The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-17
LOCAL MATTERS.

THE CoIPoRrKuK CONFERENCE.-The humble
yet persevering Dispatch has been the only paper
In this city that has noticed the proceedings of this
conversion. Although II Ia acknowledged that the
majority Of citizens either protested chris.
tians or ettend regularly upon divine worship, yet
have the press of this city, with exception, ut
terly disregarded of the most important and in
terestng religious Conventions that ever assembled
in our city. Ga Sunday last the pulpit of every
church in this city was filled by one of the clergy
men in attendance upon this convention. The in
terest manifested by church going people upon the
subject was, indeed remarkable. After listening to
the addresses Of men who, casting aside all hopes
of future competency fame, labored apostoli al
ly for $50 year, the mental and moral worth OF
Richmond was moved to the very foundation, and
the interest excited throughout the community,
greatly increased by the faithful reports of the Dis
patch, was continuous and intense. Sunday last
every church in which one of these self denying
and union missionaries preached was crowded and
overlooking. On every hand the exclamation arose,
why are Lot the proceedings of a convention en-
bodying the principles practise and virtues every
christian demon nation in the city generally dis
semnated2 We know Hot the reason. But as a
faithful chronicler of the characteristics of the age
We devoted full and expensive portion Of our
columns to liberal and impartial account of the
procee dings of this, the first &aion christian con
vention that ever assembled in Virginia Withcu,
regard to the religious view of the effects Of copor.
teur labor, we have only to say that the benefits re
sulting from the system, SO to speak, in an educa-
tioGal aspect are immense. The attention of thous.
ands OF families directed to, and interested in
the rIted page-and minds that hitherto have re
posed carelessy upon the lstlessness of the past
have been aroused from the lethargy of their igno
rance and stimulated to the study and elaboration
OF instructive moral works. Men who KIN wv not of
the existence of Deity have been led to enquiry in
regard to their moral and physical condition, and
as a matter OF course, an augmented sense Of per.
sonal accountability has increased their usefulness
and activity as citizens of free and republican
government. 1t may appear singular to many
minds that there are, in the old commonwealth of
Virginia. the mother of the Confederation families
ignorant and careless OF the great Frst Cause as
an unborn babe, nevertheless the statistics of the
labors of the coIportenrs have aggregated this re
suit. In professedly christian country, an exem-
piar for the world, heather ignorant and de.
PRAYED as the natives of Hindostan. We forbear
Comment upon such a state Of morality and pass no
censure upon the action Of the spiritual shepherds
of the commonwealth suffice il to say, that we ed
not travel thousands Of miles 10 find those entire.
ly destitute of instruction az not to be able to
make cross-marks to wedding contract. With
out further remark join statment of celpor-
teur labor performed in Virginia during the last
year under the superintendent of Mr. j. Cross
Mr.. C. records as follows:
Collections by Rev J. T. Hergrave, 1858 70: by
A II. Price, Sl,227 50; by Rev w. Osborne, SCI a.
by c. K Ross, 1856 AZ; and the remainder, except
some small sums, by your superintendent
Statistical Res a}ts Of Colportage.-We have to re-
cord twenty three years and three months labor
performed Books sold amount to $s3e7 OF, or
80, 54s volumes. Granted to the poor, 81 1854 30
or 1l,7Sj volumes. Meetings addressed 1881
mostly by ministerial coporteurs. WehaVe found
32l families destitute Of all religious books except
the Bible, and | 1883 even without that of whom
$50 were supplied by the sid of the Virginia Bible
Society or its auxiIiaries 25 3l4 families in all
have been visited, with most of whom religious
conversation and prayer have been held. The mum
Der of those families who, by their own confession
never attended any place CT worship, amounts to
1862
During the last seven years the following are the
results of colportage:
Years of eolporteur labor performed, 90; fami
lies visited SO 3l4; number of volumes sold 49,
$50, amounting to Si2,352; volumes distributed
$40 $50; r-ee.irgs held or addressed 922; fan
lies destitute of ali religious books except the Bible
10 S06 and 1892 families destitute OF the Bible
5577 of whom were supplied. The number of
families habitualy neglecting evangelical preaching
was 1892