The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-10
Letter from Petersburg.
PETERSBURG, June 10, 1871,

To tie Editor of tie State Journal:
A bad penny invariably turns up. The
local mail having been put on the 10
o'clock train from Petersburg to Richmond,
I am enabled to resume my dull letters.
Yesterday was observed by the friends
of the "Lost Cause" as Memorial Day."
Business was generally suspended at about
O'Clock P. NJ, at which time a long pro-
cession started from Washington street.
The exercises at Blanford came off in the
cool of the day, and vast crowd assem-
bled. 1t is a beautiful custom. and
although | cannot honor the cause for
which these lamented men gave their
lives, do honor the feelings which prompt
this custom of strewing flowers on the
graves of those who died in defence of
what they believed to be right
An incident of peculiar importance which
occurred as part of the proceeding of the
late meeting OF the Baptist General Asso-
citation in this city seems to have escaped
public notice.
1t appears that the Virginia Baptist
State Convention, com posed of colored
people, at its last meeting passed resolu-
tions of fraternal greeting, and appointed
its president, Rev. Richard Wells, as a cor
responding messenger to sit in the conven-
ton of white Baptists This was an over
ture towards reconciliation, peace and
good will between the races that the "con-
servative' white people have long pro-
,fessed desire to see. But it seems they
were not prepared to have it come sin
such questionable shape" as this. The
communication of the colored Baptists was
poser. If anybody ought to respond
favorabiy to such overtures, religious
body is the one above all others to dUit.
The matter was referred to committee
OF the oldest and ablest of the body. That
committee after due deliberation, at length |
reported that while they cordially recipro-
Gated the kind and christian sentiments of
the colored baptists, and would deem it |
privilege to aid them in their pious labor, |
yet from considerations which we need |
not specify and cannot control, we deem it
inexpedent to enter into an interchange of |
corresponding messengers" This, then, is
the end of all those loud professions of a
desire to Cultivate friendly relations with
our colored people," A Christian body
one OF the largest and most respectable of
Virginia composed of intelligent and
able Conservatives" some of them active
politicians. too-did not possess the moral
courage to stand up to what they knew to
be right. | cannot believe but that these
leaders of Christian church did what they
felt to be wrong when they refused cordial
Christian fellowship with brethren of their
own denomination.
But they feared the people," What
we're those considerations which they
1eed not specify and could not control %
1t is the humiliating confession that these
'sliglous people of the South have not
'nough OF the spirit of their Divine Master
% treat their bretheren according to the
orecept and example of our Lord Jesus
Jhrlst and bis apostles. 1t is not pleasant
o draw lnvidious comparisons, but people
'ould not help realizing the fact that at the
'ery time these remarkable resolutions
we're being prepared, another convention
# Virginia christians was in session in
his very city with a colored minister, an
arrest Republican, sitting as delegate in
he body with perfect equality of rights,
responsibilities and privileges. The Epis-
opallans, long since took this matter up,
nd though few fre-eaters protested, the
natter was decided on the broad princi-
lples of christian charity. They did right,
nd blessings followed their action.
Had the Baptists possessed the moral
ourage to have done their simple duty
y their colored brethren, it may be that a |
sw hery sisters. and possibly brothers,
7ouid have left the church in high
udgeon; but the christian world would
ave applauded, the blessings Of God t
'ould have followed, and the denomina- {
on would have grown stronger and
sronger 10 years to come. The right '
purse, also, would have immeasurably !
romoted that harmony and good feeling q
all the community, which it appears to
le should be the peculiar province of the
hristian religion to produce
OCCASIONALLY. L
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