The Hibernian Bible Society (originally known as the Dublin Bible Society) was founded in
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
in 1806, to encourage a wider circulation of the
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
in Ireland. The first meeting was held at the
Royal Exchange, Dublin, on 10 November 1806, with Lord Belvedere in the chair.
It was founded by the Rev.
Benjamin Williams Mathias (1772–1841), a leading figure in the evangelical movement in the
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the second ...
and others. On behalf of the society, Mathias travelled widely throughout the country, and he was a founder member of the Hibernian Church Missionary Society (1814) for evangelism overseas. A large number of Auxiliary Societies were established throughout Ireland in the decades following its founding. Rev. Dr.
John H Singer served as secretary.
In 1812, the Ladies' Auxiliary Bible Society was set up in Dublin, in order to contribute to the society's work. This included contemporary figures Ladies Castlecoote and Molyneux, the Viscountesses of Lorton and Lifford and Countesses of Meath, Westmeath, and Leitrim. It was stressed how important it was that all duties attached to the Ladies' Auxiliary should be regulated with more than ordinary regard to propriety and decorum. Within a few years, the ladies in Ireland had set up 71 auxiliaries, 331 branches and 203 associations.
At its founding, the society was supported by the bishops of Dublin and Tuam. It was expected that it should confine itself to the task of circulating the Scriptures, without note or comment. In some quarters, the methods of the society failed to commend themselves to Churchmen of the Church of Ireland. Remonstrances were made from time to time, and animated discussions took place both in the committee and at the public meetings of the society. In the opinion of O'Beirne, Bishop of Meath, "the management of the Hibernian Bible Society has entirely fallen into the hands of sectaries and seceders, and the establishment of their auxiliary societies, wherever it takes place through the country, has for its immediate object the increase of the number of their proselytes, and the extension and prevalence of their doctrines."
With the Belfast Bible Society becoming independent and forming the ''Northern Ireland Bible Society'' in 1987, The Hibernian Bible Society changed its name to the ''Bible Society of Ireland'' and it changed again in 1989 to the ''National Bible Society of Ireland'',
NBSI Annual Report 1991-1992
National Bible Society of Ireland. and is member of the United Bible Societies
The United Bible Societies (UBS) is a global fellowship of around 150 Bible Societies operating in more than 240 countries and territories. It has working hubs in England, Singapore, Nairobi and Miami. The headquarters are located in Swindon, Eng ...
since 1949.
Over the years the Bible society has become more ecumenical involving other denominations including Roman Catholic.
The National Bible Society of Ireland is headquartered at 41 Dawson Street, Dublin, where it operated a bookshop called Bestseller.
The Society hosts the ''Bedell-Boyle Lecture'', each year named in honour of Bishop William Bedell
The Rt. Rev. William Bedell, D.D. ( ga, Uilliam Beidil; 15717 February 1642), was an Anglican churchman who served as Lord Bishop of Kilmore, as well as Provost of Trinity College Dublin.
Early life
He was born at Black Notley in Essex, and ...
and Robert Boyle.
References
{{reflist
External links
National Bible Society of Ireland
Bible Society of Northern Ireland
1806 establishments in Ireland
Church of Ireland
Bible societies