and distribution; but should be at liberty to operate at any time either in home or foreign distribution, as Providence and the wants of the world may dictate. Other communications expressing similar opinions have been received from Illinois, and other states in the union, but are omitted for want of room. AUXILIARY SOCIETIES, RECOGNISED SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT, VIZ. Bible Society of the Baptist Church Dexter, Michigan, Recognised 7th June, 1837. Noise Creek Bible Society, 5th July, TREASURER'S REPORT. Moneys received by WILLIAM COLGATE, Treasurer of the "American and Foreign WM. COLGATE, Esq. Treasurer, 6 Dutch-street. Rev. CHARLES G. SOMMERS, Corresponding Secretary, 82 Madison-st. N. Y. This publication is periodical, contains half a sheet, and the postage for any distance under 100 miles, is 1 1-2 cents; for any distance over 100 miles, 2 1-2 cents. THE American and Foreign Bible Society celebrated its last anniversary in the meeting house of the Oliver-street Baptist Church, N. Y., on the 28th of April, 1838, at 7, P. M. Brother Mason, of South Carolina, introduced the services by reading the 35th chapter of Isaiah; and fervent prayer for the blessing of God upon the Society, was offered by brother B. Sears, of Massachusetts. An abstract of the Treasurer's account was then read, and presented the cheering fact that Auxiliary Societies, Associations, churches, and individuals, have, during the past year, contributed for Bible translation and distribution, $33,389 52. After an appropriate address by the President of the Society, the Corresponding Secretary read an abstract of the Report of the Board of Managers. That document contains extracts from the correspondence of the Society, which most conclusively prove that our brethren in every State in the Union, not only approve the institution, but wish it to be A BIBLE SOCIETY FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. The whole amount appropriated for Bible translation and distribution, from July, 1836, to May, 1838, is $35,500, of which twenty-five thousand five hundred dollars have been contributed in aid of the Baptist General Convention. Twenty-nine Auxiliary Societies have been added during the past year, making in all ninety-eight Auxiliaries, all of whom are in favour of Home Distribution. The Society has at present 420 Life Members, and 92 Life Directors-they have already contributed to the publication of the Bible in seven languages-their Biblical Library has been enlarged by several valuable donations, and consists at present of nearly one hundred volumes. Further contributions of old versions of the Bible, or other books adapted to the wants of the institution, are earnestly solicited. The anniversary was attended by a large number of delegates and other friends of the Saviour, who manifested the deepest interest in the great object contemplated by the American and Foreign Bible Society. The spirit of devotion, and an ardent desire to promote the glory of God and the salvation of mankind, characterised the exercises of the meeting, and every lip seemed to utter the prayer: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven." Interesting addresses were delivered by Rev. Abner Webb, Missionary from Burmah, Rev. Howard Malcom, one of the Secretaries of the Baptist General Convention, and Rev. J. D. Knowles, of Massachusetts. From among these we select the brief address of our dear brother Knowles, who has, since that memorable evening, ascended to his rest in heaven. It was his last public effort in behalf of the American and Foreign Bible Society, which, from its incipient organization, enjoyed the approbation of his enlightened and benevolent heart. Brother Knowles offered the following resolution and remarks: Resolved, That in the amount of funds placed at the disposal of the Society, during the past year, the Society recognise the continued and special favour of the Head of the Church. Brother Knowles remarked ;-It would be improper, sir, at this late hour, to detain the audience by an extended address. I shall merely suggest one or two thoughts, without attempting to illustrate and expand them. We must all have been surprised, that notwithstanding the pecuniary embarrassments which have convulsed the country during the last year, so large a sum has been almost spontaneously contributed to the funds of the Society. For this unexpected liberality, we are, as the resolution intimates, indebted to the goodness of God. But as he works by instruments, we may, without impropriety, inquire for the more immediate causes. Many influences may have contributed to the result; but I believe, sir, that the chief cause of the success of this Society, is to be found in the great principle on which it rests. In