, 1862-04-25
Fifteenth Annual Statement of RIbfe
society Operations In Illinois, for
fhe Year ending march 3IYt. I4RIs

The past year has been an eyentful one in
Inc history Of the Bible Cause in the State Of
Illinois. The year before had been one Of
to New York had exceeded those Of the preyi-
Gus yea- by nearly 81, 600. But we had hardly
entered on the 1aboEs of the past wear ere the
fall Of Fort Sumter summoned the nation to
arms, and thsnceiozth eyery interest OF a moral
natnrc was made subordinate to the all ab-
soreins one Of war. G0,000 Of our citizens
lctl their homes for the camp and the battle
Held, among whom were many more who had
been accustomed to sustain them. The re}a-
ton OF these mcn was Of course changed
from that of patrons Of Bible Societies to
bencGciarics Of the same.
In addition to tie withdrawal Of 50 MANY Of
the termer supporters Of the capse, the intense
excitement which has prevailed during the
yeaf-the universal interest IN the contest be-
tween freedom and slavery, and the generous
efforts to relieve the bodily wants Of our SOL
secure the attention Of our friends to the equal
y, If not more important matter Of supplying
then, and the destitute everywhere with the
hread Of life. Add to this, the failure Of crops
in portions Of our State, the low price Of pro-
dncc, With the consequent hard times, and thu
rcasons will be apparent for diminished re-
eeapts. Nevertheless, our renittances to New
York are only s., 1G5.T3 less than the previous
year, srd ere nearly equal to those Of the year
betor. that, when peace smiled upon us, aud
our citizens generally were at their homes,
These renlittapces amount to SIS ,667. II. OF
which about SIS, 700 was in payment for books
Tor oar own State, and the remainder, nearly
0,0N, donations to aid the American Bible
Society in supplying other places.
" hlic our receipts last year were less than
N some previous ones, our distributions Of
books were greater than ever before. The
lumber Of Bibles and Tcstaments sent by the
Parent Society to the various AuXiliarics and
Uepositcres In the State during the year, is
over &, coo, while It has usually been about
5000 or 0,ooo. Very many Of these have
been placed IN the hands Of volunteers, almost
wholly graiuitously. It has been the aim to
have every soldier belonging to our State,
furnished with eithera Bible or Testament,
and the gratitude generally manifested on the
reception of these gifts, and the ayility With
which iiany Of them hare been perused, en-
courage us to hope that this work has not
been IN vain Not only have our own soldiers
been thus cared for, but prisoners from the
South Eaye been furnished with the hook
which ttlches obedience to righteous govern
1ncnts.
With tue exception of 1hc extra work re-
fe1Ied te above, our plan Of operating during
tic past year las been much as in previous
ones. Our State WAS so generally covered
with Branch Societies, that only about Is new
ones have been formed, making the present
numbrr about l15O. There are also lis Aux
lirlcs N the State, most OF them Country So
u
organizations 1856, each Of which has depos-
tory The value OF the books in the Branch
Depositorics will average some S15 and in the
County Dcpositories about sl50, making the
va1ue Of books in the 1865 Deposit Of the
State, Lot far from sS5, 900. Most Of these
books hayc been paid fur, but some of the
Auziliarics, especially in the southern part of
The State, have not only been unable to Il, Ike
any donations to the Parent Society, but are
considerably in debt 10 it Tor books par
chased.
The number Of officers OF the anziliarics
and lranchts in tie State, is about 5000, aud
Of local aacnts about 6,5D0, n,aking II 500
men aid women, who occupy official relations
in connection with the cause. They thus not
| only f'tl more interest, aud perform znorc
| gratu1tens labor, but promote their own spir~
| i1ual welfare br these Gieintcrestcd efforts On
| behalf OF t1eis fellow Il:tp.
We have also few travelling agents whose
fields embrace several counties each, and who
in addition to forming and fostering societies,
establishing and rcplenishing DepositoricE, Sc
curing and initiating local agents, settling ac-
to mal, direct personal efforts to raise funds
and circulate books, especially in those places
! where this work is not performed by
those GIL the ground. We have reduced
the number Of these agents during the
| those who remain, hoping That VIC might rely
| upon Local Agents, Ministers, and other
| friends Of the cause. to perform more Service
| than heretofore, and thus reduce the expenses
! Of the -Auxiliaries- Whether this reduction
was wise, results will show. That soAe agency
is neeted to keep The Branch Societies il
! operation, is demonst rated By their history
| wherever organized. That the plan Of operat-
Ing in this State continues to work well is
setn from the fact that our remittances last
year were nearly equal to those from the six
surrounding States combicod, aud this had
1.s>rr, cf1, 4ho fc-
! years Our circulation Of books is also much
| larger than where different plan IS pursued.
| The number Of persons in the State consti-
tuted Life Members Of the Parent Society the
| past year, by the payment Of $50 each, hy them
selves or friends, or Auxiliary societies, is
| about $50. We have also large number oi
| notes, Of from $50 to $500, to constitute Life
| Members OF Life Directors hereafter An I'D.
| di'ion:1 legacy, from which We shall probably
realize about 81 500, Ing recently come to oul
| knowledge
pleasure tu bear testimony to the industry
and efficiency Of the trlyciiug agents, associ
| ated with 1ne in the State, to the faithsutncs:
| Of many Q! the local agents, to the kind co
| operation Of ministers and private christians
aud especially to acknowlcdgc our indebted
ness tc the Great Author Of the Bible for hi:
preserving care and for the cheering results
Of our Efforts. We enter another year Will
an important and llercuttan work bcfore Us
Hundreds Of thousands of soldiers and ma
rlnes are to be Kept supplied with the bool
which they so much need Hundreds Of thru
sands uf destitute fl1nilics and indiYiduaL
scattered thsckly all over our country, arc Il
be searched ort aud supplied st their homes
and hnssdrcdE Of millions in foreign lands al
mulely pleading hy their depIoratlc coudi
t'on, 70; the scriptures which have done 81
much !oI Us. 4. LOKD,
Gen, Ag't l. B. 8. for III.
1