The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-01
rsnec,a, teIerram to the Dispatcll.I


tonight in the ffty-third annual session OF
their General Association. This BODY Is
! composed OF delegates from the churches,
District Associations, and Missionary socle-
ties. It is simply missionary body, and
| assumes
NO ECCLESIASTICAL CONTROL
over the churches. 1t is Of some historical
| interest that the house of worship in which
the Association meets is on for very near)
the site Of the old Jail in which little over
hundred years ago James Ireland and
other Baptist ministers were imprisoned
and cruelty treated for the crime OF preach
| ing contrary to the statutes OF the colony,
which allowed only ministers of the estab-
lishment to exercise these functions.
The progress OF the denomination since
those dark days in its history has been truly
wonderful.
WHAT THE BAPTIsTs NUMBERED THEN.
Then the Baptists numbered only about
1900 in the State. Now they number
counting in the previous estimate, both
white and colorcd) upwards OF 10000.
Then they had no college, few schools, and
very few educated preachers. Now their
educational institutions rank among the
best, their ministry is at least equal to that
OF any other in the State, and their progress
in all that constitutes the elements OF real
success has moro than kept pace with the
advance OF the Commonwealth.
| The first
GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF THE BAPTIsTS
OF the State was the "Baptist General
| Committee" which. was formed in 1884.
This was followed by the General Meet
ing OF Conference" which continued in eX
istence until 1923, when the present "Gen-
eral Association was formed at q meeting
held in Richmond in the Second Baptist
church, whose house OF worship then stood
on an alley between Main and Cary streets,
nearly opposite the site Of the present GUS
! tom-housc.
| The first State missionaries sent out by
this body were Revs. J. 3. Jeter and Daniel
Witt. and since then the Association has
steadily pushed forward the work OF evan
gelizing the Commonwealth.
In 1860 the Association had in its employ
sixtv-threc missionaries, who baptized
during the year 1902 converts, and per-
formed a vast amount OF other work, and
eighty-two colporteurs, who carried the
word Of God to the destitute in every nook
and corner OF the State. There was contri-
butcd to the boards OF the Association that
year SO, 3G0.49 exclusive OF the contribu-
tons to the Southern Baptist Convention,
and the outlook was decidedly hopeful.
When the war broke out the Association
sent into the army its band Of trained COL
porteurs, and did its full share OF the work
among our brave defenders by which so
many thousands OF them found Jesus in the
camp.
1t so happened that this Association was
the
! FIRST GENERAL RELIGIOUS BODY WHICH NET
IN THE SOUTH AFTER GENERAL LEES SUR
RENDER.
They met amid the blackened ruins OF
Richmond-ft emblem Of our blighted
| hopes and desolated land-and ut once re-
solved to "go forward" in their work.
Since then steady progress has been made.
CONTRIBUTIONS, ETC.
During the pastyear upwards Of $4,000
has been contributed to the objects OF the
Association.
Ii this seems small sum for so large 4
denomination. several things should be re-
membered:
I. This contribution comes only from the
white members (about 900 in the State),
and does not include the contributions OF
the colored members.
.. The Baptists share with their Method
ist brethren the peculiar honor OF "preacll-
ing the gospel to the poor" and the aggre-
gate pecuniary ability OF their membership
| is not at all equal to that OF some other de-
nominations.
3. The peculiar form OF church govern
ment of the BaptistS forbids their having
the machinery which others find so efficient
in securing contributions.
4. The real strength OF the denomination
is in the country, where money is not so
abundant as in the towns, and contributions
not so regular.
But l presume that every intelligent Bap-
list would admit that, after making all due
allowances, the denomination does not con-
tribute half as much as it ought, and in
mingling with the delegates it is easy to hear
fully formed purpose Of seeking to swell
the contributions considerably the coming
year.
But must pass on to speak OF the present
meeting.
THE DELEGATES HAVE A PEEP AT THE BRA
zTLIAo EMPEROR.
A large delegation left Richmond this
morning. 1t was swelled at every station,
and from Gordonsville there was scarcely
standing-room. There was the usual COM
minglng OF brethren from different sections,
comparing notes as to the work OF the past
year, or engaging in pleasant social inter-
course. Some interest was excited by the
report that Dom Pedro was on the cars, but
as he occupied special car, which was
closely guarded, there was no opportunity
OF seeing him until we reached Culpepcr.
Here he got off Of the cars to get lis dinner,
and the crowd assembled at the depot had
an opportunity Of looking at live Emperor.
Dressed in a suit OF almost shabby black,
wearing slouched hat, and accompanied
by only one of his suite, the Emperor was
not recognized at first, and Richmond