applied for at the time of the annual payment, or within a year afterwards.

3. The Officers of the Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four Directors, to be chosen annually by ballot. Of these Officers, the Vice-President, Secretary, and two of the Directors, only, shall be ministers of the Gospel.

4. The abovenamed Officers shall be a Board of Directors; five of whom shall be a quorum for transacting business; but a less number may adjourn from time to time as shall be necessary. This Board shall meet immediately after their appointment, and afterwards upon their own adjournment, and also when requested by the President or Vice-President. They shall manage all the concerns of the Society and exert themselves to promote its object. For this purpose, they shall appoint agents, in different places, for procuring subscriptions and donations, and for distributing Bibles; and shall also adopt whatever rules and measures, they may judge expedient, which are compatible with this Constitution. At every annual meeting, they shall exhibit to the Society a written report of their proceedings, together with such information and sugges. tions, as they may think deserving the consideration of the Society, and calculated to animate their exertions in distributing the Holy Bible.

5. The Society shall annually appoint two persons, to be Auditors of the Treasurer's accounts, and report to the Society.

6. In case the office of Secretary, or Treasurer, or Auditor, should be come vacant, the Board of Directors shall appoint some person to fill such. vacancy, until the next annual meeting. But no member of the Board shall ever be appointed an Auditor.

7. The annual meeting of the Society shall be on the Wednesday following the third Tuesday in September, at 5 o'clock, P. M. in the same place where the New Hampshire Missionary Society shall hold their annual meeting; unless the Society shall determine to meet at some other time and place. Notice of the time and place of such meeting shall

be given by the Secretary in such manner, as the Society shall direct.

8. All sums which may be given, beside those which constitute membership, will be gratefully received, and devoted to the sole object of the Society.

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9. The President, or in his absence, the Vice-President, or in their ab. sence, the senior Director, present, shall preside in all meetings of the Society and of the Board. The Secretary shall record their proceedings, and correspond in their name. shall also keep an account of all monies which shall be paid to the Treasurer, and of all orders drawn on him. The Treasurer shall give receipts for all the money which he receives, and shall make no disbursements without an order drawn on him, by direction of the Board.

10. Any article in this Constitution, except the first, may be altered or amended, at an annual meeting, by the vote of two thirds of the mem. bers present.

The following persons were elect. ed Officers of the Society, viz. His Excellency JOHN LANGDON, ESq. President.

Rev. SETH PAYSON, D. D.

:

Directors,

DANIEL EMERSON, Esq.
Rev. JOHN SMITH,
Major JOHN MILLS,
Rev. REED PAIGE,
Rev. ABRAHAM BURNHAM,
Deacon ABIEL ROLFE, Auditors.

The annual meeting of the Society will be at Hollis, in September next, Agents and places of deposit have been appointed by the Board of Directors, and Bibles will soon be procured and transmitted to agents for distribution.

The Secretaries of other Bible Societies are respectfully solicited to transmit copies of their printed Reports to the Secretary of this Society, at Pelham, New Hampshire.

Pursuant to a vote of the Society, the following address is now offered to the people of the State, on the importance of a more extensive distribution of the Holy Bible.

Brethren and friends,

In soliciting your attention to this gie object, we cannot indulge the thought me of being unsuccessful; for this object appeals to your humane and benevo. flent feelings; it has strong arguments in its favor, and but very few, if any, objections can be urged against it.

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The Bible is the source of all correct knowledge of God and true religion; but many, both at home and abroad, are destitute of this precious ebook.

The works of creation proclaim the existence of a first Cause; or that there is an intelligent, allwise, and powerful Creator. And to those who have remained perfectly holy, these works give very clear discoveries of the being and attributes of God. To such beings, especially, the heavens declare the glory of God; and the whole earth appears full of his good.

ness.

But men are evidently in a fallen state, and have lost that knowledge of their Creator, which is so natural to the perfectly holy. Sin has filled their minds with moral darkness, and given them a disrelish for the knowledge of the Holy One of Israel. Hence they have chosen to grope in darkness. Even when light has come into the world, they have preferred darkness before the light, because their deeds were evil.

The best informed among the heathen have felt and acknowledged the necessity of having a teacher from heaven, to give them correct views of God and divine things. With all their learning and philosophy, they were in doubt or in ignorance of most important truths. The world, by wis Com, knew not God. Heathen philosophy, in its highest state of perfection, could never enable any to know God and Jesus Christ, so as to have eternal life. And Pagans even to this day, are covered with gross darkness. They are deplorably ignorant of the true God; they have no knowledge of Jesus, and his salvation; and they are practising idolatry, the most irrational and absurd, and marked with impurity and cruelty. Many thousands travel a great distance to worship a block of wood, of a frightful

visage, with a distended mouth of a bloody color.

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But we are highly distinguished, by having the oracles of divine truth. While five sixths of the human race, remain without the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, have the Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. The advantages, we derive from the Bible, are immensely great. If we say nothing of a future state; yet we must confess the Bible to be of unspeaka. ble importance as to the present life. It has great and very beneficial influence on the conduct of men, and on civil society, so as to render the situation of a christianized nation, vastly preferable to that of the most civilized Pagans. The settlement of New England, and the exalted privileges here enjoyed, are to be attributed, in a high degree, to the influence of the Gospel. Where will you find a people more highly favored than we have been, or whose obligations are greater, to communicate the word of salvation to the destitute and perishing?

