-Co, 7K /t~u'g,)z rM:, /':: us1 ii'!ii>i i i': XJ Wi HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT TIME. -....-, L. ^.5, ONE O THE SOCIETYRIC AGENTS. ONE OF THE SOCIETY'S AGENTS. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY REV. N. L. RICE, D.D., OF CINCINNATI. hEmbellfvebr tlitz a Liftencfi of te dion. iItai Boubitlot, 19LiL.. FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY. "The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those that published it."-Psalm lxviii. II. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 82, CLIFF STREET; LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, 169, FLEET STREET. 1850. TO THE OFFICERS AND MANAGERS OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, Cli&s iork IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. P R E FACE, THE necessity of some such work as the following was suggested to the mind of the author when he entered upon his duties as agent of the American Bible Society several years since. He found the field of labor in which he had engaged one concerning the nature of which he knew but little. To obtain such information as would qualify him for his work, it therefore became necessary for him to study the policy and operations of the society, as contained in the printed reports, circulars, and letters of instruction issued from the Board from time to time, and embracing a period of many years. He found that, to give a full and intelligible answer in regard to almost any important topic connected with the society, the whole field of its operations must be searched, and the scattered fragments lying here and there must be gathered up and arranged. In the preparation of each of the thirty-nine chapters, with but few exceptions, the writer has traveled over the entire ground every time, collecting from the reports and collateral documents every important fact connected therewith. He has made no attempt whatever at embellishment, his object having been to present a plain, unvarnished narrative of facts, as they have occurred in v^~i ~ PREFACE. the operations of the society, in consecutive order. How far he has succeeded in this humble attempt is left for the reader to determine. For assistance in the compilation of the work, the writer acknowledges his indebtedness to the following works: Dr. Spring's Life of Rev. Samuel J. Mills, Horne's Introduction, Townley's Biblical Literature, Buchanan's Researches in Asia, Anderson's Annals of the English Bible, D'Aubigne's Reformation, Edwards's Missionary Gazetteer, Choules's History of Missions, Wyckoff's Bible Question, &c. He also takes pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to the Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., Corresponding Secretary of the American Bible Society. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS, CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY PRIOR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Advent of the Puritans-Causes which led them to seek an Asylum in this New World-Their Love for the Bible and Rights of Conscience-Incorporation of Bible Principles with the Institutions of the Country-Hume's Testimony concerning the Puritans-The Edict of Henry VIII. respecting the Reading of the Scriptures revoked-Scriptures with difficulty obtained-The May Flower and the Bi-. ble-Webster's Bunker Hill Oration-Efforts of the Colonists to supply the Scriptures-Laws requiring every Family to have a Copy of-Meeting of the First Congress-Made no Laws for the establishment of Religion-Protects all in the enjoyment of the Rights of Conscience-Washington's Address-Action of Congress in regard to Bible Destitution-Appointment of a Committee-Population of the Country-Number of Bibles in the World-Report of the Committee-Congress ordered an Importation of English Bibles-Subsequently recommended the Printing an Edition of the Bible-This a Bible Nation-Congress a Bible SocietyDe Tocqueville-Infidel Revolution in France -No Bibles-Rome-Testimony of American Statesmen-Love of the Bible-A national Sentiment-Illustrative Incident-Testimony of the most profound Scholar of the Age-Example of the Friends of the Bible Cause in England-Organization of local Bible Societies in this Country-Difficulty of procuring Books-Copies often defective-Anxiety of Christians to circulate the Scriptures................................ Page 17 CAUSES WHICH PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. Careful Consultation of official Records-Drs. Biggs and Beecher-Dr. Beecher only surviving Officer of Convention-Dr. Spring-His Devotion to the Bible Cause-Subject of an Organization discussed-Communications in Relation toGeneral Interest awakened-Correspondent of the Panoplist-Importance of Organization argued-New Jersey Bible Society-Origination of a Plan-Sent to Sister Bible Societies-Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society-Resolutions of-Hon. Elias Boudinot-Calling of a Convention-Extent of the Invitation-Interesting Facts and Incidents furnished by Dr. Beecher-First Cause which led the Way to the Formation of the Society-Second-Third-Rev. Samuel J. Mills-His personal Appearance and Character-Personal ConversationMeeting of the Convention-Sublime Spectacle-Difficulties in combining all Denominations-Fears and Hopes-Difficulties threatened-Dr. Mason-His happy Mode of dispelling Difficulties-Successful Issue......................... 23 ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. Command of Jesus Christ-Primary Object of the Bible Society-Christians of almost every Denomination from all Parts of the Country represented in the Convention-Names of Officers and Members of the Convention-Model of an Evangelical Alliance-Protestant Rule-Committee to draft Constitution-Report of Committee-Constitution adopted Article by Article-Election of ManagersElection of Officers-Address to the People of the United States-Nature of the viii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Discussions in the Convention-Exclusion of Sectarianism-Different ChurchesThe good Feelings which prevailed-Divine Approbation-Many Doubts settled in regard to the Feasibility of the Organization-Reliance upon the Divine Blessing.....................................................Page 27 MANAGERS AND OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. Officers known to the Constitution-Number of Managers-Ex-officio Members of the Board-Powers vested in the Board by the Constitution-Officers of the Society-Special and Standing Committees-By-Laws-First Officers all deceased -Only two or three surviving Managers-Scrupulous Economy-Society has no permanent Funds-Managers and Officers perform their Duties gratuitouslyPresent Officers of the Society....................................... 35 AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. Circular of the Managers, inclosing a Plan for Auxiliary and Branch SocietiesCircular to the Clergy-To Individuals-Constitution of an Auxiliary-Constitution of a Branch-Local Societies having an anterior Existence became Auxiliary -Conditions required of Auxiliaries-An Auxiliary Committee appointed-Its Duties and Prerogatives-Fallacy of relying upon Correspondence alone to secure the Action of Auxiliaries-Committee recommend the Appointment of AgentsCondition of many of the Auxiliaries-Honorable Exceptions-Importance of Auxiliaries-Number of Auxiliaries and Branches-Composed of different religious Denominations-Equal Benefits to all-Condition on which Auxiliaries are entitled to procure Bibles-Rule as to re-sale-Annual Report furnished to gratuitously-Bible Society Record-Advantage of to the Societies-Female Bible Societies-College Bible Societies-Marine-Young Men's-Bible Committees-Zeal and Benevolence of the Ladies-Propriety of separate Organization-Testimony of British and Foreign Bible Society in behalf of these Associations-Female Bible Society of New York-Its Operations-Interesting Facts........... 51 BIBLE HOUSE. Pecuniary Condition of the Society at its Organization-Want of a Bible House, Materials, &c.-Kindness and Hospitality of early Friends-Stereotype PlatesApplications for Bibles-Supplied by the New York Bible Society-Present of Stereotype Plates-Donation from British and Foreign Bible Society-Committee of Five to take Charge of Property of Society-Powers of-Prospects of Success -Location of Surplus Stereotype Plates-Discussion in relation thereto-Final Action-Conditions on which Plates should be loaned-Importance of concentrating the Business of the Society in one Establishment-Propriety of erecting a Bible House discussed-Corner Stone laid in 1822-Finished same Year-Description of Bible House-Additional Buildings-Number and Kinds of Presses employed-Number of Bibles printed daily-Number of Hands-Kinds and Qualities of Bibles printed-Reprint of the Annual Reports-Publication of the "Brief View of the Plan of Operations of the American Bible Society"-Also a " Statement as to the Character of foreign Versions printed by Society"-Bible for the Blind-Ojibwa-Specimen of the Types of the Society's Bibles and Testaments, and also a Catalogue of the Kinds, Qualities, and Prices of the Books on sale at the Depository-Improvements in Printing-Reduction of Prices........... 59 ACTS OF INCORPORATION. Importance of-Form of a Bequest to the Society-Act of Legislature of New York in relation to the Society's Property-An Act to confirm certain Trusts-An SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Act to incorporate the American Bible Society-Proceedings had by the Board after the Passage of the Act of Incorporation-An Ordinance to establish a Board of Managers and for other Purposes................P............. Page 71 PRINTING, PUBLICATION, AID CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. Home Field-Number of Copies of the Scriptures printed the first Year-Number issued-Number gratuitously circulated-First Donation-Resolution of the Society in relation to gratuitous Distributions-Second Year, numbers printedIssued-Donated-Third Year-Fourth-Fifth-Sixth-Seventh-Eighth-Ninth -Tenth-Eleventh-Twelfth-Thirteenth-Fourteenth-Fifteenth-SixteenthSeventeenth-Eighteenth-Nineteenth-Twentieth-Twenty-first -Twenty-second-Twenty-third-Twenty-fourth-Twenty-fifth-Twenty-sixth-Twenty-seventh-Twenty-eighth-Twenty-ninth-Thirtieth -Thirty-first -Thirty-secondBibles in foreign Languages imported-Total Number issued-Immigrants-German-French-Irish-Italian - Swede -Welshmen- Spaniard-Jew- PoleArab-Norwegian, and others-Auxiliaries-Universal Circulation-Opposition from Roman Catholics-Burned the Bible-Efforts of to exclude it from Common Schools-Citizens taxed to educate Romanists-Papal Rapacity-Roman Bishop's Declaration-Opinion of Congress in an Address to the People of Great Britain in regard to the Character of Romanism-University of France-Bible in our Common Schools-Among Slaves-Effbrts to supply-Committee appointed by Board to investigate the Subject-Their Report. —... —....... —..........-. 74 BIBLE IN PRISONS. Convicts-Objects of Christian Sympathy-Example of Christ-Punishment reformatory-Every Cell should be supplied with the Bible-Penitentiaries, Jails, Hospitals, Houses of Correction and Refuge, supplied by Auxiliaries-Donations made to State Prisons-Connecticut-Auburn-Virginia-Sing Sing-New York -Ohio-Writer's Visit to in 1847-Warden-Chaplain-Good Effects of Bible and Sabbath Schools-Scene in the Chapel-The Commission of Christ to the Church........ —................... —------------—............. 89 BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN AND BOATMEN. Marine Bible Society of New York-Design of-Grant of Bibles to-To numerous Marine Bible Societies Grants made-Interesting Statistics-Agent employed by New York Marine Bible Society-Sailors' Reading-room-Rev. Mr. Shaw's Communication-Describes the Field of Operation-Demands increasing-Prevalence of Temperance-Diffusion of Religious Books-Erection of Seamen's Chapels-Chaplains at Mobile-Havre-Smyrna-Rio Janeiro-Honolulu and Canton -Bread upon the Waters-Bibles for Singapore-Martha's Vineyard-Communication in regard to Canals in the West-Lakes-Grants to numerous Societies 92 BIBLE IN THE ARMY. Bible early introduced into the Army of the United States-Request from an Officer of high Rank-Arrangements for a systematic Supply of Subalterns and Privates-Lieutenant Kinsley-Soldiers at West Point-Supply of Military Posts -Permission from War Department to send Bibles, &c.-Report of Chaplain on Governor's and Bedlow's Islands-Interesting Facts and Incidents-Supply to Major Thompson, of Cantonment Leavenworth-Supply of remote Military PostsRev. N. Sayre Harris and others-An Association of Clergymen who had once been connected with Army and Navy-Chaplain at Fort Brooke-Soldiers in Mexican Army -.......,........................................ 99 X ~ ~ SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. BIBLE IN THE NAVY. Donation to the United States Ship John Adams in 1818-Proposition of the Managers to the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy to supply that Department with Bibles-Entertained in a pleasing Manner-Three thousand five hundred Bibles granted to furnish every Officer and Seaman in the Navy-Instructions from the Navy Department in Relation to Preservation and Use of-Naval Stations supplied-Norfolk-Washington City-Portsmouth - Charleston —New OrleansNew York and Philadelphia-Captain Chauncey-Captain Creighton-United States Naval Chaplain-Ships of War-Extract of Letter from Captain John C. Long, Commander of United States Schooner Dolphin in the Pacific-Interesting Disposition of Bibles-Sloops of War-Ship of War Belle Poule, commanded by a Son of Louis Philippe-Ship Columbus-Ship Ohio-Army and Navy Committee -United States Frigate Congress................................. Page 102 BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. Interest awakened in their Behalf-Sunday School Bible published-Price reduced-Liberal Gratuities to Sabbath Schools-Organization of the British and Foreign Bible Society suggested by supplying Sunday School in Wales-Interesting Incident-Supply of Sunday Schools an appropriate Work-Appropriations made to Institutions of a general Character-Sunday Schools first established in England-Met Opposition-Found in every Christian Country-Missionary Stations-King of Prussia-Advantages of early training-American Sunday School Union-Resolutions passed by the Board in regard to the Supply of Sunday Schools by Auxiliaries-New York Sunday School Union-Massachusetts-Methodist Episcopal-Protestant Episcopal-Resolutions passed by the Board for the Promotion of the Circulation and Reading of the Scriptures by Youth and Children -Acceptable to the Auxiliaries-Canada Sunday School Union-Sunday School Union of Reformed Dutch Church-These Unions prohibited from making Donations where Auxiliaries existed-General Synod Sunday School Union..... 106 BIBLE IN BENEVOLENT, LITERARY, AND THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS. A List of all the Institutions of the above Character to whom Gratuities have from Time to Time been made-Supplies made by Auxiliaries....... 112 BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. Distributers first appointed by Auxiliaries-Friends who offered their Services gratuitously-This Course universally pursued by the Auxiliaries-By this Means Thousands of Families were put in Possession of the Bible-The Plan had its Difficulties-An Effort made to supply every Family in the United States in two Years-Suggestion came from a highly respected Auxiliary, accompanied by a Pledge of Five Thousand Dollars-Other Auxiliaries approved-Annual Meeting of the Society sanctioned the Enterprise-At the Expiration of three Years the Work was done-Reaction-Thought by many the Bible Work was completedMany Auxiliaries died-Many disastrous Results-In 1839 another Proposition was made to the Board by one of its Auxiliaries to supply the entire World in twenty Years-The Annual Meeting resolved to attempt its Accomplishment as soon as practicable-Application from American Tract Society-Discussions in regard to Propriety of Tract Colporteurs distributing Scriptures gratuitously-Character of the American Tract Society-Resolutions of the Board on the Subject of Bible Distribution-History of the Policy of the Society-Circular of American Tract Society to Colporteurs-Plan of the Committee on Distribution-Appointment of Bible Distributers-Resolutions of said Committee-Adopted by the Board SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xi -The Plan an admirable one-Co-operation of Auxiliaries desirable-Circulation of the Life-giving Word..................................... Page 117 BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. This Country the Possession and Home of the Indian-Natural SuggestionEarly Emblem-The Device of that Emblem-Indian Bible the first printed on the American Continent-Corporation for the Propagation of the Gospel-Second Edition of the Bible-Translation into Indian Language an Herculean LaborObjects that first claimed the Attention of the American Bible Society-First Grant of Money-Missionaries of the United Brethren-Delaware Indians-TuscarorasMohawk-Montreal Bible Society-Indians at Lake of the Two MountainsCaughnawaga Village-Indians Roman Catholics-Council of Chiefs in regard to receiving the Scriptures-Mission Schools among Indians supplied-SenecasCherokees and Choctaws-Grant to the American Board for Indian Missions under their Care-Appropriation toward printing Cherokee Scriptures-Bible Society among the Indians-Interesting Letter-Methodist Mission among Indians in Canada assisted-Letter from Missionary at Bay of Quinte-Bishop KemperGreen Bay-Indian Church Members-Appropriation for printing New Testament in the Dacotah Language-Indians at Lac qui Parle Mission-Quapaw Indians-Ojibwa Indians near Lake Superior-Creek Indians-Cherokee Bible Society-Choctaws-Presbyterian Board of Missions for Indian Stations-American Board.. —--------- -—.... —- ---............. 128 BIBLE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. Mission among the Flat-head Indians-Grant of Bibles to Missionaries-English and German Bibles and Testaments to Methodist Missionaries-Grant to an independent Missionary-American Board of Commissioners-Immigrants for Oregon -Rev. Mr. Roberts, Superintendent of Oregon Mission-Home Missionary Society, a Grant of Bibles and Testaments in English, German, French, and Spanish Languages-Communication from Mr. Roberts-Condition of the Territory-Romanism, Campbellism, Rationalism, Socinianism, and Infidelity-Country trying and captivating to the Church-Hopes of the Colony clouded-Awful Providence -Orphan Asylum-Boarding School at Tualatin Plains-California-The Ophir of the West and the El Dorado of the Poet-The Gold Mania-Bibles sent by the Board-More precious than Gold-And more plentiful too.........-....- 132 TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES. Short History of the English Bible-Translation in Anglo-Saxon Verse in seventh Century-Psalms translated by Adhelm-Saxon Version of the four Gospels by Egbert, eighth Century-Entire Bible by the Venerable Bede-Ninth Century, Alfred the Great-Portions of the Bible in Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-NormanDark Ages-Middle of fourteenth Century-Passing off of the moral EclipseTranslation of the Bible by Wiclif-Other Translations-Entire Bible by Tyndal -His literary Attainments-His Persecutions-His Translations seized and burned -Himself strangled to Death and Body burned-Miles Coverdale-CranmerGreat Bible-Number of Bibles in Circulation among the English in 1553-Use of, Scriptures prohibited by Mary-Coverdale and English Exiles at Geneva-Publications of Scriptures in Time of Elizabeth-Bishops' Bible-Rheimish Version at Douay-Our present Version-King James I.-Dr. Reynolds, Oxford-Names of the Translators and Places of Meeting-Division into Classes-Rules for Government of-Completion of the Work-Different Evangelical Churches satisfied with -Collation of English Bible by American Bible Society-Fac simile of King Xii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. James's Version-Supervisory Committee-Result of Investigations-English Bible universally read-Sun never sets upon it-First Translation made by the American Bible Society-Language of the Six Nations-Peruvian-Languages of India -Hawaiian Language-Seneca Indians-Mahratta Language-Hebrew and Hebrew-Spanish-Resolutions of the Board sent to the several Missionary Stations in regard to Translations of the Scriptures into foreign Languages-The Principle on which Translations made definitely fixed-Board could not encourage nor assist in any Translation that did not conform in the Principles of their Translation to the common English Version, so far, at least, as that all religious Denominations represented in the Society could consistently use and circulate them-Resolutions sent to each of the Missionary Boards-Concurrence of Protestant Episcopal, American and Foreign, and Methodist Episcopal Boards therewith-Parts of the Old Testament translated into Hawaiian-Old and New in Armenian-Armeno-Turkish and Hebrew-Spanish-Tamul-Grebo-Mohawk-Dacotah-Objibwa-Modern Syriac-Modern Armenian-Hebrew-Spanish -Hebrew-German-Urdu-Punjabee -Hindee-Number of foreign Languages into which Translations have been made by the Society-Subject of Translations important and difficult-Difficulty originating with Baptists-Impartial Statement-Letter from Mr. Packard-Request of Mr. Pearce, of Calcutta, in regard to printing a Translation of the Bengalee Scriptures on the Principle adopted by Baptist Missionaries in Burmah-Resolution of Committee on Distribution-Subject referred to a Committee of SevenOne from each Denomination represented in the Board-Statements of that Committee-The Baptists asked for a Version which only themselves could consistently use and circulate-Calcutta and British and Foreign Bible Society refused them Aid on that very Ground-Committee never knew before that such Translations as the Burmese were made and approved by any Denominations of Christians in India or elsewhere-Could not grant their Request for various Reasons-Violation of Compact-Sectarian-Resolutions in regard to-Protest of Dr. Cone, Baptist Member of Committee-Charged the Board with Inconsistency-Asserted that the Demand was in Accordance with the Regulations of the Society-Charged the Board with Injustice-Board learned for the first Time that Dr. Judson's Translation was exclusively Sectarian, though it was published at the Expense of the Society-The Version of the Baptists claimed to be " Correct and Faithful" -Charge of Injustice no candid Baptist would believe well founded-Unjust to have complied with their Demands-Unheard of Requirement-The Board charged with having changed its Policy-Had published such Versions before-This denied-Had been deceived in two Instances-Another Charge-UnfoundedStrange Inconsistency-German and Dutch Bibles-Rule of Society-English Bible set up as a Standard-Reply-Last Charge —Statement in regard to pecuniary Matters-Legacy of Mr. Marsh-Baptist Assumption-Rejection of the Term "Baptist" in their Charter-Concluding Remarks-Table of Languages and Dialects into which the Scriptures have been translated and circulated... Page 134 BIBLE IN CANADA. Society forwarded Bibles through the Vermont Bible Society-French BiblesRev. Thaddeus Osgood-Montreal Bible Society-Bibles sent to Mr. Hoyt-Letter from Corresponding Secretary of Montreal Bible Society-Annual Report of same Society-Sanstead-Archdeacon Wix-The Destitute of Newfoundland-Settlers between St. John's and Bay of Islands-Emissaries of the Church of RomeStraits of Belle Isle-Missionary Society of Methodist Episcopal Church-American Baptist Home Missionary Society-Resolution of Montreal Bible SocietyGrant to-Report of-Causes of Opposition-British and Foreign Bible Society SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. X111 Condition of the Country-Manner in which Scriptures received-Opposition of Papal Clergy-Bible and Priest-Alternately burn each other-Grants-Madame Feller-Swiss Mission in Canada-Rev. Caleb Strong of Montreal-Rev. Mr. Wolf-French Canadian Missionary Society-Schools-Destitute Families at Grand Ligne-Rev. H. Wilson was granted Bibles and Testaments for a Colony of Colored Persons.............................................. Page 164 BIBLE IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. Sources of Information in regard to Introduction of Bible into, consultedCommunication from an American Gentleman residing in Mexico to the BoardReception of Scriptures there-Correspondence opened with an intelligent Gentleman residing in City of Mexico —Communication from Rev. Mr. BrighamPersonal Knowledge of and extensive Correspondence-His Statements in regard to Condition of the Country-Spanish Bibles sent to Agents-Letter from Mr. Brigham, dated Vera Cruz-Made Arrangements for Sale and Distribution of Bibles-American Consul-His Co-operation-Matamoras, Tampico, Puebla, and Mazatlan-Bibles and Testaments sent-Letter from an Agent of British and Foreign Bible Society, residing in Mexico, to Rev. Dr. Milnor, Secretary for Foreign Correspondence, propounding Questions in regard to the Circulation of the Protestant Scriptures-Some of the Priesthood in Favor of the Circulation of the Scriptures-Became Members of the British and Foreign Bible SocietyQuery-Large Sale of Bibles in nine Months-San Juan de Los Lagos-Annual Fair-Splendid Temple-Idol worshiped an Image of the Virgin Mary-Aguas Calientes-Queretaro, Zelaya, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara-Parts of Scriptures sold-But one Diocese in Mexico prohibiting Sale and Circulation of the Bible-Not eight Copies of the Spanish Bible in the entire State of Chihuahua-Bibles sent there and to Western Coast-Distracted State of the Country-Province of Texas-Sumner Bacon, Esq.-Nine out of every Ten in the Jurisdiction of Nacogdoches destitute of the Scriptures-Bibles sent to City of Mexico-Revolt of Texas-Independence acknowledged by other Sovereignties and annexed to the United States-Prior to its Admission into the Union a Bible Society was formed at Houston, the Capital-Members of Congress and other distinguished Individuals participated in Exercises-An Agent of the American Bible Society sold to the Society a large Stock of Bibles-Resolutions of Texas Bible Society-American Merchant at Mazatlan-Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions-Yu.catanl-Bibles sent-W. H. Brown, Esq.-War with Mexico-Treaty -Supply of Soldiers-Greater Efforts to supply Mexico with the Bible-Sword of the Spirit-An Agent sent by the Board-Rev. Mr. Norris-Took a large Stock of Bibles in the English, Spanish, French, and German Languages-An interesting Incident-Letter fiom Mr. Norris-Protestant Worship not tolerated in MexicoPrivilege of Sepulture denied-Great Number of Churches-Religious Establishments in Puebla-Church holds three fourths of the real Capital-Number of Priests-Character-Moral and social Influence over the lower Classes-Influence over the Institutions of the Country-Education-Females-Leperos-Opinion of a Priest concerning-Peones and Indians-Robberies-Persons engaged inBiblical Wants of the People-Padre Scio's Bible-Bibles burned by the Bishop of Mexico-The War no Advantage to Christian Enterprise-Toleration for Protestantism never asked for by the Government-Some encouraging Features in present Aspect of Affairs-A political Party-Bibles circulated by Agent-Causes of Difference between United States and Mexico _,- -................. -167 Xiv SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. Prospect of introducing the Scriptures into-Board procured a Set of Stereotype Plates-Scriptures in Spanish sent to-Primary Schools in Municipality of Buenos Ayres-Extensive Correspondence opened-Liberal Donations from the British and Foreign Bible Society to American Bible Society for South America -Favorable Change in Spanish Colonies-Correspondence in relation to printing Padre Scio's Version of New Testament-Scriptures sent to different Parts of Country-Arrangements made for printing Padre Scio's Version-Demand for Scriptures increase-Bibles sent-A Version approved of by Roman CatholicsVulgate-The Bible found by Luther in his Cell-Patagonia-Provinces on both Sides of the Parana, Monte Video, Bahia, the Brazils, Valparaiso, Chili, MendozaEfforts to enlighten-Formation of a National Bible Society at Bogota-Donation of the Board to their Depository-Establishment of a Society at the City of Caraccas-Interesting Communications from Mr. John C. Brigham, Agent of the American Board-Wants of the Country-Facilities for supplying-Mr. Brigham's Distributions of Bibles in the Republics of Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico-Grants made to various Agents-Sold to Merchants-Extravagant Prices-Bibles intrusted to a Gentleman trading on Magdalena River-Also to a Gentleman at Maracaibo-Vessel wrecked-Bibles plundered by Indians-Sold by them at high Prices to Citizens-Philippine Islands-Surinam and Paramaribo -Country involved in War-British and Foreign Bible Society exclude the Apocrypha from Spanish Bible-Circulation restricted-Sale prohibited by Ecclesiastical Decree-Grounds of stated-A Box of Testaments sent to ValparaisoObjections to uncanonical Books still existed-Officer of United States Navy on the Coast-Board sent an Agent to South America-Instructions-Communication from-People favorable to his Mission-Opposition from Roman Catholic Bishop -Had to remove his Bibles to save them from the Flames-Sold some in Chili and Peru-Joaquin Mosquera-Primary Schools of Bogota-Rev. Mr. Torrey at St. Catharine's, Brazil-Methodist Missionary Society-Rio Janeiro-Communication from Rev. Mr. Spaulding-Portuguese and French Scriptures-Appeal from the Methodist Missionaries, Rev. Messrs. Kidder and Spaulding, to the BoardPopulation of Brazil-Catholic Priesthood-Opposition to Bible-Rev. Mr. Norris, Methodist Missionary-Spanish, Danish, and Italian Scriptures-Bibles sent to a Lady for Distribution-Nicaragua, Honduras-Foreign Evangelical SocietyAmerican Consul-Concluding Remarks........ —-............... Page 178 BIBLE IN FRANCE. France a Republic-The Bible has free Circulation-Great Change in this Respect-Respect for the Bible-Donation to the American Bible Society from British and Foreign of Stereotype Plates for French Bible-France one of the first foreign Fields occupied by the American Bible Society-Assistance rendered to Rev. F. Leo, of Paris, in printing two Stereotype Editions of the New Testament -Letter from Dr. Mason to-The Formation of the Protestant Bible Society of Paris-Increased Facilities afforded by political Events-Proposition of a benevolent Gentleman in one of our Cities-Number of Bibles circulated in France in the Year 1821-How accomplished-Number of Protestants in that Country-Grant of Money to Protestant Bible Society-Extracts from the Communication of the Committee of the French and Foreign Bible Society-Grant of Money to-Supply of German Immigrants passing through France to America-Number of Auxiliaries of the Protestant Bible Society-Grant of the Board to supply the City of Lyons and Vicinity with the Scriptures-An additional Grant to enable the Lyons Bible Society to procure a Set of Stereotype Plates-Another Grant was made, on SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. XV the Recommendation of the Rev. Robert Baird, D.D., for supplying the Destitute in France and Spain-Encouraging Letter from the Secretary of the Lyons Bible Society-Number of Bibles circulated in the different Departments of France in 1840-Grant to Rev. Mr. Sawtelle of Bibles and Testaments for Circulation in Havre-To the Foreign Evangelical Society, under the Direction of Dr. Baird, $500-Interesting Letter from-Colporteurs-Swiss Committee-A Million and a Half of Bibles sent to France by British and Foreign Bible Society at different times, besides large Grants of Money-Agent of British and Foreign Bible Society, M. Pressense-Grant to Foreign Evangelical Society-Grant to French and Foreign Bible Society-Gratifying Letter from Count de la Borde, one of the Secretaries of-Interesting Results among the Catholics of Bible Circulation-Archbishop of Toulouse-Revival of a false Accusation-Challenge sent to by a Member of the Swiss Committee-Pamphlet published, entitled "Reply to the Circular of the Archbishop"-Several Priests left the Church of Rome-Pamphlets published by them, entitled " Farewell to Rome" and " The Pope"-Salutary Sensation produced -Triumph of the Bible-Priests, Monks, and Nuns engaged as ColporteursGrant to Foreign Evangelical Society to aid in printing and circulating Scriptures in Switzerland-Other Grants to French and Foreign Bible Society-Secretary Count de la Borde communicated an Account of the determined and persevering Opposition of the Papal Priesthood since the Accession of the new Pope, Pius IX. -The Title of Reformer a Misnomer-His Liberalism the Result of Necessity, not Choice-Unable to resist the Laws of Progress-Obliged to flee the Papal Chair -A Spirit of Inquiry awakened-Grants to the Evangelical Society and French and Foreign Bible Society-Letter from one of the Secretaries since the late Revolution-Empty Treasury and Depository-A Crisis full of sublime moral Interest -Liberty gained can only be secured by a National Bible Morality-Rev. Mr. Bridel, Delegate to the American Bible Society-His Representation of Condition and Wants of France-Interest excited-Resolution to contribute $10,000 during the Year-Hotel Gibbon-Voltaire's Declaration concerning the Bible.. Page 185 BIBLE IN SPAIN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, AND AUSTRIA. Earliest Information in regard to Circulation of Scriptures in Spain-Publication of the Spanish New Testament among the first Things considered by the Board-Want of Ability alone deterred from the Undertakin —Few Copies introduced-Distributions through Natives residing in England-Copy of each Edition of Spanish Scriptures sent by Request to Secretary of French and Foreign Bible Society-British and Foreign Bible Society sent an Agent into Spain-Rev. Mr. Borrow-His " Bible in Spain"-His Travels-Description of Country-Her Inquisition-Changed from Butcher to Banker-Wars devastated the Country-Poverty-Pope's Cries for Peter Pence-Pope's pastoral Letter-Among the Peasantry a Willingness to read the Scriptures-Madrid-Translated and printed the Gospel in the Gipsy Language-Imprisoned-Reflections on passing the Court of the Prison-Apostrophe to the Pope-Imprisonment resulted in Good-Civil War -Communication to the Board from a Protestant Merchant-Openings of Providence for Circulation of Scriptures-Box of Spanish Bibles sent-Irreformable Spirit of Popery-Policy of Bible Society-Foreign Evangelical Society-Box of Spanish Bibles and Testaments-Latest Intelligence-But little accomplished in Italy, Portugal, Austria, and other Papal Countries-Philo-Italian Society-Increased Circulation-Correspondent at Rome-Bible freely circulated-Mr. Corderoy-Bible Meeting at Lucca-Society formed-Collection of $100-Request of Inhabitants of Sicily for the Scriptures-Correspondent of London Times-Bibles advertised for sale in Rome-Austria-Cheering Prospects............ 193 Vyi SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Xvi BIBLE PROHIBITION IN ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES. Facts in relation to-First great Fact-Index Prohibitorum-Decree of Council of Trent-Only enforced strictly where Romanism dominant-Austria-Bibles prohibited in all Languages-Protestant Tyrolese expatriated-France-Popery a dead Tree-Belgium-Bible Distribution suppressed by brute Force-Bishop Bruges' Denunciation of Bible Societies-Rome's Effrontery only equaled by her Ignorance-Ridiculous Performances on Ascension Day-Unanimous Consent of the Fathers-Proof of priestly Ignorance-Assertion of Dr. Brownlee-Ridiculous Assumption-Spain-Bishop of Astorga-Condition on which he might print a Spanish Version of the Scriptures-Mr. Borrow's Translation-Italy-Bible condemned-Unknown-Virgin Mary chief Object of Adoration-Sardinia-Twentyfour Persons imprisoned for having the Bible in their Possession-Leghorn-Rome -Bible a strange and rare Book-Fifteen large Volumes-Roman Church never published an Edition of New Testament in Greek-Ireland-Encyclical Letter of Leo XII.-Pastoral Address-Archbishop of Tuam-Missionaries at DamascusSouth and Central America-Bishop of Quito-West Indies-Boast of a Roman Bishop-" Faithful" deprived of the Bible in Protestant as well as Papal Countries-Popish Opposition in England-Letter of Rev. Peter Gandolphy to Bishop Marsh in 1813-Sincerity of his Professions-Pretended Catholic Bible SocietyBible-burning in Ireland-In the United States-In Canada-Testimony of Macaulay in his History of England in regard to Romanism........Page 199 BIBLE IN SANDWICH, WEST INDIA, AND OTHER ISLANDS. Word of Prophecy-Isles shall wait for his Law-Sandwich Islands-Attention of the Society called to at an early Day-Interest awakened-First Missionaries -American Board-Bibles sent-Natives educated at the Mission School, Connecticut-Copies of Scriptures sent to Kings of Owhyhee and Atooi-Bibles for Mariners at Sandwich Islands-Gospel of Matthew in Hawaiian Language published by Society-Mr. Loomis-Request of the Rulers to have the entire Bible in the Hawaiian Tongue-No Prejudices against the Word of God-Board received a Box of Slavonian New Testaments from St. Petersburg for Russian ShipsLetter from Rev. Mr. Knill of St. Petersburg-Letter from the Islands-Prospects of Success-Grant of $5000-Number of Missionaries on the Islands-Number of Natives able to read-Grant of Money to American Board-Communication from the Missionaries-Progress in translating and printing the Scriptures-Letter from one of the Missionaries-Glorious Revival of Religion-Number of regular Hear. ers-Number of Copies of New Testament published-Another Grant of Money by the Board-Still further Assistance toward publishing the Hawaiian Scriptures -Completion of the Translation of the entire Bible-Manuscript examined by the Board-Number of Communicants in eighteen Churches-Number of Pupils connected with the Common Schools-Number of Readers-Two Editions of New Testament published-Forcible Establishment of French Papal MissionariesGrant to Chaplain of Seamen's Friend Society —10,000 appropriated by the Board -Hawaiian Bible Society auxiliary to American Bible Society-Additional Grant of Money-Statement of the Nature and Extent of Operations of Hawaiian Bible Society-Laws of the Islands based upon the Bible-Grant of Money-Increased Interest in the Circulation of the Scriptures-Additional Grant-Bible Society one of Efficiency and System-Letters expected- W>est India and other Islands-Bibles sent to Trinidad and Santa Croix-St. Martin's and Porto Praya-Portuguese Scriptures from British and Foreign Bible Society-Immigrants to the Island of Hayti supplied by the New York Bible Society- Bibles for Use of Schools-Antigna-Spanish Scriptures sent to Cuba-Spanish and French Bibles to Hayti SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xvii Mantanzas and Port au Platte-Supply sent to a religious Captain of a Vessel at Aux Cayes-Mr. Wainwright, of Port au Prince-Colony near Baracao-Bahama Islands-Portioned out to the Inhabitants of-Providence, Turk's Island, Rum Key, Wolling's Sound, Exuma, Grand Bahama, and Andros Island-Danish Islands-Letter from Dr. M'Elroy-Schools established at Santa Cruz-Planters required by Law to send their young Slaves to-Sabbath Schools-Gentlemen and Ladies of first Respectability Teachers-Destitution of the Scriptures-Grant of Bibles to a Gentleman and Lady at St. Croix-Rev. Mr. Hanson, a Protestant Episcopal Minister at Key West-Island of St. Thomas-Wesleyan Missionary at Hayti-Bibles sent to for Distribution-Rev. Mr. Brett, of Reformed Dutch Church, at St. Thomas-Portuguese Testaments sent to Mr. Dabney for Distribution at the Azore Islands —Key West, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Cuba —For Use of the Slave Population at St. Croix-Missionary of Reformed Presbyterian Church —Mission at Hayti-Grant to the Bahama Bible Society...................... Page 209 BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. Name of China, whence derived-Extravagant Notions of Chinese-Extent of the Country-Population-Form of Government-A Missionary Field-Christianl Mission to from Syria, 637-Bible translated into the Chinese Language by Prime Minister of the Emperor-Prevalence of Christianity-Professor Lassar, of Anglo-Hindoo College-Translation of the Gospel of Matthew-Translation of the four Gospels by-Translation by Dr. Marshman, elder Pupil of Mr. LassarOperations of British and Foreign and American Bible Societies-Letter from Dr. Morrison at Canton-Free Circulation of Scriptures impracticable-Whol Bible printed in Chinese from a Translation of Drs. Morrison and Milne-Communication from Rev. Mr. Bridgman at Canton-Great Changes had taken place favorable to the Circulation of the Scriptures-Two Editions of the Bible, three of New Testament, and four of Psalms put in Circulation-Number of-Chinese a reading People-In this Respect superior to any Pagan Nation-Thousands accessible-No one Language in the World in which Bible could be read by so many Millions-Survey of the Field-Third Part of the Human Family-Labors and Tours of Gutzlaff-Siam and Southern China-Appropriation by the Board of $3000-Letter from the Mission in Canton-Leang Afa, a Convert from Paganism-Bible Distributer-Students and Literati-Present to the King in Corea of twenty-one Volumes of the Scriptures-Cheteang-Chusa Islands-Fokin Province-Eagerness of the Inhabitants for the Scriptures-A Work against the three Superstitions of China by Gutzlaff-Letter from Mr. Bridgman, Missionary at Canton-Printing of Chinese Bible at Malacca-Missionary Ship-Letter from Leang Afa-Letter from Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff-Bible Distribution-New EditionBeautiful Allegory-The Bible the greatest Missionary-Revision of the Scriptures-Grant to Baptist Board, $1000-American Board, $500-For Transportation and Distribution, $1000-Protestant Episcopal-American and Foreign-In all, $12,000-Preparation of the New Testament in Japanese-Difference of Opinion among Missionaries in regard to the new Version-British and Foreign Bible Society withdrew its Patronage-American Bible Society postponed its DecisionRev. Mr. Rottger, Dutch Missionary at Rio-Scene in a Temple-Gloomy Prospects in China-Causes of-Encouraging Letter from Gutzlaff-Visit to MacaoUnion of the Missionaries in regard to new Translation-Meeting at Hong Kong -Proceedings of-Names of Members-Discussion on State of Chinese VersionResolution-Adjourned Meeting-Resolutions in regard to Translation-Fourth Meeting-Resolutions in regard to the Greek Word fawrrto and its Derivatives -Names of the Deity-Scripture Names-All Protestant Missionaries a general 2 XViii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Committee-Subdivision-Stations~-Work to be submitted to Bible Societies of Great Britain and United States-Mr. Medhurst Secretary to General Committee -Bible Societies bear the Expense-Work divided-Report of a Committee on fa7rlrtc-Resolution-Last Meeting-Resolution in regard to Name of GodChinese Youth at Hong Kong learning English-Appropriation of $10,000 for circulating the new Version about to be issued-Appropriation from British and Foreign Bible Society for Cylinder Press for printing new Version-Dr. MilneGates of China open-Sixty Missionaries-Conclusionl..........Page 217 BIBLE IN INDIA AND INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES. Antiquity of India-Country, when known to Europe-Extent of-Population -Number of Europeans-Possessions in India-A Missionary Field-Visited by Apostles-Traditions and Monuments-St. Thomas-His Estimation of the Savior's Commission-India interesting to the Philosopher-Dr. Henry's Opinion of the Philosophy of-Traces of philosophical Development on a large Scale-Speculations not the Design of this History-Facts pertaining to religious Condition of the Country-Dark Picture-Men by Philosophy can not be made acquainted with God. Chin-India.-Description of-Identity of Language and Manners with China and India Proper-Interesting Points-Birmah-Baptist Brethren-Malacca, the Ophir of the Old Testament-Burial-place of Milne-Labors of-Anglo-Chinese College-Introduction of the Bible into China-College of Fort William at Bengal -Translation of the Scriptures-Oriental Literature —First Protestant Mission at Tranquebar-Translation of the Bible into Tamul Language-Bible Societies at Calcutta, Serampore, Bombay, and Madras-Operation of in circulating Scriptures -Report of Secretary from-Masses at Mirzapore soliciting the Scriptures-Communication from Drs. Carey and Marshman-Scriptures published in five of the Languages of India-New Testament and Parts of the Old in ten, the New Testament alone in six more-Remaining ten some one of the Gospels-Expense defrayed by the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies-$1000 to prepare the Scriptures in Sanscrit, Bengalee, Hindee, Mahratta, and Orissa Languages-Report of British and Foreign Bible Society-Bible circulated in thirty Languages of India-Anglo-Chinese, Tamul, Goojurattu, Cingalese, and Pali Languages-The latter the Language of the Literati of Birmah-Singapore-Grant of $1200 to print Judson's Translation of the New Testament in Burmese-Access to 17,000,000 in that Language-Appropriation to American Board for Scriptures in India, $5000 -An additional Grant of $5000-Translations in the Mahratta Language-Conformity of Versions to English Version-One in forty of Mahratta People able to read-Four hundred thousand Readers-Grant of $3000-Burman Empire, $5000 -Interesting Items in regard to Circulation of the Scriptures-Eleven Missionaries among Mahrattas-Population 12,000,000-Schools-Bible read in-Cheering Intelligence from Birmah-Baptist Board at Maulmein-Mr. Kincaid's Voyage up the Irrawaddy River-Grant to Western Foreign Missionary Society at Pittsburg for Missionaries in Northern India, $500-To Baptist Missions in Burman Empire a Grant of $7000-Old Testament in course of Publication-Bible among Seamen at Singapore-To various Boards, $17,000-Letter from Rev. Amos Sutton-Description of a Festival-100,000 before the bloody Moloch-Letter from Rev. Messrs. Scudder and Winslow-Tamul Language-500,000 able to readZeloogoo Language-Prospect of an entire Copy of the Bible in Mahratta-Letter from Missionary at Madras-Inhabitants can not be reached by the oral Word -An Appropriation of $4000-Encouraging Prospects in Madras-Land open in all its Length and Breadth-75,000,000 accessible-Government favorable-In all SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xix Places People come in Crowds to get the Scriptures-Distributions-$20,000 a Year asked from the American Bible Society-Bazars in Madura-Visited by Distributers-Grant of $2000-To the Station at Madras, $7000-Population of the City of Bombay-Character of-Mahratta Language-Scriptures in Hebrew and Parsee-Condition of the Jews-Followers of Zoroaster-Translation of Paine's Age of Reason-Doctrines of Zoroaster-Selections from Voltaire-British Possessions between India and Persia-Grant of English Bibles and Testaments for those learning that Language at Madras —2000 to the Presbyterian Board for Northern India-Letter from Secretary of the Board, Walter Lowrie, Esq.Printing Presses in India-Unable to supply the Demands-Rev. Mr. Sutton, Baptist Mission at Orissa, a Grant of $100-Bibles on request of Walter Lowrie, Esq.-Tamul Scriptures through Rev. Mr. Winslow, at Madras, to Rev. Mr. Heyer. a Missionary of the Lutheran Church-Publishing Scriptures in Lodiana, Northern India, $3000-Samples furnished-Mission Station at Madras-Distribution in Southern India, $3500-Bombay, $1000-Bible Distribution among Hindoos, Mussulmans, and Jews-Tour of Mr. Hume, Secretary of Bombay Bible Society, to Goa-Residence of Roman Catholic Archbishop-Buchanan's Description of-Present Condition-Ruins of the Inquisition-Missionaries at Siam, $1000-Letter from Rev. Mr. Robinson-Indo-Chinese Languages-Grant for Madura, $1500-Presbyterian Board, $7000-Description of Bombay-Its Inhabitants-Editors of City Papers-Infidel Publications-Conclusion....... Page 231 BIBLE IN CEYLON. Extent of the Island —Population —Taken possession of by the Portuguese in the sixteenth Century-Dutch-Ceded to the British in 1795-Native InhabitantsReligion of-Early Efforts to convert it to. Christianity-St. Jerome's StatementMissionary Cause compared with Bible for saving Sinners-History of the Introduction of Christianity into the Island-Francis Xavier-Romanism was established there when first visited by Protestants-Dutch attempted to convert the Natives to Protestantism perhaps earlier than the Catholics-Corrupt Form of Protestantism-Absurd Ordinance of-Unhappy Results-Number of Members-Moravian Missionaries-Their Reception-Subsequently ordered from the Island-Labors of not without Fruit-Rev. Dr. Coke, in company with Messrs. Harvard, Clough, and others, set out from England as Missionaries to-Dr. Coke died on the Passage-Was buried in the Indian Ocean-Remainder reached the Island-Cordially received-Their Success-Established the first Sunday School in CeylonPrudential Committee of the American Board sent out Messrs. Richards, Warren, Poor, Meigs, and Bardwell-Reception by the Governor-This Mission most successful-Established a College at Battacotta for the Education of pious young Natives for the Ministry-Mission of English Baptists-Ceylon an interesting Bible Field-Bible Society at Colombo-Jaffna Bible Society-American Bible Society made to American Board a Donation of $5000 for purchase of Scriptures in Tamul Language-Translation of the Scriptures into the Cingalese Language-Number that spoke that Language-Eight or ten Editions-American Missionaries-Great Demand for Scriptures-Facilities for Distribution-Grant of $500-At another Time $500-English Bibles for Use of Pupils-Prudential Committee-Intelligence in regard to Circulation of the Scriptures-Number that speak Tamul LanguageCoromandel Coast-Printing Press-Demand for the Scriptures-Grant to Missionaries, $2000-Letters from asking for printing Paper-Between four and five thousand Children under Christian Instruction-Should be supplied-Great Importance of Bible to-Grant of $6000-American Board for Use of Schools, $2000 -Bibles in the English Tongue-Tamul and Cingalese Scriptures-Report of Jaff XX SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. na Bible Society-Number of Copies of Scriptures printed-American BoardAmerican Bible Society-Portions of Bible printed-Grant to American Board for printing Tamul Scriptures, $4000-Rev. Mr. Johnson, an English Episcopal Missionary-Communication from in regard to Efforts to secure a faithful Version of Tamul Scriptures-Number of English Readers vastly increased-The Bible the Text-book-Not a Copy of the whole Bible in their Depository-Cries from Madura for Bibles-Missionaries a grant of $3000-English Bibles for Use of Schools -Thousands of heathen Youth becoming acquainted with English Language by reading the Bible-Additional Grant-For publishing new Version of Scriptures in Tamul Language, $1000 —Island made to bud and blossom as the Rose-Word of God effectual......... -.............................- Page 248 BIBLE IN AFRICA. Immense Country-Population-Its Condition-Once the Center of LearningMohammedanism-Its Extent-Bible and Christianity, when introduced-Day of Pentecost-Ethiopian Eunuch-Establishment of the Abyssinian Church-First Translation of the Bible made at Alexandria into Hellenistic Greek-Destruction of Alexandrian Library-Bible Societies at Sierra Leone, Cape of Good Hope, and Abyssinia in 1820-Translation into Amharic Language for Abyssinians-Distributions of Sierra Leone Bible Society-Hottentots taught to read the BibleInteresting Facts in relation to the Languages of Africa-Translations in Ethiopic, Coptic, and Arabic-Grant of American Bible Society to Colony at Liberia-Presents of Copies to African Kings-Translation into Madagasse for Island of Madagascar-Wesleyan Missionary at Cape Town-Circulation of Scriptures in Schools -Good Effects-Dr. Philip and Rev. Mr. Read's Visit to London-Addresses of Caffre Chief and Christian Hottentot-Effect of Bible upon-Rev. J. L. Wilson, Missionary at Cape Palmas-Translation into the Grebo Tongue, $1000-Another Grant of $300-Bible Societies at Sierra Leone, Cape Town, and other PlacesIncreasing Interest-Jews at Tunis-Letter from Wesleyan Missionary in South Africa-Monthly Magazine in the Caffre Language-American Board Grant of Bibles-Translation into Grebo Tongue by Rev. Mr. Payne, Episcopal Missionary in Western Africa-Published by the Society-Rev. Mr. Moffalt, Missionary to the Bechuanas-Usefulness of the written Word verified-Testimony of a Native Convert-Africa the most wretched and hopeless of all Portions of heathen World -A hundred fold more has been done for one Island than for Africa-Mills and Cox sleep in Africa-Dr. Chalmers's sublime Spectacle surpassed in her Condition and Prospects......-... —--------- —. —.... —- --- 255 BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. Countries to which the Term specifically applies-Holy Ground-Angel with everlasting Gospel to preach-Reintroduction of the Bible into Countries where first written-The Reader conducted to ancient Sites of Places where Divine Light first shone-The public reading of the Scriptures in the Days of Ezra-Effect upon the Audience-Manuscript Copies of the Septuagint in Synagogues of the Jews-Few to be found-Living Oracles, like exiled Jews, returning to their native Land-Circulation of Scriptures in ancient Bible Lands by London Missionary Society in 1811-Mr. Bloomfield sent by Society to Malta-Church Missionary Society-Rev. Mr. Jowett-American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions-Mission to benefit the mingled Inhabitants of the Holy Land-Society sent printing Establishments-Fonts of Type for printing English, Italian, Greek, Greco-Turkish, Armenian, Armeno-Turkish, and Arabic-Malta an Emporium for Bible and Missionary Operations-The Key by which all the Doors in the East SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Xxi could be unlocked-Description of its Advantages-London Jews' Society-Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society-Malta Bible Society-Translation of Scriptures into Greek-Report of Distribution in various Languages-Aleppo-Translation of modern Greek Testament-Translation into the Albanian Language-Interesting Letter from Rev. Pliny Fisk-Smyrna, Teos, Vourla, Scio, Ephesus, and Tenedos-Number of Copies issued by Malta Bible Society-Where sent-Turkish Bible in Press-Modern Armenian translated-Egypt-Coptic Church in favor of Bible Society-Palestine-Ionian Bible Society-Suffering Greeks-Bible prohibited by the Firman of the Grand Seignior-Extensive Circulation at different Places-Persian Language-Operations of the American Bible Society-Visit of the Rev. Jonas King to Palestine-Board granted $1500 to supply him with Greek Scriptures-Great Sympathy at that Time in this Country in behalf of GreeksProtestant Episcopal Church, $500-Interesting Letter from Mr. King-Great Demand for the Scriptures-Accounts from Messrs. King and Robertson-Authorized to purchase Bibles from British and Foreign Bible Society-Circulation of Scriptures in Turkish Empire-Letter from Rev. Mr. Brewer, dated Isle of Patmos-Appeal in behalf of the Seven Churches of Asia-Missions in Mediterranean, $2000 -Death of Professor Greenfield-His Labors-Letter to Dr. Brigham-Translation of the Old Testament into Armeno-Turkish by Bishop Carabet-GrantsCommunication from Rev. Mr. Schauffler, Missionary to the Jews at Constantinople-Condition of in Ottoman Empire-Scriptures in Hebrew and HebrewSpanish-Psalms most desirable Book to the Jews-$1000 to print Mr. Schauffler's Translation-$800 for Arabic Scriptures-Rev. Mr. Perkins-Syriac ScripturesNestorians in Persia-Rev. Dr. King, Greece-Supply of Scriptures-Demand for increasing-Authorized by the Society to employ a native Agent-Damianos -Rev. Mr. Hill, Protestant Episcopal Missionary, Athens-American Board two Grants, $5500-Appointment of Rev. S. H. Calhoun, Agent of American Bible Society for the Levant-Reception by Missionaries at Smyrna-Hebrew-SpanishMissionaries at Constantinople-Arabic Scriptures in Schools, $500-Letter from Rev. Mr. Thompson-Supply of Pilgrims at Jerusalem-Must have the Bible, no Hope from Missionaries-Mosul-Condition of the Churches around-Nestorian Christians in Persia-Condition of-Letter from Mr. Calhoun-Rev. Mr. Whiting, Missionary at Jerusalem-Rev. Mr. Love, Baptist Missionary at Patras-Dr. Grant, of the Ooroomiah Mission, Persia-Not one complete Copy of the Bible in the Nestorian Character-Singular Mode of reading-Communications from Society's Agent in regard to Circulation of Scriptures in different Languages-Colonists of Southern Russia-Discussion in Athens-Patras-Athens and numerous other Places-Visit to Egypt —American Consul at Alexandria-Island of Cyprus -Hebrew-Spanish Old Testament at Vienna published by Mr. Schauffler, $6000 -Dr. Grant-Appropriations for Levant, $2400-Rabbis at Constantinople-Certificate of Chief Rabbi recommending the Bible-Armeno-Turkish Old Testament -Laborious Work-Accomplished by Rev. Mr. Goodell-Reflections of on finishing-Interesting Letter from Society's Agent in regard to the Field of his Labor -Arabic Testament-Modern Greek-Levant, $5000 —New Testament in German, with Psalms-Queen of Hungary a Distributer of —Scriptures in Levant published by Society-Letter from Dr. Goodell-Reviews his Labors —Importance of the Bible to Missionary-Levant, $8145-Interesting Account from Bible Distributers sent by Agent-Baptist Board-Dr. Perkins's New Testament in Syriac -American Board, $1000 —Levant, $5000-Mr. Calhoun closes his Agency-Statements in his last Letter-Scriptures published-New Edition of Hebrew-Spanish Scriptures, $10,000-Hebrew-Germain-Modern Armenian-Modern Syriac. $1000 i~i ~SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. -American Board, $2500-Scriptures in Turkey, $5000-Encouraging Letter from a Committee of Missionaries in Turkey.............................Page 263 BIBLE IN RUSSIA. A Bible Society established at an early Day-Fraternal Correspondence with American Bible Society-Copy of its Reports and Copies of Bibles published in different Languages received by the Board from-Patronized by the Emperor and Nobility-Five Years younger than British and Foreign Bible Society-Extensive Usefulness contrasted with-Circulated the Scriptures in forty-six different Languages-Original Design-Bible Press silenced by an Imperial Ukase-Two hundred and eighty-nine Auxiliaries-Prohibition did not extend to Sale and Distribution of Bibles-Nor the Existence of Bible Societies-Bible Society organized at St. Petersburg-Furnished with Bibles by British and Foreign Bible SocietyGrant of the Board, $300-William Ropes, Esq.-Letter from Pastor Malenburg -Destitution-Society obtained Protection of Government-To William Ropes, Esq., and Associates, $1000-Scriptures purchased by two Ladies for Distribution in Russia-Communication from Messrs. Brown and Ropes-Inquiries of different Pastors in regard to Destitution-Grant of $1500-Interesting Letters from Pastors in regard to Destitution in Parishes-Grants of Money and Bibles-Messrs. Ropes and Gilibrand, for Circulation of Bibles in Finland, $1000-Committee at St. Petersburg, $1000-Sweden, $1500-Committee, $1000-Forty thousand destitute Families supplied-Grant of $2000-Interesting Report of Committee-13,000 Bibles distributed-Additional Distributions-Concluding Remarks.....Page 285 AN APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS OF THE BIBLE. Importance of the Bible as a Source of Instruction contrasted with the Oracles of Heathenism-The Word of God not the less Valuable because common to allThe distingatishing Privileges of the Jewish Nation-The wonderful Preservation of the Scriptures-Coincidence of Prophecy and Fact-The Duty of those who possess and appreciate the Bible-Nature of true Christian Charity-Duty to God requires the Communication of Blessings we enjoy-The Blessedness of giving to the Lord-Incredulity of the World in regard to the real Destitution of the Holy Scriptures-Reasons for-Facts in relation to Bible Destitution in this CountryResolution to supply the United States in two Years-Work done in two YearsResults of subsequent Explorations-Destitution increases instead of being lessened-Reasons for-Families in Massachusetts without the Bible-New York-Jefferson County-Remarkable Facts brought to Light in regard to-Indication of Duty-Virginia-Great Destitution in Western Part of the State-One half of the Families without the Bible-Ohio-One fifth of the Families destitute-County of Clermont-Number of Protestant Families now destitute in the United StatesMission of the Society will never expire-Increase of Population-Calculation in regard to-The entire World has Claims upon us-Signs of the Times-Every Heathen Country open to the Bible-Propriety of increased Liberality on the Part of the Friends of the Bible-Desire awakened in all Lands-Importance of the Missionary Enterprise-The Bible the leading Star in the World's Conversion -Missionary could do nothing without the Bible-Its paramount Claims-Traveler at a Fountain-Invitation of the Gospel-Broad and mighty River opened by the Bible, dispensing Blessings to every Land..-.. —. —----—.. ——.... 290 BIBLE SOCIETIES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD. Date of their Organization-Number of Copies of the Old and New Testament Scriptures issued-Located in all Parts of the World-Multiplying from year to year-Correspondence kept up with a -.a- - 299 SUMMARY OF CONTENTS.iii AGENCIES. The Appointment of Agents early elicited the Attention of the Board-Labored hard to dispense with them-Last Resort-Importance of —Appointment of an Auxiliary Committee-Duties of-Instructed to make Inquiry in regard to suitable Persons to act as Agents-Annals of the British and Foreign Bible SocietyAgents appointed-Organization of Auxiliaries-Importance of demonstratedSelected from the different Evangelical Churches represented in the Board-Appointed by Agency Committee-Instructions of Committee to Agents-What expected of them-List of the Names of all the Agents appointed by the Society........................................................... Page 300 LEGACIES. Evidence of the Value placed upon the Society-Testimony from living and dying Witnesses-First Legacies made-Amount from Organization of the Society to 1821-Hon. Elias Boudinot, LL.D.-Mr. John Withington-Amount of Legacies in 1823 —Samuel Sheldon, 1824 —Mr. Matthew Benschoten, Mrs. Lydia Dixon, Mr. Joseph Fletcher, 1825-1826, Mrs. Campbell, Mr. Daniel Burger, James Thompson, Esq., Dr. Elias Hawes-1827, Othniel Smith, Mrs. Isabella Smith, Mr. Thomas Henderson-1828, one thousand nine hundred and ten Dollars-1829, two hundred and nine Dollars-1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837. 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848..313 RECEIPTS OF THE SOCIETY. Table of-From all Sources —Sales of Books-Donations-Legacies-Life Memberships-Life Directorships-From Organization to present Time........ 330 BIBLE SOCIETY RECORD. Importance of an Organ of the Society-Board authorized the Publication of the " Quarterly Extracts" in 1819-Good Effects of the Measure-Superseded in 1821 by the "Monthly" half Sheet-Semi-monthly "Bible Society Record"Editor Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., Corresponding Secretary —Contents of Record -Joseph Hyde, Esq.-Issued gratuitously-Productive of great Good-Sought after with Eagerness by the Friends of the Cause...................... 331 BIBLICAL LIBRARY. By-law of the Board in regard to-Object to collect Books tending to throw Light upon the Bible —Ministers of all Denominations have access to-Interchange kept up with the different Bible Societies of the World-Extent of the Library-But the Nucleus of-Catalogue of Books —................... 333 LIFE DIRECTORS AND LIFE MEMBERS. Terms of Life Directorship-Of Life Membership-Number of Life Directors and Life Members-Privileges of-Design of the Board in adopting the Rule hi relation to-Churches-Tribute of Respect to Pastors................... 347 APPENDIX. CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, &c. Letters from the Hon. Elias Boudinot, President of the American Bible Society -Letter from the Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society-From Prince Galitzin, President of the Russian Bible Society-From the Secretaries of the Xxiv SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. XXiv Hamburg and Altona Bible Societies-Extract from Address of Prince Galitzin — Letter from one of the Secretaries of the Protestant Bible Society, Paris-Extract from Letter of Hon. Bushrod Washington-Letter from Secretary of the NavyTribute of the Board to Memory of Hon. Elias Boudinot-Letter from President of British and Foreign Bible Society-From Librarian of same-Address of Hon. John Jay, President of American Bible Society-Letter from Rev. John Summerfield-Letter from Baron de Stael, Secretary Protestant Bible Society, ParisFrom the Rev. Dr. Morrison-From Foreign Secretary of British and Foreign Bible Society-From President of Swedish Bible Society-Proceedings of British and Foreign Bible Society-Letter to Dr. Brigham-Communication of Dr. Pluner on supplying the World with Bible-Dissolution of Methodist Bible Society -Extract from Discourse on Funeral of John Nitchie, Esq.-Address of President Hon. John Cotton Smith-Sketch of Life of General Van Rennselaer, by Dr. Vermilye-Letter from Hon. John Quincy Adams-From J. J. Gurney —From Bishop Waugh-From Hon. Judge M'Lean-Death of Count Ver Huell-Co-operation of Methodist Episcopal Church South-Address of Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen -Death of Hon. J. Q. Adams-Death of Rev. Dr. Levings-Resolutions of Young Men's Bible Society of Cincinnati on-Notices of Death of Alexander Henry, Peter G. Stuyvesant, and John Aspinwall, Esqs......................... Page 349 ANNIVERSARIES-ADDRESSES. Time of holding Annual Meetings-Exercises-Semi-annual Meeting at Cincinnati-Addresses-Similar Meeting at Washington City-Richmond and RaleighAnniversary Address by Rev. Robert J. Breckenridge, D.D., The Use of the Scriptures in Common Schools-Dr. Milnor-Professor Greenleaf's Letter on the Introduction of Bible into Common Schools-Rev. Dr. Newton, England, The Facilities for circulating the Scriptures in all Languages-Rev. Thomas Brainerd, The Circulation of the entire Bible-Rev. Dr. Tyng, Bible Destitution, a Reason for increased Circulation-Hon. B. F. Butler, The Bible, the great moral Renovator of our Race-Rev. Dr. Bethune, Demand for the Scriptures in foreign Countries-Rev. Dr. Olin, Unity and Catholicity of the Bible Cause-Rev. Dr. Johns, Inspiration of the Scriptures, their Sufficiency as a Rule of Faith-Rev. Dr. Cheever, Importance of the, Written Word-Rev. Dr. Pierce, of Georgia, Universal Adaptation of the Scriptures-Rev. Dr. De Witt, Union of Effort in the Bible CauseRev. Dr. Parker, Pacific Tendencies of the Bible-Address of Rev. Mr. BridelRev. Dr. Kirk, Demands of France upon our Sympathy and Aid.......... 399 INTRODUCTION. WE live in an eventful age. In a single year changes have taken place in the political and religious condition of the nations of Europe which one would think a half century could not have effected. The wise observer of " the signs of the times" can not fail to recognize, in the revolutions which have occurred, the hand of Him who is "head over all things to the Church;" nor to perceive, from the present aspect of things in Europe, that we have seen but the beginning. Indeed, there has been, especially within the last thirty years or more, a rapid preparation of the world for the millennial day. Every important change in the political world has evidently tended that way; while, through the instrumentality of the Church, in her different branches, a vast moral machinery.has been preparing, which, under the Divine blessing, will pour the light of the Gospel upon all nations. By the political changes effected within a few years, the way has been opened for the promulgation of the Gospel in almost every nation on the globe, while the different evangelical denominations have organized their Missionary Boards, and taken their stand side by side in the conflict between light and darkness. At the same time, guided and influenced by the Spirit of God, they have thrown themselves as into one body, that with their united wealth and talents they may place the BIBLE, without note or comment, in the hands of every individual of our ruined race. This is a glorious enterprise! Reasoning simply as X;xvi INTRODUCTION. philosophers, we can not but conclude that the great cause of human degradation and misery, in all ages, has been human depravity. Men have been sinful, and, therefore, degraded and miserable-" hateful and hating one another." All schemes, therefore, for elevating men and improving their condition, which do not contemplate, as the first and chief thing to be done, their moralpurification, are unphilosophical and worthless. Society is composed of families, and families of individuals. Improve the moral character of individuals, and families will be virtuous and happy; and the divine declaration will be illustrated and confirmed, that' righteousness exalteth a nation." But how shall the moral character of men be improved? They must understand their relations, their duties, and the motives which urge and encourage to virtue. Where shall we find a perfect authoritative moral code, with every possible motive to virtue and holy living? In the BIBLE we have such a code. No crime was ever committed which it does not directly or indirectly forbid and condemn; no virtue ever adorned the human character which it does not require and commend; and no motive can be presented in favor of righteousness which is not presented in its fullest power in the Gospel of Christ. With it the man of God is "thoroughly furnished to all good works." Let the authority of the Bible become supreme in every mind, and the ten thousand fountains of human wretchedness, by which this world has become "a vale of tears," will be dried up. This is not mere theory. The history of the world confirms abundantly all we have said. We live in the middle of the nineteenth century, in an age considered pre-eminently enlightened, where the arts and sciences are cultivated with astonishing success. Now take a survey of the nations which people our globe. INTRODUCTION. XXvii Carefully inquire into the true condition of the masses of the people, and then answer the two following questions, viz.: 1. Has the world made one step of progress in education, in morals, in the principles of liberty, except so far as it has been brought under the influence, direct or indirect, of Christianity? Is the superstition of India and of China less degrading, and is the moral and social condition of the people a whit better than ten centuries ago? 2. Is not the improvement in the condition of the more enlightened nations precisely in proportion to the extent to which they have been brought under the influence of Christianity in its purity? How else shall we account for the happy condition of Protestant countries as compared with that of France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, &c.? The enterprise in which the American Bible Society and her sister societies are engaged, we repeat, is a glorious one. It is so, even if we confine our views of its happy results to the present world. How much more glorious does it appear when we regard the Bible as the clear light given by a merciful God to guide immortal beings to eternal felicity-as "the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth." Without it our origin, our duty, and our destiny are alike involved in impenetrable darkness; and our minds, formed for immortality, are destined to pine in hopeless gloom, and leave the world in despair. In its sacred pages life and immortality are brought to light; and even in the midst of the troubles of this life, we have from God himself the exhortation, " Rejoice evermore." It is a matter of peculiar interest to see the different denominations of Christians harmoniously uniting in this noble enterprise. False philosophy may, as often it has done, pervert the language of inspiration. Prej XXViii INTRODUCTION. udice, and the blending influence of remaining depravity in the Church, may lead to the misinterpretation of its plain teachings. Various causes combining may, for a time, greatly obscure its celestial light. But all are agreed, happily, that it is the lamp to our feet, the light to our path. We may have erred in our interpretation of some portions of it; but, untrammeled by human traditions and by the fiction of church infallibility, we may go again and again to the unerring guide, and there correct previous errors. And as in these latter days the Holy Spirit shall be more abundantly poured upon the Church, and the standard of true piety shall rise higher and higher, the spiritual vision of the servants of God will become clearer, the watchmen on the walls of Zion shall see eye to eye, minor differences will gradually disappear, until the different branches of the Church shall mingle harmoniously together, and she shall "look forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. Then shall the mountain of the Lord's house be established in the top of the mountains, and be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow into it." God in his providence has opened an effectual door in almost every nation for the circulation of the sacred Scriptures. The colporteur in France is no longer in danger of being impressed by the bigoted tools of a corrupt priesthood; even in the states of Italy and in intolerant Austria the way is prepared for putting the Word of God in the hands of the people; and hundreds of thousands of foreigners are annually flocking to the shores of our own happy country, that they may be made acquainted with the pure Word of God. This is not all. The human mind is excited in a most extraordinary degree. The veil of sanctity is torn from errors whose antiquity shielded them from INTRODUCTION. xxix investigation. Men the world over are waking up from the slumber of ages, and inquiring for truth. Romanism, the bitterest and most successful of all the enemies of the Bible, is tottering to its fall. The twelve hundred and sixty years of the reign of antiChrist are drawing to a close. The pope, lauded for a time as more enlightened and liberal than any of his predecessors, has fled in disguise from his palace, has been deposed as a temporal sovereign by his own children, and now pines in exile! Now is the time for the Church to put forth all her energies, that she may send forth the pure Word of God, as well as the living ministry, to enlighten the nations. It is her wisdom to work when the Lord is working-to hear the noise of a going in the mulberry-trees, and hasten to the conflict. The author of the following pages has done an important service for the Church. What Christian does not desire to acquaint himself with the history and the success of the efforts which have been made to send the Bible, translated into all languages, to the people of all nations, that they may read, each in his own language, "the wonderful works of God?" It was no small labor to collect and arrange the immense mass of interesting facts which so much enhance the value of the work; and we are sure the author will receive, as he richly deserves, the thanks of every enlightened friend of the cause, and will secure for the work a very extensive circulation. The book, like the enterprise it aims to promote, is in its character catholic. Presenting no sectarian dogma, and aiming to build up no party or sect, it will find a welcome in the family library of Christians of all denominations. Filled with important and instructive facts connected with the translation and circulation of the Scriptures, both in our own country and in foreign iXXX^ d INTRODUCTION. lands, detailing the labors and success of the different societies co-operating in the glorious work, it will be exceedingly valuable as a book of reference. Some books, perhaps, require a lengthy and labored introduction to commend them to public favor; but this is not a book of that class. We need only to know its aim, and glance over the table of contents, to be convinced of its value. It is a history (and the irst history written) of one of the noblest and most philanthropic enterprises ever embarked in by men; and this fact is commendation enough to secure for the work a careful perusal, and a permanent place in the ministerial and family library. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. CHAPTER I. CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY PRIOR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. BEFORE entering upon a narrative of the operations of the American Bible Society, it may not be improper, or foreign to the subject, to take a cursory glance at the condition of the country prior to its organization, and also to notice briefly the efforts that were made to introduce and circulate the Scriptures in the infant colonies of this pilgrim land, and subsequently in the States. The Puritans having been, by persecution and proscription, "shut up to the faith" of the word of God alone, learned therefrom the true equality of rights, political as well as social and religious, and, fleeing from the land of oppression for conscience' sake, they sought an asylum in this new world. The Bible was the star that guided them across a wintery ocean upward of two hundred years ago; and when they landed upon these shores, and laid the foundations of this great republic, they labored assiduously to incorporate its principles with the elements of government, and diffuse them through all their institutions, civil, literary, and religious. Amid the surrounding darkness of Church, and State, and the efforts to abridge ecclesiastical and civil liberty, the Puritans, with their open B 18 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Bible, nobly contended for the faith; and Hume himself, who always bore to them a special dislike, has said, "The precious spark of liberty had been kindled, and was preserved by the Puritans alone." They came to this land to make it the land of the Bible and of freedom-to worship God as revelation and conscience might teach. Seventeen years previous to the landing of the Pilgrims, the translation of the Bible by King James had been made; and the edict by Henry VIII., which restricted its reading to royalty, and barred access to all the rest of mankind, was revoked, and the living oracles were opened to all who could procure them. The " May Flower" was freighted with the precious legacy of Heaven, and the dim eye of age, together with the flashing eye of youth, caught new fire in poring over its sacred pages, and anon melted at the recital of its messages of mercy and love. In Mr. Webster's great Bunker Hill oration the following passage occurs: "It has been said, with very much veracity, that the felicity of the American colonists consisted in their escape from the past. This is true so far as it respects political establishments, but no farther. They brought with them a full portion of all the riches of the past in science, in art, in morals, religion, and literature. The Bible came with them. And it is not to be doubted that to the free and universal reading of the Bible is to be ascribed, in that age, that men were indebted for right views of Civil Liberty. The Bible is a book which teaches man his own individual responsibility, his own dignity, and his equality with his fellow-men." The colonists being mostly Christians, as they peopled the country, did, perhaps, all that their limited means would permit to supply the wants of the population with the Bible. As early as the beginning of CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY, ETC. 19 the last century, laws existed in some of the colonies requiring every family to be furnished with a Bible. This supply continued to be kept up by individual exertion until the meeting of the first Congress in 1777, one year after the declaration of independence. In the early formation of our government, those who looked upon the experiment with jealous eyes anticipated a speedy dissolution, from the fact that it made no provision for the establishment of religion. Although the legislative power of our country is prohibited from making laws prescribing and enforcing the observance of any particular faith or form of worship, yet it is equally powerless in prohibiting the free exercise thereof, while, at the same time, it extends its protecting aegis over the rights of conscience. The government has never been unmindful of the great interests of religion, but has from the beginning adhered to and carried out the language of Washington, that 4 religion and morality are indispensable supports of political existence and prosperity." The Congress of 1777 answered a memorial on the subject of Bible destitution in this country by appointing a committee to advise as to the printing an edition of thirty thousand Bibles. The population of the country then was only about three millions, and all the Bibles in the entire world at that period did not exceed four millions. Thus it will be seen that its circulation in this and all other countries at that time was exceedingly limited. The report of the committee appointed by Congress forms one of the brightest epochs in the history of our country, and sheds a clear and steady light over every subsequent eventful period. The public recognition of God in that act was of infinitely greater importance in giving stability to the times, and securing the permanency of our institutions, than all the imposing and 20 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. formidable array of legal enactments ever made for the establishment of religion. The committee, finding it difficult to procure the necessary material, such as paper and types, recommended Congress-"the use of the Bible being so universal, and its importance so great-to direct the Committee on Commerce to import, at the expense of Congress, twenty thousand English Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different ports of the States of the Union." The report was adopted, and the importation ordered. In 1781, when, from the existence of the war, an English Bible could not be imported, and no opinion could be formed how long the obstruction might continue, the subject of printing the Bible was again presented to Congress, and it was, on motion, referred to a committee of three. The committee, after giving the subject a careful investigation, recommended to Congress an edition printed by Robert Aitken, of Philadelphia; whereupon it was "Resolved, That the United States, in Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to the interests of religion; and being satisfied of the care and accuracy of the execution of the work, recommend this edition to the inhabitants of the United States." How interesting is such a history of the early circulation of the Bible in this country! What moral sublimity in the fact, as it stands imperishably recorded and filed in the national archives! Who, in view of this fact, will call in question the assertion that this is a Bible nation? Who will charge the government with indifference to religion, when the first Congress of the States assumed all the rights and performed all the duties of a Bible Society long CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY, ETC. 21 before such an institution had an existence in the world! What a standing, withering rebuke this to ecclesiastico-political demagogues, who, imitating the example of a late minister of instruction for France, would expel the Bible from the schools of our land! The universal circulation and reading of the Scriptures in this country form the foundation upon which rest, as on an immovable basis, our liberty and happiness. Well did De Tocqueville remark (when informed by a superintendent that the Bible was the only text-book in our Sabbath schools), "What an influence this must have upon the destiny of a nation." It is to this fact alone, viz., the universal circulation and unprohibited reading of the Scriptures, that we owe all our distinguishing blessings as a nation. During the infidel revolution in France, at the close of the last century, inquiry was made in the principal book-stores of Paris for a copy of the Bible, but it was not to be found. A similar inquiry was made in Rome of all the book establishments of the city, and the invariable reply was, "E prohibito;" "Non estper-, messo." In all Catholic countries it is a condemned and prohibited book. Here it has "free course, and is glorified." Palsied be the hand that would banish it from our schools of instruction! Speechless be the tongue that would utter an anathema against the circulation and reading of the Word of God! The purest patriots and the most eminent statesmen of our country, from the commencement of our existence as a nation down to the present time, have revered the Bible, and cherished it as the richest legacy of Heaven. This sentiment is strongly interwoven with the politics of our country, however diversified may be our opinions and variant our political creeds. A single incident will illustrate this point. When it was said. 22 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. by one who occupied a prominent place in the councils of the nation, in speaking of the political creed of a certain candidate for the presidency, that his opinions were as various and contradictory as the teachings of the Bible, one belonging to the same political school indignantly replied, " Let a nation's curse follow the hoary-headed blasphemer to his grave!" The wrecks of the many nations that lie scattered here and there along the shores of Time afford melancholy proof of the fact, that all who despise the Word of God shall likewise perish. One of the finest Oriental scholars of this or any age, who has devoted his whole life to the acquisition of biblical science, and other studies of a collateral character, has declared, that "in all the Bible there is not one physical, intellectual, or moral error; nothing-absolutely nothing -that infidelity can contradict, or science, in her most enlarged discoveries, rectify." To all who are impressed with the importance of the Holy Scriptures, no argument is necessary to induce a diligent attention to their oracles as "a light to the feet and a lamp to the path" in this world of doubt and uncertainty; nor does it require any labor to convince those who are thus taught of God the duty of supplying the destitute with the sacred treasure. This love for the Scriptures, and regard for its divine injunctions, existed in an eminent degree in the hearts of our forefathers; and hence, following the example set by the friends of the cause in England, exhibited in the organization of the British and Foreign Bible Society, they organized small local societies in different parts of the United States. These societies were instrumental in accomplishing much good to the immediate vicinities in which they were located, but their operations were necessarily much contracted, and their influence exceedingly limited. Bibles were ob CAUSES FOR ORGANIZATION. 23 tained by these societies from private booksellers at a high price, and many of them were imperfect copies. They labored under these and similar embarrassments in supplying the destitute around them, but no provision was made to send the Word of Life to the destitute abroad. This state of things was felt and deeply deplored by ministers and laymen of the different religious denominations, and they prayed and labored to bring about a better state of things, that the universal brotherhood of man might be made partakers with them of the common salvation. CHAPTER II. CAUSES WHICH PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ORGANIZATION. IN addition to the careful consultation of all the official records of the society, which, in the preparation of this work, have been thoroughly examined, the writer availed himself of the information and reminiscences of some of the remaining few who were members of the Convention which organized the society. Among this number were the Rev. Dr. Biggs, president of Woodward College, Cincinnati, and Rev. Dr. Beecher, the venerable president of Lane Theological Seminary; the latter being the only surviving officer of that honorable and ever-memorable body, having acted as one of the secretaries. The Rev. Gardiner Spring, D.D, of New York, the author of two of the most admirably written works on the Bible, entitled " Obligations of the World to the Bible," and " The Bible not of Man," has also kindly furnished us with some incidents connected with the 24 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. proceedings of the Convention. Dr. Spring took an active part in the proceedings of the Convention, and from that time to the present has devoted the energies of a powerful intellect to the advancement of the Bible cause. The subject of organizing a national society had been discussed by the friends of the cause from time to time. Ably written articles appeared in many of the leading religious journals of the day in advocacy of the enterprise. Application was also made to some of the oldest and most influential of the then existing auxiliaries to form themselves into a general society, but the time had not yet fully come. A general interest was, however, awakened, and the many seeming difficulties began to give way. In the year 1814, a correspondent in the " Panoplist and Missionary Magazine" presented a powerful appeal in behalf of the Bible cause, and urged in an impressive manner the importance of the formation of a general Bible Society. He exhibited the biblical wants of the country, and presented facts tending to show conclusively that the few local societies which were in existence could not, in any adequate degree, supply those wants. He showed, also, the great and essential importance of such an institution in promoting the missionary cause by the translation and printing of the Scriptures in foreign tongues. Thus the subject continued to be agitated from year to year until 1815, when a plan for the organization of a national society originated with the New Jersey Bible Society, and was sent to the sister societies for concurrence. In 1816 the attention of the Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society was engaged in the plan, and, as the result of their deliberations, the following resolutions were passed: CAUSES FOR ORGANIZATION. 25 "1st. Resolved, That it is highly desirable to obtain, upon as large a scale as possible, a co-operation of the efforts of the Christian community throughout the United States for the efficient distribution of the Holy Scriptures. " 2d. Resolved, That, as a mean for the attainment of this end, it will be expedient to have a convention of delegates from such Bible societies as shall be disposed to concur in this measure, to meet at -, on the day of - next, for the purpose of considering whether such a co-operation may be effected in a better manner than by the correspondence of the different societies as now established, and if so, that they prepare the draft of a plan for such co-operation, to be submitted to the different societies for their decision. "3d. Resolved, That the secretary transmit the above resolutions to the President of the New Jersey Bible Society, as expressive of the opinion of this board on the measure therein contained, and at the same time signifying the wish of this board that he would exercise his own discretion in bringing the subject before the public." In pursuance of the above, the Hon. Elias Boudinot, president of the New Jersey Bible Society, published, in the Panoplist and elsewhere, a notice of a general meeting, to be held at the city of New York on the second Wednesday of May, 1816. The invitation only extended to the different local Bible societies then in existence, and though it was thought at the time it should have included all the friends of the Bible in the country, yet subsequent events fully justified the wisdom of the president in regard to the nature and extent of the call. The following interesting facts and incidents, in connection with the proceedings of the Convention and the organization of the society, is from the pen of 26 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Dr. Beecher, and kindly furnished by him for this work: "I emorandum respecting the Causes which prepared the Way for the establishment of the American Bible Society. "The first cause, no doubt, was the existence and prosperous operations of the British and Foreign Bible Society. "The second was the foreign missionary spirit that was awakened a few years anterior, and the organization of the Foreign Missionary Society. " The primary agent in this movement, I am well assured, was the Rev. Samuel J. Mlills, in whose heart the fire of foreign missions first burned for several years. " In his travels West and South he had the organization of an American Bible Society at heart, and, though a man of little promise in appearance, was distinguished by strong and increasing love to God and man, added to a profound wisdom, indefatigable industry, and unparalleled executive power in the excitement and combination of minds in benevolent organizations. "It was by personal conversation, I doubt not, with thousands of the most influential men all over our nation, and addressing, when he had opportunity, ecclesiastical bodies, that he had prepared the way for a harmonious concurrence in favor of organization when the Convention met. " It was a sublime spectacle when the Convention met. Each one had his own mind prepared by an agency which he had scarcely recognized, and of whose ubiquitous influence he had no knowledge. We came to the meeting in great weakness, humility, and prayer, feeling the difficulties in combining all denominations, and feeling every one the necessity of keeping his heart and tongue, and walking very softly, lest a spark of unhallowed fire falling on a train, it should explode. It was a meeting of select hearts, and talents, and influence, and of sublime humility, wisdom, and prayer. We felt that the place was holy where we stood, and that God was there; and our fears were not realized, and our hopes were surpassed exceedingly abundantly, so cordial was our unity. When the vote was put that it was expedient at that time to organize an American Bible Society, there was a moment of exulting, grateful, prayerful silence. There was but one short moment in our proceedings when things seemed to tangle, and some feelings began to rise. At that moment Dr. Mason rose hastily, and said,' Mr. President,* the Lord Jesus never built a church but what the devil built a chapel close to it; and he is here now, this moment, in this * Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. ORGANIZATION. 27 -room, with his finger in the ink-horn, not to write your Constitution, but to blot it out.' This sudden address convulsed the Convention with laughter, which in a moment dispelled the storm and revealed a clear sun, which instantly perceiving, he said,'There! there! he has gone already to his blue brimstone!'" CHAPTER III. ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. IN obedience to the command of our divine Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, requiring the Church to "publish the Gospel to every creature," coupled with the injunction to all to "search the Scriptures," the American Bible Society was instituted. Its primary object was to supply the biblical wants of this widely-extended country, but its benevolence was not designed to be limited to this country alone. The original design was clearly manifested in the language of the first address: " Let it not be supposed that geographical or political limits are to be the limits of the American Bible Society; the designation is meant, not to indicate the restriction of their labor, but the source of its emanation. They will embrace, with thankfulness and pleasure, every opportunity of raying out, by means of the Bible, according to their ability, the light of life and immortality to such parts of the world as are destitute of the blessing and within their reach. In this high vocation they are ambitious to be fellow-workers with those who are fellow-workers with God." Impressed with such truly catholic principles, the friends of the Bible cause came up to the work, and the 8th of May, 1816, witnessed Christians of almost every denomination, from every part of the United States, assembled in Convention, in the city of New 28 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. York, for the purpose of deliberation in reference to the organization of a general society. The Convention was organized by calling to the chair Joshua M. Wallace, Esq., of Burlington, and the appointment of Rev. Messrs. Romeyn and Beecher secretaries. The following delegates from the different local societies presented their credentials, and were duly admitted to seats: Bassett, Rev. John, D.D., Bushwick, L. I. Bayard, Samuel, Princeton, N. J. Beecher, Rev. Lyman, D.D., Secretary of the Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio. Biggs, Rev. Thomas J., Cincinnati, Ohio. Blatchford, Rev. Samuel, D.D., Lansingburg, N. Y. Blythe, Rev. James, D.D., South Hanover, Ind. Bogart, Rev. David S., New York. Bradford, Rev. John M., D.D., Albany, N. Y. Burd, William, St. Louis, Missouri. Caldwell, John E., New York. Callender, Levi, Greenville, N. Y. Chester, Rev. John, D.D., Albany, N. Y. Clarke, Matthew St. Clair, Washington, D.C. Cooley, Rev. Eli F., Monmouth, N. J. Cooper, James, New York. Day, Orrin, Catskill, N. Y. Eddy, Thomas, New York. Ford, Rev. Henry, Elmira, N. Y. Forrest, Rev. Robert, Roseville, N. Y. Griscom, John, LL.D., Trenton, N. J. Hall, Rev. James, D.D., Statesville, N. C. Henshaw, Rt. Rev. J. P. K., D.D., Providence, R. I. Hornblower, Joseph C., LL.D., Newark, N. J., Vice President. Humphrey, Rev. Heman, D.D., Pittsfield, Mass. Jay, William, Bedford, N. Y., Vice President. Jones, Rev. David, Holmesburgh, Penn. Lewis, Rev. Isaac, D.D., Greenwich, Ct. Linklaen, Gen. John, Cazenovia, N. Y. M'Dowell, Rev. John, D.D., Philadelphia, Penn. Mason, Rev. John M., D.D., New York. Milledoler, Rev, Philip, D.D., New York. Morse, Rev. Jedediah, D.D., New Haven, Conn. Mott, Valentine, M.D., New York. ORGANIZATION. 