OUR HISTORY

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On December 12, 2024 the Bible Society marked its 216th anniversary of sharing God's Word!

We look forward to many more years of supporting the spiritual growth of individuals. If you’d like to visit our Resource Center, our hours are as follows:

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 10:30 to 3:30. We are also open every Saturday from 10:30 to 2:30.

OUR HISTORY

On December 12, 2008 the Bible Society marked its 200th anniversary of sharing God’s Word!

Original 24 Managers

Learn more about the original 24 Managers of the Pennsylvania Bible Society below!

Bishop William White – (April 4, 1748 – July 17, 1836).  Born in Philadelphia and received his education at the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania), graduating in 1765.  Studied theology under the record, Proctor William Smith of Christ Church and in 1772 went to Britain for his ordination.  When the Loyalist rector of Christ Church departed in 1779, White took over there and at St. Peter’s, positions he held until his death.  White was elected as president of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1785.  White was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania from 1774 till 1836.  White was also Chaplain to the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1789.  When the Bible Society formed in 1808, White became its first President and stayed in that position until his death.

Ashbel Green – (July 6, 1762 – May 19, 1848).  Born in Hanover, New Jersey and graduate of the College of New Jersey in 1783.  Was professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Princeton from 1785-1787.  From 1792 till 1800 Green served as the Chaplain to Congress in Philadelphia.  He served as head pastor of 2nd Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from   till.  In 1812 Green went to Princeton, New Jersey for two things: the formation of Princeton Theological Seminary (with Archibald Alexander and J.J. Janeway), and to become the President of the College of New Jersey.  He served as the College’s President for 10 years before returning to Philadelphia where he lived until he died.  Was manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1848 and became the Society’s 2nd President after Bishop White’s death in 1838.  As is noted in his autobiography, Green had difficulty writing clearly during the last decade of his life, writing in mostly shorthand notes to himself in his diary.  His last official use of the “pen” was signing his name as President of the Bible Society.

J.J. (Jacob Jones) Janeway – (November 20, 1774 – June 27 1858).  Ordained in 1799 a colleague of Dr. Ashbel Green in the 2nd Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, where he remained until 1828.  After serving in Philadelphia he was called to a Dutch Reformed Church in New Brunswick, NJ for 2 years.  Elected a trustee of Rutgers University in 1820, and Vice-President from 1833-1839.  Director of Princeton Theological Seminary from 1813 till 1830 and was President of the Managers of said institution from 1849 till his death in 1858.  Married to Martha Gray (Leiper) Janeway.  Janeway served as a manager of Bible Society from 1808-1834.

William Staughton – (January 4, 1770 – December 12, 1829).  Received a Doctorate of Divinity degree from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1801.  Was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia from 1805 till 1811, until the formation of the Samson Street Baptist Church.  He held the pastorate of the Samson Church from 1811 till his resignation in 1822.  Was chosen in 1821 to be the first president of Columbian College (later George Washington University), a position he held until 1827.  Staughton served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1824.
Joseph Pilmore – (October 31, 1739 – July 24, 1825).  Born in Yorkshire.  Served with John Wesley in South Wales in 1767 and 1768.  Pilmore came to America in 1769 when he introduced Philadelphia to Methodism as a missionary from John Wesley.  Pilmore preached from the steps of the State House in Chestnut Street.  He joined the Protestant Episcopal Church and became rector of St. Paul’s Church in Philadelphia, where he served until his death.  Pilmore served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1821.

Archibald Alexander – (1772 – October 22, 1851).  Was an ordained minister at the age of 19 and selected president of Hampden-Sydney College at 24.  Served as pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church (later Old Pine Presbyterian Church) from 1808 till 1812 when he left to aid in the founding of Princeton Theological Seminary (with Ashbel Green and J.J. Janeway).  Became the seminary’s first professor of theology and taught at the school until his death in 1851.  Alexander served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1813.

Philip F. Mayer – (b. 1781? – d. April 16, 1858).  Was pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John in Philadelphia.  A native of Auburn, New York and resided in Albany before coming to Philadelphia.  Was for many years President of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Philadelphia Dispensary and a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.  Mayer served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1858 and became the Society’s 3rd President in 1848, a position he held until his death in 1858.  In the first 100 years of the Society, Mayer was the longest serving member in the Society’s history, serving for 50 years.

Dr. Justus Henry Christian Helmuth – (May 16, 1745 – February 5, 1825).  Born in Brunswick, Germany, was educated in Halle.  Accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1769 till 1779.  From 1780 until his retirement in 1820, Helmuth served as pastor of St. Michael’s and St. Zion parish (the largest Lutheran Parish in the United States).  Served as a trustee of the University of the State of Pennylvania from 1780-1784 (later University of Pennsylvania). Helmuth served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1822.

James Gray – (1770 – 1824).  Pastor of the Old Scots or First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1804 to 1815.  Gray served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1817.

Thomas Ware – (1758 – 1842).  Ware was a traveling Methodist minister who only spent two years in Philadelphia preaching.  Ware served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1810.

