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be granted to the East India Company, as shall afford sufficient opportunities to those benevolent persons who shall be desirous of going to India, for the purpose of communicating to its population the blessings of Christian light and moral improvement ;-and also such provisions as shall prevent the obstruction of their endeavours for promoting their object in that country, so long as they shall concluct themselves in a peaceable and orderly manner.

"That a deputation of the members of this Society be appointed to wait on his Majesty's Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Earl of Buckinghamshire, the President to the Board of Controul, to solicit their support to the objects of the foregoing Resolution, and the honour of conferring with them on the means of attaining those objects, so far as this Society is concerned. And also that the deputation be empowered to wait on any others of His Majesty's ministers, and on any of the Members of either House of Parliament, to whom they may deem it expedient to apply.

"That the Governors and Treasurer of this Society be a deputation forthe purposes mentioned in the foregoing resolutions, and that they be empowered to avail themselves of the assistance of any other member of the Society whom they may think proper."

The above resolutions were moved or seconded by Henry Thornton, Esq. M. P.; William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P.; the Right Hon. Lord Calthorpe; Thomas Babington, Esq. M. P.; C. Noel Noel, Esq. M. P.; T. R. Kemp, Esq. M. P.; James Stephen, Esq. M. P.; Sir Thomas Baring, Bart. M. P.; and other gentlemen.

The Anniversary Sermon before the same Society will be preached on Whit-Tuesday next, the 19th day of May, 1812, by the Rev. William Goode, M. A. at his parish church of St. Andrew by the Wardrobe and St. Anne Blackfriars. Service will begin at eleven o'clock. A collection will be made, after the sermon, for the benefit of the institution.-At two o'clock, the Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside; when the Committee will report the proceedings of the

year.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this Society will be held at the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, on Wednesday the 6th of May, 1812, at eleven o'clock, when the proceedings in the committee dur

ing the last year will be reported; and other business connected with the general meeting transacted. The president will take the chair precisely at twelve o'clock.

WALLINGFORD AUXILIARY BIBLE

SOCIETY.

We have much satisfaction in recordingthe formation of an Auxiliary Bible Society at Wallingford, Berks, on January 7. The venerable J. Allnatt, Esq. the mayor, was unanimously called to the chair, and he shortly, but pathetically, stated the happiness he felt in calling the attention of a respectable meeting to the important object of the society. The Rev. Mr. Fisher, a neighbouring clergyman, defended his own views and motives in taking so active a part, and adverted to the great cause of the parent institution with considerable force of argument. Mr. Alderman Aliuatt followed with an impressive speech, and read several communications from the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, who accepted the presidency of the Wallingford Auxiliary Society; from the Bishop of Durham; W. L. Hughes, Esq. M. P.; Admiral Manley; and Col. Tilson, who all approved of the proceedings relative to its formation. The London Secretaries spoke with their accustomed eloquence and effect. Mr. Recorder Machiness wondered how any rational man could entertain an objection against such a society, and which met with the full approbation of his heart. The Rev. Messrs. Marsh and Stewart, clergymen, and the Rev. J. Raban, dissenting minister, adver tedto various topics connected with this interesting cause with considerable point and effect. The day proved extremely unpropitious; but the very respectable company left the town-hall with mingled emotions of delight and gratitude. The subscriptions and donations amounted to nearly 2001; and they have since been much augmented.

YORK AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

holden at York, which ended in the forma On the 29th of January, a meeting was tion of an Auxiliary Bible Society for that city and its neighbourhood. The Hon. Lawrence Dundas, the Lord Mayor of York, and its representative in parliament, was in the chair, and has accepted the office of president. The vice-presidents are: — R. J. Thompson, Esq., Rev. W. Richardson, Dr. Wake, and A. Thorpe, Esq.; the treasurers, T. Swann, Esq. and J. Tweedy, Esq.; and the secretaries, W. Gray, Esq. and the Rev. J. Graham. Near 1200l. had been sub

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scribed in about a month after the formation that had been urged against it by its oppo

: of the Society.

