COMNIITTEE. ROBERT MARSDEN, Esa. CHAIRMAN, WILLIAM ALLEN, Plough Court, Lombard Street. THOMAS BELL, Esa. 17, Fenchurch Street. ROBERT LUCAS CHANCE, ESQ. Upper Gower Street, Bedford Square. JOHN CLARKSON, Esa. Purfleet, and 16, Earl Street. WILLIAM CRAWFORD, Esa. 7, Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate Str. THOMAS FURLEY FORSTER, Esa. (St. Helen's Place, Bishops BENJAMIN MEGGOT FORSTER, Esa. gate Street. THOMAS HANCOCK, M. D. Finsbury Square. REV. THOMAS HARPER, East Street, Walworth. EVAN REES, 55, Skinner Street, Snowhill. JOHN ROBERTS, 7, Lincoln's-Inn New Square. FREDERICK SMITH, Croydon. REV. WILLIAM STEPHENSON, West Thurrock, Essex. Collector, Mr. ISAIAH JONES, 16, Earl Street. SOCIETY'S TRACTS. Price 2d. each. No. 1. A Solemn Review of the Custom of War. 2. War inconsistent with the Doctrine and Example of Jesus Christ, by John Scott, Esq. 3. An Essay on the Doctrines and Practice of the early Christians as they relate to War, by Thomas Clarkson, Esq. M.A. 4. Extracts from Erasmus. Every annual Subscriber of 10s. 6d. and upwards, may, within the year, receive in return, Tracts to the amount of one half of his Subscription, on application at No. 16, Earl Street. Subscriptions received by the members of the Committee, or by JOHN CLARKSON, Esq. Treasurer, No. 16, Earl Street, Blackfriars, London, where all the meetings are held, and where all communications for the Society may be addressed. Country Subscribers, who wish to be regularly supplied with new Publications, are requested to give the Address of some person in London, to whom they may be sent. 19%, ཀ REPORT. YOUR COMMITTEE feel much satisfaction in presenting the Report of their proceedings for the first year; during which, they have endeavoured, by a firm adherence to the fundamental principles of the Society, faithfully to discharge the duties committed to them. Some months elapsed before the publication of the first edition of the "Solemn Review" ordered by the General Meeting: this, together with the want of suitable accommodations, and other causes, prevented the Committee from meeting till the middle of October, when their labours commenced. Since that time, they have been in active operation; and though little may appear to have been effected, compared with the magnitude of the object they have in view, their success has exceeded their expectations: it has dispelled those feelings of despondency with which many of their friends had regarded the undertaking, and is a powerful stimulus to increasing exertions. Your Committee have already published Four Tracts, and an Address explanatory of the object and designs of the Society. These have met with a favourable reception, and in several instances have led to a conviction, that all War is inconsistent with the doctrines and example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Although their resources have been limited, (the whole amount received by Subscriptions, Donations, and the sale of Tracts, not exceeding 212.) your Committee have been enabled to print 32,000 copies of the Tracts and 14,000 Addresses, making a total of 46,000 issued from the press. Whilst they have been desirous that the publications of the Society should be executed with neatness, they have been studiously attentive to economy; and they are persuaded that an examination of the annexed Statement of the Expenditure will shew that the money placed at their disposal has not been injudiciously applied. No expense has been incurred in obtaining accommodation for the transaction of their business, and they have the gratuitous services of an Assistant. A reference to the Treasurer's account will be sufficient to convince the friends of the cause, that a continuance of their liberality and additional subscriptions are necessary, to enable the Committee to meet the increasing expenditure, and to commence the translation and printing of Tracts in different languages: measures have been taken to ascertain which of these will be best adapted for general circulation in different parts of the Continent. A correspondence has been entered into with individuals in various parts of the kingdom, which has produced many interesting communications from Christians of different denominations, expressive of their cordial approval of the designs and plan of the Society, and of their wishes to cooperate in spreading the knowledge of the peaceable kingdom of Christ. From the American Continent, the gratifying intelligence has been received, that the cause is there successfully advocated both from the pulpit and the press, and that Societies have been formed in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and other places. In the former, upwards of eighty ministers of the Gospel are enrolled amongst its members; and from the interesting infor mation communicated to the Committee, by the Secretary of the New York Peace Society (now in this country) it appears that measures have been taken to bring the subject under the consideration of different religious communities in the United States. A regular channel of communication with the Societies of New York and Massachusetts has been opened, which will be reciprocally advantageous and interesting. It is a pleasing cir cumstance, that at a period when this Society was in actual contemplation, two of those in America were formed, without any knowledge that the subject had claimed attention in this Country. The obstacles that impeded the formation of the Society in 1814 and 1815, exist no more. The long protracted and sanguinary conflict in which this country had been so deeply engaged, has ceased-the nations of Europe, wearied with their efforts for mutual destruction, and suffering under the accumulated pressure of those evils which are inseparable from war, have returned the sword into its scabbard-the intoxication of national vain-glory has begun to subside; and many have learnt from bitter experience to appreciate the costs and consequences of victory. Your Committee therefore invite their friends not to neglect a moment so peculiarly favourable as the present, for the dissemination of pacific principles, and would wish to encourage the disposition which has been manifested to form Auxiliary Societies, as the most effective means of giving energy to the opera tions of this Institution. To assist in their establishment, the accompanying Resolutions are recommended, as being adapted to secure unity of design and mutual cooperation. RULES OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF PERMANENT AND UNIVERSAL PEACE. 1. THE Society shall be designated "The Society for the Pro motion of Permanent and Universal Peace." II. The object of the Society shall be to print and circulate Tracts, and to diffuse information tending to show, that War is inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, and the true interests of mankind; and to point out the means best calculated to maintain permanent and universal Peace, upon the basis of Christian principles. III. These objects shall not be limited by local attachments, nor circumscribed by geographical boundaries, but shall extend to the whole human race. IV. The Society shall consist of persons of every denomination, who are desirous of uniting in the promotion of Peace on earth, and good-will towards men. V. Every annual Subscriber of 10s. 6d. or upwards, and every Donor of 51. 58. shall be a member of the Society. VI Members and Auxiliary Societies shall be entitled to receive within the year, half the amount of their Subscriptions, in Tracts, at the average cost price, and shall be allowed to purchase to any an ount, in quantities of not less than one hundred, at the same rate. Donors of 51. 58. shall have the privileges of Annual Subscr bers of 10s. 6d.; and those of larger sums in the same proportion. |