New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-12
TIE ANNIVERSARIES.
DaITrsr HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

A email audience, which however doriag Tie exer-
cises increased until the church was well filed as'e
bed Saturday evesirg at Calvary Church. Twenty
thid street After short Introductory exercises the
busnt rs Of the occasion commenced by the Rev.
Dr. BRows of Philadelphia. Corresponding Secretary,
who read the Third annual Report Of the Society," in
substance as fellows:
Tie Society wa organic ed ia May, 1885, a. depart
men f the Baptist Publication Society, for the special
design Of eate'I and preserving Information relating
TO the history OF the derOminstioB ard was serward
reafrapged with organization separate from the
Publication Society, but ultimately dependent on it,
Names Of rev members, a LET Of Donations aud an
other of subj 6cts desgbsted for essays during the
coming year, were ;ea'. Last years address. doiv
cred by TIE Rev. DIR. Williams oo Roger William"
Ii in process oprepnration tor being published ASother
Deerg is contemplated vt Pbiladephis at which dis
tirguishtd speakers ere expected. TIE Report con-
Guided with an urgent appeal to the denomination ior
assistance in accomplishing the objects OF the Society
On motion by DIR. DowLIs0, the report Is read was
accepted.
Tie annual address was then delivered by the Rev.
DIR. HOWELL Of Virginia the Esrly History OF the
BaItists in that State. After referring 10 the aban-
cant materials in other departments of Virginau his
tory and TO The sCGn'iDess OF them in that OF Baptist
history DR.. Howell said that even the few notices re-
naming are UNRELIABLE tom the prejudice or errors OF
the writers But from Virginia many Baptists have
removed to the Southern and Western States, and
within il they number a hundred thousand; the
history If 70 mpor ant and influential body must c-r
tdDly De vduHDIc anu SlgDiuCdub Up W t"O
I7l4 The history Of Virginia Baptists is difficult OF in
yss,igatiOn. Yet, although the contrary Is usually
supposed aud asserted It is uDdenisbe th4t the dis
tncivey Baptist principles WERE curing that Penoa'
very pow erfuy operative there BY baptist prin-
cipee" is int nded, not the oompHatIvey un'mpor-
tant popularity az to Bsptm but these propositions,
viz The Bible alone as role ot action; efectual and
thorough operation Of spntra! power within the heart
Of the believer; justicn by grace through faith in
Jeus Cbrist holy life the only proof of discipeship;
restriction Of privileges of church membership to the
reg, ntrate; potst ssion Of its governmental
suho,ity by each single church; the sacrament de-
caraton Of the faith of the reel pen the absolute sep
eraticn Of church and State; protection for freedom of
conscience and in all other re-pests, by govern
ment. These, continued DIR. HO we'll. are dstinctivey
and exclusively Baptist principles; as shown by
their having been In particular sense the tenets of
those Baptists from among whom came the ir't who
enigrated to Virginia. In proof OF this Dr. Ii. quoted
the points of remonstra0ce published in the reign OF
Queen Elizabeth, against persecution of religious be-
hef and several early Baptist publications on both
sides Of the Atlantic; and adduced the fact that masy
Of Cromwebs vet, rams, at the RetOratOn fled to Viz
pipia; numbers of them being Baptists. Dr. VI. then
gave many curious details Of the early peDa'legsa-
ton Of Vigiua against non conormi>ts to the Estab
lshed Church (Of EDgland. with quotations from stat
utes &C., and argued that in such dangerous times
there may have been many Beptists, of whom we
cannot b. ar because they naturally concealed tecir
tepets He then gave labOriously compiled account
of the long aud ultimately successful struggle OF the
Bspss to break down these penal laws, aud also the
Episcopal Church property holding monopoly. From
about IVA when under the TOleiaton acts, Baptist
Churches were openly established in Virginia, their
numbers aud influence have rapidly increased both by
the exetioDs of their clergy. aud by the scandalous
conduct Of the Episcopalan clergy. Dr. H., IN con-
clusion earnestly defended the Ba st clergy from the
charges of ignorance, iliberalty insign6cance, add
fanaticem rapidly skeched the Leading points in his
subject nearly to the present time; dealt some hard
hits at DIR. Hawks and other historians for their mis-
and asserted tbe and success of
Baptist preachers, in spite Of tbcir alleged defecs.
il was announced that contribution would be
gathered for the Socisty which caused such ustan
tapeous fight by the audience that this design
promptly given up, and vote thanking Dr. Howell
for bis address, and requesting copy for publication
having been substituted and passed. the assembly
Dispensed.