Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-11-17

Stauntot, Spectator.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER IL, 1885.
Local Department..
BAPTIST GENERAL ASSOCIATION
srxrY.THIRD ANNUAL SESSION.
MrSTsTERs AND LAYMEN FROM EVERY PART
OF THE STATE PRESENT.
The sixty-third annual session OF the Baptist
General Association Of Virginia was held in
this city comme ncing at ~ O'Clock Thursday
night the 18th Instant. Arrivals commenced
earlier Ia the week. and the trains Tbursday
with the usua. num5er and extra coaches at.
tsched. brought more than three hundred per.
sons. many of whom were ladies. The sessions
ofthe Association were held in the Baptist
Church and drew large number OF spectators
throughout its deliberations.
FIRST DAY.
At7:3o p NJ. DR.. Geo. B. Steel, OF Richmond.
one of the Vice Presidents. called the Associ-
alton to order, and the devotional exercises
were conducted by Rev. DR.. J. L. Burrows. OF
Norfolk.
DR.. steel briefly addressed the body and call.
cd on the Clerk to read letter from Hon.
Henry r. Pollard, President. explaining why
he could not be present and expressing his
regret In consequence.
Rev DIR. James Nelson, pastor OF the Church,
delive ed an address Of welcome greeting the
body in the name OF . grateful church and for
the city whose people had extended their hos
pitality. He said that Staunton was no mean
city. and spoke of her grand WORK in female
education. having about flve hundred girls In
the fve schools. He alluded TO the meeting Of
the Association here fourteen years ago, the
ebsenoe Of many who were hero then. and the
grand work done since. He sxhorted the breth-
rem to take Inspiration from the examples
OF those who have gone before. and to build on
the grand foundation already laid.
At the request OF the Chair. Rev. DIR. o. F.
Flippo. of Roanoke City. made a reply. in
which he accepted the hospitality and express
cd the hope that these delegates might leave Il
blessing In the homes of the people.
The Introductory sermon by Rev. DIR. 8. A.
Goodwin. pastor of Leigh Street Church. Rich
mond. followed. selecting as his text-"Go
stand and speak in the temple to the people all
the words OF this life." From the first words
OF the preacher to the close of his discourse he
had the entire attention Of the vast audience
that crowded every place which could be OBJ
tanned either ~ standing or sitting-room. He
spoke OF the life and death OF the Saviour and
the character and mission of the disciples and
tho apostles, and the success which attended
their labors.
He urged that the grand mission of the
Church is to speak to the people-to reach and
bless the masses, the poor as well az the rich,
the ignorant as we'll az the wise-to speak not
philosophy, or the finely-spun theories of men
but the simple truth Of the old Gospel of SAL
walton through Christ for a sin-minded world
After speaking of the power of the Gospel to
save souls, he adverted TO the dangers which
threatened our political Institutions and the
organisation OF society. maintaining that the
Gospel is the power ample to save us from ap-
pretended disorders.
Quoting from hia text. "All the words OF this
Church. Addressing himself to ministers. he
declared that the grand old doctrines OF the
Cross nust be carried forward in an active and
aggressive campaign.
Organization being the next business in
order. the following officers were elscted by &C.
clamstion -
President, Captain John Fl. Wright, OF Suf-
folk vice-Presidents. DR.. George h. Taylor OF
the University. DR.. G. F. James Of Culpeper,
Judge B. T. Gunter OF Accomack, and Hon. A.
Il. Evans of Middlesex Secretaries, Rev. G ].
Holiday OF Berkeley and Mr. H. Theo. Ellyson
OF Richmond; Treasurer. Norvel Ryland Of
Richmond; Auditor James B. Winston OF
Richmond.
Visiting brethren were then received, and
various committees appointed, after which the
Association adjourned 10 ~ O'Clock A. NJ the
following day.
sEoaND DAY.
During the earlier part of the proceedings Ct
the morning session Rev. DR. Tyree. of Roam
oke county. expressed his qualification at the
1 Increasing fraternity between the evangelical
denominations of the State. and on his motion
the greetings OF the Association were dispatch.
ed to the Presby terrain synod in session In
Richmond.
Rev. j. M. Pitcher the General Superinten.
dent OF the Sunday School and Bible Board,
read the annual report which shows the fol-
lowing summary OF the work Of the General
Superintendent and twenty three COlporters,
and four volunteer laborers. They report 4. 672
days of service, 1904 miles travelled, 9l2
families visited. 1850 families praye with or
conversed with on the subject Of religion, 1855
persons found entirely neglecting the preach
ing OF the Gospel 1925 families destitute of the
Scriptures, 2. BOB families destitute OF all other
religious literature, SlS sermons preached. 745
addresses made, 3l4 Sundsy-Echool addresses'
Sl2 prayer meetings held, Sc Sunday-schoola
organized, 81 persons baptized. Dol additional
conversions. and churches organised. They
sold 2.445 Bibles for s223s 6S. S7S3 Testaments
for $40 a. 70ll books for So sls %. Cos pages Of
tracts for SAT- total sales. $3.50 OIL. They
gave away 74O Bibles. valued at Slss75; OBI
Testaments, valued at seS.2s; 73o Dooks, valued
At S2O2S6; 74.'io pages OF TRACTS valued al
$6S5l total value grants. SooO.S5; total Value
sales ana grants, s6,5zi.26.
The following statement shows the financial
condition OF the Board:
Receipts from sal 5 $50 OF
e1 t Trr ,uSr,es ''''''''''''' SS 40 40