The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-10
CHARLESTON BIBLE SOCIETY.
sixty-second Anniversary.


The Hon. G. G. Memminger, the president OF
the society, read the following sixty'seeeno
ANNUAL REPORT.
The present year was commenced Win tne
small sum of $40 69-l00, as the entlre osiance
in onr treasury. To this was adoeu Tue
depressing effect OF deot Oh sIoo 40
which we owed the American Blole soclety.
The political events which had ruiz ea tne LOT,
times of 30 many OF our people, Still spread
their unfortunate Influences upon those re-
lipious and charitable Institutions which IRE
sustained BY voluntary contributions. Ihese
Influences had accumulated DEBT WlLnout
means of payment, and the ooard, Wnlie az
tempting to supply the Increased oemauas Iot
Bible distribution, found themselves ~ emcal.
RAISING circumstances. The hrst reIel Cane
from The American Bible Society, which, on
learning our necessities, generously came LOT,
ward and released the debt which We owed
them. This truly Christian llberallty was tully
recognized by the board, and was respohueu
to in the following resolutions, unanmoCsly
adopted by our board:
Ribl. y ,ciety, remitllng the debt of s7O3 46
dne them by this society, evlnces spirit OF
Christian u6eralty and generous confidence
In this society which Hot only entities them 10
our or ,tetul Acknowledgements, but to Inc
thanks Of the Christian poor In our MIDST Wnom
their Eberality has furnished with COOS Wora.
RESOLVED, That the president OF this society
be requested 10 express to the oosrd Oh man-
sy.rs of the American Bible Society the
gTsiefuI appreciation Of this board OF their
Generosity. and our confident expectation
Ihat. with this encouragement, We Will Dc en-
abled to reinstate the society IN lib former ca
reer of usefulness. us~ ~ ~,
This hopeful beginning was followed up Sy
the efforts OF the Rev. E. A: Bol!ea, one Oh LUG
kn Annn w.
who at our request was put uhoer our oiIec'
,ion for the purpose of bringing the opera.
lions of our society more fully TO the nollce OF
onr people. Through his exertions and the
various other riDslrumentalties used, the num-
ber of our members has been Increased 10
3l7: and through the good providence OF
God. additional contributions have been made
hv several individuals, which have enabled us
to put In use during the past summer mat ID,
strumentality for distributing the Bible and
blessIpp the homes OF the poor. hrst Known
In london under the name CT the Missionary
Link. The value Of this instrumenlallty VIII
appear from the facts, that 6y It's means
heen made by two Intelligent Christian ladies
to various families 10 our city, among Wnlcn
they we're allowed to make l27 explanatory
RibIe readings; 81 houses have been improved
nv their suggestions aud halr; 43 children
have been Introduced into Sunday Schools,
and 65 persons have been supplied with the
Resides these agencies, an active and
efficient colporteur has been IN the employ
ment of The society during the whole year.
and the result ls that during that year l6so
Bibles and Testaments have been distributed.
and the society has received from one source
and another the sum OF. 0l7 4S
And has disbursed. d................... Isis zo
1o.,,,. balance Of of.. Slss %
The hoard would here humbly express their
gratitude TO Almighty God, who, from 30
Small q beginning at the commencement OF
the year, has 30 greatly enlarged our means,
and has enabled us, 10 faith and hope, 10 pro
mote the noble work OF disseminating HIS
word. With so much encouragement, we
cannot but commence another year Win re-
newed zeal. -.
Never has there been period In the his.
torv of the church of God which calls more
londly for The distribution of His Word. As
time rolls on, each succeeding generation re-
fuses TO accept the convictions of .ts prede-
cessor, aud the truths OF COD 10 eaen age
hind every line that Truth must manifest It.
pelf by the very words of God as revealed to
man. and those words can only be found IN
the Book of Books, the holy Bible. Around
this book and In the sacred and honorable
work of Its distribution and defence are
Here they all stand together In harmony and
unison, and here is that centre to which all
must turn. In this age OF the world, When
unity Ia the~treat object which Is now draw
ing together the nations, why should not q
,, like desire for unity pervade all Christians!
Is 1t not obvious that unity OF spirit VIII con.
struct bond OF peace fully sufdcient 10 resist
ihe shock OF mlsdirected science OF positivlsm,
or OF any other engine WIN Wnlch inuue'ity
NAV attempt It's rupture!
These considerations are greatly strength
ened by the claims OF Christian Charity. Ine
thorough examination Of destitute homes oy
our Bible women and colporteur mas rxposeo
wants which call loudly on us for aid. The
Bible has been offered freely wnereVer IL
conjd he nlacrd. But there are homes where
its words are sealed, and there being no one
nreaent who can open the seals-none can
read-uone can open its meaning. 10 such
cases there was missing INK IN our cnolce OF
Bible distribution. To supply this link
separate fund was contributed by several
members of our society, by means of which
Christian Bible vcmsn have been employed
who not only distribute the Bible, but where.
ever permitted by those whom they visited
they read to them the word OF God, and MIN
istered to the wants of the destitute and igno-
rant They taught them habits OF order and
cleanliness, and gave instructions to young
and old 10 bocsehold duties, and ln promoting
the comforts and happiness OF their homes.
In this work it is believed much good has
been done, and 1t is hoped by the board that
the same benevolent spirit which has COM
menced this good work will continue to carry
1t on.
The proper work OF our Bible Society is the
distribution Of the Bible. In this work we
have in the field an efficient colporteur, and
we are we'll supplied With Bibles, both tor sale
and donation. For this latter purpose the
American Bible Society has recently furnished
us with an ample supply, OF their own eX-
pense; and we now appear before our owr
community to ask them 10 do their own poi
tlon of this great work. An annual contribu-
ton of two dollars Ia all that Is asked OF our
members. With the money thus obtained the
Word OF God Is placed In every house which
will receive II. They who are able TO pur-
chase can obtain the Bible at Its actual cost,
and they who are unable can obtain 1t for the
asking. At home and abroad this great work
goes on. In every land throughout our world
this holy book is offered 10 its people in their
own tongue. In our own country Twelve
hundred thousand volumes are annually
Issued, and in the past filty-ave years the is-
sues of the American Bible Society have
amounted to twenty-elght millions OF volumes.
What blessed privilege 1t is to be partaker
In this great work Who can refrain from ex-
claiming, Lord, accept my feeble service
Our portion Of this great work may seem
small; bnt the Master whom we serve jndgeth
his servants by that which each man hath,
not by that which he hath not. Even the
mite of the poor widow was received with
fLnf nlNE,a