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and remittances from the previous year; but there has been a larger visitation and supply than for some years past. The Sunday school supply, or a Bible for every child that can read, has not progressed as we hoped it would All seem to favor the idea, and a good many schools have been supplied by auxiliary societies, and a much larger number have been induced to supply themselves. Indeed, a new impulse has been given to the work of children's supply, and thousands have Bibles now who did not have them before. Then the donations from Sabbath schools have increased very much. So we feel that a new impulse has been given to this good work in the State of late. We hope very much more will be done in this line in the years to come. The work of the year in Illinois may be summarized as follows:

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These figures give in brief a synopsis of the items usually called for in a report, but they show very inadequately the sum total of the results of this great work. Eternity alone can reveal the final outcome of these fifty thousand or more visits, and of the many thousand volumes of God's word that have gone into homes that were without this heavenly lamp until lately supplied. We leave the work and its ultimate results with Him who has said, "My word shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

Books sent to Illinois, 57,192; of these, only 325 were grants.

INDIANA.—Rev. W. J. Vigus, of Wabash, sends the following report:

I am pleased to report that each year evidences increased interest in the Bible cause. The plans and work of the Society commend themselves to all who even casually investigate them. I have therefore made every possible effort to supply ministers and officers of auxiliaries with the documents furnished for that purpose; and when these have been faithfully used our cause has invariably gained force and inspiration, and is most popular when best understood. While

the American Bible Society has the unqualified indorsement of ali Protestant churches, yet it is not generally admitted to the inner circle of strictly denominational boards, and in many cases must share last and least-gleaning where others have reaped.

Our auxiliaries are in constant touch with the people, and form the basis for opinions as to the work in all other localities. Wherever an auxiliary is efficient, having a well-supplied depository, and is diligent to find and care for the destitute, thus making itself felt, the churches are ready and willing to sustain the work with liberal contributions. We were compelled to rely largely during the past year upon our auxiliaries for supplying the people with the Scriptures, not being able, because of the unusually severe winter with its great depth of snow, to canvass as we had anticipated. While the "Great Undertaking" has not resulted, with us at least, just as we had hoped, yet it has been the means of a far wider circulation of the Scriptures, assisting hundreds of children and young people to own a copy of God's word.

I take special pleasure in visiting as many Sabbath schools as possible and addressing them upon the use of the Bible in the school, and some very encouraging results have followed. In one large school in an important city, where not a Bible was found, the pastor writes that every class is now supplied. Lesson-helps are relegated to the homes and the Bible is used exclusively in the school.

There has been an increase both in sales and collections this year, though not in donations to the Parent Society.

With great gratitude to God and thankfulness to the officers, general and local, and with a kindly remembrance of the cordial greetings of ecclesiastical bodies and generous welcome to churches and homes, I submit my itemized report:

PERSONAL LABORS.

Auxiliary societies visited

Anniversaries of auxiliaries attended

110

47

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Ecclesiastical bodies visited

Sermons and addresses delivered for the Bible cause

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Collecting and distributing agents employed by auxil

iaries

Auxiliaries in the field

fields

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Protestant churches co-operating with auxiliaries
Auxiliaries engaged in canvassing and supplying their

Families visited

66 found without the Scriptures

Destitute families supplied

แ individuals supplied in addition

5

115

417

5

6,058

664

578

102

Books sent to Indiana, 14,628, all of them on purchase account.

INDIAN TERRITORY.-Numerous grants both of English and Indian Scriptures have been sent into this Territory the past year, amounting in the aggregate to 1,291 copies, besides 42 which were sent to purchasers, making a total of 1,333.

IOWA.-Rev. R. W. Hughes, of Grinnell, gives the following brief report of the work in that State:

Another year of "scattering the seed" is past. We know but little of results as yet, but we rely upon the promise, “My word shall not return unto me void.” Of one thing we are sure: the seed has been faithfully sown, and we should have patience to wait for the " blade, the ear, and the full corn in the ear."

While not all our hopes have been realized, we are glad to be able to report an encouraging advance, especially in gifts from individuals and auxiliaries; and we enter hopefully upon a new year of

labor.

To pastors and people, to officials of auxiliaries and railroads, I tender sincere gratitude for kindness and favors so timely and precious; and especially to our Heavenly Father for health and strength and protection in all my travels. The following is what figures will show of the work done:

PERSONAL LABORS.

Auxiliaries visited

Anniversaries attended

Ecclesiastical bodies visited

66 documents distributed

Sermons and addresses delivered for the Bible cause
Official letters sent

Miles travelled on official duty

Amount collected and received from all sources

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Books sent to Iowa, 11,413; of these, 262 were grants.

