The Bible Society of Virginia was founded in 1813 in Richmond as … “[a] Society for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures to the poor of our country.” ^[1] Thirteen men were designated to serve as the inaugural managers in 1813: Reverend John Buchanan (president), Reverend John D. Blair (vice-president), Reverend Jacob Grigg (vice-president), Reverend Jacob H. Rice (corresponding secretary), William Munford (recording secretary), Samuel Greenhow (treasurer), Archibald Blair, William Mayo, Robert Quarles, George Watt, Reverend John Bryce, William Fenwick, and Alexander M’Rae.

On January 31, 1814, Jefferson "chearfully" forwarded his contribution of $50 to Samuel Greenhow. His letter to Greenhow of that date expressed his agreement with Greenhow that "... there never was a more pure and sublime system of morality delivered to man than is to be found in the four evangelists." ^[2]

Footnotes

1. ↑ Address of the Managers of the Bible Society of Virginia to the Public (Richmond: Printed by Samuel Pleasants, 1814), 1.
2. ↑ MB, 2:1297

Further Sources

• Jefferson to Samuel Greenhow, 31 January 1814. Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page047.db&recNum=246