OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15858, 2 September 1913, Page 2

OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

The report of the Otago Bible Society, to be presented at the annual meetirtg, contains the following;— The work of the society has gone oh steadily during the past year. The hopes expressed in last report in regard to an advance in the financial results 01 the year's efforts have not been realised to the extent desired. Soveral circumstanccs made the year a difficult one for sonic of' the brandies. There is a slight increase in the total amount received. The balance carried forward from last year (£52 9s 8d) was considerably smaller thin that with which the year opened (£77 7s 6d). The efforts of the branch" secretaries, collectors, etc., resulted in the sum of £538 12s 8d being raised, an increase of.£lo 4s 2d on the amount received last year. Principally as tho result of the diligence and enthusiasm of the secretary (Mr D. Harvey), Gore has of late years come into prominence among the country branches -of the society, and for the past year or two substantial amounts have come from that important centra. Unfortunately, duping the year tho whole Mataura Valley was visited by the most, disastrous flood ever experienced since its colonisation, the town of Gore iteelf suffering most severely. The weather conditions following upon the flood were not- such as to facilitate a' speedy recovery from its effects. Under these circumstanccs it became necessary to postpone the collection. Another branch which reports considerably less this year is Invercargill. Many chnnges' have taken place in the personnel of the ministry and othpr helpers of the society there, and while there is every reason tobelieve that those who are now on the field are as willing and able to help as those who have pissed on elsewhere, the work of the society has undoubtedly suffered during the period of transition. Refcrenco is made to the coming jubilee of the society. It was established on September _ 20, 1864, and since that time it has carried on its work quietly and unobtrusively. It is suggested that members should set themselves to double the usual amount of their remittances to the parent societies (£500), and to send to the British and Foreign Bible Society and tho National Biblo Society of Scotland a total contribution of £1000. To accomplish this result it would bo necessary to organise more thoroughly and to make a more systematic campaign from Waitaki to Bluff. It will be necessary, also, it is felt, to give the society greater prominence before the people of the churches. Financial.—lncluding the balanco carried forward after tho allocation of the funds last year (£52 9s 8d), the treasurer has received the sum of £641 12s 4d from all sources. This amount includes -tho following, tho figures for last year being- appended in parenthesesDunedin and suburbs,' £180 lis 6d (£176 8s 9d); country branches, £294 19s 6d (£2?fl 5a 8d); country collectors, £80 15s 7d (£B7 6s 8d); donations, church collections, etc., £19 4s Id; Rev, F. H, Spencer's meetings, £13 2s. During the year a grant of. Bibles was made to the Industrial school, at a cost of £1 12s. The expenses have been less than last' year, being £53 Is 7d as compared with £58 9s lid. After meeting the cost' of carrying on the work, the year closed with, a balance in hand of £566 2s 2d. From this amount the board proposes to make the following appropriationsTo tho British and Foreign Bible Society (free contribution), £210; net amount for Mr Spencer's meetings, £11 8s 3d; Adelaide Auxiliary; . for periodicals (1911), £50 4s; to the National Bible Society 'of Scotland (free , contribution), £260;— total, £531 12s 3d; leaving a balance in hand to meet the expenses of ensuing year, £34 9s 9d. Distribution of periodicals: Further changes have been made; in the arrangements for tho distribution of periodicals during the year. Tho British 'and Foreign Bible Society Magazines are now being issued through tlie New Zealand Bible, Tract, and Book Society, Dunedin. This arrangement has been working, viery satisfactorily. The New Zealand Bible, Tract, and Book Society reports a satisfactory year in its circulation of the Scriptures'. Th:s society is distinct from, and does not participate in, the funds collected for or by the Otago Biblo' Society. An interestingfeature in Biblo circulation is that some. Sunday school teachers are' taking more interest in seeing that each scholar possesses his or her own Bible. • The proportion of Bibles purchased by Sunday schools for prizes and awards has been well maintained. At the military campe a number of cheap Testaments, and Gospel portions were circulated.. The members retiring by rotation this year are the Rev. Professor Ilewitson, and Messrs W. Brown and P. Barr, all of whom are eligible for re-elec-tion. The report goes on to refer to tho work accomplished during the -year by the parent societies, and afterwards give detailed particulars of the work of the society in Otago, giving the amounts contributed during the year in the various districts and comparing these with the previous year's contributions. In nearly every instance increases, frequently substantial, are shown. The collection in Gore, as already stated, has been postponed. . , ,