It was ordered that the Secretaries continue to enrol the names of delegates who may present the requisite credentials. The communications addressed to the Convention, including the credentials of the delegates, were referred to a committee consisting of C. G. Sommers, Lucius Bolles, and Jonathan Going. The unfinished business of yesterday was taken up, the question being on the amendment under consideration when the Convention adjourned last evening. The discussion was continued, but before taking the question, the Convention adjourned till 3 o'clock. P. M. Prayer by Adiel Sherwood, of Ga. The Convention met agreeably to adjournment. Afternoon. The discussion of the amendment under consideration before adjournment, was resumed. After Prayer by John Peck, of N. Y., the question was taken, and decided in the negative. A motion was made to strike out the words "in foreign languages," and discussed. Pending the discussion, the Convention adjourned till half-past 7 o'clock in the evening. Prayer by Thomas Mason, of S. C. The Convention met agreeably to adjournment. Evening. The committee to whom were referred the credentials and letters, reported in part, verbally, and were instructed to bring in a written report. The question was taken upon the proposition to strike out the words "in foreign languages" and decided in the affirmative. The following resolutions were then proposed and passed :— Resolved, That this organization be known by the name of the American and Foreign Bible Society. Resolved, That the Society confine its efforts during the ensuing year to the circulation of the word of God in foreign tongues. Resolved, That the Baptist denomination in the United States be affectionately requested to send to the Society, at its annual meeting during the last week in April, 1838, their views as to the duty of the Society to engage in the work of home distribution. Resolved, That a committee of one from each state and district represented in this Convention be appointed to draft a constitution, and nominate a board of officers and managers for the ensuing year. The committee contemplated by the last resolution consists of Nathaniel Kendrick, New-York, H. Jackson, Connecticut, Joseph Miles, Pennsylvania, Obadiah B. Brown, Dist. of Columbia, J. Culpepper, North Carolina, Thomas Mason, South Carolina, On motion, Robert T. Anderson, Kentucky, J. B. Cook, Ohio, John Booth, Michigan, I. Ferris, Indiana, B. H. Clift, Illinois. Resolved unanimously, That the members of this Convention cordially concur with their brethren of sister denominations, to secure from desecration the Lord's day, and to promote its due observance. On motion, Resolved unanimously, That this Convention beg to express their warmest thanks to the kind friends who have so hospitably entertained them during their visit in this city; and that they consider the systematic and efficient means to provide for their accommodation as presenting an example worthy of imitation on all similar occasions. Adjourned till 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. Prayer by Stephen S. Nelson, of Massachusetts. Saturday, April 29. The Convention met agreeably to adjournment. The journal of yesterday was read and approved. The committee to whom were referred the communications addressed to the Convention, made the following report, which was accepted. The Committee to whom was referred the communications addressed to the Convention, including the credentials of the delegates, beg leave to Report That the documents submitted to them, consist chiefly of letters, embracing credentials of the delegates composing this Convention; together with the minutes of associations, state conventions, and mission societies, some of which contain certificates of the appointment of delegates, and others, expressing the definite opinions of those bodies upon the Bible question. In nearly all the letters and minutes where particular instructions are given to the delegates, your Committee find a very decided sentiment in favour of a distinct and unfettered organization, for Bible translation and distribution. CHARLES G. SOMMERS, Chairman. On motion, Resolved, That this Convention regard the Christian Review as highly important to the interests of religion and learning, and as entitled to the cordial and efficient support of their brethren throughout the country. The Committee appointed to draft a constitution and nominate officers, reported a form of a constitution. This part of the report was accepted, and the draft was taken up, each article by itself. While the first article was under consideration, the convention adjourned till 3 o'clock P. M. Prayer by Samuel Love, of Tenn. The Convention met agreeably to adjournment. Prayer by Benajah Cook, jr. of Con. Afternoon. The discussion of the Constitution was resumed, and all the articles were adopted without amendment. CONSTITUTION. ART. I. The name of this Society shall be, THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. ART. II. The object of this Society shall be, to aid in the translation, printing, and circulation, of the Sacred Scriptures. ART. III. Each contributor of three dollars annually shall be a member. ART. IV. Each contributor of thirty dollars at one time shall be a member for life. ART. V. Each contributor of one hundred and fifty dollars shall be a life director. ART. VI. Every Baptist minister who is a life member, and all life directors, shall have the privilege of participating in the deliberations of the Board. ART. VII. All Bible Societies agreeing to place their surplus funds in the treasury of the Society, shall be auxiliaries, and the officers of such societies shall be ex officio directors of this. ART. VIII. A Board of Managers shall be appointed to conduct the business of the Society, consisting of thirty-six brethren in good standing in Baptist churches, sixteen of whom shall reside in the city of New-York, or its vicinity; the whole board to be elected annually by the Society, and to hold their office until superseded by a new election. The board shall have power to fill such vacancies as may occur in their number. ART. IX. The President, Vice Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurer, shall be ex officio members of the board. ART. X. The managers shall meet monthly, or oftener if necessary, at such time and place as they shall adjourn to, five of whom shall be a quorum. ART. XI. The managers shall have the power of appointing such persons as may have rendered essential services to the Society, either members for life, or directors for life. ART. XII. At the meetings of the Society, and of the board of managers, the president, or, in his absence, the vice president first upon the list then present, and in the absence of all the vice presidents, the treasurer, and in his absence, such member as shall be chosen for that purpose, shall preside. ART. XIII. