The town of Superior is planning a celebration to commemorate the placement of the first Gideon Bible in a hotel room which took place in 1908 in the Superior Hotel. The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th at the original site of the Superior Hotel at 5:00 p.m. A short ceremony will be given by the President of the Gideons International.
According to the Mineral County Historical Society, At the Gideon Convention of 1908 it was proposed, "that the Gideons direct their energies toward furnishing a Bible for every guest room of hotels in the country."
Archie Bailey, a Gideon, then employed as an accountant for a firm of contractors in Iron Mountain, Montana was a frequent guest at the Superior Hotel. He approached Mrs.Edna Wilkinson, who operated the Hotel, and asked for permission to place Bibles in the rooms. Upon receiving permission, Bailey sent an order to the Gideon headquarters office in Chicago on November 9, 1908 enclosing a contribution check to cover the cost.
Since this humble beginning, The Gideons, which is composed of Christian business and professional men, have placed over 1.4 billion Bibles around the world. The ministry has extended to 187 countries and is currently placing 1 million copies every five days.
The Superior Hotel burnt to the ground December 1, 1940 and Schneider's Garage was built on the location. A plaque commemorating the first placement was placed on the garage wall in 1960.
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