BIBLE SOCIETY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 226, 22 August 1928, Page 2

BIBLE SOCIETY

PALMERSTON NORTH BRANCH

ANNUAL AIEETING

Tho annual meeting of the Palmerston North branch of tho British and Foreign Bible Society was held yesterday afternoon, Rev. Oanon Fancourt'presiding over an attendance of about 25.

The annual report, as already published, was adopted, together with the balance-sheet.

In addressing the gathering, Mrs Potter, organising secretary for the movement in New Zealand, stated that, in the 124 years of its existence, tho Bible Society had built up a great organisation—an organisation extending into the remotest regions of the earth and sending out the word of God in a written form. If the movement were to continue sending out tho Bible , for every man and woman in his or her own tongue,_ it followed that translation was an important part of tho society’s work. This great task was being carried on in all parts of the world very largely under the auspices of tile society. It was difficult to realise the enormous amount of work involved in turning a single chapter of the Bible into a new language; it had been compared with a bank whero soiled paper money was exchanged for tho _ pure gold of Christianity. The society not only rejoiced at being able to add new tongues from timo to time, but also at perfecting the languages- at present in use —that was tho work of revision, which went on continually. An important branch of tho movement was the circulation one. Last year 10,000,000- copies wore put out, slightly less than in the previous year, but, considering tho unrest and chaos throughout the world, the society was fortunate indeed in circulating so many extra copies. China’s quota lust year liar] been 3,500,000. From the iittle Biblo House in Wellington there had been sent out during 1927 21,000 copies in 25 different languages, which was very creditable. Tho movement, said the chairman, had started at the tinie of tiro Napoleonic Wars and- had made great strides since then, the missionaries of io-dnv being much better equipped. Once all that was sent to him was the Bible; hut now thero wero medical missionaries and hospitals in every country ,as well as many nurses.- The earlier missionaries had had to do their own printing; in fact, the speaker’s father, when being trained for missionary service in India, had been taught printing. Now the Bible Society coidd send them tho literature they had once been she it of. For tho missionaries of to-day tho society wa3 doing a great work. In Airs Porter the society in New Zealand had a wonderful organising secretary— a most capable lady. The election of officers for the ensiling year resulted as follows: —President, Rev. Canon Fancourt; vicepresidents, -'tho Protestant ministers of the town, together with the Salvation Army Commandant; hon. secretary, ■ Air A. Wylie; hon. treasurer, Mr J. T .Burrell; committee, Mesdames M. Aitehison. Scarr, J. M. Rose. J. T. Burrell. Ferguson, .Bry-den-Jones. Eggleton, Alisscs Jamieson, Aitken. AI. Matheson, A. Johansen, L Neilsen and Alessrs J. B. Gerrand, J. R. Wood, G. H. Bennett T. R. Hoddcr, W. ■Mundy, W. I'latt, 0. Alonrad and Whitehead. An ’ enjoyable musical programme was contrihnled by Atesdames Patou, Ivendall, Chittenden and Miss Pacey. Voles of thanks were accorded the officers -and n 1 f collectors for their work 1 during the’ past year; to the ladies who provided afternoon tea; tho hostesses Airs Aitehison, Airs Burrell, Airs Rose, Airs Scarr, Airs Wylie; to All Saints’ Church for the use of a meeting room, and to Rev-. Canon Fancomt, and Messrs J. Wallace, J. T. Burrell and A. Wylie. A vote of sympathy was accorded Aliss Lilian Speedy in- the death of her father.