OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 7180, 6 April 1887, Page 2

OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

A publlo meeting in connection with the Otago Bibla Sooiety was held in the Hanover street Baptist Oburoh last evening, and was well attended. The Rev. Mr North presided, and the following gentlemen were on the platform:—The Revs. Neaves, Niven, Kelly, Walker, Beokenham, Cameron, and White, the Hon. T. Dick, and Mr 3. Fulton, M.H R, The Rev. H. T. Rouohkb, the representative of the British and Foreign Bible Society, delivered an ln< terestlng and impressive address on " Bible Wonder* of list Year." He referred at length to the tnagnb tutre of the work undertaken and aooomplished by the Society, and made a strong appeal for liberal support, showing that such support was required owing to the falling oft in the Society's revenue, while the greatness and importanoe of the work were in no way diminished. The Bible, he mentioned, had been printed in 881 languages, and the work of translating the Bible into 278 languages had been aooomplished by the British and Foreign Bible Sooiety. BtiU the work of the Society was hardly begun, and in making this assertion he was not in any way indulging in oratorical exaggeration. In a great majority of the oases mentioned only portions of the Scriptures were furnished ; and in New Guinea, for instance, where there were fifty languiget, the Bible had been translated into but four of them. In the East Indies there were 539 varieties of human speech; in Africa 690, and throughout the world between 2,000 and 8,000. The Rev. Ur Nivsn moved the adoption of the following resolution :—"Recognising the catholic nature of the work done by the British Bible societies, and the rightful prominenoe given by them to the Holy Soiietures as the only truly civilising and evangelising power, and rejoicing in the success God has graciously granted to their labors; yet having regard to the amount of woik that remains to be done, and the present pecuniary needs of these societies, oommends them to the prayers and increased liberalities of Christians." Mr J. FtnTON seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman having announced that the Rev. Mr Robjobns would address meeting in the suburbs, the proceedings closed with the benediction.