American Bible Society.-This society held its annual meeting at the city Hotel, in New York, on the 8th day of May last. In the absence of Judge Jay, General Clarkson presided. The annual Report was read and accepted; votes of thanks were passed to the officers and auxiliaries of the society, and to benevolent individuals who had contributed towards the erection of a building for its use; and a resolution was adopted to use all means in the society's power to introduce the scriptures into various parts of South America. We extract from the report some of the most interesting articles of information. 'The Depository of the Society has been completed. The corner stone was laid shortly after the last anniversary; and the building was finished in the early part of the winter. The expenditure for this object, including the ground, has been about $22,500. Between 8000 and 9000 dollars were obtained from liberal and benevolent individuals, for the express purpose of paying for the Depository; and the remainder of the sum, has been temporarily supplied out of the general funds of the Society." There have been printed, at the Depository of the American Bible Society, during the seventh year, Bibles There have been purchased, German Bibles 23,500 21,500 7,000 1,100 500 2,000 268,177 Make a total of THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN Bibles and Testaments, or parts of the latter, printed from the stereotype plates of the Society in New-York, and at Lexington, Kentucky, or otherwise obtained for circulation, during the seven years of its existence. There have been issued from the Depository, from the 30th of April, 1822, to the first of May, 1823, Bibles Testaments 28,448 26,357 54,805 In the six preceding years, there were issued, Making a total of Two HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE Bibles and Testaments and parts of the New Testament, issued by the American Bible Society since its establishment." The Managers have granted one thousand dollars to the Rev. Dr. Carey and his associates, at Serampore, to be applied by them towards defraying the expense of translating and printing the Scriptures in the various languages of India. Another grant, of five hundred dollars, has been made to the Missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in the Island of Ceylon, to be employed by them in the purchase of Scriptures in the Tamul language, for distribution in that Island. The first of these donations in money was made in consequence of a memorial from the Rev. Dr. Carey and his associates, soliciting assistance from the American Bible Society. It appeared that they had published, at the date of their memorial, the whole Bible in five of the languages of India, and the New Testament and parts of the Old, in ten more; that in six more, New Testament was brought more than half through the press; and that in the remaining ten, some one of the Gospels was printed, and, in several, all four of the Gospels. It also appeared, that, of the New Testament, in the five languages in which the Scriptures are most read in India, the Sunskrit, Bengalee, Hindee, Mahratta, and Orissa, and of the Old Testament in the first two of these languages, the editions heretofore published were exhausted, and the demand continued to be very great and urgent.' the The Society has distributed gratuitously, during its seventh year 12,923 Bibles and Testaments, valued at $7592,24. Its receipts have amounted to $46.521 75, of which sum $20,642 70 was in payment for Bibles. The whole number of auxiliary societies has been increased to 360. Massachusetts Bible Society. The fifteenth anniversary of this society was on the 5th of June last. It distributed during the year 2776 Bibles and Testaments, making 31,859 which it has circulated since its institution. Its receipts during the year were $1564 91, and its expenditure $1959 79. The Executive Committee remark that the operations of a society situated like this, are necessarily circumscribed, and present nothing to attract admiration. They are silent and uniform, but not imposing. They do good quietly and in secret, but there is nothing in them deserving the attention of the public, except that they distribute the Holy Word of God; and this they do in common with bundreds of other similar institutions, in every part of the country. It is privilege enough for us, that we are permitted to do our part, humble as it may be. And it ought to be remembered that although we bear the name of the state, yet the necessities of the state are in small measure supplied by our means. Every county has its own Bible Society, and the capital is the seat of two besides our own. In consequence of this, it is evident that our operations are necessarily limited. The good work being divided among many, each must be content to labour in its allotted sphere, without the opportunity or expectation of magnificent exertion or wide celebrity. This multiplication of societies is a subject of congratulation, because in this way every portion of the country may be more effectually supplied. The land is better watered by frequent springs, than by one mighty river, though this would be a far sublimer object.' American Colonization Society.