Liberality manifested.-Results of the Dean-Street Association. the subject of the Bible Society. The subscribers think they shall never be poorer for what little they give for this purpose; they feel it an honour to stand foremost in the ranks; and what they do is done heartily. "It gives us great pleasure to find that the subject has been successfully introduced into several manufactories: there is in such establishments, generally speaking, a current, which, whatever way turned, runs with great violence. Democracy hath often profited of this; calling to its aid, drunkenness, and every evil work in its train. Infidelity hath profited of this :thanks be to GOD! its day, we trust, is nearly passed. "At the time our Bible Association was formed, a lottery-club existed in one of the shops; but, in consequence of the former association exciting and producing (as is always its natural tendency) a higher tone of thinking and acting, the men have recently determined to transfer their subscriptions from the lottery to the Church Missionary Society; and we hope to produce for that society about seven pounds per annum. "About a month ago, the adjoining premises to ours were burnt down; the destruction was rapid, and our manufactory was in imminent danger; but, by the prompt assistance and activity of some of our men, the fire, which had caught the top of the building, was extinguished. For this their activity and exertion, they were presented by the Fire-Insurance Company with a gratuity of five pounds, which was equally divided. When the division was made, one of them observed,-'It was not we that saved the building, but Providence ;-the wind blew the flames and smoke directly from us; and we were enabled, in consequence, to stand upon the roof and extinguish the flames where they had taken hold: I will therefore give my quota to the Bible Association: it may be the means of putting a Bible into the hands of some child, or ignorant person, and teaching them the consolatory truth of a particular Providence, that not even a sparrow falls without our Heavenly Father's knowledge.' His example was followed by some others; and hence we received a donation of twenty-three shillings. "The principle upon which this society acts, is, That each member shall subscribe from one penny to sixpence per week; and the value of one half the amount paid into the general fund shall be received back in Bibles, if required, to be distributed among the men. "On a reference to the First Report of the Dean-Street Association, it will be found there is a doubt expressed, whether, after their object (which was that of supplying themselves with Bibles) was accomplished, the Association would continue to exist. It is with the greatest pleasure that we observe this apprehension to be without foundation; our subscriptions being at present nearly double the amount of those at the time the Report was made. We have at present eleven subscribers at sixpence per week; two at fourpence; ten at threepence; forty-three at twopence; and thirty-one at one penny per week; making, in all, eighteen shillings and fivepence per week." The following ABSTRACT exhibits a statement of the Accounts of this Association to the month of April 1820: Total amount paid to the Westminster Auxiliary Bible £. 271. 10. 6 £. 141.18. 10 Balance appropriated to the general object of the British and Foreign Bible Society Number of Contributors, in April 1820, one hundred and twenty-five. Tribute to the memory of Mr. Dyke, the founder of the Association. In their Report to the Westminster Conference, April 1820, this Association place the value of their establishment in a new and interesting point of view; while they afford another evidence of the importance of giving every facility to the circulation of the Monthly Extracts: "Another decided proof of the utility of circulating printed intelligence has lately fallen under our observation. At the time of the recent trial of an individual for vending blasphemous publications, the principals of a manufactory, in which twenty-four men were employed, were made very uneasy by hearing that some of their workmen had adopted his pernicious opinions, and were doing all in their power to make proselytes among their fellow workmen. At this critical juncture, the "Monthly Extracts" for September fell into the hands of one of the principals; who, seeing the success of the Dean-Street Society, immediately thought that the formation of a similar establishment, in his own manufactory, would be the most proper and effectual method to counteract the efforts of these deluded men. Having drawn up a kind of prospectus, he called a general meeting of his workmen; and having explained the object, and satisfactorily answered every objection that was urged, he had the happiness of succeeding beyond his most sanguine expectations; no fewer than twenty-two, out of the twenty-four persons employed, having the next day enrolled their names as weekly subscribers." 3. In reference to this Association, the Committee of the Westminster Auxiliary Society, in their Annual Reports for 1818 and 1819, observe : "Besides the more extended operation of this example in other circles, your Committee are peculiarly gratified to report, that several similar Associations have been formed in different manufactories in this district. Among these, your Committee would direct your attention to the following: viz. the Association of Manufacturers in the employment of Messrs. Hawkes, Mosely, and Co. which has contributed 484; of Messrs. Hatchett, 12.; of Messrs. Spode and Copeland, 71. 10s. 9d.; of Messrs. Hansard and Sons, 31.; of Messrs. Hancock, Shepherd, and Co.; and of Messrs. W. Smith and Co....... There are now eleven Associations in various kinds of manufactories within the sphere of this Auxiliary, ten of which form Branches in connexion with the Associations in whose districts they are established." It would be unjust to conclude this sketch of the progress and effects of the Dean-Street Association, without some allusion to the founder of that remarkable institution: nor can this be more appropriately made, than in the language of those who were best qualified to appreciate his worth; and who observe, in their Report for 1817,— "It is with feelings of deep regret, we have to state the death of our highly-respected Secretary, Mr. Joseph Dyke. To our departed friend, as an instrument, we are indebted for the formation of our Society; and whatever degree of reputation it may have acquired amongst the friends of Bible Associations, must principally be ascribed to the intelligence and ability with which he conducted its concerns. Having said thus much, we should afford a very feeble proof of our regard for his memory, were we to allow the result of his labours to crumble into dust: the dictates of friendship forbid this: but considering, as we do, the British and Foreign Bible Society as amongst 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 128 101 £.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: 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 evlaence, 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 102l. 18s. 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 tan to exert a commanding 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 |