WORLD TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1939, Page 8

WORLD TOUR

BIBLE SOCIETY ACTIVITIES.

ADDRESS BY REV D. CALDER B.A

At the annual meeting of the Masterton Jjranch of the British and Foreign Bible. Society yesterday afternoon a most interesting address was delivered by the Rev David Calder, 8.A., Dominion secretary of the society, on his impressions of a ten months trip abroad last year. The speaker prefixed- his remarks by expressing satisfaction at the wonderful response Masterton had made in. connection with their annual effort. The speaker stated that his trip was made at the invitation of the London committee to visit England and enjoy a refresher course. This invitation he gladly accepted. He also took the opportunity of seeing Canada, India and Australia. Mr Calder, who was accompanied by his wife throughout the tour, was greatly impressed with the immensity of Canada, with its .4000 miles stretch from coast to coast. Four weeks were spent here and during that period he visited 20 Bible Houses and conferred with the various secretaries on their methods of organisation which on account of the vastness of the country necessitated very different methods to those followed in New Zealand. After visiting Calgary, Montreal, and headquarters at New York, they left for England. At the Bible House in London he was enabled to get an insight into the wonderful organisation built up for the distribution of scriptures all over the world. The output of Bibles was dealt with by 105 depots across the world with the printing often done in the particular country itself. This was brought about by the wonderful co-operation of the British, Scottish and American Societies. In all five months were spent in England during which period valuable experience was gained. Mr Calder visited many of the Bible House centres and also addressed many meetings. The next visit was to India where they called at Bombay. Rutlom and Delhi. At Bombay the Bible Society was presided over by an Englishman but all the workers were Indian. The speaker instanced the conversion of a notorious robber chief in Bombay through reading the scripture; in his prison cell and who afterwards became a wonderful leader for good among his followers. In the course of his remarks Mr Calder mentioned that the people of China had a great desire for the Scriptures and were buying at present one third of the Scriptures printed. Japan, too, was a big buyer of the Scriptures.