The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-09

| ANNUAL MEETING OF TIE RICHMOND BAP-
TIST SUNDAY. CHOOL ASSOCIATION. - This
n.t teting was held at the First Baptist church
| last evening, and was attended by representa-
! tiyes of the various schools com posing the
| Association.
| There were the usual monthly reports
| from the schools, and more Detailed reports
for the year the Venab ble- Street school and
church and the Clay.Street mission. The re.
port of l.. III. Fray ser, Esq, from Venable.
Street showed steady progress in the mum
bers, liberaIity, and efficient Working.powel
of both church and school. ~ ~
| Mr.. r. Ryland GRathmey gave an eX.
ceedingly interesting account OF the progress
Of The work ut Clay Street Mission school.
and made an earnest appeal for better
house in which to meet.
The President 81. b. Winston, Esq.,) then
| read his annual report. The report con-
graduates the Association OIL the tokens OF
the Divine favor during the past year. Tne
| statistics of the past year showed an increase
over the previous year:
First. La roll strength Of the schools, 233,
or eight per cent.
Second. In average attendance, 24O, or
eleven per cent.
Third. In church-members in the school.
SO, or six per cent.
The total amount Of collections In the
schools for their own purposes was 50. 621.
The number of conversions reported is
not so large as for the two previous years,
but those were years of extraordinary revi
Yals in several of the schools, aud the num-
Der is larger than for the years prior to 1873
The report sketches the progress of the
missions at Venabe and Clay Streets and
states that after completing the chapel at the
former, the executive committee had pur-
chased a most eligible lot ut the latter, and
now proposes to erect there q suitable house.
The report states that the Association needs
$4,000 for this purpose, and urges that this
sum be speedily raised.
The Association had raised during the
past year 1896, and disbursed $2,2l0. The
Association 10 come up 10 the work before
them.
The secretary, 0. D. Browne, Esq, then
read his annual report, giving the summary
of the monthly reports, which have been
from time to time pu blished in the Dispatch.
There are now connected with The Associa.
ton ten schools, which have now an aggre.
gate strength OF 1921.
NC 1lSdSulSA l.li % os SaI tS' taSu updS
his annual report, detailing the financial
condition and prospects Of the Association.
At the request Of the President, Rev.
George f. Williams then gave an exceed
ingy interesting and encouraging report OF
bis labors ut Venable stree, showing steady
prcgress, until it is now one Of the most
efficient and liberal churches, in proportion
to numbers, to be found.
On motion of Mr.. II. G. Burnett, the ex
ecurive committee was instructed TO arrange
at an early day for mass-meeting Of the
Blptist churches OF Richmond to consider
the Interests of Clay. Street Mission, and pro-
vide for the erection of suitable chapel.
Earnest and unusually effective speeches
were made by MIR. Burnett, Professor 81. II.
Harris, DR.. Jeter, Mr.. Josiah Ryland, Mr..
J.B. Watkins, Colonel T. j.. Evans, L. j.
Starke, Miles Turpin, Professor John Hart,
C. Waltball, and p. W. Grubbs.
The sentiment was unanimous and en'hu-
siastic in favor of building at ouce-the only
difference of opinion being az to whether 1t
| would be best to build now neat chapel or
| to erect at once handsome church edlnce.
The election of officers was then gone nto,
and the old officers unanimously elected, as
| follows:
President, j. B. Winston; vice-president,
j. 3. Watkins; secretary, y. ID. Browne ;
treasurer, S. S. Carter. =
The meeting seemed to be regarded by all
| present as one of more than ordinary In
| terest aud promise.