The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-11

THE WASHINGTON CITY BIBLE SOCIETY
FoRTY-FIRsT ASSIvERsARY.-The forty first
anniversary Of the Washington City Bible
Society was celebrated at the new Metropoli-
tan Memorial church last night. The house
was we'll filled, and the exercises were highly
interesting,
The services were opened by an anthem
by the excellent choir connected with the
church, after which fcrvent prayer was
offered up by Rev. DR.. Newman. The hymn,
"Hall Sacred Truth, whose Piercing Rays"
was then sung. A prayer by the Rev. X. T.
Hewlett, and another hymn, "Jesus, the
Word BGstow," followed, when the secretary,
Rev. w. S. Fort, presented the following:
ANNUAL REPORT.
The board OF managers Of the Washington
City Bible Society, In presenting their forty
iirst annual report, desire deyoutly TO ac-
knowledge the goodness and mercy Of God
In all the allotments OF His hand.
Since the last annual meeting II has pleased
the Allwlse Disposer Of events to remove
from us one of our most honored and faith
fol co-laborers, the Rev. P. d. Gurley, d. d.
lie believed and loved the Bible, and Its
truths alone were the themes OF his ministry
-"the sword OF the Spirit, which Is the word
OF God, the sole weapon OF his holy and
successful warfare. For fifteen years DR..
Gurlcy was one Of the most steadfast friends
u
monthly meetings Of the board of managers,
judicious counsellor and able advocate OF
the Bible cause. By the death of DR.. Gurley
not only his afflicted family, the church and
people to whom he mlnistered, and this So
ciety, but the universal Church of Christ
and the world sustalns an irreparable loss.
The operations of the society during the
year have not been marked by anything of
special interest. We have gone steadily on
ri ftt,sF 4,
us, ana faithfully applying the means fur
nishcd by the Christian public.
The work of exploration and supply OF the
entire city, which was so successfully CON-
pleted In 1867, Involved the society In a large
debt TO the parent society, OF which there Is
n balance due OF 5000. tits, however, hoped
that the llberality Of the churches, during
the coming year, will enable us to liqui-
date 1t, and to meet the various calls of
Mission Sabbath schools and destitute per-
sons.
We ought to do more than simply supply
our own wants; the foreign field, and also
many portions Of this land, call loudly for
the Word of God and surely the friends of
the Bible here In the capital Of the nation
should do their share. II Is with extreme
regret that we note the fact that a large
number Of churches have failed to make any
contribution TO the Bible cause during the
past year. The society has no collecting
agent, and relies wholly upon the pastors
and members of the board Of managers to
have the cause presented to their respective
churches.
We have pleasure In stating that through
the generosity of the parent society, this
auxiliary has had the satisfaction of furnish
Ing to the room Of each committee, both of
the United States Senate and House of Rep
resentatiycs, (aty-onc In all, a copy Of the
Bible, properly labelled with the names OF
the committeeman, at cost Of tl23.35; and
we arc happy also to state, with the most
cordial sanction and appreciation OF Vice
President Wade and the Hon. Speaker Col
fax; thus supplying a deficiency often ex-
perienced and a desideratum that must ever
be appreciated by Christian Legislators and
statesmen.
The following is the exhibit of the year,
There was on hand at the depository at the
beginning Of the year, 1897 bibles, 400 tesla
ments and 3,022 portions, at the net price Of
tV53.0l received by purchase from the
American Bible Society, S22 bibles, 93l tcs-
tamcnts and q portions, at a cost Of S797. AZ;
grants to sunday schools and destitute per-
sons, llS bibles, 402 testaments, at the cost
Of $500 returned to American Bible Socl-
ETY., "a bibles, 20 testaments and 2,757 Dor
lions, S3lS.7Si sold at depository, 81 bibles.
5s3 tcstaments, for SSS0.70; remaining In
depository, April 20, 1869, l76 bibles, O3s
testaments, OF cost Of s405.77
The following gratuitous distributions have
been made during the years 20 Bibles TO the
Ebbltt House at half the cost 30 Tesla
ments to the mission school Of the First
church; 20 Testaments and
Bibles to the Lutheran mission, Four-and-a-
lalf street; 80 Testaments and 80 portions to
he Howardtown mission 80 Testaments 10
he East Washington mission 30 Bibles, Of