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fraught with all the riches of heavenly mercy, to the benighted nations. Our ships will go to every sea freighted with treasures, of more value than the gold of Ophir, or the fine linen of Egypt, and will bear home the thanks and the blessings of those who, with us, are in this way made partakers of the gospel of the grace of God.

BIBLE SOCIETY OF MAINE..

At the Annual Meeting of the Bible Society of Maine, held in Portland, on the 1st of May, 1817-the Trustees made the following Report, which was directed to be published.

ᎡᎬᏢᎾᎡᎢ .

No benevolent Institution, that has ever been established, has been espoused with greater zeal, or has been more evidently prospered by the smile of Heaven, than that which has for its simple and sublime object, the diffusion of the Scriptures. A few years since, there was not a Bible Society in existence; but almost every christian country has now a National Institution, with numerous branches and minor associations, extending in all direc tions, which are continually multiplying in number, and increasing in strength.

Our own Society was among the first, which was established in this country. Its ability has not been commensurate with our wishes or expectations; but we trust that some good has been effected by its exertions, though they have been of necessity limited by the smallness of its resources.-During the past year, 779 Bibles have been distributed, in various parts of the District.

With the title of the Bible Society of Maine, the support which our association has received, has been almost exclusively confined to Portland and its vicinity. The Trustees have for some time been convinced, that the District is so extensive, that it was impossible to combine its exertions in any one Society, without Auxiliaries, however important its object. You were informed, at the . last Annual Meeting, of their exertions in endeavouring to promote their formation. It is with much pleasure, that they have received information of the institution of a Society Auxiliary to our own, in the County of Oxford. They would also congratulate you upon the establishment of Bible Societies in the Counties of York, Lincoln and Kennebec. As we are engaged, with similar views and feelings, in the same important object, we trust that a friendly intercourse, and an union of effort, will be maintained.

The Trustees have appointed Committees of three or more gentlemen, in each town in the county of Cumberland, to act as Agents for the Society, in ascertaining the number of poor who are destitute of the scriptures in the towns to which they belong; in soliciting subscribers, and in endeavouring to advance the interests of the Institution generally. They have recently transmitted to them the form of a Constitution for Bible Associations; requesting them to employ their influence and exertions in promoting their formation in their respective towns.--Great advantages

368

Auxiliaries to the American Bible Society.

have resulted from them, wherever they have been established. Nearly one third of the funds of the British and Foreign Bible Society are annually received from such little Associations, scattered throughout the kingdom; to which multitudes contribute their weekly penny, who, in this country, would be considered as objects of charity. We indulge the expectation, that a Bible As* sociation will soon be formed in each town in this county. Not only will the contributions for this best of objects be then greatly increased; but the influence, the feelings, and the efforts, of a much larger number of individuals will be brought into active operation; and we shall be enabled to make a much more judicious, profitable, and extensive distribution of the Scriptures.

The connexion, which we have recently formed with the American Bible Society, is a powerful motive for pursuing the object in which we are engaged with renewed energy. A National Society must greatly depend for support on its Auxiliaries; and we would not wish to be among the last in endeavouring to afford it. We hail the establishment of that Institution as constituting a bright era in the Christian history of our country. An immense field of exertion is before them. Some parts of the United States are lamentably destitute of the scriptures; and from the unparal leled increase of population, this deficiency is continually multiplying, instead of being diminished. But if the multitudes who are in want of the Bible in our own country were supplied, what numerous millions of the human family have never beheld this heavenly light! The streams of Divine mercy will not be restrained by national limits, but will flow, with a tide of blessings, into other lands.

