The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-01
..pTIsr GENERAL ASSOCIATION.
PETERSBURG, VA, May 81, 1861.


PETERSBURG, VA, May 81, 1861.
Tho Association met AT q O'Clock, and the
heating was opened by devotional exercises,
Witch Rev. J. Il solomon offlcated.
)" nn motion of Rev. X. Ryland, J Il. Wat
INNS OF Richmond. was appointed Treasu-
Rev. T. W. Sydnor reported an order of re-
uyious exercises, which was adopted.
Rev A T.. Dickinson, Supertn tendent of
Sahb,th Schools and Colportaxe, read a re-
nort. which led TO an interesting discussion
rhe report asked for advice in regard 70 col
cr,age among the soldiers.
Rev Il Ryland, President of Rishmond
College, urged that colporteurs ought TO be
cont MO the army. He had visited among
the so soldiers stationed At the college, had
fnund IL exceedingly pleasant to engage in
,nch Iabor<, and had reason TO hope that good
had been effected One young man who had
hean trained in Sunday Schools, when asked If
he was Christian @ept most profusely, and
seemed 10 be an xiously ENDURING after Christ.
In visiting sick soldier, and inQuiring after
mis- health. the sick man said, placing his
hand on his heart, all is not well here Dr.
Ryiand urged that Christians visit camps
not 30 much 10 crafty curiosity rs TO talk
with them on the subject of religion and to
distribute good books DIR. Ryland req uested
that constant, ferYent prayer be made for the
soldiers.
Rev DR. Sampson. President Of Columbian
college, in Washington D. @, had recently
gwen much attention to this matter and had
secured the passage of ii resolution, asking the
American Bible Society to make grants of
TsStarnents for Sou thern soldiers As we'll as
those in the Northern army. While travel
Ing in Europe, DIR. - had noticed with great
pleasure the circulation of small Testameuts
and tracts among tho soldiers in Italy, and
uaTkable ms auCes OF good had come to his
notice. This war will bring together great
armies, among whom al Il small cost we can
distribute Gods precious truth, and thereby
do them inestinabie good and many who
have entered the army in state of nature
will return stale of and be
that We shall have reyiyals of religion in our
camps. Already had he heard of several con-
versions. Soldiers have much leisure, and
they will employ it in reading the testament
Rev J. Is. Taylor, of Richmond, urged the
Importance of sending colporteurs into the
army. In a recent visit TO the camp on the
Potomac, he found many who seemed anx-
i0us To nave Iestaneuts aud other good books
He had spent Il few hours in distributing
tracts among the South Carolina soldiers,
and found them eager TO have tracts. They
told him that for mon tbs they lad not heard a
sermon, and that they hailed with joy a re
Hgious visitor and good books. Mr.. Taylor
thought that all our colporteur force ought TO
be transferred 10 the army.
Rev. DR.. Burrows said that ours are Chris
tian soldiers-they have been trained to be
lievc in the Bible, and are very different in
this regard from the infidels who largely com
pose the Northern army. Our men desire
good books, and they VIII read them Recon t.
IL, sixty soldiers had applied to DR.. Il. for
bibles. The most effective soldiers we have
Iii be the most pious, and sodiy, and prayer
ful.
lev T. Hume of Portsmouth said that in
one regiment, stationed near his house there
are four hundred Baptists, some OF whom are
deacUns and sons of clergymen. There are
monday prayer meetings, and trequen tly
several such meetings at the same hour.
soldier stated that he had Il book which had
been read by nearly hundred of his com
rades, and that "Baxter's Saints Rest was
still III demand. Kew. Mr.. Hume gave some
thrilling incidents which he had gathered
while visiting among the brave men congre
gated iii his city.
Rev l. W Allen of Nashville, Tenn, said
that he had frequently heard II remarked
while passing through the South, that large
numbers of our very best church members
are engaging in the war. One half of a com.
pany he met with in Georgia Baptists
He ted the Baptists 10 send pious, devotes
colpOrteuTs among soldiers.
Rev. 9. Tyree, of Powhatan county, said
Ia had Just extended the parting hand to ten
OF the members of his church. and he wan ted
good books sent 10 them.
Rev. A. E Dickinson said that the Coiport
age Board would feel warranted by these ex
pressiuns of the brethren TO send out col pOreur:
INTO the army, and that he hoped 10 be- abb,
to have ten of his bes men i'll this work dur
ing next week,
Rev. II. Ryand read the report on Educa
tion which was discussed by Reys. II. b
TAYLOR A. Broadus, L. o. Keen, J. Il Hard
wick, NJ. T. sumner and others | will sent
you some interesting quota tons of DR.. Ry
lands report.
Rry. 7. O. Keen read report on Dcmes ii
and Indian Missions, in which touching allu
sion was made TO the dea til of the late Ga pit
Fisher, OF this city, who was for years rrea
surer of that Board. Rev. NJ. T. Sumner, O
Alabama advocated the claims OF this de
partment.
Rev. J. b. Solomon is now reading ad
miTable report on the state of the country
which l know you will be glad TO publish
and which will be read with unbounded plea
sure by Southern Christians.
To days cars have brought us an additio
OF some forty delegates, and now we have
pretty fun delegation. Yours, &c,