THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8784, 21 May 1890, Page 3

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of tho Taranaki Auxiliary of the Bible Society came off on Monday evening, in St. Mary's Schoolroom. Considering the prevalence of influenza, and the unfavourable night, there was a very good attendance. After singing, reading of Scripture, and prayer, Archdeacon Govett, 8.A., as President, introduced the proceedings by a short speech, in the course of which he regretted that this great Society had not yet quite laid hold of tho sympathies of the colony in such a way as its claims deserved. The duty remains of keeping on presenting the world-wide operations to the Christian Church, until it did establish itself in tho affections and secure the support of the community. Apologies were made for the absence of the secretary, Mr J. C. George, who is acting as foreman on a coroner's jury; Rev. W. Grant, suffering from influenza; Rev. Mr Fairclough, attending the Wesleyan Conference in Australia. The report stated that the Committee had met four times during tho year; that lady collectors had been appointed and duly authorised for New Plymouth, and an attempt made to secure collectors for Waitarn and Inglewood. The pecuniary result had been £8 18s lid. £20 had been sent towards the missionary work of the Society, which hai been duly acknowledged by Mr C. Finch, the financial secretary. His letter was read to the meeting. The balance-sheet showed that the year began with a balance of £14 10s 6d; collection, £1 10s 8d; collected by Mrs Devenish and Mrs Bauchope, £4 10s; Mrs W. A. Collis and Miss Smith, £1 17s; Miss Cottier, £2 11s lid; donations, £2 17s. Total, £27 17s Id. On the payment side: £20 had been sent to London free of charge by the Bank of New South Wales ; advertising, 15s 6d ; stationery, 12s ; telegram, Is ; balance, £6 8s 7d ; total, £27 17s Id. The adoption of the report and balancesheet was moved by Rev A. English, and seconded by Rev H. T. Rodjouns, B.A. The representative of the Society passed in review the three great departments of the Society's w ork — translation, printing, and distribution. Incidentally he mentioned that the chief of the department of translation, Rev Dr Wright, was just now attending a conference at Shanghai, debating •with missionaries and Chinese scholars some hard questions bearing on the work in China. Exhibiting then the beautiful edition of the Rarotongan Bible, he narrated its history from the day ,that John Williams landed in 1827 until now, which illustrated the methods of the Society : and took occasion to show how futile was much of the common criticism oa missionary work. The low figures which represented the contributions of NewZealand to the Society were then given. In 1888-9 New Zealand sent altogether only £441 18s Bd, of which Christchurch stood for £185, Auckland £100, Southland £57 0s 6d, Waipu £44 2s 6d, leaving only £55 15s 8d as the contribution of all the rest of the colony. The fact is that New Zealand had been to a largo extent one of the missionary fields of the Bible Society, for the Society had provided for some 140,000 Maoris 141,150 copies of the Scriptures. Now, however, even the Maoris themselves were awakening to the privilege of sharing in the missionary operations of the Society. To illustrate which, an account was given of a meeting with the Native Church Board, in connection with the opening of a new Anglican Church at the Manutukea settlement, near Gisborne. As further illustrating the multifarious operations of the Society, an account was given of the way in which it occupied Paris during the Exhibition time, and how the Figaro gave a history of the whole Bible Society's work in an edition published from the top of the Eiffel Tower. A collection was then taken. Mr N. K. McDiarmid moved, and Mr Skinxer seconded, " That the best thanks of the meeting be given to the officer?, committee, and lady collectors of the Auxiliary for their services during the past year; that the officers of the Taranaki Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society for the ensuing year be: President, Yen. Archdeacon Govett ; Treasurer, Mr J. S. McKellar ; Secretary, Mr J. C. George ; and members of Committee (with power to add to their number), Revs. F. T. Baker, A. English, Faivclough, W. Grant, Nixon, J. T. Pinfold, Messrs F. P. Corkill, and McDiarmid, Mrs Bauchope, Mrs Devenisb, Mrs W. A. Collia, Miss Smith, and Miss O. Joll." Thanks to the chair, and the Benediction closed the proceedings.