The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-11-12

county during the month of September,
but the response was not what was eX-
) pected. Mr.. Gray also said that there
had been a gradual decrease in the re-
ceipts of the Society for several years,
and that something should be done to
change this condition of affairs. He
hoped that during the next year there
would be more interest taken in the
Bible cause, and that more liberal con-
tributions would be made. A portion
of the following exhibit of the financial
condition of the Society was read by
the President. We give the report in
full:
Balance on hand at last settlement. S 30 %
Rec. from sale of books - ~ 81
Rev. l.. L. ROsenberger.. 90
English Lutheran Church Is 90
Church of God. ...- % 80
Rec. from Presbyterian Church, Or
ange township ............-... u %
Rec. from Bethlehem U. b. Church,
Marion township. ip. = 61
Rec. from Ger. Reformed Church.. 2Gl
Congregational Church.. II o.
Church. ................... - IS
Rec. from VI. f. Church . 10 o.
Rec. from Presbyterian Church tSl5
LIE memberS) ..-.-..-- ii ID
Rec. from Salem L. Il. Church,
Jackson township. .............. 43
Rec. from Pleasant U. B. Church,
Eagle township. Observation-Disclosures. 1 10
Rec. from West Union Presbyterian
Gllurcn. 4
Rec. from Blanchard Presbyte
rlan Church ......-.....--.... : ~
Rec from life membership other
than Presbyterian Church. ..... % 80
Total. .....--..-----.-s, .S3l5 ~
OF this amount there has been paid
out on expense account for the Society
as follows:
Paid for freight and carriage. 3 90
postage --..-----...-.----- 0@
Paid Rev. E. 5. Gillette on life MEM
bershlp. ---...-..--.-..-- = 1u
Paid depository commission on sales 8 81
Paid American Bible Society on book
account ~ %
At the conclusion of Mr.. Gray's re-
marks hymn was sung. Then followed
an address by Rev. DIR. Jones, of the NJ.
Z. Church, of which the following is a
synopsis:
Some times we are called upon to
speak in favor of certain phases of dt
vine truth as entertained by particular
denominations. again we are called
upon to speak in favor of Christianity
rs a system of revealed religion. Ordi-
narily it would seem that those two
would comprise the whole field of Chris
tian effort, but more careful eXamin-
alton of the subject reveals the fact that
the unsealed word of God-the open
Bible without note or comment, has a
mission in the world, and we are here
to night to plead in behalf of a lost race
that the Bible, on its own merit, be given
TO the people; that no ecclesiastical in
terposition or in6del prescription shall
hinder the masses from the freest access
TO this open fountain of Salvation
The Bible is not the text book of Sci
ence. We would not postulate it into
theological dogmas, but plead that the
Fathers last message of mercy to his
wandering children might be placed in
their hands. Let us consider the Bible
in its relation to the civilization of the
world.
Assuming that the sacred Book was
the production of the human mind, in
fidels have entered the arena of contest,
and flercely assaulted the Bible and
promised its speedy overthrow.
We assume that, Instead of the truth
of their theory '!that the Bible is a hu-
man production" the other theory is
demonstrated that the Bible is divine,
and that all civilization is the outgrowtlI
of its teachings. We challenge the inf
del world upon this proposition. There
is no logic equal in force to the logic of
facts, and the facts show us that the
highest type of civilization the world has
ever witnessed is Christian civilization.
There are no priests that minister at pa
gan altars the equals in culture and pu
rity of the minister of ChTist's altar
There are no statesmen on the face OF
the earth equal TO the statesmen of
Christian nations; no Intelligent masses
equal to those who walk in the light of
all open Bible.
Did any pagan ever invent anything
for the benefit of the race? An appeal
to history furnishes such an array of
facts as should forever silence the enc
mics of the Bible.
But let us consider the Bible in its re-
Iation to the progress of the world. The
Bible has pioneered all progress-in eve
ry department of life Wherever it has
gone the schoolhouse has arisen and
commerce has followed in its wake -
And as the child of the church, commerce
reaches the highest point of success on
ly in the land of open Bibles 1t has
been demonstrated by the history of the
world that no nation ever made any per-
! manent advancement without the Bible.
! 1t is true they have seemed to progress
for awhile; but eventually gave way to
anarchy and confusion. And in those
countries where the rulers have forgotten
| God, ,adversity has swept away their pos
sessions, and ignorance and squalid pow
erty now revel in the seats of ancient
learning and wealth.
A careful comparison of all the ma
| tionalities of the earth reveals the fact
! that where the greatest number of intiu-
| ences center that are calculated TO i'm
| prove the condition of man; where there
is the highest degree of social life and
business activity; where Science has
made the most wonderful discoveries
Is in those lands where there is an open
Bible in the hands of the people. If We
arrange the nations on a scale in the or
der of their civilization and culture, in
a descending series, from the highest
point indicated, down to the wandering
tribes that inhabit burning wastes, or exc
out a scanty subsistence amid perpetual
SHOWS, without exception their advance
ment has been just in exact ratio to the
amount of light the Bible has shed upoI
their pathway.
There is, perhaps, no material agency
of progress that has had a more exten
siVe influence than the steam engine
Its shrill whistle sounded the knell o
fogylsm and startled extreme conserva
tisn from its sleep of death, bnt the steam
engine could never have been invented
had had not the light of Gods WorC
liberated the human intellect from thl
CALLING slavery of ignorance.
In the fall, man was precipitated int,
a chasm deep and dark. His way hacl
is up an inclined plane at an acute angle
The ascent Is so steep that nothing bu
the power of the gospel can impel hin
in his upward course.
The Geneva Court, in its adjustmen
of National difficulties, perhaps reache,
the highest point of civil progress ind
Gated in the history of the world. Will
Y 30 I.,w IL =