New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-01

In connection with Bible celebratons.
such as have Just been held in England
and are 10 be held in this country on sew
eral sundays this April, Americans rejoice
that they have captured within the last
ION or twelve years almost all OF the
bible trade OF America. Up to 1895 COM
paratively few Bibles sold here were made
here To-day conditions are almost en-
,ctlv reversed The Bible trade Of Amer
,ca is worth 100000 a year.
Bible paper has long been Of peculiar
texture II has been thin and yet fairly
cnaaue. Various names have been as
signed TO IT. and many thought IT could
cnlv he made in Europe. Within the last
Few years. however. paper manufacturers
g. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin
have solved the Bible paper problem and
now make paper that is better and cheaper
than any other Bible paper ia the world.
Not only the paper. but the plates are
also made here. Speaking solely as books,
the best Bibles IN the world are now made
jn this country.
Anybody who wants TO DO so may make
and sell the King James version OF the
Bible. the tercentenary OF which is now
being celebrated. There IS en- American
standard edition. a recent translation mace
nv American scholars, which is copyright
ed. Anybody may also make books or
common PRAYER and sell them II he can.
but tho hymnals which go with the books
NAV only be made and sold upon the pay
raent OF royalty 10 the widows and
children Of deceased ministers. England
keeps an official whose business 1t is 10
read Bible texts and see that they arc
correct according to the perfect transa-
ton. but our government maintains no
such official
some thirty years ago there was an Eng
lsh translation of the Bible the publica-
ton of which attracted wide attention.
II was not cabled TO America. but imme-
dlstely upon arrival in New York from
London the New Testament in full was
fled in the telegraph Office here as copy
and published next morning In full in a
Chicago daily. The excitement was soon
over Many dealers now have on their
shelves copies Of this translation and one
can buy them for 10 cents on the dollar
Episcopalians buy the higher priced
Bibles. They pay $40 TO 500 each for
-heu. They are made expressly for use
or lecterns in churches. from which 70
rad the lessons in the services. Usually
such Bibles are presented and the givers
want something large. handsome and du-
rsble These high priced Bibles are made
exclusively for this trade The low
nriced Bibles are o5 cents. with New Tes-
,aments as low as five cents OF course
many Bibles and parts Of Bibles are given
away or sold for less than cost. The
American Bible Society, one OF the Two
great societies Of the world, makes us
bibles in America and distributes them all
over the world in all languages you can
think of and some you cannot
=. Pierpont Morgan has had much to do
with praverhook making here. Previous
90 the revision Of the ,.ook Of Common
PRAYER. in 1892. practically all books used
4, America were made IN England. some
still are. although they bear American I'M
rrints. But following the revision just
mentioned Mr. Moygan encouraged the
purchase Of prayer books 10 put into pc"
racks in churches Under this financial
encouragemelN some Of the manufacture
Of PRAYER books was transferred from
England 20 the United states. and has re-
manned here This city is the centre OF
the Bible and prayer book trade and man-
ufacture.
Printing. paper binding all these have
advanced wonderfully since 1911 The
tf.le page Of the New Testament of KING
Ianes's tim. wss an elaborate affair. On
the left were the supposed armorisl bear
inss of Israel's twelve tribes, set above
,ors Of tents. and on the right the Apos-
ties. twelve in number At tho tor in
Hebrew, is Gods name. and immedlatelN
below are the lamb and the dove, with
SIS Matthew and Mark. In the upper cor
rers are sun. moon. planets and stars
In the centre and at the bottom IS the
lamb on an altar and below are figures Of
S.. Luke and John. As drawing, and for
tho age. the figures are reckoned remark
sblv GOOD. much above the illustrative art
Of tho period