T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S o A Rousing Radio Bible Message S A M U E L R. B O G G S President, “ The tififeons Philadelphia, Pa.
September 1926
508
Mr. Boggs is one o f the leading business men of Philadelphia — an outspoken Christian layman. He knows the Bible is the Word o f God and in this message, which was given over Radio W O O (The Wanamaker Store), he stresses the fact that the solution of every problem is found in that Word. The purpose of the Gideons is to bring the Gospel message to the traveling public by putting a Bible in the guest room o f every hotel. We commend the message and the work of the Gideons to The King s Business Family.
family through his evil deeds, a man who was living a licentious life, took a room in the Ijlotel La Salle, Chicago, determined to commit suicide. He purchased a vial of poison, placed it on .the bureau, closed the windows, drew down the blinds and prepared to drink the poison, but as he picked it up, he noticed the words "Holy Bible” on a book cover which he hadn’t seen before. He stopped, laid the vial down, opened the book promis cuously and read the 121st Psalm: “ I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth,” etc. He was convicted of sin, confessed his evil deeds, and the Spirit of the Lord spoke to him in a definite way. He is today united with his family and is one of, our leading ministers of the Gospel, serving a large congregation in the northwest. We could recite many illustrations of men who had stolen money and restored same after reading the Bible in the hotel room where they were hiding. We could tell of husbands and wives and children being united, who were separated. We could tell of prodigals brought home to the Father’s house. We could tell of girls who ran away and were restored through this ministry. Should any one desire additional facts, our International Secretary, Mr. A. B. T. Moore, 140 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111., would be glad to send pamphlets telling of the work. Financing the Fund Many have asked the question, how is the work financed? The money for the administration expense is derived from the dues of members. The money for the Bibles comes from members, churches and other organizations who desire to help in thiB Bible work. Today many of the hotel pro prietors want to pay for same, as they are anxious to have them. Gideons make no charge for their services. Any offerings received from churches, individuals, firms, corporations or hotels, etc., go directly to the Fund indicated, and the Bible Fund is used in buying and placing the Bibles. Three Hundred and Sixty-five Sermons a Year I don’t know a better way to invest a dollar than by placing a Bible in a hotel guest room, where it is available twenty-four hours a day. It tells its own story. It preaches three hundred and sixty-five sermons a year, and although a silent messenger, it is the most energetic. When we
WENTY-FIVE years ago In Boscobel, Wisconsin, a traveling salesman by tbe name of Samuel E. Hill, was given the last room in the hotel for the night. Shortly after another traveling salesman by the name of John H. Nicholson applied for accommoda tions and was told there was no room, with the exception of an extra bed in the room that had Just been given to Mr. Hill. Introductions were made. Mr. Hill had no objection to having Mr. Nicholson as a companion. Before retiring Mr. Nicholson opened his bag and took out his Bible and said to Mr. Hill: “ It is my custom, sir, before retiring to read a chapter In the Bible; I would be glad to have you Join me.” Mr. Hill replied, "That’s my custom too,” so these two men, strangers to each other, had this delightful fellowship that night. A short time later another salesman by the name of W. J. Knights joined this group and after much prayer came to the conclusion that It would be a splendid* Idea to organ ize the Christian traveling men Into, an Association the purpose of which would be fellowship and to encourage one another In Christian service. Following this meeting, these three men who had never known each other before, organ ized The Gideons, the fundamental purpose of which is to carry the Gospel message to commercial travelers and tran sients and to place Bibles in hotels. , There are in the hotels of the United States and Canada, approximately 2,000,000 guest rooms. To date this Asso ciation haB placed over 660,000 Bibles in the hotels of the United States and Canada. In the year 1924 about 46,000 were placed, and it is our purpose to place approximately 100,000 during the current year. In July, 1925, the Canadian Association, which was pro moted by us, was amalgamated with our American Associa tion and the field has become world wide. The English Travelers’ Christian Association is affiliated with us, and the Continent, with South Africa, as well as China, Korea and Japan, where we have representatives, are opening the way for our ministry. From Poison to Preaching One could consume hours telling of the many testimonies showing the success of this work. We have on file at our International Headquarters in Chicago thousands of testi monials telling how the Bible in the hotel room has helped to a better way of living. Some years ago a traveling sales man, discouraged, down-hearted, and separated from his
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