chaos. Man prostrated.

His blood chilled. His muscles contracted. His nerves severed. His whole nature stiffened in the sternness of death! Picture to yourself, sir, the fiend reveling on his ruin, or like a spectre riding on the wings of a whirlwind threatening to annihilate his victim at another blow!

This was the state of things when God plucked the leaves of that faultless volume from the tree of life, and scattered them for the healing of the nations. And immediately they became to ruined man a kind of moral alchemy, by which hemlock was converted into medicine, and honey was extracted from wormwood, the briar and the night-shade. They became to the feet of man, a guide from all error into all truth— to his conscience, a system of religion approved by reason, and sanctioned by God-to his intellect they presented a feast of inimitable sublimity, towering grandeur and profound simplicity-and to his heart, a solace in affliction, consolation in death, and the title to a home in glory! Is there nothing of miracle here, sir?

This celestial catholicon has been despised by the great and the mighty. The Bible has always been an eye-sore both in hell and on earth. In giving forth its truths it has had to contend with a combination of corrupt priests, prelates, popes, infidels, and devils. The league has existed through the leaden centuries of age after age. The watchword has been alternately "curse," "corrupt," and "crush." Thousands of books once of great fame, have been penned, to accomplish this purpose. Many men cherished them, and more sought to destroy them, and yet both books, authors and readers have perished and are forgotten.

But where is the truth of God to-day? Just, sir, where you might have expected. With a sweeter voice and a more godlike form than it has ever been wont to assume, it peers in majesty and purity upon the sepulchre of its subdued foes, still hurling defiance at any that may remain on the field, and proclaiming its own immortality! Is there nothing miraculous in all that, sir?

Then, sir, let the history of the Bible, and the dealings of God with you in the past, prompt you to keep the presses of your society at work. Every sheet you print throws a glow of light across the darkness of this world, and guides the way to the next. True, the work is great, but the wants of the world will be met, by patient perseverance. You remember the distinguished scholar, who early in life, took as his motto, "the picture of a mountain with a man at its base, his hat and coat lying beside him, and a pick axe in his hand, and as he digs, stroke by stroke, his patient look corresponds with his words 'little by little, little by little.'" You need not doubt of ultimate success. The nations shall

feel the sword of the spirit.. But that its keen edge and searching point may have fair play, unsheath it, sir, from its scabbard of Greek, and Hebrew, and Latin, and while you circulate the truth, and nothing but the truth, circulate the whole truth, trusting in God, and be not deterred by consequences.

With these remarks, I beg to move the acceptance of the Report.

ADDRESS OF BRO. JONATHAN WADE,

OF TAVOY, BURMAH.

The following is the substance of brother Wade's remarks upon the resolution offered by him:

MR. PRESIDENT :

In the absence of the dear brother who was appointed to sustain it, I have been requested to present the following resolution:

Resolved, That this Society, whose crowning glory consists in bowing to Divine authority, taking no lessons from human creeds, and knowing no standard but that which the Holy Spirit has given, ("He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,") by its persevering and successful endeavors to give to the heathen the Sacred Scriptures faithfully translated, commends itself to the sympathies and liberality of all who love the truth, and desire its circulation.

Having been for many long years a missionary among the heathen, I can speak from experience of the sympathies there elicited in behalf of this Society. The first thing which we determined upon, when we found ourselves among a people without a Bible, was to adopt immediate mcasures to furnish them with the word of God. Bro. Judson undertook the translation of the scriptures into Burmese, and others devoted themselves to the preparation of versions in other languages.

When the Burmese scriptures were ready for publication, our hearts were all discouraged by the intelligence that the American Bible Society, on which we were depending for funds for that purpose, was unwilling to grant any, unless certain words were left untranslated. These words communicated the commands of Christ to those who loved him. Our consciences would not permit us to conceal the truth, and if we published it, we could not be sustained by that Society? What should we do?

In the hour of our emergency this Society was organized, and immeIs it wonderful that we should love it, and

diately came to our relief.

sympathise in its operations?

I was the first missionary who went among the Karens. As soon as we appeared among them, a deputation of their chiefs surrounded us, and made a formal demand for the "Word of God." We asked them what they meant. They said, "We believe in one God, the Almighty. Our people once had his word, but they neglected it, and it was taken from them. It is a tradition, however, handed down from our fathers, that the white foreigners will bring us again the word of God; and now that you have come, we call upon you for it."

Thus appealed to, we felt that we were, in a peculiar manner, bound to furnish this people with the scriptures of Divine Truth.. We had first to provide them with a written language, and then to translate into it the inspired word. When this was accomplished, we had to look to the American and Foreign Bible Society for the means to print and distribute it.

And now, were the ten thousand Karen converts, who through your instrumentality are permitted to possess and read the word of God, all here assembled, every one would vote for this resolution. And I am sure there is not a heart present that is not ready to give it a cheerful

response.

American and Foreign Bible Society's Rooms.

No. 350 BROOME STREET, NEW YORK.

The new Board of Managers met in the Society's Rooms at 4 o'clock P. M., the President in the Chair.

Prayer was offered by Bro. J. P. Tustin, of Rhode Island.

The minutes of the Annual Meeting of the American and Foreign Bible Society held this day, were read; when the following By-Laws and Order of Business were adopted.

By-Laws.

1. All meetings shall be opened with prayer.

2. All Committees shall be nominated by the presiding officer, and approved by the Board, unless otherwise specially ordered.

3. No moneys shall be paid out of the Treasury but by order of the Board. 4. All resolutions, if required, shall be presented in writing.

Order of Business.

1. Reading minutes of last meeting. 5. Reports of Standing Committees.

2. Treasurer's Report.

3. Communications of Correspond

ing Secretary.

4. Report of General Agent.

6. Reports of Select Committees.

7. Unfinished business.

8. New Business.

The following Standing Committees were nominated by the President, and confirmed by the Board.

Stated Meetings of the Board.

The Board of Managers of the American and Foreign Bible Society hold their stated meetings on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Society's Rooms, 350 Broome street, at 4 o'clock, P. M.

The Committee of Publication and Finance meet every Monday immediately preceding the meeting of the Board, at 4 o'clock P. M., and The Committee of Agencies, the next day, (Tuesday) at 5 o'clock P. M.

Form of a Bequest to the Society.

I also give and bequeath to the American and Foreign Bible Society for the uses and purposes of said Society: and

I hereby direct my executor to pay the said sum to the Treasurer of the said Society, within

months after my decease.