The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-01

were praying for 1t. he believed that these
! prayers had been answered in the blessed
meeting they had had. He hoped that all
were going forth from this spiritual armory
fully, equipped, ready to live for, to work
for, and (if need be) to die for Christ. All
| OF them would not meet again on earth, bu;
he looked to blessed retiaion beyond the
| river. He earnestly horted the unconyerted
TO come to Christ, and the brethren of the
| Richmond Association to follow pp the work
so graclously begun.
"Shall we gather at the river?" was then
sung, and Rev. George c. Needhan led in
prayer. e,"..:.
Mr. Felir r. Brunot, OF Pittsburgh, said
| that there was a deep meaning in meeting
such as this. BE could not find words to
tell bow he had enjoyed the warm hospitality
| Of Richmond and the blessed privileges of
| the meeting. Butts this is as nothing unless
we carry away with US that II hich shall help
us in our work for the Master. We should
rejoice not so much in the halloWed memories
| of The occasion as that our names are written
| in the Book Of Life. He cordially invited
Richmond to cpEle to Pittsburgh that his
people might reciprocate the cordial hospi.
| tality received here.
The congregation then sung with great
enthusiasm "HalIeIujah IT'S Done" and
r Rev. DR.. Mast led ii prayer. S---e-
Colonel Russell Sturqis, of Boston. was
| the next speaker. He said that they called
each other brother" not as form, but
because there was no such brotherhood of
the flesh as that Which bound together the
members of this Convention, who were sons
Of God children of a common Father
"no more strangers and foreigners, but fel-
low.citiZens of the household of faith" They
| were not citizens Of Boston, Richmond, or
| Chicago, but of the city which hath founda.
tions, and whose maker and builder is God.
AS the college-boy returning nome is met at
the threshold by joyous brothers, who gladly
greet him and conduct him in to receive q
fathers welcome, 80 we are only out for q
days work, and will soon go home, where a
loving elder brother will meet us at the
threshold and lead US to receive loving
fathers welcome.
The members of this Convention might
differ widely about some matters pertaining
to this world-e. g., there were on that very
platform at least TWO who in the recent war
had, on opposite sides, taken their lives in
their hands, and both Were equally dctuated
by high deuotion 10 principle. rrhe reference
was to Major Hardie, the president, who was
in the Confederate army, and the speaker,
who was in the Federal army.l But they
forgot these minor points of difference IN
the absorbing love of Christ. Even during
the war he had held sweet communion with
Christian Confederate soldiers whom he had
met. Christian love can bind all hearts to-
gether, and this Christian Association work
has wonderful power in binding together all
sec ions of this great continent. ...
After the singing Of Heaven is my
home," bIr. II. e. Simmons, Of Brooklyn,
said that be bud hlliowcd memory of Mon
treal. for there the Spirit had been. poured
out in wonderful revival; and of Portland
as the place where they had adopted the
evangelical test"; and now he should re-
member Richmond not simply because he
had here learned what Old Virginia hosDi-
tality means, but because OF the precious
season they had had together, and still more
for the hope that they would 90 hence not
simply to bear with them the memory of O
good time, but to carry VOWS of conservation
to the Masters work.
Then followed "Stand up for Jesus" a
prayer by Mr.. Wilke, of Toronto, "Hold
the Fort" Zone of Sankey's sopgs) and a
touchingly sweet little song (Wille's plea
for his father, who "could not leave the
store" to so to heayen,) by Professor john
SOD. -
Mr.. J. T. Enyson. president of the Rich
mond Association, said that While uneXpect-
edly called on be should not decline
the opportunity of expressing the joy OF his
brethren at this grand meeting. They bad
been more than repaid for any little trouble
they had been at 10 the fraternal spirit which
their visitors had manifested both in their
meetings and in their homes. The labors Of
the day had been richly fruitful, aud tidings
came from all parts of the city of iuquirers
and conversions in connection With the meet
iugs.
lie begged the brethren to continue to pray
that the blessing of the Lord might abide
here, and that they might have grace to push
forward the work which had SO gracously
begun.
Req. DR.. Biting was grateful for the bond
which bound them first to Christ and then
to each other. They might forget all else Of
the meeting, but he trusted that they would
remember the cross, which bad been so faith
fully held up during the meeting. He thank
ed the brethren for coming, and be thanked
God for the rich blessings he bad bestowed
through them. He appealed for volunteers
to remain and carry on the work for at least
q few days. =.
After The singing of " Almost Persuaded !"
Rev. George C. Needham made stirring ap-
pea! to the unconverted.
After prayer by DR.. D. c. English, Of New
Brunswick, and the singing of "Caiing,
Prodisal, for Thee" Msjor Hardie. the presi-
dent, made the closing address. He said that
the sting was taken from the parting hour by
the reflection that they were parting for only
a few days before they gathered once more at
the river. There had been grave fears that
this Convention might not prove success,
but in answer 10 earnest prayer the
Holy Spirit had guided them, Jesus
bad come to say "peace, "and the richest
blessings had descended. He exhorted bis
brethfen 10 remember that they came down
from this mount of privilege to go forth to
new conflicts and victories. AS soldiers IN q
common cause, battling for common Master,
they thanked the people OF Richmond for
their Christian hospitality, and went forth
with the earnest PRAYER that God's rlchest
blessing might abide here.
The congregation then rose and sung the
farewell song, "Blest be the Tie that
Biuds.~ while the delegates clasped hands.
After PRAYER the conductors of the music
continued for some time to lead the singing
of some of their sweetest songs, while the
delegates filed through the pulpit and shook
the hands of the officers and of each other.
The congregation we're held spell-bound
until nearly II O'Clock, and all agreed in pro-
nouucing it grand meeting.
Meeting at Association Hall fester-
At - O'Clock yesterday Association Hall
was filed with delegates and members OF
the Richmond Association, assembled for a
brief season of parting counsel:
Nr. John s. IIaclean, of Nova Scotia,
onened the meeting by reading the Scrip