the New, apart from the Old Testament, into their consideration. After mature deliberation, they resolved, that for the present it was inexpedient for them to do this in the English language. As the necessary expenses of carrying into effect the vast design of the National Institution were great, the Managers felt it their duty to adopt such measures as protaised a supply of their wants. They appointed a committee in each ward of the city of NewYork, to collect subscriptions; and directed a circular letter to be sent to every minister of the various denominations of Christians in the United States, requesting a congregational collection in their aid-as also a circular to the different Bible Societies who had not united with the National Institution, soliciting aid; and one to influential men in different parts of the United States, calling upon them to come forward in the goal work, and enclosing a plan for an Aux liary Society, and Branch Associations. They cannot, at present, state the degree of success which has attended their applications. There is no doubt but many ministers have been omitted, not intentionally, but from want of information. So soon as they are known, application will be made to them. The report here gives a list of the numerous Bible Societies, which have become auxiliary to the National Institution, and proceeds as follows: j From this account of the Societies, who either have Lecome Auxiliaries, or cordially approve of the National Institution, it appears evident, that a very large proportion of the talent, respect ability of character, and influence in political society, is engaged in befriending its design, and securing its permanency. From letters received by the Board, there is no doubt other Societies already in existence will accede, and new ones be formed: and the time cannot be far distant, when in every part of these United States, the American Bible Society will have Auxiliaries. This event is most devoutly desired, to secure the circulation of the Scriptures throughout our country, with the best prospect of success. [A list is here given of twenty-eight clergymen, whom individuals in their parishes have made members for life of the American Bible Society. A number of females in the Rev. Dr. Romeyn's church made their pastor a director for life by paying 150 dollars for that purpose.] The Managers hope, that the good examples which have thus been set, will be followed by all the Christian Societies in our land. They will thus add, not only to the funds of the National Institution, but to the satisfaction and respectability of their Pastors. It would be an act of injustice to that sex who contribute so essentially to the relief of pur cares, whilst they heighten our purest pleasures, not to notice, in a prominent manner, their active benevolence in aid of the Society, not only in forming auxiliaries, but also in constituting, in so many places, their pastors members for life. They thus manifest the sense which they cherish of their obligations to that holy volume, whose truths have elevated them in Christian lands to their just and all-important station in society, and qualified them to perform the duties of that station with honor and success. The Managers have directed their attention, also, to the translation of the Scriptures into the Indian languages of our country, and the publication of the Spanish New Testament, and of the Scriptures, in the French. The first was brought before them by the donation of certain documents on this subject from the New-York Missionary Society, which they had collected with a view ultimately to undertake the work. These documents are put into the hands of a committee, to examine and report thereon. As to the publication of the Spanish New Testament, it was deemed inexpedient, for the present, to attempt it. The Managers, however, cherish the pleasing expecta tion, that in due time they will be able to accomplish the publication of the entire Scriptures in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, for the use of the inhabitants of South America. With respect to the French Bible, the Managers have had their duty plainly marked out to them by the finger of Divine Providence. They have accepted of the offer of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to receive, as part of their donation, in lieu of money, a set of stereotype plates, duodecimo, of the French Bible, which, when receiv ed, will enable them to furnish the public with a supply of French Bibles. They have, moreover, received from the New-York Bible Society, who are not weary in their acts of liberality to the National Institution, all the copies in sheets of the Freuch Bible in their possession, amounting to about 1,000. The Managers have ordered 200 Gaelic, and 200 German Bibles, to be transmitted to them from England. Whenever they find that a greater number is wanted, they will not fail to procure the necessary supply. The Managers consider it a duty to express their gratitude to the governors of the