M R. R. E. BRIDER, Bristol, sends us the following Report, which we have no doubt will be perused with much interest by our readers:—
Forty-Seventh Annual Report for Year ending 30th September, 1920.
“Holding forth the word of life.”—PHIL. ii. 16.
The objects of the Mission are to receive books, magazines, and tracts for circulation in the United Services, and to collect funds for general expenses and for purchasing Gospel literature.
DEAR FRIENDS,—It is with a deep sense of the goodness of God and with adoring gratitude to Him that we sit down to write another Report of our work. Present conditions are full of difficulty, and we feel more than ever that our Refuge is in the Lord.
The Book Mission labours for men on land and sea in providing them with sound truth, and the books have been a great blessing to our soldiers and sailors, and hailed with joy by them in barrack-rooms, in camps, on board ship, and in hospitals at home and abroad. Missionaries in all parts look to the Book Mission for continual supplies of literature, and are constantly asking for more.
During the year we have been able to scatter eight tons of the best literature, including books, Bibles, Testaments, magazines and tracts at different parts, and to gather up this amount of truth again one would have to traverse the four quarters of the globe. Many letters of testimony and gratitude have reached us telling of good done, but owing to the heavy cost of printing we have thought it well this year to omit the usual letters in this report. Through the kindness of the Editor, the Rev. Thomas Houghton, letters have been published monthly in the Gospel Magazine.
It now remains for us to gratefully thank the kind Editor, also Rev. J. S. Sinclair, Mr. C. J. Cowell, Mr. R. Elliott, Mr. J. K. Popham, Mr. F. J. Kirby, Mr. M. J. Tryon, Mr. J. T. Mawson, etc., for their kindness, and generous gifts of literature.
Parcels of literature have reached us from all parts of the kingdom, and we warmly thank the kind friends who have thus helped us.
The enemies of truth are very busy in the work of sowing tares among our soldiers and sailors, so that we need all the more to offset such activity by the widespread dissemination of sound Gospel literature.
We again ask our friends to send us their books and magazines. Away on the lonely deep or in a foreign land such books are treasured and read and re-read with avidity. Again and again we have heard of the conversion of souls by the reading of these books.
Following is a complete list of Subscribers, together with a correct account of expenses, showing a balance of £1 5s. 6d., with which the forty-eighth year of labour has been started. We gratefully thank the kind friends who have supported the funds, and earnestly seek their continued aid, also new subscribers to take the place of those who have been called away by death.
Pray for us that the literature sent out far and wide may, by the blessing of God, redound to His eternal glory in the gathering of souls to Himself, and the building up and encouragement and comfort of His people in the British Army and Navy.
R. E. BRIDER.
6 STIRLING ROAD, BATH ROAD,
BRISTOL, October, 1920.
The Library.
The Library.—We have made an effort to revive this library, which was in use before the War. Much is done in providing worldly books for the men, while but little is done to provide Christian men with helpful books for study. Biblical and expository works, Christian biography, history, Protestant subjects, etc., are needed. There is a tremendous call for books of truth. Will you kindly give us your help?
Gifts of volumes, carriage paid, will be heartily welcomed by Miss Jessie Brider, 6 Stirling Road, Bath Road, Bristol.
WE regret that an obituary sketch of Mr. John MacLachlan, Tighnabruaich, is held over till next month.