OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5938, 19 February 1881, Page 3

OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting: of the Otago Bible Society was held last night in the. Congregational Church, Moray place. There were about 30 ladies and gentlemen present. The Rev. Professor Salmond occupied the hair. Apologcies for non-attendance were received from the Revs. J. U. Davis and 0 J: Byng. 'After the meeting had been opened by praise and prayer The Key. J. Nivfss (secretary), read the following ' ANN tut REPORT.. .".'-.-■' ■ "Notwithstanding the commercial depression which has visited this land during the past year, your Com""'tee desires to eM>ress devout thankfulness'■to God that the interest in the work of Bible circulation hasnot suffered to the extent that might have been anticipated. The treasurer's balance-sheet does indeed fehow a smaller sum, than Jast year, but a very considerable number of the collectors have not sent in their returns as yet, and when all amounts are received, it 13 hoped that the sum total will riot bo far behind last year From 37 collectors contributions have becrureceived,leaving 19 who have not forwarded - , the amounts collected. . ■ , .-; •: ... : i,L'f ? p1;o *^ n p Q re^ ciate'Aether-with balance fromJast year, £220 9s id have come to hand ; and from the' sale of Bibles,-; £27503 lid-making: a-total,of ™495 ; ■ 16s 3d.*■■,.. .:■..* .•■ .-..- ....- -t\ .)•,'■•'•:■'■•'.■■ ■•■■ ',-,■■>:', ■ j" It is recommended that £50 be forwarded as a freecontribution to the 'National Bible -Society and £50 to the British and Foreign Bible Society That £888., be, forwarded to .the National°Mbfc: Society, on purchase account, and £32 2a Id be sent to the British and Foreign Bible-Society for- a I which extinguishes our liability to. that ij" As contrasted with; the- ahibunt stated inthebodr of last year s report, there is a falling off of £10016s 4d which may yet be -ultimately reduced from cbntribui 1 tions and donations, while the Bales are £11Bs Id less .than last year. . ." The number >6L Biblesiand' Testaments sold 4ast year amounted to 5038 copies. - -; Kwnl * T y b« in'erf tinB toilearn that since the year' ■'IS 7Or. w, hen the first printed reports were published— "the total amount raised by the Society is £4034 10s sil ■ 01 that 1771 Is Bd'takes the form of free contributions' and £2263 Bs_9d being proceeds of sales. The number of copies of Scripture- put in circulation cannot- be ascertained. ■ ■--..... <■~,-. ■ ■?• On looking over the subscription lists "dne cannot fail to notice the amount of labour it represents on tnepartof the collector. ; ■■ : ."The large number of. subscribers indicates that ho small portion of time has been devoted to this work of faith and labour- of love-a work which, cither in town or country, is not an easy one; and those friends who so willingly and cheerfully devote their time and strength to the ingathering of our funds should have not only pur warmest thanks, but '.also our sympathy and prayers. ._.."'; ' : " Nor must the work carried on by. the colporteurs be lost sight of. Aa far back as 1866 this agency engaged the attention of the Society The' eootl done by this means is to be measured. by the number of Bibles sold.' Rregard must be had to the many opportunities, it offers of speaking a word laseason, either to the weary, or those in distress or those who have gone out of tho way; This method of carrying the Word of. God to the very doors of multitudes is one largely employed by both the parent societies, and one which has received no small share of blessing. " Two colporteurs havo been at work during the past year. It must, however, bo understood' that: this Society docs not bear the whole burden of their support, butthat this effort is carried on in conduction with tho Book and Tract Society; the amounts for which the Bible Society is responsible being a variable .one.- ■■ t ■-■■■. ■ ■' . . -■ .. - . ■■ ■'■• ■ , .. ■•-.

