Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-01-23

His WORD arose tn an appreciation of tbf
obligations upon them, and endeavieu
to build up this most imports-o, Work
even in troubious times. TIo work done
in 1868 was, 400 families visited by the
County Agent. of wiom 90 were found
destitute of the Word OF Lille. Ihere
were also nearly $lU0 received as dona-
tions and from saleof books; showing
great improvement on the past 1he ti,e
next year over $3.50 were rressfVe.uI
largest amount, up TO th-o oiine, III any
one year. But t Is rar pleasure to record
the fact that the aast year (ioVp mas been
the greatest p-fo the best OF al the nIty,
in the inSsease of contributions. The
Treas,,pr's Report shows that nearly
Sl700 yere received by him last year. 1t
is evaent that steady progress is being
mae, and though the necessity for home
sypply is small, yet it is evident that we
,fe realizing more than ever that the
field is the world; that the Gospel of Sal
vation is absolutely demanded by the ma
tions of the earth, and that thcy should
have it placed in their hands.
While the work done by the Society
has not been, in the aggregate, large, It.
has been systematically carried on, and
it was said by Rev. j. b. Graham that it
was the most efficient Society in Eastern
Ohio while he was General Agent of this
district. The whole amount paid to the
American Bible Society by this auxiliary
to the present time, rs donation, is ST.
093 eS, and for payment of books 81, ,459
S2-making a total of $l1 ,553 50 in the
fifty years of its existence. This is in
dependent of the amount annually ex-
pended at home in our local work, which
would swell this sum to at least S15, 900.
From the first the annual meetings of
the Society have been held with great
regularity, and the executive officers at
tended business meetings with great
punctuality and interest. The Presi-
dents have been chosen from among the
men of standing and influence in the
community. The first to occupy that
position was the Rev. Joseph Anderson,
Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in St.
! Clairsville. He was followed by the
Rev. VIM. Taggart, Pastor of the Asso-
ciate Reformed Church of Uniontown,
who was long a faithful and ardent friend
of the cause. After his term of office
closed, Judge Patterson, of this place, an
Elder in the Associate Reformed Church
aud O prominent and influential citizen,
was elected and served as presiding Off
Ger till his death i'm 1S49. Mr.. Matthew
Thoburn, an active member of the Meth
odist Church, was then elected to that
office, aud rendered valuable services
After him we find Mr.. Crawford Welsh
doing good service in the same position.
These have all passed away. Those who
have served in that capacity during the
last ten years and are yet among the liv.
ing are Thomas Thompson, Hon. b. S.
Cowen and VIM. Chambers.
The Secretaries have been likewise
men of influence and energy. Mr.. VIM
Templeton served as Secretary from the
organization till the time of his death in
1912. He was followed by the Revs
Msssrs. Carothers, Young, Woodroffe
Johnson, Kennedy. Campbell, Ellison
and Grant, Pastors of the different
churches here. OF these Rev. II. f.
Carothers and Rev. Alex. Young, were
Invaluable laborers in their time as Of
ficers of this Society, and still live to re
joice in the progress of the Bible caus'
every where. 70 them we are greatly
indebted for many Of the facts here re
corded.
The Depository and Treasury hav,
been in the hands of nearly all the busi
, ness men of the town at di fierent times
all of whom have discharged their dut,
, with great care and fidelity.
, These are the principal facts whicl
could be brought to light in connection
! with the history of this Society. The.
call upin many minds vivid recollection
/. OF the past. The nanos of mauy warn
aad active friends OF this Society hav
bcon omitted, not because they did no
. deserve honorable mention, because
would be impossible to select from g
, many, all of whom are deserving of NOR
grateful tributes to their memory, tha
could be paid them in a sketch like this
, Let the memory of the past encourag
i | IN to renewed eXeftions in the future
= The zeal and devotion Of the father
: should descend upon their children, an
= greatly increase, with Increased advanI
ages of more complete organizations an
, better opportunities of usefulness. Tn
, field is opening up before us as it nevt
:, did in the history of the world. A
, barriers are falling down, which hav
a stood in the way of the progress Of tn
: the knowledge of salvation. This 80
:, cety is not merely for local purposes, br
/, having given the Bible to all within th
4 boundaries of our own county, We al
u an auxiliary of that great organization
!, which Il not only supplying this who
. broad land with the word OF life, but no
. sends the Bible in sepsnty-sepen diffe
- ent languages to all parts of the worl,
In such a great work as this, wo can a
take part and with every nation invitir
, the missionary and the Bible, no one ca
= plead that his work is done. God by h
: wonderful providence has opened mp Il
: way into every land, he has taught us
. | MANY ways tilaI nis worn IL tllc uilgi'
!. sword with which idolatry, supersLitio
:, error and vice of every kind must be d
. stroyed, aud He has therefore, plain
y set the duty of his people 5efore them.
:, They must go forward in obedience
:" his providentlal leldings.
- The first fifty years of this Socie'
=, have been crowned with the blessing
" God. Shall not the yeare to como,
~ worthy of the past? Under Goi it W
depend on the Christian activity and
:, berality of ourselves and our children.
u, Before the Centennial Anniversary of th
= Snciety shall be held, those of US wi
|. now are inte cstod in 1t and act vely sli
= port it, will be among the departed. l.
y our work he such now that in the futu
~, 10 still nobler things will be told of 1t,
y done through the piety OF this and 4
- next generation. The necessities
- dying siuners at home and abroad, wi
re tue constraining love of Christ, with t
sbortness of time and vastness of sterr
u ty. call us to be more Interested in eve
VI thing that will tend to make known I
VI Redeemers name. Here Is our dut
rs there 10 our reward. Here we lab,
ui there we rest. Others have labored a
III Entered into their rest. BE 1t ours to +
Us low them and gain with them the pr
u, set before Gods faithful servants.
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