THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1690, 21 July 1879, Page 3

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual public meeting in connection -with the Canterbury auxiliary of the above society took place on Friday evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall. The Moat Rev. the Primate occupied the chair. After the hymn and prayer with which the proceedings wero initiated, Apologies were read from three gentlemen ■who were unavoidably absent. His Lordship, in his opening remarks, expressed the gratification he felt at being asked to take the chair, as he had not hitherto been connected with the Bible Society as ho hoped to be in future, although he had been associated with one in the Mother Country, which might be called the parent of the present association. He then proceeded to speak of the work performed by societies of the kind, remarking that there could be no doubt that it was the duty of every Christian man who had received the word of God to communicate it to others as they had been taught themselves. The revelations contained in the New Testament were such as concerned every human being no matter who, whether he were sunk in heathen darkness or blessed with the light of holy revelation. One great advantagj which this society possessed, therefore, was that the Gospel was translated into every tongue, and its ramifications were thus exceedingly large already, and were always increasing. The rev. speaker then offered some remarks as to the manner in which the truths of the Holy Book ahould be administered to the ignorant, explaining that he did not contend that the whole Bible should be placed at once in the hands of the heathen, but that ho should bo led up step by atcp, and, considering the history of the Christian world, it was not for them to be surprised if such an one did not at once grasp the whole truth and immediately accept it, as the ■work waH one of labor, of patience, and of love The very fact of the existence of this society

must also have some effect upon the hearts of those_who had perhaps neglected it inthe past, and although many perhaps did not estimate the Bible properly, though the precious pearls of truth contained in it might ba trodden on,_ still that wa3 no reason why those who appreciated its immense valne to all for thin world and the next, should not endeavour to disseminate tlie Holy Word-throughout the world. The Secretary then read the following reThe committee of the Canterbury Auxiliary, in presenting the seventeenth annual report, desire to express their thanksgiving to Almighty God for that measure of prosperity with which it has pleased Him to favor its operations during the past year. The balance-sheet laid before you by the treasurer at our last anniversary showed an income for that year, from all sources 6nclnd.ng u. balance from the previous year), of £512 Is Gd By the first mail after our last meeting, we remitted to the parent society the sum of £530, £250 on purchase account and £250 as free contributions towards the society's general work. The above sum exceeded tho remittance of the previous year by £SO. In connection with our auxiliary, there aro three branch societies and fourteen depots. Tho sales for tho year have amounted to 10:5* volumes, showing a small increase over those of the pie cding A grant of Bibles has been made to the Young Men's Christian Association, Ashburton, and alsoa small grant to the Christchnrch Toung Men s Christian Association, to be placed in the Lyttelton boat sheds. , The Eev. J.T. Evans, the present society s agent in Australasia, visited New Zealand in the early part of the year. Meetings were held by him in most of the townships in this island, and it is hopea that from his addresses and counsels much gooa will result. In prosecuting bis work in the Worm Island Mr Evans was overtaken by severe sickness, which necessitated hisimmediatereturn to Sydney, leaving some of the principal places in tho norm unvisited. , ~. Yonr committee feared that, on account OI tna present commercial depression, tho income for this year, as compared with that of last year, would show a cunsiderable falling off. There will be a deficiency, as expected, tho exact amount of which wo are not able this evening to give, as all the subscriptions are not as yet to hand. To the collectors iu tho city, suburbs, townships, and in other places, the committee feel their very cordial thanks are due; nor can they refrain from placing on record a tributo to departed worth. In the course of tho year it both pleased the Almighty to take to Himself two of onr esteemed collectors, the late Mesdames Elmslie and Miln. By the last English mail wo received a report of tho annual public meeting held in Exeter Hall, on tho 7th of May. From the report we glean tho following particulars:—Total income for the past year, £213,811 3s 3d ; expenditure, £223,476 15s 2d; issues for the year from ths Homo depot and from depots abroad, 3,340,995; total issues of the society from its commencement, 85,338,057. A few months ago a very important circular letter was received by ns from Homo, bearing the signa tnres of the Earl of Shaftesbury, president; J. Hoare, treasurer; and of C. Jackson and T. B. Bergne, secretaries. To this letter your committee desire great prominence to be given in this meeting and also iu our report. The committee of the parent society very earnestly ask for au increase of pecuniary *upport throughout their entire constituency: —First, to meet special liabilities incurred ou account of recent wars j and secondly, for an expansion of tho society's work. The Home committee think that the time has come when the operations of the society should be greatly extended, and they name fields of labor which are open to them, and into which it is their desire to enter, but this can only be dono by an augmented annual income. All who know the worth of God's Most Holy Word must desire that this appeal will meet with an encouraging response throughout the length and breadth of Christendom. Your committee trnst that at our next anniversary we shall have to report a larger income. At this wo shall aim. The committee's appeal cannot bo regarded by us as an unreasonable one. Passing over the great good which the Bible Society is instrnmentally doing in so many ways, in which we all in common are interested, we refer for a moment (as the committee's letter does) to the incalculable aid afforded to the foreign missions of all denominations. It would bo difficult perhaps to find any foreign mission station of any standing that has not received most important help from the Bible Society. The Churches send forth their missionaries, and this society in due time furnishes them with supplies of God's precions "Word. We venture the statement that no class of Christian men can be found who can bear a more telling testimony to the great work of the Bible Society than is borne by missionaries, and we cannot but believe that tho interest of onr churches in tho Biblo Sooiety will continuo to deepen and extend as the years roll on. Tho operations of tho society viewed by the eye of the mind from the standpoint of to-day, may appear very large. To learn that from the Bible-nouso and its branches the Word of God is issued in 187 languages and dialects—in far more tongues than were spoken on tho Day of Pentecost.lis enough to fill our hearts with gratitude, and to kindle afresh our zeal; but what proportions will these operations reach in years to come ? We are strong in the belief that very largely through tho instrumentality of our Bible Society, and also that of kindred institutions, that happy day will be brought about when the knowledge of God shall cover tho earth "as the waters cover tho sea." We again commend the Bible Society to your deepest sympathies and your earnest prayerß. The financial statement for the year showed a balance in hand of .£4Ol 2s 4d. The Dean moved the adoption of the report, and that it be printed, which was seconded by the Eev. Mr Walker and carried. The Eev.Mr Eeid moved —"That this meeting recognises, with thanksgiving to Almighty God, the labors and success of the parent society during the past year ; also the measure of prosperity which has characterised the operations of the Canterbury Auxiliary, and earnestly commends to friends of the society the appeal of the home committee for renewed efforts, with the view of increasing the income of the general fund." Seconded by the Eev. H. C. M. Watson, and carried. The Eev. Mr White moved—" That tho cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to the collectors for their very efficient services ; also to the treasurer, secretaries, and committee, and that the following gentlemen be the officers and committee for the ensuing year : Treasurer—Mr E. W. Black. Secretaries—Tho Eev. J. Aldred and Mr G. Jameson. Committee—Messrs J.'lnglis, G. Booth, J. P. Jameson, C. E. Blakiston, W B. Carruthers, J. Cameron, J. H. Twentymnn, W. H. Hargreavei, W. H. Packer, W. B. Bray, J. Hallantyne, T. Pillow, the ministers of all denominations who subscribe to the society's fund, and the officarj of- the branch societies. 1 ' Seconded by the Eev. Mr Keast, and carried. A vote of thanks to the Primate for taking the cr.air brought the meeting to a close.