Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-16
THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
OF the MASAOERs oFTHE
RYBIE SOCIETY or YyRHTNy<

OF the NAHACERs oFTHE
BIBLE SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA..
The Constitution of the Bible Society OF
Virginia, makes il the duty of the Mana,
gers. to lay before the Society at its annual
meetings. an account of their proceedings
aud expenditures. In discharge Of this duty,
the following report is respectfully submit
ted. .-3s A
Tie managers, as early as possible after
their appointment, held meeting. aud
made arrangements for carrying into effect
the bcnevolent intentions of the institution.
With this view, subscriptions papers were
issued and an address was published. stat
ing the objects of the society. and recoms
mending it to the patronage O, the public.
The success Of the managers ia procuring
subscriptions and donations, although not
equal to their hopes and wishes, was such
as to encourage them to proceed. The a
mount OF money obtained will appear in the
report ofthe Treasurer. hereto annexed
One of the first measures adopted by the
Managers WIS, to ascertain the best terms
On which Dioies Could Le procured. The
Course of enquiry, Instituted for this purpose.
soUn led to the knowledge of the fact, that
the Bible Society of philadelphia bad i'm.
ported from London, a Stereotype press,
which is now in operation that, that very
respectable society, (he parent institution
In the United States,) according to its ac
customed liberality, would furnish Books at
prime cost that is Bibles (embracing the
Old ard New Testaments) ON good paper,
with 4 very clean ard distinct type, at sixty
five cents, and New. restaments at twenty
two cehts per cnpy. These were terms
which the managers did not hesitate to ac>
cept.
At several different dates. Bibles have
been purchased, to the amount of one thou
sand aud three, and testaments to the
amount of three hundred; exclusive of AN
OF der lately forwarded for three hundred
Bibles, and Ave hundred Testaments OF
the former number. one hundred Bibles and
as many Testaments lowing to the difficulty
OF transportation,) have not yet been receiv-
ed. IS
The managers appointed a committee to
receive and distribute the Bibles ordered
to this pace, and fixed upon several places
OF deposit. in different parts of the City, at
which those who needed might be supplied
ON application. From the report CT this
committee. 1t appears that there have been
distributed, ia Richmond and its vicinity,
one hundred aud twelve Bibles, and one
hundred and nineteen Eew-Testaments.
In celebrating on the best method of Cir
cuistng the Scriptures. it occurred to your
Managers that, in many cases. persons IN
moderate circumstances lit life, might pre-
fer purchasing Bibles at a low price, to res
cesying them gratuitously. It was there
fore resolved, that, to those who should de.
clare this preference, Bibles should be sold
at Fifty cents, and Testaments at Is 8 a
cents per copy. In this way the funds OF
the Society might in some small degree be
increased; white the books thus obtained
would probably be more valued. and better
preserved ,hanif they had Cost nothing.
Shortly a:tsr this, the Managers received
a letter ftom the Rev. Messrs Davidson
and Bourne (who have a theological book
store. at Harrisonburg in the county OF
Rockingham, and employ agents TO travel
thyough the country and sell their books) In
which it was stated that very probably, q
considerable number OF Bibles would be pur-
chased by people III moderate cipcunstan.
ces, living 10 the gcess Of tile Biue-ridge /;
and that they would undertake to Circulate
the Scripture s by means of their trauetdng
agents, if the measure were agreeable to
the Managers. The terms proposed by
si,e,e gent ..cnen msre accepted. and TWO
hundred aud ten u,oies s s-.s =. tsFils''n
burg, TO be sold at fifty cents per $3.50. -
These books were IN short tiuie disiribu-
ted, snd,inforination given that May more
could be disposed of in the same way. Ac-
cordineIy. AN additional supply Of three
hundred. and twenty five Bibles has been
sent 10 that part of the state ! of the re-
ceipt of which, Gar want ofti.ne,) no ac>
acknowledgment has been made.
The managers have the pleasure oil re-
nortine the establishments OF two auxiliary
bible Sncieties in this state; the Bible Soci>
ETY. OF Frederick, and the Bible Society OF
Norfolk From the FIRST of these, they have
opjy received notice of its institution; they
donbt NOT. however, but that it has been ac-
lively and bene6ceHtly employed in promot-
ing its designs
From that in Norfolk, they haye receiv'
ed a copy of the consfituliou. from which It
appears. that the object Of the Institution Is
TO distribute the Bible in Norfolk, and us
vicinity and to aid the parent society IN
sending the Scriptures TO the poor In our
country generally, and to the Heathen
From the N rtoik association your Mana
gers have received orders Cor Bibles, to the
amount Of two hundred and fifty dollars; 10
comnliance with which in part, they have
sent To that Borough one hundred ana nine
Nv two Bibles, snd seventy Testaments
These orders we're not fully executed, be
cauee Rocks. which some time since were
sent from Philadelphia, have not yet beeI
received ia this place. The blb'e oociet
of Norfolk has also made to this institution
donation of one hundred dollars, which ha
Leen received aud acknowledged in term
dictated by the lively sense your manager
bsve Of such liberality. Il is the inteutn.
of the Managers Of the S2cie'y OF Norfoik
dis,yi5ute the Scriptures among the Militia
nv Stationed in and ear that place a par
al which we cannot forbear expressing on
warmest appreciation. Nor can we concei