The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-12

Baptist Convention was formally opened in
the First Baptist church yesterday morning.
At an early hour the delegates begun to
congresate about the house, and most de
lghtiul season OF mutual converse and COM
pairing OF notes was had.
One OF the most delightful scenes at such
meetings is to see veterans OF the Cross and
young recruits mingling together in free in
tercourse as they recount the conflicts Of the
past or plan campaigns for the future.
CALLED TO ORDER. ,@ss
At 10 O'Clock the Convention was called to
order by the President (Rey. DR.. j. p. Boyce,
Of kentucky, and opened with reading the
Scriptures, singing, and prayer by Rev. MIR.
Dawson, OF South Carolina.
In the absence OF both Of the secretaries,
Rev. DIR. G.. C. Biting, Of Richmond, and
Rev, 0. L. Gregory, Of South Carolina, We're
appointed secretaries pro tenn.
Some delay occurred in enrolling the
delegates, during which the Convention
united in singing several of the popular
pieces in Gospel Hymns, Professor George
A. Minor leading the singing, and Mr..
Manly Ramos presiding at cabinet organ
on the platform.
A DISTRESSING REPORT.
While waiting for the report Of one Of
the delegations Rev. DR.. Fuller, OF Balti-
more, arose and said that he had report to
make, which had just come to him. just
as DR.. Brantly was about to take the train
to come here he received message that
Deacon A. w. Poulson, of his church, whose
name has been q synonyme in this Conven-
ton for enlightened liberality, had been
smitten with apoplexy, and had died in
three minutes.
Il s. Il Ia,,kn tnrt +,
ing appeal to his brethren to be also ready,
and to consecrate body, mind, eyes, and
| lips to the Lord, that for each one sudden
death might be sudden glory, and that liy-
ing or dying he might be the Lords.
| DR.. Sampson suggested that special prayer
be made that this af1iiction be sanctitied to
| the good OF the Convention, and the Presl-
dent called on DIR. Sampson to lead the de-
votions with that view.
| Partial lists Of delegations from the differ
ent States were read, and it was announce d
| BY the Chair that these lists would be per-
fected hereafter by the Committee on En-
| rolment. ..-..
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
Nominations for president being now in
order, Rev. j. William Jones put in noml-
nation Rev. DR.. P. II. Nell, vicc-chancellor
Of the University Of Georgia. He said that
| in making this nomination he Of course did
not mean to express the slightest dissatisfac-
| ton with the present able incumbent, Sut
as DR.. Nell had so long filled the chair which
only ill health had caused him to relinquish
he felt that it would be graceful tribute to
distinguished merit.
Rev. j. L. Carroll nominated the present
incumbent CDR. Boyce).
! Rev. DIR. Nell arose and said with deep
| SooI tbo+ ha rrfo tr %
| his brethren in the face once more; that in
the days of his affiiction the kind words OF
this Convention had been very precious to
him. He thanked the brother for his kind
mention Of his name in connection with the
presidency, but he could not think Of allow
ing his name to come into competition with
that OF his distinguished brother who has
so ably filled the chair. he would there
fore respectfully but firmly urge the with
drawal of his name.
Mr.. Jones said that he would, under the
circumstances, withdraw the name Of DR..
Nell, and cordially support the nomination
of the present incumbent.
THE PRESIDENT MAKES A GRATEFUL ACKNOWL-
EDGMENT.
DR.. Boycc being then elected president Of
the Convention (Dr. Nell occupying the
chair during the counting Of the votes) he
expressed his grateful acknowledgment OF
the kindness of his brethren. He was al
ways ready to serve those whom he loved,
and he highly appreciated the honor OF pre-
siding over 80 distinguished body. He
felt that no one could 60 far astray in this chair
after being under the training and dlscl.
pline Of DR.. Nell, and with that standard
authority, MelPS Parliamentary PTdc
tice," in his hands.
lie would have preferred to have had the
Convention choose this able parliamentarian
but as it had been otherwise decided ht
would gratefully accept the post assigned
him, and enter at once on his labors.
He thought that at this time we had pecu
liar need of Gods guiding grace, and earn
estly asked the Convention to invoke God:
blessing on all OF the work OF the Conven
ton.
He closed by earnestly appealing to these
"fellow-helpers Of the truth" to see to il
that they be not careless, lazy, or Indifferent
to the work before them.
OTHER OFFICERS ELECTED, &C.
The following vice-presidents were thel
elected: Rev. DR.. Nell, Of Georgia; Rev
DR.. Curry, OF Virginia; Rev. DR.. S. Ian
drum, Of Tennessee
The tellers reported the following election
of secretaries: Rev. DR.. c. G.. Biting, O.
Richmond; E. Calvin Williams, Esq, O.
Baltimore. :,
During the counting of the ballots tht
Convention engaged in devotional exer
ciseS.
Rev. DR.. Sampson said that we are in ths
midst OF great reformation, which ne In
sisted differed from q revival in that II
reaches not only professed Christians, bu'
even the worse classes OF society.
He gave some deeply interesting incidents
connected with the work OF Moody ano
Sankey in New York. He insisted that the
great revival Of 1857 prepared the country
to pass through the civil war without much
greater decentralization than we have wit
i messed. He made one OF his enthusiastic
speeches.
The President called out Rev. DIR. Lori
mer, OF Boston, rs southern man whom WE
have loaned to the North and hope some day
to reclaim.
DR.. Lorimer said that his heart had never
Withdrawn from the South, or ceased to love
the dear brethren among whom ne was
ssborn again." where he was ordained, and
among whom his earliest labors had been
performed.
he spoke OF his labors in Boston in con-
nection with his church Of nearly J. 400 com.
municants, and his paper, which had been
| put on its present basis in order that New
| England might have at least one real, old
fashioned, square Baptist paper.
He said that the great need OF the world
| is the simple truth Of the gospel earnestly
preached, and that this Is the true antago-