Christian Knowledge, SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING

Christian Knowledge, SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING (often referred to as the S.P.C.K.), one of the great religious associations connected with the Church of England, and the oldest of them all. It was founded in 1698, although it did not receive its present name till 1701; and had for its objects: '(1) To promote and encourage the erection of charity schools in all parts of England and Wales; (2) to disperse, both at home and abroad, Bibles and tracts of religion; and, in general, to advance the honour of God, and the good of mankind, by promoting Christian knowledge both at home and in other parts of the world by the best methods that should offer.' These objects it has never ceased to pursue, chiefly directing its efforts to the British dominions; partaking at once of the nature of an educational association, a missionary society, a Bible society, a religious tract society, and an emigrants' spiritual aid society; and notwithstanding the operations of other great societies in these several departments of Christian benevolence, its revenue amounts to above £50,000 a year. The bookselling business shows in some years total sales of £80,000; the works published being in very various departments of literature, and including several admirable series on Early Britain, Diocesan Histories, Ancient History from the Monuments, Early Chroniclers, &c. The Protestant missionaries who laboured in the south of India in the 18th century were supported chiefly by this society, and it is now fully engaged in supplying to the mission-field throughout the world needful religious literature in the vernacular. Besides translations of the Bible and Prayer-book, it provides for pioneer missionaries, grammars, dictionaries, reading-books, &c., to instruct them in the languages which they will have to use. See a History of the Society (1898).—A Scottish Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, incorporated in 1709, has an annual expenditure of £5000, mainly devoted to the maintenance of schools in the Highlands and Islands.