fifty-four years of age, who did not know a single letter, can now read; and a child of eight years, who was entirely ignorant of the alphabet, has made such progress as to be able to commit to memory not only her Scripture lessons and hymns, but the whole of Brown's Catechism. Two in the Bible class have also learned the whole of Brown's Catechism, and are now learning the Assembly's Catechism, with Scripture proofs. Nor is this all: a good work appears to be begun in the hearts of several, who date their first convictions from their entering the Sabbath School. The superintendent and teachers are encouraged by these favourable appearances, to continue their exertions, looking to Him who is the Fountain of all knowledge for a blessing on their instructions; and hoping that their labours may not be in vain, but that he will be pleased to make them the humble instruments in rescuing many souls from ignorance and vice, and in bringing them to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.

Extract 6th.

This School commenced February 18. Rewards were offered to the children who could read, if they could find a passage in Scripture relative to the fall of man: not one could answer. April 14th, the children, when required to find a passage of Scripture relative to the fall of man, and atonement through Christ, one turned to four passages appropriately; three to two passages; seven turned to Rom. vi. 5.; seven to Rom. v. 7, 8.; three to Rom. v. 15.

The Directress informed the Society, that a School had been opened in the State Prison, to instruct the female convicts to read the Scriptures, superintended by the Rev. Mr. Stanford, and had been supplied with lessons from the Society: That two more Schools would be opened the following Sabbath, viz. one by the members of St. George's Chapel, and one by the members of the Moravian Church. She likewise proposed that a Committee, consisting of one or two from each religious denomination, be appointed to visit the Schools, as the duties were too arduous to be properly fulfilled by the Directresses. This was agreed to. The Society, after singing a hymn of praise to that God, whose blessing had so eminently attended their work of faith and labour of love; and, concluding with the Christian doxology, adjourned to the first Wednesday in July.

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

[Concluded from page 55.]

LET us now seriously ask ourselves whether we can conscientiously persevere in a system whose effects are so disproportionate to the great want of Bibles which we have found to exist, both in our own and other countries, as well as to the abilities with which Heaven has blessed us,---a system which has been either avoided or abandoned by every Christian nation but our own, that has engaged in the distribution of the Bible? And let us also ask ourselves whether we can conscientiously any longer refuse to adopt, in the place of this system, one which the experience of the last 12 years, and the example of the most zealous and enlightened nations in Europe, prove to be the most efficacious human means ever devised for spreading the kowledge of the Gospel? If our consciences decide for the rejection of the present system, and the adoption of a new one, then we are next to inquire

in what way a general institution can be established, and what rules should be adopted for its government?

A Bible Institution for the United States, may be formed by a confederacy among the existing Bible Societies; or by the establishment of a new Society.

To the first method many objections immediately present themselves. It is uncertain how many Societies would enter the confederacy, and how long those who might enter would continue in it: the resources, therefore, of the congress to which the concerns of the confederacy would be confided, would be for ever precarious. It would be difficult to apportion the representatives from the Societies to the congress; since the old and wealthy Societies would not be satisfied with an equal representation with Societies of recent date, and inconsiderable funds. If the powers of the congress be made absolute, many of the Societies will not enter the confederacy; if they are not absolute, the congress will be deficient in vigour. But supposing the confederacy formed, and the powers of the congress defined, where are the delegates to meet? how long are their sittings to last? in what way are their expenses to be defrayed?

As to the establishment of a new Society, its advantages and nature will be best understood, by giving a constitution for such a Society, accompanied with explanatory remarks.

CONSTITUTION.

, ART. I. "The designation of this Society shall be THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY; of which the sole object shall be to encourage a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment; the only copies in the English language to be circulated by the Society shall be of the version now in common use."

Remarks. The Society is to be a Foreign as well as an American Society; and why should it not be? Are the Christians of America under less obligation than their brethren in Britain, to extend the blessings of their religion beyond the confines of their own country? If it be said, that we ought first to supply the want of Bibles at home, it may, with equal justice, be said, we should send no Missionaries abroad, while we have vacant pulpits at home: Had the apostles never travelled from one city to another, till they had converted all in the first, slow indeed would have been the progress of Christianity.

