Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-21
L Meeting of the Friends OF the


At meeting of the friends of the Bible,
held in Nashville. in the First Presbyterian
Church, July IL, 1861, on motion of Rev.
DR.. Summers, Rev. Joseph Bardwell was cali
ed to the Chair, and Rev. W. E. Ward APP
pointed Secretary. The meeting was opened
with prayer by DIR: Summers
Rev. W. G. johnson spoke of the object OF
the meeting. The soldiers of the South
needed Bibles and Testaments- Orders were
received almost daily at the esnerent SOUTH
ern cities for Bibles They could not De NH
ed. Apnlication had been made to the Amer
lean Bible Society for Bibles In vain, owing
to the difficulty of transportation We were
thus shut up to the necessity OF manufaetur-
inc them. This meeting was called to devise
means 10 furnish Bibles for the soldiers pri-
mariIy, but ultimately with a view of estab-
fishing State Bible Society.
Dr. MFerrin thought a few things obvious:
l. We cannot supply the immediate demand
from abroad. 2. The question then was
whether we will let it go unsupplied, or take
measures to begin the work, and unite the
friends throughout the State.
He, therefore, moved
That we proceed to organize Bible So
ciety for the State of Tennessee on the princi-
ciples of the American Bible Society.
Professor Cross thought there were two
points before US: To publish an edition of
Bibles for peresent use, and to establish
State Bible Society. The priority of these to
be lett to the judgment of this meet
ing. He thought calls should be made on
the Churches here and elsewhere in the State
to furnish the means.
DR.. McFerrin thought that an edition might
first be published, but that Society was ne
cessary to sustain and distribute the work. A
Society was necessary, with an agent going
through the State to raise the means by dona-
tons. The time had come when the South
must look to itself.
Rev. l. Shook said he was with DIR. Meier
rim. We must print our own Bibles. He
thought DR.. MeFerrin in error about the
North being able to print cheaper than we
could. This view of his was based on recent
calculations of the cost of books printed by
the American Tract Society, and the cost of
the same book printed in Nashville. But
that is not now the question. We want the
Bible, and we must go on and publish.
DIR. Summers thought the propriety of form
ing a Society first was obvious. We must
have money to begin. He had letters calling
for an edition of Testaments for troops in
South Carolina and Alabama. The call was
coming up from every quarter. 1t was pro-
digiOus undertaking, and we shall need thou
sands of dollars. There must be, too, an elee-
mosynary idea held out in the beginning
we must giue daoay many Testaments. To do
SO, we must raise extra money. To do that,
ciety.
Professor Cross would go as far as any one
in the Bible cause, in which he had been en-
gagged during his life, but inclined to the
opinion that it would be better to publish
first an edition for imm ediate use, and oagan-
izs Society afterwards. But he would not
throw single obstacle in the way of forming
State Society or Society for the entire
South.
DIR. McFerrin thought the formation of
State Society initial to the aggregation of all
the States into Society for the South.
Rev. Mr.. Bardwell would fully concur in
the objects of the meeting.
N. ID Cross moved as an amendment to
DR.. M'Ferrin's motion,
That it is the sense of this meeting that it
is expedient that steps be taken for the Or
ganization of Bible Society for the State of
Tennessee on the principles of the American
Bible Society.
DIR. M'Ferrin accepted the amendment, and
it passed unanimously.
Rev. G. w. johnson moved
That the Secretary be requested to make
publication in the city papers for public
out the State to be held in the basement of
the First Presbyterian Church, in Nashville,
on the 9Th of August next, at 10 O'Clock A.
NJ, for the purpose of taking into considera.
ton the above resolution.
Passed unanimously.
n. D. Gross, Esq, moved
That the friends of the Bible cause in the
State be requested to hold meetings, aud ex-
press their opinion of this enterprise, and
communicate that expression to the Secreta-
~ of this meeting.
Passed unanimously.
j. BARDwELL, Chm.