BIBLE SOCIETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1940, Page 8

BIBLE SOCIETY

MASTERTON SOUTH BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING YESTERDAY. The Masterton south branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society held its annual meeting at the residence of the president, Mrs. F. E. J. Ractliffe, in York Street, yesterday afternoon, when many of the society's workers and others interested attended. Mrs. J. Macßae presided, and opened the meeting with a prayer. Sympathy was expressed with Mrs. T. M. Aplin (retiring secretary) in her illness, and Mrs. C. R. Mabson was elected to the office for the coming year.

The organising secretary from Wellington, Mrs. Violet Wakelin, in her address referred to the important task of distributing the Scriptures in foreign lands by means of colporteurs( native workers) who, in spite of the difficulties and dangers encountered in wartorn countries, still carry on their work. She spoke of the effects of war in various lands, and even in New Zealand, which although so far from the scene of action, was sending her sons to support the mother country. She pointed out that assisting the activities of the Red Cross Society was not the only duty of those left at home, but that care for the spiritual welfare of the soldiers must not be overlooked. The society was supplying Testaments for this purpose, and would ask supporters to remember this additional expense when making their annual donations.

Afternoon tea was seved by Mrs. and Miss Ractlifl’e, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mrs. Ractliffe for her hospitality and to the speaker for her interesting address.