The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-11
sPs,owHATAly &. COUNTY.
Corresponds or The Richmond Dispatch.

+ 49, 800 IOM bAIANy o. lCiVs
The Middle District Association OF the
Banifst churches In The counties Of Chcs-
,erfield, Pow hataf,, and Amelia, met at Pc
teryiIle church, near Pow hatan Courthouse,
on last "Wednesday, and closed to-day. The
Association now nearly approaches its cen-
tennial year, and was held in the spacious
and comfortable brick church at Peterville,
adjoining immediately the site OF the old
Colonial church, called by this name, which
was the principal church in the parish Of
Saint James, which extended on both sides
OF James river, and was suh-divided in
Northsm and Southam. IL was organized
by the election OF D. Mack Goode, Esq, OF
Chesterfield, as moderator, and OF DR.. John
Lewis Dorsett, of Chesterfield, rs clerk and
treasurer. Letters were read from twenty
five churches, all OF whom were rep
resented by delegates, and the annual
sermon was preached by Rev. j. r.
Wilkinson, who was the alternate OF the
Rev. Mr. Pitcher. who was unayoidably
absent. Rev. DR.. Dunaway, OF Fredericks-
burg; Dr.lA. E. Dickinson, Rev. DR.. Grit
feth. who represented the interests Of the
Greenyille Theological Seminary Rev. r.
W. Cridlen, OF Portsmouth, the former
pastor Of the church; Rev. Jesse Perkins and
Colonel John II. McRae, OF Cumberland,
and the moderator Of the James-River As
ISOLATION, and j. T. Ellyson, correspond
ing secretary OF Education Board OF the
General Association, were invited to take
seats and deliberate with the Association.
The two following days were taken up with
the deliberations OF the body upon the SUBJ
| iects OF foreign and domestic missions, min
| isterial education and support, Sunday
schools, aud such subjects OF general reli-
gious interest, upon which speeches OF
great interest aud merit were delivered by
the clerical and many OF the lay delegates
present-the most interesting OF all being q
lecture by Rev. DR.. Hartwell, missionary
to China, upon the present condition
and religious prospects OF that country.
While the Association was deliberating and
transactinS their business in the church, q
stand erected under the shade Of the prime
val oaks which stood around the site OF the
old church, and which are the remnant OF
those old occupants OF the forest in which
the aboriginal Indians lived, was occupied
by the ministers. who preached interesting
sermons to large congregations. 1t was the
largest attendance that has been at any place
in Powhatap since the war. Three OF four
acres were covered with people and their
vehicles and horses, and the long tables
which groaned under the eatables OF the
UoSU1ldUlC VII tuS SVSOhu ooJ
there was the largest crowd. The large
church building, which has three large gal
lcrieS, was den>ely packed with those who
wished to hear the discussions in the AsSo
citation. \ large concourse was collected
around the stand hearing the sermons, oc
cupying all the seats, and many standing
around, and another large crowd were dis
persed on the grounds around and between
the church and the stand, who, being una
bic 10 get seats around either, were en-.
gagged in the social meetings OF old friend;
and the interesting newer-formed acquaint-
anceships Of the youn. people. The attend
lants from q distance were entertained by
the whole adjoining community irrespec'
tive OF denomination. The Association adj
journed this evening, having deter mined tc
hold its next annual meeting at Sandy
Creek church, in Amelia county, and the
parting scene Of the delegates, who had
once more come together to attend to eX
tending the interest OF religion, Impressed
with the fact that the same would never
. more meet together except in another life
in grander and more holy association
above, was very affecting, especially during
, the parting PRAYER, which was offered up b,
the Rev. Or. Dunaway, after appropriate
/. remarks from the Moderator.
A LoOKER-ON.