The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-04-08

ANNUAL MEETING or THE BIBLE SoCIE-
TY-pursuant to notice the Society held their an
| nual meeting at Centenary Church last Tuesday
| evening. at which were present Il large number
| Of the friends of the Bible cause, including many
ladies. and the following ministers, viz: Courtney,
! Crosby, Woodbridge, Hoge, Duncan, keppler,
| Head, Motley, and others.
The President, Rev. Philip Courtney, called the
meeting to order at o'clock, when hymn was
! read by Rev. Mr. Uoge which was sung with tlLe
! effect By the choir. Tie singing was followed by
| the reading of Psalm by Rev. Geo. Woodbridge
and closed by feTvent appeal 10 the Throne of
| Grace by the same gentleman.
Mr.. Vim. +. Taylor was nominated and elected
| as Secretary pro ten, after which the President
invited all delegates from the parent auxiliary
societies present to report themselves as he would
be pleased to have them unite in the exercises
The meeting proceeding TO the election of off
GERS for the ensuing year. Mir. B. L. Minor nomi
mated the old Board with the exception of a few
members who, having changed their residences,
were replaced with others. The nomination was
confirmed. The following is a list
The report OF the Board of Managers aludes to
the extraordinary effusioRs of the Holy Spirt du-
ring tie latter half of the year, which has aroused
siumbering churches to activity and zeal, and
crowned Christian exertion with an abundant
harvest of precious souls. In the Eastern section
of the State the year has been favorable to the
SUciety's operations but the collection of funds
has been attended with difficulty, owing to the
financial crisis, which greatly diminished its sue
cess. The alterations in the English Bible pro-
dnced dissatisfaction and operated against colIec
tiOns, by inducing any OF the old friends of the
cause to withhold ,heir contributions The dis
trbutiug agents in the Eastern section of the State
have been doing good work, their field being
neither so difficult or destitute as the Western
district, but 1t demands constant care. Many OF
the counties now need to be revisited. There
located at various points repositories under judi
cious and efficient management. The Norfolk Bi
bic Committee, Rev DR.. Armstrong, Chairman.
keep large depository from which Bibles and
amounting to $625S have been sold:
los Bibles and Testaments have been given to the
poor in aud around Norfolk and Portsmouth; 1857
Bibles have been put aboard U. S. ships ofwar,
and $50 Bibles given to Liberian emgrants.
The following summary OF statistics embraces
the Socetys operations in the Eastern part of the
State: Families visited, 5000 families found desti
tuts 70O Bibles and Testaments sold, 400; given
away, 900; sales aud collections, $4,000 e
In Western Virginia, Rev. Ar. Dunniug, tn
agent. says: "As many whole counties have not
been supplied as were canvasSed last year, but the
number of families visited aud Bibles sold and
given away, is about the same; 40 persons were
in the county of Lee. The following is
a summary for the year: s,693 families visited;
/ 466 families supplied, who we're found without
tfie Word of God 3.3ll Bibles, &C., distributed
counties have been supplied in ful In part; 20
counties reported destitute, others partially so.
The Board congratulate the Society on the bet
ter auspices under which they will commence this
years operations; the determination of the parent
board to adhere to King James version of the
Bible with slight alterations will remove serious
aud financial difficulties are yielding
to returning prosperity.
port and the documents referred to therein be
eonfded to the Board of Managers; to be printed
In such a manner as they might deem advisable.
Carried.
Rev. Mr.. Hoge said that it gave him pleasure to
state that there WAS present re representative from
N @ of Drnf IInu ri
Crosby, of the University of Norfolk, whom he
would introduce to the society
Mr.. Crosby said that he had supposed his duty
In his mission to be like the spies sent out by the
lsraeltes In their Journey to the land of Canaan,
when they came TO the Valley OF Eschot,and we're
to cut q bunch OF grapes and return
to their brethren-but be found that be would
have to return thanks for the bunch of grapes in
this case. He congratulated them on behalf OF the
parent society, and bid them God speed. PROM
inent feature In the Bible Socety ID that christians
of all denominations can come In; in other sucie-
ties, even the best, difference OF opinion would
impede united effort. In this all were cOmbiaed
with Que heart aud one soul; in il the whole FAM
lily of God looked as one. He said there should be
sects and differences of option, but he dill not
wish any high partitions which could not be got
ten over, and he relOiced that the Bible Society
came in TO unite them all in common lie smoke
OF the privileges and imnunties granted In the
Bible TO sinners II gave pardon aud grace priyi-
ieges 20 be represented and advocate at Heavens
court. IL sent one who took upon himself our
sias, suffered for us, and who is now constantly
pleading for as. 1t gave still further provisions
aud support from the Royal Treasury OF Heaven,
on which We could draw from youth to old age,
and which was the only mode by which we could
live now OF hereafter. This brauch az his subject
was dweit on for some lehgth of time, and in con-
Guiding IL be said IL 1T the Of the defeat of
The British at Yorktown flew with the speed OF the
wind from hamlet to hamlet. from man to nan
throughout the country, and why, asked he, should
not the glorious tidsngs contained in the word of
iod ny from house 10 house throughout the land.
He looked upon the American Bible Society as an
monument OF the mercy Of God. Mos
EN- bigotry and Greek pride, the chief barriers to
religion In the East, were giving away and now
,oiporteurs were standing at the doors OF the
Mosques selling Bibles to the followers of the
Prophet. He related surprising instance of the
power OF the gospel Near the chief site Of Greek
rreligion copy of the Bible had been found and
'weiye villages had been converted without the
iii of preacher. These naughty Greeks had
seEt for poor despised girl to baptise them, one
who, having embraced christianity, was sent
hihsr by the society Ave years since, aseribes all
10 the iu6usncs OF the Bible. Ailnding TO the
'enversioas going 10 different parts OF the conn.
Try, DO said that In some instances ships had come
INTO port with whole crews mraeuio1sly changed
sal