AUCKLAND AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 137, 21 April 1864, Page 3

AUCKLAND AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

Last evening the annual meeting of the above society was held in the "Wesleyan Chapel. Among the gentlemen on the platlorm were Hon. "W. Fox, I<evs. T. J3uddle, Baker, "Warren, Macdonald, Eooker, liamer, Dr. Bennett; Messrs. Newman, Gisborne, Pearee, and Smith. After the usual preliminaries, 'lhe Hon. "W. lox wa3 called to the chair; who, after having referred to himself as a stranger to the people of Auckland and having spoken of the universality ot' the great cause which this society lias in view, called attention to the responsibility—the great res] eligibility—which rests Uj on the promoters ot' the Bible Society and the colonists, in respect to the emigrants continually arriving, and the vast number of soldiers (18.01 *0 men) in the colony. Care should be taken that none may remain long without a copy of the Word of God. It was a striking tact than many military men of past times were pious men. The cenlurians are frequently referred to in the New Testament history as devout and holy men. These, however, were exceptional east s, and they are alike exceptional in our own army. But main' there have been and are. in the British army, who are converted men, amongst whom were the lamented and honoured Capt. Mercer, A illiers, and i Sergt. Marjourain. It was with, feelings j of the greatest pleasure he called attention to the last name; for the non-commissioned oiiicer and the common soldier, exposed to the inlluence of the worst examples and the strongest temptations, imbued with the principles of the bible, exhibit more brightly the Christian character. A more pleasing scene, either in heaven or on earth, could not be presented than that of a private soldier, amid the and taunts of his comrades, 'in the publicity of the mess-root i, reading the Bible, and pointing his fellow soldiers to Christ. Such a man. and such an example was Sergeant Marjouram ; and he should tike to see every soldier in the British army in possession of a copy of his life. The lion. Chairman also urged the claims ot' the sailor and the native, and culled on the lie v. T. Buddie to read tile report. Uki'dht or the Aickland Auxiliary Uiule Socu.ty, list) t. The Committee of the Auckland Auxiliary to the British and Foreign liibfe Society have great pleasure in again meeting their iiii.-nds and supporters to review lite Society's proceedings, and pie.-.ent it.-. Kepiirt tor the past year. The last general report of the Parent Society for tS(>;i, records a very hirge circulation of the word ot life; during ISU'2 Still copies v ere distributed in (lillerent parts of the world, sowing the seeds ol eternal life in many ami distant lands, bearing the glad tidings of salvation in in nv languages and ilialeets to divers nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, disclosing for the first time to vast multitudes the grand realities ol salvation and eternity. Who can estimate the results '•

There is a grandeur in the object, and a magnitude in the operations of the British and l'oreign B.ble Society, which cheer and elevate Christian minds while I hey aie contemplated. Its labours during the titty-nine" years of its existence have been immense. It iias sent forth upwards of forty-three millions 01 c-pioi of h»ly scripture, either in wi;o!o or in pail, and its expenditure has been over live millions 01 pounds sterling. It has promoted the distribution, printing' or translation of the sticted volume, in whole or in part, directly in lit) languages or dialects; indirectly in -15 ; and the nimiber of versions (omitting those which aie printed in ditl'erent ciiaracteis only) is '10',i. Of these lot aie translations nevi-r bef>re printed. If tlie aggregate issues of Foreign Ti >lo .->ocictics be added to those of tiie Kr.t s'.i and Jb'ui eign 1 Jiible Society, the grand total issued since ISO! will amount to more than seventy-three million copies of the entire Bible or New Testament, or integral portions thereof, in diil'erent languages. Within the United Kingdom there are no fewer than 3,5"20 Auxiliaries, Branches, or Associations, and 1,0'2-i in the British Colonies and other dependencies. Your committee regret to observe in the last general report a falling off in the leeeipts of the i'areut Society, but the fact admits of satisfactory explanation. The great distress which has prevailed in tfome of the manufacturing districts ot jMigland lully accounts for it. 'Lite unprecedented issue of Scriptures bv the Society, forbids the thought that it is in anv way narrowing its operations. On the i ontrarv the directors are contemplating operations oil a move extended scale than ever, iiiev anticipatefresh facilities for Scripture dissemination in China, India, and South America. i\m:our;:ged past success, and coniideiitly looking to the promise ot (.rod, they do not hesitate to enter every open door, nor " shrink iio-.ii any wise and practicable .schemes which promise to realise to a iurther extent the object which it is tlie one business of tiie Society to pursue." In presenting the eighteenth report of the Auckland Auxiliary, the committee have pleasure in stating that tiie number of copies issued from tlie Depot during the year is considerably more than ton issues of th previous year

