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Historical address delivered before the Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society : at the celebration of its semi-centennial anniversary, October 30th, 1887, in the First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Kentucky / by Lyman Beecher Todd and publishished by the Society. Todd, Lyman Beecher, 1832- 400dpi TIFF G4 page images University of Kentucky, Electronic Information Access & Management Center Lexington, Kentucky 2002 b92-150-29579415 Electronic reproduction. 2002. (Beyond the shelf, serving historic Kentuckiana through virtual access (IMLS LG-03-02-0012-02) ; These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Historical address delivered before the Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society : at the celebration of its semi-centennial anniversary, October 30th, 1887, in the First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Kentucky / by Lyman Beecher Todd and publishished by the Society. Todd, Lyman Beecher, 1832- Transylvania Printing Co., Lexington, Ky. : 1887. 17 p. ; 26 cm. Coleman Microfilm. Atlanta, Ga. : SOLINET, 1994. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. (SOLINET/ASERL Cooperative Microfilming Project (NEH PS-20317) ; SOL MN03902.10 KUK) Printing Master B92-150. IMLS This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has been done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done through an automated process using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file. Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society (Ky.) Lexington (Ky.) Religious history. Bible Publication and distribution Societies, etc. 1837. 1887. HISTORICAL ADDRESS -BY- LYMAN BEECHER TODD, M. D. This page in the original text is blank. AN HISTORICAL DELIVERED BEFORE THE L eXington and Vicinity Bible S o ciety, AT THE CELEBRATION OF ITS SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, OCTOBER3 30th, 1887, IN THE BY LYMAN BEECHER TocD, M. D. And Published by the Society. LEXINGTON, Ky.: TRANSYLVANIA PRINTING COMPANY, i887. ADDRESS At the forty-ninth annual meeting of the Lexington and Vicin- ity Bible Society, held in the Main Street Christian Church, Lex- ington, Ky., October 30th, 1886, Elder James A. Curry presented the following, which was unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, The next annual meeting of The Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society in 1887 will be the Semi-Centennial thereof; therefore be it Resolved. That an Historical Address, commemorative of the organization and usefulness of the Society be delivered on that occasion with such other ceremonies as may be considered appro- priate to the suitable observance thereof Dr. John W. Scott offered the following Resolution, which was unanimously concurred in: Resolved. That Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd be appointed to deliver at our next anniversary meeting an Historical Address in accordance with the Resolution just adopted by the Society. :k The Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the Lexington and Vicin- ity Bible Society was celebrated on Sunday evening, October 30th, 1887, in First Presbyterian Church at 7j o'clock. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity, and was handsomely decorated with flowers, which almost concealed the pulpit from view and the respec- tive dates 1837 and 1887 were displayed in large figures of ever- green on the walls surrounding the pulpit. The officers of the Society, with ex-Presidents and invited guests, among whom were Rev. Joseph J. Bullock, D. D., late Chaplain of United States Senate, and Rev. George S. Savage, D. D., KentucKy Agent of the American Bible Society, entered the church in a body, while the choir, with the congregation rising, sang the coronation hymn. The Services began with the reading of scripture by Elder Robert Graham, D. D., an ex-President, and prayer offered by James K. Patterson, President of Kentucky State College. The President, Mr. J. C. Woodward, then presented Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, who delivered the Historical Address. At the conclusion of the address Mr. Alexander Pearson, mem- ber of the Executive Committee, representing the Centenary Meth- odist Church, offered the following Resolution, which was unani- mously adopted. "That the thanks of this Society be presented to Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd for his excellent and valuable address delivered before the Society this evening and that a copy thereof be requested for publication." Mr. President, Vice Presidents, Members cf the Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society, and Friends. It is esteemed a