Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

were distributed during the year 94,333 copies of all sorts in thirty foreign tongues. The total distribution by the Agency since it was established is 490,053 volumes. There is a slight falling off in distribution for 1913, as compared with 1912, but this falling off is more apparent than real, and is more than compensated for by the substantial progress the work has made in other directions. So that, looking at the year's work as a whole, the past year has been our best year yet.

The Bible Society of Virginia

That closer relationship and co-operation established seven years ago between the Bible Society of Virginia and the American Bible Society continues with ever-increasing and mutual helpfulness. This Agency is peculiarly fortunate in having the Board of Managers of the Bible Society of Virginia as its advisers. These men have given ungrudgingly of their time to the Agency's work, and by their sympathetic indorsement of our plans and efforts have rendored valued service to the Society.

The Force

During the year we have had fifty-five persons engaged in Bible distribution. We had the same number (eighteen) of colporteurs as reported last year; the remainder have been local correspondents. The time of service rendered by these workers has varied from a few weeks, in a small number of instances, to a full year.

Persons employed in Bible distribution.....

Days of labor reported........

Miles traveled....

Families visited....

Families found without Bibles..

Families found without Bibles supplied...

Individuals without Bibles supplied...

Sunday schools supplied...

50

3,650

34,750

54,500

10,300

3,950

4,200

150

[blocks in formation]

66

[ocr errors]

Our men have given special attention to the outlying districts. We have done work in many of the larger centers of population throughout the Agency; but even in these our first attention has been given to those parts which are known as missionary territory.' Most of the work we have done during the year has been in smaller towns and rural communities. Some eight hundred or more of these have been visited and worked more or less thoroughly by our men.

*This amount does not include $295.44 discounts and reductions of prices.

When this is remembered the figures above become the more significant, for they show that the larger efforts have been made in needier fields, and that the majority of volumes distributed have gone into the hands of those who really should have the Bible.

Ours a Diversified Work

From a casual view of the map of this Agency one would hardly believe that the population of this section is made up of so many and in some respects such different classes. Yet this is the fact, and is becoming more and more an emphasized fact. This seems to break somewhat the monotony incident to the work, but it also requires constant thought and careful oversight both to the administration and the activities of the Agency's work in order to get the best results. There is not time, and in this connection it is perhaps not necessary to go fully into the details of these special aspects of the Agency's activities. We judge, however, that some mention of these will not be out of place at this point.

Sailors and Seamen

A converted sailor is in many respects a most efficient missionary. His very calling makes him a carrier of the Gospel. A glance at the map will show that practically every seaport of importance between the mouth of the Potomac and New Orleans is embraced within this Agency. Here is a great opportunity, which will become greater as the tides of commerce flow on to the sea. In another part of this report we mention somewhat in detail our work among this class. We mention it again simply by way of emphasizing its importance as a need and as an opportunity to be seized.

Settled Foreigners and Immigrants

These form a constantly increasing part of our population, and hence offer ever larger demands for Bible distribution. This work is so important that elsewhere we give a fuller account of our efforts in this direction. We mention it again because it is a very distinct phase of our work, especially so as it is a New Problem" with us.

Miners

[ocr errors]

We have an army of these, chiefly in West Virginia and Virginia. The destitution of the Word is often acute among them. This but accentuates the need for our work, and our duty in these premises. In some sections, by reason of strikes and other causes, the work has been hindered. But this class is responsive to all frank and manly efforts put forth in their behalf. In many instances the Word has had free course among them."

66

Lumbermen

The lumber industry is in some sections of this territory of vast proportions. Hundreds, even thousands of men, are employed in manufacture and marketing products of our forests. Many of these

Their very lonegiving them the

men are denied the regular benefits of the Gospel. liness and enforced neglect are a strong plea for Scriptures. We have often wished that we might be in position to employ some specially fitted man and send him out as the apostle to the lumberjacks" of this region. But for lack of means we have not been able yet to specialize in this particular. What a pity this is true. We have done some work among them and have found them ready for the Word.

66

Fishermen and Truckers

These two classes go to form another army of this section. We mention them together not because of kinship of work or life or habits, but rather that by contrast their needs may stand out in our thoughts, and our duties to them receive fresh emphasis. What has been done gives evidence that here is a most promising field for effective distribution of the Scriptures.

Cotton-mill Employees

In mentioning this class of such numbers one feels that "the time would fail us" to write even in brief detail concerning these people, about whom so much has been written, and so much more remains yet to be recorded. Suffice it to say that the magnitude of this particular work may be seen when we could profitably employ among these at least four colporteurs for all the time. We are hoping and praying that someone of means will, by sufficient gifts, make it possible for us to bring to pass this much-to-be-desired result.

The Man with the Hoe

66

No report such as this could be complete should the tiller of the soil be omitted. He is not only the factor in the industrial world, but his influence is felt everywhere. The man with the hoe," or the man with an automobile (if he is a modern farmer), must always be considered seriously when questions of moment are up for solution. Hence the modern cry-" Back to the country." Here are the sources of life, energy, and power. Keep these pure and strong and the nations will be great; let these decay and the nations die. Such being the facts, we have laid stress on our efforts in the country. Here our greatest efforts have been made and here some of our most signal success has been achieved.

