The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-26

the following report from the Board OF
Trustees. doctor Packard. then quotes ut
length the report, for the purpose, rs he says,
OF showing how enlarged were his Bishop
Meade's) views; how prophetic were hts
hopes in regard to the seminary and above
all, to show in what spirit this seminary
originated. The Rev. Doctor also proceeded to
speak in glowing and touching terms of the
deceased professors Of the seminary, their
devotion, and labor Of love, their humility
their oneness OF aim and effort for the glory
OF God. He then mentioned the present
professors, date of appointments, their sew
cral departments. &c.l
The founders and benefactors Of the semi
nary deserve notice here.
Over the grave Of Bishop Meade, in the
Hollywood Cemetery, is the inscription,
"Tbe Founder OF the Theological Seminary
OF Virginia -; and were ne monument
erected to his memory this seminary will be
a monument more lasting than marble. 81
quGriS ,nOnunlentlnn, cfrcunaspfce.
70 this seminary the heart, the cares, the
thoughts of Bishop Meade were given. He
watched over It with fathers care-yca,
with 4 mothers tenderness.
For many years Bishop Meade gave instruc-
ton TO the senior class in PASTORAL theology.
Bishop Moore felt warm interest in the
seminary. and was always present ut It's an
nual examinations.
| wish could give to you my own i'm
preston of the worth and services Of Rev.
Ed Mcclure, ID. d., and Others who
assisted in the organization of this semi
nary and in .hc management of its affairs.
The Rev. Doctor then spoke OF the bene-
factors Of the seminary-those whose libe-
ralty built the present seminary buildings,
and of others who have contributed to the
material prosperity of the institution. The
Rev. Doctor then spoke eloqucntly Of the
beautiful situation of tue seminary, its lofty
position. varied scenery Of hill and vale and
river and then spoke eloquentIy Of the har-
mony existing between this outward beauty
and grandeur Of nature and the sublime
truths OF tue religion Of Jesus, incu!catcd
within the walls OF the seminary and trei-
Surcd in the hearts of students and profess
Sor..]
What now. let us inquire, have been the
results of this seminary i'll the half century
of It's cNis cacc:
We point to its five hundred and seventy
alumni. The oldest on the list of the
:,luu,ni. the Rev. George II. Smith, Is per-
mittcd to meet with lis to-day. who are
they, and where are they: Ten have been
bishops three OF them foreign missionary
bishops; tiiirty-:wo have been foreign mis-
sionsricS. who learned here that the field
was not the United States, but the Worid.
Let me call the roll.
The Rev. Doctor then called by name the
tlirly.twO missionaries.
One OF these missionaries, DR.. Hill. OF
Athens, has for nearly forty years taught the
things which concern the Lord Jesus on the
very spot where Paul reasoned of the Most
High God, of the resurrection OF the body,
ana of the Judgment day.
Another BISHOP Payne) las for thirty
three years borne tue heat and burden oi
the day under the burning sun of Africa,
and has been compelled to return to his ma
tive State in cntceblcd health.
Some of them were only for short time
in the foreign field, and returned to this
country because of failure of health. Some
have fallen asleep like the soldier on the bat
tlc-ticId. In the little graveyard at Cape
PalmaS, near enough 10 the ocean to hear
the ccasclcss dash of its waves, five OF the
Alumni of this STANDARDIZATION, Holcomt,
Messenger, Robert Smith, and Golden Hof-
man-haye ACCOMPLISHED their warfare, and
rested from their IaDors. The London Chris
init ourselves TO terms Of excessive common
dation in declaring our belief that the annals
of missionary excellence do not furnish II
brighter example than that of Golden HoIt-
man."
The mission of our Church in China has
been and is now almost wholly supplied
with missionaries from our seminary. Two
of our present students are ready to 60 when
ever the foreign committee are ready tosend
them.
The soil of China has become.holy ground
by holding in its embrace all that can die of
Bishop Boone and Henry Parker, who, un-
like the rich young man in the gospel, sold
all that he had at the command of Christ
and followed Him and his treasure in
heaven.
CIeavrland Keith, the son of DR.. Keith. an
earnest and Siu.le-Eearteu missionary, per-
iShed at sea on his way to this country.
hen the "Goldrn Gate' caught on tire he
eXhortcd 10 the last his fellow-pssenSerS, as
one Of them who survived informs US, to
flee TO that Saviour who was near his S servant
in that awful hour.
Our Alumni are to he found in nearly
every diocese and in every large city in our
country; and two IN Oh
co!ah among the Ponka Indians represent
our seminary. They have generally been,
ms DIR. J. :. Stone has said, Warh-hcarted,
devoted parish clergy; or. to quote the
testimony of the Princeton Hcrter, "Ihere
is now in Virginia body OF clergy who, Tor
diligence, plety, and repugnancc TO Rituat.
ism, are unequalled among EpscopllaDs.'
But the ranks of our Alumni have been
like those Of regiment gathered after stand
ing all day under fire. AS the day wears on
the ranks grow thinner, and ut the evening
roI-call to familiar names there comes back
no answer. Could We summon them from
their graves to meet again with us to-day
what a gsodIy company would they make.
And how would they eshort Us to finish our
course with JOY, and say to US, Is: 1t not
written "Thcy that be wise shall shine
As the brightness Of the armament, .und
they that turn many to righteousness as the
stars forever aud ever?".
Let this great era in our seminary life he
not only an occa sion for reviewing the past,
but >arting.point for new era OF greater
progress for the; hat-century to COME we
need our endowment to be greatly increased;
il is very insufficient for our pressing nece>-
sites. 1t will no doubt surprise some here
when they learn that the annual income
from our vested funds is but s. 600.
hope that some measures will be taken
at this meeting and in this crisis OF the sem
mary life locking towards sufficient en-
dowmcpt. We need new chapel new
library building. We need constant im-
provemcnt in our course Of study.
Let US, in conclusion, dear brethren. watch
dav and night over that holy fire kindled
from heaven fifty years ago here, andwhlch
has burned so brightly, that II 60 not out
ON this altar of GOD. NeIer Was this SEMI
nary SO much needed as now as.tse hulwark
of {. simple, pure, and unadulcrated gospel