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ton-publicly denied it; but when it came to us in the printed document itself, it was then that we penned the article which drew so much attention to us, and we were charged with being the maligners of our brethren; and then did it begin to be feared, in all New-England, that these metropolitan brethren would isolate and compromise us, as a denomination, and expose us to the shafts of ridicule and argument before the world; and it was an emotion that sprang from the depths of our souls. We came on here to the annual meeting of the society, and the record of the vote in the Tabernacle decided the question, and checked the assumption of metropolitan power, so that we hope it will not be reënacted in our time.

Dr. Wayland says that every society is bound to announce its object and principles; that when these are changed, the society is virtually dissolved, and that its members are bound to withdraw from it, or they will be held to approve of the change. We have seen a check, then, to any such tendency, and should congratulate ourselves when we think what would have been the effect on our churches, if that resolution had passed.

In speaking thus, I mean nothing disrespectful toward men. I speak only on principles; and though I honor and love the President and officers of this society, yet, if they should change its object or propose a plan that would compromise the churches, without obtaining their direction or consent, I should pray that God would smite them with his power, and scatter them like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

What do the people whom we represent in the cities, the towns, the valleys, and plains throughout the land, demand of us as to the English version? It is this: that, as the society who represent the denomination-for there is not one fifteenth of our number who approve the design of the Bible Union-we should retain our right of inheritance in the old English version, the noblest legacy that the past has bequeathed to us. The English version has no parallel in history in its influence over the world; its way was prepared by revolutions and attended by sacrifices; it is embalmed in the blood of martyrdom; its phrases and words are inwrought in the fabric, and give beauty and strength to our literature; and it has been the source of intelligence and power to the Anglo-Saxon mind. It is the only version the world has ever seen, on the daily reading of which the sun does not set; and shall any Board disclaim this noble heritage, and sunder this tie that binds us to the nations of the earth, and scatter to the winds all its advantages?

Christopher Anderson, in his Annals of the English Bible, says that the version of William Tyndal, though there are variations, is really the basis of our English version, and that they are little short of being identical. There was a time when the idea of translating the whole Bible lay in Tyndal's mind and filled his soul. The Lord called him to the work, and he could not stay. "Far better," said a schoolman with whom he was disputing, "far better to be without God's law than the Pope's." Tyndal defied the Pope and all his laws, and vowed that the time should come when the poorest ploughboy should know more of theology than they.

He went to seek the aid of Tunstall, the Bishop of London, but little did he know of the spirit of the Prelacy; persecution drove him to the Continent, and his work was completed there without the patronage of society or king. God alone was his patron, and he returned to England with his completed work; many were persecuted and burned for reading it; but it shook the powers of Church and State, and Cardinal Wolsey trembled, and invoked the aid of bishops and king to extirpate it.

In reply to the denunciation of Tunstall, Bishop of London, who had been the friend of his youth, Tyndal says that, if they find a little "i" without a dot, they

cry "heresy" and "error;" they count up and make two thousand of them, and call them errors. And do we not see the same thing now? They count up the errors of the Bible, till the infidel would say there is no Bible worthy of trust for an honest man. What an age of the world it is, when sober men, who would willingly die for the Bible, are so misled as to be the coadjutors of Romanism and infidelity

itself!

As to one point extensively broached by pen and lip, it is said, when we speak as I have spoken, and sometimes by candid men-though such a one is “rara avis in terris"-You have bound yourself to, and become the idolater of a version, and are the enemy of improvement and progress. This society has never opposed a new version; it has no objections to one; but it does object to being wielded as machinery for an end which it was not designed to effect, and which it cannot, without an usurpation of power. All that we say to them is, If you want a new version, make it; do not talk so much about it, but give it to us.

The common version has been designated as King James's version, but this is not strictly true; that indeed is its historical title, but he did not make or originate it. He was not yet crowned when the Council was assembled at Hampton Court which planned the present version. It was the President of Corpus Christi College that proposed it to the king, and there was no secret contract about it, for the men engaged in it were well known to the world as having no superiors in talent and learning; it was not set on foot by authority or proclamation, but made its own way, unaided. Dr. Symonds makes the remark, that it made its way quietly in the period of about forty years.

