Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-05-20


Leaving sixty-four bibles and six ties.
tsmenls of the Donation from the Parent
Society, now in the hands Of the Deposi.
tory.
Immediately after the las, annual
meeting The Secretary was directed to
inform the American Bible Society that
it was tile wish Of this Board to be sup
piled with fifty bibles and one hundred
testaments, to be disposed of on the usu
al terms. The reques, was accordingly
made and promptly complied with, by
the transmission of the required number
on the 25th June last; which, however,
in consequence of the information of
their arrival at St. Louis not being re-
ceived, did not come to hand until two
months past They are now ready for
distribution; and form an addition to the
remnant of the donation yet undisposed
of, whereby the aggregate number now
at the disposal of the Board, amounts to
one hundred and fourteen Bibles and six
testaments.
The financial concerns of the Society
are exhibited by the committee ap-
pointed to audit the Treasures &C.
counts. Of the balance remaining in
his hands at the last report, amounting
to S3l o5, the Board Immediately d.
rected the transmission OF thirty dollars
to the Parent Society, as the "surplus
funds" then on hand, in conformity with
the constitution. The amount received
since for bibles and testanents sold is
twenty-six dollars; for subscription, Sc
venleen dollars. The expenditures Of
the year, including the remi'tsnces TO
the parent society, have been S32 8l4 /;
and the balance now remaining in the
Treasury is thirty eigbt dollars, twenty
three cents. 1t should be borne in mind
that the Society is yet accountable for
the bill OF books received on the order
OF the Board /; which amounts to fifty
six dollars. In order to ascertain the
wants Of the community, the Directors,
in imitation Of other more energetic
Bible Societies, requested the gentle
man appointed to take the census in
Madison county, to note in separate
columns Of his list the number of read.
ers in each family, and the number Of
copies Of the scriptures possessed by
them. To the attention and industry OF
that gentleman the Board are indebted
for very particular, and it is believed,
accurate statement, from which the FOL.
lowing facts are submitted.
There are in the county 700 families,
in which there 1887 readers 81 families
in which there are none able to read (;
Is French and German families. To
supply these there are 781 bibles and
527 estaments-making 1907 copies Of
the New Testament, and something
more than half Of that number of the old {;
and leaving nine hundred and thirty per-
sons, able to read, destitute of the scrip
lures, provided the bibles and testaments
belonging to the inhabitants were equal
ly distributed among them. i, appears
however, that there are 70 families in
which the inmates could read il, who
have not single copy in their posses
sion. Five of our citizens, heads of ia
miles, probably misconceiving the
views of the society or its agent, refused
to answer his inquiries.
The Directors feel no disposition to
weaken the force of these facts by ex-
tended remarks OF their own. They
would barely hint--thinking it may not
have that effect--tha. the result shows
the entire practicability Of supplying all
the inhabitants of Madison county with
the Holy Scriptures; and close with an
earnest supplica,ion to Him who has
given Revelation Of his will, that He
may excite in US q determination that,
under submission to Him, this Revela.
ton shall be placed in the hands Of eve
ry inhabi,ant Of Madison county who de-
sires it's possession.
Ordered, That the report be accepted.
On motion,
THE Second Annual Report showed, by
mistake, but n bibles, and stated that twenty