BIBLE SOCIETY

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1921, Page 4

BIBLE SOCIETY

NEW PLYMOUTH BRANCH. THE PAST YEAR'S WORK. The annua) meeting of the New Plymouth branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in St. Andrew’s Hall last night, Mr. W. H. Skinner presiding. The chairman read an apology for absence from the Rev. A. T. Thompson, Dominion organiser of the society, who was unable to be preeent owing to the demands of the work in the South Island. The annual report stated, inter alia: v “The principal work of the auxiliary is to collect funds for the parent body, and in* view of this the various churches nominated two collectors CO do the work in their respective congregations. The conjjpittee owes much to this band of faithful workers. Their resulted jn £75 Ils 8d being collected. In this respect the committee feel that the response, in view of the dependence of all denominations upon the British and Foreign Bible Society, could be greater and look forward confidently to an increase for the coining year. In the annual report of the British and Foreign Bible, Society which came to hand during the year, the bal-ance-sheet showed a deficit of £24,000. This has placed the society in a sertous position, and jn view of the greatness of its work, a call has been sent out to the various auxiliaries to strive to alter this during the ensuing year. Perhaps the fault lies in the fact that the work of the society does is not fully recognised as it should be. The responsibility rests with ns, and it should be our endeavor to overcome this, possibly by discriminate dissemination of literature* and by added interest on our own part ” The report was adopted without discussion. A WIDESPREAD ORGANISATION. In addressing those present, the Rev. O. Blundell said he thought the British and Foreign Bible Society was an organisation in which all felt they could take a part. The work began in a very small way, but it was a marvellous undertaking when they considered the number of languages into which the Scriptures had been transcribed. Archdeacon F. G. Evans expressed his pleasure in being associated with those supporting the society, which had been instrumental in disseminating the work of the Bible in almost every tongue. He referred to the importance of the Bible in the growth of the British Empire, and he felt sure that underneath the national life there was a wonderful structure—‘Word of the Living God. He firmly believed that it was our reception of the Bible with its great truths that won the war. The hearts of the British people, generally speaking, were right- as regards the Word of God, and it was that wonderful courage which had its effect. The old Testament which bad been such a help to our forefathers, was often maligned, but it would be found that it was the religion of fifty years ago which laid the foundation of the churches in New Zealand. The Bible was the window through which they looked into the spiritual world. GENERAL. Tlie chairman expressed appreciation of the good work done by the secretary (Mr. F. C. Campbell), to whom much credit was due for keeping the branch going. The following officers were elected: — Chairman, Mr. W. H. Skinner; secretary, Mr. F. C. Campbell; treasurer, Mr. A. S. Brooker; collectors, Mrs. Fairhall, Miss Evans, Miss Taunt, Mrs. Jarvis, Mrs. Hunger, Misses Rawson, Tichbon, Thompson and Fetch, Mrs. Maunder, and Mr. W. H. Skinner; committee, Mrs. Fairhall, Misses Taunt and Rawson, and Messrs. G. Maunder, N. K. Mac Diarmid, A. lamcaster, J. Griffitn, A. Kingdon, and A. Ambury. A resolution was passed recommending the various clergy of the town to bring the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society before their respective congregations and commending it to their support. In remarking on the fact that last year the whole society had experienced a deficit of £24,000, the chairman said this had occurred in spite of the fact that the receipts had reached the highwater mark, and that all the reserve funds had been called up. There was, therefore, a need for the branch to put forward their best work during the coming effort.