American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-01-02
For the American Republican.
CIRCULAR


To the Officers and Members Of the Bible Socie-
ties Of Maryland, auxiliary 10 the Maryland
Stale Bible Society,"
CHRsTIAN FRIENDS! As the time for hold
ing the anniversary of your Societies is draw
ing near indulge the hope, there will be made
every preparation necessary TO render your
meetings as interesting and successful as the
holy cause of the Bible may justly demand
Unquestionably, if any enterprise of Chris
tian benevolence may engage the sympathies
Of the philanthropist, and enlist the energies OF
Gods people, that enterprise is the circulation
of the Holy Scriptures. And, perhaps, the
readiness with which the Importance of this
great work is conceded, flows from the same
source whence proceeds the occasional failure
of Bible Societies to answer the end OF their
organization.-The conviction that as the BIZ
BILE is the best and most important book in the
world, all who need it will supply themselves;
and that as its dissemination is The duly Of all,
none in particular are required TO engage in 1t.
But, beloved brethren, unless we adopt the
common methods Of success, in conducting the
operations of our Bible organizations we must
not be surprised if they soon become inopera-
tive and extinct The common methods of
success to which we refer, are-PRAYER AND
ATTENTION; earnest, preserving prGyer-tabor-
io,ts and indfhigabIe attention. When these
are not wanting, no system has yet been devils
ed for circulating the Word of God, so SIM
pie, and so thorough as the formation of local
Bible Societies, auXlIary to County, state.
or Irrational organization.
This system of auxiliary effort is By no means
an experiment in the Bible cause. 1t is regard
ed with the utmost confidence by the expert
enced pra ctical men, who have been identified
with tho Bible cause for forty years, both IN
Europe and America. 1t is the method by
which, since the commencement Of the present
century, seventeen times as many Scripture
volumes, in more than four times the number
of languages, as had been circulated in three
hundred years before Let no consideration,
then, induce yu1 to uuderyaluc the importance
of a system OF operations, thus Taught with
results, tie magnitude OF which IS not 10 be es-
timated.
In this system you have assumed your posi-
ton, from which arises an important and de
lightful duty. Engage init, brethren, refusing
that Kit is more blessed TO give than to reccIvc.'
And as you could not fail to supply fellow
being, destitute Of ''the meat that perisheth, -
without being guilty concerning your brothor;'
so neither can you be less guilty, if you do not
provide the living bread for the souls that are
perishlnr for lack Of knowledge. Seek out
and every individual in your bounds 1t is III
your power to furnish the Scriptures TO every
, man al his o,cn price, and if need be, 'piihout
money and ,cithout price
Endeavor to have your meetings well attend
ed. Make them seasons of interest and Of re-
ligious improvement. Cultivate in your own
hearts profound veneration for Gods blessed
Book and estimate the evil of being destitute
of it, by the exceeding sweetness OF its Promls-
es, and by its power to make wise unto saliva
ton. Let no denominational differences which
may lawfully keep you apart, in other matters,
have place on the Bible platform Remember
ing, that as the Bible alone contains the true
Reformed religion, every Protestant Christian
ythe dissemination Of that Sacred volume, is
most effectually promoting his own views,
whilst as q member of Bible Society, he is
sustained by the organized strength of his breth-
rem, in resisting the efforts of the common foe
Embrace the opportunity Of your approach
ing anniversary to increase the number of your
members. To engage the cooperation of all
in each neigbborhood that are not, as yet, den.
tilted with The Bible cause. If you have not a
large supply of books on hand, delay not tc
procure, from the county or State depository
quantity sufficient for the wants of your dis
trict. Select with care your distributing com,
mittees. Let them be composed of men who
will heartily engage in that "labor of love-
If in any district the services of the State So.
ciety's Distributing Agent are required, let ii
be distinctly stated in your annual report. Let
the report contain, together with the list o.
officers for the ensuing year, the number Of
members, the total amount subscribed, the
amount paid in, the number of books ordered
received and distributed, the number of fami
lies found destitute in each district, and any
+Ean the three centuries which preceded the pre-
sent, embracing the whole History of the Reorma
ton, only about two millions of copies of the Scrip
lures in some forty DIN rent languages, printe
aud circulated. During the present century by Bibl
Societies, about thirty millions OF Scripture volumes
in one hundred aud sixty or more languages aud di,
ecta have been pre- pa,cd and distributed Yiesy
ne Plans and Operations Of Am Bi5'e Society.