The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-11

The forty-flfth anniversary of the
Lackawanna County Bible society was
celebrated last night In the Elm Park
Methodist Episcopal church, where an
especially large audience was gath
cred.
The meeting was presided over by
ex-Justica Alfred Hand, who has been
for many years the president OF the
organization and who has given much
of his time and his support to the
wonderful work which the society has
accomplished In the past ard is doing
at the present time. The Judge gave
an address. in which ne said:
REMARKS OF ALFRED HAND
On the twen,y.hfth OF November 1856 the
Lackawanna Bible society was organized in the
Adams Avenue Methodist Episcopal church. This
was twenty-five years before we were separated
81 county from Luzcrne. Tho society took the
Indian name given to its principal stream and
has held II ever since. As glance over the his
tory and sec the names OF Rev. George Peck
d. d., who occupied the chair, and delivered the
first address, and Milo J. Ilickok, j. d.. who
was elected the first president. and others who
were present, the name Lackawanna has another
unique force, for it signifies the meeting of two
streams, which We might Shll the Epscopalian
and the Presbyterian, united in a Christian ben
cvolepce as broad as the phrase. The Bible
without note or comment" which Is the founda
tion principle OF the American Bible society. IL
s also significant that We should set sail under
the protection and sanction OF Methodist Colors
with whom there is the idea that "Foith without
works is dead and II. James, ol all men, was
inspired of heaven.
The thirtieth anniversary was held in the
Adams Avenue church. also, when there seems
b,pn n trptnpr1oiiS "a pt
original Bible loving class, and a host OF our
other evangelical brethren, who had Joined in
gathering for the celebration. The contributions
tor the first year were Sl0i; the sales OF Bibles
s20i3s We donated $.s.03 In value Of Bibles
Our credit seems 10 have been good with the
parent society for S97667, which we owed at the
end Of the year
During the existence Of this organization We
have received and spent in tho neishbornood Of
10000, including Bibles sold and given away
and expenses oi visiting colpur,cur. Several
| complete canyasNc. have been mad" with the
effort to supply every family who had no Bible
with one. About lol5 Thomas Gillespie Lett us a
legacy OF 5000. The work has been a quiet
one, only hcralded once a year, and that gcncr.
ally TO diminutivc audiences. We have always
had a good number of staunch supporters, whose
annual contributions OF steady amount con.
tinucd as long as the donors lived, and some
OF which arc kept up by their descendants. This
nnmbcr ought To I've increased hundrediold
simple hut profound appreciation OF what the
Bible is to our country in its patriotic and
political outcome. TO society. ia the individual
life and culture, Of what the distribution means
TO the poor, the afflicted, the dependent. and the
last would inspire many a benevolent soul to
become one Of noble tour hundred to give us
$40 each year. We owe it TO ourselves. not only
TO see that every willing receiver. rich on poor,
has Bible, but We owe it 10 The great Amcri.
| can Bible society, whose representative is with
us tonight whose aim and scope is 10 print the
Bible in every known language oi the world
ii the American nation il standing today before
the civilized religious and pagan world as a
factor to be dealt with on the high lines of
frank, honest and benevolent diplomacy, which
| shall bring US unrcvengeiul peace and good will
among all the nations OF the worIu, we are
forced to trace tnat power TO a free and open
Bible. Men. wise or otherwise, may try TO blink
this TRUTH but IL stands an actual fact in the
| beginning Of our free political history and prog.
| reSs and rs a prophetic fact stamped on The
| future as clearly as Il it were written in broad
| lines Of light in the heavens.
| What the Bible is 10 the individual IN purify.
| ing, stimulating and successful power. what IL
is for peace and good will between one man and
| his brother man, it will become among all the
nations NJ the world A. We glance al the ten
| powers facing civilized pagani,m in the east with
| all the unsoyed mysteries ui good and evil at
work, 1t requires little foresight to divine that
| the outcome must be the contamination viii n
| Revelation has predicted and the lifting up Of
every man, woman and child on the face OF the
earth.