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ble Society.

At a meeting of Delegates from different Bible Societies, convened in the Consistory Room of the Reformed Dutch Church in the city of New-York, on the 8th day of May, 1816; JosЯUA M. WALLACE, Esq of New-Jersey, was chosen President of the Convention, and the Rev. Dr. JOHN B. ROMEYN, and Rev. LYMAN BEECHER, Secretaries.

The meeting was then opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. NoTT.

The following persons appeared as Delegates.

yourselves. It is done, I believe, res- Formation of the American Bipectfully; certainly the intention is such and only upon that ground of equality where we all take the same rank-fallible, fallen men, ever liable to err. Your communication views me of an "unsound mind," and within the " snare of the devil." I speak not of the deep reproach this would heap on me; but simply ask, where does it place many who, even in Dr. Owen's day, and since, have combatted the idea that "God is bound, in strict justice, in respect of his Son Jesus Christ, to confer grace and glory Rev. Dr, S. Spring, from the Merrimack on all those for whom he died," and Bible Society; Rev. Mr. Humphreys, Rev. Dr. I. Lewis, Fairfield do.; Rev. Dr. John that "he died only for the elect?"-M. Mason, Rev. Dr. Philip Milledoler, Where does it place Baxter and Ush- Rev. Dr. John B. Romeyn, Rev. Mr. J. Wiler; where Pierce and Fuller; where liams, Rev. Mr. Gardiner Spring, NewMagee, Hall, and Wardlaw; & where Fork do.; Rev. Dr. Bradford, Rev. Dr. a large proportion of the Rev, Divines Neill, Rev. Mr. Chester, Albany do; Mr. William Williams, Gen. John Lincklaen, of the American Church? Indeed, Oneida do.; Rev. Andrew Oliver, Rev. Eli Reverend Sirs, I cannot view myself F. Cooley, Mr. James Cooper, Otsego do.; that "misguided youth" you believe, Mr. Guysbert B. Vroom, Mr. Henry W. nor think myself presumptuous in hav-Warner, Mr. W. C. Mulligan, Mr. Robert ing some confidence in my opinions, when in casting my eye over orthodox Christendom, I behold such vast portions of the Church professing the doctrines you condemn-behold them in England and Ireland, establishment and dissenters, in Scotland and Amer

Sedgwick, New-York Auxiliary do.; Rev.
Dr. Nott, Union College do.; Rev. Dr. S.
Blatchford, Rensselaer and Saratoga Bible
Societies; Rev. Dr. J. Bassett, Rev. Mr.
Sayre, Rev. Mr. D. S. Bogart, Mr. A. Van
Sinderin, Mr. Charles Wright, Long-Island
do. Rev. R. Forest, Delaware do.; Mr.
Levi Callender, Mr. Orin Day, Greene do. ;
Mr. Joshua M. Wallace, Mr. Samuel Bay-

ica. ard, Rev. Dr. J. Richards, Rev. Mr. G. S. With grateful respect, yours, I trust, Woodhull, Rev. J. McDowell, New-Jersey in the bonds of a tie which opiniondo.; Mr. Thomas J. Biggs, Mr. J. W. Platt, cannot sever; but which shall last long after the last sound of clashing opinions shall have died away,

LORING D. DEWEY.

P. S. Immediately on the receipt of your communication, I commenced this reply. I afterwards hesitated; but further consideration pronounced it a duty I owed to myself, that you might || better understand my views. It will not be considered to have any respect to that part of your decision which pronounces it "peremptory, and not to be altered." I am sorry it is made, or rather that there is a difference, but I never should have attempted to have altered it.

L. D. D.

Nassau-Hall do.; Rev. Mr. David Jones, Mr. J.C. Hornblower, Newark do. Mr. John E. Caldwell, Female Bible Society of Burlington and do. of Kingston; Rev. Mr. S. Wilmer, Gloucester Bible Society; Mr. M. S. Clarke, Franklin do. Rev. Mr. J. H. Rice, Virginia, Frederick, Norfolk, and Petersburgh Bible Societies; Mr. W. Burd, Lynchburgh do.; Rev. Dr. Hall North-Carolina do.; Rev. Dr. J. Blythe, Kentucky do.; Mr. H. Ford, Cayuga do.; Rev. Dr A. Proudfit, Washington County, N. Y. do.

The following gentlemen, though not formally commissioned as Delegates, yet appearing, from satisfactory evidence, to be substantial representatives of their respective Societies, or of a number of members thereof, for all the purposes contemplated by this convention, were admitted to seats,

viz.

