The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-06-13
AMERICAN BIBLE soCIRTY.
Items from its Fiftieth Annual Repert. Pres
scented May 10th, 1885,

To the Editor of the Rock leland Argus.
The receipts from oil sources durinr tba
past year were $642, 625.64, of which S365e
O0l.ll were from the sale of books. 500. 1854. O6
from rents Of portions of the bible house not
occupied by the society, and$232, 92l. S3 from
donations and legacies.
The numb !: of volumes issued from the
bible house, and in foreign countries at the
expense of the society was ], l50, 52S, includ-
ing 453 In raised letters for the use of the
blind, and 206. $40 In foreign lands.
The "Bible Society Record" has had an av-
erage monthly circulation of IS, sos, of which
about 7 900 are sent to Illinois.
The number of agents in service during she
whole or part of the year was forty, of whom
thre sswere in foreign countries and two were
engaged In the army and for freedmen. The
number of bible colportsurs in foreign ooun-
tries was also forty. The number of local
agents or bible visitors (unpaid) connected
with the various auxiliaries and branches 10
about Is 900.
OF 307, 1913 families reported (which was
only q part of those visited) 25,l lis were
found without bibles, or about one in every
twelve. At the south nearly one half Of the
families visited are without bibles.
Hundreds of direct grants have been made
by the parent society, during the year exclud-
ing what has been done by the auxiliaries,
for the same objects, few of which are as
follows: For freedmen. 81, 1924. destitute peo-
pie Of the south 62.6ls; soldiers and SOL
diers' hospitals, sc, 5S7 United States chris
| tan commission for army and navy, 65 ,SI4 !;
| prisoners of war 20. 900; sailors, 2, 499; hui
| name institutions 79l; Sunday schools, So
S34; foreign ports, 1921; and grants in
money for the publication of the scriptures
| 81 &c
The donations of books, and money dis
counts on sales to auxiliaries. debts of feeble
societies cancelled, &c. amount to $l4S, 40S. so.
A large amount has also been expended in
preparing Arabic scriptures for circulation.
JUBILEE STATEMENTS.
The American bible society was founded
in the city of New York, May 9Th, 1916, and
has consequently Just passed its jubilee year.
1t has on it's list ,S42 auxiliariss with their
$500 branches making in all 5,232 bible So
| cieties now directly connected with it. OF
| which over one fourth are in the state of I'LL
nois.
About $500 persons have been made life
directors and members, of whom not far from
| 2,700 survive.
The whole amount of receipts during the
fifty years of it's existence has been $40, 434, :
| 953.7l being an average of little more than
$1,000 per annum. very small sum
| compared with that now expended annually
in the United States for the single article of
tobacco, which is about S33 100000.
The sum total of its issues during that time
has been 81, 400 ,666, being an average of over
42S, 900 per annum.
1t now prints and circulates the scriptures
in about Fifty language and districts. and
has aided In circulating them at various times
in about thirty more.
It's receipts during the first ten years of its
existence were S449, 532. 7S-she second ten
years, 1864, 897. 94-the third ten, 81, 233,
039 95-the fourth ten, SO ,O42, 63244, and
the fifth ten, 81 754, S50.65.
The issues of books during the first ten
years of it's existence were 439, 5S0-the sec
ond ten, 1,549, S4S-the third ten, 2, $40, l5t
the fourth ten, 6,772,33S, and the fifth ter
10, 138, 044.
Thenumber of volumes granted by the secie
ty since its-organization is 3,2l6, 43S. Beside.
this, it has granted in money, mainly for the
circulation of the scriptures abroad 1928,
O02 o..
The issues during the last five years-th'
years of the war-(6, 555 ,23ll exceed those
OF the first thirty three years Il, 341 l4O) By
107, 09l volumes.
The distribution by the United STATES cris
tan commission of books granted to tina
body by the A. B. S. for the army and navy
ued at Sis, 824.99.
, The statements above do not include whs
has been done by the auxiliaries and branch
es.
AMASA LORD,
! A G for lI,nnI