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held at New-York on Thursday after the last Wednesday in April in each year, or at any other time or place, at the option of the Society, when the accounts of the treasurer shall be presented, and a president, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurer, and a board of managers, shall be chosen for the ensuing year. ART. XIV. The president shall, at the written request of six members of the board, call special meetings of the board of managers, causing at least three days notice of such meetings. ART. XV. The whole of the minutes of every meeting shall be signed by the chairman and secretary. ART. XVI. No alteration shall be made in this Constitution, except by the vote of two-thirds of the members of the Society present at an annual meeting. Resolved, That the articles now read and adopted be the constitution of the Society, to govern its future operations. Adjourned till half past 7 o'clock. Prayer by R. G. Green, of Mi. The Convention met agreeably to adjournment. Prayer by Heman Lincoln, of Mass. Evening. The Committee on nomination of officers reported a list, and the re port was accepted. OFFICERS. President. SPENCER H. CONE, of New-York. Vice-Presidents. NICHOLAS BROWN, Rhode-Island, PETER P. LAWRENCE, N. Carolina, CHARLES G. SOMMERS, of New-York, Corresponding Secretary. Resolved, That the President and Secretaries be requested to prepare and address a circular to the churches of our denomination, laying before them these resolutions. On motion, Resolved, That the Board of the Bible Society, be requested to publish and circulate the minutes of this Convention. On motion, Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention, are due to the President for his able, impartial, and conciliatory conduct in the chair. On motion, Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are due to the Secretaries, for the ability and fidelity with which they have discharged their laborious duties during the session. The journal of to-day was read and approved. After the reading and approval of the minutes, the President rose and remarked : I should do violence to my feelings, and ill requite the kindness which the members of this Convention have manifested towards me, were I to allow the vote just passed to be entered on your minutes, without some acknowledgment, on my part, of what I owe this body. Called most unexpectedly to the duties of the Chair, it was no affectation of humility and self-distrust which led me to the earnest expressions of regret which I then uttered, and to desire being excused from its duties. My brethren will bear with me for a moment, with their usual indulgence, in referring to my own embarrassing situation. Without any experience in duties of this kind, and with a perfect consciousness of the superior fitness of many in our number, to whom on account of their years and wisdom, I had been accustomed to look up with a degree of veneration, and at whose feet I ever delight to sit for instruction; I was still more intimidated by the conviction of the dignity and importance of the occasion. The largest body of baptized believers in the world, by a delegation unparalleled either for numbers or influence among us, had assembled for deliberation on topics of surpassing interest;-certain to affect, favourably or otherwise, themselves, and no small part of the world around them, for many generations. It had been intimated also, that serious and wide differences of judgment already existed among us; and those opposed to our denominational interests and rights, were already exulting in ill suppressed manifestations of satisfaction, that our attempt to secure ourselves against the wrongs we had suffered, would surely fail by divided counsels. It was scarcely to be expected, that under such circumstances, debates could be conducted on topics of most exciting and absorbing interest, without moving to temporary excess the minds of the convention. When to all these anticipated sources of embarrassment, there was also added a consideration of the character of the convention, consisting, for the most part, of those of us who are more accustomed to speak than to hear, and who have little opportunity to learn, by experience, the patient endurance of contradiction, you may easily conceive that the moment which surprised me with the proffer of this station, was one of intense and disquieting solicitude. Unable to secure your acquiescence in my withdrawment from the chair, after fervently looking up to Him who can strengthen the weak and guide the erring, I cast.myself on your indulgence. Need I say how soon my fears were dissipated ? That a few hours experience was sufficient to convince me how needless was anxiety. The moral dignity of the occasion, the magnitude, and the holy disinterestedness of the great theme which filled all hearts among us, evinced its potent influence to concentrate on itself the united desires, and counsels, and action of those whom it had drawn together. I cannot give utterance to the emotions which have been excited in my own breast, in yours, and in the attentive throng whose absorbed interest has held them in your presence for the last four days, by the blessed, uniting, restraining influence of this great theme. When differences of opinion on some minor pointsdifferences honestly, and long, and tenaciously entertained-have seem |