KANSAS.-Rev. J. H. Lockwood, D. D., of Salina, entered upon the work with the commencement of the year, and reports as follows concerning his field:

In presenting the report of my first year's labor as the District Superintendent for the State of Kansas, it is with a sense of profound gratitude to God for his preserving care and continued blessing that I review the work of the year.

The district embraces the whole State of Kansas, and is 400 miles long, 200 miles wide, and contains 106 counties. Of these, 73 are organized as county Bible societies. There are 86 auxiliary Bible societies in the State recognized by the Parent Board, and 26 local societies and Bible committees, making a total of 112. My effort this year has been to secure a thorough organization of each society. I have given but little attention to mere calls on officers and depositaries, but have made it a point to hold meetings both public and for business after full notice has been given. I hope the results will show the wisdom of this course. It has enabled me to become personally acquainted with the officers of the auxiliaries and the pastors of the churches, and to give careful supervision to the details of the work. The great want of the district of Kansas is organization and enthusiasm in the work, and no great success can be realized until this is accomplished.

The anniversaries have been very largely attended, and a commendable spirit of liberality has been displayed by the people when the wants of the work have been fully understood. I have found a great lack of information in regard to the work of the Society, which has been a hindrance to me in securing larger contributions. There is an impression in the minds of a great many people that the American Bible Society is possessed of great wealth, having large endowments, and is in no need of sympathy or help from any one. In one of my meetings I had proposed that 25 persons give one dollar each to the work, when a gentleman in the audience, who had been officially connected with the local Bible society for years, arose and asked if a larger subscription than one dollar would be accepted, adding that when he came to the meeting he had not intended to give a dime, for he said he did not think it was needed, but after hearing the wants of the work explained he desired to give $5. What is true of enthusiasm is also true of liberality: it is born of information. What we need is to get the facts before the people, and when that is done there will be no lack of funds to carry on the work. The supply of the world with the word of God is not a question of financial ability at all; it is only a question of heart willingness.

We have been enabled to do some colporteur work. Two counties, Russell and Shawnee, have on their own account undertaken the canvass of their fields; 1,955 families were visited and 356 of them found without a copy of the Bible. Russell County is one of the western counties of the State, and is entitled to great credit for the thorough and self-sacrificing work that has been done. In the canvass of Shawnee County the churches of Topeka generously agreed to provide for any deficiency that might occur. The agents in these fields have been faithful and successful.

I have been especially pleased with the success of the Welsh brethren in the work of the Bible Society. Their methods are intelligent and effective, and if their example were followed by the American churches the problem of Bible distribution would be solved.

I have been brought under great obligation by the uniform cordiality and courtesy with which I have been received wherever I have gone in discharge of my official duties. Many homes have been opened to me, and pulpits more than I could fill have been at my command. Among all the favors extended to the Agency during the year none has been more valuable than those granted by the railroads of Kansas, and the thanks of the Superintendent are hereby cordially expressed.

Books sent to Kansas, 12,112; of these, 669 were grants. This is nearly 4,000 copies more than were sent the preceding year.

KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.-Rev. George S. Savage, of Winchester, Ky., sends the following encouraging report for these two States, where he has superintended the work for many years:

The statistical report shows that the work done by the Superintendent is about the same as that of former years. It is very gratifying, however, to report quite an increase in the receipts of contributions in the district over previous years, which is due to the fact that the churches are realizing more than heretofore their obligations to the Society, and are becoming more generally systematic and liberal in their offerings. This is a hopeful indication.

The children's supply work has received careful attention. It is not meeting with the reception its importance demands. It is a new movement, particularly in the restoration of the Bible to the Sunday school; here it is often misunderstood. Some regard it as an innovation, others as opposing the Sunday school literature. It will require time to overcome these objections. The more attentive thought that has been given to it, however, the more favor it has received. The great difficulty is how to reach the Sunday schools in the rural districts. The subject has been presented to conferences, synods, Sunday school conventions, etc. Most of the conferences in the district have fixed upon the first Sunday in April of each year, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for taking the collection for the Bible cause. This is very encouraging, and will more fully commit these churches. The Southern Presbyterian and the Cumberland Presbyterian Churches have adopted the collection for the Bible Society as a regular church collection. The former has fixed the third Sunday in October, of each year, as the time. Other churches have also become more systematic in this interest.

The plan to have committees of ladies from the various churches to make thorough canvasses of the cities and the larger towns has met with marked approval and success. More than a hundred ladies have been engaged in this voluntary work. It was successfully prosecuted

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