The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1879-09-10


years funds were all forwarded to the
American Bible Society. 1t is a com
plimcnt to the community that its des-
titutions were so small, that one small
society could fully supply it in two
years. 1t il n compliment to the Sc
cicty that it prosecuted the work vigo-
rously, and did not relax its efforts till
the home field was thoroughly explored
and supplied.
BY unanimous vote of the Society
the same officers were continued.
The third Anniversary was ce!cbra-
ted July 2S, 1860. The orator for the
OCCASION uot being present it develved
upon Rev ID. p. Robinson to supply
his place. At this meeting John Stew
art Esq. Nicc-Prcsidcnt of the Society,
Abram Neil, an aged and venerable
member, Hugh Wilson Esq, Treas.
urcr and Col. j. II. Stewart, Secretary.
were constituted litc-mcmbcrs Of the
Society by friends contributing the
sum required by The Constitution.
The finances this year amounted to
s7i50. And as there was still enough
Of books on hand to supply any dcs-
titntion that was likely to arise at
home, all the funds on hand were do
mated to the parent society.
We now come to n very cvcntful
period in the history of the National
Union, rs well as of this Society,"
On the 18th of April, 1861, hostilties
commenced between the two great sec
tlons Of the Government. ... Armies
were marching and countcrmarching.
The country was studded with militia
ry camps; when citizen soldicrv
were drilled and prepared for active
service at the front. Our sons and
brothers, fathers and husbands were
torn from the cndcurmcntS of home ::
and subjected to the tolls, privations
and pcrils of the tented field. Sad.
sad indeed, were the results of this
tratcrnal strife. Widows and orphans
tolIIng III sorrow. pining in poverty
and weeping in solitude and cannot
he comtorted, because loved ones arc
| not. For four long, painful years the
wdr-stormragcd and when il subsiticd
+, our entire territory was n sccfe @
70 monrning, lamcntation and woe. Gu
l Country, our Church, our families an,
: our Society were all sufferers. Blu
| during this dark, mournful period, ou
Society, like the poor woman in TIN
Gospel, done what il could. Tn
blockade enforced by the Northern au
I thoritics, cut off Tirznh from inter
course with the parent society. Hu
to the enduring honor of the Amcri
can Bible Society be it recorded tha
} during the whole period of hostlite
! between the North and South, this so
: ciety wasas ready and willing to donat
} the-Holy Scriptures 'torthe .Confader
y ate soldiers as to the Federal aamy.-
|. And, it WIS only by military interfer
cnce these books were prevented from
finding their way into the Southerl
; army. In this state of things, TRIAL
did not wish to be Idle and, therefor,
withdrew as an auxiliary to the Amer
lean Bible Society so that in an indie
pentcnt state she could employ her re
sources in some field of usefulness
) But that blockade which prevented nc
cess to the parent society, also cut u
of from the British and Foreign Bibl,
SGclcty and all other sources from
~hcnoc bibles could be procured. Al
the Scriptures that could be procured
by gift or purchase were promptly for
wardcd to the destitute soldiers: Thes,
however, were comparatively few
!. The contingencies Of war virtual,
paraliscd her sincws for time. Will
these surroundings, on the 9th of Ju
ly, 1851, the Society held Its fourth
anniversary; which was the first pain
fui meeting since its organization.
During the year 1869 the war-storn
ragged all over the land with rclentles,
fury. Gloom and sorrow were de
Plcted in every countenance. And the
plainsive inquiry everywhere was
what will We do' What can we do ?
! And as troubles do not ordinarily
come single handed, another dark
portentous cloud gathered over our
Society. Maj. JOHN WHITE NEsBrr
our efficient, reverend President from
the beginning, departed this life
amidst the comforts of n we'll anon,