Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-04
THE DISCIPLES.
WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN MISSION.
AIRY SOCIETY YESTERDAY.
Representatives Present from All Parts
Of the state-Address by Rev. J. 2.
Tyler Last Night.

Tyler Last Night.
The eleventh annual Convention Of the
Virginia Christian Missionary Society be-
gan al II o'clock yesterday morning In the
Seyenth-Street Christian church Rev. i. j.
Spencer IN the chair. Mr.. ii. G. G. rrison
was elected secretary pro tenn. The pro.
cecdlngs OF the day were opened with de-
voiiopal exercises, conducted by Rev. l..
II. Cutler. Of the Marshall. street church.
The first business was the enrolment OF
members, who are divided into life dlrec-
tors, life members, annual and associate
members. Only about ihirty.liye were
present.
The election OF permanent officers was
postponed until the afternoon session.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
Mr.. Cutler, from the Board OF Managers.
presented report, which was discussed
principally by Colonel John Il. Cary, Rev.
J. u. Tyler Of Brooklyn. Rev. T.. X. Perry
OF Louisa county, and Rev. Mr.. Cutler OF
Richmond. The report was finally referred
back 10 the Board, in order that cer,ain rr-
Communications made therein might be re-
considered.
The Society then took recess until >
O'Clock for diuher, which was served by The
ladies OF The church in the Sunday'sch00l
room.
AFTERNOON Session.
At the afternoon session the report Of the
Board Of Managers was again presented.
Among other things the paper recommend
cd that aid be extended to the churches in
Charlottesville and Lynchburg, and sug-
CCstod that committee be appointed from
tie Society TO confer with the officers OF
the State Meeting (which cOnvcneS tO-dayl
with reference 10 employing correspond
ing secretary. The report was adopted.
OTHER REPORTS.
A number Of other reports important b
tho Society. but only few OF which are OF
public interest, were received and appro-
pTiaioly disposed Of. The report Of Evan
gelist Perry, giving an interesting and en-.
couraging account OF his labors during the
past year. was received and fled. Trel-
surer Nashon submitted his report,
which showed the Society TO be in
healthy financial condition, with
funds in the treasury. This paper
was referred to the auditor. The Build
ing Committee reported the mum.
hCr OF religious buildings toward the cree
tion Of which assistance had been cOntri-
bUtcd during the year. The report OF the
COlportage Board, showing the number OF
religious books, Bibles, tracts, &c, circu.
lated, and making recommendations for
mthCring the success OF The Society, Wa>
submitted.
Under the head Of new business a mum
Der of unimpOrtant items Of miscellaneous
character were introduced, but no further
matters of public concern were acted upon
OF considered. At this iuncture recess
was taken for supper. and the SumptuouS
rCpa>t spread in the lecture-roOm by the
ladies Of the church was done Justice.
EVENING SESSION.
When the Society reds>embled after sup
ner the church was full, the occasion bein!
an address Iy Rev. J. u. Tyler. Mr.. Tyler
was formerly pastor Of this church, and
was one Of the most de.ervedly popular
ministers that ever labored in this city.
He is a pleasant speaker, a scholarly man,
and a deyOut servant of God. and is held in
high esteem not only by the former congre.
cation Of which he was pastor, but by all
whose privilege it was TO meet with or
lear him during his pastoral connection
here. This was fully evidenced by the con.
gTcgation which was present to hear him
lat night.
MISSIONARY MOTIVES.
Mr.. TYLER was introduced in a few fitiin,
words 10y the presiding officer, Rev. 1. j
spencer. The speaker announced no
theme, but his address was upon "Mi--
siorary Motives" He said:
.It is not my purpose to discuss the di'-
fcrent plans 10y which the means for ms
sionary work are to be provided, nor ia
methods by which the work itself i to b
carried forward, nor the claims OF Tn"
various fields, whether home or foreign. /
desire to consider that which is more fuu.
damental than thcsc-the motives which
form the main-spring Of all missionary en-
lerpIise.
II am led to this by clear conviction
that il is not so much Improvement IN
methods - an increase in cOnsecratiOn u
Tie cause that i needed. The most thor
ouQh ANALYSIS Of science teaches us that or
ganism i The result, and never the cause,
Of life. and that the form OF the organism
determined in each case by the nature OF
the life and its environment. Christiauit?
j. a vital force, spiritual energy, adjust
ing itself TO varied environments aS It
spreads among the nations, and move.
down through the centuries.
"Nhcn nature would give abundant hlr-
vests she sCuds the warmth OF the sun an
the moisture of rain to quicken the germ
that slumbers in root and seed. So IS II In
spiritual husbandry. We must give atten
tion 10 the roots II we would have tn
branches bend low with fruit or the fields
waving their haryrsts OF golden grain
The most diligent attention TO the bOug'-
will be Of no avail unless a vital force =
pumping 4 nOurishlng current througl
them. II, therefore, We 90 % the roots OF
this matter what may we find ministering
to it,, inward life, wba' presses from within
TO bud and blossom and fruity
THE VOICE or DUTY.
First ~ all, there i the imperative voice
Of duty. Christ himself commands that