The times., 1897-05-03
THE C|TY's BIBLE SOCIETY
Sixty-Ninth Annual Report Sub
mitted to the Members.
SCRIPTURES FREE FOR ALL
No Sala ried Agent Has Been Eti-
ployed, But willing Hands Dis
tribute the Bible-Two Legacies
Made to the Society Last Year.
Denominations Working Together.

The sixty-ninth annual report of the
Washington City Bible Society was SUD
mtted last night to the congregation at
Foundry M. L. Church. The exercises
attending the event differed but little from
the usual church services, but were PIE
sided over by Rev. DR.. A. w. Pitzer,
The sermon was preached by KeN. Dr
Clark, pastor of the church, and devo-
tioDal exercises were conducted by Rev.
Or. Fair. of Richmond, Va.
The Rev. DR.. PitZer thanked the mem
bers of the society for having again elected
him their president, and referred fee!ingly
to the late William j. Sibley and The
legacy he had left the society. He said
II know of no Investment of money on
earth SO safe as that of aiding in distribut-
ing Gods word" He introduced the
pastor, who selected his text from the
First Epistle TO the Thessalonians, h:13.
his theme was, 1T Worketh Effectually.
Among other things the pastor said that
there have been many inventions sought
out for the benefit and improvement OF
the race. Men have made all kinds OF
scientific inventions, but when they come TO
inquire into >the human heart they are
puzzled.
The Bible teaches us the way to the
heart. 1t teaches man what he is; II
brings man before himself. 1t shows
us man is the child of God and that Jesus
Christ came into the world for the good
of man The cultivated nations of the
earth are the ones where the Bible Cir
culates most extensively. The Bible is the
foe TO all that causes poverty
The report as submitted by Secretary
James v a Shields said in part:
"Fellow-members; Your board o. man
ayers, with gratitude to God for his mcr-
cics to us, present this sixty-ninth annual
report.
During the past year no salaried agent
has been employed, nevertheless the Bible
has been distributed throughout our city
by many willing hands
''Our record shows that 51S Bibles and
2S5 Testaments, of them in the modern
Greel, language and2 portions, have been
granted to the missions, schools and other
distributing agencies No proper request
for copy or the Scriptures has been or
viii be denied
In the last twenty-five years the city
has been repeatedly canvassed from house
to house, and an who would receive it
have been furnished with the Word OF
God
In the last five years not less than
10000 childIsn have been supplied with
| the Scriptures. This vast work has teen
accomplished very largely by voluntary
| service, ana every copy of the Scriptures
has been paid for, and the society is free
| from debt.
We have the pleasure to report two
legacaes made the last year to this So
ciety. They are ia process OF liquidation,
| but not yet recet-cd by our treasurer. One
| from Mrs. Mary Temple, the other from
| our honored vice president, the late William
| j. Sibley
| We have also been privileged 10 contrib
| ute from time 10 time 70 the general work
| OF the American Bible Society, in its
| efforts TO furnish all races with the Bible
| in their own tongues This year our con-
| tributions to that object amounted 10 S2o0-
| At this time the Bible has been translated
| in whole or in part into more than 800
| languages and dialects, and millions are
reading the wonderful works of God.
Our board or managers is composed of
| gentlemen from all denominations; rep
| reseniing ali sections and interests of our
city; and the character OF these members
| is guarantee that all funds given to this
society viii be 1udiciously and faithfully
used in the circulation Of the Word OF God
| that ''liyetE and abidetl forever
Treasurer William Ballantyne reported
for the fiscal year, receipts, S536 10; dis
burscnlents, S462 81: balance on hand.
S73. 3s. Bibles were distributed by him as
follows: Bibles to graduating class,
| IL " Uni,
sity: I so Bibles and 200 Testameuts to
| Central Union Mission, 20 Bibles to Chris-
| tan Church Mission. SO Bibles to Mission of
| Nj E. Church, South; "a Bibles to Critten-
ton Mission, 20 Bibles to Bruen Mission.
Bible to Ladies Auxiliary, No. 2. Union
| Veteran Legion: 32 Bibles to Howard Uni
versity, 6 Bibles and Psalms to life mem
bcrs of the society, 80 Bibles to Columbian
| Institution for Deaf and Dumb, "a Bibles
and 80 Testaments to Colored Y. NJ c. A
Bibles to FreedInans Hospital, So Bibles
to Rosedale Mission, 100 Bibles to Peck
| Memorial Chapel, half the cost; Bibles to
Washington Asylum, g Testaments tC
| Deaconess' Home; 6S Bibles, 81 Testaments
and 81 portions to poor persons, making a
total OF SIS Bibles, 2S5 Testaments and %
portions.
During the year the depositary has re-
ceived ,473 Bibles. 800 Testaments aud
81 8 portions
| Receipts from churches were as follows
Christi any yermont Avenue, 81 3. so
| Congregational First, $67.75 Luther
an-St. Paurs, 81 80. Methodist Epis
| pal-Anacostia, Sc; Brookland, Langdon
81: Douglass Memorial. S5; Dumbarton
S.: FIFTEENTH street, 81; Fletcher, ST
Foundry, SIS; Gorsuch, 81; Grace, 50
Hanline, 81; McKendree, Sc; Metropolitan
$40; North Capitol, 81; Ryland, $40; st
PauI's, So: Trinity, So; Twelfth street
So; Union, So; Waugh, ST, Wesley, ST
Presbyterian Central, $50. 26; Covenant
$21; First, 1913; Metropolitan, $12.
The officers of the society are: Presi-
dent, Rev Al w. iPitzer, d. d.: vice presl-
dents, Adam. s. Pratt, 1865; Charles L v
man, 1877; George Ryneal, Jr., 1873
Robert s. Jordan, 1927 S. Buckler, 1890;
Thomas G Jones, 1891; ]. II. Meriwether
1898; A s Caywood, 1895; N A. Robbins
1896, and Lhcius d. Alden, 1897; secre-
tary, James V. IA. Shields, 1872; treas
urer, 1860, and depositary, 1857 William
Ballantyne.
| Directors-GhaFies Fl Middleton, 1882
George Thomas, 1884; Edgar Frisby
1QQE. w II II Warmau 1852 GoorOo 4,