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2d No. of Monthly Extracts from the

service in their power, if they will but procure them a copy of the New Testament. Let me specify two instances that fell under my own observation:

A Catholic borrowed a Testament of a lady-was exceedingly pleased implored a copy, and, having obtained it, was at a loss how to testify his joy and gratitude. "Money," he said to the lady, "cannot pay for such a treasure: I possess a weatherguage, (a kind of fish showing the weather) which I have fondly nursed for years; will you accept of it as a small token of my grateful joy?"

The same lady presented a New Testament to another Catholic, who paid a rix-dollar (about three shillings) for it; yet not satisfied with this, he pressed his benefactress to accept of a beau tiful snuff-box of mother of pearl. Several others were so pleased with the contents of the New Testament, that, after having perused part of it, they sent in from three to five shillings as an acknow ledgment, and gave alms to the poor.

From a Roman Catholic Clergyman on the Continent.

I am occupied both day and night; feeling no disposition in this time of difficulty to relax my efforts, but, on the contrary, a resolution to apply my utmost strength to this divine work. The injurious opposition given to it has required, and still requires, my most close and unceasing attention. Indeed, but for the sufficiency of the grace of God supporting me, it must have exhausted my strength. The very powers of darkness are spreading their murky wings to stop the breaking forth of the light of the Gospel, now so happily evident in all parts. But neither this, nor any other thing they can do, makes me afraid on the contrary, myself with double activity to distribute the New Testament, and am resolved that the wheels shall go round the faster for their obstructions.

1. arm

The enclosed account exhibits the number of copies of the New Testament which I have dispersed, or am about to disperse. It will show that the work of the almighty and merciful God, in the distribution of his word, goes on still prospering, by his help, in the very midst of his enemies, And how many more copies still could I distribute, if the tender hearts and munificent hands of your Bible Committee should be so opened, as to supply me with the requisite funds! The sums that I am obliged to be bold to ask of you, are indeed very large; but how vastly greater, nay, trancending all price, is the value of souls redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and to be healed by his doctrine! Nor less weighty is that crown, immortal and imperishable, which he shall receive, with and from the Saviour, to whom, before the throne of the Lamb, it shall be said, in sounds of heavenly approbation," For asmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these thren, ye have done it unto me!"

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N. B. A very large grant has been lately made, to assist this corresponnent n distributing the Scriptures.

Correspondence of Br. and For. Bible Society. 109

St. Petersburg, July 29, 1817.

On the 7th instant, sixteen waggon loads of Bibles and Testaments were all sent off at once for different parts of the empire. Our yesterday's sitting of Committee lasted upwards of three hours; and the accounts read from the provinces were of the most exhilarating kind. The venerable Exarch of Moldavia writes to the Committee, that he will use every means in his power to get the New Testament translated into the Bulgarian tongue, and that he is now corresponding with learned men of that nation, about the most proper steps to be taken for gaining this very necessary and desirable object.

In Rezan and Saratoff, two new provincial Societies have been formed; the first among a population of 882,000 souls, and the second for a population of 717,000, of whom 50,000 are German colonists, settled on the banks of the Wolga. The Saratoff Auxiliary promises great usefulness, and has already sent in 15,000 rubles, tớ aid the funds of the Parent Society. Bible Associations are forming rapidly in different quarters, under the auspices of the provincial Institutions. The Tula Society has no fewer than seven district Associations. The Arensburg Branch has an equal number. The White Russian Bible Society in Moghiley, has already formed two Associations in the towns of Mestislaff and Tschirikoff. The printing of the French Bible, and of the 12mo Slavonian Testament, is now completed, and a copy of each was presented to the Committee. It was also agreed to print 2000 copies of the Gos pel of St. Matthew, in the Kirgisian dialect of the Tartar, at the Missionary Press in Astrachan. This translation is the labour of Mr. Fraser, Missionary at Orenburg.-After a lapse of many months, and after very considerable difficulties, it was finally resolved to accept the proposal of the rich Greek Merchant, Zosima, to print an edition of the Greek Bible of 3000 copies, at his expense, for the benefit of the Greek nation. This edition will be prepared from the most approved texts of the Septuagint, and of the Greek New Testament, without notes or comments, and will be printed under the superintendance of the Moscow Committee.