high privilege and an honor, in accordance with the resolution adopted at your last meeting to speak on this Semi-Centennial anniversary of the Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society of its organization and operations, and to tell the story of its usefulness and of its blessings. And, as has well been said, let us feel that it is indeed a good thing and very cheering to us all to be enabled once a year to put aside all the differences that sever the Christian Churches, and to unite in the most cordial and friendly way in this great work of circulating this Blessed Bible, to which the world owes so much and will owe more in the future. For the organization of the Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society, for its continuous and increasing usefulness, with united voice and grateful hearts, we praise and bless our God: for the multiplied and incalculable blessings it has brought to you, my Fellow Citizens, we now thanking God, do congratulate you and your children; for so well do we know that a city hath no posses- sions so precious and so enduring, as the actions of its benefactors, living or dead, because they inspire it with noble impulses and noble achievements. Prominent, if not chief of such achievements, is this Bible So- ciety, conceived in inspiration from on High, brought forth in holy labors of our ancestors, worthy, all of them, of all honor and lasting remembrance. And it is sacredly perpetuated in your hearts, my friends, as is manifested by large and interested audiences, which have attended our annual meetings, even as this, by which this evening we are greeted and honored. Then with bosoms throbbing with joy and gladness and thank- fulness we say, All hail this auspicious Semi-Centennial of our Bible Society. What eye can survey, what heart can adequately feel its 5 vast purport; its past of a glorious record; its present of splendid opportunities; its future of an ever-widening sphere of usefulness. Fifty years of toil in prayers and tears and fifty years of reward of victor's crowns; fifty years of sowing precious seed and fifty years of gathering in the sheaves: "Fifty years the rose has flowered and faded, Fifty years the golden harvest fallen." Performance of the task bringing me before you this evening has been indeed an effort, not of labor, but rather of love, although the journey backward through the first half of our Semi-Centennial to starting point was attended with obstacles, neither few nor small, much of the official records having been lost, statistics being difficult to obtain, memory being often uncertain and obscure, and statements being not altogether satisfactory. Traces, however, here and there were found by which I was safely guided, as the "blaze" on the trees of almost untrodden forests, by which our pioneer ancestors were directed to the camping ground and to their future homes. Then the daily newspaper was unknown, and the reporter, now so indefatigable, so persistent, so ubiquitious, yet so useful, is a creation of a later time. Delightful pastime and profitable as well has been enjoyed in hearing from the lips of our older citizens in business places and around the hearthstones accounts and incidents of the early history of this society; and, as the story was told and long-forgotten names recalled, often was there manifested an emotion unspoken and a tear unshed, those sacred, those mysterious links between the present and the past, between the living and the dead. Let us then count ourselves happy, yea thrice fortunate to have come to the Kingdom at such a time as this, not in the early grey dawning of a new era, clouded with uncertainties, perils and sacrifices, but in Centennial days with sweet centennial chimes: so recently of Independence Day, and but yesterday of the Con- stitution signed, because the inspired hopes and promises clustering around the former, and the realized glories and blessings of the latter sprang from this blessed Bible, and of both, we as children are proud since they are our inheritance. The Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society was organized in this city on the twenty-fourth day of November, 1837. It is the legitimate and worthy successor of the Kentucky Bible Society, organized in 1815, the very first west of the mountains, the third regular session of which was held in the First Presbyterian Church 6 in this city in 1815, and was presided over by Governor Isaac Shelby, and also of the Fayette County Bible Society, founded in 1828, whose members became identified with and incorporated in this society by a resolution offered by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Bos- worth Smith, Bishop of Kentucky, of blessed memory, a preacher of