The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-15

400 officers and teachers and 1882 scholars.
At the suggestion of the president, Rev.
John NJ. Butler led the Association in spe-
cial thanksgiving to God for bis blessings
upon the schools particularly in the conrer-
slons, as reported, and invoking His richer
blessings in the future.
C. jacob, Esq Of the Grace.Street school,
brought to the notice of the Association the
great preEonderance of male scholars over
the females in his school, ard also in some OF
the other schools and not being able to give
a reason for the same satisfactory to himself
asked that the question be considered by the
body.
Rev. DR.. w. Z. Hatcher, pastor of the
Grace-Street church, was cordially welcomed
py the president, in behalf the Association,
as member Of the same, entitled to all its
privileges and benefits.
DR.. Hatcher responded, returning thanks
for the reception thus given him. and stated
| that although some years had elapsed since
his former connection with the Association,
vet he had always cherished lively interest
in it, and haG read the reports Of its statistics
and addresses with great pleasure and in
tereSt.
Speaking on the question presented by Mr..
Jacob, be gave as his explanation OF it the
| fact that owing to the present condition OF
labor many mothers retained their daughters
ut home to assist them in housekeeping mat
| tiers, while the boys were permitted to at
| tend the Sunday school. When Sunday
| morning comes with so much yet 10 be done,
and the question arises, VINO shall stay at
home to help mother? ii is almost always an.
swered by sending the boys to school and
keeping the girls at home.
| While sympathiziug deeply With parents
| thus situated, be yet rnestlyurged them to
make an extra effort, by commencing early
| in the week, 10 arrange their affairs SO as TO
permit their daughters to go 10 Sunday
school and thus acquire that religious train
| ing which would be of such great service to
them in after years by fitting them for the
responsible positions which they would be
called to fill.
TJ. Evans, Esq, thought that one rea.
son Of the great difference in the number OF
| male and female scholars was (and he hoped
the ladies would pardon him for saying it)
| that parents were sometimes not so very
careful about their boys dressing so timely,
but would not permit their daughters TO 60
| to Sunday school unless they were dressed
to death and their trunks empty"
| Mr.. Evans gave some interesting facts and
statistics, as gathered from the reports pre-
sented to the recent international Sunday.
School Convention held in the city OF Balti'
more, as ground for great encouragement to
Sunday school workers; and closed by Ia.
me,ting the fact that, with all the large num-
bers reported to the meeting Sunday after
noon, 80 few conversions had occurred.
| Rev. j. NJ. Butler, in discussing the ques-
| ton under consideration, said that the Sum
| day schools were now so much more interest
| inc than in former years that the boys loved
TO attend them, and would rather 60 to
| school than loiter around the streets or 60
| off into the woods on Sunday morning, as
he knew they used to do 10 great extent,
and called upon the girls not to allow the
| BOYS to keep ahead OF them so far.
DR.. CbIles stated that in his school The male
and female departments were about equal,
and thought it was occasioned by the
fact that there was q sort Of generous rivalry
betH cen the sexes which caused both sides 10
| use extra efforts TO excel in numbers.
| Mr.. 81. X. Elyson asked why it was tina!
| while the males outnumbered the females
yet O larger number of female scholars were
brought into the churches.
| MIR. Ellison made an address urging upon
| teachers the great need Of constant and con-
tiuued prayer for Gods blessing upon the
pupils, believing, as be said, that an earnest
praying, and faithful teacher would be as
successful with males as with females.
The meeting vas one Of the most interest
ing that the Association has held, and all pre-
sent were doubtless interested and prohteo
| by it.
At the suggestion of Colonel Evans col
lection was taken to enable the ladies te
| liauidate debt incurred in repairing tht
Fulton church, and the amount needed wa:
soon raised for which Rev. II. G. Crews re
turned the thanks of the churchtO those con
| tributing. "
After benediction by DR.. Hatcher tai
meeting adjourned TO meet at the Fenabie
Street church on the afternoon OF the secont
Sunday in July next.