INFLUENCE OF BIBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 15

INFLUENCE OF BIBLE.

GREAT HUMAN FORCE

REMARKS BY MR. BAVIN

"I consider the work you are doing to be of essential importance." said the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. T. 1?. Bavin,, at the 125 th birthday of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which was celebrated in the Chapter House, Sydney, recently. He referred to the fact that the work of the society had been launched in Australia in 1817, and that last year 114,000,000 copies of the Bible had been distributed throughout the world. "Sometimes one gets tired of the dust and ashes of political life, and is very glad to get into an atmosphere where aspira> tions are so high as they are here," Mr. Bavin continued. "When the figures relating to the society's operations are translated into human experience, one begins to realise what efficiency and absolute unselfishness can do. It means that the work this society is doinp responds to some very persistent and deep need of humanity. "And it proves, too, that the Bible has not lost its hold on life, but is gaining an ever-increasing hold. 1 believe the Bible is the greatest single force op-, orjiting in tho world to-day. It makes its appeal by the simple force of its spiritual contents, and it reaches every class. It has a literary beauty which is the standard typo of literature for the British world." "In the Biblo we have the foundation upon which true national life should rest," said tho Rev. A. T. Thompson, • Commonwealth secretary of the society, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Bavin. "It has an appeal which should enable all members of the community to function as a harmonious whole. The universality of our cause should do much to break down those racial barriers and misunderstandings which keep the nations apart."