The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-06
SCATTERING BIBLES
THROUGH The WORLD
Nearly 100000 Handled
by American Society.
ABOUT 100000 LAST YEAR
Interesting Facts Related in the Last
Annual Report-Scriptures in Great
Demand in Foreign Countries.

The American Bible Society has made
public the eighty-seventh annual re-
pert of it's board of managers, in sub
stance as follows:
THE American Bible Society contin-
ues to have conspicuous share in the
benevolent and missionary activities of
this and other lands. An increasing de-
mand comes from foreign shores. More
than one-half OF the issues of this So
ciety so in various tongues to supply
the destitute on distant shores. The
issues during the past year have been
nearly 100000, counting Bibles. Tesla
ments and portions This is the largest
annual issue in the history of the So
ciety.
There has been a falling off in the
receipts from auxiliaries and indi
viduals. and especially from legacies,
and a small increase in gifts from the
churches. The society is in great need
of enlarged contributions. otherwise its
work will be seriously imperiled. There
was never time when SO many minds
were giving thought to the Bible as
today The last year has never been
surpassed in the number OF Bibles and
Portions of the Scripture published
throughout the world. The work differs
from that of the publishing house, in
that the element of financial profit is
eliminated.
Issues at Home and Abroad.
eighteen life directors were con-
stituted during the year by the payment
of $50 each, and 245 life members were
~. =.
The receipts were S412,416. The income
from permanent funds was s1s.4S6.
''The total issues at home and abroad
amount to 1888, sos This is an increase
of 269. 767 over those of last year OF these
734. SAG were distributed in the United
States, counting Porto Rico and Hawaii,
but emitting the Philippine Islands. This
means an increase of Al, 1874 In the do
nestle field. The issues in foreign lands
amount to 1.25S 909, or 221,S increase
over the previous year Of these issues
e93, 454 were from the Bible House in
New York, and 1000 1o4 from the So
ciety's agencies abroad. being printed on
mission presses IN China. Japan, Siam,
the society in eighty-seven years amount
to 72,67o.7SS copies.
Presidents Address on Bible.
President Roosevelt's address on the
Bible has had a large circulation, Co.
600 copies having been issued this year
in English, and 10000 in Spanish, be-
sides editions in Arabic, Japanese, and
Tagalog, and other languages.
In Egypt more than twenty colpor-
teurs have been busy in the region south
of the Delta. The presses in Syria are
burdened with orders for Arabic Scrip
lures. Important changes are pending.
looking to unification of the work in
Korea and an enlargement in Japan.
There are nearly 5000. 600 scholars in the
schools of Japan, which means new
population under preparation for the
reading of the Bible. Translation work
goes forward slowly in Korea
In China there has been an extraor-
binary development of interest in the
Bible and in Christian Institutions gen
orally. The demand for Bibles has been
greater at times than could be supplied
by the presses, and there is an immense
increase in the issues for the year The
workers in Mexico have met with oppo-
sition stirred by friars from the Philip
pines. and with unusual evidence of big
otry on the Pacific Coast
The Rev. John Darlington, in Siam,
edited the publication OF over 40, 900 cop
les of the Scriptures. He has made long
Journeys, for instance 10 the ancient
city of Korat and its neighborhood, and
TO number of provinces west of Bang
kok, distributing himself over Is 900 vol
umes. In Porto Rico there has been a
circulation OF over 10000 copies as
against 5000 last year. DR.. McLaren
has reorganized the whole work of the
society in Porto Rico, obtaining, though
with much difficulty, the services of
enough colporteurs TO reach out largely
throughout the whole country. The cir
culation in the Philippines for the first
year was 1888; the second year it was
52.793. and last year il reached a total
Of 91.260. Steady progress has been
made in the translation of the New Tes-
lament into the native dialects"