New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-09
THE BIBLE HOUSE.

"A COLONY OF BENEVOLENT sOCIETIES.
Occupying an entire square, between Third
and Fourthaves bounded on the south ny hS'orpaoe'
and on the north by Hintht stands the pudins known
the Bible House. The architecture not snowy ont
substantial and imposing. The edce Is six stories hg
~ rcd brick with brown free-stOne oopngs The mas
syeness OF the building and the conspicuous place IL &C.
cupIes cannot fail to attract the attention and admira
ton OF the passerby. The entire structure ana she
ground upon which it stands belong to the Amerioan
Bible Society that great national institution, whose
moral aud religious influence is felt In every quarter OF
tho globe On 10th of June 1882 the was
laid with appropriate ceremonies, and during the follow
Ing year 1t was sufficiently advanced toward completion
TO be occupied by tho Bible Society. The ground ana
building cost about 100000 This money was raised ny
subscriptions for that purpose only none OF the funus Vi
the Society for printing and publishing the Scriptures
being used In ten years the time the Bible House
was completed every dollar OF Indebtedness was PAID
and sufficient income secured to meet all the immediate
wants OF the American Bible Society," and pay the salaries
OF all the executive officers The greater portion Oh the
building occupied by the Bible Society," bur the stores
the lower floor, fronting on Astor place ana
are rented TO outside parties, while the upper roomS
fronting on Astorpace occupied by various benevo
| lent and religious societies.
| THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.
Bible Societies organized early az 1877 In En-
gland and In 792 the French Bible Society was Instituted
| In our own country the first organization having Tor
its object the printing and distribution OF the Bible was
commenced in 1SOs and known as the Philadelphia
Bible Society. Similar societies followed In other
States The fifth local Bible Society organized In this
country was that OF the State Of New York In 1870 The
subject OF National Bible Society first seriously ag
tated in 1875 Prominent among the advocates OF the
movement was the Hon. Elias Boudnot OF Burlington
N j., who had for time been at the head OF the
NewJersey State organization. call was made Tor
Convention. to be held the second Wednesday OF May
| I'm ~ of
TO arrive at some plan OF action This Convention met
at the appointed tme In the conssory OF the Reformed
Dutch Church, in Gardenst. Thirty-fve local Bible
Societies repre- sented Several members OF the So
ciety OF Friends also present. and took part IN the
deliberations The result the organization OF tho
| American Bible Society.
It's first President the Hon. Elias Boudinot OF New
Jersey Though the Society purchased property and did
great deal OF work, not regularly Incorporated
until March. 1871. when an act OF incorporation was
passed by the State Legislature Another act was passed
by the body, and the additional safeguards and
guarantees In 1851 This latter gave special powers to
hold and convey real estate Asorpace the property
| TO which attention il here called.
Since its organization the American Bible Society has
had seven Presidents follows: In 1916 helllon Elias
Boudnot elected He was succeeded in 1921 by the
Hon. John Jay In 1873 by the Hon. Richard Yarck In
1884, the Hon. John Cotton Smith In lSi6, the Hon. Theo
dore Frelinghuysm 1862 the Hon. Luther Bradsh,
1884, James Lenox, esq, the present presiding
officer Tho other officers OF the Society are IS Vice
Presidents three Secretaries, Treasurer and Assistant
Treasurer and General Agent. The Society Is under
the legislative control OF Board Of Managers consisting
Of SO laymen, This Board meets at the Bible House,
regularly. on the first Thursday in each month The
work Of the Board greatly facilitated by nine standing
Committees. having immediate charge OF different de-
partments and reporting tho results OF their debera
Board OF Managers at their monthly meetings
PRESENT WORKING THE SOCIETY.
Bible Society is driven by steam engine OF SOhorse
power placed In the basement All the modern improve
ments in machinery have been introduced Three humid
and sxyeght hands male and female, are employed
IN the necessary manual labor and executive work OF the
Bible House. More than half the work done In the
printing and binding departments is by females. The
folding stitching. asserting, and other light work, are
done by females Tho scale Of prices paid corresponds
with that paid for similar work In other establishments
| in tho city But pass through the various
rooms the Bible House without being strongly
impressed with the conviction that the laborers here
enjoy advantages scarcely TO be found elsewhere The
ventilation Is very thorough the rooms light, and
kept scrupnlously neat and clean; while the hands,
being selected from the very best material
| az TO character, constitute desirable soc
| ETY.. In word, atmosphere OF moral purity
seems to pervade every in the immense establish
| ment As remarked above the great steam engine ~
placed In the basement where 1t under the care ana
inauag of the best engineering skill ana commune
Gates 10y shafts and bands entirely concealed from yew
with the machinery the floors above The visitor finds
upon the first floor the rooms, IN which twenty Tour
Adams platform power presses are constantly engaged IN
throwing OF beautifully printed sheets OF ,he ple
These borne of they ara printed To other
| rooms on tho floor, where they are dried ana
pressed and made ready folding From here they
| elevated TO the folding rooms above where ABOUT
the sheets Al other tables these folded sheets arc ar
ranged also by grls and put IN shape Tor te Dhhers ia
lighter manpulatons In the hands OF women. The
bndery American Bible Society is very complete
taken into the establishment in their crude state
The work begins win tho uncut eathSr ana Shdns
until the beautifully finished volume Is placed upon tho
@i S ~ verY compee and the most
faithful and sklful work Is bestowed upon every part
The pressing trimming stamping and enclosing are
| done by machinery.
PREPARING THE PLATES.
The eectroype plates from which tho various editions
of the Bible printed begun and completed IN the
Bible House The very best and cearost types arc
used and set up with great In the composing rooms
The proofs arc read and reread several times with the
greatest care and by the very best proofreaders 1t
| IA thus made almost impossible for the smallest
error or even imperfect letter. to get into the ELECTRO
type plate The movable types are never used except
for taking proofs when the forms are corrected they
are the eleotrotype and pressed by single
pages, the most carefully prepared Wal The most
perfect thus obtained The highest skill
Is also employed In this department the plates, wnen
completed are laid away in reproof, yaGl under the
stroyed by fire these plates would remain unharined
The Depostoryis on the ground hoor ana mss ne en-
trance Fourhaye north or the mun entrance 10 tho
| Offices OF the Bible Society.
WHAT TIE BIBLE SOCIETY HAS DONE
The Society during the 50 years OF its existence, has
issued 900 Of volumes consisting OF bibles In
various forms and portions OF the Scriptures
The number OF volumes issued during the year ending
May 49, 1869 was 1901, $40 OF course many millions OF
dollars have beep received and expended In the accom-
pshment OF all this work. The Society publishes nearly
loo varieties OF the English Bible from the 32mo diamond
10 the i'm pcria volume for the family and the pulpit