The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-07-04
The American Bible SoctgtH.

The remarks of Rev. r. I'll Lass, District
Superintendent for North and South Caro-
lima, for the American Bible Society, at the
union meeting in the Methodist Protestant
church ten days ago were. revelation to
MANY who heard them. There were few
present who had anything like an adequate
idea of the vast proportions of this great
agency i'm the hands of God for spreading
abroad the Word of Life.
For the benefit of some who were "ot
present it may be we'll to reproduce some
of the facts stated by Mr.. Law. The Amerl-
can Bible Society is an organization OF
Christians of all denominations OF Protes-
tant Christians for the publishing and dis
trjbution of the Scriptures. 1t is not sus-
tained nv any church or denomination nor
does it look to any for support. 1t has an
annual income of 500, 900 and an exceed
jnply handsome and vast establishment III
New York city called the Bible House,
erected principally by the citizens OF New
York. The rents received by the Socie eaS
for the parts of this building not occupied
by themselves amount TO 80 ,Ooo.
They are prepared to issue annual from
their BibIe House one million and a half
Volumes. There was not quite that num-
Der issued last year. but besides these
there were 434.6S1 volumes issued IN Tor
eign lands. The issues OF the society
during 70 years amount to 81 210, 01S copies.
Last wear the aggregate circulation. in
foreign lands was 5O9,7s2 copies. These
were circulated in Mexico, Cuba, South
America, Turkish Empire, Persia. Ger
many, Spain, Austria, Russia, Siberia.
Japan, Corea, China and Siam. The Socie-
ty is very extensive re ToFelgn naen
set apart this year for work in foreign
lands. 1t is also powerful factor in evan
gelizing our own home land. Last year
through the agency of this society 567 ,O16
families were visited, and of these 66, 951
families were found with copy OF the
Scriptures 1928 destitute 1amli1es were
supplied and 1888 destitute individual Is
were supplied. Last year grants OF BOOKS
were made to Auxiliary and Missionary
societies, churches and individuals, Of the
value of $50, 1880. And to meet expenses
incurred in translating, publishing and dis
tributing the Scriptures in foreign lands
the amount of S161 1887 was paid to the
SOciety's correspondents and agents and
so, 2S9 so were received from foreign lands.
In accomplishing this stupendous work
at home or abroad the Society knows nod
tinction of denominations of Christians. 1t
should be further stated that this is the only
publishing house Of Bibles in this country
of any size. 1t is therefore encumbent on
all Christians alike to encourage and per-
petuate such an institution which is abso-
lutely indispensable to the welfare OF this
country and we may say to the world.
One of the agencies employed by the So
ciety for distributing the Scriptures and
enlarging their sphere OF usefulness IS the
establishment of Auxiliary Societies in the
counties of our United States. These Aux
iliaries are made up of the different de-
nominations that are willing to cooperate
in the common cause of spreading abroad
the word of Cod A President, vice-Presi-
dent, Secretary and Treasurer, an execu-
tive committee consisting OF one member
of each denomination of Christians cooper
ating, with the President, Secretary er-ot-
fctO members.
The Vance County Auxiliary was reOr-
ganiZed OH the 10th of June and Rev: Alex
ander Sprunt was made President; the pas
tors of the churches cooperating were
made vice-Presidents. DR.. F. 5. Harris
was elected Secretary and Treasurer. The
Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, Presbyte-
rian and Episcopal. The executive COM
mittee is made up of Messrs. Geo. S. Prich-
ard, q. 3. Harris, j. 3. Watkins and Red
ding Perry representing these churches
respectively. Membership of the Auxiliary
may be obtained on the payment OF fifty
cents to any member of the executive COM
mittee and the term of membership lasts
for one year. Upon the payment of one
dollar any one secures membership and the
privilege of receiving Bible free OF cost.
The object of the Auxiliary is the same
as that of the SOciety-the distribution of
the Scriptures but with special reference
formed. This is done in three ways, viz !:
by the establishing of branches" in any
congregation, by cOlporteurs, and by the
establishment of a Depository for the sale
of the publications or Bibles of the Ameri-
can Bible Society at cost price.
The branches" are simply sub-socities
under the auspices of the Auxiliary. Col
porteurs are special canvassers for the So
ciety, and he Depository is a place where
any one may buy a Bible at the cost of pub
LEGATION. The American Bible Society does
not make any profit on their publications.
They are not dependent on their sales for a
revenue, thus they give the public the bene-
cost.
1t Is this that the Vance County Auxiliary
desires to set before the public and calls
upon each man and woman who is intereS-
ted in the distribution of the Scriptures to
let it be known that after the first of July
the publications of the American Bible So
ciety will be on sale at the Depository, at
the book store of Mr.. Edwin Stevens in the
town of Henderson where they may be had
at cost price. Our people now have the OPP
pOrtunity of buying Bibles at the cost of
production in New York city at the SOcie-
tvs publication house. TO enable us to do
this the parent Society sells Bibles to the
IAtAihaIy hooCIciIcS dt ~ pei CtIG OctOW
cost price, which is equivalent to donation
to the Auxiliaries. This 10 per cent. we
pay to the Depository for his trouble in sell
ling the books and the Auxiliaries pay the
freight ON thess, 80 that this community
has every privilege of low prices that is Of
fered the public at the place of publication
ALEXANDER SPRUNT,
President Vance County Bible Society.
Wonan's Discovery.