absence, such member as shall be chosen for that purpose, shall preside at the meeting.

ART. XIV. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held at New-York on the third Wednesday of May in each year, or at any other time or place, at the option of the Society, when the managers shall be chosen, the accounts presented, and the proceedings of the foregoing year reported.

ART. XV. The president may, at the written request of six members of the board, call special meetings of the board of managers, causing three days notice of such meeting to be given.

ART. XVI. The whole of the minutes of every meeting shall be signed by the chairman.

ART. XVII. No alteration shall be made to this Constitution, except by the Society at an annual meeting.

The following list of Officers and Managers, nominated by the same Committee, was adopted.

PRESIDENT.

REV. SPENCER H. CONE, OF NEW-YORK.

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

S. M. Noell, D. D. Ky.
Rev. Sam. W. Lynde, Ohio.
Daniel Dodge, N. J.

Jesse Mercer, D. D. of Geo. Lucius Bolles, D. D. Bost.
W. B. Johnson, D. D. S. C. Benj. F. Edwards, M. D. Ill.
Rev. John L. Dagg, Penn. Nath. Kendrick, D. D. N. Y.
Arch. Maclay, N. Y. B. T. Welch, D. D. Albany."

Thos. Meredith, N. C.

Rev. CHAS. G. SOMMERS, Corresponding Secretary.
WILLIAM COLGATE, Treasurer.

JOHN WEST, Recording Secretary and Accountant.

MANAGERS.

Baker, Ambrose, Coxsackie. Hillman, Wm.

Stewart, Alex. Brooklyn.

Beebee, A. M. Utica. Humphrey, Friend Albany. Stokes, Edward H.

Bleecker, Leonard, S. Sing. Lewis, Elijah Brooklyn.

Thomas, Thomas
Townsend, James H.

Warner, Calvin Troy.

Maclay, M. D. Robt. H.

Warner, Ransom M. D.

M'Corkle, S.

Wasson, J. G. Albany.

Newton, Isaac

Winslow, Robt. F.

Winterton, Wm.

Crane, Wm. Baltimore.

Derby, Freeman

Greenman, Job H.
Halstead, J. B.
Helms, T. B.

Pegg, Roger

Runyan, Peter P. N. Brun. Wyckoff, John N.

Resolved, That the first annual meeting of the Society be held in Philadelphia, the last Wednesday in April, 1837, and that the doings of this meeting and of the Society, be submitted to such brethren from different parts of the United States as may then and there meet in Convention, for the purpose of securing the combined and concentrated action of the denomination in the Bible Cause.

It is a gratifying circumstance, that although the Convention at Hartford voted to postpone the whole subject until the annual meeting of the Board of Foreign Missions in April, 1837, the brethren who were appointed a committee to adopt preliminary measures for that meeting, so far concurred in the measure, as to furnish the following circular, directing "the attention of all who are interested, to the incipient organization" of the American and Foreign Bible Society," as an important measure," and inviting the co-operation of all "who desire to aid in the diffusion of the Word of Life."

PHILADELPHIA BIBLE CONVENTION.

Circular of the Committee appointed by the Hartford Conference, April 28th, 1836, to call a Bible Convention in Philadelphia, the last Wednesday of April, 1837. THE undersigned, as the Committee above-mentioned, have to announce to the public along with the doings of the Conference at Hartford, that the American Bible Society at their Anniversary on the 12th of May last, approved of the doings of their Managers, which cut off all reasonable hope of further aid in publishing translations made on the principles which we have ever felt bound to adopt, in giving to the heathen the Holy Scriptures. In accordance with our instructions we therefore call on individuals, churches, associations, and other bodies either formed or to be formed, to take immediate measures for raising funds, now greatly needed, for the Bengalee New Testament, the Orissa Scriptures, and the Chinese versions, as well as the Burman, Siamese and Karen Translations, and for securing a full representation, at the proposed Convention in Philadelphia, on the last Wednesday in April, 1837.

And whereas, at a large meeting of delegates, and friends of Bible distribution, held in the Oliver-street Baptist Meeting-house in New-York, May 12th and 13th, a Society was formed for this object, denominated the “ American and Foreign Bible Society," the first meeting of which is to be held at the time and place of the proposed Convention, with a view of conforming its organization to the wishes of the delegates who shall be there assembled; we avail ourselves of the present occasion to direct the attention of all interested, to this incipient organization, as an important measure for the accomplishment of the objects contemplated in our appointment. And we earnestly entreat those who desire to aid in the diffusion of the Word of Life, to forward as promptly as may be, their contributions for this object, either to the Treasurer of this Society in New-York, or to that of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, at Boston.

Philadelphia, May 27, 1836.

WM. T. BRANTLY,
SPENCER H. CONE,
RUFUS BABCOCK, jr.
JONATHAN GOING,

JOHN L. DAGG.

