13th Anniversary of the Bri. and For. Bible Society. 67

Millions of copies of the Scriptures will be required, before every family in the north of Europe is furuished with one copy of the divine volume; and, after this statement, can it any longer be doubted, whether Bible Societies were necessary, or whether any other plan could have been devised to meet the exigency of the case ?

"It is gratifying to be able to assert, that the desire to possess the Scriptures in the north of Europe, grows exceedingly. Previously to the institution of Bible Societies, this desire was, in a manner, dormant; 2000 copies were sufficient to supply the annual demand for the Scriptures; now 200,000 copies would not suffice. "We began our career at St. Petersburg. by giving notice, in the public papers, when we had Bibles to sell; but the effect of those advertisements was, bringing together such a crowd, that it was almost impossible to proceed with the business of the Depository; we have, therefore, been forced to employ secrecy, as our best and safest policy. But, though this shields us from the sure of the crowd, it does not save us from the most urgent, and, sometimes, clamorous demands, made alike by the noble and the 'peasant; and, when all other arguments fail, they not unfrequently threaten to complain of us to the Emperor, justly alleging, that it is his gracious will that we should furnish them with copies of the Scriptures, and falsely imagining, that it is from unwillingness, not inability, that we fail to execute his wishes. It is not less grati fying to witness their joy on obtaining the pearl of great price," than it is painful to observe their grief on meeting with a disappointment.

pres

"It would perhaps be too much to say, that all these effects are to be ascribed to the operation of Bible Societies. Certain, however, it is, that they have been employed as the chief instruments in producing them. To do justice to the subject, we must trace the influence, whose effects we are describing, to a higher source, even to the God of the Bible, who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. As has been justly stated in the Report, the disposition to meet these numerous wants, is fully adequate to its magnitude.-If funds are wanted, the people offer willingly. Russian peasants have, of their own accord, come forward, and contributed, in full proportion to their circumstances and means. Bible Societies are forming in every part of the Empire; and they are literally doing prodigies. The Society at Cronstadt goes on 'from strength to strength;' and it is worthy of observation, that this Society, which is chiefly composed of naval men, has engaged two other naval stations to co-operate with it in the execution of its work. Nor is the Russian army less zealous than the navy, in this labour of love. The Society at Moghiley, the head quarters of the Russian army at present, and which is patronized by Prince Barclay de Tolly, has, in the course of a few months, sent to the parent Society no less a sum than 17,000 rubles. "The brave Don Cossacks, who are always foremost in the fanks, when allowed to follow the bias of their own minds, are occupied in organizing a Society for their district, and have, in

68

Speech of the Rev. John Paterson at the

the meantime, contributed not less than 10,000 rubles to the common fund.

"But, my Lord, it is impossible, in alluding to this part of my subject, not to mention the liberality of that most benevolent Monarch, the Emperor of Russia, and what he has done for the advancement of the Russian Bible Society. In addition to his annual subscription of 10,000 rubles, he has, during the last year, given the Society 30,000 rubles, besides a magnificent house, and a portion of land taken from the Imperial gardens: and he has declared, that, if money or hands are wanting to carry on the great objects of the Society, he will furnish both. The exertions which are making in every country of the north, in order to meet the vast and increasing demands for copies of the Scriptures, are in proportion to the means they possess. Your time will not permit me to expatiate on this interesting part of the subject; allow me, therefore, merely to state, that the Russian Bible Society will, in the next month, have finished editions of the Scriptures in sixteen different languages: they are preparing them in two more; and when these are completed, they will have copies of the word of God to distribute in twenty-nine different languages. The measures at present taking to carry on this part of the work at St. Petersburg, are such as will enable the Society to print more than 100,000 copies of the sacred volume annually. These copies will be distributed over an immense tract of country, to men of almost every nation, and religious denomination. Christians and Jews, Mahometans and Pagans, friends and foes, are alike the objects of this Godlike charity; and it is interesting to know, that the Greeks, inhabiting the shores of the Black Sea and the Grecian Islands, have received from the Russian Society this heavenly boon. The inhabitants of Mount Ararat have been blessed with the ark of the new covenant, the sacred deposit of the perfect law of liberty, and which teaches them, instead of paying a superstitious veneration to the supposed relics of Noah's ark, to adore Him of whom that ark was only a figure. The word of the Lord, which has gone out from St Petersburg, has entered Persia: it has reached to Ispahan and Shiraz; and, by means of its exertions, the immortal Martyn, though now. dead, yet continues to preach the truths of the Gospel in that interesting country. The light of Divine Revelation is rising on Bucharest and the New Testament is now read in that city in which the faithful Abdallah suffered martyrdom for his adherence to the truth it contains. Means are also using to effect an introduction of the word of eternal life into the populous Empire of China; and, it is hoped, that, in a few years, a highway will be opened through Siberia into Chinese Tartary; and the Scriptures have free course from Irkutsk to Pekin.

