The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-18
three senarate efforts. asking BrotheI

|
ther Bishop proposed that the lnyestiga.
ton be had in the city d Lynchburg, and
that be could meet such o committee In the
city Of Lynchburg.
Mr.. Garland declined to accept that pro-
position, for the reason that in his ludg-
ment 1t would defeat the objects OF the in
vestigation. The evidence could not be
! obtained in the city Of Lynchburg. Par
ties who claim TO know the facts in'the case
could not be prevailed upon to meet such
a committee In LyDchburg, In the speakers s
opinion.
Mr.. Garland stated further that when
Mr.. Bishop visited him In Lynchburg 1t
was with the object OF s,lrrendering his ere
dentials. He did surrender them to the
speaker, and asked him to refer them to the
Conference. Mr.. Garland held them for
several days, and while he was at the depot
about to start for the Conference he re-
ceived a message from Brother Bishop
asking him to return the credentials to him.
The speaker returned the credentials as
requested.
The Bishop appointed Rev. Messrs. Hun
ter J. McSimpson and j.. Reed Com
mittee Of Investigation.
| RANDOLPH-MACoY COLLEGE.
Rev. DR.. Bennett submitted his annual
report as president Of Randolph-Macon
College. as follows:
To the Virginia Conference
Dear Brethren,-Annually appointed TO
special work, IL is due to you that |
should make q report OF that work. And
besides this, as our schools are held in trust
for the Church, it is emmenty proper that
their condition, work, and wants should
he made known TO the Church in the yearly
Conference. From the beginning the
schools OF the Church have been essential
| factors In the work OF spreading the
knowledge among men. The planting OF
schools has been as needful as the planting
OF churches. In doing both we seek the
good OF present and future generations.
The past we cannot affect. 1t is closed and
sealed until the great day. The best we
can do with It is to draw what lesson we
may from its successes and its failures.
The future we can reach for evil or for
good, and by law uniailing in its opera
ton we may harm future generations al
most as much by neglecting to do what IS
right and proper a. by doing what is posi-
lively evil. Wesley, who founded the first
Methodist school, and his sons in the gos-
pei who took up and carried on this branch
OF his great work in England and in this
country. reached with increasing power
for good each successive generation, until
now we, on this eve OF the second century
of Methodism in America as an organized
Christian Church, enjoy the full benefit OF
ali the educational work OF the past hum
dred years.
The present is to be our point Of depart
ure with the blessings OF Christian educa-
tiOn for the generations which are to fol-
low us. Our obligations are great, our op-
portunities most favorable; we stand on
high vantage ground compared with that
on which our fathers stood. The motives
to plan largely and wisely and to execute
with yigor are most powerful, and II for
any reason we shall fail to measure up to
our responsibilities the results OF those
who are to come after us will be to the last
degree disastrous.
The only salvation that thoughtful and
far-seeing minds can discover for this land
is in the wide diffusion CT knowledge
among all classes by mems OF the Christian
teacher in the pulpit and in the school
room.
We should recognize the amount OF edu-
cation furnished by government and at
public expense as highly valuable rs far as
1t goes, but no step could be more disas-
trous than to commit the whole work OF
education TO the State. The conflict OF
opinions which would inevitably arise as
to what should constitute proper curricu-
| lum could be settled only by throwing out
! the Word OF God, and in such case what
education night be left to the people would
go on without any authority to control the
| 4 ..ti 70
man would be left to do what was right in
his own eyes, and society would begin its
sad march back TO the darkness Of past
ages. and be fully delivered over TO that
vain philosophy which makes man the
measure OF all things.
1t were at most needless in this presence
| TO direct attention to the large share OF
higher educational work done by the
Christian churches in this country. That
IS or should be known and read by all pro-
perly informed in such matters. But 1t
may be placed in very striking light by
supposing that all the high schools and col
leges conducted under the auspices OF the
churches were closed. What would be
| left? The universities, where education
would be within the reach only OF the
wealthy classes, and the low-grade institu.
tions offering special and limited courses
of instruction not suited TO the general
wants Of our people.
/ The close of church schools Is not, there
fore. TO be thought OF for moment. No
substitute could be offered for them. Stand
they must, and be increased in resources
and equipment If the churches would do
their duty to rising generations.
Our Church, foremost among the Pro-
testant churches OF the world, must bear
her full share OF this indispensable work.
She has done much, but not all that is de-
manded. In regard TO every institution OF
learning there is much that must be done,
and that quickly, or we shall fall behind
Others in this work.
For Randolph. Macon, loceted in our
midst, the Church has done much, but will
have to do more. In grounds and buildings
we should make an advance. BY the gen.
erosity Of comparatively small portion OF
our people and friends we have this year
taken a decided step in this direction. The
old and unsightly dormitores used by the
students have been removed, and six new
and commodious houses OF eight rooms
each have been erected. This was neces-
sitv. for the old buildings, temporary struc-
lures when the present site was purchased
fifteen years ago, were wellnigh worn
out, and had TO be annually repaired at
cost OF several hundred dollars. This
yearly outlay. nearly equal to the interest
on $1,000, we shall now save. But this
does not complete the work. We need
new houses for our professors, which will
require an additional outlay OF several
thousand dollars. The Church is fully
able to put the premises OF the college in
the most attractive form, and we earnestly
hope will furnish the greatly-needed means
for this purpose. We trust that at this
Conference a liberality will be shown in
this direction which shall stimulate and be
responded to by the entire membership in
Ia. Arl