Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-08-28
WEST END NOTES,
OF OUR CITIZENS
AWAY ON VACATION.
rlany Returned Home.
AJAX IN THE BUSHES
He Enjoys Pleasant Chats
Preachers and Farmers
Glorious Protracted
Meetings.
Good Crops-Great Need o
Rain-Our Churches.
PERSONAL BRIEFS GATHERED
They Want to See Editor John Mitchell

townsman, Mr.. Thomas Lee Edmonds |
to spend our vacation at his attractive
country home in Goochland County, |
Va Tuesday, 18th, at s 40 in company
with the faithful pastor of the Fifth
Baptist Church in his buggy behind
his fleet footed roadster. "Bill," we
pulled out for our destination Of 4Ol
miles drive over q good. but very hilly
road. We had a gentle breeze that
made us often feel like being in the
land Of nod Only acquainted with
about five miles of the road but on we
went to the first station, Short Pump,
which proved to be one story bar
room and two other houses that looked
forsaken and poverty stricken.
Next we came to Jones' coal-pitts
A few delapidated houses, old shafts
and one store, a few peOple-au look
ed as though they had seen better
DAYS. 1t IL here that many OF our
fathers and brothers groaned their last
in days of slavery. Bones now buried
hundreds of feet beneath the earth's
surfice on either side OF the road.
We saw signs of splendid farms in
former days, large brick and weather
boarded mansions where once spiendor
and grardure reigned supreme These
stately mansions are now all delapi-
dated. deserted of servants and care,
desolation. Owls, bats and poor land
| is about all one can now see OF what
use to be the kingdoms of the former
wealthy southern planters. After five
hours drive we halted at St. Marks
Baptist Church just on the north line
| of Goochland in Louisa County. The
| church was conducting protracted
meeting and enjoying very success
full revival. In four days eighteen
conversions and all ready for baptism.
We found these people fairly intelli-
gent, orderly and earnest christians
all seem to be striving to- build them
selves both religiously and temporarily
and looked tidy and neat.
We visited this church three days
and were much impressed at the mark
ed improvement-the intelligent and
dignified bearing of both sex, but es-
pecially the women. In their prayer
and song services a very large number
use their HYMN books and those who
did not had learned their hymns by
heart and sang only one hymn at
time. Reverend William Hicks is
pastor with a very active Sunday
School Superintendent, a deacon board
that seemed to understand how to dis
patch business properly.
Thursdav. 10th Reverend n. Powell,
who had been previously requested by
the pastor, Reverend Hicks, TO preach
for him delivered most eloquent and
instructive discourse. The entire
church seemed greatly edited and
sinners convicted. The divine was
warmly congratulated for his splendid
effort. The edifice was crowded. Sew
eral white persons were present and
expressed themselves as having great
ly enjoyed the sermon and entire ser
vice. Among those who assisted Rev
erend Hicks were Reverends j. I. Ed
wards, L. Yancey, S. Johnson, M. V.
Burrus and others All these divines
displayed much knowledge of the
scripture and retentive memory.
These people are doing a grand work,
: a remarkable work. Not In any asso-
; citation we seldom hear of or see mis-
+ sionaries that deserve the highest
praise for their devotion and stead
fastness to true principle, coDtending
at all times for the faith once deliver
ed unto the saints.
Most of these old ex-slaves are now
} the owners and tillers of the soil
many owning 8, 10, %, so. 100 and up
wards of acres of land, nice houses
most of them beautifully white-wash-
ed. The church house is a clean, neat
: substantial building about 35x40.
: How THEY GO TO CHURCH.
They go to church in jumpers, single
and double buggies and carriages, good
o teams. Their eatables are the fresh
est and the best vegetables, country
hams and fried chickens, large tables
+ spread around and all are welcome.
e THE CROPS AND CATTLE.
: Wheat, corn, potatoes and tobacco
: are the principal products they cultl
vate. The three later staples art
. greatly in need of rain. but since oul
: return home q grand rain has falleI
and we hope the faithful farmers have
received their just proportions If 81
we imagine we can see the farmer
laugh and the dropped stalks of corr
and tobacco straighten up and loOl
heavenward. The wheat has yielded
fairly well and so will other crops
The cattle raised are horses, COWS anS
= hogs-mostly young stock and goot
breed. All looked we'll.
YOUNG PROFILE.
u Most Of the young people have lef
% the country and crowded into the cit
les. This is a great mistake and is t.
u be regretted. But poor public schoo
y facilities and scarcely no none,
> doubtless has been the cause.
N cIDERvILLE.
d Ciderville is the home of our kin,
friend, Mr. William Garrant, wit
n whom we had the pleasure to spen,
q four DAYS. Mr.. and Mrs. Garrant wer
uutiring in their efforts to make GU
, stay q pleasant one of JOY and Eappi
10 ness, and we'll did they succeed MI
l. Garrant is one Of the old school gen
tlemen living in comfort and compare
10 tive ease, goes to church and to tn
y courthouse in his double carriage, re
Ie spected and saluted by all as Mr. Gar
rant or uncle William. His color eat
+. no figure with either white or colorsd
u, Reverend fl. Powell was loud in prais
Al of the kind anC courteous treatmen
received from Mr.. and Mrs Garran
q and the good people generally.
IS Owing to the misfortune of BILL
la the faithful horse Of Reverend PoWe
IN by some means while prancing aroun
Il in the stable he got a nail in his foe
we were cheated out of our drive bac
ty through another section of the cour
8, try, and on Friday afternoon we lei
via of Cottengin Greek for Maiden
ne and boarded the train for home. Afts
lg a few puffs and snorts our iron hors
got down to business. Home agai
in and happy over pleasant recollection
y of our boyhoOd days.
DUB CHURCHES.
re
n, At the Second Bap ct Chur la
8 Sunday the pastor, Reverend u. ]
Lewis fed his flock with a powerf
TX and soul-stirrIng sermon.
y At the 9th Church Reverend d. Pow
in ell held-forth three times last Sunda
of preaching morning, afternoon al
night. His sermon was refreshing, il
ne spiring and instructive to all. Durir
an the day the congregations were rath,
slim, owing largely to many haviI
b. gone to the country to protracte
n meetings etc.
At the Galilee Baptist Church Re'
!. Io.onA w Silk rnoatnr Ia doirc.