Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-08
BIBLE SUNDAY OBSERVED
ALL OVER UNITED STATES
President Wilson Makes Address at
Memorial Hall III WASH
ingtOn.
American Bible Society Was Organ
lied in New York City on May 3,
1S16-Has Carried on Extensive
Work in All Parts OF World.

1S16-HaS Carried on Extensive
Work in All Parts OF World.
With record established which
shows that during the time since it's
organization it has carried on its work
on five continents, on the islands Of
seven seas. in moro than 100 languages
through nine home agencies and twelve
foreign agencies. by nine main print
Ing ccntcrs and more than 1900 dis
tributors and issuing more than 49,
10000" volumes OF Scripture. the Amer
lean Bible society celebrated the one
anniversary Of its organi2a-
ton Yesterday. The day had been des-
iEnatcd universal Bible Sunday" and
was appropriately observed throughout
the country. The official celebration of
this centennial event took place yes
terday afternoon in the Memorial Hail
OF the Daughters Of the American Rev
olution. ut Washington. President Will
son and other distinguished men adj
dressed the meeting, and Similar gath
crinGs were held in many other cities.
The work Of the Bible Society was
referred to in many local pulpits yes
terday. Rev. w. Russell Bowie. ID. H..
making it the special topic OF the
morning sermon at ST. Pauls Episco-
pal Church
WAS ORGANIZED IN
NEW YORK on MAY =. 1916
II was in the cOnSistory room OF the
Garden Street Dutch Reformed Church.
in New York City. on May s. 1916. that
the American Bible Society was or
canizcd as tho result of a meeting OF
clergy and laymen who were Interest
cd in tho question whether the new
West could he led TO learn Gods ways
in nation building" This meeting was
held In answer to the call OF Dr. Elias
l'oudinot. president Of the New Jersey
Eiblc Society. but he was not ahlo
tn he present. MI OF the men pres
tinction ms clcrEymen and layrnen. and
Joshua NJ. Wallace, an Episcopalian
layman. of Burlington. y. y. man OF
rrominenc" in tho New Jersey Bible
Society. was chosen chairman OF the
Many religious denomina-
tons were represented. and prayer con-
stituted an important feature OF the
meeting. number Of organizations
similar to the New Jersey Bible So
cicty existed az that time--thirty-hv
In an--in different States. including the
Bible Society OF Virginia, but this was
the first effort made by represent
ative gathering 10 organize such a So
c'ety for all America. II was in tho
afternoon that q resolution was pre-
scented which recommended that ''it is
eNpedicnt to establish without delay n
general Eihle institution for the cir
culation OF the Holy Scriptures with
out note or comment" and without n
dissenting vote this resolution was
adopted.
CALCULATES SCRIPTURES
WITHOUT NOTE Or COMMENT
The first article in the original con-
stitutiOn Of the society expresses we'll
the object OF this great organization
This article reads AS follows: This
society shall be known by the name Of
the American Bible Society, Of which
the sole object shall be TO encourage
wider circulation Of the Holy Scrip
lures without note or comment The
only copies In the English language
20 be circulated by The society Shall
be OF the version now in common use"
It's century Of unretarded growth
and usefulness has given proof many
times over. tustfying the organization
OF this agency OF Christianity, the
endeavor Of which is with the help
NJ others. 10 give the whole world the
whole Biblc. For savage tribes that
nave no written language IL invcnts
an alphabet and makes written lam
suaE". so that they mag have the
Bible In their own tongues. For those
possessing written language, the
Scriptures are translated into that
tongue Trauslations are revised. some
OF them many times, and new editions
are constantly published. by the CO.
operation Of all Bible societies ana VA
translated and printed, In whole or in
part, in over 200 languages and dia-
!rcts. It IL now available for three
i"urths OF The peoples OF the world
in their own tongues" During the
Year i4l4-li alone there were distrib-
uteG through this agency 2.4o6.ilS
copies OF Scripture at home and 3,979.
90" copies abroad. n total of 6.406.S23
copies. which was an increase of 1.l5a.
IA over the number Of copies dis
trihutcd the wear previous. The total
expenses OF the society the past year
hccn met by contributions from indi-
viduals and churches OF every belief.
S0tTH ATLANTIC AGENCY
MAINTAINED IN RICHMOND
That the American Bible Society is
the servant o: all' Is shown BY the
following words: For 100 years. now.
the merican Bible Society has shown
20 the world that q society which he
longs To u" single denomination may
yet no the common task of all with
great efficiency. ana 4 saving Of money,
time and labor The society
freely READERS Hhle service to all.
Whcu grants-in-a are requested. no
discrimination is made account OF
religious aniliation. The one question
is What is the nccd?'"
Rev. NJ. Il Porter. u. d. OF Rich
moud. is secretary OF the South At
lant!c agency of the society. this
agency including in its territory Nir-
sinia, West Virginia, North Carolina,
south Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Last year. under the direction of Or.
Porter, llG.32o copies OF Scripture were
distributed in this agency, an increase
over the year before Of ol.?S7 copies,
ihero being nineteen voluntary work
crs and hftE-ihrcc paid colportcurs en-
gagged in the work Of distribution Of
these volumes. which we're Issued in
English and in thirty-onc other Ian
guaGcs
on: HIUI.E \ SECOND
EON EVERY DAY IN YEAR
During the year 1914 the combined
output by Bible societies and publish
ing houses amounted to $4,000. 00o
copies o. tho Scripture or more than
one volume for every second Of every
minute. day and night. Of the 365 days
Of the year. The American Bible So
ciety issued during the year the larc
est number Of copies of Scripture in