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The Scriptures have been sold in sixteen different languages. Total circulation of this Agency up till the close of 1892 is 351,135 volumes, with $67,721 46 United States gold proceeds from sales.

SWEDEN.

The Rev. J. M. Erikson, of Stockholm, writing on behalf of the Sweden Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church, reports a contribution from the churches of the Conference to the American Bible Society of $47 74, and $152 71 as proceeds of sales, at reduced prices, of 758 Bibles and 528 New Testaments. Thirty Bibles and twelve Testaments were given away. Mr. Erikson says:

The financial result of the distribution is better than last year, and the collection a little larger. Our Conference requested me to send the Society their most hearty thanks for the help extended to them, with the expression of the hope that they will kindly renew their favors this year.

RUSSIA.

The Russian Bible Society, through Mr. Prince of St. Petersburg, express the warmest thanks for the sympathy and aid which they have for many years been receiving from the American Bible Society in carrying the Scriptures by colporteurs to the remotest parts of the empire. The circulation of the Scriptures for 1892, on account of the American Bible Society, was 34,355 copies. Of these, 11,480 were distributed by Golubeff, whose work was sometimes attended by great hardship and exposure. The circuit of the government of Irkutsk, e. g., was accomplished in most severe weather, with the mercury at 58 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit. In December he travelled a thousand miles on sledges, and circulated 2,151 copies, and in the course of the year 11,480 copies. The entire circulation through this Society since July, 1880, is 353,992 copies.

The stock of Esthonian Scriptures in the hands of Mr. Prince has been reduced, during the last three years, by sales by colporteurs and others of 1,147 Bibles and 8,039 Testaments.

GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND.

At the Mission Press in Bremen there were printed in

1892, at the expense of the Society, 13,100 Bibles and 19,800 Testaments. The sales in the same time, partly by colporteurs and partly by correspondents at reduced prices, were 9,465 Bibles, 14,140 Testaments, and 9,333 Portions. The proceeds of sales were $3,604 53, and the churches of the Mission Conference of Germany and Switzerland contributed to the funds of the Society $109 94.

FRANCE.

The distribution made through the Bible Society of France, as reported by its general agent, the Rev. F. Vermeil, was 13,112 copies of Bibles, Testaments, and Portions, about one-half of the whole number being free gifts. The proceeds of sales amounted to 2,105 francs. The printing of an edition of 10;000 New Testaments was completed.

Mr. Dardier, of the Evangelical Society of Geneva, sends numerous incidents to show that the work done by that society in France is both necessary and salutary. Its colporteurs are said to have sold during the past year 35,273 copies of the Scriptures, of which 2,676 were Bibles, 21,291 Testaments, and 11,306 Portions. The two colporteurs in Bordeaux and Marseilles are instructed not to neglect the many emigrants going from those ports to America.

SPAIN.

Through the Mission of the American Board, under the superintendence of the Rev. Wm. H. Gulick, three colporteurs were employed during the entire year, and the sales as reported were 308 Bibles, 431 Testaments, and 1,815 Portions. The colporteurs, starting from Santander, Bilbao, and Zaragoza as centres, work out into the surrounding country, and are spoken of as tried and trusty men, who by their own lives recommend the teachings of the book which they would have their countrymen buy and read.

AUSTRIA.

There continues to be remarkable success attending the distribution of the Scriptures in that part of Austria where

the Mission of the American Board is located. In describing it, the Rev. A. W. Clark says:

I send the cheering tabular view of Bible work done in 1892. It speaks for itself. To have distributed, largely by sale, in one year 708 Bibles, 3,054 Testaments, and 3,131 Portions-6,893 Scriptures-all in difficult Austria, is indication of special divine help and blessing. This is a work for which much prayer ascends to God, and upon which his gracious blessing rests. In the midst of much opposition and indifference on the one hand, and, on the other, of cheering desire to know the truth, we go forward in faith in the new year. We beg all our friends to encourage us by prayers and gifts in this needy field. With intense earnestness we beg the American Bible Society to aid us not less in '93 than in '92. If possible, please grant us more. all be so wisely used.

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Our colporteurs are obliged to work with great prudence. meet much rude opposition, but on the other hand they have many experiences that rejoice their souls and cheer them on in faithful labors. During 1892 we have employed two men all the time and three others a part of the time. Their efforts cover eleven hundred days. The year was wonderful in good results in the Mission here-in a word, twenty-five per cent. growth in membership.

We thank the American Bible Society for its most necessary and valued assistance, and pray for its continuance in like or increased

measure.

ITALY.

The treasurer of the Italy Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church reports the purchase, with funds supplied by the Society, of 129 Bibles, 249 Testaments, and 1,527 Portions of the Scriptures, a few only of which were sold, the larger part having been used in the work of the Mission.

LEVANT AGENCY.

Mr. Bowen's report, as usual, gives full details about the extended operations of the Society in the field under his charge:

TRANSLATION AND EDITORIAL WORK.-The committee engaged in the preparation of the text of the Ancient Armenian Bible have continued their labor without serious interruption. That work has been completed to the end of Jeremiah. The Pentateuch has been printed, bound, and offered for sale. Its appearance has elicited some very gratifying comments from the Gregorian press, in which kindly references are made to the liberality of the American Bible Society in thus rendering the Bible accessible to all their people in the language they love. Appreciative reference is made also to the large sums of money which that Society has expended in translating and circulating the

Bible all over the world. Thus this work, unexpectedly great as it has become in its proportions, bids fair to accomplish much in converting prejudice and suspicion into gratitude and co-operation.

The edition of the new pocket Bulgarian Bible, which was published in 1891, was quickly exhausted, and another edition has become necessary. The earnest request from every quarter is that the new edition, when printed, should be with references. The translation work on the new Armeno-Koordish Testament has continued through the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John. The printing of these, however, is delayed until we can be more fully assured of the probable success of the work by the reception accorded to the Gospel of Matthew, already in circulation. The indications thus far appear very favorable, and we shall probably find it necessary ere long to print this Matthew also in the Arabic character for the benefit of Koordish-speaking Syrians.

ELECTROTYPING.-The plates of the 32mo Arabo-Turkish Testament have been completed from Acts to the end of the Testament. Plates have been made also of the Arabo-Turkish Proverbs and Psalms, 32mo; also plates of the Book of Acts, for the edition of the Ancient Armenian Bible now in course of preparation.

PRINTING. The printing of the Ancient Armenian Bible has been suspended until the editorial work can be completed. The following are in press:

Armeno-Turkish royal 8vo Bible, ref's, an edition of

4,000 copies.

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Arabic 16mo vowelled Genesis, an edition of
The following were completed during the year 1892:

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From the Consignment account there have been sold 2,991 Bibles, 6,295 Testaments, and 11,772 Portions, a total of 21,048 volumes. THE DIRECT WORK CLASSIFIED GEOGRAPHICALLY.

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1,019

1,079

2,204 4,302

1,726

2,415

7,250

11,391

654

12

666

326

253

325

904

8,975 14,185 29,624 52,784

TOTAL ISSUES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO LANGUAGE.

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8,975 14,185 29,624 52,784 2,932 1,603 7,179 11,714 11,907 15,788 36,803 64,498

The total issues of the Levant Agency for the thirty-five years ending December 31st, 1892, amount to 1,306,814 copies.

DISTRIBUTION THROUGH CORRESPONDENTS.

Extracts from Letters.

EGYPT.

Alexandria.-Rev. S. C. Ewing, D.D., Mission of the United Pres

byterian Church:

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