Order of Proceedings at the General Meeting.

3. C. D. (one of the Secretaries of the proposed Association)

4. E. F...

5. G. H.

6. I. K..

7. L. M.

8. The President.

9. N. O.

10. P. Q.

11. R.S.

12. T. V.

13. W. X.

are applied; and the privileges to which they are severally entitled: concluding by a reference to the Code of Rules and Regulations, which will be submitted for approval and adoption.

reads the Rules and Regulations, as adopted by the Provisional Committee, including the names of the President, Officers, and Committee.

moves No. 1—

"That the Rules and Regulations now read be adopted by this meeting, and that the gentlemen named therein be the President, Officers, and Committee of this Association, and that the latter have power to add to their number."

seconds the Motion No. 1.

The Motion No. 1. having been put and carried, moves No. 2—

"That while this meeting gratefully acknow. ledges the kindness of the President, in complying with the request of the Provisional Committee, it desires to express, thus publickly, an earnest hope that the Association may experience the benefits of his personal attendance at the regular meetings of the Committee."

The Motion No. 4. having been put and carried, moves No. 5

"That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the Chairman for his attention to the business of the evening."

14. Y. Z.

Observations on the Proceedings at the General Meeting.

15. The Chairman....

seconds the Motion No. 5.

The Question No. 5, having been put by the Mover, and carried, acknowledges the Resolution,-refers to the plates for receiving contributions-and adjourns the meeting to the day specified in the General Rules.

OBSERVATIONS.

1. In the proceedings of a General Meeting, and especially of that for the establishment of a Society, it is of the greatest importance that the object should be clearly and fully explained, and the results of similar institutions in other places correctly detailed. In this "Order of Proceedings” it will be observed, that this important duty is assigned to one of the secretaries of the Auxiliary Society, whose statements should be rather practical than argumentative; his language simple and clear; but, above all, whose sentiments should be of that liberal and catholic nature, which best accords with the character and design of the institution whose merits he advocates.

II. The object of Bible Associations being to excite an interest in the great body of our population, it is evident, that every exertion should be used to induce a full attendance of the labouring classes of the community. For this purpose, a decided preference should be shewn them in the invitation to the General Meeting: having never before heard a similar appeal to their feelings and their judgment, the effect is decisive. The object, pure and simple in its nature, is comprehended, while its value and importance are felt; and the conviction that even their limited support may be rendered conducive to the promotion of the glorious design, and their services availing in the extension of its benefits, produces a moral effect to which they had hitherto been strangers. They are attracted from sensual and degrading pleasures, and presented with a view of higher and superior enjoyments. That which they have long wanted, is proved to be within their reach; and they feel a strong desire to co-operate in a cause where pursuit confers its own reward, and where ultimate success is certain.

But in order to effect this,-to give the Poor this new moral tone of feeling, and to instil this new and pure incen tive to action, the attention of the Speakers at the General Meeting should be directed to the peculiar character of the auditors. It will easily be perceived, that many of those addresses which would be admirable at the establishment of an Auxiliary Society, are out of place at that of an

Organization of the Committee.

Association; where simplicity of language is one of the principal means by which the attention of a popular assembly can be engaged. And especially, those cheering anecdotes and interesting facts, of which no friend to the Bible Society should be ignorant, ought to be brought forward; and, if prudently introduced, the effect is irresistible:-they exhibit the most striking illustration of the design, and they are remembered when argument is forgotten.-It is scarcely necessary to observe, that no anecdotes should be introduced which are not well authenticated.

III. It may not be improper to suggest, that the length of the General Meeting ought not to exceed from two to three hours; the auditory should depart with a desire of hearing more of "this new thing," rather than fatigued and inconvenienced by too long detention from their homes and families. On this part of the subject, the reader is referred to Chap. I. Section XIV. and to Chap. II. Section V. for such general observations as appeared necessary to elucidate the nature and character of those meetings.

8. As the ORGANIZATION of the new society cannot be considered complete until after the first regular monthly meeting of the Committee, it is necessary to detail the proceedings of that meeting.

The chair being taken at the hour appointed, the names of the members present are marked off in the list, and those of visitors inserted in the Rough Minute Book:-the Minute Secretary next reads the Resolutions adopted at the General Meeting, including the Rules of the Association. The duties that devolve on the Committee, as arising out of those proceedings, are then regularly fulfilled by the adoption of the following RESOLUTIONS:

1. That the duties of the respective secretaries be thus defined,—

1. That A. B. be MINUTE Secretary.

II. That C. D. be CASH Secretary.

III. That E. F. be BIBLE Secretary.

and that the Minute Secretary furnish his colleagues and the treasurer with their proper books and papers.