righteousness, whose life was a walk with God. The Society is an auxiliary to the American Bible Society in New York City. The officers at its organization were President-Dr. Lunsford P. Yandall. Vice Presidents-Hon. George Robertson, Waller Bullock, Rev. Joseph Stiles, D. D.; Rev. J. M. Hewett, Ex-President Ken- tucky Bible Society, 1825; Rev. D. M. Winston, Rev. Mr. Harris, Rev. Ryland T. Dillard, D. D. Executive Committee-Rev. James Fishback, D. D.; Rev. Edward Stevenson, Thomas K. Layton, Matthew Thompson Scott; Wm. A. Leavy, Corresponding Secretary; Rev Edward Winthrop, Recording Secretary; William Richardson, Treasurer. The object of this Society, as declared in the constitution, was: To aid in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment. It interferes with no man's viulvs of truth and duty. It requires no sacrifice of principle. It aims to establish no peculiar creed. It wants all to meet on common ground to give the Bible to their fellow-creatures. Surely this was brief and comprehensive, it was noble and sat- isfactory. And who were these men-these worthy men-concern- ing whom and their labors you have asked me, now, to tell. In the pages of this Society's Record I find their honored names re- corded-names that have brought much fame unto it, and surely they must be among its most valued possesions. Their's are names known to, and cherished by, the older portion of my audience, and may not be unfamiliar to the younger. They merited and they enjoyed the respect of a former generation, and surely cannot be unworthy of this. Reverently would I summon them before you now, as welcome and interested participants of the scenes of this hour. A fact as gratifying, as significant and deserving alike of men- tion here, and of remembrance is, that this Society numbered among its earliest members and most zealous advocates, and substantial supporters, many of the most intelligent and influential business men of Lexington, who, then, were not professors of religion, but 7 they were men who were not ashamed of the Bible, and upon whose heart altars burned with an ever-cherished warmth that old puritan love for the Holy Bible. I here pronounce it a credit to their manhood and an honor to their memory,. conspicuous among whom were George Robertson, Thomas A. Marshall and Leonard Wheeler. Mr. Leonard Wheeler was born in Lincoln, Massachusetts, in 1789, and died in Lexington, Ky., April 1st, 1864, where he spent the last forty years of his life. The circle of his acquaintances and friends was very large, and no man ever possessed more fully the confidence, esteem and love of all who knew him. His estimation of the value of the Bible is shown by the following written with his own hand on the fly leaf of his Bible, after he had attained the age of three score years and two. SUNDAY NIGHT, November 2, 1851. I have read many books, histories, poetry, novels, and works on legal subjects, but this is the greatest; this contains knowledge far greater than all the books in the world contain. DR. LUNSFORD P. YANDALL, the first official name in this Society's history, Sir, your earliest predecessor, was a learned and useful practitioner and a distinguished teacher of medicine in this city and in Louisville, a name beloved and cherished in many hearts and households. GEORGE ROBERTSON. The pen of the historian has recorded him Chief Justice of Kentucky. He was indeed a chief among justices everywhere; profound in jurisprudence, his decisions are to-day declared au- thority in two continents. REV. EDWARD STEVENSON, D. D. Seldom has the mantle of John Wesley fallen on worthier shoulders than those of Edward Stevenson, or the Ministry of the Word been committed to saintlier heart or cleaner hands. He was a truly good man, and did great good for the Master because he was good. For many years he earnestly and faithfully preached in the old building on Church Street, now occupied as a school. An incident I was pleased to hear, and I mention it now, is-that of several elderly persons of whom I enquired concerning him, not one failed, voluntarily and spontaneously in connection with his name and godly life, to speak of his favorite hymn, which they had so often heard him give out, line by line, and lead the singing with a 8 voice of wonderful sweetness and strength, a hymn written by the trembling hand of the dying college student, and sung around the world, rendering immortal the name of Henry Kirk White. While here and now we recall his name, may we not think of him there tuning his voice with the angelic choir, and with the harpers whom John saw, harping with harps in their hands, singing, When marshalled on the nightly plain, The glittering hosts bestud the sky; One star alone of all the train Can fix the sinner's