Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-02-06
Letter From Petersburg.
PErERsBuRa, Va, Jan. 20.


Editors Regisfer.-In my last letter
mention was made Of murder that oc-
Cured here on the night of the torch
light procession. The case was tried
last week and some interesting facts
were developed that resulted in the ac-
quittal of the prisoner. The murder
had no political significance as both be-
longed to the Republican win g OF the
party.
The docket has several cases Of purely
local interest which will claim the at
tention of the court for the next ten
days. 1 suppose we have the most
moral, and / may say, the most relig-
ious city in Virginia, and | don't think
am wrong when say, of the South.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun
writing from here says that Petersburg
has a population of $4,000 souls, OF
whom 10000 are white, and $4,000 are
colored, and that the church statistics
show largely over one-half of the pop
ulation to be church members, and the
proportion holds good as well among
the colored as among the white people. y
For instance there are 5, 37S white COM
municants of churches and 6,957 col
oreG. or total of IL $3.50 commandments
in a population of $4,000. The total
Sunday School organization of all the
churches is $3.50. The membership
strength of the several denominations
among the white population is az fol-
lows: Presbyterian $50, Episcopal 1910,
Catholic $50, Methodist 1915, Baptist
S23. Among the colored Baptist 1928,
Methodist Sc, A. M. E. Zion 1873. The
First (colored) Baptist Church alone
has a membership of 1872, and the Sec
ond of 1854.
1t was my pleasure to hear Mr.. Moody
for four or five days during his visit to
Richmond. He had the same experience
there he has had elsewhere. The Dis
patch said, "He had captured the city,"
and a visitor would have thought the
statement true. The large hall, with
seating capacity Of nearly 5000, was
packed at every service, and thousands
were turned away unable to get seats,
or even standing room. Persons came
To the 8 o'clock service at l o'clock;
brought lunch, and remained in the
hall until after the night service. The
interest in the meeting was shared by
all classes. The day before Mr.. Moody
left the city, he invited few of Rich
mond's wealthy men to dine with him.
He presented the claims of the Young
Mems Christian Association to them as
worthy of a better support, and appealed
TO them in behalf Of the institution tor
a building. On the spot $4,000 was
pledged for this object; $1,000 of it was
given by two men. They will put up
handsome building as soon as they raise
the amount to s25 900, which will be
done very soon. The Associations in
the United States own property in
buildings to the amount Of nearly
81, oOO, 900. This will be the first build
ing south of Baltimore in the United
States.
Up to few days ago, we were having
delightful weather, warm and SPRING
like, but this was followed by rain, hail
and snow. The thermometer on last
Friday registered II degrees above zero.
Cool for this part Of the country.
The different cotton aud tobacco fac
tories which suspended last November,
have resumed operations and are work
ing full time and force. Business pros
poets are brighter now than ut any time
since last spring. Let me congratulate
YOU on the decided Improvement of the
REGISTER. look for it every Saturday
evening, and as soon as it is placed on
my desk give it my attention. Let me
also wish for it liberal support and a
long life OF usefulness.
Respectfully,
c. A. LICKLIDER.