Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-11-29
Forty-Third Annual Report
OF THE
Wilmington Female Bible Society,
NOVEMBER, 1864

OF THE
Wilmington Female Bible Society,
NOVEMBER, 1864.
The history Of our country for the year nov
closing, is one of conflict and sore travail, whict
are felt and shared in every social circle and il
all the common walks Of life.
Yet the record Of our little Society for the SAINT
period only tells of harmony and peace in its
councils, of widened sphere Of usefulness, and
OF means increased in portion TO the need. Lei
us begin our review of its condition with heart
felt thanks 10 God that while His heavy judg-
ments are abroad, He also "sendeth forth His
commandment upon EARTH" and that "IIis Word
runneth very swiftly"
In the last Annual Report Of the American
Bible Society we find wonderful proofs of its
growth and prosperity, although the war has iu-
terferred With its work in many portions of the
land. Its excess Of income over any previous
year, in almost half a century, is $118,772 93.
In the past year, 1874 legaees, amounting to
more than 500 900 have been received That
cause so dear to Christ is dear to His departing
saints. The aged servant Of God, "gathering
his feet into his bed, and yielding up the ghost"
| the young man in Christ Jesus, laying down his
vigorous life upon his country's battle field, and
the meek woman, full of good works and aims
deeds which she did, have thus alike sealed
their testimony to the value OF Gods Testament
/ to men. The volumes printed by that Society
during the year we're ,692, 1856, besides several
thousand imported, and many copies printed by
missionaries abroad. The summary Of work
done by its auxiliaries contained in the Report
gives like encouraging result, and we, in our
snail measure have enjoyed the same experience.
The number OF volumes sent out from our de-
positery 10 the year was 496.
The number Of subscriber with which the year
I n A. A
moved, and discontinued. 40 new subscribers
have been added to the list, making 2l2, a larger
number than we have ever had before. The So.
oiety's income is thus correspondingly increased,
as will be seen by the Treasurer's Report.
AS some OF our oldest and most honored Man
ayers, are unable, through age or failing health,
to discharge, as they have done 80 long, their
more active duties, it has been deemed well to
increase our force by the addition Of four new
Managers, so that the number is now 49,
This having been the year for our visitation Of
the city and suburbs, we give some particulars
from the Visitors Report:
Families visited, about 1000
Bibles given, 76
Sold, l6
Testameats, 8
One writes: "An aged christian coIored woman
TO whom we gave Bible four years since, still
continues to feel very grateful for it, and derives
much comfort from having her son read it to her
daily"
Another says: "Found three families dest-
tute, two Of whom we're Roman Catholics. One
was anxious for Bible and promised to read it.
Found an interesting group Of three motherless
cnildreD, the eldest about 10 years old, taking
charge OF their fathers house. They remember
cd their mother who had died two years before,
told Of her treasured Bible, and Of her prayers
three times day. They had not gone to Sun
day School for some months. Made arrange
ments to have them attend.
"In one house, death had made sad ravares.
four being taken from the household in the past
year. But the bereaved mother had leaned on
Jesus, and His consultations were her support"
"One woman who had no Bible is o Roman
Catholic, but her husband is not. We told her
We would give her one II she would read it, and
she seemed very glad to get II. Her husband
had bssn wanting ono for some time, she said,
and she knew it would please him when he came
home from the army. The other woman is a
Methodist She had an old Testament which had
belonged to her grandmother in the time of
the Revolution. The book was badly torn, and |
when We took her name and told her she should |
have new one, she was very thankful.
'in tavern we found family Of five children |
The mother said she had Bible, and we asked |
her II she read it, She said she must tell the |
truth-it was never opened. We told her how |
wrong it was, and that she must remember she |
bad to give account to God for the souls of her
five little children, and that if not for her own |
sake, she ought to road and study it to know how
to lead them in the right way. We then asked
II they went to Sunday School. She said, 80 |
yes, they go to Sunday School and church too"
After talking with her few minutes more, we
left, hoping our visit might do her some good"
Called at Lager Beer Saloon aud found sew
eral young men at billiard table. Gave each
Of them tract. One had wife and he took
one for her. Some remarks were made on the
proper employment Of time, the temptations to
which they were subjecting themselves and the
probable results God grant that the feeble eff
forts made to lead them to think on their ways,
and turn their feet to His Testimonies, may be
blessed
"Visited a store, the proprietor of which sell
dom attends church. Thinks he is as good as
others who do attend Had some conversation
on his responsibilities as husband and father.
He confessed he was wrong and promised to set
o better example to his family. Left with him
the tract ado you pray in your family 7" He
said, 'lll read that this very afternoon"
"Met wounded soldier and gave him tract
with few words OF kindly advice. poor ine-
briate saw US with our little messenger, and
asked If we had anything to suit his case--said
he was lost soul; like Peter no had denied his
Master. He had once preached the Gospel and
seemed familiar with the Scriptures Thus
ended our pleasant labor of love. We hope some
seed may have fallen in good ground to bring
forth fruit to the glory Of God"
hVisited Sc families and several cOopers'
shops. Was everywhere received With clviity,
and by many with hind oordialty. Found but
two families destitute Of the Word Of God. OF |
these, one was Roman Catholic and declined
receiving it. The other said she could not read |
but that some of her friends would read it to her
now and then, and that her oldest girl was be-
ginning to read. gave her Testament with |
large print, which she accepted gladly and pro-
missed me should be used"
"a German family visited two years ago and !
supplied With Bible which the father promised |
to read. He now says that by the blessing of |
God 1t was made instrumental in his conversion. |
and he is o member of the church Of Christ"
"There is marked improvement in Brandy |
wine Village in the past few years with respect |
to attendance on public worship. Nearly oil the |
children 60 to Sunday School. Most of The Ro- |
man Catholics assured me they had Bibles of |
their own, though one Of them avowed that lie
had none, AMI did not want one. When told
that il was the book which God had given to show
US the way Of salvation, he replied vehemently |
"There's plenty Of people with Bibles that will |
never be saved, because they go the Wrong lOly"
woman of the same persuasion said she had |
gone to school in ireland when they read the |
Testament, and that she never saw anything bad |
in the book. A Manager of this society for
whom she had worked gavo her o Testament
which she kept long time, but iu moving it was
lost, and she wished for another as she had a son |
wh3 was SO fond Of reading that she had to buy
him New York Ledger every week. She pro-
to kaa md fha nh I