BIBLE READ MORE AND MORE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 58, 2 December 1926, Page 15

BIBLE READ MORE AND MORE

SOLD IN THIRTY LANGUAGES IN NEW ?i ZEALAND. The annual report of the British and Foreign Bible Society is a record that is calculated to excite both curiosity and interest. Those critics and unbeliever* who question the value of the Scriptures as a ministering agent to human need are not in any way lessening either the demand for or the supply of those precious writings The complete world figure*show that the circulation tor 925-26 was 10.452.73 i as against 10.045,575 and 8,540.005 for the two preceding years. *nd they constitute a record for any normal year. The circulation in the home ianguagee"nglish Welsh Gaelic, and Irish reached the tota- ot 1.744.6C0 volumes and it is a striking fact that this is an increase of nearly a million over the figures of 1920 and‘it is the fourth successive year’s record Only during the war period did the numbers go above those of recent years, and that fact is significant of the • nee which the Bible holds in the estimation both of the English-speaking peoples and men of al] languages. The British and Foreign Bible Society as such promulgates no doctrine. The re ceints from sales are constantly growing, but the more books *he society sells the more it loses.

It will come as a surprise to many to learn that in New Zealand it is neces sary to keep stocks of the Scriptures in thirty languages; and that the total annua) output exceeds 20.000 copies, bin such ntust be if the society’s objective is to be reached—namely ‘to every man in his own language.” The society that is aiming at and accomplishing so great a task must he credited with doing excel lent work. It may be questioned whe ther the actual reading of the Bible is keeping pace with the ever widening circulation. but since the aim of the society is to sell and not to give away the Scriptures it may be granted at least that the million extra conies sold to English peonies for the year ending March 3t 1926. as against 1920. nre not all gathering dust on the shelves of neglect and forgetfulness. Indeed, it has been asserted with good reason that never before in rhe history of men have so many been found reading the book we call onr Bible.