New-York Hospital, and also to the Mayor of the city of New-York, for their kindness, promptly tendered, in granting them the use of the rooms in which for some time they fransacted business. They are at present accommodated in the New-York Institution by the Historical Society; and they cannot deny themselves the pleasure of stating, that several printers have volunteered to publish, gratuitously, any communications which the Board may deem necessary to make to the public. As inquiries from different parts of the country were made on some points of impor tance, the Managers thought it proper, to remove the difficulties which existed in "the minds of many persons against a union with the American Bible Society, to publish, towards the close of the last year, the following information on those points, viz: 1. That every Auxiliary Society must determine for itself, what is its surplus revenue after supplying its own wants; but that funds when given, are at the sole disposal of the Managers. They will, however, thankfully receive recommendations as to the best way of disposing of the surplus revenue of any Auxiliary, reserving to themselves the right of adopting or rejecting the recommendation. 2. As to the interpretation which each Auxiliary Society has a right of giving as the extent of its wants, the Managers respectfully suggest the propriety of each Auxiliary confining itself to its natural bounds. Unless this be done, one Auxiliary may interfere with another, and thus, while one district is doubly supplied, another may be left destitute. ', 3. It is distinctly understood by the Board, that every society becoming Auxiliary has a right of withdrawing from the connexion when it sees fit so to do. 4. In conducting the business of the Board, the most scrupulous attention is paid to the diversity of denomination which exists among Christians. The meetings are opened with reading a chapter of the Bible selected by the presiding officer, and no other religious exercises are performed. The Managers are deeply sensible that they superintend the concerns, not of a party, but of the whole body of Christians, who are united in the National Institution for the sole purpose of distributing the Bible without nole' or comment. As one of the principal objects of the American Bible Society is to supply the great districts of the American Continent with well-executed stereotype plates for printing the Bible, the Managers request that Bible Societies, in different parts of the country, would send such information as would enable them to deterinine in what places the unappropri ated plates may be located to the best advantage. The Managers have commenced a collection of Bibles, especially of the earlier edi. tions, in every language, the successful progress of which must chiefly depend on public liberality. For the purpose of facilitating the business of the Society, the Board have appointed a Standing Committee of Five Members, who have in charge all the property and effects belonging to the Society, except the funds in the hands of the Treasurer. They are empowered to superintend and direct all the affairs and concerns of the Society, during the recess of the Board of Managers: and for these purposes, to enter into all necessary contracts, to give orders for the delivery of Bibles, and orders on the Treasurer for the payment of all monies. It is made their duty to keep the Book of Minutes, in which are to be regularly entered all their transactions; which book must be produced to the Board of Managers at every meeting. Among the first measures adopted by the Managers, was to make an official communication to the British and Foreign Bible Society, of the formation of the American Bible Society. The Secretary for Foreign Correspondence, who was on the eve of embarking for Great Britian, was requested, if circumstances would permit, to wait on the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and respectfully assure the Committee, "that it will ever afford this Society very sincere pleasure to cooperate in the plans of Christian benevolence which have rendered the British and Foreign Bible Society a blessing to the world." The worthy President of our Society had, however, anticipated the wishes of the Board; and, through him, the Committee communicated their satisfaction at the event, and a donation of 5001. sterling, which was accepted with suitable acknowledgments to that Society. Since that time, the Committee, with their accustomed and honorable lib. erality, have presented to the Society a set of the Versions of Scriptures printed by them, and also several sets of their Reports. In doing this, they have anticipated the wish of the Board of Managers, who had forwarded an order for the same. In consequence of the necessary absence of the Secretary for Foreign Correspondence on account of his health, no correspondence has been opened with other Foreign Societies. The President, however, addressed a letter to the Russian Bible Society, which has been honored with an answer