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.""

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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 allottedboundaries 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.

Economy promoted by keeping a stock of Account Books, &c.

The extent to which this information is supplied, will of course depend on circumstances; but, as a general rule, it may be prudent to furnish an association with two or three copies of the Annual Report of the Parent Society, to circulate among the members of the Committee, and subsequently to be lent to the free contributors. Every collector should be regularly presented with a copy of the Monthly Extracts, and a requisite supply for the subscribers in the district. This subject will be more fully considered in Chapters III. and VII., in reference to the internal arrangements of Bible Associations.

12. It will be found conducive to the economy which has been recommended, for Auxiliary and Branch Societies to keep a stock of such account-books, papers, &c. as are necessary for organizing and conducting Bible Associations, and enabling them without delay to proceed to the discharge of their duties. Another advantage derived from this regulation, is the maintenance of one uniform mode of proceeding throughout the whole system, and the consequent facility of its extension where it is deemed expedient. Of the importance of this last consideration, the Committee of the Parent Society thus express their opinion, in the Fourteenth Report:

"Your Committee take this opportunity of suggesting, as the result of their experience, that, in order to render these institutions prosperous and effective, it will be necessary that their Committee Meetings be as frequent as local circumstances will admit; and that their operations be conducted throughout with that regard to system which is essential to the accomplishment of every undertaking."

13. It has already been observed, in reference to the XXIVth By-Law, that a number of the Annual Reports of an Auxiliary Society should be promptly transmitted to the Parent Institution. But the communication of any important intelligence is not to be limited to this medium:-any interesting information relative to the progress of the Society, derived from the Reports of the District Committees, Branches, or Associations, should be transmitted from time to time to the Committee of the Parent Institution, whose duty it is to select, arrange, and circulate such intelligence, as may tend to promote the general cause. Any Auxiliary Society that expects to be furnished with intelligence of the foreign and domestic operations, should not be remiss in contributing its quota to the general stock.

Influence of Bible Institutions on Society.

14. The Annual Report of an Auxiliary or Branch Society should contain a clear and faithful exposition of its proceedings and results throughout the whole of its allotted district. It has been already observed, that in places remote from the metropolis, a condensed view of the recent operations of the Parent Society may be introduced with advantage: but it should always be recollected, that the domestic details constitute the primary and paramount subject of a Local Report.

15. The benefits derived to the British and Foreign Bible Society from the practical application of the system detailed in the preceding pages, cannot be better described than in the following extract from the Twelfth Report:

"The Auxiliary Societies have justified their claim to that title, in the most extensive interpretation; as, independently of their liberality to the Parent Institution, and their local efficiency in distributing the Scriptures, they have contributed, by their influence and example, to excite an attention to the establishment of other Auxiliaries, of Branch Societies, and of Bible Associations-the whose exhibiting a system of benevolent co-operation for the best end, and through the purest means. By these gradations the lowest orders of society become connected with the highest in one great work of Christian charity; and the bounty of all, accumulated into one stream, is again poured forth, to enrich the spots from which it flowed, or to fertilize the barren tracts of distant regions."

But important as are these advantages, there are other grounds on which the Auxiliary System may confidently rest its appeal to the countenance of the wise and good, while they furnish matter at this eventful crisis for deep and solemn reflection. These have been described by the Committee, at the close of their Sixteenth Report, in a manner which justifies the selection of the passage as an appropriate conclusion of this Chapter:

--

"Nor will it fail to have struck the members of the Society, while attending to the transactions of the year, how greatly the Institution has strengthened its claims to the veneration and support of the Christian public, by the increased evidence of its usefulness in cherishing the growth of vital religion, and thereby promoting the happiness of individuals and the best interests of the community. The craving desires which have been expressed for the word of GOD, and the thankfulness which has been uttered when this desire has been gratified, have been uniformly associated with those principles and feelings on which are founded loyalty and contentment, subjection to Principalities and Powers for con

Exemplary conduct of Local Bible Societies.

science sake, and a quiet and peaceable demeanour in all godliness and honesty. Nor would your Committee stand excused to themselves, if they were to omit to remark how strikingly the truth of this observation has been illustrated in the conduct of the Society's Domestic Auxiliaries, during the trial through which they have recently passed. While Infidelity has been lifting up her audacious front, and uttering her many blasphemies; while her adherents have been labouring with infatuated zeal to detach the labouring classes of the community from their allegiance to the Bible, the Societies and Associations in connexion with your Institution remained steady to their engagements; and bore, at their anniversaries, an unshrinking testimony to the truth and excellence of that WORD which no calumnies will be able to depreciate, and no violence to destroy."