Origin of the Southwark Conference.

and informed him that they believed he owed them four-pence: the old man smiled, and, pointing to a tea-cup on the chimney-piece, replied, "Gentlemen, you have been lazy, and I'll punish you for it :in that tea-cup I laid by for you a penny a week for three weeks; but as you did not think proper to call for it, I spent it; and I'll now give you only a penny: this will make you more careful in futurethe cause is too good to be neglected." It may not be improper to add, that this lesson from the old man was not lost on the Collectors.

SECTION V.

THE QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.

Proceeding with the detail of the system as adopted in Southwark, the next subject for consideration is that of the Quarterly Conference; an institution to which, humanly speaking, much of the success which has resulted may be ascribed. Many of the following remarks, in reference to this measure, and to the effects and influence of Bible Associations in that important and interesting district, may require an apology to those who have perused the Reports of the Southwark Society; but where the observations of the author have been confirmed by experience, he has not hesitated to express them in the same language which he originally adopted.

1. When the Southwark Associations had been established, it was perceived, that, although a constant and harmonious intercourse was kept up between the Auxiliary Society and each of those dependencies, something was yet required which should bring the whole into one collected point of view,-some centre of unity and concord, which should attract the various members of the family, and from which the rays might emanate, conveying heat and light to the boundaries of the system. This centre was happily found in the establishment of a regular Quarterly Conference, comprising the members of the Auxiliary Committee, and deputations, consisting of eight, ten, or twelve members, from the Committee of each Association (in which the respective officers are included), but at which the other members of the different Committees have the privilege of attending as visitors.

2. The following are the REGULATIONS of the Quarterly Conference, with such improvements as appear expedient:I. That A. B. be requested to officiate as secretary.

II. This Conferenceshall consist of the president, vice-presidents, treasurer, secretaries, and Committee of the Auxiliary Bible Society; the presi

Regulations of the Quarterly Conference.

dents, vice-presidents, treasurers, and secretaries of the respective Associations connected with the said Auxiliary; and a deputation from each of their Committees: the names of the members deputed to be transmitted to the secretary, at least four days previous to each Conference.

III. This Conference shall be held on the evening of the first Thursday in January, April, July, and October, at six o'clock precisely.

IV. The order of proceeding shall be :

1. To elect a chairman.

2. To call over the names of the members.

3. To read, and confirm or correct, the Minutes of the preceding Conference, and dispose of any business arising therefrom.

4. To call on the secretaries of the Auxiliary Committee for such information as they may deem necessary and interesting.

5. To receive the reports from the Associations in their order of establishment.

6. To receive and consider new propositions.

V. The report from each Association shall not exceed the limits of a folio sheet, prepared for that purpose, and supplied by the Secretary ;*-and shall specify

1. Total amount of moneys received since the establishment.

2. Amount received since the last Conference.

3. Total amount paid to the Auxiliary since the establishment.

4. Amount paid to the Auxiliary since the last Conference.

5. Total number of Bibles and Testaments delivered at cost-prices.

6. Total number of Bibles and Testaments delivered under cost-prices. 7. Total number of Bibles and Testaments gratuitously distributed.

8. Total number of subscribers for Bibles and Testaments.

9. Total number of free contributors.

10. Increase or decrease of subscribers in the last quarter.

11. The number of individuals on the Committee, and the average number of those who have attended during the last quarter.

12. A statement of any interesting facts and observations, including the result of inquiries among the pawnbrokers.

VI. No report shall be received, unless it has been previously adopted at a regular committee meeting of the Association: and in case any Association shall omit to present a report, the secretary shall remind them, by letter, of such omission.

VII. All resolutions relating exclusively to the internal government of the Conference shall be binding: but those which regard the proceedings of the Associations shall be sent to the Committee of each, simply as a recommendation, having been first entered on the Minutes.

VIII. Any person making a proposition shall put it in writing, and hand it to the secretary.

IX. No person shall be permitted to speak more than once on the same question, unless in explanation.

X. In order to defray the incidental expenses of this Conference, each Association shall from time to time remit such sums as shall be required to the secretary, who shall submit an account of his receipts and disbursements annually at the January Conference. But no sum exceeding five pounds shall be voted by the Conference at one time, without the written consent of each Association having been previously obtained.

See Specimen, Fourth Division of this Section.

Observations on the preceding Regulations.

XI. The several Associations are recommended to hold their Annual Meetings, in succession, on the second Monday in every month, and in the following order :

XII. The Minute Secretary of each Association is requested to transmit a few hand-bills announcing their Annual Meeting, to the secretaries of all the other Associations, at least a fortnight previous to such meeting.

XIII. No new regulation shall be adopted, nor any existing one repealed or altered, without having been proposed at the preceding Conference, and a copy of such addition or alteration sent to the Committee of each Association. XIV. This Conference, conceiving that much advantage may arise from the mutual interchange of visits by the Metropolitan Auxiliary and Association Committees, hereby cordially invite them to attend the regular sittings of this Conference. And the Committees of the respective Auxiliary Societies are requested to send a copy of this Resolution to their several Asso

ciations.

