It will, no doubt, be gratifying to the society to be informed, that in the course of the last year six additional bible societies have been established in various parts of the United States. The whole number which now exists in the American union is fifteen. The most perfect cordiality subsists among these sister institutions: and as our society was first established, we have been honoured with addresses and applications from the most of them, inviting us to correspondence, and to make known the result of our experience, and our methods of conducting business. It has given us pleasure to communicate whatever information or assistance we had in our power. In some cases we have acted as their agents, to effect an advantageous purchase of bibles; and we have also been able to furnish them with a few copies in the French, German, Welsh, and Gaelic languages, which they could not other wise have obtained, without waiting for an importation from Europe. At the suggestion of one of these societies, eighty copies of the Gaelic bible, at cost and charges, have been furnished to a Scotch settlement, in the State of North Carolina. In their last report, the managers announced to the society that a set of stereotype plates, for the printing of the bible in English, had been ordered from Britain. Those plates have been preparing, with all practicable expedition, through the year past; and, by information some time since received, they are supposed to be now completed. If the importation of them shall be permitted, they may be expected to be in use in the course of the current year: And then we shall have the pleasure of furnishing copies of the scriptures of a superior kind, and at the lowest rates, not only for our own use, but for the accommodation, as far as it may be desired, of all our sister institutions in the United States. The heavy expense of the stereotype plates, and the purchases made of bibles for the supply of the constant and large demands which have been made for them, have rendered it necessary for the managers, during the year past, to use their best exertions to increase the funds of the society. Applications for contributions have accordingly been continued in the city of Philadelphia, as far as circumstances would admit. But the measure on which our chief reliance has been placed, has been a plan for engaging religious congregations, of various denominations throughout the State, to make an annual contribution in aid of our funds. Many considerations seemed powerfully to recommend this measure. It appeared equitable that our country brethren should share with the citizens of Philadelphia in the expense, the pleasure, and the honour of this extensive and important charity. At the same time, it was manifest, that if the system proposed should be adopted and continued, it would, without being burdensome to any, furnish a full and permanent supply of all the funds which the society would need. But what was considered as even more important than all the rest, the plan recommended would erect a small auxiliary bible society in every contributing congregation, and thus ensure a constant supply of the scriptures, and a discreet distribution of them, to every neighbourhood in Pennsylvania. We therefore drew up and published, in the month of July last, an address to those congregations who may, in a sort, be considered as represented in this society, by having one or more of the members of their several communions placed in the board of managers. this address the plan to which we have just adverted was fully deand earnestly recommended. Whether it will be generally adopted or not, remains yet to be seen. Some congregations, of differ ent denominations, have already acted upon it with spirit and liberality. And the managers think it their duty to seize this opportunity, to request that all the friends of the institution, who may hear or read this report, will encourage and endeavour to set forward the measures recommended in the address we have mentioned;-measures equally calculated to afford an important, if not an essential aid, to the funds of the society, and to give effect to the very design of its institution, the communication of the holy scriptures to all the necessitous in the State in which the society is established. Neither, it is hoped, will the friends of the institution think it improper, that we here suggest the propriety of their using suitable endeavours to obtain testamentary be quests to the society. To become able to receive these was a leading motive in our application for a legal incorporation: And the distribution of bibles is so interesting and unexceptionable a charity, that it is believed there is none which pious christians will generally be more willing to promote, by such legacies as they may have destined to benevolent purposes. We have to acknowledge, and we do it with lively gratitude, the reception, through the year past, of a number of generous and seasonable donations. These will appear generally, in the statement of the treasurer, which will accompany this report. There are, however, a few items which call for a more particular notice.-The first is a donation from lord Crawford and Lindsey, in England, of 251. sterling, or 111 dollars, which, on hearing of the organization of our society, he was pleased to present to it without any solicitation.