pay towards the fund for supplying the poor, us," the sums set to our names. as the Lord hath prospered "He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord." "He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly." ROCHESTER, 19th February, 1825. I begin to write a few lines by way of explanation of our extraordinary want of Bibles. And first, the "motto " above, which is the substance of a resolution passed on the 10th instant, at a full meeting of the Monroe County Bible Society, at which nineteen delegates were present, from thirteen towns; and since that day, the three remaining towns have approved the resolution; and I can add further, that I yesterday returned from visiting fifteen of the sixteen towns in this county, in all which there is a thorough interest awakened to the concerns of the Society, and a determination on all hands, and among all denominations, that Monroe county shall set a good example in carrying into full effect the resolution. The money will all be raised within twenty days for the gratuitous distribution, and the account with the American Bible Society will be closed in sixty days after the Bibles are received. A remittance will be made within fifteen days, of say $200 to $300. Our orders are not equal to our wants. Could you witness the interest felt on this subject in every town in Monroe, you would not wonder at the extent of our orders. Three thousand Bibles and Testaments are wanted for 1825, in this county. This sheet presents you the form of about one hundred and fifty subscription papers which we have afloat in this county. From the President of the Monroe County Bible Society, N. Y. dated Rochester, March 1, 1825. At a meeting of the Monroe County Bible Society in the early part of the winter, we appointed an agent to go through the county for the purpose of ascertaining the number of families destitute of Bibles in the county. Persons were appointed by him in each school district to make the necessary inquiries. At a subsequent meeting of the Society, delegates from the several towns reported, that there were about twelve hundred destitute families. The Society then resolved unanimously, that they would, at all events, raise funds sufficient to supply the deficiency, and our Agent was again employed to go into the several towns for the purpose of taking measures for raising these funds. His report on the subject is very flattering, and we shall undoubtedly get a considerable portion of it from the county towns. I give you these assurances, that you may not think that the large drafts we have made through our Treasurer will remain long unpaid for. Enclosed you have a check for five hundred dollars, which will be punctually paid when due. We wish you to forward on the Bibles and Testaments by the first opportunity. There is a very great engagedness and activity now prevailing here in relation to the Bible Society. We wish to encourage and keep it alive by having Bibles for distribution as soon as possible. The exertions of this Society heretofore have been very inefficient; but from the spirit now prevailing I am in hopes that, after supplying our county, we shall be able to make your Society considerable donations from time to time. From the Agent of the same Society, dated May 2, 1825. As our annual meeting does not take place till June, I am instructed by our President to advise you somewhat particularly of the result of my agency. Passing by the moderate operations of our Society, which had been about as extensive as other counties of equal population, I will only observe of the past, that for aught that appeared to this Society, the wants of the inhabitants were generally supplied. Still it was deemed expedient to know that it was so. To ascertain this, the towns, formed into branch associations, were requested to investigate by school districts, and ascertain the true state of the case. But the officers of the town associations, supposing there were no great deficiencies, neglected this duty, and then year after year passed away, and but little done. Reports from three school districts in a single town were presented at the meeting in June last, which showed that one-third of the inhabitants were destitute of the Word of Life. This alarmed the officers of the Society. We felt for the safety of our community, and much more at the awful prospect of an eternity, to those who had no Bible, as a pole-star to guide them to the way which leads to peace. But what should be done? The attempts to awaken sufficient interest to the subject had failed; there were now no funds to hire an agent; and should a great deficiency of Bibles appear, where are the funds to supply? This county ought to be ashamed to beg. Under these circumstances a voluntary agency was proposed, and in reliance on a divine blessing, was undertaken. Here again was a difficulty. It was often asked, What use is there in inquiring into wants, when there are no means for supplying those wants? To this it was replied with confidence, that the people would not remain unmoved when facts, awful facts, stared them in the face. "Your wants shall be supplied. Let this be the motto-Every family in this county shall have the Bible." The wants were ascertained by appointing a town agent in each town, and this town agent, without ceremony, appointed immediately school district agents; and these latter went from house to house and made the inquiries, with the "roll and inkhorn" in hand. Each school district agent was requested to report immediately, and the town agents all in twelve days from the commencement of the general agent's tour. Meanwhile it was understood that a meeting of delegates from each town would be called for, as soon as the reports were collected. Accordingly in about sixteen days from the commencement, a numerous meeting was convened, with a promptness worthy the citizens of our county; and after hearing the report of the general agent, the meeting unanimously "Resolved, that the Monroe County Bible Society will supply all the destitute families in the county with the Bible." Many short but interesting addresses were made, not to please the ear, but as pledges of a determination to act; and the agent appointed to investigate was again chosen a committee of ways and means; which duty he commenced that evening, in the same manner as before, by town and district collections. This system has produced considerable sums, and much more is expected. Our Bibles have this day arrived, and were there two weeks' time for our report before your annual meeting, we would endeavor to say that all our families are now supplied with the word of life. Our plan of distribution is, to the poor gratis, or at a small price, and to those who are able, at cost; remembering that it is better for all to buy a Bible, if possible, at some price, rather than to have one given them. Our plan for collection has been, to induce every man, woman, and child to contribute their mite, to excite a general interest in this object of benevolence, and that all may know, as much as may be, how much more blessed it is to give than to receive. Thus, without a dollar in the treasury, we have 2,700 Bibles and Testaments from your Society, partly paid for, and all the rest shall be in a few days. Your liberal donation we accept, but we can only consider it as a loan. Monroe county will pay you for all Bibles ordered, and all sent gratuitously. Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in South America, dated Lima, November 25, 1823. What a cheering thought it is to contemplate the glorious exertions of the present day to put the sacred Scriptures into the hands of all. The names of barbarian, Scythian, bond and free, have disappeared in the distribution of this noble charity; and the only distinction known is, those who have this volume, and those who have it not. The present mighty efforts bid fair to make this only distinction among mankind disappear also; and may it be soon fulfilled; thus leaving every soul in possession of that treasure which can alone make his soul valuable. I am happy to say that something has already been done, and that the prospects for the future are encouraging. Perhaps there have been circulated, during these few years past, about one thousand copies of the whole Bible in the Spanish language; and upwards of that number of New Testaments in the same tongue. It is true, this is but a small number among so many; yet it is a good beginning and you know we ought not to despise small things, but receive them with thanksgiving, and as encouragements to perseverance. Immediately after the rapid sale of the 500 Spanish Bibles and 500 New Testaments in this city, as mentioned in my letter of October 18th, I wrote to London for a large supply, although I was then in daily expectation of some arriving. The supplies sent by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and which I was then expecting, arrived, as I afterward learned, in Buenos Ayres and in Chili; but none of them reached this place. I remained for a long time in great anxiety about the arrival of a supply for this city and country adjacent. After waiting for a long time, I received a letter from the Society, informing me that the whole edition of the Bible had been disposed of; but that 5,000 New Testaments would be sent me as soon as they could be bound. These have not yet arrived, but I am in hourly expectation of them. |