Samuel Helfenstein – (1775 – 1866).  Elected as minister of–Was pastor of the First Reformed Church (St. Peter’s German Reformed) in Philadelphia on January 14th, 1799.  His father – Rev. John Christian Albert Helfenstein was a minister of the German Reformed Congregation in Germantown.  Helfenstein served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1854.

Joseph Zaeslein – (Apr 11, 1770 – 1817). Born in Basil, Switzerland, came to America in November 1800.  Was called for service in the Moravian church in Philadelphia in 1803, and served there until his wife’s death in 1812.  Made his way out to Cincinnati, Ohio where he founded The First English Lutheran Church, (still in existence today) where he served until his death.  Zaeslein served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1812.

Non-Clergy:

Benjamin Rush – (December 24, 1745 – April 13, 1813).  Born on his father’s farm in Byberry Towship.  Rush, after finishing Latin and Greek, was sent to the College of New Jersey at the age of 14 where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1760. Went to Edinburgh in 1766 where he received his Doctorate of Medicine and then traveled to London, then Paris before returning to America.  Selected as professor of Chemistry in the College of Philadelphia in 1769, and in 1789 succeeded to chair of the Theory and Practice of physic, and of clinical medicine, and was for many years one of the physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital.  Rush served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1813, and was one of the original gentleman present at Ralston’s residence to form the Society on December 12, 1808.

Robert Ralston – (December 18, 1761 – August 11, 1836). Born in Little Brandywine, Chester County.  Became a merchant in Philadelphia but did not strive to grow rich, and was much-admired for his character.  Was ordained as a ruling elder of 2nd Presbyterian Church and was also President of Board of Education of Presbyterian Church.  Ralston served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1836 and was the Society’s first Treasurer and initiated the first meeting of gentleman in his private residence on December 12, 1808 to form the Bible Society.

Edward Pennington – (May 8, 1766 – March 16, 1834).  Pennington was a sugar refiner with his eldest brother Isaac.  From 1805 till 1823 Pennington was a manager of the Pennsylvania Hospital.  In 1805 Pennington also, with other business leaders and artists in the city, helped organize and form the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  In 1834 he was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society.  Pennington served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1815.

Dr. Peter Van Pelt – (1778 – 1861).  Descendent from Dutch Immigrants who settled in Brooklyn, New York during the 1680s.  Van pelt was a dentist and surgeon in the city.  Most famous for his son, Peter Van Pelt, Jr. who became pastor of St. Thomas’ Church in Philadelphia.  Van Pelt served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1835).

Lawrence Seckel – (May 11, 1746 – March 6, 1823).  Born Georg Lorentz Seckel, went by the name Lawrence.  Seckel was a wine merchant and prominent citizen of Philadelphia, where he served as a member of City Councils, and on the Board of Port Wardens, and also as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly; was a founder and first treasurer of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (where Philip F. Mayer was pastor).  From 1790 till 1820, Seckel served as manager of Pennsylvania Hospital and was some years a manager of the Philadelphia Dispensary.  Seckel served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1819.

William Shufflebottom – Shufflebottom was an operator of a china store and was an elder in the Second Reformed Dutch Church in Philadelphia.  He served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1828.

Thomas Allibone – It is believed that Allibone was a flour merchant in Philadelphia.  He served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1810.

Benjamin B. Hopkins – Hopkins was a stationer in Philadelphia being the publisher of many books in the city.  He was recording secretary and librarian (all Bible distribution orders went through him) of the Bible Society.  He was also manager of the Society from 1808-1818.

George Krebs – Krebs was a brick maker in Philadelphia.  He served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1833.

Frederick Schucker – Schucker was a Sen. Gentleman in the city of Philadelphia.  He served was a manager of the Bible Society from 1808-1820.

France Markoe – Markoe was a merchant in Philadelphia.  He served as a manager of the Bible Society from 1808

Robert Ralston Letter

Josiah Roberts was one of the original managers of the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) founded in Britain in 1804. Roberts lived in Philadelphia from 1801 – 1803 on the same street as Ralston (according to directories at that time). Based upon the frequency of letters that went back and forth between Ralston and Roberts over the years it is safe to assume that these two gentlemen were strong acquaintances or even friends when Roberts lived in Philadelphia.

According to this letter Roberts had sent Ralston a copy of one of the reports of the BFBS (“the Bible Society”) and it was from this report where Ralston gained the inspiration to start a similar society here.

“The receipt of the former report of the Bible Society, I endeavor to improve to promote a similar establishment in this country, and I hope your present letter with the last report, which accompanied it, will be made serviceable in brining into operation so valuable an institution.The aid which you mention can probably be attained from the Society in London, will I trust animate the friends of the measure, who have had their fears that a failure might attend the undertaking if attempted at the present time. To delay I consider is to risk the object – a better state of things may not, and probably will not present for years to come, and under any state of awkward difficulties, if the blessed head of the church patronize the work, we know it must, it will succeed.

