Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-27

Eoft TUE Loa-ef
THlRD ANNUAL STATEMENT OF THE OPERA.
TIoNs or THE BIBLE CAUSE IN EASTERN OHIo
FoR THE YEAR ENDING DEo 3lsT, 1859 In pre-.
senting TO the friends and patrons OF the Bible
Cause in Eastern Ohio, my third annual statement
OF It's operations, II affords me pleasure TO state,
that Notwithstanding the continued depression
which has rested 30 heavily upon oil the financial
interests OF the State throughout the entire year,
the receipts from my Geld show decided Increase
over those Of any previous year since entered the
field. In no period, perhaps, since the organiza
ton of the American Bible Society, have the d.h
cullies IN the way of a successful prosecution OF
the work been greater than during the past year.
The hopes OF thousands who we're looking to the
fruitful increase Of the labor Of the husbandman,
have been doomed TO another disappointment and
the ''boue and sinew" OF the land have felt the
stroke, aud felt 1t severely.
Il would not be 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 oil these
difficulties, is duo to the excellence Of the system
new in operation. The work is mainly conducted
through the operation Of auxiliaries aud branch
Societies; the former usually comprising single
County, and the latter only a township
The number of auxiliary Societies upon my field
isuow thirty-lour and that of branch Societies has
been Increased TO one hundred and eighty-eigbty'
one OF this number having been added TO the list
during the past year Where three years ago many
OF these auxiliary or County Societies were sus-
tanning but feeble and sickly existence and were
practically benefcaiies rather than auxilaries ol
the American Bible Society, now liberal donations
are being annually made by many of them in aid
Of the general work abroad.
The utility Of branch or Township Societies has
herein been sstsia ctorily established. They have
impaired a vgor and strength 10 our auxiliary So
eieties such as could not have been secured to
them in any other way.
By the annual cooperation ofthe county agents
with the friends and patrons OF tho cause, these
Societies are kept in active operation by regular
anuual meetings; aud 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 machinery,
has been the system of Local Agencies. Each
| Township Society is divided into q number OF
| DGtricts-usuay comprising the limits Of School
District each-Over which local or unpaid agent
is appointed who visits his district annually sup
plying the destitute aud soliciting from oil who are
friendly to the cause donation Ia its behalf.
still another feature Of the work is the annual
nature Of our subscriptions. BY this plan the work
has been greatly systematized aud econOmiZed.-
Our subscriptions falling due annually, the neces
sity OF q call from the travelling agent year after
year, is to great extent, Obvated.
| AS was above stated, we have now in operation,
upon my field, which comprises twenty three Of
the eastern counties, or one fourth the State, one
| hundred and eighty branch Societies, Each OF
these Societies is furnished with well assorted
Depository Of Bibles and Testaments, thus render
ing our issues accessible to almost every cOmmu-
niIy.
| Connected with these branch Societies are about
sixteen hundred local or unpaid agents who cheer
fully devote such aportion OF their time as the in
tereSts OF the cause may require in visiting their
respective districts annually. They constitute
noble array of fellow lsbOrers, and TO them the
cause is greatly indC bted for its clemency.
Two thousand copies Of "The Bible Society Re-
cord" are sent monthly to the local agents and
main officers of the branch and auxiliary Societies,
which serve to keep alive tho interest tnken by our
/ fellow laborers and the patrons Of the cause. In
! this way the operations and claims Of the Society
are statedy brought before almost eight thousand
readers The number of families visited upon my
field the past year, is about twelve thousand; Of
whom upwards Of fourteen hundred have been
found destitute and supplied with the Bible. The
number 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 remitted to the
parent Society, and the balance applied 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 secured by promissOry
notes. In this way, in a single county, about one
hundred life memberships, $3.50 each,) were OBJ
tanned for the Society.
/ We have endeavored to keep in view throughout
the yenT 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 households, who have Civ
en- expression to the liVeest emotions of joy; and
both local and county agents have found abundant
opportunity for presenting the claims of this
Blessed Word upon the individual conscience.
The Childrens Bible Fund.- has received some
attention during the ear, and is serving useful
purpose in enlsting our youth in this noble cause
The plan of semi annual meetings hss been
| introduced during the year into the workings OF
our branch societies. and is found useful in serving
to keep up al interest in them, and render them
more self-sustaining.
About six hundred pastors, representing eight
or ten different denominations, have cordially CO.
/ OgeEdbeu WlLAA U.s. anu 70 Lueu1 VIC lttl uluCu H.
debted for the success that has crowned the
| cause.
10 the work Of supplying, special attention has
been bestowed upon places of public resort Ma
ny Of our criminal and humane institutions, hotels,
vessels and railroad stations have been thoroughly
supplied with substantially bound copies Of the
/ Bible.
! We desire to return our sincere thanks to the
numerous friends who have 50 cordially co-opera-
ted with US In our efforts to promote the cause
nor would We forget TO acknowledge the blessing
of God npoo them or to implOre the continuance
of this favor for the year to come.
TIC HARTsHoRN, Agent A. B. s.
RaYenna, Ohio.
n The Scarlet Fever is quite prevalent in
many sections of the Reserve. In Mentor, in
this County, a malignant type of this dreaded
| disease IL DreyaiIino A few cases, generally