The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-14
OBJECT OF THE MEETING.

ter accommodations for the numerous ap.
plicants for matriculation, and to increase
it's rcput alton ut home as well as abroad.
Atthe conclusion of these brief introduce
tory remarks, he called on Rev. j. L. M.
Curry, D. D., who said that perhaps there
was no one present, no member of the fa-
Guilty, no citizen of the Commonwealth.
who was more interested in Richmond
College and its success than himself. As to
its past history, there were perhaps others
present who could give q more interesting
statement than himself. So far as its pa
tIouagc was concerned, he was hopeful and
far, exceeded that Of the corresponding
peIiod of last year. But the college was
sadly in need of buildings and the funds
with which to erect them. The accommo-
dations were far from being equal to the
number Of applicants. It was certainly
singular anomaly that Richmond College
could get more students than could be ac-
commCdat"d. There is not now room, said
the speaker, which will accommodate COM
fortably an aSsemblage Of one half of the
students. A chapel, too, was needed; So
ciety halls were lacking; and the grounds
ought to be made an object Of interest to
the stranger rather than IN eye sore as they
are now. In his opinion Richmond Col
lege had very nearly reached the height OF
It's prosperity, and unless something is
done there it must stand.
REMARKS OF REV. DR.. CURRY.
DR.. Curry next spoke of the duty Of the
Baptist Church to build up the college.
and with great earnestness told Of the num-
Der of ministers filing the pulpits Of Bap-
tist churches everywhere who had been
educated at this institution. In the course
OF few months he had had .fue offers, with
handsome salaries, to leave the college,
and at that moment he had in his pocket
letter containing an offer OF $1,000 else
where, the duties Of which would not be
uncongenial to his taste and feelings. But
he loled Virginia, he was proud of the old
State, and his love for Richmond College
kept bin here. In conclusion, he said he
believed q great future is in store for her,
and with renewed efforts and extended
reputation she might now be the Baptist
university OF the South.
REV. MIR. BITING SPEAKS.
Rev. G. C.. Biting followed DR.. Curry,
and said that for sixteen years he had held
the interest Of Richmond College in his
heart, and he did not know th 1t there was
any one else present who felt more deeply
now the importance of the institution than
himself. He referred to the first meeting of
the Baptist Association after the war,
which was held in the basement of the
First church, in most touching manner.
Ne compared the condition of the college
then aud now, md thought the picture
enough TO encourage any heart. lie sald
that il was all.important to strengthen and
increase the great Wolk, and in proportion
to the energy used SD would The influence
of the great work be felt.
Ii inf in
connected with the educational history of
the church. Thomas Hollis, an English
Baptist, was the greatest benotactor Har-
ward had. From 171S to 1926 he founded
professorship OF theology aud one Of ma-
themarcs and experimental philosophy
established ten scholarships at 9l0 per an
mum each; gave set Of philosophical ap-
paratus and q large library. With all this.
it has been so managed as to exclude Bnp-
lists from the chairs and scholarships al.
most entirely.
In 1856 nopewcll Academy was founded !;
Lower Dublin, Pa, In 1860; Br0wn Uni
versity, at Providence, R. l., in 1866.
Others followed rapidly. Eighty years ago
we had not one cig0rous college. Now
there are more than IS colleges and theo-
logical seminaries of Bap!ists in the United
States alone, with some 800 professors and
tion of the country in about forty years
has increased 800 per cent, the BsDtsts
have increased in the same time 400 per
cent. After counting all the emiYrants
from every source, and remembering the
great growth of this great country. God has
blessed the Baptists with rate OF Increase
which is $50 per cent. greater. For the
last twenty years they have averaged the
organization of one new church every day.
In 1881 Baptists had in the United States
5 075 churches and 1914 ministers. In
1870 they numbered l7,745 churches and
1G,S16 ministers.
rhirty-seven years ago there were In the
territory of the Southern Baptist Convcn-
ton 2,99S churches, with 211 ,OU members.
In 1870 there were in the same limits II 800
churches, with 913,79S members. Thirty
nine years ago there were in Virginia 433
churches, 225 ministers, and 4,S02 mem.
bers. In 1871, after dividing the State,
there are 94S churches, 691 ministers, and
los. 100 members. In about generation
there has been 4 gain Of 613 churches, or
AZ per centum or $3.50 ministers, or 50 per
ner centum; of OF ,Sl8 members, or 45 per
centum. In the whole country the BaD-
tist membership was, in 1890, to the whole
population, as in 60 in 1880, as in "a !;
in 1870, as 1 In q. SUCH has been the
rapiiity OF growth that there is deficiency
of ministerial supply, and 0,0oD enclent
ministers are needed. The gains create
the urgent necessity for large additions to
ourministerial supply.
RAISING FUNDS.
At the suggestion Of DIR. Curry, Messrs,
John G. Williams and William +. Tanner
were appointed committee TO Wait upon
tbose nreseut and ascertain what amount
eorld be raised for the purpose OF enlarging
and beautifying the college. 1t was Dut
nooment before gentleman subscribed
"a 600. and another 81 S1,0O0-S5OO OF Whicn
he cave as citizen of X .chmond, and Soo0
as Baptist. ,os
tbe neyt To give. He said that he would he
one of twenty gentlemen to give s2,oo0 |;
which amount was not long in being made
nm. And so it was not late hour before
the sum subscribed reached u ,000.
REaARKs or MAJOR FIELD.
MAJOR Field, of Culpeper, then addressed
the NEE ting. lie said he had two sous at
the college. and third whom he intended
to send there.
DR.. Burrows: God bless you, sir; l wish
you had ten! IN
+ Msjor Field: It is my desire, and will
ever be, that all my CONS shall oe graduates
OF Richmond College and "a. M's" OF
the University of Virginia.
At the mention of the name Of the UNI
yersfty there was general. burst OF APP
= p ahe speaker continued: I have q pocket.