Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-12
to 1890 P. NJ, Education 1880 P. NJ,
Foreign Missions.
BTBLE-woRK.

ntfs bfs ~ W. DtttinSf biyiO oSrsN
tary Of the American Baptist Publica-
tion Society, was invited to address the
Association, and responded in an able
and eloquent speech. He first spoke
Of his pleasure in coming once more to
scenes Of his labors Of other days, and
to mingle with brethren so dearly loved.
He spoke Of the necessity under which
Bsptists are placed to give the whole
Bible TO the whole world gayea sketch
of the history Of Bible-worK among
them, and urged the free circulation Of
the open Bible among all peoples of all
lands.
He gave from the reports Of the
American Bible Society statistics to
show the great destitution Of Bibles
even in the homes Of this land Of Bibles,
and illustrated and enforced the impor
tance Of having in our Sunday schools
and our homes not simply leaflets and
ouestion-beoks, hut the whole Bible.
He brought out the fact that even in
Virginia the colporteurs of the Board Of
this Association have found during the
past year over 1000 families destitute
of the Bible, gave similar illustrations
Of the destitution Of other sections, and
based on it an eloquent appeal for wider
sympathies. more fervent prayers, and
more liberal contributions for this work.
lie did not come to antagonIze but to
help the work Of Virginia Baptists in
pushing forward the grand work Of put
ting Gods Word in the homes and hands
and hearts Of the people.
DR.. Bitting's speech was in fine tone
and spirit, and seemed to make a fine
impression on the large congregation
who heard him.
Rev. DR.. G. II. Ryland, financial Sc
cretsry of Richmond College, announced
that one Of the scholarships " for
minister's sons is unexpectedly vacant
and that the college would be glad to
fill it.
He also cordially invited the dele
gates and visitors to visit the college
grounds and buildings at any hour in
the morning or afternoon which might
suit their convenience.
THE ASSOCIATION SERMON.
After preliminary services, IN which
Rev. DR.. j. T. Kincannon, Rev. q. +.
James, and Rev. DR.. j. W. NJ. Will
liams took part, Rev. DR.. A. Z. Owen,
Of Portsmouth, took the stand, and an
nounced as his text Acts xiii, . : "The
Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barna-
bas and Saul for the works whereout
have called them"
After a brief and appropriate intro
duction he announced as his theme,
The Divine Call Of the Missionary"
lie discussed under his theme the fol-
lowing points:
|. The work God has for him to do
the salvation of men.
2. 70 this work God calls men-esDc-
cially preachers. There is Divine call
TO the ministry.
3. From out Of these preachers thus
called God especially calls His foreign
missionaries and bids them go far
hence 10 the bentlleS.
4. God calls his preachers and mis-
sionaries through the churches. God
has made his churches the custodians
Of his truth, and lie first calls the man
and then the church 70 send him. lie
urged pastors and churches to look out
and encourage these men called Of God
to his work.
8. God calls His preachers and mis-
sionaries out of spiritual churches.
Our churches produce few preachers,
because their spirituality is dried up.
6. God often calls men of the highest
intellectual and moral powers. lie il
Illustrated this by speaking of Barnaba',
Saul, Judson, Carey, and Yates. lie
urged that the churches should be more
ready to give up for the foreign field
their ablest and most efficient men.
I. The men called to this work
should be entirely consecrated to it.
No voice should be heard above the
voice Of God.
DR.. Owen closed with feeling and
eloquent appeal that Gods people
should grid themselves afresh for the
work of God. and 60 forth in His
strength. The discourse abOunded in
eloquent passages and made fine inn
preston OH the great congregation.
The exercises were concluded by
singing the well-known hymn 1.-The
Morning Light is Breaking"
EVENING SESSION.
Promptly at 7:30 the body was called
to order by the president, Hon. II. r.
Pollard. Prayer was offered by Rev.
John Robert Bagby.
On motion the order Of the day was
called for, and a report on Home Mis-
sions by Rev. r. r. Acree.
The object Of the Home Mission
Board, which is located at Atlanta, is
to supply missionaries in every south
ern State and among the Indians. The
report states that the Board has spent
more money in Virginia in the last
seventeen months than in any corre-
spending period for five years. 1t had
under appointment, for varying terms
Of service, lSj missionaries against Iii
the year before; Of these 81 were in
Texas, 81 in Florida, 81 in Arkansas,
p in the Indian Territory, and the re-
mainder being in Georgia, Louisiana,
North: Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky,
Alabama, and Virginia.
These lS5 missionaries supplied 426
churches and stations, and reported
1881 baptisms and total addition to
the churches of 1904. At present the
Board has 200 missionaries. During
the past six or seven months they re.
port over 1000 conversions and addi-
tiOns of 1000 more. The report says
4" Shall we not stand by Board which
makes such a showing
The total receipts from all sources
for the year ending May /, 1885, were
G7,257 from Virginia, s5,940.9j.
The report further states that the
wants of the Board for the ensuing year
are greater than before. It's pledged for
$4,000 for church building and 500, 900 |
for support Of its missionaries, so that
at least 100000 will be needed to carry |
on its. work successfully, and of this
sum Virginia is asked to give $4,000.
The hymn "'Tis religion that can
give sweetest pleasures while we live"
was sung with a will by the overflow