of congratulation and wishes for our prosperity. A letter has also been received from the Hamburgh and Altona Bible Society, of the same description, soliciting a correspondence with us. The Managers have thus given a plain narrative of their proceedings, for the information of the Society. It will be readily perceived that their situation was not merely novel, but in the highest degree difficult. They had no experience, and yet the public, expected great things. Every part of the machine which they were directed to superintend was new and untried. Its operations, however, have thus far succeeded, and afford conclusive evidence of its capability of far more extensive usefulness to our commop country. The Managers did not feel themselves warranted at first to afford monied aid, or even Bibles, to those Auxiliaries who applied for both. Their plans to be accomplished, they knew would involve them in heavy expense; and they could not with certainty calculate VOL. XIII. 48 upon a surplus of funds. Such, however, has been the rapid and increasing augmentation of their means, that they have been induced to afford the following gratuitous supply of Bibles to Auxiliaries whose wants were great and pressing. East Tennessee Bible Society, 500 Bibles; Steuben County (New-York) Bible Society, 100; Essex County (New-York) Bible Society, 100 So soon as their present engagements will permit, and the liberality of the American people shall furnish them with the means, they will cheerfully become almoners, in money as well as Bibles, to all such destitute parts, at home and abroad, as may require the one or the other. Thus far they have endeavored to discharge their duties, not only faithfully but intelligibly, so as to ensure the approbation of the Society and the Public. The Managers cannot conclude their Report without observing, that the origin, increase, and success of Bible Societies, constitute one of the most remarkable events of the day in which we live. God has been pleased to make the people of Great Britain the instrument of forming, maturing, cherishing, and constantly and substantially aiding these Societies, not only within her own territories, but throughout the world. Greater honor has never been conferred upon any people, since the sceptre departed from Judah, and the Lawgiver from between his feet. Not to pay a tribute of respect to them on such an Occasion as the present, would be ungrateful; and to pay a smaller tribute than this, would discover a criminal disregard to the work of the Lord and the operation of his hands. To honor those whom God honors, is both a Christian privilege and duty. Of the founders and patrons of the British and Foreign Bible Society-a Society pre-eminent in the felicity of its design, and the grandeur of its plans-when they are gone down to the grave, posterity will say, in the language of an eminent statesmen and orator of antiquity, "Bestow. ing their lives on the public, they have every one received a praise that will never decay, a sepulchre that will always be most illustrious;-not that in which their bones lie mouldering, but that in which their fame is preserved, to be on every occasion, when honor is the employ of either word or act, eternally remembered." No glory is compar able to that of doing good to our fellow-men, and of all the various kinds of good that we can do to each other, none is comparable to that which has a respect directly to the benefit of the spiritual estate of mankind. This is to do them good in the life which now is, by securing to them eternal good in the life which is to come. Such is the high and holy aim of Bible Societies in every part of our world, who, following in the track of the illustrious Parent Institution, guided by her experience, and quickened by her example, are depositing the seeds of truth among the nations to whom they have access, with the confident hope that the Lord will cause it to spring up and bear fruit to his own glory, and the salvation of myriads of our fallen race. The word has gone out of His mouth who cannot lie, that in every place incense shall be offered unto his name, and a pure offering, and the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform his promise. PECUNIARY ACCOUNTS OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. The receipts of the Society from its formation, May 8, 1816, to April 30, 1817, Amount of subscriptions and donations, some part of which is an advance for Dividends on stock owned by the Society, Avails of Bibles sold, Clear profit on stock sold, The Managers expended, during the year, for paper, printing of Bibles, stereotype plates, and contingent charges, Balancejin the Treasury, $33,989 28 This Balance consists of the following items: viz. 100 shares in the Bank of Stock in the Marine and fire Insurance Company at Savannah, part of the do nation of Mr. Bolton, at par, $3,000 U. S. 6 per cents, at cost, Property in a productive state, Cash in the Treasury, 1,178 99 587 00 122 19 $35,877 46 19,218 OS $16,659 43 10,000 