An interesting report of the proceedings of this meeting has been published in a separate pamphlet. The speeches delivered on the occasion are marked by the same ardent zeal in the best of causes, and the same strength of argument in its favour, which we have so often had occasion to notice on similar occasions. The chief speakers were, besides the Lord Mayor, Martin Stapylton, Esq.; the Rev. John Richardson; the Rev. John Overton; the Rev. J. Graham; Mr. G. Smith; W. Grey, Esq.; Dr. Wake; R. J. Thompson, Esq.; J. Pemberton, Esq.; Mr. H. Tuke; and the Rev. C. Wellbeloved. And we only regret that our limits, and the press of important religious intelligence, should prevent our even attempting to do justice to them.

BRADFORD AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

An Auxiliary Bible Society was lately formed in the town of Bradford (Yorkshire) and its vicinity, by the united exertions of all classes of the inhabitants. No symptom of any diversity of opinion discovered itself. All denominations joined together" as one man," in the glorious object of assisting to distribute the pure word of God at home and abroad. The Rev. J. Crosse, vicar of the parish church, was unanimously chosen as the president; John Hardy, Esq. kindly undertook the office of secretary; and a committee was formed, consisting of ministers of various denominations, and a select number of the gentlemen resident in the town aud neighbourhood. The subscriptions were extremely liberal.

STAFFORDSHIRE AUXILIARY BIBLE

SOCIETY.

On the 8th instant, a numerous meeting was held in the County Hall at Stafford, for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society for Staffordshire. The High Sheriff, Mr. Mottershaw, proposed that Thomas Lister, Esq. should be called to the chair, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Lister opened the business at considerable length; and in a very able, perspicuous, and eloquent speech, fraught with the noblest sentiments, recommended to the meeting the institution of the proposed society. He was followed by the three Secretaries of the Parent Society, by the Rev. Mr. Gisborne, and many others, who distinguished themselves by a luminous exposition of the benefits accruing from the British and Foreign Bible Society, and a convincing refutation of the objections

nents. The usual resolutions were put, and carried unanimously. Viscount Anson was appointed President; the following noblemen and gentlemen Vice-Presidents, viz. Earl Ferrers; the Earl of Dartmouth; the Earl of Harrowby; Viscount Curzon ; Viscount Valentia; Lord Grey; Lord Bradford; Lord G. L. Gower, M. P.; the Hon. Edward Monckton, M. P.; Sir Edward Littleton, Bart. M. P.; Sir William Wolseley, Bart.; Sir John Wrottesley, Bart.; Sir John Chetwode, Bart.; Sir George Pigot, Bart; Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart. M. P.; Sir Robert Peel, Bart. M. P.; Sir John Edensor Heathcote; the Archdeacon of Stafford; Robert Peel, Esq. M. P.; Walter Sneyd, Esq.; Richard Dyott, Esq.; Jolin Lane, Esq.; Thomas Lister, Esq.; Thomas Swinnerton, Esq.; William Philips Inge, Esq; George Tollet, Esq.; W. H. C. Floyer, Esq.; John Sparrow, Esq.; William Sneyd, Esq.; Edward Jervis Ricketts, Esq.; Edward Grove, Esq.; Theophilus Levett, Esq

G. Chetwynd and T. Mottershaw, Esquires, were chosen joint Treasurers; and the Rev. E. Whitby, the Rev. W. Harding, the Rev. G. Harris, and Mr. J. Hurball, Secretaries.

By the particular desire of the meeting, communicated to him by the Chairman, Mr. Gisborne has been prevailed on to publish the substance of the speech which he deliWe have been so vered on this occasion. fortunate as to receive a copy of it in time to add a few extracts which cannot fail to prove highly interesting to our readers, and which, we trust, will serve as an inducement to them to peruse the whole *.

