The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-10
BIBLE SOCIETY.
Statements from the State Agent
Recently Given Out.

Statements from the State Agent
Recently Given Out.
To the Editor OF The Post.
October 0, 1s97-The last general assem-
bly, Of the Presbyterian church, South. re-
quested It's churches and people to make
contribution to the American Bible society
on the third Sabbath of October. The sub
Joined resume of Its work will show what
this grand institution has accomplished in
Texas. The writer was made familiar with
it's broad views and noble action during our
late civil war, when he was a director and
corresponding secretary of Southwestern
Bible society in New Orleans. Besides
furnishing on credit thousands of dollars
worth of bibles and testaments to the New
Orleans association, which was an irde-
pendent body and supplied bibles to both
Union and Confederate soldiers. these two
institutions cooperating in this noble
work.
The Post with Its usual liberal views.
by giving place In its columns to these no.
tices, will also become co-worker. Very
respectfully, G. w. Kidd,
President Harris County Bible Society.
THE BIBLE socIETY's WORK.
Rev. W. B. Rankin, D. D., agent for
Texas, made the following statements be-
fore the Bible society Of Galveston not
long since:
FIFTY years ago the republic OF Texas
became one Of the United States. Through
all these years the American Bible society
| has literally distributed the Holy Scrip
| lures. largely in excess of the gifts OF the
Texas people to this cause. The words
l bov cd /.
For as the rain cometh down and the
snow from heaven. and returneth MOI
| thither. but watereth the earth and maketh
1t bring forth and bud, that II may give
seed to the sower and bread to the eater
! so shall my word be-.
| Under the benign influence Of the Bible
| the State has become prosperous and pop.
ulous; schools and churches numerous and
wealthy, with a happy population. AT ihii
| time 146 Bible repositories are SENDING
forth the Word OF Life to It's people OF NJ
teen naticnalitios and languages, at thu
rtae OF fifty-fve volumes per day, web
ster said that the Bible is a stronger de-
| Tense Of our liberties than our army ant
| navy. From 1880 to 1883 systematic col
portage work was prosecuted. Our colpor
teurs carried the message OF salvation Z
places beyond the easy reach OF IN
churches. The voiceless ministry OF tn
BLDG fOunu a WeiCOIt OlttH WuciC ~
preacher would have been rejected. Gel
lars ard garre.s OF the cities were visited
as we'll as the prairles and valleys OF tn
State. The following work has been &C
complished In the past twenty years:
4 New Bible organizations formed. 76
! families visited by colporteurs, 429,12s
families found without the Bible. 64.03l
destitute families supplied. 5I,65s; desti
tute individuals supplied In addition 70
4i6; destitute Sunday school pupils sur
piled during the past year 6l5' volumes
Scripture distributed In fifteen language
500, 00S. This was great seed sowing, an
great results are following. This BID
work was not confined to Texas. but wa
carried on throughout the United state
and we behold wonderful results, namel.
the organization Of young peoples societie
orphanages, rescue homes and other char
table Institutions. which have come Inv
existence In the past eight years Az
in Texas the society has literally pfoslue
. for Sunday and other mission schools, u
army. sailors, criminal and humane inst
, tutione. hotels, the Indian tribes, destltut
. poor and blind, and hundreds OF new ~
!. needy churches have been given pup
, Bibles.
sin the colportage work above mel
toned. over 100 different colporteurs we
employed at different times. They encouI
tered many hardships. periis, Opposition
, and preiudices. Two were killed. thr'
: were robbed by highwaymen. and sever
I lost their horses and buggies wa''e g