Mr. Harvard was appointed to proceed from Ceylon to Madras: but this measure met with some delay on the arrival of the last Methodist Missionaries at that island, it being found expedient to attend to the very pressing calls for labour, particularly in the Jaffnapatam district. [To be continued]'

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The President of the Society was pre-Isaiah was read by direction of the Presidvented by ill health from attending the meeting; and the chair was filled for the day by Gen. Matthew Clarkson, one of the Vice-Presidents.

pressed sentiments of exalted piety, coun- Resolved, That the thanks of this Meetsels of true wisdom, and many prayers for ing be presented to the Board of Managers, the Institution and its Managers. Letters for their exertions in conducting the busiwere also read from the Hon. John Jay, of ness of the Society.

Bedford, New-York, His Excellency John William Jay, Esq. of Bedford, NewCotton Smith, of Connecticut, Hon. Bush-York, then moved the following resolution : rod Washington, of Virginia, Chief Justice Resolved, That the thanks of this Society of the United States, Hon. Judge Tilgh-be presented to the General Assembly of man, of Pennsylvania, Hon. Smith Thomp- the Presbyterian Church, for their early son, Chief Justice of the State of New-York, and decided approbation of the Institution and his Excellency Daniel D. Tompkins, of this Society, expressed in their narrative Vice-President of the United States; in of the State of Religion within their bounds. which the writers showed that their absence from the meeting was unavoidable, and at the same time testified most decided and fervent attachment to the Society.

Mr. Thomas Eddy, of New-York, a Member of the Society of Friends, seconded the resolution, and addressed the Chair in these words,

The Annual Report of the Board of "This very respectable body of ChrisManagers was then read; we expect to" tians, by showing a disposition of love and present it to our readers in our next num" a spirit of condescension towards their ber. "brethren of other religious denominations, "have greatly contributed in promoting the views of the American Bible Society, and are highly deserving our esteem and regard."

The following resolutions were unanimously adopted, after the reading of the Report:

46

On motion of the Rev. W. Hill, President" of the Frederick County Bible Society, Virginia, seconded by James Buchanan, Esq. the Consul of his Britannic Majesty,

Resolved, That the Report now read be adopted, and that it be printed under the direction of the Board of Managers.

On motion of Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. of Boston, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Feltus, of New-York,

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be presented to the numerous Auxiliary Bible Societies, for their exertions to proOn motion of Mr. John Griscom, a Mem-mote the object, and augment the funds of ber of the Society of Friends, New-York, the Institution.

seconded by the Rev. Francis Heron, of On motion of Samuel Bayard, Esq. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, seconded by the Hon. A. Resolved, That the thanks of this Meet-Kirkpatrick, Chief Justice of the state of ing be presented to the President of this New-Jersey, Society, for his zealous and persevering efforts to form this Institution and promote its interests.

On motion of the Rev. Dr. Blatchford, of Lansingburgh, New-York, seconded by the Hon. Aaron Ogden, of New-Jersey,

Resolved, That the thanks of this Meeting be given to those Congregations and individuals who have constituted their Pastors members for life of this Society.

On motion of Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. of New-Jersey, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Hart, of Stonington, Connecticut,

Resolved, That the thanks of this Meet

Resolved, That the thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Vice-Presidents for their patronage and support, and the Trea-ing be presented to all those individuals and surer and Secretaries for their services

during the last year.

On motion of the Rev. Dr. M'Leod, of New-York, seconded by the Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, of Cincinnati, Chio,

Societies who have contributed to the funds of this Institution.

Speeches, animated and appropriate, were made by several of the gentlemen who brought forward or seconded the aLove Re

solutions. We should have been pleased to have inserted them all; but we have been able to obtain only one of them, the speech of William Jay, Esq. We request him to

accept our sincere thanks for the great politeness with which he acceded to our request for a copy of this truly eloquent and excellent address.