To extend the blessings of the Gospel to every creature, was the last command of our Saviour. Eighteen centuries had passed away, and how few were the exertions, how feeble the efforts, to effect this mighty object! But the holy flame of Christian benevolence is now spreading from nation to nation, with unexampled rapidity. A brighter day has dawned upon the world, and we are called upon by every argument which can be addressed to the understanding, by every motive which can affect the heart, to engage with ardour in endeavouring to hasten its meridian splendour. By order of the Trustees,

E. H. COBB, Rec'g Sec'ry.

NEW AUXILIARIES TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION. The Bedford County B. S. of Virginia, James Turner, Cor. Sec.;-the Oxford B. S. in Chenango County, (N. Y.) recently instituted, Mr. B. Laoy, Cor. Sec.;-the Stamford and Cortright young men's B. S. Dela ware County, (N. J.) formed the 7th July 1817. Adam Helsie, junr. Cor. Sec.;-the Female B. S. of Madrid, St. Lawrence County, (N. Y.) formed in May 1817;-the Meadville B. S. (Pa.) became auxiliary 5th July 1817, Rev. Timothy Alden, Cor. Sec.

These make the number of the auxiliaries to the American B. S. to

be 102.

THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. III.] Saturday, September 6, 1817.

[No. 24.

We have been favoured by our attentive correspondent at Liverpool with the copy of a letter from the Rev. Ebenezer Henderson, dated Bible Society's House, St. Petersburg, June 6th, 1817, giving the following highly interesting account of the

4th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RUSSIAN BIBLE SOCIETY. "Yesterday was celebrated the Fourth Anniversary of the Russian Bible Society. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, and the inconvenient situation of the Taurian Palace, (in one of the magnificent Halls of which the Meeting was held,) it was computed to have been nearly three times more numerously attended than it was last year. The Hall and adjoining Room were quite crowded, and presented to the view of the Christian philanthropist a scene of the most interesting and animating nature. Many of the most distinguished personages, both in Church and State, honoured the meeting with their presence. I was peculiarly struck with the sight of a groupe of graduated Monks and Professors from the Newsky Monastery, and of a number of Military Officers, high in rank, who appeared in another direction. Representatives of most of the nations for whom we are preparing Editions of the Sacred Scriptures such as, Russians, Armenians, Georgians, Greeks, Moldavians, Finns, Poles, Esthonians, Livonians, Germans, and French-were assembled to take part in the ceremony, and listen to the interesting details of the publication of the word of God in their respective languages. Among others, I observed two learned Russians, who have spent fifteen years at the Academy in Pekin, and are masters of the Chinese and Mandshur languages. The scene naturally led my mind to that beautiful passage in the Prophet Isaiah: Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. Behold, these come from afar: and, lo, these from the North and the West; and these from the land of Sinim !" May we not confidently cherish the hope, that, by the blessing of God on the progressive efforts of Bible and Missionary Societies, Zion will, ere long, see this prophecy fully accomplished? Already have we beheld a little one become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation yea, and we may add: The Lord hath hastened it in his time.'

At half-past eleven o'clock, our Noble President took the Chair, supported on the right by the Archbishops, Michael and Seraphim, and the Minister of the Interior, and on the left by the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Sestrensevich Bogush. The Prince opened the business of the day in a truly excellent and appropriate Speech of considerable length; after which, his excellency

360 Fourth Anniversary of the Russian Bible Society.

Mr. Papoff, came forward, and read the Report, which was listened to with the most profound silence by the numerous Assembly. I know that you have perused the former Reports of the Russian Bible Society with the deepest interest; and I have had an opportunity of remarking, with what eagerness they have been read in different countries of Europe; but I will venture to predict, that, when this document is published, all will allow that it far surpasses any of the preceding, in the richness of its matter, the magnitude and importance of the subjects it developes, and the genuine spirit of Christianity which it breathes throughout. It concludes with a solemn prayer, which made a powerful impression on the auditory, and called forth overflowing ejaculations to the Author of every good and perfect gift, for the continuance of his blessing on the Institution. It is absolutely impossible for me to describe to you the sensation which pervaded the whole Assembly on the conclusion of this most interesting record. Their attention, which had been irresistibly arrested, for upwards of an hour, was now relieved, and gave way to expressions of the most laudable enthusiasm in the best of causes Each turned to his neighbour with smiles of joy and marks of admiration; and, from one end of the Hall to the other, but one sentiment seemed to be uttered: What hath God wrought.'

