Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-22
.PREsBYTER|ANs HONOR
AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY
Celebration OF Centennial Feature Of
Sundays Session of Southern
General Assembly.
DIR. NJ. Is. PORTER IN CHARGE
Chairman of assembly's Permanent
Committee and Secretary OF South
Atlantic Agency Directs Exercises
Held at Orlando.

ORLANDO, FLA, May 2l.-Thc out
standing feature of tho General AS
semhly, of the Southern Presbyterian
Church for to-day WAS the cclcbra-
lion Of the centennial OF the American
fihio Society this evening. Tho cxcr-
ciscs of the evening wcrc conducted
under the direction Of Rcv. NJ. r. Por-
ter. ID. D.. OF Richmond. chairman OF
the asscmbly's permanent committee
on the Bible cause. and also secretary
OF the South Atlantic agency OF tho
American 1;iblc Society. The month
OF Ma" is being observed as centennial
month in honor of tho 100 years record
of the American Bible Society, and tho
following historical facts of the So
cicty we're emphasized in the ceiabra-
'ion which the assembly held this cven-
Ing:
With a record established which
shows that during the time since its
organization it has carried on It's work
on nvc continents, on the islands Of
seven seas. in more than $50 languages,
through nine home agencies and twelve
foreign agencies, by nine main print
ing centers and moro than l,300 dis
tributors and having issued more than
lt'.oo0,0oo volumes of Scripture, the
American Bible Society has closed tho
first century of it's existence.
The first article in the original con-
stituton OF the society Expresses we'll
the object Of this great organization.
This article reads "a follows: This
society shall be known by the name OF
the American Bible Society, of which
the sole object shall he to encourage
Il wider circulation of the Holy Scrip
lures without note or comment The
be circulated by the society shall be Of
the version now In common use"
THE WHOLE BIBLE FOR
THE WHOLE WORLD
It's century of unretarded growth
and usefulness has given proof many
times over justifying the organization
of this agency of Christianity, the en-
deavor OF which is. with the help of
others. to give the whole world the
whole Bible. For savage tribes that
have no written language It invents an
alphabet and makes written Ian
EuaEe, SO that they may have the Bible
IN their own tongue. For those pos
sessng a written language. the Scrip
TRANSACTIONS are revised. some Of the m
many times, and new editions are con-
stantly published. BY the co-opera-
ton Of all Bible societies and various
other agencies, the Bible has been
translated and printed. in whole or in
part. in over 700 languages and dia-
lects. 1t Is now available for three
fourths OF the peoples OF the world In
their own tongues" During the year
19l4-15 alone there were distributed
through this agency 2.426,41S copies OF
Scripture At home and 3.979.905 copies
abroad, total OF 6.406.323 copies,
which was an increase OF 1.155,147 over
the number OF copies distributed the
year previous. The total expenses of
the society the past year were s764.-
$50. this having been met by contri-
buttons from individuals and churches
of every belief
That the American Bible Society is
the servant Of all" is shown by the
following words: For 100 years, now
the American Rible Society has shown
TO the world that a society which be-
longs to no single denomination may
yet do the common task OF all with
great efficiency and a saving OF money
time and labor. The society freely
renders Bible service TO all. When
Erantsin aid are requested no dis
elimination is made on account Of re-
ligious affiliation. The one question
is. What is tho necdf"
The South Atlantic agency Of the
society includes the States OF vir-
Einia, West Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina. Georgia, and Florida