BRITISH-AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1200, 5 July 1884, Page 3

BRITISH-AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

A lecture in aid of this Society was delivered in the Volunteer Hf.ll, Temuka, on Thursday evening, by the Rev. W. G. Baker, the agent of the Society. The Rev. T. A, Hamilton occupied the chair, ably supported by the Revs. D. Gordon and P. Wills. The meeting opened with a hymn, reading the 19th Psalm, and prayer. The Chairman briefly introduced the lecturer and his ■ubject, viz., “ India and its People, explaining that although India only would be treated upon, yet the operations of the Society extended to all parts of the globe, and any questions relating to the work, etc., of the Society with reference to any other country would gladly be answered by the lecturer at the close of the meeting. The Bible Society, he said, was the grandest society in the world, and was deserving of support on account of the simplicity of its aim, holding forth the Word of Life; and deserving our sympathy because of the universality of its operations, being active everywhere, causing the Book to speak in all languages of the earth. Owing, probably, to the political meeting on the previous evening, the audience was small. The , Chairm'an assured them that the politics of the Bible are the noblest. Where the Bible is honored, there is true political science, popular intelligence, large freedom, social purity, general Stability, progress and contentment. He quoted statistics of European countries, stating that where the Bible had free course popular intelligence prevailed, and where it was wholly or partially suppressed a proportionate ignorance prevailed. The Bible Society, in seeking to circulate the Word of God, really corrected a thousand errors at a stroke, promoting indirectly universal good ; the doctrines of the Bible being the power of GodJinto salvation, as they are also the providence of God unto civilisation. The lecturer on coming forward entered at once into his subject, illustrating as he went on bis vivid wordpainting by exhibiting beautifully painted scenes of Indian life. -the whole lecture throughout was most interesting, and those who were absent certainly missed a rare mtellectoa treat. Owing to want of space and thepressure of politics we are unable to give a resume of this splendid lecture, but we are certain that it will be long remembered by those who heard it, The Rev. Mr Gordon, in thanking tha lecturer, made a very humorous and happy speech, in which he expressed a hope that Teumka would again he visited in due time by the Rev. Mr Baker, The Rev. P. ills, m seconding the rota ol thanks, stated that he bad never listened to a lecture with such pleasure and profit. The lecturer, in thanking the audience for the kind reception and the speakers for their warm eulogiuras, stated that the best thanks they could give bun sras .to start at opce a Branch Committee to carry on the affairs of the Society. This was done, the following gentlemen being elected Revs. T. A. Hamilton (President), D. Gordon, P. Wills, and . Messrs Wills (Secretary),

A. Russell (Treasurer), Rutland, Pilbrow, Sinclair, Metson and J. Brown. The meeting terminted with s vote of thanks to the chair. The Rev. Mr Hamilton deprecated any special thanks to himself, desiring that the Revs, Gordon and Wills might also be included. A hymn being sung, the Rev. Mr Gordon pronounced the Benediction.