Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1860-09-20
M | sc ELAN EOUs.
Proceedings Of the Kent County Bible
Societv.

III ADDITION 10 Tie items we puoiisueu last
week, Of the doings of the Kent county Bible
Society, held in this town, on the 9th inst, we
gnd the following. taken from the Secretary's
report, ia the DelaUarean:
Revs. ]. E. Grammer, t. C. Murphey and
Il. q. Murphey, the committee appointed to re-
wise the constitution, made the following re-
port. which was adopted:
Amend Article I'd of the constitution, as fol- |
lews.
Any person who shall contribute annually
to the support of this Society shall be consid-
cred ipso facto member thereof
Article Sd. IL shall be the object Of this So
ciety. 10 circulate the Sacred Scriptures in
Kent county, and to aid the parent society in
lis c ntribuiions to The American Bible Society
for the diffusion of tho Word OF God through
out the world
Article 9Th. II shall be under the control of
Board Of Managers, consisting of the officers
of the society and one minister and one lay.
man from each hundred in The county, who
shall be elected at the Annual Meeting in
each year; one-third Of whom shall form a
quorum.
Article It'll. No alteration shall be made in
this constitution except at the Annual Meeting
of the society, and by two-thirds vote.
The Committee To nominate officers then
made their report, which was adopted.
Presdent-Rev. t. b. Bradford.
Vice President-WIlham Cummins, Nj. ID.
Treasurer-James A. Dunning.
Secre,sry--James g. Bird, NJ. d.
Board of Managers--Duck Creek Hd--Rev
j. f Grammer and David ]. Murphy. Little
Crsek--Rev 4. j. Qai.yley, d. d., and Geo.
Paris Dover--Rev. c. Cooke, D. D., and Jno
A. Nicholson. Murderkiln--Rev. ]. Flannery
and Rob,. w. Reynolds. Mispillion Rev. R.
H. Merriken and N. o. Smith. Milford--Rey
J. Dickerscn and Samuel Draper.
Rev. ]. Flannery moved that in case Of va
cancy occurring in the Board by clergyman's
removal his successor be considered as ia king
his place in the Board. Adopted.
From the Presidents (Dr. Cookie able re-
port, which would fill one and a half of our COL
umns, we make the following extracts:
Al the time Of our organization as county
society, in February last, the Board agreed to
meet on The 18th CT the following month, and
our secretary, DIR. Bird, was instructed to give
due notice TO the absent members. On the day
appointed we met, and among other items of
business employed the Rev. R. Fl. Merriken as
distributing agent, at salary of $50 per
month. The hand of Providence seemed to
guide Us in this choice. Mr. Merriken entered
upon his work promptly, and has prosecuted il
10 our entire satisfaction. At the time of this
writing, four Of his monthly reports are before
me- from which the following facts are colec.
ted: He has visited l455 white and sos
colored families, and found 1873 of the former
and l48 of the latter destitute of the Holy
Scriptures. The aggregate is 1853 families
visited, and 33l of them without Bible
Among these were found, of white adults, 674
who could not read. OF the whole number Of
families, 1866 adult members were incapable
of reading And only 362 children out Of
more than 1000 under Ten years of age, were
able 10 consult The sacred text for themselves
His reports are made out as emily a workman
who needeth not to be ashamed of bis work
could make them out. Thus
Tar he has done well. and zoe have been enabled
To supply him with Bibles, and compensate him
for his work. But our treasury is not as mex
haus.lbe as our desires are ardent. The pa
rent society in New Castle county, has giver
us 800. The receipts from Methodist con
gregations in this county, by order Of tn,
Philadelphia conference at its last session, hay.
not reached $l00. Those from Bibles and Tes
tameats sold are about $40. From churchs
OF other denominations something has beef
paid into the treasury. as will be reported a
this meeting. But it will be perceived that al
these sums united will not more than meet ex
penses 10 the present date, and yet the worl
is not done--mach of the county remains Il
be explored. The usual objection to giving
that the funds are sent away--is no longer 0
any force; they are all appropriated at on
own doors.
On motion, the Treasurer then substitute
his report as follows:
TRKAsuRER's REPORT.
Il B. Bradford, Treasurer. in account with Kent C,
Bible Society.
1860. DEBTOR DOL. CT
Aprli2 %. Fro a Rev. DR.. Cooke, from cengre-