In proof of the deficiency of Bibles existing at home, one of the main points now at issue between the Biblists and Antibiblists, Mr. Gisborne produced the fact, that in consequence of an actual enumeration of the families in the diocese of Durham in want of Bibles, which was made by desire of the Bishop, it appeared that the number amounted to 5800. If this be considered as a fair ground of computation for all the other dioceses in the kingdom, the number of families in England and Wales in want of Bibles will amount to more than 350,000, or nearly two millions of individuals. Now considering the local circumstances of Durham, and the character and knowu munificence of its Bishop, there will be no reason to suppose that it is in a state, as to the diffusion of the Scriptures, inferior to the average condi. tion of England and Wales.—Mr. Gisborne

* It is published for Cadell and Davies.

stated some farther facts which equally tend to this conclusion, that "the actual deficiency of Bibles in this kingdom is of such magnitude as no common apprehension had anticipated."

In discussing the important question how this vold is to be filled, Mr. Gisborne adverts, with becoming expressions of commendation, to the beneficent labours of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, of which he himself has been a member for twentysix years. He then proceeds thus.

"That the Society for promoting Christian knowledge is altogether incompetent to furnish to the poor of this country the requisite supply of the Scriptures, is demonstrated by the actual state of the poor at this moment with respect to the Scriptures; a state which I have recently laid before you; a state which is subsisting when the society in question has been employing its exertions during one hundred and ten years; when during the last eight years those exertions have been vigorously seconded by the ope. rations of the British and Foreign Bible Society; when during more than thirty of the last years those exertions have been succoured by the labours of yet another society, to which I shall speedily have occa sion to advert. In declaring these facts, in drawing the inevitable conclusion from them, am I imputing blame to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge? If I am imputing blame to that society, I am imputing it to myself. No idea is more remote from my mind, than that of imputing blame to the society. It has been powerfully and extensively beneficial. But a very large portion of its revenues is necessarily absorbed in the other objects which belong to its institution; the distribution of Prayer-books, the circulation of religious tracts, and the encouragement of charity schools. And though it has of late obtained, and I rejoice that it has obtained, an extraordinary accession of subscribers and of annual income; yet I apprehend that if we contemplate the very great augmentation of the number of the people, and the increase which has taken place in the price of paper, and in all the articles and expences of printing, it will be found that the existing revenues of the Society, under the existing prices and the existing population, will not enable it to effect more in proportion towards the supply of the Scriptures for the poor, than it was capable of effecting twenty years ago with its former revenue, under the former prices and the former population.

"It is manifest then, that if the void is to

be filled, additional means, new means, means more large, more comprehensive, more efficacious are indispensable.

"It is here that the British and Foreign Bible Society stands forward.

"Some persons, Sir, have been disposed to occupy themselves in speculating, whether equal good with respect to the distribution of the Scriptures among our poor might not have been accomplished by a farther increase of subscriptions to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, as by the institution of the British and Foreign Bible Society. That good will result from every addition to the income of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, I am persuaded. But, in my judgment, there is not the shadow of a doubt on the conclusion, that it would be vain to anticipate an equal amount of good from an enlargement of the funds of that Society, as from the zeal and the energy of an institution formed on the broad and harmonizing principle of uniting, in one line of exertion, Christians of every descriptioà, Christians who, setting apart the matters of opinion in which their sentiments may differ, co-operate with hand and heart in the grand object in which they are all agreed, the dissemination, through this country and through every country, of the pure word of God. But such speculations are idle; they are worse than idle. They are idle, because the question is decided: the British and Fo. reign Bible Society is in existence. They are worse than idle: because they delay and discourage us from entering instantly on the great and glorious work which demends all our exertions. The British and Foreign Bible Society is not in speculation, but in existence. It is not in possibility, but in energetic operation. The acorn is sown; it has put forth its root; it has shot up its stem; it has risen into a majestic oak, whose top daily ascends nearer and nearer to the skies, and whose branches are stretching them selves across the world. The question is not, whether the tree shall be planted : It is planted. The question is not, whether the tree may flourish: It does flourish. The only question is, whether we shall take to ourselves a portion of the honour and of the delight of watering its roots; of instra. mentally forwarding its growth; of contributing to the expansion of its branches, till all the unprovided poor, the scripturally und provided poor, at home and abroad, shall rest and rejoice under its canopy."

