The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1879-09-10
HISTORICAL SIX tTCH
TlRzAH BIBLE SOCIETY.
ny THE REV. ID. p. ROBINSON.
Read before the Society at its Pend An-
n,rersary, on the 25h ofJuly, 1879
OF

nirersary, on the 25th ofJuly, 1879
In the Spring of 1857, the Lord put
Il into the minds of Tirzah and vicini-
). to organize Bible Society in that
community, The surrounding society
was not at all i'm pressing need for COP
les OF the word OF God. For by their
own efforts hesupply was nearly equal
to the demand. The good people, who
engaged in this enterprise, desired to
be usefnily employed in the LIrIs
vineyard. And the department of
christian bcncvolence was best suited
TO their circumstances. In forming
Iirzah Bible Society the first aim was
to supply the home dcstilution hut
thsir principle object was that the
whole world might receive the printed
word, and be won to God.
With whom the idca Of forming a
Bible Society at Tirzah first originated.
the historiagraphcr has not been able
to ascertain. The first that mentioned
it to him was Col. w. w, Walkup.
On the 25th July. 1857, n meeting
OF citizens was held at Tirzah Church
tor the purpose of considering the sub
ject. Maj. John w. Nesbitwas called
to the chair, and Col. j. NJ. Stewart
requested to act as Secretary. The
object of the meeting having been OK.
planned, 1t WAS promptly agreed, Bi-
bic Society should be organized
The following persons were appoint
ed committee to draft Constitution:
Col. W. w. Walkup, Samuel Faulk.
ner, Samuel Rosscr, Hugh Wilson and
D. Nj. Stewart. The Constitution they
drafted, and Offered was adopted. Scv-
cnty-onc white and fifteen colorcd per-
sons subscribed to the Constitution.
and became members of the Society,"
Or the whites, twenty-oue were femal,.
and fifty were males. Of the colorcd
thirteen were males and two were fc
males. The whole amo,,n. contribute,
was forty-six dollars and fifty cents
lhlrty-nine dollars were contribute,
ny the whites and seven dollars an,
fifty cents by the colored. The aver
age contribution of the whites wa,
nearly fifty-hvc cents each. That o
the colored was exactly fifty cents
This was very liberal on their par,
when we remember they were thar
slaves. But the whites have all thu
tHne acknowledged and encouraged
their hberality by giving their race
-. most of the Bibles distributed in home
supply. 1t pleased the Lord to give
the S"Glety very encouraging com
mencement.
The Society ut first received thi.
name: "The Bible Society of Tirzah"
and was auxiliary to the American
Bible Society. The day appointed for
holding each anniversary was the las,
Saturday in July.
The officers chosen for the first year
were, Maj. John w. Ncsbi,, President
John Stewart Esq, Vice President
Hugh Wilson Esq, Treasurer, and
Col. }. NJ. Stewart, Secretary.
On the 3lst of July, 1858, the Society
observed its first anniversary. Rev.
l.. Mcdonald of Chester, S. c., was
appointed to deliver the anniversary
address, but, by some means, he was
not present. At this meeting members
Contributed FIVE dollars-the sum re.
auisite to constitute the very worthy
and efficient President, Maj. John w.
Nesbit, member for life of this Socie-
W; and thirty dollars " constitute him
life membes of the American Bible
Society. The amount contributed this
year was S29. 60. The work of fer.
Feting out, and supplying home desti.
tutions was devolved on the Executive
Committee. The same officers were
Continued for the following year.
The second Anniversary occurred
Pn the Both Of July, 1859. The ad.
dress thi" year was delivered by Rev.
j.. Mcdonald of Chester, S. c. OF
THIS address the following record was
made. "The address was well received ;
and possessed far more merit than
mapy that are published, in our day .
and on which large amount of praise
is beytawed."
At this meeting, Rev. l.. Mcdonald,
Col. W. w Walkup and Rev. DIP.
kObinson were constituted life mem.