The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-25

The general agent of the Bible Society of Virginia
has made arrangements with the ministers of the
several churches in Richmond by which, he hopes
the claims OF this Society will be brought before
their respective congregations, in the of
few weeks. And he would now very respectfully
but most earnestly, imploreal the professed friends
OF this cause in Richmond to give us on this occa-
sion, substantial proof of the sincerity of their
profession 1t will not do to say to the millions who
are perishing for lack of knowledge "be ye fed"
while we withhold from them the bread of life.
And there never was a time when the true friends
of this cause were 30 loudly called ON to devise
liberal things. The whole world is now in COM
morton. God is overturning and overturning the
nations of the earh that his word may gain access
10 the people, and have free course, and be glori
fed in every land. The people, too, in many parts
of the world, seem inclined to change their reg-
ion. And now is the time to send them the Bible
that they may become acquainted with its heavenly
and life giving truths, and embrace that religion
which is ''proftable unto all things, haring prom.
Use of the life that noao u.s. and Of tat obich is to
come" and which alone is able to satisfy and save
the soul But il we look not beyond the limits of
our own country, we behold still an immense field
| ripe for the harvest and demanding immediate at.
tention.
Oregon, Texas, New Mexico and California, not
to mention other States and Territories, are all rap
idly filing with population that knows little or
nothing of the Bible. And is the time for the
patriot the phlanthropist and christian, to put forth
tn cir combined efforts to bring this constantly in
| credSng ulaSs uuUeT Tue ftNeWl1S cleVaIl0I ana
Transforming influence of the word of God. Ifthere
was no Observation-Disclosures was no hope nor ioy nor
peace in believing, their present prosperity and
| happiness, and our own peace and safety demand
that they be supplied with the Bible.
Mr.. Webster, not long before his death, meeting
| with Colporteur, took him by the hand and said
You have got hold of the right string, sir; if such
| books not widely circulated among the masses
in the country, and the people do not become re-
| ligious, do not know what is to become of us as
nation"
And even in Virginia much remains to be done
| In some of the counties of Western Virginia one
half OF the population are reported TO be without
the Scriptures The orders for Bibles from this por
ton of the field have been unusually large the pres
ent year and the agent reports that the demand is
| increasing. Recent explorations have developed
in Eastern Virginia also amount of destitution
that is truly astonishing, and most deporable In
Nausem coun y, of 652 families visited 231 were
found destitute OF the Bible. Similar destituiions
| have been reported from Southampton. from Isle of
Wight, from Patrick from Bedford, and from 9TH
er counties.
| Now with such field before us and with such
desttution ir State, what are the churches
| in Richmond doing for this noblest of all human
enterprises In 1850 the contribution rem all these
| churches (some II or ID in nunber) to the Bible
| Society OF Virginia, was less than $780, In 1851
it was about 5000, and in 1852 it was S407. 1t is
due to these churches however to state that there
was very decided improvement in the contrbu-
tions of some of them to this cause the past year
| One Chufch gave over $,}00; and the whole sum
contributed was about 81 200 But even this sum
Is only about one half the amount contributed
| to the Tract Society, the same year, and perhaps
less than half OF what might be given to the Bible
cause, the present year, if each of its professed
friends would only do his and her part But many
churches and individuals give nothing eren to tie
Bible cause, and those who contribute do not make
sufficient allowance tor this fact and thus the best
of causes is allowed to languish. 1t may not be
known to some fthe friends of this cause in Rich
mond, that the Bible Society of Virginia is in debt
to the American Bible Society to the amount of five
or six thousand dollars The contributions to this
Society, tor several years past, have been insufi
cienf to enable 1t to meet all the demands made
/ upon 1t, and books have been overdrawn to this
amount, from year TO year. from the parent Society,"
for distribution in Virginia But surely, when the
/ demand for Bibles IN our new States and Terrific
ries is SO great, and when the cry is coming up
from SO lmany other lands, for the Word OF Life
the churches in Virginia viii not permit the Amer
lean Bible Society to be taxed with supplying our
destitute.
And we now call upon the friends OF this cause in
Richmond, to aid US IN removing this reproach to
the philanthropy and christian beaevoience of our
State Let those who derive their wealth from the
increased industry and general prosperity of our
people give US of the first fruit of their in
crease, and let all lay by them in store, what in
| such an object, and the work will be done.
Merchants expecting to be absent from the city,
and others who may fail to have an opportunity 10
contribute In the Church, send their cOutribu.
ton to the Treasurer, Mr.. Hugh A Watt or to the
JAS. M. ALLEN, Gen. Agent B. 8. VI.
February Is, 1854.
BAD FAirH.-- The Washington Star says that
i er51.. - nnv "a HILL -