Two-fold object of Auxiliary Societies.

venient to have their Branch Societies supplied direct from the depository in London, they may authorise their Branches to remit their moneys and orders to the house of the Parent Institution, when they will be regularly entered to the account of the Auxiliary Society, as though transmitted through the medium of its officers."

It should be distinctly understood, that this arrangement is dependent, in all cases, on the mutual consent of the respective Auxiliary and Branch Societies, between which the most perfect unanimity ought always to subsist. And it will be evident, that a statement of all remittances made, and the particulars of all Bibles and Testaments received, should be immediately furnished by the Secretaries of the Branch Societies to those of the Auxiliaries, in order that the accounts of the latter may agree with the books of the Parent Institution.

SECTION VIL

GENERAL REMARKS.

1. It has been truly remarked, that "in no respect is the British and Foreign Bible Society more peculiarly distinguished, than by the facility with which it has been found to adapt itself to the circumstances of mankind, and the capability which it has thereby shewn of converting to its use whatever could forward its purposes, or conduce to its improvement." -And with equal justice it may be added, that, in the application of those diversified means, the fundamental principles of the institution have been preserved inviolate; and the system, throughout its various parts, has been founded and progressively matured with a strict observance of the singleness and purity of that object which it is designed to promote.

2. Nor will it be less evident to the reader, that the whole organization of an Auxiliary, or Branch Society, proceeds according to a clear and intelligible line, which distinctly recognises the two-fold object of their establishment:first, the adoption of measures for the supply of their local deficiencies; and, secondly, a co-operation with the Parent Society in promoting the universal dissemination of the holy scriptures. That the system detailed in the preceding sections of this chapter is calculated to effect both, has been sufficiently proved in the comparative statement introduced in the third

* Owen's History, Vol. III. p. 354.

Many Societies defective in their organization.

division of Section XIV. Chapter I.; and it only remains to consider its practical operation in a few points, which could not, with propriety, be introduced under any of the preceding heads.

3. It will readily be acknowledged, that many Auxiliary and a still greater number of Branch Societies in the United Kingdom are susceptible of a higher degree of organization than they have hitherto received. Most of them were established before the system had reached its present state of perfection; and the incessant claims on the time and attention of the officers of the Parent Institution have not left them at liberty to adopt such measures, in reference to this important subject, as the nature of the case demands. While this consideration affords an additional argument for that increase of agents which has been recommended in a former part of this work, it furnishes a powerful motive to those who occupy this responsible station, to investigate the actual state of the societies they visit, and to attend, not their General Meetings only, but their Committees, where alone this knowledge can be acquired, and the system be practically adopted. If this plan were steadily and perseveringly pursued throughout the empire, the results would be incalculably beneficial, not only in promoting the primary object of local societies, but in extending the means and increasing the usefulness of the Parent Institution.

4. But the organization of Auxiliary and Branch Societies, however important, can never supersede the necessity of a regular, or at least occasional attendance of their Annual Meetings by the Officers of the Parent Society. The advantages derived from their assistance on these occasions are known and appreciated thoughout the nation, and cannot be better described than in the following extract from the Tenth Report:

"For much of that vigor which has characterized the Auxiliary Societies in several parts of the country, your Committee are authorised by those Auxiliary Societies to say, that they are indebted to the seasonable visits and zealous services of your secretaries, whose exertions during the past year, both in discharging their official and these extraordinary duties, have given them a renewed claim to the respect and gratitude of the society."

5. As it is through the medium of Bible Associations that the local wants of the district can be most accurately known and most efficiently supplied, the Committee of an Auxiliary, or Branch Society, should direct their early attention to the establishment and proper organization of those highly

Mode of conduct proper to pursue towards Associations.

important institutions. The mode of proceeding will be fully explained and illustrated in the succeeding Chapters; but it may not be unnecessary to observe, that the Committee, and especially the secretaries, of an Auxiliary or Branch Society, should be well acquainted with the whole system, and exereise a constant and vigilant superintendence of its practical details. At the same time, it should always be remembered, that, as no authority is assumed by the Parent Society over the internal regulations of its affiliated institutions, so none is possessed by the latter over the proceedings of their connected Associations, while they adhere with scrupulous fidelity to those principles which constitute the bond of union. Every separate establishment, under whatever designation, is an independent society, and governed by its own rules and regulations; but there is a law of kindness and mutual con fidence, which, as it has hitherto been preserved unbroken, will, it is confidently hoped, always characterize the members of the Bible Society.

6. The Southwark Auxiliary Bible Society, to which allusion has been already made, has committed the supply of the local wants exclusively to the Associations connected with it, except in reference to Prisons and Hospitals and the Auxiliary Society of the County of Kent, following this example, judiciously observe, in their Annual Report for 1815:

"At the request of the Committee of the Maidstone Bible Association, your Committee no longer distribute Bibles in this town, but have gladly transferred that work to the Association; fully persuaded, that, to enable the poor to supply their own wants through the medium of Bible Associations, is to impart to them a double benefit-is to produce in their own minds a more just valuation of the holy scriptures; and also to excite a sympathy of no ordinary kind with the spiritual poverty of those of their fellow-creatures who have hitherto had no access to the word and promises of God."

