THE

VOL. 1.] Saturday, April 20, 1816.

[No. 4.

OUR readers will no doubt be pleased to hear, that THE Life and WRITINGS OF THE LATE MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM are published, and ready for delivery. Considering the high estimation in which the memory of that blessed saint is held by so many who knew her worth, and especially by those who, enjoying the advantage of an intimate acquaintance, constantly witnessed the exercise of those graces which adorned her Christian character, it will be regretted that so small a number as one thousand copies only of that book have been printed; and the more so, as the profits arising from the sale of the edition, are, by the generosity of the proprietor, to be devoted to the benefit of two excellent institutions in this City, "The Society for the support of poor widows with small children," and "The Orphan Asylum Society."

The above mentioned work is divided into three parts.

The first is a sketch of the history of her life, written with a view to point out the various ways in which an all-wise and merciful God was pleased, through many trials, to conduct to glory this chosen vessel of his grace; as well as to elucidate certain incidents and remarks contained in her writings.

The second part consists of her devotional exercises, extracted from a journal in which she was in the practice of recording her Christian experience. They are the effusions of her soul, when, retired from the world, she communed with her covenant God, and poured out her heart before him without reserve. With these are connected her observations on certain passages of Scripture, which she selected for her frequent meditation in the view of her latter end, and which she styled, "Provision for my last journey through the wilderness, and passage over Jordan;" also some favourite hymns analogous to the subjects of her exercises.

The third part contains some of her Letters, written occasionally to different persons, on various subjects; also two of her addresses to the Society for the relief of poor widows with small children,' over which she presided for several VOL. I.-No. 4. D

years with much dignity and usefulness; and an address to a Society of young ladies in this City, formed for the purpose of instructing the destitute children of the widows and the fatherless.

In the early dedication of herself to her Maker and Redeemer, in the various events and circumstances which chequered her earthly pilgrimage, and especially in the incessant cultivation of personal religion, we behold the means by which this mother in Israel became possessed of those distinguished attainments in Christian knowledge, experience, and holiness, which shed such a lustre upon her walk and conversation, made her so eminently useful, and raised her so high in the esteem and affection of her numerous religious friends and acquaintance.

Her devotional meditations breathe a spirit of profound self-abasement; of mourning for sin, and anxiety to be delivered from its power and defilement; of unwavering reliance on the finished righteousness of Christ,' for justification; on the Lord her strength, and the influences of his Holy Spirit, for support, guidance, comfort, and sanctification; of childlike acquiescence in the will of her heavenly Father, concerning all that pertained to her and hers; of earnest desire to be weaned from a world that lieth in wickedness, to become more conformed to the image of her divine Redeemer, and better qualified for the inheritance of the saints in light. How sincere was the expression of these dispositions of her soul, the tenour of her deportment through a long life has abundantly testified; and the fruits of her trials, her faith, and her patience, have been sealed by a peaceful and blessed transition from a world of sin and trouble, into that rest which remaineth for the people of God.

In her Letters, we discover her accustomed purity of style, appropriate diction, correctness of sentiment, maturity of judgment, and knowledge of the human heart, combined with the tenderest sensibility and meekness of disposition,---an enlightened, fervent, unfeigned piety, and the most affectionate and earnest solicitude for the spiritual and eternal welfare of those whom she addressed; which never failed to interest, to ingratiate, to instruct, and to edify.

We regret that the portion of other matter allotted to this Number, will preclude the insertion in it of some extracts from those valuable writings. We shall, in some future Numbers, occasionally insert a part of them, for the pleasure and edification of those of our readers who may not have the. opportunity of perusing the book itself.

A Memoir on the subject of a General Bible Society for the United States of America.

[Continued from page 38.]

LET us now examine the instrument employed by those Christians, and compare it with the means which we have used.

It is believed, that throughout the vast dominions of Great Britain, there is but one independent Bible Society. That one is The British and Foreign Bible Society, established in London. In the true spirit of the religion of Christ, it is a foreign as well as a British Society: regarding all mankind as brethren, this Society extends its benefits to all. Having but one object in view, and that no other than the dissemination of the pure word of God, it invites the co-operation of Christians of every name; and, to secure this co-operation, it gives to every Minister of the Gospel who subscribes to its funds, a vote in the management of its concerns. This Society, therefore, does what no Society ever did before; it brings together the most discordant sects, and unites their efforts in promoting the glory of God, and the salvation of man.

