I am writing in response to the fine article written by Jessica Anderson, "Maryland Bible Society closes landmark Baltimore shop" (Jan. 20). I am a long-time member (since 1982) and a past president of MBS and am proud to be in the long line of MBS presidents that included James McHenry and Rev. John Goucher. It was during my tenure that the first African-American members of the board were elected. Donald Tynes Sr. became the first African-American president of MBS. And soon after that, Julene Crooks became the board's first female president.

I congratulate Ms. Anderson for putting the plight of the MBS bookstore in the context of book stores elsewhere — sacred and secular. The times change, and the MBS is changing with the times. However, the message and purpose of the MBS remain the same: distribution of the Holy Scriptures at minimum cost to the maximum number of people.

One example of the work of the MBS: Following the attack on 9/11, MBS provided nearly 7 million copies of Bibles, New Testaments and selections for ministries all over the nation, plus it began a new campaign "Bibles for Soldiers." We recently arranged for 450 Bibles to be purchased for the three base chapels at Ft. Meade at a very low cost. Each Bible was gold stamped with the name of the chapel where it will be placed at no cost to the chaplains.

John A. Clinton, Millersville