BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2113, 18 April 1889, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the local branch of the B iilah and Foreign Bible Soolety wa? held at the Wesieyan Churoh last evening. There was only a moderate attendance and the Rev J. M. Buttle presided.

The Rev Chairman In Introducing the Rev H. T. Robjohna, the Soolety's agent, to the meeting, referred to the objects of the Soolety as deserving of tbe support of all Christians, bb Its woik at the foundations of the work of the churches.

The Rev A, Blake, the Seoretsry, resd the report of the past year whioh stated that the services of six lady collectors had been obtained. Tbe Treasurer's statement showed the total reoelpts to be £23 0s sd, of which the ladles bad collected £9. The amount of sale* of bibles was £12 ls4d as against £8 12* 9d last ye-r, and the number of copies sold was 67 . He felt tore that as the operations of tl c Soolety became better known they won'd ba more heartily supported, and one means of securing this was the regulir annual visit of the agent.

The Rev H. T. Rob Johns proposed the following motion. " That this meeting acknowledges, with thanksgiving, the blessing of Almighty God vouchsafed to tbe operations of the Parent Society, and appeals to the Christian public of Canterbury for their sympathy and support on behalf of the Soolety's funds. " In speaking to the resolution, he contrasted the position of the Bible question In 1800, whan the Scriptures were printed In only thirty languages, with that of last year, when they were printed m three hundred end forty languages. In 1800 there were but 5,000,000 copies, now there were 250,000,000. The work of the Soolsty comprised translating, printing and distributing. In this last 737 colporteurs were engaged travelling m twenty-seven countries, selling nearly a million copies every year. The Bpaaker gave interesting Information as to the completion of the Bible lo Japanese, and the Immense number of languages whioh yet remained to be dealt with ; the great popularity of Oolonel Lessere's translation of the Gospel Into modern Prenoh, and tbe circulation In Italy of an Illustrated Scriptures m half-penny numbers.

Mr Jenkins seconded the motion and m doing so expressed his warmest sympathy with the objaots and alms of the Soolety.

The Rev A. M. Beattle moved, " that the thanks of the meeting be oonveyed to the Committee and office bearers, and also the lady collectors and that the Committee for tbe ensuing year be aa follows : — Mlnliters of tbe Gospel ex officio, Messrs W. H. Twentyman, G. Jameson, R. Aloorn, A. Ow, J. W. Sawle, R W. Jenkins, D. H. Brown and H. G. Flower: Treasurer, Mr D. H. Brown : Seoretary. Rev A. Blake."

The motion was seconded by Mr H. M. Jones, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman proposed by Me Robjahns, brought tha formal business to a oicsa.