Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-22
A New Proof and Illustration Of Special
Providence.

Providence.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
believe It has long been considered
proved by the best theolosians. and To-
gicians that a general providence ne
cessarily includes a special providence.
But the argument is too long AM
abstruse TO convince or interest common
minds. Indeed. while the Bible as plainly
teaches this doctrine as IL teaches there
is n God. yet few men in the ChIrch
practically believe IT. To say YOU be-
iieve It IL very easy. but to carry out
your belief in your coh,uct is exceedingly
difficult. To a thoroughly good man the
doctrine Is fun OF comfort. 1t teaches
patience and esisndIion-!cssons oil the
greatest value.
But to tn. sablact: I was years ago
a clerk In the Land OGics. at Tie Capt.
tol, and wrote patents or grants for Bind
TO citizens in the western part of tho State,
especially what is now known as west
Virginia Tney Were cllle1 wild lsLds.
In the latter part of the last century
many Spectators took up large tracts OF
land Splendid maps were made OF tht Sc
lands, embracing ten and fifteen and more
square miles in extent. The corners OF
these tracts were marked simply by
blazing trees with a Ratchet IL was
alleged that the surveyor sometimes
did not go over the line with his chains,
but sat down in his cabin and ran i'm
aglnary lines and made imaginary "cor-
ners'' and creeks and branches and ridges
They were called chimney corner sur
vcys. When large surveys were made
with ordinary care 1t was sometimes very
difficult to Identify them after years
The corners, or marked trees, would ro'
or blow down. Sometimes they were cut
down on purpose to prevent Identification
1t came to pass that the whole country
out In this wild mountain region became
what was called "shingled." with survey
on top OF survey. The State only charged
1-2 cents per acre, and many men. be-
cause of this cheapness, speculated with a
high hand. John Maryland, Richard
Smith. and others. went into the bus-
ness to make fortunes. and took up and
had surveyed hundreds OF thousands o;
acres zone died In the poorhouse) j
the taxes on these lands were not paid
for n number OF years they reverted &c
the state, and became liable to re-entry
by any one who would pay TO the State
the IL cents per acre. AS the country
began to be settled and the farmers
learned that vacant land, If found, coulC
be got for l-2 cents, they were on th'
lookout all the while for a chance e
enter land. There were other ex
penses, such as cost OF survey
and a few dollars fee at th'
law Office, but this did not amoUn
10 anything If several hundred acre.
could be found. So the search becam,
general The surveyors were the bes
posted men. and a number OF them tool
up many vacant tracts. The repatent
ing OF land became general, and titles be-
inc trsc ,,,fx 4
part in the business. and the study o
"land titles" became the all-absorbin,
subject. From time To time laws wer,
passed by the Legislature, with view
to settle these mixed titles. Non-resl
dents were warned TO look after theil
lands. and IL they paid no taxes fol
q number OF years their lands wer,
forfeited" TO the STATE. and becan,
vacant and liable to re-entry. Durins
the late boom much old land Warrant
was sold. with the hope OF finding Lane
on which it could be entered Some year:
ago Virginia. with view TO stop tn
speculation, raised the price of the yacan
land from l-2 to 70 cents. This had ir
some sort the desired effect. But, II
spite OF all the multitudinous searcher.
in all the western counties. IL did reallJ
happen that some land escaped the eye.
of the searchers. and even in or neal
Richmond, just above the Chesapeake an6
Ohio shops, on Seventeenth street, "A small
piece of land was found year or twC
ago that no one had a claim to. and /
was secured by a patent from the Stat'
for few dollars, and the title Is nov
good. i remember when Lieutenan
Brown. OF the old State Armory, tool
up the island on which the electric plan
has been lately located. and got hi.
patent for II at the rate OF 2 IL cents pei
AGE. BY this time / suppose the reader
whl begin to enquire what has all thi,
got to do with the doctrine OF specia
providence? IL has much 10 do with 1t
Here are thousands of men in the state
year after year. for more than a cen
fury. searching diligently in every county
and neighDorhood. in every mountain ant
in every valley, for piece of vacant
land, and yet they fail to find II all
and now and then a man finds two
acres. three acres, ten acres, and some
times several hundred acres. In between
some Of the big surveys that had eludeC
the search Of all eyes. This would seen
very remarkable. but 1t Is fact. Now tn
clouds that bear the refreshing rain.
upon their bosoms. like the surveys, ar,
OF different sizes, some miles square
some 30, 10. or 90. Unlike the surveyor.
not straight, but ragged and irregular
They are driven hither and thither by tn,
wind. They are irregular. also. in thei
time of visitation. but they never fai
to water every acre OF land once a year
and more than once a year. They do more
they find out every square foot OF land
yes, every square inch OF land. But NOR,
special still, these searching rains
without eyes to guide them, without 1
chart Of the country to aid them. find ans
visit more than once year every singh
blade OF grass"
Is this by chance! Who can believe 1t
God "opens His hand and supplieth ever,
living thing" He shuts 1t (stops tn,
rain); what follows? Universal silenc,
and death In air. water. and earth-thi.
grand and beautiful cosmos Is arid dus
and dcsolation. SO, IN little drops o.
water We see the real genesis or proto
piasm OF all life and besuty on this quie
globe In which we live. o. Lord, how
marvellous are Thy worksi In wisdom
haaf TAau snsAa TIA vvorlA " ~ p