The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-10-26
The Vermont Bible Society.
Eighty-sixih Annual Meeting.

The eighty-sixth annual meeting of
the Vermont Bible Society was held
Wednesday at the State House. The
meeting for The election of officers was
held at three o'clock in the afternoon
when the following named persons
were chosen: President, Rev. Andrew
Rev. w. s. Hazep, d. D., Northfield,
Rev. W. A. Dawson, Montpelier; cor
responding secretaries, Rev. L. Fl. FL
hot, Waterbury, Rev. j. o. Sherburne,
Williamstown; tire asurer, G. A. Smith
Barre; auditor, Frank McWhorter,
Barre; directors. Dee. L. Fl. Haines,
Waterbury, Rev. j. A. Sherburne,
Williamstown, Rev. W. S. Hazen,
Mortified, DIR. H. S. Boardman, Mont
pelier, Rev. V. M. Hardy, Randolph,
Hon. d. M. Camp, Newport, w. j.
Van Patten Burlington, Rev. S. Donald
son, Albany, M. P. Perley, Enosburg
Falls, Rev. Carlton Hszep, Rocester,
Rev. j. o. Sherburne, Williamstown,
Rev. G. G. Waterman, St. Johnsbury.
In the evening, in the hall of the
House of Representatives, Rev. L. H.
Elliot, secretary, read the report of
the directors. The report took note of
the death, during the past year, of
three prominent and old time members
of the society, Hon. Joseph Poland
and Rev. G. S. Smith of Montpelier and
Rev. H. A. Spencer of St. Johnsbury.
Details of the affairs of the society, its
work and present condition were given,
OF which the subjoined is summary:
Total value OF books sold in the
State during the year, 1,479 60
Value of books donated 1913 "a
Furnished life members OF society, 48 80
Furnished life members American
Bible Society, So 90
Value of books on hand, 1928 Ct
Copies OF scriptures furnished by
American Bible Society, year
ending April /, 1898, SOB
Contributions and legacies sent
from Vermont during the year
to American Bible Society, S3,0S4 rs
THE ADDRESS.
The attendance at the meeting in the
evening, at Representatives hall, was very
small, owing no doubt to the unpropitious
weather. Rev. Andrew Gillies presided.
The devotional exercises were conducted
by Rev. w G. Johnson Of Lyndon.
Rev. DR.. A. H. Heath of St.. Johnsbury
delivered fine address on 1.-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 histo-
ry. "The gospel Of Christ is the prominent
element in this book-the consummate
flower of this literature. The object of
sending out the Bible is the winning of
men from their sin, the sweetening OF soci-
ETY., 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 I 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 appre-
bends the facts OF science and speaks in
harmony with them. Truth is everywhere
powerful. Truth gave us continent.
Truth has opened the skies and brought
their secrets out before the world Truth
is impregnated with uncorquerable energy.
1t grows as the coral grows-it lifts as the
earthquake lifts. The gospel possesses this
sort of truth in its best form-above all 9TH
or forms. 1t will subjugate and press into
its service every other power on the earth.
All its utterances find response in human
consciousness, and it is thus fitted to be
! power among men. The gospel appeals to
every side OF man-it wrestles with his ev-
cry emotion-appeals to reason. No other
system does this with such mighty power.
| Sound reason must everywhere yield to the
demands of the gospel. 1t appeals to fear.
Here are great and terrible pictures of the
results of sin. Nobody can deny that The
gospel appeals to human hope. No less
than to fear. What literature can appeal
to hope like the gospel? What soul whose
demand is not met by the gospel? No
good thing will He withhold 1t stimu--
lates the heart of man to ask. That gospel
that can so appeal to human hope must
prove itself marvellous power. 1t appeals
to human love. 1t is because of mans sus-
ceptibility 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 human 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 DIR.
Heath for his able and instructive address