Annual Report of the American Bible Society

ence of liquor.

buy him out!"'

"Why! Bibles at a fair! Come on, boys, let's "Yes, come on, boys," answered the colporteur. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread? Come, buy the truth and sell it not." And when they left, the much-sobered band of young men had bought a Testament and sixty-two of the smaller portions of Scripture.

A young married couple passing by stopped suddenly. "Why, Jim, Bibles at a fair! Do buy one. It's something we haven't

had in our home since we were married."

The exhibitors and workmen about the grounds are, many of them, purchasers, sometimes coming up of their own accord, again approached by us and giving their money or an exchange of wares for a copy of the Book of books. A Japanese gives one of his foreign wares for a Testament in his own tongue; a man with dancing figures that amuse the children gives three sets of them for a Bible, while the magazine man gives us a year's subscription to our favorite periodical in exchange for a handsome Bible.

From one and another come expressions of approval. A gentleman seeing the display, stopped to say, "I am glad there is someone here to speak a word for the Lord"; an Episcopal bishop expressed his pleasure that the Society was engaged in so practical a work; while at one fair a priest came along, and after carefully looking over the stock, said: Why, this is beautiful; this is the best I ever saw at a fair grounds. If you had a prayer book I would have one from you. Why, sir," was the response, here is the most blessed prayer book you can ever get and," holding up a Book of Psalms, you know it! Thank you," he said, "and

may God bless you."

Hearty Appreciation

Not the least gratifying result of visiting these fairs is that the Bible stand is appreciated and desired by the officials in charge. In one county where a pastor's wife had been in charge of the stand a year ago, she found on reaching the grounds this year that a booth had been most kindly put up for her by the officials. The superintendent said he had put her there because it was a nice quiet place. Why, my brother, I do not want a nice quiet place. I want to be out in the thick of the turmoil." "All right!" he said. "You pick out any place in this building, and we will build your booth to your liking. We want you to have the best the place affords, because we want your booth here. Many people have expressed pleasure at seeing such an exhibit at the fair. I hope you will be able to come next year. We are going to have a new building and I want you to have the best place in it."

It rests with the friends of the Bible Society how much of such work can be done another year. As in many other directions, the work of the Society here is limited only by its financial ability.

A Colporteur's Day

Perhaps we cannot better set forth the work that the American

Bible Society is doing than by letting the reader follow the Secretary of the Eastern Agency as, with Mr. W. W. Kouwenhoven, one of his Advisory Committee, he spends a day in colportage work in a Long Island town. The experiences narrated are those we actually met on days thus employed.

From the railroad station in Brooklyn at nine o'clock we rode by train for fifty minutes, and then entered a town of about two thousand inhabitants. Each of us had a small suit case filled with Scriptures (which weighed thirty pounds), as well as a few books in his hand with which to begin business. These were, for instance, a twenty-three-cent Bible, a fifteen-cent Testament, an eight-cent Testament, two five-cent Testaments, a ten-cent and a five-cent Book of Psalms, a five-cent Book of Proverbs, and a few single Gospels, while in a handy pocket were an Italian Testament and Gospels and some in Polish.

On the train our neighbor was eying the little bundle of books that we had in our hands. So presently we leaned over and told him that we were selling those books, and perhaps he would be interested to look at one. Here is the business man's Book of Proverbs written three thousand years ago, and as true and valuable to-day as the day it was written. It is just the size to go in your vest pocket and sells for five cents." He takes the little volume and after looking it over gives us five cents and sits there reading it until he reaches his station.

At the station are several persons waiting for trains. These buy one or two five-cent Testaments and a package of the four Gospels in paper covers for five cents, while a lady in charge of the ticket office buys a pocket Testament and Psalms for fifty cents.

