Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-04

drum had concluded presented Rev. DR..
J William Jones. and Rev. DR.. Lemuel
Moss. OF Philadelphia, who made short
talks along prescribed lines. The choir of
che Second church rendered some excel
Int music. and, altogether, the meeting
was a most enjoyable one.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES REPORT.
Dr. TAYLOR called the assemblage to or
der and conducted brief devotional eX-
frcses The proceedings of the last meet
mg which was held in Fredericksburg,
were then read by the secretary, DR..
Charles II. Ryland, after which the fol-
lowing report Of the Executive Commit
Gee. reviewing the work of the society du-
ring the past year, was read:
rn submitting our seventeenth annual
report we must express regret that cir
CImstances prevented q meeting of the
society one year ago. The failure OF that
meeting has had the effect Of suspending,
ta some extent the active agencies OF the
society. and consequently less work mas
been done for two years past than usual.
But that is past, and we confidently pe-
uave that with the uplift OF tins meeting
a fresh impulse will be given TO the lnte-
resting work which we have assumed 10
lead. We esteem ourselves fortunate ana
congratulate the society and its friends
upon the theme and the speaker, Wnlcn
must deeply interest us on TINS occasion
T. lnE society OllEln anu " VI n 40
will be remembered, the society began IN
lGt-twenty-two years ago next June.
The first arrangement was 10 meet IN con-
raeuon with the General Association, and
a- long as that was kept up the society
uruspered very much. Four years ago,
however, change was forced upon US,
and those delightful gatherings were
broken up. Since that time the managers
Of the society have been somewhat at sea
SIS 10 plans, and the meetings nave
been irregular. The idea now, how
ever, is 10 meet every year in an inue-
PENDENT way. and to conduct our Work on
the same plan that other similar socie-
ties have found useful. We believe the
society will be able now to do more
-ystematic and faithful woTk than ever
before An annual meeting in this CITY;
or some other accessible and central
place. with definite aims each year, VIII
gradually draw together those VINO are
really interested, and in time do a great
work
3 Membership.-Thi is composed Of
life members at a fee of $40 and annual
members at 81. The fe-membership
fees constitute a permanent tund' the
annual fees are for current expenses
We need 10 increase our membership not
only for greater power and influence ana
wider work, but for greater revenue
Your committee desire 10 urge thal at
teution be given TO this at this meeting'
and express the hope that many gene
rols persons win aid the good work.
OUR SPECIAL WORK.
THE charter Of our society defines our
work 10 be .the discovering, procuring
and preserving whatever may relate 10
tIa history of Christianity, and OF the
BAPTIST denomination in particular.
This object should be ever before US,
and each member should strive 10 IN
creHse the resources and promote the
work " the society. .4 ,oo1
We are glad TO state that great deai
has bean done I'm getting together and
storing al Richmond College the mate
rial of BAPTIST and other denomlna,
-,araI history There are vast and
fruitful fields 10 be worked, and
the further we go the greater
stimulus we find in our researches. Du-
ring the year now closing important ma
tar.4I has been added TO our store among
th. vaiuabIe accessions 10 our archives
being Rippon's Register of 1880 and the
Mss Journal OF the labors and jour
r.ys of John William QInD, presented
tv the president Rev. James Il. JaylOT,
d. L. Let the society take hold with
fresh interest the important OBJECTS OF
me society. and the history OF virginia
blptists will be amply written.
THE FINANCES.
The society has only a small sum IN
vestel-vlz. S50O-the interest on Whlcl
Is used for current expenses: Inc cash
lu bank is $Z69.76. - 49,,
We recommend a business meeting OF
The society next Tuesday hlghl az
o'clock IN the missiOn-room OF TINS churCh
coming y.sr
The Executive Committee earnestly re-
quest friends in Virginia and elsewhere
who have old books. pamphlets. or Mss
bearing on the history of the Bapusts Oh
Virginia or the early religious move