Greenland Fishery Marine Bible Society in the Shetland Islands. vessels bound on foreign voyages, except in cases of direct applications, to be supplied at cost prices only. IV. That the co-operation of the owners shall be obtained in all cases, when it is practicable. V. That no Bibles or Testaments shall be given, if it is possible to sell them at any price that the ship-masters should be requested to encourage the sailors to subscribe for them: and that in cases where they are not purchased, and there appears to be no probability of any subscriptions being received, three Testaments only be given; one for the master, one for the officers, and one for the men, to be stamped "For the use of the Ship." VI. That in case the Superintendent finds any captain deserving of confidence, and desirous of distributing Bibles in Foreign Ports, he be directed to make the circumstances known to the Sub-Committee of the Dock, and that the Sub-Committee should be recommended to communicate the same to the Secretaries of the Liverpool Auxiliary Bible Society." TWO AGENTS have been subsequently appointed;-and by the returns up to January 1820, it appears that nearly one thousand Bibles and Testaments have been distributed. The necessity of such a society in the second mercantile port of Great Britain, is established by the fact, that of 437 ships visited, 268, containing 3790 seamen, were found destitute of the holy scriptures. 2. The ZETLAND, DAVIES' STRAITS, GREENLAND FISHERY, and MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY.-As this remarkable institution differs in many respects from those which have been already described, and the plan is recommended to other sea-ports of Scotland, on the high authority of the Edinburgh Bible Society, it is necessary to detail its Regulations more particularly. In contemplating its establishment among a group of islands at the northern extremity of the empire, and considering its peculiar nature and design, we are powerfully reminded of the prophetic declaration-"Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God and to the Holy One of Israel." The formation of this society is thus announced by the Committee of the Edinburgh Society : "In the establishment of this Institution, your Committee recognise an instrument of the greatest value. It will be associated in your minds with the Merchant-Seamen's Bible Society in London, the Bible Societies of Liverpool, of Hull, and other ports-a branch of exertion in the circulation of Scripture, the importance of which is yet very far from being fully appreciated. If, by means of such institutions, an interest, first, in favour of the possession, and then in favour of the dispersion of the Scriptures, can be created on board of every vessel that leaves a British port, there is, perhaps, no measure which may ultimately be productive of more powerful effect in promoting the distribution of Scripture abroad. Your Committee therefore cannot refrain from taking this opportunity of earnestly recommending the example which has been set by the Zetland Marine Institution, to the immediate attention and imitation of every sea-port in Scotland.” Greenland Fishery Marine Bible Society in the Shetland Islands. The following is a copy of the REGULATIONS, as furnished by the Secretary: THE ZETLAND, DAVIES' STRAITS, GREENLAND FISHERY, AND MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY—Instituted 23d March, 1818. The shipmasters, agents, and mariners of vessels engaged in the Davies' Straits and Greenland Fisheries, and ship-owners, masters, and mariners engaged in the trade of these islands, and others, having this day formed themselves into an Association, for the purpose of contributing to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment, and for other purposes connected with or conducive to the spreading of the Gospel, more particularly amongst the mariners of these islands, under the denomination of the ZETLAND, DAVIES' STRAITS, GREENLAND FISHERY, AND MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY, RESOLVE I. That every mariner be invited to become a subscriber; and that no subscription be received, but such as is voluntary on the part of the sub scriber. II. That every mariner, being a member of this Society, employed in the fisheries, subscribe sixpence for the voyage; and in the country-trade, sixpence per annum. III. That the ship-masters of the Davies' Straits and Greenland vessels shall have at their disposal, under the management of the society, so much of its funds, after defraying all expenses, as the proportion of their mariners from their ports of outfit bears to the mariners of these islands, upon the total enumeration of their crews, being members, but not otherwise. IV. That each ship-master take charge of the subscription in his ship, distinguishing betwixt those from the mariners from his port of outfit, and those from the mariners of these islands, and that he do collect the same before he proceeds to the fishery; paying over to his agent the subscriptions from the mariners from his port of outfit, and giving an order to his said agent to deduct the subscriptions from the native mariners in his employ for the voyage, from