Year: 1868

A satisfactory reply to this oft re-
peated question will be found below, in
the report made by the Rev. John R.
Dow, of Johns Island, S. c., respecting
his distribution of grant made by the
Board of Managers for that and other
islands of the seacoast. A similar re-
cord might be given of many another
case. We are thankful for all such in
teresting narratives. Mr.. Dow proceeds:


When Ireturned to my pastoral charge
on Johns Island, in November, 1866, l
found that there was great destitution of
the Holy Scriptures Our families had
been driven away from these islands five
years before that time, and had been
scattered in various parts of this and
other States; and it was to be = IVeted
that when they returned to their desc
lated homes. they would possess but few
copies of the word of God. I then
made an application to the American
Bible Society for sufficient number of
Bibles to supply the destitution on Johns
and Wadmalaw Islands, and through
your aid was successful. In the begin
ming of 1867, I received, as a donation
for distribution, 100 Bibles, $50 Testa-
ments and Psalms, 100 small Testaments,
and fifty copies of Johns Gospel in large
type; making in all $50 volumes. Part
of these | placed in my church on Johns
Island, and also in my chapel at Rock
vile, and gave notice from the pulpit,
that families who were without the in
spired volume, and were unable to pur-
chase it, could now be supplied. By this
means the clamp Of life" was carried
into many of our dwellings. In my Wis
its to the homes of the people, 1 usually
carried with me copies of the Scriptures,
and this increased their circulation. l
think ] can say now that there are few
homes here that do not contain the Book
Divine. This distribution has been car
red on among all classes of our people.
The aged white people have been sup
piled with the great primer St. Johns
Gospel, and they seem to view it as pc
culiarly precious. Children have been
furnished with the little Testaments, and
our freedmen have not been forgotten.
Many of the volumes sent here can now
be found in the cabins of our colored
people, and l believe are priced by them
and often read. have known some of
this class to travel long distance to get
copy of the word of God, and when
they have received it they have expressed
Joy and thanktulness. l might also men
ton. that in this distribution l have not
confined myself entirely to Johns and
Wardmalaw Islands. AS opportunity
has offered, L have sent Bibles to some
of the neighboring islands, and have
also supplied steamboats, that may have
come here without having in their cabins
that Book which is the hope of the world
the only unerring guide to happy
life, a peaceful death, and glorious
eternity. trust this work of faith and
labor of love has not been in vain.
hope and pray that the great day may
disclose the fact that these scattered vol
umes have been as healing leaves among
the islands of our coast. What would
our people do, in this time of trial and
distress, if they were without the instruc-
tions and consultations of divine truth
May the God of the Bible richly bless
your noble Society, and make it emf
nently successful in its effort to supply
for the third time our whole country with
the word of God! "Blessed are ye that
SOW beside all waters;" "for as the rain
cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth
the earth, and maketh it bring forth and