The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-04-05

Report Of the Secretary Of the Seneca CO.
Bible Society, auxiliary to she American Bi.
bIeSocioty, road at it's annual meeting in the
Cd Lutheran Church in Tifiiu, Sabbath eve.
ming, February nth, 1861;
The citizens Of our immediate vicinity have
manifested on increased interest in the meet.
iugs VI the society during the year that has
now closed Nine meetings have been held
aud largely attended. At the 6rst FIVE meet.
ings, the following question was discussed
with marked ability snG sarnestncss by
several olergymcn Of the city, to.wit;
Resolved that the Bible, because Of the
simplicity aud beauty Of its s,yle-the i'm.
portant information il com municatss, the
training it gives 20 the intell set, the purity
OF its moral code and the preciousness Of the
great salvation which il discloses, is eminent.
ly adapts for, and should be used as a
reading book in all our schools"
The purpose Of the speakers who favored
the resolution, was distinctly declared to be,
not to force the scriptures into the scho ols in
opposition to the wishes Of parents, but to
create in the minds Of all the members Of the
community, such an intelligent and cordial
appreciation OF the practical exc ellonces Of
the Bible, as TO induce them with one consent
10 support the measure. The opposition
which was manifested to the sen timcnt OF
the resolution, was based wholly on questions
arising out OF the present organization of our
public schools, aud the difficulty Of making
fitness 10 teach religious truths test in the
selection Of teachers for these schools
IL was answered that the bare reading OF
the word of God, by or TO our youth, would
do much TO store their minds with its sub
lime and slevating truths, to impress them
with conviction Of the perfect rule Of life
therein uufOlded and enforced, and remind
them daily Of the momcntous consequences
which result from the formation Of their char.
actcrs here.
Tue vote on the passage Of the resolution
was nearly or quite unanimous.
During three successive meetings Of the
society, tue following resolution was discuss.
ed.
Resolved that the scriptures furnish the
only perfect rule Of faith and life, aud that
therefore all good citizens should aid in plac.
ing a copy OF them ia the hands Of every
member Of the human family.
During the Discussion Of this resolution,
the most earnest and eloquent appeals were
made to our citizens, to aid not only in dis
trbutug copies Of the scriptures, but also in
sending the living tencher Of the word TO ev.
cry nation, also TO assist in bringing tho
youth Of our own land into contact with the
living teacher Of Gods truth, so that the mon
ey aud effort now being expended to furnish
all with a copy Of the Word Of Life, might
prove Of practical and lasting benefit 10 The
recipients Of the bounties Of the society.
Measured by the attendance OF our citi.
zens upon the meeting of our society, the
friends of the Bible GAUGE would seem " have
much cause for congratulaticn. We have
applied some other tests to the interest thus
apparently awakened on this subject. The
Sabbath school is an institution avowedly
established to impart biblical instruction, and
to secure to individual members Of commu.
nifty the advantages Of the ~ ord of Life. 1t
ls an encouraging mark Of interest in Gods
Word, TO say, that an investigation n a sin.
gle church Of two hundred mombers, reveals
the fact that but nine ot those members have
been laboring in sabbath schools, with any
degree Of regularity during the last year, aud
that but fourteen have been Connected with
them at all. That Of forty-eight families be.
longing to the same church, md having chill
dren Of suitable ago 10 attend sabbath school,
but twelve are represented by all Of their
children ofsuitable age, twelve by part of
such children, and twenty four who are en-.
hrglY unrepresented2 Yet such is the truth,
aud without pursuing the subject further, it
would seem that this department Of our field
Of labor will bear cultivation, aud we believe
will most amply repay it.
The whole amount Of subscriptions obtain
ed in the county during the year just closed
is, S2209, Is