The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-28 00:00:00

Xocal attb isttict getus.

BRITISH .9E FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

On Thursday night tho Stourbridge Auxiliary
of the British and Foreign Bible Society held
an annual meeting in the Union Hall. There
was a pretty good attendance. The Rev. H.
Sherrard presided, and there were also on the
platform the Rev. Major Paul (the deputation
from the parent society), the Rev. T. W illiams,
and the Rev. J. Richards.
The Chairman said, in the absence of Mr.
Harward, who was away from Stourbridge, he
had been asked to take the chair, and he should
open the proceedings in the usual manner by
reading the 19th psalm, and prayer. He should
not enter into any of the details of the society,
because they would hear more about it from the
deputation. He regretted that there were not
more present on that occasion, but he hoped the
Stourbridge branch of the society would in-
crease and not decrease. The object of the so-
ciety was to scatter the Word of God into all
parts of the world, and to place a copy of the
Bible in the hand of every human being. This
was a grand and glorious object. He thought
that all who believed in the Father and the Son
should join together in such an object as that of
sending the Word of God throughout all lands.
Missionaries had been and were being constantly
sent out into heathen countries, and to all parts
of the globe ; but what was wanted was to have
the Bible translated into the different languages
where the missionaries sere continuing their
labours; but this entailed considerable expense.
The work of the society began at home, and
they wanted to put into the hands of every per-
son in the country a copy of the Bible. He
hoped that the people of Stonrbridge would use
their best endeavours to spread the Word of
God, both at home and abroad, and they would
no doubt hear some very interesting details of
the work of the society in foreign countries. In
conclusion, the Chairman trusted that they would
be able in Stourbridge to do more for the society
than they had done in times past.
The Rev. J. Richards said he had to make an
apology. Some of those present were doubtless
aware that a few years ago the depot in Storm-
bridge changed hands' and consequently there
had been a little disorder, and he was not pre-
pared that night with a report of the society ;
but it would be given in a short time in a printed
form. Ile was sorry to say that there was not
au increase in the funds of the society. Some
of the subscribers had been removed from the
town, or were dead, and fresh Ones had not yet
joined. He was sorry to say, after reading the
b ;lance-sheet, that there was a balance in hand
of only All 2s. He must, however, state that
in consequence of the &rot changing bands
some of the contributions had not been collec-
ted ; but he did nut think after the collection
that evening, and the subscriptions being collec-
ted, there would be much short of A3O in
hand.

The Ray. Major Paul, the deputation, then
addressed the n:eeting. He said he"was sorry
to hear by the financial statement that there w..:s
a decrease in the funds of the Stourbridge Aux-
iliary ; but he thought if the Ladies' Auxiliary
was re-formed, the deficiency would soon be
made good, and when another report was re-
c,ived it would be very different to the one read
by Mr. Richards, regarding the financial posi.
ti.aa ef the auxiliary:
.He was afraid that in
. .

seine places the people did not think the society
wanted money, but rather fancied that they had
a privste hoard that they (mild lay their bands
on tit any time. but he could assure those pre-
sent that such woo not the can, as the society
hod not got one penny more than was shoe% n in
their annual statenee iit, and the demands on the
society were fist increasing. As they %Vele well
aware, £lO,OOO now would notgo so far as £5,000
would tee euty years ago. Provisions and every.
thing else were dearer. Every day they were
expecting to open a new field of labour in Japan,
one of the largest nations in the world, and a
Crest deal of money would be required to enable
them to spread the Word of God throughout
that vast nation, The Japanese were fast be-
coming more English. They were learning
j English and French, and were no doubt ore of
the rising nations of the world. In former
years there was a system of two parties govern-
ing at once; but that system has been abolished,
and now the party that is in power has abolished
the ancient religion of the country, Bhuddistn,
and established another religion. But they wan-
ted to cultivate the Christian religion in that
country, and he felt sure they would meet with
great success. Since the commencement of the
society about 64,000,000 of bibles had been cir-
culated throughout the world; but of this num-
ber only 6,000,000 copies had been distributed
amongst the heathens—amongst about eight
hundred millions. It was time they had mis-
sionaries all over the world ; but they were only
a handful of men when compared with the vast
hordes that are still heathens. The demands
for the Word of God were increasing very much,
and he hoped the Stourbridge branch would not
get behind but greatly increase, lie mentioned
an instance where in a little country village of
about 700 inhabitants he gave two lectures, and
at those lectures the working classes who were
present contributed nearly £4O towards the so-
ciety. He thought that ought to stimulate the
Stourbridge people to further exertions. The
rev, gentleman proceeded at some length to
show what good had been done by the society in
India, China, Japan, the South Seas, and other
places, and tried to impress upon the minds of
those present the desirability of increasing the
funds of the society to enable them to carry out
the great work they had been called on to do.
The proceedings were brought to a close by
votes of thanks to the Chairman and the Depu-
, tation.