Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-04-04
the American Bible socIet

II is expected, at the close OF each nsca
yea. Of the American Bible Society, that it
Agents will present to its Board of Manager
q report Of their labors for the year. From
this general report which is annually trans
uitted, it has also been my custom to pre-
pare an abstract for publication in theloca
papers in my field, that the numerous
friends and patrons of the cause may have
set before them from year to year at least ar
outline of the plan pursued and the results
attained.
Another of the societY's years has now
just closed, and have recently transmitted
my account and detailed report of the la
bors Of the year. It has been one peculiarly
beset with difficulties and discouragements,
not only arising from the long continued
pressure in matters of a monetary nature,
but likewise from internal connections and
the highly excited state of the public mind
/ in many localities. There can be do doubt
as to the reflex influence which all questions
that are calculated to agitate the public
mind-whether of a political OF moral ma
/ ture-exert upon the benevolent enterprises
I of the day. The country and the church
I have felt the influence, and frUm almost ev-
cry field of Christian enterprise and benevo-
lence there has been reported a consequent
falling of in receipts. It is therefore Ger
tainly an occasion for devout gratitude to the
Great Disposer of all events that we are en-
abled to report from Eastern Ohio, notwith-
standing these obstacles, decided increase
over any preceding year in the society's oP-
erations. Our most sanguine expectations
have been more than realized and these re-
suits we believe are attributable in great
measure to the excellence Of the system now
in operation. The plan pursued the past
year has been the same as that Of the pre-
ceding, namely, that of branch or township
societies and local or school district agencies.
We now have a branch Bible Society in
nearly every township in Eastern Ohio, and
a Local (unpaid) Agent in every School Dis
triet. The branch societies have been in
creased in number during the year to two
hundred and eighty, and the local agents
eonneeted with them now number about
Twenty-Five, hundred. They constitute no.
BILE army o.s fellow-labOrers, ana many of
them have n ,n6ered eminent service to the
cause by their faithful labOrs in exploring
their districts, supplying the destitute with
the Word of Life, and soliciting donations to
the cause. In this way the work has not
only been greatly systcmatized, but has also
been conducted with oom paratively little ex-
pense, the local agents receiving no comPen-
sation for the services rendered by them.
We rejoice also to know that the Word of
Life has been greatly multiplied and diffus-
ed among the masses. Yearly every one of
these branches is furnished with suitable
and well-assorted depository of Bibles and
Testaments, where books may be procured
at society's cost prices, and from which the
needy are supplied "without money and
without price," In the great work which
the American Bible Society is accomplish
ing in the world, we regard this domestic
feature in its operations as one of no trivial
importance. Repeated and well attested
facts are almost daily occurring, which 60
TO show that the work of home supply must
be continuous one. Our population is a
remarkably fuetuating and rapidly increas-
ing one, and new cases ofdestitution are con-
stantly arising. Upwards of sixteen thous-
and families were found destitute in this
State during the past year and supplied with
the Scriptures by the Society. In a single
county in Eastern Ohio, upwards of eight
thousand families were found in the same
condition, and there has scarcely
been q county where the destitutions might |
not be numbered by hundreds.
We rejoice to know that the Bible has been J
kindly and thankfully received. The cases
of refusal to receive it have been compare
lively few, and the experience of all our
confirms the fact, that there is !
an increasing disposition among the masses
to receive and read it for themselves. That
very class, who under the laws of an exclu-
sive priesthood, are prohibited from reading !
it, have been the very first in multitude of !
to inquire after it. We rejoice in
these tokens of Gods blessings upon the
work and feel more than ever that the good
accomplishing and yet to be accomplished,
is by no means to be measured alone by the
collections which have been secured to the
cause.
The amount raised and RENTED to the
American Bible socisCy the past year from
my field, comprising twenty-five counties
Of Eastern Ohio, or one-fOurth of the State,
is about :S12, 900. This is exclusive of all
expenses growing out of the labors of county
agents, and the work of supplying the desti-
tute, and exceeds by about thirty per cent.
the remittances of last year. In addition to
this, about 1000 copies of the Holy Scrip
lures have been put in circulation, and near
ly 5000 destitute families supplied. A slight
increase in the agency service, has thus, be-
sides placing the Scriptures in many desti-
tute households, brought into the treasury
of the Society, far more than propOrtionate
increase in receipts, and will satisfy all true
friends of the cause, that what has been ex-
pended in carrying out this important work
has been sufficient in the results attained
amply to justify the pollcy OF lhe Socleey'
TOWNSHIP BIBLE SOCIETIES IN cUYAHoGAco
The Bible cause has been greatly advanc-
ed in this county during the year by the
Organization of branch Societies in the va
rious towns.
The following will show what has been
subscribed and paid in by these Societies
during the year;
Amt subscribed amt paid.
Collaner Bible Society ...... S73 55 SIS 70
East Cleveland Bible Society. II 81 81 39
Mayfeld Bible Society ........- q so 50 SO
Solon Bible Society y....-....-. 43 OF % o.
Bedford Bible Society,". Al 90 80 50
Warrensville Bible Society,". 46 80 40 65
Newburgh Bible SOcisty....-. AZ 80 6s II
Chagrin Falls Bible Society SO O5 % o.
Independence Bible Society," is II ~ II
BreeksVille Bible Society 49,. 43 25 ~ 30
ROyaltOn Bible Society. 80 70 q 4g
Parma Bible SOciety.......... o. so % 10
Brooklyn Bible Scciety........ 81 So - 10