A VAST CIRCULATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20607, 4 July 1930, Page 14

A VAST CIRCULATION.

MILLIONS OF BIBLES. WORK OF SCOTTISH SOCIETY. In these day* of vast, circulations of books and of papers there is nothing in the world comparable with the circulation commanded by the Bible. Last year the tinco great Bible Societies of tho world alone were responsible for fho circulation of nearly 23,000.000 copies. The British and Foreign Bible Society issued 11,399,540, and the American Bible Society 11,032,494. The Scottish National Bible Society's output of 5,363.810, represented an increase of 1,229,370 over its 1928 figures. The Scottish Society in its latest report, a volume of nearly 200 pages, records that during the year it began work in 22 new countries, including Poland, Russia and the Solomon Islands. Its 471 auxiliaries contributed £9698 to its funds. The annual expenditure has been £45,746 and the income £35,878, the balance being made up by drawing on a legacy fund.

Appreciative reference is mado in the society's report to the support received from many friends in New Zealand. The Otago Bible Society sent forward a donation ot £360, making its total contributions £lO,/03. Many of the 360 missionaries which New Zealand has in the foreign field havo been greatly helped in their work in India nnd elsewhere by colportago grants from tho National Bible Society.

During the year tho Rev. J. Huston Edgar of Tapanui, Otago, who has been for 30 years engaged in mission work on the border of China and Tibet, undertook distribution of Scriptures for tho society, and to him 5000 Chinese Gospc-ls and 5000 Tibetan Gospels are being (lis patched each month. The society's report contains remarkable stories of the influence of tho Scriptures in practically every country in the world.