Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-08
THE BOOK OF TRUTH.
,vNlJAL MEETING LAST NIGHT OF THE
VIRGINIA BIBLE SOCIETY.
c.nori Of the Board Of Msnagcrs--Eio.
o,spt Address by bishop Randolph
other Brief Speeches.

other Brief Speeches.
Tho sovcnty-eighth anniversary meeting
= ,bo Virginia Bible Society was held last
s,,bt at the Seventh-Street Christian
.tn,cb. About three hundred persons
we're present
rbe exercises were opened by the sing
.o-,f the Doxology-" Praise God from
'r,m al blessings how." After tho invo-
alton by the president, Rev, DIR. Dashiell,
t,nn was sung. This was followed by
s'sn,nre readings by Rev. DIR. W. Il. Jud-
i-a1 and a prayer by Rev. DIR. Kerr.
rHg ANSCAL REPORT.
,,,,bcr hymn was sung, after which tho an
..frcport of the Board of Managers was read
p, no secretary, T. L. ID. WalfOrd, as follows:
~ lreaeutiDg this the soventy-eighth annual
-i II the Virginia Bible Society the Board OF
y,-sccrs would express their grateful acknOw-
Clements 20 all churches, individuals, and
.,r.4riss for the courtesy, sympathy, and flnan-
.-I siI which have been extended TO the socety
.. lr- year Just closed. They have been able 70
--, 41 ihe work and meet every expense in
.rrrI in circulating the Scriptures by tho aid
a.. ,artripuicd.
-t. an-iciy, selling tho Scriptures at cost OF
-,,rIfacture and giving 20 the destitute who are
,,te 90 buy, Is necessarily dependent on the
-..t-itutipns of tho friends OF The Bible cause
t.fsy this expense.
',.-h9u not In this report attempt 20 enter
.~ts ssfails of the work or give incidents from
,rs ,HIpoYtcurs reports, as wO have done In
s-ner years, but allow us 20 say that the need
rc Bible seems 70 increase rather than d.
ArrEAs ARB URGENT.
Arrli-aiions ana appeals como 20 us now as
a--.ftlY bs In former years, and the work Of our
..rUrfcIrs show as great need Of diligence and
rr#-4fity as az any time since We have known
rn hn "a ~ Int
10 ..rwaiiou Of new families, and emigration
.. fle state continue % supply now openings
f-lArstian work and new homes that have 10
De-. applied with the Word Of Life. Even In our
ff.s and cities many are found by visitation and
r.ry without the Bible I'm their houses, and In
....r set tions Of the State the destitutiOn Is
-..H greater than In the towns and cities.
Ha -1ciety has endcRyored to take advantage
.t.rrry available opening for the proper circula-
t.u % tho Bihle whore 10 was thought IL would
.srigrcciated, bat at the same time we try to
D.. -.reful not TO waste the means OF the society
,,f.itng It's books whorc they will not be cared
f.u- used.
ua society has circulated during the yonr
..N5i volumes Of Scripture, tho total cost OF
,.,sn hundred and forty-fve volumes were dis
,.n.tad gratuitOusy % the destitute at q cost
r sI4u.77; 10 volumes were distributed
.r.IEh lifc menb bers for Rnnuities on account
n. American Bible Society.
|.lr hundred and twcnty-nine Of the volumes
--.t.l we're 20 aid thirty-two weak or mission
,l.I.y schools, ninoty-si1 were granted 70 pri-
..-.rs. and the remainder 20 inmates of hos
,,.,- aud almshouses or TO families and indi-
..ll- anxious to have the Truth, but not able
nt.s.
PURPOSE FoR TIE FUTURE.
Ir conclusion, as TO the purpose Of the So
-str .g i.r iuturc IL intends TO continue its et-
...t. 9. supply every homo with the Bible who
g.f have O.. and not only every home but II pos
..Ha p. awaken such an interest on the impor-
,-rf subject OF Biblc-reading as 20 induce the
e f,.fr "a o aa vi = ~
..v-..hoo superinteudents, and teachers 70
..r.'. ir me effort 20 supply every child who cen
r.sIvIth q copy Of the Holy Scripture 70 have
s.. U1'l its own.
W. Enow this is a great undertaking. but the
~. is the Lords and We as His people may un-
s..-sse it IN His name.
