arms, with
sometimes boy behind each pa
rent; and younger ladies, handsomely
mounted. ride into the town in familiar
way, and make the scene quite unique and
interesting, at least to a stranger. The
rich lands and plentiful crops in the vi
cinity require mart, and make Harrison
burg a place Of considerable business. A
great deal of produce and large quantities
of goods are sold here. The railroad that
takes most of this trade out Of the State is
within twenty miles Of the place, and will
soon be here. But this fine valley is a part
of Virginia, and though the natural ten
denotes Of commerce may carry the pro-
ducts Of their fields to other States, they
are still with US in sympathy and affection,
and an integral aud iudivisible part Of the
old Commonwealth, whose welfare must in
one way or another enrich their brethren
on the othe side of the Blue Ridge.
The particulars Of the recent excitement
in this vicinity about the ascension of some
people 10 the skies have interested me con-
siderably, and are, confess, somewhat
amusing. 1t was instigated mainly by the
riDgleader Of the sect called FeetloiperS,
who seeded from the Thinkers or Dunkards.
1t has been the custom Of these people tc
wash one another's feet. The seceders, as
their name indicates, contended that the
feet of the brethren should be wiped as wei
as washed, which had never been done be
fore, and a great controversy arose on THU
point. The Feetwipers, to the number
three hundred or more, separated ana tnei
their leader began to inspire them wi',
some new interpretations OF prophecy WnlcI
led them to expect great events on the Lhi
of last month; indeed, nothing less thal
that thew should rise from this world ana es
came Tho destruction which was then to over
take the rest of the world. In view OF thi
event some debts were paid off, cornfeld
were neglected, and on the appointed da.
ohont three hundred men, women, anC
children, assembled at rendezvous to avail
the coming Of o glorious car, which, LANDING
at Jerusalem, was to come by way of Bos
ton and take them away. They waitet
about forty-eight hours, watching and lis
tening to their speakers, until preacher
and hearers broke down, and were com
PEELED to return to their earthly homes
The leader is said to have been constrainet
by some considerations deeply affecting tn
cause to receive FIVE dollars from each on
who entered his fraternity, and, like Lycur
gus, the Spartan conquerer, he disappeare
u few days before the crisis which he hu
~ 30 zeslously foretold. 1t is said, however
that a mistake in the former calculatio
has been discovered, and that which wa
= to have taken place on the 9th ultimo vii
take place Tomorrow. ~
Among the ecclesiastical changes men
toned here as having recently taken plac
/ mention some: Rev. I. D. Bell resign
the pastoral care of the New Erection
church in this vicinity to become the Evan
gelist of Lexington Presbytery. Rev. Mr.
Pratt, Of Alabama, is soon to take charge 0
the church in Lexington. He preached
here night before last. Rev. F. II. Bow
man has left the Old Augusta church /,
take charge of g church in Memphis. Rev
Mr.. Finley has been called to the Hebron
church in Augusta. His decision has no
yet transpired. Rev. John W. Pugh ha
resigned the care OF the Warrenton church
Va, iN1,