OBSERVATIONS on the preceding Regulations.

1. The Secretary of the Conference is generally an individual who fills the same office in one of the Associations: he should be intimately acquainted with the business, and, if possible, with the local circumstances of all the connected societies. His duties, as Secretary of the Conference, are

I. To send regular notice of the Conference to every member, at least three days previously.

2. To conduct the proceedings according to the prescribed order. 3. To send copies of any Resolutions to those whom they respectively concern.

4. To keep a regular account of his receipts and payments.

5. To take home and file the Reports, and have those of the respective years bound in separate volumes.

II. The Chairman has been generally chosen from among the secretaries or members of the Auxiliary Committee. He ought to be a gentleman well acquainted with the mode of conducting a public meeting, and with the general object and detail of the Bible Society. After the reports have been read, he should advert to any peculiar circumstances arising from them,-briefly communicate the latest and most interesting information relative to the Parent Institution,—and then ask the secretaries of the Auxiliary Society, and of the several Associations, in order, whether they have any new proposition to submit or observation to make. The business being

Beneficial effects of the Southwark Conference.

concluded, the Chairman announces those general or anniversary meetings which occur in the ensuing quarter, and adjourns the Conference.

III. In reference to the VIIth Regulation, it may not be improper to observe, that while it is optional with the Committee of every Association to adopt these recommendations, they should always be received and considered with the greatest attention; and, if rejected, the grounds of such rejection should be fully and respectfully reported to the ensuing Conference.

IV. Many advantages have arisen from the arrangement specified in the XIth Regulation. The precise time for holding every meeting being generally known, those gentlemen who are in the habit of attending them form their engagements accordingly; and the unabated interest that has been maintained for more than eight years, furnishes the best evidence of the propriety of this plan. Were the anniversary meetings of Bible Societies, throughout the whole kingdom, similarly and definitively fixed, results equally beneficial might be confidently anticipated.

3. The institution of a Quarterly Conference in Southwark has been attended with the most happy effects. It has not only produced that mutual knowledge and affection which should characterize a band of brothers, but it has tended to infuse a full and correct knowledge of the object in view; the design is comprehended and appreciated; and that cordial co-operation which results from decided conviction and conscientious approval is firmly secured.-Before the establishment of this Periodical Conference, the Committee of the Southwark Auxiliary Society had reason to believe the effects of their labours were beneficial; but they little expected, that, within so short a period, there could have been collected a mass of evidence so strong as to carry conviction to every unprejudiced mind. The records of the Quarterly Conference exhibit a conclusive proof that every objection hitherto urged against the Bible Society is founded on assumptions that do not exist; and that none of the anticipated evils have resulted from the greatest possible extension of the system.

The advantages attending this regular interchange of sentiment, have been more fully developed in each successive year. To the Conference, as to a centre, the wants, the knowledge, the zeal, and the inquiries of the Associations are

Bible Society will be judged by the effects produced.

directed; and, from it, the members return to their various allotments, cheered, delighted, and instructed. On these interesting occasions, every new measure which has been attended with beneficial effects in any one Association, is communicated and explained for the benefit of the whole; those little difficulties which will occasionally occur, even in the best arranged system, are prudently but effectually removed; and a spirit of friendly concert and co-operation is cherished and extended.

In order to render the example of Southwark still more attractive, by the detail of beneficial and practical results, a SHEET OF FACTS, extracted from the records of the Quarterly Conference, was published in the beginning of the year 1816, which has been extensively circulated throughout the kingdom, and may now be considered as one of the stock-papers for Bible Associations. The anecdotes in the following specimen are derived from the same source: and while they confirm the zeal of those who have already stepped forward in support of this great design, they may induce others to consider whether they, also, cannot assist in its extension. The Bible Society is, indeed, established on that firm ground which argument can never shake, and which reason and revelation support; but it is by the evidence of facts that it will be judged, and by its results that it will be appreciated. BIBLE ASSOCIATIONS may be termed the Fruit-bearing Branches of the Parent Tree-to these, then, it becomes us to look with hope and confidence. That authority will not be questioned, by which it has been declared, that by its fruit we shall know the true nature of every plant; nor will the Christian be induced to believe that the grapes and the figs which he beholds are the produce of the thorn and the thistle. The author will esteem his labours amply repaid, if only one individual shall be thereby incited to virtuous activity and persevering exertion. He is abundantly convinced, that the attention of the public will be more and more awakened to this subject; that the system will become universal; and that every friend to his country and to mankind may rejoice in the anticipation of that day, when every village, town, and parish of our land shall exhibit its BIBLE ASSOCIATION.

The returns under the printed heads in the following specimen are those of the St. George's Bible Association, but the facts and observations are selected indiscriminately from the Conference Records. It is to be observed, that the returns under the 5th and 6th heads are given jointly, instead