British and Foreign Bible Society.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3526, 14 April 1880, Page 2

British and Foreign Bible Society.

The Key. Mr Evans, general agent in Australasia to the British and Foreign Bible Society, delivered an address on the British and Foreign Bible Society and its work at the Presbyterian church last evening. In consequence of the short notice there was but a moderate attendance.

H. C. Lawlor Esq., took the chair, and after religious exercises by the Beys. B. Laishley and T. W. Adamson, a hymn was sung by the choir.

The Chairman then introduced the Bey. T. L. Davies, who expressed himself pleased at being able to assist in so geod a cause—one which he had been for years intimately connected with. He referred to the extreme Catholicity of the society, saying that on its platform all Christian men should meet. The fruit of the labors of the society demanded the thanksgiving, as the organisation had ' done an incalculable amount of good in ' the world.

The Key. Mr Evans then came forward. He commenced by asking the indulgence of the meeting, as he was just recovering from the effects of a severe carriage accident. In the course of his trar^Lhe was frequently asked the questum, " What does the Bible Society do that I should assist it with my contributions and prayers." In answer to this he replied that the object and aim of the Society was to put in circulation the Bible, pure and simple, without note or comment of any kind. This was a work in which, as a previous speaker bad remarked, every sect could take a part. Seventyfive years ago there were not more than 4,000,000 Bibles in the world and of that number 1,000,000 were looted on as so rare and costly that they were locked up in museums and monasteries. In some parts of Wales, in communities of 1200 and 1500 people, there were not more than two bibles accessible. As an evidence of the work of the Bible Society, let them take Wales, the ' birth place of the Bible Society. What was its condition 75 years ago? Bibles were very scarce, the churches were empty and the prisons full. Though nominally Christian, the country was virtually heathen. Anyone who had heen to Wales lately would admit that a vast improvement had taken place in the moral condition of the country, though he must say there was still room for improvement. This improved state of affairs was in a _ great measure due to the circulation of the Welsh Bible by the Society. In Great Britain the Society had put in circulation 45,000 000 Bibles daring , the last 30 years, and as a proof of the good done he instanced the great vitality of the churches and their earnestness in mission work. 75 years ago the. total annual contributions of the churches to missions only amounted to £7000, and last year's total was £1,100,000. During last year the Society put into circulation in France 450,000 Bibles, making a total of 5,000,000 copies distributed throughout ' that country. The speaker related several anecdotes in connection with the French colporteurs. In Spain the Society wai carrying on a great work in spite of much ! opposition, but strange.to say, that in the labours of the Society it was found the greater the opposition the greater the success. In Italy headway was being made, though the great difficulty lay in the ignorance of the people. In North and South America the work was carried on with vigor. The Society had trans* lated the Scriptures into 236 languages and dialects, a work that would occupy one man 2000 years. The speaker asserted, that the Bible Society was essentially a missionary society, the Bibles paving the way for missionaries to countries inch as China and India. After alluding to the work done by the various missionary societies, he said that altogether 90,000,000 copies of the Bible had been circulated, and there were still 800,000,000* human beings who had not read it. He appealed to them to assist the society with their contributions, and suggested the formation of a strong local committee on the Thames, and promised that every> year a deputation would visit the Thames and hold a meeting. Short addresses were then delivered by the Beys. B. Laishley and T. w. Adamaon.

A. collection amounting to £4 6s 6d for the benefit of the Society was taken up, % after which votes of thanks to the Eev. Mr Evans and the Chairman broaght the proceedings to a close.