THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. IV.]

Saturday, November 17, 1817.

[No. 8.

13TH REPORT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The magnitude and importance of the operations of this admirable Institution, and the interesting nature of its correspondence, have stamped such a value on its Annual Reports, that we feel convinced that our readers will be gratified in seeing a considera. ble number of our pages filled with extracts from the document mentioned at the head of this article, which we have recently received. The limits of our publication will only admit of a compendious selection from the great mass of interesting details contained in that volume, consisting of 464 large octavo pages.

THE 13TH REPORT, &C.

It is with the sincerest satisfaction that the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society enter upon the task, now become not a little onerous and embarrassing, of presenting their official Report for the past year.

The Bible Societies are, in fact, so numerous, and the character of their proceedings, from their direction to one object, has so general a similarity, that a detailed narrative of the transactions of each, would exhaust the attention by its repetition; particularly as what is to be said of the zeal and activity of many, may be considered, in a great degree, as applicable to all.

Inasmuch, however, as the British and Foreign Bible Society stands engaged to the world, for aiding and encouraging the efforts of all who in every place exert themselves in the cause to which it is devoted, the Committee deem it their indispensable duty to communicate an account of those efforts, so far as may be consistent with the limits of their Annual Report.

Adopting, therefore, the medium prescribed by these observations, your Committee will endeavour to collect from the occurrences of the last year, such facts and information in connexion with the British and Foreign Bible Society, as will exhibit a distinct view of its progress and prospects in the work which it has undertaken the circulation of the Scriptures in every accessible part of the world.

Of the CONTINENTAL SOCIETIES in existence at the period of the last Anniversary, it may be generally observed, that their attention to promote the object of their establishment demonstrates their increasing sense of its utility and importance; that the beneficial effects resulting from the circulation of the Scriptures have proved powerful inducements to continue and enlarge this benevolent work; and that, if its operation has in any degree been circumscribed by the general distress which has been more or less

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felt on the Continent, the zeal for carrying it on has not on that account abated.

The complete organization of the Netherlands Bible Society was noticed in the last Report. In the month of June following, delegates from the various divisions of it attended a General Meeting held in Amsterdam, when the propositions suggested by them on the part of their respective societies were discussed, and a Select Committee appointed, to arrange the proper measures for giving energy and effect to their individual and combined exertions.

Exclusive of Branches and Associations, which are greatly multiplying in the Northern Provinces of the kingdom, the number of Societies is stated to be sixty; and the attention of the Netherlands Bible Society has been more immediately directed to the printing of new editions of the Dutch Scriptures, and the distribution of them. The Bible Societies at Rotterdam and the Hague are in a flourishing state, and zealous and active in their departments.

The Hanoverian Bible Society, under the patronage of His Roy al Highness the Duke of Cambridge, has completed the printing of an edition of 10,000 copies of Luther's German Bible, most of which have already been put into circulation; and another Auxiliary has been added to that Institution, by the establishment of an East-Frisia Bible Society, for the encouragement of which 1001. have been voted to the Hanoverian Society.-The formation of the Osnaburgh Bible Society in connexion with that of Hanover, was reported at the last Anniversary. A letter from a correspondent at Osnaburgh contains the pleasing intelligence, that "their Catholic fellow-citizens labour with them hand in hand, and many of that communion show a readiness to obtain and peruse the Scriptures.'

The exertions of the Prussian Bible Society continue to be diligently and most usefully pursued. To the eight Auxiliaries united to the Central Society in the course of its first year, twelve more were added before the expiration of the second; and so vigorously have these subordinate societies flourished, that one of them, that at Coeslin, is said to number not fewer than seven Branches in connexion with it.

The Central Society is engaged in printing two large editions of the German Bible, as well as an edition of the Scriptures in the dialect of the Wends in Nether Lusatia, which the Secretary of the Society pronounces one of the most useful works ever undertaken;" and its Auxiliary at Breslau is printing an edition of Luther's Bible, with an extra number of New Testaments.

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By the Second Report of the Prussian Bible Society, from which a portion of the foregoing intelligence has been derived, the Committee observe, with equal admiration and gratitude, the steady march by which this Society is advancing towards the attainment of its object. For much of its success it is indebted, under the blessing of God, to the warm and decided encouragement which it receives from His Prussian Majesty and several branches of the royal family; not to mention the personal co-operation which it experiences from Ministers of State, dignified Clergy, and numer

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ous individuals of property and influence, in various parts of the kingdom.

On the whole, when your Committee advert to the character and proceedings of this important Society; when they consider the contributions it has raised, the Auxiliaries it has organized, the copies of the Scriptures it has distributed, and those which it is preparing for distribution; they cannot but feelingly participate in the gratification expressed by His Prussian Majesty, on the religious spirit in which the beneficial undertaking of the Prussian Society has been conducted," and in the persuasion that its example will produce the most advantageous effects in several parts of Germany.

The Bible Society of the Grand Duchy of Berg continues to prosper. The demand for Bibles is great; the Committee act in a spirit of harmony and brotherly love, and the interesting facts communicated by them evidently prove the blessing of God attending the distribution of His word.

The Saxon Bible Society, which has been favoured by His Majesty the King with freedom of postage, is proceeding with great alacrity in printing 10,000 copies of Luther's German Bible.

The Frankfort Bible Society has applied its limited means, with very happy effects, to the relief of the poor and prisoners. Many of the latter class who had devoted their time to gaming, now read the Bible in their cells.

