The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-04-05

1 Tbr-- oeSSs0d@.- Ne Co0y9060H met n
Mr.. culSy. afternoon, according to adiournnens.
49,. Saise effson, missionary from China ART 81
| ;r,s.so. tne meeting. He shoved IN = series ~
ton 81 r5;, sascments 1st The heathenish condi-
| parficris- IN education, ~ IN other important
ts.n they are ssdlv behind rThs;r .ch.s,s
nnniI r.tne but their own laueuaee civinc the
40 that sh ot tedious exercise Of the rpeuaorv
tains the scholsr.f; :; S smong them scarcely at
9 o1 OUT own country. In All msrra. scnoolDoy
nprovements they have made hnt ,;..ia ,'.
railroad csr ~. cpmiortabe and swiftly MOVING
~ CA. csl, tney mad the miserable yvhs.,h..ras
Mr " in adyerting to results ~ rs-.Osa rsoarIoW.
tnus far In China, stated that con.ds-.hs eHort
mad been made in new translation ~ ~ S
tianity has 600 converts there ,vbc 80; Saris-
tory evidence of true religion e s~sssase-
The rebel, Tae r. Wang though he profe..es ..
have received revelation from Heaven = ~,
N Mr. y 50 opinion, altogether fanatic There is
no doubt that his supposed revelations are the mn
eHaceable impressions made upon his mind wears
ago BY tract written by native Chinese convert
to Christianity. The writer of this tract was Z pu
pl OF the missionary Morrison. In consequence Of
these impressions, this famous man and his follow
ers have thrown their idols away and effected other
reforms. Mr.. C. exhibited a copy of portion Of
the Sacred Scriptures, (the book of Deuteronomy
which u distributed and committed to memory
among these rebels. He also exhibited copy Of
| the New Testament as translated by the missiona.
six cents, ! =
Hst mI. Del, rom Harrlsonburg, In the Valley
OF Virginia, followed Mr.. Culbertson. He showed
that the distribution of the Scriptures n the noun
tains of Virginia. among those who cannot read,
excited desire for education, and presented many
cheering facts and arguments for the encourage
ment of the friends of the cause
The Convention then adjourned
1t met again In the evening, at o'clock at which
time addresses were delivered by Rev Messrs W.
a. smith, Of r. y. College, Va; Mcneil, Of the
Seminary, Va; and Krebs, Of New York After
which, the Convention adjourned sine die -
The friends of the Bible Society of Virginia have
reason to hope that new interest will be awakened
by this Convention.
The State Sabbath School Conuention met Friday
morning, according to adjournment, Mr.. Lester,
fered by Mr.. j. B. Martin. -
Mr.. Read, from the Business Committee read a
list OF topics for the consideration of the Conven
ton, which then entered upon discussion of the
duties of Pastors to Sabbath Schools"
Mr.. Cross defended ministers from fault finding
spirit
Mr.. Burrows thought it objectionable in minis.
tiers never to go into Sunday Schools.
Mr.. Evans censured those laymen who do not
teach in Sabbath Schools, and wished the influence
of Pastors might be exerted upon them
Rev. Mr.. Poindexter could not be the Pastor of
Church which has no Sabbath School He show.
ed what ministers could do by singing out indvi
dual male and female members, and getting them
| to work
| Mr.. Cross stated fact to show that where the
minister is disposed to work, there is too great
disposition among laymen to roll their responsible.
| ty on him.
Mr. Read had been merchant for eight years
manufacturer, clerk, packer, an unpacker, q
| collector of bills from Maine to ST. Louis when
men were breaking all around. He had worked
late, and then rose at o'clock in the morning to
make out bills, and while thus engaged had been
| Sabbath School Superintendent and quasi minis
ter, yet had found in the labors of city Pastor
more exhaustng toll than in all his mercantile life
He was willing, however, and anxious to hear Il q
| sentiments of the brethren on this subject
Mr.. Ross said that he loved ministers above all
other men, and had defended them by such truth
full utterances as those just made by Mr.. Read. Ee
| thought, however, that those words of encourage
ment which they could utter and that interest
| which they could manifest without trenching upon
other duties were of great value to the success Of
Sabbath Schools
Mr.. Bell showed, by nautical figure, the rela-
tive position and duties of ministers and members
He compared the minister to the captain who
must necessarily do great deal of directing and
| supplementary work, but the men must do the la
Dor necessary to keep the ship on her way.
Mr.. Peterkin regretted that so many laymen
seemed to consider themselves not as the crew but
as passengers, and that if they paid so much money
the captain was bound to carry them safely over
He stated facts to show the multiplicity of Pas
| tors engagements. He wished laymen would un-
derstand that there Is duty incumbent upon each
and every one of them
Mr.. Munford thought the middle course the safe
| one. He advocated cooperation among ministers
| and laymen.
| Mr.. ]. B. Martin, Superintendent of the Sabbath
School at the End Presbyterian Church in Rich
mond, stated that In examining the records of his
| Sabbath School five years ago, and comparing
| them with the records of the church, he had dis
covered that four out of every seren of the latter
had been under his supervision on examining
lately the same records he had discovered the
same result with one scholar more in favor of the
Sabbath School He thought this one fact ought
to convince all that the cause of Sabbath Schools
was worthy of all the labor and all the zeal that
| ministers could bestow upon it. He had never
been grieved by others in this work as much as be
had grieved himself He liked the spirit that goes
forward to the performance of duty and makes no
| excuses. a..s-. t.ss
Rev. Mr.. Pendleton of Lexington, in view of
| the alarming destitution in our State urged the
necessity of renewed efforts in the cause of Sab
| bath Schools.
sity of going to the Sabbath Schools as the founda-
| tion of Christian enterprise
The snbject was then referred back to the Com.
mittee for the present.
standing-"Savour visit thy plantation" After
passing over several other topics for the time be.
ing Convention took up the subject of Canvass
| ing for Sabbath Schools."
| Rev Mr.. Reed condemned the trespassing of
one school upon another. If any of those con-
nected with his church engaged in it-however In
active he might be in other respects-they would
soon find him after them and that in no indifferent
manner.
Rev. Dr. Burrows expressed himself warmly In
behalf of visitation as q means of increasing the
number and usefulness Of Sabbath SchoolE
Mr.. Jonathan Cross spoke of the practice among
children of going from one school to another for
| the sake of rewards. He thought great deal of
Christian wisdom and charity necessary In this de-
partment among teachers.
DR.. Burrows did not know of the existence of so
much competition among teachers of different
schools He hoped this zeal might be directed to.
| wards obtaining children who go 70 no school at
| all
Rev. DR.. Howell thought the teachers IN Rich
mond were courteous toward one another in this
matter. He stated the practice of the superntend-
eat Of his Sabbath School was to urge his teachers
and children not to endeayor to obtain the scholars
| Of other schools.
| Rev. Mr.. Poindexter said we all believe that
church to which belong to be the nearest Of al
to the Scripture doctrine, else we should not be
where we are; but five are determined to be hon
| est and cautious Christian gentlemen, there
need be no difficulty or delicacy on this snbject
Rev. Mr.. Peferkin said Il had been charged that
/ stronger schools drew away children from weaker
ones; he ascribed this more 70 want of thought
than want of feeling; and thought . greater evil
e. h.G G~xx.~ - - k~S ~~f.t&~s