THE BIBLE SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17329, 28 November 1919, Page 9

THE BIBLE SOCIETY.

EXTENSION OF INFLUENCE. WORK OF THE LAST YEAR. J The annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held yesterday afternoon, Canon Haselden presiding, in the absence of Bishop A. W. AverilJ. The annual report showed the year's activities to have been successful. The number of honorary lady collectors had increased from eight to 36, thus enabling the claims of the work to be presented in several new districts. The committee had decided to aim at raising £XSOO during the coming year, and an appeal lor funds would be made as early alter Easter as expedient. The total income for tfie year was stated ' to be £823 lis Id, an increase of £309 ' 15s on last year's contributions. An interesting address was given by the Rev. W. A. .Sinclair, secretary to the Methodist Foreign Missions Board, on the growth and influence of the Bib.e Society. One interesting point mentioned was that during the war the Bible was issued in 35 new languages, mostly among Moslem peoples dweiling in remote corners of the earth. Another striking evidence of the extension of the society's work lay in the fact that its last report showed that during the year the society added seven • languages to its long list of versions, - which now totalled 511. Translations or . revisions were at present being promoted , in at least 100 different tongues. The distribution of volumes for the year totalled 9,387.182. During the four years of war, the society had issued for war service • alone over 9.000.000 volumes in 75 different ' forms of speech for combatants on both " sides. The following officers were elected: — • President, Bishop A. W. Averill ; vice--5 presidents. Canon Haselden, Revs. T. • Jolly, G. Bond, Mr. C. E. Button ; secre- > tary. Miss E. Harvey; hon. treasurer, 1 Mr. A. Mac Donal d; hon. auditor, Mr. Thos. E. Whit ton ; committee, Revs. U. '"! Budd. W. K. Gillam. J. W. Shaw, F. > j Warner. J. W. Wilkinson, W. H. Hin- • j ton, Messrs. J. W. Stewart, A. Wilson, J. o M. Barr, J. W. Court, H. Field, J. H. i Gregory. R. Laidlaw, A. E. Lawrv, C. J. - ' Tunks.'W. R. Wilson, C. Hudson, H. 2 , Dearsly, and S. Barry.