CHARLES G. SOMMERS, of New-York, Corresponding Secretary. WILLIAM COLGATE, of New-York, Treasurer. JOHN WEST, of New-York, Recording Secretary. IRA M. ALLEN, General Agent and Assistant Treasurer. AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING. The Society held its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, the 22d of April, 1839, in the Mecting house of the First Baptist Church, Second-street, Philadelphia. An hour was spent in religious exercises; brethren Chapin of Washington; Baker of Norfolk; Rand of New Hampshire; Sym of New-Jersey; Adams of Baltimore; Sears of Massachusetts'; and Goadby, late missionary in Orissa, engaged in prayer. The President, S. H. Cone, took the Chair at 10 o'clock, A. M. The nineteenth Psalm was read by brother D. Sharp, of Boston. Prayer by brother Rufus Babcock, jr. of Philadelphia. Brethren Chapin, Bennett, Sears, Baker, and Adams, were appointed a Committee, to nominate Officers and Managers for the ensuing year. The following abstract of the Treasurer's account was presented, and on motion of brother Daniel Dodge, of Philadelphia, seconded by brother Wm. Crane, of Baltimore, was accepted. TREASURER'S REPORT. WILLIAM COLGATE, Treasurer, in account with the AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BI 1838 May 23. BLE SOCIETY. By Baptist General Convention in the United States, for CR. Sept. 26. 1839. Do. for printing and circulating the Sacred Scriptures in 5000 Feb. 16. April 5. 1838 66 Do. 66 Do. do. July 25. "Baptist Missionary Society, London, for printing and circulating the Sacred Scriptures in the Bengali, Hindustani, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Orissa languages, Amount of Salary and Travelling expenses paid to Agents, By amount paid for Stereotyping, Printing, Paper, Binding, By Counterfeit Bank Notes, By Balance of account carried forward, 5000 1562 35 10640 47 318 79 26 75 6275 44 $43823 80 April 20. DR. To amount of receipts from Anxiliary Societies, Associations, $19078 05 24745 75 $43823 80 The undersigned having audited the above account, find it correct; leaving a balance in the Treasurer's hands of $6275 44. ELIJAH LEWIS, Auditing J. R. LUDLOW, S Committee. APRIL 20, 1839. The President, Spencer H. Cone, of New-York, then addressed the meeting. Beloved Friends and Fellow Labourers in the Lord! A review of the gracious dealings of Divine Providence, in reference to the operations of the American and Foreign Bible Society, is calculated to excite emotions of the liveliest gratitude. With but one Agent, our indefatigable brother Maclay, the receipts of the Treasurer for the current year, have furnished a gratifying proof of the estimation in which the Society continues to be held by the Baptists of the United States, and a pleasing presage, that still more liberal supplies may be confidently anticipated, as new facilities are presented to expend them judiciously. The desire to give to the nations pure versions of the Sacred Scriptures, and the assured conviction that this important object could be attained more perfectly, and to a much wider extent by a distinct Bible organization, first induced the establishment of this institution. At the close of a year's successful operation, the character of the enterprise was submitted to a Convention of brethren conspicuous alike for numbers, and piety, and talent, assembled two years since within these walls; and after three days spent in animated discussion, and prayerful deliberation, that Convention sanctioned, with singular unanimity and fervour, the propriety and expediency of the measure. In the exercise of Christian courtesy, the many yielded to the wishes of a few, and the efforts of your Board of Managers were limited, during the succeeding year, to the circulation of the Word of God in foreign tongues. At the last anniversary, this feature of the Constitution was obliterated by the unanimous vote of the Society, and to our original motto The Bible tranSLATED—we were permitted to add-THE FIELD IS THE WORLD! The debateable ground being thus happily passed over, we had only to commend ourselves, in humble reliance upon Almighty God, to the work evidently set before us. As Americans and as Baptists, we have from the beginning felt the claims of our country, and at the earliest practicable period commenced arrangements to furnish an adequate supply of the commonly received version; and we trust we shall be enabled to execute this part of our duty in a manner creditable to the Society, and entirely satisfactory to our auxiliaries and patrons. Under existing circumstances, however, it is manifest that our resources and energies must be mainly employed in printing and circulating translations made by Baptist missionaries, in heathen lands. From us they expect the requisite aid, and indeed, they have almost ceased to look for it from any other quarter. Their appeals are of the most thrilling nature, and cannot fail to provoke the liberality of many who pray-THY KINGDOM COME! Brother Thomas, of Calcutta, in a recent communication to Mr. Dyer, remarks "In the great work of giving the Word of God to the World, our press is now highly honoured. At the present moment we have going through the press, the New Testament, Psalms, and extra gospels, in the Armenian, Hindustani, Bengali, and Sanskrit, comprising altogether more than twenty thousand volumes. These versions, made by Baptist missionaries, are printed at the expense of the contributors to our translation fund, or of that generous friend of our Biblical efforts, the American and Foreign Bible Society." The venerable Judson, in a letter addressed to the treasurer, after speaking of the brethren engaged in the Burmese, Peguan, Bengali, Siamese, Karen, and Shyan versions, employs the following energetic language. "All the translators above mentioned, I know from personal acquaintance to be able, competent men; philologists, scholars; candid, upright, conscientious search ers after truth: men, who would rather have their right hands cut off, than knowingly pervert a single particle of the Word of God: men, who are worthy the entire confidence of the Christian public. And as we are all sworn to give in our translations, to the best of our ability, the Word of God, the whole word, and nothing but the word, in defiance of the lady of Babylon and all her progeny; there is no point in the whole visible creation to which we can look for support, but the American and Foreign Bible Society. Here we stand; we cannot change our position; we must not desert our post; God help us, and you!" What an appeal! He then goes on to say, "In the preceding, I have mentioned six translations only; but every year will doubtless bring a new one. We have the Paho, the Toung-thoo, and the Kyen, just at our door. And how many are at the doors of Bankok and Sadiya, and on the way to China, and in Great China itself, and in all Asia and unexplored Africa, and the Islands of the sea, what pen is competent to set forth? The Angel with the everlasting Gospel, has already poised his wing and commenced his flight. May the prayers and the alms of the churches speed him on his glorious career through the wide world!" These extracts may suffice to show us the vastness of the field we are called upon promptly to occupy. The contemplation of it, when contrasted with our own feebleness, might well appal the stoutest heart; but we will wait upon the Lord and renew our strength; we will emulate the exploits of saints of the olden time, who through faith waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens; we will remember, that Jonathan, with a single armour-bearer, took possession of the strong hold of the Philistines; and it may be that the Lord will work for us; for there is no restraint to the Lord, to save by many or by few. Some of the friends of truth have expressed both surprise and regret, that the success of the gospel among the heathen, in this our day, has been so disproportionate to the amount of men and money employed in its propagation. They certainly did not intend by these remarks to convey the idea, that the means expended exceeded in value the souls actually converted: God forbid! "Heap worlds on worlds, one soul outweighs them all." That our success has been inconsiderable, when compared with the triumphs of the Cross in Apostolic times, is indeed a source of unfeigned sorrow and deep humiliation of heart; but this does not |