Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-07
OUR BIBLE SOCIETY.
A Live, Local Institution Doing Incal
cuIabIe GOod, and worthy the
Benefaction of Every One.
Anniversary at the'COuFt street Cum
bertrand Presbyterian Chureh-Tn-
teresfing Sta tisiIcs-Speeches,

| ClDT3l Oh fCADDhln GFSDluR iA5t, OOlOs
mel E. II. Porter, president, in the chair,
and drew together a large assemblage,
| representing most il not all of the Pro-
testant congregations OF the city. After
the opening exercises Of singing, read
ing the scriptures aud prayer, the report
| Of the executive committee was read by
| Mr.. T. II. Rice, secretary, and pre-
sented concisely and clearly the WORK
done by the society during the past year,
and its financial condition on the first
instant. The narrative OF this report
! showed that the entire district of West
} Tennessee and north Mississippi, now
under the SUPPLEMENTARY OF Rev. S P
Written, would, after the first Of April
next, be under the supervision of the So
ciety. This district embraces fifty ceun-
| ties, with population of five hundred
and twenty thousand three hundred and
sixty-tWo whites and four hundred and
thirty thousand nine hundred and sixty
one cOlored-a total Of nine hundred and
fiifty-One thousand three hundred and
twenty-three - and, at average work,
would require ten colpoTteurs some five
years to canvass the territory and supply
the restitution. 1t is found to be fact,
also, that OF the immense number pass
ing every year through Memphis, as the
great gateway to the west and south
west, very many are destitute of the
scriptures, and TO supply this restitution
is prominent feature OF the sOciety's
work.
The reading of this report was fol-
lowed by learned and stirring address,
delivered by Rsv. J. II. Evars, pastor OF
the fernando street Methodist Episco-
pal church. The subject of the address,
or the text thereof, vas the following
resolution:
"Resolred, That inasmuch as the
field of this society has been greatly en-
larged by the confidence of the parent
society, so as to embrace West Tennessee
and north Mississippi; and, inasmuch
as this vast field needs constant culture
by active agencies of colporteurs in dis
tributing the holy scriptures, we re-
cogniz8 The call OF God to an increasing
interest, diligence and liberality in bible
PRONUNCIATION"
The speaker gave brief and interest
ing history of the labors Of John Wiclif,
the morning star of the reformation, The
first preacher OF general reformation
in Europe, in giving an English trans :
Iation from Latin OF the new testament
to his people, which occurred in 1865.
This PRONUNCIATION of the English scrip
lures had been, during life, the constant
subject OF persecution at the hands of
the papal clergy, and the council Of
Constance thirty years after his death,
decreed and exc cuted an order of disin-
terring and casting into a brock what
was supposed to be the ashes of Wiclif;
so that Fuller, the historian, wrote of it
1.-THE brooks conveyed the ashes into
Avon, Avon into Severn, thence into the
narrow sea, and into the wide ocean.
These ashes thus becoming the emblem
of his doctrine, now dispensed over the
world.n The speaker alluded also to the
philanthropic and unselfish labors of
William Tyndsll, Of England, in the
reign of Henry VIII, who translated the
new testament from the Greek and gave
it to the "plow-b oys,n under pledge
he had made in early life. This brave
man was arrested and imprison-
ed under the order of the
king, and after two years incarceration
was condemned for heresy and burned
st the stake, dying with this interces-
sorry prayer upon his lips: 40 Lord,
open the king of England's eyes"
"Rome Numbered death, but Tyndall's daunt-
Looked in Deaths face and smiled, Death
In spite Of Rome, for England's faith he stood.
And in the flames he sealed it with his blood"
King Henry, a few years later, direct
ed the bible to be given to the people.
Rev. J. E. Craig, pastor Of the First |
Baptist church, then spoke to this prop
osition:
"ReSolUed, Thai, Remembering the Wild
ow, who cast into the treasury of the |
Lord all her living, and, above all, Him
who, though rich, yet for our sake be-
came poor, we cannot believe that the |
financial pressure Of the times will eX-
cuse our people in Withholding their gifts
from the work Of this society. The PEG.
pie walk in darkness to the eternal
world without the bible. We must do
what we can to give the lamp of life to
those in our territory, and to the thou
sands passing through the gates of Mem
phis to new homes in the southwest"
His address dwelt chiefly upon con-
trast Of the moral condition of Protest.
ant with Roman Catholic countries. He
presented startling figures to demon
strste the great preponderRnce OF crime,
LEGITIMACY and degrade
ton ameDg the people where the papscy |
rule. He showed that in the city of
Rome, the seat Of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy, and almost under the eye OF
the head of the church, there are two
and one-half times as many illegitimate
born as those in wedlock. Many other
facts in connection with the
subject were presented, and he closed
his address by making 8 strong appeal
to the audience and To the community
for their material cooperation IN send
ing the bible to the one million souls
embraced in the new territory of the So
ciety.
Rsv. George T. Stainback made a
sparkling, witty talk, calling upon
those present to make liberal c0ntribu-
tons, on the spot, OF money, toward IA
the distribution Of the holy
through the instrumental
ity Of this society. A collection,
amounting to about two hundred and
fifty dollars was taken up. The election
Of officers and an executive committee
was then had, resulting as follows: For
president, E. H. Porter; treasurer, r. G..
Daniel; secretary, J. II, Rice; general
agent, Rev. D. s, Rosebrough.
The executive committee was COM
posed of all the pastors of the Protestant
churches of the city, and two lsymen
from each congregation.
The very interesting exercises con,
Guided with the singing in cho-
rus, and doxology, the beau
tiful hymn, Shall We Gather at
he River? and the pronouncing Of the
Dene dictiOn by Rev. DR.. Stainback. The
music was very fine, and the whole ex-
srcises were such as should have inn.
pressed those present most favorably
With the objects ard operations OF this
society. "
Flowers for Sale.
Mrs. Sledge has opened p salesroOm at
81 Main street, In connection with her