Rev. Lyman Beecher, Mr. Ichabod Skinner, Rev. Mr. N. W. Taylor, Connecticut Bible Society; Rev. Dr. J. Morse, from the

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Middlesex, New-Humpshire, and Dartmouth | Vice-Presidents-Hon. John Jay, MatUniversity Bible Societies; Mr. William thew Clarkson, Esq. Hon. Smith ThompJay, from the West-Chester Auxiliary Bible son, of New-York; Hon. John Langdon, of Society; Rev. Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Joshua New-Hampshire; Hon. Caleb Strong, Hon. Sands, Gen. Swift, Bible and Common Pray-William Gray, of Massachusetts; Hon. er-Book Society of Long-Island.

The following gentlemen were also re ceived as members, viz.

John Murray, jr. Thomas Eddy, John Griscom, Dr. Valentine Mott, of the Sotiety of Friends. On motion,

Resolved unanimously, That it is expedient to establish, without delay, a general Bible Institution, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment. A committee consisting of Dr. NOTT,|| Dr. MASON, Mr. BAYARD, Mr. WILMER, Mr. BEECHER, CHARLES WRIGHT, Mr. RICE, Mr. JONES, Dr. MORRE, Mr. JAY, and Dr. BLYTHE, was appointed to prepare the plan of a constitution of the said Society; and an address to the public, on the nature and objects thereof.

And the convention adjourned until the morning of Friday, the 11th inst. at eleven o'clock.

John Cotton Smith, of Connecticut; Hon. Jonas Galusha, of Vermont; Hon. William Jones, of Rhode-Island; Hon. Isaac Shelby, George Madison, Esq. of Kentucky; Hon. William Tilghman, of Pennsylvania; Hon. Bushrod Washington, William Wirt, Esq. of Virginia; Hon. Charles C. Pinckney, of South-Carolina; Hon. William Gaston, of North-Carolina; Hon. Thomas Worthington, of Ohio; Hon. Thomas Posey, of Indiana; Hon. James Brown, of Louisiana; John Bolton, Esq. of Georgia, Hon. Felix Grundy, of Tennessee; Robert Oliver, Esq. of Maryland; Joseph Nourse, Esq. of the District of Columbia.

Secretary for Foreign CorrespondenceRev. Dr. John M. Mason.

Secretary for Domestic CorrespondenceRev. Dr. John B Romeyn.

Treasurer-Richard Varick. Esq.

Information of the above choice was com. The convention met according to ad- municated by a committee of the managers journment, and their committee laid be- to the convention, who having before refore them the draft of a constitution, which solved, that the first annual meeting of the having been read first in the whole and af-" American Bible Society "be held in the terwards by paragraphs; and carefully considered, was unanimously adopted; and is hereunto annexed.

The committee reported also an address to the public, which in like manner was unanimously approved, and is hereunto annexed.

city of New-York; and the business of the convention being now accomplished, their meeting was closed with prayer, by the Rev. Mr. WILMER, and the convention was dissolved.

CONSTITUTION.

The convention then proceeded to the I. This Society shall be known by choice of managers of the American Bible the name of THE AMERICAN BISociety for the current year, and the follow-BLE SOCIETY, of which the sole ing persons were unanimously chosen, viz.

Henry Rutgers, John Bingham, Richard object shall be to encourage a wider Varick, Thomas Farmar, Stephen Van circulation of the Holy Scriptures withRensselaer, Samuel Boyd, George Suckley, out note or comment. The only copDivie Bethune, William Bayard, Peteries in the English language to be cirMcCarty, Thomas Shields, Robert Ralston, culated by the Society, shall be of the John R. B. Rodgers, Dr. Peter Wilson, version now in common use. Jeremiah Evarts, John Watts, M. D. Thomas Eddy, William Johnson, Ebenezer Burrill, Andrew Gifford, George Gosman, Thomas Carpenter, Leonard Bleecker, John Cauldwell, Rufus King. Thomas Stokes, Joshua Sands, George Warner, De Witt Clinton, John Warder, Samuel Bay ard, Duncan P. Campbell, John Aspinwall, John Murray, jr. Charles Wright, Cornel ius Heyer.

After due notice of their appointment, the managers met in the City Hall, on the 11th May, and unanimously elected the folowing persons to the offices for which they are named respectively.

President-Hon. ELIAS BOUDINOT, of New-Jersey.

II. This Society shall add its endeavors to those employed by other Societies, for circulating the Scriptures throughout the United States and their territories; and shall furnish them with stereotype plates, or such other assistance as circumstances may require. This Society shall also, accoring to its ability, extend its influence to other countries, whether Christian, Mahometan, or Pagan.