7. The attainment of this primary object, and the astonishing increase of the funds of Auxiliary and Branch Societies by means of Bible Associations, constitute a sufficient reason for recommending their general encouragement: but this, it has been well observed,

"is not the only benefit likely to accrue from the general prevalence of such institutions. Their indirect effects, upon the character and circumstances of that class of the community which they chiefly embrace, are of a nature highly interesting to the patriot, the philanthropist, and the Christian. To every reflecting mind it must be apparent, that to interest the great body of the community about matters of this nature, must tend to elevate their character, by engaging their attention to noble and worthy objects; to foster the spirit of honourable independence, by placing them in the station, not

The public Proceedings of Ladies' Societies, conducted by Gentlemen.

of recipients, but of donors; to apply an impulse to their benevolent affections, by making them feel in their experience the truth of that beautiful saying, It is more blessed to give than to receive;' to stimulate, by means of the same experience, to honest industry, and promote the habits of economy and sobriety; to raise their own estimation of the Bible, by leading them to view it as a valuable gift to others; and by drawing their attention more closely to that blessed book, to advance individual and social happiness, by teaching them to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with GOD.'"*

8. When Ladies' Bible Associations are formed in a district, it will devolve on the Officers and Committee of the Auxiliary or Branch Society to conduct their public proceedings, and to afford them every requisite facility and encouragement. If these associations be connected with the Auxiliary Society through the medium of a Ladies' Branch, the secretaries should be officially appointed a District Committee to attend and assist the latter at their regular Committee Meetings. In this, as in every other part of the proceedings, nothing ought to be left subject to uncertainty, but a specific and responsible appointment be made for every department.

9. It may probably be going too far to say, that in no case whatever should a Branch Society, or an Association, be supplied with Bibles and Testaments beyond the amount of the balance at their credit in the Leger; but as every institution ought at least to support itself, if it cannot contribute to the general object, no deviation from this principle should be allowed without the most minute investigation of the circumstances. The following fact will afford a gratifying illustration of this remark.—In a populous district in the vicinity of the metropolis, the Committee of a Bible Association had adopted a scale of prices, at which Bibles and Testaments might be sold to the poor considerably under their cost: the number of Bible Subscribers rapidly increased; and it soon became evident, that the amount of free contributions was insufficient to counterbalance the loss, and that the funds were consequently inadequate to the supply of the subscribers. An appeal was in consequence made to the Committee of the Auxiliary Society, and a grant of Bibles and Testaments solicited. This application was calmly and fully considered, and, on a review of all the circumstances of the case, unanimously rejected: but the Committee of the Association were earnestly recommended to institute a general canvas of

Third Annual Report of the Glasgow Auxiliary Bible Society.

Inexpediency of gratuitous grants exemplified.

their several districts for free contributions; and a few members of the Auxiliary Committee, offered their services, to assist them herein, if necessary. This recommendation was promptly adopted; and the measure carried into effect with such success, that, at the next meeting of the Auxiliary Committee, the thanks of the Association were officially communicated, for that refusal which had given a new impulse to their proceedings. The scale of prices was subsequently revised, in reference to all future subscribers; and, before the close of the following year, this Association had contributed nearly two hundred pounds to the general object of the Parent Society.

10. The privilege of making gratuitous grants of Bibles and Testaments should be vested exclusively in the Committee of an Auxiliary or Branch Society. This plan is now adopted in every well-organised institution, and materially diminishes the trouble and responsibility of the Associations on whose recommendation alone any grant should be made. On receiving an application of this nature, it is immediately referred to the District Committee, within whose allotted boundaries the party resides, for investigation; and on their Report is finally complied with or rejected. It may not be improper to observe, that the general adoption of the LoanFund plan, which will be fully detailed in Chapter VIII., has in many places entirely superseded gratuitous grants.

11. Among the most important duties which devolve on the Committee of an Auxiliary or Branch Society, is that of circulating information relative to the proceedings of the Parent Institution, and the progress of the cause both at home and abroad. The Annual Reports, Monthly Extracts of Correspondence, and other publications of a similar description, should be transmitted promptly and regularly to the Committees of the several Associations; and nothing be omitted which can assist and encourage them in the discharge of their interesting duties. Nor is this recommendation inconsistent with that strict attention to economy, in every department, which should characterize a Bible Society; as the expense thus incurred repays itself, in a tenfold degree, by the additional interest excited, and the gratification afforded to subscribers. That husbandman is the most likely to persevere in his labours, who beholds the increase of the seed which he has scattered;-and never did a field present a more rich and abundant harvest than that we are now contemplating.