348

Establishment of a Bible Association

labours then most advantageously applied, when his preaching was connected with daily and diligent visiting from house to house. The free personal conversation and instruction, of which these familiar interviews, afforded opportunity, were unquestionably, in his opinion, instrumental of adding the mightiest efficiency to missionary efforts.

[To be continued.]

BIBLE ASSOCIATÓN AT georgetown, d. c.

At a public meeting, agreeable to notification, held on Monday 26th of January, in Georgetown, D. C. for the purpose of organizing a Bible Association, the following gentlemen were appointed officers of the association :

Rev. Henry Foxball, President; Rev. Mr. Kieth, Rev. Thomas B. Balch, Vice Presidents: William Clagett, Treasurer: Dr. Thomas Henderson, Secretary. Robert Munro, Thomas Waters, William Jewel, John Robertson, William Lang, Isaac Owens, John M Daniel, U. Ward, John Renner, W. C. Lipscomb, James Corcoran, I. W. Nicholls, Managers.

The Constitution was read and adopted. An address, which had been previously prepared, was read and ordered to be published. The meeting was truly interesting. The thanks of the meeting were presented to Samuel Bayard, Esq. and a membership for life conferred on him, by an unanimous vote.

AN ADDRESS TO THE CITIZENS OF GEORGETOWN.

It has been thought adviseable that the citizens of this place should be called on to lend their aid towards the establishment of a Bible Association, auxiliary to the Bible Society of the District of Columbia. You will discover from the first annual report of the American Bible Society, that such institutions are contemplated by its board of managers. The design of that highly respectable board may be unfolded in a few words. Auxiliaries on a large scale, must necessarily lay under contribution but a small portion of the services and charity of a numerous population. It has been found by examining the number of inhabitants in this district, that the proportion of those who lend their aid towards promoting the cause of Bibles, is extremely small. We believe then that a Bible association, confined to our town, will answer important purposes. It is to be considered as auxiliary to the Bible Society of the Dis trict of Columbia. Our object is to strengthen the parent institution-to enter more minutely into the want of Bibles in this place to employ a greater number of agents in this hallowed workto impart value to the offerings of the poor-to penetrate more deeply into the retreats of ignorance-to elevate the standard of public morals: in a word, by diffusing the holy scriptures more extensively, we wish by the divine blessing, to excite greater at tention to the doctrines there unfolded, their promises, their threatenings, their discoveries and hopes. Every benevolent mind must approve the object.

At Georgetown, and an Address to the Inhabitants. 349

Deeply impressed with the importance and necessity of such an institution, a number of individuals were assembled, by public notification, a few evenings since, for the purpose of organizing the association. The meeting, however, owing to the limited notice which had been given, was thinly attended. Relying, however, on divine providence, and confiding in the support of our fellow citizens, we resolved to proceed. The constitution which has been draughted, is now laid before the public. You will discover from the constitution the simplicity of the object which we have in view. We know that some may say, what need is there for such an institution? Is there not a society now in existence in this district, auxiliary to the A. B. S.? To these interrogatories we reply, there is much need every way. By whom are the funds of the present society supplied? Are they not supplied by a few benevolent individuals? Do the poor throw in their mite? Have we not practically debarred them from all opportunity of contributing their part towards this labour of love?

That the B. S. of this district may have an auxiliary is self-evident-How could the A. B. S. exist without its auxiliaris? And, as this district embraces a considerable range of territory, we wish to combine its energies more effectually than has hitherto been attempted.

Some, however, may say that we will lay a heavy tax on the poor-certainly not. We wish to plunder no man of his raiment, or take from him that sustenance which nature demands: but we wish to open to the poor sources of intellectual, moral, and spritual improvement. Who would reproach the poor widow for bringing her mite, wherewith to purchase a Bible?

