Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26
AT OLD FORK CHURCH
A TYPICAL PRorRAcTED MEETING IN
FlUvANNA COUNTY.
DR.. Hiden's Earnest and Convincing Me-
thods-The Plentiful and Hospitsblc
McaI-singimg and Courting-Notes.

ial)-The protracted meeting AT the Oiu
Fork church came TO an end on Thursday
OF last week, much to the regret or many
OF the attendants, In whom DR.. Hiden's
forcible preaching had awakened pro-
found interest Ii was my privilege to be
present on that day, as well as on other
DAYS. and the manifestations OF deep feel
ing which I observed were numerous and
encouraging. Many were moved to tears.
Dr Uiden's methods are not OF the SEN
rational or ornate kind. He Is quiet, but
earnest and convincing. His illustrations
are practical and to the point, and his
logic clears the way to climax OF con-
viction Such preaching as his must be
productive Of much good.
Attending church In the country is
novel experience to the writer, ana tha'
IL why he feels like dwelling upon H.
At an early hour in the forenoon the
visitors begin to arrive. coming In by
every road and in all sorts Of convey
ances from the old-fashioned, exalted
family coach to the lightest and cleanes'
skeleton jumper of the present Gay. vi
course. some come on foot, whose MONIES
are nearby. Some-young coupies-whoss
homes are not so nearby also coHi'
on foot A long walk In country zane
offers advantages for courtihs no. Easily
surnassed IL is pleasant TO see the gooo
neople meeting and greeting each othei
Cordially and with affectionate interest
They really seem to know ana care FOL
each other. and not, as in the city, carry
about with them an ice-house atmosphere
and n keep distance manner, caicu,
lated To illustrate forcibly the religion OF
love which they profess.
THE NOONTIDE DINNER.
more pleasing sight is the noontide
dinner The repast is spread upon the
various small tables scattered about the
churchyard under the trees. frequently
two or more families combining resources
and feasting sumptuously and In hearty
accord. There Is no better place than THIS
Tor good eating of the wholesome kind.
Cold chicken is the sine qua non. Grief
and desolation urspeakable prevail In the
GOODS of the county after protracteu
meeting. Such raids upon them are
known at no other time Visitors from
the city especially incline to his sort OF
provender and, were II possible Wouiu
snrout feathers incontinently. II din
perIess stranger is observed he Is cor
daily invited to join In, his name being
around following To refuse would be ex-
tremeIv bad manners. After the meal thu
CONGREGATION reaesembleS In the church
md services are resumed. which continue
until about 1 O'Clock. After the meeting
many groups form about the churchyard
and without, and season OF quiet chat
is had. Very slowly the crowd disperses,
and II Is near sundown before the last
worshipper has left for his home.
SWEET MELODY.
The singing is like the preechlng-plaln
and unaffected. The music is only par
lor organ, and the choir lacks both talent
and training. but how sweet Is the melody
and how familiar the old tunes sound,
Some Of them had not heard for twenty
years. (This admission may sound
strangely. or may not, according az the
reader takes it, The tenor was far toe
fast. and the bass was far too slow. bu'
neither seemed 10 mind It. and nobody else
appeared to care A Irritation or two GO
ing on in the back seats did not greatly
mar the beauty and solemnity OF the oc'
casion. There were couples thus engaged
In the church-yard also. to whom divine
service offered less attraction, but no.
body seemed TO pay any attention u
these or TO the few careless and aimless
large majority were too intent upon thel
worshipping to be regardful Of TRIES.
AN ANCIENT EDIFICE.
The Old Fork church was built in 177l
and is. therefore. 100 years old-a fac
which somewhat surprised me. Originally
II was, / believe. a simple rectangular
building, with a conteal roof. Now 1t Il
T-shaped. wings at both sides having bee'
added. one of them being the main on
trance and the other the dressing-roor
OF the baptistry. Water for the poo
Is obtained from q well in the church
yard from which a wooden trough is ex
tended into one of the windows-a priml
tive contrivance truly. The original edi
fee IS still in q good state of preservation
The interior is nicely painted, but II Or
Snead. the pastor, will not object,
would suggest that donation Of new
carpet and a chair or two for the pulpi
platform from some good Baptist Drotnel
would not be amiss.
The nelghborhood Of Fork Union Is
quite thicky settled, consequently the
congregations which attend the church
are large. at least during the protracted
meetings. Usually. also. there are many
visitors from the city, this locality being
especially popular with Richmonders as
a place 10 summer at. At the meeting
which has just closed the doors and win
dows were occupied by people unable Il
find room on the inside. 1t is likely that
the church VIII have 10 be still furthe.
enlarged at no distant day.
AS TO GENERAL COOKE.
noticed in the Dispatch of the 18th
instant communication from CORE
nil CHI rts
with having made erroneous and care
less" statements relative to General
Cooke. the founder Of Bremo, and object.
ing to my Characterization Of him as q
nabob As in the first instance | wa,
only repeating what I had heard from
others. who ! supposed ought to know
/ could have had no motive. sinister
or otherwise. | have no personal interest
in the matter whatever In the second
case | used the word "Nabob" only n
the sense of a very rich man. / was toll,
that the General was probably IN
wealthiest man in the State In his aay.
Is. In fact. news TO me that there Is am
offensive meaning attaching 10 the word
What ! chiefly wish 10 say is. however
that / have IL direct from a member o.
this illustrious family that not only wer.
my statements not erroneous and care
less" but that there was nothing what
ever Objectionable TO the family I'm m,
communication. published In the Dispatch
My critics criticisms were. / am informed
unauthorized. and his statements. rathe
than mine. must be characterized as ser
roneous and careless" BE sure you arr
right. then go ahead" said Dayi,
Crockett.
UPPER BREMO.
Instead Of intending to be disagreeable
| was so pleased with my rambe ovel
Lower Bremo that I was filled with III,
wish to say only pleasant things both Of
the place and the people. / have since
had the additional pleasure of going ovel
Upper Bremo. and with a Ike result
The latter is even more impressive thar
the former. Think Of a barn built o.
stone and with pillared porch like tn,
south end of the State Capitol, only no
so massive, And an avenue of cedars
probably half a mile in length, winding
up to the stately old mansion on the cres
of the hill and in the centre OF a vas
lawn, One almost imagines himself n
noble and rich old England instead OF II
comparatively modern and poor old Vir
ginla The possessors of such home arr
enviable, indeed
l must not forget to say that j found
few more springs and underwear
another saturation. AQUA PURA.