Morning journal and courier., 1883-04-30
The Conn. Bible Society.

Anniversary Exercises at Center Church
 Addresses by Secretary Gilbert, Pro-
 lessor NOrthrOp, Rev. Dr. Smyth ana
 Rev. Dr, Hawes.
 The anniversary exercises of the Conneet1- l cut Bible society were held at the Center | church last evening. After the usual reig- 1 ious opening exercises Rev Dr. Hawes briefly l addressed the assembly. He said it was the first time that the Connecticut Bible society had celebrated it's anniversary in this city, and in the absence of the president, Hon. Benjamin Douglas of MiddletowD, it fell to his lot to preside. This society, he said, was
 organized five years ago and since that tweD-
 ty-six local societies have become auxiliary to it and the work accomplished would be ex-
 plained by the secretary, MT. Gilbert
 Mir. Gilbert on being introduced said that
 the idea, when this society was organized,
 was to concentrate Bible distribution. The
 work has been developing from that time
 until now with gratifying success. It has
 been a work of preaching the gospel from
 door to door. During this time one hun
 dred and twenty-six towns or about three
 fourths in the State have been visited. About 10, GOO of the families have been visited. Most have received the Bible as purchase. 7,499 Catholic families have been found with the bible which is very encouraging. We have no open opposition from this class at present. We have found 16, 239 children in Protestant families that do not attend Sun day school. In Fair Haven forty four Pro- | testant families have been induced to send their children to Sunday schools by Mir. Pettis. We have not made great effort to sell bibles, but we have given away large ! number of volumes of scripture. We record \ the facts of families as we find them in re- 1 gard to their denominational preferences and \ in some towns have induced all families to put themselves under some pastoral l care and in many instances many souls have been brought to Christ. We have found that it is possible to reach fami- lies who never attended church and bring l them under church influences.
 Professor Cyrus Northrop was the next speaker. He said that he had no profession al connection with this or any other Bible so- ciety. He thought the statistics as given by
 the secretary were correct as they had many
 times come under his observation. One hun dred and twenty-three towns in the State, many more purely American than New Ha- ven, present to'u the astonishing fact that there are on an average one hundred and twenty families who never go to church.
 What are we going to do with this state of
 things? The churches are the embodiment of Christ's teachings and if 8 pastor
 is to be confined within certain limits of his
 parish, you may depend upon it the
 churches and the pastors are shrlvelling in
 their circumference. do not believe, and
 never shall believe that when 8 war is in
 progress that it will ever be settled by gueril-
 la warfare, but by men and officers trained
 for the work. So I believe in this work
 that it must be done by men specially trained
 to the duties they have to perform. have
 listened with pleasure that I did not ex-
 pect tonight to the facts that have
 been presented in regard to this Con-
 nectieut Bible society. If the socie-
 ty has tact enough to bring men
 to listen with candor to what is said to them,
 then there is reason enough why this society should be sustained. I believe that the local pastors never can, never will, reach
 these families who never attend church, and if some other agency will accomplish it let us have it. Don't you believe that this socie- ty is reaching these neglected families? The vital point is the gradual isolation of the American people from the Christian church, and if an organization comes that is able to do this work, let us in the name of Christ help on the work and let it be done thorough ly and for all time.
 Rev. Dr. Smyth was the last speaker. He said that all would agree that they must seek out the lost, which could not be done by
 sitting in our pews Business men would give money if they were certain that strict
 
 in doing good. There the question arose whether this society was doing good. So far as he had learned it was. He would not
 have the society supplement the church, but the work is so great that some simple and effective means are needed to reach families | that are constantly moving into cities and towns. As Christian church exists for the ! good of the community at large, so must l the morality of the gospel be brought to the people.
 Rev. Dr. Hawes said all the work had not been done even in our own community. He \ thought it fitting that he should say that at an early day the question would be asked if such a work as had been done in the outly- \ ing towns should be donein New Haven, and l he hoped all would be ready to respond in | the affirmative.
 l The exercises closed with singing and the | benediction.
 l Hopkins Grammar School Victors Over WfuistOn.
 The ball game Saturday afternoon between the Grammar school and Williston seminary | hines, on the Howard avenue grounds, was
 attended by upwards of 150 persons. The game was called and Williston went to the | bat. After four innings had been played it | commenced to rain, which caused delay of 1 twenty-five minutes. During the eighth inn | ing Hull, catcher for the visitors was struck | by ball and had his thumb split open. The | visitors left on the 6:34 train for home. The
 score stood: Hopkins 15, Williston ?.