Page 57
History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 57
On the 9th of September, 1818, by notice previously determined and given by several of the inhabitants of Newburgh, the meeting was held at the Presbyterian Church, in that place, with the view of forming a society for the diffusion of the holy scriptures in Newburgh and its vicinity. A discourse was delivered by the Rev. James R. Wilson, immediately after which the subject was submitted to the meeting, together with a constitution for such society. After some amendments, the constitution was adopted as follows, by a considerable number present, whose names were afterwards subscribe, and whose contributions were received before the meeting closed.
CONSTITUTION.
Article 1st. This society shall be styled the Newburgh Bible Society, of which the sole object shall be to encourage a wider circulation of the holy scriptures, without note or comment. The only copies to be circulated by the society shall be those in common use.
Art. 2. Every subscriber of one dollar per annum shall be a member, and a subscription of ten dollars shall constitute a life member.
Art. 3. One president, two vice presidents, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, a treasurer and ten directors, shall be chosen annually by the society, who shall form a board of managers, to whom shall belong the direction of the affairs of the society.
Art. 4. An annual meeting of the society shall be held in the village of Newburgh in the month of September, on such day as the officers of the society shall appoint, of which due notice shall be given.
Art.5. The Newburgh Bible Society shall be auxiliary to the American Bible Society.
Art. 6. Every member shall be entitled to a bible the first year and to a copy annually, by an annual subscription of one dollar and fifty cents.
Art. 7. No alteration shall be made in this constitution except by a vote of two thirds of the society.
The following gentlemen were then chosen to fill the offices appointed by the constitution.
JONAS STORY, president.
ISAAC BELKNAP, 1st vice president,
JOSEPH CLARK, 2nd vice president.
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Rev. JOHN JOHNSTON, cor. secretary
CHARLES MILLER, rec. secretary, BENJAMIN F. LEWIS. treasurer.
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Managers.—Rev. James Willson, Rev. James Christie, Rev. James Scrimgeor, David Miller, Levi Dodge, Thomas McKee, John Forsyth, George Labriskie, Derick Amerman, Eli H. Corwin.
In submitting the above to the attention of the friends of religion in this place and the neighborhood, the board of managers trust that they shall not be disappointed in the hope of meeting with further patronage, to an institution every way calculated to advance the interest of men both temporal and eternal. It is one of the distinguishing and happy characteristics of the present age, that it needs no elaborate in action of facts or train of arguments to demonstrate the beneficial influence of the holy scriptures on the human family—the evidence is obvious in a variety of ways. Wealth, rank, learning and piety have united in both the old and the new world, to give the best testimony of am high esteem of the word of God, by the most active exertions for its diffusion.
Multitudes, through such exertions, are now drinking in its living consolations, its purifying counsels. If there is a sign of the times in the present age, which future generations will observe, it is the wonderful progress of the written word of God. With this is connected a sensible improvement in the aggregate comfort and in the moral condition of society in the world; whilst the inhabitants of the wilderness and the isles of the ocean are abandoning their idols, to receive and own the true God and eternal life. Could philosophy have reflected such a change? Did it ever shed the light of even earthly joy in the cabins of the poor, or make the desert and solitary places glad? And when we consider the eternal interests of men—here the heart faints and sickens, till we turn our eyes to him, who is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
Under these impressions, they respectfully solicit your aid, by subscriptions or donations, which will be thankfully received. They assure, that such aid is far from being needless, as may be supposed. The number of families here and in the neighborhood, who have not even a bible in then dwellings, is greater than those who have not examined for themselves can by any means imagine; and where this want does exist, it would be as difficult to conceive the moral degradation which often attends it. Not only in many cases is the fear of God unknown, but even the common and tender ties appointed by the God of Nature are forgotten. Men become without natural affection; domestic happiness is expelled by the fiercest passions; and vice and ignorance reign uncontrolled. To such, what enjoyment can this life, what hope can the life to come, present? The Bible comes to give them both.
To the friend of his country, we confidently appeal in behalf of this institution. The improvement of the citizens is erecting the best security of our country’s welfare. To the friend of human nature, we appeal—your own flesh, your brother, solicits your aid to extricate him from the evils attendant on vice and ignorance. To the friends of Jesus Christ we urge a higher appeal, the worth of the souls of men, and the honor of uniting in that blest work, which makes good angels and men workers together with God in filling the earth with his praise.
In addition to the above, the managers state that they have recently appointed committees to call upon citizens who have not become members in order to obtain their co-operation in promoting the interest of the society.— Such as reside out of the village and are friendly to the society, are informed that subscriptions and donations will be received by time secretary, Doctor Charles Miller.
THE NEWBURGH SOCIETY FOR AIDING MISSIONS
IN THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.
This institution, we believe, was formed in 1823, and as its objects were humane, benevolent and dictated by a high sense of Christian duty, we cannot do less than notice it in our paper, among the local matters of the town. In doing so we commend the pure and benevolent spirit with which its formation and object were placed before the public by the following statement, and its co-operation solicited. We give the extract the more readily as the constitution in contained an it:
Its object is simple, its history brief, and its claims upon the patronage of the inhabitants of this village, and its vicinity, without pretending or wishing to beat all exclusive, are both particular and general. For their influence upon the public mind and conduct, after having made a plain exposition we rest our hopes upon the voice of their conscience and the grace of God. Its design is to be auxiliary to the cause of missions in general; its funds at the disposal of a board of managers, are to be appropriated from time to time, to such societies or other missionary objects as may seem to have the most pressing claim to assistance. This is more clear from the constitution and history of the society.
CONSTITUTION.
Article 1. The society shall be called, “The Newburgh Society for aiding Missions in the propagation of the Gospel.”
Art. 2. Every person shall be considered a member of this society, who contributes quarterly to its funds not less than twelve and a half cents.
Art. 3. There shall be a general meeting of the society in the Associate Reformed Meeting House in Newburgh, once a quarter, on the second Mondays of January, April, July, and October, when contributions shall be collected, and other business transacted, which may be proper at such meeting. Every general meeting shall be commenced and concluded with prayer.
Art. 4. The business shall be conducted by a committee of nine, including a president, secretary and treasurer, to be chosen annually, by ballot, at the-general meeting in October.
Art. 5. The committee shall take cognizance of the secretary’s books, consult about a most beneficial application of the funds, make appropriations, and give in reports at each quarterly meeting. The president to have the power of calling a meeting of the committee when he shall see occasion for it; and shall do it at the request of two of its members.
Art. 6. For every twelve members there shall be appointed a collector, whose duty it shall be to collect the subscriptions of their respective classes, as they become due; and these appointments shall be made by the acting committee. Donations of any kind will be thankfully received.
Political Index of October 14, 1823.