Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-06-03
SOWING THE SEED.
The Doinss Of HE American Baptist Pnb''ca'
tion Society Annual Meeting.

Saratoga, June 2.-AIteI tHc 1uuieo % "
its president the list annual report OF tho
board Of managers of the American Dafc
tist Publication society was presen'eu
Saturday morning. Its headquarters are
in Philadelphia. The gross amount Oh
sales exceeds that of the previous year.
Tho sales for 1894 were s497, ,S0I.4S; those
for 1895 are s532, 1888. The receipts from
all sources other than sales, viz, rents
interest on invested funds, etc, for the
year, amount 70 l9,9i9so. There has been
transferred from the profits of the pub'ish-
ing department to the missionary depart
mcnt, S61G6. The contributions Tor the
missionary work of the secicsy have not
been sufficient to meet the domand, anu
deficit of $685. .04 is reported.
. This, added to the deficit of last year,
gives total deficiency in the missionary
department of SIS 40l.SS. Measures VIII
be set on foot to remove this deficit. Inc
entire amount received the past year Tor
Bible work was $15,2i2.S4, and for mis-
sionary work &112, ,60S.7S.
Whatever profits are made in the pub
fishing departments beyond what is needed
for the conduct and cxigencics of business,
go directly to the benevolent work OF the
society. As the years go on it is highly
probable that the profits will become
greater and greater, and the publishing dc
partment will thus become an increasingly
large contributor to the missionary depart
ment. Tho. oyercrowtling OF the Parent
house and the demand for change and en-
large1nent make it necessary shortly TO
purchase ground and erect n new buliAng
for manufacturing purposes
During the Past Year
work in the direction OF non English speak
ing has been enlarged. Rev. Henry Mel
son has been engaged to devote himself to
the extension of the cause among the
Swedes. A weekly paper in Swedish,
Barnens Tidning, is being published. A
Swedish hymn book is in preparation, and
a commentary or the New Testament, un-
der the editorship of Professor Edgren, is
being issued in quarterly parts. Arrange
mcnts have also been made to supply
Swcdcs with books and tracts in their own
tongue sufficient to meet the needs of their
churches and Sunday schools In like
manner negotiations are pending with the
Danish, Norwegian and French TO provide
them periodical and other literature.
Sixty-threc new publications have been is
sued during the year, making Ii more than
last year. OF these nearly 1863, 900 copies
have been printed The entire number of
books, pamphlets, periodicals. tracts, etc,
new and old, printed during the year, is
nearly 30, ,000,O 600 copies. The total num-
Der of pages printed during the year, re-
duced to 16mo. size, is more than S00,000,-
600, being an increase over last year of
over 100000 pages. During the year
there have been issued over 33600, ,00G
copies of periodicals.
The number of importunate appeals
from all parts of the continent has greatly
increased during the last years of floods
and fires, failures of crops AID depressed
business. Many who in ordinary times
are self reliant, now cry for aid Churches.
schools, pastors, missionaries, associations
and state conventions plead and urge
great pressing needs. Many are asking
for appointment. 1t is most painful to
find diminished resources when needs are
greatest.
The, demands Widen and Grow.
All over ourSstates, even in the crowded
cities and the most favored places, there
are urgent needs, and many hundreds of
calls for the workers and the work of this
society. TEcy labor i'll a place and way
seldom otherwise occupied. The mission
aries and colporters of this society are not
stationed like pastors, or home or state
missionaries, but are sent among the dcs-
titutc, the poor and the neglected and
often to a region thinly populated. They
have exposures and privations not neccs-
sary to localized ministers or missionaries.
and there are no churches Mt ther hacI-r
to provide for their needs, or comfort. or
encouragement, or to supplement- their
meagre salaries, or save them expenses.
Little or no revenue can be secured from
the poor and destitute among whom they
toll, although some of thciS have sent
rings, pins, watches and other personal
property in token Of their gratitude for the
gospel brought to their homes.
Three chapel ears have been at work
during the year; one is in Arkansas. one
in California and one in Minnesota. They
have visited many destitute places, many
have professed conversion, and thousands
otherwise unreached have heard the pos
pei. Some churches have been established
and some ready to perish have been re-
viyed. Sunday schools have been organ
lied, Bibles, tracts and other literature
distributed literally, and much good ac-
complshed. Chapel car No. is built and
will be ready for dedication at this ami
verSary.
The amount received during the year
year for Bible work was Sl5,2a,Sl. To
meet the needs of Bible work until Bible
day, in November next, so, $50 rs remains
The applications for gifts of scriptures
have never been so numerous or generally