BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12268, 12 May 1903, Page 6

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

ARRIVAL OF BRITISH DELEGATES. In view of the celebration of the British and Foreign Bible Society's one hundredth birthday in March, 190+, a special deputation to the Australasian branches has been appointed, consisting of the Rev. Dr. F. "W. Mac Donald (ex-president of the British Wesley an Conference, and secretary of the Wesley an Missionary Society) and the Rev. H. A. Raynes, M.A. (Home superintendent of the British and Foreign Bible Society). These gentlemen arrived .in Auckland yesterday by the Sierra, and took up their quarters at the Grand Hotel. They wero met and welcomed by Messrs. W. Brakenrig (secretary of the Y.M.C.A.) and H. J.Edraiston (of the Sunday-school Union), local secretaries of the society, in whose care the arrangements for looking after the interests of the visitors have- been placed. " Tiler rev. gentlemen spent yesterday in visiting various places of interest in the city. They also received calls from local ministers.

In the course of a short chat with » Herald reporter, the Revs. Dr. Mac Donald and Raynes stated that their present tour involves a stay of about six weeks in New Zealand, two weeks in Tasmania, and between three and four months in the Am-; tralian colonies. During the tour they will be preaching at the various churches, , and speaking at a series of special meetings arranged for that purpose, by the different branches of the society. The delegate* stated that the British and Foreign Bible ■Society was founded on March 7, 1804, and the completion of a hundred years of work will be celebrated in England and throughout the world during March, 1904. One great feature of the c-elebrStion will be .the observance of Sunday, March 6, 1904, m » universa l Bib), Sunday, when the place of the s&crea volume in the Divine economy, trui ' serv '? s °? ie British and Foreign Bible Society, in circulating it in many languages throughout the world, will be brought forward in the various pulpit addresses. The immediate object of the visit of the deputation is to prepare the Australasian branches for their part in this great celebration, and to invite their co-operation in raising » special centenary fund of 250,000 guineas for a greatly needed extension of the sox'im^innY . Towards this amount some ±>40,000 had already been promised, the delegates stated, when they left England, £10,000 of the same having already been contributed by the parent committee. The hundredth year of the society was inaugurated in London by a special meeting at the Mansion Mouse, presided oyer bv the Lord Mayor, at which the Right Hon. A. ,T. Balfour, "Prima Minister, was the principal speaker, and by an enthusiastic public meeting at the Queen'r m, kangham Place, on the same evening, J-ne following is an itinerary of the morements of the deputation up to the their leaving this city:— This evening a meet-: ing of collectors and supporters of the soli 8 j T 1 ' 3e held in the Y.M.C.A., when UL 0 2, will be introduced by the Rev. W. i,. (jrillam, and will give addresses dealing. with the internal working of their - society. To-morrow afternoon, at three o elook, they will have a meeting with mini?' ters, and in the evening will speak at a public meeting at the Y.M.O.A. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday they will spend at votorua, where a meeting will Ix» held either on the Thursday or Friday. On Sunday next the Rev. H. A. Ravncs will preach at &t. Ma >ys Cathedral, Parnell. in the forenoon and at St. Matthew's Church, Hoh-son-street, in the afternoon and evening. r. Mac Donald will, on the same day, preach ' i the Baptist Tabernacle, Upper Queen- •*? 0 » I 7 1 ' n F' a "d afternoon, and at Pitteefc Methodist Church in the evening. A Public meeting will also be held on Sunday evening.at the City Hall in connection with the socie On % Monday next, the 18th mst., both the rev. gentlemen will speak at aiiuhu, Vjd on the following evening Dr. Mac Donald will leave for Gisbome. The ..Y* "• A. Raynes remains another day, and will on Tuesday evening next deliver a lecture at the Y.M.C.A., leaving on Wednesday tor Aew Plymouth. '