WORLD TENDENCY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1933, Page 6

WORLD TENDENCY

DEFINITE. MOVE. TO THE BIBLE

COMMENT BY LORD blebisloe

AUCKLAND, May 13,

The definite and world-wide move to thd-'Bible to - find a solution for the distress of the 'world was commented die by the Governor-General, Lord B.edisioey speaking at the annual meeting of the Axtckland auxiliary of the British and 'Foreign Bible Society in lhe Town Hall concert chamber last evening, ‘ills' Excellency was accompanied by Lady Bledisloe. Archihishop Averill'- presided..

“Your branch came into existence only seven years after the .signing of the Treaty of Waitangv,” His Excellency said, “and only about 12 years alter the first portion of the Bible issue! in Maori came from the. first printing press in New Zealand at Paihia. . What passed through my mind, as I listened to that amazing story of antiquity, was whether, among those old pioneers, the Bible was not a more essential part and a greater inspiration in daily.life than it is at the pre.sT'nc 86th annual report, read by the it was.”

The BGfch annual report, erad by the secretary, Miss .A. Young, disclosed 'that receipts during the year had totalled £2l .*37. A total of 10,500,000 copies of the Bible had been distributed by the'society in all parts of " the world, and the'Auckland auxiliary had played its part in bringing a most difficult year to a •'successful conclusion.

Arch hi shop;. Averill, in congratulating the auxiliary on its year’s Operations, welcomed Their Excellencies, and said that their' presence was a grout encouragement. The -story of the British and Foreign Bible Society •■ms fascinating, romantic and inspiring- During its lifetime it had distributed 480.( 00,000 copies (f the-Bible at a cost, 0f;,£23,000,009. It distributed theYßi-blfe in 055 different languages, and 11 new languages had been added last- year.

“There are forces ranged against 'Christianity to-day,” said the archbishop. “Communism has boon set forth rs man’s gospel, for a- suffering and poverty-stricken world. These forces can ho inot only by a deeper sense of the, being of. God. At present man is intoxicating himself and i.s ''■•placing science on, ’God’s..throne.