Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-02-26
From the Lorain County NEWS, Feb. 5th, %
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.
BIBLE HOUSE. AsToR PLACE,
NEW YORK. January l3, 1873. J

BIBLE HOUSE. AsrOR PLACE,
NEW YoRK. January l3, ls7S.J
Rev. G. S. MARTINDALE,
Agent for the American Bible Society /:
DEAR SIR:-As the financial year
of our Society is now drawing to
wards g close, we deem it expedient
to call your attention, and through
you that of the Auxlliaries and friends
of the Society, to our pecuniary con-
ditiOn. We are now in the tenth
month Of the current year, and we
are admonished of the need of prompt
liberality to prevent a very serious
falling off in our receipts: Up to the
1st inst, the receipts are S69, 4S3. IS be
hind those of last year up to this time.
The deficiency is largely in our Ordl-
nary income from sales Of books and
donations; Anxiliaries have been less
punctual in settling their accounts
Ithis does not apply to Trumbull Co.
Bible Society, and the ordinary do
nations have been smaller and fewer
than in some years past.
But while the receipts have fallen
off, it is pleasing TO know that the
work Of the Society, instead Of di-
minishing, has increased. While the
receipts of our treasury are less than
those OF last year to the extent above
mentioned, the issue Of books is great
er. Last year up to this time our iss-
ues amounted to 732, ,595 volumes;
the present year they have been 49,
401, being 1O,S06 more than those of
last year, though the last month, We
regret to say, has shown a falling of
Then it should be remembered that
we make no profit on our books,
which are sold to purchasers at cost.
while the Society makes a discount
to Auxiliaries of five per cent to pay
expenses of transportation, storage,
etc. This, however. is not so much
lost to the Society, because what the
Auxiliaries do not pay on book &C
count, they do pay as donations The
discount. therefore, while it dlmins
ishes their book account, Increases
their donations. To wealthy sOcie-
ties this is but small matter, but to
the fsebler ones it is of some cOnse-
quence, as it makes their book ac-
count small, and enables them to pur-
chase more, thus giving the books a
freer and wider circulation. The
object of the Society is to spread the
Holy Scriptures, and money is asked
for only in view Of doing this more
effectually.
Meantime the demand for the Scrip
lures is increasing, and promises to
increase more and more. The wants
of our home population, the large ar
rivals of immigrants, the settlement
of new territories, the continued de-
mands for freedmen, the supply OF
penal and benevolent institutions,
with hotels, steamboats,, railroads,
shipping, mission schools, and poor
Sunday schools, make large demands
upon our depository. We look to
the friends of the Bible for means to
meet these calls,
Then it should be remembered that
the period is coming for making the
annual appropriations to Missionary
Societies for the foreign work, This
is an important and encouraging fea-
tur,. II is Of vast importance that
We be enabled 10 make these apprO-
priaiiOns with at least our accustOm
ed lIberality. Indeed, in many fields
there is need of considerable increase,
as the work enlaTges, and the way
opens more and more for the spread
OF the Bible.
Be it remembered too, that the va
riOus Missionary Societies are extend
ing their iields and widening their
They are putting forth
vigor. In proportion as
they do this they win increase their
cali on the American Bible Society.
Every new Mission makes new call
for Bible work: and it is essential
that we be ready to respond literally
to their requests
Sincerely Yours, .
JOSEPH HOLDICH,
EDWARD w. GILLIAN,
Cor. Secretaries. /