The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-04
BY TELEGRAPH.
ANNUAL MEETSNG.i
OPENING CEREMONIES.
pr. Curry's Introductory Address.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION, ETC.
Especial telegram 10 tho Dispatch.]


FREDERICKSBURG. June 5, 1874.
This good old burg is full of delegates and
visiting Baptists, attracted by the tifty-first
annual meeting of the Virginia Baptist Gen
era| Association. The special train from
Richmond brought two hundred and fifty
persons. Delegates and visitors have poured
in by several other channels, and there are
now four hundred and fifty delegates besides
visitors actually present.
At hali-past s tonight DR.. Curry, modera-
tor Of last year,
| CALLED THE BODY TO ORDER.
They united in singing ~ love Thy
kingdom, Lord and Rev. Gee. +. Adams
led in prayer. Rev. w. F. Dunnaway was
| l!aily assistant secretary. While the Com
mittce on Nominations were preparing their
report. Dr. Curry made characteristic in
troduc,ory address.
| ADDRESS OF DR.. CURRY.
The present session is one of peculiar in
tcrc>t. because this is the first year Of the
new halt.century. 4 retrospect of fifty
years shows a marvellous advance in wealth
and commerce, learning and science, reli-
| uiou> activities and UNCONVENTIONAL power.
We cutter upon the new halfcentury with
enlarged powers aud proportionate respon-
>hi!i;ic>. Growth Of the denomination in
numbers. intelligence, and libcrality, has
been steady and gratifying. Notwi,h>tand-
! iug many cmbarra>SmeutS we must grid up
our loinS and go forward. Destitute fields
are to be occupied. present stations held, and
| enleeblcd churches aided. We are to have
early acceSSionS 10 our population, imposing
imperative duties which love for the Old Do
! minion. and greater loledor Zion, should
prompt lis 70 meet.
kindier relations are springing up be-
tween colored churches and ministers and
ours. and all practicable assistance should be
given in edliication of the churches, instruc-
ton Of the ministry, preaching the gospel,
and in establishing and conducting Sunday
| schools.
Education is the paramount object of de-
nomiuationai concern, essential as support
10 religious enterprise and to dcnominational
influence and efficiency. Much more than
we have accomplished is TO be done to make
progress in education keep pace with the ne
ceS>ities of the times and the extent of our
obligations. A denomination with our his
tory and principles should devise measures
broad and far-seeing, intelligent and organ
lied, not merely for the next fifty years, but
for the coming centuries.
Richmond College needs its endowment
to be collected, invested, enlarged; needs
library, museum, apparatus, endowed pro-
tc>>orShipS and scholarships-at least the
three first class denominational academies
are needed. judiciouSly located and placed
, beyond the contingency of failure. Some
thing more must be done-wisely, effective
". grandly-tor the education OF girls. JUS
tice. patriotism. Christianity, demand it..
The standard of woman's education is too
low. Messengers were charged TO give earn
est and timely heed to this suggestion.
Our past successes ought to be prepara-
tory to a nober future. We must make
good our victories. and this can only be done
by education. a denomination neSiects edu-
cation at its peril. Baptists must keep pace
with the advancing learning Of the world,
and not be dwarted in the distance Ad-
ranced education is necessary to acquire and
retain influence over the minds of cultivated
men and women, and to secure breadth OF
thought and perfect discipline of powers.
Less than twenty-four years Will bring Us
10 the openine of the twentieth century.
The world is ablaze With light, and we cam
: not diSparage or ignore the necessity for our
The American Baptist Educational Commits
sion proposes to utilize the approaching CEN
: tennial By placing our educational instltu-
tons on permanent basis. We must act III
accordance with history, principles, and OBJ
legations.
!: With some this is, in religion, time of
speculation, inquiry, dissatisfaction, and
change. BaptiSts have no occasion to make
I any departure from the old landmarks.
i With good will and charity to all Christians,
J BaptiStS should continue to hold fast to the
/ complete and inlallible Scriptures, az the
only rule of faith and practice; to the right
= OF private judgment; the personality OF
all religious duties; the all-sutticiency
| of Jesus Christ, as a Saviour, without
: human or sacramental additions; to the
! two simple, suggestive, ana scrlptur'l ordl'
e nances, precisely as delivered, in their re.
1 ciprocsl relations and profound significance,
| as having in themselves no saving efficacy
and imperative without antecedent personal
faith; to the separateness and independence
[ Of churches organized according TO the New
: Testament model and composed exclusively
:. of converted persons.
/ Reference was made to the Northern ami
yersaries and the Southern Baptist Confen,
. ton as representing constituency Vi
600, 900 baptized believers. This meeting
was looked to with interest. Alluslon was
t made to the few ministers present who were
in the harness fifty years ago. ...... .-.
The committee reported the following
PERMANENT OFFICERS
, who were elected: President, DR.. Curry
, yice-Presidents, DR.. J. A. Haynes; Dr; d.
Mason Evans, DR.. W. A. Montgomery FRO
fessor G. Il. Winston: Treasurer, Dr. Oeo
b. Steele; Secretary, Rev. L. j. Hally.
The usual committees we're announced.
. The Introductory sermon by Rev. Dr:
/ Wilson was fixed for tomorrow at II
G O'Clock.