Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-04-02
LETTER FROM MIDDLEWAY.
MrppLEwAY. March "a, ISIS.

I gave YOU condensed account of the tenn
poral or secular condition of the place. This
week propose to give you an item or two in
reference to its spiritual and moral status,
aud respecting it may say just here. with
out being guilty of egotism or the fear of
contradiction, that there is less of rowdyism
or lawlessness here than in any other town
in the county of the same number of inhab-
itants, and the records of the County Court
will bear me out in making this assertion
This is doubtless attributable to the fact that
we have here four Church buildings. with
six congregations-the Episcopal. Lutheran,
Presby terian. German Reformed, Methodist
Episcopal South. Protestant Methodist, with
slight sprinkling Of Baptists-and not q
solitary drinking saloon in the place, as our
corporation fathers conscientiously and per-
sistenty reject all applications for the sale of
the critter. Consequently, if any of those of
US who are fond of it desire to take smile,
we have to visit the Metropolis or some other
city whose corporation guardians are less
conscientious. These congregations
spectively under the pastoral charge of the
Revs. Grammer, Episcopal; Long, Lutheran;
Wilson, Presbyterian Fisher, German Re-
formed gentlemen distinguished for their
piety and zeal, not only attending to the
spiritual wants OF their own hocks, but
faithful to the charge of Him who has called
them in seeking the lost sheep, aud gathers
ing them into the fold Of the great Shepherd;
and if any missing from this part of His
vineyard on that great day when H shall
come to lead them into Heavenly pastures, it
will not be chargeable to them. OF those of
the Methodsts I cannot speak, as they have
not yet entered upon the mission assigned
them by the late Conference, but no doubt
they are good and pious men, and will spare
no efforts to extend that Kingdom which has
no end. Of Sabbath schools there is but
one, and that is under the immediate super>
vision of the Rev. Mr.. Grammer, who is an
earnest and Jealous worker in the Sunday
school cause, admitting none as teachers bat
those whom he knows to be religiousy quail
fled for the work of this important auxiliary
of Christianity, and which is largely attended
by the children of parents, irrespective of
UNCONVENTIONAL nomenclature. Subsidiary
to these we have the Il. and A. Masons,
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and tho
Changers, all claiming fellowship in the
great work of improving the morals Of, aud
for ameliorating the condition Of mankind
and who proclaim as the cardinal principles
Of their respective organizations 'Faith ,>hope
and charity" admitting mono within the pre-
cincts of their Temples who do not ackno@l.
edge the existence of, and reverence that
Being who is the Supreme Ruler of all,
and belief in that volume of inspiration
which incucates the doctrine of Him who
spake as man never spake, when He pro
claimed, nineteen centuries ago. that sub ime
and Heavenly doctrine of "Peace on earth,
aud good willtoward men" Actuated. then, by
motives such these, and guided by the
principles of truth, justice and morality. as
taught by the Holy Scripture; if not strictly
religious, they are valuable adjuucts in roll.
ing hack the desola,ing tide of immortality,
scepticism and infdelity, which now threat
ems to engulf us in the maclstrom of destruo-
tion-that vortex in which have been swal>
lowed republics whose future was as bright
and promising as ours. Dor.
We announced in our last issue that the
body of the missing man, Nicholas Coffin
berger, supposed to have been murdered in
Berkeley county, had been found. From
the Statesman Of last week we gather the
following information in regard to the in
quest, &c.
The jury upon Wow of the body and a
full examination of all the facts of the case
rendered a verdict that the deceased had
come to his death from blow on the head
at the hands of some person unknown.
The body was found to be in good state
of preservation, although it had probably
been under the water since Coffin bcrgcr's
disappearance. In the pockets of his CLOTH
ing were found S25 in silver and two empty
pocket books, with the exception of one or
two memorandums. Upon post mortem
examination of the body the right lobe of
the brain was found to be considerably dis
colored.