ART. II. "This Society shall add its endeavours to those employed by other Societies, for circulating the Scriptures through the United States and their Territories, whenever it shall be required; and shall, according to its ability, extend its influence to other countries, whether Christian, Mahometan, or Pagan."

Remarks. The aids which this Society may afford to other Societies, are numerous and important. When the funds of the local Societies are small, and the wants of their districts urgent, they may be assisted with donations of Bibles from the General Society. Societies in our Territories may perhaps be furnished with Bibles in the language of the neighbouring Aborigines. The present Societies may at all times be supplied by the new Society with Bibles, on more advantageous terms than can be obtained from the booksellers. Instances also may frequently occur, in which this Society may co-operate with the British and Foreign Bible Society, and other extensive institutions, in spreading the Scriptures among the heathen.

ART. III. "Each subscriber of two dollars in the beginning and four dollars annually, shall be a member." "Each subscriber of thirty dollars at one time

ART. IV.

shall be a member for life."

ART. V.

"Each subscriber of fifteen dollars annually shall be a governor."

ART. VI. "Each subscriber of one hundred and fifty dollars at one time, or who shall, by one additional payment, increase his original subscription to one hundred and fifty dollars, shall be a governor for life."

ART. VII. "Governors shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Committee."

Remarks. The annual subscription to the British Society is about 4 dollars 50 cents; the proposed annual subscription to this Society is 4 dollars. The more equal distribution of wealth in this country seems to require this reduction. By putting it in the power of all who wish it, to take part in the management of the Society, as is done by the V. VI. and VII. articles, the funds, as well as the patronage of the Society, will probably be greatly increased. Many will perhaps feel disposed to pay 15 dollars annually, when such payment will ent tle them to a seat at the Committee Board, even if they do not constantly occupy their seats. The possession of power is gratifying, even if it be not exercised. The objection that these articles will increase to an indefinite extent, the number of those who will be entitled to vote with the Committee, will be examined in another place.

ART. VIII. "A Committee shall be appointed to conduct the business of the Society, consisting of thirty-six members, and a large majority of them to be laymen; six of whom shall be foreigners resident in New-York or its vicinity. Twenty-seven of the above number, who shall have most frequently attended, shall be eligible for re-election from year to year. The Committee shall appoint all officers, and call special general meetings, and shall. be charged with procuring for the Society suitable patronage, both American and foreign. The Committee shall meet on the first Monday of every month, or oftener if necessary." A quorum for doing business shall consist of at least nine members, of whom the President, and, in case of his absence, one of the VicePresidents, shall be one.

Remarks. Although there will be many who will have the right of taking a part in the management of the Society, yet, as the exercise of this right will

be optional, and may be suspended without any dereliction of duty; it is necessary, to prevent the possibility of the business of the Society being neglected, that certain individuals should be appointed to attend to that business. A Committee is to be elected for this purpose. For obvious reasons, a portion of this Committee are to be foreigners. The greatest number of the members of the Committee ought to be laymen; because laymen are generally more conversant with the details of business, and better qualified to superintend the concerns of an extensive establishment-to conclude contracts-to make shipments, &c. than clergymen. Laymen are also possessed of greater leisure,. and of more extensive influence than clergymen: while their religious tenets are less generally known. By the appointment of a sufficient number of laymen, therefore, the Society would acquire greater weight of influence, and would be less exposed to the effects of sectarian jealousy, than by the appointment of clergymen to perform the secular business.

To the Committee, and those who are entitled to vote with them, is intrusted the power of appointing the officers of the Society. As the respectability and usefulness of the Society will depend, in a great degree, on the personal character and zeal of its officers, the selection of these officers is wisely confided to the deliberate vote of the Committee, and not left to the hasty and inconsiderate choice of a promiscuous assembly at a general meeting. As the Committee possess the power of naming an indefinite number of Vice-Presidents, they may, whenever they find a distinguished character who is friendly to the Society, and whose name would shed a lustre on it, add him to the list of Vice-Presidents. In this way, the Society may, in time, enrol among its officers the Governors of the different States, and the chief members of the General Government; nor can it be doubted that such a selection would tend greatly to increase the patronage of the Society, and to conciliate the good will of every political party:"

To the Committee is intrusted the duty of procuring patronage for the Society, both American and foreign. It cannot be doubted but the British Society would hail, with peculiar delight, the formation of the American and Foreign Bible Society.

