The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-02-08
For the cadiz Sentinel


Ing Dec. 3lst, 1850.
In presenting to the friends and patrons Of
the Bible Cause in Eastern Ohio, my third an
nual statement Of its operations, it affords me
pleasure to state, that notwithstanding the con,
tinued depression which has rested so heavily
upon all the financial interests of the State
throughout the entire year, the receipts from
my field show decided increase over those Of
any previous year since ! entered the field. In
aoperiOd, perhaps, since the organization Of,he
American Bible Society, have the difficulties
in the way of successful prosecution OF the
work been greater than during the past year
The hopes OF thousands who were looking TO
the fruitfnlincrease Of the labor oi the husband
man, have been doomed to another disappoint.
ment, and the "bone and sinew" of the land
have FELT the stroke, and Iet it severely.
- It would not lie surprising then that cause
whose claims are of benevolent character
should share largely in the general depression.
Much Of the success of the cause under all
these difficulties, is due to the excellence OF the
system now in operation. The work is mainly
conducted through the operation of auxiliaries
and branch Societies; the former usually com.
prising single County, and the latter only
township within its limits.
The number of auxiliary Societies upon my
field is now thirty-O four; and that of branch So
cietiss has been increased to one hundred and
eighty--eighty-one ofthis number having been
added to the list during the past year Where
three years ago many of these auxiliary or Coun
ty Societies were sustaining but feeble and
sickly existence and were practically beneficial
ries rather than auxilaries Of the American BIZ
BILE Society, now liberal donations are being an
nually made by many Of them in aid OF the gen.
era work abroad.
The utility Of branch or Township Societies
has herein been satisfactorily established. -
They have impaired vgor and strength to our
auxiliary Societies, such as could not have been
secured to them in any other way.
By the annual cooperation OF the County
agents with the friends and patrons Of the cause,
these Societies are kept in active operation by
regular annual meetings; and IN no instance has
Society thus conducted fallen into decay or
stagnancy. On the other hand every successive
year has been one Of advancement.
Another wheel in the working OF the machine
ry has been the system Of Local AgencieS.-
Each Township Society is divided into num-
Der Of Districts usually comprising the limits
Of School District each--over which local or
unpaid agent is appointed, who visits his dis
trict annually, supplying the destitute and So
liciting from all who are friendly to the cause,
donation in its behalf
Still another feature Of the work is the annn-
al nature Of our subscriptions. By this plan |
the work has been greatly syStematized and
economical. Our subscriptions falling due AL
nually, the necessity of a call from t!e travel |
ing agent year after year, is, to a great extent,
obvated.
As was above stated we have now in opera
ton, upon my field, which comprises twenty
three of the Eastern Counties, or one fourth of
the State one hundred and eighty branch Soci- /
cites. Each Of these Societies is furnished with
q well assorted Depository of Bibles and Tesa-
ments, thus rendering our issues accessible to
almost every community.
Connected with these branch Societies are a.
bout sixteen hundred Local, or unpaid agents
who cheerfully devote such portion Of their
time as the interests Of the cause may require,
in visiting their respective districts annually
They constitute noble army Of fellow laborers,
and to them the cause is greatly indebted for
efficiency.
Two thousand copies of ''The Bible Society |
Record" are sent monthly to the local agents |
and main officers Of the branch, and auxiliary [
Societies, which serve to keep alive the inter-
est taken by our fellow laborers and the pat
rons Of the cause. In this way the operations
and claims of Society are stately brought be-
fore almost eight thousand readers. The num-
Der of families visited upon my field the past
year, is about twelve thousand; Of whom up |
wards Of fourteen hundred have been found des- |
titute and supplied with the Billie. The mum
ber Of volumes distributed was about eighteen
thousand.
The amount OF funds raised the past year on
my field, is about eleven thousand dollars; Of
which, about eight thousand have been remit
ted to the parent Society, and the balance ap-
piled upon the field in supplying the destitute,
&c.
In addition to the amount OF cash received,
much has been accomplished of prospective
character. An unusual number Of liberal and
reliable pledges have been obtained and secur-
cd by promissary notes. In this way, in sim
gle County, about one hundred life member
ships, (thirty dollars each,) were obtained for
the Society.
Wehaye endeavored to keep in view through
out the year the missionary part Of the work to
be performed. We trust that the good which
has been accomplished is not measured solely
BY dollars and cents. The word Of God has
been circulated among many destitute house
holds, who have gwen expression to the liVel
est emotions ofjoy; and both local and county
agents have found abundant opportunities for
presenting the claims Of this Blessed Word up
on the Individual conscience.
The "Childrens' Bible Fund.-" has received
come attention during the year, and is serving
useful purpose in enlistng our youth in this
noble cause.
The plan Of semi annual meetings has been
introduced during the year into the workings OF
our branch Societies, and is found useful in serv-