"Thus, the Russian Bible Society is lengthening her cords, and strengthening her stakes; she is breaking forth on the right hand and on the left; she prescribes no bounds to her exertions. Sitting as a queen in the midst of nations, she diffuses the blessings of revelation to all around her. If you ask to what this success is attributable, I have no hesitation in saying, it is owing to the two

13th Anniver. of the Brit. & For. Bible Society. 69

great fundamental principles of the British and Foreign Bible Society-the distribution of the Scriptures without note or comment, and the admission of persons of all religious denominations, to a participation of its privileges and its labours. Wherever these principles have been adhered to, the Bible Society has prospered; where they have been deviated from in any degree, there the cause has languished, and has continued to languish till there was a return to those principles Built upon this foundation, the Bible Society is breaking down every wall of partition :-it is cementing Christians of all denominations in unity and concord :--it is diffusing amity and love even between hostile nations :--it is teaching men that they are brethren, children of one Father; that they are partakers of the same privileges, and heirs of the same immortality. In a word, its line is gone forth to all the earth, and its words to the end of the world: Proclaiming, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good will towards men.' "

The Right Honourable the President having left the Chair, a Resolution of Thanks for his Lordship's able conduct on the present occasion, was moved by the Right Hon. Admiral Lord GAMBIER, Vice-President, and seconded by the Rev. DANIEL WILSON, late Vice-Principal of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford.

LORD GAMBIER.

"My Lord and Gentlemen,

"In moving a vote of thanks to your excellent President, I cannot but say, that, amidst all the proceedings of this Meeting, none has given me more real pleasure, than the interesting anecdote related by an Honourable Gentleman respecting his little child. It reminded me of those words of the Psalmist, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.' I will not say more at this late hour. I cheerfully make the motion which I have read to you."

The Rev. DANIEL WILSON.

My Lord and Gentlemen,

"I trust I may just be allowed to say, at the close of this Meeting, what I am sure we all feel, that it has yielded to no preceding one in the interesting information afforded from so many parts of the world, and in the deep emotions which that information has excited. Except in the affecting circumstance of the illness of the Rev. John Owen, whose absence I have endeavoured so inadequately to supply, the day has been one of unmingled delight and triumph. In seconding the vote of thanks to our noble President, I am persuaded I may safely say, that every person in this assembly will consider himself pledged by it to new and redoubled efforts in this great cause; in proportion as the demands for the Holy Scriptures from every quarter of the earth are more and more importunate, and as the opportunities afforded us by the divine goodness for meeting them, become, as we have been hearing, more numerous and inviting."

The motion of Thanks was carried by acclamation; and, after a few words of acknowledgment from the Right Honourable the President, the Meeting was dissolved.

70

23d Report of the London Missionary Society.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE FROM SOUTH AFRICA, (continued from page 44.)

Journies to Lattakoo.

On the 7th of February, 1816, Messrs Evans, Hamilton, and Corner, accompanied by Captain A. Kok, Hendrick, Kruisman, Masson, and G. Kok, left Griqua Town; and, after a journey of eight days, reached Lattakoo; where, after several conferences with Mateebe, the King, it appeared that the Chiefs, in general, were opposed to their residence among them, especially for the purpose of giving instruction, and the Missionaries found themselves obliged to depart.