SPEECH OF WILLIAM JAY, ESQ.

seems to have been a precept almost too divine, to be comprehended or obeyed by beings of a fallen world. While all have ac

I RISE, Sir, to offer a Resolution, in per- themselves from others. Love one another, fect harmony with that benign principle which unites in one common bond, the members of this Institution, however various their political or religious opinions. The Reso-knowledged the obligations of charity, few lution I propose, is a vote of thanks to the indeed have felt the influence of that princiGeneral Assembly of the Presbyterian ple, which, when time shall be no more— Church, for their early and decided appro- when faith shall be lost in knowledge, and bation of the institution of this Society. hope in fruition, shall still dwell in the bosom of God-shall still sway the affections of every spirit in heaven. Under the guise of this angel of light, has the arch-deceiver of mankind bound the martyr to the stakearmed Christians against Christians-dissolved the tender sympathies of domestic life, and severed the bonds of civil society. The progressing influence of the gospel has weakened, but not destroyed, the delusion. Under the same guise, he is still dividing the followers of the Prince of Peace; and with infernal art, he not only prevents them from uniting their strength to resist his power, but, by exciting in their breasts the unholy passions of envy and jealousy, he is making them his unconscious auxiliaries.

cause;

From the strong terms in which this approbation was declared, the Society may confidently anticipate additional zeal in her and she may indulge the expectation, that the example thus set by a body so large and respectable, will be followed by the ecclesiastical Assemblies of the other religious denominations. And what object can they recommend to the patronage of their Churches, more worthy their regard, than the American Bible Society? They who most value the ordinances of the gospel, and the blessings of religious instruction, will be the most anxious that the vast proportion of mankind, who, from heathen superstition, their own infidelity, or the peculiar circumstances of their condition, are inaccessible to the reproofs and persuasions of a Christian Ministry, should not also be deprived of the warnings and invitations of our Lord and his Apostles. May we not hope that the time is not far distant, when the numerous denominations which now constitute the Christian family in this country, will find in this Society a bond of union unknown before-a rallying point for their hi-hibit it in all its heavenly lustre; breathing therto divided efforts in the service of their common Master?

However misrepresented or misunderstood, Christian charity is still the same, and to this day exhibits the same features ascribed to her by the great Apostle of the Gentiles-still seeking not her own; not easily provoked; thinking no evil. Some, it is true, have in all ages exemplified this prin ciple in their lives; but it was reserved for the British and Foreign Bible Society to ex

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will to man. We are folFrom the ascension of the Saviour to lowing the bright example. Pure, disinterthe present time, his disciples have too ge-ested benevolence, unmingled with private nerally lost that badge of their profession by views; unpolluted by political intrigues or which they were commanded to distinguish sectarian jealousies, is the principle which

actuates and governs this Society. To ad- his will was disclosed in the visions of the vance the glory of our Maker, and to pro-night-now, declared by an angel from heamote the salvation of our fellow-men, by ven. Thanks be to God! No angel from giving them an unerring standard of faith heaven-no visions of the night-no proand rule of practice, is our only object.~phet breathing the accents of inspiration, As this object does not need, so it does not are now required to teach us his perfections, demand, the smallest sacrifice of truth; the and our duties. One volume, bearing the slightest concession of opinion. When we impress of Deity, tells us our origin and desenter this Society, we neither leave, nor are tination; reveals a God of mercy and of we expected to leave behind us, our distinct- justice; discloses a Saviour for sinners; ive religious opinions. Had this Society opens to our view a heaven and a hell, and been so constituted, as to have required discovers the ph to each. Were those tafrom her members any practice or admis-bles of stone, which were once traced by sion inconsistent with the strongest attach- the finger of the Almighty, still to be viewed, ment to the peculiar tenets of the Episcopal what multitudes would press around them; Church, of which I am a member, I would and with what holy awe would they scrutinot now, Sir, have had the honour of ad-nize every line! With what transcendent dressing you. But although our opinions reverence ought that volume to be regarded, continue different, our hearts are here uni- which is written by the same God, and fillted-we here learn not to call those com-ed, not with commands only, but with immon, whom God hath cleansed; and rejoice mortal hopes, and tidings of great joy! Of to discover, that those views and sentiments such a volume who can be ignorant? What which we cannot but regard as erroneous, are still consistent with holiness of life, and zeal for the service of God.

child of poverty so destitute, as to want this lamp to his feet, this light to his path? Alas! the vice and misery which every where abound, might convince us, that all have not access to the lessons of divine wisdom-to the promises and threats of divine mercy and justice. Yes, Sir, thousands and tens of thousands in this country, and millions in others, are without the Bible.'

