BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 889, 15 March 1889, Page 1

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held at Wesley Church, Taranaki-street, Monday night. There was a good attendance, and Mr J. G. W- Aitken presided. The Secretary (Rev W. H. West) in giving his usual annual report, stated that the sale of Bibles at the depdt in Wellington during the past year was equal, if not greater, than during any preceding vear, and that the cheap editions were very much in demand. He announced on behalf of the Treasurer that the amount collected for the funds of the Society during the year was a little over £3O. The amount; would, of course, be remitted to the parent Society. The RevH. J. Hobjohns, travelling agent of the Society, addressed the meeting. He was well received, and in opening he said he must first draw their attention to a most remarkable event that had occurred during the year in the histery of Japan, which not only marked a crisis in the history of that country, but also in the history of the Society—he referred to the celebration of the completion of the Japanese Bible. Now; the Japanese had received their Bible in part from the hands of the Society ; the latter had finished dealing with the great nations of mankind, and they had now only to deal with the languages of the minor nations of the earth. This, however, was no small matter, for there were no fewer than fifty languages spoken in New Guinea, 539 in the East Indies, and 591 in Africa, and alto, gether there were between 2000 and 3000 languages spoken, so that their woik was just beginning. Ho gave some interesting particulars concerning the Japanese Bible, and stated that the cost of the work was about £64oo,which sum had been subscribed by the various Bible Societies. He next referred to the movement promoted by Mr Gillespie, of the National Bank, Melbourne, who hod proposed that a new testament containing an autograph of the Queen should bo offered t • every child in commemoration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee, He referred to the great success which had attended this movement, and explained that the percentage of refusals was only about 3 or 4 iu every thousand. He stated that nearly 300,000 Bibles had been given away to children in the Australasian colonies. In New Zealand 14,000 Bibles were distributed, and he be. lievedthe number wouldhave been very much greater if the ministers in the Colony had taken more interest in the matter. In re* f erring to the financial position of the Society he explained that it had been going back at the rate of £31,300 in three years, and in consequence they had to go in for retrenchment. This had been the’means of stopping the revision and printing of the Maori Bible. He was, however, glad to state that this year they had gone back to their old position, and one of the reasons of this was the increased liberality of Australia and New Zealand. (Applause). During the course of his address be referred to the very successful annual meeting held in London, which he said was the largest meeting ever held in the history of the Society, and in conclusion he referred to Col Lassere's “ Four Gospels,” which is creating such a sensation in France, and an Italian Bible published by Sonzogno, proprietor of tbe Seoolo of Milan. On the motion of the Rev J. K, Elliott, seconded by Rev W, H. West, the following gentlemen were elected a committee:— Revs Paterson, Elliott, Shirer, Lee, Penny, Powell, Nixon, West, Ogg, Wallis, Berry, aud Messrs Purdie, Hoby, Aitken, Newham, Tiller, J. Smith, and B, Smith, Treasurer. It was explained that the offices of President (formerly filled by the Ven Archdeacon Stock) and Secretary were left open. The Committee, it was stated, would meefr at Baker’s room this afternoon, when the Rev Mr Robjohns would be present: During the evening : several" pleasing selections were given by the church chbir, A collection was made in aid of the funds of the Society, the amount received being £9 fss fid. ' Votes of thanks fco the Chairman, to the Rev Mr Robjohns, and the pronouno'etnent of the Behe. diction by t)ie liev Mr West pqnplvicteff the meeting,'