THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4118, 20 May 1892, Page 2

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

In connection with the recent visit to Musterton of the Rev H.T. Robjohns, M.A., secretarial agent for Australasia of the British and.Foreign Bible Society, it is interesting to notico the wonderful work that marvellous organisation has done, and the progress it is making, First formed in London in 1804, it has, besides being honoured and strengthened by ftoyal patronage and dona* tions, numbered in its ranks men of tho foremost intellectual epiinence throughout the World, till now it is a moat powerful medium of good influence in its meritorious and bone* factory object of circulating Christ's Gospel among all men,

The society ia cosmopolitan, In 87 years it has put nearly one hundred and twenty-eight millions of Bibles, Testaments, and complete books of the Bible into circulation in above 800 different languages and dialects. Its issues are now usually about four million copies a year, or 13,000 for each working day. The funds whereby this work is carried on are voluntary contributions. In the year ending Match 31st, 1891, the new income was £115,971 8a 6d, while the receipts from sales amounted to £101,177 8s 9d. Total £217,148 17s Bd. The expenditure for the same year was £231,588 16s 9d, leaving a deficit of £14,434 19s 6d. There were also deficits in 1889 and 1890. It will thus be seen tlmtthose who possess the inestimable benefit of living in a country where tliH Church summons them with open doors and where the Scriptures are accessible to even tho poorest among us, haye a means of showing much practical gratitude by giving monetary assistance and personal support to the British and Foreign Bible Society through the local committeo and the honorary collectors in their own town. That funds are urgently needed and can be advantageously used there is much to 6how, and that infinite good may be done in tho future and has been achieved in the past is as strikingly evident, when one. peruses a record of tho proceedings of this worthy Society. The little specimen book left us by the Rev. Mr Eobjohns—" The Gospel in many Tongues "it is called—wherein are examples of the Bible text in no less tbau 29G languages, all the translations of the British ana Foreign Bible Society, and among the speakers of which the Scriptures have been widely circulated, is even in itself a telling proof of noble effort and is an astonishing accomplishment in Chris* tian literature. May the Association prosper in its Divinely ordained work, and ever extend its sphere of operations is our sinoere wish, and may there ever be those roady to help in the good cause should be the earnest prayer of all members of the Christian religion.