It is thus, that the Society, by dispelling prejudices, promoting candour, and cultivating the benevolent affections, tends to prepare the mind for the reception of those sacred truths, which it is her design to disseminate; and thus she repays, and more than repays, her members, for all their ex- Knowing, as we do, that the Scriptures ertions in her cause. But her hallowed in- are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for fluence is not confined within her own limits. correction, for instruction in righteousness; She is taking from the ruler and the subject, what changes might we not expect in the the rich and the poor, pledges of their be- moral condition of the world, were they put lief in the inspired volume; and is record-into the hands of all who are capable of ing their protests against the slanders and reading them? Can we doubt that the difalsehoods of infidelity. She aspires to still vine blessing would generally accompany more exalted good-She is publishing to them; and that joy and peace in this world, immortal and accountable beings, the will and eternal felicity in the world to come, of their Creator, and the means of securing would, in innumerable instances, be the retheir eternal felicity. This knowledge was sults of their universal diffusion? This, then, at one time hid from the world; and man-is the object of the American Bible Society, kind, sensible of their want of it, sought for and this the hope which cheers in its proseit in a thousand ways, as impious as they cution. Yes, Sir, we are associated for the were absurd. One favoured nation was, hallowed purpose of revealing a Saviour to indeed, honoured with partial revelations those who know of none; of pointing out from God. Sometimes prophets were com- the road to heaven to those who are taking missioned to announce his commands-now, that which leads to destruction; of offering

consolation to those who are sorrowing with- try, common interest, and common blood, out hope; of announcing pardon to those this Society will eagerly extend her hand, who are overwhelmed with remorse; of dis- and will shortly furnish them with that best pelling the darkness of the tomb, and open-gift, which will crown and sanctify the ing, beyond it, the view of another and a many blessings they already enjoy. Nor

Better world.

will the endeavours of this Society be view→ ed with thankless indifference. Christians, in every part of our country, will show their sense of the benefits she is conferring, by establishing tributary associations. The

The benevolence of this Society is no less diffusive than it is divine. In the distribution of her bounty, she knows neither sect nor country; nor acknowledges any other limits than those which the Christians of America example has been set, and is spreading with shall assign to her exertior2. The sphere rapidity. A new confederacy is forming of her usefulness inust be proportionate to between the states of the American Union. the patronage she receives. That patron- The political ties which have hitherto united age has hitherto been ample, and has re-them, are now to be strengthened and conflected new lustre on our national character.secrated by their combined exertions in the The efforts already made by this Institution, service of their Almighty Protector. Thirhave roused the attention of Europe and teen States, together with the Territory of America; and have been received, both as a Michigan and the District of Columbia, proof of its efficiency, and as a pledge of the have entered this Holy Alliance, and have intentions of the community to foster and organized their Auxiliary Societies. protect it. Soon shall the Christians of America, Twelve months since, and this Society from the Missouri to the Atlantic; from Orrose into being, hailed by the prayers and leans to Niagara, form one vast communion, the hopes of the American Church. Those holding the unity of the spirit in the bond of prayers have been heard-those hopes ful-peace; and, with concentrated energy, filled. From this Institution are now flow- proclaim the everlasting gospel to all na ing, in a rapid and increasing current, tions, and kindreds, and tongues. I look those waters of life, which will refresh and around me in vain, for an object more subfertilize our parched land; and cause the lime in contemplation, more reviving to the wilderness to blossom. Light breaks upon hopes of a Christian, and more deserving of our western territories-In those remote re- his gratitude and love, than the American gions, the savage, amidst the gloom of pri- Bible Society; occupied in promoting the meval forests, lately tortured his captive.-eternal welfare of immortal souls-unmoved The scene is changed the forest has fallen by the violence of nations-uninfluenced by -the savage has disappeared; and the earth the allurements of ambition, or the sug is inhabited by civilized man. But alas!gestions of interest-serene in the midst of Religion has followed civilization with un-political animosity and religious contro equal steps. Occupied by incessant labour, versy, dispersed by situation, and destitute of the Bible, a cloud of ignorance is in many places gathering over the settlers, which threatens to intercept the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. To these our Brethren, bound to us by the ties of a common, coun

"As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves

the storm;

Though round its breast the rolling cloads. are spread,

Eternal sunshine settles on its head "