Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-26
THEIR OPENING DAY.
,,, STATE Y. VI. c. a. CoNvEN-
rIoN At PETERSBURG.
TVEETY-PIFTH ANNUAL SESSION.
..,.,,ou of omccrS--Thc Address OF
wcIcomc-Discussion of Bible
..,tcs-An Interesting Interrupt
.,,,-Thc Committecs-Reports, &c.


- v,,ne Mems Christian Associations OF
,-,rs,,a assembled In the Tabb-Street
,,.,,,orian church az $50 o'clock this
...,q- President r. NJ Smith In the
80. some two hundred or more dele
,,,,s we're present. and there was a large
.o-,h,see of spectators. embracing min
...-. and laymon Of all the Protestant
-.,or,iratons. while majority OF the
s.,.r,tcs arc young. yet there is quite a
large sprinklng OF Older and earnest
hearted men in the convention, and many
mon of crcat ability in the church organi-
cations Of the state.
Tho convention was opened with SER
vice OF praise and prayer. Rev. Mr.. Nc
1-sdscn and others leading in prayer. and
she SINGING being led by an excellent male
choir I'm charge Of Rev. w. $. McClana-
Ran. OF Roanoke
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The Committee on Permanent Organiza-
-ton appointed at the preliminary meet
ing held last night, submitted the follow
srr rcport. which was unanimously
adopted.
prcsi8cut-J. \. Alexander. Of stanton
Vire-Presiionts e +. Sheffey, Of Lynch
burg. Cochran Preston. of Hampton-Sid-
ucy. and l. Y. Robinett.
Sccretary-W. r. Haight OF Manches-
ter
Assistant Secretaries-Henry Pfeffer, OF
Randolph-MacO College. and John J..
Harris Of William and Mary
Nfessrs. H. c. Snead of LynchbUrg. and
s *. Mckee. OF Richmond were appoint
"a committee 10 escort the new presi-
dent 90 the chair and the convention rose
in q body 10 greet him.
The retiring president, Mr.. Smith. greet
cd his successor in the most cordial man
rer. sincerely congratulating him upon his
election as president Of the convention, as
well as upon hearty support and sympa-
thy that would be given him in the dis
charge of his duties.
on taking the chair. President AleXan-
der expressed his thanks for the unex-
rccted honor conferred upon him. He
complimented the retiring president. and
hoped that he might be able TO discharge
t.s duties as satisfactorily as he had done.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
The address Of welcome to the conven-
ton was delivered by Rev. J. W. Rosebro.
j.. D., who said in part:
DIR. ROSEBROS ADDRESS.
II Is a pleasure as pastor of this church
% extend its hospitalities TO you, and
homes this noble band. which gathers In
The name Of our Divine Master. There is
up sight that stirs and rCjoices us more
than 20 see men give their best love to
Jesus Of Nazareth, and, gloTying i'm the
Cross band themselves 10 live and work
Tor God. / do not hail you as allies Of
the Church. / hail you rather as repre-
ssntatives Of that work Of the Church in
which she rises above UNCONVENTIONAL
the uplifting and salvation of young men.
Tho Young Mems Christian Association
has done a good work in this direction.
end is stimulating a more earnest de-
vout and intelligent study Of the Word Of
God Your buildings are ornaments 20
our cities and afford pleasant and safe
resorts for our boys. Yet / must say that
% IS a cause for regret that there must
BE- "a Young Mems Christian Association.
You look little surprised to hear this.
The regret is the necessity for the eX-
tstence Of the Young Mems Christian
Association indicates a failure of the
Church 10 properly care for the young
men. II was this which gave birth TO
the Young Mems Christian Association.
1 had the pleasure last summer OF at
tending an inspiring meeting in Exeter
Hall. In London. and of having a cordial
greeting from the noble founder of the
organization. You we'll know how his
heart was stirred by the spiritually neg
lected young men of London. The Queen
has knighted him, but no earthly sover-
eign could confer on him an honor as
great as that Of being the founder of this
Christian brotherhood. ! rejoice that the
Church has nightly walked up in her
roucern for the young. This is pre-emi-
Vently an era Of work for young people
and Of work by young people. All our
churches bear witness to this We con-
Hiently expect from this assembly help
,u and stirring words, and We trust you
rome 10 us laden with the blessings OF
he Gospel Of Jesus.
DISCUSSION OF BIBLE STORIES.
The convention was then led in prayer
hv Rev. c. l. Schoheld j. D., Of North
t.d Mass who also delivered the first
formal address. His subject was a Blole
vtulv-"The Personal Relationships OF
The Holy Spirit" Dir. SchOheld is
man ~ great ability, a thorough student
O. The Bible. a very earnest and inter
est.ng speaker, and rapid talker. HIS
discussion Of his subject was elaborate
and his references 10 the Bible 10 sus-
tain his views were numerous. Ihese
personal relationships he described as:
Frst-the Holy Spirit towards us; Sc
cond-the Holy Spirit in us; third-the
Holy Spirit upon us Each one OF these
Che sneaker discussed at length and IN
detail In closing he said: 1--WE deal
with n person. not on influence. and we
are still dealing without that person.
Az INTERESTING INTERRUPTIONS
Before proceeding in order with the
programme. the convention here paused
iu IT'S business. at the suggestion OF
str H. A. Coulter. State Secretary, for
q general Introduction Of the delegates
each delegate to rise, give his name. his
yiace OF residence and the length OF
time he had been a member OF TINS as
ISOLATION. This. of course consumed
some time but the proceedings were very
Interesting
REVIEW or THE FIELD.
Mr. Coulter then gave 20 the convention
q general review Of the field In virginia
and Of the work Of each association. In
crease I'm membership was shown IN me
following associations: Richmond lv5'
Norfolk. 29; Radford 80; Shenandoah
g.. Roanoke railroad branch 200; Blue-
ho.l 200; Clifton Forge, 20; Hampton lV'
CreWe. 70; Petersburg. 175.
Improvement in buildings and new
buildings were reported In Petersburg
Roanoke Richmond and Shenandoah.
Portsmouth Blacksburg. and Blueheld
reported "A handsome building fund.
Social gatherings. which proved very
beneficial TO the associations were he'd
during the year al Richmond, Roanoke
Petersburg. Hampden-Sdney College.
Randolph Macon Academy, stanton and
Lynchburg.
Richmond. Radford. Stanton. Lynch
burg, Norfolk, Hampton. Newport News
Shenandoah. and Gladstone were report
Cd 90 Doe in a very good financial condi-
tion. ln fact. several Of them reported
surplus on hand
President Alexander announced the fol-
lowing as a business committee: W. >
McCieuahan Of Roanoke. chairman. G.