The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-13

WERE TAKEN To- BUILD ST. JOHN S
CHURCH-AN INTERESTING OLD SERMON
READ BY MIR. WEDDELL-THEM METHODIST
sUNDAY-sCHooL SOCIETY. BAPTIST SUM-
DAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION, AND PREsBY-
TERRAIN SUNDAY-sCHOOL UNION-sER-
VICES IN THE METHODIST AND BAPTIST
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND ADDITIONS
| REsIGNATIoN.OF A PASTOR, &C.
Trinity Sunday was appropriately cele-
brated in all of the Episcopal and Catholic
churches in this city: The weather was
very warm, but, considering this fact, there
were good congregations in all OF the
| churches. The day was one Of special in
terest, too, to the Methodists and Baptists
| by reason OF the regular meeting OF their
Sundav-school organizations.
VERY OLD SERMON.
St, Johns church was well filled Sunday
night, notwithstanding the extreme heat
which prevailed. Rev. Mr.. Weddell, rec
tor, after the evening service, ascending the
pulpit, said "It was at a meeting OF the
yestry OF Curtis Neck church, in 1741, that
steps were taken for the erection OF this
building, and in the year 1743 it was finish
ed and dedicated to the worship of Almighty
God, Since that time the church has had
seventeen rectors. The longest period OF
incumbency OF any one rector was that OF
Rev. Miles Selden, who held the position
from the year 1852 to 1885. l
/ stand now in the same pulpit
which he occupied, and what is stranger
still, have before me the very manuscript
from which he delivered sermon in Janu-
ary, 1745 In this centennial year, when
we are living over again the past ages, l
thought it proper to bring before you these
! dusty and worn notes that you might hear
what was preached to our fathers in those
times, and moreover that you might see
that the Gospel Of Jesus Christ is the same,
yesterday, to-day, and forever
The text was taken from st. Matthew,
chapter 6, verse IL: ''Give us this day our
daily bread"; was very interesting and in
structive; and occupied about twenty min
utes in its delivery.
METHODIST SuNDAT-SCHooL SOCIETY.
| The regular monthly meeting OF this So
city was held at Union Station church sun
day afternoon at 81 o'clock-A. L. West
(presidenD in the chair, C. P. Rady and
James E. Riddick secretaries.
The meeting was opened with singing by
Union Station school, and prayer by Rev.
a. G. Bledsoe.
Rev. II. G. Cheatham, pastor OF Union
Station church, stated that the school con"
nected with his charge was in very pros
porous condition, and future prospects
very encouraging. The numbers on roll
and in attendance are much larger than at
any former period Of the school. A NUM-
Der of the scholars were converted in the
recent revival OF religion held at this
church. They raised in the school during
the last six months about ninety dollars for
the mission cause.
The President stated that the exercise:
would partake OF missionary character,
and questions bearing on the subject OF mis-
sionary labor might be propounded, to be
answered at some subsequent meeting.
Rev. S. 4. Steel, pastor OF Broad-Street
church, was then introduced, and addressed
the meeting on the subject OF missionary Ia
Dor. He gave some reasons why the mis-
sionary cause should enlist the attention OF
the church and the Sunday school. 1st.
The authoritative command of God, $50
preach my gospel to every nation" we have
no other alternative but to obey, no matter
whether any good has or will be done,
in our Judgment. I'd. Because OF the
grand results already accomplished. In less
than fifty wears see how much has been done
to eyangelize the world. Sd. Because OF
the reflex action Of missionary labor,
as shown in the healthy condition
OF the Church at home. 4th. Be.
cause OF the benefit to trade and
commerce Mr.. Macarthur. in an address
on this subject, stated that the receipts from
certain points opened by missionary LABOR
in Africa aggregate S2O,OOO,O00 annually.
Yet there are men engaged IN trade VINO
will not contribute to this cause. 9TH Be-
cause OF the prospects for the chrlstlanlza-
ton OF heather lands. Though IN emma
we have only one missionary to about sixteen
! thousand inhabitants, yet there is an under
current which warrants sangulne eXpecta-
ton OF success. In many places the mis-
sionary stations are already Scli-sustaining
A station in Africa last year supported it
self and sent e100 to Eng land as present
to a superannuated missionary. In anothef
place eli 900 had been raised to spread the
gospel among other heathen nations. 9Th.
Because all the prosperity OF the Church at
| home is due to missionary labor in our be.
half, and we owe it to others to give them
the benefits OF all the good we have received.
Bishop Marvin, Of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church South, will start very soon on
q trip which will circumnavigate the globe,
visiting and inspecting the missionary work.
He will visit Japan, China, India, Isles OF
Ceylon, thence up the Red Sea to Palestine,
thence through Italy and France home
again. The address was very fine one
full of information and argument, and cal,
culated to awaken deep interest in this
cause.
Rev. L. n. S. Blogg, German missionary,
then addressed the meeting, urging the
schools to persevere in the good work
Every penny helps the work along. 1t Is
said ten dollars, American currency, will
support native preacher. lie maze very
strong appeal to the schools 10 organize
missionary societies in all the schools.
Rev. A. C. Bledsoe also addressed the
meeting, calling attention to the relation
OF the Sunday school to the missionary
work, and the part the schools shouid take
| in the great work. The Sunday school can
aid the church very materially in this heid,
and the importance OF the work demands
all the efforts that can be put forth, here
is a new place for the Sunday school 70
work in, and when at no distant day all the
Sunday schools OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church South shall unite in this work, tue
blessing OF God will attend the labor ana
crown it to the benefit OF those at home ana
abroad -.
Rev. P. A. Peterson was called on, but
owing to the lateness OF the hour anu
warmth OF the weather deferred his ADDRESS
! to q future occasion, but added lew re-
marks endorsing oil that had been said.
The exercises were enlivened by eXcei-
lent singing by the school, solo oy Bliss
Flora Wilkerson, and beautiful piece sung
by civ little GIRLS