29 Mulligan, William C., New York. Murray, John, Jr., New York. Neil, Rev. William, D.D., Philadelphia, Penn. Nott, Rev. Eliphalet, D.D., Schenectady, N. Y. Oliver, Rev. Andrew, Springfield, N. Y. Platt, Rev. Isaac W., Athens, Penn. Proudfit, Rev. Alexander, D.D., New York. Rice, Rev. JohntH., D.D. Richards, Rev. James, D.D., Auburn, N. Y. Romeyn, Rev. John B., D.D., Sec. of the Convention, New York Sands, Joshua, Brooklyn, L. I. Sayres, Rev. Gilbert, Jamaica, L. I. Sedgwick, Robert, New York. Skinner, Ichabod L., Washington, D. C. Spring, Rev. Samuel, D.D., Newburyport, Mass. Spring, Rev. Gardiner, D.D., New York. Swift, Gen. Joseph G., Brooklyn, L. I. Taylor, Rev. N. W., D.D., New Haven, Conn. Van Sinderen, Adrian, Brooklyn, L. I. Vroom, Guysbert B., New York. Wallace, Joshua M., Pres. of the Convention, Burlington, N. J. Warner, Henry VW., New York. Williams, Rev. John, New York. Williams, William, Vernon, N. Y. Wilmur, Rev. Simon, Swedesborough, N. J. Woodhull, Rev. George S. Wright, Charles, Flushing, L. I. It was an auspicious day, pregnant with blessings to this country. The occasion was great, and great were the men, and worthy, that it called togethernames illustrious for rare virtues and noble deeds in Church and State. The Bible Society will ever prove an enduring monument to perpetuate their acts. Delegates from twenty-eight local societies participated in the deliberations of that hour. Difficulties, it is true, were anticipated, and some arose; but as they progressed in the spirit of forbearance and mutual concession, they passed away like the mist from the surface of a clear, calm river in the light of the sun. It was the first time the different religious denominations 30 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. were brought together for concerted action; but they met on the broad platform of the Bible, "Where names, and sects, and parties fall." They presented to the world a model of an evangelical alliance, having for its basis the true catholic doctrine-the Bible-God's revelation to man, the only and sufficient rule of faith and practice-the right and duty of private interpretation. The great object for which they had assembled was, not to investigate its claims as a rule of faith, or to debate the question of the right of private judgment, but to enter at once upon the work of devising means for its universal circulation, without note or comment, among all nations, of whatever name, or country, or caste, or color, " ex. cluding, by its very nature, all local feelings, party prejudices, and sectarian jealousies." They declared themselves "leagued in that, and that alone, which calls up every hallowed, and puts down every unhallowed principle, the dissemination of the Scriptures in the received versions where they exist, and in the most faithful where they may be required. In such a work, whatever is dignified, kind, venerable, true, has ample scope, while sectarian littleness and rivalries can find no avenue of admission." The Convention appointed a committee, consisting of Drs. Nott, Mason, Morse, and Blythe, and Messrs. Beecher, Bayard, Wilmer, Wright, Rice, Jones, and Jay, to draft a Constitution, whereupon it adjourned until the following morning. On the morning of the 11th of May the Convention met agreeably to adjournment; the committee presented the Constitution, which, after having been read in whole, and afterward in paragraphs, and carefully considered, was unanimously adopted, as follows: ORGANIZATION. 3 CONSTITUTION. I. THIS Society shall be known by the name of the American Bible Society, of which the sole object shall be to encourage a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment. The only copies in the English language to be circulated by the Society shall be of the version now in common use. II. This Society shall add its endeavors to those employed by other societies for circulating the Scriptures throughout the United States and their territories, and shall furnish them with stereotype plates or such other assistance as circumstances may require. This Society shall also, according to its ability, extend its influence to other countries, whether Christian, Mohammedan, or pagan. III. All Bible Societies shall be allowed to purchase at cost from this Society Bibles for distribution within their own districts. The members of all such Bible Societies as shall agree to place their surplus revenue, after supplying their own districts with Bibles, at the disposal of this Society, shall be entitled to vote in all meetings of the Society, and the officers of such societies shall be ex-officio directors of this.* IV. Each subscriber of three dollars annually shall be a member. V. Each subscriber of thirty dollars at one time shall be a member for life. tVI. Each subscriber of fifteen dollars annually shall be a director. VII. Each subscriber of one hundred and fifty dollars at one time, or who shall, by one additional payment, increase his original subscription to one hundred and fifty dollars, shall be a director for life. VIII. Directors shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Board of Managers. IX. A Board of Managers shall be appointed to conduct the business of the Society, consisting of thirty-six laymen, of whom twentyfour shall reside in the city of New York or its vicinity. One fourth part of the whole number shall go out of office at the expiration of each year, but shall be re-eligible. Every minister of the Gospel who is a member of the Society shall be entitled to meet and vote with the Board of Managers, and be possessed of the same powers as a manager himself. The Managers shall appoint all officers, and call special general meetings, and fill such vacancies as may occur, by death or otherwise, in their own board. X. Each member of the Society shall be entitled, under the direction * The latter clause of this article was amended by striking out. t This article was expunged in 1819. 32 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. of the Board of Managers, to purchase Bibles and Testaments at the Society's prices, which shall be as low as possible. XI. The annual mneetings of the Society shall be held at New York or Philadelphia, at the option of the Society, on the second Thursday of May in each year, when the Managers shall be chosen, the accounts presented, and the proceedings of the foregoing year reported. XII. The President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretaries for the time being shall be considered ex-ofJicio members of the Board of Managers. XIII. At the general meetings of the Society, and the meetings of the Managers, the President, or, in his absence, the Vice-President first on the list then present, and in the absence of all the Vice-Presidents, such member as shall be appointed for that purpose, shall preside at the meeting. XIV. The Managers shall meet on the first Wednesday of each month, or oftener if necessary, at such place in the city of New York as they shall from time to time adjourn to. XV. The Managers shall have the power of appointing such persons as have rendered essential services to the Society either members for life or directors for life. XVI. The whole minutes of every meeting shall be signed by the chairman. *XVII. The President, or, in his absence, the Vice-President first on the list in the city of New York, 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 meetings to be given. tXVIII. The Board of Managers may admit to the privileges of an auxiliary any society which was organized, and had commenced the printing, publication, and issuing of the sacred Scriptures before the establishment of this Society, with such relaxation of the terms of admission hereunto prescribed as the said Board, two thirds of the members present consenting, may think proper. XIX. No alteration shall be made to this Constitution except by the Society at an annual meeting, on the recommendation of the Board of Managers.After the adoption of the Constitution, the Convention proceeded to the election of thirty-six managers, as provided for in the Constitution. These managers were, in accordance with the general principles of the * This article was added in 1819. t This article was added in 1829. t This is now numbered the XVIth article. ORGANIZATION. 33 society, selected from the different evangelical denominations co-operating with the American Bible Society. The following were unanimously chosen: HENRY RUTGERS, EBENEZER BURRILL, JOHN BINGHAM, ANDREW GIFFORD, RICHARD VARICK, GEORGE GOSMAN, THOMAS FARMAR, THOMAS CARPENTER, STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, LEONARD BLEECKER, SAMUEL BOYD, JOHN CALDWELL, GEORGE SUCKLEY, RUFUS KING, DIVIE BETHUNE, THOMAS STOKES, WILLIAM BAYARD, JOSHUA SANDS, PETER M'CARTEE, GEORGE WARNER, THOMAS SHIELDS, DE WITT CLINTON, ROBERT RALSTON, JOHN WVARDER, JOHN R. B. RODGERS, SAMUEL BAYARD, Dr. PETER WILSON, DUNCAN P. CAMPBELL, JEREMIAH EVARTS, JOHN ASPINWALL, JOHN WATTS, M.D., JOHN MURRAY, Jun., THOMAS EDDY, CHARLES WRIGHT, WILLIAM JOHNSON, CORNELIUS HEYER. They were duly notified of their appointment, and met in the City Hall on the 11th of May, and, in the exercise of the powers granted them by the Constitution, unanimously elected the following as the first officers of the American Bible Society for one year: President. Hon. ELIAS BOUDINOT, of New Jersey. Vice-Presidents. Hon. JOHN JAY, MATTHEW CLARKSON, Esq., of New York. Hon. SMITH THOMPSON, ) Hon. JOHN LANGDON, of New Hampshire. Hon. CALEB STRONG, of Massachusetts. Hon. WILLIAM GRAY, Hon. JOHN COTTON SMITH, of Connecticut. Hon. JONAS GALUSHA, of Vermont. Hon. WILLIAM JONES, of Rhode Island. Hon. ISAAC SHELBY, ofentucy. GEORGE MADISON, Esq., C 34 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Hon. WILLIAM TILGHMAN, of Pennsylvania. Hon. BUSHROD WASHINGTON, of irginia WILLIAM WIRT, Esq., Hon. CHARLES C. PINCKNEY, of South Carolina. Hon. WILLIAM GASTON, of North Carolina. Hon. THOMAS WORTHINGTON, of Ohio. Hon. THOMAS POSEY, of Indiana. Hon. JAMES BROWN, of Louisiana. JOHN BOLTON, Esq., of Georgia. Hon. FELIX GRUNDY, of Tennessee. ROBERT OLIVER, Esq., of Maryland. JOSEPH NOURSE, Esq., of the District of Columbia. Secretaryfor Foreign Correspondence. Rev. Dr. J. M. MASON. Secretary for Domestic Correspondence. Rev. Dr. J. B. ROMEYN. Treasurer. RICHARD VARICK, Esq. An eloquent and powerful address to the people of the United States, written by Dr. Mason, was reported by the committee, adopted, and published. We have already quoted from this address, and shall have occasion to recur to its principles frequently in the progress of the work. In the organization of the society, every subject which came under the review of the delegates composing the Convention received the most frank and full investigation, and the greatest care was taken to exclude whatever had the remotest connection with sectarianism in any of its forms. The founders of the society, and the first officers elected to manage its concerns, were connected with the leading evangelical churches of the land, such as the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian, the Dutch Reformed, the Methodist Episcopal, the Baptist, the Congregational, and the Society of Friends. MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 35 The harmony, cordiality, and Christian forbearance which characterized the deliberations and proceedings of the Convention, presented the clearest evidence of the Divine approbation, and a pledge of the Divine blessing upon its future career. Mlany who had their doubts in regard to the practicability of the plan and its ultimate success, had no sooner witnessed its first movements than they yielded to the conviction that they were in error, and heartily joined with those who had never doubted in cherishing the hope that the institution would ultimately realize its most sanguine expectations. The managers committed all the interests of the institution to God, believing that he who had "magnified his Word above all his name" would secure the prosperity of an institution which had for its object the circulation of that word throughout the world. CHAPTER IV. MANAGERS AND OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. As before stated, the only officers known to the Constitution consist of a Board of Managers, composed of thirty-six laymen, every minister of the Gospel who is a member for life being honorary and ex-offcio members, and also every lay director for life. This board has the power of appointing all the officers of the society, which consist of a President, twenty-five Vice-Presidents, selected from the different states of the Union, three Secretaries, a Treasurer, General Agent and Assistant Treasurer, and also the special and Standing Committees, namely, On Publication 36 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. and Finance, Distribution, Agencies, Anniversary, Versions, Legacies, and Auditing Committee. The board from time to time enacted By-laws for their government and that of the society. These rules were collected together from the various reports by a special committee. The board amended them in several particulars, gave them their sanction and adoption. The following are those rules: BY-LAWS OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ARTICLE I.-Old Constitution. THE several provisions and articles of the Constitution of this Society adopted in the year 1816, and as subsequently amended, are hereby adopted as By-laws of this Society, and shall continue in force as such; and no alteration shall be made in such provisions and articles, nor any By-law be passed by.this Society or the Board of Managers thereof, repealing, altering, or impairing the force or effect of any provision or article thereof, except by this Society at an annual meeting on the recommendation of the Board of Managers. ARTICLE II.-Tenure of Officers. All the officers of this Society shall hold their respective offices during the pleasure of the Board of Managers. ARTICLE III.-Election of Officers and Managers. Whenever the nomination of an officer or a manager has been referred to a committee to report thereon, such report may be adopted at the same meeting of the Board at which it is made, and such adoption shall be equivalent to an election by ballot. Whenever there is an open nomination of such officer or manager, such nomination shall lie over to a subsequent meeting, when the election shall be made by ballot or otherwise, as the board may then direct. ARTICLE IV.-Foreign Versions. In appropriating money for translating, printing, or distributing the sacred Scriptures in foreign languages, the Board of Managers shall encourage only such versions as conform in the principles of their translation to the common English version, at least so far that all the religious denominations represented in this Society can consistently use and circulate said versions in their several schools and communities. ARTICLE V.-Sale of Books. That while the managers of the American Bible Society do not feel MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 37 at liberty to dictate positive terms on which Auxiliary Societies shall sell books purchased at the General Depository, yet they can not but express their full and unanimous conviction that the interest of the Bible cause will be best promoted by confining the terms of sale to the original cost, together with the expenses incurred in reaching the several places where they are to be reissued. ARTICLE VI.-Privileges of Life Members and Directors. Each life member of this Society shall be allowed to receive from the Depository annually, for distribution, two copies of the common Minion Bible, or the value thereof in Bibles and Testaments; and each life director shall be allowed to receive annually five copies of the same book, or the value thereof in other books, for the same purpose. An account shall be kept of this class of issues in a separate book, and the amount of such issues shall be presented in the Annual Report. ARTICLE VII. —21Minutes of Proceedings. SECTION 1.-Full and accurate minutes shall be kept of the proceedings of this Society at their annual and other meetings, and of the proceedings of the Board of Managers at their stated monthly and other meetings, which minutes shall be duly recorded in books to be provided for that purpose, and signed by the presiding officers of such meetings respectively. That said minutes shall be kept and recorded by the General Agent of the Society, or, in his absence from any of said meetings, by such person as the meeting shall appoint for that purpose; and such minutes shall be read and approved by the Society and the Board of Managers at their next subsequent meeting. SECTION 2.-Full and accurate minutes shall be kept of the proceedings of the Committees on Publication and Finance, Versions, Distribution, Agencies, Anniversaries, and Legacies, and shall be duly recorded in books to be provided for that purpose, and signed by the presiding chairman of the said committees respectively. That such rinutes shall be kept and recorded by the several officers of this Society, as directed in these By-laws, and in their absence by such persons as the committees shall respectively appoint for that purpose. The minutes of said committees shall be read at the stated meetings of the Board of Managers, and submitted to said board for approval. ARTICLE VIII.-Accounts and Books of Accouzts. SECTION 1.-There shall be kept in double entry a full and complete set of books of account of all the transactions and dealings of this Society, consisting of Ledgers, Journals, and such other books of account as the business and transactions of the Society may require, including a register of life members and directors. 38 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. SECTION 2.-The fiscal year of this Society shall commence on the first day of April and terminate on the last day of March, and all accounts with this Society shall be closed and balanced on the last day of March in each year. SECTION 3.-The books of account of this Society shall be balanced annually, on the last day of March in each year, and a balance sheet and inventory made, showing the funds, property, and effects belonging to this Society on that day, which balance, sheet and inventory shall be presented to the Board of Managers at the earliest day practicable, and referred to the Auditing Committee, unless otherwise directed by the board, which committee shall examine the same in detail, and report thereon to said board and after being so reported upon, such balance sheet and inventory shall be put on file, and preserved for future use or reference. SECTION 4.-There shall be kept an account of all expenditures incurred in conducting the business of printing, and at least once in each year the General Agent shall make out and present to the Board of Managers, under the direction of the committee having charge of such business, an estimate showing the cost " per token" of the various kinds of the printing of this Society. And that said Agent at the same time shall present to the Board of Managers a statement showing the price at which the same kinds of printing could be procured by contract from respectable private establishments in the city of New York. ARTICLE IX.-Keeping and Deposit of Money. The bankable money of this Society shall be deposited daily to the credit of the Treasurer thereof, in the bank designated by the Board of Managers as the one in which the Treasurer shall keep his account, provided the amount on hand exceeds one hundred dollars, and only be drawn therefrom by the official checks of the Treasurer, given in accordance with the warrants of the Committee on Publication and Finance. ARTICLE X.-Safe Keeping of Money and Papers. The money not deposited, securities, and valuable papers and documents belonging to this Society, shall be kept in a secure and convenient iron safe, and the keys whereof shall be in the sole custody of the General Agent and Assistant Treasurer. ARTICLE XI.- Unbankable Money. The unbankable money of this Society shall be converted into bankable funds, except when the same can be paid out in the course of business, and under such regulations as may be adopted by the Committee on Publication and Finance. MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 39 ARTICLE XII.-Library. There shall continue to be kept a Library of the Society, in which shall be plaed and preserved all books not for sale, belonging to the Society, and all manuscripts and other interesting papers which the Society, Board of Managers, committees, or Corresponding Secretary may deem worthy of preservation. There shall also be placed in the Library a copy of the first edition of every book published by the Society, and a copy of every other edition thereof in which material alterations shall have been made in the stereotype plates. ARTICLE X III.-Depository. There shall continue to be a Depository, in which shall be placed all the books printed and published by this Society, and completed, ready for sale or use, and in which shall be sold all the books sold at retail by this Society. Full and accurate accounts shall continue to be kept of all books delivered into the Depository and taken therefrom by sale or otherwise, and of all sales made and of all moneys received therefrom; and such accounts shall be balanced monthly, and the results thereof reported to the Committee, on Publication and Finance, together with a statement showing the amount of sales in the Depository for cash during the month, and the quantity of each kind of books in the Depository and in sheets at the close of the month, the amount of which sales, and a brief statement of the quantity of Bibles and Testaments on hand in the English language, and also the quantity on hand in all other languages, shall be entered in the minutes of the committee. ARTICLE XIV.-" Bible Society Record." There shall be published, as often as once in every two months, a pamphlet called the " Bible Society Record," which shall contain interesting and instructive extracts from the correspondence of the Society, short notices of the proceedings of this Society and its auxiliaries, and a full and complete continuous list of all payments and donations to the Society made and received since the close of such list for the next preceding Record, together with the times when, and the names of the societies, congregations, and persons from whom and through whom such payments and donations were made; and a copy of said Record shall be sent to every payer or donor whose payment or donation is acknowledged in it, and to such other persons and societies as the officers or members of the Board of Managers may designate. ARTICLE XV.-Annual Report. The several officers of the Society, at the close of the fiscal year thereof, shall prepare and give to the Corresponding Secretary all requisite statements and information relating to their respective depart 40 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ments and business, for the Annual Report of the Society, to enable him to prepare and draw the same. ARTICLE XVI. Contracts. SECTION 1.-No contract which shall require an expenditure or outlay of money by this Society exceeding five hundred dollars, shall be made on behalf of the Society without, being first approved by the Board of Managers, except for the purchase of materials or other things for use in the current business of the Society. SECTION 2.-No purchase of property to be permanently held by the Society shall be made except by the direction of the Board of Managers; and no purchase of materials or other things for use in the current business of the Society, exceeding in amount five hundred dollars, shall be made for the Society by the General Agent, or any other officer or Agent thereof, except by direction of the Board of Managers, or under the advice and direction, or with the approval of the committee of the Society charged with that part of the business thereof for which such materials or other things are purchased. ARTICLE XVII.-Standing Committees. There shall be a standing Committee on Publication and Finance, on Distribution, on Agencies, Versions, Legacies, and Anniversaries, of seven members each, and an Auditing Committee of three members, elected annually at the first meeting of the Board of Managers after the annual meeting of the Society in May in each year. The Corresponding and Financial Secretaries and the General Agent shall be advisory members ex-officio of each of the said standing committees. ARTICLE XVIII.-Committee on Publication and Finance. This committee shall have charge of the property of this Society, order and direct the necessary repairs of the buildings, authorize and direct the purchase and procurement of the necessary furniture and articles for the offices of the Corresponding and Financial Secretaries, of the General Agent and Assistant Treasurer, and for the Depository and the Library. This committee shall have charge, in general, of the publications made by the Society, and shall determine the number, quality, and kinds of books to be published, and shall recommend to the board the procuring of stereotype plates when in their judgment they are needed. This committee shall examine and audit all bills, accounts, and claims, for money or property, upon the Society, and draw warrants on the Treasurer for all payments made by the Society. This committee shall have, charge of all claims and demands due to MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 41 the Society, and take and direct all necessary and proper measures for their collection and settlement, and shall devise and recommend measures for raising funds. This committee shall have charge of the business, of printing and binding, and of all the manufacturing and mechanical operations of the Society. They shall superintend and direct the procurement of all stereotype plates ordered by the Board of Managers. All purchases of paper and other materials required in the business of printing and binding, and the other manufacturing and mechanical operations of the Society, shall be made under the advice and direction of, or with the approbation of the committee. They shall have charge, and superintend and direct the negotiating and making of all contracts relating to the business of printing and binding, and to the other manufacturing and mechanical operations of the Society, subject, however, to the provisions and restrictions contained in the By-laws thereof. At the first meeting of this committee after the annual election of the standing committees, they shall choose a sub-committee of three members, whose names shall be entered upon their minutes, and who shall have special charge of the business of printing and binding, and of the mechanical and manufacturing operations of the Society, and see that they are conducted with strict regard to economy, and who shall superintend and direct the negotiating and making of all contracts relating to the said business and operations in their charge, subject, however, to the provisions and restrictions in the By-laws. Their proceedings shall be submitted to the Committee on Publication and Finance for approval, and be incorporated in their minutes. The minutes of the Committee on Publication and Finance shall be kept and recorded by the General Agent, and such committee shall discharge such other duties as the Board of Managers shall direct. ARTICLE XIX.-Committee on Distribution. This committee shall have charge of all grants of books and money both for domestic and foreign distribution; they shall have power to make donations not exceeding two hundred Minion Bibles in common binding, or the value thereof in other books, and shall only recommend all other grants for the approval of the Board of Managers. This committee shall also have power to establish depositories of books, to an amount not exceeding one thousand dollars, in different sections of the country, as they may deem proper, such books, however, to be sold only for cash. The General Agent shall keep and record the minutes of their proceedings. 42 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ARTICLE XX.-Committee on Agencies. This committee shall have charge of the entire business of agencies: they shall procure and recommend to the board suitable persons for permanent agents; they shall have power to appoint temporary agents, and to fix the amount of compensation to be allowed them, provided it shall not in any instance exceed ten dollars per week; and they shall also procure, when practicable, delegates to attend the meetings of auxiliary and other societies. The General Agent shall keep and record the minutes of their proceedings. ARTICLE XXI.-Committee on Versions. This committee shall have charge of all translations of the Bible published or distributed by the Society, and shall especially examine all new translations thereof presented for the consideration or action of the Society, in respect to their catholicity and fidelity of translation, and shall recommend such as they approve to the patronage of the Society. The Corresponding Secretary shall keep and record the minutes of their proceedings. ARTICLE XXII.-Committee on Legacies. This committee shall take charge of and collect all legacies bequeathed to the Society. The General Agent shall keep and record the minutes of their proceedings. ARTICLE XXIII.-Conmmittee on Anniversaries. This committee shall have charge of all arrangements for the anniversaries of the Society, and especially shall provide speakers for them, obtain a suitable place for the annual meeting of the Society, and examine and approve the annual report previously to its presentation to the Board of Managers. The Corresponding Secretary shall keep and record the minutes of their proceedings. ARTICLE XXIV.-Auditing Committee. This committee shall examine and audit the Treasurer's Report, and the annual balance sheet and inventory of the funds, property, and effects belonging to the Society, and report thereon to the Board of Managers, and shall also examine and audit such other accounts and statements as shall be specially referred to it. ARTICLE XXV.- Corresponding Secretary, his Duties. There shall be a Corresponding Secretary of this Society. Ie shall have charge of the Library. He shall, under the direction of the Board MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 43 of Managers, and of the Committees on Versions, Distribution, and Anniversaries, conduct the foreign and domestic correspondence of the Society in relation to translations of the Holy Scriptures, their distribution and circulation, in relation to the anniversaries of the Society, and the holding of meetings to extend and promote the circulation of the sacred Scriptures. He shall attend such meetings, visit different sections of this country, preach sermons and make addresses as often as time, opportunity, and other paramount duties will permit, and in all ways in his power forward the great work for which the Society was created. He shall draw and prepare the Annual Report of the Society under the direction of the Committee on Anniversaries, and report the same to the Board of Managers for their approval. He shall edit the Record and superintend its publication, and shall make a report monthly to the Board of Managers of his acts and proceedings. He shall also discharge such other duties as shall be directed by the Society or Board of Managers. ARTICLE XXVI.-Financial Secretary, his Duties. There shall be a Financial Secretary of this Society. He shall have charge of the action of this Society connected with the raising of funds, and shall conduct the correspondence of the Society with its auxiliaries, agents, and other persons relating to that subject. He shall, under the direction of the Committee on Agencies, give directions to and correspond with the traveling agents of the Society, and have charge of the matters connected with their agencies. HIe shall visit the traveling agents of the Society and different sections of the country, attend meetings, preach sermons, and make addresses, whenever time and opportunity will permit, and in all ways in his power promote the interests and forward the object for which this Society was formed, and make a report monthly to the Board of Managers of his acts and proceedings. He shall also discharge such other duties as shall be directed by the Society or Board of Managers. ARTICLE XXVII.- Treasurer, his Duties. There shall be a Treasurer of this Society. He shall keep an account, as Treasurer, with the " Bank of New York," or such other bank as the Board of Managers shall direct, and shall receive and deposit in such bank, to his credit as Treasurer, all moneys paid to him from time to time for or on account of the Society. He shall pay all warrants of the Conmittee on Publication and Finance for the payment of money, and report to the Board of Managers a monthly statement of his receipts and disbursements for the Society, and of the balance in the treasury. He shall be ex-offcio a member of the Committee on Legacies. 44 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ARTICLE XXVIII.-General Agent. There shall be a General Agent of this Society, who shall be the Recording Secretary thereof. He shall have the charge and superintendence of all the property and business of the Society, and exercise over the same a vigilant supervision and care. He shall attend to all the business matters; and things of the Society not committed specially to others. He shall arrange and direct the mode of keeping all the accounts and books of account of the Society, and carefully and vigilantly superintend the keeping of the same, and shall make or cause to be made all statements of accounts and inventories directed in and by the By-laws of the Society. He shall examine and recommend to the Committee on Publication and Finance, for audit and payment, or rejection, all bills, accounts, and claims for money or property upon the Society. He shall make all purchases of paper, and other materials and things for use in the current business of the Society, subject, however, to the provisions and restrictions contained in the By-laws thereof. He shall negotiate and settle the terms of all contracts made on behalf of the Society, and report the same for approval to the Board of Managers, or the committee having charge thereof, as the case may be. He shall cause the property, real and personal, of the Society to be insured, and keep the same insured, under the direction of the Committee on Publication and Finance. Certificates of life membership and directorship shall be issued by him. The General Agent shall make, or superintend the making, and shall sign all orders on the Depository for books, and conduct or direct the correspondence respecting the same, and the forwarding of such books to the places and persons for whom they are ordered. He shall give orders for the delivery of paper to the Superintendent of Printing, and see that it, and all other articles and things used in the buisness of the Society, are economically and judiciously used, and that the work done for the Society is well and skillfully performed. He shall report to the Board of Managers monthly a statement of the books issued; and to the Committee on Publication and Finance the accounts and statements connected with the Depository, and the books in it, and in sheets, mentioned and directed in the By-laws of the Society. He shall arrange and cause to be bound up all the correspondence of the Society, and shall place in the library a copy of the first edition of every book printed and published by the Society, and a copy of every other edition in which material alterations shall have been made in the stereotype plates. He shall send, or cause to be sent, a copy of the "Bible Society Record," immediately after its publication, to every Society and the principal officers thereof, and to every congregation and the pastor and principal officers thereof, and to every person and persons from whom or MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 45 through whom any payment or payments, donation or donations were made or given, and which are mentioned or acknowledged in such Record. The General Agent shall also discharge such other duties as the Board of Managers shall direct. ARTICLE XXIX.-Assistant Treasurer. There shall be an Assistant Treasurer of this Society. He shall receive and acknowledge the receipt of all moneys paid or given to the Society, and shall keep full and accurate accounts thereof, and shall deposit every day to the credit of the Treasurer, in the bank with which the Treasurer's account is kept, all moneys and funds of this Society which such bank will receive in deposit at par or for collection, unless said moneys and funds do not exceed in the aggregate on such day, and before closing the bank, the sum of one hundred dollars, and unless the bank shall not on such day be opened for business. The Assistant Treasurer shall attend to the collection and settlement of debts and balances due to the Society from auxiliary and other societies and persons, and conduct the correspondence respecting the same. He shall safely keep all the moneys not in deposit to the credit of the Treasurer, and shall sell or dispose of the uncurrent money of the Society as is directed in the By-laws thereof. He shall make out and furnish to the Corresponding Secretary for each " Bible Society Record" published, for insertion therein, a full and complete continuous list of all payments and donations to the Society made and received since the close of such list for the next preceding Record, together'with the times when, and the names of the societies, congregations, and persons from whom or through whom such payments and donations were made. And he shall discharge such other duties as the Board of Managers shall direct. ARTICLE XXX.-Depositary. There shall be an officer of this Society called a Depositary. He shall, under the direction of the General Agent, have the immediate charge of the Depository, and of the books and other property of the Society in it. He shall, under the like direction, make or attend to the making of all sales of books at retail, and shall fill, or attend to the filling, of all orders for books or other property on the Depository. He shall keep full and accurate accounts of all books and property delivered into the Depository and taken from it, and of all moneys received by him or at the Depository, and shall daily hand over all such moneys to the Assistant Treasurer. He shall make out monthly a full and correct statement of all books and property received into the Depository and taken therefrom during the month, and remaining therein at the end of the month, and of all moneys received by him or at the 46 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Depository, and the amount paid over to the Assistant Treasurer during the same month. This statement he shall present to the General Agent, who shall examine the same, and ascertain its accuracy by comparison with the accounts kept by him or under his supervision. The Depositary shall discharge such other reasonable duties as may be required of him by the General Agent, any committee of the Society, or the Board of Managers. ARTICLE XXXI.-Superintendent of Printing. The Society shall continue to employ a Superintendent of Printing. He shall, under the direction and advice of the General Agent, and the Committee on Publication and Finance, have the immediate charge of the printing done by the Society, and under the like direction, shall employ and pay all mechanics and laborers engaged in that branch of the business thereof. He shall have the immediate charge of the machinery and building used for printing, and all things connected therewith, and shall keep the same in good order, and see that the printing of the Society is done in the best and most economical manner. He shall advise the General Agent when requested in respect to the purchase of all materials and articles used in printing, and promote and protect the interests of the Society to the extent of his skill and ability. ARTICLE XXXII.-Proof-reader. The Society shall employ a Proof-reader. He shall, under the direction of the Secretaries and General Agent, have charge, and be responsible for the integrity of the text of the English Scriptures printed by or for the Society, and shall see that they are all conformable to the standard copy now in use. He shall examine the printed sheets with minute care, and thus ascertain the state of the stereotype plates, and cause them to be corrected and repaired if necessary. He shall read and correct the proofs of new plates, and see that they are perfectly accurate, or as nearly so as care, skill, and attention can make them. ARTICLE XXXIII.-Book-keeper, Clerk. SECTION 1.-The Society shall continue to employ a competent Bookkeeper, who shall, under the direction of the General Agent, keep the books of account of the Society, and perform such other cognate duties as the General Agent and Assistant Treasurer shall require of him. SECTION 2.-The General Agent may employ from time to time a Clerk to assist the General Agent and Assistant Treasurer in the business correspondence of the Society, and in making and copying statements, and doing such other writing and business as the General Agent and Assistant Treasurer shall require. MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 47 ARTICLE XXXIV.-TMessenger. The Society shall continue to employ a Messenger, who shall, under the direction of the General Agent, lodge in the building, take care of it and of the property of the Society, especially at night, and perform such reasonable duties as shall be required of him by the Corresponding Secretary, Financial Secretary, General Agent, and Assistant Treasurer, any committee of the Society, or the Board of Managers. ARTICLE XXXV.-Order of Proceedings and Business. The order of proceedings and business of the stated meetings of the Board of Mlanagers shall be as follows, unless otherwise directed by the board: 1st. Open at half past four o'clock, or as soon thereafter as a quorum is present, by reading such a portion of Scripture as the presiding officer may select. 2d. Minutes of the Board of Managers to be read and approved. 3d. Minutes of the Committee on Publication and Finance to be read and approved, and business growing out of them to be disposed of. 4th. The Corresponding Secretary's Report. 5th. The Financial Secretary's Report. 6th. The Treasurer's Report. 7th. The General Agent's Report and Statements. 8th. Minutes of the Committee on Distribution to be read and approved, and business thereon to be disposed of. 9th. Minutes of the Committee on Agencies to be read and approved, and business thereon to be disposed of. 10th. Report of Committee on Versions and Legacies, and minutes of the same. 11th. Reports from special committees. 12th. Unfinished business of previous meetings. 13th. New business. ARTICLE XXXVI.- Votes. Every member of the Board of Managers may have his vote recorded on any question. ARTICLE XXXVII.-By-Laws. The Board of Managers shall not make, alter, or amend any By-law, except at the monthly meeting thereof, nor at the same meeting at which such By-law, alteration, or amendment is proposed. ARTICLE XXXVIII —Repealing Act. All By-laws and Regulations heretofore passed or adopted by the Board of Manaagers, and which are inconsistent with the preceding Bylaws, are hereby repealed. 48 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Of all the officers first appointed, nineteen in number, including its president, fourteen vice-presidents, three secretaries, and treasurer, not one survives, and not more than two or three of its first managers. " They rest from their labors, and their works follow them." The society, from the commencement, has used the most scrupulous economy in husbanding all its resources for the purpose of multiplying copies of the Word of Life. It has no permanent funds, and desires to have none. Whatever is received by donation, legacy, or otherwise, is immediately converted into Bibles and Testaments, and put-.in circulation. All the managers and officers, with the exception of those who devote their exclusive time in the service of the society, such as the Corresponding Secretary, General Secretaries, and General Agent, perform their duties gratuitously. The following are the present officers and managers of the society: President.. Hon. THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN, LL.D., New York. Vice-Presidents. Hon. DUNCAN CAMERON, Raleigh, N. C. Hon. DAVID LAWRENCE MORRILL, Goffstown, N. H. Hon. CHARLES MARSH, Woodstock, Vt. Hon. HEMIAN LINCOLN, Boston, Mass. Hon. ROBERT P. DUNLAP, Maine. Hon. JOHN M'LEAN, Justice Supreme Court U. S., Ohio. Hon. CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY, South Carolina. THOMAS COCK, M.D., New York. Hon. PETER D. VROOM, Trenton, N. J. Hon. JOSEPH C. HORNBLOWER, New Jersey. ISAAC CAROW, Esq., New York. JOHN TAPPAN, Esq., Boston, Mass. SAMUEL RHEA, Esq., Blountsville, Tenn. HUBERT VAN WAGENEN, Esq., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Gen. JOHN H. COCKE, Virginia. MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 49 Hon. WILLIAM JAY, Bedford, N. Y. Hon. JOHN M'PHERSON BERRIEN, Georgia. ARISTARCHUS CHAMPION, Esq., Rochester, N. Y. Hon. ALLEN TRIMBLE, Ohio. Hon. LUTHER BRADISH, New York. FREEBORN GARRETSON, Esq., New York. CHARLES CHAUNCEY, Esq., Pennsylvania. Corresponding Secretary. Rev. JOHN C. BRIGHAM, D.D. General Secretaries. Rev. JOSEPH HOLDICH, D.D., Rev. SAMUEL IRENEUS PRIME, D.D. Treasurer WILLIAM WHITLOCK, Jun., Esq. General Agent and Assistant Treasurer. JOSEPH HYDE, Esq. - lManagers. FIRST CLASS. THIRD CLASS, CHARLES N. TALBOT, GEORGE D. PHELPS, PELATIAH PERIT, WILLIAM B. CROSBY, FRANCIS HALL, JAMES L. PHELPS, M.D., HORACE HOLDEN, B. L. WOOLLEY, THOMAS L. SERVOSS, G. P. DISOSWAY, RICHARD T. HAINES, HENRY ROOSEVELT, JAMES DONALDSON, A. R. WALSH, SILAS HOLMES, S. S. HOWLAND, WM. H. ASPINWALL. ALFRED EDWARDS. SECOND CLASS. FOURTH CLASS. JAMES BOORMAN, NAJAH TAYLOR, TIMOTHY HEDGES, JAMES W. DOMINICK, EDWARD RICHARDSON, EDWARD J. W/VoOLSEY, CORNELIUS DUBOIS, Jun., NORMAN WHITE, JAMES LENOX, WILLIAM FORREST, NATHANIEL RICHARDS, ANSON G. PHELPS, BENJAMIN L. SWAN, F. S. WINSTON, FREDERIC T. PEET, RALPH MEAD, ISAAC WOOD, M.D. ARCHIBALD RUSSELL. D /)0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Standing Committees. PUBLICATION AND FINANCE. ANNIVERSARY. NAJAH TAYLOR, Rev. STEPHEN H. TYNG, D.D., CHARLES N. TALBOT, Rev. J. W. ALEXANDER, D.D., B. L. WOOLLEY, Rev. BISIIOP JANES, FRANCIS HALL, WILLIAM B. CROSBY, F. T. PEET, Rev. WILLIAM ADAMS, D.D., RALPH MEAD, CORNELIUS DU BOIS, Jun., At. ROBERTSON nWALSHI. Rev. M. S. HUTTON, D.D. DISTRIBUTION. VERSIONS. Rev. ISAAC FERRIS, D.D., Rev. GARDINER SPRING,.D., JAMES L. PHELPS, M.D., Rev. T. E. VERMILYE, D.D., JAMES W. DOMINICK, Rev. R. S. STORRS, Jun., TIMOTHY HEDGES, Rev. GEORGE PECK, D.D., PELATIAH PERIT, Rev. EDNW. ROBINSON, D.D., Rev. G. T. BEDELL, Rev. SAML. H. TURNER, D.D. Rev. J. P. THOMPSON. THOMAS COCK, M.D. AGENCIES. LEGACIES. Rev. THOMAS DE WITT, D.D., HORACE IHOLDEN, WILLIAM FORREST, BENJAMIN L. SWAN, HORACE HOLDEN, NATI-TANIEL RICIARDS, F. S. WINSTON, E. J. WOOLSEY, NORMAN WHITE, LUTHER BRADISH, Rev. STEPHEN MARTINDALE, ISAAC WOOD, M.D., Rev. J. WV. M'LANE. HENRY ROOSEVELT. Auditing Committee. ANSON G. PHELPS, B. L. WOOLLEY, GABRIEL P. DISOSWAY. AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 51 CHAPTER V. AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. AT an early day the managers drew up the following circular, inclosing a plan for auxiliary and branch societies, which they addressed to the ministers and churches of the different religious denominations in the United States: Circular to to the Clergy. " New York, October, 1816. "REV. SIR,-The Managers of the American Bible Society have directed me to send to you a copy of the Constitution of the Society, and of the Address of the Convention which formed it, to the people of the United States. "Trusting that this national institution will meet with your approbation, they respectfully request that you will do them the favor of reading the said Constitution and Address to your congregation from the pulpit, and adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary by you for securing a congregational collection, to aid them in their labor of love and work of faith. " The magnitude and catholic nature of the object they conceive will sufficiently apologize for the trouble which they have taken the liberty of giving you in this application. " I have the honor to be, Rev. Sir, yours respectfully, "JOHN B. ROMEYN, Secretary for Domestic Correspondence." Circular addressed to "Individuals. "New York, January 8, 1817. " SI,-The Managers of the American Bible Society, deeply impressed with a sense of the magnitude of the interest committed to their care, and of the necessity of uniting the efforts of the friends of the institution, in order to procure the necessary funds to enable them to promote that interest, have directed us to address you as one of those friends, and request the favor of your co-operation with such persons of your county as may be willing to aid this great work of Christian charity, in forming an auxiliary society in your county, if there is not one 52 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. already formed, and also as many Bible Associations in smaller districts as may be convenient. To save trouble, and to facilitate both objects, they subjoin a form of a Constitution for an auxiliary society and for a Bible Association, it being understood that each auxiliary society and association are at liberty to make such alterations in these forms as they may see fit. "As there may be among your friends and acquaintance some who would be willing to enroll their names among the members or contributors to the American Bible Society, we send herewith the form of a heading for a paper to which such may subscribe, and pay you the amount of their subscription, which you will please to forward, with the list of the subscribers, to Richard Varick, Esq., Treasurer of the American Bible Society. " We are, respectfully, your obedient servants, " MATTHEW CLARKSON, Vice-President, " JOHN B. ROMEYN, Secretary for Dom. Cor." The following is the Constitution of an AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. I. This Society shall be called the Bible Society of ~, auxiliary to the American Bible Society. II. The object of the Society shall be to promote the circulation of the Holy Scriptures "without note or comment," and in English those of the commonly received version. III. All persons contributing any sum to its funds shall be members for one year; those contributing one dollar or more shall receive (if called for within twelve months) a common Bible in return; those contributing fifteen dollars at one time, or twenty dollars at two payments, shall be'members for life. IV. All funds not wanted for circulating the Scriptures within the Society's own limits shall be paid over annually to the parent society, to aid distributions among the destitute in other parts of the country and in foreign lands. V. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, whose duties shall be such as their respective titles import. VI. The management of the Society shall be intrusted to an Executive Committee of five (or seven, including the Secretary and Treasurer), which shall appoint its own Chairman and make its own By-laws. VII. It shall be the duty of this committee to meet frequently on adjournment, or on call of the Chairman, to keep a good supply of books on hand, to appoint local distributors, to see that collections in some way are made annually in every congregation, and that all funds are AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 53 forwarded early to the parent society, with a statement as to the portion designed for the payment of books and that as a free donation. VIII. There shall be a general meeting of the Society on of each year, when a full report of their doings shall be presented by the committee (a copy of which shall be furnished the parent society), and when a new election of officers and committee shall take place; should the Society fail of an annual meeting, the same officers and committee shall be continued until an election does occur. IX. Any Branch Society or Bible Committee formed within the bounds of this auxiliary, by paying over its funds annually, shall receive Bibles and Testaments at cost prices. X. No alteration shall be made in this Constitution except at an annual meeting, and by consent of two thirds of the members present. CONSTITUTION OF A BRANCH SOCIETY. No special plan was proposed for such a society, inasmuch as a few simple rules, such as the constitution of an auxiliary would suggest, would be sufficient, and hence a constitution was not drafted. The Managers make the following suggestions: " In many parts of the country, counties are divided into separate townships, each of which, should it be deemed advisable, can form a small Branch Bible Society in connection with the county auxiliary. It can adopt a constitution like the one above, with such alterations as the difference of circumstances will suggest. The branch should collect its moneys annually, and pay them over to the county auxiliary some weeks previous to its anniversary. All needed books can be procured through the auxiliary, and kept in a convenient depository. Sometimes a single congregation can resolve itself into a Branch Bible Society, or appoint a Bible Committee of three, who shall collect and forward money and receive books through the county society." It was before stated that there were several local societies in existence prior to the organization of the national institution. The Philadelphia Bible Society, organized in 1808, was patronized by the most distinguished names. The managers united their efforts to secure the connection of these societies with the general society. In this they were successful. During the first year of its existence, they received official information from eighty-four local societies of their wish and intention to become auxiliary to the parent society, and they were accordingly recognized as such. Q5 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. It may not be unimportant here to state, that all that is required of auxiliary societies, as a condition of their connection with the parent society, is, that "they shall circulate the Bibles of the common version in the English language, and the surplus funds they may have, after supplying their own wants, shall go into the treasury of the parent society, for the circulation of the Bible among the destitute abroad." This condition has invariably been adhered to from the beginning. Several Bible societies which had a, previous existence signified a desire to become auxiliaries, but upon its being ascertained that there were some things connected with their operations incompatible with the general objects and policy of the society, it was unanimously resolved, in 1819, "that no society could become auxiliary to the parent society until it gave to the board official notice that its sole object is to promote the circulation of the Scriptures without note or comment, and that it will place its surplus revenue, after supplying its own destitute district with the Scriptures, at the disposal of the American Bible Society as long as it shall remain thus connected with it." An Auxiliary Society Committee was appointed, whose duty it was to devise and suggest to the Board of'Ma!nagers such measures as in their opinion would promote the establishment and animate the exertions of auxiliaries to the parent society; that in cases in which there shall not be time to receive the direction of the Board of Managers, the said committee shall be authorized to depute one or more persons to attend meetings for the above purposes, and to advise and assist therein, and, in such cases, to defray out of the funds of this society the necessary traveling expenses of the person so deputed; and that authority be given the said committee to open a correspondence with the AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 55 different parts of the country for the purpose of gaining all necessary information. The design of this committee was chiefly to obviate the necessity of appointing agents, that from their intimate acquaintance with the auxiliaries, derived through extensive correspondence, they might learn the wants of the various districts of country, and, by the occasional deputation of visitors, secure all the aid and information they might desire. A short time proved the fallacy of relying upon printed circulars and letters of instruction, and the committee recommended the appointment of permanent agents, who should give their time exclusively to this work. From time to time the society had to bewail the dormant condition of the auxiliaries, and their failure from year to year to report their proceedings. Many of them became largely indebted to the parent society for books, and, after many ineffectual efforts to secure payment, the claims were relinquished. In their explorations and distributions, many of them acted without proper judgment and discrimination. Meetings were not held from year to year, Bibles were deposited with individuals here and there all over the county, and, instead of being sold or donated, were laid aside in the garret, or warehouse, or barn, as the case might be, exposed to the weather. It affords us extreme pleasure, however, to say that these remarks do not apply to a large majority of the auxiliaries, hundreds of which have from the commencement nobly and generously sustained, by their active zeal and liberality, the parent institution, often relieving it from embarrassment, and ever prompt to respond to all its solicitations, and faithful to carry out all its plans of operation. As powerful allies, many of them have extended their operations beyond their own districts, and have 56 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. made large donations to aid in printing and circulating the Scriptures in foreign lands. Auxiliaries are indispensable to the existence of the society, for without them but little could be done toward supplying our country with the Bible. They are usually confined to a county, but in several instances embrace entire states. During the first year of the society's existence, the number of auxiliaries connected with it was eightyfour: this number has been steadily increasing from year to year until the present time. The last report shows that there are about twelve hundred auxiliaries and twenty-five hundred branches, located in all the states and territories of the Union. The officers and members of these societies are composed of the various religious denominations, and invariably embrace the most intelligent and useful portion of the community where they are located. Many, having no connection with any branch of the Church of Christ, yet impressed with the importance of the enterprise, cheerfully engage in it, as productive of the greatest good to man. Indeed, no field can be more inviting, or promissory of more essential good to our country, and one that claims the hearty co-operation of every patriot and philanthropist, than that embraced by the Bible Society. In the successful prosecution of its work all are interested, and equally interested, for whatever benefits our neighbor necessarily has a reflex influence upon ourselves. The various auxiliary societies are entitled to purchase Bibles and Testaments of the parent society at five per cent. less than cost. When they are not able to pay in advance for books they are allowed a credit of six or nine months, and when their means are limited, and the destitution great, a donation of plain AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 5 bound copies is made to them for gratuitous distribution. In the resale of books at the depositories of the auxiliaries, the policy of the parent society requires that the common Bibles and Testaments be sold at cost and the amount necessary to cover expenses of carriage, and tie better qualities at an advance not exceeding ten per cent. The Annual Report of the Board of Managers is furnished to auxiliaries gratuitously. One copy is sent by mail to each corresponding secretary communicating his annual reports regularly to the corresponding secretary of the parent society; others are sent when books are ordered. Each auxiliary receives, also gratuitously, the " Bible Society Record." One copy is also sent to the president, corresponding secretary, and treasurer, and one to the secretary of each branch society. An intimate connection is thus kept up between the auxiliaries and parent society; and when the secretaries are prompt in forwarding their reports, each is kept advised in regard to the operations of the other. In addition to county auxiliaries, efficient and valuable aid has been rendered to the parent society by similar associations of a somewhat more specific character, such as Female Bible Societies, College Bible Societies, Marine Bible Societies, Young Men's Bible Societies, and Bible Committees. These are located in various parts of the country, and many are actively engaged in promoting the general objects of the society. We might, did our limits permit, review the operations of these societies, and present many interesting facts in relation thereto. The ladies deserve special notice for the commendable zeal manifested by them in this benevolent enterprise. Much is said about the appropriate sphere 58 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. of woman. Questions have arisen in regard to the propriety of their engaging in any separate organization. In reference to the organization of a society, the sole object of which is to put the Word of God in the hands of the destitute, no one certainly could exclude woman. This work is peculiarly fitted to her nature, and assorts most beautifully with the character given of devoted females in the days of Christ. To what, we ask, is woman more indebted than the Bible? Rather let me ask what is her condition in those lands where its heavenly light does not shine, and its divine teachings are not known? It is the Bible alone that imparts to her the distinction assigned by her Maker in this world, and points to her more elevated destiny in that which is to come. The British and Foreign Bible Society acknowledges with gratitude the services of the ladies in the work of distribution, and it is a matter of history that the ladies' associations contribute more to the parent society than all other associations in England. We must not omit to mention the fact that the very first auxiliary society recognized by the American Bible Society was the "Female Bible Society of New York" in 1816. During the first twenty years of its existence it has paid over to the parent society one thousand dollars per annum. We might mention other honorable instances of efficiency and liberality, but we shall forbear by simply remarking, in regard to this society, " Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." A mass of the most interesting facts in relation to the destitution in various portions of the country, embracing the cheering results of Bible distribution in the conversion of individuals, families, and neighborhoods, might be gleaned from the various reports, made from time to time to the parent society, which would fill a volume. BIBLE HOUSE. 59 CHAPTER VI, BIBLE HOUSE. WHEN the Constitution was adopted and the officers elected, there was not one dollar in the treasury. The society had neither Bible House nor Bibles, nor materials for making them. The managers, however, relying upon the goodness of the cause, in humble trust in the God of the Bible, immediately went to work in procuring mlaterials and devising plans for its early publication. Through the liberality of the governors of the New York Hospital and the mayor of the city, they were allowed the use of rooms in which they transacted their business. They were also accommodated by the Historical Society in the New York Institution. Several printers volunteered to publish gratuitously any communications they deemed it necessary to make to the public. The managers procured three sets of stereotype plates in octavo, and three in duodecimo form. Applications for Bibles were made from auxiliaries, which had to be supplied by the New York Bible Society, This society, together with the New York Auxiliary Bible Societies, presented the managers with a complete set of stereotype plates of the duodecimo size and brevier type, and also all the copies in sheets of the French Bible in their possession. A donation of five hundred pounds sterling was received from the British and Foreign Bible Society. A standing committee of five was appointed to take charge of all the property of the society, except the funds in the hands of the treasurer, with power to direct all the affairs and concerns of the society during 60 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. the recess of the Board of Managers; to enter into all necessary contracts, give orders for the delivery of Bibles, and orders on the treasurer for the payment of money. They had now gotten fairly under way; the first year of their labors had closed; and the success of the institution being no longer problematical, they were excited to renewed energy and perseverance. One of the first things that engaged the deliberations of the managers was the location of the surplus stereotype plates. On this subject a considerable degree of anxiety was manifested, as some questions of delicacy were involved in its consideration. The managers were fully impressed with the importance of giving every possible aid to the circulation of the Scriptures in distant parts of the country, and they were equally convinced of the necessity of guarding against whatever might excite local embarrassments, and of preserving unimpaired the unity of the national society, and the freedom of its agency through all its ramifications. They adopted certain principles as the basis of their proceedings in regard to this subject. After mature deliberation, in which the policy of the measure was strongly contested, on the ground that, should the society distribute these plates among the auxiliaries, local prejudices might arise affecting, if not in the end destroying, the nationality of the institution, and also on the ground of the risk to be run, and the expensiveness of having two presses established: it was finally determined, as the best that could be done, to send an octavo and duodecimno set to the Kentucky Bible Society, located at Lexington, this society having been promised one of the duodecimo sets previously. The conditions required on the part of the Kentucky Bible Society were the following: " The society were to hold the plates as the property BIBLE HIOUSE. 61 of the. American Bible Society, to be removed at the pleasu' re of the board, whenever they can be more advantageously used elsewhere; and that they print from them, at their own expense, as many Bibles as they think proper for gratuitous distribution or sale within their own district exclusively, rendering to the board a particular account of the number and cost of the Bibles printed and distributed by them. In consideration of the gratuitous use of the plates, they were required to print, bind, and distribute, at the expense of the board, and agreeably to their orders, as many Bibles as they should from time to time direct." The Kentucky Bible Society acceding to these stipulations, the plates were sent, and they continued to print therefrom until 1822, when it was deemed expedient to have all the printing done at New York. The affairs of the society were carried on, and the several species of their property were kept in a small depository, and, for want of room, in several other places. The value of the property being such, and the continual jeopardy of a large proportion of it; the advanced premium of insurance consequent thereon; the time lost in traveling from place to place, and the labor incurred by this perplexing mode of superintending different parts of the same business, added to the daily increase of all these evils, induced the managers to concentrate their business into a single establishment, either under one roof, or in buildings contiguous to each other. They would have preferred owning a suitable edifice, as insuring greater permanency and a more perfect control; but the amount of funds necessary for such a purpose, and the infant state of the society, did not warrant the undertaking, and they continued to occupy a hired house. The managers labored under these embarrassments for some time, and at length the propriety of erecting a Bible House was fully discuss 62 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ed, and resulted in a unanimous agreement, as soon as circumstances would admit, to engage in its erection. In 1822 the corner stone was laid, and the building was finished in the early part of the winter of the same year. The Bible House embraces fifty feet front upon Nassau street, and extends back thirty feet, when it is contracted to the breadth of thirty feet, and runs seventy feet with that width to Theater Alley, making the whole depth of the building one hundred feet. The basement story contains apartments for the accoammodation of the keeper and his family, the large rooms for storing printing paper and other property of the society, and the requisite vaults for fuel. The first floor of the front building comprises a large room for the agent's office and biblical library, and two smaller ones for the accommodation of the secretaries. The rest of this story, besides the space occupied by stair-cases, being a room of about sixty-two feet by twenty-eight, is devoted to the purpose of a depository for Bibles, and is capable of containing one hundred thousand Bibles, bound and arranged on shelves. On the second story, in front, is the managers' room, which is forty-eight feet long by twentyeight wide, and sixteen in height, and plainly but neatly furnished. The second and third stories of the rear building are occupied by the binder, and as a depository for printed sheets. The third story of the front building, with the fourth of the rear, which together form one room, as also the garret, are occupied by the printer to the society. The ground on which the Bible House stands, with the building, cost twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars, the most of which was obtained by donations from liberal individuals for this specific object. BIBLE HOUSE. 63 All the business of the society could now be conducted under one roof. Every record and document necessary to be referred to could easily be obtained, and thus the various committees were furnished with all the facilities required for the prosecution of their work. For eight years the society carried on its operations with regularity and system; but so increasing were the demands of our own and foreign countries for the Bible, that it was found necessary to erect an additional building for purposes of printing. The printing had been carried on in a building located on the opposite side of the street from the Bible House. A lot was procured adjoining the Bible House, and the erection of two additional buildings commenced. They lie north of and adjacent to the Bible House. One of them fronts on Nassau street, and is occupied as a printing office, four stories high, forty-four feet in front and rear, and thirty-four feet in depth. The other is also four stories high, fronting on Theater Alley; it is fifty-six feet in length, and thirty feet in depth, and communicates on each story with the Bible House. The whole establishment, including the old and new buildings, is ninety-four feet in front on Nassau street, and the same in rear on Theater Alley, and, including the Depository, thirty-six feet wide and four stories high, which connects the front and rear, having a depth of one hundred feet, with a court in the center. Under the right wing of the Bible House is a fire-proof vault for the safe keeping of the stereotype plates. The entire building is fire-proof throughout. Sixteen years have elapsed since the erection of these last buildings, and the society has gone on operating with efficiency in every department. Eight patent steam and twenty-two hand presses are constantly employed, which print daily about two thousand copies of the Bible, the same number 64 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. being bound and ready for delivery. About two hundred and twenty-two hands are employed in the various departments of printing and binding. In regard to the printing of Bibles, reference has already been made to the more early operations of the society; we think it proper to embrace under one head all the transactions of the society up to this time, in regard to the kind and qualities of Bibles and Testaments printed and bound at the Bible House. A set of stereotype plates of the French Bible was received from the British and Foreign Bible Society, in lieu of part of their donation: this, in conjunction with the six sets procured by the society, and the one presented by the New York Bible Society, constituted all they had during the first year of the society's operations. At the end of the third year the managers report that they had in possession eight sets of stereotype plates for the whole Bible, and two sets for the New Testament, in addition to plates for the New Testament in Indian and Spanish. In 1822 the society procured two sets of stereotype plates of the New Testament in the brevier type and the 18mo size. In 1824 a set of stereotype plates was procured for an octavo edition of the New Testament in pica type. In 1833 plates were cast for a modern Greek Testament. In 1834, two new Bibles, with marginal references, the one a quarto, and the other a royal octavo. In 1835 a new duodecimo reference Bible was printed, adapted to the use of Bible classes and Sabbath schools. In 1837, a pocket Testament in the German language, in the Spanish language, and one in diamond type, in English, were stereotyped. In 1838, a new Pica Testament, with the Book of Psalms, in octavo form, was stereotyped, and also a Testament for the blind, by which that large and in. BIBLE HOUSE. 65 teresting portion of the community is brought in contact with the Word of God, and by means of which they can now feel after him, and find him to the joy of their hearts. In 1839 a set of stereotype plates was cast for a new Portuguese Testament. In 1840, a new English octavo Bible in long primer, and a new duodecimo French Bible in brevier. A reprint of the Annual Reports of the first twentytwo years of the society's operations was published this year, and bound in one large octavo volume. In 1841.the managers printed a " Brief View of the Plan of Operations of the American Bible Society," in a small pamphlet, for gratuitous distribution among those who are engaged in promoting the Bible cause. They also printed a " Statement as to the Character of Foreign Versions of the Scriptures patronized by them." In 1843, the managers, at great expense, had stereotype plates prepared of the entire Bible for the blind. In 1844 the New Testament was printed in the Ojibwa tongue, for the use of a large tribe of Indians near Lake Superior. In 1846 the managersi prepared plates and issued an 18mo Minion Bible, after a well-known Oxford Bible of that size. In 1847 two sets of plates were procured for the pocket New Testament. A new Portuguese Bible, of large duodecimo size, was also printed for the benefit of the numerous Portuguese seamen in our various ports, as well as for the multitudes in Brazil and elsewhere who use that tongue. In 1848, plates for a new pearl reference Bible, a new nonpareil, or Sunday School Bible, and for a new pocket Testament, were cast. Also for a Danish Bible, for the use of Norwegian E 6 6AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. immigrants; a New Testament, in parallel columns of German and English, for the use of German immigrants who are in need of the Scriptures, and desirous to learn the English language; and one in Dutch and English, for the use of immigrants from Holland, and also New Testaments in the Grebo and Arawack tongues, for those speaking that language in Western Africa and South America. A Testament has been stereotyped for the use of the Choctaws. Thus it will be seen that the American Bible Society has been going forward, as fast as its resources would allow, in making provision for all the wants and demands of the country. We will add to this a specimen of the types of the Society's Bibles and Testaments, and also a catalogue of the kinds, qualities, and prices of the books on sale at the Depository. PtlamIens of tl)e 1pes of tl)e ZodetV's Bibter anO cestaments. SPANIS H. PORTUGUESE. FRENCH. LONG PRIMER. BOURGEOIS. BOURGEOIS. 10 iO si le pidiere un pez, por ventura le 24 Entao disse Jesus a seus discipulos: 1 Apres cela, je vis un ciel nouveau et dara unia serpiente? Se alguem quizer vir apos mim, negue-se une terre nouvelle. Car le premier ciel et 11 Pues si vosotros, siendo malos, sabeis a si mesmo, e tome sobre si sua cruz, e la premiere terre avoient disparu, et la mer dar bulenas dadivas a vuestros hijos: icu- siga-ne. n'etoit plus. aito mas vuestro Padre, que esta en los 25 Porque qualquer que quizer salvar sua 2 Et, moi Jean, je vis la ville sainte, la cielos, dara bienes a los que se los pidan? vida, perde-la-ha; por6m qualquer que por nouvelle Jerusalem qui, venant de Dieu 12 Y asi todo lo que quereis que los horn-amor (e mim perder sua vi(a, acha-la-ha. descendoit du ciel, etant paree comme une 12 Y.si todesouse qui se pare pare soS e pouxn bres hagan con vosotros, hacedlo tambienpouse qui se pare pour son GERMAN. vosotros con ellos: porque esta es la Ley GREVIER. y los Profetas. BOURGEOIS. BREER. ~_______________________________________ l4 UOt 5eott iwirt abwiflcun affc tl)r'ieUn Von 17 Ainsi tout arbre qui est bon produnit de bons BOURGEOIS. i)rcin wiu lcn; uilt tcr tZ0o wir> nicdt mcl)r fcpn, fruits et tout arbre qui est mauvais produit de 13 Entrad por la puerta estrecha: porque nod) lcilt, nod) Qcfd)rcp, ntod) d)mcricn uirt mauvais fruits. ancha es la puerta, y espacioso el camino, mcI)r fcin; cn ta n rftc itft fcrgingcl. 18 U bon arbre n puet produire de mauvais que lleva a la perdicion, y muchos son los 5 Unt tcr auf tim etutl) fag, frac): eic)c, fruts, et un mauvais arbre ne peut en produire que entran por el. id mnad)cc atfg ncu. ntD cr fnridt utn mir de bons. 14 i Que angosta es la puerta, y que estre- ~d)rcite; tcon iicfc Beorte fin arlftig AGATE. cho el carnino, que lleva a la vida: y pOCOS tiii' 0xCYij _ _ ________________ _ __ 15 Apr6s done qu'ils eurent dine, Jesus dit a Simonsoin los que atinan con el! NONPARIEL. Pierre: Simon, fils de Jean, m'aimez-vous plus que nc font ceux-ci? 1I lui r6pondit: Oui, Seigoneur, vous savez AI 9idf)tt nid)t, aif baS i[ir nid)t geridtet crieret. que je vous aime. Jesus lui dit: Paissez ines agneaux. 2 cnlt lit irctir)crlel) (crid)t ilr rid)tet, reret i fr gerid)tet 16 11 lui demanda de nouveau: Simon, fils de Jean, 25 Jesus les respondi6: Os lo dio, y no me creeis: las ierien; lintb mit ireld)erlet) 0iaas il)r iiTet, oti)tL eud) gts- m'aimez-vous? Pierre lui repondit: Oui, Seigneur, obras que yo hago en nombre ce lmi Padre, estas dan miefen rerien. vous savez que jeovous aime. Jesus lui dit: Paissezmes testimonio de mi: 26 ^Ias vosotros no creeis, porqiue-no sois de mis, ovejas. 3n^ r^irg eiid~tuAnbei~r N~ ~!3tlten iml Ninc~it'Xity 17 I1 lui demanda pour la trosigme fois: Simon, fils de 27 Mis ovejas oyen mi voz: y yo las conozco, y me si- fi nidt ei c alin iei ige Jan m'aimez-vous? Pierre fut touch de ce qu'il lui guenl 4 ~h'r drie arffi bu fogcn i ieietiii 9Sr her: att, ifd) mift demandoit pour la troiseme fois, M'aimez-vous? Et il 281 Y yo les doy vida eterna, y no perecerdn jamas, y ir ben Cplitter auS beitnl ullge ^icl)en un ielt)e in PS3alte ui dit: Seigneur, vous savez toutes choses; vous connoiniunguno las arrebatara de mi mano. ifi i" feinCm 21iuge. sez que je vous aime. Jesus lui dit: Paissez mes brebis. pdtmens of tjc pcs of tle ZocictV's i iblec anT (estametns. PICA. BOURGEOIS. NONPARIEL. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love For God so^ loved thep world, beAnd the eyes of them that see shall not one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one or O God so loved the world, be I dim, and the ears of them that hear shall another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, that he gave his only begotten hearken. if ye have love one to another. John xiii. 34, 35. Son, that whosoever believeth The heart also of the rash shall underin him, should not perish, but stand knowledge, and the tongue of the AGATE.. h, so, u stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. And there were some that had indignation with themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment have everlasting life. John iii. 16. Isaiah xxxii. 3, 4. made? have.everlasting life. John 111.16. Isaiah xxxu. 3, 4. For it might have been sold for more than three hun~- ~ ~~~ dred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they ASMALL PICmA.l BREVIER. nmurmured against her. Mark xiv. 4, 5. SMALL PICA. BREVIER. _____ _______________ And it came to pass, that in the Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, say- PEARL AGATE. Imorn ing watch the LORD looked un ing, Hilkiah the priest h-ath given me a book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of theearth shall ~mo ~rni ~W~atch the LORD ~looked ~U~n- ^radn befor faawake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame aind And Shaphan read it before the king. everlasting contempt. to the host of the Egyptians through n o p And they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the to the host of theI EgyJpt~iansthro ugh And it came to pass when the king had heard firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. the stars for ever and ever. Daniel xii. 2, 3. troubled the host of the Egyptians, And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikamn Exodus xiv. 24. the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, P E A R L. and^^^o ^.LY. ^. and Shaphan tesrbadAaaasrvtthe ribe, andation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat of the king's, saying, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 18-20. vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. LONG PRIMER. Bulist fhe ltmat heareth and doeth did beat vehemently, and imme*LONG PR JKIMVER:K. not,~~~ is like a man that without a a diately it tell, and the ruin of that And the anger of the LORD Tas hot N ION. foundationbtuilt an house upon the I house was great. Luke vi. 43, And the anger of the LORD was hot INI ONV. earth, against which the stream 149. against Israel; and he said, Because And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance that this pe opl e hath transgressed my to the it ashal l ome t o pass, w e hen ye be com e t o Jess wam f Jud ito G al.ilee he we that this people hath transgressed my And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to him, ad besught him that he would come down, asd heal his sont covenant which I commanded their the land which the LORD will give you, according for hewassatthe point of death. Judo-es ii. 20. as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this ser- ye ee signs and wonders, ye will nt come down ere my childdie. Johuiv. Judgesiil. 0. vice. Exodus xii. 24, 25. believe. 47, 4, 49. BIBLE HOUSE. 69 PRICES OF BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS SOLD BY THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, AT THE SOCIETY'S HOUSE, NO. 115 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK, TO ITS AUXILIARY SOCIETIES, AND TO OTHER SOCIETIES CONTRIBUTING BY DONATIONS TO ITS FUNDS. The Board of Managers beg leave to state that it is very desirable that orders intended for auxiliaries should be accompanied with payment, it being understood that the moneys are usually collected by auxiliaries previous to their purchasing books. Such is the demand upon the Depository, that long credits prevent the parent institution from receiving the benefit of the discount allowed for prompt payment in the purchase of paper. DESIGNATING BOOKS BY NUMBER. l The various descriptions of books may be designated by their numbers. The business will be greatly simplified if orders for books are made by numbers.-So many of No. 1, and so many of No. 2, dfc. z ENGLISH BIBLES. 32Mo. QUARTO. 39 Diamond, morocco, gilt..............$1 25 1 Pica, with references, morocco, gilt. $10 00 40 * calf, gilt.................. 1 00 2 " calf, gilt....................... 6 00 4..................... 6 3 ~ " embossed.................4 25 42 " sheep, lettered............ 40 4 sheep, lettered, raised bands.... 2 00 ROYAL OCTAVO. ENGLISH TESTAMENTS. 5 Small Pica, with references, morocco, OCTAVO. gilt................... 6 00 43 Pica, with Psalms, morocco, gilt..... 2 00 6 i" calf, gilt. 3 50 44 i calf, gilt.............. 1 25 7 " I embossed........... 2 75 5 " embossed......... 100 sheep, lettered, raised 46 " " lettered, raised bands 50 8 bands............ 1 37.1 - 47 " " " without Psalms... 37~ OCTAVO. OCTODECIMO. 9 Long Primer, morocco, gilt.......... 2 75 48 Brevier, Testament and Psalms, nmoroc10 " calf; gilt............... 1 75 co, gilt....................1 00 11 " " embossed......... 1 37 49 " calf, embossed............... 50 12 Small Pica, sheep, lettered, raised 50 " sheep, lettered............... 25 bands............... 87251 muslin...................... 181 13 " roan, gilt..............1 25 52 " Testament, calf, gilt.......... 62DUODECIMO. 53:: sheep, lettered.............. 18 14 Bourgeois Bible, morocco, gilt........ 25 25 p l ea a reference, tucks.311 15 4 calf, gilt.................. 1 62 56 "31 16 " " embossed............ 1 25...................... 17 " sheep, lettered, bands...... 62 323mo. 18 Minion Bible, calf, embossed........ 75 57Pearl, pocket, calf, gilt edges......... 25 19 " sheep, lettered.............. 37"58 tucks........................ 25 20 Nonpareil, with references, morocco, 5 " sheep, lettered................ 9 gilt.................... 2 00 60 glazed muslin, lettered........ 64 21 4 calf, gilt................. 1 371R 22 " " embossed........... 1 00 2.3 " sheep, lettered, raised bands 50 61 BIBLES, quarto, sheep............... 3 50 24 " without references, calf, 62 octavo, calf, embossed...... 2 00 gilt.................... 50 63 Long Primer, sheep, lettered, 25 " calf, embossed........... 37, raised bands.............. 1 50 26 " sheep, lettered........... 25 64 duodecimo, Brevier, calf, embossed.................... 1 00 18MO.-POCKET. 65 sheep, lettered, raised bands.. 50 27 M'inion Bible, morocco, gilt.......... 1 37l 66 TESTAMENTS, duodecimo, sheep, let28 " calf, gilt.................... 1 00 tered............... 181 29 " roan, gilt.................... 75 67 " pocket.............. 374 30 " sheep', lettered............... 40 68 32mo, Nonpareil, sheep, 31 Pearl, reference, morocco, gilt....... 1 371 lettered............ 121 32 " calf, gilt...................... 1 00 FRENCH. 33 " tucks........................ 75 34 " sheep, lettered................ 3721 69BIBLES, quarto, calf, embossed....... 5 00 2470 " duodecimo, Brevier, morocco, ogilt......................2 00 35 Agate, pocket. morocco, gilt.........1 2 71 " " calf, gilt........ 1 50 36 calf, gilt...................... 75 2 " embossed.. 1 00 37 " lettered, embossed....... 60 73 " " sheep, lettered, 38 " sheep, lettered................ 314I raised bands.. 623 7o0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. No.~I No. 74 TESTAMENTS, octavo, calf, embossed $1 00 ITALIAN. 75 " French and English in 103 BIBLES......................... 37 parallel columnns... 75 104 " pocket.................... 1 50 76 " French, duodecimo... 18a 105 TESTAMENTS................... 37 WELSH. I ARABIC. 77 BIBLE, quarto, calf, plain........... 4 50 106BIBLES...................... 3 37 78 octavo, calf, plain.......... 2 00 107 TESTAMENTS................... 11 79 " duodecimo, calf, plain...... 50 80 pocket, calf, plain.......... 1 00 SYRIAC. 81 TESTAMENTS, octavo, sheep, plain... 621 108 BIBLES......................... 4 50 82 it duodecimo, sheep, 09TESTAMENTS................... 37 plain.............. 25 110 PSALTERS........................ 50 83 " pocket, sheep, plain.. 371 POLISH. SPANISH. Ill BIBLES......................... 25 84 BIBLES, octavo, Long Primer, calf, gilt 1 75 112 TESTAMENTS................... 37 851 sheep, lettered, raised bands. 1 00 GREEK. 86 TESTAMENTS, duodecimo, Bourgeois, TESTAMENTS25 7I ~ sheep, lettered.....18 87 Spanish Gospels................... 6 DUTCH. IRISH. 114 BIBLES............................200 T115 ESTAMENTS................... 88 BIBLES, duodecimo, Roman character 1 50 89 1 vernacular character....... 2 25 HEBREW. 90 TESTAMENTS, duodecimo, vernacular 116 BIBLES..3 00 character, sheep... 50 117 TESTAMENTS................... 1 50 91 ~* duodecimo, vernacular 118 PSALTER.......................... 37 character, sheep... 25 92 Romfan character, LATIN. sheep............. 50 119 BIBLES............................150 CHINESE. FOR THE BLIND. 93 TESTAME NT....................... 162 120 BIBLE for the Blind, 8 vols.......2000 RUSSIAN. 121 PSALMIS for the Blind, 1 vol........ 150 94 TESTAMENT....................... 1 25 GAELIC. PORTUGUESE. 122 BIBLES, duodecimo, calf, plain... 1 00 95 BIBLES, calf, gilt............... 1 50 123 TESTAMENTS, duodecimo, sheep, plain 31^ 96.0...................... 1 00 97 sheep'::.::.'....;;:..;::.; 62- FINNISH. 98 TESTAMENTS...................... 25 124 TESTAMENTS...................... 75 DANISH. INDIAN SCRIPTURES. 99 BIBLES............................ 2 00 125 New TESTAMENT in Ojibwa. 75 100 TESTAMENTS...................... ISAIAH in Mohawk.43 SWEDISH. 127 EPISTLES OF JOHN in Delaware.... 8 101 BIBLES........................... 87' 102 TESTAMENTS...................... 30 128 REPRINT OF REPORTS.............. 2 00 It will be readily seen, by the specimens of type and. the prices of books in the catalogue, that books are far better now than formerly, both in regard to materials and manufacture, and the price has been reduced, in many instances, almost one half, and the higher priced books at least one third. The Minion Bible has been reduced from seventy-three cents to forty-five cents, and the Nonpareil Sunday School Bible is now sold at twenty-five cents per copy, and a well-made New Testament for six and a quarter cents. This reduction is mostly attributable to the improvements in paper-making, and the application of steam power to the business of printing and binding. ACTS OF INCORPORATION. CHAPTER VII. ACTS OF INCORPORATION. By the following acts of the Legislature of the State.of New York, the property of the institution is secure, and all bequests made to it will reach their intended object by adherence to the following form: "I give and bequeath to the American Bible Society, formed in New York in the year eighteen hundred and sixteen, the sum of ~ (or real estate, as the case may be), to be applied to the charitable uses and purposes of said society." Act of the Legislature of New Yoirk in relation to the Society's Property. The real estate upon which the Society's buildings are situated was conveyed, when purchased by the Society, in fee simple to five individuals as joint tenants, who thereupon executed a declaration of trust, setting forth, among other things, that they held said property in trust for the American Bible Society, and that they, or the survivors of them, would at any time convey said premises as the Board of Managers of said Society should direct. Two of said trustees have deceased, and the survivors being somewhat advanced in years, the board deemed it advisable to have a new conveyance made for the purpose of perpetuating the trust. The laws of this state having been revised since the said deeds of trust were made, and similar trusts, that should thereafter be created, having been declared void, it became a serious question whether the proposed new conveyance would not come within the Revised Statutes, and thus be void. To supersede this question, the board considered it the most prudent course to apply to the Legislature for an act of incorporation, and that, when incorporated, the surviving trustees should convey to the Society as a corporate body. Accordingly, a committee was appointed by the board to make the application. An act of incorporation was drafted and forwarded to the Legislature; but it met with so much opposition, that, at the suggestion of some of the opposers of the bill, a special act was prepared and 7 2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. substituted in its place. This was passed without opposition; and under its provisions the board will be enabled to continue the property in trust according to its original design. The Act is as follows: An Act to confirm certain Trusts therein mentioned. [Passed February 21, 1837.] The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: ~ 1. The trusts declared in and by two certain deeds or declarations of trust executed by Richard Varick, William W. Woolsey, Samuel Boyd, Benjamin Strong, and John Watts, Jun., the one bearing date on the twenty-eighth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and recorded in the office of register in and for the city and county of New York, in liber 164 of Conveyances, page 115, and the other bearing date on the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, and recorded in the said office in liber 257 of Conveyances, page 226, and relating to certain real estate in the city of New York, purchased for the benefit of a society or association known. by the name of the American Bible Society, are hereby confirmed, and it shall be lawful to execute -;te same and to appoint new trustees in the manner in the said deeds mentioned. ~ 2. This Act shall take effect immediately on its passage. An Act to Incorporate the American Bi6le Society. [Passed March 25, 1841.] The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: ~ 1. All such persons as now are or may hereafter become members of the American Bible Society, formed in the city of New York in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, shall be and are hereby constituted a body corporate, by the name of " The American Bible Society," for the purpose of publishing and promoting a general circulation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment. ~ 2. The nett income of said Society arising from their real estate shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars annually. ~ 3. This corporation shall possess the general powers and be subject to the provisions contained in title third of chapter eighteenth of the first part of the Revised Statutes, so far as the same are applicable and have not been repealed.* General powers contained in title third of chapter eighteenth of the first part of the Revised Statutes, and given to " The American Bible Society" by the third section of the act incorporating that Society: 1st. To have succession by its corporate name perpetually. 2d. To sue and be sued, complain or defend in any court of law or equity. ACTS OF INCORPORATION. 73 ~ 4. This Act shall take effect immediately. ~ 5. The Legislature may at any time modify or repeal this Act. STATE OF NEW YORa, Secretary's Office. I have compared the preceding with an original act of the Legislature of this state on file in this office, and do certify that the same is a correct transcript therefrom and of the whole of said original. Given under my hand and the seal of this office, at the city (L.S.) of Albany, the second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one. ARCH'D. CAMPBELL, Deputy Secretary. The following proceedings were taken by the society at the next stated annual meeting after the passage of the act of incorporation: An Ordinance to establish a Board of Managers, and for other Purposes. The American Bible Society do ordain as follows: 1st. The business of this corporation shall be conducted by a Board of Managers, constituted and appointed in like manner as prescribed by the Constitution under which the American Bible Society acted immediately before its incorporation, in relation to the Board of Managers therein mentioned. 2d. The Managers who were members of the said board at the time of the said incorporation (except those whose time of service has expired), shall continue in office during the terms for which they were respectively elected. And all persons who at the time of such incorporation were officers of the said Society, shall continue to hold their respective offices during the pleasure of the said board. 3d. The Board of Managers shall have power to appoint all officers of the Society, and to allow to such of them as they may think proper a suitable compensation; to purchase and hold such real and personal estate as may be permitted by the charter; to cause to be made and to use a common seal for the corporation, and to make by-laws not inconsistent with the laws of this state; and they shall have such fur3d. To make and use a common seal, and alter the same at pleasure. 4th. To hold, purchase, and convey such real and personal estate as the purposes of the corporation shall require, not exceeding the amount limited in its charter. 5th. To appoint such subordinate officers and agents as the business of the corporation shall require, and to allow them a suitable compensation. 6th. To make by-laws, not inconsistent with any existing law, for the management of its property and the regulation of its affairs. 