The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-18
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY CONVENTION.
lTwenty.seventh Annnal sesslon Of the
Body.

|AWentysHeTeMs1A Annu0k H968koM Oh the
Body.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH AND rTs WoRK-THE eoNvEN.
TroN oRGANIzED-RELIGI ExER-
cIsEs-ANNUAL ADDRESS BY DIR. PEN
DLEToN-COR,MITTEEs APPoINTED-
WORK FOR To-DAY.ac.
The twenty-seYenth annual meeting Of
the General Christian Missionary ConYen-
tion OF the United States-W. K. Pendle-
ton president, Thomas Munnell secretary
commenced its session in the Seyenth-Street
Christian church ut "a O'clock last evening
in the presence of very large congrega-
ton of Christians and representatives OF
other religious denominations.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND IT'S WORK.
The Disciples or Christians, under the
lead OF Thomas and Alexander Campbell,
OF Bethany, W. Va, began their work about
fifty years ago, and now number something
over half million OF communicates. Their
chief strength is in the States OF Kentucky,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa,
but have churches in all the States and Ter
ritories, In Canada, Great Britain, Austria
lila, and elsewhere. They have 5000 organ
ICED congregations, 5000 ministers, 3 uni
versities, % other degree-conferring insti-
tutions OF learning, quarterly, II week
lies, and 13 other periodicals.
Their purpose Is to restore primitive
Christianity to the world. Discarding all
human authority in religion, they seek to
bring themselves and others to q thorough
study OF the Bible Especially the New Testa-
ment) as the only and allsuf6cient creed Of
the Church. Confessions Of faith and formu-
laries Of other churches are held as OF no
binding force upon the conscience of any
man. The will Of God, rs written in the
Scriptures, alone is binding.
TIE MISSIONARY CONVENTION
now in session in Richmond is composed Of
delegates chosen by the State conventions,
and formally accredited to this Convention.
Their missionary labors have been chiefly in
the United States, but have had some fruits
in Jerusalem by the labors OF DR.. j. T. Bar
clay, OF Virginia, and also successful work
in Jamaica. They have recently sent DIR.
Holck and wife missionaries to Denmark,
and expect to inaugurate the work in other
countries before long.
The home work has been very successful,
having in this way in the last twenty-five
years, since they began mission work, added
about 100000 people to their communion.
Quite q number of their most distinguished
men are here, and profitable meeting is
anticipated.
WELCOME.
The Seventh-Street Christian church, in
which the sessions OF the body are being
held, Is one OF the handsomest in the South,
and was built with view OF accommodating
the large and increasing membership In this
city. The ladies Of the congregation, with
their usual taste and energy, have rendered
the ediice particularly attractive and in
yiting at this time. In rear Of the pulpit,
standing out in bold, striking letters OF
evergreen, was the word "Welcome," 80
placed that every one who entered the
building would receive its silent greeting.
Elsewhere upon the pulpit-stand were also
evidences of their handiwork. Here and
there beautiful baskets OF evergreen and
flowers had been distributed; the whole al
fording most acceptable sight to the eye.
INTRODUCTORY EXERCISES.
The exercises of the evening were opened
with singing, and prayer by Rev. Mr. Chase,
of Illinois, followed by the reading OF the
10th Psalm and prayer by Rev. James Chal-
len, Of Cincinnati. Other appropriate reli-
gious exercises followed, after which Rev.
William Il. Pendleton, president OF the
Convention, president OF Bethany College,
and Superintendent-elect of Public Instruc-
ton OF West Virginia, delivered
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS.
DR.. Pendleton spoke for nearly an hour.
He began by welcoming his friends and
| members OF the Convention to the twenty
seventh anniversary Of the generalmissiona
ry body Of the Church OF Christ. Doubly
happy was he to meet them here in the heart
OF Virginia, where q century ago through
stripes and imprisonments freedom to
preach the gospel was wrung from the hand
of persecution, and liberty OF conscience and
liberty OF government established them
selves upon the ruins Of prescription and
tyranny. -
| DIR. Pendleton, having appropriately in.
troduced the subject, spoke for some time
upon missionaries and their work. In con.
| cludinr he said to know the cause OF our
weakness is to know the remedy. The Sa-
yiour has given it into our hands. Let our
hearts be as one in constant, feryent prayer
for the success of our missionaries, and all
else will follow. What we truly pray fol-
we will truly work for and pay for, and so
adding the double fruit Of faith, prayer,
and work, God will surely add his blessing
| COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
At the conclusion OF the address the Chair
announced the following committees
On Order of Business j. u. Tyler, Vlr-
ginia; L. L. Carpenter; g. 81. Anderson,
Pennsylvania. !.
On Credentials /: C. S. Lucas, Virginia
George Darsie, Kentucky; 0. A. Bartholo'
NEW, Ohio. -
At the request of Rev. Mr.. Tyler, the
Committee on Order OF Business retired, IN
order to prepare report for TINS morning
REV. MR.. CHALLEN.
During the absence Of the committee DR..
Pendleton introduced Rev. Mr.. Challen, OF
Cincinnati, for an address, and said he was
one Of the oldest and foremost missionaries
belonging to the Convention.
| Mr.. Challen addressed the body very
briefly upon the objects Of the Convention.
| He said they met in order to consider the
best plan and method of spreading the gos-
peI, and he hoped that success would at
| tend the labors Of the body.
BUSINESS FOR TODAY.
The committee appointed to mature work
for the Convention having agreed upon O
report, presented the following, which was
read and adopted:
I. Devotional services from to 81 A. M,
led by Brother Southmayd, OF Ohio.
2. Business: ~ Enrolment. (2.) Re-
nort NJ BOARD and its reference to appro-
pirate committees.
3. Fiye-minute speeches.
That the committee report 1urtner oraers
at close Of each session.
SI1ndry matters connected with tne en-
1scpn after