Never will poverty be banished from the world until the principles of the Bible shall universally prevail. If we wish then to improve the condition of the poor, let us attend to their moral cultivation. Then will industry, harmony, and comfort, pervade their dwellings. And that they are capable of such improvements, we will only ask you to look over this place-see how many children are collected from our streets, and placed within the reach of the means of grace, through the instrumentality of Sunday Schools. Fields of usefulness are thus opening to our view; fields in which angels, unseen, delight to tread.

The origin, progress, and benefits, of Bible associations have been fully developed by the venerable author of the history of the British and Foreign Society. We shall therefore conclude this part of the address by an extract from his history-It is the testimony of the Tindale Ward Auxiliary Society: They are fully convinced that the attention of the country at large, needs only to be awakened to the subject of Bible associations, to render their establishment universal; and they indulge the hope that the period may not be far distant when there shall be no parish, town, or village, without its Bible association. Pible associations embrace advantages infinitely superior to any that can arise from mere pecuniary accumulation--they embrace the moral and re

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350 Bible Association at Georgetown, D. C...

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ligious welfare of the great mass of the community- they have a direct tendency to cherish a spirit of true piety, for while they attract from sensual pleasures, they substitute superior enjoyments, and give the poor what they long wanted, a pure incentive to action. Again, the principle on which these associations are formed, is more immediately calculated to bring the poorest classes into communication with the parent society, and to excite a common feeling among them, while the aggregate of the funds contributed by these associations, though arising from small indi.. vidual subscriptions, materially aids the object of the parent society.*

What motives can we possibly lay before you which have not reached you before this time? Happily the age in which we live is an age of Bibles---Infidelity has retired, and the inspiration of the scriptures is placed beyond all question. If then the scriptures are clothed with those properties, which enable us to ascertain their heavenly original, surely it is our duty to be employedin this work.

Consider those discoveries which are made to us in the inspired volume of the Supreme Being--we are not left to grope in Pagan darkness-we are not abandoned to our vain notions respecting the nature of the Supreme Being. The Heathen is degraded by superstition. He renders homage to the heavenly bodies, which to the christian are but the luminous points of Jehovah's throne. Turn from the idolatry of the Heathen, to the worship of the christian.

He learns from the scriptures, the existence of one infinite and eternal being he becomes acquainted with his will, and is furnished with every possible motive to the pursuit of holiness and the abhorrence of sin. Where in the pages of ancient wisdom can we find morals so pure reaching to the very sources of action! Where can we find such lofty representations of the power and glory of God; such unsullied precepts of rectitude, such views of duty, such pictures of happiness, such delineations of misery? Indeed the writers of this book seem to have ranged through the councils of Jehovah, and with unrivalled boldness, they wield his lightnings against the transgressor, whilst they unfold the richest mercy to the penitent.

But if another motive is needed, consider that mysterious plan of redemption which is brought to light in the Bible, in the contemplation of which angels are bewildered. Ponder in your minds the infinite dignity of that atonement which has been made in behalf of mankind. Even the heathen acknowledge that without shedding of blood, there is no remission. Therefore it is that so many victims fall, so many altars overflow with blood. But in the Scriptures an atonement is revealed that infinitely transcends the sins of the penitent, superior to the claims of the law, and equal to our wants. The atonement thus becomes the basis of solid happiness to man.

* Page 542.

Ukase of the Emperor Alexander.

851

Lastly, consider that immortality, for the knowledge of which we are indebted to the Rible. Immortality is the glory of our race--and this immortality is surrounded in the scriptures with inconceivable grandeur by that one offering which was made on the cross. They who are destitute of revelation must form but very imperfect notions of a future state. If they conceive of future happiness, it is the happiness of the sensualist, not of the follower of the Saviour. But how charming are the prospects, how brilliant are the hopes which revelation discloses when this, mortal being shall end, when the shadows of evening shall gather around us, we look for the beams of morning---for life and immortality are brought to light in the gospel. Death snaps for a moment our earthly ties, but they are to be renewed in distant worlds.