74 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ther powers as were given by the said Constitution to the Board of Managers therein mentioned. Ten members of the Board of Managers shall be a sufficient number to form a board for the transaction of business, and every decision of a majority of the persons duly assembled as a board shall be valid. The Act and Ordinance were severally adopted. CHAPTER VIII. PRINTING, PUBLICATION, AND CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. THE first field, both in regard to order and importance, in the estimation of the society, in reference to occupancy and cultivation, was the Home Field. Its first work was to supply the destitute population of this country with the Holy Scriptures. During the first year of the society's operations, eleven thousand five hundred and fifty copies of the Bible were printed, and six thousand four hundred and ten copies were sent out from the Depository and distributed all over the country, from Maine to Georgia, and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, carrying joy and gladness to the destitute in many desolate places. The first donation made by the board was to the East Tennessee Bible Society, of five hundred Bibles for the destitute in that region. The society resolved, at a very early period in its history, to distribute no Bibles gratuitously except through the auxiliaries, as the proper media of its benefactions. This wise regulation it has faithfully adhered to until the present time. The second year closed its labors, and the board were enabled to make the gratifying announcement to the friends and patrons of the institution, that twenty thousand four hundred Bibles had been printed, and CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 75 seventeen thousand five hundred and ninety-four were issued from the Depository, while one thousand five hundred and twenty-one had been gratuitously distributed by the auxiliaries. The next year, 1819, the number of books printed was seventy-one thousand three hundred and twenty. The number issued from the Depository was thirty-one thousand one hundred and eighteen. There were also printed, in the Gaelic, Welsh, German, French, and several Indian languages, two thousand four hundred and fifty. The number gratuitously distributed during the year was between four and five thousand. In 1820 the number of Bibles printed was sixtyfour thousand four hundred and eighty-two, and the number issued was forty-one thousand five hundred and thirteen, which, added to those issued in the German, Spanish, Gaelic, French, Welsh, and Indian languages, amounted to ninety-seven thousand one hundred and two. The number gratuitously distributed this year was eighteen thousand six hundred and seventeen. In 1821 the number of Bibles printed was fifty-nine thousand eight hundred, and the numnber issued was sixty-eight thousand one hundred and seventy-seven, in eight different languages, of which number thirteen thousand seven hundred and six were gratuitously distributed. In 1822 the number printed was thirty-six thousand six hundred and twenty-five. This was the year the society removed to the new house. The issues were fifty-four thousand eight hundred and six, in the various languages above enumerated. Of this number twelve thousand nine hundred and twenty-three were gratuitously circulated. In 1823 the number printed was fifty-three thou 7 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. sand six hundred. Issues, fifty-four thousand eight hundred and five. The number gratuitously distributed this year was twelve thousand three hundred and twenty-five. In 1824 the number printed was seventy-seven thousand five hundred and seventy-five, and the issues amounted to sixty thousand four hundred and thirty-nine, in the usual languages. Of this number fourteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine were gratuitously distributed through the appropriate channels. Two hundred Bibles were donated to the United States army, on the application of an officer of high rank. In 1825 the number printed was forty-eight thou. sand five hundred and fifty, and the issues the same year were sixty-three thousand eight hundred and fifty-one. Of the above number nineteen thousand six hundred and twenty-three were distributed gratuitously. In 1826 the number published was eighty-one thousand, and the issues sixty-seven thousand one hundred and thirty-four. Of this number, in the various languages, in our own country, and the West Indies, Sandwich Islands, Mexico, and South America, there were gratuitously distributed sixteen thousand five hundred and forty-seven. In 1827, seventy-six thousand seven hundred and thirty-four were printed, and the issues amounted to seventy-one thousand six hundred and twenty-one. Thirteen thousand one hundred and sixty-nine vwere gratuitously circulated. 1828. There were printed this year one hundred and eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty, and issued one hundred and thirty-four thousand six hundred and seven. Distributed gratuitously, seven thousand two hundred and sixty. CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 77 1829. The number printed was, during this year, three hundred and sixty thousand. Issues, two hundred thousand one hundred and twenty-two. Gratuitously distributed, eight thousand four hundred and sixty-five. 1830. There was printed this year three hundred and eight thousand. Issued, two hundred and thirtyeight thousand five hurndred and eighty-three. Distributed gratuitously, fifty thousand three hundred and forty-nine. In 1831 there were printed two hundred and seventy thousand. Two hundred and forty-two thousand were issued from the Bible House, and thirty-nine thousand were gratuitously distributed. In 1832 one hundred and fifty-six thousand five hundred were printed, one hundred and fifteen thousand eight hundred and two were issued, and eighteen thousand nine hundred and thirty-one were distributed gratuitously. 1833. This year the financial condition of the society was such as to justify the printing of but few Bibles, and in view of this, the numbers being so unimportant, they were not made a matter of record. The work of distribution, however, was carried on, and the issues amounted to ninety-one thousand one hundred and sixty-eight, and the gratuitous distribution to twelve thousand and seven. In 1834 the number printed was one hundred and forty-nine thousand three hundred and seventy-five. Issues, one hundred and ten thousand eight hundred and thirty-two. Gratuitous distribution, nineteen thousand and seventy-six. In 1835 the number printed was thirty-four thousand. Issued, one hundred and twenty-three thousand two hundred and thirty-six. Gratuitous distribution, thirty-three thousand four hundred and eightyeight. 78 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. In 1836 the number printed was one hundred and ninety-four thousand. Issued, two hundred and twenty-one thousand six hundred and ninety-four. Gratuitously distributed, seventy-eight thousand four hundred and eighty-nine. In 1837 the number printed was two hundred and twenty-eight thousand. Issued, two hundred and six thousand two hundred and forty. Gratuitous distribution, one hundred and forty-six thousand nine hundred. In 1838 one hundred and forty-two thousand were printed, one hundred and fifty-eight thousand issued, and thirty-four thousand four hundred gratuitously distributed. In 1839 the number printed was one hundred and fourteen thousand. Issued, one hundred and thirtyfour thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven. Gratuitously distributed, eight thousand nine hundred. In 1840 the number printed was one hundred and thirty-nine thousand. Issued, one hundred and fiftyseven thousand two hundred and sixty-one. Gratuitously distributed, fifteen thousand four hundred. In 1841 the number printed was one hundred and sixty-six thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. Issued, one hundred and fifty thousand two hundred and two. Gratuitously distributed, nine thousand eight hundred. In 1842 the number printed was two hundred and seventy-six thousand. The number issued, two hundred and fifty-seven thousand and sixty-seven. The number gratuitously distributed, one hundred and nine thousand two hundred. In 1843 the number printed was two hundred and twenty thousand. Issued, two hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred and five. Gratuitously distributed, one hundred and eight thousand. CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 79 In 1844 the number printed was two hundred and ninety-three thousand. Issued, three hundred and fourteen thousand five hundred and eighty-two. Gratuitously distributed, twenty-three thousand eight hundred. In 1845 the number was four hundred and seventeen thousand three hundred and fifty. Issued, four hundred and twenty-nine thousand and ninety-two. Gratuitously distributed, forty thousand six hundred and fifty-six. In 1846 the number was four hundred and eightytwo thousand. Issued, four hundred and eighty-three thousand eight hundred and seventy-three. Gratuitously distributed, forty-seven thousand one hundred and fifty-nine. In 1847 the number was six hundred and seventyone thousand five hundred. Issued, six hundred and twenty-seven thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. Gratuitously distributed, sixty-six thousand and ninety-seven. In 1848 the number printed was seven hundred and sixty thousand nine hundred. The number issued was six hundred andfifty-five thousand and sixty-six. Gratuitously distributed, seventy-nine thousand six hundred and seventy-eight. We have gleaned the above facts in regard to the publication and distribution of the Bible from the Annual Reports of the society, and we believe that they are in the main correct. They present an interesting table of the society's operations during a period of thirty-two years. Many of the Bibles issued by the society, in foreign languages, have been imported from time to time from Bible depositories in other countries. From the American Bible Society there have been issued, since its organization to the close of the last year, five millions eight hundred and sixty thousand, 80 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. four hundred and ninety-three copies of Bibles and Testaments. These precious volumes have gone out to disseminate blessings all over our own country, and to shed light in many foreign lands. The society has circulated the Word of God directly in upward of twenty different languages, and assisted in circulating it in upward of fifty other languages. The wants of our home population have been strictly attended to, and the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who annually come to our shores from all parts of the Old World are not forgotten. The German, French, Irish, Italian, Swede, Welshman, Spaniard, Portuguese, Jew, Pole, Arab, Norwegian, and all of every tongue who seek an asylum here, are proffered the Word of Life without money and without price. Notwithstanding much has been done in supplying our native and foreign population, much yet remains to do. In a population of twenty-two millions, there is, at the least calculation, one million five hundred thousand destitute, and they must be supplied. It can not be that they shall be left to "perish without the law" when the Church possesses the means to supply them. Through its faithful allies, the auxiliaries, the society has sent the Bible into every nook and corner of our land. It has circulated it in every state and territory, in every county, and city, and village. In the Sabbath school and common school, in the college and seminary; in the hotel and asylum, and hospital and prison; among soldiers, and sailors, and slaves; on sea and on land, at home and abroad, every where has it, in its beneficence, sent the Gospel of salvation. The society does not think it strange that in this work of mercy it has met with opposition, inasmuch as its Divine Author himself was persecuted and cru. cified. CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 81 Its principal opponents are the Roman Catholic priests, who, assuming to dictate to the members of that Church in all matters of faith and practice, prohibit them from reading it, and have gone so far as to burn the Bible in this land of " freedom to worship God." Political demagogues have been found ready to coalesce with the Roman Catholic Church for the purpose of carrying any measure that Church might adopt with the hope of securing its influence in a political point of view-men who would be willing to sacrifice all that is dear in religious liberty, so that they might, in the end, attain political power. We are happy to be able to state that this language does not apply to any party, much less to the people of this country, who, in the main, are deeply imbued with the spirit of liberty, but to a few whose selfish ambition would lead them to advocate principles favorable to their interests, right or wrong. An effort was made a few years since by a Roman Catholic bishop in one of our large cities to exclude the Bible from the common schools. This same bishop has figured extensively in the political world; and having a face to suit all political phases, at one time you hear him haranguing the multitude in the behalf of oppressed Ireland, the loudest in the cry of " Repeal or blood," but, tempora mutantur! and you hear him again lifting his voice in opposition to the patriotic movements of the masses of oppressed Italy. The citizens of this country must be taxed to educate poor Roman Catholic children in the doctrines of their Church. In other words, the funds, nearly all of which are collected from Protestants, must be divided, and the Roman Catholics must have their proportion in accordance with the number of their children. The common school system of instruction in this country is pernicious; the Bible must be expelled, and F 82 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. all the text-books expurgated; and Roman Catholic teachers must be employed ere this rapacious Church can be satisfied. When it was said, "This is a Protestant country, and we are willing the children of Roman Catholics shall fare equally with ours," this same bishop openly declared "it was not." He might have been ignorant of the fact that the first Congress printed and circulated the Bible. Had he beeni as conversant with the history of this country as he is with monkish legends and Latin masses, he certainly would have known the views entertained by the Congress of 1774 in relation to this subject, and their opinion of his Church, when, in an address to the people of Great Britain, they said, "The dominion of Canada is to be extended; their numbers, daily swelling with Catholic immigrants from Europe, may become formidable to us, and reduce the ancient free Protestant colony to a state of slavery. Nor can we express our astonishment that a British Parliament should ever consent to establish in that country a religion that has deluged your island in blood, and dispersed impiety, bigotry, persecution, murder, and rebellion throughout every part of the world." We rejoice that this is a Protestant country, and we do not believe it will ever cease to be a Protestant country so long as the "Word- of the Lord has free course and is glorified." The Bible will not only preserve our Protestantism, but is destined to bring up priest-ridden, down-trodden Catholic countries to the same glorious standard of faith and the same precious liberty. Were this a Roman Catholic country, the eye would be greeted with announcements like the following, and the law made for France, in regard to the quality and extent of instruction, would be the law of the United States: CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 83 (OFFICIAL.) University of France-Academy at Bordeaux. "The Inspector of the Schools of the Dordogne to the Schoolmasters of the Department: "MONSIEUR L'INSTITUTOR,-Many of the cures and their assistants have reported their schoolmasters as having suffered to be introduced into their respective schools Bibles and Testaments which contain doctrines contrary to the torue religion. I know that some of the teachers have permitted these books to be used because they were deceived by the colporteurs, (!) who told them that they were sent by me. I hasten to request you to remove those dangerous books from your school. I will, without delay, in company with the priest, visit and inspect your schools, and every copy of these books that we shall find we will cause to be burned. I embrace this opportunity of informing you that from this time I will allow only three books in the rural schools. viz 1. The Catechism of the diocese; 2. A book of mnoral lessons, easy to be understood by the children 3. A book of arithmetic." Well did one of the poets of that Church say, "Hail, holy darkness! mother of our Church!" A better day, however, is dawning upon France. If the Bible is excluded from the children, the masses have access to it, and the two hundred thousand circulated in all parts of that country annually will tend more powerfully to impart and strengthen the spirit of liberty than all other causes combined, for "where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty." The Bible is honored with a place in the schools of our country, or, rather, it should be said, the schools of our land are honored with the Bible. It is the salt that will save us, the great conservative principle; that which imparts a national conscience and moraiity, and will forever secure to us and to our children the blessings of a pure Protestant Christianity. The two great arms of national defense, the army and navy, are regularly and systematically supplied by the society. Thousands upon thousands of copies have been sent to our military stations, and with our 84 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. armies to foreign lands, to breathe a spirit of peace, and break swords into plow-shares, and spears into pruning-hooks, teaching the nations to cease their warfare. The thousands of seamen and boatmen upon our oceans, lakes, rivers, and canals have been regularly supplied by the parent society through associations specifically designed to operate upon that class of the community. Away from home and kindred, no companion is so valuable to the sailor as the Bible, and numerous instances might be given tending to demonstrate the fact that " the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Hundreds have been. awakened and converted to God solely through its instrumentality. The soldier has borne it in his knapsack on his weary marches and in the deadly strife of bat. tle. Wounded and dying, he has pillowed his aching head upon this sacred treasure. But more of this in another place. It being the design of the society to supply the whole population of this country, the three millions of the colored race in servitude could not be overlooked. They must be provided for, and the society, at an early period, directed its attention to this work. There were various and conflicting opinions in relation to this subject, and communications from time to time were made to the society, all of which received prompt and respectful attention. The managers determined on acting in accordance with the general principles and settled policy of the society, carefully avoiding any thing and every thing that would in the remotest degree involve a departure from that policy. But, while they lost sight of all societies or parties in promoting the general objects of the institution, they have done all they consistently could do toward supplying the slave population with the Word of God. During the last two years, a purpose has been CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 85 formed by individuals of the northern states to raise a large fund, and place it at the disposal of the American Bible Society for the purpose of furnishing the slaves at the South with the Holy Scriptures. This plan was imbodied in a circular, and sent round to the churches. Funds are being remitted to the treasury for this specific object. Various communications were addressed to the board urging a hearty co-operation, and others desiring to know what views were actually entertained by the conductors of the Bible Society on this subject. The board appointed a large and well-qualified committee to investigate the subject at large and report. To this committee all the documents bearing upon the subject, or in any way connected with it, were referred. In the month of June, 1847, after several meetings of the committee, in which the subject passed through a patient, protracted, and thorough investigation, a report was presented which was highly satisfactory to the board, and met the hearty concurrence of nearly all the friends of the Bible and the slave. That all the friends of the society, north and south, may have the action of the board, we present the fol. lowing, elicited by a proposition made by the American Anti-Slavery Society to the board in relation to the supply of the slave population with the Bible. The committee, after referringsto the action of the board in 1844 and 1845, proceed in their report: "In looking at this subject at the present time, the committee consider that there is little necessity to reaffirm the disposition of the board to furnish the Bible to all classes and conditions of men who are capable of using it. The above resolutions, and the whole history of their operations, show that, so far as this body is concerned, they would gladly reach forth the Inspired Volume to every child of Adam, and bid him read freely. " Nor is there occasion to restate at length that the American Bible Society is not itself called on or expected to engage in the direct work L8) 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. of distribution in any places where auxiliary societies are or can be formed. It was the original purpose of the general society to act mostly through local auxiliaries; and these auxiliaries, it must be remembered, are some of them large state institutions, organized before the American Bible Society, and became connected with it, as do all auxiliaries, by two simple pledges, namely, that they will circulate the Scriptures' without note, or comment,' and' will pay over their surplus revenue to the general society.' In all other respects they are independent of this Society, more so, by far, than are the several states in our Union in relation to the Federal Government. Those local societies often procure and sustain agents themselves, and when furnished with them by the parent society, they go only where they are welcomed by the local societies, and act but in connection with them. An this is a state of things which the board, on account of its important'bearings, would by no means disturb, even if they had the power. They wish the auxiliaries every where to feel their responsibilities, that they are bound to see to the supply of their own districts with as little of expense and labor on the part of the parent society as possible. ~Were this board to undertake the work of distribution throughout the country, they would require several hundreds of paid agents, while the 3000 auxiliaries and branch societies which now act with more or less efficiency would sink into torpor and soon become extinct. " Motives of economy, then, on the part of the parent society, as well as the rights of the auxiliaries, require that local distributions should be made under the direction of the latter. On these organizations at the South devolves the duty, beyond doubt, of supplying the slave population of that region, so far as this work is to be done. "The only new point of inquiry at this time is, How far those auxiliaries are bound, or can reasonably be expected, to supply the population referred to? "On this point the committee claim no right to issue positive instructions; they can only state their honest convictions as to what those auxiliaries ought to do, and then leave them to act as they may judge most wise in their circumstances. "In stating their convictions, the committee would premise that no Bible society in any place is bound to perform all sorts of duty. It is an institution for one great simple object. It is not formed for purposes of education, or missions, or the correction of civil laws; but it is formed for the purpose of circulating the Word of God, without note or comment, as far as practicable, among all classes and conditions of men who are capable of using it. So far as there are colored freemen or slaves within the limits of an auxiliary, who can be reached, who are capable of reading the blessed Word of God, and are without, they CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 87 should unquestionably be furnished with it as well as any other class of our ruined race. This duty is plain and imperious; so plain, that the committee know not a society at the South which calls it in question' " Many thousands of Bibles and Testaments are sent every year to the societies in that quarter, both on order and gratuitously, and some, it is well known, go to supply the colored man as well as the white. The committee are assured by one of the agents, who has been for two years in the service of the Virginia Bible Society, that in supplying counties there, he found no more obstacles in the way of furnishing the Bible to slaves, when they could 9read, than to any other class ofmen. One long connected with the North Carolina Bible Society says that he remembers no instance where one of that people wished a Bible and could use it, of its being refused him. Nearly the same testimony has been given by those connected with smaller auxiliaries, and by agents in other states. 11Still there is no doubt that more or less of colored persons might be found in all those states who could and would make a good use of the Bible, but are yet without it. There is need of new attention to this duty, as all must admit, and it is hoped that it will early receive such attention. No religious object can be more important than this, and to none will the conductors of the parent society more cordially lend their aid, believing, as they seriously do, in the language of their late report,'that the Word of God is intended for all men, and useful to them in every condition of life.' " But while the committee speak thus frankly as to the duties of the Southern auxiliaries, they would use the same frankness with those at the North which are proposing to raise funds for the special purpose of supplying slaves with the Bible. While the latter societies seem to act from high and pure motives, they evidently labor under several misapprehensions in relation to the object so eagerly sought. "They proceed in the first place (judging from several communications received) as if the Managers of the American Bible Society were averse, or at least indifferent, to the duty of furnishing the Bible to the slave, while no class of the community is the subject of more solicitude and careful inquiry. Every opportunity for effecting supplies through the proper channels is promptly embraced, and has been for years. "In the next place, they seem to labor under the impression that great numbers of the slave population can read the Bible, when few, very few, have that ability. Thorough inquiry on this subject would satisfy any one that before Bible societies, as such, can effect very much, there is a previous work to be done by the schoolmaster or the teacher. "Another misapprehension is, that if funds can only be raised for AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. supplying slaves with the Bible, the work will be easily accomplished. The fact seems to be overlooked that those who hold slaves are usually men of property, and could and would purchase books and supply their dependent people, if nothing but money were wanting to effect the object. But there is, as stated, an almost universal inability among slaves to read, and an indisposition to instruct them equall extensive. How are funds in the hands of any Bible society, general or local, to remove those obstacles, and how are distributions on any considerable scale to be made until they are removed? Let it be shown that there are numerous slaves at the South who can read the Bible and are yet without it, whose holders consent to their being supplied,, and yet will not purchase the books required, then there may, with propriety, be large collections made in all parts of the country to meet so important a demand; but, until the way is thus prepared, the committee see not how collections to any large amount are to be used in the manner proposed. Should the providence of God at any time open the door for an extended distribution of the Bible among the people referred to, and should there be need of general collections to supply the demand, the auxiliaries may rest assured that they will be called upon by the parent board to lend their aid, as they are now called on to supply the destitute of our new settlements, and those in France, Syria, India, and China. "As the committee have now given their views at length on the communications referred to them, as well as the previous resolutions and doings of the board on the same general subject, they would close by proposing one, and only one, additional resolution: "'Resolved, That while the Managers of the American Bible Socity will promptly avail themselves of every opportunity to further the distribution of the Bible among the slave population at the South, they would respectfully suggest to those who contribute to the income of the Society, whether it would be wise to restrict their contributions to an object which can only be attained gradually, and the funds for which must remain in part unexpended, while others of the human family, equally destitute and more accessible, are left unsupplied with the Word of God.'" The American Bible Society has but one great work to perform, and that is, the universal circulation of the Scriptures, without note or comment, among all nations, irrespective of country, caste, or color; and it can not travel beyond its appropriate sphere to form a coalescence with the American Tract, Colonization, BIBLE IN PRISONS. 8 9 Peace, Anti-Slavery, Education, Sunday School, or any other societies, be they ever so benevolent or praiseworthy. Its very existence depends upon its catho. licity and unity; and so far from this peculiarity in its organization and operations forming an objection, it should be regarded as the most favorable and valuable type of its character. CHAPTER IX. BIBLE IN PRISONS. THAT unfortunate class of our fellow-men who, for the violation of the laws of the country, are deprived of their personal liberty, shut out from society, and perpetually doomed to their own gloomy thoughts and the compunctious visitings of guilty consciences, which, vulture like, are left to prey upon them in their dark and cheerless cells, though suffering the just penalty of their crimes, are nevertheless the objects of Christian sympathy and labor. The Gospel was preached in prisons in the days of the apostles, and the blessed Savior inculcated the duty of visiting such places with the ministrations of mercy, while the last act of his life was the bestowment of salvation upon a dying thief. Too many appear to think that all punishment for crime should be vindictive to an extent that excludes all mercy, whereas all punishment should partake of the character of that inflicted by the act of God in this life, reformatory in its nature. The place of punishment should be one of penitence and reformation, and all the means productive of these ends of a wise government should be enjoyed 90 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. by those suffering the penalty of violated laws; hence every states' prison should have its chaplain, every cell a Bible, and every prisoner religious instruction. With these views, the managers of the American Bible Society early turned their attention to the supply of these institutions of justice. Many of the penitentiaries, jails, houses of correction and refuge, have been supplied with the Bible by the auxiliaries where they are located, an account of which is embraced in their respective reports. As it would occupy too much space to detail these operations, we shall notice only the grants made by the parent society to the state prisons. In 1834 a donation of two hundred Bibles and Testaments was made to the Auburn State Prison, on the request of its chaplain, for the use of the convicts. 1836. To the same prison, two hundred and twentyfive for the use of liberated convicts. To the Connecticut State Prison, on request of its chaplain, fifty Bibles. To the Virginia Bible Society, for Portuguese pirates in prison, ten Bibles in the Portuguese language. 1837. To the Philadelphia Young Men's Bible Society, for the use of prisoners, one hundred. 1843. To the Auburn State Prison, to be distributed by chaplain among its inmates, ninety. 1845. To the same, one hundred and fifty. To the prison at Sing Sing, on the request of its chaplain, twenty. 1846. To the New York State Prison, on request of its chaplain, to be distributed among the liberated convicts, fifty. To the Ohio State Prison, for the use of the convicts, on the request of the moral instructor, Rev. James B. Finley, one hundred Bibles and Testaments. The writer visited this prison in the year 1847, and BIBLE IN PRISONS. 91 had an opportunity of judging from personal observation, and full and unreserved conversation with its estimable warden, Col. Dewey, and the moral instructor, the great and permanent moral results effected by the reading of the Bible. Many, through its instrumentality and that of the instructor, were truly reformed, and gave satisfactory evidence of having obtained the pardon of their sins. By their confessions, many of their accomplices without the prison walls were made known, much and valuable property was restored to its owners, and the increased industry, and prompt and cheerful obedience to the laws of the institution, gave the pleasing assurance that the Gospel had power to save even the chief of sinners. We were kindly invited to visit the Sabbath school, under the instruction of benevolent Christian gentlemen, in the city of Columbus. At the ringing of the bell, the different wards marched to the chapel, and we had the pleasure of preaching to four hundred and fifty convicts. The chaplain, in closing the exercises, after taking up a collection in behalf of the Bible Society, addressed himself to the prisoners in the following manner: " My brethren, I know you have nothing to give. Many of you would cheerfully contribute did you possess the ability. God accepts according to what a man hath; but," added he, " I want an expression from you in relation to the Bible, and I wish it perfectly voluntary. All of you that can say the Bible has been a benefit to you, hold up your hands." Instantly every hand in that large assembly was thrust up at arm's length. The effect of this demonstration upon the officers, and ladies and gentlemen from the city, who were present, was thrilling; and the silent tear that coursed its way down the cheek of many an aged and youthful prisoner, told that the response was from the heart. The 92 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. command of Jesus is to make known the Gospel to every creature, and hence there can be no place this side the prison of despair that Christian benevolence should not send the Bible. It strikes us that just in proportion to man's guilt, wretchedness, and danger, should be our efforts to convey to him the means of salvation. CHAPTER X. BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN AND BOATMEN. ON the list of the first auxiliaries in 1817 is found the name of the Marine Bible Society in New-York, the specific object of whose organization was the supply of seamen from all quarters frequenting the neighboring ports with the Chart of Life. The following year the board granted to this society two hundred and fifty Bibles. In 1819, to the same society there were granted five hundred Bibles; and to the Charleston, S. C., Marine Bible Society, two hundred and fifty. The following year was granted a donation of five hundred Bibles to the New York Marine Bible Society at one time, and at a subsequent period the same year two hundred and. fifty. To the same society, in 1821, were granted five hundred Bibles and Testaments; also, to the Bath Marine Bible Society, one hundred; to the Saco and Biddeford Marine Bible Society, one hundred; to the Nantucket, New Bedford, and Marblehead Marine Bible Societies, four hundred and fifty. In 1822, to the Portland Marine Bible Society, two hundred;. New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Dartmouth Marine Bible Societies, sixty Bibles. BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN. 93 In 1824, to the Charleston, Saco and Biddeford, Baltimore, and Wiscasset Marine Bible Societies, seven hundred and twenty-five copies. In 1825, to the New York, Boston, Charleston, Providence, and Saco Marine Bible Societies, seven hundred and fifty, in different languages. In 1826, to the Baltimore Marine Bible Society, one hundred Spanish Bibles and Testaments. In 1827, Boston Marine Bible Society, one hundred and fifty. 1829. American Seamen's Friend Society, twentyfour Bibles, in English and French. 1830. American Seamen's Friend Society, two hundred and thirteen. 1832. American Seamen's Friend Society, for Seamen's Retreat on Staten Island, one hundred; and for distribution at foreign ports, in different languages, four hundred and seventy-nine. 1833. American Seamen's Friend Society, five hundred Bibles and Testaments. The report this year contains interesting statistics of the operations of the various benevolent societies for the improvement of the condition of seamen. Bethels and mariners' churches had been erected at our own and foreign ports for their religious accommodation. The Marine Bible Society of New York had employed an agent for the purpose of promoting the object of that institution. 1834. Oneida County Bible Society, for distribution on canal among boatmen, one hundred and fifteen. American Seamen's Friend Society, for sailors on Lake Erie and boatmen on Ohio Canal, three hundred. For Sailors' Reading-room at New Bedford, a small supply, in different languages. American Seamen's Friend Society, for sailors at the island of Java, one hundred. The board received an interesting communication 94 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY from the Rev. Mr. Shaw in relation to the supply of boatmen. He says, "I have ascertained that very many of the boats which pass this place (Utica, N.Y.) are destitute of the Word of God. There are from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred, it is estimated, that float upon this long line of waters, exclusive of rafts and packets. These boats employ from eight to ten hundred hands, and convey from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy-five thousand passengers. Among the emigrants are numerous families from various parts of Europe, as well as from New England, crowding their way to the West. My congregation is a numerous one, and many of them are without the Bread of Life. I want to supply every boat with a Bible, and every boatman with a Testament. I have been engaged in distributing Bibles and Testaments, and the experiment I have made brings to light their destitution, and their willingness to be supplied. A boat's crew were found not long since, on a Sabbath morning, listening to one of their number read the Word of God." No class of men, perhaps, among us are so necessarily deprived of the preaching of the Gospel as our seamen and boatmen. To them there is no Sabbath nor sanctuary. None are more exposed to sinful temptations; and yet, in their long voyages, none are more favorably situated to read the Bible. The interest in behalf of this portion of our population increases from year to year. 1835. The board granted this year to the Utica Boatmen's Friend Society, for distribution, seven hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments. American Seamen's Friend Society, one hundred and fifty. Young Men's Bible Society, for distribution among seamen, one hundred and fifty. BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN. 9 Merrimac Bible Society, seventy-five. New York Marine, distribution by chaplains and agent, one hundred and fifty. New Bedford Marine, one hundred and fifty. Nantucket Female Marine, one hundred and fifty. Baltimore,Virginia, Oneida, Erie, Louisiana, Charleston, Warren, Salem, and Philadelphia Bible Societies, each, one hundred and fifty, for distribution among seamen and boatmen in their respective vicinities. 1836. Savannah Young Men's BibleSociety,fordistribution among seamen, two hundred. Newark Bethel Union, two hundred. Sailors' and Boatmen's Friend Society, two hundred. American Seamen's Friend Society, for distribution in Rio, one hundred and fifty. Young Men's Western Bible Society, for distribution on steam-boats, seventy-five. New York Marine Bible Society, one thousand. The report of this year remarks, that the demand for the Scriptures among this class of our fellow-men is on the increase, and ascribes it to the formation of marine Bible societies, the prevalence of temperance, the dif. fusion of religious books, the establishment of seamen's chapels, Bethels, reading-rooms, and chaplaincies at our own and foreign ports. The American Seamen's Friend Society has chaplains at Mobile, Havre, Smyrna, Rio Janeiro, Honolulu, and Canton. These chaplains are kept supplied with the Scriptures in various languages, and thus the Word of God goes out on every sea and touches every shore. The bread is thus cast upon all waters, and the promise is sure that it shall be gathered after many days. 1837. American Seamen's Friend Society, for distribution among seamen and boatmen, at different times during the year, six hundred Bibles and Testaments; for Singapore, three hundred. 96 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Western Seamen's Friend Society, one hundred and forty-seven. American Bethel Society, for boatmen, one thousand six hundred. 1838. New York Marine Bible Society, for distribution among seamen at Martha's Vineyard, one hundred and twenty-five. Baltimore Marine Bible Society, one hundred. American Seamen's Friend Society, at different times, two hundred and twenty-seven. In regard to distribution on our lakes and inland waters, one who has resided long at the West writes, "The canals of the State of New York, now completed and in operation, extend the distance of five hundred miles through a thickly-populated country. They have on their banks one hundred villages and cities, bear on their bosom one thousand eight hundred boats, and employ in this kind of navigation between ten and twelve thousand men. Pass on to the line of lakes. Ontario, on the north, affords no inconsiderable amount of navigation by steam-boats and sail vessels. Then there is Lake Erie, which forms a most important connection between the West, and East, and North. That beautiful lake is whitened with the sails of one hundred and forty vessels, and will be plied this season by over forty steam-boats, constantly bearing on to the West commerce and the mighty tide of immigration. Glance at the villages, and cities, and beautiful and growing country which lie along the borders of this lake. Then bend your way across Ohio, through the great canal of that state, which is rapidly filling up with boats, and men, and business, and you reach the Ohio River, that beautiful stream so much admired by travelers, and all- who have seen it, stretching away a thousand miles through one of the most lovely and picturesque countries in BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN. 97 the world, amid a hundred villages which adorn its banks. Then there is the Mississippi, the'Father of Rivers,' with its twenty-three tributaries, affording navigation for a distance of eight thousand miles, in various directions, into almost every part of the great West. "The whole distance through which these lakes, rivers, and canals afford navigation is nearly twenty thousand miles, through a fertile and populous country. Their banks are adorned with five hundred villages and cities. On their bosom float two hundred vessels, between three and four hundred steam-boats, two thousand canal-boats, four thousand flat-boats, and innumerable rafts of lumber, employing in this kind of navigation between seventy and eighty thousand men, and transporting annually about two hundred thousand passengers. Besides these, there are probably as many more who are engaged in collateral business, and situated in the vicinity of the waters, who are designed to be benefited by the efforts made in behalf of sailors and boatmen." During this year, to each of the following societies were granted two hundred Bibles and Testaments, viz., Baltimore, Wheeling, Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, Galena, Norfolk, and New York. 1839. American Seamen's Friend Society, in English and Spanish, four hundred and seventy-nine Bibles. New York Marine Society, seventy-five. 1840. Baltimore Marine Society, one hundred and fifty. 1841. Oswego County Bible Society, for distribution among seamen and boatmen, three hundred Bibles. American Seamen's Friend Society, two hundred and fifty-one. American Bethel Society, three hundred. G 98 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Oswego County Bible Society, for distribution among sailors and boatmen, three hundred. The report of this year estimates that fifty thousand seamen enter the port of New York annually. The wants of this class are attended to by the agent of the New York City Bible Society. The Young Men's Bible Society of Cincinnati has been particularly active in supplying boatmen, and in furnishing the cabins of hundreds of steamers with the Bible. 1842. American Bethel Society, seven hundred. Cincinnati Young Men's Bible Society, for boatmen and emigrants, seven hundred. Rev. E. T. Taylor, seamen's chaplain at Boston, one hundred. American Seamen's Friend Society, one hundred and fifty. 1843. Society of Benevolence, Princeton, for boatmen, one hundred and fifty. Delaware and Hudson Canal, five hundred and fifty. Bethel Society, Cleveland, four hundred. American Seamen's Friend Society, four hundred and fifty. Seamen's Bethel, Baltimore, one hundred and fifty. Bethel Society, Rochester, N. Y., five hundred. 1844. American Bethel Society, N. Y., for boatmen, rone hundred. Marine Hospital, Kentucky, twenty-four. Bethel Society, Cleveland, Ohio, one hundred and twenty-five. 1845. American Seamen's Friend Society, four hundred and fifty. American Bethel Society, five hundred and twentyfive. 1846. American Seamen's Friend Society, four hundred Bibles and Testaments, in English, French, German, and Portuguese. BIBLE IN THE ARMY. American Bethel Society, three hundred and eighty. 1848. Protestant Episcopal Missionary Society, on. the request of their chaplain,' five hundred Bibles and Testaments for the use of seamen at home and abroad. American Seamen's Friend Society, on request of their chaplain at Mobile, two hundred Bibles and Testaments. To the same society, for their chaplain at Havana two hundred and sixty-two Bibles and Testaments. To the same, for their chaplain at Canton, China, one hundred and eighty Bibles and Testaments. To the same, for their chaplain at Lahainafour hundred Bibles and Testaments in different tongues. CHAPTER XI. BIBLE IN THE ARMY. SOON after the organization of the society, an opportunity was afforded of introducing the Bible into the army of the United States. In 1823, an officer of high rank in the army requested two hundred Bibles to be placed at his disposal, for the supply of the United States troops at remote military posts. Some attention had been paid to this subject by the Michigan Bible Society, and a partial supply had been furnished for the use of soldiers in several of the garrisons of the northwestern frontier. Arrangements were entered into for a systematic supply of all the subalterns and privates at the distant posts and cantonments. To complete the supply for military posts, in 1825 the board made a donation of three hundred Bibles. On the request of Lieutenant Kinsley, the soldiers 100 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. at West Point were supplied with Bibles, in various languages, during the year 1831; and the following year one hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments were sent to the West Point Bible Society for the same object. During the year 1833, on the: request of Captain Loomis, of the army, who marched for the remote military posts of the West, was granted a supply of Bibles, and also to the recruiting station at Utica. Two hundred Bibles and Testaments were granted to the Bible Society at West Point, for the soldiers stationed at Fort Jessup. The managers of this society undertook the work of ascertaining the biblical wants of all our military posts, with the view of having every soldier supplied. Permission was granted by the War Department to put Bibles in the bundles of clothing destined for the different posts. The following extract from the report of the chaplain will show what was done for the supply of the soldiers at the recruiting stations on Governor's and Bedlow's Islands: "During the past year I have been permitted, by the goodness of God, and through the bounty of your society, to distribute as many as twelve hundred Testaments, in various languages, and one hundred Bibles, to the soldiers stationed on Governor's and Bedlow's Islands, in the harbor of New York. I have been informed by the officers that it is not an uncommon occurrence for half a dozen soldiers to assemble in the open field, or on the parade, and listen to a soldier in the midst, who reads from the Scriptures the words of eternal life. The soldiers who were called by the voice of their country into the dangers of actual service, under the command of General Scott, on the northwestern frontier, were affectionately visited the day BIBLE IN THE ARMY. 101 preceding their march, and all who were destitute were furnished with Testaments or Bibles. As many of these poor men went out that time to return no more forever, can it do otherwise than cause a happy emotion in your bosoms that they carried with them in their knapsacks, even to their graves, which the pestilence had dug for them in the West, the Book of God, bearing the imprint of your society? In the exercise of my pastoral duty, since the return of the soldiers from the West I have had the pleasure of learning that many of those victims of the cholera died rejoicing in the hopes of the Gospel." In 1834, a supply of Bibles and Testaments was granted to Major Alexander Thompson, for the use of the soldiers at Cantonment Leavenworth, on the Missouri River; also, to the West Point Bible Society, a supply for soldiers at the various military posts. For an officer in the army, in 1840, a grant was made of fifty copies of the Bible. At the military posts in the vicinity of New York, the society for the city circulated one thousand seven hundred Bibles and Testaments. Many of these were furnished to soldiers about to march for Florida and other remote stations. On the request of a friend of the Bible cause in Philadelphia, one thousand Testaments were granted, to be forwarded in boxes of clothing, through the conmissary's department, to soldiers at the remote military posts. A gentleman connected with the department signified his great satisfaction in thus aiding the distribution of these books. In 1843, to the Rev. N. Sayre Harris, and others, as a committee, were granted eight hundred and sixty New Testaments for the use of soldiers. These books were sent in packages of clothing dispatched from Philadelphia. 1 o2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. This year an association of clergymen, who had once been connected with the army and navy, was formed, for the purpose of promoting the moral welfare of those with whom they were formerly associated. One thousand Testaments were granted this committee, to aid them in their laudable endeavors. On application of the Rev. Mr. Harris, one of the committee, twelve hundred Testaments, by special desire, were furnished. with clasps, which made them particularly acceptable to those for whom designed. In 1847, to the chaplain at Fort Brooke, Florida, was granted two hundred and twenty-five Bibles and Testaments. The appropriations made the last few years have been confined mostly to the soldiers who volunteered in the Mexican war, a notice of which will be found in another chapter. It is hoped that the principles inculcated in the Bible, of love to God and good-will to men, will, through the diffusion thereof, become so prevalent among all nations that they " shall learn war no more." CHAPTER XII. BIBLE IN THE NAVY. THE first appropriation made to the navy was a donation of sixty-five Bibles to the United States ship the John Adams, for the use of her crew, in 1818. During the year 1821, the managers made a proposition to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy for the supply of the navy of the United States with Bibles. The proposition was received by that gentleman in the most pleasing manner. With a view, as suggest BIBLE IN THE NAVY. 103 ed by the honorable secretary, of furnishing every officer and seaman with a copy of the Scriptures, the board granted three thousand five hundred Bibles. In relation to the distribution and preservation of these books, suitable instructions were issued from the Navy Department. The officers readily engaged in circulating the Bibles among their respective crews. The following naval stations were supplied, name. ly, Portsmouth, Washington City, Norfolk, Charleston, New Orleans, Charlestown, New York, Philadelphia. To Captain W. Chauncey, of the United States ship Ontario, for the crew and for distribution on his cruise, sixty-two Bibles, in English, French, and Spanish. In 1824, to the ship United States, one hundred Bibles. To Captain Creighton, of the same ship, for distribution in the Mediterranean, fifty Bibles. In 1826, to the United States naval chaplain, for the sloop of war Boston, five Bibles. / In 1827, to the same, for distribution, four hundred and fifty-five Bibles and Testaments. United States Navy, Norfolk station, one hundred and five, in English and French. Norfolk Bible Society, to replace Bibles furnished the United States ship Macedonian, twenty-five. 1828. United States naval chaplain, for sloops of war Natchez, Erie, and Shark, one hundred and ten; and for the West India station, one hundred. 1829. United States Navy, for ships Hornet, Erie, and Hudson, three hundred and twenty. 1830. To the United States naval chaplain, for the sloop of war Peacock, frigate Brandywine, ship Ontario, and frigate United States, one hundred and fifty Bibles. 1831. United States Navy, for officers of ships Boston and Vincennes, forty Bibles. 104 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 1832. For the sloop of war Falmouth, ships Franklin and Potomac, and the officers and crew of schooner Enterprise, one hundred Bibles. 1833. United States Navy, three hundred and seventy-two. To Lieutenant Long, United States Navy, one hundred and fifty Bibles, in different languages. 1834. To the United States ship Delaware a grant was made of five hundred Bibles and Testaments. The following extract of a letter from Captain John C. Long, late commander of the United States schooner Dolphin, in the Pacific, will show the faithful disposition made by him of the Bibles intrusted to his care: " I was absent on the lee coast of Guayaquil, and did not receive the two boxes containing one hundred and fifty Bibles, and one hundred Testaments, in Spanish, until the second of September, since which, however, I have made the following donations, where I doubt very much if a Bible had ever been seen. To the general of marine, for the use of officers and men, eighty-three Bibles and Testaments. To the captain of the sloop of war Libertad, his officers and men, one hundred and fifteen. To the captain of the brig of war Aquipana, sixty-five. To the different ports on the coast, since my last, all of the above in Spanish, thirty-three. To the French brig of war Griffon (in French), fourteen. To the officers of this vessel, since my last report, twenty-seven. As I am to leave the coast for the United States, and shall make one short cruise to windward and to leeward, I think I shall be enabled to dispose of the remainder. I had some doubts about supplying the Peruvian vessels of war, thinking they would dispose of them, as they have the character of doing with every thing belonging to them; but, on reflection, I concluded they would then go into the country, and the object of distribution BIBLE IN THE NAVY. 105 would be accomplished. I used the precaution to make the following insertion over the index,' Presented to the Peruvian sloop or brig of war Liberty, by an officer of the United States Navy, in behalf of the North American Bible Society, September 11th, 1833.' Before I sent them, I wrote to the general of marine, as well as to the commanders of the vessels, for their consent, which they granted, and the general of ma. rine said he had not enough to supply the demands of the officers, and to-day I sent him twenty Bibles and three Testaments, being all of the latter I had on hand." 1836. To the Young Men's Bible Society of New York, for the supply of the frigate Constitution and the sloop of war Peacock, one hundred and twenty. 1838. To the New York Young Men's Bible Society, for the navy yard, three hundred. Spanish seamen on board the ship Manilla., fifty Spanish Bibles. 1839. New York Young Men's Bible Society, for ship Ohio, one hundred and ten English and Spanish. 1840. New York Young Men's Bible Society, for United States ship Constitution, one hundred; United States ship Warren, one hundred; chaplain of the navy, for distribution at navy yard, two hundred; brig United States, of Brazil squadron, one hundred and ninety; and ships Decatur and North Carolina, one hundred. 1842. United States ship Delaware, for officers and crew, three hundred. The New York Marine Bible Society, for the ship of war Belle Poule, commanded by a son of the French monarch, which conveyed the remains of Napoleon from St. Helena, appropriated seventy-six French Bibles, and one hundred and fifty Testaments, which were gratefully received. 106 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 1843. United States ship Columbus, for distribution at Brazil station, two hundred; and ship Ohio, one hundred and twenty-five. 1844. To the army and navy committee was made a large appropriation this year, for distribution in these departments as they should judge best. 1845. To the navy yard, Brooklyn, fifty Bibles. 1846. To the United States frigate Congress, on application of the chaplain, one hundred Bibles, for use on a voyage in the Pacific. CHAPTER XIII. BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. FROM the interest which had been awakened and seemed to prevail throughout the country in relation to Sabbath schools, and their intimate connection with the reading and study of the Bible as a text-book, the society was induced, at an early day, to publish cheap but substantial editions of the Bible and Testament for Sunday schools. The price of these books has been reduced from time to time, as the means of the society would justify, until now, when a good Nonpareil Bible can be had at the Depository at New York for twenty-five cents, and a Testament at six and a quarter cents. The society has not only placed the Bible within the reach of all of themost limited means, but it will be seen in this chapter that the most liberal gratuitous appropriations have from year to year been made to this truly benevolent and Christian institution. The organization of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the great parent of all Bible societies, was sug BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. gested by a request for a supply of Bibles for the Sabbath schools in Wales. In 1802, the Rev. Thomas Charles, of Bala, in the principality of Wales, an ordained minister of the Established Church, but laboring as an itinerant, in connection with the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists visited London for the purpose of laying before the Religious Tract Society the destitute condition of the Sunday schools and the poorer classes of his field of labor. He proposed a contribution in aid of the plan for printing and distributing the Scriptures in Wales. The proposition gave rise to an interesting and lengthy conversation in the course of which it was suggested that Wales was- not the only part of the kingdom where such a destitution prevailed, and that it would be proper to take such steps as would stir up the Christian community to engage in a general distribution of the Scriptures. This suggestion was made by the Rev. Joseph Hughes, a Baptist minister, who was subsequently one of the secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Tract Society requested Mr. Hughes to prepare an address, setting forth more fully his views on the subject. To this he acceded, and presented an address replete with sound views, and breathing a spirit of the most enlarged Christian philanthropy. This worthy minister may justly be considered one of the most prominent actors in the formation of that great institution. The supply of Sabbath schools is thus made an exceedingly appropriate work. We do not design to notice all the appropriations made to Sabbath schools, or to the local associations which have been formed in various parts of the country, and which from time to time have been supplied, 10og8 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. but shall simply direct the reader's attention to those appropriations made to institutions of a general character, organized for the promotion of Sabbath schools. These schools were first established in England sixty-five years ago. It is said they existed in Italy at a much earlier date. Of this, however, we can not ascertain any thing definite. The seed that was then sown, like the " handful of corn on the top of the mountains, has shaken like Lebanon." The cause at first like all good causes, met with opposition and had to struggle against the tide of wordly as well as Christian prejudices. But it has triumphed gloriously, and now there is scarcely to be found a city, village, or neighborhood in all our country unblessed with the Sabbath school. They exist in every Christian country under heaven, and millions o children and youth are thus brought up to the pure fountain of God's truth, and allowed to drink freely of its lifegiving waters. At almost every missionary station in heathen lands these schools are established, and working wonders in molding the youthful mind to virtue, and modeling the character after Christian principles. Even men of the world, governed by selfish views and worldly policy, acknowledge the importance of early religious training. A single instance will illustrate this. The King of Prussia, a few years since, ordered the publication of several thousand copies of the Bible, impressed with his own seal, for the use of the schools, remarking that " the youthful mind received impressions with the flexibility of wax, and retained them with the durability of bronze." The same principle is beautifully illustrated by Tupper: " Scratch the rind of the tender sapling, and the gnarled oak will tell of it for centuries." Every thing depends upon the early bent given to the mind in its BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 109 forming stage. The same idea is beautifully expressed in the following lines: "A pebble in the streamlet scant Has turned the course of many a river; A dew-drop on the baby plant Has warped the giant oak forever." To bless and save this interesting portion of our race the American Bible Society has been actively engaged; and had it accomplished no more than it has accomplished in this extensive and deeply-interesting field of Christian effort, it would well have deserved all the sympathy and support it has received from the Church and the world. But we must not dwell. A theme so interesting has taken captive our pen. In 1831', the board made a grant of twenty thousand Bibles and Testaments to the American Sunday School Union, for the purpose of supplying destitute schools in the Valley of the Mississippi. The report of this year states, that "the same motive which has long actuated the managers in urging their auxiliaries to supply every destitute family within their limits with the Bible, has also led them to recommend the supply of all Sunday school pupils with the New Testament." In view of that supply, the following resolutions were passed: " Resolved, That the managers view with great satisfaction the efforts of the present day to encourage the study of the sacred Scriptures in Sunday schools; and that they shall always feel disposed, so far as able, to aid such schools, of every religious denomination, by furnishing on sale at reduced prices, or gratuitously (through their respective unions), such Bibles and Testaments as may be needed. "Resolved, That as the American Sunday School Union has undertaken to establish Sunday schools ex 110o AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. tensively in the Valley of the Mississippi, a supply of Bibles and Testaments be granted to said union for the purpose of distribution, gratuitously, in such places within their selected field as may need assistance of this kind." 1833. New York Sunday School Union, two thousand four hundred. 1834. To the same union was granted seven hundred and twenty-five. American Sunday School Union, two thousand Testaments for the supply of destitute schools in the Western States, and five thousand for the use of such schools in the Southern States. 1835. New York Sunday School Union, one thousand. Massachusetts Sunday School Union, one thousand two hundred. General Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, two thousand five hundred. Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, two thousand five hundred. 1836. New York Sunday School Union, two thousand one hundred. Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, two thousand five hundred. The following resolutions were adopted for the promotion of the circulation of the Scriptures among youth and children: "Resolved, That the friends of the Bible throughout the country, of every religious denomination, be respectfully invited to co-operate in furnishing, as soon as practicable, a copy of the Bible or New Testament to every child in the United States under fifteen years of age, who is able to read, and is destitute of the sacred volume. "Resolved, That in effecting this contemplated sup BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 111 ply, it is desirable that the work be done, so far as possible, through the agency of local auxiliaries, they procuring books, and furnishing them to all the Sunday schools, of every religious name, within their respective limits. "Resolved, That the auxiliaries be requested, so far as they are able, to purchase books requisite for the supply of their respective districts; and when unable to purchase the whole number required, to make known their remaining wants to the American Bible Society, for the purpose of obtaining gratuitous aid. "Resolved, That with such pecuniary assistance from benevolent individuals and the more wealthy auxiliaries as may be reasonably expected, the American Bible Society will endeavor, in the prosecution of this enterprise, to furnish the'sacred Scriptures gratuitously whenever this course shall, on examination, seem to be proper and necessary." These resolutions were highly acceptable, and almost unanimously adopted and carried out by the faithful allies of the parent institution. 1837. American Sunday School Union, eight thousand Bibles and Testaments. 1838. Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, one hundred and twenty-four. American Sunday School Union, one thousand. 1839. New York City Sunday School Union, six hundred. Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, five hundred. Canada Sunday School Union, three hundred. Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, one hundred and twenty. 1840. New York Sunday School Union, at different times, one thousand. 1841. To the same, one hundred and sixty-eight. 112 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 1842. Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, one thousand. Sunday School Union oftheReformedDutch Church, seven hundred. 1843. To the same union, four hundred and fifty. 1844. American Sunday School Union, two thousand. In regard to these gratuities to the different Sunday school unions, the board during this year, by a series of resolutions, intended primarily to apply to the American Tract Society, directed them to make no distributions where local auxiliaries existed and could perform the same work. 1845. Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, six hundred. 1846. To the same, three thousand five hundred.' 1847. To the same, three thousand five hundred. American Sunday School Union, three thousand five hundred. General Synod Sunday School Union of the Reformed Dutch Church, three hundred. 1848. American Sunday School Union, three thou. sand eight hundred. CHAPTER XIV. BIBLE IN BENEVOLENT, LITERARY, AND THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS. AMONG the many institutions of the above character which from time to time have received the benefactions of the American Bible Society,, we notice the following: American Colonization Society. BIBLE IN BENEVOLENT, &c., INSTITUTIONS. 113 American Tract Society. African Bible Society. American Education Society. Bible Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. American Anti-Slavery Society. American Peace Society. American Temperance Society. American Antiquarian Society. New York City Colonization Society. Society for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews. Alms House Schools. African Free-school Library. Union Theological Seminary, Virginia. Theological Seminary of the Dutch Reformed Church. Theological Seminary of the Synod of South Carolina. Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary, Kentucky. Baptist Literary and Theological Seminary, Kentucky. Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati. New Haven Theological Seminary. Classical and Theological Seminary, Quincy, Ill. Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey. Theological Seminary, Virginia. Methodist Theological Institute, Newbury. Episcopal Theological Seminary, Virginia. Oberlin Theological Institute, Ohio. Northern Academy of Arts and Sciences, New Haven. Royal Society North Antiquarians, Copenhagen. Providence Atheneum. Asylum for Deaf and Dumb. Ohio Institution for the Blind. Nashville Institution for the Blind. H 114 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Kentucky Institution for the Blind. Orphan Asylum, Bloomingdale. American Philo-Italian Society. American Protestant Society. Grand Lodge of Ohio. Grand Division of Sons of Temperance, Ohio. Delavan Institution for Reformed Inebriates. Other institutions have from time to time been fur. nished with the Holy Scriptures by the various auxiliaries. CHAPTER XV. BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. IN the early history of the society, the distributers were all appointed by the auxiliaries. These distributers were friends of the cause, and from a desire to see the destitute supplied, the county being divided into districts or townships, they offered their services and gratuitously devoted a portion of their time to the work of exploration and supply. This course was universally pursued by the auxiliaries, and by this means a vast expense was saved to the societies, and thousands of families were put in possession of the Lamp of Salvation. The plan, however, had its difficulties. In many places it could not be carried out at all, and where it was adopted the explorations were not sufficiently thorough, and the supply consequently defective. In 1829, an effort was made to supply every family in the United States with the Bible in the space of two years. This enterprise did not originate with the managers. To a highly respected auxiliary belongs BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 1 5 the honor of making the proposition. It was accompanied with a warm Christian commendation, and a pledge of five thousand dollars toward its prosecution. Other auxiliaries approved of and encouraged the undertaking, and the board laid it before the annual meeting. With heartfelt unanimity, resolutions were passed by the great assembly to attempt the work, and vigorous measures were immediately adopted and put in train to secure a successful issue. Never did an object of benevolence meet with more universal approbation. The auxiliaries went to work with new zeal; Bibles were ordered in great numbers; hundreds volunteered their services; professional men, and merchants, and mechanics, and farmers, and laborers came up to the work of distribution, and at the expiration of three years the work was done. More than half a million of Bibles were put into hands, many of whom never possessed the sacred treasure before. This great paroxysm of excitement, though attended for the time being with good results, in the end proved rather disastrous in reducing the system from its wonted health, and a lethargy supervened, as was anticipated, that was alarming. It was thought by many that the Bible work was completed, and there would be need of no further effort; and as the work of foreign supply had not then been entered into very extensively, there being but few translations and a limited demand, there was a general apathy. Hundreds of auxiliaries fell into a sleep, from which it would appear, from the ineffectual efforts made to arouse them, there is no awaking. Had the societies, which were most, if not all, actively but noiselessly engaged in the work of home supply, been suffered to move on systematically and regularly, the work would have nevertheless been done, and a constitution, broken down by over-acting, would I 1 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. have been saved for long years of faithful toil. But the excitement was up, and there was no staying the tide. It bore away all opposition. Societies became deeply involved in debt, and the inactivity of many of them is such that they have not sufficient life even to ask to be forgiven. A vast amount was also expended by the employment of special agents for the accomplishment of this work. In 1839, another proposition was made to the board of great and glorious magnitude. The proposition was, that an attempt be made, in connection with the Bible societies in Europe, to supply the entire world with the Scriptures in the course of twenty years. This proposition also came from one of the society's most important auxiliaries, and was warmly recommended by many of the purest and wisest spirits of the age. After mature consultation and deliberation, it was resolved at an annual meeting to attempt its accomplishment, not in twenty years, but in the shortest practicable period. As we intend to resume this subject in another chapter, we shall pass it by for the present. During this year application was made by the American Tract Society to furnish its colporteurs with Bibles and Testaments for distribution among the destitute families found in their respective fields. As the society had furnished the American and other Sunday school uinions with grants of a similar character, it was thought by the friends of the tract cause that it would be perfectly right to circulate the Scriptures through their distributers. The society entertained fears in regard to the propriety of this movement, on the ground that it would interfere with the movements of auxiliaries, and constitute an apparent reason for their abandoning the work of distribution. To the writer's own knowledge, these fears were well founded. But, BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. in addition to this, many objected to this plan of distributing the Bible on the ground that it conflicted with the anti-sectarian character of the institution, which required the circulation of the Bible unattended with note or comment, while in almost all the families where Bibles were given away or sold, the society's publications were sold with them. Whether this objection was valid or not, yet such was the impression wrought upon the minds of thousands. It was objected, again, that by this operation the societies were amalgamated, and the union resulted disastrously to the interests of the Bible Society, inasmuch as the funds which were raised by the agents of the Tract Society, in their appeals to churches and individuals in behalf of those destitute of the Bible and other good books, were devoted exclusively to the aid of the Tract Society. We have not one word to say of ill intent in regard to the American Tract Society. We believe it to be constructed on the largest and most benevolent principles of Christianity; that its publications are evangelical, and, as far as can be, untinctured with sectarianism. We further believe it is accomplishing a vast amount of good in substituting for the light, trashy, licentious, and infidel literature of the age, the substantial literature of an elevated morality and a pure Christianity; but, while we admit most cheerfully all this, we can not but most heartily subscribe to the views of the board of the American Bible Society, subsequently adopted in regard to Bible distribution, as follows: "The committee to whom was referred the subject of Bible Distribution by Tract Colporteurs, submit the following Report. It appears, on examination, that in 1844 the managers of the American Bible Society adopted these resolutions: "' Resolved, That the auxiliaries be requested to place in the hands AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. of the colporteurs of the American Tract Society, upon the application of such colporteurs, Bibles and Testaments for distribution, as far as the auxiliaries may think it necessary; and if, to accomplish this, the auxiliaries should need the aid of the parent society, such aid will be cheerfully granted as soon as their wants shall be made known.'Resolved, That 500 Bibles and 1500 Testaments be granted to said society, to enable its agents and colporteurs to supply the destitute in places where the American Bible Society has no auxiliaries through which distributions can be effected.' Resolved, That the books thus granted be sold, when practicable, for whole -or part cost, and the avails returned to the American Bible Society, or used in purchasing other copies for distribution. Resolved, That those who receive and distribute these books be requested to inform the Bible Society, from time to time, as to the manner in which they have been disposed of, and as to the need of further supplies.' From the Annual Report of the managers for that year, it is manifest that they had some fears as to the effect of this mode of distribution in the Bible cause, as well as the like mode by the American Sunday School Union, to which donations of the Scriptures had frequently been made. A few extracts from the Report referred to will exhibit the managers' views. "'The only objections,' say they,' to these modes of distribution, arose from the apprehension that they might interfere with the favorite and long-tried mode adopted by this society, that is, by means of its own local auxiliaries. The experience of every passing year has tended to confirm the board in the pre-eminent utility of this instrumentality for circulating the Word of God. Nothing is more evident to them than that the various sections of the country are now supplied with the Bible or are destitute of it, just in proportion as they have kept up or neglected these local associations.'In relation to no duties connected with this blessed cause are they now more desirous, than that the members and conductors of these associations should keep them in healthful action, and suffer nothing to retard their movements. The wants of the needy within their bounds are then provided for, and moneys raised to carry on, through the parent society, the work of distribution in remoter fields. For these local institutions there is no substitute; and the board desire to see the day when one of them shall be established in every county of the Union, ready to furnish the Bible to every individual. Were such auxiliaries now extant and active in every county, they could. supply families and Sunday schools of every condition, and have no occasion for other distributing agencies. Even when they had not the ability to purchase BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 11 all the books for such a supply, they could derive assistance from the parent institution, which, under such a general system, would be enabled to aid all those that might need. "' But there are portions of the country where no Bible auxiliaries have as yet been formed, and other portions where they have been inactive and well-nigh extinct. That the needy in such localities may not perish for lack of the Bread of Life, the board are disposed to employ every lawful instrumentality in conveying this blessing to them. They would, in such circumstances, furnish Bibles, so far as in their power, to any benevolent institution which would see them conveyed to the dwellings where they are needed.' Under the guidance of these sentiments, when the American Tract Society applied, the past summer, for books, to be circulated by those whom they were sending to the new settlements to distribute other books, the resolutions cited above were adopted. " A likegrant of 500 Bibles and 1500 Testaments was made, the same year, to the American Sunday School Union, and' it was particularly desired, in both cases, that these books should not be distributed where, local auxiliaries of the Bible Society could perform the same work, if requested so to do. It is hoped by the board that these societies, and others of kindred nature, may tend to stimulate the auxiliaries to action, and not, by performing their appropriate duties, to furnish them with an apology for inertness.' "The committee now find that, in places where there are no Bible auxiliaries, the distributions by tract colporteurs have been timely and useful, and in some instances, where the auxiliaries had become torpid, the call on them for Bibles had led them to a new activity in their work. " In other instances, where the views of the board, as above given, were not fully understood by the tract agents and colporteurs, there seems to have been a mingling of their duties and labors with those devolving on the Bible Society and its auxiliaries, which evidently needs some correction and future caution. "The committee, after examining these cases referred to, in connection with the Rteport and resolutions above given, have been led to propose the following additional statements or articles, as expressing more fully, on some points, the principles and rules designed by the board to be observed in this mode of distribution " ARTICLE I. In counties where auxiliary Bible societies are ready and willing to supply all the destitute within their limits, and are by their own appointed laborers actually engaged in this work, it is not expected that the colporteurs of the Tract Society will there find it needful to engage in the same work. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. " II. When. distributions of the Bible are made by the colporteurs of the Tract Society, it is not understood or expected that their distributions will be general, but confined to families which are found to be destitute. " III. As it is not the' design of the Tract Society to go into the work of Bible distribution but to the limited extent specified, and as the Bibles thus distributed are furnished gratuitously by Bible societies, these facts should be clearly stated by tract agents and colporteurs, when soliciting funds, in connection with statements about Bible destitution, lest an impression be made that such funds go wholly or in part (as they never do) for the benefit of the Bible Society. " As the funds of the Bible Society are furnished for the exclusive purpose of circulating the Scriptures without note or comment, and furnished in part by those who are not connected with the Tract Society, it is not considered proper that any portion of said funds should be used in sustaining tract colporteurs, who circulate other books with the Bible. "By observing the spirit of these new explanatory articles in connection with the resolutions and statements of the board which precede them, it is believed that the agents and auxiliaries of the American Bible Society, as well as others concerned, will now understand the arrangement for Bible distribution through tract colporteurs, and then, with the exercise of that charity, courtesy, and prudence, which should ever characterize the servants of a common Master, that there will in future be no occurrence but what tends to harmony and increased usefulness." As our object is to give a faithful history of all the transactions of the society on this particular point, and the policy from time to time adopted, we give the circular of the corresponding secretaries of the American Tract Society, addressed to its colporteurs and agents in 1847, as follows: "THE BIBLE FOR THE DESTITUTE. To the Colporteurs and Agents of the American Tract Society: "IDEAR BRETHREN,-The Bible is God's gift to man-the only inspired record of His truth. To it every man has an inalienable right. It commands all men to I search the Scriptures,' as containing the words of' eternal life,' and this involves the duty of giving the Bible to those who have it not. Hence the officers of this society rejoice that the colporteurs, while supplying with uninspired works those whom BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 12 their weary feet have reached, feel that they can not leave them destitute of the Sacred Oracles; and hence we cordially respond to the renewed appeals from colporteurs for so many copies of the Bible as are needed to supply these destitute, and trust we shall spare no effort to provide them. "As a means of procuring these Bibles, we have naturally looked first to the American Bible Society, from whom partial supplies have already been received. Our Executive Committee, therefore, on the 17th of May, made a request to that society for supplies, by unanimnously adopting the following minute, viz.:'The society's correspondence of the past year shows that a large number of colporteurs, penetrating the desolations of the country, have not been able to obtain Bibles for the families they have found desti tute of the Wford of God. By the statistical table in the Annual Report, the number of families reported by colporteurs as found destitute of the Bible is 14,665. From 43 colporteurs, however, no report i respect to the Bible has been received; and, on a careful examination, it is estimated that the whole number found destitute is not less than 22,-500 families. Of these families, the colporteurs, by their reports, have supplied 7107 with the Bible, leaving about 15,000 families which they were unable to supply with the Bible, although they have reported 6384 Testaments as circulated. Of these 7107 Bibles and 6384 Testaments, 500 Bibles and 1500 Testaments were granted by the American Bible Society. Making every allowance for Bibles which may have been supplied to the destitute and not reported, it appears that more than ten thousand families visited by colporteurs during the year must have been left unsupplied by them with the Bible, from the impracticability of their obtaining Bibles. "'The recent visits of the superintendents of colporteurs at the West to this city were made with a special view to securing supplies of Bibles, the demand for the destitute Protestant and Catholic Germans, in their own language, being particularly urgent. This claim for supplies of the Bible they have pressed upon this committee with deep and anxious solicitude. So reluctant have some of the colporteurs been to leave families, whose attention had been awakened, thus destitute of the Word of Life, that, failing in other efforts to obtain supplies, they have purchased Bibles, often at enhanced prices, from their own scanty resources, at much personal sacrifice, and have even given their own pocket Bibles, that they might not leave those whom they might never meet again on earth without the Word of God. It is found that the colporteurs, in more destitute parts of the country, need each an average annual supply, for the destitutions they meet, of at 1 2 2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. least 100 Bibles and 200 Testaments. In view of these facts, it was unanimously'Resolved, That this committee respectfully request the board of the American Bible Society, should it be consistent, to furnish such a supply, that in no case, where Bibles can not be procured from other sources, shall the colporteurs of this society be compelled to leave families unsupplied, by sale or gift, with a copy of the Sacred Oracles. Resolved, That, grateful for the grants of 1500 Bibles and 4500 Testaments heretofore made, this committee request the board of the American Bible Society to furnish Bibles in English, German, and other languages, in fair type, as shall from time to time be needed during the society's current year, to an amount not exceeding 10,000 Bibles and 15,000 Testaments; and that this committee hereby propose, according as shall be the pleasure of that board, either to return to the Bible Society all the moneys received from the sales, so far as the receipts can be ascertained from the colporteurs' reports; or,ifthe board prefer, to pay any proportion they may name, not exceeding one third of the value of the books, at the society's prices, the remaining two thirds or more to be a grant from the American Bible Society; this committee wishing to assume no responsibility devolving on the honored sister institution, but simply to invoke her aid in furnishing the Bible to those met in prosecuting the labors of this society who need it, and whom it may guide to the only Redeemer. "'Resolved, That the board be requested to furnish this committee with 2000 Bibles and 3000 Testaments in English, and 1000 Bibles and 1500 Testaments in German, as soon as shall be convenient.' " In answer to the above request, the Distributing Committee of the Bible Society adopted the following minute, which was sanctioned by their board on the 3d inst., viz. "' Resolved, That it be recommended to the board to grant the American Tract Society 1000 Bibles and 1500 Testaments in English, and 500 Bibles and 750 Testaments in German, to be disposed of on the principles set forth in the circular adopted in September last, i. e., that the books are to be disposed of where supplies, after proper effort, can not be obtained of the local auxiliaries; and that the proceeds of the same, so far as they can be ascertained, be returned to the board, or used in purchasing Sacred Scriptures from the local auxiliaries. "'The committee would further recommend that these books, in no case, be sold for more than the first cost, together with the cost of transportation to the place where they are distributed.' "Although the board of the Bible Society did not at once fully meet the request of our committee, we have reason to believe that such grants will be repeated, as far as that board shall become satisfied that BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 123 destitutions exist which are unsupplied by their own auxiliaries and agencies. As their minute implies, they wish to supply the destitute, as far as possible, through their local auxiliaries, making grants for this urpose to such auxiliaries as far as necessary. This principle of action on their part creates no obstacle to the supply of colporteurs, so far as accessible local auxiliaries exist, which have supplies of Bibles, and are ready to furnish them for families found destitute: indeed, Bibles can be more conveniently obtained through such auxiliaries than by applying to the parent society. " The effort of this society will be simply to procure Bibles for those found destitute, in counties, districts, or neighborhoods, for whom Bibles can not otherwise be promptly procured; and we think it important distinctly to state, that while, on the one hand, this society attempts no general Bible distribution, and can not receive, from any source, even a penny of funds consecrated to the Bible cause, it is, on the other hand, no part of the duty of this society's colporteurs to organize, or make protracted efforts to revive Bible auxiliaries; nor can the colporteur, when entering a destitute field, waitfor a supply of Bi6les till after his visits to the destitute are made. The whole object of the present effort to obtain Bibles for those found destitute by colporteurs will fail, unless the colporteur can have Bibles to take to the people with his other books, and supply the urgent wants as he meets them. It is essential, therefore, that colporteurs should, as far as possible, anticipate the want of Bibles for the fields they are to occupy, and in their correspondence clearly state the facts in the case, that, if local supplies can not be obtained, this society may provide them. "'You will perceive the proposal made by this society to pay one third of the cost of all Bibles thus received for distribution by colporteurs; but the Bible Society have liberally made the whole a grant, with the understanding, which we hope every colporteur will scrupulously regard, that Bibles will be given by colporteurs only where the destitute can not pay for them in whole or in part; and that all moneys received for the sale of these Bibles will be either accounted in the quarterly reports, to be paid over to the American Bible Society, or used in purchasing Bibles from their local auxiliaries; and that the Bibles will in no case be sold for more than the first cost, together with the cost of transportation. "Much responsibility will devolve on the colporteurs to conduct the whole matter discreetly, so that, while the destitute shall be supplied, the best interests of both the Bible and the Tract cause shall be advanced, Christian confidence be strengthened, the welfare of dying men be promoted, and the Redeemer honored. 124 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. "With respect and Christian love, your brethren and fellow-laborers in the Gospel, "WM. A. HALLOCK, 1 " 0. EASTMAN, Corresponding Secretaries. " R. S. COOK, ) "New York, June 14, 1847." With a view of obviating all the difficulties that might exist between these two great benevolent associations, the Committee on Distribution presented a plan, which met the approval of the Board of Managers, providing for the appointment of Bible Distributers. After a notice of the fact that the British and Foreign Bible Society employ few distributers in England, where there are vigorous auxiliaries, but adopt a different policy in France, Belgium, and Holland, where there are no such organizations, they remark as follows: " Now it is believed that there are sections of our widely-extended country where a departure from the auxiliary system is called for in our labors, on grounds similar to those which have led to a departure by the British Society. There are many places where little or nothing is now accomplished, but where active men specially devoted to the work would effect extensive distributions, and among the most needy of all our population. " The committee are aware that a good number of the local auxiliaries do now, and long have, employed and sustained Bible distributers of their own. This practice they would by all means encourage wherever there is local ability to sustain it, and where distributions can not be effected by voluntary effort. There is, however, a large class of auxiliaries which, though well disposed, are feeble as to numbers, and can not furnish with the Bible the destitute within their limits. They are in localities where immigration is the BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 125 most extensive; where those without the Scriptures are too many and too widely scattered for the auxiliaries to supply without help both as to books and distributers. It is consequently found that, in many instances where books have been furnished gratuitously by this board, they have gone but slowly into circulation, for want of men to attend to this duty. Could a special Bible distributer have gone with these grants to Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, &c., not only would numerous destitute families have been supplied, but many who have a limited supply of Bibles would have purchased all they need when brought at low prices to their doors. " There seems, then, to the committee to be a necessity, not only for employing distributers in places where there are no auxiliaries, but in some where they are too feeble to accomplish all which the situation of those around them requires. " The following resolutions are therefore submitted: "1. Resolved, That local auxiliaries, where voluntary distributers can not be obtained, be advised and requested to employ, every three or four years, one or more individuals at their own charges to explore their respective fields of operation, selling the Scriptures to all who may wish to purchase, and presenting them as a gratuity when there is inability to purchase. " 2. Resolved, That where an auxiliary feels it important that an exploration of its field should be made, but has not the means of accomplishing this work, application (with a full statement of its condition) should be made to the parent society for such assistance as is found necessary, either as regards books or the payment of a distributer. "3. Resolved, That where no auxiliaries are yet formed, and there are not materials for sustaining them, the Agency Committee be authorized to procure 12 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. and send thither well-qualified distributers, provided the compensation shall in no instance exceed one dollar per day, and necessary traveling expenses. "4. Resolved, That the distributer thus employed shall distribute such books only as are issued by the American Bible Society; and that these, when sold, shall be sold on the terms proposed by the board in July last, namely, the plainly bound at cost and transportation, the better bound at an advance not exceeding ten per cent. " 5. Resolved, That the expense incurred by these men, who are engaged only in the work of distribution, be kept distinct from that of the ordinary collecting agents; that the former shall be defrayed, as far as practicable, by the auxiliaries where they labor, and by special contributions for that purpose. " 6. Resolved, That a copy of the above statement and resolutions be forwarded to the society's agents now in employ, and their aid sought in carrying the same into effect. " 7. Resolved, That the agents, in seeking distributers, should make thorough inquiry as to their qualifications, and present the result to the agency committee, with name, residence, and amount of compensation required in each case, and the proportion which can probably be paid without calling on the parent society." The faithful carrying out of this plan will prove more effectual in supplying the destitute with the Scriptures than all the voluntary systems that could be adopted. It also effectually supersedes the necessity of distributing the Bible through any other agency whatever, especially where auxiliary societies exist. In almost every part of the home field, distributers, either appointed by auxiliaries or the agency commit BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 1 2 7 lee, are found engaged in the work, and provision will doubtless ere long be -made to cover the entire field with well-qualified distributers. As the auxiliaries become regular and systematic in their operations, by holding regular meetings of the board, keeping on hand a good and well-assorted supply of books, having collections taken up annually in all the churches, holding anniversaries, and making regular reports and remittances to the parent board, we may confidently hope that in a short period, without any fitful excitement, the thousands of our own country will soon be supplied, and the millions of heathen lands visited with the light of salvation. These distributions, going out, as they do, from the parent society, and circulating through all parts of the country, may not inaptly be compared to the flowing out of the blood from the heart through all the arteries of the system, carrying the pulsations of life to the remotest extremities. We realize in this country emphatically the fulfillment of the promise, " Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." As the work of exploration progresses, the fact is disclosed that there are thousands of families in our land destitute of the Bible, and in many sections of the country the destitution is as great and greater than when originally supplied. This arises from the rapid increase of population by immigration and otherwise, and will require, in all time to come, increasing efforts on the part of auxiliaries to meet the demand. 