Extremely unwilling to give up the people of Lattakoo, the brethren resolved to make a second attempt. With some difficulty having prevailed on a sufficient number of persons to accompany them, they set off again on the 13th of August, and reached the city in safety; but they had the mortification to find that the king was gone from home, with a large party of men, professedly for the purpose of hunting, and was not expected to return for a month; until which time nothing could be determined. The people received them but coldly, and not having a sufficient stock of provisions to enable them to continue until the king's return, they were under the painful necessity of retracing their steps to Griqua Town.

On the 18th of that month, Mr. Read, after a toilsome journey from Bethelsdrop, accompanied by nearly thirty of his congregation, and having paid visits first to the friends at Graaff Reinet, and afterwards to the new Settlement among the Bushmen, arriv→ ed at Griqua Town, intending shortly to proceed to Lattakoo, to use his influence with the King to receive the Missionaries; or,' if that should fail, to form a Settlement among the Bootsuannas at the Krooman River, situated about two or three days' journey south of Lattakoo-a spot which the King himself had pointed out to the brethren on the first visit above mentioned, and to their residing at which, in order to trade with his people, he had no objection. What reception Mr. Read and his company have met with, we have not yet heard.

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But it may be proper to state Mr. Anderson's sentiments concerning this Station "I am not," he says, discouraged, as to my hopes. I am glad that Brother Read is determined to give it a fair trial; and I think that the manner in which he intends to proceed bids fair for success. The object may seem small to some, but to me it appears one of the most important that the Society has undertaken. Should that door be opened, what a field presents itself to view! Many, many thousands by their miseries, cry for the success of the Lattakoo Mission."

Bethany.

(Formerly called Klip Fountain.)

It will be recollected that Mr. Schmelen, when on his return from a journey to explore the Damara Country, was constrained by the natives at this place to abide with them as their teacher,

Missionary Stations in South Africa.

71

It was observed, in the last Report, that he had commenced a School, which soon contained 140 children; that a general concern about religion pervaded the inhabitants; and that he had baptized twenty persons, on a credible profession of their faith.

The journal of Mr. S. for the year 1815 was long detained: from that document we learn that he had baptized sixty-five adults, beside forty children. In a letter of later date, he says, "There is a sincere desire among the Namaquas to be instructed in the way of salvation. The people called Field-Shoe Wearers' are in my neighbourhood: the Chief and several of his people have removed to Bethany. Several other tribes of the Namaquas, and small kralls of the Damaras, from time to time frequent our meetings. I am well acquainted with the Chiefs of the Namaquas; and believe that Missionaries might enter into a very large field of usefulness, to preach to them the Gospel of Christ. God has opened a wide door, and prepares the hearts of many to receive the word with gladness."

Peace Mountain.

(Formerly known by the name of Africaner's Krall.)

Letters from Mr Ebner give a very interesting account of his success at this place. It is impossible, he says, to describe what he has witnessed, especially at some meetings held about Whitsuntide, 1816. "I find," he says, "by constant experience, that nothing so much affects the hearts of my hearers, as speaking to them of the dying love of Christ to sinners. The visible effects of such preaching resemble those at Bethelsdorp a few years ago, the relation of which would, by some persons, be scarcely credited; but," he adds, "it would gladden the hearts of the Directors, could they see and hear how these poor people pour forth their hearts in prayer. I may say of them with our Saviour, Where much is forgiven they love much and with St. Paul, Where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound."

Mr. Ebner has enjoyed the high gratification of baptizing AFRICANER-1 -the man who was once the terror of the whole country, and the unhappy instrument of dispersing the settlement at Warm Bath; but now the lion appears to be transformed into a lamb, and he warmly espouses that faith which he once opposed and perse

cuted.

The peace, and almost the existence, of the Settlement, was at one time threatened, by the conduct of a person of influence belonging to this place; who not only himself refused to attend the word, but prevented others from attending. Mr. Ebner, after praying, together with his friends, for preservation and success, ventured to pay a visit to this formidable adversary, then in the neighbourhood; who, after conversation with him, and hearing the word, was softened down, and from a furious enemy became a kind friend.

The people of the Settlement are about 200 in number, of whom about fifty attended the daily worship: about thirty attended the School; and sixteen adults (beside twelve children) have been