The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-22
CONNECTICUT BIBLE SOCIETY.

| 1S09--1S9S-Three Periods of Diverse
| Activity Adapted to the Needs of the
Times-Great Demand for Enlarge
| ment-Latest Call-Bibles for the Sol
diers.
This society has Just entered upon Its
ninetieth year of benevolent service.
From the first it enlisted the co-opera-
ton and support Of the leading states
men and philanthropists of the COM
monwealth, Governor Smith of Sharon
being its president during several years
after it's formation.
Its history is divided into three peri
DDS. From 1909 to 1S4S it appears to
have been the leading society Of the
country in procuring the printing and
circulation of the Bible. The records
of it's directing committee are replete
with illustrations Of it's enterprise and
liberality. Not only did it undertake to
see that all the Sunday schools and
every family in Connecticut were sup
piled with the Bible, but it donated BIZ
bles to nearly or quite every state in
the Union, including Massachusetts,
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Mis-
souri, and Louisiana. 1t sent them also
! W II duC6, IIlUlct anu SlllIld etllu W lllC
Sandwich Islands.
At the opening of the second period
from 1S4S to 1878 the American Bible So
ciety had assumed charge of Bible dis
| semination throughout the country,
and this society, instead of giving BIZ
bes directly to the needy, sent to that
society, for that purpose, prior to 1878,
! upwards of 100000 in cash donations,
exclusive of large donations sent from
the state to its treasury through other
channels.
In 1878 the American Bible society
turned over to it's auxiliaries in this
| field the work of supplying the desti-
tute with the Bible and the Connecti-
cut Bible society resumed it, and the
succeeding twenty years, now complet-
ed constitute the third period of it's
history
During this period it has adopted a
system of labor as well fitted to the
changed conditions of the times as its
| earnest efforts were to the great desti-
buttons of the Bible which then pre-
i vailed. 1t has been attempting to
bridge over the chasm which has been
gradually widening between the
churches and the unevangelized. Every
town in the state has felt it's influence.
1t has taken complete religious cen
sus of all but three Of them. 1t has
done this twice in one hundred towns
and three times in twenty five not hur-
riedly. but carefully watching for OPP
portunities to arouse the indifferent
and to win the hayward. 1t has re-
claimed many wandering ones and
brought thousands into churches and
Sunday schools, and has left with pas
tors faithful records showing the relig-
ious preference and spiritual needs Of
every family.
The last towns completed are New
Hartford and Glastonbury, in each Of
which much good has been accomplish
ed. Two of its visitors are now engag-
A ed in New London and three in New
Haven.
The work of the society Is simply i'm
mense and grows in opportunity and
pressing demand, so that 1t is impelled
to plead for the means to sustain it..
Fifty towns have not been visited for
ten years or more In all directions BIZ
bles must be donated.
And now new responsibility is
thrust upon the society. The soldiers
are calling for Bibles 1t has sent one
installment to the First Connecticut
regiment and has promised them more.
4 In response to an earnest call it has
just sent five hundred volumes to sup
ply soldiers at Tampa and Camp AL
ger, and there Is demand for more to
go to Porto Rico and the Philippines.
1t has pledged it's aid in this important
/ work in the firm conviction that the
old Connecticut enthusiasm in which
our fathers so freely sent Bibles all
over our land and to regions beyond
has not decayed but will gladly bear
a part in supplying our brave boys in
the field with those words of life which
will give them courage in battle and
peace in death, If that should be their
lot.
The economy Of this society's work
is considered remarkable by those ia
milar with it. For less than $1,000 a
year it pays the salaries and expenses
of all its officers; prints Its reports, cir
: culars and tracts; maintains Its three
Bible repositories and supports six dis
tributors, striving with persevering toll
to visit every home within our COM
monwealth.
: The society has but q very small en-
dowed fund and depends on the con-
tributions of the philanthropic to sus-
tain and enlarge it's operations. An eff
fort is being made to place it on a
stronger, permanent basis. At the re-
cent annual meeting provision was
made for sustaining membership con-
sisting of persons pledged to contribute
not less than five dollars annually. One
thousand such members would afford
firm working support and enable it
to carry forward a broader and still
more benefcent labor. It's immediate
needs are urgent.
All who are willing to aid are invited
to send their gifts to Chandler E. Mil
Ter, treasurer, 81 Prospect street, Hart
ford.
|
THE LATE HENRY r. SPENCER.
Henry r. Spencer, who died at his
home on Sunday aged seventy eight
years, was a lifelong resident of Gull
|