Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-12-05
MOST VITAL WORK
American Bible Society Must Be
Supported in Spreading
the Light.


The demand for Bibles is great, The
demand for Bible work is still great
eT. Both Of these demands come from
every part OF America and from near
ly all other parts of the world. Es-
pecially in such exceptional openings
as China, the Mediterranean regions,
where things are looking up, and in
prospective canal opening is chang
ing the face of things, opportunities
are beyond anything heretofore OBJ
tanning. Churches of the United
States are asked for 100000 to help
to meet these unprecedented condi-
lions.
1t is through the American Bible
society, as representative of these
vast interests, that the demands make
themselves known. This society has
some endowment, but the work put
upon 1t grows far faster than income
from these endowments and from all
other sources. Bibles are not given
away, save in very needy cases.
Instead, they are sold in thousands
of instances when less experienced
benevolent distribution would be sure
to give them away. Think of going
into Mexico, or into the Balkans, I'M
der present conditions and attempt
ing to sell Bibles? Yet that is pre-
cisely what the society does-and sue
ceeds, though always without purpose
of profit and almost always at loss
1t does not ask gifts save to do things
1t cannot do without them.
1t takes $250,00O year at the New
York Bible house alone to manufac-
ture Bibles and to purchase such as
cannot be had without expenditure Of
money. Almost every foot of Ameri-
can territory is covered by home Bible
work, and $13S,000 a year is needed
to do it. In foreign agencies $4,000
more must be spent. Is the question
asked, What for?"
The missionary societies depend
very largely upon the Bible society
for Bibles to use in their work. This
fact is often overlooked by supporters
of mission work. The cost of making
Bibles is only part. TRANSACTIONS
must be made and revised. It is a
vast burden.
America has built up, through a
hundred years of helping to meet
these Bible needs, vast system Of
Bible work that extends throughout
almost all the world. America has
come to be looked on as one of two
great sources of Bible supply. Amer
lea cannot stop. 1t must maintain
its splendid reputation.
The total invested funds of the
American Bible society dount 70 ST.
$4,000, and It brings in asaauts S125.-
600 a year Income flA 4Ia4 .of
BIBLES and other sources this
sum up to S3s0,0t year But not
less than sS25,0O0 a year must be
had. There are legacies, but these
are uncertain. The churches must be
looked to for $26S,000 year, but last
year they gave only $66640.
Great as these sums are, they ought
to be increased in very large degree.
The home field, to meet demands for
Bible work, must have 5000 900;
China, for its new opportunities, must
have 100000; to help repair things
laid in havoc by the Balkan war there
must be 100000; and there simply
must be met the great demands in
cident to the Panama canal opening
and the new life in the entire south.
The Bible is that Book on which
all Christian literature depends. 1t is
that Book on which civilization de-
ponds. 1t is that Book which mission
aries must have If they work. 1t is
fundamental work, this Bible circula-
ton. Hence the appeal of the Amer
lean Bible society that 1t be on the
annual budget of every church Of
every name