List of Officers elected Septem-years; and its exertions and ef ber, 3, 1813. fects have been wonderful, beyond example; and must excite the most lively emotions of gratitude and praise in every pious mind. In the short compass of six years from its commencement it had issued from its depository in London, more than 325,000 copies of the scriptures. In England it had printed the Hon. Jabez Bowen, Esq. President; Rev. William Patten, D. D. Right Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, D. D. John Throop Child, Esq. Ethan Clark, Esq. James Helme, Fsq. Vice-Presidents; Obadiah M. Brown, Esq. Treasurer; Thomas Burgess, Esq. Secretary; Thomas P. Ives, Esq. Thomas L. Halsey. Esq. scriptures, at its own expense, in Samuel Eddy, Esq. Mr. Abner fourteen different languages and Kingman, Walter Paine, Esq. dialects. In other parts of EuRobert Rogers, Esq. Christopher rope it had aided, by large donaFowler, Esq. Trustees. tions, the printing of them in as many more. In Asia, it had promoted, by liberal and repeated contributions, the translation and publication of them in a still greater number of languages.During the year preceding their ninth and last annual report, they had distributed 135,500 соpies of the scriptures.-40,000 of which had been distributed in Ireland. The whole amount of their receipts for the same year, including what was receiv ......... COMMUNICATION. Christian Friends and Fellow-Citizens, THE present is a new and important era in the history of the Christian Church. The Angel has gone forth, " having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Societies, numerous and res-ed from the numerous Auxiliary pectable, have been formed, and are daily forming, for the diffusion of the light of divine truth. Missionary Societies are sending forth labourers, messengers of peace, into every accessible part of the habitable globe---proclaiming--" Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." Bible Societies and religious tract Societies are co-operating in the same great design. But among all these benevolent institutions, The British and Foreign Bible Society stands preeminent. Never has the world beheld such an assemblage of talents, property and piety, united in such a design. This Society has been in operation about nine Societies in the United Kingdom, was considerably rising Three Hundred Thousand Dollars! From this Society have emanated numerous Societies of the same kind in Europe, Asia, and America. A Bible Society has lately been established in Russia, under the patronage of the Emperor Alexander. His Majesty deferred for several days, his journey to the head-quarters of his Army in order to sign the Constitution! In these United States Bible Societies have been established from New-Hampshire to NewOrleans-in almost every state in the Union. Some of these Societies have been able not only to supply the poor and the destitute within their own districts, and neighboring places; but have remitted funds, to aid the establishment in India, for the translation and publication of the holy scriptures in the various languages of the East. Some of these Societies have sent, it is believed, about one thousand Bibles into this State for gratuitous distribution. The most of these have been distributed among destitute families, and it is believed there are still many, very many, who are destitute of this invaluable treasure. Such, Christian Friends and Fellow-Citizens, are the exertions which your Brethren are making for the prosperity of the Redeemer's Kingdom in the world. Will you not then, with holy joy and gratitude and praise, lend your assistance in promoting an object so benevolentso conducive to the happiness of man and the glory of God? If it be "more blessed to give than to receive," how great must be the blessedness of those, who, from motives of pure benevolence, give the holy Scriptures? God, in his holy word, has made known his design to fill the world with the knowledge of his glory. And the unusual spirit of prayer and of exertion, which he has given to his people of late years, is an happy presage of the speedy accomplishment of his glorious design. When Kings and Conquerors defer the work of human slaughter to organize Bible Societies, who, that ever reads the Bible, does not refer to the predictions of that happy time when "Kings shall be nursing fathers, and Queens nursing mothers to the Church !" The institution which has been recently formed in this State now calls for your friendly assistance and co-operation. It has been commenced under circumstances the most pleasing and promising. Christians of various denominations have united as a band of brothers; and we have good reason to hope, that the institution will be productive of very happy effects, not only by communicating good to others, but by diffusing a spirit of Christian love and fellowship among ourselves; and promoting that "charity which is the bond of perfectness." Let all then, who wish well to Zion-all who wish to make their fellow-men wise, and good, and happy, cheerfully unite in this "strife of love." And may all such, of all denominations, unite their prayers and exertions for the universal diffusion of the the word of life-and may He, with whom is the residue of the Spirit graciously hear their prayers and bless their exertions" until the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High God," and "there shall be one Lord and his name one throughout all the earth." A FRIEND TO THE BIBLE. Virginia Bible Society. Ar a meeting of sundry citizens, convened by previous pablic notice, at the Capitol, in the City of Richmond on Tuesday, June 22d, 1813. The Reverend John Buchanan was appointed Chairman, and William Munford Secretary of the meeting. On motion of the Reverend John D. Blair, seconded, by the Reverend John H. Rice. Resolved, by the members present that they will now form themselves into an Association, for the distribution of the Sacred Scriptures among the destitute and poor in our Country, and among the Heathen. CONSTITUTION OF A BIBLE SOCIETY, established in the City of Richmond. 1. The title of this Society shall be, 'THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA.' 2. The object of the Society is the distribution of Bibles and Testaments to the poor in our Country, and to the Heathen. 3. The version of the Scriptures procured for distribution shall be that in common use; except when it is thought expedient to distribute copies in foreign languages, in which case, regard shall always be had to fidelity in the translation to the originals; and, in every case, the scriptures distributed shall be without note or comment. general meeting; and in default of any such election, shall continue in office until an election shall take place. 5. The managers of this Society shall meet on their own adjournments; and in case of the absence of the President and both the Vice-Presidents, the members present shall appoint a President pro-tempore. 6. In case of the resignation, death, or disability of any of the managers of this Society, the vacancy shall be supplied by the remaining managers until the next regular election. 