BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 596, 20 April 1870, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, was held in the Town Hall, at 7 o'clock last evening. The attendance was only middling for some time after the commencement of the proceedings, but it increased considerably as the evening advanced. On the platform were the Revs. Aldred, Knowles, Fisher, Habens, C. Fraser, W. Kirk, A. Read, and Mr F. J. Garrick. The chair was taken by Mr W. B. Bray. The proceedings were opened with prayer, by the Rev. J. W. Habens. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, referred to the great strides which had been made by the Society in the dissemination of Biblical Knowledge in different parts of the world, and notably in Spain and Italy, and urged the claims of the Society on all Christians who desired to see the propagation of the Gospel flourish in every portion of the habitable globe. Letters of apology were read by the Rev. T. R. Fisher from the Rev. C. Bowen (who enclosed hs subscription of £1 to the Society), and Mr CR. Blakiston. The Rev. J. Aldred then read the annual report as follows: — Report of the Canterbury Auxiliary Bible Society, 1870, The Committee of the Canterbury Auxiliary Bible Society are now called upon on this anniversary occasion to lay before their friends and supporters a report of the Society's operations for the past year. In addressing themselves to thie duty your committee have not anything of a special character to note, but are thankful to be able to report a steady progress. . The great end for which the Bible Sooiety exists— the circulation of the Holy Scriptures—has been kept in view by your committee : and the returns from the different depots, and also the reports from other agencies shew that a measure of success has attended the operations of your Auxiliary. Many individuals and families, through the instrumentality of this Society, have been supplied with copies of the Word of Life ; and thus ground is afforded for the hope that the reading of the Holy Scriptures has been promoted ; and a review of what has been done, during the past year, leads your committee " to thank God and take courage." " Your committee feel that the stirring exhortation of scripture, " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," has a forcible application to all who are identified with the Society's operations, and to it by God's grace, it ie hoped that they will resolve to attend. That there are many persons scattered over your province, who do not possess the Bible, your committee can entertain no doubt ; that there are many others, who although they may possess it, yet allow it to lie unread and unvalued, is equally certain. Your committee feel a deep conviction of the need of putting forth continuous and strenuous efforts to increase the circulation of the Scriptures, and that every means should be adopted to lead men to read them and to study them. Believing too, as your committee do, that in several places, if facilities existed for procuring the Scriptures, many persons would avail themselves of the opportunity and obtain them, they have taken steps to afford such facilities, and have now the satisfaction and pleasure to state for the information of the friends and supporters of the Society, that the number of depots for the'ensuing year will more than double that of the present. Your committee earnestly ask for the hearty and continuous co-operation of all the friends of the Bible Society. The work in which the Society is engaged is of no ordinary character. The book which you aim to circulate is of momentous importance to man. It records, in plainest lines, the will of Almighty God respecting man. It tells him of his fallen, lost, depraved, and helpless condition by nature, and points him to a Mighty Saviour able and willing to save. Obedience to its precepts is promotive of the best interests of man, even in " the life that now is." It teacheth that righteousness which '• exalteth a nation." A life spent in obedience to its inspired lessons ensures to man peace, comfort, and hope in life's last hour, and makes sure to him on his entrance into the eternal world of a welcome from God the Saviour himself into that " kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world." What higher or nobler or holier work can en» gage the attention of man than the circulation of so priceless a book ? What treasure of equal preciousness to the Bible can the tongue of man recommend or his hand supply. Finally, your Committee deeply and increasingly feel the need of the Holy Spirit's gracious and promised aid. Without the Divine blessing, they are conscious that no real success can crown their operations. " All the good that is done on the earth it is tbe Lord who doeth it." That the blessing of God may be vouchsafed to the Society, they ask on its behalf earnest, persevering, and believing prayer. And for whatever good your Auxiliary may have been the instrument of accomplishing, during either the present or preceding years, they would call upon all its friends to present unfeigned and fervent thanksgiving to God, to whom alone it is due. " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto ua, but to thy name give glory." Your Committee will now proceed to lay before you a statement of the operations at the Canterbury Auxiliary for the year : — 1. Total Receipts.— Sale of Bibles at the Christchurch Depot, £51 13s 7d } ditto, at the Timaru Depot, £11 13s 2d ; ditto, at the Lyttelton Depot, £3 9s 6d ; Free contributions, £143 4s 9d. JI. Remitted to Parent Society.— Free Con-

