Subject:  American Minute - July 15 - Robert Aitken
Date:  Sat, 15 Jul 2006 04:03:21 GMT
American Minute with Bill Federer
July 15

The Continental Congress was about to evacuate Philadelphia, as the British had just won the Battle of Brandywine, forcing Washington's 10,000 troops to retreat to Valley Forge.
In addition, Congress was made aware that the Revolutionary War had interrupted trade with the King's authorized printers in England, thereby causing a shortage of Bibles, commonly used in education.
They voted September 11, 1777, to import Bibles from Scotland or Holland into different parts of the Union, stating:
"The use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great...it was resolved accordingly to direct said Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 copies of the Bible."
The Continental Congress, September 10, 1782, again responded to the shortage by approving publisher of The Pennsylvania Magazine, Robert Aitken, who died this day, July 15, 1802, to print America’s first English language Bible-"A neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools":
“Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled highly approve the...undertaking of Mr. Aitken...and...recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation.”
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