British and Foreign Bible Society Meets

Chronicle (Levin), 9 October 1948, Page 2

British and Foreign Bible Society Meets

' ^ The 26th annual meeting of the Otaki branch of t'he British and Foreign Bible Society was held recent.y in the Methodjst Church, Otaki, when Canon H. E. K. Fry presided over a good attendance of memoers and friends. Proceedings opened with the s.nging of a hymn, followed by a reaaing from t'ne Scriptures by the Rev. W. Nicholas, after w'hich Rev. R. Grice led in prayer. Tne report dealing with local activities showed that Otaki had jsent the very satisfactory sum of | £91 14s 9d to Bible House, Weljlington, representing an inerease of £6 15s 9d on the previous year's 'figure. The report was adopted. Tne chairman, in congratuiating mernbers, co.iectors and donors on such a good result, sard he felt it an honour and a pleasure to serve th-s great society, whieh had been called the "handmaid of all missionary societies," helping each and all, no matter what tneir denomination. The eiection of officers resulted as lollows:— President: Rev. W. Nichoias; vice^prfcsidents: Local j ministers and their wives and j Mesdames E. Swabey, H. Hickling, and Misses A. Bennett and E. M. Evans, and Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Simcox; secretary: Mrs. S. Beattie; assistant secretary: Mrs. W. McKeen; treasurer: Mrs. Walter Taylor. A delightful solo, "Just for Today," was ^endered by Miss E. D. Avery. Canon Fry then heartily welcomed Mrs. Markham Jones, t'he Wellington Province organising secretary, invlting her to address the gathering. Mrs. Jones expressed her pleasure at being' wit'n Otaki friends, and sincerely thanked the chairman, who was always so actively interested, the collectors and all who had 'helped make last year's financial result possible, reminding mernbers and friends that it was still necessary to advance as costs had risen so much. Now that Otaki had reached £91, the speaker added that it would he , a fine achievement to attain the ' £100 mark this year. The work of the society was actually part of each church's life, all their missionaries benefiting. The society sent w'nat the missionarles needed I in the way of Scriptures, and in return missioharies send what i payment they could. TherbJ #11 f no stipulated price. Regard.ng t'he revision of the Maori Bible for our own land, the New Testament was already in Britain for printing and the whole Bible would soon ,be ready. The main theme of the speaker's address was the unity of Bible societies all over t'he world, which j had taken piace within the past ; two years. This was thought of in I 1932, but its efforts had been held j up during the war years. In 1946 1 a conference was held in England, delegates from 13 countries attending. United Bible Societies were formed and these wopld meet ' in conference each year in one of f the countries represented, t'ne number of which had now increased to 19. This co-operation meant that there was no overiapping of { work, and that each country's . needs received attention. Often I the British and Foreign Bible I Society could supply Scriptures, | while the society in eac'h land did its own distributing and in some I cases the printing, although much| in the way of materials and printing mac'hinery had been destroyed in foreign lands during the!, war. Denmark was able to print and publish and was presenting Bibles to refugees leaving the country. So many nations meeting each year with the Bibie as the common interest meant that

this friendship was permeating throughout the world, and doing so in days when friendship and co-operation was needed perhaps jmore than ever before, concluded ■ ithe speaker. j j Rev. S- Keen warmly t'hanked the speaker for her address. It was decided-to complete all collecting for this year by the mi'ddle of October. Rev. P. Temuera closed the meeting with t'he Benediction. Afternoon tea was ! served by the ladies. Honorary collectors for 1948 are as follows: Mesdames W. Taylor, K. Taylor, A. E. Taylor, C. J. Tulley, R. Maberley, C. Procter, S. ' Keen and S. Beattie, Misses J. Booth, M. James G. Morgan and Gardner, and Mr. David Annan. Apologies for non-attendance were forwarded ofi behalf of Mesdames Nicholas, Temuera and Swabey, and Miss Boot'h.