BIBLE INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 14

BIBLE INSTITUTE.

OPENING CEREMONY TO-DAY. BUILDING OF EIGHTY ROOMS. EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES. The official opening of the new Bililo Training Institute building at the top of Queen Street will take place this afternoon. The foundation-stone was laid last November. The work of the institute began in March, 1922, in a large wooden house in Hopetoun Street. Later it became necessarv to establish a women's hostel at Mount Eden. The number of 'student* continued to grow and a larger hostel had to be found. Last year the congestion became so serious that it was felt the erection of a large new building was imperative and the board of directors secured the present site between the Tabernacle and the .W.C.A., overlooking Myers Park. The building is two-storeyed, of ferroconcrete, and contains over SO rooms. It has accommodation for 56 men and 24 women in separate wings, and provides administration offices and classrooms. Ihe cost of the building is about £11.750, and the total cost of site, building arid furnishings will be over £16.000. Those responsible for the institute pledged themselves to open it free of debt and they are in a position to do so to-day. The amount has been subscribed by voluntary contributions from all over the Dominion. Provision has been made in the plans for the *ddition of a third storey when necessary. Mr. R. J. Emerson has superintended the building as clerk of works and the contractors are Messrs. McKenzie Brothers, Papatoetoe. There are at present 52 students in attendance at. the institute, which is managed by a board of directors of local business men of all denominations. The students are drawn from all parts of NewZealand and some even from Australia. The institute is not in connection with any church, and does net seek to rival any theological college, but has as its object the training of young men and women of all denominations for Christian work, either at home or abrbad. The full course is two years. The opening ceremony will take place at three o'clock this afternoon, and will be followed by a dedicatory service in the lecture room, at which the Rev. J. W. Kemp, honorary principal, the Rev. L. B. Fletcher, the Rev. E. R. Harries and Mr. C. J. Rolls, dean of the institute, will give short addresses.