With such a favorable start we cross the street to the hotel and shops facing the station. In the barroom of the hotel the bartender buys a Testament for a nickel, while a young fellow who we afterward learn has come down from some institution, says that he has no money. The bartender asks him if he would like to have a Testament, and hands us another nickel. In the nearby saloon on the corner are a group of men glass in hand. These we approach. One of them quite under the influence of drink, after a second thought, says he will take one of the little Testaments, for it is a good book and he believes it is a good thing to have one with him. We pass on down the street, one of us taking each side. Α German barber is amazed that we can sell a German Testament for four cents, and buys several to send to his friends, as well as a Bible for himself. He wants so many Testaments that we have to mail them to him on our return. Across the street is a real estate office; the proprietor, somewhat amused, buys a portion for each one in the office and distributes them around as we are going out. The Secretary steps into a store kept by a woman. When he asks if she would like to buy a Bible or a Testament, she turns on him indignantly, "I call this sacrilege!" Why, what do you mean,

Bibles this way!"

Why, you ought to them come to you."

madam? I don't understand." "Why, to go around selling How would you have us sell them? stay in your store and let those who want But suppose they won't come?" "Well, if they won't come they won't buy them this way." Perhaps so, madam, but I have sold a dozen already this morning and expect to sell fifty before the day is over."

Our comrade on the other side of the street has met a man who is talking personal religion with him. Not to get too far ahead we cross over and work back toward him. At a moving picture show the colored janitor is washing out the room with a hose. We wait till we can get near him without taking an involuntary bath. Then we find that he belongs to the church and has a Bible at home. But I'll take one of these little Testaments," he says. I don't want to turn away anybody that is selling the Good Book.' Mr. Kouwenhoven steps up to an automobile whose driver is talking with some men; in his winning way he shows the chauffeur the attractiveness of the twenty-three-cent Bible, which he soon sells him, and then persuades him to take the five-cent Testament that he tucks into his pocket. You can give it to somebody that has none," he says, and you can have the two for an even quarter.

We have now reached the residential section. We go from house to house, back door or front door, as appearances suggest. With a quick glance at the one who answers our ring we hold out a Bible, Testament, or Book of Psalms, such as we think may appeal to her, and if the first brings no response, try if possible to interest her in another. A Bible or Testament for the little boy who comes with her, a large-type Testament for twenty-five cents for her mother, of whom we catch a glimpse through an open door, a ten-cent Book of Psalms for her guest room. One woman asks if these are Catholic Bibles. When we tell her they are not, she turns from the forbidden book. Look at this Book of Psalms for ten cents," we urge. See if that does not read the same as your Bible." Slipping the open book into her hand, we repeat the twenty-third Psalm, and with a moment of hesitation she buys the book for her little girl. As we approach another house an eight-year-old boy says his mother is not at home. We ask him if he knows the story of the Prodigal Son. He says he does not, when we tell him everybody ought to know that story.

We stop at the next door to a Catholic Church, It is the priest's house. Mr. Kouwenhoven is able to sell a Testament to the priest's sister, who answers his ring to tell him that Father - is out.

At noon time we begin to look for a place to get our dinner. One day it was in the dining-room of a hotel opening off the barroom. After eating Mr. Kouwenhoven settles for the meal at the bar, selling a Testament at the same time, while I sell a Testament to the waitress. She then shows me the way into the kitchen, where the cook is glad to buy a thirty-eight-cent Bible.

Before we separate to our respective sides of the street we compare notes to see who has sold the most books during the morning. There is just enough rivalry to make each wish to outdo the other. House after house furnishes no sale; one woman afraid of tramps opens the door just wide enough to tell us she doesn't want anything. Soon we near the open country. Here carpenters and masons are busy on a new house. Each one is approached, some by climbing a ladder to the roof, another by scrambling without a ladder to the upper room where he is plastering. One is interested as we remind him that Jesus of Nazareth was a carpenter; another directs us to his house, as his wife may want a Bible. Leaving behind us some Testaments and two-cent portions, we cross the field to a small factory. Asking permission of the proprietor or superintendent near the door, we enter, and while I am speaking to those on the first floor, Mr. Kouwenhoven pushes on to the floor above, whence he calls to me, Have you got any more of those five-cent Psalms?" Going upstairs with the Psalms, I find a room occupied by girls busily finishing off the babies' bibs which is their task for the day. The pleasant forewoman encourages them to buy a Testament or a Book of Psalms, lending the change to two or three. Before the interest

