The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-31

comfort" each speaker rising and telling in a
sentence the Chief source OF comfort which
he bad The meeting had all the elements
Of model prayer-meeting. Variety, breV-
ity, devoutnesS, dlrectuess, pith. and as
sweet singing as is not often heard. BY spe-
cial request Mr.. G. j. Littlefeid (uot Little
page. US reported in Saturdays paper, Of
Boston, sang in sweetest strain "hneelng
at the Cross"
Morning Session.
At 10 o'clock President Hardie called the
Convention TO order, and the devotlonal eN-
erclscs were led by Rev. Mr.. Huber, of Rich
monl Several resolutions were cftered, out
it was held that it was now too late to con-
slider them. Special leave was given Mr.. f.
r. Bruno, of Washington, TO offer resolutions
inslructing the Business Committee to ap-
point delegation TO attend the Evangelical
Alliance at its meeting next fall in Pittsburgh.
The following telegram was read
"CLEvELANp, ONO, Nav %, 1875.
"To International Conrent,on I. y. {. 4 :
the Pres syterian Gen' raj Assem- bly send
responsive greetings in the words OF III. The>-
salonians, ii. chapter, lob. 10th, and lnh
verses. h. ID. NEvISS, Modera'or.
"Cyrus Dickson. Pern't Clerk"
The President then announced as the topic
for the morning
ASSOCIATION LECTUREs-THEIRP PREVAILING
ABUSES AND PROPER oBJECTS-THE AVAIL
ABILITY OF HOME TALENT.
The discussion was opened by Mr.. j. b.
Archer, of Washington, d. He said that
:. Holiness unto the Lord" is written on the
banners OF the Young Mems Christian Asso'
ciation, and there must be no coin PROMISE
with the devil on this lecture question or IN
any thing else. Ha earnestly condemned the
custom of some associations, who invite even
iptiltl lecturers because they VIII draw"
The young men will become interested IN
the lectures OF such men. Seeing that they
are endorsed by the Young Mems Ciristlan
Association committees they will be the more
ready to believe in theHl, and they will be
thus gradually led on 10 embrace their soul.
running hereSieS.
The speaker read card which was banded
him at the door of the church yesler-
day. and which WIS the advertisement of a
certain Lecture E,rcau," and announced,
among other lecturers on their list, Theodore
Tltou. Carl SchurZ and others Of that class.
Nov, while these were meu Of upQuestloncd
talent. and could draw and entertain crowds,
he would not Ike to take the responsibility
of endorsing them before the young men OF
the country. He would advise lecture COM
mittecs TO con>ult the pastors OF the commu-
nifty (he would have the very closest sympa-
tby between the pastors and the Young
Mems Christian Association) and be largely
guided uv their advice. Above all, he " Nould
utilize home talent-m men that were Known
and could be relied on. He would bring
into the work Chrisian physicians, law.
ycrs, mechanics, &c, who could talk of
what they knew in familiar and
interesting style. He had no sort Of Sympa-
| thy for itiGcraut lecturers, and wanted some
| thing more solid than they generally afford.
| He paid Il high tribute to the power OF The
press, and c4lied attention TO the valuable
| lectures TO be found in many Of our papers.
BY way Of illustration he alluded TO the
beautiful monument at Hollywood to the
"uukuown" heroes for they must be re.
gardcd as heroes, whatever may be thought
of their cause,) who sleep in those lovely
grounds. He would also call attention to
the character of the literature OF many oil the
reading-rooms and libraries Of the associa.
tons. Many of the most deblSing papers
(such as Days DoingS, BelPS Life IN Lon
don, &r.,) tind their way into the rooms, and
improper books creep upon the shelves. He
urged q close scrutiny and rigid rule IN
this matter.
Wr. James Stokes, Jr, Of New York, was
not prepared to say that we should use no
man no, q Christian but he Thought error
had been committed in the other d'reclon
and he cordially endorsed the general state
mcnts of the other speaker. The great dtil-
culty is that Young men do not think, aud
want entertainment rather than instruction.
For this reason the newspapers are Tiled
with trash. These iinerant lecturers are
accustomed to go to New York, get in as
advertisements puts which they write
themselves, and then 20 through the
country with the high endorsement
of the New York press" If the people
want instruction and wholesome entertain
ment, home talent can be employed. Let
the LAWYER, the doctor, the scientific man, sit
down and tok about what he knows, aud
he will be both instructive and entertaining.
Let there be music and readings by home
talent, and not by itiEerant men or women
who haye failed ut everything else. lie clted
the Cooper Institute lectures, when are at
tended by crowds in New York notWltn-
standing the many places of amusement, Se.,
that are always open) as evidence OF What
can be done in this respect. AS 10 making
money by lectures, he thought it much bet
ter TO beg it from the friends OF the cause
than to attempt 10 make it in this way. Let
the people see that II is the Lords WORK, ana
the money would come.
Ir. Ltuletield then sang very sWeetlY
. NV Mission" ;" and Mr.. McMurdough led in
prayer.
Mr.. A. S. Badgley. of Laurel, Md, was
witness of the biigntiug, destroying effects Of
such lectures as had been alluded 10 on the
associ 4tions.
w. Robert K. Remington, of Fall River,
Mass, wanted to know what was TO oe done
in the smaller towns, where home talent
yeas not so abundant. He thought the mo-
ney question an important one, ana whl!e
he would have regard to the character OF
the lecturers he would at the same time see
to it that they were such nen as Wouiu
drdD and make the course pay.
Reu. george Il. Halt, OF washington,
earnestly recommended illustrated sclenIihc
lectures and illustrated Bible lectures.
Mr.. john p. Branch, Of Augusta, Ca,
wanted lectures winch would reach the
hearts aud consciences and convert tbe SOUS
,f men. He ftclingly related an lnTdent OF
10 old companion of his in Richmond VINO
sas deeply affected by one OF The open'air
meetings Friday evening.
The next topic announced was
ASSOCIATION WORK BY TIE WORKERS..
The President announced that three1snl-
,ute speeches by workers from every section
vas lust what was wanted.
Mr.. George E. Ddvis, of Vermont, SAID /
hat there was of necessity variety in the
aetbods employed In different localities, out |
he work was essentially one. He gave aa
Interesting account of the visitation In YER
,on., which begun In = snow-storm' ana