128 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. CHAPTER XVI. BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. WHEN our forefathers came to this country, it was the undisputed home and possession of the Indian. On its mountains, and over its vast prairies, and along its mighty rivers, he roamed in native freedom, the lord of the soil. His were these fertile valleys, and rich mines, and beautiful scenery. It would naturally suggest itself to every Christian and philanthropist, that for the temporal blessings they had received at the hands of the red man, spiritual blessings should be made in return; that for "the bread that perisheth" should be given " the bread that endureth." How strikingly significant that emblem employed in the early history of our country, and how illustrative of the nature of our holy religion-the device represented an Indian presenting an ear of corn to the white man, and in return receiving a Bible! Nor is this without its counterpart in history. The very first Bible printed on the American continent was Eliot's Indian Bible. It was printed at Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the expense of the corporation for the propagation of the Gospel in 1663. About twenty years afterward a second edition was issued. The translation of the Scriptures into the Indian language was indeed an Herculean labor. The language of the natives had never been, reduced to writing, and the work was one of immense toil. Among the very first objects that claimed the attention of the American Bible Society was the trans BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. 129 lation of the Scriptures into the Indian languages of our country; and, we believe, the very first appropriation made was a donation of one hundred dollars to the Rlev. Mr. Dencke, of the United Brethren Church, to aid him in the work of distributing the Gospels of John and Matthew, and the Epistles of John, in the Indian language, among the Delawares, three hundred copies of which had been sent him by the society. In 1820, two hundred and fifty of the Epistles of John, in Delaware, and thirty of the Gospel of John, in Mohawk, were sent to the missionaries of the United Brethren, and twenty-four copies of the latter to the Rev. Mr. Crane, a missionary among the Tuscarora Indians. The succeeding year a supply of the Gospel of John, in the Mohawk language, was sent to a settlement of Mohawk Indians living near Lower Sandusky; also to a village of the same tribe on the St. Lawrence a supply was sent. In 1826, through the medium of the Montreal Bible Society, many copies of the Gospel of St. John, inl Mohawk, had been faithfully circulated among the Indians residing at the Lake of the Two Mountains and at St. Regis, and also at the Caughnawaga village, where they were received with delight. The Indians of the above-named village were members of the Roman Catholic Church, and they convened a council of their chiefs to deliberate upon the propriety of receiving the Scriptures. The result of their deliberations was a unanimous resolve that all their people should be at liberty to accept the Gospel. A few grants of the Scriptures were made to the mission schools at different places among the Indians during the following year. In 1829, various grants were made to the aboriginal tribes, and a donation of Bibles and Testaments, in I 130 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. English, for the use of mission schools among the Senecas, was made; also to the Cherokees and Choctaws. The following year, one thousand copies of the Gospel of St. Luke, in the Seneca language, was printed by the board, and a supply sent to Rev. Mr. Harris, the missionary to the tribe. To the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions were granted, at different times through the course of the year 1831, three hundred copies of Bibles and Testaments, for the use of Indian missions under their care. In 1833, the board made an appropriation of three hundred dollars toward printing an edition of three thousand copies of the Gospel of St. Matthew in the Cherokee language. An interesting Bible society was formed during the year among the Indians. An auxiliary having been previously recognized by the board among the Chickasaw Indians, this, on request, was also taken into the great family, and treated as a brother. A letter, containing the most interesting account of the happy effects of the reading of the Gospel in the conversion of the Indian from the error of his way, was received from the Rev. Mr. Washburn in 1835. In 1840, for the Methodist Missions in Canada, the board printed a portion of the Scriptures in the Mohawk tongue. The Book of Isaiah has been printed, and the manuscripts were ready for the Books of Gen.,esis and Exodus. It was computed that eight thousand Indians would, by these translations, be put in possession of the Word of Life. During the following year, a missionary at the Bay of Quinte, in acknowledging the receipt of one hundred copies of the Book of Isaiah in Mohawk, remarks, 6' At a meeting of the chiefs of the tribes, I was re BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. 131 quested by them to assure the society, through you, that they accept this token of the society's interest in their spiritual welfare with sincere thankfulness." To the Rev. Samuel A. Worcester, of the Cherokee Mission, in 1842, the board made a donation of one hundred and twenty Bibles and Testaments. On request of Bishop Kemper, one hundred copies of the Book of Isaiah, in Mohawk, for the use of the mission at Green Bay, were granted. The bishop stated that " there were ninety-nine communicants in the station." Among the disbursements of the year 1844, we find an appropriation of three hundred dollars toward printing portions of the New Testament in the Dacotah tongue, for the use of the Sioux. The translations were made by the Rev. Mr. Riggs and Dr. Williamson, missionaries of the American Board at the Lac qui Parle Mission, and were printed and bound at Cincinnati, Ohio, under the inspection of Mr. Riggs and the Young Men's Bible Society. The work was well executed, and will be used by two or three denominations. In 1845, to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the Quapaw Indians, a grant was made of two hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments. The Ojibwa New Testament, translated by the Rev. Mr. Hall, and other missionaries of the American Board near Lake Superior, had been adopted by the society, and was in a course of publication. Sixty Bibles were granted in 1845 to the Presby.terian Board of Foreign Missions, for the supply of mission schools among the Creek Indians, This year there was granted the sum of seven hundred and forty-four dollars to aid in publishing parts of the Bible in the Cherokee language. The Cherokee Bible Society was engaged in systematic distribu 132 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. tion. An appropriation was also made for the publication of the Scriptures in the language of the Choctaws. In 1848, a supply of Bibles was granted to the Presbyterian Board of Missions for the stations among the Indians; and two hundred were also granted to the American Board for the same object. CHAPTER XVII. BIBLE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. A MISSION was established by the Methodist Episcopal Church among the Flat-head Indians near the mouth of the Columbia, on the Willamette River, in the Oregon Territory, in the year 1833, and a small grant of Bibles was made to the missionaries. In 1844, two hundred Bibles and Testaments were granted to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Oregon Mission. To the same society, for the same object, in 1845, were granted three hundred Bibles and Testaments. In 1846, seven hundred Bibles and Testaments, in English and German, for Oregon. The same year, to an independent missionary, one hundred and twenty-five, for the same territory. Also, for the same, to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, were granted three hundred and thirty-five Bibles and Testaments. To immigrants for Oregon were granted four hundred Bibles and Testaments. Seven hundred Bibles and Testaments were granted to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1847, for the Oregon Mission, under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Roberts. BIBLE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. 133 To the American Home Missionary Society were granted, in 1848, a large supply of Bibles, in the English, German, French, and Spanish languages, for the same territory. From the Bibles granted the previous year to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the use of the Oregon mission, the following account was furnished, showing the importance of sending further supplies: " The box of Bibles and Testaments given to the Methodist Missionary Society, and sent by said society to Oregon, was a blessing to the immigrants of that distant land. They were received by these adventurers on the shores of the Pacific with great thankfulness. Many of these immigrants had lost their Bibles in the rivers, on their way over the mountains, and to find the American Bible Society there with such a timely supply of Bibles was an unexpected and exceedingly pleasurable event." The superintendent of the mission, Rev. Mr. Roberts, in acknowledging the receipt of two boxes of Bibles in 1848, says, " Nothing more appropriate was ever brought to Oregon. Romanism, Campbellism, Rationalism, Socinianism, and infidelity exist here in a state of crudity, waiting for some molding influence to fashion them, and bring them forth in all their appalling features. A superficial religion, even in our evangelical churches, threatens a destructive prevalence. The country is most trying and captivating to the Church. The high hopes of the colony and Church have recently been somewhat abated by the horrible massacre of Dr. Whitman and wife, and twelve white men, including two lads nearly grown, all Americans. I trust this awful providence will be sanctified to the good of the Church in Oregon, and also to the cause of missions. We are striving to sus 134 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. tain an orphan asylum and a small boarding school at the Tualatin Plains. The number of orphans left by the emigrants, without home or means of instruction, has caused such an institution to be commenced." To California the board have sent, within a few months past, thousands of Bibles and Testaments. The hundreds of thousands who are flocking to that Ophir of the West and El Dorado of the poet, to wash its dust, and work its mines, and engage in various occupations, must be supplied with the Bible. No country in the world attracts so much attention at the present time as California. Many have gone who are doubtless prompted simply by the love of adventure, but the great majority go to seek its gold. That Word, which, in the language of Zion's king, " is more precious than thousands of gold and silver, and more desirable than much fine gold," assures us, that earthly objects satisfy not. It is a pleasing reflection, that, notwithstanding the precious metal, to which inspiration compares the Bible, has become plentiful, the Word of God is more plentiful and more accessible. Eight hundred acres of valuable land have been given for a single copy of the English Bible; now, it can be had without money and without price by all. CHAPTER XVIII. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES. BEFORE proceeding to give a detailed account of the society's operations in regard to translations of the Scriptures into foreign tongues, we hope to be pardoned the digression of giving a short history of the English Bible. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 135 The first translations of any portion of the Scriptures into the English tongue were in Anglo-Saxon verse, in the seventh century. Early in the eighth century the Psalms were translated by Adhelm, the first bishop of Sherborne, and read in the churches. A Saxon version of the four Gospels was made by Egbert, bishop of Lindisfern, who died in 721. At the close of this century the entire Bible was translated into the Saxon by the Venerable Bede. The death-scene of this venerable man was marked with moral sublimity. His amanuensis is represented to have said, while his pen was tracing upon parchment the last verse of the twentieth chapter of John, " There remains now only one chapter; but it seems difficult for you to speak." " It is easy," replied Bede. " Take your pen, dip it in ink, and write as fast as you can." "Now, master," said the monk, "only one sentence is wanting." Bede repeats it. "It is finished," said the scribe. "It is finished!" replied the dying saint; " lift up my head; let me sit in my cell, in the place where I have been accustomed to pray-and now glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost." With these words upon his lips, his spirit passed away in peace to its God. In the ninth century, the Ten Commandments, and other passages from the 21st, 22d, and 23d chapters of Exodus, were translated by Alfred the Great, and prefixed to a code of laws. Portions of Proverbs, several of the historical books of the Old Testament, and the four Evangelists, were translated into both Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman. The Waldenses had a translation of the Scriptures made in the year 1160, by Peter Waldo; and the Waldenses were the first colporteurs of the Scriptures, a fact worthy of notice. 136 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Very little more was done in the way of translation into our tongue until the fourteenth century, a period of five hundred years. This did not result so much from the opposition to the use of the Scriptures at that time, as from a general inability to read, which extended to all people, both kings and subjects. The Word of God was now passing through the dark ages, and it experienced its greatest obscuration from the tenth to the beginning of the fourteenth century. In the year 1274, a single copy of the Bible, in manuscript, of small size, was sold for the sum of one thousand dollars in our currency, an amount sufficient to purchase at the present time four thousand copies. About the middle of tile fourteenth century this fearful eclipse began to pass of, and the light of God's Word began to break forth as the morning. The New Testament first, and then the Old, were translated by John Wiclif, and thus the moral Sun was permitted to shine out upon the Anglo-Saxon world in full-orbed splendor. To change the figure, "the treasures of G-od's Word were unlocked to the English nation." Church and State rose up in opposition to it as though both hated its light, but the Divine hand which sent it sustained and kept it from destruction. Other translations were made by the followers of Wiclif. In 1526, William Tyndal translated the New Testament, and, eleven years afterward, the entire Bible. He had studied the Hebrew and Greek for twenty years, and was well versed in those languages. He wrote to the reigning king, and implored his clemency to grant that the bare text of Scripture might be circulated among his people, offering his body to tortures and death, if necessary, as a sacrifice for so great a boon to man. He was obliged to flee from England; but his zeal was unconquerable. In his self-banishment he printed TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 137 the New Testament, copies of which found their way back to England. They were read with avidity. They were prohibited, collected together, and burned, and those who possessed them imprisoned; while he himself, the man who first printed any part of the Bible in our language, was arrested, strangled to death, and his body burned to ashes. In 1534, Miles Coverdale commenced a translation soon after Tyndal's imprisonment. The work was completed in one year, and dedicated to Henry VIII. This version was also made and printed on the Continent. In 1537, through the intercession of Archbishop Cranmer, Tyndal's entire Bible, with a few corrections, was printed in England, under the name of Mathew's Bible, "set forth by the king's most gracious license." Other translations were made, particularly one by Cranmer, called the " Great Bible." Its printing was commenced in Paris, but the inquisitor general seizing the sheets and burning them, the publishers fled to England and completed it there. For several years the Scriptures, in different versions, were circulated and read. It was supposed, at the close of Edward's reign in 1553, that one hundred and seventeen thousand copies were in circulation among the English people. In the reign of Mary the use of the Scriptures was prohibited; but Coverdale, with the English exiles, who had gathered at Geneva, prepared still another version in 1557. In the time of Elizabeth, in 1560, the Old Testament, of the Geneva version, was published in connection with the New. Cranmer's Bible, corrected by Archbishop Parker, published by authority, was used in the churches for a period of forty years, and called 138 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. the " Bishop's Bible;" and it was afterward made the basis for the present received version. In 1609, the Rheimish version was made at Douay. This version was made from the Latin Vulgate, and retains its peculiarities. This is the standard of the Roman Catholics, and, though full of errors, could not be made to teach the dogmas of popery were it not for its copious notes. Our present version was made in the reign and at the instance of King James I. It was first proposed incidentally by Dr. Reynolds, of Oxford, at a convention for other purposes at Hampton Court. The object of the new version was to have a common standard, to which all might appeal in matters of controversy; one that should be free from errors, and untrammeled with notes. Forty-seven translators were employed, who were selected on the ground of eminent attainments in biblical literature. They were divided into six classes, and held their meetings at Oxford, Cambridge, and Westminster. The names of the persons, the places where they met, together with the portions of Scripture assigned to each company, are as follows: Ten at Westminster-the Pentateuch; the history from Joshua to the First Book of the Chronicles, exclusively-Dr. Andrews, afterward bishop of Winchester; Dr. Overall, afterward bishop of Norwich; Dr. Saravia, prebendary of Canterbury; Dr. Clark, fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge; Dr. Laifield, fellow of Trinity, Cambridge: being skilled in architecture, his judgment was much relied on for the description of the Tabernacle and Temple; Dr. Leigh, archdeacon of Middlesex; Mr. Burgley, Mr. King, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Bedwell, of Cambridge. Eight at Cambridge-from the First of Chronicles, with the rest of the history, and the Hagiographa, viz., TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 139 Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Canticles, Ecclesiastes-Mr. Lively, Mr. Riclhardson, fellows of Emanuel; Mr. Chadderton Mr. Dillingham, fellow of Christ's College; Mr. Andrews, afterward master of Jesus's College; Mr. Harrison, the reverend vice-master of Trinity College; Mr. Spalding, fellow of St. John's, Cambridge, and Hebrew professor there; Mr. Bing, fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and Hebrew professor there. Seven at Oxford-the four greater prophets, with the Lamentations, and the twelve lesser prophets Dr. Harding, president of Magdalen College; Dr. Reynolds, president of Corpus Christi College; Dr. Holland, rector of Exeter College, regius professor Dr. Kilby, rector of Lincoln College, and regius professor; Mr. Smith, afterward bishop of Gloucester, who composed the learned and religious preface to the translation; Mr. Brett, Mr. Fairclowe. Cambridge-the Prayer of Manasseh, and the rest of the Apocrypha-Dr. Duport, prebendary of Ely, and master of Jesus College; Dr. Brainthwait, afterward master of G-ouvil and Caius College; Dr. Radclyffe, a senior fellow of Trinity College; Mr. Ward, afterward D. D. and Margarett professor; Mr. Downs, fellow of St. John's, and Greek professor; Mr. Boyse, fellow of St. John's; Mr. Ward, of King's College, afterward D.D., prebendary of Chichester. Oxford-the four Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and Apocalypse-Dr. Ravis, afterward bishop of London; Dr. Abbot, afterward archbishop of Canterbury; Dr. Eedes (instead of whom Lewis has James Montague, bishop of Bath and Wells); Mr. Thompson, Mr. Savill, Dr. Peryn, Dr. Ravens, Mr. Harmer. Westminster-the Epistles of St. Paul, and the other canonical epistles-Dr. Barlowe, afterward bishop of Lincoln; Dr. Hutchinson, Dr. Spencer, Mr. Fenton, Mr. Rabbet, Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Dakins. 14o AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. To each class was assigned a certain portion of the Scriptures. Each and every individual in that department translated by himself the portion assigned to the whole class, and the several translations were read by the class, which together agreed upon the final reading. The portion thus finished was sent to each of the other classes, again to be revised. By this arrangement every part of the Bible passed the scrutiny of all the forty-seven translators successively. These translators were empowered to call to their aid any learned men whose studies enabled them to throw light upon any points of difficulty. The completion of this work occupied three years, and the lives of all the men who commenced the work were spared to witness its successful close. With this translation all evangelical denominations are satisfied, and, though not regarded by them as the ultimate appeal in matters of religious controversy, yet its authority is regarded as Sufficiently valid in all ordinary discussions of a theological character. In the language of one, " The translators seized the very soul and spirit of the original, and transferred it to our language." Suspicions having been awakened in England some years since in regard to the integrity of the present English Bible, and charges being made of numerous and wide departures from the first edition of the translators, and many letters and pamphlets being published to substantiate those charges, the authorized printers of the Bible at Oxford University published a fac simile of the first edition of King James, in order that it might be compared with modern editions. The Board of the American Bible Society procured one of these copies, and, feeling it a duty to institute a rigid comparison between it and the standard copy of this Society, appointed a supervising committee, TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 141 consisting of one member from each religious denomination connected with the society. The editor of the society's publications, having in the library a great number of Bibles issued during the last three centuries, was requested to go through the same, and learn when and where the changes commenced. The committee patiently assisted him in the comparison, and the result of all their labors was that the variations were unimportant, such as capital letters, commas, italic words, &c., such as in no way affected the sense. This investigation has placed that incomparable version of King James on higher ground than ever, and their hope is that all future translations may be equally well guarded. This Bible is now universally used. Upon this version it may not only be said the sun never sets, for it is found in all parts of the world, but the sun never sets upon its reading. It may be said of the English Bible, as of the heavenly Jerusalem which John saw coming down out of heaven, " There shall be no night there." While it is being read where the setting sun flames on Lake Superior, they are reading it where his morning beams have shone for hours in Australia and New Zealand; and while they are reading it where the setting sun gilds the spires of Montreal and Quebec, they are at the same time poring over its pages on the banks of the Ganges, where that same sun lights up the sacred wave. " God hath not dealt so with any nation;" and if it was the distinguishing privilege of the Jews that "to them were committed the Oracles of God," how much imore are we distinguished by the possession? But we must not indulge in these pleasing reflections, lest we tire the reader's patience, and shall proceed at once to the subject of the chapter. By reference to the society's records, we find that 1 4 2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. the first translation made under the patronage of the society of the Bible into foreign languages was that for the Delaware Indians. In 1818, the Rev. Mr. Dencke, of the United Brethren Church, stationed at New Fairfield, in Upper Canada, translated the Gospel of John. One thousand copies were printed, one hundred of which were given to Mr. Leuchenbach for distribution. The Epistles of John, John's Gospel, and that of Matthew, were printed with the English on one page and the Indian on the other. The Gospels of John and Mark were translated into Mohawk for the use of the Six Nations, one thousand copies of which were printed. In 1825, further translations into the extensive language of the Six Nations occupied the attention of the board. This year the New Testament was translated into the Peruvian language. The translation into the Mohawk of several other parts of the New Testament was made in 1826. In 1828, the society assisted Dr. Carey in translating the Scriptures into the languages of India. In 1829, parts of the New Testament were trans. lated into the Hawaiian language, for the use of the Sandwich Islanders, and an edition of fifteen thousand copies was published. In 1830,. an edition of the Gospel of St. Luke, in the Indian language, was translated and printed for the Seneca Indians, and one thousand copies put in circulation. In 1833, the Gospel of Matthew was translated into the Cherokee language, and also parts of the New Testament in the Mahratta language, for the use of missionaries at Bombay. In 1835, the Psalms were translated into the Hebrew and Hebrew-Spanish languages, for the use of the Spanish Jews in the Ottoman Empire. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 143 During this year the managers sent the following resolutions to the missionary stations: "Resolved, That the managers view with deep interest and with fervent gratitude to God the growing zeal manifested by auxiliary societies and friends of the Bible in this country toward the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in pagan, Mohammedan, and other foreign countries, and which, in their judgment, is among the signal indications of Divine Providence inviting the nations of Christendom to the great enterprise of converting the world. "Resolved, That from the encouraging prospect of continued and liberal contributions in aid of this worl, the managers look with peculiar satisfaction on the efforts of American missionaries, of different religious denominations, in translating the Scriptures into the various tongues and dialects used at their respective stations. "Resolved, That the managers hope to receive intelligence whenever the Old Testament or the New, or any one entire Gospel, or other book of the Bible, is correctly translated and ready (without note or comment) for the press; and that the missionaries be encouraged to expect that, on giving such intelligence, they shall receive the aid requisite for the publication of the same. "Resolved, That any information which the missionaries may communicate from time to time in re. gard to translations, distributions, mode of receiving the Scriptures in, their own vicinity or among surrounding nations, or any suggestions in relation to the great interest of the Bible cause, will be thankfully received and carefully considered by the board. "Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be sent to all the American missionary stations abroad, accompanied by a suitable explanatory cir. 144 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. cular, prepared and signed by the corresponding secretary." The above resolutions show that the society was constructed upon a scale of benevolence extensive as the wants of man. The report of 1836 shows an increased interest in regard to the work of translating and circulating the Scriptures in heathen countries. As all the appropriations for translating and publishing foreign Scriptures had up to this time been made through missionary societies, after mature de. liberation, in which the interests of the missionary work in general was carefully consulted, it was determined on by the board to appoint suitable agents, who should be immediately responsible for their operations, and co-operate with the missionaries in translating the Scriptures. Several important principles were settled in regard to the establishment of these agencies, one of which was, that the Bible agent on each station shall be of the same religious denomination as that to which the missionaries on the ground belong. Another princi-' ple was, that they receive the same compensation that the missionaries in similar circumstances receive. The board were called upon, by circumstances occurring during the year, to fix definitely the principle upon which new translations of the Scriptures into foreign tongues should be made. In regard to the English Scriptures, the character of the version was settled by the Constitution, namely, " the version now in common use," and that " without note or comment." Although the Constitution is silent in regard to the character of foreign Scriptures, yet the very design of the society, as announced in its first address, in the clearest terms and the most rigid exactness excludes every thing of a local or secta-rian character. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 145 The slightest variation from this principle would mar the harmony of the religious compact, and the confusion of tongues and clash of instruments consequent thereon would arrest the progress of the mighty work. To preserve the unity and harmony so essential to an institution uniting in its operations all the evangelical churches of the land, the following rules were adopted: "Resolved, That in appropriating money for the translating, printing, or distributing the Sacred Scriptures in foreign languages, the managers feel at liberty to encourage only such versions as conform in the principles of their translation to the common English version, at least so far as that all religious denominations represented in this society can consistently use and circulate said versions in their several schools and communities. " Resolved, That a copy of the above preamble and resolutions be sent to each of the missionary boards accustomed to receive pecuniary grants from this society, with a request that the same may be transmitted to their respective mission stations where the Scriptures are in process of translation, and also that the said several missionary boards be informed that their applications for aid must be accompanied with a declaration that the versions which they propose to circulate are executed in accordance with the above resolutions." In reply to this wise regulation of the board, the Foreign Committee of the Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church adopted the following resolution: "Resolved, That this committee entirely approve of the principle adopted by said board,' in making appropriations for the circulation of the Scriptures in all foreign tongues, viz., that only such versions be enK 1 4i6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. couraged as conform in the principles of their translation to the common English version, at least so far as that all the religious denominations represented in the American Bible Society can consistently use and circulate such versions in their several schools and communities.'" A copy of the above resolution was sent to the. board, and also to their missionaries in Greece, China, India, and Persia. The Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, after quoting the regulations of the board, passed the following resolution: "Resolved, That the principle contained in the fore going regulations conforms with the usages of the missionaries of the board in translating the Scriptures so far as known to the committee; and that the several missions of the board be instructed to make it the basis of every translation made, printed, or distributed at the expense of the board, or of the American or any other Bible society." The Board of Managers of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church passed the follow. ing resolution: " Resolved, That we cordially approve of the regula. tions of the Board of Managers of the American Bible Society in relation to the translation of the Scriptures into foreign languages, and we will take special care that all future translations made by our society shall conform thereto." In 1838, the New Testament was translated by the society in Japanese, for the inhabitants of the island of Japan. The Old Testament, as far as Joshua, was trans. lated this year into the Hawaiian language, for the Sandwich Islanders. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. In 1839, one of the Gospels was translated into the Cherokee language. The Old and New Testaments, in Armenian; the Old, in Armeno-Turkish and Hebrew-Spanish and some portions of the Arabic and Syriac, were trans lated, under the direction and at the expense of the society, this year. The Tarmul Scriptures were also translated for the inhabitants of Ceylon. In 1840, the Gospel of St. Matthew and the Acts of the Apostles were translated into the Grebo tongue, for the inhabitants of Western Africa. The Book of Isaiah was also translated into the Mohawk language In 1844, the New Testament, in the Dacotah tongue for the use of the Sioux, was translated; and also the New rTestament in Ojibwa, for a tribe of Indians of that name near Lake Superior. In 1845, the New Testament was translated into modern Syriac for the Persians at Ooroomiah; and also the Old Testament into modern Armenian. In 1847, the Hebrew-Spanish Scriptures, for the use of the Spanish Jews, and the Hebrew-Germani Scriptures, for German and Polish Jews, in Russia, were translated. The Gospel of St. Matthew was also translated in the Urdu tongue, the Punjabee, and Hindee. Thus it will be seen that the society has been engaged in carrying forward the work of translation, as well as publishing and circulating the Bible in foreign countries. It has introduced the Bible to the inhabitants of the West Indies, Spanish America and Brazil, France, Russia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, at different points in India, China, Chin-India, the Sandwich Islands, and among five tribes of our aborigines. Since its organization the society has directly secured the translation of the Bible into upward of twenty differet AMEsRICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. different languages, and assisted in rendering it into fifty others, while it has promoted its circulation in all languages. The subject of Bible translation has constituted one of the most important, and, perhaps, one of the most difficult features of the society's operation since its commencement. In this connection, we deem it proper to notice an unhappy collision growing out of this subject. The difficulty originated with the Baptist Church, which had, prior to 1835, co-operated with the society in the great work of extending the circulation of the Scriptures. We will endeavor to state, in a fair and impartial manner, the ground of this difficulty, and the discussions arising therefrom, together with the subsequent action of the Baptist Church in the formation of a separate Bible society. At a regular meeting of the Board of Managers, Mr. Brigham, corresponding secretary of the parent society, presented a letter from F. A. Packard, dated Philadelphia, July 28, 1835, sending an extract of a letter addressed to him by Mr. Pearce, of Calcutta, Baptist missionary, asking whether aid could be had from the American Bible Society in printing the Bengalee Scriptures, translated on the principle adopted by the Ameri. can Baptist missionaries in Burmah. This letter was referred to the Committee on Distribution. As the result of their deliberations, they presented to the board the following resolution: "Resolved, That the committee do not deem it expedient to recommend an appropriation until the board settle a principle in relation to the translation of the Greek word awr-ro." After discussion the resolution was passed, and the subject referred to a committee of seven, one from TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 149 each denomination represented in the Board of Managers. The following report was presented by the special committee. They state that " in the investigation of the subject the following facts have come before them: "1. The Rev. Messrs. Pearce and Yates, Baptist missionaries in or near Calcutta, have made application to this board for aid in publishing the New Testament in the Bengalee language, in which version the Greek words 3anrrtw and f3aTr-t1ta and their cognates are translated by words signifying immerse, immersion, &c. "2. In the Burmese version of the New Testament, and in other versions in the languages and dialects of India, these words are translated in a like manner. " 3. Application has been made to the Calcutta Bible Society and to the British and Foreign Bible Society for aid to print and circulate the Bengalee New Testament translated as aforesaid, which aid has been refused on the ground of its containing said translations; and " 4. Your committee were not aware until now'that such translations were made and approved by any denomination of Christians in India or other heathen countries. " 5. Your committee would therefore most respectfully submit, whether it is not highly inexpedient to aid in printing or circulating any version of the Scriptures containing the above or any similar translations differing from the sense of the authorized versions, for the following reasons: " 1. The words arrrTto and pa-rtata and their cognates being left untranslated, as in the English and many other excellent versions, imposes no difficulty on any denomination of Christians, as it leaves every minister or missionary at perfect liberty to explain AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.,them according to the peculiar views of his denomination. 2. The words o3anr-T and parTloa, &c., being translated immerse, immersion, &c., will necessarily embarrass, if not wholly exclude, the operations of missionaries of the Methodist, Moravian, Reformed Dutch, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregational, and other Christian denominations, who may endeavor to propagate the Gospel in India, or where the said translations may obtain; and 3. It is not competent for the American Bible Society to assume any sectarian attitude by favoring the denominational views of any particular church, either at home or abroad." In view of the above facts and views, the committee.submitted the following resolutions: 1. Resolved, That the Board of Managers deem it inexpedient to appropriate any funds belonging to the society in aid of translating or distributing the aforesaid Bengalee Testament, or any other version containing the aforesaid translations, or any similar translations. "2. Resolved, That the Board of Managers, on receiving satisfactory evidence of such corrections having been made in the aforesaid translation of the Bengalee New Testament, or other versions in other languages or dialects, as will comport with the known views of other Christian denominations, or, in other words, with the obvious intention of the authorized English version, will most cheerfully aid in the printing and circulation of said version or versions as heretofore. "3. Resolved, That all persons interested in the foregoing resolutions be informed of their purport forthwith." To this report Rev. Spencer H. Cone, D.D., a Bap TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 151 tist and one of the committee, protested, on the ground that in 1834 the American Bible Society resolved to distribute the Bible among all the accessible population of the globe, and to this end sent circulars to the missionaries of the different denominations, encouraging them to expect aid, and whenever it should be communicated that they had correctly translated the Bible or any portion of it, the society would publish the translation. The gentleman above named affirmed that the board acted unjustly in refusing the request of Messrs. Pearce and Yates, because their request was but a response to this circular. It would appear from this that a similar request was never made before by the Baptist missionaries, and hence Mr. Cone bases the application upon the enlarged benevolence of the circular, and justifies Messrs. Pearce and Yates in taking advantage of it. Now all this would do well enough were there not something beneath it of the most doubtful character, to say the least of it. It appears, on investigation, that the Burmese translation made by Dr. Judson, and which had been published by the funds of the American Bible Society, was not in accordance with the principles of the society governing translations, having the disputed words translated as in the Bengalee version, and that the society was kept ignorant of this fact until, upon investigation, Mr. Spencer H. Cone admitted it for the first time. The Baptists assume that their translation is " correct and faithful," the very point in dispute and that which is to be proved. That it was "correct and faithful" according to the peculiar views of the Baptist denomination, no one, we presume, will be disposed to question; but that it was " correct and faithful" in the estimation of all the other denominations was not true, all of them, 152 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. without exception, objecting to the exclusive meaning attached to those terms by the Baptists. That the action of the board in refusing to aid in the publication of a sectarian Bible was " unjust" and "illiberal," we are unwilling to believe there is a candid Baptist acquainted with all the grounds of the controversy will deliberately assume. It is known that the uniform policy of the society from the commencement down to the present time has been carefully to avoid every thing of the slightest sectarian tendency. If it were just and proper for the American Bible Society to expend thousands in publishing translations for the Baptists, in which the word baptize is rendered immerse, then with equal propriety would it be just and proper for it to expend tens of thousands in publishing translations where the same word would be rendered to sprinkle or pour, to suit the numerous Paedo-Baptist denominations represented in the board and co-operating with the society., Besides, who ever heard of such a demand before? Can it be shown any where that it ever was the practice of any general society, uniting different denominations, to allow one part of that union to appropriate to itself exclusive benefits, though we would be disposed freely to admit its consistency, did such an arrangement enter into the compact? How is it with the Sunday School, Tract, or Education Societies? Are these unions allowed to make books, and circulate them at home or abroad, that only one denomination can use; or to appropriate their funds for the education of pious and talented young men of only one denomination? No! the very idea is preposterous; and the only thing that astonishes us is that so large, intelligent, and influential a denomination as the Baptists would do itself so much TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 153 injustice and injury as to make and urge such a claim. But, lest we should be charged with having given an ex parte view of the subject, we shall proceed to present all the arguments offered by the friends of the cause on the Baptist side of the question. It was urged as a reason why the board should grant the request of the missionaries in publishing the Bengalee Testament, that they had changed their policy, inasmuch as they had previously published versions of the same character. To this it is replied that they never in a single case granted aid to a version which they knew at the same time to be of such a character that only a part of their associates could consistently use. They took it for granted that no church would ask for a version favoring exclusively their peculiar views, and hence they aided all who made application. They have since found that they were deceived in two instances. The one was a case where a small edition of an Indian Gospel was printed, in which the word f3a7rt(,) was translated by a term which signifies to sprinkle or pour. The other was the aforesaid Burmese translation, where the same word is rendered immerse. Had the peculiarity of these translations been known at the time, they never would have been assisted., Another reason offered on the Baptist side was, that other denominations were allowed to make such foreign versions as suited their peculiar views. To this it is answered simply that such a charge is wholly without foundation, and that no denomination ever has or ever can be allowed to make translations other than such as can be consistently used by all the denominations in the compact. The society allows of no partiality. Again, the board are charged with laying down 154 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. rules in regard to versions which Baptist translators can not conscientiously follow. The answer to this is, that the board lay down no rules but such as the general objects of the society require, and such as the compact necessarily enjoins; and, if these rules are unrighteous and oppressive, let those who appoint the board place men there who will reform the Constitution so that Baptists shall have exclusive privileges, and be allowed to appropriate its funds for printing Bibles in all the dead and living languages to suit their peculiar views. It is remarkable that those of our Baptist friends who urge these objections to the American Bible Society from conscientious scruples, do not insist upon "faithfully" translating every word in the original texts, inasmuch as they object so strongly to transferring. And if the " correct" translation of famrTaw is so essential, why does not the " American and Foreign Bible Society" translate the word in its English version? It is charged, again, that the board have patronized the use of German and Dutch Bibles, in which the word:arrT76) is translated immerse, or by words which signify the same thing. The answer to this is simple, and found in the Constitution. The former versions are " ancient received versions," such as the founders of the society promised to patronize; and, furthermore, those words referred to have now lost their original meaning, and become of as wide a signification and use as the English word baptize. Again, it is charged that the board have set up the English Bible as a standard, to which all translations must be conformed. The resolutions above cited, and to which the society strictly adheres, show this to be unfounded. Missionaries and others, in making new versions, are TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. required by these rules to translate from the original tongues, and their imitation of the English is not expected to extend any further than the transference of a few words which either can not be translated, or concerning the meaning of which there are disputes which divide the evangelical churches composing the compact; and even these transfers are not required where the various members of the society can unite in using the versions as they do the English. The last charge urged is, that the American Bible Society has received forty or fifty thousand dollars from Baptists, and but very partial appropriations have been made to that denomination; that the society is guilty of injustice in not refunding what is still due. This is a, very grave and serious charge, and, if true, would certainly present the society in a very unfavorable light. A subject of such moment demands investigation. As a reference to the science of numbers will be the most satisfactory mode of settlement, perhaps it would be well to publish a statement, and, as figures can not deceive, it will be an easy task to determine the nature of this charge. It will be necessary, however, before proceeding to this work, to state, that the Baptists, as a church, have seceded from the American Bible Society, and have organized one of their own of a purely denominational character. Notwithstanding this, a highly respectable and valuable portion of the Baptist denomination in the Eastern, Middle, Southern, and Western States are still in union with the national institution, and that portion of the Baptist Church are not to be regarded as claimants on the aforesaid funds. The following statement is presented: 15i6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. American Bible Society in account with that _portion of the Baptist Church which seceded therefrom in 1835. Dr. 1830. To legacy from J. Fleetwood Marsh.... $10,000 Do. " " John Withington........ 7,000 1831. To legacy from Josiah Penfield.......... 1,000 To five life directors, for which the money was paid by the Baptist Society....... 750 To life members, one hundred and fifty.... 4,500 To donation from Dr. L. Barker, to aid in building the Bible House............. 30 To Bible distribution in Burmah........ 1,000 Contributions made through auxiliaries by members of the Baptist Church....... $30,000 $54,280 Cr. By an equal share of Bibles received for distribution in our country... $25,000 For the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, for the exclusive use of that denomination in preparing and circulating the Scriptures in France, Germany, Bengal, and Burmah 27,OOC For Messrs. Pasco and Love, Baptist missionaries in Greece, 12,993 portions of the Scriptures......................... 5,000 $57,000 Leaving a balance in favor of the American Bible Society of... $2,720 By the will of the late Mr. Marsh, the American Bible Society is a residuary legatee, of which there are between one and two hundred. Should any thing ever be realized, it will be appropriated in the same way in which the legacy of that benevolent gentleman was appropriated, viz., in furnishing English, German, and French Bibles for the mixed population of our country. There is one thing connected with this matter that strikes us as remarkable. The Baptists who seceded from the American Bible Society, preferred these grave charges, and set up this claim, in whatever light it may be viewed, did so on the ground of sectarian exclusive TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE 157 ness. They boldly assumed that they were right and all their sister churches were wrong; that baptism means immersion, whether applied to the case of John or Nebuchadnezzar, and it can not, by any conceivable possibility, have any other meaning. So rigidly did they adhere to this view of the subject, that when the friends of the American Bible Society-that there might be no collision on account of names-suggested the propriety of naming their society the American and Foreign Baptist Bible Society, they utterly refused to comply therewith. But this subject has already occupied more space than its real importance demands. Our Baptist brethren are at liberty to pursue their own course, and we would be the last to throw a single straw in their way. We believe, with them, that immersion is baptism and that baptism is immersion, but we also believe that Nebuchadnezzar was as thoroughly baptized with the dews of heaven as the Syrian general was baptized with the waters of Jordan. As a society, we are free to acknowledge that they have done more, perhaps, for the conversion of the heathen than any other, and with right good will we bid them God speed. We will conclude this chapter by giving an exhibit of all the translations made by the different Bible societies in different parts of the world: 1Q8 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Those marked t are New Translations; the rest are reprints of former versions. The letters R and S denote the versions of the Russian Bible Society and of the Serampor Mission, both of which have been aided in former years by large grants from the society. WESTERN EUROPE. Versions. What printed. Where circulated or for whom designed. BRITISH ISLES. English; authorized version..... The entire Bible......... British Empire, &c. W elsh.......................... " " "......... W ales. Gaelic Hi........................g......... Highlands of Scotland. Irish; in native characters. ( Various parts of Ireland, particuin Roman..... lary the provinces of Munster in~ Roman.......$...... and Connaught. BManks........................ " "......... Isle of Man. FRANCE. French; the three versions of Mar- Bbl France, Switzerland, and French tin, Ostervald, and De Sacy.. The entire Bible. colonies. t Breton or Armorican; Old Testa- New Testaent Province of Brittany. ment translated, but not printed Pr v eo tan. French Basque... Departments of the Pyrenees and.....province of Navarre. SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. Spanish; the two versions of Scio The entire Bible..... Spain generally, and Spanish colo and Enzinas.................. nies. t Catalan; Pentateuch and Psalms New Provinces of Catalonia and Valennot yet printed................... estia t Spanish Basque or Escuara.....Gospel of St. Luke..... Provinces of Biscay, Guipus t Judao-Spanish................. New Testament.......... Spanish Jews in Turkey, &c. Portuguese the two versions of The entire Bible Portugal and Portuguese colonie NORTHERN EUROPE. Icelandic...... The entire Bible....... Iceland. Swedish............' ".........Sweden. t Lapponese..................... "......... Russian and Swedish Lapland. Finnish......................... ".........Finland. Danish.......................... I.........Denmark and Norway. tFaroese or ancient Icelandic (Dan St. M.... Faro Islands, between Shetland and ish Society)................... ew Iceland. CENTRAL EUROPE. Dutch.......................... The entire Bible......... Holland and Dutch colonies. Flemish........ 4 * ".........Belgium. German; Luther's version................ Protestant Germany, Prussia, &c. three versions-Gosner, New Testament.......For Roman Catholics in Germany. German and Hebrew (in columns) Pentateuch, Prophets, t " in Hebrew characters... New Te.tament....... Lithuanian...................... The entire Bible........ Province of Lithuania. t Samogitian.................... New Testament......... In three districts of Wilna. Polish............... R.......... Poland, Posen, Silesia, &c. t JudwO-Polish........................... For Polish Jews. Wendish, Upper.................' "......... Saxon Lusatia. " Lower................ d......... Prussian Lusatia; Bohemian....................... The entire Bible....... For Tschehs of Bohemia and Sn Hungarian.. I Madgiares of Hungary and Trmas3.u~uo~nw...........................^ sylvania. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. SOUTHERN EUROPE. Versions. What printed. Where cirltuted or fir whom designed. ITALY AND SWITZERLAND. Italian; two versions —Diodati and The entire Bible....... Italy. Martini........................ Latin................................ Chiefly for ecclesiastics. RJomanese...................... " "....... In the Grisons of Switzerland " Lower, or Enghadine.........On the borders of the Tyrol. t Piedmontese...... New Testament. t " (with Italian)...... Psalms............... Piedmont. t "' (with French)...G.. ospels...............) t Vaudois (with French).......... St. Luke and St. John.... For the Vaudois or Waldenses. GREECE AND TURKEY. Greek, ancient.................. New Testament......... For students. " "................R. The entire Bible......... For the Greek churches. " modern.................. New Testament...... For the reek people in gen.................... The Old Testament.... t Albanian (with modern Greek).. New Testament....... of Albania, on the ri Turkish........................ The entire Bible......... Turkey in general. For Greek Christians using the " in Greek characters....." " "....... Turkish language with Greek characters. For Armenian Christians using the t " in Armenian characters.. New Testament....... Turkish language with Armenian characters. Moldavian or Wallachian........The entire Bible....... Moldavia, Wallachia, and part of Transylvania. T Servian or Serbian........... New Testament....... ervia and some borderin ftBulgarian............ d.......... Turkish provinces east andsouth of Hungary. RUSSIA. Slavonic, ancient and ecclesiastical The entire Bible For the purposes of the Russian language................... R. Church. t R.uss, modern.......... R. Ps alms, New Testa- Russia generally Slavonic and t modern Russ (in, nd..... columns)................... R. N estament....... Dorpat Esthonian............. R. Testament and Southern part of Esthonia. Reval i............. R. The entire Bible...... Nothern part of Esthonia, on the Gulf of Finland. Lettish or Livonian............R." " i"......... Provinces of Livonia and Courland. i Karelian...................... St. Matthew........... a Finnish tribe in the government of Tver. tZirian or Sirenian............ For a Finnish tribe in the govern For a Finnish tribe on the banks tMordvinian or Morduin...... NewTestament....... of the Oka and Volga, in the govand Kasan. For a Finnish tribe on the banks of t Tscheremissian...............R. New Testament....... the Volga and Kama, in thegovuy ernments of Kasan and Simbersk. For a Finnish tribe of the mountf Tschuwaschian............B..R. The Gospels.......... ains in Kasan, Nische-Novogorod, t Orenburgh Tartar............ R. New Testament. For Tartars in the vicinity of OrenaNew Testament sd For Tartars in the government of translated).................. R. Crimean Tartar..........?..... Genesis............... For the Craite Jews of the Crimes, ___________________________________ byway of trial. 160 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. CAUCASIAN AND BORDER COUNTRIES. Versions. WVhat printed. [ VIiere circulated or for whlom deiged. Ossitinian (in the Russian dept)R. Gospels, but never cir- Central regions of the Ca sus. to e spot)~. culated.. Central regons of the Caucasus. Georgian (Kedvuli or ecclesiastical New Testament....... Georgia south of the Caucasus. Georgian (civil or common charac- ters).......................... Armenian, ancient..............'he entire Bible....... Armenia Proper; but also prepared t " modern (with ancient New Testament..... or the Armenians of Constantiin columns)................... NewTestament. ( nople, Calcutta, &c. t Ararat Armenian...................... Around Mt. Ararat, S. of Georgia. SEMITIC LANGUAGES. Hebrew........................ Old and New Testaments For the Jews and for students. Arabic...................... The entire Bible.........For Mohammedans every where. Syriac For the Syrian Church in Travancore ansi parts of Syria. Carshun (Arabic in Syriac charac. New Testament. / Mesopotamia, Aleppo, and other terns)................ c................. t parts of Syria. Syriac and, Carshun, in parallel Syro-Chaldaic (Syriac in Nestorian } G els S Mosul, Djezira, Tolamisk, and councharacters).....o...........s.p.. elsP' ~ try west of Kurdistan. PERSIA. Persic (H. Martyn)............. New Testament....... For the Mohammedans, Parsee t (Archdeacon Robinson).. Entire Old Testament.. and Persians of India. t t(Dr. Glen)............... " i d t (M irza Ibrahim)......... Isaiah................. Persia Proper. (Mirza Jaffier)........... Genesis................. tPushtoo or Affghan...........S New Testament and Affghanistan.. T e Go s sBeloochistan, south of AffghanisINDIA. The sacred and learned language of t Sanscrit or Sungskrit. S. The entire Bible....... Bramins throughout India. For the minohammedans of India t Hindustani or Urdu (H. Martyn) New Testament....... a other se language being by Mr. Thomason... Bible, to 2 Kings...... generally understood in all the Serampore version.. The entire Bible....... larger towns. NORTHERN AND CENTRAL INDIA. tBengalee..................... The entire Bible. t ~ two versions (Ellerton \ testament....... Province of Bengal. t " (in Roman characters) (with Province of South Bahar, now part t Maghudha.................. S. of the province of Bengal. Utula. The entire Bible. Province of Orissa, the greatcer part Orissa, or Oreia, or Utcula...... The entire Bible....... attached to Bengal. tHinduwee or Hindooee......... (called Hindee by Ser........SFor Hindostan or the upper provTrans.), both in the Nagree and inces of the Bengal Presidency. Kythee characters........... & DIALECTS OF THE sHINDUWEE. A district between the provinces f Bughelcundee...........S.....S. New Testament....... of Bundelcund and the sources of the Nerbudda River. f Bruj or Brij-bhasa............ S I "......... Province of Agra. I Canoj o~ Canyacubja..,, In the Doab of the Ganges and i Ca-noj or Canyacubja..........5........ Jumna. t Kousulu or Koshala...........S. St. Matthew............. Western part of Oude. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 1g6 NORTHERN AND CENTRAL INDIA-continued. Versions. What printed. Where circulated or for whom designed. DIALECTS FOR CENTRAL INDIA OR RAJPOOT STATES. Harrotee.................... S. New Testament......... A province west of Bundelcund. Oojein or Oujjuyunee......... S. " "......... Province of Malwah. Oodeypoora.................S. St. Matthew........... Province of Mewar or Oodeypoor. war...................... New Testament....... Province of Joypoor, east o Juyapoora................... S. St. Matthew........... war nd we t of Ag ra. Province of Bikaneer, north of tBikaneera......... S. New Testament....... Marwar. Province of Buttaneer, west of Buttaneer or Virat............ Buttaneerlhi. Sindhee.......... S. St. Matthew........ Province of Sindh, east ofthe Inds. Moultan, or Wuch, or Ooch... S. New Testament.......North of indh, etween the Indus M o cChenaub, and Gharra Rivers. Punjaee or Sikh.............S. The entire Bible......... Province of Lahore. Dogura or Jumboo (Mountain }. Mountains or northern districts of unjabee)................... New Testament..... Lahore. C New Testament, Pen- ) f Cashmerian.............. S. tateuch, and Histor-. Cashmere, north of Lahore. ical Books........ GORKIA DIALECTS. Nepalese,Khaspora, or Parbut ew Testament.... Kingdom of Nepaul, about Kat. New Testament..... h S..................... S Small states north of Oude, below.............................. the Himalayas. Pa.pa.. the Himalayas. t Kum n...................... "....... Province of Kumaon, west ofPalpa. a Province of Gurwhal, west of Ku. Gurwhal or Schreenagur.......... maon. SOUTHERN INDIA. MADRAS PRESIDENCY. Pentateuch... o Northern Circars, Cuddapah, Nel. (New Testament and lore, and greater part of Hydrat " (Vizagapatam version).. large part of the bad or Telingana. (Old Testament.... t Karnata or Canarese........... New Testament... Throughout the Mysore; also in t " (Bellary version).......The entire Bible....... far north as the Kistna River. fMalayalim (Old Test. preparing) New Testament......... Travancore and Malabar. BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. J Kunn..................... S. New Testament and The Concan, chiefly the southern T Rtvunkuna............ S........... ^ Pentateuch. part, among the common people. t Mahratta.....................S'. The entire Bible....... The Concan, and throughout the t " (Bombay version)..... i " i....... Mahratta territory. t Gujerattee......... S. New Testament....... S and province of Gujerat. \ "s (Surat version). The entire Bible....... < a o f t Cutchee or Catchee........N.... parig some of it G o C hw the CEYLON. tPali (in Burmese characters).... New Testament.... S an g Southern part of the island, from f Cingalese....................... The entireBible....... Chitaw on the west, andTin the tIndo-Portuguese (Old Testament Pentateuch, Psalms, d preparing)................... ndNewTestament ous parts of the Indian seas. L AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES. Versions. What printed.. Where circulated.or for whom designed. fAssamese.................... S. The entire Bible......... Assam, subject to Bengal Presid. Munipoora...................S. New Testament......... Munipoor, on the south of Assam. KRhassee (New Testament trans- A ~ S Khassu country, east of Garrow lated)........................ Hills. Burmese (byDrudonforAmer- The entire Bible....... Burmese Empire and Arracan. icn Bible Society)............ ) {Siamese or Thay (New Testament,,,, Cossya Hills, on the borders of translated).................... J.....l Siam. CHINESE EMPIRE. Chinese (Morrison's version).. The entire Bible...... China Proper, and numerous Chi" (Marshman's version).......... nese in Indian Archipelago. rshmn's version)... mT...... IMantchuria: it is also the court f Mantchou......................New Testament....... language of Pekin. ( For the Buriats about Lake Baikal fBuriat or Eastern Mongolian.... The entire Bible.[...... in Siberia, and for the Kalka ( tribes of Mongolia. For Calmucs of the Don and Volga, Calmuc or Western Mongolian.. New Testament....... in Russia; and Eleuths, Calmucs, ( and Soungars, of Mongolia. HITHER POLYNESIA. Mal.ay, inRomancha. e BiFor the Moluccas and eastern part Malay, Roman characters...... The entire Bible....... of the Archipelago. ( Malay Peninsula; sea-ports and in Arabic characters...... " " "....... coasts of Sumatra, Java, and ( other islands. Malay, Low.................... New Testament......... Batavia and its neighborhood. t Javanese (Old Testament prepar-.. i Island of Java. ing by the Netherlands Society).. llntJva__________________ FURTHER POLYNESIA. I Tahitian. Georgian and other ihlands in the ( New Testament, and fRarotonga..................... portions of the Old Hervey Islands, South Seas. tMarquesan..................... versions preparing Marquesas Islands, South Seas. tTonga......................... Some portions given, TongalslandsSouthSeas. f New Zealand.................. New Testament....... New Zealand. tMalagasse...................... The entire Bible......... Madagascar. St. Mark, St. Luke, St. a n f Samoan..................... John, and the Epis- Navigator's Islands. tie to the Romans ) f Feejeean....................... St. Matthew and St. Mark. Feejee Islands. AFRICA. Coptic (with the Arabic)......... Gospels and Psalms..... For the Copts of Egypt. Ethiopic (ecclesiastical).......... s Talms n FortheChurch in Abyssinia tAmharic (vernacular)........... The entire Bible....... Abyssinia. fBerber (four Gospels and Gene- Part f St. L The oases of the African deserts, sis translated)................. Pt of St. Luke from Mount Atlas to Egypt. t Bullom (with English).......... St. Matthew............. About Sierra Leone, on west coast. tMandingo (four Gospels translated.... Mandingo country, south of Gam. f Accra......................... and St. John. Gold coast, Western Africa. TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 163 AFRICA-continued. Versions. What printed. Where circulated or for whom designed. Namaqua..................... Small portions, and North of Orange River, Southern Naaqua..others preparing.. I Africa. Sechuana...................... New Testa ment and } Bechuana, east of Namaqua. tCa fr eNew Testament and Cafraria, eastern coast of South __a__re__......................... ^portionsof the Bible 5 Africa. AMERICA. NORTH. (New Testament and) Greenland, for the Moravian MisGreenlandish.................... large portion of the sions Bible............. t Esquimaux................. Testament, Genesis, Labrador. Psalms, and Isaiah 5 tMohawk (Pentateuch and Psalms I Isaiah, St. Luke, and Indian nations west of the Falls of translated).St. John.......... Niagara. f Chippew or Ojibway......... St. John..............lawar t (American Society)... New Testament. For the Chippeway or Delaware t Delaware ( " " )... Epistles of St. John... Indians. Creolese (Danish Society)........ New Testament......... Danish West Indian Islands. SOUTH. i Negro Dialect of i.......a ment and Surinam, Dutch Guiana. t Aimara (with Spanish).......... St. Luke................ Bolivia., Mexican....................... St. Luke................ Mexico. i64 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. CHAPTER XIX. BIBLE IN CANADA. THROUGH the Vermont Bible Society the managers forwarded a lot of Bibles for distribution in Canada. In 1822, the want of Bibles was found to be very great, and, at the request of the above-named efficient auxiliary, another supply of French Bibles was sent to that country for sale and gratuitous distribution. In 1828, on the solicitation of the Rev. Thaddeus Osgood, a distinguished philanthropist, the board presented to the Bible Society of Montreal a supply of Bibles for the use of the poor in that region. During the year 1834, one thousand Bibles and Testaments were intrusted to Mr. Hoyt for distribution in Canada. The wishes of the Montreal Bible Society were fully met in this matter, and it was by their direction the distribution was effected. The corresponding secretary of the above society, the year following, remarks as follows in regard to the distribution: "We have reason to believe that the distribution made through Mr. Hoyt has been faithful. The people seem very thankful for the kindness shown them. It is evident, from Mr. Hoyt's report, that the destitution is still very great, and prompt measures should be taken to supply the destitute. In several of the letters which have been received, the demand borders on the clamorous." In the annual report of the same society, speaking of the section of country where Mr. Hoyt has been laboring,'it is stated that, although many books have been distributed, there will be required, according to BIBLE IN CANADA. 165 estimate, an additional supply of more than two thousand. To Sanstead was sent, in 1836, three hundred Bibles and Testaments. These were presented through the Vermont Bible Society. During the same year a supply of Bibles was sent, on the request of Archdeacon Wix, of Newfoundland, for the use of fishermen on the coast of Labrador. A similar request was made by the same person for the use of the destitute of Newfoundland. The population of this island, which was estimated at sixty thousand, were represented as being very poor, and in great spiritual destitution: as an instance, it was stated that some of them had been on the island seventy years, and in all that time had not heard one Gospel sermon. The emissaries of the Church of Rome take advantage of their ignorance of the Word of God, and are active in instilling the superstitions of their Church. To supply the wants of the settlers between St. John's and the Bay of Islands, near the Straits of Belle Isle, the board sent to the archdeacon four hundred Bibles and Testaments. In 1837, the board made a grant of one thousand dollars to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to aid the work of foreign distribution at their several missionary stations in Canada, South America, and Africa. In the year following a grant of three hundred Bibles and Testaments was made to the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, for distribution by their missionaries in Canada. The same year, the Montreal Bible Society having resolved, in the shortest period practicable, to place a copy of the Bible in the hands of all the destitute in the province willing to receive it, the board, for the purpose of assisting them in this benevolent work, 1 66 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. made a grant, at two different periods, of six thousand four hundred Bibles and Testaments. The report of the Montreal Bible Society for 1839 contained encouraging statements of the progress of the work of Bible distribution. Two causes operated unfavorably to the enterprise: the first was the political agitations in the country, and the second the opposition from the Roman Catholic priesthood. An agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society has been laboring in the provinces, and established a depository at Montreal. A correspondent of the board, in describing the condition of the country, makes the following remarks: " God only knows what awaits this guilty land, but light kept back for two centuries begins to break in upon papacy, the dark cloud is turning a brighter side on the Egyptian host, there is increasing evidence that the day-star is rising in Catholic Canada, that her long and dreary night is giving the missionary and the traveler tokens of dawn, and the blessings appointed for her make haste. The Scriptures are distributed there with a facility, and received and read with gratitude and tears hitherto unknown. The papal clergy hate and oppose. The Bible burns the priest, and the priest burns the Bible; but this only increases the light, and people inquire, and run together, and read more than if he had not laid his forbidden hand upon the sacred Volume." The next year five hundred French Testaments were sent to the Montreal Society for distribution and sale. In 1842, one hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments were granted to Madame Feller, of the Swiss mission in Canada. The following year, to the same lady, for the same object, four hundred and fifty French Bibles and Test. aments were granted. BIBLE IN CANADA. 16 7 During the year 1845, to the French Canadian Missionary Society, on application of the Rev. Caleb Strong, of Montreal, were granted one hundred French Testaments. During the year 1848, on application of the Rev. Mr. Wolf, there were granted to the French Canadian Missionary Society two hundred and fifty French Bibles and Testaments. For the use of the schools and destitute families at Grand Ligne, on request of Madame Feller, were granted three hundred Bibles and Testaments in the French language. The previous year, on application of the Rev. H. Wilson, of Canada, for the use of a colony of colored persons, the board granted seven hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments. CHAPTER XX. BIBLE IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. IN presenting to the reader a view of the operations of the society in the countries named at the head of this article, we shall avail ourselves of all the information within our reach which may serve to throw light upon the interesting subject of the introduction of the Bible into these countries, and the extent of its diffusion among the inhabitants. From an American gentleman residing in Mexico, the managers received information, in 1826, that the Scriptures which had been sent there were gladly received by all classes of people. A correspondence, by the foreign secretary, was immediately opened with an intelligent person in the city of Mexico in relation 168 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. to the circulation of the Scriptures. A communication from Mr. John C. Brigham, an agent of the American Board, who resided in South America, but who, by his personal knowledge and extensive correspondence, was well acquainted with the condition of Mexico, stated it as his opinion that, in all the states, comprehending a population of seven millions, there had not been distributed more than two thousand Bibles. Several grants of Bibles, in the Spanish language, were sent during the year to agents in Mexico. A letter from Mr. Brigham, dated Vera Cruz, states that, on his way from the city of Mexico to that place, he stopped at Puebla, a city of seventy thousand inhabitants, and made an arrangement with the principal bookseller in regard to the purchase of Bibles for resale, and also with the American consul at Vera Cruz, who assured him of his willingness to take charge of them. During the subsequent year, Spanish and French Bibles and Testaments were sent to Matamoras, Tampico, Puebla, and Mazatlan. In 1828, five hundred Bibles and Testaments were intrusted to a gentleman who was going to Matamoras, and several boxes of Bibles were sent to the American consul at Mazatlan, to be sent by him to the city of Mexico and other important places in the interior. A lengthy communication was received during the year from Mr. James Thomson, an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, residing in the city of Mexico. The letter was addressed to the Rev. Dr. Milnor, Secretary for Foreign Correspondence of the American Bible Society, and contained responses to several inquiries addressed to him in regard to the circulation of the Bible in that country. The principal inquiry related to the reception of the BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. 169 Protestant Bible, or the canonical, uncommented Scriptures. It appears, from his communication, that soon after he had commenced the work of distribution, several articles appeared in the papers impugning, in the strongest terms, the free use of the Scriptures by all classes without note or comment, and they protested stoutly against what they were pleased to call the mutilated Bible in the want of the Apocrypha. These articles were all written by priests. A pleasing fact was developed in this controversy, and that was, that while some priests condemned the Protestant Scriptures, other priests came forward, unsolicited, and, in the same journals, advocated most strongly the unrestricted use of the Bible without note or comment. The object of the society to translate the Word of God into all languages, and to circulate it among all people, met the favor of many priests in Mexico; and three of them, one of whom was the president of a college, became members of the society by the payment, annually, of a guinea a piece. We have often wondered why it was that in all papal countries there are some Roman Catholic priests found to favor the reading and circulation of the Bible, while in Protestant countries, bishops, priests, monks, friars, and nuns all join in the general cry of prohibition, and look with horror on Bible societies. In France there are hundreds of priests engaged in the work of distribution, while in the United States you can not find one. The agent had sent to him, from London, three thousand three hundred Spanish Bibles and Testaments, all of which he disposed of at cost and carriage in less than nine months; fifteen hundred of these were sold in the city of Vera Cruz in a few weeks. The remainder were sold at Queretaro, Zelaya, Guanajuato, San Juan de Los Lagos (where a fair was annually held, a splendid temple 1 70 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. erected, and the idol worshiped an image of the Virgin Mary), Aguas C(alientes (where the first legal process was instituted by a priest, before the alcalde, against the circulation of the Scriptures in that country, but which signally failed), Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, and Guadalajara. Besides these Scriptures, there were sold in these places large quantities of the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Psalms, Proverbs, &c., bound in separate volumes. There was but one diocese in Mexico which prohibited the circulation of the Bible. In 1829, a gentleman residing at Chihuahua, occupying a public station there, but who was formerly a citizen of the United States, communicated to the board the intelligence that it was his opinion that, among the one hundred and twenty-one thousand inhabitants of that state, there were not eight copies of the Spanish Bible. His official duties led him to every part of the state, and hence he had an opportunity of forming a correct judgment. A quantity of Bibles and Testaments was sent there, and also a box to the western coast. The distracted state of the country during the succeeding year prevented the society from accomplishing any thing in the way of the distribution of the Scriptures. Nothing more was done until 1834, when, on application of Mr. Sumner Bacon, a grant of Spanish and English Bibles was made for the province of Texas. In speaking of the destitution there among natives, and English or Americans, he remarked, that, from an extensive acquaintance, he believed that nine out of every ten in the jurisdiction of Nacogdoches were without the Bible. This gentleman offered his services as an agent BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. 171 without compensation. His generous proposals were accepted, and a supply sent to him, as requested. The following year Mr. Bacon succeeded in organizing several auxiliaries. In 1838, four hufidred Bibles and Testaments were sent to Texas, and five hundred copies of the Gospel of St. Matthew, in Spanish, were sent to the city of Mexico. It will be recollected that Texas, which originally formed one of the confederacies of Mexico, revolted, became a separate independency, and established a republic; its independence was recognized by other sovereignties, and it was annexed to the United States. In 1839, when it was a republic, and prior to its admission as a state into the Union of the United States, through the influence of an agent of the American Bible Society, a society was formed at Houston, the capital. Several members of Congress and other dis. tinguished individuals participated in the exercises, and the vice-president of the republic, Hon. David G. Burnett, was chosen president of the society. The agent, having taken with him a large stock of Bibles, sold them to the society, and measures were adopted for organizing auxiliaries and distributing the Scriptures. Texas being no longer a foreigner or stranger, but a fellow-citizen, we shall not be expected, of course, to say any more in regard to Bible operations in her borders under this chapter, unless it be to remark, that at the anniversary of the Texas Bible Society the following admirable resolutions were passed: "Resolved, That the principles and influence of the Bible tend to the perfection and permanency of all good governments. "Resolved, That we view the Bible as a book proper to be placed in the hands of youth, and recommend its adoption in our schools." 172 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. The latter resolution was offered by a member of Congress, and advocated in an able and eloquent manner. In 1841, a grant of Spanish Bibles was made to an American merchant at Mazatlan, in Mexico, for sale and distribution. The year immediately succeeding, on the request of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, were granted five hundred and fifty copies of the Spanish Scriptures. Dr. Thomson, the agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, visited Yucatan in 1844, and his representations of the wants of the inhabitants and the great demand for the Scriptures induced the board to send him one thousand Spanish Testaments for distribution in that peninsula. In 1845, the board sent to William IH. Brown, Esq., of Tobasco, Mexico, one hundred copies of Spanish Scriptures for distribution in that region. During the war which has recently closed by a treaty between the United States and Mexico, by which a part of the Mexican territory was ceded to the United States, our army, rendezvousing at various stations, received a supply of Bibles and Testaments before their departure, and since, large quantities have been sent to New Orleans, Galveston, San Antonia, andVera Cruz, to supply those who had not previously been provided for. The board felt called upon to send the Bible to the inhabitants of that ill-fated country in greater numbers than it had previously done. Its unhappy and distracted state was well calculated to awaken Christian sympathy; and if, in defense of the national honor and national rights, it was deemed necessary to send the sword of death, it was equally in accordance with the genius of Christianity to send the Sword of BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. 73 the Spirit, which, like the spear of Telephus, carries a balm upon its point to heal the wound it inflicts. A prudent and well-qualified agent, in the person of Rev. Mr. Norris, who had returned from a long missionary residence in South America, was commissioned to enter upon the work of distributing the Word of God in that country. He started for the field of his operations in the summer of 1848, taking with him four thousand Bibles and Testaments in the English, Spanish, French, and German languages. These Bibles were designed for the supply of our soldiery, as well as Mexicans and foreigners. Many an interesting incident might be gathered from the distribution of the Bible among the soldiers at the various camps prior to their departure for the scenes of battle. One of these fell under the notice of the writer. He had requested a grant of two thousand Bibles for the Ohio volunteers, stationed at Camp Washington, on the lawn of Colonel Riddle, near Cincinnati. The grant was made through the Young Men's Bible Society of Cincinnati, one of the most efficient auxiliaries connected with the parent institution. A day was fixed upon by the commandant of the division, Colonel Curtis, and the committee appointed by the society repaired to the camp with the Scriptures. The soldiers were drawn up by companies, and as they marched in solemn order by the station of the committee, each one received a copy, to be deposited in his knapsack, and be the companion of his weary way. The tear trembled in the eye of many a by-stander, and many a soldier's heart felt the influence of the touching scene. Many sons of Ohio received Bibles on that day who now are in eternity. Their bones lie bleaching on the mountains and plains of Mexico. 174 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. They met the melancholy fate of " those who take the sword." As faithfully descriptive of the condition and prospects of Mexico, we shall close this article by copying the letter of Rev. Mr. Norris in relation to his agency in that country. In his communication to the board, he says, "I need not remind you that Roman Catholicism is the established religion of Mexico-Catholicism unmodified by the Reformation. Protestant worship is not tolerated except in private houses, and by less than twelve persons; if more than that number are present, they are liable to punishment. Except in the city of Mexico, where the English have a cemetery, the privilege of sepulture is denied to Protestants, and their dead must be buried in some obscure place, under cover of darkness, or a grave procured by bribing the priests. "The great number of churches presents a striking object to travelers. Every village of a dozen huts has one or more of them; every hacienda has its chapel surmounted by a white steeple. In some locations there seems to be a great excess of sacred edifices, as in the vicinity of Puebla. From the Pyramid of Cholula, once occupied as an idol temple, now the site of a beautiful church, upward of fifty churches may be counted, some of them very large, while the population will not exceed a very few thousands. In some parts of this district the sacred edifices outnumber the huts of the inhabitants. " The religious establishments of the proud and rich city of Puebla are numerous and very wealthy. In the city of Mexico the churches and religious houses, many of them very spacious, and covering nearly an entire square, are said to own in fee one half of all the real estate in the city, in addition to which they BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. 175 hold what is equivalent to perpetual mortgages on one half of the residue, thus controlling three fourths of the real property in the capital. " The clergy are very numerous in all the cities. With few exceptions, they are reputed to be ignorant, indolent, and exceedingly loose in their morals. Concubinage and its kindred vices are notoriously common among them. Not a few of them are infidels. They still exert considerable political power, while their moral and social influence over the lower class, and the females of all classes, is almost unlimited, and is abused for purposes and to an extent wellnigh incredible. The schools, colleges, and nearly every other institution in the country feel the blighting influence of their interference. "Like priests, like people as to intelligence and morality. A large proportion of the people in the cities and more populous villages are taught to read and write, but make little use of their acquirements after they leave school. Few of them are able to read fluently. The education of the females is very superficial. Every man professes himself a Catholic, and is very devout and religious in his way; in some respects they are worthy of imitation by enlightened Christians. A fair proportion of men attend the services of the Church. "In morals the mass of the people are exceedingly depraved.' The Leperos,' said an intelligent Mexican,'are all thieves-are liars; they are animalsbeasts; they have neither religion nor morality.'' Three fourths of them,' said a priest,' live together without marriage.' "The seventh commandment is universally violated among them, both in spirit and letter, and such violations as must not be named here. The shocking crime of incest is common. The Leperos constitute an over 1 76 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. whelming majority in the cities, particularly the capital, and with the peones, or slaves, and Indians, who are in no respect their superiors, they constitute at least five sevenths of the population of the country. The published accounts of robberies fall far below the truth. On the great roads, nearly every man is a robber. The soldiers rob. The men who are employed to escort the mule-trains, loaded with merchandise, are robbers. Mechanics and shop-keepers in the towns leave their homes and business for a few days to follow the more lucrative business of highwaymen, an employment not generally considered disreputable. Magistrates are known to be accomplices, and protect rather than punish their associates. The drivers of the public stages, keepers of taverns and hotels, are leagued with the robbers, and Santa Anna himself, the Astor of Mexico, was believed to have been engaged in the nefarious business. There is a great deal of intemperance among the common people, and gambling is common among all, from the highest to the lowest, not excepting the clergy and great officers of state. The biblical wants of such a people must be great and pressing. In the light of God's law they are excessively wicked. Their religion helps to make and keep them wicked. The mass of the people are deplorably wicked, even for Roman Catholics, and their spiritual masters (teachers they have none) love to have it so. Hence the Word of God is a prohibited book. To read their own edition of Padre Scio's Bible, with the Apocrypha and notes, edited by a priest, and issued under the approbation of an archbishop, a license must first be obtained. To prevent his people from being injured by reading the Word of God, the Bishop of Mexico bought and burned a box of Bibles sent out by the British and Foreign Bible Society; yet a treatise, too grossly licentious and corrupting in its BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. 177 tendency to be endured any where else than in Mexico, was published for general use as a religious help to conscience. It was hoped that the Mexican war would open the way for Christian enterprise in that country. There was a time when toleration for Protestantism might have been had for asking-could not have been refused; but the favorable moment was allowed to pass, and we have not gained even the privilege of sepulture. By the war, Protestantism has gained nothing but access to the ceded territory. The war has been a great moral evil to Mexico. There are however, some encouraging features in the present aspect of affairs. A political party now exists, whose avowed object is to limit the power of the priests, confine them to their proper duties, break down the overgrown religious establishments of the country, and devote their great wealth to the cause of popular education. This party has no partiality for Protestantism, yet they are desirous of having the Scriptures circulated, as a means of opening the eyes of the people to the abuses of the Church. Bibles and Testaments have been put by your agents into the hands of hundreds of families in Vera Cruz, Jalapa, Perote, Puebla, and the city of Mexico." The above communication discloses facts sufficient to make it obvious to the most superficial observer that nothing but the universal circulation and reading of the Bible can elevate this priest-ridden land. There is nothing but the want of Bible instruction to prevent Mexico from being as free, intelligent, virtuous, and happy as our own country. It is the Bible that makes us differ. It is not the native superiority of the AngloSaxon over that of the Castilian-it is not that our physical resources are greater, that we have brighter skies, purer air, broader and more fertile plains, mightier rivers, or richer mines-no! it is because we have M 1 7 8 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. for our instruction and guide the' Oracles of God, and they have nothing but the oracles of a corrupt, designing priesthood, who have usurped the place of God. CHAPTER XXI. BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. THE Board of Managers having learned, in 1818. that there was a prospect of introducing the Scriptures into those parts of South America where the Spanish language is spoken, a set of stereotype plates for the New Testament in that language was immediately procured, and, as soon as copies could be printed, they were sent to that country. A grant of five hundred Testaments was made in 1820, for the use of the primary schools in the municipality of Buenos Ayres.. Other grants were made during the same year to different parts of the country, and an extensive correspondence was opened for the purpose of discovering favorable localities for the introduction and circulation of the Scriptures. Liberal donations of Spanish Scriptures were early made by the British and Foreign Bible Society to the American Bible Society, by which it was enabled to prosecute, with more vigor than it otherwise could have done, the work of distribution. The changes which had taken place in the Spanish colonies of America favorable to the introduction of the Bible, induced the society to send a further supply to different parts of that country, and a correspondence was opened in relation to the printing of the New Testament in Spanish, in the version of Father, Scio. In 1822, five hundred copies of the Scriptures were sent to different parts of the country. BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. 179 The year following arrangements were made for the printing of Padre Scio's version of the Bible, and plates were contracted for.'The demand for the Scriptures continued to increase in all parts of the country, persons of rank in Church and State became interested in their perusal, and multitudes were seen with avidity to purchase and read the Word of God. During the year, two thousand five hundred copies were sent through different channels to all parts of the country. It will, perhaps, be proper to state here, that the Bibles sent out were a version approved of by the Roman Catholics, and to those who may not have been acquainted with that fact, this statement will relieve their surprise in regard to the favor with which they were received by the inhabitants of a papal country. Notwithstanding the errors found in the Vulgate, from which the versions of the Catholics are made, it contains essential truth enough to " make wise unto salvation." It will be recollected that it was from the Vulgate Luther's mind received its enlightenment in his monastic cell at Erfurt, and through it he was led to renounce the errors of Romanism, and embrace the Gospel doctrine of " salvation by faith." In 1825, one thousand eight hundred and ninetyfive copies of the Bible were sent to Patagonia, in the provinces on both sides of the Parana, to Monte Video, Bahia, the Brazils, Valparaiso, Chili, across the Andes into Mendoza, and other parts of the country. The rays of moral twilight which these Bibles shed abroad in that hitherto Bibleless land, served to show the extent of the darkness which reigned there, and excited a deeper interest in the hearts of the friends of the cause to increase these rays and extend them still further, until the whole land should be illumined by the light of the Gospel. 