A Society, pursuing an object so simple and yet so noble, by means so noble and unexceptionable, was not long without assistance. The Christians throughout Great Britain seconded the views of their brethren in London, and established auxiliary Societies throughout the empire. These Societies are not auxiliary in name alone: after defraying their own contingent expenses, they transmit the residue of their funds to the parent Society, and generally receive in return Bibles at first cost, to the amount of one half of the sum remitted. By this arrangement, the auxiliary Societies relieve the parent Society from the labour of distributing Bibles in those districts in which the auxiliaries are established; while they augment its funds to a wonderful amount. As the parent Society has its auxiliaries, so the auxiliaries have their associations. The sphere of action to an auxiliary is generally a county, or populous city: this county or city is divided into a number of small districts, and in each district a small Society is organized, called a Bible Association; each member of the Association contributes at least one penny a week, and with the funds thus raised, the Managers of the Association purchase Bibles for the supply of the destitute in their own district; and the residue is paid into the treasury of the auxiliary, whence it is finally sent to the parent Society in London. Thus, through the medium of 466 auxiliaries,

and some thousands of Associations, scattered throughout the British dominions, from Edinburgh to Cornwall; from the Cape of Good Hope to St. Helena; from Calcutta to Halifax, is the British and Foreign Bible Society receiving the voluntary tribute of thousands and tens of thousands of Christians; and the blessings of those who were ready to perish, are falling in rich profusion on its founders and supporters.

Can it now be necessary to institute a comparison between the American and British system, in order to prove the superiority of the latter? Can it be necessary to prove that the same funds, when collected into one sum, and placed at the disposal of one Society, are capable of producing more extensive and beneficial results, than when divided into 108 distinct sums, and placed at the disposal of as many distinct Societies? Will it be said that these funds may occasionally be united, as objects, which require more than common expense, present themselves? Let it be remembered, that our 108 Societies are scattered from one extremity of the Union to the other, and that before such an union can take place, the proposed object must be stated to each Society, and the consent of 108 independent bodies be first obtained. But not only must the consent of these Societies be obtained, but they must be first satisfied with the manner in which, and the persons by whom, the proposed object is to be effected.

Owing to the independence of our Societies, and the consequent smallness of the funds of each, no edition of the English Bible has yet been printed for distribution, which the eye of age can peruse with ease. If any object could unite the funds of our Societies, one would suppose it would be the publication of a good edition of the English Bible. Such an edition, is now contemplated by the New-York Societies; but at the very time they are soliciting aid for this object, from all parts of the Union, the Baltimore Bible Society has made known its intention of printing a similar edition, and is also soliciting assistance. Neither Society, therefore, can expect aid from the other, and of course there could be no union of funds; nor will either edition be given to the public as soon, nor on as reasonable terms, as an edition printed by one Society, with the united contributions of all, and intended for the supply of all parts of the Union.

In consequence of the impossibility of this consolidation of funds, on our present system, most of the Societies are dependent on the booksellers for their Bibles, and they pay to the booksellers an advance on the first cost of the Bibles.

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which, on another system, would increase the number of Bibles distributed, to no inconsiderable amount.

At present there is among our Societies no general plan of operation. It frequently occurs, that Societies send their Bibles within the districts of each other. Thus the Connecticut Society has sent Bibles into New-York, and the NewYork Society into the Eastern States. The American Societies have but little intercourse with each other, and are frequently better acquainted with the transactions of the British Society, than with those of a Society in an adjoining State. Even their printed Reports are not reciprocally exchanged. As our Societies move in such contracted spheres, their reports are for the most part destitute of interest; and they themselves excite but little attention, and are unknown at a short distance from home*. We have no centre of religious intelligence, and therefore no report or publication of any Bible Society can awaken general attention. On the other hand, the Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society, considering the religious intelligence derived from their numerous auxiliaries and correspondents, are among the most popular publications of the age--have already passed through a second edition, and are read with avidity in every country in which the English language is spoken; and some of them have even been translated into foreign languages.

Our Societies find it difficult to assemble a respectable audience at their annual meetings; but the annual meeting of the British Society is one of the most crowded and interesting assemblies in Britain; attended by individuals from different parts the country, the most distinguished of any in the kingdom for piety, eloquence, and rank.

The British Society is regarded with reverence and affection by her numerous offspring, and can with propriety counsel and direct them in the prosecution of their common object; but among us, what Society may presume to advise or direct another? Some of the American Societies are already departing from that simplicity of design which is the highest recommendation of Bible Societies, and their surest pledge of success---I mean the distribution of the Scriptures without note or comment.

The British Christians have the delightful satisfaction of *The author was some time since at a County Meeting within 50 miles of New-York, called for the purpose of forming a Bible Society for the County. The author proposed making the Society auxiliary to the New-York Society. The proposal was strenuously and successfully opposed, on the ground that the meeting was ignorant of the principles of the New-York Society; and a call was made for its constitution-none could be found. Many present had never before heard of the existence of the New-York Society; and a clergyman present opposed the proposal, from a supposition that the Society was confined to Presbyterians.