An interesting letter was laid before the Committee, with a subscription of 339 rubles, from the directors of the mines of Nertschinsk, on the borders of China.

The Wilna Society is now showing great activity; and the Odessa Society informs us of its having received a transport of 1265 copies of the Scriptures, which will enable it to carry forward its labours of love. In Tahanrog the Association prospers so much that we expect soon to hear of its having become an Auxiliary Branch. The official accounts were also read respecting the formation of the Bialastok Bible Society..

From the Rev. T. Thomason, Calcutta, Dec. 6, 1816, The Committee of the Calcutta Society have requested me to thank you for your exhortation to an acceptance of the challenge to a competition with the Russian Committee, and to say, that they

110

Report of the Somerville

heartily desire to meet them with corresponding zeal in this great cause. To strive who shall be most active in extending the blessing of the Gospel through the world, is, indeed, as you observe, a glorious strife.

We contemplate the labours of the Russian Bible Society with wonder and thankfulness, and cannot adequately express our joy at the rapid diffusion of the Scriptures, which has already been accomplished through them. But the prospects of future benefits is boundless. We doubt not, that He who has graciously raised up the Society, will abundantly crown its labours with his blessing. Its institution, at the present crisis, when we reflect on the rank and opulence of its patrons, and the vast sphere of its operation, on account of the multitude of nations which it embraces, is an event of the grandest promise, filling the mind with wonder and delight. We heartily congratulate your Society on this accession to their cause. We rejoice in what has been already effected, and in the anticipation of more extensive good; and assure you, that we are solicitous to use diligently all our means of friendly co-operation.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

[Communicated for the Christian Herald.]

The managers of the Somerville Sunday School Society, at their semi-annual meeting of the society, come forward with their report, feeling no small degree of confidence and comfort. They feeble efforts, has given them grace to be in some measure faithful, and mercifully crowned that faithfulness with considerable

success.

Seven Sunday Schools are now in successful operation within the bounds of this congregation, in which nearly 300 scholars are think that Divine Providence has been pleased to smile upon their receiving instruction. About one third of these are of the African race, most of whom manifest a solicitude to learn, and numbers of them have already accomplished the task of reading with more or less fluency; they have also committed Brown's Catechism, Watts' Divine Songs, the Scripture Lessons published by the Union School Society of the city of New-York,-together with numerous psalms and hymns of our church collection. These have received each a Testament, which is able, through the Divine blessing upon their own reading, to make them wise unto salvation. The managers are led to cherish high expectations of a happy result from their labours, from the use many of these children of Africa are making of their New Testaments. They study them through the week, and repair to the Sunday School to answer upon them; which some do so remarkably, that we cannot but entertain a hope of their being spiritually taught.

In one of our schools we have a black woman, who could only spell when she came to us, and who answered in the first week, 40 verses in Brown's Catechism; and when she had attended four Sabbaths, she committed a chapter in the Bible and a hymn every week.

The other two thirds of our school are young persons of both sexes, and all classes in society, whose minds are becoming stored with scripture truth, conveyed by means of catechisms, hymns, and scripture lessons, upon which they are weekly examined. We have little boys of 11 years, who the two last months have recited from 300 to 400 verses in the Helenbrook Catechism i and numbers of children from 10 to 13, who have weekly committed from 70 to 100 verses in their Bible; besides some little girls of 13, who during the summer have answered near 2000 verses.

The managers experience the highest satisfaction in the effects of their efforts to convey religious instruction to the youth, by questioning them upon two or three chapters in the Bible given them to study through the week. In this teachers and scholars have become greatly interested, and the children not only answer very minutely, but many of them appear impressed with the sacred truths of Divine Revelation. Teachers and managers realize with joy the interest they take in their studies, and its happy effects on their morals and manners.

On the subject of the day school also, the managers, with thankful acknowledgments to the great Author of all good, congratulate the society. With the close of the quarter at least 20 will have completed their course of study, who have been gathered from the families of poverty, vice, and indolence, and who but for the efforts of this society would in all likelihood have grown up a burden to themselves and to society at large, They have now been taught to read well, much improved in their principles and manners, and dismissed from the school, each with a Bible, which they have promised to make the subject of their daily study. It is hoped their whole future lives will exhibit the good effects of the attention they have received at this school.