I was in company with Christopher Anderson at his house in Edinburgh, before his work was published, and he repeated to me this great truth in regard to Tyndal's version: that he had no patron, but let his version make its own way among the people and the same is true of Cranmer's version; it had no other force or influence than its own merit.

With such a wreath of honor and glory around this version, we can say to every one who is in favor of society action in translations, do so, and let your version find it own way to the people by its own merits, by slow degrees, even if it take forty years, as did the present one; undertake your work, and be patient, and let each society do its own work. Let us go forward in the spirit of this resolution, and He who commands blessings will support us. He shall send his Word forth out of his mouth, and it shall not return unto him void, but shall accomplish the thing that he pleases, and prosper in the thing whereto he sent it. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree; instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign, that shall not be cut off.

The regular ANNIVERSARY SERVICES of the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the American and Foreign Bible Society will be held in the house of worship of the First Baptist church, in Cleveland, Ohio, May 13th. Three sessions will be held. The Introductory Sermon by Rev. Dr. Neal, of Boston, in the morning; Reports and Aldresses, afternoon and evening. Rev. Messrs. MAGOON, of NewYork, BURROWS, of Philadelphia, and returned missionaries HASWELL, from Burmah, and LORD, from China, with several others, may be expected to take part in the services.

Rooms of the American and Foreign Bible Society, hereafter, at No. 16 Park Place, New-York; where Bibles and Testaments, in different languages, and wide varieties of size and price, may always be obtained, on most reasonable terms

JOHN A. GRAY, PRINTER, 97 CLIFF, COR. FRANKFORT ST

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UPON the call of the President, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, a Specia Meeting of the American and Foreign Bible Society was held in Hope Chapel, New York, on Wednes day, April 14, 1852.

The meeting was called to order at 3 o'clock P. M. The President, Rev. B. T. WELCH, D.D., in the chair.

Prayer was offered by Rev. A. D. GILLETTE, of Pa.

The President then addressed the Society in reference to the objects of the meeting, and presented a report from the Board on the subject of their ejectment from the rooms heretofore occupied by the Society.

During the discussion of the resolutions appended to the report, the subject was referred to a Committee, consisting of J. M. LINNARD, and G. B. IDE, of Pa.; A. TENBROOK, of Mich.; E. LATHROP, and G. C. BALDWIN, of New York.

On motion, Rev. J. GOADBY.A. D. GILLETTE, G. S. WEBB, J. J. WOOLSEY, and Mr. W. CARTER, were appointed a Committee to nominate Officers and Managers for the ensuing year.

The Corresponding Secretary then read a brief abstract from the Annual Report.

A report of the action of the Board upon the suggestions in the report on the 2nd Article of the Constitution, presented last year, was read by the Corresponding Secretary, including ana ccount of the operations of the Home Department during the year.

The Report was accepted and ordered to be printed.

REPORT.

The Board do not deem it requisite to go over the ground so fully occupied by the two reports made last year-one to the Society, by Rev. Mr. GRANGER, and the other to the Board, by Messrs. CUTTING, MAGOON, and STONE. It would be possible to show in some of the statements and figures of the former, covering the ground so widely of the whole history of the Society's operations, certain inaccuracies-inadvertent, no doubt-and which do not greatly modify the general conclusions. It is the less necessary to enter into this detail, because in the practical course pursued the past year, and which it is the settled purpose to pursue hereafter, we can cordially agree.

This has been set forth with sufficient explicitness by the report of the Committee to the Board, (printed in full on pp. 59-64, inclusive of last year's Annual Report,) to which the Board beg leave to refer, as indicating the future course which it is deemed best to be pursued. This embraces the following points:

1. The supplying of the Depository with Bibles and Testaments by purchase, as the ultimate policy of the Society.

2. That no more stereotype plates should be made or purchased by the Society.

3. Those plates now on hand, to be sold, as soon as, in the opinion of the Board, they can be disposed of to advantage.

4. The Donation Department, (Foreign and Home,) and the Publication and Sales Department, to be kept entirely distinct from each other, so that it can at all times be clearly shown what is the state of each.

