The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-28


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 for Bible
distribution. The successful work or
Colporteur Fow and his wife in dis
tributing Bibles through rural Gail
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 pnr-
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 phllan-
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 Its
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
Biuie has been, or is being, translated
During the past two years special
attention has been called to the enor'
nous increase In the Contributions
TO the American Bible Society through
the beneficence Of Mrs. Russell sage
who gave half a million dollars on
condition that the Society raise an
equal sum for a perpetual endowment
fund. The committee in charge or 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 year
~
contributors in Americ' and foreign
lands reached by the society's work
A conservative estimate places the
resources of the American society al
81. 900 600. including all endowments
and trusts and the publishing plants
in America and In foreign countries
The endowments and trusts are IN
vested 10 yield the largest possible
returns. Besides the regular income
from these. the work Of the society
IL supported by the donations, which
are increasing literally each year and
which are Immediately utilized. The
MANS for the work of the coming year
call for 81, OO0, 900. To secure this sum
tho committee will endeavor 10 Keep
the daily contributions up to the marx
reached during the endowment carr
paign. This great annual expenditure
will be required to carry out the pres
emf nlans for Bible publication. includ-
ing translation and revision, distribu-
ton. travelling and emergency ex-
nenses. The resources of the British
Bible Society are more than douDle
those of the American. In ADDITION
10 tia heavy endowments, the organ
ization Is well supported by the Es-
tahlished Church. while very liberal
private donations are being received
each wear. Much of the work OF the
British Bible Soliety Is done In India,
where the numerous dialects spoken
require q larg. number of translations
In order that every British subject in
t at land may possess a copy OF the
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 Bible into
language possessing neither lexicon
nor a grammar is distinct literary
achievement, because II at once gives
that language the foundation OF a ma
tional literature. In most cases the
translation of the Bible into an Hitter.
ate language speedily results in the
opening OF public school Many
of the countries visited by mission
aries have no written language.
Their vocal communication seems to
consist OF beast-like gruIts. Reduc-
ing these sounds to words and re-
producing them in printed form i'm
mediately gives a higher tone OF
communication which cannot but ad-
vance the intelligence OF the people
receiving II. keen ear and a
thorough acquaintance with the peo-
pie are prime essentials for translat
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 into
heather languages Is chiefly perform
ed by missionaries, who, In addition
10 their other labors, generally un-
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-
sionaries. Usually the New Tesla
ment. Psalms or some other portion.
is published first. and later the whole
Bible. Formerly most OF the print
ing was done in New York or Lon
don. Now great modern publishing
plants are sustained exclusively for