-The Board of Managers of this society still complain of the discouragement which they experience in their benevolent design for want of pecuniary reSources. They have issued proposals for publishing in Washington 'a Periodical work, which shall furnish the public with accurate information concerning the plans and prospects of their Institution; give a minute account of its operations, and of the condition and progress of the Colony; communicate any new and interesting intelligence which may be received, relating to the Geography, Natural History, Manners and Customs, of Africa; and admit into its pages such essays as may be thought calculated to advance the interests of the Colony, or the cause of African improvement, as well as select passages from authors who have already written on this subject; and important extracts from the Reports of such foreign associations as are making exertions to suppress the Slave-Trade, or relieve the African race.' The last intelligence from their colonists is contained in a letter from Capt. Wightman to the editor of the Advertiser, from which the following is an extract. The brig Oswego arrived on the coast of Africa in May last, and landed her passengers sent out by the American Colonization Society, 61 in number, at Cape Montserado on the 25th of that month, all in health. These people immediately proceeded to the business of cutting timber, and preparing to build houses; but in about ten days were all taken sick with the Afri can fever. The other inhabitants of the colony were all in health except several who had been wounded, and Mr. Ashmun, whose health was improving. The tower, or castle, built by Capt. Spence and his men, had suffered considerable injury by the heavy rains, in consequence of the roof not being raised before the rains came on. A breach was made in the wall of about 12 feet, which is probably repaired. It has been stated heretofore that there is at Cape Montserado a good harbour. This is incorrect. There is, properly speaking, no harbour there. There can be none. Vessels must lie off from the pitch of the cape one mile, bring it to bear S. S. W. and unload by means of boats-The wind is invariably during the rainy season at S. W. There is a bar at the mouth of the river, over which boats only can pass. For an agricultural colony, that spot selected and occupied by the colonization society is, I think, an excellent one. The land lies high; always open to the sea breezes, and the soil is luxuriantly fertile. It will perhaps be healthy for blacks; such as go out from America will always undergo a seasoning by sickness, especially if they arrive in the rainy season. but Since the attack and defeat of the natives, there has been a good understanding between them and the colony. With a fortification, and a few light cannon, nothing is to be feared from the natives. They have great respect for Dr. Ayres; and, on his arrival, sent their messages to inform him of their design to make him a friendly visit.' United Domestic Missionary Society. The following extracts from a report read to this society at its first annual meeting, in the city of New York, on the 9th of May last, show that it adopts the same judicious plan of operations of which the example has been set by the Evangelical Missionary Society of Massachusetts. The plan adopted by the committee of aiding churches and congregations in the settlement and support of ministers, in preference to the method of itineracy so generally pursued by missionary societies, is deemed of such importance as to justify particular notice on this occasion. The instances are very numerous, of places, hitherto without settled pastors, where the popu lation, by the transient and injudicious labours of itinerants of different denominations, has been divided into several sects, neither of which alone, is able to support a minister; but where, with the prospect of a settled pastor of piety, education, and ta lents, enough are willing to unite to provide a considerable part of the requisite support, if the balance can for a time be furnish ed by a Missionary Society. In these cases, even where the population is very considerable in numbers, and where the interests of morality and religion most urgently require the constant labours of an able and faithful minister, there is no prospect of their obtaining and settling one without the encouragement and aid proposed in this plan. In general, their condition in this respect grows less and less promising by the lapse of time, and instead of being bettered, is undoubtedly rendered worse by the occasional visits of the various descriptions of travelling preachers, authorized and unauthorized, with which the country abounds.' 'The number of destitute places, however, where the people are willing to unite and make an exertion to support a minister, if encouraged and aided for a time by the society, is still greater than can at present be supplied with men qualified by their education and piety to occupy them. And since there is no rational hope of ministers being settled in those places unless this plan shall be pursued, it appears to the committee to be their obvious duty, enforced by every consideration of immediate and permanent good, to persist in the course they have adopted. Upon this plan the number of destitute places will be gradually diminished. The people once brought together, and possessed of the blessings of public worship, and the constant labours of a gospel minister, will by their own exertions supersede the necessity of missionary aid. The example of one place will be followed by another. Every point that is gained will facilitate new acquisitions; and the places assisted by the society in the establishment of the gospel will in due time help to extend the same favour to other localities.' General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. This body met in Philadelphia, on the 15th of May last. Among the delegations appointed by it to different ecclesiastical bodies, we find one of Rev. Messrs. Smith and Hanford, to the General Association of Massachusetts, from the secretary of which a letter was received and read, communicating the following vote of that Association. The Rev. Dr. Rice, having presented the Association, in behalf of the General Assembly, a revised edition of the Constitution of that Church,-Voted, that while we most sincerely reciprocate the feelings of Christian affection expressed by Dr. Rice, in presenting the Constitution of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, the cordial thanks of this Association be presented to that body for this token of their regard, and that the Secretary communicate this vote to the stated clerk of the Assembly.' |