But even in our own land, there is great want of Bibles. Many are destitute of the Scriptures, either in whole or in part; that is, some have no Bible, others have only parts of the Bible. Many families, in low circumstances, are not furnished with Bibles or Testaments, so that their children can have this most instructive book to read in school. Many of the youth are consequently growing up in great ignorance of God and liis holy word. As we extend, our views abroad, we find vast multitudes, who have not the good word of God in their habitations. In two provinces of the Russian empire, 400,000 families are destitute of the Holy Scriptures.

Is it not in our power, dear brethren and friends, to favor some of our fellow creatures with the Bible? Can we, in truth, say that we are not able to do any thing towards it? The widow's mite will be accepted.

In what way can we more effectu. ally promote the best interests of our fellow men, than by furnishing them with the Bible? What can we put into their hands so valuable, or so conducive to their eternal well being, as the Holy Scriptures? We may greatly aid the salvation of our fellow men, by distributing among them religious tracts, and by sending them preachers of the Gospel. But these advantages will be very deficient without the Bible. This is the stand. ard, by which men and doctrines are to be tried. And it is highly necessary that all should be able to search the Scriptures, daily, and in their own houses, that they may know whether that, which they hear and read, be according to sound doctrine.

The laudable efforts of others in distributing the Bible, should animate us in the good cause. The British and Foreign Bible Society, which was instituted in London, in 1804, stands foremost in the noble undertaking. Their "zeal hath provoked very many." Numerous auxiliary Bible Societies have since been formed in Great Britain, and also nearly twenty Bible Societies in these American States. These Societies have been greatly succeeded in their attempts to diffuse the word of God. A vast many persons now have the Bible in their houses, who would otherwise have remained without this inestimable treasure. But much is yet to be done. Multitudes are still in want

minds of your people, a sense of the value of the Scriptures, than by soliciting their aid in sending the Bible to the destitute and needy? Will not this at once lead them to realize the worth and preciousness of that sacred book? And while they water others, will they not be most likely to be watered themselves, by times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

Let all unite in this great object. As we all profess to receive the Bible as the rule of our faith and practice, let us exert ourselves in its more extensive distribution. No one, in doing this, can be justly charged with bigotry, with sectarian zeal, or with party, political views. What object can be so unexceptionable, or so highly deserving the approbation and concurrence of every one, in every station of human life? Who can refuse his aid in giving the Bible to his fellow men?

Soon

Consider, dear Brethren, how many are now perishing for lack of vision. Realize the worth of their souls; and how much they need a knowledge of the way of salvation. You have opportunity to be instrumental in saving their souls. you will meet them in the presence of your Judge. Shall they perish through your neglect; and be wit. nesses against you in the judgment day? O make them your friends, by a liberal use of the mammon of unrighteousness, that they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

In behalf of the Board of Directors,
JOHN H. CHURCH, Secretary.

BIBLE SOCIETIES IN ENGLAND.

The formation of Auxiliary Bible Societies progresses in England with wonderful zeal and activity. We presume our readers will be pleased with the following details extracted from late numbers of the Christian Observer.

NORFOLK AND NORWICH AUXIL. IARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

A meeting was held at the Guildhall Norwich, on the 11th of September the Mayor in the chair, for the pur pose of instituting an Auxiliary Bible Society. The business was opened by the Mayor; after which the Bishop of Norwich rose, and, in a concise but impressive speech, laid before the assembly a luminous view of the nature and advantages of such an institution, congratulating them at the same time on the union of enlightened Christians of so many different persuasions. The secretaries of the parent society were present, and addressed the meeting with their accustomed energy and effect. Up wards of £800 were immediately subscribed. The Bishop of Norwich was chosen president of the institution, The vice-presidents are: the Earl of Orford; Lord Calthorpe: Sir J. H. Astley, Bart. M. P.; T. W. Coke, Esq M. P.; J. Pattison, Esq. M. P.; W. Smith, Esq. M. P.; and the Mayor, of Norwich.

The address of the Ssociety states that, "from observations lately made (chiefly in the neighborhood of Nor wich,) it has been ascertained, that, amongst the poor families, containing individuals who have been taught to read, a very great proportion are without either Bibles or Testaments; and it is supposed, upon the most moderate calculation, that there are at least 10,000 families in the country in this truly lamentable condition. The question, therefore, here agitated, is not, whether it be right to in. struct the poor, if that can be a ques. tion, but whether it be not our duty to give instruction already received its proper direction-The Committee trust, that a consideration of the im portant facts here detailed, will be sufficient, with the Divine blessing, to insure the Norwich Auxiliary Bible Society the support and patronage of all within the limits of this county, who wish well to the best interests of their neighbors, and the great cause of truth upon earth.

THE HIGH WYCOMBE AUXILIARY

BIBLE SOCIETY.

