OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 7481, 27 March 1888, Page 4

OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Otago Bible Society was held in the First Church Hall last evening. There were only about a dozen persons picsent, the president (the Rev. A. North) presiding. The President supposed they must gauge tho interest taken in the society rather by the subscription list than by the attendance at that meeting. They all knew the important work done by such societies. All Christendom was under great obligations to them, and they took a foremost place among missionary societies all over tho world. He thought, however, that it would bo a good thing if the constituents of this society were brought together, to recast its constitution. The society was now a customer of the two societies in the Old Country. He could understand that this was desirable when this society was instituted, but under the altered circumstances lie thought the society should become an agent of the Home societies instead of a customer. If it existed as a collecting agency and a medium for the circulation of the Scriptures, he thought great advantages would follow. The Secretary (Rev. J. Niven) read the report as follows : The past year will live in the annals of our nation as the jubilee year of Queen Victoria, as such attention has largely been directed to the material increase of the nation. But material prosperity is not everything, and the question may well be asked: How has it been with regard to the advance made in the work of evangelising that > mpire on which the sun never sets, as ako (hose other portions of this globe which are yet sitting in the region and shadow of death ? Has there been a proportionate advance in this the highest department of a nation's glory? Has there been an adequate increase as contrasted with the growing wealth of the Empire, in the means placed at I the disposal of all evangelising agencies, and ' especiilly with those we are more immediately concerned—namely, Bible societies? In ono aspect the answer can happily be in the affirmative; but in another, as far at least aa tho jubilee year is concerned, it is not so, for that year has unfortunately been marked by retrenchment, and not, as it ought, by advancement. For the past year that is partly to be accounted for by the long-continued commercial depression. The necessity for a reduced expenditure and consequent curtailment of operations cannot but be a c»use of deep regret to every true lover of the Bible. Work in Otago.— We began the year with 269 collectors on our list. To these 13 new collectors were added, making a total of 282. During the year we have, however, lost 38 ; so that we now have only 214. A fluctuation of this kind must always ha expected. However willing, collectors, owing to changed family circumstances and removals to other places, cannot always carry on their work. The maintaining tho staff of collectors in a state ot efficiency, so that no locality shall be permitted to drop off our list, is no easy matter. From collectors L 283 0s lOd has been received; but as a considerable number of returns have yet to come in, that amount may be materially altered. From the depot 8,009 copies of the Scriptures have been i3Jued. This is 4,31.1 copies less than the previous year, but that is to be accounted for by tho demand for the penny Testament. The tot il number of Scriptures put in circulation by our society now amounts to 67,483. This of itself, in a small community like ours, is a matter of no small gratification. Through the agency of colporteurs 3,312 copies have been sold, Free grants to the value of LI 13s 6d have been mad* to various institutions, such as the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society, etc. The proceeds of sales amount to L3IC 4s 2d, making our total in this department to L 4,284 0s lid. The total free income of the society since its initiation now reaches L3,i)15 3s Id, which raises the total revenue of the Bociety to L 8.190 10s. During the past year 59 meetings, including 27 Sabbath services, have been held in the interest of Bible Society work. The importance of this work must not be overlooked, aa it is the principal means of diffusing information regarding the work carried on by Bible satieties. Cordial thanks are due to tho.se ministers who have given an opportunity cither on Sabbath or week evenings of directing the attention of their congregations to the claims such societies have on Christian liberality. Local circumstances prevented the holding of a larger number of meetings. But it is manifest that if the interest is to be sustained as well as increased in tho work we as a society have undertaken, thjs field must be more actively wrought. Unfortunately tho impression prevails in some quarters that Bibh society wrk is not a very pressing need, and tint Bible societies aro not in such circumstances as call for any active exertion tp supply them with funds. A greater mistake could scarcely be made, especially in view of what Christian churches and Christian missions owe to Bible societies ; for again must it bo emphasised that the work of tho church both at home and among the heathen could not be adequately carried on for a single yeu -without the aid received from Bible Bocietie.", and this applies not to one branoh of the Christian church but to all alike. And in these days, when so many attempts are being made to draw closer the bonds of Christian fellowship, trat agency which since its inception has worked on the basis o'. one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, should surely bo among the first to receive the cordial ou operation and material assistance it so emphatically requires. To-day the claims for fcuch assistance aro more pressing than ever. Freshfields of labor are opening up, and these cm only be entered on either through ths increased liberality of B.blo lovers, or by wholly or in part withdrawing from countries whereßiblework has been carried on for perhaps half a century, and where- the fruit of past labors and expenditure are beginning to be reaped. This unfortunately has been tho oourso that reluctantly has been forced on tho Home societies. The nifcecsijiy o{ largely extended effort throughout Asia gone'rally has laid a work on these societies not easily undertaken, but from which they dare rot draw back, and which, indeed, tho history of the past pledges them to continue. Review of Fifty Years' Work.—"Whn tho work of the pq,»t half century is reviewed there is abundant cause for thankfulness. Looking at the work from year to yea'v it rr f ay not appear to progress very rapidly, but when' tlm at&'p of this work 50 years ago is contrasted with what it in nsy, we may well exclaim : " Behold what great thinly Q-oi hath wrought." Great though the advance has bcvu ; ;t only makes our responsibilities greater. . . .

