The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-17
Diocese OF West Virginia.
,om the lRichmondl Church News.

miles. The diocese is co-terminous with
the boundaries of the State. The popu-
lation is $4,000. There are ten States
smaller in area There are ten States
with less population. 1t includes the
Eastern declivities of the Allegnany
mountains, and the sources OF the 70
tomac, the James and the Roanske are
fed from its springs. On the north, the
watershed of the mountains contains the
Cheat and its tributaries, the Tygarts
Valley, the west fork OF the Monongahels,
and that river for some distance. The
western slope OF the State is bounded by
the Ohio Tor distance of about 300
miles. containing the watersheds OF
numerous streams which give life, ANNA
tiOn and promise of future wealth and
support to large population, and which
is now flowing into the State. Among
these rivers may be mentioned the Red
River, the Greenbr and the Gsu!ey
which make the Ksnawhs, and the Elk
which enters it at Charleston, and Coal
q short distance below; the Sandy, the
Little Ksnawha, and the Middle Island.
1, stands conspicuously almost in the
centre of the Union, to become crown
OF eminenCe, or u monument OF imoecll-
ity, lncapscIty or indifference IN those
who are to shape, and should fulfill lib
destiny. 1t is, already, 10 great ex-
tent, one OF the pivotal points Tor the
large and increasing commerce between
the West 81 the East. From Hsrper's
Ferry, where the Shenandoah swells the
Potomac with its waters, through Grafton,
on the west FORK TO Wheeling, the Balil-
more and Ohio Railroad connects the
whole Central West and North West
with the Atlantic Sesbord and the Capt.
tn of the Union. From Grafton to
Parkersoarg, and thence by various ram
ihcatiOHs o. railroads the same concen-
tratiUn Of commercial and public inter-
course is poured through this new and
growing State. BY the Chesapeake and
OnIo Railway the commerce OF the ONO
River Is interlocked at Richmond with
Chesapeake Bay and the ocean, and SO
yiIh Europe, while by this line, and It's
prominent feeders, the Shenandoah Val
,cy railroad and the Orange and Alex
nndris, the communications with Wash
ington City, Baltimore and the East, are
so many solicitations TO men OF all classes,
t. those with fortunes and TO those with.
cut much means To come in and possess
the land, and multiply therein and sub
due it.
1t has a rich abundance of grazing
lands: no spot OF earth has finer forests;
rs hill tops, its mountain sides, and the
farming land; OF its valleys, invite fru-
gal and industrious population, that,
with n proper religious training, will
make brave and Independent yoemanry
TO compare with any part OF the world;
It's immense coal fields, and the ores ID
the bowels of its mountains will supply
means for the exercise OF human skill
and energy for ages to come. If man
wants TO 90 10 any place on the earth, 1t
is convenient starting point, and there
We can receive readily from every quar-
ter OF the compass whatever the earth
Can supply. Looking 70 I'll It's abundant
supplies, minerals, ores, timber, pasture
lands. tilhble grounds, manufacturing
facilities, salubrity of climate; and to the
marketing facilities, the State should be
thankful for the bounties of Providence.
That il she uld be so thankful the
Church should and must give its lnstruC-
tions and IT'S sdifcdtiOn. The natural in
ClinstiOn OF the mau, as an Arab, that
makes every other man an object OF
plumber, the prudence that would gather
wealth and keep it without sanctitudc,
may divide society in classes and may
make the deposition of force which viii
be necessary to maintain the division;
the communism of labor without any
lcred ties between culture and wealth,
and between these and labor will BIO the
d .ecrstlon of both, and the reproduction
of the old Asiatic divisions of society
which has existed for ages in India and
China. Give us the Brahmin and the
s speculative philosophy of India, (Dow
being reproduced in America, and you
will give us It's conditions. This is not
tle spirit in which the new diocese OF
West Virginia is now entering upon its
3 tcred mission. By the solemn service
Of our church, which, by its settled forms
and ceremonies, excluded from its MIN
isLratioDs sill means and temptations to
mix up and intensity human passions
and human InaleyOlcnce with the wor-
ship OF God IN the strites Cf civil and &c
cIestical warfare, the whole body OF the
clergy and lsity, are prepared
10 "go forward in the work of the Re-
deemer. The old Diocese of Virginia did
not cast this upon us, We sought it; we,
the children o; the church in West Vir-
sinia, divided amongst ourselves IN the
late civil strife, but nurtuTed by the lie
Of the Church itself and bound by It's all |
charity went forward together |
and asked that the moral destiny of the |
new State should be permltted-shouldI
be committed TO our hands. Small bands |
OF Churchmen, isolated here and there |
over the Diocese, at Wheeling, at Par
kersburg, ut Charleston, in Berkeley and |
Jefferson, !he smaller groups at other
points, pray God that we may spread out |
and close IN on the tops of our grand |
mountains and make the land a vine |
yard of the Lord. We feel that we have |
tue sympsthies OF the Old Mother with |
this, her newly born child. The material I
of West Virginia will eontri
buko w tuO RloeINiiSNN VI buo Shlpli' iltI
central position will make her watch
tower on the mountains, if in the pro-
whence of God her energies shall be I'M
folded and the work of her churchmen |
'hsll be accomplished.
Now that the titles to West Virginia
lands are generally well settled, and that
tho legislation of thu State is the direct |
work of its own Immediate representa-
II es who have common interest and |
more uniform habits and customs, snd = |
broad spirit to receive and assimilste the |
population which may flow into her
borders, the Improvement of the State
'aunot but be accelerated, and the |
Diocese of West Virginia must COM
inand the attention of the Church at |
arge.. GEORGE W. THOMPSON.