A MEETING was held on the 26th inst. at Wycombe (Bucks) for the VOL. V. New Series.

purpose of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society, in co-operation with the British and Foreign Bible Society, which was most numerously and respectably attended. Viscount Mahon baving been called to the chair, delivered a very able and impressive speech, detailing the reasons for such an institution as it was proposed to form; and concluded by reading letters from several persons of distinction, among whom were the Marquis of Buckingham, and Lords Carrington and Grenville, expressing their approbation of the measure, and their regret at not being able to attend. The Vicar of Wycombe, the Rev. W. Pryce, then moved a string of Resolutions, after prefacing them by an address characterized by neatness, piety, and feeling. The London secretaries were then called upon, and Messrs. Steinkopff and Hughes having been intro-. duced by the Rev. Mr. Owen, laid open more particularly the character and proceedings of the parent society and ber auxiliaries. The several votes of thanks were moved by Sir Thomas Baring, member for the town; R. Lowndes, Esq. member for the county; the Rev. Messrs. Scott, Marsh, &c. with appropriate and animated addresses. The thanks to the London secretaries were acknowledged by the Rev. Mr. Owen, who took that opportunity of corroborating the statements made by the several speakers who had preceded him, and delineated the characteristic features of the institution, and the honorable attitude in which it placed Great Britian, as extending the everlasting Gospel to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Nothing could exceed the harmony and Christian feeling which pervaded the meeting. The Marquis of Buckingham was appointed president of the Auxiliary Society: - The Lords Carrington, Mahon, Grenville, Gardner, Cardigan, and Hampden; Sir Thomas Baring, and Sir E. Dashwood King, barts.; and W. Lowndes, Esq. M. P., vice presidents, &c. Upwards of £400 were subscribed before the company left the room.

6

THE CAMBRIDGE AUXLIIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE proposed meeting for considering the propriety of of forming an Auxiliary Bible Society at Cambridge took place on the 12th instant. It was most numerously and respectably attended; and the issue was such as might have been expected. A Society was formed, of which the Duke of Gloucester was appointed patron, the Duke of Bedford and the Earl of Hard wicke (who most ably and honorably filled the chair on this occasion) vice-patrons; the Bishop of Bristol President: and the Bishop of Landaff, the Earl of Bristol, Lord Headley, Dr Milner the Dean of Carlisle, and Dr. Davy, Master of Caius College, vice-presidents. Upwards of one thousand pounds have been subscribed.

BEDFORDSHIRE AUXILIARY BIBLE

SOCIETY.

On the 28th of November, a meeting was held at Bedford, for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Bible Socie. ty for that county and its vicinity.

His Grace the Duke of Bedford opened the business of the day in a manner equally dignified and impres

sive, and began by stating, that, on receiving an application to accept the office of president to the Society, he had thought it his duty, before he engaged in a step of so much importance, maturely to investigate the na. ture, plan, and general principles of the institution which he was called upon to support; and that, after the fullest deliberation which he was able to give to the subject, his mind was strongly impressed with the importance of the object, and the obligation on his part to give give it his most cordial and unqualified approbation and support. His Grace stated his opinion, that it was to the dissemination of the Scriptures we were to look in order to reclaim the vicious, instruct the ignorant, and administer consolation to the afflicted; and declared his firm conviction, that sound policy and the support of religion were invariably the

same;--that what his Majesty had once expressed on this subject was deeply engraven on his mind, viz. "That he hoped to see the day day when every poor man's child in his dominions should be able to read his Bible;"-that most willingly did he concur in this sentiment; and with this view he had thought it incumbent on him to coun. tenance the measures taken for ex. tending the blessing of religious education among the lower classes of society.

His Grace was followed by the Rev. Mr. Beachcroft, the rector of Blunham, aud by the three secretaries of the parent society, who, with their accustomed ability and feeling, severally explained the nature, and enforced the claims, of the institution which it was proposed to establish. The tesolutions for the formation of an Auxiliary Society were unanimously adopted; and his Grace the Duke of Bedford was appointed president of it; the Marquis of Tavistock, Lord St. John, Sir George Osborne, Samuel Whitbread, Esq. M. P. Lee An. tonie, Esq. M. P. and Francis Pym, Esq. M. P. vice-presidents. In the course of the proceedings of the day, many speakers distinguished themselves by the force of their arguments and the fervor of their eloquence; and among them, the Rev. Leigh Rich. mond, rector of Turvey; the Rev. Mr. Anthony of Bedford; John Foster, Esq. of Biggleswade the Rev. Mr. Hillyard of Bedford; Mr. Professor Martyn, rector of Purtenall; the Rev. Mr. Grimshaw, vicar of Beddenham; the Rev. Richard Whittingham, vicar of Patten; the Rev. Mr. Freeman of Bradford; Samuel Whitbread, Esq.; and John Foster, Esq of Brickhill. It would be utterly impossible for us to give our readers even a faint sketch of these diferent speeches, which were certainly in the highest degree honorable both to the heads and hearts of the speakers. All we shall be able to effect is to preserve from oblivion, as far as our ephemeral pages can effect that object, the noble testimony which, with all his characteristic manliness and force, Mr. Whitbread bore in favor of the purposes of the meeting. (To be continued.)