The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-08-06

Joe? = .~-. a
Eyes, dear; he's telling her to-day.
/. What you told me so long ago"
Historical Address before the Able
Vile District Bible Society at it
Semi-Centennial Celebration, jul
80, 1873, by the Hon. Thomas I
Perrin.
The history Of the world bears test
mony to the truth of the Bible. "Tht
darkness shall cover the earth, and gros:
darkness the people," The moral con
dition of the world is deplorable. With
out revelation .man knows not whence
be came, or whittier he goeth. Not on
ly is mans vision clouded, but his heart
is wicked. 1T is deceitful above al
things and desperately wicked"
The only light that can dispel this
darkness and illumine his path is the
Bible. Mans wicked heart is to he
softened and cleansed by fhe inculcatior
OF the principles of this Holy Book. Il
unfolds to man the creation-the fall,
whereby he became polluted-his danger
and his destiny. 1t points him the way Of
escape from impending. danger-to a
world to come, and to happiness attain
able. 1t not only offers relief'ro his
spiritual necessities, but lays broad the
foundation Of civil government, and a
wise jurisprudence enforces by severe
penalties, and comforting rewards, the
principles that it lays down, and upon
which the moral condition Of man may
be perfected; upon which equity and
Justice may be administered, and mans
prosperity estabiished. The Christian,
the statesman, the philanthropist, nay,
every member Of society, is interested
in it. The Christian finds in it "a very
present help in trouble" The states.
man the principles to steer him safely
through all the difficulties Of State
the philan,hropist, that charity that
"endureth all things" all will find the
thing suited to his case Only think
what world this would be, if the Bible
were read in every home, ana its pre-
cepts were practiced by all men. The
picture is beautiful to behold;' the
moral condition would be sublime !
The Bible is not for the Christian
alone. 1t is a book for mankind. 1t is
suited to the wants Of all. 1t is not
therefore to be considered strange, that
good and wise men in every civilized
country should favor its wide spree d
circulation, and make earnest efforts to
place it in the hands of all.
Incidents, trivial in themselves, have
oftentimes led to important results
have fixed the destiny of nations, form
ed the character of men, and led to the
establishment of institutions comforting
blessings upon the world at large. In
the wear 1902, the Rev. Thomas Charles
Of Bald, in Wales, meeting one day on
the street, a little girl who attended his
ministry, made inquiry Of her, if she re-
collected the text tiom which. he had
preached the Sunday previous. With hesl
tation, and with tears in her eyes she an
swered, "The weather, sir, has been SO
bad that / could not get to read the
Bible" He did not at first understand
the difficulty; but the matter was soor
explained. There was no copy OF thf
Bible at her own home, or amongst hel
near friends; and she was accustomed
to walk every week, seven miles Owe
the hills, to a place where she coult
obtain Bible to read the chapter from
which her minister took his text. Dur
ing that week the weather had been 81
cold and stormy, that she had been pre-
vented from going to get the Bible
This Incident made. deep impression
upon the minister, and caused him t
think of the great need Of the Scriptures
He spoke of it to others, and an efor
was soon made to supply the want. .Th
Tract Society was first appealed to TO
assistance but very soon the scheme 9
Bible Society was entertained, and i
1904, the British and Foreign Bibl
Society Of London was the product {
this movement. In 1903, the first Bib
Society in the United States was formed
From that time to 1916, about sixt
societies were formed. In 1916 tn
American Bible Society Of. New :Yorl
was organized. The declared object
which was, "the promotion Of a wide
circulation of the Holy Scriptures, will
out note or COMMENT A constitutio
was adopted, and an address to the PEI
ple of the United States was sent OF
into ali parts Of the country. All tt
societies were invited'to become. auxi
; iary to it; and the people were urged
form societies all over the world.
Fifty years ago, on the 9th July 1872
the Bible Society Of the District Of A
beville was organized. A constitute
was adopted, in which it was. agree
that it should be auxiliary to the n
tional Institution. (the American Bib
Society and should cooperate with
: in "promoting a wider circulation Of tt
, Holy Scriptures without note or cor
ment." ...
But little has been preserved Of wh
led Immediately to the organization
this society, or by whom it was first pr