the wages in his hands payable to them; who shall thereafter, being so authorised, pay the same into the hands of the Treasurer, upon his receipt, for account of the society. V. That a regular list of mariners subscribing, distinguishing as above, be made out each voyage, from the articles and muster-roll of each ship, by the surgeon; and delivered to the agent, with the subscriptions for the use of the society. VI. That the business of this society be managed by the ship-masters, agents, ship-owners, and others connected with it; whereof nine, with the Secretary and Treasurer, shall form a quorum, with power to appoint a preses and that the Secretary and Treasurer act during the pleasure of the society, from year to year. VII. That the general annual meeting be held at Lerwick, the third Thursday in March, in every year, to audit the accounts, to report the proceedings of the society for the past year, and for such other purposes as are or may be connected with or conducive to the objects of the society. . VIII. That besides the annual meetings, there be held, at Lerwick, quarterly meetings, on the third Thursday in June, September, and December in each year, for the purpose of receiving and answering applications for supplies of Bibles and Testaments; and that five of the resident members be a quorum, including the preses. IX. That the funds of this society, whether arising from subscriptions, donations, or the sales of Bibles or Testaments at prime cost, or at reduced Necessity of a revised Code of Rules. prices, shall, from time to time, be expended in the purchase of Bibles and Testaments at prime cost, to be given or sold amongst the mariners of these islands. X. That application be made to the Edinburgh Bible Society, for per. mission to lay out the disposeable funds of this society in purchasing, at their depository, Bibles and Testaments at their prime cost. XI. That a list of vessels employed in the Davies' Straits and Greenland fisheries in the year 1818, which touched at the port of Lerwick, whose masters, agents, and mariners are members of the society, be made out, to accompany these regulations. XII. That a sufficient number of these regulations and list be printed, for distribution amongst the subscribers; and that the expense be defrayed out of the funds of the society. XIII. That these regulations remain in force until altered or amended in a general meeting of the society, of which due notice must be given at the quarterly December meeting preceding. Signed, in the name and on the behalf of the subscribers, by The list referred to in the 11th Rule comprises the names of thirty-four ships, whose masters are members of this society; and blanks are left opposite to each, for the insertion of the requisite particulars, on a plan similar to that of the " Agent's Registry," a specimen of which will be found in its proper place, in Section IV. of this chapter. SECTION III. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 1. Having thus traced the progress and observed the modes of proceeding adopted by the various Marine Bible Societies established in the sea-ports of Great Britain, the_reader cannot fail to remark the want of uniformity in the Regulations by which they are governed, and of that mutual identity of organization, to which much of the success which has attended kindred institutions may be ascribed.-The state of this part of the system, at the present period, bears a striking resemblance to that of "Auxiliary Societies" in the year 1811; and the necessity of a Code of Rules adapted to the peculiar nature of the design, and calculated to promote its stability and extension, must be evident to all who feel interested in the object. Whether the following Regulations be altogether such as may meet the exigencies of the case, it is not for the author to decide: if they only furnish hints on which others may improve, or induce the more general adoption of the measures detailed in the preceding Sections, his wishes will be equally gratified. Laws and Regulations recommended for adoption. 2. RESOLUTIONS recommended for adoption at Meetings convened for the establishment of MARINE BIBLE SOCIETIES, at Sea-ports. I. That the object and constitution of the British and Foreign Bible Society have the cordial approbation of this Meeting. II. That a Society be now formed, to be called "The Marine Bible Society," for promoting the circulation of the holy scriptures among Seamen, and of co-operating, through the medium of the Auxiliary (or Branch) Society, with the British and Foreign Bible Society. III. That the Bibles and Testaments circulated by this society shall be without note or comment, and that those in the languages of the United Kingdom shall be of the authorised versions only. IV. That all persons subscribing one guinea or upwards per annum, or ten guineas or upwards at one time, shall be members of this society. V. That the business of this society shall be conducted by a President, Treasurer, Secretaries, and a Committee consisting of other members, five of whom shall be a quorum. VI. That the Committee shall meet once every month, or oftener if necessary, on some day to be fixed by themselves. VII. That