The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-01-04

work and present status, dellneatihg us
work from its beginning in this country
and giving elaborate statistics of its
work i'm all lands; he also reviewed the
work of the local society showing its
growth and prosperity during the past
fifty years comparing its work by de-
cades and as is most pleasing showed
the last decade to he the most prosper
ons of all; he also read, with much in
terest to the people generally, some of
the past records, statistics and names OF
contributors to the local society from
the beginning, and many names record
ed of those who have passed to the
great beyond must has awakened many
"reminiscences which was very manifest
in the faces of the audience. The adj
dress was telling one.
The Rev. John A. Jones addressed the
meeting on the beginning of the Bible
society as an institution in all lands
which was ably and amply treated by
the reverned gentleman. He outlined
the history of Bible societies in various
parts of the world, which he avOwed
were established with Interior motives
other than the supplying of the world
with the scriptures from charitable
point of view, and as part of christian
mission work; and then those who dis
seminated the scriptures from a purely
christian motive.
The story of the rise and progress OF
the British and Foreign Bible society
was told in most interesting way, al
though the story is by no means new,
and may be said to have been oft re-
peated in these meetings, yet it always
SEE ms new and attractive. How Mary
Jones, girl of sixteen, who had enam-
ored of the Divine word, had saved he:
pennies up for some years to purchase
a copy of the scriptures which, prior to
1904, the date of the organization of
the British and Foreign Bible society
"clS DOlh S-ApChSiNN. hN
story goes that she walked barefOOted
twenty five miles from hamlet to the
town of Bala, North Wales, to the Rev
Charles. noted divine who only on ac'
count of his connection with Bible pub
fishing houses in London, could supply
the bible in the vernacular. After she
had obtained an interview with Mr.
Charles, her disappointment knew nc
bounds. when Mr.. Charles informed hel
ne had sold all his consignment except
few already ordered copies. As may
be expected the girls grief was palpably
distressing. She wept and gave vent to
her feelings to such an extent that Mr.
Charles and another reverend present
could not refrain from tears themselves,
and .,nitimately, when Mr.. Charles had
recovered himself, he said:,E MY dear
girl, you must have a,ibible, whoever
goes, short when possessing such a cray
ing as tins for the word of God, and
manifested SO by, your long, saving, youl
sacrifice and tears" She !. went home
ioyfulIy, with Biblelrwhich is, now re-
tanned as menento by the British
and Foreign Bible society. fa nd oa
Mr.. Charles, going to London, met a
number of gentlemen engaged in Chris
tian work, told the story, and fired by
his zeal, they sent him out to mission a
Bible society for Wales. He called at a
church presided over by another Welsh
minister, Rev. Joseph Hughes, and at
the close of his address Mr.. Charles
said: "Wlly not establish a bible So
ciety for Wales?" "Ies," responded Mr.
Hughes, for the kingdom and for the
world" .f.
1t is recorded that from these humble
beginnings and impulses the great Bib:
societies of the world have started OF
purely christian grounds, until nearly
al! the nations and tribes of men car
search the scriptures in which they may
| expect to find eternal life in their owl
mother tongue, until now it is marvellous
that hundreds of millions of copies Of
| the Divine word is. disseminated broad
| cast over all the earth. These facts
were ably elucidated by the Rev. Jone:
in terse and happy sentences.
The evening meeting, presided over by
James A. Thomas. partook more of &
Jubilee nature then historical Short adj
dresses were delivered by James D
Price, one of the former local secretar
les whom the people were PLAID to SCI
and hear, being a noted character liter
airy and otherwise, and who represent!
the generation between the pioneers ant
the rising generation in the work of tn,
society. His remarks were pointed ant
well received.
William S. Hughes also gave an ad
dress, amusing and instructive as usual
as he described some of the very orr
giDal characters connected with the so
ciety in former days.
The Rev. r. L. Griffith spoke briefl,
on the power of the bible in the world
enumerating several bibles which hav,
been OF the greatest force in the forma
tiOn of christian life and character, NOR
| pacia llxr fo,,ol,ipo ono fba foaobor,c N,