The sides have Veen as follows :—English, 1,226 Maori, 379: Gaelic, 12; French, 8; German, a ;• Dutch, 1 ; Swedish, 1 ; Welsh, 1: Hebrew, i; Portugese, ; Italian, 1 ; Latin, 2 ; Greek, 3. The following free giants have been made by the committee to Mr. iuton for the Mangnwlmi district, — 4 l'icn Bibles lo the Auckland Mission Kaggecl' School. 36 Bibles, and 3G Testaments, making a total of 1721 copies issued during the viar. The contributions to the SocieM s fiu.dsfor theyear,. amount to £16j ss. 3d. The amount received at the Depot for ei pies sold lias (.•eon £13 i Ss. 3d. The fum of .L'lo7 lis. sd. lias been remitted to the Parent Society on purchase a- count, and an additional sum. of £5(3 as a Free G rant, The value ol the present stock is J23J5 J l*. txi., the number of volumes being 3UOS. The committee have f.irther to state that their operations have been somewhat interruuted and irregular during tlie past years in consequence of the disturbed s ate of the country. It was hoped that brumh associations would hare been formed ill the country d stricts that would not only increase the fluids, but also promote a wider circulation of the inspired word. These h' pes have not been realized because of the dillicultics alluded to. Your committee have not, however, overlooked its responsibilities, but niv preparing to supply the ne.v military settlements that arc in cuursc ot' fori..at ion and the incriasiiig population of the province with the word of life. The services of a iolporteui" have been engaged at a .-alary of per annum, v.lio will employ his time principally in risking the townß, villages, and mill ai*v camps witiiin reach for the purpose of selling Hibles, and for Scripture reading, as opportunities n.av oiler. Some of the militair station.- on the Waikato have already been visited, and evidence obiained that a colporteur may be usefully employed and materially further tlio objects of the Society. The Society has lost during the year one of the most acti\e and zealous members of the committee, by the lamented death of I'apt ain Mercer. K.A., who received his death wound in action at the storming of Kangiriri. 'the committee pay tiiis tribute to the memory of a much esteemed fellow laborer and a friend of the Brit.sh and Foreign Bible Society. The treasurer's statement, will furnish all necessary iiiiormntion as to the details of income and expenditure, and present financial condition of the Auxiliary. The annual contribution of the congregation cf the Kev. Nor.mm McLeod, of Waipa, amounts this year to a lnun.i.cvnt sum. The thanks of the committee are especially due to their friends at Waipa for the deep interest they manifest in the Society's operations. The committee reU on their friends for hearty cooperation. increased contributions, and earnest prayer to enable them to carry out their plans, supply the Word of God to regulated distr.cts, and lutul the great and glorious object, proposed by the British and J'OIC!.:!! Illbic Society. The Kev. Mr. Booker moved, and Dr. Bennett, in a most eloquent and impressive speech, seconded tlie first resolution, namely : — 'i'liat the report now i cad be adopted and printed, and that this Society is entitled to tLe hearty cooperation of all Christians, because in the principles upon which tt is based and in its grand design it ia calculated to promote tho highest and best interests of the human race.

The Hev. Jir. Baker moved, and ill*. IN civilian seconded the second resolution, namely : — That considering tho present circumstances of this C'tliny and the pjohahnity ot a ia] idly increasing population, this meeting iceognises ihe soltmn vopoiii.iLii.ity resting on the Society to extend its operations, i-.nd to unite with kindred institutions in supplying the new settlements with the word of life; thai the inspired word which exalteth nations and pn metes glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, g' i.d-w"ll tt waids men luav go hand in hand with tne work ol Colonization. 31 r. Gisborne, in a most telling speech, moved, and The lie v. Mr. Warren seconded tlie third resolution, namely : — That the thanks of this meeting he given to the otliceis and cm.mittie of this Auxiliary l'or tho manner in whith they have conducted ihe affairs of the Society duiii.g the past year, and that the following gentlemen lie appointed lor the ensuing v«-ar: —I'ictiuci.t, His 1-Aei-llosiey Sir George Grey, K.l. IJ.; licaMiver, J. C. l'ivtl;, Lsq.: Hon. tec., ICev. T. Buddie; Agent, Mr. J- Ldsin ; Committee, Yen. Ai chdeatons Ki.-.-hng and Maun: ell, lievs. It. J.umw.-, A. jMcDmidii, J. I' - . l.ioyii, T. Hauler, A. la- ;i l, ,i. W hiu-ley, J. Ili.Lts, J. iiandciio. J. ilackv, J. Long, J. Gome, N. McLeod, C. Baker, K. Laishly, .1. Wall en, 11. >1. Lawry, and T. Booker, ilr. J. Keut, L>r. lit miett, Mr. E. I. Matthews, Capt. Law, Mc.--.- IV. A. Sonierville, K. B. Slialdcr?, J. Mi' ilmd, !•' L. IVime, I>. Ci.h y, is. 11. Smith, J. Aiidiews, J. Kdsoji, G. I'. Tierce, T. Maciarbtiie, J. Newman, C. Aithur, and Dr. Kendcrdine.

A vote of thanks Laving been presented to the Hon. Chairman, the meeting was brought to a close. llie collection amounted to £14.