The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-04-01
Moral and Religious.
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

l,;, Of The House OF Representatives, Mr. Adams
rose and delivered with marked emphasis and lm-
pressiveness OF manner. the following br'el address
: Fellow. citizens and members OF the Bible society
jim taking the chair awarded 10 me by your khd-
ne.s deem myself Fortunate in having the opPoHu-
nifty at a stage Of long life drawing rHP'dy 10 "s
olo,e TO bear al this place the Capto Of our National
Union in the Hall OF Representation Of the Norm
American people, in the chair Of the PreS'dng oihcer
Of tho Assembly representing The whole people, the
psrsoncation Of the great and mighty nation, to bear
nv solemn testimonial Of reverence and gratitude 10
,ha, book of books the Holy Bible Thirty five years
hive passed away since in the State louse ut BoS-
ton the Capitol Of my native commonwealth
became member of this Society though have fol-
lowed with deep interest their success, IN ol"r'o'
utng this book, think have never been able to
attend another meeting OF the society from that time
70 this. Since that time one generation OF man Is
PASSED away and another has arisen. In the midst
Of the painful and porilouS conflict insep1ra6e from
publis life and at the Of that moment when tho
grave shall close over them forever, may be permit
ted TO indulge the pleasing reflection that having been
taught in childhood the unparalleled blessings Of the
Christian Gospel, in the maturity OF manhood ass0-
cato with my brethren oft age for spreading The
light Of the Gospel the face of The earth, by the
simple and Silent process Of placing in tue hands OF
every human being who needed and could not other
wise procure it, the book which contains the duties,
the ndmonton, the promises and the rewards Of the
Christian Gospel. 1t is othing consolation TO my
last hour, hat having long since been associated
in this cause with the Fathers, still find myself as
sociated in IN with the sons; that has in the
hoan nal nd
cu,ed with intense ordor with untring ussduity, and
with anirnatng aud eminent In conIsmpla
ling what may be the life and adventures Of whole
generation Of the Of man, the only mombers OF
tho animal creation susceptible Of tic perception Of
good aud evil, Of virtue and vice, Of right aud wrong,
there have been in former uges observing and rehec-
ting men especially in tho decline Of life, prone TO
deprccate the moral and physical character Of the
present age to glorify The past.
Far moro pleasing, and, belive more correct is
the conclusion, that the race Of nan in his state is
placed by successive generations the earth to inn
provo his own condition and that Of his kind; and
that this book has been furnished him 10y the special
providence of his maker 10 enable hun by faith in his
Redeemer and by works confornahe to that faith TO
secure the salvation in future world ,and TO promote
his well being in the present. II this be truo, the
Improvement Of successive generations Of men in
,acr condition upon tho earth and preparation for
uternty, depends in small degree the diffusion
and circulation Of hi. volume among all the tribes of
nen t,rou shout the habilahle Globe. This ia the
great and exclusive obi C, for which, in the last gen
Grafton this society was Instituted. The whole book
had then existed upwards Of eighteen hundred years,
and wherever it had penetrated and been received j,
F ID
posing upon three fundamental pillsrs,-ihe Unity
and Omnipotcnce OF God and Governor OF MI the
worlds-the Immortality ofthe human soul and its
responsibility 10 that Creator in future system OF
morals embracing in precept the whole duty Of
man upon the earth ,-"1hou shalt love The Lord thy
God with oil thy heart, with al thy mind, and with
all thy strength, and thy ncghbor as ,hyselr'
The Bible carries with ii the history OF the Crea-
,ion tho fail and redemption of man, and disclosing
TO him in the infant hour at bethlehem, the egisIa-
tor and Savior Of the world The faith in him and in
his divine mission Is inseparaby connected with the
performance Of lis will and that will is all comprised
in the song f the angels his birth, Giory TO God
in the Highest and EARTH peace, good. will to
man.
In whatever reign OF the earth, in whatever condi-
lion of the human being, ihs blissful sound 6st
lutcs his ears, the depavtes Of his fall before
it. The selfish and rancorous passions which had alb
sorbed his soul and ruled his conduct under the i'm
pulses OF hatred and revenge. sink with him into i'm
polence. lie baihes in the waters Of Jordan, and
rises eleanscd from his eprosy, in The freshness and
vgor of health, and the purity OF bsnevolence and
mercy
Such has been the progress Of the Gospel wherever
the Bible IS carried and suffered TO be read In the
mysterious providence Of God ito influence has been
eounteTacted by the spirit Of evil in aIl lie thousand
forms through long succession Of ages. Its ad-
vancement has been slow; its victories desperately
contested; its rumphs subject cruel vicssitudss
I:s war against the world the Hesh and tho serpent;
perpetual never ceasing struggle. Yet its march
has been Uniform and cnnobng the moral, inellec,u.
al and physical condition and character OF man. To
circulate and distribute among great multiudes OF
in every quarter Of the globe this blessed volume
the purpose for which this society instituted.
One generation OF mankind has since passed away.
The Secretary ofthe Society is now present and
will give an account Gifts labors its success and its
prospects trust it viii be proved to the satisfaction
Of this assembly that by s abors the human being of
this age, 10 on the WHOLE WISER better and HAMMER