of the girls abates our supply of the little Psalms runs out. Turning to one of the girls who had bought nothing, I ask her on what day of the month her birthday falls. She names the thirteenth. I turn to the last chapter of Proverbs, the thirteenth verse, and read her what is there said about the good woman: "She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands." This attracts attention, and for a few minutes the little two-cent Proverbs are in demand. Only when all have been supplied with some portion of God's Word do we leave the building, the cheery good-by" of the girls following us with the assurance that the books will be read.

We must not forget to tell of the man we found in the horse-sheds of the hotel where we got our dinner. He was just unhitching his horse to drive on when we asked him if he did not want to buy a pocket Testament for a nickel. He was not disposed to buy, when we said: "Wait a minute, let us show you something. What day of the month is your wife's birthday? The twelfth," he said. Now listen to what this book has to say about a good wife," so we read him the twelfth verse of the last chapter of Proverbs: She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." Now if you want to see your wife smile you buy this book and read her that verse. "I will," he said, emphatically, as he handed over the five cents and took the little volume.

Making our way across the fields to a house half hidden among the trees, we find two or three ladies sitting on the porch. Would you not like to buy a Bible or Testament-we are selling them at cost, twenty-three cents for this Bible and five cents for the Testament." Twenty-three cents! For that precious book!" And reaching out her hand she took the precious book, deeply interested

as we told her how the book could be sold for so little, and something about the work the Bible Society is doing.

We pass a Polander on the road. Evangielija," we say to him, holding out the four Gospels in Polish. As he takes them in his hand and turns them over we hold up five fingers-five cents-making a special price to induce him to buy. Down goes his hand into his pocket and he hands over the five cents, keeping the little books with their familiar words which we hope may bring to him the blessed news of the Saviour. Or perhaps it is a group of Italians working beside the road-"Sacra Bibbia, San Matteo, Marka, Luca, Giovanni, Santa Maria, Gesu Cristo." The Sacred Book is recognized, and Gospels and perhaps a Testament are purchased.

A colored.colony may be passed on our way back to the station. The proverbial regard of the colored folk for the Book results in sales and many friendly words; and after we have left them we are hailed by a colored girl who wants one of those Testaments like you just sold at that house over there."

And so the day is passed. Not all are ready to buy, but with rare exceptions, all are courteous and kindly to those who come bearing the Word of God. In many homes copies are left where the Bible is already known and loved; but others have bought because they had none. Hotel, saloon, store, home, factory, road maker and ditch digger have all been approached; even those walking on the sidewalk, or driving on the road have become the very ones for whom we were looking; again and again where least expected, a welcome is found for the Book that is his messenger to all who will look and read. The bags, heavy at the beginning, have gradually grown lighter. At the station as we wait for our train cabby or chauffeur buys this or that book. So as we sum up the work of the day while the train carries us back to the city, we find that our sales have amounted to a hundred or even a hundred and fifty volumes of the sacred Word. Our prayers follow the books that we have left behind us, and is it any wonder that before we separate we plan again to go out as his ambassadors !

Among the Shipping

Not all the work of the Society lends itself to such detailed report. Mr. Carlson has continued his work among the sailors of the Brooklyn water-front with increasing devotion and efficiency. His quiet ways win him friends and gain for him a hearing even where his first reception is a rebuff. The Eastern Agency and the Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society now share in his services, and each is the gainer through the twofold work that he is doing. We give extracts from Mr. Carlson's report:

Another year with the American Bible Society has been full of grand experiences in dealing with never-dying souls. I am thankful both to God and to the Bible Society for the privilege of using my best years in his service. When our adversary plans.

« Anterior Continuar »

Libros

Annual Report of the American Bible Society, Volumen98