The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-12

'.oh iiom WHICH IL We keep yourselves III
shall be we'll with you" Acts XIV: 20.
Is it not then a law still binding on man,
and is it not the duty of Christians to
abstain from blood? B.
For the Central Presbyterian
A Missionary Journey in West
Virginia.
No. 9.
The night after we left Glade Creek
we spent at Mr.. John McCue's on Nc
Millions Greek, still in the county of
Nicholas. Mr.. McCue is a relative of
the McCue's of Augusta county, Va.
At an early period his ancestors removed
to this section of the country, and dis
played the usual judgment of born
denizen of Augusta in selecting farm.
The locality is perfect gem. The creek
runs In the direction of Elk river, and the
McCue settlement is some three miles
long by from half to three-quarters of a
mile wide, so level that, like Cesar
Arar, you can scarcely tell in which di-
rection the waters flow. Upwards of a
hundred haystacks were visible at one
time, and the hills were covered with
finest timber. These hills also grass to the
very top, and it is the policy of the people
to get rid of the timber as fast as pos
slble, IN order to prepare the land for
grass. AS tor fuel there is coal mine
on every mans farm, and few DAYS
work will furnish the owner with enough
of coal to expel the cold of the dreariest
winter. This is the reason why emf
grants are coming into this new State so
rapidly. Land does not rule at one
fourth the price that it does in the cider
States, and after the timber is deadened
and the underground hacked out, blue
grass springs up, affording pasturage for
thousands OF sheep and cattle. This we
ought to keep constantly in view as a
church, and be ready to meet the inflow
ing population; for Presbyterianism will
always flourish where bluegrass grows.
To our regret, Mr.. McCue was absent
from home the night we spent at his
house, but we were most Hospitality and
elegantly entertained by Mrs. McCue,
who was Miss Price, of Greenbrier.
Webster Springs.
The next morning found us in the sad
die again, but as Mr.. Haynes was COM
PEELED to retrace his steps in order to
meet an appointment on the following
Sunday, your correspondent headed for
Webster Salt Sulphur Springs, which is
also Webster Court House, piloted by a
gentleman from Fayette who kindly con-
sented to accompany me. Some few
miles from McMillions Greek, after cross
ing the dividing ridge, we struck the
waters of Big Beaver Creek, which flow
into Gauley, that is when there is any
water to flow in any direction. At the
time of my visit this stream was dry.
Stopping short time at Beaver Mills,
and meeting some gentlemen at store,
as soon as they learned 1 was preacher
they begged me to give them sermon.
This is characteristic of the good peo-
pie of this whole region. They always
want to hear a strangers gospel. Prom
Using to preach for them on my return
I continued my journey Night brought
US to Mr.. Arthur Hickman's one of
the elders of brother Haynes church.
Mr.. Hickman is the brother OF our old
acquaintance, Rev. William P. Hickman
who fell at Cloyd's mountain, bravely
fighting in the defence of his home and
Preside. AS 1 was William P. Hick-
mans follow student, his successor in
the pastorate in Pulaski, and the pastor
of his family after his lamented death, 1
was most cordially received and most
Hospitality entertained during my sojourn
in the peighborhood.
Mr.. Arthur Hickman is a remarkable
man. He is about as much the head of
clan as Scotch Highlander. He is
native of Bath county, Va, his wife was
Walker, of Rockbridge. They had
had thirteen children, eight of whom are
still living, and all married but one.
How many grandchildren there are, this
deponent saith not, but their name is
legion. An appointment had been sent
ahead for sacramental meeting, and
also one of the services was to be
funeral discourse, commemorative of the
death of Mrs. Hickman, who died some
time before my visit. These concurrent
circumstances brought about mastering
of the clan. They began coming in on
Saturday morning, and by Saturday
night the whole neighborhood was
crowded, some coming for the distance of
thirty miles. On Sunday the grove
in which we held the services swarmed.
1t was one Of the most interesting SER
vices the writer ever conducted. After
sermon the sacrament was administered,
and O largo numher of commandments