The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-22

Inc SsCIstSfy, MT. DUTLEk, tuen rSdu Tue report
Of the operations Of the Society during the past year.
of which the following is an abstract The er, Of
Bible societies dates no further back than the year
1904, and since that time the Bible or Testament,
translated into almost every spoken tongue, has
been printed and circulated to the extent of more
than forty millions of copies This society
circulated in 1924, the first year OF its operations
$50 Bibes now it distributes so, 900 copies annually
The first Ct tie society is to supply the dest
tute resident population Between February, 1s49
and July, 1862, thorough exploration Of the city
was accomplished by ward, street by street,
house by house, and family by family. So great are
the changes in the of three years that there
is apparently an entirely new race of inhabitants.
The visitation has been conducted by Mr.. Wetson.
He has visited during the year 449 families. OF
these, 1896 were totally destitute of the Scriptures
an average of about twenty four per cent, nearly
one quarter af the whole. This per centagc, how
ever, is much less than at the former visitation
Then in the worst supplied districts the per centage
was thirty one; now it is only t0enty-six. OF the
1926 destitute families, S4s, or about one quarter,
refused the Bible, 34S were supplied by sale or
gift, and the remaining Is were left unsuppliei,
chiefly on account Of their inability to read. The
cost Of this distribution has been $673, and the
amount received from sales by this ageat, $l73.
The whole number of volumes distributed by him is
1857. The society had also tho services Of Mr..
Goublemap to assist Mr.. Watson. He was formerly
attached to department among the resident
Germans, and he reports the distribution OF 40
Bibles and l54 Testaments among thai class. twill
be perceived that while over $4,000 families have
been visited, less than 400 volumes have been dis
trbuted Ii object to circulate the greatest
possible number Of Bibles, it would have been easy
to have given away ten times this amount But this
=. III ral IF NnA.
fleets in its simple narrative maj startling gmpses
of that moral degradation and those organized forms
of vice which cast so black shadow over the chris
tan civilization of this greet city The refusals from
the Roman Catholic population are uniform and per-
sstent just in proportion to their bigotry and igRo
ce, and resals upon grounds almost identical in
eveIy case showing that the paramount authority
of tie church has been at work. 1t is evident from
Prolesta tsm is not question OF different versions
OF the scriptures or Of the respective merits Of the
Dousy or the English translation. It is question
Sods sf Is from s ssem de Ss0ps not f1 nd " the
Church Of Rome anticipating US by dstribu-
tion of the scriptures OF any version-th efforts
are confined to the prevention OF our distribution.
Our oeent always recommends the perusal Of
the Douay Bible when possessed by any family, or
directs those who desire il where they may find it.
As to the emigrant population for the first time
there is large falling of. In the Irish emigration,
In the German tits 1866. In the English, Scotch,
and welch, 67o5. In the French, 222O. Lastyear
1852 tmgrants arrived here from Norway; this year
only 362. From Spain, italy and Portugal the mum.
ber has increased from 7oi to ,522. The total de-
crease is 40 S54 CAUSED in part by the diversion OF
the emigration to Australia by the increase of wages
in England and Ireland AMI other parts of Eurepe,
and in part by the prevalence Of epidemcs on ship
board in recent passages to this sountry which have
deferred many from embarking. Still, the number
actually arrived is 26s,920-a pumber exceeding
one half Of our permanent population. This society
meets them the Threshold OF their new life with
the Bible. During the past year they have dstri-
buted to this class 1916 volumes, through Mr.. Con-
rad Rittpg, among the German and French chiefly;
and through Mr. Stephen Smyth, among the Irish.
The Swedes, Danes and Norwegisrs have also been
supplied 10 the amount Of 700 volumes. In addition
10 this, 5000 volumes have been placed on board
3s4 emgrant ships during the past year. This IL by
wsy Of anticipating emigrants before they arrive
The bles are deposited with the captains ard
mates, who are found very faithful to their trust To
Other descriptions Of ships the Bible Is also given.
The number Of vessels arriving from all parts duting
the year 3S22, and these carry the Bible all over
the earth. The Committee has increased ito distri-
| button over the year 1852 by 109S5 volumes ETi.
| grant ships to California have received 3,0s3 vo.
lumes and 80 passenger vessels to Australia have
received 1 .6s3 volumes. Two hundred and nine new
vessels have received Bibles The total distrihutca