OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 53

OTAGO BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The forty-second annual meeting, of the Otago Bible Society, held in First Church Hall on the 17th inst., was attended by about 50 friends. The Rev. C. H. Laws eaid he had been asked to take the chair in the absence of their president (Mr W. Brown), who had not yet . returned from a visit to England, where he had been received in a' very cordial manner. He thought it would be a very good thing if, on Mr Brown's return, a special meeting of the Otago&Bociety was held to hear the very interesting story that gentleman would have to tell, for he had been receiving special honours in the Old Country as the representative of the Otago Society. The National Bible Society of Scotland presented Mr Brown with a handsome Bible, specially -got up for those who had been 40 years in its service. The British and Foreign Bible Society had also appointed him honorary governor of the society for life. Referring to the financial position of their society, the Chairman, pointed out that the receipts for the past year had been £668 Is 2d, which included a balance brought forward of £59 9s od. This was the highest amount yet collected by them, but he regretted to say that some of the churches had discontinued their annual contributions. Dunedin churches had contributed £72 14b 7d, 'and although it was hardly proper to specially refer to individuals, where all. had done so well, he might be pardoned for pointing out that two-thirds of the amount named had been collected by Mrs R. Nisbet. He further referred to the very amount of £50 17s 2d collected by the Roslyn, ELaikorai, and Maori Hill churohes. The expenditure for the year showed that £545 "12s had been remitted to the home societies—£23o to the British and Foreign Bible Society and £230 to the National Bible Society of Scotland,— the latter society acknowledging the contribution in the warmest terms. -The Chairman referred at some length i* the ' work being carried on. in all parts of the world by the British and Foreign Bible Society, who had successfully raised a quarter of a million sterling as a centenary fund, which large amount would be available for progressive work. He ooncluded by urging the claims of the Otago Bible Society on the support of all the churches, and moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, and that they express gratitude to God for His manifest blessing on the labours of the past year, and anew commended the work of the society to the sympathetic interest and support of the Christian people and the churches of Otago and Southland. The Rev. W. Hewitson seconded, and explained that the apparent want of appreciation shown by the churches to the work of their 6ociety was in a great measure owing to the fact that so many other societies claimed support. The importance of the work done by Bible societies was very forcibly put, he* said, by the Bishop of Newcastle recently, who declared there conlcL l>e no foreign missionary societies ln. existence without the work done by Bible i societies. The motion was carried, the printed re- , port and balance sheet being taken as read. The Secretary (Rev. D. Borrie) moved— j " That this society congratulates Mr Wm. Brown, (president) on the honours conferred upon him by the British societies, thanking those societies for so honouring him, and so honouring the Otago Society with which he has been so lono; connected." The mover pointed out that for over 40 years Mr Brown had been working for the Otago ' Society in his own quid way. He instanced the good work done in the various branches, but regretted they had decreased in number. If the dry-rot set in amongst those branches they would hardly know where it would end. The Bible Sunday movement, he also pointed out, had been a failure, but if made a success would be the means of infusing a great deal more spirit into the society. i The motion was seconded by Mr E. I Rosevear (hop. treasurer), and carriecl. i The Rev. J. Chisholm moved a vote of thanks to the officers of the society, the branch secretaries, and especially the collectors for their faithfulness, congratulating them on their success, and sending best wishes for greater success in the eominsr year.— ■ Seconded by Dr Nicqlson, and carried. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland submitted a motion accepting the resignation of the Rev. W. T. . Todd as a member of the ''Board of Management, thanking him for past services, and congratulating him on his appointment to the ministry at StrathTaieri.— Seconded by Mr G. Roed, and carried. v The Rev R. Wood moved—" That the retiring members of the board, the Rev. W. Hewitson and Messrs W. Brown and P. Barr, be re-elected members of the board, and Mr David Todd in place of the Rev. W. T. Todd, resigned." The mover regretted the want of study of the Bible characteristic of the present day, and suggested the employment of in increased

| number of colporteurs. — Seconded by Mf, 1 G. Reed, and carried, the Rev. R. R. M*Sutherland supporting the suggestion' thrown out by the Rev. R. Wood. A vote of thanks to the chairman, and a special vote to the secretary (Rev. D» Borrie) for his long continued and valuable services brought the proceedings to a close. The annual report distributed at thtf meeting 6et out at length the honours don< to Mr Wm. Brown (president) at Eduy. burgh and London, the work- done during the year by the Otago Society, the progress made in distributing periodical . literature from the Home societies now posted directf from Britain, the Bible Sunday movement, and the work done amongst Dunedin. churohes and country branches. The -balance sheet gave details of receipts an<t expenditure, duly audited.