The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-02

mees,os ,hat its receipts for the past year
49, f;ftv thousand dollars that its MISSION.
Ne are lahoring with encouraging success
a,S that the work is, on the whole, 10 =, .
heaIthv and prosperous condition.
sketches the China mission. where !ne III" .no
sionsries had baptized thirty oar'@S '"e
year and have total membership VI .cr,..r
The report gives an account Ta s"' mission
mission and also OF the la1.a" oId on.
mh;cb although but three years Ola, eu',
s,.anos sovcn churches and two hundred anu
.,tr.ssven members. The report gives
;,,.araSt,nc details of the italian mission and
-,stes the following reference to our mis-
s;rnsrv elect. Rev. Or. George Is. Taylor:
an Is with feelings of mingled regret and
Measure that your Board think Of his trans
fer to the foreign field. The eyes OF Nir-
eInia Baptists were more and more turned to
him as one Of our wiScSt counsellorS and
most prudent leaders. This Association
from year TO year will miss his presence, and
as individuals many OF us have sense OF
bereavement in the loss of the personal sym
patty and communion of dear. honored'
genial, and self-sacrifcing Christian brother;
on the other hand. it is great WORK 10
which ne is called in Romc-a work worthy
of the care and labor of an apostle. ana il
he shall be permitted to lay the foundations
of pure New Testament Christianity for
Italy. he may regard himself rs greatly
bouored Of his Master as he will lie Of his
brethren and all true friends of Christ In the
coming ages. He will not 50 without our
prayers and benedictions."
Rev. DR.. Upper deemed himself happy in
being able for the first time to look upon Il
body thai he had so long known as orc har-
monio,iS in feeling and united i'll action.
And especially at this juncture, when it has
done the nobleSt work Of the age in her
grand Memorial movement. He should
hope to bear bencefo:th some humble part
in the work of this General Association.
With graceful aliu>ion to the fitting monu.
ment to the dead thus raised, he earnestly
insisted that We must utilize the enthusiasm
iu sustaining our heroic missionaries who
fight against the iron chains Of heathenism.
He wildly skctched the history of missions,
and took a most hopeful view of the pros
poets for the future. He would introduce
DR.. Jeter, who has just returned from the
hons den, and Rev. DIR. Taylor, who is Just
going into the lions den.
Rev. DR.. Jeter gave an account Of his mis-.
sion TO Rome. He would have had large
success in raising funds for the mission in
England but for the fact that Rev. MIR. Wall
an English missionary, was at the very time
say, in passing, that there is great rcaction
going on in England in favor oil strict Baptist
principles. lie detailed the diff :ultie> III
securing building in Rome; diticultic, IN
getting clear title; difficulties in getting
good foundations except at most enormous
cost, &c. He had advertised and hunted in
vain. He had bought suitable house al
one time. but just before the deed was signed
the owner insisted upon putting in condl.
ton to the effect that it should not be used
as a school or place of Protestant worship
lie might have forced Il decd by Il lawsuit
but his grandfather had a lawsuit and he
had avoided lawsuits ever since. But ht
thought the prospects now more promising
and that brother Taylor could easily secure
house or suitable lot on which to build.
Italy is a beautiful land but the blight Of
Ronanism is there, and religion is mere
mummery and form. The Virgin Mary Is
tue Goddess OF Italy. Yet the people are il,
an inQuiring state Of mind. The Baptist
church at Rome has had a wonderful success
Notwithstanding the serious difficulties that
arose there. He would not enter into the
details of these difficulties. but would say
That despite Of them the church had made
real progress while he was in Rome. He
gave notwithstanding account of his visit
to Bari, his ordination Of most promising
Young man, and the affection manifested for
linn 10 the extent that some of the brethren
"sauted him With IL holy kiss" The other
churches We're also III Il most 1ourishinS con-
clifton. and the general prospects were most
hopeful. There We're serious difficulties III
Tie way which we should look squareiy in
the face. The converts have been mostly
poor, and in Italy poverty IS chronic and
hereditary. The. insincerity of tue people
was a great trouble 1t had been said that
with plenty of money one could buy up rs
many churches and members as he nigh.
choose. On the other hand, tie people are
tired OF rilualisln, which has gone TO seed i'll
Rome, and are ready to embrace Baptist
views. which are the antipodal of ritualism.
They are ready to embrace the Baptist view
Of immersion. He would warn brethren not
10 cypect too much, but he WAS hopeful, and
would eNhort the brethren 10 pray for
Brother Taylor.
Rev. Dr.. Taylor, missionary elect to Italy,
next spoke. He had not expected to be
here ut this meeting, as lie had intended 10
Daye sailed before this time. 1t was to him
precious privilege. He had received at
the gathering of the Baptist hosts in Albany
a greeting which made him feel among
brethren at Mobile he had been made to
feel that he was in his Fathers house; but
here in this dear Association he felt in his
o'cn home. He spoke most touchingly Of
lis feelings in Sundering these lies and bid
tting adieu to these brethren Of his love.
lie gave most interesting details showing
the special providence which bad opened up
Italy to the Southern Baptist Convention
He thought he could see Gods finger in our
troubles there; that He meant to teach us
That we should preach the gospel in
Rome, not because it was the city of
the Caesars or the Pope, but because
there arc perishing sinners there needing
the gospel. His brethren had laid hands on
him ut middle-agc. and he had oneved the
voice. Hc. spoke OF the difficulties in the
way; protested against the chershin. OF ro-
niantlc ideas OF the work: most touchngly
appealed to his brethren for IN interest il
tAe!r prayers; and made stirring appeal on
The general subject of missions.
At the request Of the Chair, Rev. &. II.
NN,snd led iii prayer for Brother Taylor.
The scene was a touching one, and there
were few dry eyes in the vast congregation.
The Chair announced the following
committee to recommend he amount actich
each association should try to raise for State
-hsStons.--C. J.. Cooke, Valley; Robert vii.
hanson, Accomac; John II. Randolph, Abe
marie; W. d. Rice, AppomattoX; K. ID.
Haynlore, Blue Ridge; John G. Powell,
Concord; {. T. SutherIln. Dan River
Thomas J. Evans, Dover; Frank V. Win
stou, Goshen; Thomas n. johnson, James
River; j. I. Kincannon, Lebanon; l.. Il.
Chile>, Middle District; j. j. s. Sherwood,
New River; 49, Gresham, Portsmouth
.,niin ppfnnan. -