BIBLE SOCIETY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11327, 3 October 1930, Page 3

BIBLE SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING OP GISBORNE BRANCH.

RECORD N.Z. CIRCULATION

Tile annual meeting of tho Gisborne branch of the British and foreign Bible Society was held during the week, Mr. T. E. Toneyellffe u residing. The annual report was as follows:

“Tlio progress in li-ble translation and circulation has been phenomenal during the last quarter of a century. Wont during DC years resulted ill Tne scattering into nearly every country •in the world ot 4yJ,070,U00 portions of tlie Scriptures. In tho first 100 years, 17<J.Uv0, wero distributed,' but in the last 20 years, 225,00U,UX) have been e.reuintcd. The 1920 output reached the highest' total yet attained Dy the society, namely 12,250,000’. “Tho increase in the number ot new versions in which the circulation is -being made affords great interest and makes us realise not onb the vast number of languages and dialects spoken in the world, but how much vet remains to be done - ■ all people are to have their nglitru heritage in the possession of at least a portion of tlie Word of God in their own mother tongue. . “At- the time of tuo society s inception, only about 50 versions were in existence. One hundred years later the number had reached 078, and in’ - the present year the society is issuing it a edit ions in 630 differentlanguages. The progress shown is a testimony to the great extension of missionary work during tins modern period, and also to the devotion ami scholarship of missionaries, who have carried through many of the translations now published by the socet> "In New Zealand the. circulation from the Wellington B’blo House reached the record number or ,H),UbU portions. These were issU«« in mdifferent- languages,, winch is an ind.-. cation that v our population is becomsomewhat, cosmopolitan.. “In addition to the ordinary «ork of last vear, 6000 Bibles were subscribed for and placed in the rooms of hotels throughout the Dominion The seventh thousand is now being l!,S "[n'manv respects, the British and Foreign Bible Society is unique. It serves nearly all missionary socie irrespective of denomination with the Scriptures they require. It issu ■ its editions without note or comment- It places at least a portioni - the Bibles within the reach n t . very poorest. Tt has never been m debt; yet year by year ns progressincreases,, and its usefulness mcroa<~ BS “Gisborne and the adjacent country districts contributed last ■£2-13, and the total for the whole d - trict, 'including Wairc.* and the Const, reached the record ot L* U • “In. the words of tho Duke ol Gloucester, who was chairman ot tin Won society. ‘Tins will he a bap ; pier ami more peaceful woi Id v\ hen hi our. personal and public ntta.rs u all make the teaching ot the fpbic opr final court of appeal and accept Its rulings as the law ot lne. 'The. following officers were electee for tho ensuing year : President, Mr f "A. Rosie; vice-presidents, Messrs. T - - E.- Toneycliffe and H. Jtorge: secretarv'and treasurer, Mr. 11. Maddark; committee, Mesdnmes. Garrett. Smell*. C. J>, Stewart Grant. Mess-s. McGliskie, A. L. P}- ; att G- K- Pasley'aaid A. Skillen. ._ .An interesting address was delivered. by the Rev. Oscar Allwnglit.