"The following: facts may assist friends interested in Bible circulation • throughout the nations of the earth to notice not only the magnitude, but also the importance of this work. •

"The British and Foreign Bible Societvhas now been in existence for 70 years.. Last year the total income of that Society was £213,374 14s Bd, the total amount expended since its formation being £8,800,505

_ "Last year 2,780,362 copies of Scriptures were issued—or 88,108,419 since the year 1808, when only 81,3.67 copies were sent forth. This does not includo the numbers circulated by the 61 foreign societies winch are materially indebted to this Society for aid in the carrying on of this work. " The National Bible Society cannot boast of such a lengthened existence as the British and Foreign Bible bociety, but nevertheless has done good service, and is now carrying on a noble work. oL ?£ eir total receipts for, last year- amounted to ±.20,394 13s 7d, while 416,933 Scriptures wero issued, the total number being 6,680,168 copies j.2™m oital incomes of botli Societies amounts to f™/® 8s ?d, and together they havo issued I lb ? • P'PVing an aggregate of 93,848,587 copies of the Scriptures. And when it is remembered that in addition to these societies kindred agencies on the continent of Europe and in America are engaged in a like work, it wiU be seen that the work of Bible-circu-lation is now receiving an amount of attention more commensurate with its claims

"But, yet, there still remains much land to be possessed. Notwithstanding the number of languages in which the Scriptures are now to bo found (more than 300), there are still nations sitting in the region and shadow of death, to whom it is at once our privilege and duty to aid in sending- this Word of Life—this lamp from oS the everlasting throne— " Can we, whose souls are lighted, With wisdom from on high, Can we, to men benighted, This lamp of life deny. "' Go forward I' is the command given us. We are not to Sweary in wcU-doinir, {or the promise is that in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. And though we may not see much fruit from our labours, yet in hope and trust we are to cast our bread upon the waters, where it will not he lost, but, after many days will yield an abundant harvest. "The grass withoteth, the flowers fadeth,; but the Word of our God shall stand for ever. ,' \ "Most wondrous Book ! bright candle of the Lord! Star of eternity ; the only star By which the bavk of man can navigate The sea of life and gain the coast of bliss Securely ; only star, which rose on Time, And on its dark and troubled billows still, As generation, drifting swiftly by, Succeeded generation, threw a ray Of Heaven's own light, and, to the hills of God— The everlasting hills—pointed the tinner's eye." The Rev. Dr Stuart proposed—" That the report and balance-sheet be adopted and printed for circulation." He referred- to the excellent work done by the Society from its establishment,- when the goldfields were being opened up to the present day, to thepleasurc with which ho noted that contributions were from time to time being sent to the British and Foreign Bible Society—the noblest institution on the face of the earth, except God's Church itself. He was not greatly surprised that the contributions of the past year were small, but he was surpri-ed indeed that so small a number should attend such a meeting in Dunedin. At Home the Bible Society's meeting afforded a platform upon which all denominations met. Here, however it appeared that some considered the Bible a denominational book, and probably this society a denominational one, although it should be, and was, the reverse. Mr A. C. Beoq seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. - The Rev. Edward Best moved—"That thothauks of the Society be tendered to the retiring office-bearers, I and especially to the collectors; and that the following gentlemen be elected to office for the ensuin<* year • President, W. D. Stewart, Esq,, M.H.R.; vice-presi-dent, Professor Salmond; secretary, Rev. J Niventreasurer, Hon. T. Dick; committee—Messrs A C S^'ffi F\ Ramsa Sr. J- Fulton, M.11.1L, A. Barr, D. Wright, J. G. Fraser, J. A. Connell, E. B. Cargill, A. Renme, R. A. Lawson, J. Bathgate, and Captain Scott, R.N."

The motion was seconded by Mr Gordon Forlono, and carried.

Prior to the meeting closing-Mr J. A. Torkaxcb said he wished to mention that he ha 1 reason to be personally thankful to the Society. Persons leaving the Hospital, and sometimes, but not often, persons leaving the Gaol, asked him for Bibles; and in such cases, he was pleased to say that the Society supplied him always free of charge with copies of the Scriptures for the purpose.—(Applause.) The meeting then terminated, a collection being taken at the door. .