The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-03
Especial Correspondence ofthc Dispatch.l
LYNcHBuRG, March /, 1883.
MORNING SESSION.

LYNcnBuEG, March ], 1883.
MORNING SESSION.
The Congress met at 10 o'clock--Presi-
dent j. l.. Burrows IN the chair. After
devotional exercises the President INTRO
duced Rev. w. i. Blake, of North Caro-
lima. who had been appointed TO take the
nlsco Of the lamcuted Buckner as mis-
BINARY 10 the Indians. Mr.. Blake Is n
n xmg and pleasing-looking gentleman.
lI A. made few modest remarks, asking the
nrayers Of the brethren for his success. In
accordance with the suggestion OF DR.. sgd
nor. Or. Burrows lead the body i'm PRAYER
for the Divine blessing upon the newly
appolnted missionary.
The order Of the day being called for,
DIR. Andrew Broaddus, of Caroline coun-
~ read an essay on The Proper Atti-
tnde Of Baptist Churches Towards Popu-
lar Amusements." The unholy alliance
between Church and state secularized our
colonial clergy, and fat liyings were too
much looked after. FoX-hunting. card
nlavinc clergymen were common. I'm our
lime great Improvement Is disccrnible In
,bese RESPECTS. True, there was over
s.rictnesS for a time-a reaction from pre-
yious looSeness. But the tendency OF our
time seems 70 be in the direction OF loose
nos, The eSSayist emphasized the statement
,ho, II Is the business Of Christianity TO
trrp fhe world upside-down. He admitted
The ditHculty Of drawing the line between
LEGITIMATE and illegitimate amusementS.
church fairs. festivals. Sunday-school pie
mic. &c. are ut best " religious frolics,"
and too often tend 10 worldlineSS. But
Young people will be and ought to be
Young. not old. and we should encourage
them to indulge moderately in innocent re-
creations.
After rouSing song, Rev. :. p. Huff
followed with an essay on the same theme.
The Church Of Christ il spiritual
body. and should be "peculiar peo-
pie" Mr. HUI condemned the theatre,
the card-table, the race-tTack, the dancing
PARTY. and the billiard-rOom. "Square -
dancing will become Ground =; the par
Tor card.table will lead to the gambling
den: the money spent by processing Chris
tians in popular amusement is serious
consideration.
Eey. A. f. owen followed with an adj
dress. He thought popular amusements
have come to stay, and we must learn to
deal with Them. The Bible is not a funny
hook. hut people will have fun somehow.
We cannot dodge the issue. The speaker
vigorously attacked the course OF those
proicssine Christians who patronize the
circu. and the theatre. lie thought, how
over. that members should not be excluded
for PARTICIPATING in popular amusements,
lint that the churches should contine them
selves 10 moral suaSion.
Rev. c. Tyree followed with n speech
against dancing. lie was evidently very
much in earnest. He thought dancing, as
commonly engaged in, was sin. Useyour
best efforts 10 dissuade your people from
dancing. Use discipline as last resort.
Mr.. McManaway, of North Carolina, en-
dorSed DIR. Tyree's views. DR.. Hawthorne
thought we must have recreatlons. lie
held more liberal views on amuSementS
than some Of the more stralt-laced are
disposed to advocate. His speech was very
closely listened 10, and was really eloquent.
The order Of the day was called for, and
Rev. o. Il. Flippo, Of Alexandria, read an
essay on "FOrms of Public Worship"
Worship is as old as creation. The essay
ist traced il through Hebrew history. He
brew views OF time, place, and form, as re-
strietins worship, were abolished. But
worship itself is left, or ought to be. He
criticised the deafness and dullness OF the
preliminary exercises" IN too many Bap-
tist churches; and he made some sharp
hits ut the style OF some fashionable city
churches.
Or. Goodwin. of Danville, followed with
an address. The New Testament pre-
scribes no form Of worship. The speaker
believed that the forms commonly used in
Baptist churches were good.
Rev. j. L. Carroll advocated carrying the
Bible to the church and reading it. If the
people read with the preacher, more inter-
est viii be maintained.
DR.. J. W. NJ. Williams, OF Baltimore,
said that he enjoYed this meeting; but he
was thankful that he has not sleepy con-
grcgation. Wake your people up. He bad
got beyond chOirs. Pure, simple, gospel
worship is the best of novelties.
DR.. Hatcher thought that we should use
our Bible in a free way to promote spiritu-
atty i'm worship.
Adjourned to O'Clock p. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Met At O'Clock p. VI.
After devotional services Professor c. L..
Cooke, Of Hollins Institute, read an essay
on the "Sabbath Question" Moral ac-
cOuntability TO God antedates Revelation.
4 Gods first public institution was the Sab
bath. 1t Is unknown to heathenism. God
s. Himself observed il. 1t is mould Of doe
trine. Civil government is Gods ordi-
nance, and has no right to override d-
vine institution. We should worship and
rest on the Sabbath. Corporations and
capital have no right 10 rob labor OF its
rest.
Rev. f. Il. Boston, of Hampton, Va,
followed IN an address. The conservative
forces OF society are needed, even for pro-
gress itself. The Christian Sabbath is one
OF these forces. Civil law ought TO guar
antee the Sabbath-rest to every citizen.
The Sabbath kept God in our minds.
Adjourned to 8 O'Clock =. NJ.
NIGHT SESSION.
The Congress met at O'Clock. The
house did not afford even standing room
for the dense crowd. Professor Cooke
offered resolution 10 appoint committee
TO provide for holding another Baptist
Congress. The resolution was adopted.
"The Relation OF the Pulpit TO Trade
and to Politics +" was the subject OF discus
sion this evening. DR.. Hawthorne spoke
first. lie did not believe that the pulpit o.
to-day is inferior to thai Of any past age
To apply the gospel to the eXigencies o.
this age is a difficult and delicate task. 4
requires courage as well as brains. TRADE
and politics are human interests, and there
fore are within the range Of pulpit work
: Rev. j. l.. Carroll, Of Gordonsville, fol
p lowed. lie thought the pulpit has real!
= little to do with trade and politics. III
differed widely from Or. Hawthorne
view OF the range Of Legitimate pulpit dis
cussiOn.
Rev. j. c. HIden followed. lie though
Mr.. j. l.. Carroll had preached away hi
text.
Rev. John Pollard took issue with MI