BIBLE SOCIETY.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1408, 14 May 1867, Page 2

BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society was held last evening in the Town Hall. The chair was taken at seven p m. by Dr Turnbulh On the platform were the Rev. Messrs Fraser, Torlesse. Moore, Fisher, Buddie. Aldred, Cirruthers, Habens, Reid, Bowen, and Bagshaw. The Key. J. Aldred opened the meeting with prayer. Dr. Turn Hull said that he was not so well j satisfied with his position as he-hould have been had he done moie for the society, but having taken the chair thought that one of the world should give some idea of the respect in which such societies are held. Divisions were a source of weakness, but the Church would become lukewarm without them. When every section of the religious community can gather ou one platform, such efforts do more to spread true religion than anything. No nobler work can bo engaged in Every individual attempts to ->enefit those in his own circle in fome way, but sometimes fails to do so for want of cooperation. The universality of Us purpose, the simplicity with which that purpose is carried out, raises it above all other societies. Busy men have a very different feeling towards this "society f ro m that" with which they regard divisions in the Church. The Secretary (Rev T. T* Fisher) next read the report, from which we append extracts : " In presenting their annual report the committee are thankful that they are able to congratulate the friends and supporters of the society on its position and prospects. If all has not been done which they could have wished to promote the good and great work in which they are engaged, they sincerely rejoice in what has been done, and look forward with confidence to greater things. " The Canterbury Bible Society has now been in existence five years, and has obtained a measure of support far beyond the expectations of its most sanguine friends. The total sums contributed up to the last anniversay amount to £758 12s 7d. For the sale of Scriptures to the same date there has been received £152 3s 6d. The Lyttelton branch has, since its establishment, collected free contributions amounting to £122 5s 101, and received for sales at the Depository £32 8s lid Free grants of Bibles and Testaments have been made to the Hospital, the Prison, the Refuge, and the Bush Mission. "Since the last anniversury £150 has been remitted to the Parent Society in payment for copies of Scriptures, and £150 as a free contribution in aid of the general objects of the society. The sales during the year are —Christchurch, £51 8s 6d ; Lyttelton, £14 6s 8.1. " It may be desirable for the sake of persons who may wish to purchase copies of the Scriptures to state that the Depository has been removed from Mr Baker's, in Cashel street, to Cooke's Mudie's Library, Colombo street, where a large assortment of Bibles and Testaments of various editions and in various styles of binding are always on sale at the society's prices. " The branches established at Lyttelton and Hokitika continue their operations. It is hoped that at Lyttelton ere long a public meeting will be held, and active steps taken to place the Bible Society taere on a footing more worthy of the importance of the town and the energy and success of former years. " At Hokitika a branch Bible Society was formed in connextion with this auxiliary last year on the occasion of a visit paid by the Rev. Charles Fraser to the West Coast. The Hokitika Committee subsequently wrote to this auxiliary requesting a supply of Scriptures for salp, and accordingly two ca-es were shipped of the value of £14 3s 5d from our dep6t in the month of July last Tho committee had hoped to present a detailed account of the proceedings of the Hokitika branch to this meeting. No report, however, has at present come to hand. " The committee feel that a largo debt of gratitude is due to the lady collectors who at so great a sacrifice of time and effort exert j themselves to sustain the funds of the society, \ and are happy to report that their self-denying and persevering labors continue to be crowned with a very satisfactory measure of success, though the total amount collected this year is not equal to that obtained last year. May the consciousness that they are engaged in a wck whose objects are of all others the noblest and the best sustain them in their labor of love. Two much esteemed collectors, who have hitherto rendered valuable aid, having from pressure of circumstances found it necessary to resign their post, two other ladies have come forward, and are zealously exerting themselves in the good work. " The importance of Bible distribution in the outlying districts continues to occupy the attention of the committee. There is a large population scattered through the province who are out of the way of places of worship, and scarcely from one year to another see the face of a Christian minister. Many of these it is true have Bibles, but many it is to be feared have not, and to place within easy reach of such persons the volume of inspiration is a work of the highest Christian charity. "New Zealand numbers three auxiliaries besides our own—one at Auckland, one at Wellington, and one in Otago In Auckland a colporteur is very successfully employed. The printing of the entire Scriptures in the Maori language is suspended until the revision of the New Testament is complete. The General Committee express their hope that it will not be long before the improved edition of the whole Bible will be in the hands of the Natives. " The British and Foreign Bible Society has, since its establishment, promoted the translation, printing, Bud circulation of the Scriptu res in 173 languages or dialects. Its branches, auxiliaries, and associations in Great Britain are 3951, and in foreign countries and the British colonies 1160. The issues from the Depository for the year ending March 31, 1866, amount to 2,296.130. The total issues since the commencement of the society is upwards of 50,000,000 copies, or about one copy to every twenty persons now on the surface of the globe. In the sixtytwo years which have elapsed since its formation, the society has expended nearly £6,000,000 of money in the circulation of God's holy word. " Such are the claims of the British and Foreign Bi u le Society on the Christian public of Canterbury, and your committee cannot but confidently express their hope that the liberal support which this auxiliary has hitherto received from the various denominations of Christians in the province will be continued and increased." The financial statement was then read,showing a bulance of £224 18s 91. The Key. Mr Habens said that from his knowledge of the working of the Bush Mission he could testify to its usefulness, and spoke at some length ngaiuat priestcraft, saying that uny one who believed that the Bible might he trusted unaided in the hands of man cooperated with the society, but those who thought the mind must be prepared by the priest never could. He regretted that they held their annual meeting at the same time that the meetings were held in the old country The news, from the report read in Exeter Hall, was nearly a twelvemonth old. He moved—" That the report be adopted and printed under the direction of the committee." This was seconded by Mr Carruthers. The Rev. J. C. Bagshaw moved—" That this meeting desires to express its grateful acknowledgments to Almighty God for the successful operations of tho Parent Society during the first year, and rejoices in the hope that the time is not ftr distant when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth." Mr Baushaw's motion was seconded by the Rev. 11. Torlesse. The Rev. L. Moore moved—" That this meeting recognises in the growing efforts of infidelity, and in the increased facilities for intercourse amongst the nations of the earth, a powerful call to augmented efforts in circulating the Word of God throughout the world." Mr Moore's motion was seconded by the Rev. Alexander Reid. The collection was then made, afur which Rev. T. Buddie moved—"That this meeting presents its warmest thauks to the lady

collectors for tVir v.-ihnHe services, and expresses a h <pc I'mr their f-it'ire may bo crowned with herea-iti.: slice's." H** thought thar m-i.iv svmp.ithi.sed with the remarks of tho Treasurer, that times were depressed. He often found that religious contnbutiono were the fi-st tilings t) be cut down, whereas they oug t to he the l**t. Mr Kletclier scemded tho resolution The R"v. Ciu:s. moved-" That the thanks of the meeting be printed to the treasurers, secretaries, and committees, % a:ic that the followin,' evntle-nen be the year ensuing :— Tre-i-uror. W. D. Uruthers ; seeretarv. Rev. J. It. Fisher ; committee, Messrs Hawkes, Turner, Fletcher, Infli* Garrick, Gould, Jameson, Montgomery, Booth, Twentyman, Tancred, Foster, with ministers of all denominations who are subscribers to the funds of the society." The Rev. Mrßoweu seconded the resolution. ■, X T> The Rev. Mr Aldred moved, and the Key. Mr Fisher seconded, the vote of thanks to the Chairman. Mr Fisher warned the meeting not to be discouraged by the falling off of the funds. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, and after singing the doxology the meeting d»<p«.*rsed.