The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-26
Bible Anniversary.

The 3lst anniversary OF the Rock Island
County Bible Society was held in the Cen
trail Presbyterian church, on Sunday even
ing The audience was quite large. The
meeting was conducted by Rev. j. R.
Findlay, Of the Central church, and opened
at 1880 with an anthem sung by the COM
bined choirs of the Presbyterian and NJ.
K. churches. Selections from the scrip
lures we're then read by the Rev. W. c.
Knapp, after which the congregation was
led in prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Reynolds,
The treasurer sreport was the next thing
in order, showing that something had been
done by the christian people of the county
for the bible cause during the year, but
surely the report would not indicate live
state Of feeling or an interest in keeping
with the character or magnitude of the
work proposed by the society.
After some remarks of encouragement
by the Rev. Mr.. Smith, the district agent,
the officers for the ensuing year were elect
ed, aud are as follows:
Rev. J, R. Findlay, President.
Rev. j. X. McCalister, Vice-President
Z. W. Spencer, Secretary.
Dr. j. W. Stark, Treasurer.
Directors-D, 2. McKown, Rufus Wal
ker, S. f. Cooke, Henry Brockman. D. f.
Moore, Charles Hansgen, DIR. J. W. Stew
art, j, L. Freeman, A. K. Philleo, Gen.A
Hoffman, II. 0. Sleight.
After an anthem by the choir, Rev. E.
EC. Barnard, .of Moline, was introduced
and interested the audience for some fif
teen minutes, showing what had been thu
influence of the bible and bible literatur
upon the nation, and especially upon GU
early history as uation; objections to tn
bible were referred to by the speaker
and the position taken that these objec
tons grew out of our ignorance of tn
meaning of certain passages, and would a
be. set aside by proper study of tn
same.
, Rev. Mr.. Rice, Of the Christian churcl
: spoke briefly of the value of the bible an
urged to a more correct and prayerfu
study of the word.
: Rev. w, G. Knapp, of the Me. church
spoke of the power Of the power of the b
= bla to unite and leaveu.
Rev J. R. Findlay, of the Presbyteria
. church, made the concluding speech, shoy
I. ing that the object of the organization
:. the bible society was the distribution
the scriptures The first society for Il
:. distribution of religious knowlcge was e
fected in Great Britain in 1893, and IL
= first bible society, British For. Bible S
! ciety," was organized in lT94. He shove
: that the organisation was in no sense f
: the purpose of provoking debate, but
scatter the word,-the word is the seed
:, life and it must be sown, but it can't
sown unless it be sent into destitute place
- The word is the sword of the spirit, b.
. it will do no execution if kept stored in Il
bible house. He said, I'VE want you to gi1
money to scatter the seed and to send o,
. the sword in the hands of proper agent
:. that the world may be speedily convertt
to God" Mr.. Fearnestly urged toa grea
err effort in the future and expressed Il
\ hope that the next year would show Il
!, contributions doubled.
The meeting throughout was interestir
and instructive.
~ After singing the doxology the congreg
! ton was dismissed by the benediction
Rev II. A, Newell.
\ The treasurer's report shows&he recei
- of only $55S "a from whole county durir
:. the past year. of which sum S44O,OS VI
sent to the Bible Society in New York, f
- books, and sllS,26 paid agents and 9th
y expenses.
= The amount, for books now on hand,
- $443,57 with credit of about s3OO,on Il
- society's books in New York.