The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-09-21
MOST VITAL WORK
American Bible Society Must Be
Supported in Spreading
the Ligl,t.


demand for Bible work Is still great
or. Both OF these demands come from
every part OF America aud from near.
ly all other parts Of the world. Es-
pecially In such exceptional openings
~ China. the Mediterranean regions.
where things are looking up, and In
Central and South America. where .
prospective canal opening 10 chang.
ing the face Of things. opportunities
are beyond anything heretofore OBJ
taining. Churches Of the United
to meet these unprecedented condt
tons.
II 10 through the American Bible
society. as representative OF these
East 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
70 give them away. Think of going
into Mexico. or into the Balkans. un-
der present conditions and attempt.
Ing to sell Bibles? Yet that is pre-
cisely wha. the society does-and sue.
ceeds. though always without p,rrose
OF proft and almost always at a loss
1t does not ask gifts save to do things
1t cannot do without them
It takee $250.0OO a year at the New
York Bible house alone to manufac
ture Bibles and to purchase such az
cannot be had without expenditure OF
money. Almost every foot Of Amer'-
can territory is covered by home Bible
work. and $l3s.ooO 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 a part. TRANSACTIONS
must be made and revised. 1t is a
vast burden.
America has built up. through
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. Anne,
lea cannot stop. It must maintain
its splendid reputation.
The total invested surde OF IN,
American Bible society amount to 81.
$4,000 and 1t brings in about $685..
600 year. Income from sales Of
Bibles and other sources carry this
sum up to $4,000 a year. But not
less than $s25,0O0 year must be
had. There are legacies. but these
are uncertain. The churches must b
looked to for s26s.0O0 a year, but last
year they gave only $66.640. .a
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
I'll Christian literature depends. It is
that Book on which civilization de-
ponds. 1t is that Book which mission.
aries must have II they work. II is
work. this Bible circula.
lion. Hence the appeal of the Amer.
lean Bible society that It be on the
annual budget of every church OF
svery name.