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

New York. March 25. An interna
tional trust. covering the price and
distribution of bibles and marked bs
many of the methods already familiar
TO the public through The STANDARD
oil and sugar trust exposures. has
it's American headquarters In the
Bibh house, opposite Cooper Union.
The American Bible society, founl-
ed ninety years ago, Is the American
branch Of the combination. Though 1t
disclaims, with the cher members of
the pooling agreement-the British
and For ign Bible society and the Ma.
tional Bble society of Scotland--any
intent Of commercialism, the combina-
tion since It's formation has resulted
in the extinction Of hundreds Of local
bible societies, the absorption Of hum
dreds of local bible societies. the ab-
sorption OF hundreds Of others as aux
iliaIies Of the American Bible society
and an increase of the price of bibles
To American purchasers, whei hsF
booksellers or those wishing TO give
a wider circulation 20 the scriptures
through religious motives.
Attacks by Church Periodicals.
Throughout New England within the
last month attacks on This pooling
agreement have bsen frequent, both
In the church and secular pres. In
cllded 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.
[ I'VE used TO buy a testament In
ECanada which cost us, iaid tfrwn n
Boston d little less than cents and
which VIZ sold at that price. Since the
trust wps formed we can not gei
these and d similar book out by the
American Bible society costs cents.
Independents Sell cheaply.
eWe can buy more cheaply from
.indep ndent publishers than from the
American Bible society since the re-
cent increase in price.
The nndisputed facts are these:
The British and foreign society has
an agr ement with the American Bible
society that II will not sell bibles for
distribution In America nor will the
American Bible society sell bibles
for disirimbution in England The
Bible soc eiy will not sell
bibles for gratuitous distribution In
the United States.
THE Am rcan Bible society has
also been carrying on propaganda
by which local bile societies have
been induced to become auxiliary to
he central society and to send their
funds there. and tha bible colportage
work. which was formerly one of the
chief activities Of the society and
which deservedly won to il the sup
port N Christian people. has been
almost entirely discontinued
Although heavily endowed. the
American Bible society does not sell
bibles any cheaper than they are
made and sold by independ Mt pub
fishers. The administration expenses
Of the society are enormous and II
does not do any such amount of bene
eolent work as would justify these ex-
n nses
Condemns society's Work.
Il have long studied the work of
he American Bible society at home
and abroad and have believed for sew
3ral wears thai it is not an organiza-
lion to which the contributions of
Christian peopl for bible work could
De judicionsly committed"
In the present annual repcrt of the
Amer can Bible society the board
members say:
During the year 1906 four new
,ihle societh have been recognized
Is auxiliaries of the National society. |
societies nave been re-
stored 10 the lists Of living and active
DuftBg..the same period |
hire. socie les, fornieriy,.. auxiliary.
iave been removed from cur fisf This |
ction became necessary becarse /
hese societies long ago ceased to
maintain hose clo.e anG helpful rela- |
ions TO the national society which the |
Iame auxiliary implies. The total /
lumber of local bible societies sharing
ur burdens aud rec-g -gnized as Our /
ux liaries is 54l"
II is charged by The officers Of the
lnion Bibl society that instead of
iding in the circulation Of the scrip
nres in the United States the absorp
ion Of a local society a an aux /
lry" merely makes it collector OF
unds for the American Bible society.
.hich frr twenty-five years pa yious
, the issuance of its annual repor-
al abandoned houzeto house work
-ork among the white Americans. The
Of every auxIi ary must