Bibles, which have been distributed, have been given to those of our own citizens who speak these languages. Thus it appears that since 1808, when the first Bible Society was established, the Christians of the United States have, through the medium of their Societies, distributed about 150,000 copies of the Bible, in four languages, and chiefly among their own countrymen. Such is the offering which, as a nation, we have made at the shrine of Christian benevolence ;----such is the return we have made to Heaven, for the national and individual blessings we enjoy! Having thus ascertained what we ourselves have done in the cause of the Bible, let us see what others have done in the same cause. It appears from the last Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, that the Christians of Great Britain have, during the last eleven years, through the medium of that Society, been instrumental in distributing 1,299,282 copies of the Scriptures, in 55 languages, and have aided in the establishment of Bible Societies in almost every part of the Protestant world. The income of this Society, for the last year, amounted to $443,000, a sum sufficient to purchase, in this country, 600,000 Bibles, like those distributed, by the American Societies. In one year, then, the British and Foreign Bible Society could distribute 600,000 Bibles; while the American Societies, since 1808 to the present time, have not probably distributed more than 150,000! And does the zeal and ability of the British Christians exceed that of ours in this proportion? Heaven forbid. To what, then, is this amazing difference to be imputed? Solely to the difference of the instruments employed. Let us therefore examine these instruments, and compare them with each other. To promote the general diffusion of the Bible, the Christians of America have established 108 independent local Bible Societies, which are scattered throughout the United States from Vermont to Louisiana*. Of these there are 10 which, from their name, profess to be Auxiliary Societies. The author has seen the constitutions of three of the ten, and they are, to all intents and purposes, independent Societies, not being bound to render the slightest pecuniary assistance to any other Society whatever. Of the remaining seven, two are female Societies. As it does not appear * See the sixth Report of the New-York Bible Society. from their names that they are auxiliary to any Society in particular, it is most probable that nothing more is meant by the term than an accordance with the objects and views of the Societies previously established. I am therefore justified in saying, that the means which the American Christians are employing to promote the general diffusion of the Bible, are 103 independent local Bible Societies. We have already seen the effects produced by these means, and have contrasted them with the astonishing and magnificent result of the labours of the British Christians. (To be continued.) Extracts from the Third Annual Report of the Female Bible Society of Geneva. Read and approved at the Annual Meeting of the Society, January 1, 1816. At that time it was not ex THIS Society was formed in March, 1813. pected that it would ever be extended much beyond the village of Geneva. The few who then subscribed the Constitution, had no higher views than to be instrumental in communicating the Word of Life to some of the destitute in their own neighbourhood. But they were soon encouraged to hope that their sphere of usefulness might be extended to the neighbouring towns and counties. This hope has been, in a great measure, already realized. Many members have been added to the Society from different towns in this county, and in the counties of Seneca, Cayuga, Genesee, and Steuben. Some of these reside at places more than fifty miles distant from Geneva. As it could not be expected that these distant members would attend the stated meetings of the Society in this village, it was agreed that any number of members residing near each other, and at such a distance from this place as to render it inconvenient to meet here, should, at their request, be considered as a Branch of the Society; and that it should be recommended to them, (if they should deem it expedient,) to meet together in their own neighbourhood, statedly, on the days pointed out in the Constitution for the quarterly meetings of the Society, and at such other times as they might think proper, to consult and pray together for the extension and usefulness of the Society in general, and of the particular Branch of it in their own town. It was also agreed, that such person or persons as these several Branches might nominate to the Trustees, should be appointed as Agents of the Society, whose duty it should be to superintend the distribution of Bibles in the respective neighbourhoods or towns where they might reside, and to correspond with the Trustees, communicating to them, from time to time, such information and advice as they might deem important. Some Branches have already been instituted, and their Agents appointed. This has been done in full confidence that in all their transactions relative to the Institution, they will keep in view the great object of the Society, and will do nothing inconsistent with the spirit of its Constitution and Laws. The towns in which Branches have been formed, are as follows: Wolcott, Geneseo, Leicester, (in the county of Genesee,) Cayuga Village, Romulus, (in the county of Seneca,) Gorham, West Bloomfield, Richmond, Avon, Lyons, Prattsburgh, (in the county of Steuben.) The whole number of Members now belonging to the Society is 369. The whole number of Bibles received by the Trustees since the organization of the Society is 614. These Bibles, (except four presented by D. Hudson, Esq.) have all been received from the New-York Bible Society, on the following terms: A donation, At 62 1-2 cents, At 50 cents, 50 80 80 400 From D. Hudson, Esq. 4 614 Of these, there are now in the hands of the Trustees, 160 Consequently, the number actually distributed is 454 These Bibles have been distributed in the following places : In Geneva, and its vicinity, Wolcott, Genesee, Leicester, West-Bloomfield, Cayuga Village, Romulus, Gorham, Lyons, Richmond, and a few other places. The Trustees, in the name of the Society, take this opportunity to express their grateful sense of the generous notice which the New-York Bible Society have taken of our humble Institution, and to acknowledge our obligations to that Society for their liberality, manifested not only by their repeated donations to us, but also by their vote, "to furnish this Society with Bibles at Fifty Cents per copy, to the amount of the funds which we may send them for that purpose." While we feel and acknowledge our obligations of gratitude to our friends in New-York for these acts of kindness, let us also consider them as indications of Providence in favour of the good cause in which we all profess to be engag ed; and let us, by our increasing activity and liberality in this good cause, manifest that we are not insensible of our obligations to the great "Giver of every good and every perfect gift," for the rich blessings and privileges which we are permitted to enjoy.