The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-14
THE WORD OF GOD.

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THE. WORD OF GOD. 2e't5,E
sixty-second Annual Meeting OF the
American Bible society.
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INTERESTING SERVICES AT. ST. PAUL's
CHURCH ON SUNDAY AFTERN ooN-A
LARGE CONGREGATION-ADDR BY
REV. MOSES d. HoGE OF RICHMOND, REV
MR.. ALLEN president OF THE SOCIETY,".
| REV. DRs. GILMAN, CRANBERRY, AND
L TAYLoR-WoRk7O OF THE SOCIETY DURING
THE PAST YEAR, &C.
The siXty-second anIuai meeting Of the
American Bible Society was held in the
main audience-room Of St. Paul's church
on Sunday afternoon, in the presence of q
very large congregation, notwithstanding
the rain-storm and bleak, unpleasant wea-
ther. Among the officers Of the American
Bible Society
WHO WERE PRESENT
were Rev. William Fl. Allen, LIZ. D., OF
Philadelphia, president OF this Society; and
president Of Girard College; Rev. DR.. Tay-
lor, Of New jersey, for many years identi-
fed with the American Bible Society Rev.
DR.. a. S. Hunt and Rev. DR.. f. w. Gilman,
of New York, corresponding secretaries,
and Rev. j. G.. Granbery, d. D., formerly
pastor Of the Broad-Street Methodist church
in this city, and now professor in Wander
bilt University, Tennessee.
Shortly after 4 the officers and members
of the Virginia Bible Society entered the
church from the side-aisle doors, and pro-
ceeded to the chancel, the laymen occupying
seats outside and the clergymen positions
within the chancel, which, by the way, was
we'll filed, as nearly every minister in the
city was present. The vast audience was
made up OF representatives OF nearly every
religious denomination in the city, and the
meeting, although unduly prolonged, was
one Of the most interesting ever held in this
city.
TIE SERVICES.
Rev. Moses D. Hoge, D. D., president Of
the Virginia Bible Society, occupied the
chair, and announced the hymn.
30, Spirit of The living God"
with the singing OF which the services were
opened.
The next feature OF the services was the
reading Of chapter from the Bible by Rev.
W. e. Judkins, pastor Of Trinity Methodist
church, in this city; after which the choir
and entire congregation sang the Gloria in
EIceLSis.
Appropriate prayers were read by Rev.
Charles Minnigerode, D. D., pastor OF St.
PauPs church, and afterwards he announced
the hymn,
"Father of Mereies In thy Word
What endless gories.shtnc."
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Rev. Dr.. Hoge next delivered the address
OF welcome on the part OF the Virginia So
ciety and the people OF Richmond. In the
course Of his remarks be said that the church
in which we are assembled has been the
scene OF three memorable meetings in the
interest OF the Bible; the first in the year
1864, when, amid the throes and anguish CT
a great revolution, vast audience assem-
bled to hear OF the gift of 100000 copies Of
the Bible from abroad; the second was the
first OF a series of meetings inaugurated by
the Virginia Bible Society in the interest Of
the Word OF God; and the third was the one
that was then being held. He thought that
the interest Of this community in the cause
was fully demonstrated by the audience that
thronged the house OF worship. The au-
dience itself was an evidence OF the welcome
extended by the people to those who have
come among us.
He then went on to speak OF the debt OF
gratitude due by the Society Of which he is
president to the American Bible Society; OF
the organization of our Society in 1918 and
of the American Bible Society in 1876; OF
the burning OF the Richmond Theatre in
1911 as being the instrument that decided
an eminent divine (Rev. DR.. John II. Grice)
to dedicate himself to the great work OF dis
seminating the Word Of God into all lands,
and Of the early history OF the Virginia So
ciety. But for
THE GENEROUS AID OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE
-.fH SOCIETY
the operations OF the Virginia Bible Society
would have been very much curtailed II moi
entirely suspended. he spoke with grea
earnestness OF the Importance OF the use o.
the Bible everywhere; referred to the ques.
tion OF its use in the public schools; but
said that was matter be did not intend tc
discuss, except to say that there was one
school in which the question can never be
touched-the Sabbath school. To-day, said
he. there are six million, and probably eight
million. Sabbath-school children who are
being taught its blessed truths.
Pursuing the subject further, DR.. HoSe
made a most beautiful address, which can
not, OF course, be presented in full here. Ir
concluding his address, in the name OF the
managers OF the Virginia Bible Socicty-ir
the name OF the pastors and people OF Rich
d-heextended to the representatives Of
the American Bible Society most cordia
| welcome. DR.. Hoge then yielded the chall
| to Rev. Mr.. Allen.
PRESIDENT ALIENS REPLY.
Mr.. Allen, venerable clergyman will
white hair and pleasant face, apparently
about sixty-fiye years OF age, rose and re
sponded to DR.. Hoge's remarks. He re
| turned his earnest thanks for the cordla
greeting, and to DR.. Hoge personally for hi
ELOQUENT welcome. The Board OF Manager
unanimously accepted the invitation from
| the Virginia Society to come to this city tc
meet their friends in the cause here. W.
rejoice to meet so many, said he, interested
in this great cause. Whatever assistance
orr Society has rendered yours, 1t was NJ
more than our duty; and for duty such a
this the American Bible Society was formed
But these duties-such as the one JUS
alluded to-are pleasures. 1e had heard o
the hospitable Christians and families II
Richmond, who open their doors and thel
hearts to their guests, but now our eye
have seen it all.
Turning then to the audience he delivered
an appropriate address, referring to tn
pleasure it gave him and his associates t
celebrate the sixty-second anniversary o
the American Bible Society in the histori
city OF Richmond. We have before us tn
anomaly of thereputed parent younger thai
her children; "for," said he, "the pro
ceedings OF the siXty-ffth annual meeting 0
the Virginia Bible Society have just bee
| nrd hn hnd ranenflv hPan at th