But in many ways may the Committee obtain American patronage. It is not chimerical to hope, that, on a proper representation to Congress of the nature and views of the Society, that body may be induced to grant to the Committee the privilege of franking all letters on the business of the Society under a certain weight; and, with the same restriction, to receive letters free of postage.

This would greatly facilitate another mode of obtaining patronage, and it would be, to make the constitution of the Society, with the names of its members and officers, as extensively known as possible Every clergyman in the United States might be requested, by a circular letter, to add his own name to the list of members; to read from his pulpit the constitution and address of the Society, and to make a collection for its funds. Not a hamlet in the country should be without the constitution of the Society, and suitable addresses explaining the nature and importance of the Institution.

Another very important office of the Committee, will be the establishment of some general regulations for supplying Auxiliary Societies with Bibles. The British Society returns to auxiliaries Bibles to the amount of one half the sum remitted. Under present circumstances, it would perhaps be most prudent for the American Society to return Bibles to the amount of three fourths the sum remitted.

The seat of the Society is, by this article, fixed at NEW-YORK. In no coun try, perhaps, do local jealousies so often interfere with plans of extensive utility, as in the United States. In the present instance, however, when the glory of God and the good of man are the solid objects in view, it is the imperious duty of every Christian to divest himself of all local prejudices, and to consent that the Society shall be established in that place which is most favourable to the prosecution of its exalted objects. New-York is fast becoming the London of America; and already possesses facilities for correspondence with, and trans

portation to, all parts of our own and other countries, which are enjoyed, in an equal degree, by no other city on the continent.

Some place must be chosen where this great Society may be permanently fixed, and where it may enjoy all the advantages and conveniences which local situation can afford-a soil in which it may "take root downward, and bear fruit upward :" and for this purpose no place can be found so fit as NewYork. The Committee are to meet at a stated time in each month, first for the speedy transaction of business, and secondly to enable those who are entitled to vote with them, to know when to find them together.

By rendering only twenty-seven of the Committee eligible for re-election, and those such members as have attended most frequently, the Society will every year dismiss from the Committee such as are wanting in zeal and faithfulness, and yet without giving any personal offence.

ART. IX. "Each member of the Society shall be entitled, under the direction of the Committee, to purchase Bibles and Testaments at the Society's prices, which shall be as low as possible."

Remarks. If the Society sells Bibles and Testaments for as much as they cost, its funds cannot be impaired; and if the Society sells cheaper than the booksellers, many may be induced to buy of the Society, who would not buy of the booksellers. As the privilege is confined to the members of the Society, it will be exercised chiefly for supplying children and servants with Bibles, and it may operate as an inducement to subscribe to the Society.

ART. X. "The annual meeting of the Society shall be on the fourth Wednesday in May; when the Committee shall be chosen, the accounts presented, and the proceedings of the foregoing year reported."

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ART. XI. "The President, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurer, shall be ex officio members of the Committee." ART. XII. Every clergyman, who is a member of the Society, shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings. of the Committee."

Remarks. The provision contained in this last article is peculiar to the British Society, and a large share of its wonderful success may be imputed to it. This article not only prevents the Society from becoming an instrument of any one denomination, but it even prevents the suspicion of such an event. By this article, and by some of the preceding ones, the number of those who may be entitled to vote with the Committee, may be enlarged to an indefinite extent, Some may apprehend inconvenience from this extension of the privilege, but the apprehension is groundless. Admit that the whole number shall amount to ten thousand! Of these, how very small a proportion will reside in New-York! and there alone can the privilege be exercised. But although very few of the whole number will have it in their power ever to exercise this right, yet some of them, and particularly the clergy, will occasionally visit the city, and at such times, it would be highly gratifying to them to meet and vote with the Committee, and to learn the present occupations and future views of the Society, and, on their return home, to communicate to their friends and parishioners the information they have thus acquired. With regard to those who reside in the city, it is by no means certain that any inconvenience would arise from the constant attendance of them all; but those who have taken part in the direction of Bible Societies, will not regard such an event as probable. Few are disposed to devote much of their time to the management of a Society which will make them no pecuniary compensation, nor promote any sectarian or political views.