Part 2 (2/2)

The bishop acknowledged the deplorable state of the people, and preferred their having the Protestant version to none at all

When these adventurers in Christ's kingdom visited St Louis, they found it a place of two thousand inhabitants,--”a tue,--built mainly of wooden slabs and poles set vertically, and well daubed withhouses” In a school-rooational sermons ever preached on the west side of the Mississippi They were gratefully received, and had crowded audiences The people would gladly have supported either one could he have stayed

But the immediate duty of these explorers for souls was to return to the churches which had sent the thatto be land was roused to effort by their appeal, and the next year ten or twelve old” hispered in California and heard all over the world The gold-hunters pressed forward fro to turn one's back on holittering pro at the end of the rainbow, and all the riches of this world ”s” ”The promises of God are sure,” and the riches which He bestows are everlasting; and yet to the call, gold and glory, young men answer by the thousand, while to the cry, Christ and a crown, they respond by the dozen! ”Choose ye this day whom ye will serve”

CHAPTER VIII

THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY--THE UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY

During these twowith the woes of the sin-bound, and his brain contriving for their release Upon his return he settled in New York state, and spent two busy years in working out his purposes While waiting for their e cities, particularly New York Here he spent what lected districts He also wrote many letters; and in the churches, and everywhere, and upon everybody, urged attention to the world's great needs, and their great duties

As the result of this planning, waiting and working, he was permitted to see forn Missionary Society On the subject of city evangelization, he advanced ideas which we at this striving tiious privileges which Mills had witnessed in the West and South, and the great desire of the people for the word of God, with their inability to supply theer for the fore enough and strong enough to supply such great want He had soeneral asseht best to have it co Bible societies, rather than have it bear the features of any denomination

The matter was kept constantly before influential people by this indefatigable ates from the different Bible societies of the United States convened in New York city, and resolved unanimously ”to establish, without delay, a General Bible Institution, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or co their sessions a constitution was adopted, ers elected, and an address issued to the people of the United States, infor their sympathy and cooperation in this benevolent schereat day to Mills, and those who saw hierness the deliberations of the convention, long rehted face But how must the resources and usefulness of this society have exceeded even his fond hopes!

As its first depository, it shared the office rooent Froer quarters, until the year 1853, when it located per, The Bible House, on Astor Place, New York city This edifice is of brick, six stories high, and occupies a solid block In its first year, the society received 37,779, and issued 6,410 volumes; in its seventieth year (1886) its receipts were 523,910, and it issued 1,437,440 volu and executive--numbers about 250 The auxiliaries which directly and indirectly center in this society, nureat tree and itsof nations There are now but few countries where there are any impediments to the free circulation of the Scriptures

In our own land the society has afforded relief to its feeble auxiliaries, has supplied destitute Sabbath-schools, has endeavored to place the Bible in the co soldiers and seamen, to furnish hotels, steamboats, railroads, and humane and criminal institutions By it, the Bible has been circulated arants, the destitute poor, the freed Romanists At four different periods the society hasthe states and territories, to search and supply the destitute Proportionately the number of families without the word of God is anized, notwithstanding the enorrowths in population

The society has attempted to send the Bible to all the inhabitants of the earth, accessible to its agents It has established depots in almost every place where the American churches have hty different languages and dialects In 1856, in coift, the Society's Ilish Bible, bound with extraordinary care, enclosed in a rosewood case, and acconing istrates of the world

Before the art of printing, the Bible was the most expensive book in the world So late as the American Revolution, in its cheapest edition a volume could not be purchased for less than two dollars

This society now furnishes a copy of the entire book for twenty-five cents It has made the Bible the cheapest book in the world

Mills, anxious to see every wheel set in dom, was restless because of the inaction of the Presbyterian church in the cause of Foreign Missions; again by his personal influence upon prominent men, another plan was matured A committee was appointed by the General assembly to confer with committees from the Dutch and Scotch churches, and a new society was forn Missionary Society After a few years of efficient service this society wasto it its name and affairs

While so busy with these sche all possible inforard to South America He desired to have the way opened for a o hiations But it was seven years later when the American Board sent the first reat enterprises, which y, this busy th to search out the squalid back streets of New York, and to go fro sy words of Christian love and instruction, and where they would receive theood books

CHAPTER IX

THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY--MILLS, AS ITS AGENT, VISITS AFRICA

Abraha man, made a journey into the South Of all the impressions which those new scenes est was that of slavery It filled hi, but kindled a zeal which never slumbered, until it cost his priceless life

It was such a spark which became a fire in the breast of Mills What he saw and what he heard, during those southern tours,radation s if only he could pierce the black cloud overshading them His first effort resulted in a school, called the African School, for training young colored men to teach and preach to their own race He then lent essential aid in the formation of the American Colonization Society

This society was co attention was fastened upon the bondage, afflictions and heathenism of their black brothers, in this so called free land