BIBLE SUNDAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 652, 2 May 1929, Page 9

BIBLE SUNDAY

WORK OF BRITISH AND FOREIGN SOCIETY A GREAT ORGANISATION The British and Foreign Bible Society is known to-day as the widest missionary organisation in the world, and Sunday, May 5, has been selected by the Auckland auxiliary of the society for special pulpit reference to iu> world-wide activities. The Auckland Council of Chris tit. . Congregations is co-operating with th<auxiliary in bringing the importance of the work of the society under the notice of those attending the churches Since its inception in 1804, the eociety has translated the Bible, or some portion of it, into over 600 languages and dialects, and for the first time in its history it is possible to announce that, in the space of 12 months. 15 new versions of Scripture have been added to the world’s sacred literature. The latest complete records of the home committee are for the year ending March 31, 1928, and they show that the list of languages then stood at €OB. These include the entire Bible in 145 forms of speech, the New Testament in 146 more, and at least one Book of Scripture in 317 others. The society has also in circulation 38 translations in Braille type for the blind. When a new language is placed on the list, it generally represents one single book of the Bible. Then other books are added by degrees. Slowly portions are growing into Testaments, and Testaments into Bibles, and all the time portions of Testaments and Bibles are being revised, so that the quality of the work keeps pace with the growth in quantity. Not only does the Bible Society supply all Protestant missions with the Scriptures they use, but it lies at the back of Sunday school work, orphani age and mission work, in the home i lands. ! The society’s income is derived frorr | two main sources —the sale of Scrir tures, and public contributions.