About 12 poor children are generally taught from the funds of the society who, while at the school, receive two suits of clothes in a year, in which they appear with credit at the Sunday School, and from thence attend public worship. The improvement in the children in several instances seems to have had an effect upon the parents, in exciting them to a better manner of living, and leading them to a more steady attendance at church,

The managers conclude this report with the expression of an ardent hope that the society will persevere in their laudable exertions, and with a fervent prayer for the Divine blessing to crown their labours with success.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The Treasurer of the American B. S. acknowledges the receipt of the following contributions in October: viz

One hundred and fifty Dollars for each of the following Clergymen, to constitute them Directors for life, namely, Rev. William Potter, of Savannah, Geo., from a gentleman of that place; Rev. Wm. B. Johnson, of Beaufort, S. C., from the same; Rev. Dr. John M. Mason, from the ladies of the Associate Reformed Church

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Contributions to the American B. S.

in Murray-street, N. Y. also, the same sum from Abraham VaFick Esq. of Utica, N. Y., to constitute himself à Director for life.

Thirty Dollars each, to make the following Clergymen Members for life namely, Rev. Dr. Alvan Hyde, by several ladies of Lee, Hampshire county, Mass.; Rev. Walter Chapin, by the Female Cent Society in N. Parish, Woodstock, Vt.; Rev. Wm. Percy, of the Episcopal Church, by the Charleston Female B. S., South Carolina; Rev. Richard Furman, of the Baptist Church, by the same; Rev. Urban Cooper, of the Methodist Church, by the same; Rev. Bénjamin Palmer, of the Congregational Church, by the same; Rev. James Porter, by the Female Charitable Society in Pomfret, Conn.; Rev. Wm. Andrews, by the ladies of the first Society in Danbury, Conn.; Rev. D. Lord Terry, by the ladies of the Ecclesiastical Society in Sharon, Conn.; Kev. Jeremiah Hallock, by the parishioners of the town of Canton, Conn.; Rev. Stephen Thompson, by the Female B. S. of Connecticut Farms, N. J,; Rev Elias Riggs, by the Female B. S. of New Providence, N. J.; Rev. Samuel B. How, by the ladies of the Presbyterian Congregation of Trenton, N. J.; Rev. Prime Hawes, by the of Glastonbury, Conn.; Rev. John H. Rice, by the female members of the First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Va.; Rev. Daniel Crocker, by the females of the Congregational Society in Reading, Conn.; Rev. Heman Ball, by the ladies of the Church and Congregation in the East Parish in Rutland, Vt.; Rev. Jonathan Nye, of New Faně, present Grand Chaplain, by the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the state of Vermont; Rev. Ebenezer Hibbard, past Grand Chaplain, by the same; Rev. David Oliphant, by the females belonging to the congregation of Keene, N. H.; Rev. Jusfus Edwards, by the Female Charitable Society in the South Parish of Andover, Mass.; Rev. Sereno Edwards Dwight, by the society of females belonging to the Park-street Church, Boston; Rev. Mr. Dutton, of Strafford, Conn., by the Friends in the city of New-York; Rev. James Chrystie, of Union Village, Washington county, N. Y., by a lady in this city; Rev. Jacob S. Field, of Pompton, N. J.;-also, 30 dollars from Henry Rogers Esq., N. Y., as a member for life; 50 dollars from the Fredericksburgh B. S., Va.; 150 dollars from the Fayetteville B. S. (N. .); 30 dollars. from the Female B. S. of Poughkeepsie; 375 dollars from the Maine B. S.; 24 dollars, being a congregational collection at Argyle, Washington county, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Geo. Mairs. Also, received in September, and omitted to be published, 30 dollars, by a number of ladies of the Rev. Newton Skinner's parish, in Borlies county, to constitute him a member for life. The name of Rev. Samuel B. Wilson, made a member for life, by the female members of bis church, in Fredericksburgh, was omitted to be inserted in the last publication,' through the mistake of those who transmitted the information to the Trea

surer..

The donations to the Biblical Library are omitted for want of room-they shall be inserted in our next.