tributions. — For general objects of society, £50; for circulation of Bibles in Spain, £50; on purchase account, £50. Total, £150. 111. Supply of Scriptures.— Five cases of Bibles, ex Caroline Coventry, have been received; another shipment has been ordered and may b» Bhortly expected. IV. Branches and Depots. — Timaru.— By the zealous efforts of Mr Hutton a considerable number of Bibles have been sold, and an order has been received for further supplies. V. New Depots. — At the request of your committee the following friends of the society have kindly consented to undertake the sale of Bibles : — Messrs Callender, Newnham and Co., Kaiapoi; Mr Stephen Early, Moeraki Downs; Mr Rule, Springston; the Misses Hawley, Leithfield; Messrs. D. and D. Cameron, Saltwater Creek ; Messrs John Gordon and Co., Selwyn. The Parent Society. — The sixty-fifth anniversary of the Parent Society was held on May 5, 1869. The report submitted to the meeting furnished, as usual, much that called for gratitude to Almighty God. The completion, without any permanent debt, of the Society's new and beautiful structure, the foundation stone of which was laid by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, was thankfully reported. Its dedication was celebrated by a special service in St. Paul's Cathedral. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury preached on the occasion. In the building itself a meeting was also held, in which the Rev T. Binny, Dr Cumming, and other well known friends of the Society took a part. The total net receipts for tbe year reached the sum of £187,9852 9s 7d. The total net payments £187.537 2s sd. The Society's field of operations becomes every year wider ; and, blessed in the future as in the past, that longed-for day is not far distant when the Word of God will be published in every tongue. It is even now wholly, or in portions, printed in 185 languages or dialects. Portions of Scriptures are also furnished by tbe Society which even the blind may learn to read. Legal enactments, long in existence, prohibiting the circulation of the Bible, have been rescinded ; and there is now but one spot on our globe on which such a ban survives. It is true that the report tells of other forms of fearful opposition to the Bible; the persecution and sufferings of colporteurs in divers places ; the burning of Bibles, as well as of other causes of discouragement; but undaunted by such things as these, the Society determines to persevere in its great and glorious work. And who, looking at the feeble rise of the Society but sixty-five years ago, reviewing its history, and noting its magnitude and prospects of to-day, can refrain from excaiming, " What bath God wrought ?" The Rev. T. R.Fisher, one of the secrc taries, read ths balance sheet, for the year ending April 19, from which it appeared that the balance from last year was £38 12s 7d, which, together with the receipts for the year, made an aggregate of £265 10s 2d. The expenditure was £23 18s 9d, which left a credit balance of £241 lis sd. The Rev, Fbancis Knowles, who was called upon to move the first resolution, delivered an eloquent address on behalf of the Society, and attributed the success which it had achieved in a great measure to the ardour displayed by its two secretaries — the Rev. T. R. Fisher and J. Aldred. He moved, " That the report, which is now read, be adopted, and be printed under the direction of the committee." Mr F. J. Gabbick in seconding the motion, said he would have been glad to see all the ministers of Christ on the platform, as be thought that at a meeting of this Soeiety they could all meet on the same platform with one heart, one thought, and one soul. The resolution was unanimously agreed to. Ths Rev. W. Kirk, who regretted that auxiliary societies had not been established in Nelson and Wellington, proposed the second resolution as follows :— " That this meeting desires to acknowledge the goodness of God in the blessing which has rested on the efforts of the parent society during the last year, and recognise in its continuslly enlarging sphere of labour a fresh call to perseverance and prayer." The motion was seconded by the Rev. J. W. Habens, and unanimously agreed to. The Rev. Chas. Fraseb proposed the third resolution as follows : — " That the cordial thanks of this meeting are due and are hereby tendered to the collectors for their valuable services ; also to the treasurer, secretaries, and committee ; and that the following gentlemen be officers and committee for the ensuing year:— Treasurer, J. H. Twentyman ; secretaries, Rev. T. R. Fisher and J. Aldred ; committee, Messrs Fletcher, Inglis, Jameson, George Booth, C. R. Blakiston, R. Black, W. Gavin, J. Grigg, F. J. Garrick, D. Craig, J. G. Hawkes, J. Anderson, and VV. B. Bray, with ministers of all denominations, who are subscribers to the funds of tbe Society." The mation was seconded by tbe Rev A. Reid, and unanimously agreed to. On the motion of the Rev T. R. Fisher. seconded by Mr D. Craig, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman. A collection was then made on behalf of the Society. The Doxology was sung, and the meeting was cosed with prayer, offered by the Rev A. Reid.