The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-12-11

was the output of the American Bible society,
which, since its birth, 1O9 years ago, has issued
almost 160,O00,OO volumes Of Scriptures. For
the second time in its history the society last year
exceeded the 7,OO0,OOO-copy mark, an increase Of
100000 over the previous year.
In the United States circulation of Scriptures
was almost doubled last year, as compared with
the previous year. Through the Massachusetts
Bible society alone a quarter of a million copies
in AZ languages were distributed. But this coun-
try falls several hundred thousand short Of the
Chinese demand. The American Bible society is
sued there two and a half million Bibles last year,
an Increase over the previous year of more than
half a million. In fact, one-half Of Its 100000
volumes went to the Orient. In country after
country the figures have risen for the American
society alone. Similar accounts come from the
British and Foreign Bible society, the Bible Soci-
ETY. Of France, the Belgian Gospel mission, the
Evangelical Society Of Geneva and many others.
The circulation of Scriptures through the American
Bible society represents the services of 5000 per-
sons, about three-fourths of whom labor in foreign
lands.
The purchase in New York for 100000 is the
record high price for a Gutenberg Bible, the first
book printed from movable type. The buyer Is
Carl H. Pforzheimer, specialist in Standard OIL
securities. The copy is known as the Mazarin
Bible because 1t came from the library Of Cardinal
Mazarin. Henry E. Huntington, at the Hoe sale
in 1911, paid $4,000 for a Gutenberg Bible on vel
lum. Mr.. Pforzheimer's copy is on paper.
The copy bought by Mr.. Pforzheimer is Amer
ica's only perfect copy Of the first issue Of the
Gutenberg Bible in an old binding. It adds an
other copy Of the Gutenberg Bible to New York's
literary treasures. There Is a copy In the New
York Public library, in the library Of the General
Theological seminary, and a copy on paper for
merly belonging to J. w. Ellsworth. An imperfect
copy was bought a few years ago by Gabriel Wells,
who sold separate leaves at $3.50 each to libraries
and lesser collectors in order that they might have
specimens Of the book. The Mazarin copy is the
only perfect copy in the United States which is in
old binding. The wonderful thing about this
Gutenberg Bible is that although it was the first
book printed with movable type it is a perfect speci-
men Of printing. 1t is one of the handsomest books
in the world. 1t is in two volumes, in which the
Gothic print, in black, not the least faded by cen
turtles, appears in double columns. The Gutenberg
Bible was printed during the period between 1850
and 1855. 1t is not known definitely how many
copies were printed, but 300 is accepted as a prob
able estimate.
There are many kinds of Bibles-Greek Codexes.
manuscript Latin Bibles and Hebrew rolls: the
Roman Catholic Rheims and Donay Bible; the
King James Bible the English Revised Bible. the
Bible of the American revision commit
tee. Man is ever busy studying the earliest texts
and making new TRANSACTIONS and revisions. One
of the latest translations is that made by DR..
Edgar ]. Goodspeed, professor of New Testament
Greek at the University of Chicago (portrait here
With. 1t is made from the earliest Greek manu-
and is written in language familiar to ay-
erage American readers. Compare Doctor Good
speeds translation with the corresponding verse
as given In the beginning Of this story.
"Then Herod secretly sent for the ,astroIopers
and found out from them the exact time when the
appeared"