BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3373, 25 January 1884, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

A public meeting in connection with this Society was held last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Barnard street, for the purpose of hearing an address from the Rev. Mr Baker, the travelling agent of the Society. There was a somewhat small attendance. His Worship the Mayor presided, and there were with him on the platform, besides the Eev. Mr Baker, the Revs. W. Gillies and G. Sharp. Apologies were read from Archdeacon Harper, and Eevs. Beck and J. Sharp.

The usual devotional exercises over, the Chairman briefly referred to the usefulness, and the immense circulation of the Bible, expressed his hearty sympathy with the objects of the society, and called upon the Eev. Mr Gillies to address the meeting. The Eev, Mr Gillies said his duty was an easy one; it was to play pilot-fish to the great shark, viz., the Rev. Mr Baker. (Laughter). He did not mean to imply that Mr Baker was a shark in the usual acceptation of the word—but there was no doubt he came there to prey upon them—(laughter)—and he (the speaker) prayed.that those present would surrender themselves a willing prey to him in his noble mission. He eulogised the Society, as being unsectarian, and therefore entitled to the support of all sections of Christians. Its object was to publish and circulate, without comment, the simple Word of God. During the 80 years of its existence, the Society had published 93,000,000 copies of the Bible in 300 languages, 80 of which had to be reduced to writing for the mere purpose of circulating the Bible. These facts, for they were actual facts, not mere statements, were, to his mind, comforting and reassnring in an age of doubt, and in face of many allegations that the Bible was going out of fashion; and, that agnosticism and infidelity were gaining ground. The British and Foreign Bible Society circulated 3.000. copies per annum —(sold them too, not gave them away ; for the Society proceeded on the salutary principle that what cost nothing was never valued) — and other agencies, in Scotland, England, Ireland, and America, with the ordinary publishers, made up another 3.000. making about 6,000,000 copies per annum in all. The Society was doing its work quietly but effectively and was pouring forth throughout the world, a grand stream of Divine Truth. (Applause.) The Chairman briefly introduced the Rev. Mr Baker, who was received with loud applause. The rev. gentleman’s address, which occupied a little under an hour in delivery, was one of the most entertaining perhaps ever listened to in this town. It consisted, in fact, in a rapid succession of delightful pictures, principally of Indian life (Mr Baker having been long a missionary in India) delivered in the most natural, vivacious, and telling manner. So graphic was his account that the listner might almost feel himself standing in a native village, city or bazaar in town.

He began by stating that what he most wanted to enlist was, not the mere attention of an audience, but the sympathy and co-operation of the people. To this end, ho should like to see one collector attached to every church in the place. He was glad to find that in Timaru a good deal bad been done by various Christian ladles, and he encouraged them to persevere. The speaker related anecdotes of the Society’s work in China, Eussia, and Persia ; and then conducted his audience to India rapidly, and in the most graphic manner describing mission work there. India, ho said, offered, perhaps, the most interesting field for labour, owing to the vastness of its population, the number

of the languages and dialects spoken, and the diversity of creeds and castes ; and ho minutely described the external traits of the various sections of the people. His description of a native fair and the subsequent exhibition of the car of Juggernaut was a piece of genuine word-painting, without high coloring, and his account of a colporteur journey with a bullock cart proved irresistibly [amusing. He described with wonderful effect and much humor, life in a native village in India, and the experiences of a missionary and colporteur there. From India he passed rapidly over to the European continent, and briefly pictured the work of evangelisation in European countries. The whole of bis deeply interesting discourse tended to show that the word of God was being industriously and profitably circulated in every part of the world. The rev. gentleman, who had been listened to throughout with the deepest attention, resumed his seat amid loud and continued applause. The Eev Mr Sharp proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the Eev. Mr Baker a similar compliment to the lady collectors and the Secretary and Treasurer of the Timaru Auxiliary. Both were carried by acclamation. The meeting closed with prayer. The lady collectors are Mesdames McLennan D. Haggett, and A. Hart; Mr D. Hagget is Secretary, and Mr E. Dove Treasurer for the local branch. The depots are at Mr G. Pearson’s and Mr Wagstaff’s.