BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1919, Page 6

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

CONFERENCE WITH N.Z. AGENT. A number of representatives of the New Plymouth churches were entertained to luncheon yesterday by the Rev. F. H. Spencer, on behalf of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in order to place 'before them the chums of the society for support in its work in the propagation of the Scriptures throughout the world. Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor and several ministers. Mr W. 11. Skinner presided. Mr Spencer in addressing the gathering said.the Society should" have a very live auxiliary in a place such as New Plymouth. It could not be expected that the highest ideals of life could be inculcated in the minds of the different peoples of the world without the sowing ,of the seed of the Kingdom of Cod, which was the Word of Cod, and if that was to be sent abroad as the Society aimed at doing those interested must support the movement. Mr Spencer then recounted some of the successes that had followed the work of the Society in different part'; of the world, notably in Africa, where wonderful results were following the spread of the gospel in the strongholds of Mohamedanism. Similar remarkable progress was bein"witnessed in Abyssinia, Arabia and Per sia, while China was now taking more than one third of all the Scriptures sent out by the Society- The leading men of that country were recognising that the Scriptures were the means of bringing them into a close relationship of brotherliness with other countries. Mr Spencer then stated that for the work in New Zealand a'n effort at centralisation was being made. A Bible house had been secured in Wellington, for which the sum of about £OOOO was required and when that was in hand the Society in England would from a fund it had contribute about one-third of the cost —£2000. In connection with this effort it was hoped New Plymouth would contribute about £3OO. " Hawera had undertaken to raise £'2oo. Mr Spencer then expressed the hope that a strong auxiliary would be formed in New Plymouth, and the work of the Society carried on systematically in the district. Tlje chairman referred to the fact thai, there was at one time a very live committee of the Society n New Plymouth, and urged that the work was of such importance that it simply must be taken up enthusiastically. On the motion of Mr H. T. H. Grave, seconded Ihy Mr N. K. MacDiarmid, it was resolved that I hose present should form the nucleus of a local auxiliary with power to add other representatives of the local churches to the committee. I Mr Spencer was appointed convener and Mr ft rave interim secretary. ! Mr Spencer pointed out that the Society was aimiiig to concentrate its effort for raising money in New Zealand into a short period, and the first week in May in each year had been decided upon as the time when its appoai should be made. 1 Thanks was expressed to Mr Spencer for his address and for conferring with the local church representatives and the gathering dispersed.