Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-21
FoR TIRE ENQUIRER.
7" the Friends Of the Bible, and ofihe Bible Cause
Airoushont Tie Slote of Virsinia.

FoR TIE ENQUIRER.
To tie Ffi<mds ofMe Bible, and ofihe Bible Cause,
throughout tie Slote of Eirginia.
Fellow-Ciiizens: The Board Of Managers OF
the Bible Society OF Virginia would most re.
the following:
Since 1890, this State has teen explored and
in manner twice supplied with the Holy Scrip
lures; vet, from recent developments, there Is
cause to believe thai there are still thousands Of
families living within our limits who have not
the Bible, and that large proportion of them are
destitute Of the means OF obtaining il.
Feeling that it is duty OF perpetual ohiga-
ton and of imperative necessity 10 search out
and supply all such cases, the Board are adopt.
ing measures by which to explUie the Stale with
the least possible delay.
Nor are these efforts alone necessary In the
Stale of Virginia. The American Bible Society
assures us, that facts IN IL possession tnlly lus
~ The belief that there are from tao 10 three mil
lions OF the white population 81 lEc Uned States
who are living without this Inspired Directory 10
aid them in the discharge OF The varied response
bilnes OF life. And that this number is ncreas
ed By the imigra,ions from Europe TO ibis country
OF from SO to 100000 annually. Mos, Of these
come TO US not only without the Bib.e but under
neral use OF the Holy Scriptures. How far these
influences are at variance with the civil and reli
gious institutions Of our beloved country is a
question which il becomes every Christian patri-
OF, and especially every Protestant, we'll 10 con-
slider.
II is the opinion OF the Board, that whether we
have respect TO the temporal or eternal destiny Of
this class OF our feow-beings or TO their present
or prospective moral and political influence
among US, all the motives Of benevoence and Of
selfpreseryalion impel US TO prompt and vigo-
rous efforts TO give them the Bible.
The Blind, too, oil whom there are some
eight thousand in this country, have a strong
claim upon our sympathies and upon our
charitable well-doing. Plates have been prepa.
red by which 10 print The whole Bible in embossed
Or raised latterS for the use Of this unfortunate
class of our iellow-cilizens The work is neces-
sarily expensive, and they for whom il is prepa-
red are Tor the most part poor; hence il must be
furnished 10 a great extent eraluliously. But
happy Tor us it, by the exercise OF the benevolence
of the Gospel, we may aid those who, deprived OF
their natural sight, are feeling after God, il hap.
Is they may nnd Him.
Ii is equally plain that what the Bible is to US.
il was Designed 10 be 10 the whole family Of man,
and that our being made the repositories of that
sacred trust, imposes upon us the obligation 10 do
all in our power 10 give il universal circulation.
In this WORK, good beginning has been made;
one which fully demonstrates the wisdom the
benevolence, the mercfulness OF the undertaking.
But. while more than 500 millions OF our race re-
main as isnoran, OF God and Of the way Of lie
as though no revelation had ever been made 70
man, il becomes us to consider our work only as
lust commenced and that il is TO be prosecuted
increasingly until the last family OF earth Is in
possession of this priceless treasure.
The succPSS which has attended the efforts
hitherto made, affords the most ample encourage
ment 10 greatly extended exertion in behalf Of this
cause.
In no country and among no people has the
Bible been introduced without producing changes
the most salutary and desirable. It is Of truth,
"The wisdom Of God and the power of God unto
salvation"
In conducting the affairs Of the Society, The
Board Of Managers have ever felt il TO be their
duty 10 use the most rigid economy. With view
to save expense, and in the hope that the end at
which we are aiming might be gained by other
means the services Of a General Agent have
twice been dispensed wh but not without evil
dent loss 10 the great Bible interest. the CON-
mencement of the present year. the Board came
to the conclusion, that 10 secure fully the objects
for which the Society was organized, ii was
absolutely indispensable that General Agen.
should again be employed, whose special duty
should De 10 devote niDlSe exclusively 10 inc du-
vancement Of our known favored enterprise
Hence a correspondence wns opened with The
American Bible Society, which results in an al
rangemehi by which our present General Agent.
The Rev. b. Shipman, who had been laboring ior
some years as an Agent of The above named So
ciety in Western New York and in Tennessee,
was transferred 10 this field OF labor, under The
special direction OF The Bible Society Of Virginia.
But lei it not be supposed that lhs employment
of an agent will snpercede the necessity of united
and persevering effort on the part administers and
churches ihroug houl The State. No one man, GER
tainly, can do what shonld be done within our
bounds in aid OF The Bible cause. Therefore,
observation-disclosures help we afectionately
intreat you-help TO make The Bible The Book Of
he World
In conclusion, permit Us TO recommend Mr..
Shipman most earnestly and si1ec,ionarly 10 the
friends OF The Bible throughout the State We
believe him TO be eminenriy qualified for the Of
fec OF general agent He is resar'ed by The
American Bible Society as having no superior in
zeal, prudence, energy, laitbfulness and undyine
devotion 10 The cause Of ne Bible.
By GIder Of the Board.
SAMUEL REEVE, Cor. Sec.