St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-10-26
THE VERMONT BIBLE SOCIETY.
eI9hty.slxth Annual rleetIng.

lHE NENnONA DIDLE cONiEi =.
EIghty-slxth Annual r1eetlng.
The eighty-sixth annual meeting OF the
Vermont Bible Society was held Wednes-
day at Montpelier The meeting for the
election OF officers was held at three
o'clock in the afternoon when the follow
ing named persons were chosen: Presi-
dent. Rev. Andrew Gillies, Montpelier;
vice. presidents, Rev. w. S. Hazen, D. d..
Mortified, Rev. W. A. Dawson, Mont
pelier; corresponding secretaries, Rev. L.
H. Elliot, Waterbury, Rev. J. 0. Sher-
burne, Williamstown treasurer, I. A.
Smith, Barre; auditor, Frank Nc
Whorter, Barre; directors. Dea. L. II.
Haines, Waterbury, Rev. j. 0. Sherburne,
Williamstown, Rev. w S. Hazen, North
field, DR.. H. S. Boardman, Montpelier,
Rev. V. M. Hardy, Randolph, Hon. D.
M. Camp, Newport, W. ]. Van Patten.
Burlington, Rev. S. Donaldson, Albany,
M. P. Perley, Enosburg Falls, Rev. Carl
ton Hazen, Rochester, Rev. ]. 0. Sher-
burne, Williamstown, Rev. G. c. Water
man, St. Johnsbury.
In the evening, in the hall OF the House
Of Representatives, Rev. L. H. Elliot.
secretary, read the report Of the direct
ors. The report took note OF the death.
during the past year, OF three prominent
and old time members of 'the society,
Smith of Montpelier and Rev. H. A.
Spencer OF St. Johnsbury. Details OF the
affairs of the society, its work and pres.
emit condition were given, of which the
subjoined is summary:
Total value of books sold in the
| state during the year, $1,479.6O
Value of books donated 1913. "a
| Furnished life mem beers of society. 1870
Furnished life members American
Bible Society. $500
Value of books on hand, 2,92S.67
Copies of scriptures furnished by
American Bible Society, year
ending April 1, 1898. 5,O75
| Contributions and legacies sent
from Vermont during the year
to American Bible Society, 3,0S4.76
THE ADDRESS.
The attendance at the meeting in the
evening, at Representatives hall, was
very small, owing no doubt, to the un-
propitious weather. Rev. Andrew Gil
lies presided.
| The devotional exercises were conduct
ed by Rev. w. G.. Johnson of Lyndon.
Rev. DR.. A. H. Heath of St. Johnsbury,
delivered a fine address on "The Bible"
He referred to the Bible as the greatest
of books-the literature of the greatest
nation that ever walked across the pages
of history. 1.-The gospel of Christ is the
prominent element in this book-the con-
summate flower Of this literature. The
object of sending out the Bible is the
winning of men from their sin, the sweet
ming of society, the redemption OF the
state. What are the elements of power
in the gospel of Jesus Christ? There is
an embarrassing richness of material,
and hardly know where to begin. But
possibly one glimpse through the curtain
| will suffice to convince you of the glory
of the gospel. First, this gospel has the
| power of truth. The word OF God is
indestructible. These gospels. being the
word OF our Lord, are absolute truth.
In the higher realms OF truth, the gospel
of Christ covers the whole field. 1t ap-
prehends the facts OF science and speaks
in harmony with them. Truth is every
nent. Truth has opened the skies and
brought their secrets out before the
world. Truth is impregnated with un-
conquerable energy. 1t grows as the
coral grows-it lifts as the earthquake
lifts. The gospel possesses this sort of
truth in it's best orm-s2bove all other
forms. 1t will subjugate and press into
it's service every other power on the
earth. All its utterances find a response
in hnman consciousness, and it is TINS
| fitted to be power among men. The
gospel appeals to every side of man-it
wrestles with his every emotion-appeals
to reason. No other system does this
with such mighty power. Sound reason
must everywhere yield to the demands
of the gospel. Tt appeals to tear. Here
are great and terrible pictures of the re-
suits OF sin. Nobody can deny that.
The gospel appeals to hnman hope. No
less than to fear. What literature can
appeal to hope like the gospel What
soul whose demand is not met by the
gospe2 No good thing will be with
hold 1t stimulates the heart OF man
to ask That gospel that can so appeal
| to human hope must prove itself mar
velous power. 1t appeals to human love.
4 1t is because of mans susceptibility to
love, that God has made his gospel one
of love. Where there is one threat there
are Thousand evidences of love. II
there be power in love, the Word OF God
is powerful beyond conception. Human
speech cannot define Gods love; the hu-
man mind cannot conceive it fully. A
gospel which appeals to man through
such marvellous manifestations must be
gospel OF power. The hope of this
world, here and now, is bound upon the
gospel Of Christ, and YOU are right in
putting this book into the houses of the
people. II this world can be saved, the
preaching Of the gospel OF Christ will
save it,"
A cordial note of thanks was given DR..
Heath for his able and instructive ad-
dress.