The following interesting quotation is from the Trinitarian Bible Society’s Quarterly Record:—
It is easier to estimate the value of books than of most things, there being no purchase tax imposed creating an artificial value. On looking through a series of advertisements of recent books it has been interesting to compare prices to-day with those of the Word of God.
The average book issued to-day priced at about 10s. 6d. has about 180 to 200 pages, or less if there are a number of illustrations. In these publications a fairly large type is used, giving some 300 words to a page. A closely printed volume will therefore contain about 54,000 words, working out at somewhat less than one penny per page, which for the times we consider quite good value.
But compare this with a Bible at the same price. An average Bible contains about 960 pages with a thousand words to the page, so if your Bible was printed in the same type and at the same rate as your usual reading books it would cost you not less than £8 8s. and would require several volumes.
It may be asked, how is it possible to produce a Bible so cheaply when compared with other books? Unquestionably the chief reason is the enormous quantity produced together with the remarkable efficiency of Bible printing processes.
So, whenever buying a Bible at whatever price or of whatever quality think how wonderfully cheap it is when compared with other books, and remember that this cheapness has been secured through the work of the Bible Societies, who, with their world-wide circulation have created a demand for the Scriptures unequalled by any other book in the world. Among them the T.B.S. has contributed to the circulation for 122 years, bestowing freely or supplying at lowest prices the priceless treasure of the Word of God.
Four hundred years ago the Bible cost a whole year’s wages of an average working man—to-day it can be purchased for less than he pays each week for health insurance.
The Word of God is the cheapest book in the world.
TRINITARIAN BIBLE SOCIETY.
It is interesting and encouraging to read in the Quarterly Record of the Trinitarian Bible Society (of which the secretary is R. F. Chambers, 7 Bury Place, London, W.C.1) that the total income has been £25,387, the highest for any year in the history of the Society. The increase has not been due to any large legacy or special gift, but is the result of a general rise from every source; subscriptions, donations, collections, auxiliaries all showing a decided increase, as also the sales of Scriptures.
The total value of the Scripture circulated during the year at current prices exceeded £25,000. The great feature of the year’s work has been the constantly increasing demand for the Word in the Hebrew language.
Excellent Bibles and New Testaments were issued by the Society to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
In commenting on the 122nd Annual Meeting of the Society the Quarterly Record concludes: “Thus another milestone has been passed, and, in happy and congenial fellowship, friends of various churches and denominations, who unitedly hold the Bible to be wholly the inspired Word of God, have gathered in thanksgiving and praise for all that the Lord has done.”
Scotland’s contribution increases yearly. For the heritage of an open Bible and freedom to worship still enjoyed in our land we should give thanks to God.—W. Grant.