The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-10
them in having present so many Of their old

tbNH th h"F'bS isNstht ~ httUl Vi tnttt VIZ
pastors.
He thanked them for the lead this OLD
church had taken in all OF the great enter
prises OF the denomination. lie exhorted
them TO pour out before God gratitude for
OF the future. lie bid them have courage
for the future In the light OF the teachings
OF the past.
After appropriate remarks by DR.. Haw-
thorne, the exercises closed by SINGING
"Blest be the Tie" and the benediction by
Rev. DIR. X. RyIand.
Night Session.
A fine congregation assembled In the
First Baptist church last night upon the
occasion Of the last OF the series OF services
In connection with the centennial. DIR.
Eaton read the scriptures, Rev. G. &.
Meador led in pra, er, and the choir rem
dered in fine style several OF their best Sc
lecAons.
SERMON OF DR.. EATON.
In introducing his text. Rev. DR.. #. r.
Eaton, OF Petersburg, said that as during the
past two days they had been dealing with
the past, he deemed it appropriate to speak
OF the future, and TO hold up model
standard for their imitation.
He announced as his text, "Be We, there
fore, perfect as your Father in heaven is
perfect" Tie remarked that people would
be influenced and shaped by the ideal set
up aud the standard they strived alter. lie
illustrated by reference to Greece, which
made beauty It's ideal; Rome, which had
courage and discipline as lis standard OF ex-
celence; the monk and the knight Of the
middle ages, and other striking examples
which showed that noble people have
always had a nObIe model.
Men have in all ages striyen after their
ideas OF perfection. He thought that the
present spirit in our land is not TO make
men perfect. but TO make imperfect men
comfortable. Hence the utiliiarian idea Is
TO train men 10 make money, and men sneer
at Agazl for saying, 81 have no time to
make money"
He entered
AN EARNEST PROTEST
against this spirit. AS be had thanked
God for the progress Of one hundred years
there had constantly recurred to him the
question, " Are the men and women OF to-
day better than those OF one hundred years
ago?" He insisted that we should accept
and strive after the ideal Of the Scrip
tures-to he "perfect as our Father in hca-
ven is perfect"
He entered burning protest against The
idea that the true object OF life is "to have
a good man." and made an eloquent appeal
TO the congregation to set up and strive to
initiate the true mode.
He closed with striking cXhortafion TO
the old First church to enter upon IFS new
century with this noble ideal, this true
standard.
DR.. Eaton's sermon was able, practical,
fresh, and vigorous, and seemed to make a
fine impression on the large congregation
who heard it.
REV. DR.. HAWTHORNE
expressed his profound regret that every
Young man in the land could not have heard
the admirable sermon OF the evening. tie
earnestly exhorted those present to heed its
practical teachings ard seek to initiate the
model set up.
After music Rev. DR.. Hawthorne called
out
REV. t. AUEE.
OF Norfolk, who responded in brief but
chaste and appropriate speech, in which be
said that the visitors at this Mecca would
catch inspiration from this occasion and 90
to their humble spheres OF labor with re-
newed purpose and stronger faith. They
would 20 hence to initiate the virtues Oh
the noble men and women Of the past. lie
made touching alusiOn to his coming, at
the age OF fifteen, as a student OF Richmond
College, living under the roof OF DR.. Ro-
bert Ryland, one OF the noblest men he had
ever known, and being member OF the
Sunday school Of this church.
REV. DIR. J. WILLIAM JONES,
being next called out, said that while he came
into the house without the slightest eX-
pectaton Of being given a part IN the pro-
gramme Of the evening, he could not reIuSe
to express the great pleasure he bad eNpe-
rienced in attending this centennial. ne
had been struck by the remark III the aOle
address on deceased Pastors" In reicr-
ence to the cordial relations between ola
Father Courtney and his assistant pastors,
and he had thought that the harmony, good
feeling, and cordial cooperation between
the Baptist pastors and churches OF Rlch'
mond and Virginia had received It's nfS'
impetus from this old mother church, who
had struck the keynote nearly a hundred
years ago.
REV. WILLIAM HARRISON WILLIAMS,
Of Charlottesville, was next called out aho
made u. feeling response. lie had Deen
reared in this congregation. Here he nae
found "peace in believing" Here he had
been baptized, and here be bad been or
dained to the work OF the ministry. Here
hi. kindred worshipped and from hence
many OF them had been borne to beautiiu
HOLLYWOOD. He could not then but cherish
for his old mother the warmest affection
and thank God for the privilege OF being
here on this occasion.
He touchingly recalled memories OF Other
days, and spoke tenderly OF the Kindness
the older members bad always shown TO-
wards the young men OF the church.
Rev. DIR. Hawthorne closed with an elo
ouent statement of the lessons for the iu'
ture TO be learned from the occasion.
After the rendering OF several admirable
selections by the choir, the venerable Ut
Ryland, with trembling voice and deep emo
ton. pronounced the benediction.
Thus closed most delightful cclebratlof
Of the one hundretb anDiversay OF thl:
noted old church. The services were
grand success, and enough has been already
secured and promised to render II quite Ger
tain that the church will pay within nlnesl
davs every dollar Of the "thank Offering
Of ten thousand dollars for the "Jetel
Memorial Hall with which they have as
sessed themselves.
NEW WHEAT.-Messrs. Fisher q wye
offered on the Corn aud Flour EXchang'
Yesterday The first new wheat sf the season
This wheat was grown on the farm OF Mr.
John McGill, of Dinwiddle, who has sent L
market the first wheat for the past twC
wears. The wheat was Fultz-not prime
Owing to the very dry season it had no