Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-03


judgment, the model infant class teacber
have seen many infant classes but for
order, enthusiasm and knowledge of tho
lesson of the day, Mrs. Curry's class easily
bears Off the palm. 1t averages over ono
hundred in attendance
THE FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH
In this city is the largest church in tho
world save Surgeons. II numbers tbreo
thousand six hundred. attended a ban
tsnal occasion on the second Sunday in
May, when one hundred and sixty-slx
were baptized The ordinance was becom.
ugly adminstered-there was no undue
haste, and yet the baptisms were one hun.
dred and twenty-five in an hour. At tho
same rate the three thousand baptized ON
the day Of PentecOst could have been ban.
tized by immersion by the twelve apostles
in two hours. The pastor of this church
Rev. Mr.. Holmes, Is a born leader. Ue
was slave till the close OF the war The
church il not, as I suspected it might be,
mob. 1t is thoroughly organized. 1t has
thirty deacons. The discipline is strict. If
there Is anything that the colored race de.
light in il is circuses and balls. But tbese
are strictly prohibited. A short time ago
seventeen OF the members engaged ia
dance. Whether they danced "round" or
square" we did not learn, neither did the
church stop to inquire, but excluded them
at once The very next month the whole
seventeen came back full of renilence and
promises. They were restored. The re.
ception Of members is well guarded. In
III, IL. 4 al.
is a committee; each candidate must first
90 before the committee in their own 10.
caity. Ifapproved they are recommend.
cd TO the church. Seated in a chair they
are re-examined by the pastor, who, with
the skill Of a lawyer, puts apt, short aud
searching questions. The examination
ended the vote of the church is al once
taken, aud, If II is favorable, the candidate
shakes hands with the pastor and leading
brethren, and the next in order takes the
chair. attended one of these meetings,
and was convinced that il was difficult for
unworthy persons TO gain admission 10 the
| church. On Sunday evening I addressed
this congregation, aud rarely have felt
that an opportunity more valuable was
offered. II was with something Of reuct.
anco that packed my carpet-bag at Forl's
Hotel, aud babe good-by 10 Richmond. |
lef by
| THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
Out over fields where armies marched
| and countcrmarched we were borne For
| the first seventy-tve miles the country is
unintcrestiug, and To a large degree uncul-
tivaled. At GurdOnsvile fine farms ap-
pear. Under, aud over, and around the
Blue Ridge Mountains we go, until at last
we look down into that lovely valley era
died between the Blue Ridge and the Al
leghanirs, up and down which Stonewall
Jackson, and Early, and Mosby on the one
hand, aud Averill, and Shields, and Banks
on the other, marched and countermarc h-
cd until Little Phil' sent Il o last Conied
crate army "whirling up the valley" never
to return. Out Of this rich and beautiful
region We go, amidst mountain scenery Of
the widest aud grandest kind. If it were
in Europe it would be visited by thous-
ands, and described in exiravagant terms.
When will Americans be persuaded that
In their own country there is something
worth seeingH But like the apples Of Eden,
| lucSe UlOunlAlus are IOl
to the eye they are full OF iron and coal of
tho best quality. Hitherto these treasures
have been inaccessible, but the completion
of the railroad now opens them to the
world. Western Virginia is destined To
become another Pennsylvania, and the
Chesapeake aud Obi Railroad is certain TO
become a second Pennsylvania Central
Railroad. In the midst of the Alleghanies
we found that famous resort,
THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.
For more than fny years these springs
have been celebrated, and deservedly so.
1t is, indeed, the Mecca Of fountains, and
the queen OF fashion. The grounds en-
brace some fry acres. They are surround
ed by a row OF cottages facing the main
building in the centre, in which Is the din
ing-room, three hundred feet long, capable
of seating one thousand two hundred
guests These cottages are the most popu-
lar, for they enable families to sleep away
from the noise Of the large building. The
two or three days that l spent there filled
me with a desire to return and spend
month. Probably no watering-place in
the country has entertained so many presi-
dents, governors aud statesmen as the
White Sulphur.
We made our exit from the Virginias by
the way of Manassas and Alexandra.
Along the road are many relics Of the late
"unpleasantness." The old Notifications
still frown upon the traveller at Manassas,
at Bull Run, and at other places. Some Of
the winter barracks of the soldiers still re-
main. They are now occupied by the
peaceful hocks of the farmers as sheds and
stables, or by families of the freedmen. AT
length, amer weeks of wandering, We en-
tered the Paris of Washington,
spent fortnight in looking after Congress
aud the Missionary Meetings, and then,
with joyful heart sought
BRATTLEDORc,
that sweetest OF villages that sits upon the
slopes of the Green Mountains, and layes
its feet in the pure waters of the Connecti-
} cut. We were gratihed TO find that Dr.
Cummings had filed the gap to the salts
faction of all. A more genial man, more
prudent manager, aud a more acceptable
preacher can hardly he found in one per-
son than in our excellent brother-the sage
of Concord. LIN.
Marlboro.