BIBLE SOCIETY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 35, 4 November 1937, Page 8

BIBLE SOCIETY

Own Oorrespondent.

Miss Hartnell's Address To Waipawa Branch

From Our

WAIPAWA, Last Night. There was a very good attendance at the annual meeting of the Waipawa branch of ' the British and Foreign Bible Society, which took place at th% vicarage last evening. In opening the meeting the president (Rev. W. T. Drake), paid a tribute to the work of the late Mrs J. Bibby, who for many years was the capablo and energetie secretary of the branch. Much of the success of the branch had been due to her sympathetic interest, he said. The meeting stood in silenee out of respect to her memory. The following offieers were elected for the ensuing year: — President, Rev. S. Keen; vice-presidents, Revs. W. T. Drake and F. W. Robertson; secretary, Miss A. Bibby. Waipawa 's contribution to the Bible Society last year was £18 7/-. This includes the collection taken at the Cliristmas Day united service at St. Pcter's Church. The collectors were specially thanked for the willing and generous assistance which had helped to make such a good response possible. "An outline of the world-wido work of the British and Foreign Bible Society was given by Miss Beulah Hartnell, organising secretary for the society in this district. "Someone has said that every man has more right to hear the Gospel once than any man has to hear ifi twice, " said Miss Hartnell. "That is what the British and Foreign Bible Society is helping to aecomplish, for Gi is a pa-rtnership of Christian people who unite to ensure that ovcryone who can read may be ablo to obtain tho Holy Scriptures printed in his mother tongue. Already it has helped the Gospel to speak in over 700 different lan- , guages and dialects, which are current among lhree-quarters of the huinan race. Sinee the present century began it h'as published versions in over 800 new forius of speech. Jt has made tho Bible the cheapest book m the world. It has1 helped to the scriptures in 40 different languages m embossed type for the blind, "All Scriptures printed by the Society are published' without note or comment. It co-operates with tho missionaries in preparing the versions they need. It prints the editions, bears the loss involved in their sale at reduced prices, and pays the carriage of the books to the farthest mission stations. "We live in days of upheaval and unrest. Everywhere, in lands both new and old, among ancient civilisatmns and people where hardly any civilisatiori exists. there are manifest tokens of the stirring of life. Life mvolves bmitless possibilities for good or evjl. 11 is the responsibility and the tasli of ihe Christian Church to see that Ihesc possibilities are developed for th^ uellare of all inankind. The Bible aloiie coutains the message which can seeure this end. This, then, is no time for cutting off supplies of the Scrqoturcs. The na-tions need the nunistry of God's Avord. The aim of the Bible Society is to mako inspired writ the pos- , aessioa p£ ali jaankiRd-'* ^