If discouragements of this kind ought to avail, I am sure the state of your country for many years past would have formed a sufficient excuse – yet with the increased pressure of National difficulties have been the increased exertions of the friends of Zion to promote the Redeemer Kingdom and to do good to all the world. Let us then profit, and be animated by your example, working while it is called to-day, for the night of death will soon overtake us in which there is no work or device. I shall endeavor to apprize you of the result of the exertions that may be used on this occasion.”

Timeline History of the Pennsylvania Bible Society

It started with a letter from Mr. Robert Ralston, a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Philadelphia to his friend Josiah Roberts of Britain telling of his desire to start a Bible Society in America. Click below to learn more about how it all started!

  • November 10, 1808 – Mr. Robert Ralston, a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Philadelphia writes a letter to his friend Josiah Roberts of Britain telling of his desire to start a Bible Society in America.

  • December 12, 1808 – Date of the first formal meeting of the Society.  The first president was Bishop William White.  First Vice President was Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

  • 1812 – The Bible Society, now know as the Bible Society at Philadelphia to distinguish it from other like groups in Connecticut, Massachusetts and elsewhere; publishes the first Bible printed in the U.S. from Stereotype plates, a less expensive printing process.  Ultimately 17, 375 Bibles and New Testaments will be produced from these plates.

  • 1840 – The Bible Society at Philadelphia becomes the Pennsylvania Bible Society.

  • 1853  – The Pennsylvania Bible Society acquires a lot of land at 701 Walnut Street, Philadelphia from Hannah Sansom, and constructs the Bible House.  The Bible House continues to be a distribution center for scriptures to this day.  Prior to acquiring this property, the Society had offices located on Chestnut Street between 6th and 7th street where the Public Ledger building stands today.

  • 1876 – The Pennsylvania Bible Society constructed a special pavilion for the centennial celebration of America being held in Philadelphia that year.

  • 1908 – The Pennsylvania Bible Society praises God on the 100th Anniversary of its founding.

  • 1910 – The Pennsylvania Bible Society joins their efforts with the American Bible Society to create the Atlantic Agency, distributing Scripture in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

  • 1958 – Marked 150 years that the Pennsylvania Bible Society has been in the service of the Bible cause.

  • 1982 – The Pennsylvania Bible Society in cooperation with other religious bodies prepares a commemorative booklet to honor the Tercentenary of William Penn’s arrival in Philadelphia.  The popular “Light for All People” scripture is distributed throughout Pennsylvania, one million copies in all, within a one year period, free to all.

  • 1983 – The Pennsylvania Bible Society marks its 175th anniversary year and praises the Lord for all His mercies, particularly in allowing the Society to serve Him in the distribution of Holy Scripture.

  • 1987 – The Pennsylvania Bible Society hosts an exhibit entitled “The Bible and the Delegates,” celebrating the bicentennial of the Constitution of the United States.  On exhibit were many bibles or facsimilies thereof owned by the founding fathers.

  • 1995 – Separated from ABS to better serve the Scripture needs in the state and surrounding communities.

  • 2006 – Dedicated the year 2007 for actively reading the Bible in preparation for the Bicentennial celebration in 2008.

  • December 12, 2008 – The Bible Society celebrated 200 years of Scripture distribution with a bicentennial celebration at The Down Town Club in Philadelphia, PA.  Included with the celebration was a history display room where we had very rare Bibles on display along with history of the Bible translation and of the PA Bible Society.

1812 Stereotyped Bible

Shortly after the Bible Society of Philadelphia (now the Pennsylvania Bible Society) was formed in December 1808, the managers wanted to implement a printing process used in England by the British and Foreign Bible Society to mass produce Bibles called stereotyping. This method of printing was used sparingly in the United States during the early 1800s but never for publishing Bibles. Considering the high costs of such an endeavor, the managers decided to start off distributing Bibles purchased from Bible publishers in Philadelphia over its initial two years in operation. However the managers knew that utilizing the stereotype printing method would greatly increase Scripture distribution in Philadelphia and around the country, the managers raised over $7,000* with help from all the existing bible societies in America and from the British and Foreign Bible Society between 1809 and 1811.

  • Once all the financing was gained an order for a set of stereotype plates was placed in Britain. However, getting the plates across the ocean and into the United States wasn’t without its issues. Since the U.S. and Great Britain were at war in 1812 there were tariffs placed on all imports from Britain and the U.S. customs house in Philadelphia was going to charge the Bible Society thousands of dollars to allow the plates into the country. Not having the funds to pay this fee, the managers petitioned to the state government and then to both houses of Congress for relief of these duties. This relief passed both the house and the senate and the Bible Society was allowed to import these plates free of charge. Once in the hands of printers thousands of Bibles were instantly printed and distributed to all parts of the country. Eventually over 17,000 Bibles and New Testaments would be printed from these and future plates.The forward-thinking of the managers placed the Bible Society at a unique advantage being the first institution in the U.S. to use this printing process, which became the standard for printing Bibles in the decades to follow.* $7,000 in 1811 is equivalent to over $96,000 in 2008.

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