7. Persons of every religious Creed or denomination may become members of this Society, upon paying five dollars subscription money, and binding themselves to pay four dollars annually, so long as they choose to continue in the Society. The payment, however, of fifty dollars, in advance, shall, without any farther contribution, constitute a person member for life. 8. The duty of the managers of this Society shall be to purchase and distribute Bibles and Testaments to the poor and to the Heathen, in the way that shall appear to them best calculated to supply the spiritual wants of the objects of this charity; and they shall keep a regular account of all their proceedings and expenditures; of which they shall lay a report bofore the Society at its annual 4. There shall be thirteen managers of the affairs of the Society; to wit, a President, two Vice-Presidents, a corres-meetings. ponding Secretary, a recording 9. There shall be held a genSecretary, a Treasurer, and seven other members; -a majority of whom shall constitute a Board for dispatch of business.-All the said officers shall be annually elected by the members at a VOD. VI. No. 10. eral meeting of the Society, on the first Tuesday in April, in each year, at the Capitol in the City of Richmond, or at such other place as the managers shall appoint. Zz 10. The President, or, in case, also, to correspond with such of his absence or disability, cither of the Vice-Presidents, shall have power, at the request of any three managers, to call a gencral meeting of the Society at any time; of which notice shall be given in at least two of the public papers of this City, and at least four weeks previous to the said meeting. 11. No officer of this Society shall ever receive a pecuniary compensation for his services. 12. Two thirds of the members of this Society may make alterations in this Constitution, when it may be expedient; except that the third article shall be unchangeable. 13. At every meeting of the Society each member shall be entitled to one vote, and no more, whatever may be the amount of his subscription. The Society proceeded to the election of managers, in conformity with the fourth Article of the said Constitution; whereupon, the Reverend John Buchanan was elected President; the Rev. J. D. Blair and Jacob Grigg, Vice-Presidents; the Rev. John H. Rice, Corresponding Secretary; William Munford, Recording Secretary; Samuel Greenhow, Treasurer; and Archibald Blair, William Mayo, Robert Quarles, George Watt, the Reverend John Bryce, William Fenwick and Alexander M'Rae, the seven other managers. Resolved, that it he enjoined on the managers of this Institution, and recommended to the members generally, to furnish themselves with subscription papers, and use their best endeavors to procure subscribers; and gentlemen, in various parts of the State, as may be likely to take an active part in the diffusion of the Sacred Scriptures; with the view of inducing them to use their best exertions to establish Auxiliary Bible Societies, in various parts of the Country, to co-operate with this as the parent institution. And then the meeting adjourned. JOHN BUCHANAN, Chairman. JACOB GREGG, Teste, Vice-Presidents. WM. MUNFORD, Secretary. London Missionary Society. (Concluded from p. 350.) THE state of religion at Cape Town appears to be encouraging, especially among the soldiers.Mr. Thom preaches to them with great acceptance and usefulness; and they have addressed a letter to the Directors, earnestly requesting that he may continue at the Cape as their stated minister. No sooner had he landed, than a quantity of books, to the value of nearly 200l., which he took out of India, were purchased by the soldiers, many of whom are of the 93d regiment, (Scots Higlanders). Mr. Milne, the intended assistant of Mr. Morrison, with Mrs. M. who had arrived safely at the Cape, sailed from thence for the Isle of France on the 26th of January. On the whole, we have every reason to hope that the missions in Africa, especially when they, Church of Scotland, and of the shall have been regulated by the judicious arrangements of Mr. Campbell, will, with the divine blessing, be productive of the most beneficial effects. INDIA. THE Directors now beg leave to lead your attention to that part of the habitable globe which has lately, more than ever, interested the feelings of the religous world.... British India....a country said to contain sixty millions of the human race, most of whom are in a deplorable state of moral degradation, in consequence of that system of gross error and horrible superstition which prevails among them, and from which it has been the highest ambition of this Society, in common with similar associations of their fellow-christians, to labor to deliver them. How far it may please the great Ruler of the world to influence the Legislature of this country in removing the present obstructions to the labors of Missionaries, and to facilitate their future operations, we cannot at present determine; but the Directors have never, for a single moment, lost sight of this great object, which was so strongly recommended to their vigilant attention at our last Annual Meeting; but have faithfully represented to his Majesty's min-❘ isters the wishes of this Society that, in case of the renewal of the Charter of the East India Company, some provision to the following effect may be introduced....viz. "It shall be lawful for Missionaries and Ministers of the Church of England, of the several denominations of protestand Dissenters, duly recommended by the respective bodies to which they belong, to procced to India, and reside there, under the protection of Government, while they conduct themselves in a peaceable and prudent manner, for the purpose of diffusing among the inhabitants of that country the knowledge of Christianity, as well as for the religious advantage of British subjects of all denominations resident in India." And although the Directors were empowered, by your resolution last year, to present petitions, in the name of the Society at large, to both houses of parliament on this important subject, they thought it preferable to convene a General Special Meeting of the members of the Society resident in and about London, which took place on the 5th day of April last, and was numerously attended. The Resolutions formed on that occasion, and the petitions then adopted, have already been generally circulated, and will also appear in the Appendix to this Report, as a memorial of that Christian philanthropy which warms the heart of every member of this Institution. It is proper also to mention that not in London only, but in a great number of places throughout the country, the members and friends of this Society, as well as their fellow-christians of various denominations, have manifested the same pious zeal by their petitions to parliament for the same purpose. Leaving to the disposal and control of the great Head of the church those legislative proceed |