The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-05
The Babfc Cause.

GERS.
The public exercises OF the siXty-fourth
anniversary Of the Virginia Bible Society
were appointed TO be held last night at 8
o'clock in Centenary Methodist Episcopal
church.
The business meeting was the night be-
fore, Us under the constitution the annual
meeting must be held on the first Tuesday
in April. Rev. DR.. Hoge presided, and
Mr.. Staples acted as secretary.
Mr.. Thomas Branch presented resolu-
ton, which was agreed to, to amend the
rules OF the Society so rs to provide that the
president shall be elected for four years
instead OF two.
Rev. J. Is. Jetcr. d. D., was placed IN
nomination, but declined to serve rs prcsi-
dent. t'+
Rev. DR.. Curry was also nominated, but
declined to serve. The following
OFFICERS WERE ELECTED.
Rev. NJ. ID. Hoge, d. D., president; Rev.
Charles ii. Read, d. D., first vice-president;
Rev. Charles Minnigerode, D. d., second
vice-president; Right Rev. d. S. Doggett,
D. D., third vice-president; Rev. W. Il.
! Hatcher, ID. D., fourth vicc-presldent; Kew.
NJ. w. Staples, corresponding secretary !;
| William Willis. Jr.. treasurer Other man.
ayers Rev. William Brown, D. D., Rev.
4. l.. Preston, d. D., Rev. w. W. Bennett,
y. D., Rev. j. f. Edwards, D. D., Rev. j.
Peterkin, D. d., Rev. J. w. Jones. Rev.
George Woodbridge, d. D., Mr.. W. f.
Taylor, Mr.. John J.. Williams, Mr.. r. II.
Meade, Mr.. Thomas w. McCancc, Mr..
Robert Stiles, Rev. J. l.. NJ. Curry, D. D.,
Mr. I. Branch, Mr.. George D. Fisher, Mr..
p. f. Howard, Mr.. s. Putney, Judge Robert
| Ould, Mr.. Asa Snyder, Mr.. d. S. Wool
dridgc. Mr.. Josiah Ryland, Mr.. a. B. Clarke,
Rev. II. G. Dashiell. Mr.. f. L. Addison.
OTHER BUSINESS.
4 letter was read from Rev. DR.. George
! Woodbridge declining to serve as member
| OF the Board il elected.
| On motion, Rev. Drs. HoSe and Edwards
were appointed committee to wait upon
DR.. Woodbridge and inform him OF the
high esteem in which he is held, and urge
him 10 remain in the Board and attend its
meetings when convenient.
| On motion, one thousand copies OF the
report OF the Board OF Managers was order
ed to be printed.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
The report OF the Board Of Managers is
as follows:
In presenting the sixty-Tourth annual re-
port to the Virginia Bible Society. the Board
would gratefully acknowledge the Divine
goodness which has been so signaly mani
| tested to the Society during the year now
! closed.
We entered upon the work last April with
many misgivinss as to the success which
would attend our efforts to prosecute the
great interests committed to our care.
Nearly all denominational enterprises in our
Commonwealth, greatly embarrassed, were
demanding all the financial support which
their respective memberships could contri-
butte. Our industries were paralyzed and
our people were feeling more severely the
financial pressure than at any period since
the panic OF 1873. The result has been, as
we feared it would be, that the eXtraordi-
nary efforts to save denominational enter
priseS in the midst OF such depressing times
| would, to considerable extent, lessen the
contributions to this Society," 1t is, there
fore, not surprising to find at the close OF
the year that our receipts, on donation ac-
count. have fallen short OF previous years.
| The American Bible Society closed its last
wears work with receipts less than the pre-
vio,ls year by 0,37l.53. All other benevo-
lent institutions have shared in like dis
couraging results.
| Notwithstanding the hard times, unpre-
cedentcd in duration and severity III the
history OF our country; notwithstan ding
the many hindrdnceS and very often great
discouragementS, the blessed H ork OF Bible
Distribution has gone forward in our State,
not ceasing for Il day nor I'm hour, ana the
results achieved, although not as great as
we desired, yet are such as ought to excite
our gratitude and commend the Virginia
Bible Society to the sympathy and co0pera.
ton of all friends Of the Bible.
During a part OF the year Sye have had
eighteen colporters in the employment OF
the Society. Quite number OF these were
efficient young men from the denomina-
tional colleges and seminaries in the State.
Others have been laymen and local preach
ers. They have travelled in the neighbor-
hood OF Il, 900 miles on foot and on horse.
back, along our rivers, throushth valleys,
and over the mountains, in search OF fami.
lies to whom they might carry the word OF
life to tighten up the homes OF these often
neglected people They have visited A.
GG6 families (abnut 5000 in excess OF last
ing in this Christian aand without Bible
Y khout God--witheEt q hopc.in theworld.
They have left the precious 'r7ord in ;the
/! homes OF 1,97S families. They have prayed
with these families and urged them by every
consideration to eenferm their lives to the
feachings and requirements OF this holy
beck. These 1878 families constitute a
population OF not lesst than 10, 900 souls. AS
suled that the word Of e Cd shali,not return
VeiG, but shall presperin the thing where
unite it is sent, the Board feels amply re-
warded for all its efforts in the fact that it
| has ,been privileged to carry this sure word
OF G,rophecy to the homes of so many
perishing souls. Six hundred and seventy
! families mad to be lett unsupplied because
| ne one OF their number could read Three
hundred and SixtJ-tiMe Individuals. OF con-
nected with the faGdlies, have been sEpplied
with a Bible or a portion Of the same.
Ninety-four needy Sabbath schools, white
and ,cclored, hare heen furnished agratu-
ltersly.
1t may be well t0GDeution.tke fact that the
Board has felt deep and special interest in
the supply of the GGiiared population, and
that in mo instance hase ;their wants been
! UNDECIDED. Our missionaries visit the
| ehsarches, Sabbath schapIs, ;anl homes OF
this people, and R0st cheeffully supply
them wish copy of the EAhle either by sale or
donation. The very large oropQEtion OF, Gas-
titution is found among THE ,cQlared pec pie,
except in the mountain sections Of our
State ThAee thousand aesssn ;hundredand
ninetr-four volumes harMe been distributed
by the missionaries, one Thousand four hup-
dred and seyenty-nine OF @hich number
were donated to those whe were entirely
destitute.
In the years work 11.4se volumes have
been issued from the depository lu Rich
mond, valued at So, 720.e2, $2sn4S2 OF