The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-10

In the years work %15. .448 volumes hare
been Issued at 9 cost for collecting, distribut-
ing, &c, Of "a, ,264. .26-averaging per volume
twenty.seven cents for placing the Scriptures
in the hands OF the people,. /. - :tsts
Ten. thousand four. hundred and ninety.
one families have been, visited by our mis-.
sfonarfes during the year.. many OF them
sonyersed with on Bible truth, prayed with,
and cnmforted 8, 149 of the above number
we're foHnd destitute of the Bible; 1,4s0
were furnished with the same, besides 343
individuals IA Sabbath schools (white and
eoloreO have been supplied with the Bible
or Testament gratutously 3,007 volumes
have been distributed by the Society at Rich
mond 1,719 volumes by its colporteurs
], ,725 volumes by auxiliaries; I'll addresses
bave been made In the interests of the So.
ciety; and about IL, 900 miles travelled in the
great work Of disseminating the Bible.
If we take for comparison the cost Of dis
tribution in the earlier years OF the Society
we shall find ttat the work has been done at
less esst doubtless than at any former period.
In the twenty.eighth year Of the Society the
cost of collecting, distributing, &C., 1850
volumes ,Wss 81, ,e32. averaging siXty-6Ve
cents per volume to distribute, independent
of the purchase price of the books.
During the last four years and bali there
have been issued 76,495 volumes OF Strip.
ture at the value Of about 22s, 900.
Total number Of families visited during
this period, 65,347, constituting popula.
ton OF about 100000. To,al number OF
families found destitute, 10,062 Total sup.
piled, 6, ,467, and individuals, 1878. Allow.
ling six to family, Il will be seen the Society,
through its agencies, has carried the Word
of Life to the homes of not less than 10000
of our destitute people. This summary
does not include all the work done by the
auxiliarfes., Many Of, them do not report
what they have done. It may be safe TO say
that large number OF families have re-
ceived the Word of God through these
agencies, and that il The facts could all be
gathered up they would greatly increase the
number of families reported as supplied.
BY reference to the reports Of the early
history of the Society, 1t appears that. about
as many volumes have been pnti circulation
during this period of four and bali years as
were issued during the first twenty years OF
the Society. -; - . ~ f,.-.
Id connection with the parent: Society
there are .107 auxiiiaries. OF these about so
are actively engaged in their appropriate
work. The others maintaip to some extent
their organizations, and ars doing something
10 the work OF distribution. Some Of tie
auxillaries have branch societies in, certain
localities in the counties, by which the desti.
tute are more readily reached and supplied
with the Scriptures. i l.s..a1.l. .ee.s..
The great want Of the Society is systema-
tic and regular help from alt the Christian
churches of the State. The want OF this has
kept the treasury low In funds and greatly
crippled the work.. Proper laborers can be
found in every part of our wide and inviting
field, who, even for q small compensation,
would gladly labor withus, butabsolute want
of means forbids their employment;
We trust that the friends OF this cause, who
are numbered by tens Of Thousands, will
uobly come toward to take part in the work,
and carry it on until every hamlet and home
in our State shall glow with the light of Gods
holy word. .a 5i<.
We cannot close this report without recog.
nizing the continued generosity OF the Ameri-
can Bible Society In aiding rs In the prose'
cution of our work. During the year just
closed they have donated $4,000 worth oi
Bibles, whicbInoble gifts have enabled US to
reach many destitute persons who could
/ not otherwise have been supplied. +,