Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-25
Vermont Bible Society.

The SEVENTEEN annual meeting OF this society
was held in the parors of Bethany church We'd
nesday afternoon, Rev. Peter Merrill acting as
president pro tenn, and Rev Austin Hazen as secre-
tary. The report of the directors was read by
Miss Alice Tenney OF Barre 1t noted the fact
that the Vermont Bible society had reached the
mature age OF three score and ten and was four
years older than the American Bible society, TO
which II was au Hillary 1t also sketched the gem
eral and special work of the society for the last
year, the number Of books sold, given away, and
in the repositories, with their values. Also the
work OF the colportenrs, Of which there have
been three In the field (Deacons Byington and
Aiken, and F. W. Newcomb), who have canvassed
and supplied forty-four towns Fifteen hundred
copies OF the report were ordered to be printed
and distributed among the churches. The treas
urer, Hon. John A. Page, reported the receipts
from all sources as 81 99S Is; sent to the American
Bible Society 81, $50 now In the treasury 81 712-
49, of which the society directed 500 to be sent to
the American Bible society TO be credited to the
Vermont society on book account. The society
voted to dispense with collecting agent for the
coming year, leaving the responsibility of pre-
senting the Bible cause taking collections for it,
etc, on the pastors and churches The following
officers were elected; President, Hon. Roswell
Farnham OF Bradford; Independents Rev. Leon
ard Tenney Of Barre and Rev. IL, A. Spencer OF
Montpelier; corresponding secretary, Rev. Leon
ard Ienney OF Barre recording secretary, Rev
j. IL, Babbitt of Swanton; treasurer, Hon. John
A. Page Of Montpelier; auditor, George w. Scott
Of Montpelier; directors, Rev. q. s. Smith of
Montpelier Rev. J. A. Sherburn of Gfoton
Rev Peter Merrill OF Mortified, j. G. Stimson
ESD, of Norwich, Rev. W. j. Kidder of North
field Hon, W. p Dillingham; of Waterbury, Rev
Austin Hazen OF Jericho Center, Rev William S.
Hazen of Mortified; Rev j. W. Bemis of North
field, Rev +. r. Wild of Newport, Rev. IL A.
Rogers OF MONTPELIER and Rev. V. NJ Hardy Of
West Randolph Adjourned to meet at half-past
o'clock, In the representatives hail. to hear
the address OF President NJ, II. Buckham.
At the hall Rev, 7. Merrill presided and read
the Scripture which was followed by prayer
The report OF the directors was read by Rev
Austin Ilazen. President Buckham introduced
his subject by remaTking uTon the fitness OF the
Bible Society meeting for their public service in
the legislative hall The first exercise of the leg
slature each morning WAS to read the Bible and
lmplore the blessing OF the God OF the Bible
The legislators thus recognized their dependence
upon God and his Word for aid in their legisa-
tive duties They rested In the consciousness
common to all and more OF less clear in the case
OF each that the Word of God was their directory
aud their inspiration. The principles Of tue
Bible was their guide In framing laws for
the state and the people. To bring out this
fact was his object This he aimed to do
Illustration, showing how the Bible held man and
treated him rs an Individual aud member of so
ciety and subject OF government il defined
his rights and obligations asserted his freedom
and his equality and responsibility, assumed and
maintained his infinite worth In the scale OF be-
all the conditions or life, The discourse was evil
IDENTITY carefully framed for an ideal or expected
audience, largely and iudiciously for Legislators
IA well as the Bible Society," and was worthy TO
instruct both those that were present and absent
We regretted that another and an unusually at
tractye occasion called many away who would
have been profted had they been present.