This will preserve what many of the friends of the Society, in all parts of the country, deem now an indispensable part of its operations, the work of Home distribution among the destitute millions of our own land-both natives and immigrants. It is known to the Board, that funds to a very considerable extent have come into our possession for this home work, and that still larger sums have been devised to the Society for carrying on efficiently, and more thoroughly than hitherto, this important branch of our operations.

In the next place, it leaves untouched the rights of Life Members and Life Directors to be, if they choose, the yearly almoners, to a small amount, of a portion of the investment which they have made in the payments to our Treasury. Whether it was originally wise or unwise, to give such advantages, it can scarcely be deemed an open question now, since it has, in good faith, and after a similar example of kindred institutions, been proposed to and accepted by the parties who have secured, during their natural lives, this right. Nor does the idea of making a difference between the rights and privileges of those already Members or Directors, and those now, or hereafter becoming such, appear feasible. Payments in part, for the accomplishment of this object, have already been made, with the expectation of this individual privilege. How could these be justly denied their claim, on completing the payment of the stipulated sum? It would not, indeed, be easy to fix any point of time when this new restriction should go into effect, without causing great, and to some extent, reasonable dissatisfaction. Besides it is susceptible of proof that this method of distributing, some few thousand of plain Bibles and Testaments annually, is advantageous in every view, to the great cause which we are laboring to promote. It engages more hands and hearts in the holy work of diffusing the Bread of Life among the destitute: it awakens fresh gratitude and interest among the recipients of these favors; and indirectly it furnishes an inducement to contribute to the funds of the Society, either a large sum at once, or a smaller sum annually, which it is not unreasonably hoped, may form the habit of a regular contribution annually to this noble cause, while the donors live. The incidental evils and infelicities (somewhat too much expatiated upon, perhaps, in former reports,) are not of a character to resist correction. Except for Pulpit Bibles, few applications have, the last year, been made for other than plain, cheap Bibles or Testaments, on these quotas of Life Members or Life Directors. And by prominently exhibiting this as the invariable rule, there seems to be no good reason for apprehending any general abuse.

Connected with the more vigorous work of home distribution, is another matter, which is deserving of some consideration, and may, perhaps, be as well introduced at this place, and in this connexion, as in any other. Some of our most important Auxiliaries, who were wont to bring the entire amount of their contributions for the Bible cause into our own Annual Reports, by purchasing of us the books they required, and paying us their surplus funds, are now employing paid Colporteurs, for the whole or part of the year, at a considerable expense, to render their work more thorough and effective. They may naturally desire that whatever they raise and expend in this way, should come into the full account of the Parent Society, so that there may be a direct and definite method of ascertaining the amount raised and expended by the Parent and Auxiliary Societies for the accomplishment of these common objects While the labors of Bible Corporteurs in France, in Germany, in Canada, and elsewhere, are embraced, and their cost included in our Annual Reports, there can be no good reason why the similar labors of the German and the Irish Colporteurs, employed and paid by the New York City Bible Society-one of our early and uniformly efficient Auxiliaries—should not also, and for the same reasons, be likewise included. This can be done without confusion or embarrassment, by our Board's authorizing the sums expended for these Colporteur labors, by any of its Auxiliaries, to be entered to their credit, and then charged on our Treasurer's books to the proper department of our expenditure. This the Board have henceforth authorized, and would recommend Auxiliaries to notice and act on the arrangement if they please.

N. C. PLATT, TREARSURER PUBLICATION AND SALES DEPARTMENT.

DR.