W.. a'icyo tho great Head OF the Church ap-
.-s.- the work and We hope His people will say,
Hr. W. W. Henry was introduced after the
,...Hr ~ this report, and supplemented the
.0r,u.s of tho board with lew explanatory
marks Hc said that the Bibles given away
i,ff- society were procured az cost, ana that
r.-0.Icty only paid about 80 cents per volume
.-r.u. IN no other way, added he, could as
rary lo distributed n 80 little cost. lie COM
-.,,o3 upon the economy practiced by the sOci-
cg. aad asked for further assistance.
Bishop Randolph's Address.
H.hop Randolph was then introduced by the
President 10 deliver the anniversary address.
bishop Randolph In opening his address re-
~
H l,l3-a period OF public excitement and
.,r..ry. whom second war with England was
being saged, and what was worse, when the
tIWuyC o. the eiRhteenth-centuTy tnhdelity OF
tr.r had spread over the land.
The FIRST society" said he, " that circulated
O.. HfIe u our English tongues was founded IN
o.. Ii,e town OF Lutterworth, England, in 1875.
o. Lu WlckHic seems tOhaye been the first TO see
ta, one great need Of his country and the first
aru hqI the courage 20 resolve upon her eman-
..Iol from Ignorance aud priestcraft by trans
.,lrfae Bible into the English tongue. single
sentence from ono Of his sermons VIII give yon
O.. rl.s of the way ne preached. 'All TRUTH he
s..l, '.s contained IN Scripture
THE WORK or wICKLIFFE.
amidst great hardships Wicklife translated
'r. H.ule and gathered around him society who
made manuscript copies as fast ae he translated
o. ~Iauxi0u= were some of the yeomen OF those
times for the Word Of God that they would come
u-. % load II hay for a single chapter In the
G.-g.L and offer 90 supply the community with
slrl 'or the winter for a copy Of tho Epistle 10
ur Romans. This was long before the art OF
printing was discovered, but somo OF those manu-
s.rr'- are still preserved IN the British Museum
After WickliIe's death persecution followed
lu a.I DEGREES we're issucd ordering that
b.. bUly b- cast out of consscratod ground. In
i.ls hands took his remains from the grave
srt .Dsr burning them on the arch crossing the
r..r ~Eiu hurled them into the water. Tho
>sf b.-c thr ashes 70 the Avon and the Avon
I.- t.Hu into tho Severn ana the severn INTO
o.. great Orean, whore, as Fuller said, they were
rar.. el over tho WOrld-an emblem OF his doc
i... This was the first Bible society,"
TUE NEXT PIONEERS.
Iva7aB ana his followers were the next
.lrHr- in the distribution Of the Bible. 1yn-
.l. translated aud printed the New Testament
10 WORMS and sent 600 copies TO England. He
v1- betrayed % the Catholics and forbidden 10
'..-. bat continuing In his good work he was
'..ir put In prison and then burned at the stake,
t'.. PRAYING, Lord Jesus, open the eyes OF
g.. hing of England" qIenry Willy This pray
chad it- effect upon the King, bad az he was,
eng lI the foundation for the Protestant
t..r..
Ta speaker dwelt at length upon the futile
i.l.f- Of lufdcls % force upon the world thelI
'. s,Ws aud commented upon the comfort
.r-.i by tho Scriptures, which we're aoap'eu
t.,..tluaI tastes.
}. ..aa..ullue he gave IN beautiful language
s..l ui The socicty's work, referring In touching
H.'t- 90 the comfort afforded during times OF
N.r 'a the widows and fatherless, and In times OF
i...e % tAe prodlgal and weak
is aiir'ss was a mastery enort charactet-
N.i iT an the vlgOr and tenderness Whlch lhNa-
ia..g mark the Bishops style.
DR.. HOGEs APPEAL.
teg. Dr. ". y. Hoge was then introduced to
a'a7er tle collection appeal He said that aiter
Q. remarks % Mr.. Henry and Bishop Randolph
t".I.l ua Unnecessary TO mako such an appeal;
i'-r words lad already been sufficient 10 pro
e-'a Practical results. He urged those present
'7u1.rul'- literally, rs In their new ana m
'va.a Work the society would greatly need
i-li- to carry On its good purposes.
ll" teuediCtiOn was pronounced by rev.
t-Uez huL
The TESTIMONY IS CONFLICTING
Witnesses for HeiseI. Charged with As