III. All Bible Societies shall be allowed to purchase at cost from the Society, Bibles for distribution within

their own districts. The members of ciety, on the second Tuesday of May, all such Bible Societies as shall agree in each year; when the Managers to place their surplus revenue, after shall be chosen, the accounts presentsupplying their own districts with Bi-ed, and the proceedings of the foregobles, at the disposal of this Society, ing year reported. shall be entitled to vote in all meetings

XII. The President, Vice-Presidents, of the Society; and the officers of Treasurers and Secretaries, for the such Societies shall be ex officio di- time being, shall be considered ex offirectors of this. cio, members of the Board of Mana

IV. Each subscriber of three dol-gers. lars annually, shall be a member.,

XIII. At the general meetings of the

V. Each subscriber of thirty dol-Society, and the meetings of the Manlars at one time shall be a member for agers, the President, or in his absence, life. the Vice-President first on the lift then

VI. Each subscriber of fifteen dol-present; and in the absence of the lars annually shall be a director. Vice-Presidents, such member as shall VII. Each subscriber of one hun-be appointed for that purpose, shall dred and fifty dollars at one time, or preside at the meeting. who shall, by one additional payment, XIV. The Managers shall meet on increase his original subscription to one the first Wednesday in each month, or hundred and fifty dollars, shall be a di-oftener, if necessary, at such place in rector for life. the city of New-York, as they shall from time to time adjourn to.

VIII. Directors shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Board of Managers.

XV. The Managers shall have the power of appointing such persons as have rendered essential services to the Society, either members for life, or Directors for life.

XVI. The whole minutes of every meeting shall be signed by the chairman.

IX. A Board of Managers shall be appointed to conduct the business of the Society, consisting of thirty-six Laymen, of whom twenty-four shall reside in the city of New-York or its vicinity. One fourth part of the whole number shall go out of office at the expiration of each year, but shall be re-to this Constitution, except by the Soeligible. ciety at an annual meeting, on the recommendation of the Board of Managers.

Every Minister of the Gospel, who is a member of the Society, shall be entitled to meet and vote with the Board of Managers, and be possessed of the same powers as a manager himself.

The Managers shall appoint all officers, and call special general meetings, and fill such vacancies as may occur, by death or otherwise, in their own Board.

XVII. No alteration shall be made

Address to the People of the U. States.

Every person of observation has remarked that the times are pregnant with great events. The political world has undergone changes stupendous, unexpected, and calculated to inspire thoughtful men with the most boding anticipations.

X. Each member of the Society That there are in reserve, occurrenshall be entitled, under the direction ces of deep, of lasting, and of general of the Board of Managers, to purchase interest, appears to be the common Bibles and Testaments at the Socie-sentiment. Such a sentiment has not ty's prices, which shall be as low as been excited without a cause, and does possible. not exist without an object. The cause XI. The annual meetings of the is to be sought in that providence Society, shall be held at New-York.or which adapts, with wonderful exactiPhiladelphia, at the option of the So-tude, means to ends; and the object

is too plain to be mistaken by those who carry a sense of religion in their speculations upon the present and the future condition of our afflicted race.

ing to the adversaries of truth and piety; and most encouraging to every e-, vangelical effort, on the surface of the globe.

An excitement as extraordinary as it is No spectacle can be so illustrious in powerful, has roused the nations to the itself, so touching to man, or so grateimportance of spreading the knowl-ful to God, as a nation pouring forth

its devotion, its talents, and its treasure, for that kingdom of the Saviour, which is righteousness and peace.

edge of the one living and true God, as revealed in his Son, the Mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus. This excitement is more worthy of no- If there be a single measure which tice, as it has followed a period of phi- can overrule objection, subdue oppolosophy, falsely so called, and has gone sition, and command exertion, this is in the track of those very schemes, the measure. That all our voices, all which, under the imposing names of our affections, all our hands should be reason and liberality, were attempting joined in the grand design of promoto seduce mankind from all which can ting "peace on earth and good will bless the life that is, or shed a cheering toward man"-that they should reradiance on the life that is to come. sist the advance of misery-should We hail the re-action, as auspicious carry the light of instruction into the to whatever is exquisite in human en- dominions of ignorance, and the balm joyment, or precious to human hope. of joy to the soul of anguish; and all We would fly to the aid of all that is this by diffusing the oracles of God— holy, against all that is profane. Of the addresses to the understanding an arpurest interest of the community, of gument which cannot be encountered, the family, and the individual, against and to the heart an appeal which its the conspiracy of darkness, disas- holiest emotions rise up to second. ter, and death-to help on the mighty work of Christian charity—to claim our place in the age of Bibles.

