The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1879-09-12

THE FIELD OF LABOR OF THE AMEM i
CAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY.

CAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY.
Notwithstanding the fact that the an
nOuncement had been made that tile SER
vices would begin early and close early,
the Missionary meeting at Bethany Bap-
tist church last night was not opened un-
Til some time after eight O'Clock. In
commencing, q hymn was given out by
Rev. T. NJ. Eastwood, the pastor, and
sung by the congregation, q scriptural
selec ion was # ad by Rev. b. r. Cook
and prayer made by Rev. DR.. Dyer.
DIR. q. j. johnson, Secretary OF the
Society, was then introduced and spoke
upon the field of labor of the American
Bible Publication Society. In commenc-
ing, he said that the whole word was
the field Of the Society for it had branch
es established far and vide. 1t had been
working I'm Belgium, Holland; 1t had
been working in Sweden for fifteen years
and in Switzerland had . Publication
Society. Blu. the proper field OF labor
Was America, where IL b d been actively
engaged in spreading the gospel for the
Ia fifty five yeas. 1t was organized IN
Washington, d. c., Feb. -, 1874, aud
has since been growing In scope and use
fulness.
The speaker then proceeded to treat Of
the vastness of the field Of labor of the
Society. He quoted from ex-premier
Gladstone, who said he would rather he
an American citizen to-day than . RD-
man under Caesar. The eulgies of Amer
ica, by John Stuart Mill and De Tocqu-
vile, were repeated and an anec Tote Ie-
lating how even John Randolph, of Ro-
anoak, was mistaken when lie p ophe-
sled years ago that the great West would
never be Inhabited was told. Que would
only have " look at the past to see how
the land had grown. Since l776 II
Lad increased fifteen fold, then there
were only 5000, 600 white men in Amer
lea, a ID now 40,OOO,000. But the Bap
tist church had enjoyed greater proper
tionate increase. From 25,OOO member
then, it had grown to 1000, ,0OO; or al
increase uf eighty fold.
Dwelling for long time upon this In
crease aud the proportionate increase
Christianity, the speaker finally entered
upon a speculation course a%.d dealt Il
flnure possibilities AID probabilities. l
would increase, he said, much faster thai
it had done, so far, and in another hun
d ed yea 8 would undoubtedly be q coun
try of 5OO,000,000 inhabitants. Tn
great question called up in conternplat
ing this picture was, not what the lan'
was to b. politically and commercial.
but what It vas TO be morally and re
ligiously. To bring this question int
reality was the work of the AmericaI
Baptist Publication Society.
Its plana for work we're divided Int
four distinct features:
First-Circul4tion of the scriptures
If the society did not do another thing
would be worthy Of pray rs, sympath
and aid.
Second-The difference Of genera
! christian aud denoIninational literature
: In this connection the speaker told
story Of how colporter in the West ,ha
/ raised up christian church in a godles
community through the instrumentillt
of little tract.
Third-The mission Of colportage.
Fsurth-Ths Sunday school. Thl
was the greatest power of all
The speaker closed with an earnes
plea in behalf of the Society and aske
them to not be backward in giving 1t ale
Another meeting will be held in Set
ond Baptist Church this afternoon at
o'clock.