To this enterprise of benevolence, fellow citizens, we invite you. It is not the honour of a party, the glory of a sect which attracts our efforts--it is the glory of God, and the honour of his Son's Kingdom, now when the world is at peace, when the hero has relinquished his sword, when the bow of the Savage lies unstrung at his feet, when the war horse is stripped of his trappings, shall Christians alone sound the trumpet! Shall not Christians be at peace?

We hail the time when the Bible shall be spread through the world, when it shall be the companion of the cottager and the prince; when the deepest vale of ignorance shall be illumined by the knowledge of God, as it shines in the face of Jesus Christ. [The second article of the Constitution is as follows:}

Every person who shall subscribe and pay one cent per week, at stated periods, shall be a member of this association, shall be authorized to attend and vote at its several meetings, and shall be entitled, at the end of the year, to receive one copy of the New Testament. All members of this association who shall pay two and a half cents per week, at stated periods, shall at the end of every year be entitled to a duodecimo copy of the Bible. Those who shall pay five cents per week, at stated periods, shall be entitled to receive at the end of each year, one octavo copy of the Bible, and so in proportion for every five cents subscribed, until the same amount to ten dollars. Those who pay TEN dollars at one time, shall be members for life, and shall be entitled to five octavo or ten duodecimo copies of the Bible; all which Bibles and Testaments shall be neatly bound, and are to be limited expressly to the use of the donors, or contributors, or their respective families; to charitable establishments; or applied to gratuitous distribution.

UKASE.

Addressed to the Legislative Synod at Moscow, by Alexander, Emperor of Russia. Dated from Moscow, Oct. 27, 1817. 'During my late travels through the Provinces, I was obliged, to my no small regret, to listen to speeches pronounced by certain

352 of the Clergy in different parts, which contained unbecoming praises of me. Praises which can only be ascribed unto God.— And as I am convinced in the depth of my heart of the Christian truth, that every blessing floweth unto us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ alone, and that every man, be he whom he may, without Christ, is full only of evil, therefore to ascribe unto me the glory of deeds, in which the hand of God hath been so evidently manifested before the whole world, is to give unto men that glory which belongeth unto Almighty God alone.

Moral Improvement.-Slavery.-Ordination:

'I account it my duty, therefore, to forbid all such unbecoming expressions of praise, and recommend to the Holy Synod to give instructions to all the Diocesan Bishops, that they themselves, and the Clergy under them, may, on similar occasions, in future, refrain from all such expressions of praise, so disagreeable to my ears; and that they may render unto the Lord of Hosts alone, Thanksgivings for the blessings bestowed upon us, and pray for the out-pouring of his grace upon all of us; conforming themselves in this matter to the words of Sacred Writ, which require us to render to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise God, honour and glory for ever and ever.

ALEXANDER.'

MORAL IMPROVEMENT.

We have been informed, that a Missionary Meeting, lately held at a certain town in the north of England, such was the attention paid to it by the inhabitants that, at the theatre, where a very popular performer, who had been engaged four nights only, was to have acted, so few persons were present, that the managers did not think it worth their while to light the candles; and that at the ball-room, where an assembly was to have been held, not a single person appeared. [Lon. Evan. Mag.

SLAVERY.

The Havanna Diario of the 17th of August, contains an official return of the slaves imported into that port from Africa, from the 1st of December, 1816, to the last of July, 1817, amounting in the whole to 11,161 !!. [ibid.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

On Thursday the 5th inst. the Rev. Samuel Kissam was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry, and installed Pastor over the United Reformed Dutch Congregations of Bethlehem and Coeymans. On this interesting occasion the church was crowded. The introductory prayer, by the Rev. Dr. Bradford, was highly solemn. An admirable Sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. De Witt, from 2 Tim. iv. 5. Make full proof of thy ministry."

The exercises were concluded by an affectionate Address to the people, by the Rev. Mr. Livingston.