The Northern-based American Bible Union meets in New York. Founder and president, Thomas Armitage, is a Baptist minister. In addition to providing Bibles in non-English languages, the Union is now busy supplying Bibles to freedmen, many of whom are finally learning to read, following the post-war fall of decades of Southern laws disallowing slaves to read and write.
The American Bible Union held its sixteenth annual meeting yesterday morning, in the Broome-street Baptist Church. A large attendance was present, and the exercises were full of interest. Rev. THOMAS ARMITAGE, D.D., President of the Union, presided. The annual report was read by Rev. CHAS. A. BUCKBEE, Recording Secretary. This report related mainly to efforts made by the American Bible Union in the circulation of the Scriptures in Spain, Italy, China, Siam, India and Africa, and among the freedmen of the South. The new translation of the Scriptures has progressed favorably. The report states that since the last anniversary, the work on the Old Testament has been recommenced by Dr. CONANT. Dr. BLISS is still prosecuting his labors for the Union on the historical books. The coming year, it is hoped, will be distinguished by the publication of a considerable portion of this part of the Bible. It also afforded the agreeable and interesting information that a pulpit and family Testament, in large print, has just been published. It has been a work of great labor, both in preparation and execution. The poetic parts have been printed in poetic form, thus exhibiting the indications of rhythm which appear in the original, and all the quotations from the Old Testament are so presented as to leave no doubt where they commence and where they close. Very many improvements in the translation from the original have also been made, which will be introduced into the plates of the 16mo. This, it is claimed, is the clearest exhibition of the revelation of God in any existing version of the Sacred Scriptures.
Coming down to actual figures in setting forth the practical results of the efforts of the Union, the report states that up to August 8, 1865, there had been issued of the Revised New Testament, in whole or in parts, 85,058 copies. Within the year just passed, the number of complete copies issued, up to the same date exceeded 20,000.
Dr. ELEAZAR PARMLY, Treasurer, made his annual report, of which we append a synopsis:
June 15, 1865 — To cash paid as follows:
Balance due the Treasurer last year……. $1,160 75
Tracts and Bible Union Quarterly…….. 382 22
Expenses of Revision of English Scriptures……………………………. 4,990 26
English Scripture Publication………… 7,207 89
Scripture colportage and distribution among soldiers, freedmen, &c………. 6,866 56
Italian Scripture distribution…………. 34 78
Home and Foreign Missions, &c., by request of donors…………………… 423 13
German Scripture colportage and distribution…………………………… 266 33
Expenses of anniversary and St. Louis special meeting…………………… 193 65
Salaries of officers…………………… 3,759 11
Agents’ salaries and expenses………… 2,978 09
Rent of officers’ and managers’ rooms…. 250 00
Certificates for life members and directors…………………………….. 11 28
General contingencies, fuel, insurance, postage, &c………………………. 568 66
Total…………………………. $30,092 71
By cash, receipts from all sources…….. $29,028 41
Balance due the Treasurer……………. 1,064 30
Total………………………… $30,092 71
These two reports having been presented, Rev. Dr. ARMITAGE delivered his annual address. He spoke at considerable length of the new revision, and said that the ablest critics and best scholars of the country had spoken of the fidelity with which the translation had been made. It was not proposed to force men into accepting the new revision, but it was the determination of the Union to let Christians know that the work had been done, and was ready for the consideration of all candid and conscientious minds.
Sources: “The American Bible Union.’; Sixteenth Anniversary Meeting of the Union Proceedings of the Session,” New York Times, October 26, 1865 (link); “The American Bible Union,” New York Times, October 27, 1865 (link)
