The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-07-07
WHOM WILL IT PROFIT?

The Railroads connected with this city have tor
a good while past abstained to good degree from
running passenger trains on Sunday. This has
been, we understand, from economical as well as
moral considerations. Sunday trains have not
been renumerative, and besides this, why should
not their employees as well as other people, have
the rest and the religious privileges Of the Sabbath?
A large portion of the community will see with
much surprise the announcement In our daily pa
pers that 1.-THE enterprising gentleman, who is the
Superintendent of the Petersburg y Richmond
Railroad, has inaugurated a measure which cannot
but be of great benefit to the road ITSELF and Of
advantage to our citizens" BY this arrangement
an excursion train is to be hereafter from that
city to Richmond every Sabbath morning, and to
return in the afternoon The motive assigned by
Petersburg paper is as follows:
"This will afford many an opportunity to visit
Richmond, to attend the churches, and to hear
those diyines whom they but seldom have the
privilege of hearing preach in our own city: This
is a wise measure which in common with all lovers
of the greatest good for the greatest number, we
highly applaud.
This announcement suggests a few thoughts.
1. The depl0ra6Le religious condition of Peters
burg Our impression has always been that Its
population was one of the most refined, pious,
church-going in the land, and that among all de-
nominations it was blessed with an able, faithful
ministry, greatly respected by the community
But it seems not. So great is the number OF NAL
contents who are hungerDg and thirsting for
something over in Richmond that "the enterpris'
ing gentleman who is the Superintendent Of the
Petersburg and Richmond Railroad has felt in
his bowels of compassion such yearning over
their destitute condition, that he has naugurated
measure" specially to meet their spiritual neces-
sites. But what sarcasm and humiliation in.
Aicted upon poor Petersburg
2. What IS Richmond to do? If we remember
rightly it would cost a Petersburg man about SO
to come to Richmond and return, on Saturday.
But the enterprisiHg Superintendent will let
him have the whole trip on this Sunday train for
ffly cents And as the paper intimates that a
similar arrangement may be made with the Pc
tersburg and Weldon Road, who can tell the ex-
tent and effect Of this new immigration into Rich
monde Can its churches accommodate this great
influx of lcorshjppers? VIII there not be a neces-
sity for building new church-to be called (say)
The Church ofthe Petersburg Pilgrims Is there
no danger of our Richmond clergy growing vain
under this extraordinary compliment about to be
paid them over the heads of their neighbors VIII
not 1" the enterprising superintendent" who brings
over this crowd of piouS worshippers, see to it
that they are provided with carriages to convey
them to church? Leaving them to walk long
distance of hot Sabbath morning, would be
cruel Ought not the devout people Of Richmond
"without distinction Of race, color or religion, -
to call Convention forthwith and make arrange
ments by which all the inhabitants of this Sunday
train shall be dined at private houses, and not
compelled to resort to the saloons and grog shops
of the eity-paceS they a6hOr, places they did not
come to visit (of course y and where it could only
be expected they would find their righteous
souls "vexed with the filthy conversation of the
wicked?"
8. THIS Is a good JeganiRg to the Petersburg
and Richmond Railroad. They have been long
charged with singular iliberality towards reli.
gious interests. Facilities and courteSies which
all other roads willingly extend towards elergymen
going upon purely professional and benevolent
errands, this prosperous and wealthy corporation
has hitherto, it is said, carefully withheld. But
that day may be considered as passed. This new
religious enterprise viii soon pervade the whole
corporation, and it may soon let the world see how
untrue is the il-natured remark, shat It has no
SOUL
What else can We expect than to ride hereafter
to Petersburg aud back for JVty cents What else
can be expected Of the new measure inaugurated
for the relief Of the discontented pious people Of
that good city, than vast thrOng of thirsty souls
poured into Richmond for the increase of its Sab
bath worship, as well as the vast increase of the
companies revenue by transporting them at 6fy
cents for The trip!
And so the question is answered, Whom l0M 1t
profit