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count of the riots in London. It originated with "a few plain Christians," affected with the profaneness of the soldiers. It was established by a few pious officers, and the design was formed to supply the whole army and navy with the Holy Scriptures. Its labours have done immense service to the army and navy of Great Britain.

XII. THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.— Methodist Missions originated in 1784, when Mr. Wesley, at the Conference held at Leeds, declared his intention of sending Dr. Coke, and some other preachers to America, after the Independence of the United States had been acknowledged. The Wesleyan Missionary Society, however, was not organized until 1847. But this, with other similar institutions, has greatly served the cause of the Bible.

XIII. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-This Institution was formed in 1792, suggested by Mr., afterwards, Dr. Carey, proposing to the Northamptonshire Association of Baptist Ministers, "whether it were not practicable and obligatory to attempt the conversion of the Heathen?" Carey submitted a plan, which was accepted, as the form of the Society, and offered himself as the first missionary. And that great man, perhaps more than any other labourer, was honoured in the translation of the Holy Scriptures.

XIV. THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, commonly called

THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. - This great institution originated, in a great measure, with Dr. Edward Williams, an Independent minister in Birmingham, in 1794. The Society was formed in 1795, when several liberal-minded clergymen, and ministers of the Scotch Secession, and of the Calvinistic Methodists, united with the principal ministers of the Independent denomination. At their first annual meeting in May, 1796, it was resolved, "That to prevent, if possible, any cause of future dissension, it is declared to be a fundamental principle of the Missionary Society, that its design is not Presbyterianism, Independency, Episcopacy, or any other form of church order; but the glorious gospel of the blessed God to the heathen; leaving the converts to the Scriptures for church government." The reports of this important Society show how greatly it has served the cause of the Bible.

XV. THE SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-This was formed in 1796; and though less extensive than some others, it has done good service in the advancement of the Bible.

XVI. THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.-This most important institution was formed May 9, 1799; when its chief originator, the Rev. Joseph Hughes, M.A., a Baptist minister of London, was appointed secretary. Its founders, and for many years its committees, were Dissenters.

Its design was not to publish the Bible, but tracts and treatises in agreement with the Scriptures, con

sisting of "pure truth." By "pure truth," when not expressed in the words of Scripture, the Committee say, “they refer to those evangelical principles of the Reformation, in which Luther, Calvin and Cranmer agreed. On this large portion of ground, which the Churchman, the Dissenter and the Foreigner jointly occupy, they conceive that Christian union may be established and strengthened; Christian affection excited and cherished; and Christian zeal concentrated and rendered proportionally effective." Churchmen and Dissenters unite cordially in this vast socity; its vast operations have benefited all nations; and it has served the cause of the Bible in a degree that is incalculable.

XVII. THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.This great institution was formed in 1800, by several evangelical members of the established church, for the extension of the gospel under the forms of the Church of England. For many years it was discountenanced by the prelates, and employed only Germans, as its missionaries; but it has now risen to high importance as an auxiliary to the cause of the Bible, having many missionaries, especially in India and Africa.

XVIII. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.-This very important institution was formed in 1803, in London. Its design was to advance the Sunday School system, as commenced in 1784; to stimulate the teacher; to improve the methods of tuition; to furnish suitable books, and to promote the establishment of Sunday

Schools at home and abroad.

Its labours have been

of vast importance to the cause of the Bible.

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XIX. THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. This most useful institution was formed in 1805, patronized by the King, and by the Dukes of Kent and Sussex, for the education of the workingclasses, on the basis of the Holy Scriptures. It arose out of the zealous exertions of Joseph Lancaster, the inventor of the system of mutual instruction. This plan, modified by Dr. Bell, formed the National Church School system; and both have immensely aided the cause of the Bible.

XX. THE LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.-This valuable institution was formed in 1806, for the scriptural education of the poor in Ireland, by means of day, Sunday, and adult schools, and scripture readers. Half the scholars were Roman Catholics. The only books supplied by the Society are two spelling books, and the English Bible; and an Irish spelling book, with the Bible in the version of Bishops Daniel and Bedell in Irish.

CHAPTER II.

FORMATION OF THE BIBLE SOCIETY.

Sunday Schools create need for the Bible-Rev. Mr. Charles and his Schools in Wales-His Project for a Bible Society-Promoted by the Religious Tract Society-Their Measures to form a Bible Society for all Nations-First Public Meeting, March 7, 1804-Plan of the Society-Founders and Officers of the Society.

HUMAN sagacity, enlightened and excited by religion, originated the admirable institutions which we have been surveying. They were adapted to their truly Christian designs; but they were still deficient. Another was required to supply the wants which their operations were producing. And this was brought into existence by the same Divine Providence by which they had been originated.

Sunday schools were greatly extending in England and Wales, creating a large demand for Bibles among the masses of the people at home, and missions were preparing for the feeling of the same want among foreign nations. And Sunday-school teaching occasioned the immediate movement, which led directly to the formation of the Bible Society, through the extraordinary labours of the Rev. Thomas Charles, B.A., of Bala.

This apostolic man having seceded from the

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