The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-02


ligent hearers. And, on the other hand, the
preachers are frequently not as we'll posted
in the Scriptures rs they ought to be, and
the people need to study the Word Of God in
order that they may be able to protect them
selves from the errors OF the pulpit
He gave some very amusing examples Of
neutrality-suspicious. Of Scripture By ministers,
and closed with an earnest and very effective
appeal for the promotion Of the study OF
Gods Word.
Rev. T. 5. DunaWay protested against
mere mechanical reading Of the Word of
God, and insisted that we should discourage
the routine-l eaGing of the Scriptures.
The question was further discussed by
Rev. }. Vim. Jones, Colonel Il. j. Evans,
Rev. DR.. Curry, Rev. 4. Ii. Sands, j. b.
" atkins, Esq, Henry Taylo Esq, of Balti.
more, aud Rev. DR.. Wayland, OF Philadel-
rhia who again brought down the house at
bis capital h,tS and sound practical views.
OUR STATE woRE-srATISTIcs.
After singing Nearer, my God, to Thee"
the Convention took up the regular order.
Addrcss- Our State Work: It's Necessi-
ties and CLAIMS. Rev. John NJ. Pitcher, Of
Coyington.
Query: Is the Sunday-School and Bible
Board the agency we need for its prosccu-
ton?
Mr. Pitcher stated that be had no rhetoric,
but the simple statistics and facts concern.
ING the work so far as the minutes OF the Sc
yeral Associations give information.
The Accomac association reports 10
churches, II Sunday schools, and 15l schol-
ars--lacking only nine to nave as many schol-
ars Is chuich.mcmbers.
The Portsmouth association reports Al
churches with 4,191 members, AZ Sunday
schools. 1926 scholars, and 240 conversions.
The DOrer association reports Al churches
with 6,S04 members, Al Sunday schools CSC
Of which are in session all the year,, 6,19l
scholars. and 800 baptismS.
The R0ppdhdnnock Association reports
45 churcneS with G.930 members, e. sun
day schools, 4,2l3 scholars, aud 264 bap-
liSm>. The speaker regarded the efficiency
Of the kappahannock Association as largely
due to their District Superintendent (Rev.
George II. Nor,ham).
He thcn passed to detailed exhibit OF the
Baptist Sunday.school statistics Of all OF the
other Associations and counties Of the State,
| showing a lamentabe state Of things in GER
taiG sections, and then gave the following
summary Of The condition Of the Baptist
| Sunday schools Of Virginia (as gathered from
| the minutes of the Associations, which he
said he knew were not fun:
Twenty district associations, G29 churches,
| 419 Sunday schools. Two hundred ard fifty
six churches fail toTcport schools. although
| it is known that many of these have schools.
| OF these 256 dellnquents. only II are among
| the churches Of the Tidewater Association,
| 7G are in Soulhside Virginia, IS in South
| west Virginia, and IS in Piedmont Virginia
and the Valley. 25,2S5 Sunday-school schol-
ar> and l Ia conversions during The year are
reported.
| The speaker deduced from these statistics
encouragement as TO il part Of the field !;
| more energy, activity, and efficiency a' to
! other parts: and the necessity of better or.
ganiZl'ion and some system by which fuller
statistics can be obtained.
Mr.. Pitchers address showed considerable
| research and labor iu its preparation, aud
| was regarded as model OF its kind.
After few remarks by Z. Il. Montague,
Esq., kcy. C.. Il. hyland, and Rev. D. 6. Tay-
| lor, the further consideration Of the subject
was postponed until to-day, to be considered
in connection with "diStrct organization"
DR.. Hatcher then took the stand, and a
| halt-hour vas spent answering questions
| found in
| THE QUESTIOS-BoX.
1. What should be done with pastors who
| never meet their Sunday schoosY
Answer. Some pastors are pr0videntially
hindered from meeting with their schools,
but if not so hindered he should be gotten
rid of as soon as possible.
| 2. What should be done with q Sunday
school superintendent who persists in selling
spirituous liquor!
| Answer. He should be requested to re-
| sign his position or his business, and If be
refuses let the school tender him bis resgna-
ton.
8. Ought the officers of Suuday-school to
be appointed by the church or by the
school?
| Answer. If the school is just organizing it
will be we'll for the church to appoint but
| after that the church should not interfere.
4. Should the colored people be encour-
aged and assisted in their S1nday-school
| work?
Answer. BY all means.
8. What shall teacher do with scholar
that is disagreeable to the balance of the
class?
Answer. He would invite the boy to bis
house. He would treat him to a paper of
| canQy, lce-creau. slTaHUeTIles, &C., lake ulIu
to the country, loan him bis gun, and do
everything in his power to win him over to
be disagreeable no longer. He felt confident
that this course would succeed; but if it
failed, then he would ask the superintendent
| to qice him to some one else.
s. Ought teacher to visit the scholars OF
his class at their homesS
Answer. By all means. The teacher who
neglects this is as certain to fail as the pas.
tor who negIects pastoral visiting.
| DR.. Hatcher was 10 one OF his happeSt
veins, aud his answers to the questions and
comments thereon were very witty, striking,
and practical.
After statement by j. T. Ellyson, cor
responding secretary OF the Education Board
as to the condition and wants of that Board
and some remarks and announcements by
! other delegates, the Convention adjourned
with prayer BY DR.. c. K. Dickinson.
Afternoon Session.
After the singing of several Sunday y-schoo
songs, very admirably rendered by the Pine
Street Sunday school, and prayer BY j. B
Taylor, the order Of the evening was an
nounced to be i" The Sunday School as De
norninationai Agent." BY Judge w. X.
Barksdale, of halifax county.
Judge Barksdale tirst defined the relation
..La Al fo tho ahprnh md than