The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-02

graphic and mastery presentation Of the (
Investigations, Inventions, improvements,
and advances which characterize this rine.
teenth century as q golden age, and showed
that these are the growth OF ages. Noble
conceptions already existing, ana noble
school OF execution which will launch mind
aud hand at once upon their true courses,
are Indispensable to trausceudent excel
iencc.
We are moving forward In the light shed
by other minds and with the aids supplied
By other hands; and IL we, standing upon
the shoulders oi our fathers, see farther
than they. saw, IL does not follow that we
are greater than our fathers. From the
record OF their efforts aud difficulties we will
learn that while we may have more learning
we have not more mind; we may have
larger visible results, but not more thor
ough engagedness OF heart. The men who
laid the foundations OF the work in this
State which we as body OF Christians are
| prosecuting to-day were not men OF the
smallest stature. Many OF them were cast
in the heroic mould, were animated by
kingly spirit, and stamped the public mind
with the impress Of their own souls. It is
| a duty we owe them, duly we owe the
coming age, to gather up the materials for
!
| these records he may trace effects to their
true causes, and threading the obscure
labyrinth OF thought and feeling, may
weigh motives and do Justice to all. True
| history cannot be written from a purely
materialistic point OF view. 1t must 90 to
the springs OF human action, and OF these
the most potent, both on the individual! and
on society, are religious emotions and con-
Yictions. ...
On the second branch OF his theme the
speaker said: All will be vain il we do not
accomplish far more than could have been
done without the advantages we possess.
We shall make mistakes and be guilty Of
folIics, but surely not The same that marked
those who have gone before us. Napoleon
was not greater nun than Hannibal. vet
lie crossed with trifine loss the very Alps
on which his forerunner had left nearly half
bis army. Edison, not greater than Fara-
day, has gone far beyond him.
| individuals, communities, nations, move
out on some greet lines OF action, and hav-
ing accomplished the object in view quietly
assume some settled mode Of thought or
| beng the movement then becomes Gircu-
lar--one years experience being but re-
print of the previous years history. But
this cannot long continue without retro
erosion. To cease to change is to lose our
place in the great race; but change does
not necessarily imply the giving up OF any.
thing because it is old, it signifies forward
movement, Il growth. Profound reverence
for the past is well, yet the best way to show
it is not to wear our grandiatber's coats,
but to avoid their mistakes, TO improve
upon their virtues, and to excel their good
works.
We live in period Of great activities,
great Opportunities. Tie Christian mind
should be the leader, not mere sutler fol.
lowing in the track OF the advancing army.
Great movements in society, politics, rcll-
ylon, do not originate with the masses, but
spring from some mind that thinks deeply
and earnestly and continuously, and that
? communicates its thoughts to other minds
: and inflames othe: spirits with its own fire.
Such person may not appear upon the
, stage; he may move through life like force
. OF nature. but he inspires thought and kim
dies feeling and influences dcStinles.
Every are is en- innertor and a debtor
, The nineteenth century is possible not only
in numerical but also in a moral sense
because OF the centuries gone before.
, has received priceless Iegacy-a founda
ton OF material prosperity, inlcllectua
: growth, and religious principles. We ART
also debtors. The Baptlss Of Virginia ncet
: not be ashamed OF their ancestry, but oul
children will be ashamed Of us il we do no
use our opportunities and keep our ban
ners, as we found them, in the front. W.
should. said tie orator in concluding, "st
administer the trust that the estate may b.
transmitted to the coming generation no
merely unimpaired, but enlarged. Ant
: then, when some future Arnold shall COM
10 write the history, he will be able to say
il we are not superior TO our fathers. W.
have at least advanced beyond them, ant
shown ourselves worthy of the trust com
, mit;ed to our bands"
Mr.. Lake delivered his address in clea
voice and with pleasing manner, and it wa
regarded as able, Interesting, and valuable
:. The next speaker was Rev. Dr.. Ii. Nc
Donald, OF Richmond.
DR.. aIcDonald's address was scholarly
able, and eloquent, and seemed TO thrill th'
vast crowd.
DR.. Curry then stated the wants OF th'
! Society. They needed a small amount o
money; but, above all, they want pamph
lets, minutes. newspapers, and document
Of every kind which can shed light on Bap
fist history.
, he eloquently brought out the point tha
true history is not simply the history o
kings and lorCs-of battles, and sieges. ant
great events-but OF the people, their man
ners, customs, and acts.
A Number OF members Of The Societ!
were elected, and on motion the addrcsse:
were requested for publication. VIAT0R.
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