The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-08-07
A Trifing Incident and its Magnificent
Result.

1t was cold winter day about seventy years age
when devout Welsh minister asked little girl oil
lis parish to repeat the text of the preceding Sab
bath. She could not do so, and blushlngly pointed
to the deep, and drited snow as an excuse tor her
inability.
Naturally anxious to understand the relation be.
tween the snow and the text, the good man asked
her to explain. 1t soon appeared that the Bible
out of which she was wont to learn the text was
owned by distant neighbor whom the unusually
deep snow had prevented her from visiting
Having no Bible at her own home, she was thus
dependent on friends living at distance for the
privilege of reading the word Of God. This trl'
fling incident started an inquiry in the minister
mind, which has had wondrous results. He soon
found that large number of his people were with
out the Scriptures and unable to buy. With en-
ergy combined with piety, he set out for London,
and appealed to the directors OF the Religious
Tract Society for some kind Of organization to sup
ply his poor countrymen with the Bible. Ills APP
peal was not in vain. While the thoughtess mul
ttudes were jostling in the streets, and the din OF
London life deafening the ear, a few noble men re-
tired to an obscure counting room OF the city, to
devise measures for the formation OF society
which should give the Bible to Wales. Their plan
was nearly matured, when into the mind OF one
there flashed thought thought as truly In
Spred as any in the canon; 1t was heaven born,
and simply sought human lips to give 1t express
sion. Up rose one of the small company; glow
was on his face, and a magnificent faith in his
heart If Bible society for Wales he sad,
4" Why not a Bible society for the World? Noble
words were these They fell on the few auditors
like voice from God-like trumpet blast from
the sky.
The British and Foreign Bible Society had its
beginning at snst moment. The lips which spoke
il into life haxe been dead for many years, but who
save the Almighty can measure the work they
have wrought?
The society, of which this was the origin, held
its sixty-eighth anniversary in London on the lst
of May. 1t has agencies in all the principal coun-
tries of Europe, and single glance at the figures
for the past year is sufficient to indicate the amaz
ing greatness Of its work. During the year 1871
it has circulated in France 250,00 copies OF the
Scriptures in Germany 100000; in Austria 1866
600; in Russia l45, 600; In Egypt, Syria, and Pal
estine $4,000; in China $4,000, besides smaller
numbers in other parts OF the world. Among
German families bereaved in the late Franco Prus-
sian war; no less than 224 900 copies Of the Scrip
lures were distributed in eleven months, and the
general good results of the societys work in Ger
many have been such, that the German Christians
design organizing society which shall supply the
home demand without any further call on England.
In Italy Bible Society has been launched under
the very shadow of the Vatican. Of what noble
family of children is this British and Foreign Bible
Society already the mother. To the work for God
which she is still destined to do, it seems lmposs
BILE to draw any bounds. The receipts and eXpen-
ditures for the past year, from ordinary sources,
were greater than before, the former being Elsa,
1876. Us. ID, and the latter about thousand
mounds less Il Christian Union