The Work to be Done—Reference i,a3 been made to the number of translations now existing, but if all i>hese had been in the African language alone,'tic v/ants of that continent would not be met, for there arc ffi languages' and 153 dialects, or 591 tongues in ftlj now known as existing. How many more there may bp it is impossible to say. In India there a:o appioumtiely 200 tongue?, and no one knows the number among these islands of the Southei n Seas. While not ignoring or making I'ght of the good work that has been done, we must not lose utfbt of what remains t$ be completed. At the present rate of progress it will take well nigh 500 years to supply China alone with thp Bible; or, supposing the whole issues of the Home societies were devoted to tfrafc land, then it would require noaily 100 years to accomplish the work. Turning to Ind!*, where the difficulties are greater, because of the multiplicity of languages, unless the Church of Christ rises to the magnitude of the work, half a millenium must pass era India possesses the Bible as we do. Under the benign influences of British rule—the prohibition of infanticide, the provision against famines, and the security afforded to life and property—the population is increasing at such a rate as to form a subject of grave consideration to the authorities. To meet the present and rapidly-insrcasing papulation Bible societies must put forth greater vigor, but this can only bo done through inorcaaed combination. Jjcss than 8,000,000 copies of the Scriptures have Ije.en circulated in India. This leaves more than in British India unsupplied. In the Bengal presidency, since Bfcle society work began, some jj.OJ/OJJOO Scriptures have been circulated, but" at the pretext rate it will more than 100 years to supply the wants of &st Presidency, and during th»t period more than thrpo generations will have nassod away. " Reviewing, tfcen, the work of Bible circulation throughout th,o world. tj;pre is no need for despondency. Though all that could be de*ired has not bean attained, yet, remembering that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, and that the Lord is not Black concerning His promises, we may well rest assured that the day is coming when He shall utterly abolish the idols. Already the isles are waiting for His law. To whatever quarter we turn wo find that the good seed of the Word has not been How.n in vain, as indeed it could not. Some aro inoline,tl to ascribe the influence tho Bible exerts to the effects of early association, when every means we're Kssd to impress the mind with Bible truth. B»i Qoi has ever shown, and especially in these late years, that the Bible is His book, and has in itself a aelfevidencing power, so that no one who honestly studies it can fail to recognise that it is His book, even though the forces of early training

ami association may tend to lead t) the consideration of the Bible as a dangerous book, and one which the uninitiated cannot understand.

The Future. —What is it to be ? Stagnation! That is ever an impossibility. Retrogression ! God forbid, Yea, rather increased activity, leading by the blessing of God to the more rapid advance of tho Redeemer's kingdom. It is a high honor this that God has bestowed on us—tho responsibility of giving the word of T.ight and life to those nations Whose souls, condemned and dying, Were precious in his sight.

When we recall that hundreds of millions of heathens are now dwelling in temporal peace and safety under Biitish rule, Bhall we be content therewith ? And when to that is added the myriads of tho world's population who know not God, what a loud cry comes to us to be up and doing. One hundred thousand of tho world's population dio every day, and of that vast multitude how few can possibly know of tho Saviour. The dawn has broken on the earth, and as well may men try to stay the sun in his course as try to retard the onward progress of the Sun of Righteousness. He who is King of kings and Lord of lords shall reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. His reign is one of peace; Ho Bhall bring peace to tho people, He shall break in pieces the oppressor. He shall live, and to Him shall be given of the gold of Sheba, His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as lonif as the sun. Men shall be blessed in Him ; all nations shall call Him blessed. Now, blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel, who only doth wondrous things; and bless/d be His wondrous name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

The President said that he thought the abstract of the balance-sheet just read justified his remark that the relations of this society with the Home society required rearranging. Mr J. Paterson moved the adoption of the report, Dr Copland seconded the motion, and in doing so said that he feared there was a tendency to look on the society as supplying a local want, instead of one that had catholic nims. If the real character of the society were understood by the Christian public the society might hope for better support. Dr Stuakt thought the great want of the society was the need of auxiliaries. If they had more of these the revenue would be increased and a greater circulation obtained. Mr R, J. Gairdxer also made a few remarks, after which the motion for the adoption of the report was put and carried. Dr Stuart moved that the adoption of the balance-sheet be deferred until the full returns were prepared. The Rev. W. Roxaldson thought that the better plan would be for the committee to deal with the funds when the balancesheet was complete, the funds to be allocated between the two Home societies according to the discretion of the committee. He moved accordingly. Dr Stuart's motion lapsed for want of a seconder, and the Rev. W. Ronaldson's motion was declared carried. The Rev. R. J. Porter moved—" That the thanks of the society be tendered to the office-bearers, and that tho following gentlemen be elected the officebearers for the year, viz, President, Dr Copland; vice-president, Rev. D. Borrie secretary, Rev. J. Niven ; treasurer, Mr W. Brown; members of committee—ministers of the Gospel, Mr J. Fulton, M.H.R., Mr J. Paterson, Mr R. S. Nicolson, Mr R. A. Lawson, Mr W. D. Stewart, M.H.R., Hon. T. Dick, Mr J. A, Torrance, and Mr Somerville." In speaking to the motion the mover referred in terms of praise to the faithfulness with which the Rev. J. Niven had carried out the duties of the secretaryship. The motion was carried unanimously, and the meeting was closed with prayer, and a vote of thanks to the chair.