The List Not Complete

There are other classes that might be mentioned, but we must forbear. A brief notice should be made, however, of what may be called our benevolent work. This embraces the distinctive missionary phases of Bible distribution, including everything from Scriptures given to prisoners to those furnished missions of various

sorts.

There is no special call for details here. Enough to know that the appeals from these sources have been urgent and insistent.

66

Reports from the Workers

First-hand information, when furnished by those who really know, is always the best information. With this conviction we shall let some of our men tell of the work. We regret that lack of space forbids a story "' from each of those who have so faithfully assisted. But this is not possible under the circumstances. What follows will be sufficient to give a true picture of the labors of these men who have wrought mightily for God's Kingdom. They write as follows.

Rev. G. W. Fitzwater

With the exception of a few weeks' rest, made necessary by an unusual exposure, Mr. Fitzwater labored continuously during the year, chiefly in the mining and lumber districts of West Virginia. Colportage work in such a section is trying under the most favorable conditions, but Mr. Fitzwater has had to contend with unusual difficulties, greatly increased by the industrial conditions of that territory, brought about by the strikes, etc. He has labored patiently and faithfully and has had much to encourage his work during the year. He has labored 270 days, traveled nearly 3,000 miles (a great deal of this on foot), visited about 3,500 families, 326 were found without Scriptures and furnished, supplied 1,100 individuals, 39 Sunday schools, and 46 prisons. By sale and donation he distributed nearly 4,500 copies of Scriptures, at a value of $1,092. Omitting many of the numerous details, we take the following brief items from Mr. Fitzwater's report. These no doubt will be read with interest.

Unique Way to Get a Crowd

"In such a place as Richwood, where the workingmen congregate about the busy corners, I often hand some bright young man a large-print Testament and Psalms to hold under the street light. I then tell him I will give him the book if I miss a word in the Psalm or chapter selected. I raise my voice as though I spoke to someone on the other side of the street. I thus read the passage through. This draws a crowd, as I am not an excellent singer. I then tell the people about my work, and urge them to read the Bible. I also urge parents to read it to their children. I close with a short prayer. I often sell ten or fifteen dollars' worth of books in a very short time.

Dealing with Skeptics

"I often meet people who have been a little misled by skeptics. A woman said to me last spring that she would read the Bible more, but it contradicted itself. I asked her in what way. She replied, 'Well, in one place it said that Jesus carried his own cross and in another that one Simon carried it.' I explained that both were true. Doubtless Jesus carried his cross until he fainted or broke down with the load and then they laid it on the shoulders of Simon of Cyrene. She saw the reasonableness of this explanation and bought a Testament, saying, 'Well, I guess the trouble is in our ignorance.'

66

Placing Bibles in Sunday Schools

Ever since I began this work I have been urging that the Sunday schools should place a library of Bibles in each school-a sufficient number so that every person who will read the Bible may be provided with one. Well, as a result I have sold many lots of one hundred or fifty to schools all over the state, and at the Methodist Episcopal Conference and other meetings I spoke of this, and at once I got orders from the pastors. This plan is not only placing God's Word as the text-book in the Sunday school, but it teaches the children to become familiar with the Bible, and also teaches them to honor God's Word. Several pastors have told me that this plan greatly decreased the expense for literature for the Sunday school.

66

A Two-cent Portion and a Life

'Four years ago I gave a bright eighteen-year-old boy, whom I found stacking railroad ties, a two-cent Gospel of John. The next day he came to me requesting that I let him have one of the other Gospels, as he had read through the one I had given him. I sold this boy a Testament a few months later, and some time after that I sold him a nice reference Bible. This same young man is now a professing Christian and is now at one of our State Normal College Schools, working his way through, and has determined to become a minister. Such is the power of God.

Working among Foreigners

"In a mining town I met a Slav woman.

She made a cross on

her forehead with her finger and said she wanted the 'Christ Book.' I handed her a small Testament, but she wanted a larger print, and I sold her the large-print Testament. She was delighted, and thanked me as best she could and went her way. Our Italian-English Testaments are very popular with the Italians. They buy and read them eagerly. The Poles seem glad to read the Bible in their own tongue. The French at the tanneries and glass works usually read with interest mostly the New Testament. I notice quite a difference when the priest is close around, but the entrance of thy Word giveth light.

999

Rev. C. P. Snow

Mr. Snow has labored earnestly in the eastern portion of South Carolina. This part of the state in many places is sparsely settled, and in traveling one has to contend with many rivers and swamps, etc. These conditions expose the traveler not only to much inconvenience, but sometimes to real danger and much physical weariness. Mr. Snow has found evidences of distressing poverty in some places, as well as spiritual destitution, especially as it relates to the Bible. He has been hindered in many cases by the fact that frequently in these homes the grown people could not read. Like a real hero, however, he has made these conditions the reason for a more determined effort on his part, so that he has been able to do

« AnteriorContinuar »