BIBLE SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9994, 24 March 1893, Page 2

BIBLE SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETINGThe annual meeting of the NorHnkj?oj| terbury Auxiliary was held last in the Trinity Hall, Dr Ehnslie in chair. The reverend Chairman epolMiJ of his long and sincere attachment to the Society, he having become # first interested in it at the time of its jubilee. Prom the report read by Mr J. P. Jameson it appeared that uWj Auxiliary was in a healthy condition; • main feature was that altogether 2852 volumes had been sent out of the Christ* church depdt during the year. Mr WJ Chryatall read the Treasurer's stated ment, which was of an account that closed on March 31, 1892, th# account for the current year still running. During the last complete year the free income was <8242 14s 2d, sales .£9B 2s, total <8335 16s 2d. On the other side of the' account there had been remitted to London <B2OO, expenses <627, balance <BIOB 16s 2d, total <8335 16s 2d. Mr Chryatall proposed, the adoption of the report and balancesheet, which was seconded by Bev H. TJ Bobjohna, M.A., who, in the course of hia address, saidln all, 132,000,000 of volumes of Scripture had been sent out since 1804; last year, in round numbers; 4,000,000. It was a fact suggestive of much economy, as the result of experience; that in 1892 1,050,000 more volumes werej sent out than in 1882, with practically the same income. 13,000 volumes go out every working day of the year, that ifl 812 copies during a half hour's address. The! British and Foreign Bible Society has always about 70 new translations and revisions on the anvil. It sent out the Scriptures last year in 9 new languages,' and has now SO4 languages and dialects on its list. The Society has, notwith-. standing its magnificent work, had to pass through a very grave crisis. There are always two hindrances to its full prosperity. One is really the glory of the Society, the other is pure illusion. A catholicity which embraces as constituents' all who care for Bible circnlation, nevertheless hinders, because it leaves the Society without that esprit de corps by which many Societies live. Each church is tempted to leave that interest oat in the cold—which interest is.neverthless vital to every church 1 and mission in the world. There is also the hindrance which arises from an l imagined wealth that does not need any help. The only wealth is the liberality of; Christian people all ronnd the world taking interest in that work which is a benefaction to al! the world. These causes of hin-i drance, joined to the ever-growing work of the Society, have led to a deficit of <867,000 in four years. This has been all paid off, however, by a fond that had been set aside for an evil day like this. But what shall now be done ? The first impulse was to decline all new work, and to throw the cost in part of Scriptures on the great Missionary Societies. This would have meant, among other things, refusing a new edition o? the Fijian Bible for the Wesleyan mis-i sions; a new translation in the Florida tongue for the Church of England Mission in the Solomon Islands; and several for the Presbyterian Mission in the New Hebrides; and the opening of a depdt on Thursday Island, which woald radiate light through the fishermen of many, nations along the line which reaches from 1 Corea to the Straits of Gibraltar. Such a withholding from work was all the; more to be lamented, since Mohammedan countries are now open to the Bible aa never before, and on account of that forward movement in the missions of all churches, which is calling out for the artillery of . the Word. The Committee saw it could not refrain from going on. So it called for a special fund of £50,000 ; of which it has secured <630,000. Who in Canterbury will help to raise the balance ? Elsewhere in Australasia serious attention is being given to this matter. The rest of the address wa« occupied with interesting details of the Society’s work in many places. Mr Bobjohna showed two remarkable specimens of the Society’s works; the New Testament in Motu for New Guinea, and a.beautiful, miniature copy of the Old Testament in Hebrew prepared for the Sons of Israel; who, on that and some other accounts, might well be invited to enrol themselves as subscribers to the Bible Society. Mr Dawson moved, and Mr Gavin seconded—. " That Mr W. Chryatall be Treasurer; Mr J. P. Jameson, Secretary; and that (ho following be members of the Committee t —Messrs Beattie, J. Mannings, J. J, Brown, B. W. England, B. W. Black, J, M. Hoywood, H. B. Webb, C. E. Blakiston and B. Dawson. The Dozology and Benediction by Dr Elmslie closed the meeting.