The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-25
BIBLE socIEry,s ANNUAL MEETING.
How One Family became Prosperous
by the Gift of q Bible.

The annual meeting of the indianapolis
Bible Society occurred last night at the
Central-avenue Methodist Church., with a
fair sized congregation. Prayer was offered
by Rev. DR.. Jenckes, and Rev. DIR. Buchtel
spoke upon the general work and history
of the great Bible societies of the world.
The greatest of all, he said, is the British
and Foreign Bible Society of the Eastern
world. He related that it was the need
Of more Bibles in Wales that led to the
Organization of the society. Thomas
Charles, who had investigated the condition
of Wales. had secured 10000 copies of the
Scriptures, but asked for more. He was
told that there were no more that could be
sent to Wales. He appealed to the meeting
of evangelical ministers in London and
made such a showing that Joseph Hughes,
a Baptist minister, said that a society
should be formed not only to supply Bibles
to Wales, but to all the world. This led
to the organization of the British and
Foreign society. In the seventy-five years
of it's history, he said, it had distributed
75,0O1Ge0 copies of the Bible, or an average
of 100000 a year. 1t is now distributing
100000 copies a year.
There are eighty-five different Bible So
cieties in the world, DR.. Buchtel continued,
but only two of great size. These are the
British and Foreign and the American So
ciety. The speaker recalled that the CONT
nensa; Congress of 17T adopted a resolu-
ton calling for the printing of 10000 copies
of the Bible, but at that time there was no
printing firm in the country that could fur
nlsh the material or work for such an edi-
ton. The Congress then directed that 30
COO copies be imported, but that could not
was then prevailing. 1t was not until 1871
tat an American firm could produce a
plished in Philadelphia in that year. The
American Bible Society was organized
In ISL. said Or. BuchtelI, through
the son of a distinguished Congregational
minister. The young man had graduated at
Williams College, then at Yale and again
first missionary of the church. In 1872 and
again in 1916, he made a trip through the
and saw the lack of Bibles. He carried a
report back to the settled parts of the East
and it was decided to call a conference of
these for the purpose of considering the
situation. The outgrowth was the organiza-
ton of the American Bible Society, thirty
five of the 132 local societies becoming men,
bers of the new general society. This Amer
can Bible Society makes possible the mis-
sionary work of the evangelical churches.
Otherwise no one church could stand the
expense of translation and publication of
Bl Miss for far,a use By y missionaries mission iesrs,arv Of rho
local society, read her report. The history of
the organization was reviewed showing that
it has been in existence fifty-nine years,
during which time it has had five presidents.
The first was Mrs. Margaret Given, who
served thirty-one years, and the present
president is Mrs. Julia f. Goodhart. who
il a granddaughter of the first president.
The society. she said, had received three
gifts amounting to $3.50 in cash and a lot
which was sold and the proceeds Invested
at interest. Ii was decided To change the
name. which is now the Indianapolis and
Vicinity Bible Society. The report of the
treasurer. Mrs. Dorsey. was next read.
showing receipts of $1,1I9.7S and a balance
OF 81, i03, including the amount at interest.
This receipts for the year included an item
of 81. 66 rcct wed from dividend No. 2 from
the receiver OF the indianapolis National
Bank.
Tlev. DR.. Rondthaler. of the Tabernacle
Church. spoke briefly upon the influence CT