2. That the following individuals be added to the Committee.

[Here insert the names and address of new members, each of whom should be proposed by one and seconded by another member, to whom he is personally known.]

3. That the district embraced by this Association be sub-divided as under: viz.

[Here specify the Streets, Lanes, &c. comprised in the District No. 1, and proceed in a similar manner to describe every other district correctly.]+

See Specimens, Chap. VII. Section 5.

+ See Chap. VII. Section IV. for a more full explanation.

Resolutions adopted at their primary Meeting.

The Minute Secretary then reads, distinctly, the description of No. 1, and. the Chairman requests the members present to offer their services for those districts which they prefer, while the Minute Secretary frames the following Resolution:

4. That the following be the appointment of the members of the Committee as Collectors: viz.

[Proceeding in a similar manner with respect to all the districts of the Association.] 5. That the following be the By-Laws of this Committee (see Section III.); and that the secretaries be authorised to get copies of the Rules and By-Laws printed as soon as possible, and send two copies to every member of the Committee, and ten copies to the Committee of the Auxiliary Society.

6. That the secretaries immediately furnish the secretary of each district with proper visiting and collecting books, printed papers for circulation, and all other requisites; and that the collectors be requested to commence their visits on next, the instant.

was re

The Cash Secretary having reported that the sum of £.ceived at the door at the close of the General Meeting, and that he had paid £.- for incidental expenses attending the said Meeting;

RESOLVED,

7. That the balance of £.

be paid over to the Treasurer.

8. That the Treasurer and Secretaries be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee of the Auxiliary [or Branch] Society, to present a copy of the Rules adopted at the General Meeting, and to request permission to lay out the funds in the purchase of Bibles and Testaments at their depository, in the manner prescribed by the 8th Rule.

On these Resolutions it is only necessary to remark, that the Secretaries should make their own arrangements, with regard to the division of their duties, previous to the meeting of the Committee. All business arising out of the Minutes should receive the immediate attention of those officers; but in this stage of the proceedings, more particularly, delay should be studiously avoided. The numerous advantages resulting from the attendance of the members of the Auxiliary Committee at the Monthly Committee Meetings of the Association, are too obvious to require particular notice :-the members of the District Committee should always receive an official invitation to those meetings, and the occasional company of their colleagues be likewise solicited.

The "Hints to Officers and Collectors," constituting Section I. of Chap. VIII. will be found to embrace a general view of their respective duties.

9. Having thus traced the rise and progress of a Bible Association to the conclusion of the First Meeting of the regular

* See Chap. VII. Section V.

#

The importance of punctuality in collecting, illustrated.

Committee, it is not necessary to follow the subsequent proceedings of the Society. That which has been already detailed will afford every requisite information, and convince the friends of the cause, that the establishment of those institutions is attended with little difficulty, and that simplicity is the prominent feature in the plan. But it may not be improper to submit a few general hints illustrative of the system adopted, and the observance of which has been found conducive to success,

1. Where any doubt exists as to the actual dearth of the holy scriptures in a parish or district, it should be the duty of the Provisional Committee of the intended Association to appoint a SubCommittee, to ascertain the fact by a personal investigation. This is the more necessary in those districts in which a parochial or private fund for the supply of Bibles exists, as the inadequacy of all such funds to supply the demand, forms a powerful argument at a General Meeting.

II. In the appointment of Secretaries, and in the selection of the Committee, attention should be paid to their religious professions. If eligible persons offer, it is adviseable that the Secretaries should be of different persuasion; and that one-half of the Committee should consist of members of the Established Church. much care cannot be taken to introduce into every branch of the society, that admirable regulation of the Parent Institution, which attracts the affections and secures the co-operation of every denomination of Christians.

Too

III. Great advantage has resulted from engaging Foremen, Clerks, and Superintendants of manufactories and workshops, as members of the Committee; their influence and example, when properly directed, being found to operate powerfully on the subordinate workmen. Similar benefit has been derived from engaging the valuable services of a class of young men, who are never backward in promoting the great cause of religion and morality-the Teachers in Sunday Schools: their exertions in behalf of the Bible Society have been conspicuous; and the effect on the minds of the children has surpassed the most sanguine expectations.

IV. The importance of punctuality in collecting the subscriptions has been already adverted to. When the collectors call regularly once a week, the subscriptions are cheerfully paid; but if they neglect their duty, the poor are too frequently induced to apply their money to other purposes. The following little anecdote will illustrate this observation :

In one of the Associations connected with the Southwark Auxiliary Society, an old Soldier had long been a cheerful free-contributor of a penny a week. The Collectors having omitted to call for three successive weeks, visited him at the beginning of the fourth,

R