The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-12

by authorized, paid, and responsible agent
was entered upon. The success attending
the labors Of these missionaries has beer
most cheering, and met the most sanguin,
expectations OF the Board.
The Board Of Managers OF the American
Bible Society, In the report Of 1880, afte
speaking OF the success OF the auxiliary sys
TEN in the densely-pOpulated States, say:
"In country like this, with vast ex
tent OF territory so sparsely settled in many
portions, the auxiliary system alone coult
never reach and supply the people with Tho
scriptures. 1t Is evide2i TO the Board tba
other means must be adopted if all the home,
in this land are 10 be chcered by the blessed
light which the Bible alone can give"
Three years (nOw fouf) ago the system oI
colporiage was adopted by that Board fol
the more destitute pats OF the country
During the year 1879 the colporters EN-
/ ployed by that Society either directly or in
directly through auXiliaries visited 270, Gas
families; they found G4 951 destitute of the
Bible. They supplied 4S,j62, beside %, l9l
individuals.
The results 30 commended the system that
The Boar d determined TO greatly enlarge that
, department OF their work. Need wesay that
with such results we feel warranted in con
tinuing the only system Of Bible work which
is adap'ed 10 a State so sparsely settled a.
ours l., aud which alone gives promise OF
securing the object for which this Society
wa OrganizedIviZ , the distribution OF the
! Bible without n0ie or comment among all
The destitute families Of our Common
wealth: II IS the simplest, most direct, and
successful, as well A. economical, method OF
/ placing the Bible in the homes of the desti-
/ tute.
The following missionaries have la'
bored for the Society: Rev. w. B. Oney
Rev. X. y. Sanford, ". {. Cren'
shaw, Rev. Thomas Boyles, Rev. r. s
Withrow, W. W. Mos, W. w. Richard
sou, Mr. PrudenS, David Anderson
Rev. Mr.. CraighiI, Henry Wiugfield
Rev. James Baly labored as 4 volunteer
IN parts of Chesterfield, and Rev. Robert
| White laO0red also as a volunteer mission
ary among the c0lored people in counties
on The south side, and The Rev. Ed. Wash
| burn in Buckingham. We have no definite
reports from them.
The following thirteen counties haye been
| thoroughly canvassed and supplied: Hen
rica, Washington, Lancaster, King anC
! Queen, Gloucester, Franklin, Wythe. Pat
rick, Henry, SpoiSylvania, Campbell, Lu
neabure, Nansemond. the city Of Manches
ter. In part: The city OF Richmond, Pitt
! sylvani2, Smyth, Hinover, Scott. These
missionaries have travelled IL 63S miles
visited 13.20S-4,I0l colored and Q, l0i
white-familes; 4S9-1 59S cOlOred and
/ S9l white-Of them were found destitute oil
tue Scriptures, and l.7jl-1 OPS colored and
! o23 wblie-wcre supplied either by sale OF
! by grants, IN whole or in plIt, besides 41C
cOlOred and $40 white-tOlal, 1.0i0-indi-
yid1as and 164 Sabbath schools. They
have sold SOC Bibles and Te.taments,
valued at S1.601.74. They have gwen TO The
destitute famLes, individuals, and Sabbath
| schools unable TO purchase LOO Bibles and
Testlments. valued at S2S7 A.. They have
labored / ,jj3 days; cost III cents TO visit
each family; 80! cents per day for each col
porter.
DEP0SITARY WORK.
From The Deposiiary we have supplied AZ
destitute families and individuals, II Sab
bath schools, and charitable institutions,
giving 400 volumes, valued at SG2.39; Is
annual members, - volumes, valued at
S1S.4 As; 50 life.memberS with 800 volumes,
valued at $50.
We have is.ued since April, 1880, 4 264
Bibles, 1910 TCstaments. go Portions,
valued at s2,SGj 7S. The cOlpOrtors have
returned $50 Bibles, PIG Te>taments, and
Ill Portions, valued at S4G7. 7.0G-making the
actual distribution II, ,i44 volumes, valued
at 81 39S.12.
| At the beginning OF the year the Society
had In hand. S7O4.12. Received from the
sales OF Bibles aud collections on old
accounts, S2,527 33; from collections on
donation account from churches and indi-
vdualS, SS4s.Of-mlking the total receipts
to date, S4,079 40. Paid for missionary
i I,I. 10 fott-
boxing. carriage, office rent. salary, fuel,
postage, and stationery, S3,4Jl9S. Leaving
balance en- hand OF 1851 81, a detailed
statement OF which will be found in the
| printed report.
The - missionaries employed directly by
the American Bible Society have IabOrcd
j,j23 days in 81 counties. Thirly.seven Of
these they report as thoroughly canya'sed,
I partially, and IN Is the work is still in pro.
greSs. They baye visited 5l,32G families.
found $50 destitute, and supplied 1905,
besides 4, ,29j destitute individuals. They
have sold 2S,jSj volumes. valued at
IS. .42l.32: distributed erliuitously S022
volumes, valued at 81 497.47-salary aud
expenses, SG,474 s3. The actual cost OF the
work 10 the American Bible Socl"ty ba>
been S7,972 80. II has cost TO visit each
family l24 cents. The average expense per
day for each colpor'er has been Sl.l7. They
have RENTED to the Ameiicln Bible So
cielv from sales Of Bibles over and above
their expenses 81 ,947 40.
The Two Societies have visited G4j j34
families, found 12.l7S destitute, supplied
6j9. besides ), 33j individuals; distributed
S47,93S.
ONE MILLION SOULS VISITED.
When we look over the past ten years and
see what has been accomplished in The work
Of Bible distribution, the sole Object for
which this Society was organized, we have
great reason for devOut gratitude. One
hundred and eighty-nine thousand eight
bundled and eighty families have been
visited, and the Bible carried to their homes
and offered at such pIlce that even lbe
poorest could pay, and to thousands OF
these the Bible has been given who never
would have had their homes cbcered
by IFS divine light except through this
agency. These families visited constitute
a population OF not far from 10000 souls,
showing that nearly the entire population
of the State has been visited by our mission
aries. The destitute families that have been
suppIied, together with the destitute indi.
viduals, would make population Of not far
from 100000 souls.
Since October, 1871, lS36S4 Bblts ana
Portions have been distributed TO the peo-
pie Of this State through this agency, in co.
operation with (and mostly at the expense OF
the American Bible Society.
We may reasonably ask what other organ
iZalion or agency IN the State has accom-
plsbed such results in such quiet and un-
obstruive way? Loved by all Christians
is4be Bible work, but not especially cured
for by anv. it has gone forward in its grand
mission. often amid great discouragemenIs
and frequently embarrassed for The want OF
means TO meet its obligations and TO enlarge