180 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. During the year 1826, intelligence was received of the formation of a national Bible society at Bogota for the Republic of Colombia; and the board, as a pledge of the interest they took in this society, and their good feelings toward it, sent to their depository a donation of eight hundred Spanish Bibles. They also received intelligence of the establishment of a Bible society in the city of Caraccas, and the agent of the American institution placed at its disposal the Bibles which had been intrusted to his care. From Mr. John C. Brigham, who is now, and has for many years been, the efficient and popular corresponding secretary of the American Bible Society, but who at that time was the agent of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the board received, frequent and interesting communications in regard to the condition and wants of South America, and also in regard to the circulation of the Scriptures in that country. He had visited the republics of Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, and had in each distributed the Bibles committed to his care. The anxiety to receive the Bible in these republics was so great, that instead of the hundreds which he disposed of, he could with the same ease, he remarks, have sold thousands. Grants- of Spanish Scriptures were made during the year to various agents in that country, and many copies were purchased by merchants and others, who, while they served their own individual interests, at the same time promoted the objects of the society. As an article of traffic, those who engaged in it realized handsome profits. Bibles that were purchased at the Depository for a dollar and a half, were sold by them as high as eight dollars, so great was the de. mand. In 1828, Bibles were forwarded to Colombia. A BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. 181 gentleman who traded up the Magdalena River took with him four boxes of the Scriptures for sale and distribution in the vicinity of Bogota. Small quantities were also sent to a gentleman from New York residing at Maracaibo. A part of these were sold. Another portion was sent to that place in a vessel which was wrecked on the coast of Colombia, but did not reach the person to whom sent. The board received intelligence, however, of their arrival at Maracaibo. They were taken thither by Indians who visited the wreck, and plundered it of the Bibles, and sold them at a very high price to the citizens. Four hundred and forty-five Bibles were sent to Mr. Parvin and a correspondent at Buenos Ayres. Others were intrusted to a gentleman who intended to visit the west coast of South America and the Philippine Islands. During the following year, a grant of Dutch Bibles, on the request of one of the missionaries of the United Brethren Church, was made for distribution in Surinam and Paramaribo. Almost every portion of this country was involved in war during the year, and Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala were in a state of continued revolutionary excitement. This, together with the exclusion by the British and Foreign and the American Bible Societies of the apocryphal books from the Spanish Bible, rendered the circulation thereof in that country much more limited than in former years. An ecclesiastical decree was issued, prohibiting the sale or use of any Bible unless accompanied by the Catholic notes. In the preamble of this decree, it was stated that " Bible societies are endeavoring to propagate the lamentable sentiments of Protestant sects, namely, that the only rule of faith is the Bible, interpreted by each one according to his own judgment, a principle directly op 182 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. posed to that laid down by the holy Council of Trent, by which it was determined that the living voice of the Church shall settle the meaning of the Scriptures." A box of Testaments was sent this year to Valparaiso. The succeeding year but little was accomplished. The objections to the Bible without the uncanonical books still existed. A small quantity of Bibles and Testaments was sent to Carthagena. In 1831, the unhappy political dissensions which existed prevented the circulation of the Scriptures, and during the year but one hundred Spanish Testaments were forwarded to Buenos Ayres. In 1833, to an officer in the United States Navy, on the west coast of South America, for distribution at the places where he touched, were granted one hundred and fifty Spanish Bibles. With a view of effecting an increased interest in the Bible cause, an agent was sent out the following year by the board. He took with him a good supply of Spanish and English Bibles and Testaments, and was instructed to visit the principal towns in Chili, Peru, Equador, New Grenada, and Western Mexico. The agent was at liberty to furnish the New Testament gratuitously to all schools that would agree to use it as a reading book. A communication was received from the agent which contained the gratifying intelligence that, in the various towns which he visited, the people generally, and some of the priesthood, were favorable to his benevolent mission. One clergyman, a member of the Senate, expressed his full conviction that the Bible should have an unrestricted circulation. The bishop of the diocese, however, thought differently, and, summoning the agent before him, required him to desist from further distributions. The consequence was, that BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. 13 the Bibles which he had deposited- for sale had to be taken back to save them from the flames. His distributions in the Republic of Chili amounted to about twelve hundred copies. He next visited Peru, and sold about four hundred copies in Lima and other places. In 1838, a number of Spanish Gospels were sent to the Hon. Joaquin Mosquera, of New Grenada, for the use of the primary schools at Bogota. A donation of fifty Bibles and one hundred Testaments was sent to the Rev. Mr. Torrey, at St. Catharine's, Brazil, and the same number, in various languages, to the Mis sionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for distribution by their missionaries at Rio Janeiro. The Rev. Mr. Spaulding, in a communication to the board, states that " the sales of Bibles in Portuguese and Latin had increased in various ways. Some circumstances have occurred which have astonished us. Directors and teachers of schools had thronged the house, and upward of sixty notes had been sent requesting Portuguese and French Scriptures." The following year, to Messrs. Spaulding and Kidder, Methodist Episcopal missionaries in Brazil, were sent one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five Bibles and Testaments, in Portuguese, German, and French. On the part of the people there was a general desire to obtain the Scriptures, notwithstanding the opposition of the priesthood. These missionaries made an eloquent appeal to the board for a supply of an empire embracing a population of five millions. They represented infidelity as having preoccupied the ground in the dissemination of infidel publications. Since the country had gained its independence from Spain, domestic feuds had arisen, in which the Catholic priesthood were particularly conspicuous, manifesting, as from time immemorial, their hatred of and op 184 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. position to free institutions. As the most successful way of preventing the prevalence of these institutions, they invariably prohibit the circulation of the Bible. In 1840, the missionaries report that the supplies sent them had been put into circulation, and the cause was prospering in Brazil. During the year 1844, to the Rev. Mr. Norris, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman at Buenos Ayres, was sent a supply of Bibles, in Spanish, Danish, and Italian. To Rio Grande, in Brazil, was sent a small supply of Portuguese and Spanish Bibles, and to a lady at the same place, several Portuguese Testaments for distribution. To an English friend at Nicaragua, Honduras, were sent two hundred and fifty Spanish Scriptures. To Rio Grande, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video, grants of Spanish Bibles were made to a limited extent the following year. In 1848, a grant of three hundred and twenty-two copies of the Spanish Scriptures was made to the Foreign Evangelical Society for the use of their missionary at Valparaiso, and the same year to the American consul at Santa Martha was sent a supply of Spanish Scriptures for distribution. This, we believe, embraces all that can be said statistically in relation to the operations of the American Bible Society in South America. Much has been done by other institutions, especially the British and Foreign Bible Society, in scattering abroad over that extensive and interesting field the good seed, much of which has already been productive, and we most ardently hope that the day is not far distant when the sister Republics of that country shall be elevated to the enjoyment of all the blessings of that rational and Christian liberty which we, as a nation, so largely enjoy. BIBLE IN FRANCE. 185 CHAPTER XXII. BIBLE IN FRANCE. FRANCE is now a republic, and, though nominally a papal country, the Word of God has an unrestricted circulation. The time was when one of her largest cities was searched for a copy of the Bible, that it might be tied to the tail of an ass, and thus dragged in derision through its streets; but that day has passed. That book is now respected, and taken to the councilchamber of many of her most distinguished statesmen. Among the first donations received by the American Bible Society was a complete set of stereotype plates -for the Bible, in the French language, from the British and Foreign Bible Society, in 1818. As a foreign field, the society bestowed its earliest attention in providing for that country. the Word of Life. The managers of the society, having been made acquainted with the labors of the Rev. Frederic Leo, of Paris, by whose extraordinary exertions the printing of two fine stereotype editions of the INew Testament, in French, was accomplished, one according to the translation of the Rev. Mr. Osterwald, and the other according to the translation of Le Maistre de Sacy, judged it proper to assist hi.m in a work which he was prosecuting with great personal toil and expense. A letter from the Secretary of Foreign Correspondence, Rev. Dr. Mason, communicating to the abovenamed gentleman the intelligence that the board had made him a donation of five hundred dollars to assist him in the printing and distribution of the Scriptures, remarks: 186 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. " I hope, my dear sir, that you will see in this a ct of the American Bible Society a proof that your many and arduous labors in the good work of spreading abroad the Word of Life are not forgotten nor disregarded on this side of the Atlantic, and that you will be encouraged to persevere in your noble undertaking, finding your best recompense in the answer of a good conscience toward God and a benevolent spirit toward man." The work of Bible distribution was greatly accelerated by the formation of the Protestant Bible Society of Paris about three years afterward. In 1830, owing to some political events which transpired in France, the field of operations was ren. dered more inviting, and increased facilities were afforded for the circulation of the Scriptures. A benevolent gentleman in one of our cities, familiar with the condition and wants of France, offered to fuirnish one thousand dollars to aid the American Bible Society in circulating the Scriptures in that country, on condition that nine thousand dollars more should be made up from other sources. During the year 1821, it was estimated that there were put in circulation in that kingdom one hundred and fifty thousand copies of the Bible. This was accomplished principally through the Protestant Bible Society. The circulation was mostly confined to the Protestants, of which there are three millions in that country. The board, in 1823, made a grant of two thousand dollars to the Protestant Bible Society, to aid it in circulating the Scriptures. The grounds on which. the grant was made may be learned by the following extracts from the Committee of the French and Foreign Bible Society: "Many motives have induced us to give you official BIBLE IN FRANCE. information of our existence. Besides those bonds of mutual good will which ought to unite both institutions, born of the same faith and for the same end, it has appeared to us that Providence will establish particular ones between your society and ours. " The name of France awakens in America many generous sentiments. It is associated with the remembrance of the days when God raised you to the rank of an independent nation. It was then that France aided you in gaining that independence, the most precious good (after the possession of the Gospel of salvation) which a nation can enjoy, and which has assigned to your country so honorable a rank among the families of the people-you have never forgotten it. "Therefore France to you is dear. We are not ignorant how much you interest yourselves in her happiness, and we are assured that it is with particular affection that the Christians of America ask of the Lord that his light may shine upon us, and that his salvation may be known from one end of France to the other. "It is true that if we compare the immensity of this task with our present resources, we find no proportion between them. But we have learned, even in the book which we labor to distribute, that our God places his glory in using weak things to confound the strong. "The experience which our elder sisters have had of his blessing encourages us. We believe that there are none of them who have not had, like ourselves, to recollect that the period is still recent. when the Bible ceased to be an importation in America and became indigenous there, and that we have lived long enough to see the rapid developments of your society, which can already extend its solicitudes to the remotest nations. 188 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. " The necessities around us are immense. The Roman Catholic population, in part detached from the pope, begins to feel its religious wants. "Brethren of America, we calculate upon your assistance, and we hope to see the day when we can in our turn offer a hand to some new-born society, and, like you, extend our labors beyond the limits of our own country." In 1824, the board granted to this society six thousand dollars, five hundred dollars of which were for the circulation of the German Scriptures among emigrants passing through France to America. In 1825, the Protestant Bible Society of Paris numbered seventy-five auxiliaries. In answer to a letter received from the secretary of the Lyons Bible Society, representing the wants of the two hundred thousand inhabitants of that city and the surrounding country, nearly all of whom were Roman Catholics, the board made a remittance of five hundred dollars, to enable them to purchase Bibles and Testaments from the Depository of the French and Foreign Bible Society in Paris. During the year 1835, application was made to the board from the French and Foreign Bible Society for aid to enable it to circulate the Spanish Scriptures, and a grant was made to that society of two thousand and seventy dollars. In 1837, to the above society were granted, on request, one thousand dollars, to enable it to procure a set of stereotype plates for a pica French Testament for aged persons. In addition to this grant, the sum of one thousand more was forwarded, on the recommendation of the Rev. Robert Baird, to aid in circulating the Scriptures in France and Spain. A letter from the secretary of this society the fol BIBLE IN FRANCE. 8 9 lowing year is of the most encouraging character, and gives a most gratifying account of the circulation of the Scriptures among the sailors and soldiers. It states that the maritime officers and military commanders of many cities, although Roman Catholics, had not opposed them, as was anticipated, but had in many instances granted them assistance. It was estimated that there were circulated in the different departments of France, during the year 1840, two hundred thousand copies of the Scriptures. The following year, to the Rev. Mr. Sawtelle, seven hundred Bibles and Testaments were granted for distribution in Havre; and to the Foreign Evangelical Society, to aid in the distribution of Bibles, under the direction of the Rev. Robert Baird, five hundred dollars were granted. In reply to this donation, the above-named gentleman remarks: "I am happy to say that your grant is at this moment furnishing the Scriptures to many people, by means of our colporteurs. An American-Swiss committee employs this winter thirty colporteurs." Up to this period the societies in France had received, besides grants of money from the British and Foreign Bible Society, upward of a million and a half of Bibles and Testaments. The Depository of this society in Paris, under the direction of the agent, M. Pressense, issued in 1842 one hundred and forty-six thousand Bibles and Testaments, ninety-five thousand of which were distributed by colporteurs. To the Foreign Evangelical Society, for circulating the Scriptures in France, was remitted the sum of seven hundred dollars. Soon after this grant, another was made of a thousand dollars to the French and Foreign Bible Society. A very gratifying letter was received from Count de la Borde, one of the secretaries of the society, ac 1 9Q0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. knowledging with gratitude the receipt of the donation. In this letter the pleasing intelligence is communicated that the circulation of the Bible is attended with the most blessed results. In the Catholic parishes of western France a deep and abiding interest has been awakened among the people, and a general desire to search the Scriptures" for the foundation of their faith has led many to abandon the soulless system of Romanisim, and to ask for pastors who would feed them with the " sincere milk of the Word." The Archbishop of Toulouse, startled by the encroachments of Bible truth upon the dominions of papacy, revived against the Protestants the false accusation that they were spreading editions of the Bible in which the text was falsified. One of the imembers of the American-Swiss Committee sent the archbishop a challenge to prove what he had asserted, and soon after published a pamphlet, known by the title of " Reply to the Circular of the Archbishop of Toulouse." This reply induced many inquiries, and the result was, several priests left the Church of Rome, two of whom published, pamphlets, entitled, "Farewell to Borne, and "The Pope," which created a salutary sensation. Thus has the Bible always triumphed when attacked either by papacy or infidelity. Priests, monks, and friars were converted by simply reading the Bible, and became the most zealous colporteurs of the sacred treasure. To further encourage the labors of the Foreign Evangelical Society, a grant of five hundred dollars was made. In 1847, on the request of Dr. Baird, the board granted five hundred dollars to the Foreign Evangelical Society toward printing and circulating the Scriptures in Switzerland and southern France. In two different payments to the French and For BIBLE IN FRANCE. 1 9 1 eign Bible Society, were granted, during the year, three thousand dollars' The secretary, Count de la Borde, in his communication, speaks of the determined and persevering opposition of the papal priesthood since the accession of the new pope. It will be recollected that this same Pills IX., by what was in this country termed his liberal policy, had obtained for himself the name of a reformer, as though a church infallibly identified with superstition and error could be reformed. While in this country the trumpet of his fame was sounding as a prince of liberal views, his edicts against the rights of conscience were grinding to the dust the sincere inquirers after truth in his own dominions. No thanks to Pope Pius are due, to say the least of it, from Democratic Republicans. That the policy which gave him such favor in the eyes of some, who were ignorant of the motives which actuated him, should be regarded as a matter of choice, is not remarkable. Subsequent events in his ill-fated history must certainly have demonstrated to the most obtuse intellect the fact that necessity, stern and irrevocable, was the efficient cause of such action. Unacquainted with the laws of progress, or unwilling to yield to their righteous demands, he was obliged to vacate the fabled chair of St. Peter, doff the triple crown, and, disguised as a servant, flee from the seat of his power and take refuge in another state. The desire to read the Scriptures had been awaken. ed in France, and it was not in the power of the then reigning pontiff or his hireling priesthood to arrest the progress of that spirit of inquiry. The board remitted five hundred dollars to the Evangelical Society, and responded to, an appeal from the French and Foreign Bible Society by sending two thousand dollars to aid it in the glorious work. 192 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Since the late revolution, a letter from one of the secretaries contains the follo'wing remarks: " At present our treasury is empty, and in debt twelve thousand francs. Our committee, in addition thereto, has been obliged to make large engagements, amounting to more than thirty thousand francs, in order to renew our stereotype plates, which were worn out; and, as our depository of books is nearly empty, we foresee a large increase of expenses for the purchase of paper and necessary press-work. Certainly such a situation, if made known to the world, would draw down upon us its disapprobation, and we should be accused of unpardonable imprudence; but Christians, who know the particular circumstances of the religious state of France, far from blaming us, will grant us all their sympathy." Truly a crisis full of the deepest interest had come -at a time, too, when the political circumstances of the country afforded the widest liberty for the circulation of the Scriptures among a population disturbed and agitated like the waves of the sea in a storm. There was no time to be lost; the liberty gained could only be secured by the infusion into the nation of a Bible morality, and France must have the Bible. The Rev. Mr. Bridel was sent as a delegate to the American Bible Society. His representation of the condition and wants of that country excited an interest in behalf of the Bible cause in France which was vastly greater than any that previously existed. At the anniversary meeting, it was resolved to contribute ten thousand dollars during the year for the support of this cause. We shall close this chapter by the narration of an interesting incident connected with the circulation of the Bible in France. The proprietor of the Hotel Gibbon, at Lausanne, BIBLE IN SPAIN, ETC. 1903 has charge of a depot of Bibles in this noted house. In this hotel, bearing the naine and built on the very ground so often paced by one who, through life, hated the Gospel, and did all he could to injure its blessed cause, there is a depository of Bibles. The host and hostess have disposed of upward of four thousand copies of the sacred Volume. It was once said by Voltaire that the time would arrive when the Bible would be regarded only in the light of an old curiosity. The very room in which he penned this sentiment is now piled to the ceiling with that rare old Book. CHAPTER XXIII. BIBLE IN SPAIN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, AND AUSTRIA. FROM the Annual Reports of the American Bible Society, as well as those of the British and Foreign, together with other sources of information which we have consulted in relation to the introduction and circulation of the Scriptures in this land of" old renown" -the favored country of the " olive and the vine"the earliest information we can gather is from the annual report of the above-named society for 1826. Inquiry was made during that year in regard to the dissemination of the Word of Life in that country, but such was its condition that it was deemed proper not to make any special efforts in relation thereto. During the first year of the American Bible Society's existence, when the board were without funds, and dependent upon the benevolence of friends for a place wherein to hold their meetings, the subject of publishing the Spanish New Testament was brought before N 1 94 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. them by the donation of certain documents in relation thereto from the New York Missionary Society, which they had collected with a view of undertaking said work. The subject was favorably entertained by the board, and nothing but sheer inability on their part, arising from want of means to prosecute the work, deterred them from the undertaking at that early day. In 1828, a few copies of the Spanish Scriptures were introduced through various media. Nothing more was accomplished until 1832, when small distributions were effected, mostly through natives from Spain residing in England. In 1835, the secretary of the French and Foreign Bible Society requested a copy of each of the editions of Spanish Scriptures published by the American Bible Society, and also addressed a question to the board in regard to the opinion entertained by well-informed Spaniards of the style and literary merit of the version, with a view of introducing it into Spain, which, from its proximity to France, rendered it more properly the duty of their society to labor for its introduction into that country. During the same year, the British and Foreign Bible Society sent an agent to Spain, in the person of Mr. Borrow, whose book, entitled "Bible in Spain," has been extensively circulated, and read by thousands with unusual interest. The travels of the abovenamed gentleman were very extensive, and his description of the condition of the country-its religion, manners, and customs-interesting and truthful. Spain is Roman Catholic throughout, though, in the language of Mr. Borrow, "she is not blindly wedded to the pope." Though she has done more than any other papal country to enforce the bloody edicts of the Church in the establishment of the Inquisition, which BIBLE IN SPAIN, ETC. for two centuries was gorged with the blood of thousands-a vast butcher-house-yet this was not so much for the love of Rome as for the title given her of the Vicar of Jesus. When she could no longer wield the sword with success against the Lutherans, and her Inquisition was blown to atoms, so that she was obliged to change her profession as the butcher, she became the banker of Rome. As pride must always have a fall, this being the predominant feature of her character, so was she destined to still further changes. Wars devastated the country, poverty ensued, the pope clamored for his "Peter pence," and complained bitterly of the treatment he received in Spain. In his pastoral letter, he says, "My cathedrals are let down, my priests are insulted, and the revenues of my bishops are curtailed." The pious lamentations and tears of Gregory XVI. had little effect in moving the hearts of the bull-fighting members of his Church. Mr. Borrow found among the peasantry of Spain a general willingness to read the Bible, and also a disposition to assist him in its circulation. While in Madrid he translated and printed the Gospel in the Gipsy language, which was extensively circulated, and for which, together with the sale of the Spanish Scriptures, he was arrested by the priesthood of Rome, and thrust into prison. While on his way to prison, in passing the Carcel de la Corte, or Prison of the Court, he remarks, " I remembered that this was the place where the Inquisition of Spain was in the habit of holding its solemn Autos da Fe, and I cast my eye to the balcony of the City Hall, where the last of the Austrian line in Spain sat, and, after some thirty heretics of both sexes had been burned by -fours and fives, wiped his face, perspiring with heat and black with smoke, and calmly inquired,' No hay AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. mas?' for which exemplary proof of patience he was much applauded by his priests and confessors, who subsequently poisoned him. And here am I, who have done more to. wound popery than all the poor Christian martyrs that ever suffered in this accursed square, merely sent to prison, from which I am sure to be liberated in a few days with credit and applause. Pope of Rome! I believe you to be as malicious as ever, but you are sadly deficient in power. You are become paralytic, Batuschca, and your club has degenerated to a crutch!" All this turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel, the very thing he desired; for, when he wished to get access to its inmates on a former occasion it was denied him. The word of salvation came to those who otherwise, as in the case of the Philippian jailer, never would have received its joyful intelligence. In 1838, a civil war raged with unusual violence in Spain, but the indications of Providence seemed to encourage the hope that something could be done for the diffusion of the Scriptures in that country. The board received a communication from a Protestant merchant residing there, requesting a grant of Spanish Scriptures. He says, " There is not the least shade of doubt in my mind that Divine Providence is now opening the way for the dissipation of the horrible abuses and crimes which, under the holy name of religion, have so long stained this most unhappy but finest country of the globe, and of which the intelligent portion of the nation are now beginning to see the effects. Believe me when I tell you, from my own personal observation as well as collected information, that the way is now open, and, if proper and prompt measures are adopted, we may reasonably expect, ay, even in our time, to see the Gospel, founded on the prophets and apostles, and not on tradition, that great BIBLE IN SPAIN, ETC. 197 corner stone of Romish superstition, established in this country. But let it not be imagined for a moment that this will be the work of a day or of little exertion. No; the prejudices and preoccupations of more than a thousand years are not so easily overcome. Let it not be supposed, that without immense exertion, we can hope to see even a moderate degree of success; people bred from the cradle in the exercise of unhealthy opinions, however they may be convinced of their fallacy, are not so easily, after so long a course of indulgence in them, made to consent to their alteration, and particularly by reasons urged by foreigners." The following year, a box of Bibles and Testaments in Spanish was forwarded to this gentleman at Cadiz. Nothing more of consequence appears to have been done by either of the Bible societies toward the distribution of the Bible in Spain for several succeeding years. The irreformable spirit of popery and the distracted state of the country prevented the work from being carried on as it would have been done. In its labors the Bible Society acts somewhat in accordance with the policy that governed the great Apostle of the Gentiles, who, on being rejected as a missionary to one nation, turned his attention and directed his steps to another. In 1846, the board granted a box of Bibles and Testaments, in Spanish, to the Foreign Evangelical Society, for distribution on the coast of Spain. The latest intelligence obtained from official records in regard to Bible distribution in that country is gathered from the last report of the British and Foreign Bible Society. In this there is nothing very encoura. ging, yet we trust the day is not far distant when Spain and other Catholic countries, like France, will awake to her true interests in the adoption of more 1 9g8 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. liberal principles, and at least consent to the reading and circulation of the Bible. In Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, and other papal countries, but little had been accomplished in the way of distribution. Through the Philo-Italian Society, the circulation has increased to a great extent for a few years past in Italy. A correspondent now at Rome says the Bible is freely circulated there at the present time. It is read by all, and frequently appealed to in controversy. E. Corderoy, Esq., of London, in writing to the editors of the Christian Advocate and Journal, New York says, a Bible meeting was recently held at the baths of Lucca, a Bible Society formed, and a collection taken up of one hundred dollars in aid of the cause. Thousands of Bibles, on the request of the inhabitants, have been sent to Sicily by the British and Foreign Bible Society. A correspondent of the London Christian Times, writing from Italy a few weeks since, says: "Advertisements for the public sale of copies of the Holy Scriptures lie before me, in Italy, where, but a few months ago, even one copy would have been seized by the custom-house officers. We may have depots for the Bible Society wherever we please, and ought to have one, at least, in every principal town of the Lombardo-Venetian, Tuscan, and Sardinian dominions. We should be able to offer a Bible or a New Testament to every family at a moderate price, and should endeavor to supply the schools. And if some vigorous eflort be not made by means of a well-chosen, living agency, the favorable juncture will be missed, future evangelization will be impeded, and infidel reaction will become chronic. Such an agency was established in Spain, although in the face of serious obstacles; and the adventurous Borrow and persevering Graydon, by merely circulating the volumes, effected a benefit which can never be undone. "In Austria, too, the fetters have dropped from long-imprisoned Christianity'as by the touch of an angel. Many thousands of persons are said to have seceded from the Romish. communion at Vienna alone, and united themselves, together with many priests, to the German Catholic Church. They see as through a glass darkly-very BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. darkly; but their mind is severed from old attachments, vacillates between truth and error, is inquisitive, and with the profession of candor, at least, is looking for more certain guidance. For Austria, nay, for all Germany, and for Italy and the Italian islands, we need suitable agents and a well-directed system of colportage." More recent intelligence informs us that a large edition of the Bible is now in course of publication at Rome and another at Florence. CHAPTER XXIV. BIBLE PROHIBITION IN ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES. NOTWITHSTANDING we have, in several instances, al luded to this subject, we present the following additional facts in relation to the systematic and persevering efforts of the Roman Catholic Church to prohibit the reading and circulation of the Holy Scriptures in the vulgar tongue. These facts are drawn from various but well-authenticated sources of information. The first, and that which forms the basis of all subsequent facts in regard to this subj ect, is found in the Index Prohibitorum of the Council of Trent, ordained in 1564, and beginning " Cumn experimento manifestum sit." Inasmuch as it is manifest by experience that if the Holy Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue, be indiscriminately allowed to every one, the temerity of men will cause more evil than good to arise from it; it is, on this point, referred to the judgment of the bishops or inquisitors, who may, by the advice of the priest or confessor, permit the reading of the Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue by Catholic authors, to those persons whose faith and piety they apprehend will be augmented and not injured by 200 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. it, and this permission they must have in writing. But if any one shall have the presumption to read or possess it without such written permission, he shall not receive absolution until he have first delivered up such Bible to the ordinary," &c. It is worthy of remark, that this same papal decree which prohibits the reading of the Word of God, ordains that books " written by the heathens are permitted to be read because of the elegance and propriety of the language." This is what we would call progressing backward. In Protestant countries, where the ghostly despotism of Rome is held in check, this fourth rule of the Index of Prohibited Books, on which so many popes have dwelt with such fond delight, can only be enforced to the letter where popery is absolutely dominant. In all the dominions of the Emperor of Austria, Bibles, whether in the Hebrew or in the vulgar tongue, are prohibited. In the province of Tyrol, six hundred Protestant Tyrolese were compelled to expatriate themselves in 1837, having been led to renounce the errors and corruptions of popery by the reading of the Bible. In France, popery, as an old dead tree, stretching out its haggard, leafless branches like the ghost of departed greatness and power, is ready to fall. The people, having tasted of the pure waters of life from the fountain of Divine truth, will never again go back to the stagnant pools of Rome. In Belgium, every opposition which can well be conceived has for many years been made to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. Bible distributers have not merely been reproached, insulted, and threatened, but mobs have been instigated to maltreat and injure them. Their Bibles have BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 2 0 1 been stolen or forcibly taken away, and torn to pieces or burned before their eyes. A bishop by the name of Bruges denounced the British and Foreign Bible Society as " a society hostile to God and to the holy Church-a society which would rob his dear children of all that is most dear to them." Citing the encyclical letter of Leo XII., he characterized the circulation of the Scriptures as " the infamous project of that anti-Christian society, by which the world was inundated with heretical Bibles, in which the perfidy of heretics had carried sacrilegious temerity to such an extent as shamefully to mutilate the Old Testament by striking out the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, and the Maccabees.' These same books, so precious in the eyes of the Roman priests, known as the Apocrypha, were never recognized by the Jews or primitive Christians, or the Greek Church, nor by any general council, as canonical, until the Council of Trent, in the most shameless abandonment of truth, calling itself oecumenical, or general, pronounced them "holy and canonical," -with a curse against all who would not receive them as such. The Roman Church is as superstitious as heathenism. The splendid crown presented on Ascension Day, May 25th, 1843, to a "miraculous image of the Virgin," invoked as the Mother of Mercy, in the presence of the king, queen, and their dear baby, the Duke of Brabant, was as rich in decoration as the scene was ridiculous. In Portugal, the Scriptures are unknown among the peasantry. There the power of the pope is supreme, and his subjects most blindly adhere to the decree infallible of Leo, prohibiting the reading of what he is pleased to term " the Gospel of the Devil and deadly Pastures," on pain of damnation. In this, 202 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. however, he has not the " unanimous consent of the fathers," for St. Augustine, St. Chrysostom, St. Cyprian, and St. Gregory, all recommended the reading and study of the Holy Scriptures. Now, in regard to this "unanimous consent" for the interpretation of the Scriptures, we have a word to say. If the priests of Holy Mother had intelligence enough to read the fathers, which is far from being the case with many of them, their unanimous consent could never be obtained in support of any one of the dogmas of popery, from the fact that these writings abound in almost endless contradictions. That, as Dr. Brownlee asserts, "the priests are, in general, two hundred years behind the literature of the age," is susceptible of the clearest proof, and the assumption that they are, as a body, learned, is perfectly ridiculous. In regard to the Scriptures, their ignorance has been proverbial from the days of the Reformation. When that great event was talked about among the priests, several of them affirmed that the New Testament was a book made by Martin Luther. A monk in Germany, declaiming against the Reformation, said, " A new language has been invented called the Greek," and he exhorted his friends to " guard carefully against it, as the mother of every species of heresy." "The New Testament," said he, "is written in that lan. guage, and it is a book full of thorns and serpents." In Spain, the Bible is a prohibited book unless it be accompanied with notes from the fathers and Ro. mish divines, and Felix Torres Amat, bishop of As-.torqa, could not obtain permission from the Index at Rome for publishing his Spanish version of the Scriptures, with notes, but on the condition "that he would show his readers that the reading of the Bible is not necessary to salvation." This condition he subsequently fulfilled " by duly instructing the readers that BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 203 they might go to heaven without reading the Word of God." In 1838, the circulation of the Gospel of Luke, which Mr. Borrow had translated into the dialect of the Gitanos, or Spanish gipsies, was prohibited by an ordinance of the Spanish government, as also the circulation of the same Gospel in the Spanish Basque dialect, which is spoken in the provinces of Guipuscoa and Biscay. In Italy, the Bible is a condemned and prohibited book, and unknown until very recently. The Virgin Mary is the chief object of devout admiration. If a beggar in the streets asks alms, it is for the love of the Virgin. At Nice, in the dominions of the King of Sardinia, in 183 7, twenty-four persons were imprisoned, by order of the Sardinian government, for the heinous crime of having in their possession the Bible. Similar restrictions against the Bible exist in Leghorn. At Rome, until within a few months past, the Bible was a strange and rare book. The only edition of it authorized to be sold there is in fifteen large volumes, which are filled with popish commentaries. Of course none but the rich can purchase a copy of the Sacred Scriptures; indeed, very few of the common people knew there was such a book in existence as the Bible. It is stated as a fact in Mendham's "Literary Policy of the Church of Rome," that not one single edition of the New Testament in Greek had ever been issued from the Roman press. Efforts were frequently made, and indulgences granted at different times for the publication, but they were as often revoked, fearing that the publication of the Scriptures in any other than the Latin tongue would prove injurious to the Church. In Ireland, the opposition of the Romish priests to 204 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. the circulation of the Scriptures is a matter of notoriety. The Romish archbishops and bishops, in giving publicity to the encyclical letter of Leo XII., accompanied with " pastoral instructions to all the faithful," declared, " that as the books distributed by the Bible Society, under the name of Bibles and Testaments, treat of religion, and are not sanctioned by us, or by any competent authority in the (Roman) Catholic Church, the use, the perusal, or retaining of them is entirely and without any exception PROHIBITED TO YOU; and should any of them be in your possession, they are to be returned to the persons who may have bestowed them on you, or otherwise to be destroyed." The Archbishop of Tuam said to his dear people, "Any person who practices the reading of the Bible will inevitably fall into everlasting destruction. I would therefore, my dear friends and followers, earnestly beseech you, by the love that you bear to the Virgin Mary and the dear priests, not to allow these Bible readers near your houses, not to speak to them when you meet them on the roads, but put up your hands and pray to the Virgin Mary to keep you from being contaminated with the poison of the Bible. The worst of all pestilences, the pestilence of the Bible, will entail on yourselves and children the everlasting ruin of your souls. They who send their children to schools where the Scriptures are read give them bound in chains to the devil." Bibles have been burned in Ireland as well as Belgium. On the departure of the American missionaries from Damascus, in Syria, the Franciscan monks required all the Christian communities to give up their Bibles, and they were burned in the court of the convent. In South and Central America, the same state of things exists in regard to the general ignorance of the BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 205 Scriptures and their prohibition. At Ecuador a be. nevolent individual opened a school and circulated some Bibles. He was denounced by the Bishop of Quito for the " crying enormity" of having "promoted the general reading of the Scriptures in the Spanish tongue, without notes, contrary to the prohibitions of the holy Roman Catholic Church." In the West Indies, one of the two Roman bishops resident on the island of Trinidad boasted that he had taken between two and three hundred Bibles and Testaments from the people of his flock and placed them under lock and key." Rome is the same in Protestant as she is in papal countries, and just so far as the influence of the Church extends is the Bible restricted in its circulation. The " faithful" have been deprived of it in England and the United States. In both countries the priests have committed it to the flames. We need not go back to the times of Henry IV. and Henry VIII., and the sanguinary reign of Mary, to produce evidences of hostility from the papacy to the Bible in England; recent times abound with proofs of the most incontestable character. The hypocritical pretensions and professions of the Rev. Peter Gandolphy, a Romish priest in London, as developed in a letter to Bishop Marsh, in which he says, " If any of the Bible societies feel disposed to try our esteem for the Bible by presenting us with some copies of a Catholic version, with or WITHOUT notes, we will gratefully accept and faithfully distribute them," shows most conclusively that Rome is driven to the miserable pretext of "keeping up appearances," while, at the same time, she has no intention whatever of making her professions good. Bibles were immediately sent, but they were as promptly put tinder lock and key," or committed to the flames. ^2 0 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. In 1888, the organization of a " Catholic Bible Society" was announced in Leicestershire. This, to all intents and purposes, was a secret society, as none of its operations were ever known to the community, and the name itself has almost passed away from the memory of the inhabitants. In Ireland, within a very short time past, the Bible has been burned by Roman priests, and poor, defenseless women and children have been beaten and driven from their homes for having it in their possession. Dr. Dill, a delegate from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to the American Churches, attests these facts. But the smoke of God's blessed Book has darkened this fair land of religious toleration and liberty. The following well-authenticated statement will speak for itself: "Chazy, N. Y., June 7,1843. " MY DEAR SIR-,Yours of the 28th of April last was duly received, and I should have answered it a long time ago, but, as the occurrence to which you particularly referred in it had taken place during my absence from this place, I thought it best to take all the information I could have on the subject from persons more closely acquainted with the transaction than I was myself. Consequently, I called upon Mr. Woodruff, our Congregationalist minister in this place, and also upon Mr. Hubbell, who had taken considerable pains in ascertaining as near as possible the exact state of that unfortunate and horrible affair of the burning of Bibles at Corbeau. I also received a long letter on the same subject from Mr. Brinkerhoof, the Presbyterian minister of Champlain, and now I hasten to lay before you what I know of this guilty transaction. As far as I can ascertain, from 100 to 150 Bibles were burned last November at Corbeau, through the influence and by the special command of an infuriated Romish Jesuit named Father Telmond, who had been sent there, with several others, by the Bishop of Montreal, to hold a protracted meeting among the votaries of the beast. After much inquiry, I can not find out that there has been any Bible burned out of those which I have personally distributed. I am positive that there is none of your last invoice of last fall which have fallen into the hands of those voracious birds of prey. Those burned seem to have been distributed by the Champlain Auxiliary Society; some were from the town of Luvers, others from Beekimantown, and some BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 207 even from the town of Plattsburgh. As to the effect produced upon the public mind, it has been various. In some quarters it seems to have struck the Protestant population with awe and with deep horror, while it appears, also, to have totally discouraged them as to the probability, and even the possibility, of being ever able to effect some good for the Romish population, and to retrieve them from their errors and present religious degradation. With some other Protestants it struck quite upon another chord; their feelings of indignation against this daring and sacrilegious act, and of deep pity and Christian philanthropy for the poor deluded victims of the crafty Jesuits, appear to have been considerably raised, and they are now more decided than ever to continue their efforts in behalf of the Romans, to open their eyes and enlighten their minds. As to the Romish population itself, I believe that this evil design ing act of burning publicly the Bibles has done an immense good to them, generally speaking. I can relate instances where it was the visible cause of bringing souls to Christ. There are now in our little church three of the most promising converts, who have been so shocked at this daring outrage upon the sacred Word of God that they forthwith withdrew from the Church of Rome. One is now engaged in the good work of colportage, and proves to be one of the most faithful and most intelligent guardians that has been brought from darkness to light since the beginning of the missionary movements among the Canadians. The other is gifted with the most prayerful soul that has as yet been met with among his converted countrymen. The third one is the wife of the colporteur, and she also walks steadfastly under the eye of her Maker. I have no doubt that the burning of the Bibles has done no harm to the missionary cause, but, on the contrary, I am fully convinced that God has overruled their evil design. "Before concluding this letter, I must acknowledge that I have received the box of Bibles and of New Testaments which you sent me last fall. I must pay you a very deserved compliment for the nice binding and good print of your Martin's Bibles; and I have thought it more prudent to distribute generally those of other prints, and keep these fine Martin's Bibles for converted families. I have distributed something between thirty and forty out of the hundred which you sent me. The cause of the Almighty is prospering here and in Canada. I am leaving in three days from hence for this latter place, where I am to attend protracted meetings at two or three different places. Pray, my dear sir, for me, that I may grow in knowledge, wisdom, and grzie. "Allow me to subscribe myself, with due regard, your most humble and faithful servant, C. H. 0. COTE. "Rev. J. C. BiGHA1." ^2 08 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. More recent than all in regard to Bible burning, we copy the following from a writer in the Montreal Herald of the present year: "The Roman Catholic clergy in Canada are, with few exceptions (I know of only two), opposed to the circulation of the Bible; and any one who will take the trouble to go into the houses of the French habitaqns, and make inquiry, will find that they have been quite successful in their opposition. He will scarcely find a Bible or Testament in one house in a thousand, except where Protestant agents have distributed it. In 1839, the Rev. Mr. Rabelle, czare of L'Assumption, burned five Bibles and one Testament, which had been circulated in his parish by the agent of the Montreal Bible Society, and for which he afterward paid. In 1842, as stated by the New York Journal of Commerce, between 200 and 300 Bibles were burned at a Roman Catholic protracted meeting in the village of Corbeau, near Lake Champlain. I have before me a letter from Quebec, dated the third of this month, in which the writer informs me that a priest onthe island of Orleans, finding a Bible in a house which he visited, told the person who had purchased it that it was' a bad book,' and persuaded him to tear it to pieces and throw it into the fire. Similar facts might be given, to almost any extent, from the journals of the Montreal Bible Society, and from the French Canadian Missionary Society; but I forbear." Macaulay, in his inimitable history, says, in regard to IRomanism, "During the last three centuries, the chief object of the Church of Rome has been to stunt the growth of the human mind. Throughout Christendom, whatever advance has been made in knowledge, in freedom, in wealth, and in the arts of life, has been made in spite of her, and has every where been in inverse proportion to her power. The loveliest and most fertile provinces of Europe have under her rule been sunk in poverty, in political servitude, and in intellectual torpor, while Protestant countries, once proverbial for sterility and barbarism, have been turned by skill and industry into gardens, and can boast of a long list of heroes and statesmen, philosophers and poets. Whoever, knowing what Italy and Scotland BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 209 naturally are, and what four hundred years ago they actually were, shall now compare the country round Rome with the country round Edinburgh, will be able to form some judgment as to the tendency of papal domination. The descent of Spain, once the first among monarchies, to the lowest depths of degradation; the elevation of Holland, in spite of many natural disadvantages, to a position such as no commonwealth so small has ever reached, teach the same lesson. Whoever passes in Germany from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant principality; in Switzerland from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant canton; in Ireland from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant county, finds that he has passed from a lower to a higher grade of civilization. On the other side of the Atlantic the same law prevails. The Protestants of the United States have left far behind them the Roman Catholics of Mexico, Peru, and Brazil. The Roman Catholics of Lower Canada remain inert, while the whole continent around them is in a ferment with Protestant activity and enterprise." CHAPTER XXV. BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH, WEST INDIA, AND OTHER ISLANDS. THE " sure word of prophecy" which the society labors to circulate among all nations as " a lamp to their feet and a light to their path," assures us that "the isles shall wait for his law," a prediction which has met with a literal fulfillment. The Sandwich Islands compose one of the groups of the Polynesian Islands far to the north of the great mass of the Polynesian Archipelago. 0 ^210 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. The attention of the society was called to the condition of these islands in the early part of its history, and the interest then awakened has continued unabated from year to year until the present time, a period of nearly thirty years. To the first missionaries who started from Boston for the Sandwich Islands, in 1820, under the direction and patronage of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the society made a grant of three hundred Bibles and Testaments. They also sent presents of splendid Bibles to each of the natives of the island of Owhyhee who had been educated at the Mission School in Connecticut, and who accompanied the missionaries. Superior copies were also sent to the late king of Owhyhee, Tal-ah-am-ah-ah, and Tam-o-ree, king of Atooi. In 1822, the board, at the request of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions made a donation of Bibles and Testaments for the use of mariners at the Sandwich Islands. In 1826, a similar request was made from the same board for a supply of English and Spanish Scriptures for the islands, which was granted. During the year 1829, the Gospel of Matthew, which had been translated by the missionaries into the Hawaiian language, was published by the society, and fifteen thousand copies were prepared for shipment. In speaking of the demand for the Scriptures, Mr. Loomis, the printer, who had been a resident on the islands, says, " I know not a place in the world where the Scriptures are sought with greater avidity than at the Sandwich Islands. It was the earnest request of the rulers that they might be furnished with the entire volume of inspiration. It is a pleasing consideration that the natives entertain no prejudices against the Word of God. Whatever is BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 211 known to be there contained is at once admitted to be truth." The board received, in 1832, from St. Petersburg, Russia, a box of Russian and Slavonian New Testaments, to be forwarded to the Sandwich Islands for lRussian ships which touch there. The Rev. Mr. Knill sent, in company with the book a very interesting letter, from which we make the following extract. Speaking of St. Petersburg, he says, We live at the gate of a mighty empire, among sixty millions of people, and we are enabled to distribute the sacred Word in all directions. In three years we have distributed twenty thousand volumes of the New Testament in various languages." During this year a letter was received from the Rev. Mr. Green, from the islands, in which he says, "The smiles of Jesus on the efforts made to convert the inhabitants of Hawaii have been signal. It is literally and emphatically true that these'isles wait for his law.' With the continued smiles of the Savior, we hope to print the entire New Testament in the course of the next year. We shall greatly need paper, type, and ink, and we assure you that any donation your society may be pleased to make us shall be faithfully appropriated to this object." Accordingly, a grant of five thousand dollars was made for the object above specified. On the reception of the above grant, the missionaries, which were at that time twenty in number, at their annual meeting passed several resolutions expressive of their gratitude, in behalf of the islanders, for the liberal donation. The number of natives reported at this meeting as able to read was twenty-three thousand one hundred and twenty-seven. In 1837, the board granted to the American Board 212 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. of Missions three thousand dollars to promote the publication and diffusion of the Scriptures in the Hawaiian language. The missionaries, in a communication to the board, use the following language: "We have completed the printing of an edition of ten thousand copies of our revised translation of the New Testament, at your expense. It is now binding and distributing, and is called for by the people as fast as a dozen native binders can put them up. We are prosecuting the translation of the Old Testament, and printing it in separate books, some of very small editions. We cherish the hope of having the translation completed in eighteen months, perhaps a year from this date." A letter from one of the missionaries, in 1839, communicates the cheering intelligence that a gracious revival of religion was in progress. The Spirit of God had been poured out copiously upon the seventeen churches, embracing twenty thousand regular hearers. The writer remarks, that "the glorious Gospel, through the agency of the American Missionary, Bible, and Tract Societies, had been made a savor of life unto life to the multitudes, who were dead as the dry bones in Ezekiel's vision." Thirty thousand copies of the New Testament had been printed, and also a large portion of the Old Testament. Two thousand five hundred dollars were appropriated for the promotion of the circulation of the Bible during the year. In 1841, for the publication of the Hawaiian Scrip. tures, the board granted five thousand five hundred dollars. The translation of the entire Bible in the Hawaiian tongue was completed in 1839, and the board having examined it, no doubt was left on their minds in re BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 213 g~ard both to its fidelity, and in reference to its catholic character. In the eighteen churches on the Sandwich Islands there were, in 1841, fifteen thousand nine hundred and fifteen communicants, and not far from nineteen thousand pupils connected with the common schools. The number of those who could read was estimated at between thirty and forty thousand. Two editions of the New Testament had been published of ten thousand copies each, and one edition of ten thousand copies of the entire Bible. The forcible establishment of French papal missionaries rendered it increasingly important to have the Word of God placed in every household. To the chaplain of the American -Seamen's Friend Society stationed at the islands was granted a supply ofBibles and Testaments in different languages. To the Sandwich Island mission, in 1842, was paid the sum of five thousand dollars, toward the appropriation of ten thousand dollars made by the board. A society was organized at the Sandwich Islands, denominated the " Hawaiian Bible Society," auxiliary to the American Bible Society. To this society was granted by the board, in 1844, the sum of three thousand dollars. The following statement, from its second Report, will convey some idea of the nature and extent of its operations: "During the past, as in former years, the distribution of the Scriptures has, to a great extent, been gratuitous. The people are poor, and it is with much difficulty that the mass can obtain the money requisite for the payment of their taxes. The distribution has been in proportion to the readers in all parts of the field. Our plan of division is to give to each missionary station a just proportion of all the books printed, so that the divisions of islands, where the people are the poorest and least able to pay, are furnished as am 21 4 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ply as the portions enjoying greater means and facilities." The influence of the Bible, forming, as it does, the basis of all their laws, exerts a happy and controlling power over all classes of the people. In 1845, a grant of fifteen hundred dollars was made to aid in the publication of the Hawaiian Scriptures. From the Report of the Hawaiian Bible Society we learn that an increased interest was manifested in the circulation of the Scriptures in the islands. For the same object there were forwarded to the Sandwich Islands fifteen hundred dollars in 1847. The society there is represented to be one of efficiency and system, and it is anticipated that incalculable good will result from its labors. As letters were expected by which grants were to be regulated, but had not arrived before the close of the financial year, no appropriations were made for the work of Bible distribution in the islands for 1848. As early as 1820, the Board of Managers sent a small quantity of Spanish Bibles and Testaments to Trinidad and St. Croix, the former of which is known as the most southerly of the Caribbee Islands, and is represented as being exceedingly fertile and beautiful. During the year 1825, a quantity of Bibles and Testaments was sent to St. Martin's and St. Croix. This year the society, as the almoners of the British and Foreign Bible Society, sent to Porto Praya three hundred Bibles and Testaments in the Portuguese language. Through the liberality of the New York Bible Society, the immigrants to the island of Hayti were furnished with a suitable supply. A small number was also granted for the use of the schools. To Antigua was also sent a supply of Bibles and Testaments. BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 215 In 1826, several boxes of Spanish Scriptures were sent to Cuba for sale and distribution at different places by Roman Catholic clergymen. Another box of Spanish and French Bibles and Testaments was sent to Hayti. In 1828, Bibles and Testaments were sent to Matanzas and Port au Platte, and intrusted to Catholic clergymen. A small supply of French Testaments was sent to a religious captain of a vessel for Aux C ayes. On request of Mr. Wainwright, of Port au Prince, HIayti, a small quantity of French Bibles and Testaments was sent for distribution. In 1833, to a colony near Baracao, was sent a small supply of Spanish Bibles and Testaments. On application of a missionary at one of the Bahama Islands, in 1835, a grant of one hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments was made. These books were portioned out to the inhabitants of New Providence, Turk's Island, Rum Key, Wolling's Sound, Exuma, Grand Bahama, and Andros Island. In 1843, to the Rev. Dr. M'Elroy, who had been in Santa Cruz, was granted fifteen hundred Bibles and Testaments for the Danish Islands. The propriety of the grant can be learned from the doctor's letter. He says, " The government has recently established schools at different points on the island of Santa Cruz, to sustain which would cost the treasury ten thousand dollars per annum. By law, planters are required to send all their young slaves to these schools for a period of four years, commencing with their fifth year. To keep pace with the intellectual improvement, and make provision for the religious training of the youth, the wise and good have fallen upon the expedient of Sabbath schools, and gentlemen and ladies of the first respectability are seen from Sabbath to Sabbath in 2 16 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. structing the slaves, together with their own children. Multitudes of these children are without the Scriptures, and those who have the heart have not the means to procure them for gratuitous distribution." Other grants to a small amount were made to Hayti and Cuba the same year. In 1844, to Mr. Stevenson and a lady at St. Croix, for distribution, were granted seventy-three Bibles and Testaments in Danish and French; and to the Rev. Mr. Hanson, a Protestant Episcopal missionary at Key West, were sent one hundred and eighteen Bibles and Testaments for the destitute. To the Rev. Mr. Brett were sent five hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments, to the island of St. Thomas; and to the Rev. Mr. Towler, Wesleyan missionary at Hayti, were granted one hundred and seven Bibles and Spanish Gospels. During the year 1845, to a Wesleyan missionary at Hayti, were sent French Bibles and Testaments; and to a gentleman at St. Croix were sent one hundred and fifty Bibles for distribution. To the Rev. Mr. Brett, of the Reformed Dutch Church at St. Thomas, were sent four hundred and seventyfive Bibles and Testaments in English, German, and Spanish. One hundred Portuguese Testaments were sent to Mr. Dabney at the Azore Islands for distribution. During the following year, grants of Bibles were made to Key West, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Cuba. In 1847, for the use of the slave population of St. Croix, on the recommendation of the Rev. Mr. Mines, there were granted by the board five hundred Bibles and Testaments. To a resident of Cuba, a small quantity of Spanish Bibles and Testaments was granted for distribution. To a missionary of the Reformed Presbyterian BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 217 Church were granted, in 1848, one hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments, in French, for Hayti. These books were for the use of the mission. At the same time there were granted to the Bahama Bible Society, on the request of its secretary, two hundred Spanish Bibles and the same number of Testaments, and two hundred Spanish Gospels, the latter being designed for distribution by a friend at Matanzas, Cuba. All hither as well as farther Polynesia presents a most inviting field; and every island of the numerous groups invites occupancy, and promises a rich and plentiful harvest. CHAPTER XXVI. BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. THIS country embraces the southeastern part of the continent of Asia. It derives its name from the dynasty of Tsin. It was anciently called Tien-sha, which signifies under heaven, and implies that it is only inferior to heaven; hence the Chinese call it the "Celestial Empire." Like the ancient Egyptians, the Chinese lay claim to the most extravagant antiquity, while their authentic history does not commence until the age of Confucius, who flourished about five centuries before the Christian era. The extent of the country from north to south is about one thousand four hundred and fifty miles, and from east to west about one thousand two hundred and sixty miles, an area larger than the United States. Its population is variously estimated. The most accurate statement, perhaps, is that contained in Good 218 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. rich's Modern History, which puts it down at three hundred and fifty millions, a number seventeen times greater than that of the United States. The government of the country is despotic, the emperor claiming to rule by the appointment of heaven. As a missionary field, there is, perhaps, no one in the world more interesting or inviting. If the population of the heathen world be estimated at seven hundred millions, then China alone embraces one half of the entire heathen world. Whatever relates to the introduction of the Bible into the " Celestial Empire" must prove of interesting importance to all who desire to see heathen rites and barbarous customs superseded by Christian civilization and refinement. Though we are disposed to place little reliance upon traditional accounts, yet the following from Townley's Biblical Literature is worthy of notice, and, if true, will show that this vast population was early visited by the missionary: "In 637, a Christian mission from Syria arrived in China, under the superintendence of a minister whom the Chinese call Olopen, and had the good fortune to obtain the emperor's protection, who ordered his prime minister to translate the Scriptures brought by Olopen into the Chinese language. During some following centuries Christianity prevailed, with a few variations, in the Chinese Empire, where the names of several bishops and other ministers are left on record." Professor Lassar, of the Anglo-Hindoo College at Calcutta, an Armenian Christian, in 1807 translated the Gospel of Matthew into the Chinese language; and in 1808, the same gentleman, in connection with his pupils, among whom was Mr. Marshman, completed the translation of all the Gospels into that tongue. BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 219 The Bible was translated into the Chinese language, at great toil and expense, by Dr. Marshman, the elder pupil of Professor Lassar, in 1819, since which time the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies have labored assiduously to promote the circulation of the Scriptures in that country. A communication to the Board of the American Bible Society from Dr. Morrison, at Canton, in 1822, states that the free dissemination of the Bible in China proper was impracticable, and the same was the case with all books that exhibited the claims of Jesus and treated of his salvation. In 1823, the whole Bible was printed in Chinese, from a translation by Drs. Morrison and Milne, thousands of copies of which were put in circulation. Nothing more occurs in the reports until the year 1832, when the board received a communication from the Rev. Mr. Bridgman, at Canton, containing a strong appeal for means to prepare and circulate the Chinese Scriptures. He states that, since the translation of the Bible in that language, changes that caused joy in heaven had taken place. Two editions of Bibles, three of the New Testament, and four of the Psalms had been printed and put in circulation, to the number of between twelve and fifteen thousand. Another fact, he says, which gives them a strong claim to the attention of the society is, " that they are a reading people. In this respect they are probably superior to any pagan nation of ancient or modern times. Buddhism, with all its absurdities, has worked its way into every nook and corner of the empire, through all the grades of society, by means of books, without the aid of teachers. Give the Chinese the Bible, and at once a very large proportion of the population can read it. Thousands are now accessible, and would willingly receive the bread of life. There 220 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. is no one language on earth in which the Bible, were it universally distributed, could be read by so many millions as in the Chinese language. Take a survey of the field. From Canton pass up through Formosa, Loo Choo on to Corea, thence pass westward along the Russian frontiers for more than two thousand miles to the center of Asia, from thence, in a southeastern direction, travel down through Thibet, Siam, Penang, Malacca, across the equator on to Java, and by a circuitous route, including the numerous islands in the Indian Archipelago,return to the place of your departure, and you will have included in the vast area one third part of the human family. Though there are different languages and dialects within these limits, yet throughout the whole extent, the Bible, if possessed in the Chinese language, can be read. With such a territory, and such a waiting and reading population, we feel impelled and encouraged to ask for the prayers and charities of the American Bible Society." Although the walls of the "Celestial Empire" remained impervious to the distributer of the Bible, yet the intelligence received through the labors of that indefatigable philanthropist, Gutzlaff, whose tours extended along the eastern and northern parts of China, encouraged the hope that at no distant day the Bible would enter and have free course within the walls of that vast empire. In Siam and along the southern borders of China the people are accessible. Four hundred and forty thousand Siamese were represented as being ready for the Bible in 1833. The board made an appropriation of three thousand dollars for the circulation of the Bible in China. In 1843, a letter from the mission established in Canton, after expressing thankfulness to the board for its grant, and also a hope that it will be succeeded by BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 221 others, states that Leang Afa, a distinguished Christian convert, was in that city distributing portions of the Scripture to the inhabitants, but more particularly among the students and literati. Mr. Gutzlaff, while in Corea, presented the king with twenty-one volumes of the Scriptures, which were accepted. In visiting the province of Cheteang and the Chusa Islands, he writes, " All that I had formerly seen was nothing compared with the ardent desire evinced by the natives to obtain books. Had I fifty thousand copies of the Scriptures, they would all have been scattered among eager readers." From Fokin province, four hundred miles interior from Canton, he writes, "Here is a wide door opened. I have traversed large tracts of country with boxes of books, and had only to regret that I had not the pleasure of distributing them, for the people robbed me of every volume, such was the eagerness with which they seized upon them. There is a great error abroad concerning China, in a spiritual point of view. No country of Asia, ruled by native princes, is so easy of access. I am now writing a work against the three prevailing superstitions of China, and hope to follow this by an essay on the Trinity." He states it as his confident opinion that China would be visited with the glorious Gospel. He says, in conclusion, " My whole heart is set upon the work. If the Savior grants me grace, I shall labor to the last, and my last breath be a prayer in behalf of China's salvation." In 1835, another communication was received from the Rev. Mr. Bridgman, missionary at Canton. Among other things, he says, " It is impossible for those who have not given particular attention to the condition and situation of these Eastern nations to believe that the Chinese Empire contains three hundred and sixty millions of human beings, or that those who can read 222 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. the Scriptures in the Chinese language constitute more than one third of our race. " The principal part of your grant will be employed in printing the Chinese Bible at Malacca. Many copies will be needed for immediate circulation, and should a missionary ship be sent out to visit the coast and the Chinese settlements, many thousand copies will at once be required, and perhaps, very soon, many millions." A letter from the evangelist Leang Afa, giving an account of his conversion, his punishment by government for printing portions of the Scriptures from blocks prepared by himself, the instructions he received from Dr. Milne at the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, and closing by an appeal to the society for aid in printing the Chinese Bible, that he might circulate it among his countrymen, was received by the board. A letter from the Rev. Charles Gutzlaff, in regard to Bible distribution, says, " If only the one hundredth Chinaman was to get a Bible from you, a ten-year's income would not be sufficient to defray the expenses. Pray to the Lord that he will not only open an effectual door to all the maritime provinces, but also to the whole empire. I inform you that all the parts of Scripture which were sent to my care were distributed to eager readers at Formosa and in Fokin. A total revision of the whole Chinese Scripture is a matter of urgent necessity; and we have therefore set to work to furnish a new edition in order to answer the wants of the people. Every care and attention will be bestowed upon this important undertaking." The following truthful and beautiful allegory, from the pen of the Rev. Mr. Abeel, represents the utility of the Bible in China: "He knew but one missionary in whom he could place complete confidence. That missionary he had BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 223 met in China. He was instructed in the languages, and diligent in exertion; he had made voyages from island to island; he had gone forth unaided and alone; he had entered villages and hamlets; he dared to enter the place of him who was called'The Son of Heaven,' and had ventured to tell him the true way to heaven. That missionary had done him the honor to be his companion, and such another companion he never expected to find. Where he could not go, that missionary went. He had never left him. In enter. ing regions which had no teacher, he was still his companion. He went among all classes; he abode with him for weeks at a time; he animated all his exertions, and, what was most remarkable, with all his powers, with all his elevation of soul, he became his servant; he entered even the junks, and taught the mariners; he went on, and entered China itself. Surely all will desire to know who he was. He would tell them who he was not. He was not a Churchman nor a Dissenter; he was not a Calvinist nor an Arminian; he was not an American, nor an Englishman, nor a Scotchman, nor a Hollander. He appeared to hate all sects, and many of those who were the most prominent he had never even mentioned. That missionary was THE BIBLE!" The report of 1836 states that Messrs. Gutzlaff, Bridgman, Medhurst, and Morrison were engaged con. jointly in revising the Chinese Scriptures. The board this year granted one thousand dollars to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions for the purpose of circulating the Scriptures in China. To the American Board of Missions, for preparing the Chinese Scriptures, five hundred dollars. To Messrs. Oliphant and associates at Canton, to. ward transporting and distributing the same in China, one thousand dollars. 224 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. To the Protestant Episcopal Board of Missions, for Chinese Scriptures, five hundred dollars. To the American Board of Foreign Missions, for Chinese Scriptures, four thousand dollars. To the same, for the Chinese, Malay, Siamese, and Bugis Scriptures, seven thousand five hundred dollars. In 1838, the Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff communicated to the board information of the preparation, under his supervision, of the New Testament in Japanese. He had in his family two natives of Japan, one of whom was wholly devoted to the prosecution of the work. The board, on request, paid for the services of this translator seventy-two dollars per year. The new Chinese version, alluded to in a former report, created a difference of sentiment among the missionaries in regard to its merits. The principal objection was in regard to the retention of the Chinese idiom. This peculiarity rendered it more acceptable to the Chinese than a more literal one. The British and Foreign Bible Society withdrew their patronage from it, and the American Society postponed their decision until further advised. An interesting letter was received from the Rev. Mr. Rottger, a Dutch missionary at Rio, in relation to his labors in distributing the Bible among the Chinese. He had visited and distributed the Scriptures at Rio, at Banca, and at Palembang in Sumatra. At Muntok, in Banca, he says, "They built a new Chinese temple. I went in with the eternal Gospel in my hand, and gave the workmen some copies. I spoke to them about that one thing which is needful for the salvation of their immortal souls. Immediately the temple was crowded with Chinamen, seeming to be glad of what they heard and read. In this way the Gospel has been preached in this temple before it was ready to act their idolatrous superstition in it." BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 225 The prospects for the Bible cause in China, in 1839, were more gloomy than they had been previously. This was attributable to several causes. The doubts entertained in regard to the propriety of circulating the new version-the cutting off the communication with the remote provinces, where most of the distributions had previously been made, except by vessels engaged in the illicit and ruinous opium trade, embarkation in which, by religious men, would have been as questionable as the taking a passage in a slaverthese combined, served to produce despondency in the minds of the friends of the cause at home and abroad. Incipient measures were taken, however, to remedy the last-named difficulty, by procuring and sending to Canton a small vessel for the purpose of transporting the Bible and its distributer. A communication from Mr. Gutzlaff in relation to distributions at Macao was more encouraging. In the environs of that place he visited thirty villages, several hundred national vessels, and distributed about two hundred volumes of Testaments. 1840. The disturbed relation between the Chinese and foreigners was of such a nature as to preclude almost entirely the circulation of the Scriptures. In consequence of the difficulty connected with the circulation of the versions of the Chinese Scriptures, to which allusion has already been made, the first translation, by Dr. Morrison, being too literal and simple in style to suit the Chinese, especially the educated portion, and the latter, though popular with that class, yet exceptionable to the missionaries and the British and Foreign Bible Society on account of its figurative and paraphrastic character-in 1843, the missionaries of Europe and America, of all denominations except the papal, undertook to prepare a versioni P 2 2 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. retaining all the good features, without the defects of the two previous translations. The Hmeeting of the above-named missionaries was held at Hong Kong. Presnt, Messrs. Dyer, Hobson, Legge, Medhurst, Milne, and A. and J. Stronach, of the London Missionary Society; Messrs. Bridgman and Ball, of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Messrs. Dean and Roberts, of the American Baptist Board; and Mr. Brown, of the Morrison Education Society. The present state of the Chinese version was fully discussed, and the following resolution was passed unanimously: " Resolved, That it is desirable to have a version of the Sacred Scriptures translated into the Chinese language, better adapted for general circulation than any hitherto published. In regard to the New Testament, while the meeting readily acknowledge the superiority of the latest over every former version, they would recommend that all that has been done be submitted to a committee for the purpose of being thoroughly revised, and that the same committee be instructed to prepare a version of the Old Testament in conformity with the above revised version of the New Testament." At an adjourned meeting, held subsequently, present as before, with the exception of Messrs. Dean and.Roberts, of the Baptist Board, whose places were sup-plied by Messrs. Shuck and Macgowan, it was Resolved, That any translation of the Scriptures into Chinese, issued with the approbation of the body of Protestant missionaries, be in exact conformity to the Hebrew and Greek originals in sense, and, so far as the idiom of the Chinese language will allow, in style and manner also. BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 22 Resolved, That the Textus Receptus shall form the basis of the proposed revised version. Resolved, That the amounts of weights, measures, and pieces of money being ascertained, the same be translated by corresponding terms in Chinese. At the third meeting, presentas before, it was resolved, That the passages occurring in different places, but expressed in the same way in the original, be translated in a uniform manner, and that t irit of this resolution be applied as far as possible in the case of individual terms. That no periphrasis be substituted for the possessive pronoun when used inconnection with the name of God. " That the interchange of the noun and pronoun be allowed when deemed necessary by the translators. "That euphemisms in the originals be rendered by corresponding euphemisms in Chinese." At the fourth meeting, the same members present, it was "Resolved, That the subject of rendering the word fanruw and its derivatives into Chinese be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Bridgman and Dean. " That the rendering of the names of the Deity into Chinese be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Medhurst and Legge. "That the rendering of Scripture names generally be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Medhurst and Milne, with the assistance of Mr. J. II. Morrison, and that in the arrangement of sounds uniformity and brevity be studied. "That the whole body of Protestant missionaries to the Chinese form a general committee for the purpose of revising the translation of the Scriptures in the Chinese language, and that this committee be subdi. vided into local committees of stations, each to con 2 28 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. sist of all the missionaries at that station-that the work of revision be subdivided and apportioned to the several stations. That when each local committee has completed its task, a transcript thereof shall be sent to each station for further revision, and then these transcripts, with the corrections upon them, shall be submitted to the original revisers. When the whole of the New Testament shall have been thus revised, each station shall select one or more of its most experienced men to act as delegates in a meeting of the general committee, it being understood that each station will be entitled to one vote only, and these shall be the final judges as to the propriety of each revision, after which the whole shall be submitted to the Bible societies in Great Britain and America for their acceptance." At the fifth meeting of the committee, same as before present, with the addition of W. C. Lowrie, of the American Board of Foreign Missions, it was " Resolved, That Mr. Medhurst be requested to act as secretary to the general committee. " That the Bible societies in England and America be requested to reimburse any reasonable expenditure which may be incurred by the brethren in making the revision. " That no portion of this revision shall be printed until finally revised by the committee of delegates, and not then, at the expense of the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies, until approved by them. "That the work of revision be divided into five por. tions, as follows: " 1st. Acts and Hebrews to 2d Peter. "2d. Mark and 1st and 2d Corinthians. "3d. Matthew and Philippians to Philemon. " 4th. Luke, Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians. " 5th. John, Epistles of John, Jude, and Revelation." BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 22 At the sixth meeting, the committee appointed to report upon the proper mode of rendering the word QaTrtToj stated that " they were not prepared to recommend any one term to express it so as to harmonize the views of the Baptists and Paedo-Baptists," and hence the meeting resolved " That we proceed harmoniously in the work of revision, employing the talents of missionaries of both these sections of the Church to conduct it and to bring it to as perfect a state as possible; that, when this is done, should difficulties still exist on this subject, each section shall be at liberty to recommend for publication separate editions of the same version, agreeing in all other respects, and only differing as to the rendering of this term; and that the revision go forth to the world, not as the work of one party or of the other, but as the result of the combined efforts of the whole." At the seventh and last meeting it was " Resolved, That as it is difficult to decide upon the most appropriate word for expressing the name of God in Chinese, each station may for the present use such word as it shall prefer, leaving the ultimate decision to the general committee. " Resolved, That the above resolutions be printed, and that authenticated copies, signed by the chairman and secretary, be sent to the Bible and missionary societies of England and America." In the report of 1846, the intelligence was communicated that Chinese youth at Hong Kong were learning the English language, and the board made a grant during the year of English Bibles for the use of schools in that place. Of the thousands of youth receiving Christian instruction, many are just emerging into manhood, and are themselves becoming teachers to their benighted AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. countrymen. This state of things encourages the fond hope that the day is not far distant when the millions of that long-lost empire will be saved by the power of the Gospel of Christ, in the onward march of which pagan temples, and altars, and idol gods shall fade away as mist from the mountains when the sun breaks across the threshold of the Eastern world. In 1847, the board made an appropriation of ten thousand dollars toward procuring and circulating, by the American missionaries, the new version of the Scriptures about to be issued in China. This appropriation will be paid in instalments, from time to time, as it is needed by the missionaries. The British and Foreign Bible Society granted to the London Missionary Society one thousand pounds, for the purchase of a cylinder press for printing the new version. The time for realizing those things spoken of by Dr. Milne just before his death has already come to China. When asked by a friend, "What are you doing in China?" he replied, "I have to tell you we are here standing and knocking at the gates of China, calling upon the emperor, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to open the gates of his empire for the admission of the Gospel. To the above summons, the emperor's reply is,' No! my gates are forever closed against you and your message! While the emperor is setting at defiance the mandates of our divine Master, the Prince of the kings of the earth, who shutteth and no man openeth, and who openeth and no man shutteth, and who has the keys of the gates of the nations of the earth at his girdle, is calling upon us to go on with our work-to continue knocking; and if the Emperor of China will not open his gates, he says,'I have a Key that will open them!"' Those gates are now open; the Bible and mission BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 31 ary have free access to the population within these hitherto impassable walls. The attention of almost every denomination in the Christian world is now turned to China; and the sixty missionaries on the ground, mastering its language and laboring for its salvation, will receive re-enforcements from year to year, until that whole vast empire shall see the salvation of God. CHAPTER XXVII. BIBLE IN INDIA AND INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES. THE ancient history of Hindostan, or India, according to the native annals, goes back to a very remote antiquity, like that of China, and is equally absurd. The country was not known to Europe until the time of Alexander the Great. It contains one million one hundred thousand square mniles of territory, and a population of one hundred and thirty millions. Of these about fifty thousand are of European descent. The Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, French, and British all have possessions in this country of greater or less extent. As a missionary field, it was among the number of the "nations from afar" that was visited when the apostles were "scattered abroad, and went every where preaching the Word." When the Portuguese visited this country in the sixteenth century, they discovered certain traditions, and the existence of some monuments, that the Apostle " Thomas, one of the Twelve," had preached there; and it was asserted that he was murdered by some 232 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Brahmins, who feared that his labors might eventually prove subversive of their idolatrous superstitions. This martyrdom took place at Malabar, on the coast of Coromandel. He was carried to Edessa, and there buried. This, if true, presents in a striking light the estimation in which that apostle held the commission of his Lord, to " go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." It is also a living comment and testimony both of the nature and extent of that commission. But India is interesting to the philosopher as well as the Christian. Dr. Henry, in his " History of Philosophy," speaking of the origin of science, conveys the idea that, of all the nations of pagan antiquity, the philosophical conceptions of none appear to ascend an epoch so near the deluge as that of India, or to have risen to speculations so lofty, and infers therefrom that they were enlightened with the primitive theology handed down to them by oral tradition from the primeval world. Of China, Persia, )and Egypt, he says, " They form, as it were, the three angles of a luminous triangle, within which the Oriental genius exerts its activity, and of which Chaldea and India occupy nearly the middle. Neither of these angles, in the actual state of our historical knowledge of the Oriental mind, presents any traces of a philosophical development on a large scale. " To find this, we must go to India. This magnificent country, which extends through every degree of temperature, from the icy summits of the Himalaya to the burning seas of the Polynesia, has been the scene of a vast and long-continued philosophical conflict, of which some monuments have already passed into the domain of European science." But we must not dwell upon speculations of this BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 233 character, however interesting they may be. Our business relates to facts in regard to the religious condition of India; and in the narration of these facts, it will be seen that, whatever may be said of its primitive theology or philosophy, they neither "know the true God nor Jesus Christ whom he has sent," and that if they ever did, "they glorified him not as God, but their foolish hearts became darkened, and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into images, made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things, and changed the truth of God into a lie, and abandoned themselves to lust, rage, revenge, polygamy, incest, and bestiality." Thus it is, and thus it ever has been, and will be, with all the philosophy of the world that has no God in it to purify its principles and direct its tendencies. Chin-India, or Indo China, as it is called, instead of Farther India, or India beyond the Ganges, lies between China on the north and east, and Hindostan or India proper on the west. Its southern coast is washed by the China Sea and the waters of the Straits of Malacca. It comprises Birmah, Cochin China, Tonquin, Pegu, Cambodia, Laos, Siam, and the peninsula of Malacca. This interesting country once belonged to the Chinese, and the inhabitants in many important features resemble the Chinese. We had thought of assigning to this a separate article; but as there is such an identity of language and manners among the people, and the operations of the Bible and missionary societies, with those of China and India proper, we concluded to embrace these operations under one head. In this portion of the Bi. ble field there are some interesting points. Here is Birmah, where our Baptist brethren have been so long and faithfully laboring, the very name of which awak. ens a thousand hallowed associations in the minds of ^23 4 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. all who love the cause of Christ. Here, too, is Malacca, the Ophir of the Old Testament, whose wedges of gold enriched and beautified the Temple of God at Jerusalem, and whose principal sea-port contains the ashes of the lamented Milne, who, with the lamented Morrison, of China, labored with such untiring industry to open up the treasures of God's Word to four hundred millions of our race. Here, in the city of Malacca, with its forty thousand inhabitants, was established the Anglo-Chinese college for the education of youth in the English language, and also of missionaries in the language and literature of China. Having made these preliminary remarks, weshall proceed to direct the reader's attention to the introduction of the Bible among these sin-ruined millions. The College of Fort William, at Bengal, called the Anglo-Hindoo College, was founded in 1800. During the first seven years of its existence it translated the Scriptures into five languages, and produced one hundred volumes in Oriental literature. The first Protestant mission in India was founded by Ziegenbalg, at Tranquebar, a man of erudition and piety from the University of Halle. In 1719 he finished the