The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-29
MARSHALL ASKED
TO SPEAK HERE.
Bible Society Of Virginia In
vites Vice-President-Elect
to Centennial.
FIRST TRIP TO RICHMOND
Monster Parade by Bible
Glasses One Big Feature
of Program.

Governor Thomas r. Marshall, OF
Indiana the Vice President elect, has
been invited to deliver an address in
Richmond May II. on the occasion OF
the centennial celebration of the Bible
Society of Virginia, and there are In
dications that he will accept unless Of
flcial business interferes. He will be
asked TO speak on some topic bearing
on the the history and accomplishments
Of the society.
The committee which is in charge of
the celebration. composed of the Rev.
Russell Cecil. ID. D.. chairman. and
with the Vice President-elect. and ex-
poets "a definite answer within week.
Parade OF Bible Classes.
The committee plans TO devote an
entire night of the celebration to the
Vice President. and unless circum-
stances necessitate "a change OF dates
Governor Marshall. will speak here on
Monday night. May ~. The address
viii he given in the City Auditorium
az no other building in the city would
accommodate the audience which such
d speaker would attract. The various
mems Bible classes OF the city Will be
asked TO Join in monster parade 70
the auditorium. where seats will be
reserved for them. This feature of the
program has not been officially taken
up. but II Is understood TO be agreeable
to all concerned.
The committee has only recently
begun the task of making a program,
and while plans are far from complete,
they are rapidly being shaped into form.
On Sunday night. May ii. a meeting
Will be held in Centenary Methods
Church. at which history of the Bible
Society of Virginia will be read. James
Caskie has been asked to undertake the
preparation of this document. II Is
also the centennial anniversary of
Centenary Methodist Church. and the
Sunday night meeting will take the
form OF Il Joint celebration.
The Bible Society OF Virginia enjoys
the distinction of being the oldest
organization of its kind on the North
American Continent. antedatIng even
the American Bible Society. Several
years ago. the Bible Society of Virginia
became agent for the American Bible
Society in the States of Virginia, West
virginia. North Carolina South Caro-
lima. Georgia. and Florida. and IS now
IN close affliation with the national
body. The Virginia Society sprang INTO
being in Richmond in 1913 from circle
of women who had undertaken me
free distribution of Bibles and les
taments.
Ran Blockade for Bibles.
II was this Society which played
such a prominent part IN providing con
federate soldiers with Bibles during the
Civil War. and ii was to secure these
books that the late Rev Moses y
Hoge. y. d. ran the Federal blockaoe
and brought back from England
thousands of Testaments. 1t Is d pc
culiar coincidence that on the Journey
to England. DR.. Hoge took with him
letter from Rev. Joseph r. wilson
of Augusta. Ga, the father OF the
President-elect, and then chairman OF
the Confederate Bible Society
Through the generous Offices of Lord
SALISBURY, who was chairman OF the
board Of the British and Foreign
Bible Society. DR.. ifogc was able 10
bring back 10 the Bible Society OF
Virginia. as d gift. 10000 Bibles. S'Vo
TestamentS and 2O.OO0 portions OF
the bible These books were distributed
by the society among the troops OF the
Confederate Army.