Specimen of the Treasurer's Book.

It will be perceived that the account is balanced quarterly, pursuant to the VIIth Rule. The D'. side occupies one page; and the C'. side that which is opposite.

1. The preceding details afford sufficient evidence of the importance of Juvenile Associations, as auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. But in estimating their value, we may take still higher ground, and contemplate their influence on the minds of the rising generation. If it be desirable that the benevolent principle should unfold itself at an early age; that the practical tendency of Christianity should be impressed on the hearts, and illustrated by the conduct, of the young; and that an attachment to the Sacred Volume, and a reverence of its Divine Author, should be cultivated and encouraged in the bosom of infancy; it requires but little argument to convince every unprejudiced mind, that the

Anticipated effects in the formation of character.

general establishment of these institutions would be productive of incalculable benefit; since it is impossible to imagine a measure better calculated to produce and extend these effects. Excluding all selfish considerations, it is a design of pure and unmixed charity in its best and widest range. The child who sacrifices some little personal indulgence in order to promote the circulation of the Bible, will be incited to read that Bible with increased diligence, and to ponder on its contents with greater attention. The very sacrifice will induce an examination of its object. The state of distant nations will become a subject of interest; and the privileges and blessings of our own be more justly appreciated. Nor is it an extravagant hope, that a sense of gratitude to the Source of all Good may be thus implanted in the youthful mind, -may

"Grow with its growth, and strengthen with its strength;" and produce, in future days, the rich fruit of active piety and heartfelt peace.

2. When Juvenile Bible Associations are established in towns or villages, they should be frequently visited by one or more judicious members of the Auxiliary or Branch Committee. When they are instituted in schools, they should be under the superintendence of the heads of the seminary. Many young persons are supplied with pocket-money to an extent that frequently proves injurious; but it has been found, that the early habit of appropriating some portion of it to charitable purposes has counteracted this effect, and tended in no inconsiderable degree to form the future character on the basis of Christian benevolence.

3. Example has an immediate and powerful influence on the young; and happy would it be for our country and the world, were it attractive only when exhibited on the side of benevolence and virtue! The generous ardour of our British youth in this work of mercy excited, at an early period, a kindred feeling among their coëvals on the American continent, the first manifestations of which are thus described in the Report of the Philadelphia Bible Society for 1813:

"It will be interesting to the Society to receive an account of a contribution to their funds, which, though it amounts to no more than one dollar and eighty-four cents. (rather more than six shillings), merits special commendation. It is the gift of a little girl; and was accompanied by the following letter from a respectable merchant of this city:- The donor of this small sum is a dear little female, about six years old. She reads the Scriptures daily, and never omits morning and evening prayers. Some time last fall, she read, or heard read, an Address of the Society

Association of the Students at Princeton College.

on the importance of distributing the Bible. Her little heart seemed immediately impressed with the duty of saving her cents, to buy Bibles for the Indians. Ever since that period she has not spent one farthing of what her parents gave her as her accustomed weekly allowance. Her residence is in the country. During the last week she paid my family a visit, and brought the box with her treasure in her hands. My children took her several times to town; and, in order to try her, shewed her every thing the shops or fruit-stalls afforded, and asked her repeatedly whether she would not lay out her money for some of the articles which she saw. Her answer was, uniformly, that she would like to have many things she saw ; but she would not spend the money that was to buy Bibles for the Indians. I requested her to take the money home: she seemed affected, and thought I did not like the trouble of disposing of it.'-How easily can GOD touch the heart, and multiply streams of liberality to replenish our funds! When He gives the word, even children shall hasten with their little offerings to his altar; and, by their zeal, chide the sluggishness of age in the discharge of an important duty.”

After announcing the receipt of one hundred dollars from a society recently formed in Princeton College, New Jersey, and designated "The Bible Society of Nassau Hall," the report states—

"The manner in which this last society originated deserves to be related. It affords a pleasing instance of good educed out of evil, by the superintending influence of a wise and holy Providence. The establishment of this society was the result of a gross indignity offered to the Bible, and was intended by the students as an expression of their abhorrence of the crime. They have associated with a view to distribute the holy scriptures in the American army and navy; and likewise copies in their original languages to suitable persons unable to buy them. Of this society most of the students in that College are members."

In their address to the public, these noble-minded young men observe, "that a desire to manifest their sense of the infinite value of revealed truth, and the high esteem they have for the Bible which contains that truth, was among the causes which led to the formation of their society." Well might the Committee of the New-York Bible Society remark on this occurrence,-" What an edifying example is here exhibited to the rising generation, when they who are to constitute the hope and the ornament of their country, thus glorify the Giver of every good and every perfect gift!"

At New York, and several other parts of the United States, Juvenile Bible Associations have been established; and at Quebec, a similar institution has afforded considerable aid to the Auxiliary Society of that city.

4. Nor is it in the Western hemisphere alone that this bright example has been followed. Even on the shores of the Black Sea and of the Baltic, and among the mountains of Switzerland, the generous flame has been kindled.

