The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-05-14

Operations a.ad Receipts of the
A mericnn Bible Society i'm Eas-
term Ohio, for the Wear ending
March 81, 1859.
In closing the labcrs of another year, it
is due to the numerous friends and patrons
ofthe Bible cause in Eastern Ohio, that a
brief statement should be presented OF the
operations ard results OF the year.
The policy pursued has been the same as
dellneated in my previous annual statement
The cause has been mainly conducted as
heretofore, through the medium of County
and Branch or Township Bible Societies o.
which we now have about four hund, ,"ed In
the twenty-five Counties Of Eastern ONO -
The excellence and efficiency of this system
as developed IN the growing results from
year to year. continue to commendait to the
hearty CO operation of the friends Of the Bi,
bic. Nothing, we believe but the instrihsic
excellence Of the system itself, could have
prevented a, fearful diminution in the receipts
of the Society from this field the past year.
There has, however, been but slight falling
off from the preceding year.
The obstacles to the progress of the work,
as all must know, have been great and form-
idablc; still, our Societies have kept at work
doing what they could, and none of them,
we are happy to know, have fallen into stag
nancy or decay. The motive power in all
these societies is the admirable machinery OF
local or school district (unpaid) agencies
Connected with each of these numerous
township societies are usually from five to
ten OF these voluntary agents, who explore
tbn; rncnoot;va al In ;pr.
the destitute with the Word OF God, and
collecting funds for the cause. Some Of these
local agents have been assisted during The
year by the travelling agent, who has render
ed material assistance to the work; while
others have explored the fields assigned them
voluntarily and alone. They constitute a
noble army Of fellow -laborers, and to them
the cause is greatly indebted for It's success
1t will be borne in mind that the work OIL
the Bible Society from year to year has a
two fold nature. 1t has for its object not
merely the raising of funds, and by this
means the distribution Of the Scriptures a.
broad, b3t their free and wide dissemination
among the destitute masses of our home
population. 1t would be but limited view
Of the workings of the present system o
branch societies, to measure their fruit mere.
ly by the dollars they have brought into the
Society. Besides this, they are accomplish
ing in themselves an importent missionary
service from year to year. They are each
furnished with a suitable and assorted de
pository of Bibles and Testaments, from
which purchasers are supplied at the societys
cost prices, and the needy "without money
and without price" Connected with these
Societies are also about 5000 voluntary OF
unpaid local agents, who usually explore
their fields annually, supplying, the destitute
and soicHing funds Tor the cause. Through
this system and its kindred instrumental.
ties upwards of12,o0O families have beer
found destitute and supplied in this State
the past year, and cases which cemmend
themselves to the charity Of the Society art
constantly occurring
| There is another department of the Soce.
| ty's labors the past year which deserves no
tice. refer to the supply Of our soldiery.-
1t has been the aim OF the Society to place
in the hands OF every soldier, not already
supplied, a neat pocket edition OF the Tes
lament, or Testament and Psalms; and tht
regimenss raised in my field have been pret
ty generally supplied in this way; and
viewing the country at large, work of grea
magnitude has been accomplished in this di
reclion--upwards of 10000 81 our soldier,
and marines have been supplied by the SO
ciety. Who can measure the influence whcl
these messages OF Gods love may be silently
yet effectually working out in the hearts o
our noble and self sacrificing sodiery?
| A work SO disnteresed can but commen
itself to every christian and philanthropi
heart, and we rejoice to know that we ar
not left without witness to the power of tina
Word in comforting the dying soldier, an
enkindling hopes that reach TO higher ant
better life. Many encouraging and deepl
affecting instances OF the fruit of this wor
have already been brought before the public
| The work ofthe Society the. past year eS
ceeds in magnitude that Of any precedin
year in its operations. The issues of the yea
were one million and ninety-fou thousan
volumes--being an excess of three hundre,
and seventy thousand over the issues OF tn
preceding year. This has been an averag
Of 8 500 volumes day, or six volumes 70
every minute OF working time.
II The issues in this State this year have bee
/ about 10000 volumes, Of which nearly 30
600 have been distributed gratuitously
destitute families and our unsupplied soldier
4 The net receipts from this State the pas
4 year have been SIS, ,418 90, being more tina
the receipts from any other State in the .
MON, except New York--and exceeding b
\ more than one third those Of our sister Stal
Pennsylvania. This amount, too, 1t will |
understood, Is the actual cash receipts NJ Il