Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-29
PHILADELPHIA TO TAKE
LEADING PART IN BIBLE
SOCIETY'S CENTENARY
Special Sermons Will Be
Preached Next Sunday.
109,926,214 Copies
Distributed
6,4O6,s23 LAST YEAR

Hundreds of Philadelphia clergymen
will join in the observance Of the centen-
niaI anniversary celebration Of the Ameri-
can Bible Society. on Sunday, May I. Spe-
cal sermons on the Bible are being pre-
pared and appropriate programs Of music
and addresses will be given
The observance is OF special interest to-
Philadelphia and Pennsylvania as the
Pennsylvania Bible Society, which is now
affiliated with the American Society, was
organized eight years earlier than the lat
ter organization. Since II became q part
of the American Bible Society the Penn
sylvania Society has been extended to in
clude the States of New Jersey and Della
ware and has been renamed the Atlantic
Agency Of the American Bible Society.
OCCUPIES QUAINT BUILDING.
For many years It has occupied its
quaint and historic building at 9TH and
Walnut streets. and many hundreds Of
thousands OF Bibles in many languages
have been sent out from that place.
The general secretary of the Atlantic
Agency during the last 10 years has been
the Rev DR. Leighton w Eckard. The
Rev Walter H. waygood has been the
field secretary for about four years and
Miss Bessie II. Wood has long been the
Office manager, Before becoming general
secretary of the organization Doctor Eek
ard was for more than 13 years pastor of
the Brainerd Presbyterian Church. at Eas-
ton. and for II years before going to
Easton he served as pastor of the Pres
byterian Church in Abingdon. The latter
church was his first charge after he re-
turned to America after spending five
years as a missionary in Chefoo. China.
He is a trustee of Lafayette College.
Doctor Eckard has sent out thousands
of letters TO clergymen throughout his
district of Pennsylvania. New Jersey and
Delaware asking them to join in the CEN
tennial observance and hundreds have re-
sponded
lie will go to Washington to participate
in the official celebration of the American
Society. which is to take place in the
Memorial Hall OF the Daughters of the
American Revolution at 4;30 y. m. on
May Z. President Wilson and other dis
tingulshed men will address the meeting
Mrs. Wilson is the head of the women's
division of the representative committee
in charge of the elaborate arrangements
If the weather permits. a big outdoor
meeting will he held on the steps of the
Capitol at q: 80 o'clock and will adjourn
in time for the exercises in Memorial Hail.
MANY BIBLES DISTRIBUTED
The local branch has for long time
distributed between 100000 and 100000
volumes of the Bible each year in the
States of Pennsylvania. New Jersey and
Delaware. Last year $4,000 were sent
out from the headquarters at 7th and
Walnut streets, there being 3O.0 less
than had been anticipated owing to the
European war stopping immigration.
Bibles printed In 20 languages are dis
tributcd in this State. while the American
Society distributes through its different
agenc es volumes in o. languages in
America. Bibles are also printed in type
for the blind.
With the exception of Germany the
centennial of the organization will be OBJ
served in virtually every civilized country
in the world on May Z. as the society has
branches throughout the world. It's work
is carried on in $50 languages, through
nine home and Il foreign agencies, During
the last 90 years il has issued l09,92G.2tl
volumes. Last year 6.4O6.323 Bibles were
distributed, 2,426,4Is in America and
39799O5 abroad In China l,l55,l47 vol
umes We're sent out The total expense
for the year was S764. 4.06OlO