The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-09
FRIDAY MORNING. JANUARY g. 1874.


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/ Concsrt or prayer for ColIsKes.
This meeting, at the Second Baptiss
ichurcb, last night, was one Of much I'd 1re
than usual interest and power. ss5s5s 1ss's5 Il
Rev. Dr. Curry explained the objects Of
the meeting aud conducted the services.
Prayers were made during the exercises BY
Rev. Dr. deter, H. II. Ellyson, Esq, and
Rev. j. William Jones; and brief addresses
tby Professor H. H. Harris, Professor John
Hart ReY. C. H. Corey, Rev. Dallas Tucker
(of the Episcopal Church), Rev. j. William
Jones, Rev. DIR. Jeter, Professor Edmund
Harrison, and Rev. DR.: Curry. ~
Professor Harris's address contained sta
tistics Of such deep general interest that It Is
reported quite fully. He said that the recent
report OF The Superintendent Of Public In
| struction contains statistics which may be
used toshow the great importance of prayer
for colleges in this State especially. They
show that larger proportion OF the popula-
ton are at college in Virginia than any where
else in the world, except in Scotland alone.
If the whites only be considered, the pro-
portion is larger here than in Scotland.
They show, further, that Virginia has at her
several colleges more students from beyond
ilSl UOluClS tiIttu duS OtuCI StuLC III IQC
Union. We have to-day in the eleven COL
the schoolmstress of the South, n high honor,
and with it a great responsibility, rests upon
our State.
Richmond College has on its rolls this ses.
sion 1872 students--the number of Virgil
mans is believed to be now, as 1t certainly
was last session, larger than at any other in
/ stitution in the State. Ofthe whole num-
ber-113--a little over 60 per cent. are pro-
| iessors OF religion. Most OF them, OF course,
are Baptists, though Episcopalians, Presby-
terians, Methodists, Christians, Friends, Is
raelites, and perhaps others, are also repre-
| sented. Under influences going out from
| the recent series of meetings in this church
| SIC have already professed conversion, and
many others have been led to serious
thought. But what is to be the destiny in
| time, in eternity, of those seventv M they
do not remember now their Creator in the
days of their youth %?
| The number Of avowed students for the
ministry amounts to 43, two of whom are
Episcopalians, the rest Baptists. Several
Others are known to be carefully considering
the question of devoting themselves to this
| work. 1t is noteworthy that six of those
now recognized as ministerial students came
| to college at first without any such distinct
purpose. 1t suggests that in the looking and
laboring which must accompany our prayers
to the "Lord Of the Harvest" we should
turn attention to. young men who are al-
ready trained as we'll as to those whom the
| Lord may call and then qualify. Samuel
and Timothy were called in early youth and
| trained, for their life-work, but Moses and
Paul were first trained as if for different
| purpose, and then called to their divinely-
appointed work. We have some at the Col
| lcge in training with reference TO work to
which they feel called. May we not hope
also that some who are looking forward to
different occupations in life may be counted
| worthy to be put into the highest Of all yoca-
| tions?
:. Professor Hart said that Virginians were
called proud, and that he thought they had
| a right to be proud of such statistics rs Mr..
Harris had brought out. He had not the
| facts at hand, but was sure that the remarks
made about the young men in our colleges
would equally apply to cur young women.
| He gave interesting statistics of his own
school, the Richmond Female Institute
paid high compliment to the character
and department of the young ladies under
his charge, and spoke ably and forcibly Of
the obligation of the teacher SO to teach as
to direct the minds ard hearts of his pupils
| to the Gross.
Rey. C. ii. Corey spoke with humble pride
! of the stronG men of which the denomna.
ton could now boast, and of the rapid pro-
gress made in this respect. He gave irte.
resting statistics (Which were published in
the New-Year's edition Of the Dispatct) Of
| the Richmond Institute for training colored
teachers and preachers, Of which he is presi-
dent, and said that he had constant applica-
| tionS for the services OF these young men
| from all parts of the country that several
of them were thinking of going as mission
aries to Africa, and that he had encouraged
them to 90 out under the auspices of the
Board Of the southern Baptist Convention.
Rev. Dallas Tucker being called out by
| DR.. Curry made an earnest and telling ad-
dress, in which he warmly expressed his in.
terest in young men, and feelingly eXhorted
that prayer be made for both professors and
students-for those who profess faith in
Jesus and the unconverted as well.
Rev. j. William Jones spoke Of the graft
flying fact that very large proportion of the
teachers in our colleges and higher acade.
mics in Virginia are already professed Chris
tlans.
Professor f. Harrison expressed bis warm
sympathy with the remarks OF his friend
and brother Mr.. Tucker, and spoke feel.
| ingly of the importance of bringing students
to Christ, because few who pass through
college without becoming Christians ever do
so in after-lfe :.,
Rev. Dr. Jeter said that the great need OF
the colleges was prayer, now and continu.
ously. He hoped that the effect of this meet
! ing would be to so stir up Gods people to
labor and to pray that revival might (as In
other days. follow this meeting, and the
seventy unconverted students in Richmond
College be brought to Christ. He spoke in
high terms Of the importance Of the work in
which Mr.. Corey is engaged, and asked
earnest prayer for him and those under his
charge.
/ Rev. DR.. Curry closed by expressing his
high qualification at the spirit Of the meet.
| ing and his ardent hope that it might indeed
be followed by revival at Richmond Col.
| lege. For himself, he believed in the power
of prayer. Scientists might talk of their
"pray er-tests" and prayer-gauges," but
/ we could humbly thank God that in our
!.eXperience we have found that God does
hear and answer prayer.
| AS he gave two touching illustrations of
| how the prnyers of pious mothers had re-
Gently been answered in the conversion Of
students at the College-spoke of the love of
teacher for "his boys "-of the periIs Of a
Young man at colIege-and Of the hopes OF
the country, bound up in them-and made
one of his thrilling appeals to the eopgrega-
ton to look after, be kind to, and pray for
L 80 pfobronpR fyoltouo-fearo