BRITISH & FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1747, 3 July 1895, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY .

TE AROHA BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING, A meeting of the Te Aroha Branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in the Priblic Hall last evening. Mr W. S. Allen, President, presided over a medium attendance, representing the various religious bodies of Te Aroha. The meeting was opened with singing a hymn, after which the Kev Joughin read a portion of scripture, and the Eev Evans offered prayer, 1 ' The Chairman, in his opening remarks, briefly reviewed the objects of the Society. He said that during-the 90 years of its existence it had. printed and circulated upwards of 40 millions of copies of the Scripture, arid had brought them within the reach of every one, a complete Bible could now be obtained for;6dand a New Testament for 3J, The Society had translated the scriptures into 320 languages, but a large amount of work was still before them, there were yet two thousand languages into which the Bible is not translated. Mi Allen, continuing, said it .may be asked why we were so anxious to push the translation and distribution of the Bible ? He would answer, Ist, Because we believe it contains God's word ; 2nd, Because it is the only-remedy for the world's sin, misery, and destitution ; consequently if is of vital importance that it should be in every, home, its teachings were good for the individual, the family, and the state. He believed. it to be the duty of every Christian to assist the Society to place this book in every home 4 in the country. The Rev T. A. Joughin read the following report — Third Annual Report op Te Aroha Branch B. & F. Bible Society. <Te Aroha, 2nd July, 1895. The Committee and Officers have to report that the annual meeting of the Te Aroha branch was held in St Mark’s Church, Te Aroha, on Monday evening, May 24th, 1894. In the absence of the President, the Rev F. G. Evans took the Chair. Owing to the inclement weather the attendance, was small .••V'-.' :'•••• As the Bible Society’s agent, the Rev H. T. Rohjoh :s, M.A., was unable to be present the meeting was addressed by the Revs F. Gr. Evans and T. A. Joughin. The following officers and committee were elected for the ensuing yearW. S. Allen, Esq., President; Rev T. A. Joughin, Secretary; Mr C. F. Spooner, Treasurer. Committee: Rev F..G. Evans, Rev T. A. Norrie, Messrs •E. T. Cox, W. Hetherington, Ti Mclndoe, H. R. Bell, J. A. Cochrane, G. Devey, A. Morrison, S. L. Hirst, and Miss Gr. Maingay, and Mrs Spooner. . Collection amounted to 11s 9d. . j . s, : The meeting closed with the doxology and the benediction.

During the year Mrs Spooner and Miss Maingay have made a house to house canvass of the,township for subscriptions and met with much encouragement. The committee accord their hearty thanks 'to Mrs Balcke, who, continues in charge of -the Bible Society’s depot, for her services during the past year. . Among the multiplicity of deserving objects which press their claims on the public support of this township,' it can "scarcely be wondered at, that the claims of the Bible Sseiety abound be regarded by some as scarcely worthy of recognition. To those who may have that feeling the co nmitte would recommend the reading of the Bible Society’s periodicals. Our present method of studying 'the Society’s work might.be characterized as spasmodic. To be a real supporter of the work of the Bible Society we] should, follow the operations of its agents all over the world, and get a clostr a more personal knowledge af all that is going on. The ‘ Monthly Reporter ’ on y costs, sixpence a year and the ‘Gleanings for the Young’ also, 6d a year. If 12 friends subscribe Is 6d each they may secure 50 copies a month of the' Reporter’ or the ‘Gleanings ’ for a year, and these might be distributed freely if other methods fail.

In any case we must do more' to create an intelligent interest in the work of this noble Society, or our local branch will wither and die.

The Committee feel that they are specially fortunate this year, in having as deputation, a gentleman of such well-known ability as the Rev Geo. McMurray, and they feel sure that the claims of tl e Society will not suffer at his hands for lack of able exposition and enforcement. Mr 0. F. Spooner, treasurer, read the Balance-sheet, which show ed receipts from all sources to be £5 5r Id ; Expenditure, i4s ; Credit-balance, £4 lls Id. The Rev F. G. Evans in a few well chosen words moved the adoption of the [report and balance-sheet.

The Rev Canon McMurray in seconding the adoption of the report and balance* sheet said : —‘ He had pleasure in being present, he did not come to sell shares in mining, or float a company, but he came lo solicit interest in what would be more durable than silver or gold, Mr McMurray stated the objects of the Society were the trans'ation, printing and dissemination of the Holy Scripture, and briefly reviewed the various translations which had been made, the Greek, Latin, Saxon, German and others, and in jtnore modern times the Maori, African, Chinese, etc, He also referred to the noble workdone by pioneer missionaries and how valuable their work wus to human science in the arrangement and classification of languages. v Mr Murray, continuing, referred to the work of disseminating the scriptures in all lands, The Bible, he said, came from the east, and he had no hesitation in. sayingthat it had raised the people to the position they enjoyed to day. England, particularly, owed her greatness to the inner religious life of her people: The colporteur and the depots were thejprincipal means employed in circulating the book. In closing he appealed to all present to assist in all possible ways the noble work of the Society. Mr E- Y. Cox proposed, and Mr Me Murray seconded, a vote of thanks to the outgoing officers for their services, and that they be re-elected for the ensuing year. Carried. A collection amounting to £3 Is 3d was taken up. The doxolo„y anddhe benediction closed a very interesting meeting.