-The second is the appropriation, by the editors of "The Religious Instructor," monthly miscellany or magazine, published at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, of the whole nett proceeds of that publication, to the funds of this institution. The third is the very generous grant of 300 dollars, which the bible society of Beaufort, in South-Carolina, have intimated that they have made, and intend to forward, for the purpose of assisting in paying for the stereotype plates which we have ordered. The fourth benefaction to be mentioned is of so peculiar a kind, and attended with so many remarkable circumstances, that it is believed the society will be gratified by hearing the account of it in detail. This will principally be given by taking an extract from the minutes of the managers, on the 25th of October, 1810. It is as follows, viz. "The meeting was called for the special purpose of laying before the board of managers the following letter, received by the treasurer, which was ordered to be entered in full on the minutes, as follows. ROBERT RALSTON, ESQ. Alexandria, October 16th, 1810. We, the pastors of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Methodist congregations, send you the sum of 546 dollars and 31 cents, for the use of the bible society. This money came in a singular manner into our hands. We were visited by a Mr. ——, under the assumed character of a missionary from a society, said by him to be established at St. Louis, in upper Louisiana, for the purpose of meliorating the condition of the savage tribes: the vouchers, which he had artfully drawn up, had hitherto furthered his views: Having nearly completed his collections here, he was detected as an impostor, and went off, leaving behind him most of the money which he had collected here, and at other places in his progress through Virginia. His real name is Letters of inquiry have been forwarded to St. Louis, the answers to which affirm that no such society exists there, nor the name of or known. On a consultation of a committee of the different congregations in this town relative to the appropriation of the money, it was unanimously agreed that it should be transmitted by us to the bible society in Philadelphia, directing the society to disperse the bibles which the above sum may procure, among the frontier settlements. Please to acknow. ledge the receipt of this, and direct it to the secretary of the committee, Thomas Vowell, Esq. president of the bank of Potomac. With best wishes for the success of the society, we remain, sir, very respectfully, yours obediently, FRANCIS BARCLAY, Rector of the P. E. church. WILLIAM L. GIBSON, Rector of St. Paul's E. church.. "Whereupon, resolved 1. That the board accept the sum of money specified in the above letter, and order that bibles to its full amount be purchased, and forwarded for distribution among the frontier settlements." [In several other resolutions thanks were returned to the writers of the letter, and arrangements made for collecting information, relative to those parts of the frontiers where bibles were most needed. After which] "The corresponding secretary produced and read a letter, dated October 5th, 1810, from an anonymous writer, requesting that the society would, if practicable, forward some bibles to St. Genevieve, on the western bank of the Missisippi, below the Missouri; and containing other matters respecting the propagation of the gospel in this quarter, not within the general powers of the bible society. The good sense and spirit of piety and philanthropy apparent in this letter, together with a consideration of the singular occurrence that the sum of 546 dollars and 31 cents, this night received by the managers from Alexandria, was collected under the pretence of promoting the cause of religion in this very quarter, induced the adoption of the following resolu tion "Resolved, That 200 English bibles, and 50 French new testaments, be sent forward to the care of Dr. Aaron Elliott, of St. Genevieve, for the purpose of being distributed among proper objects." Thus it appears that an impostor collected, and afterwards strangely relinquished a considerable sum of money, which was appropriated to the purchase of bibles for the frontiers of our country; that the very evening on which this money was received, an unknown correspondent stated satisfactory facts and reasons to show that the very region from which the impostor pretended to have come, was that to which bibles needed immediately to be sent; and though it does not appear on the minutes, it was communicated to the society, that two gentlemen, (one of whom is mentioned in the last resolution,) who were known to the secretary, and well qualified and circumstanced to distribute bibles in that uncultivated region, would cheerfully take charge of the concern. Leaving these facts to originate such reflections as, without comment, they y seem calculated to suggest, we think proper to state, in this conon, that in another instance events which at first appeared unto ward, were overruled to promote the views of the society. One of the managers was directed to write to Germany for a certain number of copies of the bible, in the German language. He did so, but the order was detained on its passage till it was believed to be lost; then a second, and a third order, intended as copies of the first, were given; which were long in getting to the place of their destination. Ultimately, however, all the orders were received, and each was supposed to demand a separate answer. Accordingly three times the number of bibles expected were sent, and all were delivered in this city, at the same time. Then it was discovered that the demand for the whole of these bibles was exceedingly urgent; so that though the funds of the society did not admit of paying for more than the third originally ordered, yet the others were readily purchased, and furnished a most seasonable supply to those who could not otherwise have obtained them. The managers would not do justice to their own feelings, nor, they are persuaded, to the expectations of the society, should they close their report without communicating some information relative to the British and Foreign bible society, to which the numerous institutions of a similar nature which seem to be spreading over the face of Christendom, look up, as to a common parent. By the last report of that wonderful