1851.-April 6-To amount of Stock on hand, after deductions made as ordered, $20,973 34. To cash paid for Scriptures, $3,821 04. To cash paid for printing Testaments, $91 38. To cash paid for Binding, $2.307 46. To cash paid for proportion of printing annual report and periodical papers, $239 07. To cash paid for expenses, such as postage, freight, insurance, boy's salary, carpenter's work, exchanges, bad money, &c. $521 22. To amount paid Secretaries and Depository Agent-salaries, including $152 80 due on last year's account, $1,272 57. Two protested notes, received and reconed as cash last year, $593 34. Returned to Rev. Gibbon Williams, draft protested, $158. Total $29,977 42. To amount to balance, being a gain in this dapartment, $257 59.

CR.

By cash received for books, $7,113 81. By books appropriated, $1,372 13. By books given to life members, $1,243 06. By amount due the Society as per Ledger, $6,421 13. By bills receivable, $218 46. By stock on hand as per inventory, $13,866 42. Total, $30,235 01.

The Committee to whom was referred the report and resolutions relative to the Bible Rooms, reported them, with the resolutions amended, to read as follows:

Whereas, The American and Foreign Bible Society have been notified to vacate the Rooms No. 350 Broome street, New York, now occupied by them, therefore,

Resolved, That the Board be instructed to comply with said notice, at the specified time.

Resolved, That the Board be authorized and instructed to procure suitable temporary accommodations for the Society's local business.

The report was accepted, and the resolutions were unanimously adopted.

The Committee to nominate officers and managers for the ensuing year, reported a list, which was laid on the table.

On motion, Messrs. S. P. TOWNSEND, D. M. WILSON, N. C. PLATT, J. M. LINNARD, Geo. Gault, W. W. TODD, and E. CAULDWELL, were appointed a Committee to mature a plan for procuring suitable premises for the permanent use of the Society, to report at the evening session.

Adjourned till 7 o'clock P. M. Benediction by the President.

The Society met at 7 P. M. Prayer by Rev. D. BENEDICT, of Rhode Island.
Rev. WM. REES, an Agent of the Society, addressed the meeting.

Rev. W. HAGUE, D.D., of New Jersey, offered the following resolution, and accompanied it with an able address.

Rosolved, That in the course of events during the past year, this Society finds new occasion to thank God, and to take courage and new incentives to zeal, in the promotion of the work assigned it— BIBLE DISTRIBUTION.

The resolution was seconded by Rev. S. J. DRAKE, of New Jersey, and adopted.

The Committee on plan for procuring suitable premises for the Society, reported as follows: The Committee appointed to consider the expediency of procuring a suitable location for the permanent use of the Society, beg leave to report:

That they have given the subject all the deliberation that the limited time allotted them would permit, and have come to the conclusion that it is highly desirable that premises should be secured as early as practicable, in an eligible situation in this city, for the use of the Society, and they respectfully recommend that a Committee be appointed to take the matter in charge, and proceed in the purchase or erection of the necessary premises, as soon as subscriptions shall be made by the friends of the Society, adequate to the object contemplated.

Your Committee further suggests, that in order to the accomplishment of this object in a manner worthy the cause, one hundred thousand dollars ought to be the mark at which the Society should aim.

NEW YORK, April 14th, 1852.

SAMUEL P. TOWNSEND,
D. M. WILSON,

WM. W. TODD,

E. CAULDWELL,

J. M. LINNARD,
NATHAN C. PLATT,
GEORGE GAULT.

Committee.

The report was adopted, and Messrs. S. P. TOWNSEND, N. C. PLATT, W. WINTERTON, ISAAC NEWTON, GEORGE GAULT, PETER BALEN, D. M. WILSON, J. M. LINNARD, J. M. BRUCE, Jr., C. W. HOUGHTON, G. N. BLEECKER, C. W. MARTIN, and E. D. CULVER, were appointed the Committee therein provided for.

The Committee was authorized to fill any vacancies that may occur in their own number; and was instructed to report, as far as practicable, to the Society at the meeting to be held at Cleveland, May 13th, 1852.

Adjourned, with Benediction.

M. J. RHEES, Recording Secretary,

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