Danish Bible Society, 1814, with Auxiliaries (10,135 copies in 1889). ....to 1889 404,788 147,232 Hamburg-Altona Bible Society, 1814 (12,219 copies in 1890)...to 1886, about 217,000 .to 1885, about 200,000 Protestant Bible Society at Paris, 1818 (8,414 copies in 1890). Duchy of Baden Bible Society, 1820, with twenty-four Auxiliaries..to 1885 90,820 4,786 Weimar Bible Society, 1821........ 7,236 Bavarian Protestant Bible Institution at Nuremburg, 1823, with Aux's, to 1885 391,412 7,017 French and Foreign Bible Society at Paris, 1833, with Auxiliaries... 750,000 Russian Evangelical Bible Society at St. Petersburg, 1831, with Aux's to 1886 Halle Bible Society, printing only for other Bible societies, to 1885, 6,350,000 The total of the above issues, it will be found, is over two hundred and thirty THE American Bible Society is a charitable institution, whose sole object is to encourage a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment. Its endeavors are directed primarily to the circulation of the Scriptures in all parts of the United States and Territories, by sale at cost to all who are able to purchase, and by free gifts to the destitute. As opportunity offers it extends its influence to other countries, Christian, Mohammedan, and pagan, to the end that the Scriptures may be translated into all the languages of the earth and distributed as widely as possible. It invites the contributions and co-operation of all who accept the Bible as their rule of life, and believe that every human being is entitled to know what it teaches concerning truth and duty. Contributions may be sent through its auxiliaries, or directly to its Treasurer, Mr. William Foulke, Bible House, New York. The following suggestions in regard to the drafting of Wills are made for the information of those who desire to leave bequests to the Society, and thus to perpetuate the work when their own personal efforts are ended: FORM OF A BEQUEST. I give and bequeath to the American Bible Society, formed in New York in the year eighteen hundred and sixteen, the sum of to be applied to the charitable uses and purposes of said Society. In case it is desired to give real estate, the above form can be made to read: I direct my executors to sell [here describe the land], and I give and bequeath to the American Bible Society, formed in New York in the year eighteen hundred and sixteen, out of the proceeds thereof, the sum of applied to the charitable uses and purposes of said Society. to be The Society is incorporated by a special act of the Legislature of New York, passed March 25, 1841, and has by subsequent legislation received further powers. In 1888 it was authorized to take, receive, and hold any personal or real property by gift or grant, bequest or devise; and gifts and grants, bequests and devises, of personal or real property may be made directly to the Society, or to it in trust for any of the purposes comprehended in the general objects of the Society, and such trusts may continue for such time as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose for which they may be created. It is, however, provided that every such bequest or devise by residents of the State of New York shall be subject to the provisions of the Act of April 13, 1860, whereby it is enacted that "No person having a husband, wife, child, or parent, shall, by his or her last will and testament, devise or bequeath to any benevolent, charitable, literary, scientific, religious, or missionary society, association, or corporation, in trust or otherwise, more than one-half part of his or her estate, after the payment of his or her debts (and such devise or bequest shall be valid to the extent of one-half, and no more.)" The Society, by the general and special powers given to it by the Legislature of New York, can, in the absence of local statutory restrictions, take and hold real estate in other States by gift or devise. |