The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-04-05
NETTING OF THE BIBLE SOCIETY
~ '1s's&+ Z. OF VIRGINIA 7trosss
Its Fifty-Eighth Anniversary. I
Interesting Report OF che Boart1 a,
"a et*t.zGt Managers ,1 -.5,i.. =,

ii g. ~.
The fitty.eighth annual meeting Of ,tha
tenary Church last evening. In the ahsenca
OF the Rev. George Woodbridge, president.
lev: Moses D. Hoge, first vice-presiderh'
presided, and Mr. T.. B. Bentley acted No
secretary Owing to the fact Of religions
services in other churches of the CITY, there
was not SO large an attendance as thera
would have been under other circumstances.
After the usual religious exercises Gus.
1tomary on such occasions, DR.. Hoge stated
that the first business in order was tba
reading of the annual report of the Board
Of Managers. .e3ts.'' I'd. - .. u =
The Rev. DR.. Brown having been selected
by the Board to prepare this reDort. he
came forward and read the following yerv
interesting statement Of the affairs OF the
Bible Society for the past year: :
An eminent judge of England (Sir AL.
len Park said, many years ago, at a public
meeting in the city of London, fesWe live In,
Of their greatness and of the source from
which they flow. We speak Of our civiliza-
ton, our arts, our freedom, our laws, and
forget how large share of all is due to
| Christianity. Blot Christianity out of the
page of mans history, and what would his
laws have been? What his civilization
Christianity is mixed up with our very be-
ing and our daily life. There is not ia
milar object around us which does not
wear different aspect because Of the light
of Christian hope"
It was under the light Of this beautiful
sentiment. under deep conviction of its
truth, that our Bible Society and all others
over the Christian world were organized.
The Bible is the depository of our Chris
tian faith, and that we may not become in
sensible of the greatness Of its blessings our
zeal must not abate, but increase. and more
earnest efforts be put forth to send it out
upon its glorious mission over the earth.
Thus shall be answered the great purpose
of our organiZarion-' the distribution OF
Bibles and Testaments to the poor in our
country and to the heathen.' ~, .....
1t seems proper to recognize in our meet
ing at this time the signal favor of God,
Whose righteous providence has opened of
late, and chiefly within year past, some
great and, electual doors for the admission
of that Holy Word whose entrance giveth
light. Thousands and thousands Of this
Sacred Book are now circulating in Spain,
giving rise to Protestant churches in many
places. Bibles are now distributed over
Italy. They have lately been sold openly
to large crowds in the very portico of st.
Peters, and when an official came from the
Pope's neighboring palace to stop the sale,
/
with derisive shouts. r.. --~,.
Looking to OUR own immediate work,
while we are unable to present report OF
any striking interest, yet review Of our
operations during the year past Is not with.
out encouragement to a patient continu.
ance in well doing.
We have to regret that, in connection
with the failure in business of the late
treasurer Of the society, it sustained Il
| ho.y,- 1psS uTnouptjnp m &c.
The amount reported by the present
treasurer, MIR. VIM. Willis, Jr., from Nov
II, 1870, to Feb. IS, 1871, is s., 404.75, aud
the expenditures, S1,294.57. The entire
collections for the year have been little
over $1,000 The collections in 1868 Were
81, 02s.6s; in 1859, s2,S04.73; in 1870,
S2,79s.55.
We had in the hands of our depository at
the opening Of the year j,1 Bibles, 1,21A
Testaments, and $50 parts Of the Bible
the total value OF which was S936.51. During
the year our stock of books has been 10.
creased by the addition of 1,664 Bibles, 4, 24i
Testaments, 10 parts OF the Bible, to the
value Of $1,634.33, purchased from the
American Bible Society. We have received
as a donation from the American Bible So
cety 500 Bibles, 1000 Tcstaments the
value of which is $3.50. The total value o.
all received is $4,000.
| J
Bibles, 900 Tcstaments. II parts OF Bible
whose total value was S344.75. Delivered
} to life members and life directors, SO Bibles
} and 100 Testaments-total value. SS4.93
Sent to agents and auXiliaries, 500 Bibles
and 1.024 Testaments-value, S66S.72. Sales
: at the depository, 56S Bibles, 1888 Tesla
ments. % parts of Bible, for which they re-
ceived s939.74.
On hand in the depository, March 81, IS;
Bibles, 1859 TeStaments, S5S parts of Bi
BILE. of the value of S012.16. ..--- ... e..
Ii is deemed eXpedent to appoint gene
raj agent of the society as soon as the ser
vices of suitable person for the position
can be secured.
In conclusion, your board deem 1t proper
to call the attention of all concerned tt
one of the most serious difficulties in the
; wav of our efficient operations. While the
Bible Society stands cOnfcsSedly among The
very first in importance Of all the beneyO
lent enterprises of the day, yet it is not
placed by any denominations supporting il
on the list of strictly ecclesiastical objects
They act through the agency Of the society
! which is in its organization not ecclesiasti
cal. Hence it is that while other scheme:
are brought regularly before the churches
through the pastors, for the benefaction O
our Christian people, experience show:
that this cause is almost wholly passed by
The consequence is that it Is in danger o.
dropping out of the attention of the
churches, and if so, the result must bt
most injurious to cause which all love
and in the vigorous prosecution of which
are involved the dearest Interests OF the
world. We recommend that, in such way Il!
NAV seem best, the serious attention of oui
churches be called to this matter, that the
; end may be reached in such mode as may
hp deemed most effectllal.
/ At the conclusion of the reading Of the
report, DR.. Hoge introduced to the meeting
the Rev. MIR. Rutherford, of Petersburg
who, he stated, had been selected to deliver
the annual address. aa -
MIR. Rutherford, coming forward, sale
that it was with more than ordinary plea
sure that he had received the invitation o
the Board of Managers to deliver the annua
address. The subject which he had chosen
was the gospel-as a system OF truth, q code
of morals, and the Instrument of salvation
His address was intensely interesting and
eloquent, and listened to with marked at
tention by those who were in attendance
To give u synopsis of it would be injustice
to the speaker, and at this late hour 1t Il
impossible to publish it in full.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Rutherford:
remarks DR.. Minnigerode said, before go
inc into the regular business of the even
ing. he desired the unanimous thanks o.
the meeting to be rendered to Mr. Ruther
ford for his beautiful, impressive, and In
structiye address,. so
The chairman, DR.. Hoge, said that ne
thought it unnecessary to put the resolu
ton to the meeting for a formal vote, anC
he therefore hoped that Mr.. RutherforG
would consider the motion as having beer
: unanimously adopted.