The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-09
THE S9TH ANNUAL MEETING
or THE CONNECTICUT BIBLE SO- CIETY IN HARTFORD YESTERDAF.

Year-What Has Been Accomplished Election of Officers and Executive Com mIttee.
 The eighty-ninth annual meeting of the Connecticut Bible society was held in Hartford June 8, 1897.
 The following officers were chosen for the year ensuing, viz:
 President-Rev. Joseph Anderson, D. D., of Waterbury.
 Vice presidents-Rev, J. W. Bradin of Hartford, L. D. Warner, Esq, of NaugatuclS, Hon. Francis Wayland of New Haven, Rev. I. Simmons, D. D., of Hartford.
 Executive committee-Rev. Joseph Anderson, D. D., of Waterbury, Rev. James w. Bradin of Hartford, David N. Camp of New Britain, Rodney Dem his of Hartford, Rev. A. c. Eggleston of Simsbury, F. D. Glazier of South Glastonbury, Rev. David E. Jones of Broad Brook, Rev. Henry H. Kelsey of Hartford, John w. Lamb of Hartford, Rev. c. M. Lamson, D. D., of Hartford, Rev. Wm. H. Moore of Hartford, A. R. Pierce of Sut1ield, William H. Talcott of Hartford Williston Walker of Hart ford, James B. Williams of Glaston- bury.
 The report of the executive commit tee showing the transactions of the year was presented by Rev. Wm H. Gilbrt, secretary of the society. It en- braced the following statement: secretary's Labors. The following statistical items will give some indications in respect to the work of the secretary. He has been absent from home on business of the society 220 days, has written, in behalf of the society, 1,005 letters; has prepar- ed for the press, for committees and conferences, 6S documents; has deliv- cred 102 sermons and addresses; has held 99 conferences concerning the work with visitors, pastors and others.
 The arrangement of many details for | the prosecution of the work, such as ] bringing different pastors and churches of various denominations to cooperate at the same time, the explanation of its methods and the illustration of its im- portance to the churches, are usually | indispensable preliminaries to the visl- 1 tation of a town. The enlarged number of visitors which the year has brought I to us has not only increased the pre- liminary and field work of the secre- tary, but has devolved an additional responsibility upon him in every direc- ton. The difficulty of adequately pre- senting to the Christian public the im- portant features of this undenomina- tional work has been seriously felt dur ing the year and the problem is still unsolved.
 Bible Visitors.
 The society retains five visitors whom it had in its service at the beginning of the year: Miss Winifred Eddy, Mrs. c. J. Reed, MT. and Mrs. P. c. Butter field and Mir. Samuel W. Raymond. It has enlisted the services of Rev. Henry L. Hutchins and MT. Leslie O.. Brooks, making the present number of distrib- 1 utors seven. | Field Work. l since the last annual meeting, viz, Ber- lin, Brooklyn, Chaplin, Cornwall, En- field, Fairfield, Guilford, Hampton, Har- winton, Mansfield Ridgefield, Holland, | Washington, Westbrook, Wilton, Wind ham, and Windsor Besides these sev- enteen entire towns, important sections of Stonington, sharon, New Britain and Hartford have also been visited. This ' was our first entire visitation of Wash ington and leaves but four towns in the state which have not been completely canvassed under our supervision, and in certain parishes of each one of these the work has been done.
 For the sake of giving the latest in- | telligence from the towns, we have been accustomed to print the reports received up to the time of the annual meeting, and as the meeting this year has been providentially delayed, this report embraces the work of thirteen months. But the number of families visited during that period was much more than double those visited during the previous twelve months, showing that our attempt to enlarge the work of our society has not been in vain. Dur ing the previous year fifteen towns and section of New Haven was can- vassed, embracing 6,0S3 families and 8 popualtion of g, ,922. During the period under review the seventeen towns and sections of four others which have been canpassed, contain IA, 298 families and c population of 4,427. In these times o1 general depression it is interesting tc notice that the population of severa towns in this old New England state have materially increased since the last civil census was taken. Windsor has :, ,409 inhabitants, a gain of 455. Berlir has 2,9S3, a gain of 3S3; Harwinton has 1,13S, a gain of 195; Fairfield has 4019 gain of 151; Windham has 10,13S, ( gain of 106
 The larger work we review to-day is due in part to an increase in the mum
 Der of visitors. It also indicates tha the changes made in the force of work. CTS have been promotive of it's eff
 ciency. There were some years, soor , after out new departure in 1878, wher
 a larger number of families was reach
 ed. But the evangelistic features of thu work were not so well developed al
 at present. These necessarily prolons
 the time, but greatly promote the valu' |