The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-01
Reported for the Dispatch.l
.rT,ST GENERAL ASSOCIATION
At PORTSMOUTH.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Day.
MORNING SESSION.

and onened with prayer by Rev. William
S' The Chair announced the usual commit
,o.S and some matters OF routine business
had proper consideration.
THE committee to whom was referred the
;,vi,ation OF General Armstrong TO Visit
tho Normal Institute and Soldiers liome
rcpor,ed in favor OF accepting the invita-
ton. with thanks, on Friday afternoon Ut
81 O'Clock, and the report was concurreu III.
An interesting episode was q letter from
pev Or. George Il. Taylor. missionary to
Pome. The letter opens with an expression
~ warm affection for the Association and
deem is,ercst in the,r. work, and an earnest
ennna, for n continued place in the sympa-
,h;rs and PRAYERS or the brethren with
whom il had once been bis privilege to as
snciate, and who were nearer 10 him to-day
th,n any Others on earth. He gave deep
Iy.intercstins sketch Of his work-itS peeI-
liar trials and its encouragements-and
smoke OF the recent purchase OF mission
PREMISES in the heart of the city OF Rome,
and every way suitable for the purpose.
He had sent MAPS, plans Of the building,
&c. and said:
- You will be able to see in Imagination
our neat, modest building rising. thanked
On the right by one of the largest theatres
University. while near by are the Pantheon
and other Roman Catholic temples, thus re-
nrsSentjnr the three great enemies with
which we have TO contend-sinful pleasure,
the pride OF human learning accompanied
by intidelity. and the reigning and power
ful sIlDcrstition-foeS so gigantic that but
for our confidence in the Gospel and the
Uo|y Ghost NC might well retire from what
yyonld be an UNEQUAL contest and, for us, a
iorlorn hope"
The letter gives further details in refer
cncc 10 the new purchase and tue new
chanel, and asks the brethren TO bear their
part in meeting the deferred payments. 1t
makes q touching ailusion to the scene at
the Second Baptist church IN Richmond
when the brethren OF the General ASsocia-
ton gave him the parting band. and closes
with n feeling expression OF his faith IN the
sustaining power OF the prayers OF brethren
far away.
J. +. Ellyson. corresponding secretary,
then read the report ....
OF. THE EDUCATION BOARD.
The report elected an interesting discus
sion.
Rev. r. r. Eaton, Of Petersburg, liked
the report for what it said rs well as for
what il didn't say. he was glad nothing
was said about preserving the manlness OF
the young preachers by requiring them TO
give bonds to repay whatever Is contributed
10 their support. lie did not think it proper
to.diSCuss the manincSS OF young preachers.
He vas opposed 10 requiring bonds except
TO repay in case they either failed to con-
pletc their course Of study or failed to serve
the denomination rs preachers. lie referred
10 the fact that young preachers stop their
studies 10 get married. and would have all
who are aided required 10 90 through God
gives us nothing we can get for ourselves.
The Israelitcs were led with mamma III the
wilderness, but when Caanan was reached
and they could supply themselves the
mama ceased. God gives grace, but God
does not give sequence OF thought ana
yviGncss oi language. These we must
secure for ourselves By patient labor.
There is no royal road TO geometry, and 70
believing road 10 mental culture. II
preachers were more dligent in the study
they would be more effective in the pulpit.
God calls men, and these we must tit for
their work We need wise preachers.
The speaker went on to explain and
illustrate the distinction between wisdom
and knowledge. A merely learned man was
like soldier with a Roman spear, Il Greek
helmet, 4 medieval coat OF armor. and
use them. 4 wise man with little know
ledge was like scantly-armed soldier, who
could make the best use Of his weapons.
knowledge was like building materials,
while wisdom was like the finished house,
able to shelter and protect. knowledge
was necessary, as bricks are necessary; but
knowledge was simply material for wisdom.
Wisdom is to know what to do, and the best
means 10 do il. She asks not :" Will il pay?
save to prevent our attempting the lmpossl-
bic. No wise man ever tried to make L
ladder to the moon, or puzzled him.
self about the size, color, and character
OF the inhabitants Of the planets. and
whether they were living in sublime igno-
rance OF the delights OF universal suffrage.
OF all men, preachers should be wise; and
men are not wise without training. A learned
preacher will quote Zoroastcr and Confu-
cius, Strauss and Fichte, and tell all the va
rious theories that have ever been held on
the subject in hand, calling names the peo-
pie never heard. and for the hearing of
which they are none the better. The only IDEA
such preacher leaves with his congrega-
ton is Of wondering amaZement how one
small head can carry all he knows. \ wise
preacher seeks to convince his hearers OF
truth and .incitc them TO righteousness with
out making them marvel at his own talents.
The speaker dwclt on tue false training
OF ministers. and illustrated it by what j.
4. Froude SAID Of Oxford, England, and
the comment Of an old man who attended
the University church "Ive heard every
sermon preached here for thirty years, and
thank God am still a Christian The ma
terialiStic tendency OF the age was dis
cussed, and argument drawn for the neces-
sity for trained preachers. We know facts
OF which our grandfathers were Ignorant,
but are we wiser than they! Do we know
better what to do and how TO do it? God
IN His providence is gathering facts which
wisdom shall arrange into the completed
editice. We need wise men sorely-wise
men for rulers, that honesty and Justice may
prevail; for physicians, that men may be
healthy and strong and disease prevented
rather than cured; for manufacturers and
tradcSmen, that goods may he the best OF
their kind, and things "cheap and nasty"
be banishcd from the world; but above all,
wise men for preachers, that men may be
taught to be noble, not rich; honest, not
successful; righteous, not famous; truth
lu, not artIui; and courageous, not cum
ming
Rev. George ". Beale, of Georgetown,
d. c., recalled, as historic fact Of interest,
that - Counsellor Carter" recognized in II
bright boy, named Henry Toler, talent,
which be encouraged by sending him to
school in Washington. lie spoke OF the
useful labors OF that devoted Baptist
preacher, the number OF churches he had
planted and the influence ne had eSerted
for the good Of the world. He said that the
splendid residence Of - Counsellor Carter ~