Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-23
/ SPREAD THE TRUTH.
Work OF The Virginia Bible Society
Commended to the Public.
ANNUAL ADDRESS ny DIR. nnoor<s.
The Eminent New York Divine DIS
cus.cs the Relations of the Word
10 Human Affairs and Heartily
rrres It's General Distribution.

The eighty-second anniversary meeting
OF the virginia Bible Society at st. Paufs
church at o'clock Sunday after
noon was the most important event In
the history OF that organization. a vast
concourse Of people, representing almost
all denominations. were in attendance.
Clergymen occupied seats in the chan
eel and in the front pews. while both the
main auditorium and the gallery were
packed with spectators.
The services. which were simple and
impressive. were presided over by Rev.
DR.. Robert F. Kerr, president OF the So
ciety. After the singing of the opening
hymn Bishop Newton led in short
service. consisting Of the confession, the
creed. and the Lords Prayer. DR.. Young
read a passage OF Scripture. DR.. Hoge
offered prayer. and Dr. Campbell. gene
raj agent. made a statement Of the work.
showing that within the past two years
the number Of Bibles distributed has
doubled The society was never in
better condition, and IS doing q great
work
The feature Of the occasion was the
annual address. by Rev. Arthur Brooks.
y. D., of the Church Of the incarnation.
New York. and brother of the late
Bishop Phillips Brooks, of Boston.
DIR. BROOKSS ADDRESS.
DIR. Brooks spoke. in substance, as fol-
lows:
1--WE are met this afternoon to consider
the subject Of Bible distribution, as re-
presented in the work of the Virginia
Bible Society. II is a subject closely con-
nected with our appreciation and value
of the Bible. II is by such distribution
that the value Of the Bible becomes
known. II is in consequence of such value
that the distribution goes on with ever
increasing rapidity. If we are men whose
minds are set upon our duty.
Il hope and presume that this evening
the faith and love Of all Of us toward our
Bible is strong and unfailing; that we
delight in the deepest and minutest study.
which is given to it to-day; that
we are as sure Of its power to touch
the hearts OF men as they study It
and learn Of it's truth. as we are Of
the character of our friend TO i'm
press itself upon every new per-
son that he meets and that our con-
fidence in our Bible is as strong
a. our confidence in the world Of na-
ture which is about us. And. therefore.
It is not 10 strengthen our faith, but
rather to consider our duty that l feel
that we are met this afternoon.
TOUCHED EVERY GREAT ERA.
bible distribution has been connected
with every great era of Christianity. Its
primitive days produced and circulated
the books OF the New Testament Well
lid the early prosecutors understand
that to suppress the books would be
to destroy the religion. II was the books
which wsre demanded 1t was tho books
which were defended.
1T was the circulation of the books OF
the Bible which, on the fall Of con-
stantinopl-. in 1i53 stimulated the study
Of Greek. and neither of the three Ian
suages-Hebrew, Greek. or Latn-could
become dead while the Scriptures circu-
lated In them. And II ii was the circula-
ton Of the Scriptures which gave the
literary form TO modern learning. equally
was ii those Scriptures which. with the
discovery Of printing. were prepared TO
give the substance for modern thought
Bible distribution has prevailed over the
fateful and fruitful eras OF the worlds
life. 1t is impossible TO believe that it is
not equally Indispensable now.
THESE LITERARY TINES.
These are literary times. Books and
publication are necessary for every
great movement now. And the prepara-
ton for such q time I'm a religion with
a great book for - lasting earthly
possession il striking manifest For
to-day more than for any other time
Moses ana Isaiah and jeremiah wrote
books. Tradition would have answered
FOR other times, but not for these With A
divine power - well as foresight the
preparation was made For next 10
a liyDC man what IL greater than Il
book rs a marvellous union of matter
aud Of spirit? book Is In itself but
the conventional use of arbitrary marks
on the most perishab,e of materials. IL
Is IN its power and possibility the highest
expression OF spiritual force reviving
mems hearts-transforming the nations,
reforming the world. \ book is an
incarnation. and IL was the truest pre-
paration for the preservation Of the
Word OF God tina, the worlds great
book was formed In the ages Of Jewish
aud Christian revelation. and was made
ready to serve these days of high thought
which are fun Of the spirit OF the Master
Surely not now can the hook be spared
from a book-loving and using age. The
books prepared in times of darkness
ara here to be sent abroad In the age Of
bEH' " hl41-f NNhi-iAo - W.
looked.
WHOLE WORLD ONE.
These. too. are days OF unusual in
terest and spirit. The whole world is
one II is II universal history which IS
wanted. and which 1t is impossible 10
g":. We know now that mankind Is
enc, and that there is a unity TO ITS
history which the mere recital OF details
never can give. Somewhere the great
nerve of human action must be exposed
and the heart of human life be shown.
And the Bible with its story of God and
OF His power showing us the way or
human nature from dim prehistoric
times TO the opening of modern story
Is the history which man wants for the
understanding and guidance OF his own
life Men are strangely confused, they
move hither and thither: they have los1
hold on their old traditions
mo longer does the Anglo-Saxon race
think OF mythologies. They have lost
their power. The Bible shows TO all
mon 4 greater and better religious an
cestry which all may learn and adopt,
and by which the preparation Is made Tor
the universal and all-powerful religion.
As the spread of Judaism gave the OPP
portunity for the Apostles preaching, so
the Bible with its great story of the
universal rule of cod, It's statement OF
the simple moral law and or It's power
with its stories of great heroes or long
range OF centuries, lays the foundation
for the true religious growth or man
kind as our great brotherhood In CHRIST.
NONE OTHER DOES 1T.
No other religious book does the work,
no product of historical knowledge or
philosophical reasoning thus holds the
wor.i together, and ministers TO mans
growing and absorbing sense or unity. AS
never before the heart of man cries out
for "a book which shall be independent.
OF time and OF case, and the Bible must
be given to supply the need. IL haa 70
teacn unity once TO distraetao :1cs.
Not less great and impeiS tive Is It's mis-
sion Of mlnisterlng 10 the passion when
il has itself created.
WHAT Is CHRISTIANITY?
but, above ALL We ask what Is Chris
family? IL IS the knowledge or Christ;
its power lies alone in Jesus Christ as
a living person Valuable and necessary
as its doctrinal and ecclesiastical elements
are. the one becomes burdensome, the
other becomes formal when Christ and
His life are lost from sight. il Is re-
llgion which has refused TO be contained
within dogmas and forms. No man
can be x Christian VINO knows them
alone. He must know Christ. How shall
ne learn OF Him. Try 10 tell His story
and you perceive the difficulty. Read
what others have written, and you bless
III. hi, f,,l 70 hut Sff