it shall be the duty of the Committee, either personally, or by means of agents regularly appointed, to visit the ships in this harbour, whether they belong to this or any other port, in order to ascertain the want of Bibles and Testaments; and that the Committee shall furnish them therewith, at prime cost, reduced prices, or gratuitously, at their discretion. VIII. That the Committee shall adopt every suitable measure for encouraging and assisting in the formation of Bible Associations on board Merchant Ships, according to the rules recommended by the Parent Society. IX. That the funds of this society, or such part thereof as the Committee shall direct, whether arising from subscriptions, donations, or the sale of Bibles and Testaments, shall from time to time be expended in the purchase of Bibles and Testaments at prime cost, to be distributed among Seamen as before directed; and that any surplus which may arise, be remitted annually to the Auxiliary (or Branch) Bible Society, in aid of the general object of the British and Foreign Bible Society. X. That the Committee shall be authorised to entrust Captains of Merchant Ships with Bibles and Testaments for distribution by sale, to an extent not exceeding £.- to any one Master. Such Bibles and Testaments to be sold at not less than one-half their cost prices, a list of which, with a form of returns, shall be given to every Captain with the Bibles and Testaments committed to his charge. XI. That the Committee shall endeavour to obtain the cost prices of all Bibles and Testaments issued by them, whether to seamen individually or for the ship's use; and that in all cases where copies are delivered under such cost prices, or gratuitously, the name of this society shall be branded on the outsides of the cover. the XII. That a General Meeting of the Subscribers be held at on in each year; when the accounts shall be presented, the proceedings of the past year stated, a new Committee appointed, and a report agreed upon, to be printed under the direction of the Committee. XIII. That in the formation of the new Committee, the Treasurer, Secretaries, and such three-fourths of the other members as have most frequently attended the Committee, shall be re-eligible for the ensuing year. XIV. That -- be President, Treasurer, Secretaries, and Members of the Committee for the year ensuing. XV. That annual subscriptions and donations be now entered into, and Observations on the Rules and Regulations. that they be also received by the Treasurer, Secretaries, and the several bankers of this town and neighbourhood. XVI. That a copy of these Resolutions, signed by the Secretaries, be transmitted to the Committee of the Auxiliary (or Branch) Bible Society. instant, at XVII. That the Committee meet on the o'clock, and prepare an address on the object and views of this Society, to be printed and circulated with the Rules now adopted, among the merchants, ship owners, and captains of this port; and that a copy be transmitted to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society. OBSERVATIONS. 3. Many of the remarks already submitted, in reference to the Rules and By-Laws of Auxiliary Societies, (See Chap. II. Sections II. & III.) will be found equally applicable in the case now under consideration. There are, however, some peculiarities in the nature and constitution of a Marine Bible Society, which demand more particular notice. 1. It will be observed, that the term " Auxiliary" is omitted in the Second Rule; as its adoption might lead to confusion, by identi fying the establishment in question with the Local Society. It is however earnestly hoped, that many Marine Societies will follow the example of their elder sisters in the Northern Counties, by contributing their aid to the general object of the Parent Institution. 11. It may be occasionally found of advantage to add "VicePresidents to the honorary officers specified in the Fifth Rule: this, however, will be matter for local arrangement. With regard to the number of secretaries, two will be sufficient, especially if the society employ agents. The appointment of the latter will, in all probability, be a circumstance of rare occurrence, except in seaports of considerable magnitude, and the duties enjoined by the Seventh Rule be discharged by the members of the Committee in rotation. If the Committee consist of twenty-four or thirty mem bers, and six be appointed monthly as Visitors, the state of every ship may be investigated, and the interest be preserved, without subjecting the gentlemen thus engaged to any extraordinary incon venience. II. As the practical tendency of the Eighth Rule will be fully considered in Section V. it is only necessary, in this place, to observe, that in no respect can the services and influence of the Committee be more profitably directed, than in the promotion and organization of those highly important institutions to which the regulation refers. IV. The Reader will be prepared to appreciate the provisions of the Tenth Rule, on referring to the proceedings of the Whitby and Hull Societies, in Section I., where every necessary information relative to this part of the plan has been already given. It is difficult Y |