Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-17
THE BOOK OF TRUTH.
ANNIVERSARY LAST NIGHT or THE
BIBLE SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA.
Address by DR.. Haygood On tho Bible ~
tho Text Book of Life-Otber
Exercises.

The seventy-seyenth anniversary OF the
Virginia Bible Society was celebrated last
night at the Second Presbyterian church.
The audience was large one. well nigh
filing the spacious edifce, and the exer-
ciscs we're of highly interesting charac-
ter. The address of DR.. Haygood was O
rich gem. and will have the effect OF
arousing increased interest in the work OF
this organization.
DIR. s. s. Lambeth pastor OF the Broad
Street Methodist church. who has inst
been honOred with reelection TO the presi-
dency, presided and conducted the exsr-
cises. Drs. Kerr and Laferty, Rev. hr:
Cutler. and other ministers and prominent
citizens occupied seats in the audience
THE ExERcIsEs OPEN.
AT a quarter past 8 o'clock DIR. Hoge er-
tered the church from the rear and was
accompanied by Rev. A. q. Haygood, u.
d., LII. d.. of Alabama, the orator OF the
evening, and Reys. j. Calvin stewart ana
William Il. Judkins, who were to take part
in the preliminary exercises.
After the organ voluntary DIR. Lambeth
read and the choir and audience joined IN
singing Part of the li3th Psalm, which
begins:
"Lord. have made Thy word my choice.
Ny lasting heritage"
Rev. J. Calvin Stewart read the nine
teenth Psalm. which opens; The hea-
vens declare the glory of God and the FIR
mament showeth His handiwork," and
prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Judkins.
of Centenary church. who blessed tho
Lord for the glorious revelations OF Hls
word, and asked that the efforts OF this
society IN the distribution of the holy
word may be ever more abundantly bless
ed than they have been heretofore.
The Annual Report.
After the hymn,
"God Ia the gospel OF His Sen.
Makes His eternal counsels knowD,'
had been sung, the cecretary, Mr.. L. l.. ID:
Walford, read the seventy-seventh annual
report of the society.
| The statistics for the year show an increase u
| donations a. follows:
Lsst year the amount received from churches
and individuals was $i.0ss.D. 1his year we
| have received sl,T7.aS Last year We reported
| 10000 volumes distributed at the cost value OF
| <3.6Sal6. This year We have 10 report law
| volumes distributed al the cost-pree value of
S.GSl.0S Thus showing largo increase n
! contrl buttons TO support the cause and oorrs-
! spending Increase OF work done.
The cost TO the society for colporteur's salary.
discount, and commissions allowed agents for
| circulating the scriptures was Si,2ll.2S: uetcash
returns TO the society tor sales IA t3,i9.G1, which,
added 10 tho amount received from donations,
| make a total Of net cash receipts for the ycar,
| sS01223; last year, $2,9S.3s.
| Tho society hiss purchased OF the American
Bible Society during the year ii,3ei volumes, az
| q cost of S3,s69.92.
The business expense Of the society for
| freights, drayage. postage, printing, travelling
expenros on business OF The society, &c. si57ss
once rent aud secretArys salary, toSO-tSai'
| SsO7.33
| GRATuIroUs DISTRIBUTION.
Calls on tho society for Aid for destitute fami.
lies, individuals, Sunday schools. inmates OF
almshouses, jatls, and the State penitentiary are
| constantly coming In. aud are being supplled
with care 10 protect the societys gifts from beips
placed where the funds would ce wasted, but
with equal caro- that no deserving or appro-
cistiRg case OF destitution shall go without re-
lief The number Of volumes gratuitously dis
! tributed Is 70i: the cost OF the same fl6ab. We
reported last year the special work OF bioie CIR
| culation TO the inmates OF tho penftsnuary; we
report now the work still goes on. "A Old pri-
| BOners 60 out taking their Bibles new ones are
constantly coming In, and more Bibles are want
ed. We have now al appeal asking Tor ntsy
| Bibles for the female departments OF this tnsti-
tuition, and we shall be glad II some friend Will
make q special donation 10 supply this want
WORK IN crrIgs.
Our colporteur working In and around Rich
| moud and Manchester found hundreds OF famt'
| lies without tho Bible and many who are entirely
| ignorant a. to what the Bible is.
Some persons were found as ignorant on thi,
subject as II thoy lived In the middle OF Afric'
OF China. In many Instances whole familie
were found living In one room whero mother an
father, sons and daughters all herded together a
cattle.
The distributor. Mr.. Wallbrdge, visited 7,6f
families Ia Richmond. Manchester. and sur
rounding country and found many without th'
Bible aud supplied by sale and grant over i.50'
volumes, and these mostly TO tho poorer classes
although many OF those In ootter circumstance
we're found without and supplied with the scrip
lures.
Statistics were also given OF visits to Peters
burg, Lynchburg, Norfolk. Portsmouth, Berk
Icy, Newport News. Hampton, &C., &C.
IN THE COUNTRY.
The counties partially reached by gifts anc
sales through the different agencies OF the 50
ciety are: stafford, Franklin, Amelia, Wash
ingtou, Caroline, Hecsenburg, Wise, Craig
Tazewsli. Frederick, Chesterfield, Augusta
Nansemoud, Alexandria, Prince william
wythe, Henrico. Charles City, Norfolk. Princes,
Anne, Elizabeth city, Dinwiddie, and Campbell
BUSINESS SUMMARY.
valne OF Bibles and Testaments sold. 1851 0'
Apnuities OF life.members. ~ N
Gratuitous distribution. 1l6 VI