wandering eye. Hark! Hark! to God the chorus breaks, From every host, from every gem; But one alone, the Savior speaks, It is the Star of Bethlehem." REV. JOSEPH C. STILES, D. D. In my early youth I heard the voice, and saw the form, of one here proclaiming a Truth and bearing a light; and this Bible is the very truth he cried, and this indeed the light he bore. Like the young Prince of Israel, head and shoulders he stood above his fel- lows-bold-lion-hearted and valiant for this Truth, born to attract and save mankind. You have heard of him-Joseph C. Stiles-a name greatly honored in the Church of God, and not likely soon to be forgotten. It comes to us this evening radiant with reflected light of a half-century of glorious Ministry, and now is borne on- ward by an honored Kentucky Representative in the United States Senate. WALLER BULLOCK 1774 and 1853 mark the life-span of Waller Bullock, the person above reproach, and a useful citizen, farmer at Walnut Hill, independent and happy, a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, of strong mind and bright intelligence, he showed in his daily life the Roman virtue of inflexible integrity and unsullied honor. Many of his descendants are in our midst in highest esteem in Church and State, and are friends of this Society. MATTHEW THOMPSON SCOTT. How familiar and how cherished is the name of Matthew Thompson Scott, the Christian gentleman, generous and true, in whom there was no guile-a man among men in private aud pub- 9 lic life, able financier, Cashier and President of the Northern Bank of Kentucky for fifty years, and one of the Vice-Presidents of The American Bible Society. At the good old age of three score, ten and two years, he laid down a blameless life, leaving to a large and worthy posterity an ample fortune and the priceless inheritance of a spotless name. Time would fail me to speak as justice would demand of Ryland T. Dillard, by whose name the brightest page of his Church's his- tory is brightened by its being written there; of J. M. Hewett, faithful watchman on Zion's Wall; of D. M. Winston, gentle in his strength, and mighty in his gentleness; of Harris, ever ready to battle for the right; of Edward Winthrop, able, cultured and courtly, gracefully bearing his illustrious name; of James Fishback, genial, broad and sincere; of Thomas K. Layton, full of faith and just always and everywhere; of William A. Leavy, the accomplish- ed corresponding secretary from 1837 to 1855, full of zeal, enthu- siastic; of William Richardson, friend of the Sabbath-School, fond of this Bible Society, earnest in piety and good works. For the preservation of the Records of The Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society for seventeen years, we are indebted to Mr. Whittington King, who, for that period was its painstaking and efficient Recording Secretary. Through these pages, well kept during these changeful and eventful years, patiently I have made my way, securing therefrom facts both interesting and important. And indeed it is not difficult to read between the ines evidence be- yond mistake, of his earnest devotion to the interests of this Society, of the simple but firm faith, and of Christian character with which he walked among his fellow-men as their companion and familiar friend for half a century. The value of these pages will only in- crease as time moves forward. Of the value of these services this Society has already, by vote, recorded its appreciation; and in those distant days the faithful historian of The Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society will not fail of duty and justice alike when he shall make mention, gladly and gratefully as I do this day, of the name and services of Mr. Whittington King. The memory and high character of Hon. George Blackburn Kinkead, who was Mr. King's predecessor for many years, are warmly cherished and held in loving remembrance by us all. And his successor, Mr. George Adams Joplin, now performs actively and with usefulness the duties of Secretary of The Young Men's Chris- tian Association at Omaha, Nebraska. 