Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-08
THE BAPTIST HOSTS.
GENERAL ASSOCIATION or vR-
GINA TO MEET NEXT FRIDAY.
MANY HUNDREDS WILL COME.
The Committee on Hospitality Busy
Arranging for the Entertainment
of the visifors-Matters to Come
Before the Body.

The Baptist General Association Of
Virginia, embracing S91 churches and rep
resenting the 10000 white Baptists in the
State. will convene here next Friday
night at 7:30 o'clock. The body meets
in the Grace-Street Baptist Tabernacle,
and will be in session until Tuesday OF
next week. There win be two or three
sessions a day.
Rev. DR.. Thomas s. Dunaway, OF Erode
rlcksburg. VIII preside over the ses-
slons OF the association. The an
nual sermon will be preached by Rev.
DR.. r. b. Thames, OF Danville, or in the
event OF his inability TO be present by
Rev. George Braxton Ta--inr u D.
The chairman Of the Hospitality Com
mittee, which has before it ths moro OF
less serious task OF providing for the
hosts Of Virginia BaDtists who are ex-
pected 20 pour into the capital city next
Friday, is W. r. Jones, Esq. the popu-
lar treasurer OF the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad. Mr. Jones ends his
mail unusually large these bright No
vember days, and the indications point
10 a great attendance.
The Virginia Baptist Ministers Con-
ference which usually meets on the day
before the General Association, will not
hold a session this year. At least, they
have not announced a meeting.
INTEREST IN THE SESSION.
More than usual interest is felt in the
Of ha
1t Is probable that some effort will be
made toward changing the basis of men,
bershlp. At present any Baptist church
or missionary society in the territory
OF the body may send one representa-
tive for every SIS contributed to the
UNCONVENTIONAL objects fostered by the
body. This gives TO wealthy churches
too much power. 1t is thought by some.
AS a matter OF fact, the stronger
churches Ii Is agreed on all hands have
never sought 70 use this power. but have
been very thoughtful and considerable,
refusing to eject their full quotas OF
delegates. Still, in a discussion in the
Religious Herald of how 10 secure a
moro representative attendance. the
opinion has been freely expressed that
some such change as that mentioned
ought TO be made in the basis OF repre-
sentation.
QUITE A VENERABLE BODY.
The General Association is getting t.
be quite a venerable body, it's approach
Ing session being the seventy-thrd. For
many years II met in June, and the June
meetings came to be well known over
the country. When the time was changed
some years ago there was hot
parliamentary battle, and even now
some OF the older ones long for return
from bleak November to balmy June
However, If the weather continues as 1t
has been for the past week, no just COM
plant can be offered on that score.
In connection with the meeting Of the
association, and on the night preceding,
Professor c. II. Winston will deliver In
Richmond College chapel an illustrated
lecture on ''X-Rays and Other Rays"
He will have the benefit of the newest
and best apparatus, and the lecture will
be free to the public.
Arrangements will also be made for a
reception by the students and faculty
Of the college at such an hour on such a
day as may be convenient to the body.
The students will provide something in
an athletic and literary way in the
chapel for the entertainment of the vlsi-
tors, while the members of the faculty
and their wives will receive in the COL
lege library.
PULPITS FILLED BY VISITORS
OF course, all the Baptist pulpits will
be filled by visitors on Sunday and also
the Methodist pulpits, as the ministers
OF this denomination will be absent from
the city, attending their annual confer
ence in Lynchburg. Other pulpits also
will be filled, If desired
The Hospitality Committee are counting
on a delegation Of 800. If their estimate
is correct, then an almost equal number
OF visitors will come, and this would add
nearly 1900 temporarily TO the population
of the city.
The business stagnation has left its
mark on religious enterprises. The exact
figures are not obtainable, but 1t IS under
stood that contributions TO only one OF the
boards-the State Misson-run ahead OF
the last assOciational year. The others
almost certainly run something behind.
At the last session the absorbing issue
was proposed changes In the Sunday
School and Coportage Board. which is
located in Petersburg. of which Rev. J.
NJ. Pitcher, d. d., is secretary. The body
then decided 10 continue the board with
some notifications in its management.
WORK OF THE ORPHANAGE.
The Dispatch has already printed list
OF the seven boards whose work is to
be canvassed by the body. Particular
mention may be made of the orphanage
at Salem, whose work has been greatly
enlarged within the past twelve months.
Dr. William r. Hatcher is president OF
the board. and Rev. George j. HOLIDAY
IS superintendent OF the institution, which
is located at Salem. They have now
seventy-two children In charge, all well
and hearty" as their little paper-the
Baptist Orphanage News-announces.
The growth OF this work has been phe-
nomenal. and no department OF Christian
endeavor has a stronger or more endu-
ring hold upon the Virginia Baptists.
Industrial training shops will soon be
opened, and the children will be taught
various useful trades The superintend-
ent Mr.. Holiday. is a genius in many
ways. and is admirably suited for his re-
sponsible work
MEET IN THE TABERNACLE.
When the Grace-Sreet Baptist church
Of this city invited the association to
meet with them this year, they expected
to entertain the body in their magnificent