GOOD WORK DONE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 27 May 1925, Page 7

GOOD WORK DONE

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY

.WELLINGTON AUXILIARY

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in St. Andrew's Schoolroom last evening.

The Mayor, Mr. 0. J. B. Norwood, who presided, congratulated the Wellington branch on. the good work it had done during the past year, as set forth in the annual report. He spoke of the wonderful influence and world-wide field of the operation of the society. In addition to circulating the Scriptures widely in this land, the local branches had been able to send to London the sum of £6053 for the furtherance of the splendid objects of the parent body. It was a most satisfactory accomplishment for this country. He knew of no organisation anything like it in importance.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report, which was read by Archdeacon Innes Jones, stated that the members of the Wellington Auxiliary were filled with feelings of deepest thankfulness, for the results of former years had not only been maintained, but far surpassed, 1924 being the record year of the auxiliary, the amount raised being £1695, while in 1923 it was £1227.

"The Wellington area," continued the report, "embraces the Wairarap'a and Manawatu districts aud the Main Trunk line to Taihape, as well as the city and suburbs of Wellington. The general routine of organising last year proved a very strenuous one for all engaged in the work. For the city and suburban area alone, owing to sickness, removal, and other causes twelve new secretaries and six new presidents had to be found. We fully realise these changes are inevitable where we are so largely dependent upon voluntary workers and that our organisation requires constant repair and renewal, but in spite of all these difficulties we are filled with hope for this year, as most of those who nobly came forward last year are taking office again this year. They are more familiar with the work, and are becoming more deeply interested. We know it is hard to plant organisation, but to keep it alive and effective is even more difficult. The scope of the society is bristling'with possibilities which can only be utilised as the supply of workers becomes more stable. There are still some small places untouched by our organisation, but one encouraging fact is that in many of the country, branches especially, new outlying places are being added each year. For example, Pahiatua has ten outlying places, and 3'et another (Pongaroa) has been added this year. Masterton, Palmerston North, Carterton, etc., are gradually etxending' in the same way, all of. which show the leaders are keen and enthusiastic. The same may be said of the more distant places which are well off the railway lines and main roads. .. ■

CITY BRANCH IN WELLINGTON.

"We find it stimulating and strengthening to the work to keep in as clese touch as possible with the various branches throughout the'year, riot only during the annual visit and effort. The sending of reprints to all the country branches of all the notable meetings and" doings at headquarters has teen greatly appreciated, and we have received letters stating how glad they were to be kept up in the work at headquarters, i. "We are very pleased indeed to be able to state that at last a city branchhas been started in Wellington, and we owe Sister Maud a deep debt of gratitude for securing permanent subscribers, many of •whom will pay but small amounts annually and some of them ■will make substantial gifts. We are also indebted to Mr. T. Ballinger for his valuable help in this respect. The return from the city in 1923 was £56 Os 7d, while m .1924 it was £142 5s 7d. "We found it an excellent thing last year' speeding up the work by setting apart May, June, and July for the City and Suburbs, and aiming to have all returns in by the 31sfc July. We feel this year this effort will be very materially helped by the decision of the general secretary to devote the month of June to the city and suburbs, when ho will be able to address the local branch meetings, and thus, meet all the members of the society; also his decision to preach in the city churches on each Sunday in June while the effort is in progress; We are most deeply grateful to the clergy who have been approached with regard to this for so willingly and graciously responding. ANONYMOUS DONOR. ••'*?■ our report two years .ago we hoped for closer co-operation among ourselves, our auxiliaries, our officers, and our branches. It was stated this would be greatly assisted by increased accommodation at the Bible House, where we could meet and discuss matters pertaining to the work in some degree of comfort. As one result of.Dr. Eitson's visit we anticipate this hope will be realised at no distant date.

"Through the generosity of one who lias the welfare, of the. young people ol New Zealand very much at heart, some thousands of Testaments have been supplied to the school children throughout the. Wairarapa,. from Pahiatua to l'eath-' erston and Martinborough, as well as throughout the Otaki district, the great desire being that every child will possess a Testament of its own and learn to read it and love it. The auxiliary desires to place on record its deepest appreciation of this noble work. The definitely-expressed wish of the donor is to remain anonymous." The report concluded by thanking the lady collectors, the presidents, secretaries, and all those who had generously responded to the call of the collector, also the Press for sympathetic and generous help. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, the latter being moved by Mr W. W. Greig! A HEARTY WELCOME. A hearty welcome was extended" to the new organising secretary, the Rev. D. A. Calder, by Mr. G. A. Troup. In the course of his reply, the Rev. V. A. Calder said the New Zealand organisation, which was presided over by Mr Troup, had a great future before it. Ihe amounts which they had been able tp send Home had been increasing year by year, and the ideal was, that they would be able to reach the £10,000 mark within five years. He spoke eloquently of the objects of the society, and remarked that those aims gave a corresponding strength to all who knew their .va-lus. The society, which had been in existence for. 121 years, had sent out to the world over 3.50 millions- of copies of the Scriptures—that was,. Bibles, New Testaments, and Scripture • portions. The society was now sending out 34 million copies yearly. This: year it was computed that the

budget would have to be £400,000 if the organisation was to meet the work assigned to it. Last year its income was £377,000. It had never appealed to the Christian world in vain. In its library to-day the society hud copies of the Scriptures in whole or in part in no fewer than 820 languages.