10 The complete suecession of Presidents is as follows: In 1837, Dr. Lunsford P. Yandall; 1838, Gen. John M. McCalla; 1844, Dr. Thomas D. Mitchell; 1849, Rev. Robert Jefferson Breckinridge, D. D.; 1854, Rev. John D. Matthews; 1865, Samuel R. Williams, a teacher dearly beloved, a Ruling Elder and an ornament in the House of God. 1870 Elder Robert Graham, D. D.; 1879, Dr. John W. Scott; 1882, Hiram Shaw; 1885, James Henry Beauchamp; 1886, J. C. Woodward. As successor of William Richardson and John Milton, Mr. Geo. W. Norton served this Society for sixteen years as Treasurer; and few names appear more frequently than does his throughout these Records. And a faithful friend he was, and true. Wisely and well did he counsel, and often in times of need did he furnish means for immediate demands. Thus for many years of his active and successful life was he interested in the prosperity and usefulness of this Society. The first life members appearing on this roll of honor were constituted in 1838, and were Abram T. Skillman, James Fishback, James Weir, Wm. A. Leavy, Wm. S. Todd and Joseph Kenning. The first depository of this Society was placed in charge of Edward F. Berkley, concerning which the Corresponding Secretary, William A. Leavy, wrote just fifty years ago to Rev. J. C. Brigham, Corres. ponding Secretary of American Bible Society, New York, Novem- ber 13th, 1837: "Our Bible Depository is under care of Mr. Edward F. Berkley, a student of the Episcopal Theological Semi- nary, recommended by Rt. Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, Bishop of Kentucky, and who gives evidence of the proper spirit and qualifications. It is neatly kept, well attended to, and likely, I think by degrees to come into more general notice and favor. He gives his undivided attention to it from 9 o'clock a. m., to sundown, except during the dining hour." In this capacity Mr. Berkley served this Society until the fall of 1847. He presided over the Regular Annual Meeting in the McChord Church, in this city in October, 1849, and is the only survivor of the nine general officers elected at that meeting. He was the faithful and useful Rector of Christ's Episcopal Church from 1839 to 1858, and now enjoying a good old age, resides at Kirkwood, near St. Louis, Mo. These my friends, these were the Pioneers; all honor, then from our hearts we say, all honor to the Pioneers. I know truly that we shall be stronger and better for knowing and for remembering what manner of men were here," and this. 11 Society can ask no happier or better thing than that the children of such men may ever continue the worthy tradition of character and usefulness, for "gracious men are public treasures and store-houses wherein each hath a share." Time and the proprieties of this oc- casion, forbid my presenting as I would be pleased to do, detailed accounts, and even tabulated statistics of action and continuous operations, varied, laborious and eminently useful and successful, although they are of profoundest interest and importance. The work of this Society has been circumscribed by no geo- graphical lines, nor confined to any race, creed or condition of men. For years the Executive Committee held monthly meetings for transaction of business, the great importance of which and the character of the men thus engaged and devoted may impress you, as at random, I open these volumes of Records and introduce you into their Council Chamber. In 1838 you could have seen Rt. Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, Bishop of Kentucky, Rev. Edward Stevenson, Rev. James Fishback, Rev. Nathan H. Hall, Rev. Robert Davidson, D. D., Rev. T. N. Ralston, Rev. J. N. Hewett, Rev. Edward Winthrop, David A. Sayre, whose Christian spirit prompted a munificent liberality which blessed his own generation, as also many generations yet to come, in many ways, most especi- ally by the noble Institute of Learning which adorns our city, and bears his name; which may long endure the proudest monument to his memory. Hon. George Robertson, Dr. Thomas P. Satterwhite. Harvey McGuire, William H. Rainey, James Weir, Dr. L. P. Yandall, Norman Porter, Nathan Burrows, William A. Leavy, Wm. Richardson, Thomas Huggins, Dr. Noel, James Hamilton. In 1845 Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, D. D., Rev. Henry B. Bascom, President of Transylvania University, Rev. John H. Brown, Rev. John Miller, D. D., Rev. Edward F. Berkley, Dr. David Bell, Dr. John C. Darby, Matthew T. Scott, Abram T. Skillman, William A. Leavy, George W. Norton, Whittington King, Joel Higgins, James Hamilton, David A. Savre, Frederick Montmollin, Jacob Ashton, Nat- Shaw, Wim. H. Rainev, Wm. L. Waller, Richard Pindell, George R. Trotter, Thomas Dolan, Wim. Warfield, D. S. Goodloe, Rev. W. H. Anderson, Rev. Stephen Chipley, Rev. Wm. M. Pratt, Rev. J. M. Hewett, Rev. Mr. Kav- anaugh, Dr. Thos. D. Mitchell. In 1848, Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, D. D.; Rev. Henry H. Bascom, D. D.; Rev. John H. Brown; Rev. Edward F. Berkley, Dr. David Bell, Dr. J. C. Darby, Matthew T. Scott, Abram T. Skill- 12 man, Wm. A. Leavy, George W. Norton, Whittington King, D. A. Sayre, Nat. Shaw, Frederick Montmollin, Wm. H. Rainey, Dr. Wm. S. Chipley, Rev. W. M. Pratt. In 1854, Hon. Geo. B. Kinkead, Rev. John D. Matthews, Rev. Edward F. Berkley, Rev. John H. Brown, Rev. Samuel L. Ad- ams, Rev. Stephen Yerkes, D. D.; Rev. Robert