The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-03

and sckly regions Of the Southwest
amongst the wilds of the Western bor-
der, into the heart Of the African, to
the "Heathen Chinee" Of the Pacific
Slope, amongst the fierce and warlike
tribes Of native Indians, again and again
the Society has sent in it's colporte urs
marching forward in hundreds, ever
bearing the precious Word of G cd and it's
gospel Of peace to bless with its sweet
Influences all the homes and families of
our land. In the past four years it has
visited four million homes Of this cGuntry
and has carried the Bible to over half a
million families and individuals who
had it not before. And this great work
shall 10 forward under its auspices. with
the help OF good men and women every
where till no person willing to receive
and kh how the truth shall be found with
out it.!
| In foreign fields, whether Christian,
Mofa.nmedan or Pagan, the Society
protesses to be "Simply y Sowcr Of seed.
1t baptizes no converts. it builds no
churches, it fonnds no schools. it teach
es np industrial arts. it. maintains no
HOSPITALS, it publishes no comments and
treatlseS, it edits no newspapers Its
! work is preparatory for all these. 1t has
established anI maintains agents for
| general superintendent in Mexico, Gu
ba, Brazil, I4aPlata. in the Levant, Pc
rn, China, and Japan. In the past
yearit has employed nearly four hum
dred persons in the work of diStribut-
ing the Scriptures in foreign lands. 1t
gives the aid of its money and it's Bibles
m
fields. BY these and other agencies it
is now aiding in circulating the
Holy Bible in France, Spain, Ger
many, Austria. Italy, Norway,
Sweden, Russia, Siberia, and the Amoor.
Greece, Turkey, Syria, Russia, India,
Siam, China, Japan. Mexico, and Cen
trail America, Brazil, Uruguay, the
Argentine Republic, Chilli. Bolivia, Peru,
Africa, the West indies and the Islands Of
the Northwestern Pacific. These all
receive the Word at the Society's
hands in their several tongues and dia-
lects, without note or comment. In the
prosecution Of it's work the Ameri-
can Bible Society knows no rivalry but
with the apostles Of error. 1t gladly re :
| ceives aid from every helpful source and
as willingly lends its cooperation to
similar organizations. Itis a labor Of
love which it is engaged in and it halls
with Joy the success Of other BIZ
| bic Societies., whether in it's chosen
fields or in those to which it is unable
as yet TO extend its labors. Thus it
JOINS hands with its great congenor the
The British and Foreign Bible Society,
and these two lend willing hands to help
along nearly hundred others of later
or less vigorous growth. The result Of
the com bined efforts of these Societies
since the year 1904 amount to 2OO,OOO,OUO
volumes Of the Scriptures which
have been carried to over SOO,OOO,OOO
people, more than half the entire popu-
lation Of the globe. And yet this
statement, stupendous though the fig
ureS be, conveys the faintest idea Of the
suggestions OF the actual work done. 1t
speaks but little Of the labor and perils
which have be I'll met by the faithful
and Jealous colportcuIs and missionaries
working this way through all lands,
through every form Of ignorance and
prejudice and bigotry. 1t accounts in
ample manner for the millions of money
which have been contributed to the
cause. But what can figures tell Of the
years of patient study, and the devo-
ton of the profoundest learning to the
task Of translating the Word Of God in
to the native language of all these peo-
pie? What Of the diplomacy with
Mohamme edan and Pagan and even 30
called Christian governments to securs
for the Bible Societies the poor. priyi-
lege Of Of offering to their nations this
| Word without note or comment %
What Of the Influences that have thus
wrought upon the minds and hearts and
lives and character Of all these individ-
uals and families and nations
| But is it great work that has beeu
accomplished by those Societies which
have been thrusting themselves upon
the worlds notice for three quarters Of
a century ? See. Before their Legin-
ming eighteen hundred years Of christiany
had given to the world scarcely more
than four million Bibles. Before the war
of the Revolution no copy Of the Eng
lish Bible had ever been printed in
America, and so late as 1861 "the cheap
est Bible in this country cost about two
dollars in even the poorest type and
binding. Now it is the cheapest book in
the world" Then it was thing un-
heard Of to give away copies Of the
Bible generally. Now the Book is car
risd by the hundred thousands to the
very doors of the poor in many lands
and given away without money and with
out price, During ths Civil War, the
American Bible Society redoublcd its
efforts. .bestowing the benefit of its labors
with equal zeal upon either side in that
conflict. At least 3,OOO,OOO volumes
were given to soldiers during this
period, and it is said that at one time an