Mr. Gisborne noticed and disproved the unfounded objection which has been raised to the Bible Society, as if it were opposed to

Are Dis

the Society for promoting Christian Know- are associated with Dissenters. ledge. "I understand not," he adds, "this senters then a body of men with whom no jealousy between my right hand and my communication can be held? Are they a left. The two societies are two sisters, body of men with whom a Churchman is partly having one object in common, partly in no instance to have intercourse? Are they having each of them an object peculiar to a body of men to be interdicted from the herself. Let them proceed throughout the use of fire and water? Are they a body of kingdom hand in hand, from county to men, who, if they engage in a good work, county, from village to village, from cot-pollute it? Are they a body of men with tage to cottage, scattering the sacred vo- whom if a Churchman engages in a good lume. And when for a season they sepa- work, he is polluted? Or is it only in the rate, each for the discharge of her peculiar distribution of the Scriptures, that we office; when the one, turning inland, be- are to fly from the possibility of contact gins her distribution of the Liturgy, and of with them? Are we to unite with them in her smaller religious publications, and in- subscribing to an infirmary; are we to cospects the state of her schools of charity: operate in establishing a soup-shop; are we and the other, bearing to the coast, ascends to join our exertions in the support of all lothe vessel and crosses the ocean to commu- cal charities; are we to desire the aid of nicate the Gospel to both hemispheres, from their bayonets in our battles on shore, and the north to the south, from the east to the of their cutlasses on the decks of our ships; west; each may well bid the other God are we to go hand in hand with them in speed; each may well look after the other every circumstance, except in the donation with a complacent eye; each may well re- of a Bible? Is this reason, is it equity, joice when again they meet on British is it candour, is it common sense? But ground, and pursue their united labours as this intercourse, it is said, will endanger before." the Church, and forward the progress of dissent. Were I a Dissenter, possibly I might think that there is something in the argument; but in the mouth of members or the Establishment, the proposition is indeed marvellous! Am I to conceive, that, in proportion as more shall be known of our tenets and of our proceedings by those who differ from us, the worse those tenets and those proceedings will appear? Is it by keeping ourselves out of the way of observation that groundless prejudices against us are to be removed ?”

“The charges advanced against the British and Foreign Bible Society at different periods of its progress, were they not likely to be occasionally mischievous, might furnish considerable entertainment. At one time it was clamorously alleged; 'Notes and comments and interpretations will be inserted into your Bibles. You will undermine the Church of England by the expositions which you will interweave into the sacred volume.'-' It is impossible,' replied the Society. It is a fundamental law of our constitution, that neither note nor comment shall ever be added.' Then succeeds an accusation from the opposite quarter of the sky; Why do you send forth the Scriptures without an interpretation? The Established Church will be ruined by your dispersion of the Bible without note or comment? I leave these two classes of objectors to settle accounts each with the other. For the overthrow of the Bible Society both classes are equally anxious. And when they have determined whether it will be more conducive towards the effecting of the shipwreck, that the wind should blow from the east, or that it should blow from the west, or that it should blow from the east and from the west at once; it will then be sufficiently early for the pilots of the vessel to deliberate what measures may be needful, in order to avoid the rocks on the one side, and the quicksands on the other.

"A third objection is, that in the Bible Sosiety members of the Established Church CHRIST, OBSERV. No. 124.

Mr. Gisborne then repels the grand objection brought forward by Dr. Marsh in respect to the omission of the Prayer-book. After adverting to the strictly analogous nature of the Naval and Military Bible So ciety, which adopts "the identical principle, the very principle in spirit and letter" on which the Bible Society is founded;" here," he observes," is a society, which during more than thirty years has been existing, has been in active operation, exclusively on that principle, on the principle of distributing the Scriptures without note or comment, and without the Liturgy; a society so dangerous, according to the arguments of those persons who oppose the British and Foreign Bible Society, to the Establishment, that after the existence and operation of such a society during such a period, the matter of surprise is that our Constitution in Church, and in State as connected with the Church, should at this moment survive! And where, throughout this long season of peril, have been the 2 L

