BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2285, 29 July 1881, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual public meeting of the Canterbury Auxiliary was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening, the Rev. J. Elmslie in the chair.

The proceedings were opened by singing the Hundredth Psalm, and prayer offered by the Rev. H. Williams.

The treasurer’s statement showed receipts, £446 4s lid; expenses, £l9 4s lid ; balance, £427,

The following is a summary of the annual report, which was adopted and ordered to be printed, viz.: —ln July last the sum of £SOO was remitted to the parent society, £3OO as free contributions, and £2OO on purchase account. The numbers of branches and depositories were the same as the previous year. From June Ist, 1880, to May 31st, 1881, there were sold at the central depot and sent out to branches 2364 copies of the Scriptures, being an increase of 1264 on the preceding year. Approximately the stock of the society was valued at £436 7s lOd. The report then wont on to speak of the income of the auxiliary from various sources, the total being somewhat below that of last year, but Ohristchurch and suburbs were in From the report of the annual public meeting held in Exeter Hall in May last it appeared that the annual free income from regular sources had exceeded the income from the same sources of the previous year to the amount of nearly £4OOO, the total being £114,382. Payments for Scriptures sold had reached the sum of £95,015. This amount was less than that of the preceding year, owing to some check in the continental circulation. The issues of Bibles, New Testaments, and portions, had been 2,846,029, being an increase on the year of £65,000 copies, and making the total since the formation of the society 91,014,448 copies. The British and Foreign Bible Society had circulated 91 millions of scriptures, and had raised nine millions of money. The scriptures had been printed in 240 languages, There were in Great Britain and Ireland, in Europe and the Colonies, 1079 auxiliaries, 1597 branches, 3481 associations ; total, 6157. The report wont on to say in conclusion, that the Society had, as might be expected, much opposition to contend against, but might be congratulated, nevertheless, on the wonderful success of its labors. The Rev. Mr Knowles moved—“ That this meeting recognises, with thanksgiving to Almighty God, the labors and success of the

Parent Society during the past year, and also the measure of success which has characterised the operations of the Canterbury Auxiliary.” Seconded by the Rev. J. Buller, and carried. It was resolved that the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to the collectors for their very efficient services• also to the treasurer, secretary and committee of the past year.

The following officers were then appointed for the ensuing year :—Treasurer, Mr B. W. Black ; secretaries. Rev. J. Aldred and Mr John Cameron : committee, Messrs Q. Booth, J. P, Jameson, O. R. Blakiston, W. D. Oarruthers, W. H. Hargreaves, H. W. Packer, J. H. Twontyman, J. T. Brown, H. R. Webb, W. Ohrystall, O. E. Button and R. Dawson, with Ministers of all denominations who subscribe to the Society’s funds, and the officers of branch societies.

After the election of officers as above, a collection was made.

A vote of thanks was then passed to the oha'r, end the Rev. W. O. Harris having pronounced the benediction, the meeting terminated.