PRINCESS ANNE — For the third year in a row the Somerset County Bible Society will not hold its annual meeting but looks forward to having this traditional event in 2023 which will mark 195 years since its founding in 1828.

Typically meeting the third Thursday in March, COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2020 session which was scheduled to be held at Antioch Church. Although also not held in 2021 it did not mean members were not out fulfilling their mission of distributing Bibles and other spiritual material both locally and worldwide.

Literature Chair Mary L. Horner in a letter to members and friends wrote that nursing homes in the tri-county area received inspirational tent cards at Easter and Christmas, as well as coloring books and large print Bibles “in spite of COVID-19.”

Bibles in Spanish as well as coloring books were provided to local missionaries for their service in the Dominican Republic.

The Somerset County group works closely and supports the efforts of the Maryland Bible Society which was founded in 1810 as the Baltimore Bible Society. It’s director, David Moyer, has been a guest at the annual meeting and he reported that distributions and engagements increased from the prior year. There was also $40,000 in Bible and Discipleship grants distributed.

One victim of the coronavirus, however, was the Kenya Mission which was paused.

The Maryland Bible Society is part of a nationwide organization for elementary school children called “Good News Clubs” which meet after school at some 100 schools around the state, providing them Bibles. It also holds Christian Camps and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Camps for middle and high school students, and Mrs. Horner added that there is support and evangelism for pastors.

The Somerset County Bible Society during its centennial in 1928 loaned its minute books to the Maryland Historical Society, and later records are now housed at the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University. From an old set of minutes it states, “The work of the Society is entirely non-sectarian and is for the purpose of spreading the Word among all classes and conditions of people throughout the world.”

Those who would like to contribute and become members may make a donation to the Somerset County Bible Society and mail it in care of Mrs. Carol Bozman, P.O. Box 177, Princess Anne, Md. 21853.