The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-03

| Society To the Genei" n''0oiy " -"
einia praying an act of incorporation, has
been obtained from the State archives,
and. never having been published, is
deemed of sufficient interest to be here
presented:
"To the honorable the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the Commonwealth
of Virginia, now in session, the under
signed beg leave respectfully to represent
"That Society, the style of which Is
The Bible Society of Virginia, mas re-
Gently been instituted in the city OF klch-
mond. The object of this association, as
will appear from its constitution (wmch Il
herewith submitted) is the gratultous aus
tribution of the Holy Scriptures to the
poor in our own country and to the heatheh
Christians of various denominations, tor'
getting their little differences OF OPINION
have cordially united in support OF tins IN
stitution of charity. It's managers arc
deeplv impressed with the Importance OF
the object which they have in view, ana
are fully persuaded that the universal dli'
fusion of that volume, which, as they be-
l;cye. contains truth without mixture OF
error, would be productive OF the mos'
salutary effects: they believe that the sa'
cred writings communicate that 6no~ea9e
and that q due regard to them cheriShe>
and promotes that virtue which is best Cal.
culated to give efficacy to the laws ana
stability and permanence TO the institutions
of our Republic. As well, then, because
Il is orr most earnest desire, as far as in Us
lies, to perpetuate the happy CohS,ltu''oi
of our country, as because we are deSlrouS
to promote the everlasting interests OF oui
fellow creatures, are the undersigned deep
" solicitous for the success OF their lhS'i'
tuition. A. -;
"With these views, and under the I'm.
preston that it will be highly advantageous
to the Society to be Incorporated, on ne
half of the Managers of the said society
we respectfully petition your honorable
BODY to grant uSa charter OF incorporation
with the usual privileges belonging 10
bodies corporate. H..
"And your petitioners shall, as in duty
bound, everpray, &c.
"Signed, by order of the Board,
"JoHN BUCHANAN, President;
"J,coB GRIGG, JOHN ID. BLAIR, and JOHN
BRYCE, Presidents;
"JoHy Ii. RICE, Corresponding Secre-
tary; y. cuo-
civilian MUNFoRD, Recording Secre-
tary.n =
This petition was presented and reaq III
the House Of Delegates on thursday, De
cember the 10th, 1913, when, Win the
accompanying documents, 1t was referred
TO the Committee for Courts OF justice,
who were ordered to examine the matter
thereof and report the same, with their
oninion thereupon, to the House. On the
| 18th. Mr.. Stanard, (the late Hon. Robert
! Stmard. one of the Judges of our Supreme
Court of Appeals,) from the committee,
presented report that, in their opinion,
| the petition was reasonable. A bill con-
formally Herewith was brought in on the
23d. passed the House on the 9th, was
concurred in by the Senate on the 4th OF
January following, and, having been en-
rolled, was signed by the Speaker on
Thursday, February 10, 1911; the tltle
being: "Au act for incorporating the Blble
Society of Virginia"
1t is grateful, and may not be uninstruc-
tive, to recall the virtues and the services
of the beloved brethren who represented
the Society in presenting this petition.
They were, in all probability, the founders
of the Society. The Rev. DR.. buchanan
was at that time, and had long been, the
rector of Henrico parish, holding services
alternately in the Capitol, on Shockoc Hill,
and in St. Johns Church, on Church Hill.
He was the first president, and SO CONT
nued until advancing age and increasing H.
firmities induced him TO decline re-elcc-
ton. The Rev. DR.. Blair was the first
pastor of the congregation, whose church
building-atterwards called the "United
PRESBYTERIAN Church," at the corner OF
Eighth and Franklin streets-waS destroyed
by the conhagration of April, 1865. lie
was the second president, succeeding to the
office on the nomination and cordial re-
| commentator of DR.. Buchanan. The Rev
| DIR. Rice, after serving us corresponding
secretary ten years in manner to elicit
/ the special thanks and commentator OF
| the Society, then became first vice-preSi-
dent. As editor Of the Erdngcticdt ana
Literary Magazine nc accompanied two
obituary notices in his columns with these
remarks:
ave thank the friends who communi-
Gated them but we cannot refrain from a few
remarks of our own. The Rev. John Blu
chanan, d. D., and the Rev. John ID. Blair,
were ministers of different churchcs-the
| former was an Episcopalian, the latter q
Presbyterian. They lived together i'll
Richmond, in habits of closest intimacy,
and most devoted friendship, for five and
thirty years. No jealousy, no untricndly
collision of sentiment was ever known be-
tween them. They lived and loved as
brethren, and interchanged in the pulpit
/ nd ont IF N ntfppS nnStIntpI- Inrp-
served kindness. This editying example
was not without its effect. Perhaps there
is no place in the world where clergymen
of different denominations, and indeed
private Christians too, live in greater har-
mony or on terms OF more atlectionatc In
tercourse. But the example deserves Ia
be recorded, and its influence ought TO be
perpetuated. In this respect, We cannot
but offer the aspiration: Let the mantle
of love which covered Buchanan and
Blair descend and rest on their sur
vivors
"As to the characters of the two men,
We are unwilling to add anything to what
has been communicated. 1t is indeed
difficult to delineate individual character
without descending TO minute details, and
il is not important to deal in undiscrimi-
mating general remarks. Besides, where
| is the necessity! All who knew them
| knew the kindness of heart which ut once
rendered them congenial to each other,
and commended them to all that enjoyed
the pleasure of their acquaintance. All
remember Observation-Disclosures and good ma
ture, their facility in doing tavors, the
main which thay s,Iffprod in denying what