00 250 00 2,752 50 $13,002 50 3,656 95 $16,659 43 N. B. The donation of Dr. Boudinot is devoted to form a permanent fund, and there forc cannot be expended. It is desirable that the friends of this Society should be awake and active. Bibles are wanted much faster than they can be furnished with the present funds. We are happy to add, that the Bibles issued by the Society, (at least those which we have seen,) are of an excellent quality. FECUNIARY ACCOUNTS OF THE MASSÁCHUSETTS MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Massachusetts Misssionary Society in account with Jeremiah Evarts, Dr. 1817. May 26th. To cash paid out, by order of the Trustees, during the year past, as particularly specified in the Leger, for the following purposes; viz. To Missionaries for their services, For miscellaneous and contingent expenses, Expended for books, Loss by a counterfeit bill, received among contributions, To balance, in stock, notes and cash, Contra Cr. $1,634 77 160 65 114 60 361 81 647 61 817 83 168 50 192 00-2,302 35 1817. May 26th. By balance brought to the credit of the Society, in new account, May 27, 1816, · By cash received during the year past, as particularly specified in the Leger, from the following sources, viz. Contributed after the annual sermon, Donations from individuals, Contributed in congregations, Contributed by Female Cent Societies, By other Societies of Females, From annual subscribers, By cash received as interest on notes and income of stock, during the year past, 183' 81 $6,242 33 N. B. The accounts of the Treasurer are audited at the annual meeting by a committee appointed for that purpose. The committee at the last annual meeting were Messrs. John Pearson, John Jenks, and Henry Gray, who reported that the accounts were rightly cast and well vouched, and that the balance was as above stated. The following donations and contributions were received by the Society between June 18, 1816, and July 31, 1817. June 18, 1816. From the Cent Society of the 2d parish in Ipswich, by Mrs. H. Crowell, the Treasurer, 28. From Mr. John Damon, a donation, From the Cent Society, South Boston, by Mrs. Susan Wood, A contribution in the South Society in Danvers, by the Rev. Samuel Walker, $5.00 11 00 15.49 412 9.50 44.00 25 00 19.00 518 12 206 3.00 30 00 19 16 36 41 11 20 61.29 45.82 40.00 Carried forward $900 17 Half the avails of a contribution in the Rev. Dr. Richards's congregation, to be From the Rev. O. Thompson's parish in Rehoboth, 27. From South Reading, by the Rev. R. Emerson, A collection in the Old South Church, after a sermon by the Rev. Professor From the Female Cent society in Newburyport, by the Rev. Dr. Spring, From the Female Cent Society in the first parish in Medway, by the Rev. 112 12 77 50 2.32 375 19 17 28. From the Female Cent Society in Franklin, by the Rev. Dr. Emmons, From the Female Cent Society in Hopkinton, by Mrs. Olive Howe, 9 53 11 18 From the Female Cent Society in the west parish of Medway, by the Rev. 34 90 45 36 46.00 4.00 15.00 Do do. 1.00 From Females in the Rev. B. Emerson's society, in Salem, From females in the Rev. Mr. Thomas's society in Abington, one dollar of which is to procure a testament for a Jew, A donation from Mr. Thomas Wales, From a friend of missions in the 2d parish in Weymouth, do. From a gentleman in the west parish of Medway, by the Rev. Jacob Ide, 18. From the Female Cent Society in Wilmington, by the Rev. F. -Reynolds, 23. From the Female Charitable Society in Stoncham, by the Rev. John H. Stevens, July 10. From the Female Benevolent Society in the cast precinct of Attleboro, by Mrs. Thatcher, Treasurer, From a person who wishes to be unknown, 17. From the Female Cent Society in Ashby, by Mr. Jonas Patch, 21. Contributed in the Tabernacle society in Salem, remitted by the Rev. Dr. Worcester, 31. Contributed in Wrentham, referred to Panoplist vol 11, p. 328, Annual payments of members, Income of stock and interest on notes during the year previous to the late annual meeting, 3 00 15.00 6. 00 21 S6 18.05 10 65 11 05 1.00 3814 42.00 58.00 232 00 183 81 $2,148 65 The list of donations published the last year, in the Panoplist for July, p. 328, did not comprise the donations made between June 29, 1815, and the annual meeting in May, 1816, as it should have done, according to the practice heretofore. This deficiency occurred in conseqnence of the absence of the Treasurer, and is now supplied. Sept. 25, 1815. A legacy from a lady in Greenwich, (Mass.) by the Rev. Dr. $15.00 Dec. 20. From a lady in Charlestown, Jan. 29, 1816. From Dea. Ebenezer Parker, of Princeton, (Mass.) 5.00 10.00 12 12 April 9. From females in the south parish of Weymouth, by Mrs. Sarah 21 06 May 27. Interest of money and income of stock during the year past, Extracts from the Missionary Journal of Messrs. Warren, Richards, Meigs, Poor, and Bardwell, commenced at Columbo, March 26, 1816. Tuesday, March 26. Since our arrival, which was on the 23d, we have ceen very hospitably entertained by the Rev. James Chater, a Baptist mis |