New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-20
TIE NETWORK BIBLE SOCIETY ON THE
WAR

last evening a meeting OF the New-York Bible
Society was held in Irving Hall, in reference TO sop
plying the Bible TO all soldiers who go to tight for their
country.
VIM Allen Butler, esq, presided. The hall was
crowded. After the reading of selections of the
Scripture and prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Hastings, fol-
lowed by the singing OF hymn by the congregation,
Mr. Butler said that in this Christian land where the
recruit sworn Into service upon the Bible, there
needed special plea to Justify effort TO place the
in the hands of every SOLDIER, as hs best co-
we're other things with which our troops
should be supplied rather than Bibles; they
needed muskets instead of Bibles. lie agreed that
nurkets We're the first thing needed. The Society he
represented not "a society for the suppression OF
muskets or any weapons of that would make our
troops victorious. When liberty was hrst mpered
ia Massachusetts,, her aeized The frelock, aid
not turn back even for their Bibles. lie believed that
men who loved their Bibles most and who wore upon
their heart of hearts its most sacred truths the most
deeply craven, would be the first TO euploy thyse
Bibles TO press home those bullets which we're TO DO
fired in the defense of rights such III were iapeiled
to-day. Cheers. But no such necessity existed.
We were able 10 equip our army IA became Chris
tan people. Mistakes in this direction consequent
upon haste were 10 be corrected When the iounda-
tons OF truth and justice to be re-estaoshed for
u thousand generations, there would be time allowed
for preparation They meant to place the New Tesla
nent in the hand of every colder ss the very best
manual Of dny
Mr. Person then made statement OF the operations
u
been ~ city rcgimens fully supplied, and in tue
course Of supply. To these 23.COO Testaments had
been furnished. Ii Was proposed to distribute 900
Testauents among tue 10 regiments now forming in
the city, which will bring up the total issues OF the
Society volunteers, by the second week ia June, IL
81, 900 copies. Many OF Elsworths ki.e Iouaves
said, receiving the Iesaments, We will fight for
the book, SIR We will defend it, Sir"
Mr.. Smythe also gave All account OF his experience
IN Bibl distributor. He referred TO the ~tion Of
Mi,s Brown and said how delightful il WIS TO think
thut at the moment her father preparing 10 meet
the enemy nj Fort Pickens, she was going about at
Fort Hamilton like angel Of light, Offering the gos-
", 20 The soldiers.
Tie Rev. Dr. Hitchcock in commencing his address,
related an incident Of one of the Massachusetts troops
who, Oh unbu,oing hs coat, drew from one pocket
Bible ard from the other revolver. The state mill
t,.it shout furnish the revolver, and tue church mill
tant should furnish the Bible; that WAS union of
Church and State which he thought all would agree
was legitimate and necessary. Cheers. The grand
peril OF our armies was the moral peil they Were to
encounter. But should be understood that they be-
eyed III war, in such the present, vindicatipg
the rights Of man. lCbeers. The Bible enforced
righteous war. The question had become very sina
pie one: Sbonld we suffer our nationality 10 be
as,assipated, or should we strike down the aseas-
sin There were also two ques ious before the
American people: the first wac, should State
or states be allowed to secede violently?
The people answcIDgn indignant thunder tones,
Mol ICheers TIE other question looming IN the
hogzon Was, should States be suffered to secede by
peaceful mesdsi Until recently many had held that If
States were determined TO 20 out, and adopted peace
full measures TO accomplish their purpose that they
must be allowed TO 20. But Providence MAD guiued
us more wisely than we could ourselves, and the peo-
pie, throughout the length and breadth of the land
were coming say that there should never be dis
rupton OF this Union either in peace or by war:
ICneers Ii a division were allowed, how long could
parties live beside the imaginary line without
qusrrelingl War in such case would come;
aud We might as we'll meet IL at the Threshold