writers, who of late have pressed forward with so much eagerness to exercise their hostility against the British and Foreign Bible Society? Were they acquainted with the existence of the Naval and Military Bible Society? If it was known to them, where has been their zeal, where their watchfulness, where their fidelity, where their impartiality? How is it that they have slept upon their post? If, as I believe to be the case, it was not known to them, the circumstance may instruct them in a profitable lesson; that it is advisable to obtain information before we pronounce judgment, that it is expedient to inquire hefore we condemn. But I must not yet dismiss this tremendous Society. Who is its Patron? A brother of the Prince Regent; His Royal Highness the Duke of York! Who is its Vice-Patron? I am constrained to state the fact as I find it-another Duke of Royal blood, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester! But Patrons and Vice-Patrons, it may be thought, are a sort of sleeping partners in public in stitutions. The President,' it may be said, is the organ of the Society, He is the efficient man.' Who then is the President of this Naval and Military Bible Society? I read the name from their own report:-His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury."

The sequel of Mr. Gisborne's speech is so truly eloquent, as well as excellent, that we are induced to give it almost entire.

"To what event, I would ask, is it that we are indebted for our Liturgy? To the cir culation of the Bible. Where was our Prayer-book before the days of Henry the Eighth, while the Scriptures were a dead letter in the land? Parts of it undoubtedly were subsisting: for parts of it have existed from the early times of Christianity, perhaps even from the Apostolical age. But they were buried under the rubbish of ignorance and super, stition. When the light of reformation appeared, when the Bible was circulated, then came forth our Liturgy: then came forth the pure gold, separated from baser metals: then was it compacted into its present form, to be a model for the devotions of that day, a model for our own devotions, a model, I trust, for the devotions of distant generations. The Prayer-book of the Church of England is the daughter of the Bible. The daughter possesses no authority, nor energy, nor efficacy, besides that which she derives from the parent. But are we to say that the parent cannot sustain itself, cannot be efficacious, unless she is accompanied and upheld by the daughter? What, however, is the real, the simple fact? Are the mem

bers of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge under any constraint to distribute Prayer-books with their Bibles? Not under the slightest constraint. The society furnishes at certain prices Prayer-books and Religious Tracts, as well as Bibles, to its members who apply for them. But its members apply for Bibles without Prayer-books or for Prayer-books without Bibles, or for Religious Tracts without either Prayer-book or Bible, exactly as they deem expedient. Are the members of the British and Foreign Bible Society under any prohibition, under any impediment, as to adding the gift of a Prayer-book when they bestow a Bible? Not under the shadow of a prohibition: not un» der the smallest impediment. The gift is added continually and may be added wherever it is needed and will be acceptable! The whole of the difference concern. ing which this turmoil of prejudice, this mist of sophistry, has been raised, amounts simply to this circunstance that the members of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge procure their Bibles and their Prayerbooks from the same warehouse; the members of the British and Foreign Bible Society procure their Bibles from one warehouse and their Prayer-books from another. And that man must be little concerned for the dis tribution of the Liturgy, who, after having obtained Bibles from one warehouse, will not walk five steps across the street, or write a letter of five lines, to obtain Prayer-books from the other.

“The justification of the British and Foreign Bible Society is found in its conduct: its recommendation, in the immeasurable good which, under the blessing and the grace of God, it is effecting. Like the first preachiers of that divine word, bearing which in its hand, it goes throughout the world, it may be misconceived, it may be misrepresented, it may be calumniated. Every accusation it will meet with the reply which those preachers of the Gospel enjoined by precept and by example. It will reply, by faithful perseverance in the path of duty; by well doing putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men, that they who are of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of it.'

"It appears to be the purpose of Providence, in its ordinary dispensations, that countries and individuals entrusted with large portions of its bounty should be its instruments to impart its aid from their fulness to regions and persons left in need of supply. Those parts of the world, where the know ledge of our great Redeemer has not been communicated, or is scantily possessed, are

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