Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-05-18
IFer the Chronicle
TRUMBULL COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY

ofoPerations now being introduced for lht
resusciia,ion Of the County Society, ant
more complete systemization of it
efforts for the general circulation of the
Word Of God.
Some years ago, the Trumbull County
Bible Society was among the most active
and efficient in the State; but i, is pain
ful fact to the Board, that for severa
years there has been a gradual and man
ilest d.minution in The receipts, until, for
he last two years, scarcely a county
upon my entire field has contributed less
TO the Bible cause that this. Not few
have deplored this state ofthings, and the
conviction has irresiSilbly forced itself
upon US that something must be done to
impart new life and vigor to the cause in
our midst.
We believe that we have now a plan
in operation which will bring about q
material change in the condition of the
cause, and render the Trumbull County
Society more efficient than it has been
of late years; ald our conviction of the
success of the measure is the stronger
because its Introduction is not q mere
matter of experiment, but it is tried
plan, and wherever adopted has been at
tended with the most encouraging results.
A happy illustration of lis workings may
be seen in the rapid AID unparalleled pro
gress of the cause Illinois, where with
half the population and not a third of the
wealth of this State, twice as much is be-
ing raised in donations for the cause every
year.
The plan proposed is simply this: To
resuscitate township societies where they
already exist, and to organize new ones
in all the other towns, TO be auxiliary 10
the County Society, and to take upon
themselves The work Of supplying the
destitute within their borders with the
Scriptures, and soliciting from all a
yearly donation to The cause.
The plan further coniemplaies the ap.
poin.ment of local (unpaid] agent in
every school district, whose duty it shall
be 10 visit all the families within lis
bounds once a year, circulating books
aud soliciting donations-the funds col
lected being paid over by him to the
treasurer of the Township Society. Each
local agent will be furnished with a print
ed subscription book which is TO contain
The names of all the contributors in his
district, and which has also full and cx-
plicit printed instructions relative TO the
duties of his office. A printed blank re-
port will also be placed in his hands by
the travelling agent, who assists in FORM
ing these Socielies and sets them in mo-
lion. This report, when filed out, viii
embody the results accomplished by the
ocal agent after the travelling agent
caves him-showing the number of fam
lies visited-ihe number found destitute
# the Bible, and the amount Of subscrip
i0ns obtained. AS these local agents
perform their work without any compen-
'ation other than the satisfaction afforded
n the good they are doing, the reader Of
his article will readily perceive that the
'lan proposed, in addition TO its system,
5 in an eminent degree an economical
me. AS the local agents perform all
his work gratuIiously. but lille expense
will be involved each year except in START |
ng the machinery and this is usually
'ery small in comparison with the results
lttained. la one county where univer-
al stagnancy existed, this plan brought
n the first year upwards of thirteen
hundred dollars, and the cause has been
there ever since. While
peaking Of the economy of the plan,
mother wheel in the machinery presents
iself, and that is the annual nature Of
'ur subscriptions. We propose asking
nen not what they are willing to give
or the present merely, but what they
,ill give as yearly donation so long as
hej see fit to continue their membership
nth the Society, thus endeavoring 10
eveloPe aud cultivate the principle Of
ysiema,ic benevolence. Those who con-
ribule this year would in all probability
oLtribuIe again next year. Why not,
zen, adopt plan which win obviate the
ecessily of call from the travelling
gent every year, and yet secure a reg
lar and reliable income to the Society.
We commend this plan with confidence
ierelore to the patrons of the cause, as
eing as economical a one rs can be
lade productive of any results.
Let Christian ministers and Christian
hurches, grant us that corporation in
,e measure which we have reason to ex-
ec,, and the Bible cause in Trumbull
Ounty, will We believe enter upon a
ew era.
The services of Rev. Jas. Plant, have
cen secured for a short time in the in
oduction of this plan in this country,
nd cheerfully commend him to the sym
athy OF all upon whom his duties may
ad him TO call.
TIC. HARTSHORN, Ag't ABS.
Cleveland, O.. April II, 1859. u