The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-13


and arr, and ably argued that men so intelli-
gent would be held to q fearful accounta-
bility for forgetting God. And il any argue
that the heathen are 50 besotted and de-
gradcds that they will not accept Christ the
answer is that we have the same natures to
overcome in our work at home-that each
one OF us has at least one heathen to fight
himself. - il
WHAT FOREIGN MISSIONS HAVE DONE.
He eloquent1y and earnestly argued that,
foreign missions has done everything for us
that our ancestors were heathen and that
we would be heathen to-day had not some
body carried the gospel to our foreiathers.
DR.. Hiden's address was listened to with
deep Interest, and seemed to produce pro-
found impression.
The Convention then rose and sung E.
'Did Christ DER sinners weep?"
Rev. DR.. j. ". NJ. Williams, of Baltimore,
next took the stand. He made character
istic speech, in which he earnestly insisted
that more OF the missionary spirit is the
great need Of the Convention, defined what
that spirit is, and told how it should be cul-
tivated.
- DIR. CURRY'S REMARKS. 49,.
Rev. DR.. Curry next addressed the Con-
vention.
He said that while he should speak more
particularly OF our Italian mission, as he had
recently had the privilege OF seeing the work
there, he trusted that he felt an equal inter-
est in all OF our missions and missionaries.
He wanted to say at the start, lest he might
forget it afterwards, that he had never had
any man to grow in his esteem, admiration,
and love, as did the superintendent of our
Italian work-Rev. DR.. George 3. Taylor,
during his recent intimate intercourse with
him at Rome. He verify believed that God
had raised up George Taylor and peculiarly
fitted him for that work. He was emphatic
ally the man for the place he occupied. 1t
would be indelcate to speak Of his wife-as
women reared in this latitude, and true We
men everywhere, dislike to be publicly ga
zetted-but he would say that she is a true
help-tneet to her husband.
He said that while Brother Hiden was
making his noble speech it had occurred to
him that there is something worse-more
difficult to be overcome-than even cannibal-
ism; that the difficulties in Italy are even
greater than were those in the South Sea
Islands, OF in China. ..- ..
THE MISSION CAUSE IN ITALY.
We had been at first too sanguine OF early
and complete success ia Italy, not only be-
cause we receive rose-colored pictures OF
the work there, but because the revulsion
Of feeling against the temporal power OF the
Pope was naturally mistaken for an aban-
donment OF the Romish Church. But our
mission work has, nevertheless, met with
very decided and gratifying success.
He then gave deeply interesting sketch
Of the mission stations of the Convention at
Milan, where Signor Paschetto labors so
faithfully-at Lodi, where Signor Gardiol is
standing for the truth with as heroic cour-
age as Napoleon showed when he sprang
upon that famous bridge-at Modena, where
the accomplished Martelle labors so hope
fully-at Civita Vecchia, where Signor Cossu
is doing noble work-at Naples, where
Count Passingoult, Russian Prince, who
was baptized by Baptist Noel in England,
and has consecrated his splendid talents and
large fortune to missionary work-at Bari,
where the outlook is not SO hopeful-and at
Rome, where brother Taylor has the able
assistance Of Signor Concorda, who is an able
man, fine scholar, and an eloquent preach
er, who would be an honor to any denomi-
nation in England or America. He stated
that DR.. Taylor breaches not only fluently
in Italian, but that he is an even better
preacher in italian than in English, as he
spoke in more animated and impassioned
style.
4 HARD STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME RoAAN1SM.
After giving this decidedly encouraging
sketch of the mission he warned the Con-
vention not to be too sanguinc OF large I'M
mediate results, as it will be hard struggle
to overcome Romanism, which has been in
corporated into the very life OF the people,
and has been for centuries a corrodlng
canker, eating out the public conscience ana
emasculating everything like spiritual life.
TT 81 IL, ~, -hp hnH Q-
manism in this country, modified by our
free institutions or restraining itself from
policy, could form no conception OF what 1t
and its blighting influences are in Europe.
But the sun of Righteousness can dlsslpate
the darkness OF Asia, Africa, and even that
of Rome; for as all Of this degradation and
darkness are the product OF sin-the same
sin that is in our hearts and our country
His rays can dissipate the darkness.
and He can raise the fallen. God
reigns. This is Gods earth, and
Christ's heritage, and the same power
that made heather England and heather
America Christian, can convert pagan Asia
and Africa, and worse than pagan Rome.
He gave
VIVID AND TOUCHING ACCOUNT
of q conference Of the missionaries and
evangelists in Italy. He said he had taken
the liberty, as president Of the Foreign
Mission Board, to bear to those brethren q
fraternal greeting from this Convention, and
pledge that we would stand by them. He
gave a picture Of the sacrifices of these men,
and made an appeal to the Convention to
sustain them, which caused tears to flow
freely all through the vast crowd.
He stated that he had had the privilege OF
attending the first Bible-Society meeting
ever held within the walls Of the city OF
Rome, and was recognized as member OF
the Board Of Managers OF the Virginia
Bible Society. He held up a beautiful copy
OF the New Testament in Italian, which he
stated he had purchased near the Vatican
for the sum of five cents. He eloquently
presented the grand results which must
flow from the free circulation of the Holy
Scriptures in Italy. Il
He clearly brought out the fact that it is
difficult for the European mind to grasp the
idea that the right Of individual conscience
is distinctly based on the New Testament,
and ably argued the necessity Of having
distnetively Baptist churches there. =
! He closed with an eloquent appeal, which
thrilled the Convention.
Rev. DR.. Burrows gave q
HISTORY OF THE ROME CHAPEL FUND,
and brought out the fact that it was under
taken to collect $50, 900 by raising half at the
North and half at the South; and that while
the South has nearly finished its quota but