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You will recollect the very important resolution passed at the Second meeting of the committee of the Russian Bible Society, purporting, that they should not consider themselves to have attained the object of their Institution till they had provided with a Bible every family, and, if possible, every individual, in the Russian Empire. With what ardour they are pushing forward to the attainment of this object, and accelerating the complete redemption of their pledge, will be seen, when it is stated, that, from the establishment of the Society to the present time, its Committee have either published, or are engaged in publishing, no fewer than forty-three Editions of the Sacred Scriptures, in seventeen different languages, forming a grand total of 196,000 Copies. In the course of 1816, the Committee have completed, Slavonian Bibles, 10,000; Ditto New Testaments, 10,000: Finnish Bibles, 5,000; French Bibles, 5,000; and Samogitian New Testaments, 5,000.

Ditto

And at present, the printing of the following Editions is either continued, or has been begun, in 1817: Slavonian Bibles, 20,000; Ditto New Testaments, 5,000; Armenian Bibles, 5,000; New Testaments, 3,000; Tartar New Testaments, 2,000; Greek Bibles, 3,000; Ditto New Testaments, 5,000; Georgian New Testaments, 2,000; Moldavian Bibles, 5,000; Gospel of St. Luke, (extra copies,) 2,000; Psalms, 2,000; Calmuc, Gospel, 2,000; Moldavian New Testaments, 5,000; German Catholic Ditto, 5,000; Lettonian New Testaments, 5,000; Dorpatian Esthonian Ditto,

5,000.

The number of Bibles and Testaments issued in the course of the year amounts to 19,431 copies, which is only about 500 copies fewer than were issued the three former years put together

Fourth Anniversary of the Russian Bible Society. 261

The expenditures are nearly in the same proportion. During the three years 1813, 1814, and 1815, the expenditure amounted to 297,642 Rubles, 47 Copecs; in 1816, alone, 227, 770 Rubles, 73 Copecs.

Besides the above, preparations are making for Stereotype Editions of the Scriptures in five different languages: they are in a course of translation into the Common Russia, Tartar and Carelian languages; and measures are adopting for procuring Translations. into Turkish Armenian and Burat Mongolian*.

When the Report was finished, his Excellency Mr. Turgeneff gave an account of the progress and success of the Bible Societies in other parts of the world, and expatiated particularly on the gigantic operations of the British and Foreign Bible Society. When the Assembly were informed that you had expended, during the twelve years of the existence of your Society, nearly eleven millions of Rubles, they were perfectly struck with astonishment. Let us unite our notes of praise, and bless the Lord together; for it is his doing, and is wonderful in our eyes."

The following Passages, translated from the President's opening Speech, have been furnished by the Rev. Robert Pinkerton.

"WERE it necessary to celebrate the opening of this Anniversary with a triumphal song, we might well now sing, Praise the Lord, O Russia, praise thy God: for he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth; his word runneth very swiftly.' In these days of poverty and want, among many nations, our native land is protected by Almighty power from without, and is internally blessed with plenty with these carthly advantages, the Lord is also opening the way for heavenly blessings. He is sending forth his commandment on earth, and causing his word to run very swiftly through the wide extended regions of Russia. The Report of the fourth year's transactions of this Society, which is about to be read to this General Meeting, of the zealous promoters of the dissemination of the written word, will show, with what rapidity this new plant is growing into a large tree. Already its roots extend from sea to sea; already many tribes and nations come and pluck the fruit of life from its boughs; even the Heathen desire it for their spiritual healing. The shade of its branches extends beyond the borders of Russia. From day to day our native land covers it with nourishing dews; the liberality of our So

* Mr. Herderson adds in a Postscript, that application has lately been made by the Missionaries at Astrachan, for copies of the Sanscrit Scriptures (printed at Serampore) for the use of Bramins, and other Indians, resident in that city, who, on examining certain Specimens, desired to be furnished with copies. A Letter, written in Hebrew, and signed by six Rabbies, has also been received, requesting Hebrew Bibles for about nine hundred Jewish families resident in the Kumak country, on the western shore of the Caspian. "Here," observes Mr. Henderson, is a fresh opening for the Hebrew Testament now

printing in London."

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