translation of the Bible in the Tamul tongue, having devoted fourteen years to that Work. At Calcutta and Serampore, Bible societies were instituted in 1811, at Bombay in 1813, and at Madras in 1820. These institutions have been engaged zealously, efficiently, and perseveringly in translating, printing, and circulating the Scriptures in the various languages of India. In a report of the former of these societies in 1821, the secretary uses the following language: " Fearing lest even the sacred Scriptures might, by a profuse and inconsiderate distribution, be unprofitably consumed, I thought it expedient to warn our fellow-laborer, Mr. BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 236 Bowley, of the danger there was of throwing away our precious stores, and coming to an end of our edi. tions before the time. His answer was,' Permit me to beg you to picture yourself in the midst of an an. nual lHindoo fair, as I was the other day at Mirzapore, surrounded by forty thousand people, pent up literally so closely as to be unable to move by reason of the pressure of those heathens, soliciting for the words, of eternal life, which were translated, printed, and sent you purposely for distribution among them-could you have refused those who could read and were importunate with you for them?'" In 1822, the following communication to the Man. agers of the American Bible Society from Drs. Carey and Marshman, was received: Dear Brethren in Christ: Aware of the liberal principles on which your society is founded, and that it is by no means your wish to confine your endeavors to disseminate the sacred Scriptures to America alone, but, as much as in you lieth, to assist in giving them to the whole family of man, we make the following appeal: The circumstances under which the work was begun by our elder brother, Dr. Carey, twen. ty-six years ago, are not altogether unknown to you, nor the endeavors made by us as a united body, for nearly twenty years past, to give the Scriptures, in the various languages of India, as far as the Lord might enable us. In the accompanying memoir, you will perceive that the whole of the sacred Scriptures have been published in Jive of the languages of India; the New Testament and certain parts of the Old in ten more; and in six more the New Testament is brought more than half through the press; in the remaining ten some one of the Gospels is printed, and in several all four of the Gospels. " The expense which has attended this work has 236 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. been defrayed by the liberality of the public in Britain and America, among whom we feel eminently indebted to the generosity of the British and Foreign Bible Society. For the expense of printing the Old Testament in the few languages wherein it is now going forward, and that of printing further editions of the New Testament now in the press, we are constrained to appeal to the Christian public at large both in Britain and America." To assist in preparing new editions of the Scriptures in Sanscrit, Bengalee, Hindee, Mahratta, and Orissa, the board granted to the above-named gentlemen the sum of one thousand dollars. In the Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society for 1828, it is stated that the societies at Madras and Bombay had distributed, since their organization, thirty thousand copies of Bibles and Testaments in thirty of the tongues of India, among which were the Anglo-Chinese, the Tamul, Goojurattu, Cingalese, and Pali languages, the latter of which is the language of the literati of the Burman Empire. At Singapore, Malacca, the Bible was distributed among the Chinese junks in the harbor. In 1829, the board granted one thousand two hundred dollars toward printing Judson's translation of the New Testament in the Burman language. The publication of the Scriptures in this language opened up the word of life and salvation to a population of seventeen millions in that empire. In 1832, a communication was received from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, presenting the claims of India to the society, and an appropriation was made of five thousand dollars to aid in printing the Mahratta Scriptures at Bombay, and also five thousand dollars toward printing the Scriptures in the Burman tongue. BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 237 In relation to the operations of the Bible cause in India in 1833, the managers state that the whole of the New Testament, with the Pentateuch and Psalms of the Old, have been translated into the Mahratta language by the American missionaries. The versions were made from the originals. Most of the copies of the Book of Genesis and of the New Testament which had been printed were put in circulation. Other versions of parts of the Bible, under the patronage of the Church Missionary Society, were printed at Bombay. The versions of our missionaries were made to conform to our English version, in being literal and not free translations of the Word of God. Mr. Graves, one of the missionaries of the American Board, stated, while on a visit to this country, that about one in forty of the Mahratta people were able to read; hence the number of those who could read was not far from four hundred thousand. In 1834, the board granted to the American missionaries at Bombay, to aid in printing the Mahratta Scriptures, three thousand dollars. To the mission station in the Burman Empire, for printing the Burman Scriptures, five thousand dollars. The following extracts from a communication to the board will show the progress made in the work of distribution. The letter contains the following interesting items: The demand for the Scriptures at Bombay was on the increase. Copies were distributed in Hindoostanee and Persian among the Mussulmans. The Book of Exodus, prepared by Mr. Graves, had been lithographed, mostly at the expense of the board. The demand for these by the Jews was great. An edition of Leviticus was also in preparation. Mohammedans, Jews, and Mahrattas were all receiving the Word of Life. 238 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. The Mahrattas numbered about twelve millions, and to supply them with the Word of God there were only eleven missionaries in the field. Schools were multiplying in the country, and thousands of youth were yearly sent out into active life who had been taught to read the Bible. From Birmah cheering intelligence was received of the progress of the work of printing and circulating the Scriptures. The Baptist Board at Maulmein had printed the first edition of three thousand copies of the New Testament in the Burman language, and, so urgent were the demands for them, another edition was contemplated. A very interesting account of the Rev. Mr. Kincaid's voyage up the Irrawaddy River, from Rangoon to Ava, describes the people as willing every where to read the " Sacred Book." To the Western Foreign Missionary Society at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there was made a grant, in 1835, of five hundred dollars, to be expended by their missionaries in circulating the Scriptures in Northern India, in the province of Lahore. For the circulation of the Scriptures among the Baptist missions in the Burman Empire, a grant of seven thousand dollars was made during the year. The Secretary of the Baptist Board stated that, in addition to the printing of the New Testament, the Old Testament would soon be in a course of publication. They had it in contemplation to send out a fifth press, that copies of the Bible might more rapidly be multiplied. In the year 1836, a box of Bibles and Testaments was sent, through Mr. Medhurst, to Singapore, for distribution among the seamen, vast numbers of whom, from almost all countries, visit this port. During the year the following appropriations were made: BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 239 To the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, for circulating the Orissa Scriptures in India, by the Rev. Mr. Sutton and associates, one thousand dollars. To the same for Burmese Scriptures, five thousand dollars. To the Western Foreign Missionary Society, toward circulating the Scriptures in Northern India, one thousand dollars. To the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, for Siamese and other Scriptures in Siam, two thousand dollars. To the same for Malay, Siamese, and other Scriptures at Singapore, seven thousand five hundred dollars. To the same for Mongolian Scriptures, one thousand two hundred dollars. From the Rev. Amos Sutton and his associates, Baptist missionaries at Orissa, to whom a grant had been made, the board received the following communication in 1837: "I need not tell you how much the life-giving Word is needed in this land of darkness and the shadow of death. I have just returned from the annual festival of Juggernaut, distant from Cuttuck about fifty miles, and, though it was the thinnest attendance of any festival I have seen of a similar kind, yet there was probably not less than one hundred thousand immortal beings prostrated before that bloody Moloch. But we had not a single Gospel to bestow upon them-nothing of the Scriptures but a few bound Testaments, and a collection of certain passages from the whole Bible printed as extracts. I labored hard to get an edition of Matthew printed off in time, but was prevented by sickness and loss of types from accomplishing it. I leave it with your committee to determine, when looking over the waste places of the 240 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. earth, if Orissa does not demand their sympathy and aid." In 1838, the board received from the Rev. Messrs. Scudder and Winslow, missionaries at Madras, in relation to the preparation and circulation of the Scriptures in the Tamul language, the following: "Do you ask as to the probable number of families in the district, whose language we speak, in which the Word of God can be read? We answer, five hundred thousand. Will the American Bible Society not come to the resolution that they will supply these thousands of families in the Tamul district who can read with at least a New Testament or single Gospel'? We say nothing of those who speak the Zeloogoo language, whose wants are even greater than those of the Tamul people. We are now pursuing the study of their language, and hope soon to be able to communicate with them through it. The Madras mission was commenced with the expectation of having a large printing establishment connected with it, and something like an agency for the American Bible Society, to afford them the means of furnishing, to some extent, the Tamul and Zeloogoo population of this peninsula with the Word of Life. Can not you give us twenty, ten, or five thousand dollars a year for Southern India?" In 1839, a correspondent of the board communicates the intelligence that during the year the Mahratta Scriptures entire would be brought into that language. At Madras, a communication from one of the missionaries there states that, "as to the inhabitants being converted through the instrumentality of the oral Word, it is quite out of the question. They can not be reached in any great numbers in this way, for there are not men to do it. In all the tours I have taken since I came to Madras, I have not found a single missionary. It appears to me that the American Bible BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 241 Society, in conjunction with the British and Foreign Bible Society, can supply all the calls made by those who can and will distribute. I shall soon leave Madras with fourteen thousand portions of the Scriptures, and shall be absent about two months in distributing them." To meet the above call, in part, the board appropriated four thousand dollars. The prospects for Bible distribution in Madras, in 1840, were quite encouraging. A communication made to the board during the year states that " the land, in its length and breadth, is open for the distribution of the Bible. Viewed in all its bearings, there is no place in any part of the world, embracing a population of seventy-five millions, which affords greater facilities for the distribution of the Word than India. The government is favorable, and there is no place to which we go with this precious volume where the people do not come in crowds to obtain it. " Exclusive of our distributions in the city, we have given away on our tours, in little more than a year, twenty-five thousand portions of the Bible. The Madras Bible Society have asked of the British and Foreign Bible Society five thousand pounds a year. We have asked, and still ask of your board, twenty thousand dollars a year to begin with." A further request was made in the course of the year from the Madura mission, which received supplies through the mission at Madras. At Madura it is customary for the people to hold bazars or fairs regularly, in different places, within a circumference of twenty miles, on every day of the week. This is common throughout the district. These bazars are visited by distributers, and the number of copies of the Scriptures circulated by them is very large. Q 242 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. In 1841, for purchasing Scriptures printed at Madras, for distribution at Madura, and employing native converts to distribute them, the board sent two thousand dollars. For the station at Madras was granted, during the year, six thousand dollars. A communication from a gentleman at Bombay states that the population of that city is over three hundred thousand, among which are many Jews, Persians, and other nations, and as each retains its original language, the prejudice of caste tends to perpetuate them, by preventing social intercourse. The Mahratta language is more generally used than any other, and, though the Bombay Bible Society, which is auxiliary to the British and Foreign, possesses the Scriptures in the Hebrew and Parsee, yet the obstacles in the way of their circulation are great, and somewhat difficult to be overcome. The Jews, however, will take the Old Testament, and sometimes the New, and read them. The Goojurattee is used by a large body of the inhabitants, and to this class the Parsees belong, who follow the religion of Zoroaster. The priests of this faith made preparation for printing a translation of Paine's Age of Reason, for the purpose of overthrowing the Christian religion, some of their followers having embraced it, but it was abandoned. Soon after, a work was published, having the same ostensible purpose, entitled " The Doctrine of Zoroas. ter." It was prepared by a Parsee priest, consisting chiefly of extracts from the Scriptures, with sneers and caviling remarks thereon, and selections from Voltaire. The great extension of British power acquired by the government in countries lying between India and Persia opened up new and large provinces for the circulation of the Scriptures. In 1842, the board granted a supply of Bibles and BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 243 Te'staments in the English tongue, for the use of those learning that language at Madras. The demand for these Scriptures in the schools of Madura and Madras, and for East Indians, was represented as very great. To the mission of the Presbyterian Board for Foreign Missions was granted the sum of two thousand dollars for publishing the Scriptures in Northern India. A letter from the secretary of the board, Walter Lowrie, Esq., shows the importance of this grant: LOur printing presses in India are now double what they were last year, and the demand for the Scriptures is beyond any thing those presses can supply, even if constantly employed. Whatever sum you can spare for this field, we would at once invest in paper, and try to furnish the means for the printing and binding from our own funds. The paper we wish to send by the first ship to Calcutta. Thus I have given youthe facts in relation to printing and distributing the Bible in Northern India." To the Rev. Mr. Sutton, of the Baptist mission at Orissa, was sent one hundred dollars, in part to be used in circulating portions of the Old Testament. In 1843, to the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church, on the request of Walter Lowrie, Esq., were granted four hundred Bibles and Testaments for the use of the government schools in Northern India, and also for those who are learning the English language. The board authorized the Rev. Mr. Winslow, of Madras, to furnish two hundred dollars worth of Tamul Scriptures to the Rev. Mr. Heyer, a missionary of the Lutheran Church of the United States, resident in India. To the Presbyterian Board, to aid in the publication of the Scriptures at Lodiana, Northern India, was granted the sum of three thousand dollars. 244 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. The board was favored with samples of the Scriptures published at their expense, and were highly satisfied with the manner of their execution. To the mission station at Madras a grant was made of three thousand dollars, for the preparation and distribution of the Scriptures in the southern part of India. To the station at Madura, for the same purpose, the board sent five hundred dollars. In 1844, to Bombay, to aid in the circulation of the Scriptures, were granted one thousand dollars. A communication from Mr. Hume to the secretary of the Bombay Bible Society, in regard to the work of distribution, contains many interesting facts. To Hindoos, Mussulmans, and Jews in Bombay the Word of Life is distributed with interesting results, particularly to the Jews, who, though they read with the veil upon their hearts, are yet disposed to inquire after truth. He had made a tour to Goa, and passed through the whole southern Concan, and, though he expected opposition from the priests, yet the New Testament was eagerly sought by the ecclesiastics, by persons connected with the government, and others. The whole Bible was often asked for, but, as he had none in Portuguese, he could not supply the demand. In few portions of the heathen world was there so large a proportion of intelligent readers as in the Southern Concan. The Brahminical class was very numerous, and were generally educated. In Goa the majority speak the Portuguese, and a considerable number a corrupted Mahratta. Goa is the residence of the Roman Catholic archbishop, who has jurisdiction of the Roman Catholics in that part of the world. Buchanan, in 1808, speaking of Goa, says, " The BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 245 magnificence of the churches of Goa far exceeds any idea I had formed from the previous description. Goa is properly a city of churches, and the wealth of provinces seems to have been expended in their erection. The'ancient specimens of architecture in this place far excel any thing that has been attempted in modern times in any other part of the East, both in grandeur and taste. The Cathedral of Goa is worthy of one of the principal cities of Europe. In this, mass is celebrated by some twenty or thirty priests but there are none others present to witness the performance-the priests themselves are the congregation. Soon all the magnificence of Goa will have pa~ssed away. The convents, once filled with ecclesiastics will soon be heaps of ruins; the external pomp and magnificence, the remains of which are still visible, were, doubtless, well fitted to make an impression upon an ignorant people, but the spirit of true Christianity was a stranger here." Mr. Hume remarks: "While standing on the ruins of the dreadful Inquisition, and surrounded by the fastdecaying monuments of popish power and superstition, I rejoiced that the decay of these things seemed apparently to be preparing the way for the free progress of the Gospel. The fear of the holy Inquisition can not now, as formerly, restrain the people from receiving and perusing the Word of God." There is much intercourse between Bombay and Goa, which facilitates the distribution of the Bible there. To the missionaries at Siam, to aid the publication of the Scriptures in that region, the board remitted, one thousand dollars. In the Siamese language, the Rev. Mr. Robinson says, that, "in addition to the publication of one edition of Genesis, the Gospel and three epistles of John, the Acts of the Apostles, and the 246 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Epistle to the Colossians, and two editions of the Gos. pel of St. Mark, the Books of Daniel and Exodus, and all the Gospels, are ready for the press. They had introduced in printing the division of the words and the marks of punctuation, with which the Siamese are well pleased." Parts of the Bible were also translated into other Indo-Chinese languages. To the station at Madras, to be expended, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Winslow, in circulating the Tamul and Zeloogoo Scriptures, and also to the station at Madura, were granted, to the former one thousand, and to the latter five hundred dollars. In 1847, for printing and circulating the Mahratta Scriptures, one thousand dollars were granted to the American Board of Foreign Missions. For publishing the same in Northern India, under the care of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, a grant of five thousand dollars was made. For the further publication of the Scriptures at Madras, the same board was granted two thousand dollars. A still further grant of one thousand dollars was solicited, so urgent were the appeals for the Scriptures among the millions of India. We shall close our article by an extract from a communication to the board in relation to the condition of the inhabitants of the cities of India: " In Bombay, as in most of the cities of India, where many persons are acquiring a knowledge of the English language and of European literature, there is much skepticism in respect to religion of every kind. This class of persons practice their own religious rites and ceremonies just enough to keep themselves within the rules of caste. Their feelings are those of indifference toward those systems of religion which allow every man to live much as he pleases, or which teach that every BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 247 man should continue in the religion in which he was born, and then all will be well with him in the future world. They hate Christianity because of its exclusive and aggressive character, which requires all, whoever they may be, and whatever may have been their faith and practice, to receive its doctrines and obey its precepts. The native papers and magazines, of which there are several in Bombay, contain much that is aimed directly or indirectly, according as they think it will produce the greatest effect, against the Scriptures. The editors of such papers are generally well acquainted with the works of infidel authors which have been published in Christian countries. They have sometimes been at much expense to procure such books from Europe. Probably no English works are read more among the native population than those of this character." Thus it will be seen that the enemy is also in possession of that mighty engine for good or ill, the press, and is perverting it in diffusing an infidel theology and a corrupt literature. The board received very recently a complete copy of the Koran in the Arabic tongue, the first ever printed in India. Several zealous Mohammedans, provoked by the efforts of the Bible Society in furnishing the Holy Scriptures for those followers of the false prophet who were willing to receive and read them, and fearing that the Koran would become a dead letter, and Islamism lose its power over them, organized a Koran Society, for the purpose of printing, for gratuitous circulation, the Bible of Mohammed among the sixty thousand Mohammedans of Bombay, and for those of Arabia and Persia. So mightily does the Word of God grow and prevail, that old exploded systems of error, like galvanized dead bodies, begin to writhe and show signs of life. It is only, however, that they may 248 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. relapse again into that sleep from whence there will be no awaking, for the " Word has gone forth, and it shall not return void," but prove "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." CHAPTER XXVIII. BIBLE IN CEYLON. THE island of Ceylon lies near the equator in the Indian Ocean. It contains near twenty thousand square miles, and has a population of two millions. It was taken possession of by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, who were subsequently displaced by the Dutch, and they, in turn, by the British, to whom it was formally ceded in 1795. The native inhabitants are divided into Weddas, a rude people living in the interior of the forests, and the Cingalese, who had attained a certain degree of civilization. The Cingalese are divided, like the Hindoos, into castes, and are of the religion of Buddha. Efforts to convert it to Christianity were early made by the different religious denominations, and if St. Jerome is to be believed, Ceylon, like Hither India, has been made sacred by the visit of one of the twelve apostles of our Lord. It is not our work to treat of it as a missionary field only so far as the missionary cause is identified with that of the Bible, and we confess, in the language of one, "All other means for saving sinners, compared with the circulation of the Bible, are like stars and moons deriving all their light from. this." In this connection, we ask the indulgence of the reader while we give a few items of historical informa BIBLE IN CEYLON. 249 tion in regard to the introduction of Christianity in the island. It is said that Francis Xavier, a Roman Catholic priest, visited the island and preached with some success. Whether Romanism were established by him or not in the sixteenth century is a matter of speculation, but that Romanism was there when the first Protestant missionaries visited it is beyond question, unless, perhaps, we except the Dutch, who, at the commencement of the seventeenth century, wrested the island from the crown of Portugal, and attempted to convert the natives to the Protestant faith. Unfortunately, however, they induced the Cingalese to become hypocrites rather than Christians, by absurdly ordaining that no native should be admitted to any employment under the government unless he subscribed the Helvetic Confession and became a member of the Reformed Church. All who aspired after dignity or office professed their readiness to change their religion; and as nothing more was required of the candidates for baptism than a repetition of the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, a short morning and evening prayer, and a grace before and after meat, they flocked in such numbers to the font, that in the year 1663, in the district of Jaffnapatam alone, there were, according to the Church registers, sixty-two thousand five hundred and fifty-eight men and women who professed Christianity, besides two thousand five hundred and eighty-seven slaves; and the children who had been baptized within a few years amounted to twelve thousand three hundred and eighty-seven. In the year 1740, the Moravians sent two missionaries to Ceylon. On their arrival at Colombo they were received by the governor with great kindness, and every facility afforded them for prosecuting the objects of their mission. Shortly after, however, an 250 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. other governor succeeded "who knew not Joseph," and, on account of slanders propagated against them, they were ordered from the island. Their labors, though short, were not without fruit; a distinguished surgeon was converted to God through their instrumentality, who was left as a living epistle of the truth of Christianity. In 1813, the Rev. Dr. Coke, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in England, whose mind had been long and deeply impressed with the importance of a mission to Ceylon, and who proposed to the Conference to defray all the expenses of the first missionaries, under the sanction and direction of the Conference, set out, with Messrs. Harvard, Clough, Ault, Erskine, Squance, and Lynch, for the island, for the purpose of establishing a mission. It will be recollected that, by an inscrutable Providence, the rationale of which we can not now know, the doctor died on the passage, and was buried in the Indian Ocean. The remainder reached the island in safety, were kindly received by the missionaries and dignitaries of government, and at once entered upon their work, which from time to time has been crowned with success. To them must be awarded the honor of having established the first Sunday school in Ceylon. In 1815, the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent out the following missionaries: the Rev. Messrs. Richards, Warren, Poor, Meigs, and Bardwell. Their voyage was prosperous in every respect. On their arrival at Colombo they were received by the governor and missionaries from England with every expression of respect, and every facility afforded them for the furtherance of the objects of their mission. In the educational department, this mission has perhaps accomplished more than any other denomination. They es. BIBLE IN CEYLON. 21 tablished a college at Batticotta for the education of pious young natives for the ministry, and to act as teachers in the schools of the island. The English Baptists have also a mission with two stations, one at Colombo, the capital, and another at Hanwell. As a Bible field, Ceylon presents a rich variety of facts, fruitful and fragrant as her savannas and mountains, and grateful to every lover of the cause of Christ. A Bible Society was instituted at Colombo, auxiliary to.the British and Foreign Bible Societyn 1812. At Jaffna, also, a Bible Society was organized dur. ing the same year. The first notice we have of this field, in connection with the operations of the American Bible Society, is found in the Report of 1823, when the board made a donation of five hundred dollars to the Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in the island of Ceylon, to be employed by them in purchasing Scriptures in the Tamul language for distribution. About this time the Old Testament, under the direction of the Colombo Bible Society, was translated into the Cingalese language, assisted by missionaries of the Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist Churches. The memorial of the missionaries represented the Tamul language as spoken by the inhabitants of the northern part of the island, from Batticaloe to Jaffnapatan. It was supposed that three hundred thousand spoke that language in the island. The Scriptures having already been translated into that language by Danish missionaries in 1715, and since then eight or ten edi. tions having been published, they could readily be procured by the missionaries at Tranquebar and Colombo. In 1829, a communication was received from American missionaries at Ceylon, representing the great demand for the Scriptures, and the great facilities pos 2 5 2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. sessed by them for their distribution, and asking for more aid, which was responded to by sending a dona. tion of five hundred dollars more. In 1831, to the same missionaries were sent the sum of six hundred dollars, to aid in the work of printing and distributing the Tamul Scriptures. In 1833, to the same mission was sent one hundred English Bibles for the use of pupils in the schools at Jaff:ia. From the " Prudential Committee" of the American Board for Foreign Missions the managers received a communication in relation to the facilities and prospects for circulating the Scriptures. In regard to Jaffna station, they say the mission is established in the center of a population of two hundred thousand who speak the Tamul language, and near the Coromandel coast, where the same tongue is spoken by eight or nine millions. They propose sending out a printing establishment for the purpose of printing the Scriptures on the island. The demands for the Scriptures were such that they ought to have at least ten thousand copies of the New Testament for immediate circulation. A grant of two thousand dollars was made by the board to the missionaries above named to assist them in the work of supplying the destitute with the Scriptures. Letters were received from the missionaries in 1835, asking for printing paper, or means to procure it, for the purpose of publishing the Tamul Scriptures. From one of these communications the following extract is taken: "There are probably between four and five thousand children under Christian instruction in the schools of the different missionary establishments in the district, a good proportion of whom are able to read. It BIBLE IN CEYLON. 253 is important that these schools should be furnished with a supply of the Gospels, not only for the purpose of training the children to read the printed character, but more especially to imbue their tender minds with scriptural truth, with the hope that, by the Divine blessing, they may be preserved from the pernicious and contaminating influence of heathenism under which most of the adult population is so powerfully held. To supply each school with ten books, which can not be considered a great number, would probably require more than a thousand copies. They were also anxious to furnish youth on leaving the schools a portion of Holy Writ." In view of these demands, the board made a grant of six thousand dollars, to enable them to print and circulate the Scriptures in Ceylon. In 1837, to the American Board was granted two thousand dollars, to aid in distribution. The following year a supply of Bibles and Testaments were sent for the use of the schools. Communications were received in 1839 and 1840 for additional aid, by way of Bibles and Testaments, for the use of those learning the English language, and also for money to enable the missionaries to print and circulate the Tamul and Cingalese Scriptures. The Report of the Jaffna Bible Society for the latter year shows that there had been printed for the society at Manepy five thousand copies of the Book of Genesis and the first twenty chapters of Exodus, fifteen thousand copies of the Psalms, five thousand copies of which had been sold to the American mission on behalf of the American Bible Society. The following portions had been carried through the press: Acts of the Apostles, Proverbs, Epistles of Timothy, James, and John, Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, making in all seventy thousand copies. 2 54 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. In the year 1841, for preparing the Tamul Scriptures, the board made a grant of four thousand dollars to the American Board of Missions. Also to the same, the following year, two thousand dollars. To the Rev. Mr. Johnston, an English Episcopal missionary, was granted five hundred Bibles and Testaments. In alluding to the Tamul Scriptures, he says, "The copy of Genesis, as revised, has been disseminated through the island, and also through the southern part of India, for the opinions and suggestions of the Tamul writers. We trust in this way to secure as near an approximation to a good translation as may, in this early state of things, be reasonably hoped for; and, above all, we especially hope, by the favor of our Master upon us, to avoid the use of diverse editions of the Holy Scriptures, which in infant churches can not but be hurtful. We desire to give the Tamul people the Word of God pure-genuine. The number of persons who can now read English is vastly increased, and the extreme desire felt by all persons, whatever the other castes may be, to learn English, is greatly in favor of our missionary operations. But it will be obvious to all, that in the study of the English, as well as any thing else, the Bible should be the text-book. Now we are not able to do this. We have not a copy of the whole Bible in our Depository, and cries from Madura and other parts of the island are sounding in our ears for want of them. The grant for which we ask is designed for the mission at Madura as well as that of Jaffna." The board granted, in 1844, to Ceylon, the sum of three thousand dollars, to aid the missionaries in their work, the American and English cordially co-operating in the Jaffna Bible Society. BIBLE IN AFRICA. 255 In 1846, a supply of English Bibles and Testaments was sent to Ceylon, for the use of the schools in that island connected with the missions. It is an interesting fact, and one full of cheering promise, that thousards upon thousands of heathen youth, in all parts of the pagan world, through the agency of the society, are annually becoming acquainted with the English language through the reading and study of the English Bible. The following year, so increasing were the demands for the English Scriptures, the board sent five hundred Bibles to the Jaffna Bible Society for the use of native youth; a still larger grant was alo received from the British and Foreign Bible Society. During the year 1848, for publishing a new edition of the Scriptures in the Tamul language, the board sent one thousand dollars. -Through the influence of the Bible and the missionary, this beautiful island has been made to bud and blossom with the fruits of righteousness. Its desert mountains, cinnamon groves, and flowery plains "have been made glad for them." The word of God has not returned void, but it has accomplished that for which it was sent by its Divine Author. CHAPTER XXIX. BIBLE IN AFRICA. THIS immense country, stretching through eighty degrees of longitude, and embracing seventy degrees of latitude, forming a vast triangular peninsula, and containing a population of fifty-seven millions, is in a more wretched and helpless condition than any other country in the world. It was once the seat of the 256 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. most powerful empire, the center of learning and the arts, and from its shores Egyptian colonies, in the most remote times, carried to savage Europe the germs of civilization. Until recently, Christianity never succeeded in shedding its light upon the west, the center, and the south of Africa. The fanatic Arab, mounted on his fleet dromedary, flew to plant the standard of the false prophet on the banks of the Senegal and the shores of Sofala, and now, from Zanguebar to the Mediterranean, and from the Red Sea to the Desert coast, Mohammedanism holds its sway. The Bible, and with it Christianity, were introduced into Africa at a very early period in the history of the Christian Church. When the nations of the world were assembled at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Egypt and Abyssinia were represented. The Ethiopian eunuch, an officer of the court of Queen Candace, was there, and, returning in his chariot, reading the prophecy of Isaiah in relation to the sufferings of Christ, was instructed by Philip, who " preached to him Jesus," and, believing on Christ with all his heart, he was converted and baptized, and went to his distant home rejoicing in the salvation of the Gospel. On his return the Abyssinian Church was established, which exists to the present day. The first translation of the Bible was made into Hebrew-Greek in Egypt in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus, from whence it was copied from time to time, and circulated throughout Southern Europe and Western Asia among the synagogues of the Jews, and thus it was the only book that survived the torch of the ruthless Saracen when the Alexandrian library was destroyed. Perhaps it was the only one worthy of preservation. Of one thing we are quite certain, and that is, that the Holy Scriptures are worth all the Alexandrian libraries in the world. BIBLE IN AFRICA. 257 From the Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society, we have information of the formation of Bible societies in Africa, at Sierra Leone, the Cape of Good Hope, and Abyssinia, as early as 1820. These were all auxiliary to the above-named institution. The Scriptures were translated into the Amharic language for the use of the Abyssinians. In 1821, the Sierra Leone Bible Society distributed nearly two thousand Gospels in the Bullom and English languages. In one town among the Hottentots, in South Africa, more than one hundred of this people had been taught to read the Bible. Instances were known of their coming from fifty to one hundred miles to get a copy of the Scriptures. In 1825, Dr. Philip communicated to the British and Foreign Bible Society some interesting facts in relation to the languages of Africa. The discoveries which had been made led to the belief that all the languages spoken, from Kieskamma to the Arabian Gulf, and from the mouth of the Zembeze to that of Congo, were derived from the parent stock, and so nearly allied to each other that there would be no difficulty in translating the Scriptures for the use of this vast field. The foundation of a temple, in which all the numerous dialects of the Bootchuana language would be consecrated to the service of the living God, was laid, and the numerous tribes might repair to this temple and receive the light of salvation. The Bible in Ethiopic, Coptic, and Arabic had been translated by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and thousands of copies were annually distributed at various points. In 1829, the American Bible Society granted to the colony of Liberia four hundred and fifty Bibles and R 258 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Testaments. It had previously sent.Bibles to this colony, and several fine copies as presents to neighboring African kings. Bibles were sent during this year to the island of Madagascar; and in 1833, the Old Testament was translated into the Madagasse, the language of that island, the New having already been issued from the press. A supply of Bibles and Testaments were sent the following year, through Messrs. Landers, to Central Africa, by the British and Foreign Bible Society. In 1837, a letter from a Wesleyan missionary at Cape Town communicates the following in relation to the circulation of the Scriptures in the schools of the country: " Our schools at Cape Town, Simon's Town, Wynberg, Hottentot's Holland, Little Namaqua-land, and the Great Namaqua mission beyond the Orange River, have all been supplied. In these various schools there are scholars from six to sixty years of age, persons of almost every color, and of every expression of countenance. What a blessing for them to possess that holy Book, from which they learn that its Author is the Father of the spirits of all flesh! Part of the supply had been sent to the prisons and among the convicts on the public roads; poor widows have also shared the bounty, and other sons and daughters of affliction. Many of the slaves (now apprentices) have received the Testaments with gladness, and several of the colored boys and girls are now reading the words of eternal life." In 1838, the Rev. Dr. Philip and the Rev. Mr. Read, who had been a missionary in Africa seventeen years, visited London, accompanied by a Christian Caffre chief and a Christian Hottentot. The following extracts from the addresses of the Caffre and Hottentot will show the importance of Bi. ble distribution among the heathen: BIBLE IN AFRICA. 259 "When the Word of God," said the Caffre, "came among us, we were like the wild beasts; we knew nothing; we were so wild that there was nothing but war and bloodshed. Every one was against his neighbor; there was no confidence between man and man, and each man tried to destroy his brother. The Word of God has turned us; the Bible has brought peace, has reconciled one man to another, and in us is fulfilled the text of Scripture,' The wolf shall dwell with the lamb.' I thank the English nation for what we have received." The Hottentot said, "I will not dwell upon what we were before, but I will tell you what the Bible has done for us. There are three gentlemen in this country who are witnesses to what Africans were, Dr. Philip, Mr. Read, and Mr. Campbell. I wish to tell you what the Bible has done for Africa. What would have become of the Hottentot nation, and every black man in South Africa, had you kept the Word of God to yourselves? When you received the Word of God, you thought of other nations who had not that word. When the Bible came among us we were naked, we lived in caves and on the tops of mountains. The Bible made us throw away all our old customs and practices, and we lived among civilized men. We are tame men now. Now we know there is a God; now we know we are accountable creatures before God. Before the Bible came we kiew none of these things. We knew nothing about heaven-we knew not who made heaven and earth. The Bible is the only light for every man that dwells on the face of the earth. I thank God in the name of every Hottentot for the Bible. I have gone with the missionaries in taking the Bible to the Bushmen and other nations. When the Word of God was preached, the Bushman threw away his bow and arrows. I have gone with the Bible to 260 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. the Caffre nation; and when the Bible spoke to the Caffre, he threw away his shield and all his vain customs. I went to Lattakoo, and they threw away all their evil works; they threw away their assagais, and became the children of God. Where the Bible is not, there is nothing but darkness: it is dangerous to travel through such a nation. Where the Bible is not, man does not hesitate to kill his neighbor; he never even repents afterward of having committed murder. I thank you to-day-I do nothing but thank you today." This simple, truthful language is descriptive of heathenism every where, unenlightened by the Bible, and also of the happy results produced by its distribution in all " the dark places of the earth filled with the habitations of cruelty." In 1840, the board received a communication from the Rev. J. L. Wilson, missionary at Cape Palmas, acquainting them with the fact that the Gospel of Matthew had been translated into the Grebo tongue, and that one thousand copies had been printed. The Acts of the Apostles had also been translated, and would soon be ready for publication. One thousand dollars had already been furnished by the board toward that work. The next year the board made an additional grant of three hundred and fifty dollars to aid in printing the Gospels under the superintendence of Mr. Wilson. The auxiliaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society at Sierra Leone, Cape Town, and other places, were engaged in the work of translating, printing, and circulating the Scriptures in the languages of Africa. At Sierra Leone the interest was increasing, and distributions had been made to some good extent among the Jews at Tunis. In 1846, a Wesleyan missionary from South Africa BIBLE IN AFRICA. 261 writes, " I think, in Caffreland, on the various stations occupied by the London and Glasgow Societies and German missionaries, there are at least five or six thousand who can read the Word of God. Within the last few years, education has progressed with astonishing rapidity. We publish a monthly magazine in Caffre, the articles mainly furnished by natives, and in our stations we have several hundred subscribers (natives). The first edition of the New Testament (or rather part of it, including the four Gospels, Acts, James, John, Peter, and Jude), of one thousand copies, was out of print in a very short time. When I left, in February, 1843, we were printing an edition of five thousand, and there were readers and a demand for every copy as fast as the book could be finished." In 1848, the board made a grant of two hundred Bibles and Testaments to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions for missions in Africa. The society is at present engaged in printing the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts in the Grebo language, translated by the Rev. Mr. Payne, an Episcopal missionary in Western Africa. Other portions of -the New Testament have been translated by the same gentleman, and the board have entered into engagements to publish them when forwarded to the Bible House. The Rev. Mr. Moffat, a missionary among the Bechuanas, writes: "We have seen the usefulness of the written Word verified again and again. This was well expressed by one of the native converts, now a leader and witness to the people. He had been placed in trying circumstances, which were well calculated to shake a stronger faith than his.' But for the New Testament,' said he,'you would not have found me among the faithful, nor even an inhabitant of a missionary station; and but for the written Word of God, 2 6 2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. I should have parted with my faith, and become as a dead man.' This was impressive, especially from one who could say as he did, in his last address or sermon here, before going to occupy a station as native teacher in the far interior. Lifting the Testament from the desk, he asked his countrymen,' What did we think of this book before we were taught to read? Just the same as those think of it who are yet in that state of darkness and death in which we ourselves once were. We imagined it to be a charm of the white people to keep off sickness, a thing only like other things, or that it was a trap to catch us. We never heard of such a thing. Our fathers, who have all died in darkness, could not tell us about it. It was a new thing in our nation, and it was a seo hela, a trifle nobody cared for; but now we not only hear with our ears, and see with our eyes, but we read it to our children, and we teach them to read it too. We can find nothing bad in it. It is all good. It is a charm, for it preserves us from the second death in hell. It is a thing, it is true, but it is a thing compared to which all other things are nothing. We thought it was a thing to be spoken to, but now we know it has a tongue. It speaks, and will speak to the whole world.'" What comment more striking than this do we wish of the declarations of the Psalmist, " The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." We remarked, in the beginning of this article, that Africa was the most wretched and helpless of all portions of the heathen world; and yet it would seem that less has been done for her salvation by the friends of missions and the Bible than for any other quarter of the globe. A hundred fold more has been done even for one single island. Why is this? Is it be BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 263 cause the field is not white unto harvest? or that the fruits will not repay the laborer's toil? It can not be. Souls are as precious in Africa as in Asia, or Europe, or America. Of all countries under heaven, we owe her the most, for we have wronged her the most. While she imploringly stretches out her hand in the name of her God, let us labor to deliver "her land from error's chain." We feel grateful that the Bible is there-that a Mills and a Cox sleep upon her shores. If the sight of the wild boy in the wood learning his letters be, according to Dr. Chalmers, the most sublime spectacle on earth, what heart can be insensible to the grandeur of those results produced by the introduction of the Bible, the missionary, the teacher, the school, the printing press, and all the blessings of civil and religious liberty. CHAPTER XXX. BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. UNDER this designation we shall embrace all those countries in the East where the society has extended its operations, but more particularly those to which the term specifically applies, such as Greece, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Persia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. As we advance in our Biblical researches, the ground over which we tread becomes more and more sacred, and our interest in tracing the flight of the Apocalyptic angel speeding his way to the nations with " the everlasting Gospel" increases as we contemplate his wondrous journey. When we consider that seven tenths of the world's population have already been startled by the rush of 264 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. his wings, and enraptured by the melody of his song, we anticipate the day as not far distant when the "glad tidings" of his message shall break the silence of every shore. Whatever relates to the reintroduction of the Bible into those countries where it was first written and published-where the Divine Author of the Gospel himself lived and labored, suffered and died, must be of thrilling interest to all who love the cause of true religion. We propose, in our researches, to conduct our readers to the deserts of Arabia, to the ancient sites of the schools of the prophets on the banks of the Jordan, to the sumptuous palaces of Babylon, to the Temple at Jerusalem, to the proud cities of Greece and Rome; and while, with melancholy interest, we gaze upon their ruins in the absence of that divine revelation which once rayed out from these points, we shall direct the attention to the faint light of a returning morn breaking upon their mountains and heralding a coming day. After the captivity in Babylon, in the days of Ezra, the compiler and publisher of the Scriptures, the Word was read by him and the Levites from an elevated platform to an audience of fifty thousand; and so sacredly did the Jews regard the words of the Law, that as soon as the reader ascended the platform and opened the Book, the whole audience simultaneously rose to their feet. In the days of the Savior, manuscript copies of the Bible, in the translation of the LXX., at Alexandria were found in all the synagogues of the Jews, but, like the many monuments of ancient grandeur scattered all over those countries, few traces of the divine Record are to be found. Since the era of Bible societies, the living Oracles, BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 265 like the exiled Jews to whom they were first committed, are returning to their native land. After having dispensed blessings to almost every portion of the Gentile world, the Waters of Life are returning to refill the founts from whence they sprang. The first notice we have of any regular and systematic efforts to circulate the Bible in those countries which form the subject of this article, were those made by the London Missionary Society in 1811. That society sent the Rev. Mr. Bloomfield to Malta, in the Mediterranean, as a point from whence he could circulate the Scriptures in those countries bordering upon that sea. In 1815, the Church Missionary Society, for the promotion of the same object, and as a literary representative, sent the Rev. Mr. Jowett to that island. In 1820, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions commenced a mission there, with the design of benefiting the mingled inhabitants of Palestine. They also sent a printing establishment, with three presses and fonts of type, for printing the English, Italian, Greek, Greco-Turkish, Armenian, ArmenoTurkish, and Arabic. The selection of Malta as the emporium of Bible and missionary operations for countries bordering on the Mediterranean was the most desirable thing that could have been wished for in the promotion of these benevolent objects. This island may be regarded as the key by which all the doors in the East could be unlocked. No position could be more commanding. Contiguous to it are the Black Sea and Arabian Gulf, which, in connection with the Mediterranean, in which it is situa. ted, present a line of coast which, if drawn out in length, would encircle one half of the globe. A2 66 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY All the territory adjacent to this boundary line is solid continent, extending thousands of miles. From the greater part of these countries Malta is not more than fifteen days' sail distant. All the surrounding country, and the numerous islands that adorn this vast expanse of waters, are well peopled. In addition to the societies above named which have selected this favorable spot, we mention the London Jew's Society and the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. In 1821, measures were adopted by the Malta Bible Society to translate the entire Bible into the modern Greek. In 1823, the society reports the distribution of the Scriptures in Italian, Greek, Armenian, Syriac, Ethiopic, and the common European versions. At Aleppo, four hundred and ninety-nine Arabic Testaments, and six hundred and forty Arabic Psalters, were distributed in three days. The translation of the modern Greek Testament had been accomplished, and measures adopted for its publication. The Testament had been translated into the Albanian language, and was under revision for publication. An interesting communication was received from the Rev. Pliny Fisk, describing his visits to Smyrna, Teos,Vourla, Scio, Ephesus, and Tenedos, in all which places he left some copies of the Scriptures, which were thankfully received. In 1824, the society at Malta issued nearly eight thousand copies of the Scriptures, or parts of them, in different languages. They were sent to Alexandria, Cairo, Smyrna, Aleppo, Candia, Cyprus, Algiers, Tunis, Joannina, and other places. The Turkish Bible was completed and in the press. The Gospels were translated into modern Armenian. BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 267 Thirteen hundred Bibles and Testaments had been sent to Constantinople, Syria, and Armenia. In 1825, the report of that society states that the light of divine Truth was shining upon the darkness of Egypt. The Coptic Church had lifted up its voice in favor of the Bible Society, and its priests were urg. ing the people to purchase the Word of God. The patriarch and bishops also called upon the Bible Society for help. To Palestine were sent Scriptures in the Arabic, Armenian, French, Hebrew, English, Italian, Greek, Ethiopic, Syrian, and Slavonian languages. The British and Foreign Bible Society had sent the Gospels in the Amharic language to Abyssinia. Dis. tributions were also effected through the Ionian Bible Society. In 1826, the Malta Bible Society issued upward of ten thousand copies of the Scriptures in fifteen different languages. The Ionian Bible Society had sent thousands of cop. ies to the suffering Greeks, many of whom were seen reading the sacred page while encamped and in expectation of the enemy. In Turkey, the firman of the grand seignior, prohibiting the circulation of the Bible, proved an extensive publication of the fact of their existence, and excited many to procure the prohibited books. From the depositories at Smyrna, Aleppo, and Con. stantinople, four thousand copies, in the Arabic, Syriac, Turkish, and Armenian languages, had been issued. Also at Jerusalem, Tyre, Sidon, Tripoli, and Damas. cus, the Scriptures have been circulated. In the Persian language the Pentateuch had been translated, and a version of the historical books in progress. The following year witnessed a like zeal on the be. 2 68 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. half of the above-named institutions to circulate the Bible in the Levant. Having thus briefly alluded to the operations of other societies in this interesting field, by way of introduction to the history of the operations of the American Bible Society, we shall dismiss that subject, and confine our observations to the society, the history of whose operations we are endeavoring to give. In 1828, it being determined that the Rev. Jonas King, who had been a missionary to Palestine, should visit Greece for moral and religious purposes, the society appropriated one thousand five hundred dollars to supply that gentleman with Greek Scriptures for that oppressed country. Great sympathy was manifested at that time in behalf of the Greeks all over the country, and large quantities of provisions, clothing, and money were sent to their relief. It was but right and proper that with these benefactions should be sent the word of eternal life. In 1829, to the Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church, for the purpose of circulating the Scriptures in Greece, the board made a grant of five hundred dollars. A letter from Mr. King, addressed to the Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. C. Brigham, communicated the facts that the desire for the Scriptures in Greece was very great, and that they were in a very poor and wretched condition generally, many of them destitute of the necessaries of life. The demand for the Scriptures was such that he ought immediately to be put in possession of thirty thousand copies for gratuitous distribution. In 1830, interesting accounts of Bible circulation in Greece were received from the Rev. Messrs. King and Robertson. These gentlemen were authorized by BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 2 69 the board to purchase Greek Scriptures from the British and Foreign Bible Society. In 1831, a communication was received from Mr. Brewer, in which he says," The circulation of the Scriptures in different parts of the Turkish empire is going on more and more extensively. The dep6ts at Smyrna and Constantinople were issuing their thousands annually in different parts of the country." In 1832, a letter from the Rev. Mr. Brewer, dated at the Isle of Patmos, to the board, says, in speaking of the Seven Churches of Asia, "Why should you not undertake to furnish every family dwelling where the churches mentioned in the New Testament are located, and especially those to which its holy epistles were addressed? Beginning at Jerusalem, whither we trust shortly to send a pious Greek, more especially for carrying forward school operations, the hundreds of Greek and Armenian families could be supplied through his agency and that of the missionaries who visit there during the Passover season." In 1833, the board resolved on an appropriation of two thousand dollars for the use of the missions of the various denominations in the Mediterranean, which was subsequently remitted. This year the British and Foreign Bible Society. were called to mourn the loss of that distinguished Oriental scholar, Mr. William Greenfield, professor of the Turkish language in the College of France. For ten years he was engaged in the translation of the Turkish Bible, which he published for that society. He also superintended various editions of the Scriptures in other tongues for the society, and was untiring in his efforts to put them in circulation. In the course of one year previous to his death, he effected the distribution of two hundred thousand Bibles and Testaments, mostly in France. 270 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. A letter from one of the missionaries at Malta to Dr. Brigham congratulates the society for having completed the plates for printing the New Testament in modern Greek, and also communicating the intelligence that the Armenian Bishop Carabet had finished the translation of the Old Testament into the Armeno-Turkish language, and expressing a desire that the society should undertake its publication. It also suggested the propriety of sending an agent of the society to the Levant. In 1834, the board made the following grants: To the Rev. J. Brewer, at Smyrna, five hundred copies of the modern Greek Testament. To the Rev. Dr. King, of Athens, Greece, two hundred copies of the same. To the Rev. J. Robinson, of Syra, two hundred; and a like number to the Rev. Mr. Goodell, at Constantinople. In 1835, a communication was received from the Rev. Mr. Schauffler, missionary of the American Board of Foreign Missions among the Jews at Constantinople and countries around it. The object of this communication was to make the board acquainted with the condition of the Jewish population in the Ottoman empire, and to propose the publication of the Scriptures of the Old Testament in the Hebrew and HebrewSpanish languages, that the three hundred thousand souls who are still heirs of many divine promises may not perish at our very doors without an effort to save them from the judicial blindness in which they grope at noonday. He had commenced revising the Psalms, with the intention of printing an edition of three thousand. This, with the Jews, is the most desirable book in the Old Testament canon. After learning that the proposed translation of Mr. Schauffler was in accordance with the regulations of the board, and that the print BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 2 7 1 ing could be done at Smyrna or Constantinople, the board granted one thousand dollars to aid in the pub. lication of the Psalms in Hebrew-Spanish. To the same society was granted eight hundred dollars, for the purpose of procuring Arabic Scriptures to be distributed by their missionaries in Syria. Another grant to the same society of five hundred dollars was made for the purpose of supplying the Rev. Mr. Perkins with Syriac Scriptures for distribution among the Nestorians in Persia. In 1836, the board granted to the Rev. Dr. King, missionary at Greece, a good supply of modern Greek Testaments. A letter from that gentleman represents the demand for the Scriptures as increasingly great. The board having authorized him to employ a native agent for distributing the Scriptures in that country, he accordingly employed a priest who had been a teacher in his gymnasium for three years, a native of Sparta, by the name of Damianos. Damianos was recommended by the Bishop of Sparta, and, belonging to the priesthood, he had access to all the churches, where he could preach to the people on the subject of reading and circulating the Word of God. Five hundred copies of Testaments were also sent to the Rev. Mr. Hill, missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Athens. During the year the board granted to the Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church, for GrecoTurkish and other Scriptures for Greece and the Grecian Archipelago, three thousand dollars. To the same society, for Persian and other Scriptures, by their missionary in Persia, five hundred dollars. To the American Board, for Persian and other Scriptures, five hundred dollars. 2 72 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. To the same board, for Armeno-Turkish Scriptures, five thousand dollars. During the year 1837, the managers, in accordance with their previous determination of sending agents abroad to assist in preparing and circulating the Scriptures at the more important missionary stations, appointed the Rev. Simeon H. Calhoun to superintend the operations of the society in the Levant. He was cordially received by the American and English missionaries, and the agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society at Smyrna. An arrangement was made through Mr. Calhoun to have the Hebrew-Spanish Old Testament translated at the joint expense of the British and Foreign and the American Bible Societies. This arrangement was highly satisfactory to all the missionaries. Objections being made to the version of the Greek Testament on account of its idiom, Professor Bambas, an eminent Greek scholar of high moral qualifications, made a new translation. To the American missionaries at Constantinople the board sent a supply of Bibles and Testaments in the German, French, Italian, and modern Greek, for the benefit of those speaking the above tongue in Turkey and the surrounding regions. To the Rev. Mr. Smith, for the purpose of circulating the Arabic Scriptures in schools among the destitute in Syria, the board appropriated five hundred dollars. In regard to the circulation of the Bible in Syria, the Rev. Mr. Thompson, in a letter to the board, says, "I am in favor of putting a Bible into the hands of every one of the thousands of pilgrims who annually flock to Jerusalem, the city of sacred associations. In this way Bibles will find their way to every country from Ethiopia to Siberia, and from India to Spain. BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 273 The only possible way by which we can reach the millions of this country is by sending them the Bible. The few and feeble missionaries in the field can not supply them. From that quarter there is absolutely no hope. There are several hundred thousand Christians of the Syriac and other churches in and around Mosul. They are destitute of both Bibles and priests, but keep up a most inveterate hostility to the pope, and are anxious to receive the Word of God. Various Oriental sects in Aleppo, Torsoos, and Cesara, with the countries around them, are equally destitute." From the Rev. Justin Perkins, missionary in Persia, the board received the following: "The field for the distribution of the Scriptures among the Nestorian Christians is wide, and wide open. They have reverence for the sacred Volume, and, unlike all other Oriental Christian sects, they make it their only rule of faith and professedly of practice. Until I came to Persia, they could procure no copies of the Bible save those furnished at long intervals by the slow motion of the pen. The entire Scriptures were printed long ago in ancient Syriac by the British and Foreign Bible Society, but scarcely a printed copy had reached them before my arrival. The deep reverence with which they kiss and fold it to their bosoms when I present it to them, at the same time imploring innumerable blessings to rest on those who send them such a treasure, is truly affecting. This best of missionaries will, I feel assured, become' the power of God unto salvation' to multitudes of this poor people who were' ready to perish;' and soon prepare them, in turn, to become the heralds of the pure Gospel to the benighted millions of Persia and all Asia." From the Rev. Mr. Calhoun, the society's agent in the Levant, an interesting letter was received in 1838, in relation to the translations, printing, and circular S 274 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. tion of the Scriptures in various languages in that country. To the Rev. Mr. Whiting, missionary at Jerusalem, he had sent a supply of Bibles and Testaments in the Arabic, Greek, modern Greek, modern Armenian, and Greco-Turkish languages, designed for circulation among the thousands of pilgrims who visit the Holy City from all parts of the world at the season of the Passover. To the Rev. Mr. Love, of the Baptist mission at Patras, he sent eight hundred and thirty copies of the Scriptures in modern Greek and Italian. From Dr. Grant, of the Ooroomiah mission in Per. sia, a letter was received urging the publication of the Scriptures in the ancient Syriac, the written language of the Nestorian Christians. The doctor stated that there was not a complete copy of the Bible in the Nestorian character in the whole province of Ooroomiah. The same was true in regard to the numerous Nestorian population bordering upon the Tigris. Detached portions were found, but so scarce that it was thought necessary to teach the children to read upward, or downward, or sidewise, so that five or six persons might, by forming a circle round it, read from a single book. Besides the Psalms of David, which formed an important part of their devotional exercises, there was but one copy of the Old Testament in all the province, containing a population of twenty thousand souls, and that was in three or four separate volumes, the property of several individuals. The supply of the Gospels in the Nestorian character, printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society, was tolerably good, but none of the Epistles or Acts of the Apostles could be found, while the Book of Revelations in the Nestorian character had never reached them. BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 2T The communications of the society's agent in relation to the circulation of the Scriptures among the Greeks, Persians, Arabians, Turks, Russians, and Jews, as found in the Reports of the society, are of an exceedingly interesting character. In 1840, at the urgent request of missionaries, fifteen hundred German Bibles and five hundred Testaments had been forwarded to the poor colonists in Southern Russia bordering on the Black Sea. Four hundred and seventy five Bibles and Testaments, in different tongues, were sent to the agent, to meet the frequent demands from seamen, missionary stations, pilgrims, and others. The agent also made extensive purchases of Bibles from other societies and delivered them to missionaries. In relation to Greece, it was stated that a warm discussion was going on in Athens in regard to the subj ect of translations. The controversy was confined to the Greeks themselves, while the missionaries are aclively engaged in the work of distribution, and thus, in the most effectual manner, defeating the schemes of those who would lock up the Word of God in a dead language. The more light the people get, the more unwilling are they to go back to the days of darkness. Copies were furnished to the Baptist missionaries at Patras. The missionaries state that officers, civil and military, and priests, had made application for the Bible, and that, through Albanian Greeks, it had been communicated throughout the extreme districts of Albania in Turkey. At Athens there were upward of eight thousand furnished by the agent. At Constantinople, Salonica, Broosa, and Jerusalem, one thousand two hundred in Hebrew-Spanish. The agent also procured Greco-Turkish Scriptures for American missionaries. Also copies of Arabic, 276 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Turkish, Italian, and Armenian, to be distributed in Turkey and Syria. The agent received and disbursed funds for the translation and printing of the Scriptures in different languages. IDuring the year he made a visit to Egypt, and from thence'into Syria, visiting the missionaries at Beyrout and Jerusalem. He found at Alexandria a box of Bibles in the hands of the American consul, which had been sent to Mr. Wolf, the Jewish missionary. At Beyrout the missionaries had printed, at the expense of the society, the Book of Psalms in Arabic. In the island of Cyprus, where an American mission is established, the Greek Scriptures were extensively circulated without opposition. In 1841, to aid in the publication of the Hebrew-.Spanish Old Testament at Vienna, under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Schauffler, the board made an appropriation of six thousand dollars. This being the year in which the agent visited the United States, there were no communications from the Levant in regard to the special operations of the society in that region. In 1842, a supply of Bibles was sent to Dr. Grant for the use of the Nestorian clergy. For preparing and circulating the Scriptures in Greece, Turkey, Persia, and Syria, under the direction of the society's agent, two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine dollars were appropriated. The rabbis at Constantinople had manifested much hostility to the Christian missionaries, and forbade their brethren from entering the house of Mr. Schauffler, who was engaged in translating the Old Testament into the Hebrew-Spanish language, and it was thought that their opposition would prevent the circulation of the Bible among those for whom it was BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 2 7 7 designed, but the wonderful providence of God ordered it otherwise. To the astonishment of every one, the chief rabbi of Constantinople issued a certificate in favor of that very translation in the following words, translated from the Hebrew: " Consider, my people, and act. "Approbation of the exalted rabbi in the city of Constantinople to the twenty-four sacred books translated into Spanish, and printed in the city of Vienna, by the celebrated William Schauffler, an upright and pious man, well acquainted with the grammatical science of the language, and worthy the support and confidence of every individual. "Ye men, come and see how good and beautiful is the work the mighty One has composed. His work is his ornament, the token of his power, the proclamation of his goodness; a flowing well, a fountain of wisdom. He has displayed the banner of his law, putting it into a pure, intelligible language, informing each one of what he reads by what method the youth can direct his way in obscure paths. He offers pleasing tidings, serving to us not only as light, but as honey and cream to our tongue; explaining the words of the King and of his law, emanating from justice; making understood the words of Wisdom, that all his works are faithful; showing us how to learn and to teach proper actions. Its contents are like fresh water to one who is thirsty; it does not weary, but gives strength to those who have none. With knowledge he speaks pure words that are clear to be understood, and so taught that the young and old may walk uprightly. Read and study according to the will of Him who dwelt in the bush. He has brought to. light here every thing that is obscure, that each might come and open, and examine the truth in its length, and breadth, 2 78 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. and height. Such a work has not before been among us. It is a benefit which our forefathers could not avail themselves of; it is now plain, and strong like an oak. Every one will say our eyes have beheld something new. The Lord gave him wisdom, and placed in his mouth to say,' Thus speak to the house of Jacob from a foreign nation;' the Lord shall recompense him, and his reward shall be perfect. May the Lord consider it favorably. And now, my brethren, come and take hold of the good which is provided; search from the Book of the Lord, and read it daily, that you may know how to walk in the desert and in the plain. There is none before this man versed in the grammatical structure of the language of the law which Moses hath given; he well knows each portion of it. Whoever desires life should weigh his silver to purchase this Book. Hear and obey this Word, and the earth shall be filled with knowledge out of the fountain of salvation which rises for us in heaven. May the Lord grant you mercy manifold, to children and children's children, to study the law, and reward you bountifully. Whoever will obey shall be blessed by the Most High, and upon him happiness shall descend, and peace shall be in his possession until Shiloh appears, and the Redeemer comes to Zion. Amen! Given on the first day of Thamuz, in the year 5590 from the creation of the world. " He who thus sends forth this message and salutation is SAMUEL HEIMANN." The Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, by the Rev. Mr. Goodell, was finished this year, and its publication was going on. The preparation of the above work was a long and difficult one, consuming the time and strength of many years. The translator made an effort to carry it for BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 279 ward in connection with his other labors as a missionary, but he found it necessary, after a short trial, to devote himself exclusively to the one work. The work of Mr. Goodell is not a version or revision of another translation, for there were none in existence. The whole was taken from the Hebrew. When he had finished it, he wrote at the bottom of the page, "Bless the Lord, 0 my soul! and forget not all his benefits." He then rose up, shut all the books that had been open before him for years, fell on his knees, and gave thanks unto the name of the Lord, " who had not dealt with us according to our sins," but who had given us his blessed Word to be " a light unto our feet," and whose wondrous love permits us to hold it up to "lighten every man that cometh into the world." The society's agent, in relation to the field of operation assigned him, says, " It is most gratifying to be able to state that the field for the distribution of the Scriptures in these regions has never been more open, or the obstacles less than at the present moment. In Syria and Greece, at Constantinople and Broosa, and South Russia, we are permitted to go forward without material hinderance. It is a fact worthy of record, that the field has become more open to us just at a time when we are becoming better supplied with the Scriptures. Hitherto the missionaries have been employed much in translations. As their labors are approaching a termination, and we are getting their works through the press, we find that the Lord is opening the way before us for their circulation. Thus are we taught to wait patiently for the Lord." An urgent request was made by the board this year to print the Arabic Testament, and the agent entered upon the work. On the request of Dr. King, of Athens, the board 280 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. resolved to publish an edition of the modern Greek Testament, from the plates in the possession of the society. In 1843, the board sent to the agent in the Levant five thousand dollars, to be appropriated by him in translating, printing, and circulating the Scriptures in that country. The Rev. Mr.,Schauffler, while at Vienna, with the advice of the agent, published an edition of the New Testament in German, with the Book of Psalms annexed., This was designed for the multitudes in that papal country, and in Hungary, where it was gladly received, the Queen of Hungary herself engaging in the work of distribution. The society, at its own expense, has published the following Scriptures in the Levant: Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, three thousand copies, printed at Smyrna. Armeno-Turkish Pentateuch, two thousand copies, printed at Smyrna. Hebrew-Spanish Old Testament, three thousand copies, printed at Vienna. Hebrew-Spanish Psalms, three thousand, printed at Constantinople. Hebrew-Spanish Pentateuch, five hundred, printed at Vienna. Ancient Armenian New Testament, two thousand, printed at Smyrna. Ancient Armenian four Gospels, one thousand, printed at Smyrna. Gospel of John, in modern Greek, two thousand, printed at Smyrna. Modern Armenian Psalms, one thousand, printed at Smyrna. Psalms in Arabic, two thousand, printed at Beyrout. BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 2 81 Acts of the Apostles, in Arabic, two thousand, printed at Beyrout. Psalms, in ancient Syriac, one thousand, printed at Ooroomiah. Galatians, in ancient Syriac, one thousand, printed at Ooroomiah. Acts of the Apostles, in ancient Syriac, one thousand, printed at Ooroomiah. German New Testament and Psalms, two thousand, printed in Austria. The Old Testament in modern Armenian, the Old Testament in Syriac, the New Testament in Arabic, Proverbs in Arabic, and another edition of Psalms in Arabic, were in process of publication. A letter from Dr. Goodell to the board, reviewing his labors, and communicating his intentions in regard to future action in the open field of missionary toil, contains some just and admirable sentiments in regard to the absolute importance of the Bible to the missionary in the same language in which he preaches the word of salvation. He says, "Without the Bible we could say one thing, and the priest of a false religion could say another, but where would be the umpire? It would be nowhere, and all our efforts would be, of course, like'beating the air.' And we may ask, What could even the apostles have done without the Bible? Among the Jews he could have done absolutely nothing: they based their whole new revelation upon it. They appealed to it always, and they asserted it to be more sure and certain than any voice they had themselves heard in the holy mount. And so our Savior himself appealed to it. Instead of requiring the Jews to take his mere word for the truth, he either confirmed it to them by a miracle, or referred them to their own Scriptures for the truth of it. With the Bible in our hands and in the hands of the peo 282 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. pie, we stand on the Rock of Ages and build for eternity, but without it we build on the sand, and our house is exposed to be blown down by every storm." In 1844, for printing and distributing the Scriptures in various languages in the countries of the Levant, the board appropriated eight thousand one hundred and forty-five dollars. Interesting accounts were forwarded to the board by the agent from Bible distributers in Turkey. At Koolah, Ushak, Cara, Hissar, Broosa, Kansack, Solus, Kermasti, and Trebizonde, hundreds of books were sold, and their reports furnished gratifying evidence of the benefits resulting from their circulation. In 1845, on the request of the agent, the board granted to the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, for distribution by their missionaries in Greece, fifteen hundred modern Greek Testaments. The board granted one thousand dollars to aid the Rev. Dr. Perkins, missionary of the American Board of Foreign Missions in Ooroomiah, Persia, in publishing the New Testament in modern Syriac, which he and others had translated. In addition to the recommendation of the society's agent, the secretary of the missionary board gave ample assurance of the fidelity of the translation. To the same board was also granted one thousand dollars to aid in translating and printing the Old Testament in modern Armenian, the New Testament having been published by the British and Foreign Bible Society some years before. To the agent, for printing portions of the Bible in different languages, the board appropriated five thousand dollars. Mr. Calhoun feeling it his duty to go to Mount Lebanon and engage in the duties of a missionary, his Bible agency was brought to a close. BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 283 His last letter to the board contains the following statements: " During eight years the society has printed, chiefly at Smyrna and Beyrout, three thousand five hundred copies of the Scriptures, in whole or in part. It had distributed in the Levant about sixty thousand, obtained from different places. These Scriptures were in the following languages: Hebrew, Hebrew-Spanish, Arabic, Syriac, Persian, Turkish, Armeno- Turkish, Greco- Turkish, ancient and modern Armenian, ancient and modern Greek, Albanian, German, Italian, French, and English." With this truly pious and devoted servant of Christ we have the honor of a personal acquaintance, and most ardently do we hope he may long be permitted to live and to labor in the ancient Gospel land. In 1846, the board entered into engagements to furnish ten thousand dollars for the purpose of printing a new edition of the Hebrew-Spanish Scriptures for the use of the Spanish Jews; also to furnish means for translating and publishing the Hebrew-German Scriptures for the use of the German and Polish Jews in Russia and Turkey. A further engagement was made to prepare and publish the Old Testament in modern Armenian, and the New Testament in modern Syriac, at Ooroomiah, in Persia, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Perkins, one thousand dollars toward which were remitted last year. In 1847, the board granted two thousand five hundred dollars to the American Board of Foreign Missions to aid in the publication of the entire Bible in modern Syriac, for the use of the Nestorians in Persia, the increasing interest manifested by this people in religion making it particularly desirable that they should be furnished with the Word of God. To aid in the publication of the Hebrew-German 284 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Scriptures, for the use of the German Jews, prepared by Mr. Schauffler, five hundred dollars were granted. In 1848, for the purpose of publishing the Scriptures in Turkey, under the direction of the American missionaries, five thousand dollars were remitted during the year. From a committee of missionaries in Turkey the board received the cheering intelligence that, throughout all the countries of the Levant, the Word of God, in the various languages in which it had been published by the society, had free course, and was glorified in the salvation of those to whom it was sent. "The diffusion of the sacred Volume," say they, "must always form an important part of our work. The Bible is the first book we wish to put into the hands of this people, and nothing can be better adapted to show them their errors, and their helpless and hapless condition without saving faith in Christ. We are, therefore, fully prepared to urge the society not to slacken, but rather to prosecute with renewed zeal their operations in this field. It surely holds out to them many encouragements. It promises a plentiful harvest at no distant day; of this we feel more and more assured. The Christian sects of this empire are to be brought under the purifying and saving influences of the Bible. The developments of every year are tending more and more to this result." BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 285 CHAPTER XXXI. BIBLE IN RUSSIA. A BIBLE society was established in Russia at an early day. At the organization of the American Bible Society a fraternal correspondence was commenced, which has been kept up without interruption to the present time. In 1818 the board received a copyof its Reports, and several copies of Bibles and portions of Scripture.published by that society in the various languages of the Russian empire, such as the Calmuc-Armenian Finnish, German, Polish, French, Sclavonian, Dorpa tian-Esthonian, Reval-Esthonian, Lettonian Persian Georgian, Samogatian, ancient Greek, modern Greek, Moldavian, and Tartar. The society has been patronized by the emperor with distinguished liberality, and by his nobles and the dignitaries of the Church with uncommon union. Though five years younger than the great parent of all Bible societies, the British and Foreign, it has been more extensively useful, perhaps, to the Eastern Continent than its illustrious prototype. In 1820 it had promoted the translation and circulation of the Scriptures in forty-six different languages. The society started out upon its boundless field with the determination to furnish the Bible to every family, from the Swedish frontier to the Straits of Behring, and from the shores of the Frozen Ocean to the boundaries of Turkey and China. In 1826, an imperial ukase, dictated by ignorance and prejudice, silenced the Bible press. The Russian 286- AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Bible Society, at this melancholy period of its history, had two hundred and eighty-nine auxiliaries, and had issued the Scriptures in various languages to the amount of one million of copies. The prohibition, however, did not extend to the sale and distribution of the Scriptures, nor to the existence of Bible societies. The same year the Russian Protestant Bible Society was organized at St. Petersburg. Through the labors of the Rev. Mr. Knill, who was furnished with Bibles and Testaments by the British and Foreign Bible Society, the St. Petersburg Society circulated in two years twenty-two thousand copies. In 1835, the board made a grant of three hundred dollars to the St. Petersburg Bible Society, on the request of William Ropes, Esq., an American merchant at that place. He sent an'extract from a letter to him from Pastor Malenberg, of Finland, showing the need of assistance: " You inquire," said he, "if I have any Finnish Bibles or New Testaments? I have hitherto had them, but have only six remaining. I would propose that you send me such books as I need, but I am afraid to do so. Who will pay for them? and can I ascertain the price? and how shall I be able to send you the money for them, having no more money than I need, and not always that? I wish, from my inmost soul, that I could obtain New Testaments, but I know not how. Ponder these things, and tell me what is best, and what can be done." This society obtained the protection of the government, and quietly moved forward dispensing blessings. In 1836, the board granted to William Ropes, Esq., and associates, at St. Petersburg, for the purpose of extending the circulation of the Scriptures, one thousand dollars. This year one thousand four hundred Testaments BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 287 and Psalters were purchased by two ladies in Sheffield for distribution in Siberia. An interesting communication was received from the Rev. Mr. Brown and Mr. Ropes in relation to Bible distribution in Russia in 1838. With a view of supplying the destitute, through the liberality of the American Bible Society, these gentlemen requested the pastors to make inquiry in regard to the condition of the people. Several of them addressed circulars to their charges. One Lutheran pastor in Esthonia asked for five hundred New Testaments to supply his destitute parishioners. The general superintendent of the churches, subject to the Southern Consistorium of Moscow, wrote to all the pastors under his care, requesting information in regard to the number of families destitute of the Bible. He furnished the Rev. Mr. Brown with the names of twenty pastors whose people were destitute. The Archbishop of Finland expressed his belief that there were forty thousand families without the Scriptures. He stated that, though poor, they were mostly able to read, and would be thankful for the Word of God through the benevolence of American Christians. To supply these destitute, the board made a grant of one thousand five hundred dollars. In 1839, a letter from the Rev. Mr. Brown communicated interesting intelligence in regard to the society's benefactions in Russia. One pastor says: "The supply of the destitute by the American Bible Society caused great astonishment and admiration. The people expressed themselves deeply gratified at the love which stretched out its arms over the sea to brethren it never saw. Two parishes, including fifteen thousand souls, were represented as containing one thousand nine hundred and fifty destitute families." ^2 88 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Another pastor stated that his parish contained eleven thousand two hundred souls, and that one thousand and ninety families were entirely destitute. Another parish, containing eight thousand souls, had six hundred destitute families. To meet these and similar wants, the board sent five hundred dollars, and one thousand five hundred German Bibles, for those speaking that language in the southern part of the empire. In 1841, on the request of Messrs. Ropes and Gilibrand, for the circulation of the Bible in Russia and Finland, the board granted one thousand dollars. In 1842, for the circulation of the Scriptures as above, one thousand dollars more were grantedto the committee at St. Petersburg. To procure and distribute the Scriptures in Sweden, under the direction of the Rev. George Scott, the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars was paid. The following year, to the St. Petersburg committee were sent one thousand dollars. The appropriation was designed to be employed in purchasing the Scriptures in Reval-Esthonian and other tongues, for the destitute congregations in Livonia and Esthonia. The succeeding year, from the Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, we learn that forty thousand destitute families had been supplied with the Scriptures. In 1847, the board sent to Russia the sum of two thousand dollars, to be expended as above stated. The books distributed by the funds of the society were mostly in the provinces of Esthonia and Livonia. The committee under whose direction they were circulated, after speaking of the success of the cause in Finland, adds: "Scarcely less interesting is the religious aspect of Esthonia, whose population has manifested for years BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 289 past tne utmost eagerness for the possession of the pre. cious volume of God's Word. At the sole charge of the American Bible Society, thirteen thousand copies have been distributed since 1841, and a very large, if not an equal number, by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Our brethren of the American society having expressed a desire that the Baltic provinces should be their peculiar sphere of labor, we have for some time past supplied both Esthonia and Livonia with the Holy Scriptures, from funds placed by them at our disposal. The latter province presents a scene of painful interest. Statistics have been furnished us, from which we gather that not less than fourteen thousand families are altogether destitute of a single copy of the Old or New Testament." In 1848, at the expense. of the American Bible Society, there were circulated three thousand eight hundred and twenty copies of the Scriptures in Russia. Through the British and Foreign Bible Society, which has an agent at St. Petersburg, several translations have been made for the various languages in that vast empire; and the time is no doubt near at hand when it may be said of Russia, as of every other country in the world, the people all are permitted to read "the wonderful works of God in their own tongue in which they were born." May God, in the dispensations of his providence and grace, usher on that day. T 290 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. CHAPTER XXXII. AN APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS OF THE BIBLE. WITH our present knowledge of the contents of the sacred Oracles, and the conviction of their importance as a source of instruction in all the essential departments of faith and duty as connected with our present happiness and everlasting welfare, were we to suppose for a moment, by way of illustration, that there was but one single copy of this sacred Book in existence, with what eagerness would we desire to gaze upon its wondrous pages! What pilgrimages from every land would oe made to that holy shrine, and what multitudes would flock to see the Book of God and hear its divine revelations! The oracle of Apollo at Delphos, the tomb of Mohammed at Mecca, and the car of Juggernaut atOrissa, visited in other times by almost countless thousands of devotees, would be outnumbered by the hosts that would cover the plains and darken the mountains of that land which held the "living Oracles" of the "living God." The oracle of Apollo has ceased its responses, the temple is in ruins, and the pythoness has departed. The ashes of the prophet have lost their power to charm, and the Mussulman seeks not, as of old, to bow at the shrine of him who conquered by the sword. The Hindoo, who vainly thought that death within ten miles of Orissa, which contained the car of his bloody god, was a certain passport to heaven, no longer risks his life to traverse burning deserts nor joins the shout of wild and hideous revelry as the car of death rolls on. APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 2 9 1 The Scriptures of Confucius, the Zendavesta of Zoroaster, the Hieroglyphics of the Thaumaturgists, the Shasters of the priests of India, the Koran of Mohammed, the funeral pile, the sacred waters, whether of Ganges or Ilissus, have all become powerless, and, as the old, time-decayed monuments of ancient superstition, they are passing away. Now, when the lurid twilight of pagan mythology has ceased to satisfy, and has left its votaries to wander in bewilderment, the Sun of righteousness, as it shines in peerless majesty through the Gospel of salvation, is ascending the meridian, and shedding abroad its light and heat to illumine the remotest corners of the realm of night, to reanimate and gladden the nations still prostrate in the region and shadow of death; and even blank and cheerless infidelity, to its own dismay and confusion, has evoked the light of science from the deepest recesses of earth and the gem-set canopy of heaven only to confirm the truth of Bible theology and stamp its origin Divine. We are not called upon to contemplate the Bible as an oracle, magnificently resting in the temple of some far-distant land only accessible to the pilgrim; it has " grown, and prevailed," and multiplied, until its millions of fac similes have found a place and yield a clear response to every inquirer in every land. Nor is it the less precious because it has become thus plentiful. The light is not the less pleasant and beautiful to behold because it pours its wide, diffusing ray on every mountain and plain, and ocean and river. Nor is the glorious moral sun " which Mercy took from off the throne" less precious because its beams enlighten every nation, and its glad tidings break in melody upon every ear. As it is in nature, so it is in grace and providence, our most valuable blessings are the most common and ^2 92 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. universal; but is this a reason why the Giver and the gift should be less esteemed? Rather of the one increase our respect and love for the other, until, in the blessings of our God, we shall constantly behold the evidences of a love enough to make "the rocks and hills break their everlasting silence. The time was when the Jews, to whom were committed the living Oracles, lost them as they lost their temple and its sacred vessels. The very language in which they were written was also passing away. Darkness was in all their dwellings and synagogues, like that which hung over Egypt on the fearful day of its curse. It was a gloomy, starless night to the descendants of Israel. "The law and the testimony" were buried amid the ruins of their most holy place. The Oracle was gone, the Ark was taken and the Trim and ThunMmim had lost their power. But the same hand that wrote its everlasting law upon tables of stone, preserved it from the touch of the destroyer until piety could again take it from the hiding-place, and cause it to be read in the presence of all the people. When, at the conflagration of the Alexandrian library, which contained in its alcoves the literature of the world, it fell a victim to the torch of the incendiary, unlike the works of renowned authors of antiquity, it was not destroyed. The synagogues of Judea contained the sacred Treasure. Its divine Author preserved it during the centuries of pagan and Christian darkness through which it passed, and through all the fires of the persecution to which it has been subj ected, until it has become the most plentiful and accessible of all books in the world. Prophecy and fact are remarkably coincident in regard to the Bible: "The Word of our God shall stand forever;" it "shall cover the earth as the waters cover APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 293 the sea;" " shall have free course and be glorified;" "shall not return void," but shall fill the earth with fruitfulness, while songs and everlasting joy shall follow its glorious way! To those who are the friends of the Bible, believing in its pre-eminent importance, and tracing the movements of the divine Hand in its production, preservation, and diffusion abroad, what becomes obviously their duty in regard to it? To possess it ourselves; to read, mark, learn, believe, and practice what it teaches, is evidently our duty. But duty stops not there. It inculcates a regard for others equivalent to the love we bear for ourselves, and assures us that "to do good and to communicate" thrill the mind of God himself with pleasurable emotions. The term neighbor has a world-wide signification. Cast in the scanty mold of some minds, it extends but a step from the threshold of our own habitation; but in the light of true Christian charity, it is boundless as the wants and woes of humanity. Diffusive as the light of heaven, Christian charity shines on all, and blesses all on whom it shines. If it subjects him to the charge of a " denial of the faith and a gross infidelity" who provides not for the spiritual wants of his own household, he who withholds what his Lord rightfully demands is not only an infidel in heart, but a "robber of God," and the very blessings of Heaven will turn to curses in his hand. Those who seek to save that which should have been given to the Lord for the promotion of his cause and kingdom on earth, must suffer its loss; and if not with it the loss of his own soul, it will be because of his hearty repentance and true faith in turning to God. What is given to the Lord is " a treasure laid up in heaven that moth can not rust, nor thieves break through and steal;" and it will be all we shall possess 294 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. when we come to die. The ownership in every thing else must be relinquished then; that is invested in the treasury of Heaven, the profits of which will accumulate forever. It is this that the Savior denominates a riches toward God. Possessing the distinguished blessing of the Gospel in such rich abundance, the claims of God are on us to send it to the destitute. There is a fearful amount of incredulity in the world, and not a little in the Church, in regard to the destitution of the Word of God in our own country; and many are disposed to think that, in a land of Bibles, emphatically so speaking, there certainly can not be many that are destitute; and even if such could be found, so cheap are the Scriptures, and so easy of access in all parts of the country, that Christian charity does not require any specific action in relation thereto. A reference to a few facts will show that notwith. standing the American Bible Society has been in operation for thirty-three years, during which time it has circulated nearly five millions of' copies of the Scriptures in the different states and territories of the Union, yet, startling as it may appear, there is at this moment a greater destitution in this country than there was when the first Bible was issued from the society's press. Twenty years ago a resolution to supply the United States in two years was unanimously adopted by the parent society, and concurred in by the auxiliaries. Bible associations went vigorously to work, copies were scattered by the million all through the length and breadth of the land, and the work was doneevery family was reported as supplied. Explorations were recommenced a few years after APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 295 ward, and it was ascertained that the destitution was as great as ever. An array of facts could easily be presented, showing that, in consequence of the increase of population, the creation of new families, and the influx of foreigners, the destitution absolutely increases instead of being lessened every year. A few will suffice. Take the State of Massachusetts, the landing-place and home of the Puritan, where-as beautifully illustrated in one of the paintings in the Rotunda of the Capitol at Washington-the light of heaven first fell upon an open Bible in our beloved country, and where it was first baptized with the prayers, and tears, and blood of the purest and bravest hearts that ever beat. In Massachusetts, fast and firm as her granite mount. ains, free and boundless as her ocean waves, there are hundreds of families unblessed by the light of the written Word. Plymouth county, forever consecrated as the spot where pilgrim feet were permitted, for the first time, to stand upon a free soil, was explored about three years since, and hundreds of families were found without the Bible. One would think this a fancy sketch were it not sustained by cold New England facts. Next we come to the proud Empire State of New York, and we find a still greater destitution. Right under the glorious shadow of the parent tree, which has struck deep its roots and spread out its branches, the leaves of which are for the healing of the nation, the destitute are to be found. Jefferson county was reported as supplied in 1830, when the general supply was effected. Five years afterward it was re-explored, and one thousand families were found destitute. After the lapse of five more years it was again can 296 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. vassed, and eleven hundred families were found with. out the Bible. At the close of the next five years it was ascertained that fifteen hundred families were in a state of Bible destitution. We discover in this the clearest'indication of duty to engage in a perpetual distribution, as the only way of keeping up a regular supply. We next pass to Virginia, denominated the "Old Dominion." There the destitution is as great, if not greater, than in any of the Northern, Eastern, or Western States. On the authority of the Rev. Mr. Poisal, the agent of the State Bible Society, there were fifteen thousand families destitute of the Scriptures in that state. In Western Virginia nearly one half of the white families were without the Bible, and this is put down as a low estimate by those who have made the exploration. Ohio, the third state in the Union, filled with an active and enterprising population, second to none for her zeal in the promotion of schools and churches, and among the earliest in the Bible field, there is a destitution amounting to about one fifth of the families in the state. About two thirds of the county of Clermont was visited, and upward of three hundred families were found destitute. WVe have selected the above states as representing the four great divisions of the Union; and if they furnish a criterion by which the others are to be judged, then, at the lowest calculation, there are at this time three hundred and fifty thousand Protestant families without the blessings of God's Word. A period never will perhaps arrive when it can be said the society has fulfilled its mission, and its presses may stop. To keep up the supply in our own co-un APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 297 try alone will require its ceaseless operations, and on a vastly increased scale from the present. If the estimate be a correct one, that the population of the country increases at the rate of thirty-three per cent. every ten years, then in less than fifty years we shall have a population of one hundred millions, and they must have the ever-luminous revelations of the Word of God to guide and control them in the mighty whirl of human progress. Vast as the home field is, yet the entire world has claims upon us, and we must meet the demand. God is preparing his way among all nations. The vast valley of the dead is shaken with the word of his mouth, and betokens a resurrection from the sleep of centuries. Heathen temples and idols, old systems of religion and superannuated forms of worship, are fading away, and soon will be numbered with the things that were. The signs of the times, which are but the indications of Providence for the Church's direction, are clear as noonday that the world-wide field is white unto harvest. A few years ago, and many of the most interesting portions of the heathen world were inaccessible to the light of Divine Revelation; now, there is not a heathen country under heaven where it has not an unrestricted circulation. To the three hundred thousand dollars which have been expended by the society to translate, print, and circulate the Scriptures in foreign lands, must be added millions before the world is supplied. A general desire is awakened in all lands for the Word of Life. The cry for help comes up from every valley, echoes from every mountain, resounds from every shore, is borne on every breeze, and he must be either a stupid or heartless Christian who has no ear for that cry, and no hand to extend to them the means of salvation. 