Testaments for Castaways

In its 127-year history the American Bible Society has issued a third of a billion Bibles or portions of the Scriptures. They have gone to over 50 countries, been printed in more than 200 languages or dialects. New last year: an edition in Papiamento, Spanish dialect for Curac,ao; in Gbea for French Equatorial Africa; in Kijita for Tanganyika.

At its annual meeting in Manhattan last week the society reviewed one of its busiest years ever. Spurred by war needs, it turned out over 8,000,000 books. They went not only to far-flung civilians, to members of the U.S. armed forces, but also to war prisoners in Germany, Italy. Thank-you letters indicate that 95% got through.

For the first time in its existence, the society is sending out New Testaments it prays will never be read. Reason: the pocket-size books go in standard equipment on all U.S. lifeboats and rafts for use of castaways at sea.

After Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's saga of planewreck in the South Pacific had publicized Scripture as a comfort for castaways, the Bible Society offered to furnish them to all rafts and lifeboats, complete with waterproof covers. War Shipping Administration, Army and Navy gladly accepted. By last week 21,000 New Testaments had been installed. Ten thousand more were awaiting assignment. Cost (from society's funds): $5,270.

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