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

Patterson, Esq, took the chair, and the
Rev.; John T. Fressly was appointed
clerk" A general interest seems to
have been taken in the matter, as citi.
zens, leading men in the different sec
tions of the district, without regard to
:, profession or occupation, came together
to ioinsin the work in the good cause.
In the organization Of the Society,
: the following named persons were elected
Ito office =: s !"
| President.Hon. Patrick Noble.
!, Vice. -Presidents-Major W. A. Bull,
:, Colonel Alex. Bowie, DR.. Joseph Gilbert,
/. Charles G. Mayson, Josiah Patterson.
= Treasurer and Lbrariaro-Samuel Z.
Watt.
Corresponding Secrstaay-Rev. W. H.
Barr.
Recording Sscretary-Rev. John I.
! Pressly. - : i;
Difrectors-Rev. James Crowther,
Rev. Henry Reid, Rev. James Gamble,
Rev. Jordan Ramey, Hugh Reid, John
Devlin, Esq, Andrew Norris, Esq,
Samuel Perrin, ESQ.,, Josiah, Russell
John Gray, Sen.
=. He who now addresses you recollects
the evening that his father. returned
home from the courthouse, fatigued by
ride on horseback (there were no bug
gies in those days) Of seventeen miles
and hack and the account which he
gave of the business Of the day !; that a
Bible Society had been organized at the
courthouse, of which his friend Patrick
Noble was President, and our neighbor
John T. Pressly was Recording Secreta-
ry; that he had been appointed one Of
the Directors, with high expectations Of
good to result from it; and,< to the
praise of the hospitality of the village,
that every member of the society had,
been invited out to dinner free of charge.
This good example of hospitality has
been followed ever since. A deep i'm
preston was made upon this country
family by this recital.
The Society, being organized, en-;
tered at once upon its career Of be-
nevolence and christian, usefulness.
This Society is not sectarian; the
platform is simple enough and broad
enough for all. To.glve the word: Of
life, pure and uncorrupted, to perish
ing men; to give the Bible, teemlng
with lessons of wisdom for mankind,
is a work in which all may engage,
without jostling each other Here
all our distinctions are merged IN the
great work in. which we are engaged,
Here we are Bible men. Away from
this Society, we may belong to any
Of the varions denominations of
Christians, and may indulge our Pc
culiar fancy; but here we are one in
our work; one in our aim and one in
our desire. It's object; is purely be-
The position of it's officers
is a post of honor, with few privi-
leges and great responsihility>-;-
The first meeting of the Board was
held on, the 21st October, 1923. At
this meeting the district was divided
into four sections. corresponding with
the militia battalions, and two OF
their numhef. were assigned to each
section, to ascertain the destitute
families and supply them with books.
In September, 1923. this Society
was recognized by the American Bl-,
Bile Society .as an auxiliary, and 40
nation Of fifty dollars worth OF blnIcs 10, 5
and Trstaments sont on to IL lhis
act of the parent society was. very
gratifying aud cheering to the heat,sf e?t
of these early friends of the Bible
cause and on the Sd November 1873,
a special meeting Of the Board was
called on the oct asion, TO express
their gratitude, and to dispose OF the
hooks. The Society. set out with
resolution to supply every destitute
family in the district with at least
one copy Of the Scriptures. 1t was
not long until it. was reported that
the supply was complete. After the
lapse of few years, it was ascertain
ed that from the removals OF families
into the district and from the torma.
tion of new families there was still
dcstiiution. Special attention was
directed to it, and an agent was. en-
ployed who. ahoutsthe year lS47, re-
ported that the district was again
supplied with the Scriptures.
Since the organization OF the ooc'-
ETY., it has sent on to the parent 80
ciety. for the purchase OF BOOKS
s4,478.37, and as donation. ], $500 !;
in all, Sc, 1852
Owing to the loss of papers, we
cannot ascertain precisely the num-
Der of books that have beer ,pnt In
circulation. But up to the 3otb an
niyersary, in July, 1853, it bad put
out 3,203 Bibles and 4:968 Iesta-
ments. Since that time. as nearly as
we can ascertain. therehas been add
ed to. the circulation about l, 100
Bibles, and 100 Testaments, making
in ali 4,3O3 Bibles, and 6,66s Testa-
mentS. ..., ill.,.
No special effort has been recently
made to ascertain the destitntion,
Ibut it is believed to be large. The
price at which the Society has sold
/ it's books has been fixed at the cost at
the Biblo House in New York, tor all
of common quality, and for finer
quality of family Bibles little ad-
vance ON cost has been added.to cover
freight charges.
The Society has never failed to to
hold it's anniversary meetings., IL
has had but three Presidents. Fat
rick Noble, the first President: was