order to the accomplishment of any great moral enterprise, the co-operation of the mass of common men must be secured; their understandings must be convinced, and their hearts moved. For this end, the enterprise must rest on some simple principle, which may strike the minds of the most uncultivated men like a flash of light, carrying with it its own evidence, needing no argument, and stirring the heart by its direct appeal. Such a principle is found in the gospel itself. The simple truth, that God sent his Son to die for sinners, contains the essence of the gospel. It imbodies, with the brevity of a motto-with the spirit stirring energy of a watch-word-the substance of the law and the prophets: It is simple, direct, powerful. The child can understand it. The poor Karen, in his jungle, can comprehend it; and hence, wherever the gospel has been proclaimed, its chief triumphs have been among those, who, with no knowledge of criticism, or rhetoric, or logic, have been melted into penitence and love, by the simple story of the cross. Such a principle, too, was the moving spring of the American revolution. The plain truth, that taxation and representation must go together; that the people's money must not be taken without their own consent, was the basis of the great struggle. The public mind fully and readily comprehended it. The mechanic in his shop, the farmer at his plough, understood and felt it, as strongly as the statesman in his cabinet. It stirred the hearts of the whole nation, and roused them to a bold, resolute, persevering, and triumphant resistance to the mighty power of the British crown. In like manner, sir, this Society rests on the simple principle-THAT ALL MEN OUGHT TO HAVE THE WORD OF GOD UNMUTILATED AND UNDISGUISED. It is because the Society is founded on this principle, and had its origin in circumstances which seemed to put this principle in jeopardy, that the American Baptist churches, with a promptitude, zeal and unanimity, almost unexampled, have rallied round this Society. They will continue to sustain it, for it imbodies an indestructible principle, which readily allies itself with other principles, dear to every Baptist; the independence of the churches; unfettered liberty of conscience; the right and the duty of every man to take the pure word of God as the only standard of his faith; the guide of his conduct; the lamp to his feet, along the path to heaven. From the Canada Baptist Magazine. 66 THE WHOLE BIBLE.-A Roman Catholic Priest in Ireland, sympathizing with the moral condition of his parish, contrived what could be done, consistent with his own religious creed, to overtake the population with some remedial measures, and it struck him that it would be well to print and circulate the epistles of St. Peter by themselves, in a separate tract. He did so; but, somehow or other, they did not sell. He then thought he had better add to the title, "The Epistles of St. Peter, Head of the Church." Still, however, nobody bought them. At last it suggested itself to his mind, that, if he placed between the title-page and the epistles themselves, a representation of St. Peter's cathedral at Rome, they would sell. He did so; and now the whole edition was soon bought up. One of the copies fell into the hands of a man, who, having read it, went to the priest, and having ascertained that he had put them in circulation, said, "I have not got all. Are there not the epistles of some other fellows ?" "What makes you think so?" said the priest. "Because," replied the man, "I find it is written, As our beloved brother Paul hath said.' Now, where are the epistles of St. Paul !" "It is even so," said the priest. The man never rested until he had procured a copy of the New Testament. Having read it, he came again to the priest-" Ah, I have not got it all yet," said he. Why not?" said the priest. "Because I read, As it is written in the book of Psalms' As it is written in the book of Hosea'' As saith the prophet Jeremy'-' As saith the prophet Isaiah ;' ;'" and then, with all the characteristic ardor of an Irishman, pointed out to the priest the noble array of finger-posts and land-marks in the New Testament, pointing to the existence of the Old. "Well," said the priest, "you are right now also ; there is another book much larger than that which you have." "O! let me have it," said the man; and he never rested till he was possessed of a perfect copy of the Scriptures. Having then penetrated, as it were, both strata-both hemispheres-and absorbed the light of both, the man went to his own priest, and applied for absolution, which he refused him, among other reasons, because he was a Bible reader, and that, therefore, there was no absolution for him. However, he so urged his suit, with that irresistible