The Detroit times., 1910-11-28

ed last summer at Sse1y
an internationa
Bible conference -''----
that the aeroplane would soon be
used In the distribution OF the Good
Book The American Bible Society
first utilized the automobile Tor Biole
distribution. The successful work OF
Colporteur Fow and his wife III dis
tributing Bibles through rural Cali
fornia from an automobile. demon
strated the adaptability OF this ma
chine for the purpose. The motorcy-
Gle is used extensively both in Amer
lea and England for the same pur-
pose.
The Bible Societies of the world
are united in their efforts to place
copy OF the Bible in the native tongne
within the reach OF every man, wo-
man and child upon earth and philan-
thropists and churches are joining
hands In this great movement. Al
every summer resort, pleasure PARK
or town in the Christian world col
portuer Is likely TO be found who In
many cases displays remarkable YER
satility In attracting attention TO his
wares In heather countries the work
Of the Bible distributor Is being push
ed with even greater vigor, although
varying methods are employed.
Every Christian country has It's
own national organization for Bible
production and distribution. but the
great bulk OF the work Is carried on
| by the American and British Foreign
Bible Societies. These two great
English-speaking organizations con-
! troll large publishing plants in many
places and print Bibles in every Ian
guage OF Europe, in addition TO the
various other tongues into which the
Biole has been. or Is being. translated.
During the past two years special
attention has been called to the enor-
nous increase In the contributions
10 the American Bible Society through
the benefcence of Mrs. Russell sage
who gave half million dollars on
condition that the Society raise an
equal sum for perpetual endowment
fund. The committee in charge OF the
endowment fund campaign completed
| their task last June, having secured
contributions amounting TO an average
of 81 900 a day throughout the cam
paign which lasted for over a year,
Most OF this amount was from small
contributors in Americ, and foreign
lands reached by the society's work.
A conservative estimate places the
resources OF the American society at
5000 900. including all endowments
and trusts and the publishing plants
| in America and In foreign countries.
| The endowments and trusts are in
vested TO yield the largest possible
returns. Besides the regular income
| from these, the work or the society
! Is supported by the donations, which
are increasing literally each year ana
which are Immediately utilized. Inc
plans for the work of the coming year
call for 81. 600, 900. To secure this sum
the committee will endeavor TO keep
The daily contributions up 10 the marx
reached during the endowment cam
paign. This great annual expenditure
will be required to carry out the pres
emf plans for Bible publication, includ-
ing translation and revision, distrlbu-
ton. travelling and emergency ex-
penses. The resources of the British
Bible Society are more than double
those OF the American. In addition
TO its heavy endowments. the organ
ization is well supported by the Es-
tablished Church. while very liberal
private donations are being received
each year. Much OF the work OF the
British Bible Soliety is done in India,
where the numerous dialects spoken
require large number OF TRANSACTIONS
in order that every British subject in
| tat land may possess copy OF the
I Scriptures in his native tongue.
The work of translating the Scrip
lures is recognized as important TO
the worlds development from an IN
tellectual, as well as spiritual
standpoint. Putting a Bible into a
language possessing neither lexicon
nor a grammar is distinct literary
achievement, because II at once gives
that language the foundation OF ma
tional literature. In most cases the
translation of the Bible into an Hitter
ate language speedily results in the
opening OF a public school Many
OF the countries visited by mission
aries have no written language.
Their vocal communication seems to
consist OF beast-like grunts. Reduc-
| ing these sounds to words and re-
producing them in printed form inn
mediately gives higher tone OF
commune which cannot out ad-
vance the intelligence or the people
receiving II. A keen ear and
thorough acquaintance with the pee
pie are prime essentials for translaI-
ing the scriptures into unwritten
languages The patient perseverance
required to reduce dialect TO print
ed page could only belong to one
whose ingenuity is inspired by zeal
Gus devotion. For this reason the
work OF translating the Bible INFO
heather languages is chiefly perform
ed by missionaries, who. in addition
10 their other labors. generally UNI
dertake voluntarily this arduous task.
Their work is carefully revised by
experts employed for that purpose at
the main publishing houses. The
credit for the real work Of the trans
lation. however. must be almost
without exception awarded to mis-.
slonaries Usually the New Tesla
ment. Psalms or some other portion.
is published first, and later the whole
Bible. Formerly most OF the print
4