The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-04-08
From cur Special Reporter.
Annual Meeting OF the Virginia Con-
ference sumday.SchoolS Society.
L ] II S T ID 4 y.

WEDNESDAY, April 6, 1870.
Tho Society met this morning, in puTsu-
ance of adj journment. in Granby-Strcet
church, at 10 o'clock-B;shop Doggctt (pre-
sidcnt) in the chair.
The meeting was opened with religious
exercises, conducted by Rev. D.. Lee.
On motion OF Rev. John ". Howard, it
was resolved toappoint Committee on Gre
dentials. Committee: Rev. }. W. Howard,
L. L. II. Young, and Rev. I. ii. Boggs.
The committee offered report showing
10 delegates in attendance.
On motion Of Rev. 2. y. Peterson, it was
resolved that the sixth tier Of seats be set
apart as tie bar of the House for the trans
action Of business.
On motion of Rev. John W. Howard, it
was resolved to meet daily at o. O'Clock and
adjourn at = O'Clock.
On motion Of Major R. NJ. Jones, it was
resolved that all pastors of the Virginia
Conference present, who were not elected
delegates, be elected active members.
Bishop Dcggctt read his annual report,
which gives the following points:
The Society is now in its third year, and
the wisdom of its organization has been
yindicatel. Refers to the appointment OF
q general agent, and states that the up
pointment has proven highly suspicious.
He resolutely encountered all the difficult
ties, and by untiring efforts overcome near
ly all of them. The general agents report
will show an aggregate Incl ease of 60 So
ceties, 80 schools, $50 officers and teach
ers, and I,0ll scholars. The labors of the
agent show that lie has been doing great
work, and lie ought to receive the same
liberal support which has characterized the
past.
The Executive Committee have been faith
full and earnest in their wo!k-one Of labor
and responsibility. The Executive Com
mittee have been collecting historical data,
which will be recorded, and constitute q
permanent history Of the Sabbath schools
in Virginia.
The subject of Sunday-school paper
has been before the Society before, and it
has been considered advisable to have a
local paper. Would recommend that this
Society memorabilia the General Confer
ence, and leave it in their hands to provide
for the wants of the State in this respect.
Recommends the establishment of book
depository as necessity, and urges its
adoption.
All the exercises of the Sabbath schools
should tend to the conversion of the chill
dren, if it would facilitate the design of
Providence in the conversion of the world.
The Sabbath schools should always con-
form to the usages of the church, and be
considered as subservient to and dependent
upon the public ordinances. Let the
children never forget to give the Sabbath to
the public worship of God.
Experiments have proven that Sabbath
schools in general can be kept up all the
year if On effort is made to procure good
buildings, and make other comfortable ar
rangements. The intermlsslons are detri-
mental and ought to be condemned.
Sunday school children should be taught
to attend church as worshippers on Sabbath
mornings. Do not let attendance on Sab
bath schools be on excuse. The plan of
afternoon schools would not meet the issue,
but multiply the difficulties.
Singing in Sunday schools is new fea-
ture, and bids fair to assume large proper
tons. This part of the exercises is capa-
BILE of being abused, and may be made to
occupy too much time. Let music be main
tanned, but subservient to the instruction of
the young in the Word Of God.