298 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. We admit the importance of the missionary enterprise in all its length and breadth, but the details of this book will show most conclusively that the Bible is the great and leading star in the world's conversion. A missionary may enter a heathen land, mingle with its inhabitants, and learn their language, but, unless he have for them a vernacular Bible, he can accomplish nothing. Without this, he would be as a minister at a foreign court without his commission. All his assertions and exhortations, unbacked by the divine authority of the written Word, could be set aside by the mere dictum of a heathen priest. We only ask that the cause we advocate receive aid in proportion to its importance, when compared with all the other benevolent institutions of the Church, and we shall be satisfied with the result. We desire that the Bible may become to every nation as free and exhaustless as the air of the mountain or the water of the river. A traveler once, wearied and faint with the toils of his journey, approached a fountain on the borders of the desert, and he hasted with eagerness to quench his burning thirst with its refreshing waters. Engraved on a marble slab surmounting the fountain were the following beautiful lines: "Come, traveler, slake thy burning thirst, And drive away dull care; Thou need'st not broach thy little purse, For I am free as air. My home is on the mountain side, My course is to the sea; Then drink till thou art satisfied, Yea, drink, for I am free." Thus would we say to all earth's toil-worn travelers, fainting and dying amid the deserts of heathenism, come: "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come to the wa BIBLE SOCIETIES, ETC. 299 ters, and he that hath no money, come; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." The Bible has opened up a broad and mighty river all through the desert earth, on the banks of which three thousand missionaries stand and exclaim, " Ho! ye that pant for living streams, And pine away and die, Here you may quench your raging thirst With streams that never dry." CHAPTER XXXIII. BIBLE SOCIETIES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD. THE following list will show the names and localities of these institutions, together with the date of their organization, and issues of Bibles and Testaments. They are all parent societies, and have their thousands of auxiliaries and branches in the different countries embraced within the sphere of their operations. These societies are multiplying from year to year, and are to be found in almost all parts of the world. They are also being organized in heathen and papal countries. The present year adds to the number a society for the circulation of the Scriptures, a large edition of which is now being published, in the very center and citadel of the Roman hierarchy. Copies of Scriptures issued. British and Foreign Bible Society, instituted 1804....... 20,000,000 American Bible Society, instituted 1816.............. 6,000,000 Protestant Bible Society at Paris, instituted 1818, with 132 auxiliaries. 300,000 French and Foreign Bible Society at Paris, instituted 1833, with auxiliaries......... 100,000 Strasburg Bible Society, instituted 1815 (chiefly German Bibles and Testaments)............ 66,087 3 0 0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Copies of Scrip. tures issued. Issued from the British and Foreign Bible Society's Dep6t in Paris, from April, 1820......................... 2,089,211 Icelandic Bible Society, instituted 1815............. 10,445 Swedish Bible Society, instituted 1808, with auxiliaries.. 564,378 The Agency at Stockholm, formed 1832.............. 231,900 Norwegian Bible Society, instituted 1816.............. 30,995 The Agency at Christiana, formed 1832............. 26,240 Stavanger Bible Society, instituted 1828.............. 6,693 Finnish Bible Society, instituted 1812, at Abo, with many branches...................................... 110,561 Danish Bible Society, instituted 1814, with auxiliaries. 172,554 Netherlands Bible Society, with auxiliaries............ 274,738 The Agency at Amsterdam, appointed 1843............ 47,659 Belgian and For. Bible Society at Brussels, instituted 1834 7,623 Belgian Bible Associations, instituted 1839............. 3,903 The Agency at Brussels, appointed 1835............... 119,585 Antwerp Bible Society, instituted 1834................ 439 Ghent Bible Society, instituted 1834................. 8,980 Sleswick-Holstein Bible Society, instituted 1815, with auxiliaries....................................... 107,213 Eutin Bible Society, instituted 1817, for the Principality of L ubec......................................... 5,296 Ldubec Bible Society, instituted 18.14................. 11,472 Hamburg Bible Society, instituted 1814, with branches.. 83,752 Bremen Bible Society, instituted 1815, with an auxiliary. 20,163 Lauenburg-Ratzeburg Bible Society, instituted 1816.... 10,675 Rostock Bible Society, instituted 1816................ 19,154 Hanover Bible Society, instituted 1814, with auxiliaries.. 99,229 Lippe-Detmold Bible Society, instituted 1816.......... 3,569 Waldeck and Pyrmont Bible Society, instituted 1817... 2,800 Hesse-Cassel Bible Society, instituted 1818............ 30,000 Hanau Bible Society, instituted 1818................. 3,316 Marburg Bible Society, instituted 1825............ 7,065 Frankfort Bible Society, instituted 1816............... 73,565 The Agency at Frankfort, appointed 1830............. 701,027 Hesse-Darmstadt Bible Society, instituted 1817, with auxiliaries................................... 31,484 Duchy of Baden Bible Society, instituted 1820, with auxiliaries... 18,585 Wurtemberg Bible Society, instituted 1812, with auxiliaries 464,576 Bavarian Protestant Bible Institution at Nuremberg, instituted 1821, with auxiliaries....................... 108,990 BIBLE SOCIETIES, ETC. 301 Copies of Scrip. tures issued. Saxon Bible Society, instituted 1814, with auxiliaries... 159,536 Anhalt-Bernburg Bible Society, instituted 1821......... 4,786 Anhalt-Dessau Bible Society........................ 3,310 Weimar Bible Society, instituted 1821................ 3,773 Eisenach Bible Society, instituted 1818................ 4,938 Brunswick Bible Society, instituted 1815.............. 700 Prussian Bible Society at Berlin, instituted 1805, with auxiliaries......................................... 1,271,194 Issued to the Prussian Troops since 1830.............. 235,916 Basle Bible Society, instituted 1804.................. 336,184 Schaffhausen Bible Society, instituted 1813............ 8,382 Zuirich Bible Society, instituted 1812, with auxiliary at Winterthur................................... 14,656 St. Gall Bible Society, instituted 1813................ 34,429 Aargovian Bible Society, instituted 1815......... 13,802 Berne Bible Society.40,841 Neufchatel Bible Society, instituted 1816.............. 6,430 Lausanne Bible Society, instituted 1814.............. 32,000 Geneva Bible Society, instituted 1814................. 36,651 Glarus Bible Society, instituted 1819................. 5,000 Coire or Chur Bible Society, instituted 1813........... 12,267 Waldenses Bible Society at Tour, instituted 1816....... 4,238 Ionian Bible Society, instituted 1819 at Corfu, with three auxiliaries.7,377 Russian Bible Society, Petersburg, previous to its suspension by an imperial ukase in 1826, had 289 auxiliaries, and had printed the Scriptures in various languages, the circulation of which is still allowed................ 861,105 Russian Protestant Bible Society at St. Petersburg, instituted 1826, with numerous auxiliaries.............. 132,464 Calcutta Bible Society, instituted 1811, with various branches...................................... 491,567 Serampore Missionaries............. 200,000 Madras Bible Society, instituted 1820................. 462,505 Bombay Bible Society, instituted 1813................ 139,928 Colombo Bible Society, instituted 1812, with various branches in Ceylon.............................. 36,114 Jaffia Bible Society............................... 62,625 We have not the means of ascertaining definitely the precise number of Bibles issued from the various depositories. An international correspondence is kept 302 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. up with the different societies, but complete reports are not always received, and consequently the exact number can not be given. As far as the table goes it is strictly correct, but the number of issues is greater by thousands than is here exhibited. We may safely put down the number at 40,000,000. Many of the above societies increase their operations from year to year, and thus, from many different and distant points, the rays of divine truth go out for the healing of the nations. CHAPTER XXXIV. AGENCIES. THE appointment of agents early engrossed the attention of the Board of Managers. No society, perhaps, ever labored more assiduously to forward its interests, without fee or reward, than did the American Bible Society. For several years all its business was conducted without the employment of an agent, nor did the managers adopt this policy until every other measure was exhausted. The importance of having some one to organize auxiliary societies, and keep them in existence and action when organized, was early felt, and the repeated neglect of many auxiliaries to hold meetings, take up collections, explore and supply their respective fields, was equally deplored. To obviate this difficulty, an Auxiliary Committee was appointed, whose duty it was, as far as practicable, to attend the anniversaries, or depute some one to attend. They were authorized to pay the expenses of such representatives, and urged to use their utmost endeavors to stimulate the societies to increased exertion. AGENCIES. 303 This committee addressed various circulars to different parts of the country, many of which remained dead in the offices, and but few produced the desired effect. The following is one of those circulars: GENTLEMEN,'The undersigned are a committee appointed by the managers of the American Bible Society in order to increase the number and animate the efflorts of its auxiliaries. "We trust that it is not necessary to dwell on the benefits resulting from this national institution. The simplicity of its object, and the comprehensiveness of its plan, must commend it to the approbation of every observer. Its' sole object is to encourage a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment;' and it admits to equal privileges Christians of every religious denomination. Its effect has already been felt in the growth of that catholic charity which is an ornament to the Christian name, in the production of that mutual goodwill between the most distant parts of our land, which promises to be a blessing both to the country as such, and to the Church which God has planted in it, and in the spread of the Bible to thousands who were formerly destitute of this sacred Volume. It is very evident, however, that the abilities of this institution to render its blessing permanently and extensively felt must depend on the number and activity of its tributary institutions. Although the British and Foreign Bible Society is patronized by many who are distinguished for the elevation of their rank and the abundance of their wealth, yet is the proportion of five sixths of their vast income annually derived from auxiliary societies and Bible associations; and if ever the Amer. ican Bible Society is to become equally distinguished for zeal and success, it too must depend on the aid furnished from similar sources as its great means of replenishing its treasury. At the same time, it should be observed, that auxiliaries are equally necessary for the wise and economical distribution of the Scriptures themselves. Experience has convinced the Board of Managers that in ordinary cases, occurring within the United States, it is inconsistent with the best interest of the society to distribute the Bible gratuitously, except through the medium of auxiliary societies; and of course it is hoped that, in the most impoverished and destitute parts of our country, auxiliaries may be formed as means of sharing in the bounty of the national institution; and in those regions where auxiliaries may have funds sufficient to pay for the Bibles they may need to supply the destitute within their reach, their usefulness, as organs of distribution, must be obvious; for they alone can form a just opinion as to the extent of the existing wants, and the best means of furnishing a supply. 304 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. "To these general observations we beg leave to subjoin the followinmg summary of regulations adopted by the Board of Managers of the American Bible Society in relation to auxiliaries. "' All such Bible societies as shall agree to place their surplus revenue, after supplying their own districts with Bibles, at the disposal of this society, shall be considered auxiliary; and the members of such societies shall be entitled to vote in all meetings of this, and the officers of such societies shall be, ex officio, directors of this. "'Every auxiliary will determine for itself what is their surplus revenue after supplying their own wants; but that revenue, when given, remains at the sole disposal of the managers; who will, however, thankfully receive any recommendation as to the best way of disposing of it, reserving to themselves the right of adopting or rejecting the recommendation. "'Any society becoming auxiliary has a right of withdrawing from the connection when it sees fit so to do. "' Bibles are sold at cost prices to any Bible society not auxiliary, and at a deduction of five per cent. from said cost prices to societies that are auxiliary. "'No society is considered as an auxiliary to this which shall unite any other object with that of circulating the Scriptures without note or comment. "'The auxiliaries now in existence, and those hereafter to be formed, are desired to transmit their annual reports to the parent institution before the first of March in each year, in order to afford the opportunity of embodying the information so communicated in the annual reports of this board.' " For any further information which you may desire on the subject, we would refer you to the annual reports, and the quarterly extracts from the correspondence of the board; from all which you will see that the sole object of the American Bible Society is to spread the sacred Volume on such terms and to such extent that neither rich nor poor shall be found without the Oracles of Life. "Hoping that you will see fit to unite with us in this good cause, in such way as to you shall seem most expedient, we are, gentlemen, your obedient servants, "J. M. MATTHEWS, "JOSHUA SOULE, | "PETER A. JAY, >Committee." "THEODORE DWIGHT, | "JOHN CAULDWELL, J In 1820 the committee were instructed, as the last resort, to make inquiry in regard to the obtaining suit AGENCIES. 3 05 able persons to act as traveling agents of the society. The managers were encouraged to this by reading the annals of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which furnished ample proof of the efficacy of such a policy. In 1822, agents were appointed by the board, who labored successfully in organizing auxiliaries in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina. Having thus before them a demonstration of the importance of such agencies, and following the example of their illustrious prototype, they determined on continuing them in the field. An agent was appointed at this time to visit the Southern and Western States. In 1823 two more were appointed, one to labor in the North and East, and the other in the South and West. Two were appointed the succeeding year, to labor in different places. They were also reappointed in 1825. The succeeding year four were appointed. The importance of having agents who should devote their whole time exclusively to the work being no longer regarded by the board as problematicaltheir experience having demonstrated beyond all question that if they were evils they were necessary evilsfrom this time forward they were regularly appointed as the wants of the country seemed to demand, and the circumstances of the society would justify. These agents are selected from the different denominations represented in the society, and are appointed by the agency committee, after having been previously recommended by the secretaries. Specific instructions are given them for the direction of their movements, to which they are required faithfully to adhere. The following is an extract from those instructions: "In entering on your agency, you will find that your main business U AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. is with auxiliary Bible societies; either the formation of ew ones, or the reviving ofthose already formed. The appendix of the annual report will show you where societies now exist, and your map where they are still wanting. Most of the auxiliaries now formed embrace a single county, some nearly a whole state, and some a mere village or townhip; some have many members, others but few; some are much in debt for books, others a little, others none at all; some can every year make liberal donations, some can barely supply their own wants, and others stand in need of assistance. In visiting a society, therefore, your first business will be to learn its exact present condition. This can be done by calling on its officers, and then on ministers of the Gospel and other men of candor and intelligence connected with it. (In forming a new auxiliary, inquire whether it should be a county society, or one for a central village and vicinity, taking in several contiguous counties.) " If the society is in debt for books, learn the reason why payment for them has not been made, and what the prospect is that they will be paid for hereafter. Where is the money to come from by which they are to be paid for? From branch societies, from annual subscriptions, congregational donations, or from returns for books sold on credit? Is the debt so great as to embarrass the society, and to prevent its ordering other books which are needed? If the parent society were to cancel a part of the debt due, would the auxiliary make a speedy effort and pay the other part? Or if the auxiliary were to receive a donation of books, could these be sold, and money thus be raised, and the whole debt paid? After judicious, thorough inquiry, try to inform us what wise arrangement can be made for the early settlement of the debt of each society owing us which you may visit. "When the debt of each societyvisited is seen to, and provision made for its settlement, your next inquiry will be, what can be done toward exciting the same to new efforts in procuring and distributing Bibles? Many societies which supplied their destitute families six or eight years ago, have scarcely bought or distributed a Bible since. Such must again be surrounded with destitute households, and many more large families can have but one small Bible. Something effectual ought here to be done. The officers and managers of the auxiliaries should at once commence a re-supply of their districts, and in a systematic, thorough manner. "tWhen a new society is to be formed, you should previously visit different parts of the field to be included, and interest as many as possible by calls on individuals and families, and by small preliminary meetings; and then, by notices on the Sabbath and in the papers, fix the time and place for a public meeting. At this meeting state clearly AGENCIES. and fully the objects and advantages of a Bible society; let a few other brief addresses be made; then read and adopt a Constitution, choose officers, and open a subscription on the spot. It is generally the best way to allow all subscribers of any sum to become members. When the society is formed, the secretary of the same should be instructed to give immediate notice of this fact to the parent society. He should give assurance that the sole object of the auxiliary is to circulate the Scriptures'without note or comment,' and to pay over its'surplus funds' to the parent society. He should give also the name and postoffice address of the president, corresponding secretary, and treasurer, with their'usual titles. Try to make the secretary of the auxiliary understand this, and make all the officers feel that the prosperity ofthe ociety depends mainly on them. Societies which die, usually die for want of work marked out by their overseers. "Should there be some counties in the new settlements where no auxiliaries can yet be formed for want of materials, pains should be taken to induce some contiguous auxiliary to visit and supply the destitute in such places. Books should be solicited of the parent society, if necessary, for that purpose. A few energetic Christian men, on a given day or week, might take a quantity of Bibles, and go through and supply such a county, and the good done would be incalculable. This plan must often be adopted in the new settlements. Agents at the West and South are particularly requested to attend to this suggestion. "In some populous counties you will find it advantageous to form branch societies in connection with large auxiliaries. These branches. can be formed in townships or in congregations. Discretion should be used in forming them, as they are prone to languish and die unless there is a good number of acting individuals to sustain them. In some counties a few branches can now be formed, and the way left open for others to be formed a few years hence. Whenever they are formed, notice should be given to the secretary of the county auxiliary to which they belong, and he should forward the name of the secretary of each branch to the parent society, so that the monthly extracts may be sent to him. The annual meetings of the branches should occur a few weeks previous to the meeting of the county auxiliary, and should be attended by delegates from the latter, if possible. ",When the situation of a township or congregation will not justify the formation of a branch society, a local committee of three or five of the best individuals should be substituted in place, and which committee should meet often, collect funds, receive and distribute books, and make returns in the same manner as is done by a branch society. This committee will be more efficient for the present than the branch socie Q30Q8 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ty, and will, in time, grow into such a society. In some places, perhaps a single active person should be appointed as a local agent, keeping a supply of books on hand, and making collections of money when practicable. Inquire always as you go through a county whether Sunday school children are supplied with the Bible or New Testament. Some county societies are placing one of these Testaments in the hands of every child in the county between eight and sixteen years of age, and our board wish all. societies to do the same, according to a resolution of the American Bible Society three years since. Testaments can be had at six and a. quarter cents, and Bibles at twenty-five cents for this purpose. NWhen Sunday schools of any denomination are in want of Bibles or Testaments, they should apply to the Depository of the Bible Society for that region. If the local society is not able to purchase them, the secretary of the same should apply to the parent society for a grant. " In some counties you should inquire what can be done toward raising funds for the general distribution of the Bible in our own and foreign countries. Can some specific amount be raised annually for this purpose? Are all the ministers within the bounds of the society life members of the American Bible Society? Can not some who are life mnembers by payment of thirty dollars, be made life directors by paymnent of one hundred and twenty dollars more? Are there not some wealthy and benevolent laymen who will become life directors or life members? Aim, wherever you go, to give a permanency to all auxiliaries-to make them feel that they are to act from year to year. The wants of our own growing population will never cease, and we have several of our Indian tribes, Spanish America, Brazil, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Bombay, Ceylon, Siam, China, and the Sandwich Islands, where the Word of God is sought with a constantly increasing avidity. The managers need many thousand dollars this moment to aid foreign distribution, and ought to raise more and more every year for this object. No society must think of relaxing its efforts until the world is supplied with the Bible. Try to impress this truth deeply on every auxiliary. Missions are now so far advanced that they must, in the future, make greater and greater demands for means to print the new translations made. "The managers are trying to establish a more permanent system of agencies than they have hitherto had. Their design is to have the whole country divided into districts, each containing one or more states, and to establish in each district a good agent. They design also to have an auxiliary society in each county, and have the anniversary of these auxiliaries occur in such successive order that the agent can at AGENCIES. tend them all. Try to prepare the way for such a system where you are located. "'You will frequently find auxiliaries which have funds on hand which they wish to remit to the parent society. If these funds are received by you to forward, very great pains should be taken to give us an early account of them, in a clear, business-like manner, so that we can be in no doubt as to what each dollar is for, and from whence it comes. Let us have names, dates, and post-office addresses, so that we can acknowledge all receipts correctly by private letter or through the Bible Society Record. " It is required that every agent write once a month to the parent society. In doing this, you can condense your journal, and thus give us a view of your proceedings, of interesting incidents, good effects of the Bible and Bible societies, objections to the Bible cause, and kinds of opposition' met with, so that parts of this journal can be published. "It sometimes occurs that the publications of the society are not taken from the post-offices where they are sent, and yet no notice is given of an unwillingness to receive them. The committee wish the se-retary of every auxiliary to be urged to give annual information on this subject; to inform us who do and who do not take the Record and Reports; and to inform us of deaths, and of removals to other places of such as are entitled to them. "Inquiries are sometimes made whether it is the desire of the board that auxiliaries should sell Bibles and Testaments when furnished them gratuitously. The committee would say that such is the wish of the board, except in cases where the destitute,' are unable to buy. A purchased Bible is generally more valued and read than one which costs nothing. Moneys arising in this way should be used in procuring more books, or sent to the parent society as a donation to make others. "Some auxiliaries sell their books, when purchased, at a much higher price than others. It is desirable that there should be uniformity in this respect, and a good rule is to sell them for cost and charges. "It is sometimes asked whether auxiliaries ought to sell books to those who are not members. They are not bound, of course, to do so, but yet good would often be done by allowing those who will not become members to buy, as such kindness may perhaps lead them eventually to become members. "While engaged in your agency you will frequently be called to preach, or make addresses on the Sabbath, and sometimes, perhaps, on common topics as well as on your special business. In all cases it is expected that you will be careful to avoid any of the peculiarities of denomination, and dwell on those great essential truths of religion in which all the evangelical unite. The Bible cause has no sectarian ^31i0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. character, and its agents should give it none, either by their public speaking or conversation. All metaphysical, sectional, ecclesiastical, or political topics, which divide the opinions even of many good men, are to be avoided by those whose great business is to circulate the Word of God as it was received from heaven. Try to produce harmony, forbearance, and kindness among different denominations, by treating all who have the- Christian spirit as members of the same great family, and expectants of the same inheritance in their Father's house on high. You can not feel too deeply the importance of your work, and the necessity of looking continually to the Great Author of the Bible for wisdom and strength. ^Without his aid you will do little to any valuable purpose; with his grace assisting, you can do all things well. Cherish habitually a modest, prudent, Christian spirit, which, with an entire devotedness to the business of your agency, will be the best recommendation both of yourself and your object among all the good people whom you may visit. With these suggestions, the committee would sincerely commend you to the guidance of our heavenly Father, praying that He would open the way, through your instrumentality, for the wide diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, which are able, through faith, to make men wise unto salvation. "With affectionate regard, they subscribe themselves your obedient friends and brethren." The above instructions from the Committee on Agen. cies are sent to every commissioned agent in the society's employ. In addition to what is here specified, agents are expected to visit each auxiliary society in the bounds of their respective fields once a year, and keep up a correspondence with them in relation to all matters pertaining to the work in which they are engaged. -The following list embraces the names of all the agents from 1820 to the present time, a period of twenty-nine years. The highest number employed at any one time was nineteen, and the lowest two. Some were in the employ of the society but a few months, others but one year, and others have been agents for a long time. AGENCIES. 311 Rev. Richard Hall. Rev. T. A. Cornwall. Dr. Samuel Robinson. Rev. Sumner Mandeville. Rev. John M. Peck. Mr. Daniel Clark. Dr. Nathaniel Dwight. Rev. John S. Wilson. Rev. Jareb B. Waterbury. Rev. Joel W. Newton. Rev. G-reenbury W. Ridgley. Col. James M'Clung. Mr. Henry White. Rev. James B. Walker. Rev. Simeon Wilbur. Rev. Joseph Lane. Rev. James C. Barnes. Rev. Thomas Shepard. Mr. Dennis M. Winston. Rev. Myron Tracy. Mr. Samuel C. Jennings. Mr. Philo Wright. Rev. E. R. Fairchild. Rev. James R. Wetherby. Rev. George B. Davis. Rev. John Bartlett. Mr. Henry A. Rowland. Rev. James M'Elroy. Mr. Samuel D. Blythe. Rev. James B. Shaw. Rev. Herbert C. Thompson. Rev. Francis Bowman. Rev. W. W. Stevenson. Rev. Ira M. Easter. Rev. Charles H. Weld. Mr. Isaac WV. Wheelwright, for Mr. Augustus Bagley. Spanish America. Rev. Joseph P. Cunningham. Mr. Joab Seely. Rev. Thomas P. Green. Mr. John C. Smith. Rev. Reuben Taylor. Rev. John Ford. Rev. George Stacey. Rev. John S. Ebaugh. Rev. William M. Stuart. Rev. Roswell Kimball. Rev. Solomon Hardy. Rev. William Vaughan. Rev. J. Lathrop. Rev. Isaac Shook. Rev. M. Fairchild. Rev. H. J. Kepler. Rev. Samuel Hodge. Damianos, a Greek priest, AthRev. George Sheldon. ens, Greece. Rev. Mr. Gould. Rev. Ward Childs. Rev. P. W. Dowd. Rev. John J. Aiken. Rev. Robert Tisdale. Rev. Francis Dighton. Rev..J. P. Turney. Rev. Calvin N. Ransom. Rev. Eli Ball. Rev. William M'Kinney. Rev. Mr. Wilcox. Rev. Simeon H. Calhoun, in the Mr. Timothy Turner. Levant. Rev. Mr. Patton. Rev. John S. Mitchell. Mr. W. IH. Hadley. Rev. Charles Macreading. Rev. Robert Piggot. Rev. Hector Brownson. Rev. Neal Johnson. Rev. Francis P. Goulding. Rev. James Williams. Rev. Sylvester Holmes. Rev. Thomas R. Durfee. Mr. Horace Hunt. Rev. Benjamin Chase. Rev. Jacob Shepherd. aq 1^i2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Rev. John W. Powers. Rev. Mr. Blodgett. Mr. Charles Hastings. Rev. James V. Watson. Rev. Stephen Peet. Rev. Henry W. Adams. Rev. E. W. Sehon. Rev. Calvin W. Wolcott. Rev. C. M. F. Deems. Rev. Mr. Tooker. Rev. Benjamin Shipman. Rev. Mr. Lore. Rev. Horace Spaulding. Rev. Aaron Wood. Mr. A. B. Lewis. Mr. L. S. Swezey. Rev. Charles Fitch. Rev. John Poisal. Rev. J. W. Dale. Rev. Mr. Jamieson. Rev. C. G. Lee. Rev. Mr. Cochran. Rev. E. Jordan. Rev. Richard Killen. Rev. Mr. Mattison. Rev. J. A. Baughman. Rev. William Bacon. Rev. H. S. C. Walker. Rev. John Lindsey. Rev. Thomas Stringfield. Rev. Julius Field. Rev. J. S. Hughes. Dr. John H. Kain. Rev. C. Kent. Rev. George H. Warner. Mr. A. Lord. Virgil A. Bogue, Esq. Rev. E. H. Hatcher. Rev. William Homes. Rev. Mr. Goodenough. Rev. Anthony T. Scruggs. Rev. A. R. Banks. Rev. Dr. Pierce. Rev. George West. Rev. Daniel Butler. Rev. Mr. Norris, Mexico. Rev. John Storrs. Rev. Mr. Duerielle. Rev. Henry B. Pierpont. Rev. James M'Mahon. Rev. John P. Knox. Rev. Benjamin Miller. Rev. Henry Colclazer. Rev. J. W. Parke. Rev. Richard Bond. Rev. W. H. Korkhill. Rev. J. S. Graves. Rev. E. P. Jones. Rev. W. P. Strickland. Rev. H. J. Durbin. Rev. F. T. Mitchell. LEGACIES. 313 CHAPTER XXXV. LEGACIES. ONE of the strongest evidences of the value placed upon the American Bible Society by Christians is its remembrance by many of the most devoted in the last hours of life. It has testimony from living witnesses in all parts of the world, Christian and heathen, and dying witnesses have given evidence of their belief of its importance and their attachment to it by the consecration of their property to the furtherance of its objects. Legacies had been made during the first few years of the society's existence, from various individuals, of small amount, but not the less valued on that account. From the organization of the society up to 1821, there had been received into the treasury from these sources $2939 75. The Hon. Elias Boudinot, LL.D., who had devoted his time, and talents, and influence in the support of the cause, at his death bequeathed to the society 589 acres of valuable land. Mr. John Withington also bequeathed $10,000. In 1823, legacies were received to the amount of.... $610 00 In 1824, from Mr. Samuel Sheldon, of New York... 2,000 00 In 1825: From Mr. Matthew Benschoten, of New York........ 2,000 00 From Mrs. Lydia Dixon.......................... 0 00 From Mr. Joseph Fletcher....................... 25 00 In 1826: From Mrs. Campbell, of New Hampshire........... 10 00 From Mr. Daniel Burger......................... 500 00 From Mr. James Thompson, Esq., deceased.... 1,000 00 314 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From Dr. Elias Hawes.......................... $1,000 00 In 1827: From Othniel Smith, late of New York............. 500 00 From Mrs. Isabella Smith.... 30 00 From Mr. Thomas Henderson, of New Jersey..... 30 00 In 1828........................ 1,910 00 In 1829..................................... 209 39 In 1830: From the estate of John Fleetwood Marsh, of East Chester, N. Y., deceased........................... 10,000 00 From that of John Withington, of New York, deceased 7,000 00 From a female friend to the Bible Society, late of Newark, N. J...................... 50 00 From Abel Burrit, late of New Haven, Conn......... 40 00 From Olive Fowler, of Hartford, Conn............... 20 00 From Martha Scott, late of Lexington District, S. C... 200 00 From Adam Wylie, Sen., late of Ohio............... 20 00 From Mary Herrick, late of Reading, Mass........... 100 00 In 1831: Fromr Martin Thaxter, late of Worcester, deceased, $100 and interest.126 00 From Captain Thomas Punderson, late of New Haven, Conn., deceased, proceeds of sale of stock.40 00 From Cyrene Isaacs, late of Genoa, N. Y., deceased, by her executor, William Bradley.................. 50 00 From Miss Sarah Greely, late of Hopkinton, N. H., to aid in sending the WVord of Life to the poor and destitute in the western part of the United States....... 0 00 From John Taylor, Esq., of Albany, by his executor, Charles D. Cooper............................. 300 00 From Miss Miranda Wright, of Westhampton, Mass., deceased, by Daniel Butler, Jun................ 20 00 From Miss Belinda Clarkson, late of New York, deceased 100 00 From John Bartlett, late of New Ipswich, Mass., by Isaac Adams, executor.............. 450 00 From Mrs. Hester Simpson, late of Wilkes county, Ga., by William and Robert Simpson, executors........ 30 00 From Josiah Penfield, late of Savannah, Ga., deceased, by his executor, Joseph Cummin.............. 1,000 00 From William Semple, late of Pittsburgh, Penn., deceased, by his executor, William J. Semple............0 00 From Miss Thankful Moses, of Blandford, deceased, by her executor, Charles Hall, on account........... 500 00 LEGACIES. 3 1 In 1832: From Miss Clarina Bacchus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio.. $603 00 From Mrs. Mary Burnett, widow of James Burnett, of Newark, N. J................................. 0 00 From Edward M. WValker, deceased, by R. D. Silliman, acting executor..................... 100 00 From Maria Merrick, late of North Brandford, Conn... 100 00 From Charles J. Jenkins, late of Jefferson county, Ga.. 25 00 From Daniel Clements, late of New Windsor, deceased, by his executors, John Clements and John Smith, of Cornwall, part of residuum of estate.............. 500 00 From Miss Thankful Moses, late of Blandford, Mass., deceased, by her executor, Dr. Eli Hall, balance of $1000 652 00 From Edward Warren Rockwell, late of Hudson, N. Y., a child four years old............................ 1 26 From Thomas Hamilton, late of Kittaning, Penn., by James Hamilton, Esq.......................... 200 00 From Mrs. Elizabeth Tappan, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., deceased, by P. C. Tappan, Esq................ 30 00 From Jonas Williams, late of New Windsor, deceased. 100 00 From Roxana Bishop, of New Haven, Conn., deceased. 30 00 From Colonel H. Rutgers, late of New York, deceased, by his executor, William B. Crosby, Esq.. 1,000 00 From William Smith, late of Troy, deceased......... 1,000 00 From Marinus Oudenard, late of Utica, N. Y., deceased, with interest................................. 180 48 In 1833: From Joseph Faulkner, late of Andover, Mass.... 200 00 From William W. Walmsley, late of Mexico, by James B. Thompson and George Savage, executors....... 200 00 From John B. Lawrence, late of Salem, Mass., by Abel L. Pierson and Charles Lawrence, executors....... 634 62 From George Paull, late of St. Clairsville, Ohio.10..... 0 00 From Miss Clarina Backus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio, second payment.............................. 301 50 From Miss Mary Hamilton, late of Carlisle, Penn..... 100 00 From Miss Joanna Baker, late of Amherst, Mass....... 2 00 From Miss Mary Belknap, late of Boston, Mass., by her executors, John Belknap, A. E. Belknap, and J. Head 1,000 00 From Miss Clarina Backus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio, third payment................................ 703 50 From John Vernon, late of Linton township, Coshocton county, Ohio................................. 75 00 316 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From Jacob Gilbert, late of South Salem, West Chester county, N. Y., per Josiah Gilbert, executor......... $100 00 From Rebecca A. Sherman, late of New Haven, Conn. 50 50 From Deacon Levi Crosby, late of Lisbon, Conn., per Lyman Brewer, Esq........................... 50 00 From Mrs. Naomi Bridgden, late of Schenectady, N. Y., per N. B. Bassett.................... 10 00 From William Thomas, late of South Carolina, William Dubose's one half, with interest.................. 653 75 Another legacy................................. 10 20 In 1834: From Mrs. Louisa Pratt, late of Austerlitz, N. Y...... 100 00 From Margaret Gray, late of Jaffray, Cheshire county, N.H................... 209 00 From James Ralston, late of Chester county, Penn.... 60 00 From William Thomas, late of Cheraw, S. C., half of a legacy and interest.. 653 28 From Gilbert S. Fowler, late of New York, deceased.. 50 00 From Peter Paine, late of South Hartford, Washington county, N. Y., deceased. 12 50 From Mrs. Eliza H. Jones, late of Calcutta, deceased.. 50 00 From Thames Wilcox, late of Bristol, Conn. 575 00 From Frederic A. Graves, of Sunderland, Mass....... 20 00 From Mrs. Maria Schuyler, deceased................ 200 00 From Esther Turner, late of Newton, Bucks county, Penn., deceased.............................. 250 00 From Mrs. Angelica Lane, late of Troy, N. Y., deceased 200 00 From Nathaniel Smith, late of Sunderland, Mass., dec'd. 500 00 From Mrs. Sarah Ingham, late of Saybrook, Conn., deceased.. 25 00 From Mr. Andrew M'Neely, late of Charlotte, N. C., deceased...................................... 50 00 From Eliza T. Wells, late of Philadelphia, deceased.. 48 75 From Moses Cowan, late of Union Village, N. Y., in part 300 00 In 1835: From Horton Strong, late of Augusta, Oneida county, N.Y. 10 00 From Mary R. Farrington, of do.................. 46 From Mrs. Margaret Saunders, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y.............................. 50 00 From Thaddeus Northrop, late of Charlton, Saratoga county, N. Y., deceased........................ 473 44 From Mary Rowley, late of Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., deceased............................. 15 00 LEGACIES. 3 1 7 From Nathaniel Smith, late of Sunderland, Mass.... $150 00 From Mrs. Sarah Willoughby, late of Washington county, Va., deceased................................. 20 00 From Wessell Van Schaick, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y., deceased..................................... 250 00 From Peter Stryker, late of Flatbush, N. Y., deceased.. 419 37 From Miss Clarina Backhus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio, deceased, on account......................... 255 49 From Mrs. Dorcas A. Bishop, late of Wilton, N. H., deceased....................................... 425 00 From Isaac Waters, late of New Hartford, N. Y., deceased 100 00 From Mrs. Anne Woodward, late of Hartford, Vt., deceased......................3................ 00 From Hon. Josiah Rising, late of Rupert, Vt., deceased 100 00 From Moses Cowan, late of Union Village, N. Y., deceased 200 00 From John M'Lain, late of Brown county, Ohio...... 100 00 From Horace D. Humphrey, late of Simsbury, Conn., deceased....................................... 50 00 From Miss Sarah H. Nitherton, late of New Lexington, Mo., deceased................................5 00 From Mrs. Patience Moore, late of Marietta, Ohio, deceased....................................... 50 00 From David W. Childs, late of Utica, N. Y., deceased.. 500 00 From Levi and Amelia Tomlinson, late of Ohio....... 0 00 From John Mooney Mead, late of East Hartford, Conn., deceased.....................................2 00 From Miss Mary Allen, late of East Windsor, Conn., deceased................. 300 00 From Samuel Howard, Jun., late of Benson, Vt....... 200 00 From Aaron Andrews, late of Ware, Mass., deceased. 50 00 From Isaac Van Horn, late of Zanesville, Ohio, deceased, first installment of $50......................... 12 50 From Mrs. Catharine J. Andrews, late of Back Creek Church, N. C., deceased........................ 5 00 From Joseph Yates, late of Fleming county, Ky., deceased 50 00 In 1836: From William C. Johnson, late of Burlington, Lawrence county, Ohio, and interest....................... 205 00 From Miss Catharine Faulkener, late of Orange county, N. Y., deceased............................... 100 00 From a Friend, deceased......................... 10 00 From James Nelson, late of Steubenville, Ohio....... 100 00 From Mrs. Anne Powell, late of Liberty county, Geo... 25 00 318 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From Isaac Warren, late of Charlestown, Mass....... $500 00 From Heman Averill, late of New York city......... 250 00 From Obadiah Thayer, of Wellsborough, Essex county, N.Y....................................... 50 67 From Mrs. Jennette Bleakley, late of Wigton, Scotland 22 50 From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, deceased, pecuniary legacy and interest, also stock, worth at par $8800 11,279 46 From Mrs. Anne Welch, late of New London, Conn... 2,123 21 From Hugh Kennedy, late of Hagerstown, Md........ 1,000 00 From Samuel Bell, late of Preble county, Ohio...... 100 00 From John Flack, late of the city of New-York...... 500 00 From Lucy Adams, late of Charlestown, Mass........ 10 00 From a young lady, deceased.................. 6 00 From Mrs. Jerusha M. Ackerly, late of New York, deceased............................ 200 00 From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn.... 800 00 From Mrs. Sarah A. Andrus, late of Madison, Conn., and interest................................. 107 82 From Gilbert King, late of Newburgh, N. Y........ 1,000 00 From Miss Mary Gilbert, late of South Salem, N. Y., deceased.................... 200 00 In 1837: From Mrs. Anne Margaret Seyburt, late of Rome, N. Y. 100 00 From Deacon Elisha Dickinson, late of Hadley, Mass... 100 00 From Benjamin Tallmadge, late of Litchfield, Conn.. 1,000 00 From Ferdinand Bailey, late of Scotchtown, N. Y..... 325 00 From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, Vt............ 300 00 From Samuel Haynes, late of Prattsburgh, N. Y...... 256 00 From William Ramage, late of St. Clairsville, Ohio.... 30 00 From Letitia Murphy, late of Churchtown, Penn...... 10 00 From Miss Elizabeth A. D. Gardner, late of Charlestown, Mass.............................. 7 00 From James Dunn, late of Belmont county, Ohio..... 30 00 From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, balance of legacy...... 200 00 From William Whitlock, late of New York city...... 500 00 From Stillman Jones, late of Boston, Mass.......... 274 05 From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, Vt., 10 shares of Bank of America sold................... 1,000 00 From Mrs. Lydia Bassell, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y... 150 27 From Miss Fanny Greenough, late of Amherst, Mass.. 50 00 In 1838: From Mrs. Grizzy Ross, late of Portland, Maine...... 50 00 LEGACIES. 3 9 1From1 Mrs. Judge Wallace, late of Huntsville, Ala....3 00 From Mrs. Caroline Averill, late of New York........ 5 00 From Isaac Brewster, do. do. do............ 00 00 From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of Worthington, Mass... 1,00 00 From General Isaac Van Horne, late of Zanesville, Ohio 37 50 From Miss Lucy Ann Brown, late of Hadley, Mass.... 10 00 From Elias Boudinot, LL.D., late of Burlington, N. J., proceeds of land sold........................... 2,027 00 From Miss Matilda Wright, late of New London, Conn. 50 00 From Miss Molly Shaw, late of Palmer, Mass......... 10000 From Miss Julia Ann Maltby, late of Northford, Conn. 10 00 From Josiah Merlin, late of Jefferson, Tenn.......... 500 From Polemna Smith, do. do. do........... 2800 From Miss Jane Brice, late of Montgomery county, Ohio 20 00 From, John Smith, late of Southport, N. Y..100 0.........0 From Rebecca B. Carpenter, of Rehoboth Village, Mass. 200 00 From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, Vt., proceeds of stock sold.............................7,800 00 From Peninah Hampton, late of Rahway, N. J....... 00 From Stillman Jones, late of Boston, Mass.', balance 661 66... From Mrs'. Lydia Bassell, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y., balance.126 43 From Miss Martha Bernard, late of Highland county, Ohio. 10 00 In 1839: From John Salmon, late of Cincinnati, Ohio...... 427 97 From James Beekman, late of New York. 500 00 From Lydia S. M'Gaffey, late of N. Sandwich, N. H... 25 00 From Noah Bosworth, late of Halifax, Mass...... 196 50 From Mary Platt, late of Fishkill, N. Y............. 200 00 From Elias Boudinot, LL.D., late of Burlington, N. J., balance of proceeds of land sold. 1,075 00 From Henry Gardner, late of Charlestown, Mass.. 181 00 From Joseph Lathrop, late of New York..... 3,310 00 From Cyrus Sampson, a colored man, late of Kentucky, proceeds of land devised by him twenty years since, for the distribution of the Bible.97 87 From David D. Crane, late of Newark, N. J.... 00 From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Miami county, Ohio 62 00 From Lydia Bassell, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y...... 127 14 From Olive Perkins Kinsman, late of Warren, Ohio... 100 00 From Hetty Rice, late of Framingharn, Mass.. 43 36 From Sarah Elizabeth Howe, late of Jaifrey, N. H.... 200 00 3 2 0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. In 1840: From PRev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, Mass., on ace ount............................ $1,00 00 From Eliza M. Hall, late of Wallingford, Conn...... 100 00 From Joseph Lathrop, late of New York, avails of Hartford Bridge stock.321 00 From Mrs. Abijah Marshall, late of New York city... 300 00 From Angus M'Niel, late of Richmond county, N. C... 50 00 From William Bryce, late of New York city, on account 112 00 From John W. Claxton, late of Philadelphia, interest on stock bequeathed by him..............1805 From Miss Martha Rogers, late of Hartford, Conn.... 200 00 From Abel Drewry, late of Sangersfield, N. Y......... 107 00 From Nathan Newell, late of Windsor, Me........... 1000 From Alexander M'Donald, late of Baltimore, Md. 500 00 From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn.... 250 00 From James Montgomery, late of Caswell county, N. C. 2500 From Sewall B. Pratt, late of Bolton, N. Y.......... 00 From Hon. Jeremiah Nelson, late of Newburyport, Mass., on account.........................100 00 From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, Mass. 500 00 From John Campbell, late of Miami county, Ohio.... 43 00 From Miss Polly Hubbard, late of York, Livingston county, N.Y.................................. 25 00 From Mrs. Fally Taylor, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y. 2,000 00 From James Wilson, late of Champaign county, Ohio.. 10 00 From Timothy Allyn, late of West Springfield, Mass... 30 00 From John Shackford, late of Washington city....... 250 00 From John Galbraith, late of Steubenville, Ohio..... 438 22 From James Vance, late of Abingdon, Va..... 42 00 From Asa Clarke, Jun., late of Sherburne, Mass. 10 00 From Mrs. Abigail Woods, late of Dunstable, Mass.... 25 00 From Miss Anna Woodward, late of East Haddam, Conn. 50 00 From Mrs. Fanny R. Smith, late of New London, Conn. 100 00 From Mary E. Shepherd, late of Canandaigua, N. Y... 18 87 From Forster Allen, late of Manchester, Mass...... 75 00 In 1841 From Mrs. Rebecca Nickerson, New Bedford, Mass.. 100 00 From John R. Smith, a soldier, late of Fort Towson... 20 00 From William Smart, late of Gloucester county, Va... 250 00 From Ann E. Edgar, late of New London, Conn..50 00 From Mrs. Hannah Gates, late of Waterford, Conn.... 310 00 From William Kirkpatrick, late of Lancaster, Penn.... 250 00 LEGACIES. 32 1 From Orson P. Wheeler, late of Charlotte, Vt......... $90 00 From Elizabeth Tuttle, late of Massachusetts........ 28 12 From Amos Tenney, late of Claremont, N. H......... 50 00 From Polly A. Sterling, late of La Fayette, N. Y..... 10 00 From Miss Mary Ann Brimmer, late of Boston, Mass.. 5,000 00 From Mr. M'Ferson, late of Red Oak, Ohio......... 100 00 From Mrs. Dorothy Powers, late of Middletown, Conn. 30 00 From Mary Ann Belden, late of New York.......... 10 00 From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn., in part............................... 556 00 From Miss Elizabeth Hotchkiss, late of Watertown, Conn. 75 00 In 1842: From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, Mass., in part........................ 700 00 From John Shackford, Esq., late of Washington City, balance.. 7,707 52 From Samuel Sheldon, late of Troy, N. Y............ 117 50 From Elijah Comfort, late of Bridport, Vt........... 3 67 From Moses A. Chapin, late of West Springfield, Mass. 100 00 From Mrs. Mary Ann Morgan, late of Stockbridge, Mass., one life member.... 30 00 From Thomas Crosby, late of Lee, Mass............. 200 00 From John Caldwell, late of Morning Sun, Ohio...... 260 00 From Joseph F. Affolder, late of Newark, N. J., in part 200 00 From Elisha Hatch, late of Griswold, Conn........... 30 00 From James Davidson, late of Stockbridge, Mass...... 20 00 From William M'Farland, late of Worcester, Mass., in part........................................ 2,400 00 From Miss Freelove Collins, late of Westfield, Mass., in part........................................ 8 00 0 From Mrs. Christian Baker, late of Boston, Mass. (for dist.)........................................ 2,000 00 From Dr. Otis Spurr, late of Granville, N. Y......... 5 00 From Dr. Henry W. Hornbeck, late of Montgomery, N. Y., in part........................ 200 00 From Hon. Jeremiah Nelson, late of Newburyport, Mass., balance.................................... 604 00 From Miss Sarah Fletcher, late of Northbridge, Mass., in part...................................... 207 50 From Mrs. Jane Van Cortlandt, late of Newark, N. J.. 500 00 From Dr. Henry W. Hornbeck, late of Montgomery, N. Y., dividend on stock.......................... 28 00 From Hannah E. Stirling, late of New Milford, Conn.. 2 00 x 3 2 2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From Thankful Evans, Oakham, Mass..............87 From Mrs. H. G. Powers, late of Phillipston, Mass..... 1000 From Lewis Johnson............................ 50 00 From Stephen Long, late of Honeybrook, Penn....... 10000 From Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D.D., late of Andover, Mass. 1,102 10 In 1843: From Julius Page, late of Binghampton, N. Y........ 00 00 From Lydia Boardman, late of Haverhill, Mass...... 5 00 From Ebenezer Smith, late of Schaghticoke, N. Y..... 0 00 From D. M. Beebe, late of Richmond, Mass..........00 From Miss Elizabeth M. Mitchell, late of Norwich, Conn. 10 00 From Judith C. Upham, late of Rochester, N. H...... 10000 From Mrs. Rebecca Nickerson, late of Bedford, Mass., balance..................................... 121 0 From Esther H. Bullard, late of Holliston, Mass....... 1,000 00 From Matthew Stephenson, late of Leesburg, Tenn.... 500 00 From Zenas P. Ives, late of Bristol, Conn............ 15 00 From John Hopkins, late of North Hampton, Mass... 1,504 50 From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass., one half for the blind............................. 2,000 00 From LefFert Hagawout, late of Greenwich, N. J...... 5 00 From Elisha Munson, late of New Haven, Conn...... 10000 From Lucy Fanning, late of Albion, N. Y., one life member......................................... 30 00 From John M'Donald, late of Pittsburgh, Penn....... 1,000 00 From Miss Lavinia A. Wilson, late of Marlborough, Mass. 25 00 From William Camp, late of Newark, N. J., in part._.. 229 69 From Deacon Samuel Galpin, late of Middletown, Conn. 5 00 From Joseph Battell, late of Norfolk, Conn.......... 200 00 From Dyer White, late of New Haven, Conn., one life member. 50 00 From Henry W. Delavan, late of Ballston Center, N. Y. 2,000 00 From Abial Cheney, late of Waterford, Vt.......... 900 00 From Mrs. LucyGrosvenor, late of Brookfield, Mass.... 170 00 From John Caldwell, late of Morning Sun, Ohio..... 240 00 From Emily A. Austin, late of Brooklyn, N. Y........ 50 00 From Sarah Fletcher, late of Northbridge, Mass., in part 143 75 From Abigail A. Linsley, late of Northford, Conn..... 100 00 From W. M'Farland, late of Worcester, Mass., in part. 350 00 From Samuel B. Loud, late of South Weymouth, Mass., in part....................................6 500 00 From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, M ass., in part............................... 300 00 LEGACIES. 323 From Robert Gosman, late of Stuyvesant, N. Y....... $1,066 00 From Dr. Henry W. Hornbeck, late of Montgomery, N. Y., balance.................................. 883 00 In 1844: From Samuel B. Loud, late of South Weymouth, Mass., balance..................................... 500 00 From Dorothy Johnson, late of Cornwall, Conn........ 54 50 From Abiah Chapin, late of Westfield, Mass.......... 50 00 From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass., in part 1,122 62 From Hannah H. Perkins, late of Norwich, Conn..... 50 00 From Sally Jewett, late of Hollis, N. H............ 20 00 From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio........... 160 00 From Dr. Jas. English, late of Monmouth county, N. J., balance...................... 1,073 56 From Mrs. Anna Welsh, late of New London, Conn., balance..................................... 4,000 00 From D. Traphagen, late of Tewksbury, N. J......... 100 00 From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn., in part........................................ 500 00 From Olive A. Strong, late of Augusta, NT. Y., three life members.................................... 90 00 From John A. Chamberlain, late of Dorchester, Mass.. 1,000 00 From Miss Lucy Ann Whittlesey, late of Bunker Hill, Ill. 10 00 From Miss Freelove Collins, late of Westfield, Mass., in part.............................. 100 00 From Mrs. Abby Roff, late of Newark, N. J......... 444 67 From Miss Sarah Fletcher, late of Northbridge, Mass., balance.......................... 147 50 From Wm. M'Farlan, late of Worcester, Mass., balance 250 00 From Miss Huldah Perley, late of Bedford, Mass...... 100 00 From Phebe Osborn, late of Camillus, N. Y.......... 50 00 From Hon. Wm. Hampton, late of Piketon, Ohio, in part 340 00 From Nathaniel Smith, late of Flushing, N. Y........ 1,070 73 From Thomas Gilham, late of Oglethorpe county, Geo. 62 50 From Daniel Bullard, late of Kingston, N. J.......... 25 00 From J. Sperry, late of Winchester, Va.............. 100 00 From Miss Emily A. Austin, late of Brooklyn, N. Y., balance..................................... 50 00 From Mrs. Sarah G. Bond, late of North Brookfield, Mass. 50 00 From Mrs. Abigail Cushing, late of Hanson, Mass...... 10 00 From Andrew P. Hopper, late of Steubenville, Ohio... 40 00 From Mrs. Elizabeth Nutt, late of Watervliet, N. Y... 100 00 From Joanna Stearns, late of Milford, Mass.......... 50 00 324 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From Miss Emily J. Munson, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y........................................ $30 00 From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, Mass., in part................................ 1,765 00 From Andrew Anderson, late of Steubenville, Ohio.... 100 00 From Thomas Loomis, late of New Berlin, N. Y...... 33 33 In 1845: From Mrs. Susan P. Root, late of Binghampton, N. Y., three life members............................. 100 00 From Elizabeth Wylie, late of Sparta, Ill............ 12 00 From Miss Emily A. Austin, late of Brooklyn, N. Y... 50 00 From James Goddard, late of Berlin, Mass.......... 100 00 From Henry C. Willard, late of Ashby, Mass......... 14 06 From F. S. Key, late of Washington, D. C., in part... 352 24 From John Morrison, late of New York............. 1,000 00 From Miss Nancy H. Roberts, late of Newark, N. J... 15 00 From Mrs. Jerusha Brockway, late of Hartford, Ohio.. 50 00 From Rev. Erastus Ripley, late of Meriden, Conn.... 481 02 From Miss Temperance Bull, late of Essex, Conn..... 150 00 From James C. Hanks, late of Elgin, Ill............. 23 00 From Henry H. Wilson, late of Somerset county, N. J.. 50 00 From Richard Carney, late of Portsmouth, Va........ 1,000 00 From Mary Davenport, late of Little Compton, R. I... 78 07 From James Walker, late of Kingston, Tenn......... 60 14 From Mrs. Emma Buckingham, late of Putnam, Ohio. 1,000 00 From Martha E. Watson, late of Warren, Mass....... 50 00 From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, M ass., in part................................ 150 00 From Elizabeth Gibson, late of Auburn, N. Y........ 50 00 From Rev. Josiah Chickering, late of Phillipston, Mass. 100 00 From Mrs. Rose Sikes, late of Springfield, N. Y....... 4 00 From Miss Frances L. Hamner, late of Farmsville, Va. 10 00 From James Cox, late of Baltimore, Md., in part...... 333 00 From Joseph Affolder, late of Newark, N. J......... 177 76 From Rebecca Baldwin, late of Waterbury, Conn...... 30 00 From Mrs. Adeline W. Goff, late of Pulaski, Tenn.... 20 00 From Henry Hurd, late of Starkey, N. Y., one life member 30 00 From Abby Roff, late of Newark, N. J., balance..... 282 06 From Robert Ormiston, late of Springfield, N. Y....... 100 00 From Jerusha Reed, late of New Haven, Conn....... 500 From Miss Rachel Bullard, late of Franklin, Mass..... 5 00 From John Damon, -late of Reading, Mass.......... 1,027 82 From Agnes Kemper, late of Madison county, Va..... 20 00 LEGACIES. 325 From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass., in part $144 64 From Asa Fisher, late of Franklin, Mass............ 750 00 From Elizabeth Jenkins, late of Rutland, Vt......... 76 96 From Miss Sally Keyes, late of Westford, Mass....... 25 00 From Ebenezer Elmer, late of Bridgeton, N. J........ 500 00 From Miles C. Brownell, late of Ovid, N. Y....... 5 00 From Mrs. Rebecca Bell, late of Eutaw, Ala........ 25 00 From Gen. John Francis, late of Royalton, Vt........ 150 00 From Mrs. Sarah Watkins, late of Winhall, Vt........ 3 00 From Thomas Gilham, late of Oglethorpe county, Ga., in part...................................... 68 75 From Mrs. Sarah Fitch, late of Westmoreland, N. Y... 2 00 From James M'Vean, late of Caledonia, Vt...... 103 50 From Amzi Goddin, late of Louisville, Miss......... 1,000 00 From Miss Lucretia Bliss, late of Springfield, Mass., three life members........................... 190 40 From Mrs. Lucy H. Clark, late of Marlborough, Mass. 10 00 From Oliver Dickinson, late of Amherst, Mass....... 700 00 From Elizabeth Reynolds, late of Pine Plains, N.Y... 50 00 In 1846: From Joseph Orr, late of Jefferson county, Ohio....... 20 00 From Sidney S. Mills, late of Gloversville, N. Y....... 200 00 From Miss Elizabeth Hait, late of Connecticut Farms, N. J........................................ 100 00 From John Fleetwood Marsh, late of West Chester county, N. Y., in part............................. 26,000 00 From Samuel Sherman, late of Woodbury, Conn..... 100 00 From John Campbell, late of Sidney, Ohio.......... 36 00 From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio............ 36 00 From Harmonia Allen, late of Sturbridge, Mass...... 84 50 From Mrs. Harriet Stearns, late of Cornish, N. H., one life member.................................. 30 00 From Perez Marshall, late of Tolland, Mass......... 261 02 From Elijah Sorter, late of Indianapolis, Ind.......... 20 00 Interest on Redo's legacy.........................7 00 From Volney Cook, late of Syracuse, N. Y., in part.... 142 86 From Stephen Soule, late of North Manlius, N. Y..... 12 73 From Isaac Hine, late of Middlebury, Conn........... 10 00 From Benjamin Swain, late of North Reading, Mass... 100 00 From James North, late of Bucks county, Penn., in part 2 47 From Judah Bement, late of Chenango county, N. Y., one life member............................... 30 00 From Joseph Yates, late of St. Louis county, Mo. 50 00 3 2 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From Mrs. Eunice King, late of Norwich, Conn., three life members.................................. $90 00 From Alfred Holbrook, late of Byron, N. Y......... 274 95 From Mrs. Phebe Pierson, late of Bridgeton, N. J...... 100 00 From Eliza Funk, late of Franklin, Ohio............ 50 00 From James Worth, late of Bucks county, Penn....... 409 28 From Mrs. Elizabeth P. Hornbeck, late of St. Andrew's, N. Y., in part............................. 696 00 From Deacon Daniel Lang, late of Salem, Mass....... 175 25 From Hon. Daniel Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass., for Asia, in part................................. 7,288 00 From Mrs. Lois Ackley, late of Winchester, Conn., foreign distribution............................... 396 26 From Elias Page, late of Marshall, N. Y............. 145 20 From Mrs. Elizabeth Leaworthy, late of Camden, N. Y. 50 00 From Miss Sally Bodfish, late of Falmouth, Mass..... 107 00 From Mrs. PRoxana Davis, late of Greensborough, Vt... 10 00 From Elizabeth S. Garnsey, late of Clifton Park, N. Y., four life directors.............................. 600 00 From Levi Crocker, late of Clarkson, N. Y., in part... 248 00 From Nehemiah Denton, late of Brooklyn, N. Y...... 1,000 00 From Harvey Shepard, late of Toronto, U. C........ 300 00 From Nathan Garnsey, late of Clifton Park, N. Y., in part 250 00 From Alexander M'Kee, late of Manchester, Conn., one life member.................................. 100 00 From Mrs. Jane Telfair, late of Hillsborough, Ohio.... 200 00 From Deacon Daniel Perry, late of Bristol, R. I....... 10 00 From Deacon Gideon Burt, late of Long Meadow, Mass. 500 00 From Hon. David Read Evans, late of WVinnsborough, S. C........................................ 2,247 33 From Charles D. Betts, late of New York............ 1,000 00 From Hon. Charles Hunt, late of Gorham, Me., in part 62 50 From Mrs. Pamela Smith, late of Granby, Mass...... 200 00 From Mrs. Eunice Averili, late of Hartford, Conn..... 2,000 00 From Ebenezer H. Fowler, late of Northford, Conn..... 500 00 From Dr. George R. Brown, late of Preble county, Ohio 100 00 From D. Finley, late of Saline county, Mo........... 100 00 From Ephraim Chamberlain, late of Cambridgeport, M ass........................................ 20C 00 In 1847: From Ebenezer H. Fowler, late of Northford, Conn..... 500 00 From Dr. George RI. Brown, late of Preble county, Ohio 100 00 From D. Finley, late of Saline county, Mo........... 100 00 LEGACIES. 327 From Ephraim Chamberlain, late of Cambridgeport, Mass. $200 00 From Mrs. E. P. Hornbeck, late of St. Andrew's, N. Y., in part.................................... 813 00 From Miss Huldah Hunt, late of Seekonk, Mass....... 100 00 From HIon. Daniel Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass., balance....................................... 2,772 00 From Heman Beebee, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y.... 100 00 From Miss A. Forman, late of Newark, N. J......... 35 00 From Stephen J. Bowles, late of Roxbury, Mass...... 500 00 From Hannah Lang, late bf Providence, Rt. I......... 5 00 From Lois Ackley, late of Winchester Center, Conn., in part........................................ 136 47 From Levi Crocker, late of Clarkson, N. Y........... 445 00 From Margaret M'Pherson, late of Broadalbin....... 175 00 From Mrs. Tamme Adams, late of Lee, Mass., in part.. 605 00 From Dr. Abishai Howard, late of Sturbridge, Mass.... 50 00 From Maria M'Clellan, late of Baltimore, Md., in part. 370 00 From John White, late of Meigs county, Ohio........ 50 00 From Judge Wm. Hampton, late of Pike county, Ohio, in part..................................... 200 00 From Sidney S. Mills, late of Gloversville, N. Y., in part 100 00 From Dr. Stuart (by Rev. E. Judson), late of Milan, Ohio 100 00 From James Weir, late of Greenville, Kentucky...... 1,000 00 From Mrs. Elizabeth Pool, late of New London, Conn.. 50 00 From Judah Bement, late of Norwich, N. Y., one life member..................................... 30 00 From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass...... 294 83 From D. S. Minor, late of Woodbury, Conn.............. 50 00 From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio............ 40 00 From David Edmiston, late of Ross county, Ohio...... 75 20 From Wm. Henderson, late of Warren county, Ohio... 150 00 From Anderson Cone, late of Perry, Ohio............ 25 00 From Nathaniel Taylor, late of Little Compton, R. I.. 310 02 From Mrs. Sarah Boardman, late of Haddam, Conn... 80 00 From Elizabeth S. Garnsey, late of Clifton Park, N. Y., balance.... 100 00 From Mrs. Dorothy Bissell, late of Lancaster, N. Y.... 25 00 From Charlotte Bailey, late of Watertown, N. Y...... 5 00 From Deacon Salmon Carter, late of Meriden, Conn... 400 00 From B. C. Wells, late of Stockbridge, Mass. 30 00 From Wm. David, late of Shawangunk, N. Y......... 50 00 From Miss Nancy Hooper, late of Boston, Mass...... 100 00 328 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. From Rev. A. A. Shannon, late of Shelbyville, Ky..... $200 00 From Mrs. Electa Sage, late of Bolton, Mass........ 25 00 From Mrs. Martha A. True, late of Sutton, Mass..... 25 00 From Wm. H. Fondey, late of Albany, N. Y......... 100 00 From Mrs. Mary Hart, late of Candor, N. Y.......... 18 00 From John Fleetwood Marsh, late of West Chester county, N. Y., in part.............................. 5,000 00 From Nathan Garnsey, late of Clifton Park, N. Y.... 250 00 From WVm. B. Baird, late of Murfreesborough, Te..... 57 87 From Dr. Samuel Smith, late of New York....... 26 00 From Charles Chamberlain, late of Homer, N. Y...... 21 38 From Deacon Nathan Warren, late of Weston, Mass.. 100 00 From Elijah P. Booth, late of Sauquoit, N. Y......... 50 00 From Rev. John C. March, late of Newbury, Mass. 100 00 From Owen Williams, late of New York............ 137 42 From Joseph Affolder, late of Newark, N. J., balance.. 39 26 From Mrs. Kinney, late of Cortlandt, N. Y........... 10 00 From Mrs. Mary Ingle, late of Washington, D. C...... 200 00 From Hepzibah Lawrence, late of Mason,, N. H....... 152 32 From Elijah Waters, late of West Millbury, Mass..... 1,500 00 -In 1848: From Francis S. Key, late of Washington, D. C., in part 142 85 From Hannah L. Murray, late of New York.......... 1,000 00 From Mrs. Isabella M'Ninch, late of Chester District, S. C..... 560 29 From Samuel Perrine, late of Freehold, N. J.......... 50 00 From Judah Bement, late of Norwich, N. Y-.......... 30 00 From John Guthrie, late of Rockbridge county, Va.... 100 00 From Miss Nancy Kendall, late of Worcester, Mass.... 1,000 00 From Dr. James Corbit, late of Cantwell's Bridge, Del.. 223 96 From Orrin Day, late of Catskill, N. Y., in part..... 120 00 From Sidney S. Mills, late of Gloversville, N. Y., in part 100 00 B. S. Car. Interest............................... 7 00 From Mrs. Tamme Adams, late of Lee, Mass., in part.. 425 00 From Abraham D. Mead, late of Greenwich, Conn.....' 500 00 From A. Coon, late of Perry, Ohio................. 75 00 From Amos Wright, late of Tallmadge, Ohio......... 23 12 From Deacon Israel Decker....................... 10 00 From Miss Elizabeth Haywood, late of Boston, Mass.. 100 00 From Rev. H. Smith, late of Bingham, Me.......... 100 00 From Abigail Warner........................... 32 50 From Wm. M'Caw, late of Fairhaven, Ohio.......... 100 00 From Levi Crooker, late of Clarkson, N. Y........... 100 00 LEGACIES. 329 From Rev. Daniel Mansfield, late of Wenham, Mass.. $50 00 From Mrs. Susan C. Kellogg, late of New London, Conn. 250 00 From John Montgomery, late of Chester District, S. C.. 50 00 From David Moore, late of Newark, Ohio........... 100 00 From Hon. Charles Hunt, late of Gorham, Me., in part. 125 00 From Dr. Amos C. Wright, late of Tallmadge, Ohio.. 12 00 From Mrs. Mary Young, late of Newburyport, Mass.... 25 00 From Mrs. Clara B. Chappell, late of New London, Conn. 100 00 From Mary Roach, late of Salem, Mass............. 30 97 From James Bryce, late of Israel township, Ohio, balance 500 00 From John R. Richardson, late of Albany, N. Y....... 3,000 00 From John Fleetwood Marsh, late of West Chester county, N. Y., balance............................ 8,790 19 From Volney Cook, late of Syracuse, N. Y........... 71 30 From Heman Beebee, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y.... 100 00 From Isaac J. Baldwin, do. do. do..... 100 00 From Mrs. Sophia N. Lewis, late of Brooklyn, N.Y... 300 00 From George Suckley, late of New York............. 100 00 From James M'Cawan, late of Bedford county, Tenn... 44 00 From James Roosevelt, late of New York........... 1,000 00 From J. Cox, late of Baltimore, Md................ 100 00 From George N. White, late of Illinois.............. 20 00 From Samuel Hitchcock, late of Bethany, Conn....... 500 00 From Collin Reed, late of New York............... 5,000 00 From Miss Chloe Porter, late of Farmington, Conn... 200 00 From Henry L. Webb, late of Albany, N. Y........ 1,000 00 From William Tuttle, late of Newark, N. J.......... 200 00 From Sidney S. Mills, late of Gloversville, N. Y., balance 107 00 From Miss Catharine B. Patton, late of New York, in part............................1... 1,500 00 From Professor Solomon Stoddard, late of Middlebury College, Vt........................ 100 00 From Samuel B. Hotchkiss, late of New Haven, Conn., in part... 233 55 330 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. CHAPTER XXXVI. RECEIPTS OF SOCIETY. THE following table presents a view of the receipts of the American Bible Society from all sources, including sales of books, donations, legacies, life memberships and directorships, for each succeeding year from the first anniversary down to the present time, embracing a period of thirty-two years. 1817... $35,877 46 1828... $75,879 93 1839... $95,128 26 1818... 36,564 30 1829... 143,184 33 1840... 97,355 09 1819... 53,223 94 1830... 170,067 55 1841.... 118,860 41 1820... 41,361 97 1831... 163,537 86 1842... 134,357 08 1821... 47,009 20 1832... 129,059 00 1843... 126,448 77 1822... 40,682 34 1833... 85,362 95 1844... 154,440 05 1823... 52,021 75 1834... 88,600 82 1845... 166,652 00 1824... 42,416 95 1835... 100,944 38 1846... 197,367 98 1825... 49,693 08 1836... 104,899 45 1847... 205,063 23 1826... 56,115 47 1837... ~ 90,578 89 1848... 254,377 18 1827... 65,192 88 1838... 85,676 83 Total, $3,308,001 38 Among the receipts of the year 1839, one demands a special notice, viz., a donation of ~1000 sterling ($4788 89) by James Douglass, Esq., of Cavers, Scotland, an individual whose purse unites with his able pen in spreading the knowledge of revealed truth. What imparts a peculiar interest to this donation is, that it came unsolicited, and when it was greatly wanted. BIBLE SOCIETY RECORD. 331 CHAPTER XXXVII. BIBLE SOCIETY RECORD. IN 1819, the board, impressed with the belief that in proportion as the mind of the public became informed in regard to the nature and operations of the society, public feeling would be excited, and a corresponding activity produced in behalf of the Bible cause, deemed it important to issue a periodical. They accordingly directed the publication of a paper entitled " Quarterly Extracts." The good effects of the measure were soon felt, and the board urged upon the members of the society the propriety of contributing, by their example and influence, to give this organ of the cause a wide circulation. In 1821, the Quarterly was superseded by a "monthly" half sheet. In this the managers imitated the course pursued by the British and Foreign Bible Society. The publication of a paper devoted to the interests of the society has been continued to the present day. It has, however, undergone some changes for the better. From a "monthly" it has become a semi-monthly, and its caption, which is embellished with an engraving of a large open Bible, emblematic of the universal diffusion of the Scriptures, is that of "Bible Society Record." It is in the royal octavo form, and contains from twelve to sixteen closely printed pages. Its editor, the Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., is admirably well qualified for the post. For twenty-two years he has been associated with the society as corresponding secretary. Before his connection with the society he was extensively engaged in Bible distribution in South 332 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. America and Mexico, as the agent of the American Board of Foreign Missions. His extensive and thorough acquaintance with the operations of the society, both domestic and foreign, and his long experience combined, render him a most valuable acquisition to the Bible cause. He is a gentleman of liberal and enlarged views. His constant and unremitting devotion to the interests of an institution so truly catholic and benevolent in its character, are of such a nature as to produce the most happy effect upon his mind and heart, so that "sectional prejudices and sectarian jeal. ousies" can find no room for admission. His Christian frankness and urbanity are just such as the friends of the Bible cause might expect from one whose relation to the society gives him the greatest influence in the management of its concerns. The Bible Society Record, in addition to editorial matter, contains extracts from letters at home and abroad-reports from auxiliary societies in different parts of the country-also extracts from agents' letters, and from those of missionaries and other correspondents in foreign countries. The financial department of the Record is under the supervision of Joseph Hyde, Esq., the able and experienced General Agent and Treasurer of the society. It furnishes a list of all contributions, and the amounts of donations and remittances for Bibles from the different auxiliaries-the names of all who are made life members or life directors-a notice of all new auxiliaries and all newly-appointed agents-the amount of sales effected through individuals or agents -returns from depositories-amount received from societies not auxiliary for Bibles-donations from societies not auxiliary-returns for books donated-con gregational collections-rules for correspondence-a1t notices pertaining to the business of the society, &c. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 333 It is issued gratuitously, and sent to the officers of all auxiliaries, to life directors, life members, agents, and a copy containing the acknowledgment of remittances from all donors. The Bible Record has been productive of much good in creating and keeping up an interest in the great cause, and is sought for with eagerness by all whose hearts are interested in the work of Bible distribution. CHAPTER XXXVIII. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. THE society, very soon after its organization, laid the foundation for a library. The following by-law of the Board of Managers will serve to show the nature of that library: " There shall continue to be kept a library of the society, in which shall be placed and preserved all books not for sale belonging to the society, and all manuscripts and other interesting papers which the society, Board of Managers, or corresponding secretary may deem worthy of preservation. There shall also be placed in the library a copy of the first edition of every book published by the society, and a copy of every other edition thereof in which material alterations shall have been made in the stereotype plates." Another object of the library was to collect, by donation or otherwise, valuable works on Biblical literature, particularly those of a philological and hermeneutical character, for purposes of translation and reference. Ministers of all denominations have access to this library for purposes of reference. The Biblical interchange kept up with the different Bible societies 334 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. in the world has brought to its alcoves copies of all the versions which have been published, besides many manuscripts and rare and valuable documents from the different missionary stations in pagan lands receiving assistance from the society. In addition to its philological and exegetical departments, embracing grammars, lexicons, and commentaries in the various languages, it has a fine collection of Patristic theology, &c. The library has been increasing from year to year by donations, embracing several thousand of the most rare and valuable books. It is, however, but the mere nucleus of what, in the providence of God, it is destined to be, and the managers hope that, among other objects of benefaction connected with the society, it will not be forgotten. The following catalogue embraces a complete list of all the books in the library, received by donation or otherwise: Biblical. Biblia Polyglotta, WValtoni, 6 vols., folio, 1657. Novum Testamentum Polyglotton, 2 vols., 1597. Biblia Pentapla Polyglotta, 3 vols., 1711. Aimara and Spanish Gospel of Luke, 1829. Cherokee Gospel of Matthew, 1832. Choctaw Gospels, 1831. Chinese Scriptures (Morrison's), 21 parts. " Testament, 3 setts, 1814. " Pentateuch. " Bible (Marshman's), 5 parts. " Scripture Lessons, 3 parts. " Specimens (Medhurst and others). " New Testament, 1838..". " revised version, 1838. Cingalese Testament, 1817. Coptic and Arabic Psalter, 1826. " Gospels, 1829. Delaware Epistles of John, 1818. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 335 Esquimaux Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 1813. Eliot's Indian Bible, 1635. Mohawk Gospel of John, 1804. Mohegan Bible, 1685. Seneca Sermon on the Mount, 1829. Amharic Testament, 1829. Arabic Bible, 1811. Psalterium Scialac, Sionita, et Ar. Lat., 1614. Arabic Bible, 1820. " Testament, 1816. " Psalter, 1819. " Testaments, 1837. Armenian Novum Testamentum, 1828. Biblia Sacra, 3 copies, Armenian, 1805, 1814, and 1817. Novum Testamentum, 1814. Armeno-Turkish Testament, 1831. Armenian Old and New Testament, 1837. Four Gospels, Armenian, 1838. New Testament, Armenian, 1838. Assam Testament, 1819. Bengalee Gospels of Matthew and John, 2 copies, 1819. " Bible, 1818. " Pentateuch, 1819. " Psalms, 1826. four Gospels and Pentateuch, 1830. Bible, 1837. " Pentateuch, 1838. Gospels, Acts, Romans, Corinthians, 1838. Bohemian Bible, 1813. Bullom and English Bible, 1816. Burman Testament, 1832. " Bible, 1834. Calmuc Gospel of Matthew, 1815. Carelian " " " 1820. Carshun and Syriac Testament, 1824. " Testament, 1827. Bashmera Testament, 1837. Danish Bible, 1633. " " 1799. " New Testament, 1814. Biblia (Sextende Oplag.), 1819. Biblia, 1829. Biblia (Dutch), from 1603 to 1734, 14 versions. 33 6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Nieuwe Testament, 2 copies, 1734..".. 1778. Biblia, 2 copies, 1778. Der Psalmen, 1778. New Testament, Tyndal's version, 1526. Bishops' Bible, 1575. English Bibles, 103 different versions, from 1578 to 1849. Wastne Testament, Dorpatian-Esthonian, 1815. Psalterium Davidis Ethiopice, 1815. Finnish New Testament, 1815. Finnish Bible, 1817. " New Testament, 1822. La Sainte Bible et Nouveau Testament, from 1565 to 1849, in 9 different versions, 43 editions. Gaelic Bible, 1807. " New Testament, 1813. " Bible, 1819. Georgian New Testament, in ecclesiastical character, 1816.." i " in civil character. Die Bibel und das Neue Testament, in several versions and 24 editions, from 1531 to 1849. Novum Testamentum Grecum, 2 vols., 1569.." " Montani, interlin. interp., 2 vols., 162A...." Vater, 1824. Tittman, 1824.'" "..Griesbach, 1825. " " Knapp, 1829. Ancient and modern Greek New Testament, 7 copies, 1810.." "' " " " " folio, 1814. it" " " " " " 1817. "'....'. <{. 1827..". " " " " " Hilarion's, 2 copies, 1828. Biblia Graeca Latinme, 1682. Vetus Testamentum Graecum Vaticanum, 1683....." Alexandrinum, 1821, Psalterium Graecum cum New Testament, 2 copies, 1831. Testimantitak (New Testament in Greenland language), 1822. Gujurattee New Testament, 2 copies, 1820. Hanti Testament. iarotee New Testament, 1821. Hawaiian New Testament, 10 copies, 1832. Biblia Hebraica, 1566. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 337 Biblia Hebraica, marginal notes, 1607. C" " edition Simonis, 2 copies, 1766. Hebrew New Testament, ]817. Hebrew New Testament and Spanish Psalms, 1837. Pentateuch in Hindee, 2 copies, 1812. Isaiah. " New Testament" " 1826. Proverbs " " 1826. Hindoostanee New Testament, 1819. 4" and English Gospel of Matthew. 4" Pentateuch, 1837. "4 Old Testament, 1837. New " 1838. " Proverbs. Isaiah. 4" Genesis. " Psalms.'" Matthew. Icelandic Bible, 1813. Irish Bible, Roman character, 1807. Tiomna Nuadh, 1813. An Biobla, Roman character, 1817. Tiomna Nuadh (New Testament, Irish character), 1818. An Biobla, Irish character, 1823. Psalms in Irish. Leabhuir an Tsean Tiomna, vernacular character, 1827. Genesis in Irish, vernacular character. Irish New Testament, 1830. Javanese Testament, 2 copies. " Gospel of John. Il Nuovo Testamento, 2 copies, 1813. c" " Italiano, plates, 2 copies, 1816. Italian New Testament, 1818. La Sacra Biblia, 2 copies, 1819. Italian and Latin Psalms, 1822. Kashmeera Testament, 1821. Laponian New Testament, 1755. Biblia Sacra, 15 editions and 8 versions, from 1476 to 1849. Lettonian New Testament, 1816. Mahratta Gospel of Matthew and Acts, 1816. Malay Bible (Elkitab), Arabic character, 3 copies, 1817 to 1849. " New Testament, Roman character, 2 copies, 1820 and 1831. Y :338 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Mandjur Gospel of Matthew, 1&22. Manks Bible, 1819. " Testament (Conaant Noa), 1815. Moldavian New Testament, 2 copies, different dates, 1817. Mongolian Scriptures, 1835. Mooltanee New Testament, 2 copies, 1819. Multan " Mordvinian Gospels, 1821. Murat-hee New Testament, 2 copies, 1830. Negro-English New Testament, 1829. Oordoo Scriptures. I Psalms. " Isaiah. " Proverbs. Orissa Scriptures. Persian Scriptures, 14 editions, in 6 versions, from 1815 to 1849. Polish Bible, 2 copies, 1810 and 1822. " New Testament, 1815. Portuguese Scriptures, 4 editions, in 3 versions, from 1813 to 1823. Punjabee New Testament, 1811. Pushtoo " " 2 copies, 1818. Revalian " " 2 versions, 1790, 1816. Romanese Old Testament, 1818. " New Testament, 1820. Ancient and modern Russian Testament, 1822. Psalter in modern Russian, 1822. Samogitian New Testament, 1816. Siamese Gospel of Luke. c.." Matthew. " Acts, 1836. " Ten Commandments. Slavonian Bible, 2 copies. " New Testament... II. modern Russian, 1822. Psalms, 1822. Biblia Vulgata Latina en Espanol, 1794. Spanish Testament, 2 copies, in 2 versions, 1817. " Scriptures, 1823. " Luke and Acts, 1823. " New Testament (Amat's version), 1826. Gospel of Luke in one of the Spanish dialects, 1835. Swedish Bible, 2 copies, in 2 versions, 1812, 1828. Novum Testamentum Syriacum, 1663. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 339 Psalterium Syriacum, 1768. Syriac New Testament, 1816. SyriacePsalterium, 1822. Carsh~un and Syriac New Testament, 1824. Syro-Chaldaic Gospels (Nestorian character), 1829. Gospel of Luke in Otaheitan, 1820. Matthew and John in Taheitan, 1820. Acts of the Apostles in Taheitan. Oremburg Tartar Testament, 1820. Telinga New Testament, 2 copies, 1818. Tcheremisian Gospels, 1821. Turkish New Testament, 1:814. Turco-Armenian Testament, 1819. Turco-Greek Testament, 1825. Turkish Bible, 1827. Vikanera New Testament, 3 copies, 1820.'Y Bibi Cyssegr Lan a Llyfr Gweddi Gyifriedin, 7 editions, and 3 versions, from 1718 to 1849. Moldavian New Testament. Wallachiane Hebrew-Spanish Psalms, 2 copies. Four Gospels, in ancient Armenian. Biblia Sacra Vatabla, 2 vols., folio. Douay New Testament. French and Hebrew Pentateuch. Hebrew Manuscript (Book of Esther). Grebo Gospel of Matthew. Acts of the Apostles in modern Greek. Book of Genesis in Armeno-Turkish. Psalms in Mongolian. Acts of the Apostles in Tamul and English languages. Genesis and Epistle of Timothy in Tamul. Greco-Turkish Bible. " " 4 4 New Testament. Ancient Armenian New Testament. Spanish New Testament, by Valera, 1602. C9 9( I ~c by Amat, 1837. " Epistle to the Romans. Clark's Bible, 1760. Siamese Gospel of Mark. Field's Bible, 1660. Gospel of Luke and Acts in Hindoostanee. Psalms in Arabic. 