The following quotations from the correspondence of the Rev. Leander Van Ess, of Marburg, afford very gratifying intelligence: "You will rejoice that, chiefly through your assistance, I have been enabled to disperse, (up to June, 1816,) 51,146 copies of my New Testament, 2,000 of Luther's Bible, and 2,300 of his New Testament, on the highway of the Lord, among my Catholic as well as Protestant brethren. I can, from my own experience, and that of my correspondents, joyfully testify, that the main object in thus disseminating the Holy Scriptures has been accomplished; that a spirit of vital religion has been diffused; and that many illuminated by the light of divine truth, and strengthened with power from on high, now lead a holy and useful life." My New Testament appeared in some districts where thousands of Catholics knew the Bible only by name. I could easily dispose of 30,000 copies of my New Testament among Catholics, and several thousand of Luther's Bible among Protestants."

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Your Committee, anxious to encourage the exertions of this pious Catholic while opportunity favours his zeal, have made two separate grants of 500l. each, to assist them.

Another Catholic Clergyman in correspondence with your Society, has within a short space of time distributed nearly 20,000 New Testaments, and is preparing the means of a further and more extensive distribution.

This correspondent has also had the happiness to witness the most beneficial effects of his labours, of which many instances might be adduced.

In one of his letters the following passage occurs:

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"Old men who had never learned to read are now desirous to learn, that they in their advanced age may find consolation from the Holy Scriptures." The demands for the Ratisbon New Testament also continue to increase in a degree which renders it difficult to meet them.

The following extract from Stutgard will be satisfactory, as attesting the activity of the Würtemburg Bible Society.

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Thus, with the help of God, we have distributed upwards of 10,000 Bibles, and 2,000 extra Testaments, among the people around us, with the sincere wish and prayer to God, that the dissemination of his holy word may produce fruits of holiness in the souls of many, and to the glory of his holy name."

In the midst of the great distresses which have prevailed in almost every part of the kingdom, the Würtemberg Bible Society has received many most pleasing proofs of the liberality of its friends. When its Directors presented copies of their Bible to the late King, to the respective branches of the Royal Family, to the Ministers of State, as well as to other noblemen and gentlemen, they received in return several handsome benefactions; and many of the poor peasants in the villages seem to vie with each other in offering their mites.

The Swiss Bible Societies at Basle, Schaffhausen, Zurich, Saint Gall, Aarau, Bern, Chur, Geneva, Lausanne, and Neufchatel, mutually stimulate and assist each other in their career of sacred benevolence. Many interesting particulars of their useful activity will be found in the Appendix to this Report. To prove the progressive state of the operations of the Basle Society, the following simple but interesting facts will suffice; that,

The same Society is now engaged in printing several editions of the German and French Scriptures, in the carrying on of which works your Committee have assisted it with 500l.

The Zurich Society has completed a folio and an octavo edition of the German Bible.

The Bible Society at Saint Gall has had great success in distributing copies of the Scriptures both among Protestants and Catholics, and the demand for them is daily increasing.

A letter from a Capuchin Monk, to whom a donation of 50l. was presented, to enable him to distribute the Scriptures, contains the following pleasing information: That the Bible is now read by thousands of Catholics with devout attention and cordial joy, and that the writer himself had induced many parish ministers and schoolmasters to introduce the New Testament into their cougregations and schools."

In the North of Germany, the Hambro' Altona Bible Society is prosecuting the object of its institution with great zeal. In conse

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quence of the offer of a loan of 5001. from your Committee, this Society has engaged to print a German Bible of 10,000 copies, after the Canstein edition.

Of the augmented circulation of the Scriptures in Germany, it is a sufficient proof, that the the demand for Bibles by the numerous Societies established in that country, is now so great that the Canstein Institution at Halle, on which they had been accustomed chiefly to depend for supplies, is no longer able, notwithstanding the most strenuous exertions, to furnish the number required, and the Bible Societies are under the necessity of printing them for their own distribution.

Your Committee have next to report the transactions connected with the British and Foreign Bible Society in the three Northern Kingdoms of Europé.

Beginning with Denmark, they have the pleasure to announce, that the Danish Bible Society is in a progressive state, with respect to the increase of its benefactors and subscribers; and its Committee look forward with hope to the beneficial effects of the interest which it is gaining in the public mind. It has nearly finished the revision of the Danish New Testament for the press, and has resolved to print an edition of the Creolese New Testament for the use of the Christian negroes.

A very flourishing Auxiliary has beeen formed at Odensee, the capital of the Island of Fuehnen, under the auspices and Presidency of the Crown Prince, Christian Frederick. Of the interest which his Royal Highness takes in this cause, a judgment may be formed from the following extract of a letter with which he has honoured the President of this Society:

Nor do I feel less pleasure in availing myself of this opportunity to express my high regard for the Society, and the good wishes I shall ever entertain for the successful progress of an Institution on which I pray the divine blessing of Providence may ever rest"

At the formation of the Odensee Auxiliary Society, it was recommended to such of the Directors as reside in the country to form Branch Societies and Bible Associations.

To this important object the attention of the Committee of the Sleswig-Holstein Bible Society, assisted by the personal experience and efforts of the Rev. Ebenezer Henderson, has been most successfully directed. More than fifty Auxiliary Societies, or Bible Associations, have been formed in that part of the Danish dominions, between the Little Belt and the town of Altona.

The same Society has also undertaken the establishment of a depôt for Bibles, and a Biblical Library.

These extraordinary exertions, which are still carrying on, have increased the demand for the Scriptures beyond the power of the Sleswig Holstein Society to satisfy it. As a temporary assistance, your Committee have ordered an immediate supply of Danish Bibles and Testaments; and, with a view to a more permanent provision, have proposed to the Danish Bible Society at Copenha