Similar Associations in Southwark and Liverpool,

the instruments which an all-wise Providence will make use of to enlighten the whole world, it becomes no longer a matter of friendship or choice; but an imperative duty, from which we can in no wise free ourselves, and be guiltless."

Thus, "being dead, he yet speaketh;" and to every one placed in a similar station, as a foreman or superintendent, the language addressed is, " Go, and do thou likewise."

4. Proceeding in the order of their establishment, the next Association of this description appears to have been formed among the workmen of Messrs. Pritchard and Co., hat-manufacturers, Dean Street, Canterbury Square, Southwark; established in the year 1813, in consequence of the visits of the collectors of the St. Saviour's Bible Association, to which its funds have been paid. The aggregate results during the last

seven years are:

Number of Contributors

Number of Bibles and Testaments received

Amount collected

Ditto appropriated to the general object of the
British and Foreign Bible Society.

£.66.16.1

£. 32. 8.1

5. The light that was kindled in the south was reflected from the north with increased brilliancy. In the year 1815, the Committee of the Liverpool Bible Society directed their attention to this important subject; and the following extract of a communication from their able and indefatigable Secretary (Samuel Hope, Esq.) to the lamented founder of these institutions, is a gratifying record of their success :

"We have proposed the formation of Voluntary Associations among the mechanics collected under their own masters, in the more extensive manufacturing establishments of the town; and have every encouragement to proceed in the work. We have not yet met with one refusal from the proprietors, to whom we have made application for permission to lay the plan before the men for their consideration. In every instance, the men have heard us with respectful attention: and though many of them were evidently strangers to the Bible, they have not only fallen cheerfully into the proposal, but, so far as we can judge, it appears to have called their attention to the revelation which God has given us.'

The Associations of Mechanics in connexion with the Liverpool Society will appear, by the following statement of their respective contributions to April 1820, to have aided, in no inconsiderable degree, the funds of that flourishing institution:

Results of the Liverpool Mechanics' Associations.

ASSOCIATIONS OF MECHANICS

IN CONNEXION WITH THE LIVERPOOL AUXILIARY SOCIETY.

The aggregate average number of subscribers in these seventeen Associations may be estimated at 800;-they have received about 700 Bibles and Testaments;-and the total amount for which no return has been required, and which has consequently been contributed in aid of the general object of the Parent Society, exceeds two hundred and fifty pounds.

On this subject, the following extracts from the Eighth Report of the Liverpool Society are important, as affording an additional evidence, that the effect of the Bible Society, throughout all its ramifications, is such, as not only to supply the demand for the holy scriptures, but to create and extend a desire for their possession, and an interest in their universal circulation:

"When the Ladies began their important visits upon that extended plan, and pursued them with that minuteness of detail by which their labours have been characterized, it might have been expected that they would, in some degree, prejudice the funds derived from the Mechanics' Associations; whose members, finding their families called upon to provide themselves with the Word of Life, might probably transfer their contributions to that channel through which the objects of their first solicitude would be most surely benefitted. But where is the wisdom of the wise? Contrary to the common elements of calculation, the very agency which appeared likely to diminish has, in fact and practice, augmented the funds of the Mechanic Associations. The amount acknowledged in the last Report was 1022. 188. 1d.;

Similar Associations in Stockport and its Vicinity ;

that which has been received during the past year is 1221. 7s. 4d. The desire to possess the Scriptures has resembled a vigorous spring, long pent up in the earth, and long struggling to be free: when the first opening was made, it gushed instantaneouly to the day; and the more that opening has been enlarged by the hand of art, the more copious has been the flow. If increasing effort be thus followed by increasing success, the limit of the society's operation must become vastly enlarged, and the prospect of its usefulness almost incalculably great."

6. In the year 1814, a Bible Association was formed among the workmen of Mr. Atwell, in Glasgow, which contributed 6l. 16s. 5d. to the funds of the Auxiliary Society of that city. And it is with feelings of peculiar satisfaction, that the author is enabled to announce the commencement of similar institutions, in the important district embraced by the Stockport Auxiliary Society. The first of these was established in December 1819; and such was the zeal manifested by its members, and the success which attended their exertions, that, in August 1820, they had upwards of three hundred subscribers, of whom about 200 required Bibles or Testaments; and had remitted to the Auxiliary Society no less a sum than fifty pounds. Under a conviction," that the open efforts of infidelity should be met by the open efforts of Christian benevolence; and that nothing was more likely to destroy its practical operation than the introduction of Bible Associations into our cotton manufactories;" the Committee of the Stockport Auxiliary Society published an address to the mill-owners of that town and its vicinity, explaining their object, and soliciting co-operation:

:

"We call," they observe, " upon the master-manufacturers of the town to join us in this undertaking; and if they cannot bestow much of their time in practical efforts, at least to bestow upon us the smile of their approbation. Their respectability as men, and the extensive influence they command over the working population of the town, justify such an expectation and if these Associations had no higher aim than to exert a com. manding influence over the morals of the people, where is the master who would not sanction them? where is the master who would not rather see his workmen subscribe a penny a week for a Bible, than bestow their money in the chronicles of impiety and sedition? and where is the master among us, who, instead of hearing in his factory the strains of impure and licentious songs, would not rather see that place hallowed by the influence of religion? We submit these remarks to their considerations with great deference, as we have the pleasure of numbering among them some of the best friends and best supporters of our society."