340 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Pentateuch in Armeno-Turkish. Gospel of Mark in Siamese. Hawaiian Bible. Spanish Bible, Cassindon de Regne, 1522. Greek Testament, cum notis, 1739. Old Testament in Tamul, 1839. Ancient German Bible, 1661. New Testament in Tarnul. Gospel of Mark, Luke, and Acts in Tamul, 7 copies. " John in Hindoostanee, 6 copies. Mongolian Scriptures. New Testament in Chinese, complete in 2 vols. Psalms in modern Armenian. Hebrew-Spanish Pentateuch. Armeno-Turkish Old Testament. English folio Bible. Armenian Testament, 1839. Bengalee Testament. four Gospels and Acts, 1837. Genesis, 1840. Hindoostanee Testament, 1840. " four Gospels and Acts, 7 copies. Sanscrit Testament, 1841. " Psalms, 1840. Siamese Gospel of Matthew. Acts of the Apostles in Arabic, 1841. Galatians in modern Syriac. Gospels in Acra tongue. Folio edition of Greek Testament, 1703. Gospel of Matthew in Cherokee. English black-letter Bible. Bambas modern Greek Testament. Greek and Latin New Testament, 1544. Isaiah and Deuteronomy in Hindoostanee. Deuteronomy and Daniel in Hindi. Tamul Bible. Hawaiian Bible. Folio German Bible, 1765. Hebrew Canticles. Folio Latin Bible, 1509. Psalms in Hindi. Portuguese Bible, 4 copies. " Testament, 4 copies. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 341 Syriac New Testament, 1569. Gospels in Chinese. Old Testament in Chinese. Gospel of Mark in Abenaquis language. Wendish Bible, 1589. Malay Bible, 2 vols., 1733. Drury Testament, 1847. Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, 2 vols. Persian Old Testament. " New Testament. Tamul " " Pentateuch in modern Armenian. Syriac New Testament. Latin Bible, 2 copies (rare). Greek Testament, 1710. Gospels in Spanish. Quarto Protestant French Bible. The Hexapla. Kneeland's Greek and English Testament according to Griesbach. John's Gospel in Sgau. Karen. Pere Amelot's New Testament, French, 1666. Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, 2 vols. Persian Old Testament. Tamul New Testament. Persian " " Russian and English Testament. Pentateuch in modern Armenian. Syriac New Testament. Dutch " " 2 copies. Latin Bible, 2 copies (rare). Graecum Novum Testamentum Variae Lectiones, 1710. Edinburgh copy of Bible, with copious references, 1796. English octavo Bible, critical notes. Four Evangelists, Spanish, copious notes. Quarto Protestant French Bible, 1696. Philological. Castelli Lexicon Heptaglotton, 2 vols., 1669. Cocceius's Hebrew Lexicon, 1714. Schaaf Lexicon Syriacum, 1708. Diccionario de la Academia Espanola, 1823. Dictionnaire Francais Armenian, 2 vols., 1812. Judson's Burman and English Dictionary, 1826. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Adam's Dictionary of Hindee Language, 1829. Hindee Grammar. Grammar and Vocabulary of New Zealand Language, 1820. Bengalee and English Vocabulary, 2 copies, 1810, De Sacy's Grammaire Arabe, 2 copies, 1810. Ludolph's Ethiopic Grammar, 2 copies, 1702. Jones's Persian Grammar, 1828. Palermo's Italian Grammar, 1777. M'Curtin's Elements of Irish Language, 1728. Neilson's Introduction to Irish Language, 1808. Aucher's English-Armenian Grammar, 1817. Donnegan's Greek Lexicon, 1835. Morrison's Grammar of Chinese Language, 1815. Johnson's Dictionary, 2 vols., 1819. Negri's Modern Greek Grammar, 1828. Oscanean's Armenian Grammar. Cocceius's Hebrew Lexicon. Sir William Jones's Persian Grammar. Sharp on Greek Article. Richardson's English Dictionary. Newman's Spanish and English Dictionary. Portuguese and English Dictionary. Russian Grammar. Gilchrist's Philosophical Etymology. Low Dutch and English Dictionary. Syriac Grammar. Danish Grammar. French and Portuguese Grammar. Susoo Grammar. Symonds on New Testament Translation. Criticisms on Translations. Grebo Dictionary. Buxtorf's Lexicon in Hebrew and Chaldaic. Rogers's French Dictionary. Roy's Hebrew and English Dictionary. Collins's Hebrew and Chaldaic Lexicon. Syriac Lexicon. Syriac Chrestomathy. Polyglott Grammar of Ten Languages. Hebrew and Chaldaic Lexicon in Commentary. Grammar of the Moskito Language. Santeax Portuguese Dictionary. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 343 Russian and English Dictionary. Parkhurst's and Frey's Hebrew Lexicon. Webster's Octavo Dictionary. Bush's Affinities of the Ancient British Language. The Hierophant. German and English Dictionary. Walker's Rhetorical Grammar. Greek and Latin New Testament Lexicon, 1635. Russian and English Dictionary. eological, Historical, Biographical, etc. Horme's Introduction to the Critical Study of the Bible. Calvini Commentarii in Pauli Epistolas, 1557. Works of the Early Christian Fathers in Greek and Latin, 26 vols., 1783. Campbell on the Gospels. Tromminius's Greek Concordance. Caryl on Job, 1659. Fulke's New Testament Annotations of Rheimish Translation, folio, 1617. Dutch Annotations, 2 vols., 1657. Enarrationes in Psalmos, 1619. M'Ray's Translations and Interpretation, 1815. Clark's Commentary, 6 vols., 1818. Scott's 6 vols., 1812. Sharp's Harmony of the Prophets and Apostles, Lat., 1624. Simon's Translation from Vulgate, 2 vols., 1730. Newcombe's Historical View of Translations, 1792. Lewis's History of Translations, 1739. Turton on the Text of the English Bible. Carpenter's Guide. Life and Labors of Eliot, the Indian Missionary. Clerical Guide. Brief Exposition of the Minor Prophets. Jones's Ecclesiastical History. Owen's History of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Loskiel's History of Moravian Missions. Youth's Book of Natural Theology. History of Josiah. Vindication of the Sacred Books. of Miracles. Objections to Hindooism. Hindooism and Christianity contrasted. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Shastra, Nermaga, or Hindoo Scriptures. Essenceof the Bible. Memoir of Petamba Singli. lReasons why not a Roman Catholic, in Syriac. Memoirs of Lord Teignmouth. Memorials of the Right Reverend Miles Coverdale. Papal Rome as it is. Oriental Customs. Life of Christ. Lives of the Apostles. Cornelie a Lapide, Commentary on the Bible, 10 vols., fol Pilgrim's Progress, in modern Greek. Life of Everts. Reformation in Spain. Debate on Baptism, by Campbell and Rice. Essay on our Lord's Discourse at Capernaum. Inquiry concerning True Religion, in Hindi. La Russe y les Jesuites. Protestant Memorial. Antiquities of the Christian Church. Annals of the English Bible. Blunt's Coincidences of the Old and New Testaments, 2 copies. Notices of distinguished Jewish Rabbis. Broughton's Works. Westminster Catechism, Hebrew. Larger " Ebaugh's Heavenly Incense. Downame's Treatise on a Godly Life. Adams's Explanation of the Christian Religion. Commentary on the Lord's Prayer. Jesus Christ, the only Deliverer. Scripture Lessons, Spanish. Collection of Sermons. History of Christ. Bush's Scripture Illustrations. Wakefield's Version of the New Testament, 3 vols. Francke's Guide to the Study of the Scriptures. The Old Testament, without points. Reprint of the Holy Scriptures, by Coverdale. Critici Sacri, 6 vols. Pradus on Ezekiel, 3 vols. Nolan on the Greek Vulgate. Todd's Vindication of English Translation. BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 345 Hared on the Psalms. Essay on New Translation. Berriman's Critical Dissertation. Gell on Amendment of English Translation. Brief Exegesis of the Parables, modern Greek. Synopsis of Sacred History. Summary of the Old Testament. History of the Patriarch Abraham. Chrysostom on the Scriptures. " Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Latin. The Koran. Foulke's Defense of the English Translation of the Scriptures. Coray's Translation of the Epistles, with a Commentary. Bickersteth's Scripture Help, Greek. Hebrew Synagogue Service, with Hebrew Grammar and Notes. Targums, Jewish. Theological Definitions, Latin. Miscellaneous. Holme's Archaeologia Americana. Anderson's Observations and Greek Islands. Memoirs of Mrs. Anna Judson. History of the North American Indians. Worcester's Universal Gazetteer, 2 vols. Tanner's American Atlas. Annual Reports of the American Bible Society from 1816 to 1849-9. " " British and Foreign Bible Society from 1804 to 1849. Annual Reports of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions from 1812 to 1849. Stewart's Historical Anecdotes. Dudley's Analysis of the System of the Bible Society. Norris's Letter to the Earl of Liverpool. Dealtry's Vindication of the Bible Society. Norris on the Bible Society. Work in Russian on ditto. Compendium of the Bible. Milner's Strictures on Marsh. Publications of the New England Tract Society, 7 vols. Book of Specimens of various Languages. Brantley's and WVinslow's Objections to Baptist Version. New Testament for the Blind. 346 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Tracts relating to Versions. American Bible Society Controversy. British and Foreign " " Transactions of the College of Professional Teachers, Cincinnati. Vindication of Baptists from the Charge of Bigotry. Book of Mormon. Eclectic Review. Catalogue of the American Antiquarian Society. Monthly Extracts. Missionary Herald, 16 vols. Quarterly Register of the American Education Society, 4 vols. New York Observer, 2 vols. Armenian Reader. Repository of Useful Knowledge, 12 nos., Greek. Christian Philanthropist. Essay on the right Use of Property. Biographical Dictionary. Black's general Atlas. Miscellaneous Volumes, 85, Dutch. Divine Alphabet. The First Catechism. " Second " A Jubilee Medal, 1717. Mrs. Gardiner's Prose and Poems. New York Bible Society's Reports. Antiquities of the Christian Church. Annual Report of the Committee on Patents. Report of the Exploring Expedition to Oregon and California. Congressional Documents. Geographical Gazetteer. Report of the Netherlands Bible Society. LIFE DIRECTORS AND LIFE MEMBERS. 347 CHAPTER XXXIX. LIFE DIRECTORS AND LIFE MEMBERS. THE payment of one hundred and fifty dollars at one time constitutes a life director, and the payment of thirty dollars a life member. The number of life directors is seven hundred, and the number of life members nine thousand two hundred and fifty-seven. A director for life is privileged to attend and vote at all the meetings of the Board of Managers, and is entitled to receive annually, by making application at the Bible House any time during the year, five copies of the common Minion Bible. The following extract from the twenty-sixth Report will show the motive which prompted the board to adopt the measure. "The above regulation was adopted from a conviction that there are a multitude of individuals in the community-orphans, apprentices, servants, boatmen, stage-drivers, and others-who have no Bibles, and but few religious privileges, and who might, to some extent, be supplied by the method now proposed, for who will be so likely to scatter the sacred Volume among the needy as those who have shown such regard for that volume as to make themselves members and directors of the institution which furnishes it for distribution." Many churches in different parts of the country have constituted their respective pastors directors and members for life. What tribute of respect and affection more appropriate for the flock to bestow, or more grate 348 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. ful to the pastor, who feeds it with the bread of life, than to receive such a tribute! Of the thousands who sustain this interesting relation, the society expect3 much, and with confidence it looks to them for the support and advocacy of the great cause in which they are alike engaged, that the "light and truth" may be sent out to bless and save every land. APPENDIX. CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, &c. Letters from the Hon. Elias Boudinot, President of the Amerian Bible Society. BRETHREN AND FELLOW-LABORERS IN THE GOSPEL, Among the innumerable blessings of this life wherewith it hath pleased a gracious God to favor me, the permitting my union with you in those labors of love, which it is to be hoped will be made instrumental to the raising a monument to his glory, which may last till the recording angel shall announce to an astonished universe that'it is finished' is one of the most dear to my heart. " The consoling hope was once cherished that the unspeakable pleasure would, in one instance at least, have been afforded me, in the last decline of life, of meeting with you personally, to have testified my approbation of all your exertions in this glorious work. But a kind and merciful God, who knows all my deficiencies, has thought it best, in his infinite wisdom, to refuse this favor, in which dispensation of his all-wise Providence I do most sincerely acquiesce, firmly believing it will be most conducive to his own glory and the best interests of the institution committed to our care. "I once thought I had much to communicate to you, but the extreme debility of both mind and body prevents my attempting it. Suffer me, however, as a last effort, however weak and feeble, to say a few words before I go hence. " It is not vanity in me to say that I have labored hard and suffered much in this great cause, occasioned in some measure by a very low state of health; yet such has been the apparent interposition of an overruling Providence, that my faith and hope have never failed, even in the darkest days; and although there have been great temptations to despair of final success, yet have I been so strengthened with the assurance that it was a work of God, and that he would show his power and glory in bringing it to maturity in his own time and by his own means, that I had determined, in case of failure in the last attempt, to commence the great business at all events, with the aid of a few laymen who had testified their willingness to go all lengths with me. But no sooner had the work been brought to an issue, than the clouds 3 5 0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. began to disperse, and every one was obliged to say in his heart,' This is the work of God.' "Thus, my beloved friends, hath God in his condescending grace appointed us to become his humble instruments in opening the eyes of the blind; in cheering the abodes of primeval darkness with the joyful sounds of redeeming love; in fulfilling the encouraging prophecy of the angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel in his hands, to preach to all nations, languages, tongues, and people on the earth. " This, indeed, is an event devoutly to be wished, and most gratefully to be acknowledged. That such comparative worms of the dust should become fellow-workers with Christ in making the wilderness to blossom as a rose, and the nations of the earth to become the nations of our Lord and his Christ, is an honor in which the highest angels would rejoice. Is there, then, the least reason for fearing the great result? Shall any one be discouraged at the arduous prospect before us By no means. Look at the disciples of our dearest Lord, and compare their relative situation when they beheld their blessed Master given up to the power of his enemies —condemned as a base malefactor-stretched on the cross, breathing out his precious life in a prayer in favor of his unrelenting persecutors-forsaken by all-every one fleeing to his own home, and one even repeatedly denying his Lord and Master, though forewarned of it but a few hours before! "Realize their forlorn state when surrounding the risen Savior, hearkening to his invaluable instructions: he is suddenly parted from them, and carried up into heaven, and vanishes from their sight. It is true, they are commissioned to go forth and preach the Gospel to every creature-a Gospel in all its parts and each essential feature destructive of every religion on the face of the earth. This: is to be preached to a world wholly absorbed in the works of the flesh; wholly inimical to the precepts of the meek and holy Jesus-a world in absolute possession of all temporal power and authority. All this is to be done by twelve poor, helpless, indigent, and illiterate fishermen, without power civil or ecclesiastical, friends, influence, riches, or rank to aid them in calling the public attention to their divine Master, who, though declared to be God as well as man, was crucified as a malefactor, being condemned by the known judicatories of their country. But will it be said that they had the personal assurance of their Almighty Savior for their encouragement and support against all the powers of earth and hell? Yes, my friends' they had; and a blessed support it was, and under it they withstood and overcame the world. And have you not equal, if not superior cause of trust and hope? Have you not all the promises made to them, with the advantage of their experience and APPENDIX. success in the fulfillment of all that he said and did, beyond their most exaggerated expectations? Has your Savior lost his power and authority, or has he not given as much confidence and reliance on his continual presence and almighty arm to you as he ever did to his disciples of old? Is he not the same yesterday, to-day, and forever? " As for my own part, I have been looking for greater opposition and causes of mortification than any that have yet appeared. I know the seductive power of the evil one, and the artful cunning of his devices. An opposition, indeed, has come from quarters whence we ought not to have expected it; indeed, it has been, as yet, too feeble to excite the fear or cool the zeal of God's people. But, brethren, we are all too well acquainted with the cunning and subtilty of the great enemy of the Gospel to suppose that he will thus early give up his designs. No; but as you have put on the armor of God, you must not put it offtill you have obtained a complete, a decided victory. You must be guarded at all points. Woe be to them who shall be the cause of your trouble. Satan's principal endeavors will be to sow divisions among you: he will attack your union, by which you destroy his stronghold, in breaking down the walls of partition that have so long separated and wounded the Church of. Christ. He will fear your apparent cordial love and esteem for each other. As long as real brotherly love shall continue and prevail among you, all the arts of the enemy of man's happiness may be defied. Guard well the weakest part of your citadel; forget not the solemn injunction of the captain of your salvation,' By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.' Stand on your guard; let no argument persuade you; let no vain alarm of danger to your interests intimidate you. Greater is he who is for you than he who is against you. I do know, and have carefully attended to your probable progress. You have an arduous, but a glorious work and labor of love before you: this will necessarily engage all your powers and all your spare time; but look to the great recompense of reward. That you are striving for eternity, not only for yourselves, but for a world lying in sin, who may, at the great day of account, be found surrounding the throne of the Eternal with hallelujahs and thanksgiving, that you were the cause of their coming to the knowledge of the Gospel. Forget not that your Lord and Master has all power given to 14m, both in heaven and on earth; that under his guardian care-that under the banner of his cross, you are to go forth and complete the triumphs of redeeming love. "Once more suffer me to beseech you to promote love and harmony in your society as your strong bond of union. God is love. Love is the fulfillment of the law. Let it become a common proverb,'See how these members of the American Bible Society love one another, g3 52 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. though consisting of every denomination of Christians among us. Let a motto be written in letters of gold on the most prominent part of your hall of deliberation,'By this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.' If this, then, is the great characteristic mark of discipleship with Christ, who will refuse to wear the badge as the most desirable trait in his character? The second advent of the Savior is comparatively near-the harbingers of his approach begin to appear. Hear the language of Jesus himself:' For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then shall he reward every man according to his works. Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.' St. Paul commendeth the Thessalonians for their faith Godward, and waiting for his Son from heaven.' For this we say unto you, by the words of the Lord, If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so (as certainly) they also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him, for this we say unto you, by the word of the Lord, that the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.' I rejoice with you, that to accomplish this glorious end, to hasten this blessed event, and to become fellow-workers with God, we are assisting in laying the foundation for spreading the Gospel throughout the habitable globe, that the earth may be covered with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the seas, when we may all sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of our Lord. "And now, brethren, beloved in the Lord, I commit you to the grace of that God who hath preserved my life to my seventy-eighth year as a living monument of his sparing mercy and goodness, to witness your zeal, activity, and perseverance in his service. May the broad hand of the Almighty cover you; may his Holy Spirit guide, direct, and influence you in all your deliberations and undertakings, and make you burning and shining lights in his Israel. And when the great Shepherd of the sheepfold shall call in his ancient people, the Jews, from the four quarters of the world, may you be found among the number of those who shall be made kings and priests to God. " And now, my beloved friends and brethren, suffer me to leave you, under the pleasing expectation that we shall meet again, to unite in that song of everlasting praise that shall proceed from the trump of the archangel, when he shall sound the glorious anthem of hallelujah! hallelujah! hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. "' Soli Dei Gloria et Honor.' " ELIAs BOUDINOT, President. " To the Board of Managers of the Amer. Bible Society. "BURLINGTON, 5th May, 1817." i APPENDIX. 3 3 BURLINGTON, June 5,1816. EV. AND DEAR SIR, I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 1st instant, officially announcing my election to the chair of the American Bible Society. In expressing my grateful acceptance of this undeserved, compliment (after trusting to the gracious influence of Almighty God), my confidence is in the aid and assistance of my worthy colleagues, by which alone I can entertain a hope of being useful in so very respectable a body, engaged in this all-important undertaking. I am not ashamed to confess that I accept of the appointment of President of the American Bible Society as the greatest honor that could have been conferred on me this side of the grave. " I am so convinced that the whole of this business is the work of God himself, by his Holy Spirit, that, even hoping against hope, I am encouraged to press on through good report and evil report, to accomplish his will on earth as it is in heaven. "So apparent is the hand of God in thus disposing the hearts of so many men, so diversified in their sentiments as to religious matters of minor importance, and uniting them as a band of brothers in this grand object, that even infidels are compelled to say it is the work of the, Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes! In vain is the opposition of man1: as well might he attempt to arrest' the arm of Omnipotence, or fix a barrier around the throne of God.' Having this confidence, let us go on, and we shall prosper. I can say no more: my feeble frame and exhausted spirit scarcely suffer me, lying in my bed, to dictate language sufficiently efficient to represent my deep sense of the polite attention of your honorable body. All I can add is, that should it please a sovereign God to suffer me to meet my faithful fellow-laborers in the Gospel vineyard, I will most cordially endeavor to make up, in unwearied attention and industry, what may be deficient in the mind and understanding. "Accept of iy acknowledgment of the polite manner in which you have made the communication. I am, reverend and dear sir, with esteem, "Your humble and obedient servant, "ELMS BOUDINOT. "Rev. Dr. ROMEYN, Sec. for Dom. Corres. of the Amer. Bib. Soc." Letter from the Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. "BRIGHTON, August 3, 1816. "MY DEAR SIR, "The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have instructed me to offer you their warmest congratulations on the event z g3 54 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. of the formation of the American Bible Society; an event which they consider as truly auspicious, and pregnant with consequences most advantageous to the promotion of that great work in which the American brethren and themselves are mutually engaged. To these congratulations our committee have added a grant of ~500; and they trust that both will be accepted as indications and pledges of that friendly disposition which it is their desire to cultivate and manifest toward every class and description of their transatlantic fellow-laborers. The crisis at which the American Bible Society has been formed, and the cordial unanimity which has reigned throughout all the proceedings which led to its establishment, encourage the most sanguine hopes of its proving, in the hand of God, a powerful auxiliary in the confederate warfare which is now carrying on against ignorance and sin. May those hopes be realized, and may new trophies be added, through its instrumentality, to those triumphs which have already been reaped by the arms of our common Redeemer. " I am, my dear sir, very faithfully yours, " JOHN OWEN, "Secretary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. Dr. BOUDINOT, President of the American Bible Society." Letter from Prince Galitzin, President of the Russian Bible Society. "Your letter of the 23d May, a. c. (anno currente), containing information of the establishment of the American Bible Society, was duly received by me, and'brought to the knowledge of the Committee of the Russian Bible Society at their first meeting. "The information of such an event as the forming a national Bible institution for the United States of America, for the purpose of promoting the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, not only at home, but also in other countries, whether Christian, Mohamme&an, or pagan, was certainly of a nature to produce the most joyful feelings in the breasts of all who take a sincere part in this great and salutary cause. It is with peculiar pleasure that we saw thus a new step made toward hastening forward that happy period, when the knowledge of the Word of Life will become universal glory to Him who deigns to inspire his people every where with the use of means for the spiritual welfare of the -human race. The sphere of operation which the American Bible Society has prescribed to its activity is very extensive and important. "We have perused with satisfaction the constitution and the address to their countrymen, and we are happy to see that the same principles animate our American fellow-laborers which lead us to the same im APPENDIX. 35 portant end. Thus, notwithstanding the distance which separates us, being approximated by the same spirit of unity and action, we reach you the right hand of fellowship from these remote parts, and unanimously engage to exert ourselves for the same cause of benevolence. Yes, sir, it will certainly be very agreeable for us to communicate mutually with your society about our proceedings and successes; and we shall always be ready to take a most hearty interest in all that belongs to your work, which is the work of charity, even the work of God. " We have not failed to forward some of the copies of your proceedings and Constitution you have sent us to some of our branch societies, in order to make them acquainted with your benevolent institution, and, in return, we have felt ourselves obliged to communicate to you some small publications of what was done in this country for the same salutary cause of disseminating the Holy Scriptures. We will thus mutually learn what our merciful Savior has done and is doing m both countries. " Before I conclude, permit me, sir, to express to you the feelings of the most sincere and true esteem, with which I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and devoted servant, (Signed) "PRINCE ALEXANDER GALITZIN, "President of the Russian Bible Society. "ST. PETERSBURG, November 30, 1816." Letter from the Secretaries of the Hamburg ancd Altona Bible Societies. "We have learned with great satisfaction, from the publications which have reached us, that the loud voice of the friends of the Bible in America has demanded and produced a union of the interests of all the provincial societies, by the establishment of a national Bible Society. " We can not better express our joy at this event than by a request to be made acquainted, through the medium of your printed reports, with the results of your endeavors to diffuse the pure Word of God throughout the wide dominions of the states of North America. "However great the distance at which we live from each other, we feel ourselves associated with you in' the blessed vocation of offering those revered documents, upon which the faith of all Christians rests, to such of the children of men as do not possess them, and of thereby leading them to a nearer and fruitful knowledge of our Holy Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who' of God is made, unto all that believe on him, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' To glorify the name of Christ be, therefore, the aim of our exertions; exertions which can not fail to receive the approbation and blessing of God, even though but few evidences of it should be seen in this life. ^3 56 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. " We send you, along with this epistle, twelve copies of our report for this year, to be distributed among your provincial societies, and by this act commence an intercourse and connection with you which we desire to render as extensive as we can. You will undoubtedly be able to make it as instructive to us as it will be interesting, by the rich fund of experience which your activity will supply. How much will you discover favorable to the advancement of our design! and, on the other hand, how many difficulties will you encounter! A wise application of the former, and a careful consideration of the latter, can not but yield valuable information to us, who have scarcely yet begun to mature our plan of operation. " With joyful aspirations, we look forward with you to that day when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea;' there shall be one fold and one shepherd,' and when all differences among Christians shall end in the worship of God and his Anointed, in spirit and in truth. "May the head of his church, the Lord Jesus Christ, who knows all the true members of the same, of whatever name or people they may be, exceeding abundantly increase their number by smiling upon the labors of Bible societies in all parts of the world; thereby marking them out and lifting them up for a sign of the times, to which the nations shall look and praise him. " Do not misconstrue it as presumption that we address you in our own language. There are among you many who were formerly inhabitants of Germany, and still speak German; and these will be our interpreters. We shall, on our part, thankfully receive your answer in the English language, with which we are acquainted, as soon as it shall be agreeable to you to honor us with the same. "Please to accept the assurance of our inmost veneration. " JOHN DANIEL RUNGE, "J. H. MUTZENBECKER, "GILBERT VAN DER SMISSEN." Extract from an Address of Prince Galitzin. "Our pious emperor, though at a distance from Russia laboring for the good of nations, yet always present with all that is calculated to promote the welfare of his people and of mankind, has in these circumstances given us a new token of his regard to the work of the Bible Society, for he has granted the same privileges to promote its correspondence that are enjoyed by the different departments of government themselves-not only the privilege of sending all letters free from postage, but also of SENDING BIBLES BY POST, TO ANY PART OF THE EMPIRE, FREE FROM CHARGE. "-12th Report, Appen., p. 18. APPENDIX. 35 7 Letter from one of the Secretaries of the Prot. Bible Society, Paris. " SIR, AND VERY HONORED BROTHER IN JESUS CHRIST, "It is with a real pleasure that I find myself charged by the committee to inform the society of which you are the secretary of the formation in this place of a Bible Society, under the name of The Protestant Bible Society of Paris, and to testify its regret at not having done it sooner. We send by this conveyance to your committee twelve copies of our first report and two of our regulations. You will have the goodness to present them to it as a feeble mark of our esteem, and of our desire to fraternize with it. You will see there, sir, that the Bible Society of Paris is founded on the same principles and with the same views with those which have preceded it in the same career. " To recall to those who forget it the good news of salvation, the news of God manifesting himself in the flesh, and dying upon a cross to save sinful man, and thus to shed abroad light where all was darkness, morality where all was corruption, life where was nothing but death, by putting into the hands of all the glorious Gospel of God the Savior-that divine word from the Lord himself, and to the efficacy of which alone are promised all the miracles of grace. Such is the object which is proposed by the Bible Society of Paris. And, thanks to the succors and to the blessings from on high, she has reason to applaud her first step. " The American Bible Society will learn with pleasure, and with gratitude to Him who is the cause, and to whom alone belongs the glory, that this fine France, so richly endowed of God, awakens at last from her long lethargy with respect to religion, and participates with the rest of the known world the inestimable benefits of Bible societies, and that she will join her prayers to those of all true Christians, that the Lord would please to bless and to accomplish his work, and to call to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, by the reading of his Word, so many millions of immortal souls, which are all languishing far from him who is the way, the truth, and the life, and by whom alone they can be saved. " Accept, sir, and very honored brother, and render acceptable to your committee, the fraternal salutations of ours, and its wishes that the Lord would be pleased to crown your efforts always with new success, and enable you to obtain the sole recompense to which you attach any value, that of conducting captive souls to the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you and with us. Amen. "Your very humble servant and brother in Christ, "J. MONOD the Son." AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Extract of a Letter from the lion. Bushrod Washington. "I had the pleasure to receive your esteemed favor of the 8th ult., together vwith a Bible from American stereotype plates, for which 1 return to the managers of the American Bible Society my grateful acknowledgments. " As to the execution of the work, it merits the highest commendation. Although my sight is not good, I read it with great ease; much more so, and with less fatigue to the eye, than print of the same size in most other books. As to its freedom from typographical errors, I can form no just opinion, having only had time to read a few chapters; I have no doubt, however, of its accuracy. " You do me but justice, kind sir, in imputing to me the most favorable opinion of the design and operation of the national Bible insti tution." Letter from the Hlonorable the Secretary of the Navy. "Nov. 15,1820. "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th October last, in behalf of the Standing Committee of the American Bible Society, evincing their Christian and benevolent intentions of supplying the navy with copies of the Scriptures, for the use and benefit of the seamen employed ini the public service. " I request you to present to the committee my thanks for their liberal views in this instance. "Upon a full consideration of the subject, and believing it to be the intention of the committee to extend the knowledge of the Gospel equally to all, I have thought proper to suggest that the first supply should be equal to the whole number of seamen and petty officers actually employed, which is about three thousand five hundred; the number which may be required annually afterward, to supply losses or deficiencies, will probably not exceed three hundred. " If the above number should be considered too great in the first supply, it may be reduced at the discretion of the committee. " I should wish to have the Bibles deposited with the several commandants of navy yards, in the proportion hereafter mentioned, by whom they will be distributed to each ship when equipped for service. Proper regulations will be established, and the commanding officers required to report annually the number disposed of, and the number that may be wanted, and the information shall be communicated to the committee in such manner as they shall request. "I have the honor to be, with very great respect, sir, your most obedient servant, SMITH THoMPsoN." APPENDIX. Tribute of Affection from the Board of Managers of the American Bibe Society to the Memory of their deceased President. "i The Board of Managers of the American Bible Society, while, in common with their fellow-citizens, they sensibly feel the loss which the Christian community has sustained in the removal, by death, of the Hion. ELIAs BOUDINOT, of one of its most valuable members, have reason more especially to lament that which their institution has suffered, in being deprived of its venerated president. "When the managers carry back their recollection to the period which preceded the formation of this society, and review the laborious and persevering efforts of Dr. Boudinot to accomplish the interesting object; when they consider the noble example of beneficence which he soon afterward presented, in the generous donation of ten thousand dollars to its treasury, and of one thousand dollars since toward the erection of a depository; the unremitting interest which, under the pressure of acute bodily suffering and the infirmities of advanced age, he continued ever afterward to evince in its concerns; his great exertion, notwithstanding the personal inconvenience and pain to which it subjected him, to attend its stated anniversaries; the dignity and amiableness with which he fulfilled the duties of the chair; and the pious and affectionate counsels supplied by his official communications, they deeply deplore the chasm that has been made in their body by this afflicting bereavement. "To the will of an all-wise Providence it becomes them to feel unfeigned submission, and to accompany this act of duty with the expression of their grateful acknowledgments to a merciful God for his goodness, in prolonging beyond the ordinary measure of human life that of their illustrious patron, in permitting him to witness the rapid growth and prosperity of the cherished object of his affections, in conveying to his heart the consolations of that blessed book which he had made the standard of his faith and the rule of his conduct, and in enabling him to close a well-spent life with the full hope, through the merits of his Savior, of a blissful immortality beyond the grave. The Board of Managers would not only derive from these cheering recollections consolation for their loss, but incitement to an increased measure of exertion in that work which so engrossed the affections of their lamented president; and, while they are diligently employed in diffusing abroad the Word of Life, encouragement in seeking to realize for themselves its inestimable benefits. "With the mourning daughter of their deceased friend, for so many years the partaker of his joys and sorrows, the companion of his journeys, and his amiable assistant in well-doing, the members of this 3 60 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. board sincerely sympathize, and respectfully transmit to her this feeble expression of their feelings toward her venerable parent, as evidence of the affection with which they wish to embalm his memory, and the sincerity with which they condole with her under the bereavement she has experienced." Letter from the President of the British and Foreign Bible Society. ",,Dec. 17, 1821. "GENTLEMEN, "In full accordance with the feelings of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, I now discharge the melancholy duty of communicating the expression of their sympathy and condolence to their American brethren and fellow-laborers on the loss which they have sustained in the lamented death of their most venerable and respected president. " On such an event, they can not but indulge the soothing reflection that the remembrance of departed worth will long retain its influence in promoting the interests of that holy religion which Dr. Boudinot so zealously cultivated, as well as the prosperity of that society which he so anxiously labored to advance. " I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant, TEIGNMOUTIH, " President of the British and Foreign Bible Society." Letter from the Librarian of the British and Foreign Bible Society. "Jan. 31, 1823. "The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society feel a pleasure in every opportunity of confirming the fraternal relation that exists between themselves and the American Bible Society, though the present occasion of correspondence is indeed a mournful one. " I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you of the 23d Nov., 1822, inclosing the resolution of your committee on occasion of the intelligence of the decease of our late secretary, the Rev. John Owen. The satisfaction that we experience from the testimonies of respect for our lamented friend, which are received from every quarter of the globe, is great and reasonable, and we draw consolation from the hope that in each of these distant regions there may be some few at least who shall one day arise and call him blessed for his labors, and shall be to him for a crown of rejoicing. " The correspondence with the American Bible Society was one of the departments of office in which Mr. Owen took much delight. His discerning mind saw clearly that the identity of our aims, and the sin APPENDIX. 361 gleness and simplicity of our object, afforded the surest bond of union; and his warm feelings exulted in the thought that a British and an American, institution should march hand in hand together, to propagate the sacred truths of that religion, in defense of which their common fathers had resisted even unto blood, and he trusted that they would go forth endued with power from on high, conquering and to conquer. But he has been taken off in. the midst of his years, and all his thoughts and his projects sleep with him, for a season at least, in the tomb. "You are not unacquainted, sir, with the feelings attendant upon such a loss as that which we have sustained. We have not forgotten the late venerable head of your society, who so short a time since was gathered unto his fathers. He, too, was lamented by many who had never seen or known him in his life, but who joined in sympathy with the friends who had experienced more immediately his loss, and could better appreciate his worth. To the feelings of our friends, both in London and in Paris, on that occasion, I can bear testimony from personal observation. "1 May these losses tend to excite in us all that spirit which you so well express, that we may reflect that with us also' the time is short,' and it behooves us, therefore, to work while it is day, for that night is coming upon us wherein no man can work. "I_ remain, sir, yours, with great respect and esteem, "THOMAS PELL PLATT." Address of the Hon. John Jay, President of the American Bible Society. "GENTLEMEN, "We have the satisfaction of again observing, that by the blessing of Providence on the zeal of our fellow-citizens, and on the fidelity, diligence, and prudence with which our affairs are conducted, they continue in a state of progressive improvement. The pleasure we derive from it is not a little increased by the consideration that we are transmitting essential benefits to multitudes in various regions; and that the value and important consequences of these benefits extend and will endure beyond the limits of time. By so doing we render obedience to the commandment by which He who'made of one blood all nations of men,' and established a fraternal relation between the individuals of the human race, hath made it their duty to love and be kind to one another. "We know that a great proportion of mankind are ignorant of the revealed will of God, and that they have strong claims to the sympathy and compassion which we, who are favored with it, feel and are manifesting for them. To the most sagacious among the heathen it must 36(2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. appear wonderful and inexplicable that such a vicious, suffering being as man should have proceeded in such a condition from the hands of his Creator. Having obscure and confused ideas of a future state, and unable to ascertain how far justice may yield to mercy, or mercy to justice, they live and die (as our heathen ancestors did) involved in darkness and perplexities. " By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting act of kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced. The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed-that this Redeemer has made atonement' for the sins of the whole world,' and thereby reconciling the divine justice with the divine mercy, has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not of our deserving, nor in our power to deserve. The Bible will also animate them with many explicit and consoling assurances of the divine mercy to our fallen race, and with repeated invitations to accept the offers of pardon and reconciliation. The truth of these facts and the sincerity of these assurances being unquestionable, they can not fail to promote the happiness of those by whom they are gratefully received, and of those by whom they are benevolently communicated. " We have also the satisfaction of observing that the condition of the Church continues to improve. When, at certain periods subsequent to the Reformation, discordant opinions on ecclesiastical subjects began to prevail, they produced disputes and asperities which prompted those who embraced the same peculiar opinions to form themselves into distinct associations or sects. Those sects not only permitted Christian fraternity with each other to be impaired by coldness, reserve, and distrust, but also, on the occurrence of certain occasions, proceeded to alternate and culpable acts of oppression. Even their endeavors to increase the number of Christians were often too intimately connected with a desire to increase the number of their adherents, and hence they became more solicitous to repress competition than to encourage reciprocal respect and good will. "These prejudices, however, have gradually been giving way to more laudable feelings. By the progress of civilization and useful knowledge, many individuals became better qualified to distinguish truth from error, and the diffusion of their reasonings among the people enabled them to judge and to act with less risk of committing mistakes. Since the rights of man and the just limits of authority in church and APPENDIX. 363 state have been more generally and clearly understood, the Church has been less disturbed by that zeal which' is not according to knowledge,' and liberal sentiments and tolerant principles are constantly enlarging the sphere of their influence. " To the advantages which the Church has derived from the improved state of society, may be added those which are resulting from the institution of Bible societies. With whatever degree of tenacity any of the sects may adhere to their respective peculiarities, they all concur in opinion respecting the Bible, and the propriety of extensively distributing it without note or comment. They therefore readily become members of Bible societies, and in that capacity freely co-operate. Their frequent meetings and consultations produce an intercourse which affords them numerous opportunities of forming just estimates of one another, and of perceiving that prepossessions are not always well founded. This intercourse is rendered the more efficient by the great and increasing number of clerical members from dissimilar denominations. Convinced by observation and experience that persons of great worth and piety are attached to sects different from their own, the duties of their vocation and their respectable characters naturally incline them to recommend and encourage Christian friendliness. 11t is well known that both cathedrals and meeting-houses have heretofore exhibited individuals who have been universally and justly celebrated as real and useful Christians; and it is also well known that at present not a few, under similar circumstances and of similar characters, deserve the like esteem and commendation. As real Christians are made so by THm without whom we'can do nothing,' it is equally certain that he receives them into his family, and that in his family mutual love and uninterrupted concord never cease to prevail. There is no reason to believe or suppose that this family will be divided into separate classes, and that separate apartments in the mansions of bliss will be allotted to them according to the different sects from which they had proceeded. "These truths and considerations direct our attention to the new commandment of our Savior, that his disciples'do love one another:' although an anterior commandment required that,'as we had opportunity,' we should' do good unto, all men,' yet this new one makes it our duty to do so' especially to the household of faith.' In the early ages of the Church, Christians were highly distinguished by their obedience to it, and it is to be regretted that the conduct of too many of their successors has, in this respect, been less worthy of imitation. " Our days are becoming more and more favored and distinguished by new and unexpected accessions of strength to the cause of Christianity. A zeal unknown to many preceding ages has recently pervaded 36 4 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. almost every Christian country, and occasioned the establishment of institutions well calculated to diffuse the knowledge and impress the precepts of the Gospel both at home and abroad. The number and diversity of these institutions, their concurrent tendency to promote these purposes, and the multitudes who are cordially giving them aid and support, are so extraordinary, and so little analogous to the dictates of human propensities and passions, that no adequate cause can be assigned for them but the goodness, wisdom, and will of Him who made and governs the world. " WeG have reason to rejoice that such institutions have been so greatly multiplied and cherished in the United States, especially as a kind Providence has, blessed us not only with peace and plenty, but also with the full and secure enjoyment of our civil and religious rights and privileges. Let us therefore persevere in our endeavors to promote the operation of these institutions, and to accelerate the attainment of their objects. Their unexampled rise, progress, and success in giving light to the heathen, and in rendering Christians more and more' obedient to the faith,' apprise us that the great Captain of our salvation is going forth'rconquering and to conquer,' and is directing and employing these means and measures for that important purpose. They, therefore, who enlist in his service, have the highest encouragement to fulfill the duties assigned to their respective stations, for most certain it is that those of his followers who steadfastly and vigorously contribute to the furtherance and completion of his conquests, will also participate in the transcendent glories and blessings of his TRIUMPH." Extract of a Letterfrom the Rev. fohn Summer field, Liverpool. "' LIVERPOOL, May 21, 1823. "It [the nineteenth annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society] was the most imposing scene that ever my eyes beheld! nor do I look for a full realization of the feelings with which I was then possessed at any future period of my life, until I gaze with open face upon the'general assembly and church of first-born which are written in heaven,' presided over by' Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant,' and' the head of all things to his church.' "'0 that with that celestial throng We at his feet may fall! Join in the everlasting song, And crown him " Lord of all."' "The inclosed document from Baron de Stahl I hoped to have forwarded by you; but I now judge it my duty to transmit it, that you may be put in possession of the cordial recognition of my relation to the society, thus officially communicated." APPENDIX. 36 Letter from the Baron de Sta'l, Secretary of the Protestant Bible Society, Paris. "PARIS, April 20, 1823. I can not but consider it as a very fortunate circumstance in my life, that it should be my lot to express, in the name of the Paris Protestant Bible Society, the heartfelt satisfaction with which they were filled in seeing a deputy from the American Bible Society present at their annual meeting. " The Rev. Mr. Summerfield was in every respect a fit representative-I would almost say a faithful image of that admirable Ncountry which rates the luxuriant vigor of a rising nation with the experience of old states. He will tell you, and we trust you will hear with satisfaction, that it has pleased God to bless our efforts with new success. Notwithstanding the sad difficulties we met in some instances, we have added to our numbers thirteen auxiliary or branch societies, and more than thirty Bible associations, sixteen of which have begun their work of piety and regeneration in the very center of the metropolis. The contributions from our auxiliary societies have increased fourfold; and the total amount of our receipts exceed, by 63,000 francs, the resources of last year. Such a result has surpassed our most sanguine expectations. "Our excellent friend Mr. Wilder will soon revisit his native shores, and we can not sufficiently express how deeply his absence will be felt by all who witnessed his indefatigable zeal for the promotion of true Christianity in this country. But if any thing can lessen our regret, it is the confidence that Mr. Wilder's stay among his countrymen will lead to a more and more evangelical union between the good men on both sides of the Atlantic, and secure to us the continuance of your kindness and benevolence, than which no human reward can be a more welcome recompense for our feeble labors. "With the highest regard and most fraternal attachment, we remain, sir, your most obedient humble servants, "For the Committee, A. STAEL, Secretary." Letter from the Rev. Dr. Morrison, Macao. "MACAO, Sept. 1, 1823. SIR, "In October, 1821, I received from you, in the name of the American Bible Society, an elegantly bound English Bible, and, at the same time, one for the Rev. Dr. Milne. On June 2, 1822, Dr. Milne departed this life. The American Bible Society's present remains, in memory of their father, in the possession of his four orphan children. ^36Q6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. I now send for the American Bible Society a copy of Morrison's and Millne's Chinese version of the Bible, bound together in the Chinese manner. This book is daily studied at the Anglo-Chinese college, and there, it is hoped, its contents will be gradually understood by the Chinese students. To circulate the sacred Scriptures in China extensively, in the present state of things, is not practicable; and the colonists in the Archipelago are so eager in the pursuit of gain, or the enjoyment of pleasure, they but seldom show much inclination to study divine revelation. But the friends of the Bible still persevere; and at Malacca, and other stations of the London Missionary Society in the Archipelago, copies of the Scriptures or particular books are distributed to Chinese and Cochin-Chinese who visit those places. " May the Divine Author of the Bible, by his Holy Spirit, create a taste for his Holy Word among the millions who read the Chinese. " The Chinese missionaries connected with us notice corrections and emendations of the version, and send them to the Anglo-Chinese college, where they are preserved, and, being approved, inserted in the original blocks. "May the usefulness of the American Bible Society daily increase. "I remain yours, &c., ROBERT MORRISON. Extract of a Letter from the Foreign Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. "LONDON, May 17, 1826. "We should have been glad to have seen a deputy from America in the midst of us; however, we had an individual who was with you last year, the Rev. Mr. Ellis, from the Sandwich Islands, whose information greatly cheered and delighted us. The extracts from your last printed report introduced into ours, and read, were received with much satisfaction, and particularly the statement of your university Bible societies. Dr. Philip, from Cape Town, gave us, as you will see in his speech, pleasing information about Africa; and a Col. Phipps and a Mr. Fox brought tidings of great joy from the East. The French baron, whose speech is also given, was the representative of the Paris Bible Society; and thus, from the four quarters of the world, we heard abundant information to make us thankful for the society's formation and past operations, and to encourage us for the future. "Since the annual meeting we have heard of the cessation of the Burmese war. We have no concern in politics. The politicians of the earth, however, in accomplishing their own schemes, often open a door at which Christian workmen may enter; and we can not but hope that this is the case in this instance. Mr. Fox, in his address, men APPENDIX. 37 tioned that such is the veneration of the learned Burmese for the Pali language, that nothing written or printed in it will ever be destroyed. The New Testament in this language must be nearly printed at Colombo by this time, and will shortly be put into circulation, and this superstitious regard for their language may, perhaps, turn to good account. The Chinese Bible is gradually working its way, and we are in hopes that, by employing a person for the express purpose, an extensive circulation may take place in the course of the ensuing year. This measure has been urged upon us from different quarters, and has only been delayed by our not having met with a suitable person to undertake the work. Such an individual we have now presented to us, acquainted with the Chinese language, but our measures with reference to him are not yet matured. I have said nothing about South America; the letters from that country continue to evince the lamentable want of the Scriptures, and the readiness of multitudes to receive them. M r. Armstrong, whom you know, is settled at Buenos Ayres, rnot as the direct agent, but still the zealous friend of the society. Another individual has presented himself to our notice as an agent, and will, I believe, shortly leave England for this very important sphere of labor. "In the closing paragraph of our report I have ventured to write,'On every side we hear the voice of God and see his hand;' and I trust that this is not the language of presumption. May we enter fully into the sentiment, and be excited to have zeal to give the Bible to others, and to more affection and obedience to the sacred volume ourselves. "Present my kind regard to your fellow-laborers. "Dear sir, yours faithfully, " A. BRANDRAM, Secretary." Letter from the President of the Swedish Bible Society. "GENTLEMEN, "The Swedish Bible Society, in consequence of the union and friendship which exist between the societies, has the honor of communicating their Twelfth Year's Report, from which the American Bible Society, certainly with pleasure, will see the progress which the society here has made during the course of the last year. "It is with the liveliest interest the committee here received the intelligence of the increasing support and circulation which the Bible receives within the circle of the society's operations in America. "The exchange of what we in common experience of the blessing of the Most High upon our weak efforts to effect the good work that God has established, constitutes the greatest joy and encouragement for all 3368 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. that are engaged in the circulation of the Scriptures, to go on with unremitting diligence with what has been begun, offering up the most earnest prayers to the Author of the Scriptures that he would take under his special care all our exertions for the good cause. " The committee begs leave to assure the American Bible Society of its unalterable attachment and highest esteem. "M. ROSENBLAD, "President of Swedish Bible Society. "STOCKHOLM, 4th May, 1827." Proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society. "At a meeting of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, held 2d of June, 1828, the Right Hon. Lord Bexley, V. P., in the chair. " Read a letter from the Rev. Dr. Milnor, secretary to the American Bible Society, dated New York, April 15, 1828, communicating three resolutions passed by the Board of Managers. The first explicitly declares that the principles on which the society was established exclude the circulation of the Apocrypha; the second directs the plates of the Spanish Bible (the only one to which the Apocrypha was attached by that Society) to be altered, so as to exclude the apocryphal books; and the third resolution orders that those books shall be removed from all the Spanish Bibles remaining in the depository before any more copies are issued. " Resolved, That this committee receive the above communication with much satisfaction. " (Extract from the Minutes.) " JOHN JACKSON, Assistant Foreign Secretary." " BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, June 20, 1828. "REV. DR. MILNOR.-MY DEAR FRIEND, "It has been my usual practice, at this period of the year, to write you at some length an account of our annual meeting. I would gladly adhere to the custom were it really in my power, but I have so much upon my hands that my time will not admit it. "I received both your letters by Mr. Patton. I am sorry that he arrived too late for our anniversary. America was, however, very ably represented by the Rev. B. Allen, from Philadelphia. " We rejoice much in the increase of your exertions and in your prosperity, and I would add also, as a matter of some considerable importance, in the determination which you have come to as a society, and to which the resolution I transmit to you refers. I can not but indulge the hope that the united voice of our respective societies will APPENDIX. 369 produce an effect. Though I myself resisted the adoption of the views now taken, I am perfectly satisfied, and can with the utmost cordiality endeavor to carry them into effect. In doing this we eet with much encouragement, though we are not without our hinderances. " Mr. Patton, in examining the Bibles provided by our society, saw, or fancied he saw, a degree of superiority in them to those furnished by yours, and he therefore has requested that we would present you with some specimens. I need not say how much pleasure it gave our committee to show you this little token of the very sincere regard we entertain for you. They are offered in the true spirit of those lines, which I quote from memory, S' Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti. Si non his utere mecum.' "Accept my kindest regards for yourself and fellow-laborers, and believe me yours very sincerely, "A. BRANDRAM, Secretary." Letter to the Rev. J. C. Brigham, D..D., Corresponding Secretary of the American Bible Society, from the Rev. 1Air. Temple, Malta. "MALTA, Feb. 18,1833. MY DEAR BROTHER, "Your kind letter of Oct. 22d reached me some weeks since, bearing the agreeable intelligence that you have completed plates for printing the New Testament in modern Greek. I rejoice that you have done this, and still more do I rejoice in the prospect of your being able to meet all the demands of the missionaries from our country for the sacred Scriptures, for distribution a t the various stations, and in the wide fields where they are laboring. "This is as it should be; for surely every friend of the American Bible Society must wish to see its influence extended, and still extending far beyond the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills of his native land. I most devoutly hope it will very soon deserve, if it does not assume, the name of the American and Foreign Bible Society. It should be, and I trust it soon will be, the noble and virtuous emulation of all our pious and benevolent countrymen to scatter around the entire globe that divinely-inspired Volume, to whose influence, far more than to all other causes, our favored country owes its enviable rank among the nations of the world. " Our Armenian Bishop Carabet will have finished, within another week, the translation of the Old Testament into the Armeno-Turkish language, should his life and health be spared him. I know not at present what arrangements may be deemed expedient in executing the printing of this translation. I should wish it to be done, if possible, by A A AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. the American Bible Society. The whole must undergo a thorough revision before it can be put to the press, wherever it may be printed. "Whenever your edition of the Greek New Testament is completed, I should anticipate many useful and important results should you send a good, trusty, and. active agent into Greece and the Levant for the purpose of putting them into circulation. Some difficulties would doubtless be encountered in such an enterprise, and considerable items of expense must, of course, be incurred; but then an interest would be awakened at home on this subject, I should hope, that would more than justify such a measure. The British and Foreign Bible Society has, as you know, for a long time employed an agent in the Levant, and the good thus accomplished is very great. For myself, I should rejoice to learn that you have resolved to send an agent to encourage our Christian brethren in these countries, and to co-operate with them in reopening the wells of salvation, which have been stopped up forso many ages by the modern Philistines. The astonishing changes and revolutions in these countries within the last few years, and, more than all, within the last year, by the victorious troops of the modern Pharaoh of Egypt, have very greatly increased the facilities for givi free course to the Word of God. May these facilities increase till every obstacle is taken out of the way. " I bless God that your life has been spared while the overflowing scourge has passed through your city and swept a multitude to the grave. Dear brother, my whole heart says, The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,.and with the spirit of all who are associated with you in. the great work of diffusing the holy oracles. " With much affection, very truly yours, "iD. TEMPLE." Communication of the Rev. Wm. S. Plumer, D.D., of Virginia, in relation to the supplying of the world with the Scriptures in a short period. A To the respected Board of Managers of the American Bible Society: " GENTLEMEN, "Knowing your great zeal and readiness in the immeasurable work in which you have engaged, and not doubting but my communication of recent date has ere this time been submitted to your venerable body, and feeling that some thoughts naturally consequent upon those of my communication of the present month are called for, I resume my pen to address you. In my late communication, I transmitted copies of ~several resolutions unanimously passed by different and widely-separated bodies of men, and also copies of other testimonies in favor of a resolution to supply the accessible reading and willing population of the earth, APPENDIX. 371 within a definite period, with the Word of Life. In my present communication I desire to show that such a work can be done, and that without any miracle, or any impoverishing of the world, or any large portion of it. I know the amount of money called for will not be a small sum, and yet I know that there is more money and property in one street of your city, or in two streets of Philadelphia, than would accomplish the work. If hundreds of thousands sound high, let it be remembered that one horse-race in the United States cost not less than $300,000, and that one nobleman in England has an annual income of ~300,000 sterling. The interest on the national debt of great Britain is.~40,000,000 per annum. So that we have large sums of real wealth presented to us, turn where we will. And shall such noble causes as your own be forever compelled to add up a few scores of thousands per annum, and no more, while even a horse-race gets hund" reds of thousands? I trust not. Even from the foregoing statement, it is obviously not absurd, at the first thought, to speak of the plan as possible. But let us proceed a step further. The population of the earth may, for our present purposes, be estimated at 800,000. This calculation is 100,000,000 larger than many make. Allowing five persons to a family, there are then 160,000,000 families. But not less than 30,000,000 of these families are already supplied. This leaves 130,000,000 families destitute of the Bible. On an average, Bibles cost one dollar each. Then we want $130,000,000. We propose to get this suum, say in twenty years. Can it be done? In order to raise $130,000,000 in twenty years, we must raise $6,500,000 per annum for twenty years. Can this be done? There are believed to be in the world not less than 20,000,000 of truly pious persons. Can they not each raise 321k cents per annum; and will they not do it? If they can, and will, we shall have the $6,600,000 per annum. "But a large part of those to whom the Bible is sent are willing to pay for it. The British and Foreign Bible Society aim to distribute few copies of the Scriptures gratuitously. Suppose, then, that one third of the Bibles sent out by Bible societies shall be sold; then we want in twenty years only $86,000,000, or $4,333,333 per annum. This sum, divided among the 20,000,000 of pious people, gives to each one about 21-1 cents. This would not be a burdensome contribution. "But, then, just in proportion as the Bible cause in the hands of Bible societies goes forward, just in the same proportion does private capital prepare, and private enterprise scatter the Bible. All experience is in favor of this assertion. It was said, indeed, that Bible societies would injure private booksellers; but all experience disproves the assertion.'One house,' said Dr. M'Auley, at your last anniversary,'one house, in the space of a few months, sold 12,000 Bibles here g3 72 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. in the United States.' I am credibly informed that another house, having- several branches, sold in fourteen months, in the United States, $40,000 worth of German Bibles. Indeed, dear as stereotype plates are, one of your own body, who is acquainted with such business, told,me that the founders could scarcely furnish stereotype plates for the Bible a.s fast as publishers of that holy book called for them. This is the state of things in America. How was it before the existence of Bible Societies? Why, in 1782, Robert Aitken, having obtained a long preamble and resolution from the Congress of the United States, setting forth the difficulties of printing the Bible in the United States, and pledging the national treasury for a certain amount, ventured to publish an edition of the Holy Scriptures; and now almost any little bookseller who chooses may, without any serious risk, have a large and handsome edition of the Bible printed, without having a single copy pledged before the work is published. So much for the state of things in this nation. Similar facts might easily be gathered respecting other parts of Christendom. The number, not less than the neatness, of the Bibles published at the Oxford press alone is truly amazing. Private enterprise may be relied on, then, to circulate one third of the whole number of copies of the Scriptures which are sent out among the nations, so that we only want $43,3,33,3, in twenty years, for gratuitous distribution. Or we want $2,166,666 per annum, being about 10 cents and 8 mills per aninum for every pious person on earth. And can not this be had? Tell the tale to the world-the Christian world, and see if it can not be had. You will have the goodness to observe that nothinig is here said of the certain reduction that will occur in the cost of paper, type, and the whole business of preparing books for use and circulation. That a further reduction must take place, I presume none will doubt. "The foregoing estimate also goes on the supposition that every family on earth is accessible to Bible agents, is willing to receive and able to read the Scriptures. This, however, is by no means the case, nor have we the assurance that such will be the case within twenty years. "Moreover, the Bible cause has thousands and. tens of thousands of liberal and decided friends who do not even profess to be pious, and do not, therefore, make a part of the 20,000,000 of persons named in this calculation; so that we may boldly say, less than 10 cents annually from every hopefully pious man on earth will do the work iiT twenty years. "But, throwing aside all abatements, supposing that Bible societies have to do the whole work alone, and are not able to sell a single Bible, -even then all the money that will be necessary will be, from each APPENDIX. 373 hopefully pious man, if paid at one time, not $1000, nor $100, nor 5 nor $10, but merely $6 50. Give this, and the work is done. R~especting money, therefore, there can be no difficulty, except such as shall originate in a criminal and high degree of cupidity, selfishness, and sloth, so glaring as that the Christian world must just stand and have her face covered with a burning shame, or reform and come up to the work. "The foregoing statements have been made, not for the purpose of showing how the work will be done, but that it can be done. None but a foolish man would ever think of actually raising funds in such a. method from the Christian world. Nor are such arguments suited to the purpose of raising money; but they are intended merely to show to a calculating mind the entire practicability of the work, provided those who can be aroused shall engage in the plan. The real way in which the thing will be done will be by some giving all they are worth to have the work done. A few have already done this. Pass the river, and cut down the bridge, and many will do it. Many, also, who will not give all, will yet give some, perhaps as much as duty to their dependents will permit. The agent for Virginia has often told individuals to withhold their hands, to refrain, because they would distress themselves. Again, many would in their last wills remember this cause. It has been remembered in this way already out of Virginia, yes, and in Virginia, Children and poor people will forego even lawful gratifications to forward the work. A little girl in Virginia proposed to eat no butter for a month, that she might get twenty-five cents to make her an annual member of a little Female Bible Society. As the agent was pleading the cause of the dying world in one of the upper counties, a poor woman said to her husband,'I have fifty cents saved to buy coffee with. It is hid in such a place. Go home and get it, and make haste back, lest the good man be gone. I will do without coffee a little while longer, until these people get the Gospel among: them.' The truth is, the treasury of the Lord is the hearts of his people; get them rightly affected, and they will give all to a good object, if necessary. Many such things occur all over this land every year, and their occurrence increases in frequency every year. The money, therefore, can be had. " The next question touching the feasibility of this plan relates to translations. On this subject it is easy, perhaps it would be best (it was in the' original resolution, on the doctrine of which I received the letters which you have published) to frame a resolution so as not to pledge yourselves in the work of translation further than may be found practicable on a fair experiment. So that, on the subject of translations, there is not need of very much inquiry at present, in order to ^3 74 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. learn what our duty is. Estimating the population of the earth at 800,000,000, one fourth of the whole number live in Christian countries, and have translations of the Bible in their own languages. Two hundred millions are then furnished with translations. Not less than 350,000,000 of people read, if any, the language into which Drs. Milne and Morrison have translated the Scriptures. Five hundred and fifty millions are then provided for. The many translations prepared by the Baptists and others in the East will certainly supply at least an additional 100,000,000. We have then 650,000,000 provided for. The residue of 150,000,000, or three sixteenths of the whole, have the Scriptures to some such extent as follows: There are the Arabic Scriptures for 10,000,000; the Persian for 8,000,000; that for Asiatic Siberia (now in the press), not less than 20,000,000; the Turkish, Armeno-Turkish, and Armenian, not less than 12,000,000; leaving not quite 100,000,000 without any translation in their own language. But then not a few of them, as several of the Indian tribes, &c., are able, to some extent, to read some language into which the Bible is translated. Some other abatements are to be made; so that there are probably not more than 70 or 80,000,000 without a translation, and perhaps not 50,000,000, who have a written or printed language, without such translation in part or in whole. So that we may hope, that before the great body of these people shall be fairly accessible to agents, we will have eithdr translations, or translators prepared to enter on the work of translation. But, as was said, no resolution passed by any Bible Society, contemplating the supply of the nations generally, need exceed the limits fixed by translations already made or soon to be made. "The third point, to which I offer but few remarks, is the subject of agencies. Can agents be had to do the work? I suppose they can be had. There are men in abundance, many of whom would love to be employed in such a work. And it would require by no means as many agents as some would suppose. One efficient.agent can himself, and alone, supply a considerable kingdom in the space of twenty years. Just see what one man has done in the north of Europe, and indeed all around the Baltic. I refer to Dr. Patterson. We have also had some voluntary agencies undertaken in the United States, which have brought about equally remarkable results. Suppose Gutzlaff shall live twenty years, and China continue even as accessible as it is now, and the books be furnished in any number he may desire, how many hundreds of thousands of copies would he distribute? Or furnish a less daring and more quiet, but equally worthy man, who was at your last anniversary, Rev. D. 0. Allen, of Bombay, with as many Bibles as he can dispose of during the rest of his life, if he shall live but ten years, and what wonders would he effect! This man hastened home from APPENDIX. 37 the United. States, intending to spend the rest of his days engaged in good part in this blessed work. Besides, it is found altogether practicable, and, of course, expedient, to employ in very successful agencies other persons than those who are reared in Christian countries. There are converts to Christianity already sufficiently numerous in Burmah to supply that empire in far less than twenty years, unless I am utterly erroneous in my calculations, and in this I think I can not be mistaken. " So much. for the feasibility of the plan, rendered probable by what we can see and count. These are not, however, the estimates of any thing more than cold and casual calculation. The estimates of Christian love and holy confidence in God are far higher, and are the only foundation on which much has ever been done, or ever will bedone. The estimates of faith are the only basis on which we are justified in acting in the affairs of our royal Master, Jesus Christ. On this subject I say nothing further at present, not doubting but the faith of your respected body is much stronger than my own, and also intending to make another communication shortly on this great subject." Dissolution of the Methodist Bible Society. Previous to the year 1836 the Methodist Episcopal Church had a Bible Society of its own. To this society, from time to time, the American Bible Society made liberal donations for the gratuitous supply of destitute families and Sabbath schools. At the General Conference of the year above named, held in the city of Cincinnati, a resolution was passed dissolving the Methodist Bible Society, and merging it into the American Bible Society. The different Conferences, by resolutions and otherwise, yielded a cordial assent to this measure, and the co-operation of the Church in a very short time became general. At each annual convocation resolutions are passed making it the duty of every traveling preacher to take up collections in their respective churches in aid of the funds of the national society. Extract from- a Discourse on the Death of John Nitchie, Esq., Treasurer of the American Bible Society. "The large and discriminating mind of Mr. Nitchie was richly stored with the treasures of information and thought. His education was originally thorough and solid; he had a great thirst for knowledge; his opportunities were uncommonly good, and his experience and observation were extensive; and these, connected with his various reading-particularly upon religious subjects, and, most of all, of the Bible-furnished him with a fund of important information altogether rarely to be met with. His knowledge of the Scriptures-particularly 376 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. his critical acquaintance with the original language of the New Testament__was probably more minute, accurate, and extensive than that of almost any other individual, layman or clergyman, in our community. In addition to his ordinary reading of the Bible-which he daily practiced_-the close attention which he was called to pay to it, during the nineteen years that he was in the service of the American Bible Society, in examining and correcting their publications, had almost copied it entire upon the tablet of his memory. And this fund of information contributed, in an eminent degree, to impart that value to his charac ter which his acquaintances were ever ready to award to him. In all the relations and associations of life, he was the more highly esteemed because always instructive. "Another interesting trait in our friend's character was almost an excess of modesty, combined with his excellent talents and great store of knowledge. His self-diffidence and humble estimate of his own powers approached toward a fault, and no doubt sometimes kept him back from imparting instruction in public, for which he was well qualified. His acquaintances know how averse he was to doing any thing that might be interpreted into an assertion of superiority; how readily, in the discharge of his duties, he condescended to the humblest walks of life; how disposed he was to defer to brethren who were, in many respects, his inferiors; and with what amiable meekness he would place himself to listen at the feet of one who could make no pretensions to equality with him in ability and acquirements. These were characteristics of his mind, which endeared him very much to the hearts of his associates and friends. "But the time would fail us to remark on all that in him we esteemed and admired. We are most concerned with his religious character. We have said already that Mr. Nitchie professed religion at about twenty-three or twenty-four years of age; and as he died at fifty~four, he lived something more than thirty years a member of the Christian Church. From the universal testimony of those who knew him during the early part of his Christian life, and from the fact that he was chosen to sustain important offices in the Church, and that a most responsible station was confided to him in connection with the American Bible Society, it is evident he was early known as a consistent, decided, and devoted Christian. Such was the tenor of his whole life. To those, however, who were favored with a long and intimate acquaintance with him, it appears that the growth of his piety was much the most rapid within the last eight or ten years. In particular, during that precious revival of religion in 1831, his piety received an impulse which it never lost. His Christian feelings were then kindled up to a flame; with all his powers he was engaged in APPENDIX. 377 the work of the Lord in the South Reformed Dutch Church. It is thought that he accomplished more than any other layman in that church at that time; and, in the hand of God, he was made the means of bringing many from darkness into marvelous light. And, as we said, that spirit he never lost-that season he never forgot-but spake of it frequently with tender interest while he lived; and from that time his piety became ascendant, and the love of souls seemed to be the ruling passion of his heart. Shortly after the season alluded to, he became connected with the Allen Street Church, but he continued to manifest the same characteristic zeal and devotedness. "He was eminently a lover of revivals, and delighted to dwell in the midst of their solemn.and impressive scenes. Nothing caused his countenance to glow, and his bosom to heave with such emotion, as to know that the Lord was pouring out his Spirit. Many in that church can bear witness to the untiring faithfulness with which he labored in such scenes there; to the manner in which he visited inquiring souls, from house to house; the pains and patience with which he opened to them the plan of salvation, and the affecting pathos with which he besought them to be reconciled to God. The meeting which, during seasons of revival, was regularly appointed in that church, to converse with those who were the subjects of the Spirit's striving, was a place of his delight, and one which, to him, seemed to have in it something of the sweetness of heaven. In his faithful attendance upon it he was a bright example. If in health, the stroke of the bell was not more true in calling us together than the tread of his foot when the time arrived. He excelled in the treatment of souls. His discriminating mind, his great knowledge of the Scriptures, his deep religious experience, his condescending manners and tender flow of feeling, qualified him for it, and gave him great influence with them; and the seals of his labors in this interesting department of Christian duty are not a few. Under God, he turned many to righteousness. " One other department of his useful labors was the Bible class. In this he was constantly engaged through many years of his life. His habit was to meet his class regularly twice every Sabbath; and here he applied his extensive biblical resources with great effect. He could shed light upon many portions of Scripture where common instructors would be utterly at a loss. He, was faithful and successful; and from no other source, no larger, did the communion of the church receive so frequent accessions as from his Bible class. "It now remains that we give some account of his last illness and death. His intercourse with his friends, during his sickness, was strictly characteristic and affectionate. He expressed a lively interest in them all, and requited their attentions with the warmest acknowledgments. g37 8 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. On various occasions his solicitude was manifested for his family, the church with which he was connected, for particular individuals, and the interests of the Church at large. As his strength failefd, and the prospect of his recovery became more uncertain, his thoughts dwelt more on death and eternity; and when speaking on these subjects, he uniformly expressed an entire and cordial acquiescence in the Divine will, and high satisfaction that whatever took place, in respect to him, it would not be the result of blind, undesigning chance, but be ordered by infinite wisdom and goodness. His Christian hope was never obscured at all, but, as often as the inquiry was made, he said he enjoyed the light of God's countenance, and his soul was at peace. A few days before his death, when the hope of his recovery grew faint, he desired an interview with his late pastor. That interview was an interesting one, and in substance as follows: He said that, in view of the increasing uncertainty whether he should recover, he wished to examine his hope, and see whether it were well founded or not; and for this reason he had requested the conversation. He was asked if this desire arose from any darkness of mind, or any reason he had to fear his hope was not good. He answered, there was no change in that respect; but that he viewed himself as probably approaching a very solemn hour, and that he should be remiss in his duty to himself if he did not re-examine his title to the kingdom of heaven. On being told that this was proper, and that it was a matter of gratification that there was no other reason for his doing it, he proceeded, and with a mind perfectly collected and clear, gave his views of the way of salvation through Christ, and the reasons he had for believing himself interested in it. He said that all within himself appeared worthless and polluted; he had no confidence in any thing he had ever done; he viewed himself as a poor helpless sinner, and, if saved, must be saved by grace only; but that.he looked upon the blood of Christ as having power to cleanse from all sin; his hope was wholly in him; that he felt sure he hated sin and loved holiness, and longed after nothing so much as spotless purity, an unvarying conformity to the Divine image. After having said much more of similar import, he ceased; and it was stated to him, that if such were his views and such his experience, there could be no room for mistake; that there was no Savior but Christ-no other object for the sinner's faith; and that, if his trust was in HIM, his anchorhold was firm; and that it seemed to be his duty and privilege to rest secure, and let no temptation awaken a suspicion or excite a trouble in his soul about his safety. In this he acquiesced, and added,' My faith STANDS, not in the word of man, but in the Word of God.' And it is believed that from that time he never expressed anxiety about himself, but calmly, and with heavenly resignation, awaited the Divine will. APPENDIX. 37 " Two days before the termination of his earthly trials-apprehending that the event might be sooner than it was-his medical attendants advised that he-be informed that they had done what they could, that he was in the hands of the Lord alone, and that, if he had an thing to do, or wished to say any thing to his friends, it might be expedient not to delay. This communication was plainly and affectionately made to him. He listened to it with serious attention, and without any apparent increase of emotion; and after it was made, as was usual for him, he expressed his thankfulness that it had been done. He was asked if it had surprised him at all; he answered, it had not. Then, after pausing a few moments, as if engaged in prayer, he called the members of his family severally to him, and when they were all together, in the most feeling terms he addressed them to the following effect:'My children, you here see what remains of your father. Now that I am dying, I wish to leave behind me my testimony that I die in the faith of that Gospel by which I have professed to live; and thou~gh my failings have been many, I have endeavored, in accordance with the Gospel, to bring you up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If I know what religion is, it is simply this: we are all sinners, and therefore without hope in ourselves; but God has laid help for us upon one that is mighty to save; he has sent his only and well-beloved Son into the world, that through his death we might have life. And " other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ;" "for there is none other name given under heaven, among men, whereby we must be saved." Embrace this Savior, and you are safe. Do it now, while you have a day of mercy, and while you enjoy health and strength; for I assure you that sickness is a bad time to seek an interest in Christ-a sick bed is no good place to make preparation for death.' He then most tenderly charged them'to be faithful to each other and to their dear mother, who had been like a ministering angel to him during his sickness;' and in closing, in a truly sublime manner elevating his eyes, he said,' _TKNow that if my earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, I have -a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' " Address of the President, lion. John Cotton Smith. "MY RESPECTED FRIENDS, "There are few occasions more impressive than the annual meetings of this society; for no institution of human origin can be more sacred in its object, or more benign in its influence on the happiness and the hopes of men. To be constituted almoners of God's richest gift to our race; to be enabled by his bounty to offer the wandering and lost pilgrim a sure guide to his final home, cheering his way thither with the Q38 0 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. purest joys and the brightest anticipations, is a privilege and a distinction for which we should render our most humble and grateful adoration. In view of the Divine beneficence toward the American people, it would become them to adopt the language of the shepherd-king of Israel, when contemplating his elevation from the sheepfold to a throne,'What~ am 1, 0 Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brou(ght me hitherto!' Who, at the period of our revolution, and some of us have a distinct remembrance of its soul-stirring scenes, who, I repeat, could have imagined that this young country, then bleeding at every pore, would so soon not only attain to her present height of worldly greatness, but would also exhibit the phenomenon of sending the Bible to the Old World! yea, of sending the light of divine truth to the region whence it first emanated, the sacred ground where the Redeemer revealed his mission of love and sealed it with his blood! to countries visited and taught by his apostles; to Persia and India, and those fardistant islands, where the transforming power of this wonderful book is at the present moment exciting universal astonishment! Nor have our aborigines, and Africa, and even civilized Europe, been wholly overlooked in this broad scheme of Christian philanthropy. If a review of these transactions may justly produce a virtuous exultation, we must look for its legitimate effect in corresponding exertions to meet the multiplied appeals to our benevolence from these and other destitute portions of the globe. The increasing demand for the Holy Scriptures affords exhilarating evidence of the successful progress of truth, and of the zeal and faithfulness of the excellent men who are employed in its promulgation. To us these soldiers of the cross confidently look for their spiritual armor, for that mysterious wORD which is at once' the sword of the Spirit' and' the balm' of heavenly consolation. Shall they look in vain? Shall their- drafts upon your board be dishonored? Will the friends of the Bible faint and tire in its cause? Never, while there shall be found on earth one desolate heart to ask for the Word of Life, or one empty hand extended to receive it! "In furtherance of the enterprise in which we are engaged, your Board of Managers have rendered an essential service by a careful collation of their authorized copy of the sacred text with a fac simile of our unrivaled version, as it came from the hands of the translators, and with numerous intervening copies of different dates in the society's library. The task was arduous, but the gentlemen who achieved it felt themselves abundantly rewarded by the high gratification of finding no material departure from the genuine copy-nothing more, indeed, than discrepancies in punctuation, and other particulars equally unimportant. With augmented confidence, therefore, have the board recommended the English version as the model to all who, under our auspices, APPENDIX. 381 are translating the Bible into other languages. Nor have they scrupled to give their unqualified sanction to the course pursued by our translators in adopting, or, as it is called, transferring the original word -wherever an equivalent term can not be found in the foreign tongue. And a perfect coincidence of this kind can scarcely be expected in any supposable case. It certainly did not exist between the two most copious and polished languages of pagan antiquity. The Greek and Latin tongues reciprocated transfers in repeated instances. When the early Christian fathers rendered the original Greek of the New Testament into Latin, they-found it necessary to adopt and Latinize the most important of the identical words which, from the same necessity, were subsequently adopted and Anglicized by our translators. On the other hand, when the Roman laws were translated into Greek for the use of the Oriental empire, the learned jurists of the imperial courts employed in that service found many cases in which the whole Greek vocabulary was utterly inadequate to a just expression of the meaning of the original. What was to be done? Without hesitation, and'without regard to Attic elegance,' they transferred the original term itself, barely giving to the Latin word the sonorous termination of their own more musical language. And what course can be more unexceptionable? What more equitable, especially in cases where a diversity of construction may possibly arise?