Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-06-25
Pilgrims in West Virginia.

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Pilgrims i'm West Virginia.
A AEw CoNGREG ATIoNAL CHURCH
BUSINESS, BUILDING AND
FARMING.
From the Washington Post.
To THE EDITOR OF THE Posi-:
In these early summer days this
charming little city looks as fresh
and bright as its most loyal in
habitants could possibly desire.
So the pilgrim from Washington,
coming hither, rejoices in the
bloom and freshness of the fair
fece of nature and in the vigor and
purity of the glorious breezes, fresh
from the grand old hills of West
Virginia. Your correspondent
came here to-day with many other
pilgrims" in very deed, for he
was in company with DR.. Rankin
and President Patten, of our city;
Messrs. Holmes and Hawley, Bal
timore; Pond and Merrifield, of
Falls Church; Mexican, of Hem
don, and others, who are of inher-
tied or pilgrim faith. While we
were gladdened by the beauties of
nature we were intent on aa eccle-
siastical errand, namely, the foun-
dation of new church of the
Congregational Society of this city.
Some months ago large body
in the United Brethren church in
this town, becoming dissatisfied
with the very rigid rules obtain
ing in their order, chiefly as to
secret societies, formally with
drew, and in process of time, after
due inquiry, decided to seek fel-
lowship with the Congregational
lists. Hence our mission here.
1t was found after careful inves-
tigation that some forty-six per-
sons, all in good and regular stand
ing, were ready to unite in this
church. The formal ceremonies
of organizing the church took
place this evening. Rev. DIR. Pat
ton, moderator of the council,
preached the sermon; DIR. Rankin
gave the address of welcome, and
Messrs. Holmes, Mexican and
George also took part. The new
church is composed of q sturdy
and vigorous element, and in the
new organization can hold the
same faith and doctrine dear to
them as United Brethren, and en-
Joy at the same time full liberty
of conscience in matters in q re-
ligious point of view substantially
more essential.
Our visit, as has already been
intimated, was made delightful,
not only by cordial reception
from our friends in the new or
ganization, but also from very
many of the public-spirited citi-
zens, who very generally opened
their houses for the accommoda-
ton of some of us visitors and del
egates. Your correspondent was
especially indebted to Mr.. and
Mrs. G. w. Buxton.
Business seemsto be reasonably
active. Considerable building is
going on. The farming interests
are in very good condition. A
prominent industry of the city
should perhaps be mentioned as
matter of news, and that is whis-
key distilling, which has been
very largely developed here since
the war. giving employment to a
large number of hands, and turn
ing out product at the rate of
many thousand barrels monthly.
Some one remarked that the Gov
eminent tax on this was hundreds
of thousands of dollars annually.
Possibly our new Congregational
church, whose members are pro-
nounced temperance people, may
exert a good and effective coun-
teractive influence to overcome
the damage so much whiskey may
cause. At the railroad depot your
corresondent saw some forty loco
motives, most of them fired up
and ready for the road! Verify,
the Baltimore and Ohio road is an
immense institution. d.
MARTINsBURG, VIVA, June ii.