7. Besides those which have been enumerated, the only Association of Mechanics with which the author is acquainted, is that established in March 1820, by the individuals employed in the manufactory of Mr. Paul Storr, in Harrison Street, Gray's-Inn Road, London, for the express purpose of contributing to the funds of the British and Fo

and in Mr. Storr's Manufactory, who himself acts as PRESIDENT.

reign Bible Society. In their printed address, they observe, "The generality of the members have been already supplied with Bibles from a former society of this description; and a sufficient number remains on hand to supply those who are in need of the sacred volume." They further state, that "a fund had already been raised by some zealous individuals, which was immediately placed in the hands of the treasurer, as a first-fruit of their earnestness to promote so good a cause.'

Within six weeks after the formation of this Association, it consisted of seventy-four members, who were thus classed: Six of One Guinea per Annum, One of One Pound... ditto, One of Ten Shillings. ditto,

Two of Sixpence per Month,

Two of Sixpence . . per Week,
Eight of Threepence. . . ditto,
Twenty-eight of Twopence ditto,
Three of Three Halfpence ditto,

and Twenty-three of One Penny per Week:

Forming an aggregate of 347. 5s. 10d. per Annum.

In concluding their address, they remark

"In stating these particulars, this Association disclaim all intention of boasting-they simply detail facts; but at the same time indulge an earnest hope that this Report may afford one more stimulus (should any be wanting) to the establishment of similar societies in large manufactories ; being firmly convinced of the vast importance and salutary effects of sound religious instruction at all times, but more particularly at present, when every means are resorted to by the enemies of social order to undermine all the foundations both of the temporal and eternal happiness of mankind."

This Association held its first Annual General Meeting on the 5th of February 1821, when it appeared that the total receipts amounted to 291. 12s. 1d.; and it was resolved, that after paying for fifteen Bibles received for the members, the balance in hand, being 217. 6s. 104d. should be paid to the Committee of the Bloomsbury and South-Pancras Auxiliary Society," for the general, and more especially the foreign, objects of the Parent Society." The Report concludes with the following striking observation:

66 As this Association is unavoidably confined to the manufactory in which it is situated, it cannot be expected to furnish subject for very extensive comment: but we must not omit stating our firm belief, that the circulation of the Word of God among its members has contributed, in an eminent degree, to the peace and good order of this concern."

It is worthy of particular notice, that this report is signed by Mr. Storr, as President of the Association: an example deserving general imitation, and which goes far in accounting for the success with which it has been attended, both in a pecuniary and moral point of view.

Rules and Regulations recommended for adoption

While these examples demonstrate the value and importance of Bible Associations of Mechanics, and afford a satisfactory evidence of the facility with which they may be established, their results, both moral and pecuniary, excite a feeling of regret that they have not been more generally formed throughout the kingdom. The limited circulation of local reports, and the consequent ignorance of these institutions, and of the mode of conducting them, have doubtless prevented the extension of the system, the great importance of which must be evident to all who rightly consider the subject. Under this impression the author respectfully submits the following Regulations to those who may feel interested in this object.

SECTION II.

RULES RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION BY BIBLE ASSOCIATIONS

OF MECHANICS.

I. That we form ourselves into an Association in connexion with the British and Foreign Bible Society, through the medium of the Auxiliary (or Branch) Society, for the purpose of supplying ourselves with the holy scriptures, and of assisting in their universal circulation.

II. That every member subscribe not less than one penny a week. Such contribution to be paid regularly every Saturday to the Treasurer.

III. That as soon as the fund shall at any time amount to five pounds, it shall be paid over by the Treasurer to one of the Secretaries of the Auxiliary (or Branch) Society; and acknowledgments of all such payments shall be produced by the Treasurer at the next Quarterly Meeting of the Association.

IV. That we avail ourselves of the offer of the Society to return us Bibles and Testaments, at cost prices, to the amount, - Auxiliary (or Branch) if required, of one-half the aggregate sum paid by this Association, for the supply of our own members and their families. The remaining half of our contributions shall be applied to the promotion of the general object of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

V. That a meeting of the members of this Association shall be held in the evening of the first Monday in January, April, July, and October, at seven o'clock precisely, for the purpose of receiving the Treasurer's account of receipts and disbursements, and of delivering the Bibles and Testaments.

VI. That the Bibles and Testaments distributed to the subscribers who require them, shall be delivered according to priority of claim; unless it should appear to the meeting that one case is more pressing than another.

VII. That the Treasurer shall be annually chosen at the meeting in January: he shall also act as Secretary, and keep an exact account of all receipts and disbursements, also of all Bibles and Testaments received and delivered, and any other particulars relative to the proceedings of this Association.

VIII. That the Treasurer be requested to make application to the Secretaries of the ·Auxiliary (or Branch) Society for two copies of their last Annual Report, and two copies of the last Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society: and that they be also requested to supply this Association, monthly, with twelve copies of "Extracts of Correspondence:"-these books and papers to be circulated among the members, under the direction of the Treasurer.