G. Brank, Rev. Thos. N. Ralston, Rev. H. V. D. Nevius, Matthew T. Scott, Wm. A. Leavy, W. King, A. T. Skillman, Joel Higgins, P. Scott, George W. Norton, John M. Ferguson, W. H. Rainey, Richard Pindell, H. Shaw, Thomas Dolan, William Warfield, Dr. D. Bell, Dr. J. C. Darby, Glass Marshall, Elder at Bethel Church for more than forty years; Ebin Milton, James C. Butler, Thomas W. Bul- lock, John R. Dunlap, James Logan, Samuel Laird, Chas. S. Bod- ley, H. B. Hill, Thomas A. Marshall, F. Dewees, Thomas Huggins, George Robertson. In 1859, Rev. Samuel L. Adams, James C. Butler, John M. Ferguson, Charles S. Bodley, George B. Kinkead, W. King, Hiram Shaw, Rev. George S. Savage, Samuel R. Williams, Charles Y. Bean, Squire Bassett, G. Burbank, George W. Norton, Rev. Wm. M. Pratt. Before the present system of lighting the city of London was perfected, officials at dusk passed through the streets crying, "bring out your lights," "bring out your lights," and from every door-way lanterns hung. So through these fifty years, to this So- ciety, the cry for th)is light has come, but never has it come in vain, never has that call been disregarded. It has reached us from the Mountains of Kentucky, and at the Regular Annual Meeting in 1845 it was reported by the faithful agent, Jno. G. Simpson and colporteurs engaged with him, who were employed by this Society, that they had canvassed and distributed in thirty-one counties, in Northern and Eastern Kentucky, the most unknown and destitute portion of our State, seven thousand six hundred and thirty Bibles and Testaments, enduring great hardships and privations with pa- tience and fortitude. The following resolution, offered by Rev. Henry H. Bascom, President of Transylvania University, and seconded with an able and spirited address by one of the Vice-Presidents, Dr. Thomas D. Michell, was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That in the gratifying report, of our agent, Mr. John G. Simpson, of the fourth year of his labors as Colporteur of the Bible for this Sooiety in destitute portions of our State, we have fresh 13 cause of gratitude to God and encouragement to continue the dis- tribution of the Word of God to other portions of our State, which need the same charitable work. Calls came also from neighboring counties, from our jail, Coun- ty and City Poor and Work Houses, Alms House, Lunatic and Or- phan Asylums, Hospitals, Camps, Homes of Friendless, from flying railroad trains, as also from slow-going stage coaches. On the 23d of June, 1859, this Society commissioned Mr. J. W. Crawford to distribute Bibles and Testaments in Breathitt Coun- ty. In 1860, with his precious pack on his mule, he traversed the valleys and climbed the mountains of Breathitt, Owsley and Clay Counties. In 1861-2 this Society contributed two thousand Bibles and Testaments to soldiers of both armies to comfort and bless them on the march, in camp and hospitals. In 1862 Mr. Crawford canvass- ed the counties of Breathitt, Owsley, Wolf and Pike, and in the following year his faithful labors were continued in Clay County and adjoining sections of our State. In 1867 the hotels of our city, railroad cars and schools for colored persons were thoroughly sup- plied. Thus carefully and systematically at regular and short in- tervals, during these fifty years, our own county and city have been canvassed by competent Christian persons, more recently by Joseph Wasson, John H. Moore, James Turner and H. Malcom Ayers, that the Word of God should be placed in every house. So moves the panorama. So runneth the story to the semi-cen- tennial's end, and, as a fitting close, a benediction, the present Ex- ecutive Committee ordered a thorough canvass of our county and city, which is now being accomplished. The present Executive Committee consists of James Crawford Woodward, President. Rev. Wm. F. V. Bartlett, D. D., Pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Elder Charles Louis Loos, D. D., President Kentucky Uni- versity. Rev. William S. Fulton, Pastor Second Presbyterian Church. Elder Robert Graham, D. D. Elder John S. Shouse, Pastor Broadway Christian Church. Rev. Rutherford Douglas, D. D., Pastor of Presbyterian Churches-Pisgah and Bethel. Rev. Ira T. Walker, Pastor Centenary Methodist Church. Rev. Wm. M. Pratt, D. D., Pastor Baptist Church. 14 Elder John Shackleford, Pastor Christian Church. Rev. John R. Deering, Pastor Hill Street Methodist Church. Elder R. T. Mathews, Pastor Main Street Christian Church. Elder J. W. McGarvey, D. D. Prof. James Garrard White. John T. Vance. James A. Curry. G. B. Newton. Alexander Pearson. John Pew. Treasurer and Depository-Jonathan Bush Morton, John Mac- donald Greenway, Alexander Russell Milligan. Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, Recording Secretary. I have said that this Society is an auxiliary to the great Amer- ican Bible Society at New York City. The reports of the Treasu- rer show that after the current expenses of this Society are defrayed, the remainder is annually sent to the parent Society. And no inconsiderable amount of money has thus been contributed; fre- quently two hundred and fifty and three hundred dollars, annually, making the aggregate during these years large indeed-a worthy tributary to the mighty stream. I am gratified to mention that, in 1877, the Main Street Christian Church constituted as a life member of this Society its pas- tor-Elder Charles K. Marshall-as also it did, our venerable fellow-citizen, Dr. Joseph G. Chinn, a God-fearing man and a lover of His Holy Word. To Rev. George S. Savage, by whose presence we are honored, this evening, the ever active and truly faithful Kentucky and Ten- nessee Agent for the American Bible Society, we have been greatly and continuously indebted for judicious advice and encouragement through many years, more especially for his presence at our Annual Meetings, as well as important business sessions of our Executive Committee, and for his having supervised the canvas, general as well as local, in the distribution of God's Word. These Records show that the thanks of this Society have been by vote tendered him on more than one occasion, and in the name of this Society, here and now I renew and repeat our grateful acknowledgements to him for his kindly interest in, and valuable services to us, hoping that the Blessed Bible, with which he has brightened so many dark homes, may in his evening time give him its light. The name this Society bears, and its location, may justify 15 special mention of a fact, which surely is worth knowing and re- membering, that between 1820 and 1823 there were several editions of the Holy Bible published in Lexington, in duodecimo form, from stereotype plates sent out for that purpose from New York City. It was cheaper to print the Bible here, and to distribute it from this point throughout the West, than it was to pay heavy charges on the transportation from New York. I have recently seen a copy of one of these Bibles printed in Lexington in 1823, found by Rev. Dr. Savage in his mountain travels, which, these Records show, he publicly presented, at the Annual Meeting in 1882, to Mrs. Dr. Henry Martyn Skillman, whose husband is a son of the publisher, Mr. Thomas S. Skillman, a citizen of high char- acter, of superior mental endowment, a Christian-useful and be- loved, and although he has been in his honored grave for a half century, his name and memory are still dearly cherished by us all. Quietly, steadfastly and straightforward has this Societv held on its way through these eventful fifty years-years distressed by disease and distracted by cruel wars. It has been blessed of God and ever growing in favor with man; always provided with means to supply its ever widening and ever lengthening avenues of useful- ness. Of homes blessed, hearts cheered, hopes inspired; of dark places made bright, cold hearth-stones made warm, crooked paths made straight and rough ways made smooth, the half may not be told here, but the Book whose seals are to be broken there surely will disclose. This Society, and I herein speak its greatest, its crown-jewel blessing, has never wanted for men, wise men, faithful men, good and true, to preside over its counsels and to conduct its executive department. And more than all, and as best promotive of its grandest and loftiest aims, and conducive to its best interest and lasting benefit, it has never failed to have such men, of all styles of creeds, of all political views, of various sections of our land, to come and stand before it, who, with their great earnestness, learning, and eloquence advocated its glorious cause. Listen, please, to a few of their honored names Robert Jeffer- son Breckinridge, valiant chieftain among the hosts of God; Ed- ward P. Humphrey, Edward F. Berkley, E. W. Sehon, William M. Scott, John H. Brown, Henry B. Bascom, learned Divine and orator of his Church; Robert Milligan, disciple, well beloved, gen- tle and faithful, thoughtful student of God's Word. Milligan, let not men call thee dead, for thoughts of thine, inspired by this Bible, live on in thy spoken-fitly spoken words, and written 16 works-and they are beacon lights, still shining along the road. John C. Young, "thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise;" name twice borne before you-by the father and by the son, by the eloquent and saintly father and by the gifted and brilliant son; they have stood before you; you have heard their eloquent voice, "the melody thereof is still in my ear; its thrill is yet in my