BIBLE IN THE WORLD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 13

BIBLE IN THE WORLD

DISTRIBUTION EFFORT GISBORNE’S FART AUXILIARY MEETS The fact that the Poverty Bay auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society had raised the sum of £ll7 towards the distribution of the Bible was mentioned by Mr. R. G. Hogarth, lion, secretary, in presenting the annual report at last evening’s annual meeting of the auxiliary. He mentioned ttiat the sum represented an increase of £33 on the amount contributed in the previous year.

Later in the evening. Miss M. Berg, district organiser, expressed appreciation on behalf of the Dominion council for the support given the society in Poverty Bay. She added that whereas the council had desired that New Zealand’s contribution for 1938 should reach the £IO,OOO mark, tile actual sum raised was £10,719.

Various local churches were represented at the meeting of the auxiliary, which was held in the Baptist Tabernacle. The retiring president, Canon A. F. Hall, who was in the chair, extended a cordial welcome to Miss Berg, who had succeeded Miss B. Hartnell as organising secretary. Election of Officers The action of the executive in electing the following officers for the ensuing year was confirmed:—President, Pastor L. R. Usmar; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. R. Maddock, J. C. Hardy and H. G. Wellborne; hon. secretary, Mr. R. G. Hogarth; hon. treasurer, Mr. M. F. Robinson.

In vacating tire chair, Canon Hall stressed the need for reading the Bible with understanding. However, before one could study the Bible one must possess it, and distribution of the Scriptures was being nobly carried out by the society

Pastor 'Usmar thanked the auxiliary for the honour of electing him president and said that he believed that the great progress made by the society indicated that the Hand of God was behind the work. He pointed out, too, that there was a part for every Christian to play in furthering the aims of the society. “The Bible” formed the subject of a short address by the Rev. E. W. Batts, who said that all should realise the nature of the book they were endeavouring to distribute.

Wonderful Book “Thy testimonies are wonderful,” wrote the Psalmist, and certainly, said the speaker, the Bible is wonderful in its preparation, preservation, distribution and power. He urged that all should give their full support to the society, that the Bible might be known and loved by every creature throughout the whole wide world. Ecfore addressing the gathering on the work of the society, Miss Berg thanked the members of the auxiliary for the cordial welcome that had been extended to her on her initial visit to Gisborne.

In referring to the success of last year's effort, Miss Berg paid a special tribute to the work of the collectors. Tire speaker told of the value that was placed on the Bible in many parts of the world and said that during the past year 11,000.000 copies of the Scriptures or portions of it had been issued by the society. Of that number 6,500.000 copies had been sold by the society’s colporteurs, who comprised 940 workers. “Never since the Reformation have people been so eager to learn of Christ,” said a report from Hungary quoted by Miss Berg, who told of the work in that land and in various other parts of the world.