institution, it appears, that its operations are continued with unabated, if not with increased effect. They have not only obtained the printing of the holy scriptures in almost every language and dialect of modern Europe, but they have caused an astonishing number of copies to be distri buted among every description of persons who needed them; not omitting in their distributions the most inveterate of their enemies, civil or religious. At the same time they have aided with their funds every institution for multiplying or circulating the scriptures, which appeared to need assistance. It is stated in their report of May last, that they were then patronizing an Arabic translation of the bible; that they were taking measures for printing an edition of the new testament in modern Greek, and one also in the Irish language; that they were carrying on inquiries for the purpose of effecting a translation of the whole scriptures into the Cyngalese and Tamul languages, for the island of Ceylon; that they have printed a version of the gospel of John, and have agreed also to print the gospel of Luke, in the Esquimaux tongue, for the use of the missionaries and their converts among that barbarous people. They likewise afford a very powerful and liberal patronage to the translations of the bible which are now making, by various religious denominations, into all the chief languages of India, or rather of Asia. They have given two thousand pounds sterling to the translators of the baptist missionary establishment at Serampore. In a word, the mighty efforts of this society appear to be employed in no less an enterprise than that of presenting the holy scriptures, in their native tongue, to every people under heaven; and the fairest prospect exists, not only of their ultimate, but of their speedy success. The annual meeting of this parent society is held on this day, and it is a pleasing and animating consideration, that in our humble sphere, our exertions are united with theirs to extend the empire of our Redeemer; an empire infinitely more glorious and durable than any which is acquired by arms and cemented with blood; an empire which the knowledge and influence of the precious truth contained in the holy scriptures is eventually to extend, till it embrace in its peaceful bosom all the empires of the world, and Jesus Christ become king of nations as he is king of saints. "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty: And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.” WE rejoice that the Churches of our Lord begin to be awake on the subject of disciplining baptized children. We hope that their attention to these objects of their care will increase, till some system shall be universally adopted, calculated to answer with the high responsibility of Christians, and the urgent necessity of their baptized children. Address of the Presbytery of Jersey, to the Churches under their care, on the subject of exercising a proper pastoral care over baptized children. DEAR RRETHREN, THAT baptized children are members of the visible Church of Christ, and under its pastoral care; and that the church is in duty bound to exercise a pastoral care over them, are principles taught in the word of God, and recognized in the constitution of our church. In Forms of Process, Chap. 1. Sect. 1. we read-" Inasmuch as all baptized persons are members of the church, they are under its care, and subject to its government and discipline; and when they have arrived at the years of discretion, they are bound to perform all the duties of church-members;" and in the Directory for the worship of God, Chap. 9. Sect. 1. we find written," children born within the pale of the visible church, and dedicated to God in baptism, are under the inspection and government of the church, and are to be taught." Hence it is clearly an acknowledged principle in our church, that baptized children are under its instructions and subject to its discipline. And undoubtedlylone great end which the great Head of the Church had in view in appointing, that the seal of the covenant should be applied to children was, that they might, for their good, become the subjects of the instructions, watch, and discipline of the church. But, dear brethren, we have great reason to lament the abuse of infant baptism, and the neglect of baptized children in our churches. This solemn ordinance has been considered by many as a mere unmeaning form. Many parents have brought their children to this ordinance, without considering or knowing its nature and uses: and have lived in the violation of the most so lemn engagements. Many parents who have claimed and received this important privilege for their children, have, notwithstanding, scarcely felt themselves or their children, to be connected with, or responsible to the church. Many baptized children themselves, when they have grown to years of discretion, have scarcely felt or known that they had any connexion with the church, or were any more subject to its inspection and government, or bound to perform the duties of church-members, than those who had never received the seal of God's gracious covenant. And the church itself has been criminally negligent of its duty to exercise a due pastoral care over its baptized members. The consequences of this state of things have been truly lamentable. The great ends of infant baptism have been in a considerable degree defeated. This sacred and important institution has been by many undervalued, and by some denied, because they could not see its advantages. Many baptized children have grown up in ignorance and vice, when, by a proper pastoral care, they might have been instructed and restrained. Civil society has not received that benefit from the church which it might have done. The interests of religion have suffered, and many immortal souls, we have reason to fear, have through neglect perished. |