Irish force to which there is no parallel in the universe—that the priest agreed to let him have absolution upon payment of a certain sum of money. The man then pulled out from under his coat the Bible, and said to the priest, "I come to you for absolution; you say I must not have it because I am a Bible reader; at last you agree to give me absolution if I pay half a crown! I do not want your absolution ;" and opening the Bible in the middle, as a person in his condition would natually do, he read, (and it was fit that such a blessed passage should be found in the centre of the Bible,) "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters: and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price." KING JAMES' ENGLISH BIBLE. At the annual meeting of the Society in April last, the Committee on the subject of Bible distribution reported, "That having examined a great mass of documents, containing resolutions of Baptist State Conventions, Associations, Auxiliary Bible Societies and Churches, in every state of the union, they are satisfied that it is the almost unanimous desire of the denomination, that the American and Foreign Bible Society be left unrestricted in the range of its operations. The Committee therefore recommend, that the second article of the constitution be altered, to read as follows, viz. Article 2. It shall be the object of the Society to aid in the wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures IN ALL LANDS. In reference to the work of Home distribution-the following resolution was recommended by the Committee, and unanimously passed by the Society. "Resolved, That in the distribution of the Scriptures in the English language, they will use the commonly received version, until otherwise directed by the Society." In pursuance of the object contemplated by this resolution, the Board of Managers at their meeting on the 2d May, 1838, passed the following resolution : Resolved, That an edition of the Sunday School Testament, be published_without delay, and that the subject be referred to the Committee on Publication and Finance. At the meeting of the Board of Managers on the 6th of June, it was further unanimously Resolved, That in publishing the English Scriptures, the commonly received ver sion printed in London, in 1611, under the superintendence of the Translators, be carefully followed except where typographical errors may be discovered. The greatest possible care will be taken to render the book about to be issued by the American and Foreign Bible Society, a faithful reprint of the first edition of the Bible published by order of King James, in 1611. TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND COPIES of the New Testament adapted to Sunday Schools, will, it is hoped, be ready for delivery about 1st November next-and every possible effort will be employed to publish an edition of the whole Bible, as soon as practicable. APPROPRIATIONS. At a meeting of the Board on 2d May, 1838, it was Resolved, That the sum of $5000 be appropriated and paid to the Baptist General Convention in the United States, to aid in publishing the sacred Scriptures in the following languages, viz. In Siamese, $1000. In Burmese, $1000. In Assamese, $1000. In Karen, $1000. In Teloogoos, $1000. Total, $5000. The following is an extract from a letter acknowledging the above appropriation. REV. C. G. SOMMERS, Cor. Sec. A. and F. B. S. MY DEAR BROTHER-Your very acceptable communication announcing the appropriation of $5000 by your society, to aid in printing and circulating the sacred scriptures by the missions of this Board, was laid before the Board at their last meeting; whereupon it was unanimously Resolved, That the thanks of the Board be tendered to the American and Foreign Bible Society, for this renewed expression of their confidence and co-operation. The promptitude with which the American and Foreign Bible Society have thus come forward to relieve the pressing exigencies of the Board, answers worthily to the pledge so cordially given at the late meeting of the General Convention, and, with other late instances of Christian liberality, encourages us to hope that no disastrous delay will be sustained, for the want of pecuniary means, in carrying forward this essential department of our operations. Respectfully and affectionately yours, S. PECK, For. Sec. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. Since the last annual meeting of the Society, the following donation of books has been presented by Rev. Howard Malcom: viz. Hindoo New Testament, 1 tani, printed in Roman Gos. of John in Japanese, 1 12mo. Scripture Miscellany in 4to. 8vo. 8vo. Miracles of Christ in 8vo. Hindustani, 1 12mo. 8vo. Life of Christ in Bengali, 1 12mo. Armenian, 1 12mo. 8vo. Bengali Hymn Book, 1 12mo. |