The Portland daily press., 1888-05-28
BIBLE SOCIETY.

BIBLE SOCIETY.
Anniversary at the Chestnut Street
Church Last Evening.
Last evening the Bible Society of Maine
celebrated its anniversary at Chestnut
street church. The pulpit was occupied by
Rev. DIR. Hill, Rev. DR.. Dalton, Rev. Mr..
Hallock, Rev. Dr. Whitaker the pastor. and
Deacon Larrabee.
After an organ voluntary Rev. Dr. Fill
read the Scriptures and offered prayer. A
hymn was sung, after which Rev. Mr.. Hal
lock read the report of the trustees for Rev.
A. 81. Wright who was confined at home by
illness. The following is an abstract:
MR.. wRIGHT's REPORT.
Rev. Mr.. Wright's annual report shows
that during the past year the society has
had twelve Bible workers in the field under
Mr. E. b. Stilson, many OF them men OF
rare fitness. During the year the thorough
canvass Of Waldo and Piscataquis was COM
pleted and 69S7 families visited in the former
and 3377 in the latter In Waldo 592 families
mere destitute OF the scriptures, or one
twelfth of all in the county, and 1850 out OF
6987 were non church going, and 1881 chill
dren didn't attend Sunday School. Seven
towns in Waldo have no public religious ser
vices whatever.
In Piscataquis county about one-third Of
the families are non church going and
little over one thirteenth without the Bible.
In Mt. Katahdin plantation A families are
reported and only one praying man in the
Community. One worker travelled 100 miles
through the woods to Moosehead Lake and
found one-third of the families without the
Bible. Persons who had never heard
prayer offered were found and as result Of
o1s. Ixyfh In al no.
sons expressed desire to lead Christian
lives.
In Hancock only 225 families were found
without the Scriptures, but out OF 3.7S4 faml-
children were outside of the Sunday School.
Twenty-seven islands off the coast were
visited and thorough work done there. The
greatest deStltution in any one township eX-
isted at Deer Island. In kennebec county
1866 families were visited. Only one half were
non church going but only 1-25th found with
out the Scriptures 1t is feared that Kenne-
bee however is not eminently Bible read
ing county.
The years summary shows 1908 families
visited. OF which 10,730 were non church
gOers of these 1908, 1906 were Bibleless and
were supplied by the missionaries. 1892
copies of the Scriptures were given away,
$685. volumes sold for which $2,S54. 81 were
received. 12,267 youths and children were
found not connected with any Sunday School,
1915 miles wereltrayersed. l23 cities, towns
and plantations were visited, 12S public ad-
dresses were made, and 663 official letters
were written The incidental expenses were
$1,012.72, salaries S2,I23.53, cost of Bibles
given away $37967 total $3,515,67. The
collections were So, 3S6.10 or $1,229.57 less
than the cost of the work.
nominationally as follows: Methodists, A.
49S; Baptist, 1855; Free Baptist. 2,37S; Con-
gregatiOnalist, 2,334; Universalist 1,554;
Romanist 999; Adventist. 491; Episcopalian,
T.Nfk nth
denominations 9S3; without preference 2.274.
The trustees report has been adopted as
follows and put into execution:
1st-That some method be adopted for having
the work and needs of the Maine Bible Society
represented and annually presented In the Vari-
GUS religious conferences OF the State.
2d-That in connection with this measure an
annual circular be prepared for general dstribu-
tion in the churches. .setting forth the undenom-
national character of the society's work and its
claims upon the benevolence OF all Cnristlan peo-
pie.
A hymn was then sung, after which Rev.
DIR. Whitaker delivered the annual sermon
of which this is an abstract:
MIR. wHITAKER's ADDRESS.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
have read and reread the history, mission
and spirit of the Bible Society of Maine,
with great and ever increasing gratitude TO
God, because conscious that no human mind
can over estimate the necessity, Importance
nd benefcent results thereby secured to our,
homes and State.
Perhaps can best explain what / mean
and with it my appreciation Of the high hon
or that you have conferred upon me IN lnyit-
ing me to address you at this, your 18th ami
yersary by proving with Gods help that the
Bible has done more to bless the human
family and to advance its interests than all
other books combined. 1t was written IN
two languages, has been translated into 2Io
living tongues and dialects. has furnished a
lan m ON a uQ nr ha rftd QIUIl1ZQtl0n
20 different tribes or nations, and every trans
lati0n into the yernacular OF people mas
been accompanied with or followed by a
revival in its literature.
ing promises, its eternal verities.. its sancti-
flying influences it has pushed Its way up
through customs, laws, conversation, naDlts
OF thought, literature and universal Qesires,
until it stands confessed by friend and foe as
the most vital element Of power IN all the
great growing nations of today; one hund-
red and forty-fve million copies have
been scattered among every natlon, tribe
and tongue under the wide heavens; the in
terror tribes of Asia and Africa alone except
ed.
1t meets the warmest welcome and the
most bitter opposition is lisped by infancy
and chanted by age, proclaimed from pulpits
and studied In closets, is followed by the
living and quoted by the dying engraved up
on seals and cut upon t0mbs: and meeting
with contends with and overcomes the Veda,
the sharter, the Koran, the Zend-Avestar ana
and all forms of scepticism and irreligion,
the wide world over its enemies themselves
being the judges while its influence extends
through $500 years from the days of Moses
into the present hour.
Mr.. Whitaker then briefly sketched the
history of the Bible during the dark ages
and since then and referred to its command
ing position in the literary and religious
world to-day.
He argued that the Bible had blessed the
Of positive knowledge; by its demands upon
| human Thought in the investigation of its
evidences and truths by its science harmon
izing with the natural sciences and its phllo,,
| logical value, and by its spiritual life and
| power. He closed commencing the Bible
| Society of Maine to the prayers sympathy
and liberal support of all lovers of Christ
and humanity.
A hymn was sung by the congregation.
collection was taken and the benediction