Bible Secretary's Order-Book,—and Explanation. culty of preserving a regular and correct account of the receipts and deliveries of Bibles and Testaments; owing alike to the similarity of appearance which different editions present, and to the want of a suitable form for orders and bills of parcels. These are, generally, made out on loose pieces of paper, and no check is provided by which their accuracy is ascertained. Hence the great difficulty of making the stock-account balance at the end of the year, and the apparent difference which often exists between an Auxiliary Society's statement of the issues, and the statements of its connected societies and associations, as to the aggregate number of copies received. This difference, it is true, is comparatively trifling; and more frequently relates to the description of Bibles or Testaments, than to the total number received; but it must be satisfactory to all concerned to have a plan by which the risk of error is materially diminished, if not entirely obviated. III. In the Specimen now submitted for adoption, the reader will consider all the entries in Italics, with the number and amount of Bibles and Testaments, as manuscript; and the remainder of the form, as printed. When the Bible Secretary receives an order for Bibles and Testaments, he refers to his colleague, the Cash Secretary, and ascertains that the Branch Society or Association giving the order has remitted the amount. If this be the case, he first fills up the form A, and calculates the amount, which he enters; he next fills up and signs the form B, which is the authority on which the Depositary acts; and lastly fills up and signs the form C, which is the bill of parcels. He then cuts off, and sends to the Depositary, the paper containing B and C; retaining A in the book, as a permanent check and voucher. When the Depositary receives the paper, he examines the calculations in the form C, which he cuts off and delivers with the Bibles and Testaments specified; retaining and filing -the order B, as his voucher. Blank lines are left for any Bibles or Testaments in Foreign languages which may be ordered. Depositary's Book.--Specimen, and explanation NO. V. DEPOSITARY'S BOOK. 1. This Book should be of folio size, containing two or three quires strongly bound, and, like the "Order Book," made to open lengthways. It will appear from the Specimen subjoined, that it is designed to be a register of all proceedings relative to the receipts and issues of Bibles and Testaments; and that it is so constructed, as to render the duties of the Secretary and Depositary as easy and simple as possible. For this purpose, all the headings of the different columns are printed. 2. When the Bible Secretary receives an invoice of Bibles and Testaments, he first ascertains, by reference to the Depositary, its agreement with the number and description of the copies received, The latter then makes the requisite entry at the Debit side, inserting the carrier's name, not only as a proper check on his account, but that the person answerable for any damage may be referred to if necessary. The folio of the Leger, containing the account with the British and Foreign Bible Society, is inserted by the Cash Secretary. RECEIVED. SPECI= of the mode of keeping the Bible Account. 3. When the Depositary receives an order for the delivery of Bibles and Testaments, he first ascertains the correctness of the bill of parcels (Specimen C. of the " Order Book"), and then makes the requisite entry at the Credit side before he delivers the books. The references to the several accounts in the Leger are entered by the Cash Secretary. It 4. The stock should be taken, and the book balanced, annually, by the Bible Secretary, assisted by the Depositary; and the present stock brought forward to a new account, as in the specimen. will be observed, that the amount of loss sustained by sales to subscribers, at reduced prices, must be added to the amount of sales and the value of the stock on hand, in order to balance the total amount at the Debit side. 5. The blank columns are left for Bibles and Testaments in foreign languages. From this book the Depositary prepares his monthly report to the Committee.-(See No. 7 of this section.) List of English Bibles,-and Testaments. 6. On a blank leaf in the beginning of this book, the Depositary should transcribe the following explanation, and paste in the specimens of types, (See Appendix, No. IV.) which he will find of material use in promoting the facility of reference. * BIBLES. SP-MR Small Pica, royal paper, 8vo. with Marginal? Cost the Price to S. d. S. B-MR Brevier, medium paper, Marginal References.11 ས 7 6 4 5 bound in Calf. 4 Sheep. 3 He may also find it of advantage to paste in the list of the various editions of the holy scriptures, in other languages, which constitutes No. II. of the Appendix. NO. VI. TREASURER'S REPORT. 1. This report is presented to every monthly meeting of the Committee, pursuant to the XIIth By-Law. Although the payments to the Treasurer generally pass through the hands of the Cash The prices here specified, are those of 1820. While this Work was going through the press, a reduction was agreed on, to which reference will be made in Chap. VII. The object of this and similar specimens is, to point out the mode of conducting the business: and the secretaries of Auxiliary Societies will refer to the official notice of the Parent Institution, when entering the prices, which necessarily vary according to circumstances, |