The Rev. W. T. Slade

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The Rev. W. T. Slade writes: "I found a colored man back of the hotel in Georgetown, Ky. He was a hard drinker, but I trusted him with a twenty-five-cent Bible. Later he paid me for the Bible, and has become a steady reader of it and quit his drinking. In my work here I came to know a man that had been well to do, but who through strong drink had lost his business and become a complete wreck. I talked with him about his soul and told of the benefit coming from the study of the Bible. I gave him a New Testament worth five cents, and saw him no more for three months. Then I met him at Lexington, Ky., in a large tobacco barn where he was working. He was very glad to see me and thanked me for the Testament I had given him. He said, 'I have given up drinking and have become a sober man, and I love that Testament.' He urged the men about him to buy God's Word and read and enjoy the blessings he had received.

At Frankfort I met a boy who had heard of the Bibles, etc., sold so cheaply by me. Having finished an errand for which he received six cents, he hurried to me to buy a New Testament, and was so happy with his Testament at five cents.

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When my train stopped at Christianburg, Ky., I sold Bibles and Testaments on the platform, and the people were so anxious to buy that even after I went into the car for the train to start, they threw their money in the window and I threw the books out of the window to them.

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Again, in Frankfort, Ky., I went into a printing office, where I met two printers. They were both Catholics, but when they saw my books, especially our No. 77 at $2.25, they remarked, 'What fine books and so reasonable,' and each bought a book for his wife, saying, My wife is a Protestant.'

At Owenton, Ky., I found a Baptist minister who was a true friend of ours. He told his people to buy of me, since our books were so much cheaper than could be bought anywhere else. He furnished me with his horse and buggy to visit in the country among his people. He certainly did help the American Bible Society work. I shall never forget his many kindnesses to me and his interest in our work of Bible distribution. Such friends help us so much.

The Rev. F. H. Breyfogle

Our colporteur, the Rev. F. H. Breyfogle, spent some little time through the eastern part of Kentucky, and he says: "The living Word of God, placed in the hands of a colporteur in the district of the mountaineer, is the heartiest kind of preaching I can find. In this district where schools are unknown and the country undeveloped, I find hundreds of people who can neither read nor write; but when you mention the Bible you have their attention and interest. They are ready to serve you and help you all they can in preaching the gospel. The man who is truly a man of God, and has the sal

vation of souls on his heart, has a harvest ready for the gathering. House-to-house canvass is a slow process, and, with the burden of baggage, fatigues mind and body. I find you must take their towns by storm and let them know you are there, that you have the cheapest Bibles going. I select the most prominent corner, and securing the privilege of selling the books, arrange them and cry their prices. People buy and then they tell of our beautiful and reasonable books, and the crowd throngs around me to buy. Often you hear, ‘We never saw books at such a price before.' Sometimes they want to know whether these are some new kind of a Bible or Testament that I sell, but when I show them that it is the good old King James Version, they eagerly buy.

"Opportunities for personal work are constantly found, and one must use them for the Master. There is soul hunger, more than physical hunger, among these people, and they care more for the Bible teachings than all else, so you can talk with them freely and they listen. You are welcome to their homes and you are welcome to their churches to preach to them. Sometimes they ask me to what church I belong. I tell them it would sound sweeter if they asked me, 'Are you saved?' or 'Have you the Christ love in your heart?' Great work can still be done in eastern Kentucky by the American Bible Society."

The Central Agency is so thankful for the co-operation of such a consecrated band of workers for the year 1913, and to be able to state that we used twenty-eight persons in the regular work and eleven field workers. These gave us 3,814 days of service, traveled 35,148 miles, visited 471 towns and villages, visited 85,325 families, and distributed 93,013 volumes of the Word. The total amount from office sold, donations made, flood sufferers cared for, colporteurs' sales, donations, and distributions, make a grand total of 103,098 volumes of the Word of God, valued at $15,497.89, more than 15,000 above the admirable year of 1912. For all that we have been able to do in this grand work of giving the Bibles, Testaments, and portions to the spiritually hungering people of our five great and splendid states of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, we give God the glory.

But, oh please listen, before you lay this little account aside. From the nine Agencies, covering the United States of America, from the twelve Agencies in the foreign fields, come the tidings of wonderful increase of the whole work, the golden opportunities which God has opened as never before. But the New York Board of Management has strained every provision possible to meet these golden opportunities. Will we of Christian America say, Retrench, retrench!" Shall the hungering souls die without the Bread of

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ATLANTIC AGENCY

The Atlantic Agency was established in 1910, and includes the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The circulation for the year ending December 31, 1913, was 237,817 volumes. This makes a total circulation since the Agency was established of 701,079 volumes. The increase this year was 55,820 volumes. The distribution was made by thirty-two persons, but a considerable portion of the circulation is by sale at the depository in Philadelphia. The Agency Secretary is the Rev. Leighton W. Eckard, D.D., and the Business Manager, R. H. Thomas, Jr., Bible House, 701 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