Under such impressions, and with such views, fathers, brethren, fellow-citizens, the American Bible Society has been formed. Local feelings, party prejudices, sectarian prejudices, are excluded by its very nature.

Its

We have, indeed, the secondary praise, but still the praise, of treading in the footsteps of those who have set an example without a parallel-an ex-members are leagued in that, and in ample of the most unbounded benevolence and beneficence: and it cannot be to us a source of any pain, that it has been set by those who are of one blood with the most of ourselves; and has been embodied in a form so noble and so Catholic, as "The British and Foreign Bible Society.".

that alone, which calls up every hallowed, and puts down every unhallowed principle-the dissemination of the Scriptures in the received versions where they exist, and in the most faithful where they may be required. In such a work, whatever is dignified, kind, venerable, true, has ample scope: while sectarian littleness and rivalries can find no avenue of admission.

The impulse which that institution, ten thousand times more glorious than all the exploits of the sword, has giv-|| The only question is, whether an en to the conscience of Europe, and to object of such undisputed magnitude, the slumbering hope of millions in the can be best attained by a national Soregion and shadow of death, demon-ciety, or by independent associations, strates to Christians of every country in friendly understanding and correswhat they cannot do by insulated zeal;pondence. and what they can do by co-operation.

Without entering into the details of

In the United States we want noth-this inquiry, we may be permitted to ing but concert to perform achieve-state, in a few words, our reasons of ments astonishing to ourselves, dismay-preference to a national Society sup

ported by local Societies and by indi- and pleasure, every opportunity of viduals throughout our country. raying out, by means of the Bible, acConcentrated action is powerfal ac- cording to their ability, the light of life tion. The same powers, when appli- and immortality, to such parts of the ed by a common direction, will pro-world, as are destitute of the blessing, duce results impossible to their divided and are within their reach. In this and partial exercise. A national ob-high vocation, their ambition is to be ject unites national feeling and concur- fellow-workers with them who are felrence. Unity of a great system com-low-workers with God.

People of the United Stales,

bines energy of effect with economy of means. Accumulated intelligence HAVE you ever been invited to an interests and animates the public mind. enterprise of such graudeur and glory? And the Catholic efforts of a country, Do you not value the Holy Scriptures? thus harmonized, give her a place in Value them as containing your sweetthe moral convention of the world;-est hope; your most thrilling joy ?and enable her to act directly upon the Can you submit to the thought that universal plans of happiness which are you should be torpid in your endeavnow pervading the nations. ours to disperse them, while the rest of It is true, that the prodigious territo-|| Christendom is awake and alert? Shall ry of the United States--the increase you hang back, in heartless indifferof their population, which is gaining ence, when Princes come down from every day upon their moral cultivation, their thrones, to bless the cottage of and the dreadful consequences which the poor with the Gospel of peace ;— will ensue from a people's outgrowing and Imperial Sovereigns are gathering the knowledge of eternal life, and re- their fairest honours from spreading verting to a species of heathenism, abroad the oracles of the Lord your which shall have all the address and God? Is it possible that you should profligacy of civilized society, without not see, in this state of human things, any religious control, present a sphere a mighty motion of Divine Providence? of action, which may for a long time The most heavenly charity treads employ and engross the cares of this close upon the march of conflict and Society, and of all the local Bible So-blood! The world is at peace! Scarce cieties of the land. has the soldier time to unbind his helmet, and to wipe away the sweat from his brow, ere the voice of mercy succeeds to the clarion of battle, and calls the nations from enmity to love! Crowned heads bow to the Head which is to wear "many crowns ;" and for the first time since the promulgation of Christianity, appear to act in unison for the recognition of its gracious principles, as being fraught alike with happiness to man and honour to God.

In the distinct anticipation of such an urgency, one of the main objects of the American Bible Society, is, not merely to provide a sufficiency of well printed and accurate editions of the Scriptures; but also to furnish great districts of the American continent with well executed stereotype plates, for their cheap and extensive diffusion throughout. regions which are now scantily supplied at a discouraging expense; and which, nevertheless, open a wide and prepared field for the reception of revealed truth.

What has created so strange, so be neficent an alteration? This is, no Yet, let it not be supposed, that ge- doubt, the doing of the Lord, and it is ographical or political limits are to be marvelous in our eyes. But what inthe limits of the American Bible Socie-strument has he thought fit chiefly to ty. That designation is meant to in- use? That which contributes, in all latdicate, not the restriction of their la-latitudes and climes, to make chrisbour, but the source of its emanation. tians feel their unity, to rebuke the They will embrace, with thankfulness spirit of strife, and to open upon them

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