Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-03-09
EEI.YGKOUS.
From the Missouri Gazette.
FIF III REPORT
or tie 81. Charles Auriiiary bible S

CtebY.
Ii is with mingled emotions, that your
board OF managers present their fifth an
nual report. Sensible OF the age IN
which we live, and the good work in
which we are engaged, it IS exceedingly
unpleasant to observe the pulse OF life
beating 50 languidly. Was it cause OF
minor Importance, and was il designed
4 effect but solitary being, your mana.
gers might not feel SO deeply interested,
and the subject would not be SO painful
TO the philsnthropist. But when we
learn that great proportion of the hu-
man family are deprived oil that gospel
which has brought life and immortality
to light, the subject rises in importance
and Justly demands our united elorts,
our warmest zeal, and our most enlarged
much indebted for our civil and reli-
gious privileges, and for those tndesriDg
hopes which dissipates the darkness o.
the grave. Shall we not then, as pa
triots, as friends of humanity, and as
christians, manifest our gratitude, by
nil To others similar blessing!
We feel that no ordinary obstacles
shon discourage US, end that no COM
mon pecuniary embellishments should
influence our members 10 relIn9nlsh
work oil such magnitude. Can we not
devise means TO curtlll one dollar snnu-
ally from out expenses, when we consl-
der the good that may result from this
5elf-denial F? II we enter upon this plan
10 raise our subscription, we shall sure
~ be no poorer--lhere will be no loss
70 the world, and some immortal beings
now sitting in the region and shadow o
death, may hereafter acknowledge us as
the heraids of their salvation. We
wouid therefore recommend this expert |
henl as sure aatldole against the pres
sure of the times, and one which il gene
rally adopted, we believe, would enable
ever y frieod of the Bible cause, in ibis
seclion OF the country, to become mem
bers OF oor society.
We would further recommend,
agreeably to the request OF our paren'
efficient me ,sures should be adopted, 10
ascertain The want o Bibles in our re-
spective neighborhoOds, and that we en-
all who teel tavorably disposed
towards the object OF our association, to
become annual subscribers. Greater
efforts on our part may call into action
many, who for want of proper encourage
mrut or information, are now sleeping
upon heir posts. We will not believe,
lntil expert, ent tests the fact, that there
IS no, virtue and benevolence enough
lmong our tlzens TO support an instltu-
Ion which is designed to enighten and
CORN the world. Were all the nations
ipon he globe like ours, we might pos
lbiY suppose that the call Tor charity
would not be 30 pressing. But without
he aid of some friendly hand, after az es
'ave rolled away, there viii be nations
'nveloped in moral darkness. For how
re those to obtain tie Bible who are ie-
,ursnt of lis valuable con,ents--wha
ave not a copy in their own language;
nd who, if disposed, are totally incom-
>e'em to translate II from any foreign
language bet be obleclor here pause
Let unbeief and timtdity die, and the
friend OF the destitute extend the hand o
charity.
In reviewing the year that is past.
while we most deeply deplore the dead
OF very active and valuable MEMBER
and regret that our iabors have been So |
circumscribed, we would humbly re.
tnrn our devout acknowledgements to the |
autnor Of all being. thai we have been |
ene bled to furnish any with the scrip
lures. at first cost OF reduced prices; and |
pleasure to dislribute the gospel TO the
poor. In this gr tuious distribution
The orphan, the afflicted widow and lht
soldier have been the more immediate
recipients OF our charity. In reference
% the soldiers Who we're on their way TO
the Council Bluffs, i, may not be unne-
-essarv TO observe, that no Bibles werr
CIV, n TO any whose characters were NOT
ascerlained by their officers; and none
we're favored by tbs precious gift, who
did not personally receive at the inc,
much religious instruction, and many
solemn warnings and adm ,DitIons from
the lips OF our president and secretary
Among the nunber, two, holding NOR,
than an ord,nrry rank, were found pro-
fessors OF religion; they had the name
IF being moral men; they appeared to
deplore their situation, and most cordial
ly did they return (heir thanks for the adj
vice and Bibles which they received.
Though we are far remo,e from our
parent institution, II is pleasing TO notice
their kind and aiiectionate remembrance,
Of US. They have not only regularly
furnished ia with their MONTHLY .xtrac,s