HE Atlantic Agency at the close of its fourth year finds itself in a stronger position than ever. Although having a territory smaller than other agencies, its compactness and the large towns and cities, filled with diverse peoples, make it a strategic center for the general work of the Society. The Bible is an honored book in the three commonwealths and has been since their foundation; and while they have large, settled populations, the modern spirit is felt and the modern invasion of foreigners disturbs old custom and makes new methods as essential here as elsewhere. Dr. Eckard and his coworkers have not been slow to make use of new ways and means in circulating their books in fifty-two foreign languages, as well as a large English circulation. Philadelphia is the natural center for operations. The old auxiliary system of the Pennsylvania Bible Society still maintains itself, though in a new relation to this Society, by means of the Agency, with its competent Advisory Board of Managers. The report, though brief, reflects the spirit by which it brings forth things new and old.

The Philadelphia Bible House, headquarters of the Atlantic Agency, stands almost under the shadow of the historic State House from whose cupola the Liberty Bell pealed forth the memorable announcement of the birth of our nation. In Independence Square an immense throng gathered at midnight of December 31, 1913, to bid adieu to the passing year and welcome 1914. No civic demonstration as solemn and impressive has ever been attempted here before. The Marine Band had come from Washington; the trombone

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choir of the Moravian Church of Bethlehem was present; three hundred representatives of the United German Singers led the vocal acclaim of the populace. First was heard the hymn, Now Thank We All Our God." Then as the clock struck twelve, followed by 138 strokes, the number of years of American Independence, the many thousands joined musicians and vocalists in the Doxology, Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

Contrasted with the roistering spirit usually encountered on such occasions, these facts were significant. It was one indication among many of an awakening of religious consciousness which should mature into purpose and endeavor to be divinely led in public as in private life. We have felt the influence of this in many ways. Less indifference and more sympathy with Christian work has been encountered. They who spread the tidings of the Word must be alert to press the advantage.

The Chief Effort

of the Agency forces through the year has been to maintain proper proportion in meeting the claims of cities and rural districts. Ours

is a small territory, but its large towns are numerous and in close proximity. 400 of these, each with a population of 10,000 or more, have been canvassed. Along the streets and through the wards of these municipalities

Diverse Methods

have been pursued. Sometimes a house-to-house visitation was maintained, offering the Word of Life to families. Again, special attention would be given to the manufacturing centers. Here the wage-earners eagerly bought the Gospels. So, too, prisoners have had the message carried to them; and the thoughtless mass, the needy individuals, the rescue missions, the evangelistic committees, worthy Christian work, and workers in varied directions, have been sought out and supplied. Constant effort has been maintained to encourage the use of the Bible as a text-book, rather than the fragmentary lesson leaves so commonly met with in Sunday schools.

But it must not be thought that the farms and country lanes and scattered hamlets were passed over. The byways have been traversed as well as the highways. More than one third of the year has been given to sparsely settled townships and isolated villages, and those exceptional places where few religious influences or privileges are found. Of the thirty-two persons in the employ of the Agency, at least eighteen have been in this rural work. It has been true missionary labor, involving self-denial and considerable hardship, but it has helped many of those who most needed help. It has, moreover, interested some of the larger places in the claims of their too-long neglected neighbors. The Agency has recently accepted the generous offer of a horse and buggy for the use of one of our colporteurs while he ministers to an especially difficult district in the hill country of New Jersey.

On Guard

But the supreme determination has been that of insisting on obedience to the recently enacted law providing for the reading of the Scriptures in all public schools of Pennsylvania. Correspondence was opened with the prominent patriotic societies of the state, asking them to buy Bibles and see that they were promptly placed and properly used. The response was beyond expectation, as our report of sales shows. A decided public sentiment, moreover, has been awakened in hitherto apathetic communities.

Agency Circulation

The output of books for the year was 237,817 volumes. This, as compared with 181,997 last year, shows an advance in twelve months of 55,820. Of the above 218,882 were actual sales. Grants amounted to 18,935. The number of English books was 87,334 volumes. The balance, 150,483, were distributed in fifty-two additional foreign languages as follows:

In addition to the above, a considerable work has been done for the blind. The books distributed have been in the Moon System, American Braille, Line Letter, and New York Point. Of these we find that the Moon System is the one most needed and appreciated. This interesting phase of our effort is one that calls forth our sympathies especially, and we are glad to know that a large number find great spiritual comfort from the ability thus to read the letter which their Father has written them.

Our Colporteurs

have been employed through 6,334 working days. They have traveled fifty thousand miles. The number of families visited was 87,708. Of these 16,438 were found to be without Bibles. The nationality of our men represent Americans, Italians, Swedes, Bohemians, Hungarians, Hindus, and Poles.