Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-12-22
Bible Society.

Mr. EDlToR:-Permit me through your col
umns, to address few facts to the friends Of
the Bible cause in Vermont:
The American Bible Society is now in the
fltieth year Of its operations, having been Or
ganzed on the 81 Wednesday OF May 1916
Just as the year has opened upon us, God in
his Providence has summoned us to several
new endeavors of great importance and magni-
tude, 'hus GROWING and hororing our humble
labors in the past.
We seem to be thus called upon to celebrate
our Jubilee Year by undertaking the following
extraordinary enterprises:
l. The resupply of the South, where a vast
proportion of the people are now without BIZ
bles and anxious to receive them, and where
measures are inaugurated for circulating at
least 100000 copies.
2. The supply of such Freedmen as are able
TO read, multtudes of whom are rapidly learn
ing for the purpose of perusng the Inspired
Word before they die. 10 meet the wants of
the aged among them, an edition of the Gospel
of John, in large print, is just prepared.
Having labored the past year as army agent
of the Bible Society among the soldiers, citizens
and freedmen of Virginia and North Carolina,
the subscriber can testify to the interesting
character ana vast importance of these efforts.
3. The circulation of the Spanish Scrip
lures in Mexico and South America, where
agents are at work and where hundreds of
thousands of copies will be gladly received and
read by the people.
4. The printing of the new version of the
Arabic Scriptures, the first edition of which, to-
gether with the preparation of the electrotype
plates, will cost the society this year from sew
en,y to eighty thousand dollars. The Arabic
is the spoken language of one hundred and
twenty millions of people. If, after the plates
are finished, We can print two hundred lhous-
and copies annually for one hundred and TWEEN
ty years, we should just put our Bible in each
family Provided the race remains numeri-
cal.y the same, in six hundred years we could
furnish Bible to each individual!
While called to these unusual efforts, the or
binary work cannot safely be neglected. The
Bible has been wisely pronounced the Charter
OF Liberty to the world, and our recent nation
al experience teaches us, in every possible way
to develop and strengthen the elements Of free
government. To d. it we must keep the Bible
in the hands of the masses.
1t is thought important that every communi-
~ should be canyassed and supplied once in
five years. 1t is much more than that since
this work has been done throughout this State.
AT its annual meeting the Vermont Bible Soc-
ETY. voted to re-canvass the State. Two agents
are already in the field for this purpose, and
Others will be employed as soon suitable men
can he found.
Sister States are responding nohy TO the
voice OF Providence calling to enlarged lib
eraliy. Massachusetts Bible Society has APP
propriated five thousand dollars for the Arabic
Scriptures. Illinois is endeavorig to make
her special Jubilee Offering fifty thousand dol
lars. Others are making similar efforts.
We trust Vermont will not be behind her
sister States in the sublime effort. A large in
crease of funds seems indispensable to the dis
charge of our obligations.
The agent can visit comparatively few of the
churches. May we not rely upon pastors Of
every name, to bring the cause faithfully before
their people? And will not every lover OF the
Bible however humble his means, contribute
his mite, and those of larger stewardship give
as God hath prospered We do not ask YOU
to turn aside other benevolen, objects which
the Bible has developed but do not forget thi,
time honored and Heavea-honored institution
in this most interesting crisis of its history.
WM. II. GILBERT,
Agent Am. and VI. Bible Soc's.
Brattleboro, Dec. IA, 1865.