Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-05-09
Fifth Annual statement of the
Operations and Receipts ofthe
American Bible Society In
Eastern Ohio, for the year end
ing March 3lst, 1861.


ing March 3lst, 1861.
tits expected at the close ofeach fiscal year
Of the American Bible Society, that its agents
viii present to It's Board Of Managers, q report
Of their labors for the year. From this general
report which 10 annually transmitted, 1t has
been my custom to prepare an abstract, for pub.
lica.ion in the local payers on my field; that
the numerous friends and patrons Of the cause
may have set before them, from year TO year,
at least an outline Of the plan pursued and
results attained.
Another Of the society's wears has now closed
and have recently transmitted my account, |
and q detailed report Of the iabors Of the year
II has been one peculiarly beset with difficult
ties and diseoura gements, not only arising from
the continued pressure in matters ofa monetary
nature but likewise from internal comnotiens,
and the highly excited state Of the public mind
In many localities. There can be no doubt Ne
to the reflex influence which all questions that
are calculated to agitste the pnblic mind
whether of political or moral nature.exert
upon the benevolent enterprises of the day
The country and the church have felt these
influences, and from almost every field OF cnrls'
tiau enterprise and benesolenco there has been
reported a consequent falling of in receipts. II
| 10 therefore certainly an occasion for devout
gratitude to the Great Dsposer Of all events,
that we are enabled to report from Eastern Ohio
| Notwithstanding these obstacles, Q decided In.
crease over any preceding year in the operations
| Of the Society. Gu: most sauguine expectations
have been more than realizedj end the results
are attributable, we believe, in grsat measure
to tho excellence Of the system now in operation.
The plan pursued the past year has bees the
same o. the precsd IN g--namely, that Of Branch
or Township Societies, and local or School Dis
trot and County agencies We now have .
Branch Bible Society in nearly every township
| in Eastern Ohio, and . local (unpaid) agent In
every school district. Tho Branch Socistiss
have been Increased during the year to $50, and
the local agents connected with them now
number about $500, making a whole army OF
follow laborsrs. Many ofthsm have done emf
i neut service 10 the cause by exploring their
with the word Of God, and solisiting donations
4 to the cause. In this way the work has been
not only greatly systematized, but has also beer
conducted with comparatively little expense
the local agents receiving no compensation fol
the services rendered by them.
We also rejoice to know that the Word Of Life
has be n greatly multiplied and diffussd amonl
the masses. Nearly every one Of these Brauel
Sc cieties Is furnished with q suitable and vel
assorted Depository of Bibles and Testaments
which are sold at the Sooiety's cost pricesj m
: from which the needy are supplied withou
which the Amsrican Bible Society 10 accom-
plishing in the world, wo regard this domesti
feature in its operations as ons Of trivial i'm
portance. Repsated and we'll sttested facts ar
: almost daily occurring, which 60 to show ths
Q the work Of home supply must be contnuou
n one. Our population Is remarkably Auctuat
4 ing and rapidly increasing one; and new cases
destitution are constantly arising. Upwards {
II, ,OOs families we're found destitute in th
! State during is past year, and were supple
r with the sori16nfos by tho Society. Ina siugl
Q county in Ea111h, ohis, upwards ofsoo famili'
. nd there haseoarcely been = county where tn
2 destitute might not be numbered by hu undredi
We are glad to know, also, that the Bible hs
Z been kindly ,And thankfully received. tn
. cases OF refusal 10 receive 1t have been csmpa
y lively few; end the experiences of all our dii
n tributers confirms the fact that there 10 an In
y creasing disposition among the masses to rscei'
and read the Bible for themselves. We rejoiS
!, in these tokens Of Gods blessing upon the worl
and feel more than ever that the good accon
plishing, and yet to be accomplished, Is by I
@ means to be measured alone by the collection
o that have been secured TO the cause.
q The amount raised and transmitted to Il
American Bible Society fron my field (compr
= sing % oouutissin Eastern Ohio, or one fourt
= Of the State) 10 thtrteen thousaud and three hur
4, dred dollars. a This 10 exclusive Of expens
Y growing out affthe labors Of county agents, ar
d IN work Of supplying the destitute; aud exoee'
by about 50 per cent the remittance Of last yea
y In addition to this, about q, 900 copies Of Il
a Holy Scriptures have been put in circulation
and nearly 5000 destitute households supple
A slight increase in the agency service has thu
u besides placing the Scriptures In many de-,
r tute families, brought into the treasury Of Il
+ Society 0 far more than proper rtionate incrsa
d In receipts, and will satisfy all true friends
"a the cause that what has besn expended in ca
q rying on this important work has been suthcie
- in the results amply TO justify the policy of u
10 Society. r, u.r.
70 Ohio has now become relatively the bsnn
s. State of our Union in the Bible cause. Her r
q mittances TO the Parent Society the past ys
/, exceed those oi every other State except N,
y York being SIS, S,347 in advance Of the prece
= ing year. This amount 10 exclusive II all o
psnse growing out of the labors Of county
10 gents, and 10 In great measure the encourage
l. fruit Of our excellent systsm Of Township soci
g Ties, and the labors Of these county agentsj sI
l. results so encouraging under all the dissdvs
tsges encountered, ought to put to silence 4
~ complaints Of those who, ignorant Of the fac
- In the case, still aver that the system Of coun
T. agencies exhausts an undue proportion Of u
ID saoisty's receipts. -
II Agent A d for Eastern ohio.
nj RAvsnHA, April ~, 1851.