The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-27
For the Portage County Democrat.
SeVenth AnnuaI Statement.
Of the operations and receipts Of the Bible
Cause IN Eastern Ohio, for the gear

taOOio VI OnO ALlGIl CiDlC 0OOiOby, -edh0
pleasure in submitting as is my usual custom
brief statement of the operations and re-
ceipts of the year. And first of all, I am
constrained to record the continued goodness
of that overruling Providence, which has
given to the people of God spirit of willing
and liberal response to the claims of His
word, notwithstanding all the calamitous in
fluences to which the long continued and dis
tracted state of the public mind has given
rise. The claims of other charities have been
urgent and numerous but it affords cheer
ing evidence of the growing interest manifest
ed in the blessings of common Gospel, and
in its free and wide diffusion, that Gods peo-
pie have been willing ' to put to their hands,
in this the day of their national calamity and
trial for the accomplishment of even greater
aud nobler ends than ever before. In no year
since the formation of the American Bible
Society, has that institution sent forth so
large a number of volumes of the Word of
Life-its issues amounting to upwards of thir-
teen hundred thousand volumes, whilst its
receipts have been increased in correspond
ing ratio and amount to four hundred and
twenty-five thousand, five hundred and eigh-
| ty-eight dollars, being an increase of forty
four thousand, four hundred and fifty-six dol.
lars over those of the preceding year. The
receipts from Ohio during the year, exceed
those of any State in the Union except New
York-and are fifty -one thousand, seven hun
dred and sixty-three dollars, being an excess
over those of the preceding year of twenty
three thousand, three hundred and forty-fve
dollars, or gain of nearly fifty per cent. In
the twenty-five counties of Eastern Ohio,
:. which comprise my own field of labor, the
net receipts for the year are fourteen thou
sand, four hundred and fourteen dollars, being
an increase of four. thousand, eight hundred
and forty-eight dollars over those of the pre-
ceding year, or gain of upwards of forty-fve
per cent This amount also, it will be un-
derstood, is the actual cash remitted to the
parent society, and is exclusive of all monies
disbursed in the employment of county agents
and canvassers to distribute the word of God
to the destitute.
The plan by which these general results
have been secured has been the same as de-
lineated in my previous annual statements,
namely-through the medium of branch or
township societies and local (school district)
or unpaid agencies, together with a few en-
terprising and active county agents to super
intend and give efficiency to the machinery
employed. .t "
OF these branch societies in Eastern Ohio,
there are now about three hundred, and con-
nected with them about twenty hundred
voluntary or unpaid agents. While some OF
them, as is always the case, have been less
efficient than we could have desired, they
constitute as a body noble band of fellow
laborerS, and to them the cause is greatly in
f debted for its success. In no year during the
, existence of the American Bible Society have
the receipts from this field eastern Ohio
been so large-a fact which in itself will,
think. abundantly commend the system te
, the confidence of the friends of the cause
5 From the period of the introduction of it il
, 1856 up to the present time, the yearly re-
$ ceipts have exhibited steady and healthfu
growth, whereas, prior to the period referred
to, they seldom if exer exceeded four thou
sand dollars from the entire field, and more
frequently fell short of half this amount.
We have endeavored during the year tc
pay special attention to the Biblical wants o
the people, and especially the soldiers whC
have gone from our midst. Several camps
in fact all that have come under my knowl
edge, have been thoroughly supplied will
Testaments, either through our auxiliary so
I cieties, or by direct appropriation from the pa
D rent society for this purpose. 1t has been on
aim that not one should go from among Il
v without carrying with him the written wore
of God.
# The supply of destitute households has de
Y served and received attention. 1t is true tina
the multiplication of repositories througl
our network of branch societies, has gradual
diminished the number of absolute destitu
?. tions from year to year still there is con
tinuous work to perform in this direction
n Changes are constantly occurring, books ar
;. wearing out, families are removing, and Other
u are coming in to supply their places-and ne'
families are being formed, and thus new des
r. ttutions are constantly occurring. Much {
IS this work of supply has been effected throug
/ the ordinary labors of the branch societie
y and their local agencies assisted'by the traV
cling agent; while, in some cases, the dense
j, ness of the population and other causes, hav
X combined to render it expedient to employ
Is distributing agent, that the work might /
done promptly, thoroughly and efficiently
it In this way, in one single county, during tn
ID winter months of the past season, four thor
4 sand families were visited, and seven hundre
- of that number found to be totally destitui
70 of the Word of Life In another county th
a work of exploration and supply has bee
:. commenced in the same thorough manne
ie and the ratio of destitution has been found I
s. be still greater.
e. We are thankful to be permitted to make 2,
4 a cord of the many examples Of individual beae1
%, es cerce that haze been afforded during the gear
is We have received an unusual number of il
ps dividual donations, ranging from thirty do
a lars to three hundred dollars each, and with
II II view to constituting life directors and Ii
ne members of the parent society. These col
ne tributions, additionally to their intrinsic va
is ue, have done much to stimulate Others
u ~ liberal deeds, and they furnish an encouragir
,ct record of the growing attachment of the pc,
he ple of God to the cause of his blessed Wor