British and Foreign Bible Society.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 294, 11 December 1902, Page 3

British and Foreign Bible Society.

The annual meeting of tho VV aim ate branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held last evening, about 25 people being present. Apologies were received from Rev. McKenzie Gibson and Mr J. H. Dean.

The President, Mr G. Manchester, presided. He referred briefly to the work of the Society in spreading a knowledge of the Scriptures throughout the Avorld. He regretted that there were so few of the Christian people of Waimate who would show enough interest in the disseminating of the Gospel to attend the meeting. He called on Mr Graham to read the annual report. The secretary reported that an attempt was being made to get a deputation from the parent society, visiting New Zealand in 1903, to come to Waimate. The receipts for the year were £23 ss. Subscriptions had been taken up by Mrs Stbdhplme, Misses Low, Russell, Freeman, Wilson, Clayton and Anderson and Mr G. H Graham. The sum of £22 10s had been paid to the parent society and the committee wished to thank the collectors for their work. Mr Crawshaw reported a continued falling off in the sales of both Bibles and Testaments at the depot. The parent society would celebrate their centenary in March, 1904. Waimate should not be behind when all the rest of the world were making preparations to celebrate this event On the motion of Mrs Goldsmith and Rev. W. Tinsley the report was adopted. The Chairman said they had done better the last year than ever before.

The Rev. A. S. Marrison delivered a short address on the work of the Bible Society, which he described as the greatest Foreign Mission Society in the world. The speaker gave figures of the bibles sold and the translations made in the Society’s career. The Rev. W. Tinsley addressed the meeting. He regretted the paucity of the attendance of tha public, who should have shown that they recognised the great work of the Society. Great progress had

been made ‘in the world in 100 years, in science and in religion. The' moral life of the people had improved wonderfully in that time, and the Bible had the greatest share in the improvement.

Mr Manchester moved that a very hearty vote of thanks should be passed to the Secretary, Mr Graham, whom he eulogised as a very hard worker. Mr W. Allan seconded this motion, which was carried by acclamation.

Mr Graham in returning thanks reviewed the work for the year of the local branch, urging the committee and subscribers to make the coming year even more successful than the last. The Rev. Morrison said that the small attendance should not be taken as a mark of the public interest in the Society. Many of the subscribers were content to pay their subscriptions and stay away from the meetings. '1 he following Management Committee for the year were elected : Messrs G. Manchester, W. Allan, M. Smith, J. Nind, J. H. Dean, W.' Oottee, T. Brown, P. Russell and G. H. Graham, and the Protestant ministers in Waimate.

Mrs Studholrae said that many people in the district knew nothing at all about the Society, and if leaflets, setting forth its objects, were circulated, it would cause increased interest.

Votes of thanks were passed to the" lady collectors, and to St. Augustine’s Church for the free use of the hall.

At a meeting of the committee, Mr G. Manchester was re-elected President, Mr W. Allan Vice-Presi-dent, Mr G. H. Graham Secretary, and Mr P. Russell Treasurer.