Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-08-19

Peter Van Deursen, James Bolton. MI
WIN. Willis, r. II. Deane, M. ID.
Samuei Reeve, Corresponding Secretary.
rabius M. Lawson, Recording Secretarv.
Mm. Allison, Treasurer.
Kev. Jas. McElroy, A. NJ, General .aeent.
We do not know thatwo can better enforce
the claims of the Society on the Christian
public than by copying the eloquent conclu-
sion Of the Report of tho President and Di.
rectors:
The statistics Of your society, give tho
annual restitution which accrues in our com
nonweaith, at one family in every fifty, which
at our present population, gives the apgre-
gate annual restitution at $500 families'
Your Board of Directors for lS39-1O. renor-
ted at the last anniversary 1900 families in
me commonwealth destitute of the Bible: II
10 uds number, were added the destitution
wmch accrued during the past year, there
would be now in the commonwealth 5000
FAMILIES without the Holy Scriptures. OF
tnese 1900, were, during tho past year SUM-
Pneu, which leaves destitution yet to be
supplied, of 1890 families.
In Wow OF this great and accumulatipp
home restitution, your Board. as Virg;n;ams
have felt ito be their solemn duty to direct
Tor Ne present, all their efforts to supplv onr
own State. But in confirming their attention
10 our domestic wants, they have not entire-
Iost sight OF the urgent appeals of our For
eign Missionaries, and the claims that are
waited to our shores from the diving millions
In heathen lands. We shall hope. and look.
ing for that aid, "without which, nothing ia
strong, nothing is holy" shall try, while en-
gagged in supplying our own wants, to contri-
3u,e vlrginia's proportion to our National
bible Society to send to the benighted hea-
then, that blessed volume from which emanates
our civilization, and from which we derive
all those hopes which cheer us in the pros
pect of death. f'0'
Never has evangelical christendom had
s.cn wide or encouraging field in Papal,
Mahomedan and Heather lands. for the dis.
tribution of the scriptures as the present peri-
ca presents. Within the last few wears.
Divine Providence has thrown open many
hitherto inaccessible countries for the intro
Gucuon OF His word, and with the signal
displays OF divine grace with which he has
amended that word in Foreign lands, has
.aught US by every thing that is dear to the
cnrisuan heart, that we should be bountiful
III dispensing 1t every where. We feipn
nope, that tho Virginia Bible Society will be
furnished with means sufficient to enable her
10 supply her own wants, and TO po forth
win our National Society, and the other BIZ
pie Societies of Christendom, in scattering
the light of the sacred volume in every be,
nighted region of our world, and fastening
that latter day of glory, when all shall know
God from the least unto the greatest. Proph-
ecy encourages us TO look and labor for the
appearance of this day-the word of the UNI
cnaangeable Jehovah is pledged that the efforts
Oh ms people to bless our benighted world
win Its glorious light, shall yet be crowned
fulfilled -
"The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke
decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt A.
way;
But fixed His word, His saving power re-
mains,
Thy. realm shall last, thy own Messiah
reigns."