The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-16
THE BIBLE SOCIETY.
CHARLESTON, April 10, 1871.
To the Reverend Clergy Of the City Of Charles


ton:
The Bible Society of Charleston was insti
tuted 10th July, 1910, and united in Its support
Christians of all denominations, many of them
holding the highest positions in church and
State. The names which are recorded among
its originators are General Charles Cotesworth
pinckney, president; the Rev. Dr.. Keith, Rev.
DR.. Percy, Rev. DR.. Furnan, Rev. Dr: Demon,
yice.presidents; Rev. Mr.. Slmons. Rev. Mr.
Finn. Rev. Nr. GadsdeD, Rev. MI. Faber, Rev.
Mr. Geryais, Messrs. Nathaniel Russell, Thos.
Lowndee, John Bull, Robert Dewar, Timothy
Ford, DR.. David Ramsay, Judge DeSaussnre,
Samuel Robertson, William Inglesby, George
McCsuley, a. Markley, John Brownlee, Thomas
Jones, managers. Iniestablishing the society,
It was declared that "the great object that In:
spired every breast and transcended all minor
considerations was to Invest charity with the
amiable Office of rendering to the poor ana
the destitute the oracles of Divine Inspiration,
and to inculcate the use OF them as the best
means of smeliorating the condition OF men
in this life, and of conducting them to the
happiness Of that which is to come" To pro-
mote these great objects, a committee Of the
clergy of our city undertook the work of pro-
curing subscribers, and returned two hum
dred and seventy-hve names, with the sum Of
two thousand two hundred and ninety-e1x
dollars as the immediate fruits of their labor:
Since that date this society has continued
its labors of love, and has been tne a9noIea
instrument of supplying the destitute IN our
midst with the Word OF God for the last half
century. In that work they have been inter-
rupted by the calamitous effects OF the late
war; and an effort ls now In progress to unite
the Christian community IN revival OF this
great charity. The Bible Society has been reor-
ganized; Bibles have been procured and are
now ready Tor distribution; the field has been
surveyed: Que colporteur has been set in mo-
tion, and the fact is made apparent that more
laborers are required in this vineyard. But the
question arises, how can they be sent without
o larger supply OF means?
To procure this supply, the original action
of the society seems to suggest tue proper
plan. The clergy of the city united In procur-
Ing subscribers from their diherent congrega-
tione, and the result was an efficient contrl-
buting body, which remained constant In Its
support of the cause, until disabled by the
war. It Ia believed by the society that simi-
lar effort at the present time would be crown.
ed with the like results; and accordingly
have been directed to address this circular let
ter to the several pastors Of our churches with
request that they would afford us their
Christian support and co-operatlon, ana eacn
as he NAV deem most advisable to procure
subscribers to our society. r,
The amount of subscription to constitute q
member is two dollars, and the annual SUB
scription is for the same amount, 30 long as
the subscriber chooses. The object to be &C.
complished by this contribution is fully stated
in article of the constitution of the society,
which reads as follows:sl. -
stAs 1t is Is the great and single object OF tc 9
society to present the Scriptures OF the Old
and New Testament to the poor and destitute,
and to Others 10 whom the precious gilt may
be acceptable and useful, the lunds and opera
tions of the society shall be applied exclusive:
" to the accomplishment of this design; and
the version of the Bible In general use, without
note or comment, shall be The only version to
be distributed In the English language; nor
shall any copy of: the Bible, In A foreign lan-
guage, be distributed, which In its doctrine or
Spirit shall differ essentially from the doctrine
and spirit of the English version already men.
toned above" -. '-tt.s.L
To the confident hope that the object IN
view will commend our request to your atten-
tion, would respectfully request, IN behaif OF
our society, that you would make some ar
rangement In your c0ngre; ;ation for soliciting
members to join our association, and that you
will, at your earliest convenience. furnish me
with tha names Of nlch as are willing TO Join
ue, With much respect,
Your obedient servant,
C. G. MEMNINGER,
President of the Charleston Bible Society.