The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-27
ADDRESS OF DE-. Curry ON rHs RsIla1o

DuTY OF oS.-Notwithstanding the
attractions elsewhere large and intelligent
congregation assembled at the First Baptist
church last night to hear the previousiy-an
nounced address of DR.. Curry. He spoke
nearly an hour to the delight and ediica!ion
OF the audience.
After an alluSon to the proposed utliZa-
ton OF the centenniil by the Baptists for the
endowment of higher Institutions of learn
ing, and his entire concurrence In the
movement, he said he had no SYM
pathy With those who thought that
the main end Of the existence Of de-
nomination was the maintenance OF peculiar
and distinctive doctrines. He rejoiced that
80 many denominations preached the truth
in Jesus, and he welcomed the convention
Of young Christian workers who were then
in session.
He alluded to the marvellous growth Of
the Baptists, which made him trembIe be-
cause of The fearful responsibilities and obi.
cations imposed on them. Numbers were
not as strong as moral power. How to
fulfil the measure of obligation was
the pressing question. Every Christian
pledges himself to the conservation OF
all powers present and possible. Edu-
cation deyelopes these potentialities, and Is
vital to the growth and perfection of the in
dividual Christian. There can be no complete
Symmetrical development without educa-
| ton. The human being Is to be enlarged
to the fullest extent of the capacities which
God has given him. Completeness of de-
velopment is loyalty to God; voluntary igno-
rance is treason to His goyernment-an in
suit that man is bonoring aud glorifying
| God when be leaves unframed his best and
| noblest capabilities.
AL great enterprises are controlled by ed
ucated men. Reference was made TO Pa ul
Moses, Augustine, Luther, CALVIN, Wesley,
the Moors 10 Spain, &c.
| The Gospel is not merely scheme for saving
men from perdition. 1t seeks to call out and
vitalize every capacity for good-eyery help
full lorce Of our nature.
| Education is not properly appreciated eX
| cept for learned professiors, aud not sufi
ciently for these. LISA solemn Christian duty
to give sons and daughters the best possible
education, no matter what is to be their call
ing. This duty presses on US as citizens
! Under the old system We had highly edI
Gated few but mass OF lllileraey II
| Virginia. Universal sutfrage-a bazlrdou
| eyperment-necesSitat universal educa
ton. France, by universal suffrage, becam
a military despotism. Education makes Labor
and property more valuable, and lessen
pauperism and crime. Ignorance is the pa
| rent of poverty, degradation, and despotlsm
| There Is nothing so costly Us ignorance ant
crime. The speaker bad no symoathy VIII
| the notion of the divine and erctuSiCe rlgD
of the better-born to be educated. Ii it wa
right to tax property to sustain the Unlyer
sity of Virginia and the Military Institute
| it was right to tax to educate the poor.
He enforced with much earDestness INT
| imperative obligation on Christians TO give
education to their children. A child was
gift of God, and had grander destiny thar
merely to make money. What child learns
becomes Incorporated into its being-a par
Of its personality, and passes into eternity
| He urged an honest effort to give every
child the best education it could receive; tc
create q public opinion in favor OF h1shel
educ ition as paramount obligation, and tht
fostering and endowment of our educationa
institutions so as to place them on imper
iShable bases.
! In conclusion, DR.. Curry alluded briefly tt
the approaching centennial of American III
dependence, and said that while he did no
| deem the present occasion altogether pro
| per one on which to commend the poilica
centennial, at the same time he thought th'
political celebration was right and proper
| right that Virginia should take an interes
| and part in it becluse her sons bore sucl
an important part in American independ
ence. He also took occasion to remarl
that he had never before delivered ;
sermon upon education, and hoped tha
Whatever of merit it possessed might be TIT
means of accomplishing something TOWARD
the advancement Of so great cause.
| At the conclusion of the address the bene
diction was pronounced and the congrega
| ton dismissed.
| The address was one Of the most eloquen
ever delivered in this city, and the brief ous
line we have given does not fully reprcsen
the speaker.