STILL BEST SELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18807, 1 December 1932, Page 2

STILL BEST SELLER.

DISTRIBUTING THE BIBLE DEPRESSION BENEFITS SALES. WORK IN HAMILTON DISTRICT. Despite financial depression, economic ills, and all the other ailments from which the world is said to oe suffering, the work of the British ami Foreign Bible Society in spreading the Gospel among the nations and races of the earth through the distribution of the Bible continues to prosper, and it still remains the world’s best-seller, its purchasers having increased ratlin than declined. Good work is being done in this district by the branches of the Hamilton district area of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and at the annual meeting in the Y.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon gratifying reports on a successful year’s work were received. There was an attendance 01 about 70 at the meeting, the president (Mrs Stephenson Craig) presiding. Among those present were the Mayoress of Hamilton (Mrs F. D. Pinfold), and the Rev. David Calder, of Wellington, Dominion secretary of the ■society. Several apologies for absence were received, including one from Mr D. Stewart Reid, M.P. “No repbrt can adequately describe the activities of the year,” said Miss B. Henry, the secretary, in presenting her annual report. “Despite difficult financial conditions, we have had a remarkably successful year, and 20 new collectors have come forward. to help. Donations have shown an increase, due to greater interest in our work. Realising the times were fraught with much difficulty, a day of prayer was held for the work in May, which proved so rich in blessing that it was decided to make this an annual fixture. The year’s operations commenced on July 3 with Bible Sunday, which was observed as usual in most of our churohes by constructive sermons referring to the society. Many different meetings were addressed. The first five town meetings by Miss Jessie Graham, of the Regions Beyond Missionary Union, Bihar, North India, whose telling incidents of the necessity of the Scriptures supplied by the society in her 20 years’ experience of missionary work in India, were most heartening to our helpers. The majority of the branch meetings were held in private homes, and the society "is much indebted to all those ladies who kindly acted as hostesses. New Branoh Formed. “The branches received their usual yearly visitation, and a new branch was formed at Horotiu, but this year, with four workers instead of one, has more than doubled its returns. The area of Ngahinapouri branch has been extended by having the Te Rore district added. The number of branches now stands at 15. In the town branches, Whitiora, Hamilton West, aohieved the greatest results. The sum of £270 Is was received this year—a small inorease over last year. In comparison with other years .this is a satisfactory total, for which we are mainly indebted to the faithful, arduous and at times difficult work of our 174 lady collectors, who are 20 more In number than last year.” The speaker went on to refer in eulogistic terms to 1 the assistance rendered by many helpers, and mentioned the society’s display at the Winter Show, where over 300 Bibles were sold in the five days. The report concluded with a reference to the progress made by the parent society, and thanked all the workers in this district for their continued enthusiasm In presenting the statement of accounts the treasurer (Mr C. L. MacDiarmid) said that the reoeipts had Increased by -£4 5s in the past year. Credit was due to Miss Henry for her work. Rev. D. Calder paid a tribute to the workers in this district for their valuable work, specially referring to the enthusiasm of Mrs Craig and Miss Henry, and the assistance rendered by Mr MaoDlarmid. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Eleotlon of Officers. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted: President, Mrs Stephenson Craig; vice-presidents, Mrs W. Fraser, Rev. H. U. Gilbert, Messrs E. V. Stace, F. Findlay, T. White; secretary, Miss Barbara Henry; treasurer, Mr C. L. Mac Diarmid. Commenting on the past year Mrs Craig quoted Kipling’s sentiment that it was the white man’s duty to raise the native peoples of the earth. The British and Foreign Bible Sooiety was playing its part in giving the Bible to the dark corners of the globe. While the society was doing this New Zealand's legislators were keeping the Bible from the children of the Slate schools by refusing the Bible in Schools Enabling Bill. While all were thankful that the Nelson system was in operation, this system did not reach every child. They could only hope that the Bill would be accepted at some future date, and God's word introduced into the schools’ curriculum. Rev. F. J. Parker spoke on the Bible as one of the sanctuaries of life in modern times, and referred to the insufficiency of the Nelson system as a means of giving the Bible to the- children of New Zealand’s schools. Through the lack ot' interest of the Government it seemed that the younger generation were growing up a race of atheists. They were lacking in a knowledge of the Biblical characters, and a greater opportunity to give them Hits education was an urgent need. The Bible was still an open sanctuary, and lie urged one and all to seek comfort in it. Spreading tho Gospel. A review of the world work of the sooiety was given by Rev. D. Calder, the Dominion secretary. Apart from the apparent things of depression, New Zealand was passing through the most wonderful days for many decades. He passed up and down the Dominion many times in the year, and preached in many pulpits, and lie was prepared to assert, that people were attending church more regularly and in greater numbers than for many years. It was also easier to speak In men in tiie street in the matter of lb" finer tilings of life than in the past. They were up against, it, ami ready to accept, these higher sentiments. The youth movements were grealjy expanding and Bible classes were found jn practically every church. Lost Easier there must have been well over 10,000 young people meeting for Christian purposes. “I believe our young people in I he twenties arc more serious minded," ho saiii. “They were brought, up- in t.ho war period, and now they arc facing this depression. In spite of the difficulty of tho times, tho Bible Society continues to do great work

and there is still a great demand for God's Word. While other things have gone down by a great proportion, our finance has only diminished slightly, i This has been due to tire self-deniu of the givers and the earnestness of j the collectors, who acknowledge the i primary need of the Scriptures.” I Referring to the work of the society, Ihe said that the years of depression I had made a greater rather than a ! diminished demand for Hie Book of I Books, it was still the world’s best- | seller. Last year the sale of Bibles in the English language was over 58,000 higher than in any previous year. "It is customary to refer to the Bible as the world's best-seller, but one edition alone has achieved that distinction," lie said. “The new Sunday School Bible sold to the number of 357,000 in eight months. There have been remarkable sales increase-, not only in England, but in , Egypt, Arabia, Persia, China and oilier countries. Throughout the world Gospel portions have not sold to nearly the same number as in former years, particularly in China, hut even here the number of Testaments and Bibles sold was truly remarkable. The British Society announces a distribution of 10,552,284 volumes, and the American Society 9,745,305, while the Scottish Society distributed 4,015,109 volumes. Together these three societies sent out a total of 1,418,405 Billies. 1,041,882 Testaments, and 21,852,452 portions—a grand total of 24,912,74’) copies. To these must be added the issues of Ihe Scripture Gifts Mission, which were over 3,000,000 copies, and there are other • publishing societies and commercial printing houses whose Bible business is flourishing. European Sates. In the foreign field the Scriptures are ever to the forefront of the advancing misisonary cause. Even m Europe quite a revival of personal religion seems to be taking place. Reports from bookshops and manufacturers in Paris show that the Bible has increased its sales in the past three years from 500,000 to nearly 3,000,000 copies. In Spain, Portugal], Switzerland and Belgium increases are also reported. The tonic for to-day is in the real facts of advance, and surely these are such. The tide is coming in, and while the pressure of world economic depression will raise a barrier to its advance, it will yet overcome this. Already the far-back creeks and inlets are filling with the cleansing tide. A colporteur discovered a group of people gathered for worship. Their only source of light and guidance was a Bible, and upon'it they had founded a church. In China a group of peasants is venturing to challenge red Communism with a manner of life that resembles the early apostolic experiment. They have set themselves to read, study and act upon the teachings of the Bible, and their number is multiplying. The salty tang of the Gospel Hoodtide is refreshing." During the afternoon Mrs Beeba entertained with a song. At the conclusion of the meeting afternoon tea was served.