heart, and, like those evening bells of Moore, will still sound on, whatever fresher chimes may peal from new Cathedral towers." There too, Stephen Yerkes, faithful and beloved in the School of the Prophets; Robert G. Brank, dear alike to all the churches; Jacob S. Shipman, Rector of Christ Church, Lexington, from 1861 to 1877. Of Mr. Shipman's usefulness as a Minister of the Gospel and faithfulness as Pastor, and also of his admirable administrative ability, the venerated Bishop Smith, on visiting this Parish and administering rite of Confirmation to the largest class ever presented in the history of the church, remarked in the presence of the speaker: "This church here at Lexington is greatly blessed in a Rector; Shipman has an old head on young shoulders and I do believe he is the only man in America who, when every Protestant church in Lexington has divided during this war, could have held this church together." Pure in spirit and with a warm heart, he gave comfort to the afflicted and sorrowing and with bright intel- lect and genial nature carried gladness everywhere. He will ever have a green spot in many, many loving hearts. We also mention J. C. Hiden, diligent and thoughtful student, attractive and instructive minister of God and a host of worthies; L. G. Barbour, L. W. McKee, Robert Graham, Chas. L. Loos, John S. Shackelford, Rutherford Douglas, D. D., George E. Strowbridge, Dr. H. J. Judkins, Chas. W. Miller, F. XV. Nolan, I. W. Walker, Dr. Wm. F. V. Bart- lett, W. S. Fulton, Robert Christie, G. W. R. Birch, W. H. Hop- son, George P. Wilson, H. P. Walker, Edward H. Camp, J E. Gilbert, John M Frost, J W McGarvey, H A. M Henderson, Joseph Rand; indeed all the pastors who have occupied the pulpits of our city during the past thirty years or more Long shall they be remembered From these records I see that the laity also have paid willing and graceful tribute to this Society Conspicuous among whom are George Blackburn Kinkead, George Robertson, Thomas A Marshall, John B. Huston, Hon William C. P Breckinridge, our popular Representative in the National Congress, the orator gifted and eloquent; President James K. Patterson, learned and 17 cultured, into whose worthy hands the State of his adoption has committed her highest educational interest, who delivered in 1877 an address, to which this Society paid the unusual and appreciative compliment of ordering the publication thereof You could not pardon me did I fail to mention how now we miss the presence of one who since last we met has gone from us, whose love for and devotion to this.Society ceased only with his life, and when that life ended here, which was indeed a well-spent, well-rounded, Christian life, it was but to begin a brighter, more glorious life of joy and immortality and bliss, whither he was guided by this Bible, which was the study of that life-William Christie I linger bidding adieu to this departing half century so dear to our hearts to say, as we all humbly but sincerely do, "Praise God from whon such blessings flow " And now turning our faces and our foot-steps to the coming fifty years, let us hope and let us pray that he, who shall at its close address that generation, as I do this, may be able to declare that the blessings and the usefulness of this Society have increased an hun- dred fold. Now, and with the proceedings of this meeting closes the first half century of the history of The Lexington and Vicinity Bible Society. A review thereof it has been my desire and design to pre- sent to you this evening, and though imperfect it be, it will not have been altogether in vain shall it but inspire and stimulate us, and those who shall come after us, to greater, to more faithful, and to more successful effort to distribute this Bible to all Mankind, the corner-stone, yea, itself the very foundation of all civil and religious liberty on the earth. And ere I say my task is done, my grateful task entirely done, I can but think of the Semi-Centennials of this Society that centuries shall become, which in turn cycles of eternitv form, and as streams to ocean run, they shall proudly bear the tr(- phies of His Holy Word to the feet of Him, in whose sight, "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." I am thinking now also of those who for this Society have labored in the distant past and in far distant fields, of those who are serving now here, and elsewhere, and indeed of those, who in all coming time shall bear aloft this torch of Light and Life, until as with a girdle of Holy flame it shall encircle the globe and illumine it, and for aught we can know worlds beyond. Therefore am I thinking of that Great Day whither we are all rapidly moving, "where we shall all be cotemporaries and make our appearance to- gether."