Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-02
Third Annual Statement Ct the OPP
crations of the Bible Cause in
Eastern Ohio, for the Year Ending
Decnmber z st 1870

December 3Ist, 1859.
In presenting to the friends and patrons
Of the Bible Cause in Eastern Ohio, my
third annual statement of its operations, it
affords me pleasure TO state, that nolwith-
standing the continued depression which
has rested so heavily upon all the financial
interests Of the State throughout the entire
year. the receipts from my field show a de.
cided increase over those OF any previous
year since | entered the field. In no period,
perhaps, since the organization Of the Amer
lean Bible Society, have the difficulties in
the way of "A successful prosecution OF the
work been greater than during the past
yenr. The hopes Of tllousa nds who were
lockin, to the fruitful increase Of the labor
of the husbandmsn, have been doomed to
another disappointment, and the "bone and
sincw" Of the land have felt the stroke, and
felt il severely.
1t would not be surprising then that a
cause whose claims are of q benevolent
character, should share largely in the ren-
erOl depression.
Much OF the success of the cause, urder
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 for
mer usually comprising a single county, and
the latter only a township within its limits.
The number of auxiliary Societies upon
my field is now thirty. four; and that OF
branch Societies has been increased to one
hundred and eighty--eighty.one ofihis mum.
Der having been added to the list durinp the
past year. Where three years ago many
OF these auxiliary Of County Societies were
sustaining but q feeble and sickly existence
and were practically benefciaries rather
than auxiliaries OF the American Bible So.
ciety, now liberal donations are being an
n%ually made by many of them in aid OF the
general work abrnad.
The utility of branch or Township Soci.
cites has herein been satisfactorily estab.
liohed. They have impaired a vigor and
strength to our auxiliary Societies, such as
could not have been secured to them IN apy
other way. HrI s r.t rl
BY the annual cooperation Of the cou nty
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 q Society thus conducted
fallen into decay or stagnancy. On the
other hand. every successive year has been
one OF advancement.
Another wheel in fhe working Of the ma.
chinery has beer the $ yst'm of Loca Acen
cies Each Township Society is divided
into a number of Dstricl s-nsnaily com.
prising the limits Of a School District each
over which a local or unpaid agent i. 40.
pointed, Who visits his district II lly.
supplying the destitute aud soliciting from
all who are friendly to The cause, a donation
in its behalf.
Skill another feature OF me work 10 the
annual nature of our subscriptions l,y ,hi,
plan he work has been greatly sys,cma.
I ID aud econnmized. Our subscription.
falling due annually, the necessity o, u cal
from the trave ling ngent yerr after year
is, to a great extent, obyirted.
As was ubove stated, we have now in
operation, upon my field, which comprises
twenty-three Of :he Eastern counties. or
one-lourth of the State, one hundred and
eighty branch Sucit lies. Each of these
Societies is furnished with a well nssorted
Depository of Bibles and Testaments, TIM
rendering our issue accessible to almosl
every community.
Connected with these branch Societies
are about sixteen hundred Local, or unpaid
agents, who cheerfrlly devote such a por
ton OF their time as the interests of the
cause may require, in visiting their respect.
i've districts annually. They constitute II
noble arrey Of fellow ia6orers, and to them
the cause is greatly indebted for il efficiency,
Two thousand copies Of "1'he Bible So
ciety Record" are sent monthly to the local
agents and main officers OF the branch and
auxiliary Societies, which serve to keen
alive the interest taken by our fellow labor
ers and the patrons of the cause. In this
way the operations and claims Of the So.
cie,y are stately brought befure almns,
eight thousand readers. The number OF fam.
lilies visited upon my field the past year, il
about twelve thousand, Of whum up wards OF
fourteen hundred have been found destitute
and Supplied with the Bible. The number
of volumes distributed was abou, eighteen
thousand.
The amount Of funds raised the pas, wear
on my field, is about ele ven thousand don
lars; Of which, about eight thousand have
been RENTED to the parent Society, and
the balance applied up N the field in sup.
ply ing the destitute, sc.
In addition 10 the amount of cash received,
much has been accomplished of II prospect
i've character. An unusual number of liberal
and reliable pledges have been obtained
and secured by Promissory notes. In this
way, in a single county. about one hundred
life memberships (thirry dollars each) were
obtained for The Society. .71l
We have endeayored 10 keep in Wow
Throughout 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 Gud mas beol circulated among
many destitute households, who have given
expression to The I~ivcliest emotions of Joy;
and both local ami county agents have
found abundant opportunities for presenting
the claims of this Blessed Word upoa the