—By our conduct, let us prove that we, also, (in our limited sphere, and according to our feeble abilities) are willing to unite and co-operate with other more respectable Bible Institutions, in doing what we can to furnish the ignorant and the destitute with "the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus." We have abundant cause of gratitude that the Lord has hitherto prospered our Society, and has succeeded our feeble efforts far beyond what we had any reason to expect; and we humbly trust, that through his blessing on our endeavours, we have already been enabled to do some good: but still we are constrained to say, that much-very much remains yet to be done. The call for Bibles during the year past has been greater than in either of the two preceding years. And there are, without doubt, many in this extensive western country who are still destitute of the Oracles of Truth-the only sure guide to Eternal Life. We cannot but hope and believe that there are yet many females, within the limits of our association, who are both able and willing to unite with us, and contribute their mite in dispersing abroad that Sacred Volume which is " profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. ."—We appeal not merely to the piety, but to the compassion also, of our female friends; and we ask them to contemplate the spiritual poverty of the numerous wretched families in our country, which are perishing for lack of knowledge; and then, seriously to inquire whether they can conscientiously withhold the trifling annuity which is required, in order to procure for them the Bread of Life? Who, that has any proper sense of the moral maladies of mankind, can refuse to do something to promote the growth of that Tree of Life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations? The object of our Society is, to give the gospel to the poor. This, if prosecuted with proper motives, is a divine work-it is Christ-like.-One of the evidences of the divine mission of Christ, was, that "the poor had the gospel preached unto them." Let all, then, who would imitate the divine Saviour, and be workers together with God, come forward and join in this blessed work of sending the gospel to those who are, in every sense, poor and needy. Do we desire to be instrumental in relieving our fellow creatures from this distressing poverty, and in communicating to them the "true riches?"-do we wish to promote social peace, and good order, and the proper discharge of the relative duties of life? Then let us distribute the Bible: For, if the principles of this Holy Book were thoroughly inculcated, and its dictates universally obeyed, there would be no more fraud and oppression-no more tyranny in rulers, nor rebellion among subjects. There would be no more wars and fightings" in the world. The sword would be beaten into the plough-share, and the spear into the pruning-hook. 66 Does righteousness exalt a nation?is national piety uniformly connected with national prosperity ?-Then, if women, also, may be allowed to feel and express a love of country-then, let us use our humble endeavours to send into every part of our beloved country that Holy Book which lays the foundation of all true piety, and contains the elementary principles of all true patriotism. We cannot conclude without again expressing our hope that all pious and charitable females in this western country will cheerfully unite with us in our feeble efforts to aid the friends of Zion in other parts of christendom in their laudable attempts to put the sacred volume into the hands of the vast numbers who are now suffering "a famine-not a famine of bread-but of the Word of the Lord." We are friendly to other kinds of religious and charitable associations, and we are willing to contribute to their support; but we presume to say, that none of them can be less exceptionable than Bible Societies. In these, all denominations of christians may cordially unite.-Here, their "scattered rays of light and love" may be collected together, and, by acting in concert, may act more forcibly and effectually in dispelling the dark clouds of ignorance, jealousy and bigotry, which have too long enveloped this fallen world. Officers for the year 1816, chosen at the Annual Meeting, January 1, 1816. MRS. ANN CARY DOX, Corresponding Secretary. Extracts from the fourth Annual Report of the New-York Religious Tract Society. In presenting to the Society their Fourth Annual Report, the Managers have the pleasure to state, that, during the past year, they have very considerably enlarged the sphere of their labours. Notwithstanding they have had still to struggle with the discouragement of narrow and embarrassed funds; yet they have endeavoured to proceed in their operations with a steady course, obedient to the inspired injunction---In the morning son thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, or whether they shall both be alike good. In giving a detailed account of the transactions of the past year, the Managers, in pursuance of the order heretofore observed, will first notice the state of their stereotype edition of the Larger Catechism, with Scriptural proofs. In the last Report, it was mentioned, that of the edition of 5000 copies of the Catechism, 292 had been sold; that 200 had been sent abroad for sale; and that there were still on hand 4408, which were estimated, in sheets, at about 700 dollars. Since the date of that Report, the call for this work has fully equalled our expectations. Two hundred and ninety eight copies have been sent, agreeably to order, to different parts of the county of Oneida, where we understand it has already been introduced, by a number of the clergy, into their catechetical schools. Early in the last spring, ninety-one copies were sent into the county of Orange, in compliance with an order from the Rev. Mr. Miligan. In August, sixly còpies were purchased by the Rev. Mr. Frost, of Whitesborough, for the youth of his congregation. In the course of the spring and summer, the Rev. Dr. Woolworth, of Bridgehampton, on Long-Island, desirous of introducing this valuable work among the youth of his own and the adjacent congregations, transmitted an order for 100 copies, and soon after, a second order for the additional number of 200. The first parcel, and half of the second, have been sold, and the avails paid into the hands of the Trea surer. Application has recently been made for a quantity, to supply several congregations on another part of the Island. About 60 have also been sold during the last year, to supply the catechetical schools in this City. There are now on hand 3600 copies. Of these about 700 are bound; and the residue, having been already folded and collated, are prepared for binding, whenever they shall be wanted to supply the demand. The Board have been thus minute on this head, under the impression that the Society would be gratified to learn, that this excellent system of Divine Truth is gradually finding its way into the hands, and we trust, in some instances, to the hearts of our youth. Should the example of the congregations we have mentioned be followed, as we have reason to hope, by others throughout the State, our present edition would soon fail to supply the demand; and, so far at least as that edition should extend, we shall have accomplished, pe |