The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-23
BAPTIST GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF
VIRGINIA.

The yearly meeting of this large body of Chris
tan brethren was held in Richmond, beginning on
the Sd inst, and continuing till the Sth. 1t was
largely attended, and its proceedings drew together
many interested hearers as did also the preaching
of the gospel by able and faithful men, not only in
Baptist churches, but in the Presbyterian, Metho-
dist and Lutheran also, to which they were cor
daily invited They had stirring addresses from
Rev. DR.. Price, Welshman, and Rev. Mr.. Hen
~, an Irishman, in behalf of the English Baptist
Missionary Society, and liberal contribution was
made on the spot by those present. 1t was our in
tention to make at an earlier day brief note of
this ecclesiastical assembly.
Our Baptist brethren seem to be prosecuting
their work with much zeal, especially in regard to
Sunday Schools, in the promotion and general SUI
perintendence of which they have one of their most
active and promising ministers engaged for his
whole time. The elaborate statements and COM
parsons made in the report Of the Superintendent,
might leave the impression that other churches
fall far behind in their Sunday Schools. We have
looked into the matter, and find that the Presby-
terrain Church has, in proportion to its members,
fully as many scholars as the Baptist and our i'm
preston is that the Methodist Church is not at
all behind.
The amount given to Foreign Missions is not
stated. In regard to Education, we find that aid
has been extended during the year to 90 young
men preparing for the ministry-the receipts be-
ing $l,449.20. This is not what ought to be Se-
ceiyed from SIS, 900 white communicates In the
Synod of Virginia, with about 10000 members,
81, 367 were contributed in 1868, and this amount
is lamentaby small
In the great work Of Domestic Missions "the
Board Of State Missions regret that they have not
half as many missionaries employed in Virginia as
they had at the last annual meeting Of the Associ-
alton" The number now is Is, to whom $1,000
was appropriated The operations in this enter
prise seem to be much embarrassed for want Of
funds Our Synod raised last year for this object
IS, 500, and ought to have contributed far more.
This is mentioned not for boasting, where only
humiliation becomes US, but to stir up our breth-
rem by way of remembrance. They have vast
body of Christian people, great field opened,
large means, and therefore great responsibility.
This subject elected in their Association a very
earnest and able discussion from some Of the most
prominent ministers, in which considerable num-
Der of the domestic missionaries also participated
And here we must be allowed to notice for mo-
ment the somewhat remarkable speech of one of
| the members, and which may be appropriately
referred to as
BROTHER FISHERS GREAT CONFLICT. We are
not informed as to the particular part of the State
in which his warfare is waged, but it is manifest
from the account given by himself that he must
have rather hot time Of it. In the report found
in the Religious Herald, he speaks as follows:
Brother Fisher spoke at length touching the
need of the mission field. There was not only work
for sixty missionaries, stated in the report but
| for one hundred and twenty men, and they should
be good and strong men, fit for any pulpit in the
land. He enumerated many counties in which
| there was no regular Baptist preaching, and other
counties in which Baptsts had not only to fight
the world, the flesh, and the DEVIL but the Metho-
dists, Presbyterans and Epscopalians, too"
We are sure that in such remarks, Mr.. Fisher
speaks for himself alone, and that they must have
been quite unpalatabe to the Association 1t would
be wrong to hold body responsible for the unfortu.
nate speech of an indiscreet member All assem-
bies are occasionally afflicted with the presence Of
some weaker brethren, whose only chance of
attracting attention is by the use of extravagant
language. Mr.. Fisher himself hardly meant just
what he said. If he did, we may be allowed the
suggestion whether his place would not be more
appropriately found among the benefciaries in the
Education list than among the ministers qualified
to preach the gospel of Christ.