South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-08

NEW YORK, June o.-1ne SHOW
ing of the American Bible society for
it's 99th year, within one year of it's
centennial, has just been made pub
lie. 1t is a remarkable showing for a
war year, or for any year for that
matter. Paralyzed conditions have
obtained on many mission fields, es-
pecially in Mexico and Turkey but
there seems to be a quickening OF the
heart and conscience of the people OF
all lands, making them more ready to
listen to gospel preaching and 10 read
the Scriptures and purchase them.
Notable Issues.
The issues of the society went be-
vond anything in its history and
reached a total of 6,3SS,717 volumes.
This surpassed the year previous,
when there was no war, by 1,137, BAL
volumes, and that surpassed the one
before by 1,201,566 volumes. The
home field distribution surpassed the
previous year by S9,02S volumes and
the foreign, alone, by 1,O4S,5l3 vol
umes. Since its founding, now near
" 100 years ago. the society has cir
culated 109,9OS,60S volumes. A rea-
son for the large increase last year,
so the society reports. was the extra
ordinary progress made on mission
fields in the far east. The supply of
Bibles and Testaments, in all tongues,
is an essential part Of missionary So
ciety report, and when societies forge
ahead Bible societies find their de-
mands increased.
The society has changed it's fiscal
year TO the calendar one, and this
Nav reports only nine months. These
were the months ending Dec. 81, 1914.
Within that period society receipts
increased little over the preceding
wear. The incFease was caused in
great part BY larger numbers of
Bibles sold-good business manage
ment and business enterprise. For
example. the sales went up from
an increase in legacies OF $4,000 to
S64,S00
Decreased Receipts.
The receipts from the living fell off
sadly and the society is obliged TO
curtail its operations seriously the
coming year The trust funds of the
society, including the endowment.
now total S2-3S7. 77S.93. This fund
does not include annuitant funds now
amounting to S29S,399
TRANSACTIONS Of the Bible into the
tongues of many peoples, and re-
visions of old translations, sometimes
by initiative of the society alone and
sometimes in cooperation with other
societies, are going on vigorously and
systematically. A new translation OF
I the whole Bible in Portuguese, foI
use in Brazil. has been completed; a
revision of a Bible translation IN
/ Spanish is going on, 10 be completed
/ SO far as the New Testament probably
next year; revisiOns for use or the
I Chinese and Japanese. These are
some of the activities. Then the
\ tongues Of the Philippines, the Mar
\ shall islands. the Zulus Of South
! Africa AN these are progressing II
\ their translations. Already the Bible
I is printed in more tongues than the
average American dreams TO exist
\ yet new needs are found. and new
/ efforts made 10 supply Bibles TO meet
( them.
In foreign fields Bible distribution
/ goes on through the hands of the
I missionaries. but these missionaries
are men and women who are sent out
/ not merely by missionary societies
\ but also by the Bible societies, and
\ the hardships OF many of these Bible
( sellers are so many and so great that
one wonders how people are found
Y who are faithful TO endure them. The
distribution Of the Bible in America
| goes on through Home agencies