The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-26
MAINE BIBLE SOCIETY.
Anniversary Services and Report of the
President.


The anniversary services of the Bible Socie.
ty OF Maine were held last evening at the High
street church, and were OF very interesting
nature. The High street choir furnished ex-
cellent music. The exercises were as follows
Invocation by the Rev. Mr. Fem, followed by
an anthem by the choir, Rev. Mr.. Bayley of
the State street church offered prayer, and the
Scripture lesson was read by Rev. Asa Dalton.
Deacon Larrabee read the annual report of the
society from which we learn that it never has been
Stilson, the agent, has visited 462 families in
towns. OF this number 1876 families were without
bibles and he supplied them. OF the 7,462 famil-
les g. IA were non-church going, 3,006 children
did not attend Sabbath school, and 4,S4O did. of
the whole number of families $50 were Adventists,
aists. f42 Episcopal, LOIS Free ' Bap-
lists, ,645 Methodists, 1040 Romanists, 204 Uni
tarians, 600 Universalists, 1874 other denomina-
1900 volumes sold, worth $609.11, AIT volumes
We're given away worth $95.71, Sc addresses were
delivered and 2, $40 miles travelled by the agent.
The donations amounted to S841 SO.
The treasurer 1T FL, r. r. Hinckleys account showed
receipts Of 81 69224 and expenditures 81 ,6Ss.92,
leaving balance in the treasury of 1892.
The librarian had on hand at last. settlement
books valued at $481 .85, and $318.76l cash. He
received last year books valued at s9so76 and for
his own charge $1.50, total Of $1782.S7. He has
delivered on orders, paid expenses and cash deliv-
cred to treasurer. ali told, 1886 0S, and in books
society $796.79, a total of $1782.87 Sst.
Mr.; Stilson's report shows books on hand April
lst 1888, valued at $165.14, books received valued
at $592:95, donations and collections Ss41.99
total 81 .600.08. On April LIST, 1884 he had $1514
worth books on hand, $9571 donated during the
year. cash paid treasurer $35318 salary 81 oS4.61.
incidentals $61.44 total S160OOS.
The society is worth $6,212.97 including Port
land Savings Bank deposit of S2.297.72, Belfast
city per cent bond 81 900, land and house on
Pleasant street $500.
Rev. Dr. Peabody then delivered q vary in.
teresting address, He said that when Girard
College was established the founder left pro-
vision forbidding any religious instruction.
Shortly after its organization he met its first
president, and he asked him. what was his
method of instruction. The president of
Girard replied, ST am required to give thor
ough instruction in history, and very import
ant part of the worlds history is contained in
the Bible, and is found nowhere else. / am
also required to cover the ground of the best
literature, and 1t is impossible to cover the
field faithfully and ignore the Bible and we
therefore use the Bible. l am required to give
instruction in morality, and I consider the
BibleIthe best manual for such instruction that
can be found"
DIR. Peabody said for quarter of a century
he had been by the requirements of his pro-
fession teacher of moral philosophy, and if
debsrred from the use Of the Bible he should
feel that the resources from which he could
draw would be very meagre indeed. We
would gladly give more extended report of
the doctors address did our space permit.
Interesting remarks were also made by the
Rev. Mr.. Fem, and Rev. DIR. Small.