The Cairo bulletin., 1907-03-26
ASK AID TO BUST
BIG BIBLE TRUST
COMBINE CONTROLS THE PRICE
AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE
HOLY BOOK.
PROBE BY STATE SOUGHT
In New York Where Concern Has Its
observation-disclosures in Cost TO
Book Dealers is Com
piained OF.

New York, March, a. An intcrna-
tional trust, covering The price and
distribution 6f bibles and marked by
Emany Of the methods already familiar
TO the public through The Standard
ION and sugar trust exposures. has
it's American headquarters in the
ISibig house, opposite Cooper Union.
The American Bible ociety. found.
ed ninety years ago. Is the American
branch of the cembinat on. Though IT
idiscIaims. with the ether members Of
the pooling agreement--the British
and For ign Bible society and the Ma.
tional Bible society of Scotland--any
intent Of commercialism, the combina-
| ton since its formation has resulted
lin the extinction of hundreds of local
bible societies. the absorption Of hun
dreds Of local bible societies, the alb.
sorption OF hundreds of others as aux.
| iliaiies of the American Bible society
and an increase Of the price Of bibles
| to American purchasers, whethr
booksellers or those wishing TO give
a wider circulation 10 the scriptures
! through religious motives.
Attacks by Church Periodicals.
Throughout New England within the
last month attacks on this pooling
agreement have been frequent, both
| in the church and secular press In
Guided in these charges have been
many charges that the American Bible
society has not been managed so as
to pr. duce the most good for the
money expended.
/ We used 10 buy testament In
teanada which cost us, lafd down fn
Boston d little less than cents and
(which WI sold ait that price Since the
trust wps formed we can not ges
these, and similar book out by the
American Bible society costs cents.
Independents Sell cheapIy.
we can buy more cheaply from
indep ndent publishers than from the
American Bible society since the re-
cent increase in price.
The undisputed facts are these:
The British and foreign society has
an agn ement with the American Bible
society that it will not sell bibles for
distribution In America nor will the
American Bible society sell bibles
for distribution in England. The
Bible soc ETY. will not sell
bibles for gratuitous distribution In |
the United States
THE Ann rican Bible society has
also been carrying on a propaganda |
by which local bile societies have |
been induced to become auxiliary to
the central society and TO send their !
funds there, and MS bible colportage |
work. which was formerly one of the /
chief activities of the society and
which deservedly won to il the sup
port 0 Christian people. has been
almost entirely discontinued.
Although heavily endowed the
American Bible society does not sell
bibles any cheaper chan they are
made and sold by independ mt pub.
fishers. The administration expenses
Of the society are enormous and It
does not do any such amount of bene
Violent work as would justify these ex.
n nses.
Condemns Society's Work.
81 have long studied the work of
the American Bible society at home
and abroad and have believed for sew.
aral wears thai it is not an organiza-
ton to which the contributions Of
Christian peopl for bible work could
be judiciously committed"
In the present annual rep-rt of the
Amer can Bible society the board
members say:
During the year 1906 four new
bible socie'hs have been recognized
is auxiliaries of the National society. I
fhirty-two societies have been re-
stored 70 tBe lists Of living and active
'uxiliaries. Dufing-ihe same period
hra socie les formerly. auxiliary. l.
rave been removed from cur i'st This
ction became necessary becarse
hese societies long ago ceased TO 1
hose clo.e anG helpful rela- 4
ions to the national society which the
ame auxiliary implies. The total 4
lumber Of local bible societies sharlns
ur burdens and rec gnized as cur
NIX liaries is 5I1"
Il is charged by the officers Of the
lnion Bibl society that instead o.
iding in the circul8 ion Of the scrip b
lres in the United States the absorp y
ion Of a local society a. an aux + I
Try merely makes It a collector OF {
nnds for the American Bible society. Y
hitch frr twenty-fye years p1 vious )
, the issuance Of its annual repors. I
ad abandoned honseto house work u
-ork among the white Americans The a
constitution Of every auxii AIRY must v
fCopc.udei OF Sixth Paral II