The Arkansas advocate., 1831-01-26
ARKANSAS BIBLE SOCIETY.

SOCIETY, instituted at Little Rock, was held Ill the Baptist Meeting house ID this town. on the I5th instant, at , o'clock F. NJ.
 Hon. THoMAs r. EsKR1peE, President ofthe Society, took the chair, at half past three, and the exercises were commenced, by reading the 35th chapter of Isaiah, by the Rev. JAMES w. lIeoRE, and prayer by the Rev. ". ". SrE- vENsoN.
 The Treasurer, Col. B. SMITH, being absent, in consequence of indisposition, his Report was dby the Corresponding Secretary, fromwhch itappeared that thirty-seven dollars remain at present in the hands of the Treasurer.
 The Report was accepted by the vote of the Society.
 ". MooRE, then read his Report, which, by inc vote of the Society, was accepted. and order ed to be delivered to the Editors of both the papers in :als town, for publication.
 Three addresses were then delivered. The first by U. '. iiowEL, Esq. in which thespeak- CT exclusively showed that the Bible was ent- tied to the regard of the antiquarian, the rhet- creIan, the poet the iurst, and tlie mort:iist in respect both to the present and future life.
 Gov PoPE next arose, and after expressing his sapprobation in regard to the Society object, stated his decided conviction that the sacred scriptures We're the only substantial support of nat.oaa! prosperity and virtue. He affirmed. with eloquence and force, that no people with out the scriptures had ever been happy and free :: and, upon these considerations, he took pleas ure in becoming member of this Seciet,.
 Rev. W. ". STEPHENSON then addressed tbe meeting, in relation to his personal knowledge of the Restitution of the Bible in many partsof the Territory, expressinsa belief, that at least, in many parts, five hniIesout of eight did not possess a copy of the word Of life.
 Q. D. .aasor, J. Broun, and Rev. r. W. Ste- wason, were then appointed to serve asa com nlttce ln procuring subscriptions for the present year.
 lie same officers being reelected for the en. sung year, the Society adjourned, to meet on che first Saturday after the second Monday in January, 1892.
 lissf Repor of the ARKANSAS B7aLE SOCIETY.
 instituted at Liate Roch, rcot ty the Rev. J.
 ". MooRE, Cor. Sec.
 In presenting our first Report, 1t Is deemed proper, for the information and satisfaction of some present, to exhibit q concise statement of the origin, operations and object of the Aneri- can Bible Society, among whose Auxiliarics we have the honorot being numbered.
 All who claim the appellaton of Chri8toiz, receive that book~called the Bible, as a revela- tlon from Heavcn-beIieye it to be the chief pil- lar of mans civil and domestic happiness. and the only true chart to inform his bewildered in- teslect as he passes down to the shades of mmor- talty. They receive the fullest evidence in fl- yor of these opinions from observation and con- tr;st Why do the inhabitants of these United States, and some portions of Europe, enjoy so much more substantial happiness than any pagan naton of the present or former times? The req. son Is obVious-lt is because the rays of fieav- cns light have fallen thick around us. while they arc enyeloped in the darkness of moral mdns sht gloom.
 Impressed with these views, a number of be- neyoient individuals, in the year 1916, met in she city of New York, and formed the Ameri- can Bible Society, for the purpose of .:concen- sratIng the exertons of the then exlating local speietIcs; that, by combining unity of effort, with economy Of means, they might prsmote more ex- sfusiyely the circulation of the .foy Scriptures" " Ahe managers of this society are composed of seven different denominations of christians.- Among its patrons ani officers are many of the most distinguished literary and political men oi which our country can boast, of whom the names of Boudsaot, Hon. .john Jay, De Fit Clinton, Joht Quaascy .fdanes, and Chief Justice .MarshoN arc sufficient attestaion.
 his society haVe,by unremtting eyertions and lmmense expenditure, yearly been extend Ing their operations. They have at present l6 tteam-power presses. whichare computed to per sorm the work of 3 common presses, and 6 hand presses, constantly at work. They now is- sse nearly 100000 Bibles and Testiments in a year, or nearly l6,50o copies in a single month.
 Those unacquanted with the existing state of our country might presume that issues so i'm .nehse ., would soon oyerstock the population ol .he :. whole United States But, since invessga- ,oh has been made, in order to ascertain the real restitution, every mind has been astonished.- sh many counties of some of the oldest states sere have been found some thousands destitute