Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-22
Vermont Bible Society.

The annual meeting OF the Vermont Bible Soci-
ETY. was held in the Congregational church, St.
Adams, on the 10Th instant. The meeting In the
afternoon was very SHINY attended 1t did not
appear from the audience or exercises that suffi-
GENTLY careful preparation had been made for it,
Rev. A. d. Barber of Montpelier recognizing the
fact that the Bible is not by large classes at the
present day received as divinely authoritative,
spoke of the Bible as the Word of God, empha-
sizing the fact, and endeavoring to show its prac-
teal import and importance
Mr.. A. II. Fuller. distributing agent, spoke upon
the local work Of the society. The territory can
vassed by him was in the rural towns of Wind
ham county. The religious condition of some of
those towns is sad. Marlboro, with some seven
hundred souls, has only occasional SERVICE and
Guilford is but little better. In Halifax only
about one-haf attend church, and they not regu-
larry. This is true of the average of the county
One out of every twenty-five families visited in
the county had no Bible In tweuty-four of the
thirty-seven Roman Catholic families found with
out Bible the parents were unable to read The
children were supplied with our version There
have been over five hundred copies sold and over
two hundred copies donated in Windham county
At the meeting in the evening the report of the
treasurer, Hon. John A. Page, was read by Rev.
C. S. Smith. This report showed a balance in the
treasury OF about 81 $40. 93 Rev. j. W. Bemis the
secretary and agent, then read his report. Bible
distribution has been prosecuted to some extent,
but not 80 much as the previous year. He paid
tribute to the life and character of Mr. Converse
lately deceased, and said he had been uniring in
Bible work.
The annual sermon was by Rev. N Fellows of
Montpelier, from II. Timothy iii: 1917. "All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof," for correc-
ton, for instruction in righteousness that the
man OF God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works. Men, he said, often find
objection to machinery for the reason that they
do not understand it. Enlighten the mind, aud
the objection vanishes. The difficulty is in the
ignorance of the objector. So many objections
which spring up in regard to the Bible will vanish
If we keep in view the one great purpose for
which it is given. Its chief design is to teach
men the real object of life and reveal the condi-
tioa and help by which it may he attained. Its
object is the setting up and establishment OF the
kingdom of God in the soul of man. The Bible
shows man his responsibility and relation to
God and the rest of the race. The laws of God
are designed for the good of his people. Within
this volume lies the mystery of mysteries, and
happiest they who have the greatest love for its
precepts.
OF the inspiration of the Bible he said it is not
well for us 10 be over-anxious for theory of in
spiratiOn, claim that have the only one that
sensible men can have? Thank the Giver that
| we have living word under conditions that fit it
to nourish the spiritual nature of man. The di-
vine element furnishes instruction for mans life
the human supplies the conditions in which it is
made available and adapted to all his wants We
| cannot tell Just how the human and divine are
combined Separate these elements, and you
have not the living Bible, but dead book.
| The sermon was an able one, and strongly de-
| Tended the Bible az mans guide for this Aie and
the life to come. We give entire the closing par
agraph: Permit me to urge you to study dill
gently, and, Tor all purposes for which a revela-
ton is given, trust implicitly your English Bible.
am sincerely glad we are to have by an ap.
proved company of learned and cody men a
thorough revision of our translation of the Bible
We may expect it will prove exceedingly valuable
to the church and the world The use of many
words and idioms of the English language has
greatly changed in two hundred and fifty years
|
would now be needed to harmonize it with til,
usages of the language at the present day. Il
has sometimes seemed to me, however, that botl
the press and the pulpit have so much to say o.
varied readings and mistranslation, there is dan
ger lest the people come to feel they cannot fine
the way to heaven without knowledge of He
brew and Greek sufficient TO translate the Bib,
for themselves. By all means study the origina
tongues II you can. Learn all about the Wor,
possible, but first take deep draughts at the En-
glish well, then you may be the better prepared
TO trace the stream OF life to its source II yol
have time and opportunity. II we chance to hav
little knowledge OF Hebrew and Greek, let u
not flatter ourselves that the world is anxiousl,
waiting for our translation OF the Bible. 1t will
doubtless be profitable to us to make one, but it
still possible for "whosoever will " to be save'
without 1t, When the thirsty traveller, weary an
dusty from his long journey, comes to the fountain
by the roadside it would be folly for him to refus
to drink and be refreshed till he could trac
the water to its source, and determine just tn
way by which 1t reached the fountain from 1t
mountain springs, No matter whether 1t perco
lates through the soil flows through pipes
il water he needs; let him drink Does he dout
its purity, let him ask at the cottage hard by
where it has been used for two centuries; wher
generation after generation have daily been re
freshed as they drank. Has not our Englis
; Bible nourished the church of England an
; America for more than two hundred and iit
years Has 1t poisoned her children Has
, not given to her members growth, health, yea
/, and intelligence, that makes her compare favor
ably with the church OF any other land or age
Do not fear; do not fail to trust your Engls
Bibles. There are no changes to be made ths
= will materially affect the plan of salvation a
therein unfoded. Keep it as pure rs we may
Do not muddy the fountain where the people ar
to drink by digging too much after It's sources
Having the word comparatively pure, take freei
and prove its power to make the man Of God pc
feet, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The officers elected are as follows; Presiden
; Colonel Franklin Fairbanks OF St, Johnsbury
vce-presidents Rev. Leonard Tenney OF Barr
and Rev Church Tabor OF Montpelier CORE,
I, ponding secretary, Rev j. W. Bemis OF Nortl
: fed; recording secretary, Rev j H. Babbitt O
Swantoni treasurer, John A. Page of Montpelier
auditor, George W. Scott OF Montpelier and
board OF twelve directors
Al. a