BIBLE SOCIETY

Chronicle (Levin), 7 December 1946, Page 2

BIBLE SOCIETY

GOOD RESPONSE IN OTAKI The many Otaki friends of the Bricish and Foreign Bible Society will be pleased to learn that this ycar nas oeen a record one ror ine iocal branch. In early November the honorary collectors met at a very pleasant afternoon gathering in the home ol Mrs. Tulley, Riverbank Road, when they hancted to the treasurer the sum of £62 17s. To be added to this amount is a further sum of £22 2s sent by subscribers direct to Bible House, Wellington, making a grana total of £84 19s and showing an increase on last year's figures of £19 7s. This is a record achievement, and a splendid response by local friends to the appeal made by the society in its New Zealand Centenary year. A letter has been received from the organising-secretary in Wellington, sending warmest thanks and congratulating Otaki friends on such a successful report.

A quotation from the centenary publication "The Bibie and the Bible Society in New Zealand," reads: — "As the society looks back over the first hundred years of its life in New Zealand, it cannot do other than record its grateful thanks to its friends. In days* when the future seemed as dark and as uncertain as it could possibly be, they were confident with the confidence of a convincing faith which looks not upon the thing's that are seen. In days of prosperity they have given generously, in days of adversity they have given sacrificially, and at all •times they have given gladly for the support of the great work to which the society is pledged. "Tl;e first gifts from New Zealand were made by the Maoris in kind. Baskets of potatoes were offered for sale in the int.erests of ning of European colonisation in ning of European coionization in these islands. The first monetary gifts sent home bv the infant auxiliaries seem small ki comparison with today's figures, but their real value cannot be Tneasured in monetary terms. By the end of the century these sums averaged approximately £500 per annum for the whole coiony. "The year 1901 shows a sudden increase to nearly doubie that sum, and in 1904 the £1000 mark was hot

■ ■■ ■ ■ ■' ' — — — i j " . ^ only reached, but greatly exceeded. The total crept up year by year until the £2000 mark was reached in 1916 and more than £3000 two ycars later. Except for the depression years the total has increased with remarkable rapidity each year since. In 1945 the total contributions exceeded £21,000, a sum which would have astounded the founders of the society in this country. • "Attention must be drawn to the fact that this proud sum represents a multitude of small contributions. which testifies to a very widespread interest in the society 's work. It does more than that. It testifies to the fact that the Word is still a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. It is because the Bible "has proved itself as such that its friends are determined that its light shall shine wherever the darkness lingers. and the clouds gather." Rev. W. B. Pickering, local president for the current year, and mcmbers of the Otaki Committee, tender sincere thanks to all who helped bring about such a goocl financial result in this year's local effort, and gratefully acknowledge ! all assistance so cheerfully and Ireadily given.