Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-08-31
IcoMMuNIcArIoN. I


"divine art of printing, none is so well adaP-
led 10 excite the admiration and gratitude OF
the christian and the phiIanlhropisl, as the IA
cility which it affords for The endless muipli-
cation of cheap copies of the Bible--thaI price
less gift OF Heaven. In the time Of Edward |.
of England 1850 the price of fairly written
Bible was 81 pounds sterling, or about $l7S.
| The wages of a laboring man at the same time
were 3 hall pence l3 cenis) day. Such a
man, therefore, in our highly favored father
land, six hundred years ago, could moi possess
the entire word of God, without the labor of
about l9 years, or It's equivalent. Now, a
common laborer can earn a Bible in one day,
at any season of the year; and at some sea-
sons, the labor of one day will procure or 3
entire copies of the Bible; and good mechan-
ic may earn half dozen copies in The same
time. In view of these cheering facts we may
well excIaim--'' What hath God wrought"
| Nor is ii too much 10 say, speaking after the
manner of men, that christianity and It's conse-
quent civilization aud rational liberty, could
never have made headway they have done,
against all opposing forces, had it not laid hold
on that mighty moral engine---lhe printing
press.
II is known, suppose, to most Of your rea-
ders, that there are "a number of vast agencies
in operation to make and distribute copies of
the Bible in all of the known languages of the
world. Among these The British and Foreign,
and the American Bible Socilies are perhaps
most conspicuous. The former, since its Or
ganization in 1904 has issued in all ! 5, ,O20, 1894
Bibles and TeStaments, according TO its last
report; aud the latter, since l,s commencement
in 1916, has scattered abroad 3,2GS, ,67S (See
Report for l643.)
Auxiliary to the American Bible Society are
Stale Societies in each of the states of our
Union. Indeed, our own state has the honor
of being in advance of The National Society a
number OF years, having been organized III
1903, In the city Of Philadelphia In each oI
the counties societies have been organized to
operate within their own limits, and TO be aux
ilIary 10 the Stale Society. Monroe county
Bible Society was formed in 1910; but nothing
of consequence was done until the Spring of
1912, when il was resolved 10 procure of the
Stale Society supply Of 200 Bibes-l5(
; English and so German, and 25 Testaments il
large type.
The next important step was taken In July
last, when ii was resolved TO engage suitable
agent TO explore the whole county, township
by township, for the purpose Of ascertainin!
the amount of destituton both absolute ant
relative, and also to supply the destitute by
) sale or gilt, and 10 solicit donations IN aid o
this most noble cause. Such an one was ob
tanned, It Is believed, in the person of Mr.
: DIETRICH Of Middle Smithfield, who has alrea
} dy entered upon his important field of labor
: The whole OF the township of Smithfeld ant
part of Middle Smihfield have been explored
r and the amount of desttu!ion was even create
; than we had supposed. Ali Of our Bibles arr
gone ; and the additional supply of 100 copies
now on the way, will, il is believed; come Ia
short of meeting the unexpected demand.
This short communication is 10 throw thl
subject before the mind OF an enlightened an
benevolent public. Each one has somethin
10 do in this cause, and he should feel it 10 b.
an honor TO act in concert with God in sendln
b abroad the leaves of the tree of life, for tn
: healing of the nations. The Author of IN
Bible could dispense with human instrumental
itY in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures
and so he could in The printing Of them. H
: might commission angels TO do this work Bl
: he has not chosen TO do so: The Bible, an
the Gospel of the grace Of God, the grei
- theme of the Bible, are TO be carried TO all III
tribes and kindreds of earth, by mans agenc..
! Shall Monroe county do her part--wIlf sh
a employ an inslrumenlality, simple, yet effeclv
J. made ready to her hands or will she declr
e service, enjoined upon her by the Savior {
the world for fear of a. little cost and lit
trouble. 81 speak as TO wise men Judge J
u what say" A. b.
Of Some rogues undertook to make raise
n l1 l. l.. hril