A Retrospect

1896

October 29 The annual meetings of the Ledbury Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society were held.

1897

October 26 the annual meetings of the Bible Society were held in the Town Hall, the official deputation being Rev. Richard PERKINS.

1898

October 26 The Annual Meetings of the Ledbury Auxiliary British and Foreign Bible Society were held.

1900

November 1 Annual Meetings of Ledbury Auxiliary Bible Society.
1900

October 25 Annual Meetings of the Ledbury Auxiliary Bible Society at the Town Hall. Deputation: Rev. J. ALSTON.
1902

November 20 Annual Meetings of the Ledbury Auxiliary British and Foreign Bible Society in the Town Hall: Deputation, Rev. C. MOOR, M.A., Secretary Midland District.

The annual meetings in connection with the Ledbury Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society were held at the Town Hall, Ledbury, on Thursday. There was only a moderate attendance at the afternoon meeting, over which the Rev. F. S. STOOKE-VAUGHAN (vicar of Wellington Heath), presided. There were also present the Rev. W. R. BOWMAN (the deputation from the parent society), the Rev. F. W. CARNEGY (rector of Ledbury), Rev. Paul ELLIS (superintendent Wesleyan Minister), Rev. A. O. SHAW (pastor, Baptist Church), Dr. M. A.WOOD, Mr. H. BRAY (hon. treasurer), and Mr. F. E.TAYNTON (hon. secretary).

The proceedings commenced with hymn and prayer, after which Mr. BRAY presented the balance-sheet of the Ledbury Auxiliary as follows. Receipts: Collections at last annual meetings, £4 4s. 7d.; annual subscriptions £14 1s.; Ladies' Association, £5 8s. 4d.; Eastnor Church collections, £1 8s. 3d.; received for magazines, 12s. total £25 14s. 5d.

The payments were - Town Hall for meetings, 12s. 6d. hire of canteen, 5s.; printing, postages, magazines, etc., £2 19s.; contribution, £22 8s.

In the course of a few remarks, the Chairman expressed regret at the loss the society had sustained by the death of the Rector of Eastnor (the Rev. Brabazon B. HALLOWES). On several occasions the late Rector presided over their meetings, and he was a very earnest supporter of the society. By his death they all felt that they had lost a very energetic parish priest. Proceeding, the Chairman said that the higher criticism had done a great deal of mischief to the work of religion in this country, and when they knew that this religious culture hailed from Germany they all hoped that they would soon be able to put a stop, not only to Prussian militarism, but also to this higher criticism. German theologians had done their best to lower the tone of the Bible in many ways. They spoke of the Bible as though inspired, yet differed very little from the writings of Shakespeare and Tennyson, and other great writers. They could not wonder if men of learning what the German people called culture, set forth that teaching, and which was permeating into their daily Press and Sunday papers which workingmen bought, they could quite understand that that kind of thing had done a great deal of harm to the Christian religion, and lowered the tone of feeling towards God's Holy word. He hoped this feeling in respect to Germany would not stop with the abolition of military despotism, but that they would get back to the old ideal which was a true one. In conclusion, the speaker said that so far from anything having been discovered to militate against the Bible things had gone quite the other way.

The Rev. W. R. BOWMAN followed with an interesting address, in the course of which he gave a brief review of the work of the society during the past few months. He first of all referred to the lamented death of the Rector of Eastnor, who had been a strong and enthusiastic supporter of the society. His death was a great loss to the world of the society in this neighbourhood, and they all hoped that his successor would prove as equally ardent supporter of the movement. Proceeding, the speaker said the effort made to collect £500 in celebration of the society's centenary, resulted in the sum of £33. 6s. 7d. being collected from Ledbury and district, which he thought was very satisfactory. During the past year nine million copies of the Bible had been circulated through the agency of the society. During the past three months the society's responsibility had been increased as the result of the outbreak of war. When war was declared 300,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures were ordered for distribution amongst our soldiers. There were ordered to be made in a suitable form and stamped with the red cross. Many copies of the Bible had been circulated among our wounded soldiers, and in all nearly one million copies of the Bible had been circulated as the result of the war. The society had also performed very useful work through the agency of the Y.M.C.A., and on the whole the work of the society during the past year had been marked with great success.

On the motion of the Rev. A. O. Shaw, seconded by Dr. WOOD, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Chairman for presiding, and the Rev. W. R. BOWMAN for his address.

The evening meeting was well attended and interesting addresses on the work of the society were delivered.

Collections were taken on behalf of the society's funds