Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-05

Mr.. W. A. Hill moved that a committee be
appointed to report as to the time and place Tor
the next meeting of the assembly, and to nom
mate o preacher for that OCCASION. - y i
The following committees were then an.
nounced: .@@.s'.--.- -,
Committee on statistical iorm-Dlessrs. T. j.
Evans, J. H. Hendren, and j. + Jackson.
Committees on time and place. and preacher
for next association--Messrs W. a. Hill, a.
Hall, and G.. II, Winston.
Committee to nominate new boards-Nlcssrs.
| G, +. Adams, j. L. Bacon, and j. w Greer.
The assembly then adjourned with prayer by
Rev. Mr.. Huff until p NJ. ..,, ~"
RELIGIOUS SERVICES LAST NIGHT. Accord
ing to announcement, Rev. J. @. Long, preach
| ed in the Baptist church, in this city, The an
nua sermon, before the Baptist General Asso-
citation Of Virginia. The text was from Luke,
xvii chapter, 90 and 81 verses the subject,
the rise and progress of the Kingdom Of Christ.
| Its beginning was without observation, small
| and unobtrusivc, unacc0mpanied by pomp and
parade This was SO striking ~ the case IN its
| earlier existence that 300 years had elapsed
from the time OF the first announcement or the
| gospel in Rome before the conversion OF Con
stantne, and the formal establishment OF the
church in that Empire took place In every
| God has been without observation, and its pro-
gress in the judgment Of the world tarjy.
| Error and truth like grim giants wrestle for
| the mastery still, and the powers or darkness
yield step after step with reluctance But the
gospel grows in the intensity of its powers, and
is read in clearer light as it advances. 1t IS
received into hearts less darkcnGd, and the
worlds conception Of christianity is becoming
more and more exalted. The church is freeing
itself of the errors Of the ages through which
it passed, and it's standard is being set higher
and more advanced The brightest manifcsta
tons Of the Kingdom of God are not Tor US
but are reserved for a future day.
This slow development of the church instead
of being source Of encouragement should
rather encourage its minister's That which is
of swift growth is soonest gone, the slow only
| is OF lasting duration. The method Of propa
eating the gospel IS singular. 1t has SO hap
pencd that all those nations which have pro-
| tessed it, no sooner have done so than they
were possessed with spirit of adventure, which
| carried it to other lands; thus lmbuIng 1t with
the spirit of aggression with which other and
worldly enterprises were filled. Only one con-
| ditl0n or advancement was, and IS required;
contact with the hearts Of men. EXtraneous
measures are not needed Nothing but the
love of Christ is here wanted A lesson OF
courage should be drawn from these facts.
| Every enterprise stays not with US, but reaches
forward to the future, to bless generations to
| come. 1t lncuicatcs also lessons OF patience,
while by the increased facilities for intercourse
in the world the gospel is more rapidly spread
than in past ages, yet the law OF its diffusion
| Is the same.
The idea carries us back TO the days Of our
| childhood. In fancy we are again kncCilng al
CT Ia ,a ot IN
fancy. Like broad river the tide Of life flows
| down Are we swimming Or floating Those
who went before lett the impression of their
| christian character on US; so must we impress
| those who arc with, and who are to succeed Us.
At the conclusion Of the sermon, which was
| listened to with great attention by the large
audience present, Rev. Mr.. Adams, pastor Of
| the Baptist church at Hampton, Va, set forth
| in few words the necessities Of his charge,
which was furnishing at the outbreak of the
war, hayn{ IA membership of TO white, and
500 colorcd They are now worshipping alter
natcly with q Methodist congregation, in q
building erected by the United States as hos
pilal Kitchen 4 collection was taken up to
aid the society at Hampton in finishing new
church, which they have partly erected.
SECOND DAYS PRCEEDINCs. The associa- |
ton met at clock this morning, and spent
half an hour in devotional exercises, conduct.
cd by Rev. Reuben Jones, of Norfolk, who |
in his remarks made strong appeal for more
zeal IN The cause OF Christ.
The minutes Of yesterday evening were read |
and approved. ...
Rev. J. l.. Lodge, OF Md, was introduced |
to the association and made some remarks in |
reference to thc Baptist Visitor Of which he is |
one Of the editors.
Rev Mr.. IIowlett of Washington Calvary
church, was introduced to the association, and |
invited to take a seat in the body.
The order Of the day, the report OF the Sun
day Schools and Bible Boards was taken up
and read by Rev &. II. Ryiand, the general
port exhibits that while there arc 5S3 churches,
white, in the State, there arc only $50 or 375 |
regular Sunday Schools, showing that there
arc about 200 churches uncngaged iii the Sun
day School cause grants amounting to about
81, 900, exclusive Of Bibles have been made.
There arc reported %, OJG scholars, and 3, 442
officers and teachers, with l,019 conversions
The report shows that the bible cause anguish
es, and should receive more earnest attention.
Bibles and tracks arc distributed as far rs
means will allow, but they arc comparatively |
limited ........
The joint work Of the State and Domestic
Boards IS considered failure, and their sepa-
ration IS recommended.
Col. Evans was called 10 the Chair tempo
rarily.
Rev. J. G. Chaplin of Danville, moved to
adopt the report
Rev. J. G. Hidden, Of Portsmouth, addressed
the assembly in strong, argumentatiye, and
sometimes humorous, sometimes pathetic
strain, in favor Of moving more slowly and in
Opposition to the ,apldity Of the present age
especially in regard to the method Of Sunday
school teaching and religion. .,.
Rev. Reuben Jones moved that the speeches
en- the report be limited to eight minutes.
Rev. J. G. Chaplin moved to amend it by
making it ten minutes.
Rev A. NJ. Poindexter opposed the passage
Of the resolution on the ground that it would