"At Odessa," says Dr. Paterson, "the boys in the Lyceum united among themselves, and collected 130 rubles for the Bible Society in that

U

Prince Oscar's School for Soldiers' Children.

place; and, on delivering the contribution, requested that they might be allowed to form an Auxiliary among themselves, and that some of the directors might have a seat in the Committee, that they might be regularly acquainted with the progress of a cause in which they take so deep an interest. This was permitted; and a letter was ordered to be written, to encourage them to persevere in the good cause in which they had engaged.” When Dr. Pinkerton visited. Odessa, in December 1819, he attended a committee-meeting of this Juvenile Association; relative to which he observes,

"I was peculiarly pleased to observe the order and instructive manner in which the business was transacted. The Secretary, a fine-looking boy of about nine years of age, read the Minutes of their last meeting, and presented to the Committee the papers which had been received since that period. The Treasurer then laid before us the account of their last year's subscriptions. A petition on behalf of eight poor boys, scholars in the Lyceum, who were unable to purchase Testaments for themselves, was next read, and granted. The Association consists of eighty-four members, and is under the special direction of the archimandrite Theophilus, principal preceptor of the Lyceum.”

One of the most interesting Juvenile Associations on the continent of Europe is that formed at Gothenburgh, in Prince Oscar's School for Soldiers' Children. Its establishment was the spontaneous act of the children themselves, in consequence of the deep impression produced in their minds by the occasional addresses of the Rev. Mr. Rahmn, one of the Chaplains of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. In his Report he observes, that he interspersed his addresses with anecdotes of children who loved their Bible better than their play. The children desired his countenance and help, in order to form themselves into a Bible Society; intending, under his guidance, to distribute Bibles and Testaments gratis among the poor people. The offer was received by him with delight, and rules were drawn up for them accordingly. The Report further states, that twenty-eight children began this good work; that it speedily increased to sixty; that their minister, Mr. Rahmn, is their President and Treasurer; and their sub-schoolmaster, the Secretary; and that the Committee for the time being consists of six boys. In further reference to this important Juvenile Society, it has been subsequently reported, that their funds employed for the purchase of Bibles and Testaments consisted, on the 28th of December 1815, of 138 rix-dollars, the number of subscribing children one hundred and six, and ninety-eight adults; and that in consequence of the admission of the latter, the Committee now consisted of twelve members, six children and six adults.

From Zurich, the amiable and excellent Mr. Gesner thus writes:

"Last week I had a great treat, at a visit which I paid to the girls' school: I addressed the children on the Bible in general, and then stated

Association of the young Nobility in Moscow.

what pains were taken to supply the poor with it. In England, I said, even little children, like you, [the school consists of children between six and ten years,] have contributed to this purpose; should you like to do the same? Joy brightened all their little countenances into smiles; and, at the next visit, every one brought me her little boon, the whole of which amounted to thirty-five florins. Their number was sixty; many of whom must have given their all."

And the secretary of the Frankfort Bible Society, in a more recent communication, reports as follows:

"Desirous of calling the attention of the public, especially that of the more respectable and opulent, to the concerns of the Bible Society, we determined to print an address, and to distribute it from house to house. No sooner had this address been published, than its good effects were visible. A copy found its way into the orphan-house, and one of the teachers gave it to an orphan boy to read at prayer-time to the rest of the children in the hall. As soon as they heard of what had been done for the cause of the Bible by poor orphan children in London, they exclaimed, with one voice, We must follow this example!' and immediately a little Association was formed of seventy boys and thirty-eight girls, which produced, from their small savings, of three to six kreutzers, a contribution of eighteen florins, and twelve kreutzers."+

6

While it is delightful to behold the generous zeal thus manifested by the pupils of the Lyceum at Odessa, the soldiers' children of Sweden, the little school-girls of Zurich, and the poor orphans of Frankfort, it is peculiarly gratifying to find that the example has extended to that class of society which should ever lead the van in the march of Christian benevolence. The ardour and liberality of the young nobility of Russia, as described in the following communication from the secretary of the Moscow Bible Society, may well incite their British cotemporaries in the higher walks of life to similar

exertion:

"A number of noble youths in Moscow formed themselves into an Auxiliary Bible Association. They drew up a set of regulations for themselves, signed them, and commenced raising subscriptions to promote the object of their Association. In a very short time, these benevolent youths collected a very considerable sum (2000 roubles, as their first contribution), which they presented to the Treasurer, and prayed that it might be put into the treasury of the Moscow Bible Society."

In reviewing these striking evidences of interest manifested by the young in the circulation of the Scriptures, we may well regard them as some pledge, that they will make this sacred volume the guide of their youth; and thus, through the infinite mercy of HIM from whom it proceeds, find it the support of their riper years, and their strong and unfailing consolation in the approach of death.

About four pounds sterling.

+ About two pounds sterling.