PROGRESS OF BIBLE CIRCULATION.
THE centenary of the British and Foreign Bible Society is to be held March 6 of this year. Referring to this fact, Dr. John Fox, one of the corresponding secretaries of the American Bible Society, draws a comparison of the work of the two societies, the American being eighty-seven years old. The receipts of the British organization are about three times as much as those of the American society. The British society has issued, in round numbers, 180,000,000 copies of the Scriptures, and the American, 72,000,000. For the past year the figures reported are, 6,000,000 for the British, and 2,000,000 for the American. The British society has issued translations, in whole or in part, in 370 languages; the American, in 100. In some of these translations the two societies have united, so that the total is 436. "Each society," says the secretary, "must sometimes draw from the other for translations needed in its own specific field. For instance, the Zulu version, extensively used in South Africa, is issued in New York, having been made by American Congregational missionaries. Certain Philippine versions are published by the English society. The foreign immigrants, now arriving in such immense numbers on our shores, must be offered Polish, Hungarian, Italian, French, Lithuanian, and other Bibles from London presses. But, in reckoning by languages, the elder society is still leading her younger sister nearly in a tripple measure, even when the 'time allowance' is made for 100 versus 87 years." Concerning the outlook for the American society, and the aggregate of work yet to be done in the world, Dr. Fox adds this significant comment and statement:— It has been publicly stated that the American Bible Society is facing the old and dismal alternative of13debt or severe retrenchment, unless welcome relief shall come before spring. This matches ill with our national pride in commercial progress and our hopes of financial supremacy in the nations of the world. Yachting contests aroused the pride of nations year after year. If the things of the Spirit were duly considered, there would be a just and noble emulation in this matter. The magnitude of the task yet to be done will tax both societies and all others besides. In Britain's Indian empire, for instance, there are still 108 languages, spoken by seventy-four millions of people, untouched by the Bible conquest. In our own Philippines fifty or more languages are without Bibles, and there are thirty-six European languages which only have a partial Bible. There are 2,500 languages, at least, spoken under heaven and among men, of which a scanty 100 have complete Bibles, 100 or less full New Testaments, and less than 250 more a few books, a gospel or two, while all the rest are without a syllable of those words whose Spirit and life have put Britain and America in the van of human progress. Both societies may, therefore, fully unite in the commemoration of the natal day of this great modern movement, which, quite as much as steam or electricity, has made the great world spin forever down the ringing grooves of change. The American Bible Society has been officially invited to send a representative to the British centenary. This will be celebrated in London, also in subsequent meetings in various other English cities, including a week or more. The American Bible Society is also asking all the churches of the United States to join in "Universal Bible Sunday," March 6, in some appropriate services.