BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 16 December 1912, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The British and Foreign Bible Society has usually closed its year in October, but it seemed impossible to get the money in till well on into -December, and as this proved to be an inconvenient time of the year it" has been determined to close in the beginning of May. Last May a short report was issued, showing what had been" received up to that date. Since then," further money has been received, or reported, so that' from this time last year till the present a total amount of about £1356 has been sent forward for the work of the Society,' but nothing has been reported from Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, Christchurch and Otago, which, judging by last year's amounts, should add another "£7OO, which would make the amount over 2000. This seems a large sum, 'but everything is proportionate, and as about £23,000 is being spent on Foreign Missions iby the several churches, it is only about 8 per cent, of the total. In order to be well abreast of the demand that foreign missions create, at least £5,000 should be contributed to the Bible Society, and all supporters of missions should supply the seed as well as the sending of the Sower. Of the total amount sent, Wanganui and district sent about £187, and the following collected in and about the town:—Mr. Babbage £1 10s;, Mrs. Blyth £7 10s., Mr. J. C. BTechin £6 2s. Miss Bridge £2 75., Mrs. Garrett £1 125., Miss Hogg £2 ss.- Miss McWiljiam £4 155., Miss Parsons £10 175.. Miss Richardson £1 45., Mrs. Spencer £14 13s:, Miss E. Taylor £5 125., Miss Tucker £6 18s., Mrs. Williams £11 16s. The following support Bible women and colporteurs.: Messrs. McGrath and Denton r Miss Parsons, and the Rev., F. H. and Mrs. Spencer. These workers 'circulate the Scriptures in such countries as China and India. A large and well assorted stock of Bibles and Testaments in English, Maori, Latin Greek, French and German "are/stocked *t the agent's residence. Some lines of old stock are on sale at half price. An impression is abroad that the Society sella at under cost price. This is not the case in Australasia, where an average profit of 25 per cent, is made on all new stock, except where books are sold to Sunday schools, which receive a discount of 10 per cent, from the ordinary price. In ordinary cases the principle of the-Society in dealing with books in English is to sell a good, wellbound copy at a reasonable price, but when the foreign field is in question then the principle is to sell at ihe price the1 purchaser can pay, and as the vast number of people are very indigent this works out in receiving only 7s. 6d. for every £1 spent. \ Hence the need of the Christian public contributing,, so that all, wherever they live, niay possess that Book which makes wise unto salvation and produces a true brotherly spirit between all men.