LABOURS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS DURING THE YEAR

1836.

In entering on this responsible office, the Board of Managers judged that their first duty was to address the Baptist Associations and churches in the United States, and by such agencies as they could employ, to form auxiliary societies. In this respect, although their means were limited, they have not been unsuccessful. The numerous auxiliaries already formed, together with the number and standing of those who make up the list of Life Directors and members, furnish satisfactory evidence, not only that the American and Foreign Bible Society is generally approved; but that this enterprise has elicited a large portion of the talent, the wealth, and the influence of our churches, as well as the favour of many who have never before contributed to the benevolent institutions under the direction of Baptists. Every light in which the Board have contemplated the present state and future prospects of the Society, has deepened their conviction that the time cannot be distant, when the active friends of the American and Foreign Bible Society, will be found in every part of the United States, and that similar institutions will be formed by Baptists throughout the world.

AGENCIES.

The Board of Managers are grateful to Divine Providence for raising up a few devoted and competent agents, who, since August last have visited several associations, churches, and other religious bodies, chiefly in New-York, and some of the western states. The Society have had only 3 agents under pay, and only 6 out of the 26 states have been extensively visited. The whole amount of service performed by all their agents, does not exceed 16 months labour of one man employed the whole of his time. Their aim has been not so much to solicit pecuniary contributions, as to impart information respecting the causes which led to the organization of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and by forming auxiliary and branch societies, to lay a permanent foundation for future operations. The favour which this Society has enjoyed, and the funds which have been collected, are to be ascribed chiefly to the spontaneous zeal of our churches in the cause of Bible distribution.

Brother Edward Kingsford commenced his agency in August last, and has given great satisfaction to the Board as well by his highly interesting monthly reports, as by the actual results of his untiring labours.

Brother Archibald Maclay left New-York in the month of August, on a tour to the west and south, where he was hailed by the friends of the Bible cause, and an impression made on the public mind, from which we anticipate extensive benefits.

Brother Daniel Hascall has been enabled to labour in this good cause since August last; he has visited many associations and churches, and formed several County and other Societies, auxiliary to the Parent Institution.

The President and other members of the Board, have also visited a few Associations, Churches, and State Conventions, to plead the cause of God, and a perishing world; and in every instance where the friends of literal Bible translations have been permitted to explain the views of this Society, and to state facts in reference to its origin, a unanimous vote of approbation has been given, and we are constantly receiving indubitable evidence of the rapid multiplication of our patrons.

Your Managers were greatly encouraged in December last, by receiving information of the willingness of brother John R. Ludlow, gratuitously to devote a part of his time as an agent of this Society. This gratifying and unlooked for event, was regarded as a cheering indication; and the generous offer of our brother was gratefully accepted. Although our chief dependence must rest upon those who may be employed by the Society, yet voluntary agencies are capable of conferring great benefit upon our institution and the world. Are there no other pious, discreet, intelligent and enterprising brethren in our churches, who like brother Ludlow, are willing to consecrate a part of their time to this noble cause? The Board lament that personal indisposition, and other causes, have hitherto prevented brother Ludlow, from prosecuting his intended course of labour.

APPROPRIATIONS.

The Managers would render thanks to God, that as early as last July, the rapid augmentation of their means, enabled them to

make a donation of $2500 to aid the Baptist missionaries in India, in giving the Bengalee New Testament to the benighted millions of that dark region. This, it will be recollected, is the version which the Calcutta, the British and Foreign, and the American Bible Societies refused to patronise, and which led to the formation of the American and Foreign Bible Society.

At a subsequent meeting, $5000 were appropriated to the Baptist General Convention of the United States, to aid in printing and circulating the translations of the Bible made by American Baptist missionaries in Asia; and in the month of February, 1837, the Managers were again enabled, by the liberality of the churches, to make appropriations for distributing the sacred volume, by missionaries in the service of the Baptist Convention-viz.

For printing and circulating the Scriptures in China,

$2000

At the same meeting it was unanimously "Resolved, that as soon as the state of the treasury will permit, the sum of $2500 be paid to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions in London, to aid them in printing the Scriptures in Bengalee." This pledge the Board have since been enabled to redeem.

In this last appropriation of their funds the Board experience great pleasure, because, as already stated, this excellent version of the Scriptures, by brethren Pearce and Yates, has, by competent native Oriental scholars, been unequivocally pronounced the purest and most idiomatic translation ever presented to the inhabitants of India; and also from the fact that Baptist missionaries in that country possess peculiar facilities for distributing the Bible, particularly in Orissa, the Holy Land of India, to which thousands of pilgrims annually resort. In the formation of this Society the Board recognise a special providence of God. “The affecting appeals of Brother Sutton," and of Pearce and Yates, will not be made in vain. No, your liberality will enable them to give "to men benighted" that " lamp of life" which by others has been denied."