The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-16

dollars In giving the gospel to the. desti-
tute IN our own State; al, agency for scat,,
tering FIR md wide the printed word an nS
Tor preaching the gospel on tho sKlrmisn
line and a large and ever eniarging
part IL sending the gospel to the !, regions q
bsyond-these are a few Of the Items e. o.
arc gatheredt here III this good year OF
grace have entered. And, TO crown and
giorify Vt all we have solidarity 81 doc,
n unity and brotherliness of spirit be-
yond all praise. Surely this Is cui m
mating time for Virginia Baptists. Ihe
GUS.
can we escape tile CONVICTION that !. g,
In some RESPECTS This is eTtlca sro per ga
eonsldera,ionn n 81 it those larger crises Il
Christian thought and labor to which 81
reference has been previously maze,
that we must be found doing our full
problems which confront christianity. But
ment conditions which Justify US In think
ing Of this period, nay. of this very ses-
sion Of this historic body. as not wholly
OF these conditions. -,
When Rotert 3: semple presided EYER !, M 4
Todd Kept it's slim and meagre records,
resources. Slowly but steadily We have
"Running all along through this inter err
estinE and eventful history mas been tho
frequent. though Irregular and unorganii
enterprise. indeed, as far back as LIS
Virginia Baptists appointed q committee
to consider the. founding Of q seminary
Of learning and In 1@ the genterl cG an
pointed trustees. to carry such q proleet
into effect. In furtherance of this, alter
tho lapse OF years. came the organization
~ 10 ui,,tn Society.
whose auspices the Virginia Baptist sem,
mary was founded, which later broadehea
into our own noble college. The rest 81
the history need not be recounted. but IT
ali reads one way. Higher education un,,
der denomlnational auspices ana contro,
wa part Of the prac teal Work XII ctseu .,
of our UNCONVENTIONAL fathers. That they
should have seen thus early inc ,need OF @,
this work. and should have. attempted IN
the midst of appalling weak t;rs;s !, ana
tribute alike to their wisdom and courage.
Nov, at length. we have comc.to- the
place where VIC must either adopL ana Pun;
they originated. or we must reverse It,,
Surely no moro vital question ever con On
rronted this host OF the Lord. lam not
accomplishing this object. That y WHOLLY
aside from my purpose. a sb a1i S%'ll,ng
hut tits not unbcconing for me to utter
the deepest conviction of my heart that
the hour has struck for us 10 lace Inns
question honestly. Surely III t III 'iae W,
the harrestti is here. I.
MY brethren, Shall we grid up our Joins n:
afresh for the mighty work wnich waits
to be dons Shall no, eur leafds map e a6
OF opportunities which stretchessoel org US
In the full strength, Of Christian man
hood and woHlanhood, shall we not se .ta
Of Z God are laid upon us? Shall We not
as we NEE In the sweet feiloWsnip tS OF
Who have gone before and Of those who
are to come after, and above. all thinking
of Him whose we are pray ana plan
t ti pi,s in His nan1o? The Roman glad
iators. as they went to their mortal COM
bats, turned to the throng Of onlookers
~ who are about to die. salute you!
s ''In nobler mood let us together to-
night seeGin fancy the cloud OF Witness
look on ana me was N tah icy
us but is now radiant with victory. and
q s5ve who are about to live. salute you.
We are not not here today to dream, 70 drift,
we have hard work to do and loads to
shun not tho strength-face It; It's Gods
How hard the battle goes, the day how
Faint not, light on! Tomorrow comes
the song
After the sermon, the secretary. Rev.
Hugh c. Smith called theiSroll Of mes
sengers and delegates and quorum,
much more than quorum. being found
for business by the election OF the fol- 4
lowing officers:
President. Judge w W.. Moffitt, OF
Salem; vice-Presdent J. 4. Camp. Of
Franklin Rev. DR.. Jno b. Turpin, Of
charlottesville; Rev. I. ]. Snipman. Of
Roanoke; Rev. F. w. Claybrook, OF Kill
monocf; Score tary, Rev. Hugh c. Smith,
OF west AppomattSx; Assistant Score
tary. TT. Theodore Ellysons Of Rlchmond;
Treasurer, B. a. Jacob, Of Richmond;
Auditor, ]. B. Montgomery Of Richmond.
Address Of Welcome,
Rev. Dir. W. c. Taylor. the pastor of
the First Baptist Church. welcomed the
association in speech which was in
part as follows:
"The pleasure is all mine TO express to
YOU the welcome Of Petersburg Bapt1sts
IN general. and OF this church in partic-
tuar as you come -amonf US 70 attend
the sessions of the Virginia Baptist Gem
eral Assoc alton. ~, ~.
elites Of America and OF the world. You
viii tread highways indicated by paths
once troddcn by the footsteps Of Poca-
hontas and PoHhntan: Among our homes
Won will find war marks ofNthe Revolution
and Of the Civil War. Heights once occu-
PUTTING Vt STRONG Nh
But Doesn't II Lock .Reasonab4c?
This may read as though VIC were put
ting 1t little strong, because IT Is gem