BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 61, 5 December 1917, Page 5

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY

, EFFORT TO EXTEND WORK. A luncheon and meeting to inaugurate an effort to put the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society on a more substantial footing in this city was held in ;the Y.M.C.A. yesterday. The. meeting was convened by the Rev.. F. H. Spencer, representing tho society,

Tho Mayor, who presided at the luncheon, .said that there had been very little organised effort among the Christian people of Wellington in aid of this very important institution, the British arid Foreign Bible Society. This was matter for great surprise. It was a branch of activity in which all Christian poople could, and should,, unite. He hoped the result of the 'meeting -would be successful. Tho Rev. F.' H. Spencer addressed the meeting on the objects of the society. "■ The meeting had been convened in'the hope that the British and Foreign Bible Society would coni'e into its own in Wellington. No praise could be too great for the Bible Society, for it was, as it always had been, in the very forefront of missionary and other evangelical effort. The Deed was greater than ever now for effort to win this world for the Lord Jesus Christ. The influence of the Bible in this war was for good among the soldiers. The spread of the study of the had been. especially rapid in Japan after the Russo-Japan-ese War. In China the demand for the Scriptures was increasing enormously. To meet this increased demand more money was being asked for this year, and if the demand' was to be met much more would bo needed in succeeding years. The sum asked for this year was £30,000. Ho suggested that Wellington should contribute £1000, and he thought this should not be beyond the means of the Christian people in the capital of New Zealand. He had selected Messrs. G. M'Cartney, W. J. Helyer, and R.-L. Button to be an executive committee to direct and control the effort in Wellington, and ho would ask' the meeting to elect these gentlemen to be the committee, with power to add to their number. .Ho feared there might be murmurings against this appeal for money, but he asked them to believe that it was the greatest of all privileges to subscribe to the cause of the spread of the Gospel. Tho.Bishop of Wellington (the Rev. T._ H. Sprott) rose to move that the committee named by Mr.' Spencer be elected. He commended Mr. Spencer for his unfailing and untiring perseverance in the cause of the Bible Society, and he hoped that the committee would prepare and direct an organisation which would succeed in raising the £1000 for which the appeal was made.

Mr. J. Ilott seconded the motion, saying that he was sure that the appeal would be successful. Mr. C. M. Luke said that he was sure the gentlemen selected would spare no effort in the cause, which was the most important cause in the world to-day.

Mr. H. W. Kersley said that the Y.M.C.A. had distributed among New Zealand soldiers 26,000 testaments, and it would not havo been possible to obtain so many but for the fact that thoy were published so cheaply by the Bible Society. The resolution was agreed to. A voto of thanks was accorded to the Mayor for presiding, and tho meeting/closed with the National Anthem.