Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-07-10
An TICL[SHNII'S BOOK ABOUT
AUGUSTA.
WRIT EN- FIFTY YEA RS AGO.

AUUtJlA.
WRIT EN- FIFTY YEA RS AGO.
SLAVE WORsHIP-sTRANGE SOCIAL FEA-
TUREs-A wEYER's CAVE lLLUMINA-
TON so YEARS AGO-A COMMUNION AT
NEW PROvIDENCE-A MODEST MARIA.
TOR.
&C, &C, &C.
ga Narrative of the Visit to the Ameri-
can Colonies by the Deputation OF the
Congregational Union of England and
Wales, by Andrew Reed, D. D., and James
Matheson, D. D.,'' is the title of book
of 800 pages loaned us by A. G. Chris
tian, ESQ., 1t is worn and torn, as well it
may be. having been printed in 1885. The
world seems to have owned Its publlca-
ton, which was not a part of the original
plan, to the fact that the Deputation on
their return home to London, found they
had gotten into hot water and experience
ed "concern, if not surprise. to find that
in some quarters, and in the name Of re-
ligion, their mission had been open to
Misrepresentation, and their motives to
misconstruction - The statistical work of
the narrative is done by Rev Mr.. Mathe-
son. and the narrative portion, from which
we shall make some extracts, by Rev.
Mr.. Reed. 1t will make his narrative
clearer if we state that Mr.. r. was red
hot abolitionlst. and his silent sympathies
during his trip in Virginia were all with
the Negro.
CHURCH SCENE AT LEXINGTON-A
SHOT AT THE METHODIsTs.
In the heat of July, 1884. Mr.. Reed rode
into Lexington where he was the guest OF
Mr. j. H. Carruthers, a prominent mer-
chant Of that day. He was soon called
on by Rev. John Douglas, father of Mrs.
John McCue and Miss Fannie Douglas of
Augusta, and an uncle of Hon. A. Fl. H.
Stuart. On Sabbath morning, on Mr..
Douglas invitation, he attended the
Presbyterian Church, which stood almost
in the centre of what is now the cemetery
there, the east corner resting on what is
now Stonewall Jackson's grave. Mr..
Reed found fans in motion everywhere :,
and small kegs full Of water, with ladies'.
were placed in the window seats and be-
meath the pulpit. which were used by the
children, not only before but during the
sermon, and this caught the attention of
a stranger but did not seem to discompose
the people. The galleries were mostly
occupied by blacks. The general attend
ance was good; the congregation wore a
serious complexion; but there were not
irreverent Manners
ANEGRo MEETING.
In the afternoon Mr.. Carruthers took him
to the. AFRICAN Church." SIT is poor
log house built by the hands of the negroes,
and so placed as to show that they must
worship by stealth. By the law of the
State no colored persons are permitted to
assemble for worship unless white per-
son be present and preside. On that ac-
count the Elders of Mr.. Douglas church
attended in turn, that the poor people
may not lose the privileges they prize.
At this time two whites and two blacks
were in the pulpit. One of the blacks
addressing me as their "Strange master"
begged that 1 would take charge of the
service. I declined doing SO. He gave
out DIR. Watts beautiful psalm, ''Show
pity Lord, o Lord forgive" They all
rose Immediately. They had no books
for they could not read, but it was PRINT
ed on their memory and they sang it off
with feeling. There is much melody in
their voices, and when they enjoy hymn
there is a raised expression of face and an
undulating motion of the body keeping
time with the music, which is very touch
ing. The senior black who was preach
or among them, then offered prayer and
preached. His prayer was humble and
devotional. In one portion of it he made
an affecting allusion to their wrongs.
The other man of color followed with
spontaneous address meant to sustain the
impression. He had some conceit and
forwardness in what he said. In the even
ing Mr.. Reed went to hear the white
Methodist preacher, but to his abolition
ewes it appeared "a sorry affair in
contrast with what 1 had just witnessed"
On Tuesday he preached for Mr.. Douglas
and baptized an infant SOD OF Rev. James
Payne the then pastor of Mt. Carmel and
New Providence.
vYER's CAVE VISIT A HALF CEN
TURY AGO.
Tho next dav he started with Mr.. Doug
glass for Weyer's. Cave in party of i've
with ga four-whee,.ed chaise and two sad
die horses.' They stopped at Col. James
McDowell's, the fatEer-in-law OF Thos. IL.
Benton. and the father of James McDow-
ell. then a member of Congress and after
wards Governor of Virginia. 'Ine Gay
was hot. about 900, and we were in the
hall. It had, as is frequently the case,
the dimensions of room. and was sup
piled with sofas, chars and table. LIZ IS
preferred at this season because of It's
greater GOODNESS, and it is not uncommon
to see the whole family occupied in it. and
the porch or portico on a fine evening
This with the naked feet. the fan and the
light dress, illustrate some of the East
ern manners and historical descriptions
of the sacred Scriptures. - Progressing. la
ter in the evening. they got wet crossing
a swollen creek and stopped at Captain
Halls, the brother-in-la of Mr.. Doug
lass. This house was built in 1875, and
was recently purchased by T. FL. Antrim,
ESQ.,, of Waynesboro, at sale of Capt.
Halls estate. The building is still in ex.
eelient preservation. There were two