Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-06-22
Report

were presented and accepted:
Report
OF the Secretary of the Iowa County BIZ
bic Society.
The Iowa County Bible Society was organ
lied in 1871. Although it embraced what is
now comprised in the Counties of Iowa and
La Fayette, its entire receipts up to June 1913,
were but about $500, averaging not far from
$40 per annum.
But we would not despise the day of small
things. We frust that great good has result
ed from the operations of the Society during
the first years of its existence.
In May of last year, a new era commenced
in the history of the Iowa County Bible So
ciety. On the 10Th of that month meeting
of the Executive Committee was held, when
the Agent of the Parent Society recommend
ed plan of operating, by the adoption of
which, more has been accomplished during
the past year, than during the 7 years of the
previous existence of the Society. The plan
pursued is briefly this: Branch Societies
have been organized in different parts of the
cuatlon of the Scriptures within their own
limits; and then to aid the County Society in
supplying other places. Each Branch Soci-
ETY. has small Depository of the Scriptures,
and suitable number of local agents to So
licit donations, and circulate Bibles and Tes-
taments. The matter has thus been brought
home to every family, and much larger a.
mount of funds raised than would have been
raised by the ordinary method.
A large number of destitute families have
also been supplied with the Bible, and several
hundred children furnished with copies of the
New Testament. The report of the Treasu-
rer will show the number of books issued,
and the amount of funds raised.
The plan adopted at the commencement of
the year contemplated the employment of an
agent for brief period, to organize Branch
Societies, and assist the local agents in rails
ing funds, and circulating books. Such an
agent was employed in the person OF Mr.. E.
W. Town, who, after laboring a few weeks,
presented on the 21st of July his report.
Mr.. Town extended his labors into Rich
land Co., which for the present, is connected
with Iowa Co., for Bible operations.
The Branch Societies which have been
formed, are designed to be permanent organi-
cations, raising funds and circulating books
annually. To keep them in active operation,
however, will require the services of tray
cling agent for few weeks in each year; and
their annual meetings have accordingly been
so arranged that an agent can attend them all,
and spend little time Immediately succeed
ing each meeting in getting the machinery
into operation.
For the present year the services of Mr..
s. Z. Blackman have been engaged, who is
now laboring among the Branch Societies.
We have thus given brief account of the
operations of the Iowa County Bible Society
during the past year.
We congratulate its members and friends
upon what has been accomplished. But we
should remember that our work is not DONE
This is no time to relax our efforts. An an
nual effort will be needed to keep this Coun-
~ supplied with the word of life, and then
our surplus funds are all needed by the Pa
rent Society, to assist in supplying the mil
lions who have no Bible in foreign lands.
JOHN ToAY, Sec'y.
Mineral Point, June 18th, lS49.