BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Age, 14 August 1928, Page 4

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING THE WAIRARAPA AUXILIARY The annual meeting of the Wairarapa Auxiliary of the British and • Foreign Bible Society was held in the Primary Department of Knox Church, Masterton, yesterday afternoon. There was a representative attendance. The president, the Rev. E. O. Blamires, occupied the chair. Mrs F. Porter, the organising secretary of the Wellington area, was also in attendance. The annual report disclosed that the year had been a most successful one, the sum of £lOl 8s 5d having been collected i# the Masterton district compared with £97 17s lid last voar.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: I’iesidcnt, Rev. E. O. Blamircs, vice-presidents, Revs. W. Bullock, J. Davie, E. W. Weymouth, E. McLevie, R. Dickie, S. Keen. Commandant. Simpson, Mesdamcs K H. Bcetham, J. Macßae; secretary, Mrs E. J. Brown: treasurer, Mr. A. J. Daysh; committee, Mesdam.es J. Macßae. H. H. Bcetham, J. Davie, E. O. Blamircs, E. J. Brown, S. J. Smith, A. C. Major, J. ‘McGregor, J. Pe.rry, E. W Weymouth, Malcolm McGregor, Miss Lois McGregor and Mr E. Hale. Mr. Blamires congratulated the branch on the splendid work of the year, especially referring to the work of the officials and collectors of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. He said the Bible was a book whose value grew on those whose deepening natures, heightened thought and broadened experience gave them ability to apprise its true worth. His Majesty King George V spoke in a representative capacity, recognising wl;at the Bible had done in the production of the highest type of British character when he acknowledged the gift of a copy of the Bible in these words: “That world-famed translation of the Bible into our tongue gave freely to the whole English people the right and the power to search for themselves for the truths and consolations of our faith, and during 300 years the multiplying millions of the English speaking races have turned in their need, and drawn upon its inexhaustible springs of wisdom, courage, and joy. It is my confident hope that my subjects may never cease to cherish, their -noble inheritance of the English Bible, which in a secular aspect is the first of national treasures; and in its spiritual significance the most valuable thing that this world affords.’’

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Bible Society in London last May, ,tho Righ Hon. Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister of England, referred to the Bible in. the following terms: “The Bible penetrated the life and thought of our people in the seventeenth century and transformed their daily expedience, and it. effected this not only because of the supreme quality of the literature, but because ‘the Spirit breathes upon, the Word.’ To-day, if it be that those figures which I rend to you of the supremacy of the version of our childhood are maintained, it is not that the Authorised Version is more inspired, but that for three centuries it has shaped the lives and coloured the traditions of our people, fashioned our literature, and .filled our memories with the unforgettable experiences of childhood. It was that Version, too. that inspired so many of ouii hymn writers who for centuries past have played so large a part in the spiritual elevation of the British people?” And the Bishop of York, now designated Archbishop of Canterbury, in commenting on the Prime Minister’s address, said: “ £ venture respectfully t to say that there is something wrong in our Christian England if we cannot all combine in securing in all our schools a Christian education based upon the Bible.” New Zealand newspapers, said Mr, Blamires, had recently printed, mostly from anonymous correspondents, criticisms of the Bible with a -distinctly and narrowly rationalistic flavoui. but there was clear evidence in all such criticism. that the. Bible was unaffected. The critics were criticising themselves in revelations of their own limited understanding. He referred, to the Bible .Society’s work as an index of the spread of Christianity through the world. The Bible was still the “best seller.” In fourteen new versions last year, making 608 languages in all, the Bible had been disseminated in million's of copies. The value of mis to Christianity could not be over-estimat-ed.

Mrs. F. Porter also delivered an inspiring address on the activities of the organisation, which was listened to with the keenest’ interest. She also congratulated the collectors on the splendid success of the past year’s campaign.

x At the conclusion of the meeting afternoon tea was dispensed by Mesdames H. H. Beetham and J. Macßae, to whom a special vote of thanks was passed.