Liverpool Ladies' Auxiliary Society-Defective nature of the plan. whom they presented their reports monthly, and paid over the amount collected.

In announcing this institution, the Committee of the Liverpool Auxiliary Society, in their Sixth Annual Report, ob

serve:

"Your Committee had lamented equally with all their predecessors, the great inefficiency of Gentlemen, in a plan professing to embrace the distribution of the Bible, through every part of a numerous, poor, and ever-varying population. That defect will be supplied-that difficulty will be removed. A society of Ladies will be organized, under the direction of their own Committee, which, by dividing the town into districts, and examining minutely into the wants of the poor, may be able to supply them, under circumstances of more hope and encouragement than can be expected from any other plan. The benevolence of the female character leads Ladies continually into those scenes of sorrow and suffering, where the mind is (humanly speaking) more pervious to the lessons of the Gospel. Your Committee anticipate a period, not very far distant, when the Ladies' Society may abundantly supply their lack of service, and promote in the hearts of the poor, generally through the town, the interests of that spiritual kingdom, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Their influence will be materially useful in the collection of small subscriptions: and if these District Associations be put into full activity, the difficulties hitherto experienced will, probably, be materially diminished, the support of the poor more extensively obtained, and the poor themselves brought into more intimate acquaintance with their duty to the commands, and their interest in the blessings of the Gospel.”

That those prospects have been abundantly realized, will be shewn in the sequel: but the experience of a few months was sufficient to convince the Ladies thus engaged, that the plan they had adopted was totally inadequate to the end designed. No provision was made for exciting and perpetuating that feeling, which gives to every individual engaged in the work, an interest in its success;-the local districts were too extensive, and many parts of them were, consequently, unvisited; the mode of gratuitous supply was carried to a mischievous excess;-but, above all, no measures were devised for awakening, in the labouring classes of the community, the benevolent principle, and calling into life and exercise, even within the walls of a cottage, those Christian charities, the developement of which are among the first and happiest results of Bible Associations. In reference to these, and other defects in their system, the Committee of Ladies observe, in their First Annual Report :

"The further the collectors advanced in the work, the more they were convinced of its urgent necessity, and of their inability to perform it. The funds of the Society being inadequate to the demands for Bibles and Testaments, even at reduced prices, your Committee were obliged to refuse several applications for grants to persons in indigent circumstances; but a seasonable donation of Bibles and Testaments, to the amount of 54, intended for the

The Liverpool Ladies' Branch Society established.

temporary supply of such persons as were unable to purchase, prevented the inconvenience which this circumstance would otherwise have occasioned. New difficulties were, however, continually arising, which called for new and untried expedients; and the benevolent designs of the institution were frequently impeded, by that want of system which your Committee felt themselves incompetent to supply."

Such was the state of this society in December 1817, when the author accepted an invitation to assist in organizing it on more correct principles. On investigation, it appeared that, during the preceding nine months, about 500 persons had entered their names as subscribers for Bibles and Testaments, and about 200 as free contributors; that 271 copies of the Scriptures had been distributed by sale, and 35 gratuitously; and that the total amount collected was 4121. 18s. 3d.

In a district, the population of which exceeded one hundred thousand, it was evident that one Bible Association would be insufficient: and as no plan had hitherto existed for connecting several institutions of this description, conducted by Females, with the same Auxiliary Society, it became necessary to devise a mode by which their operations should be carried on with uniformity and effect. The precedents exhibited in Southwark, Westminster, the City of London, and Bristol, were totally inapplicable to Liverpool; as in these, and many other populous places, Gentlemen's Associations pre-occupied the ground.-After mature deliberation, it was resolved to divide the town and its immediate vicinity into ten districts, and to establish and organize a Female Association in each; of which the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Treasurers, and Secretaries, unitedly, should constitute a distinct Society or Committee, under the designation of "The Ladies' Branch of the Liverpool Auxiliary Society." From this plan, it was presumed, many beneficial effects would result:-the several Associations, under the superintending care and direction of judicious individuals of their own sex, would preserve an uniformity of design and proceeding;-a regular and proper medium of communication with the Auxiliary Society would be provided, calculated to prevent trouble to all parties, and to facilitate the separate and combined operations ;-the remittances would be received, and the Bibles and Testaments issued, with order, economy, and despatch;-any improvements in the system would be deliberately considered, and effectually recommended;-and one Annual Report would exhibit the collective results of the whole institution.

A Code of Rules and By-Laws, founded on these princi

Similar Institutions at Manchester, Plymouth, Hull, &c.

ples, having been prepared, it was submitted to the Ladies' Committee, and being unanimously adopted, the society was re-formed on the 26th of December 1817; and the ten connected Associations were established within the following week. If a doubt had hitherto existed relative to the comparative efficiency of the plan thus adopted, the immediate effects would have removed it. The zeal, the talents, and the influence of more than six hundred Ladies were called into exercise, and directed, in a methodical and systematic manner, to the investigation and supply of three hundred and forty-one districts. At the close of the first year, the number of subscribers exceeded ten thousand, of whom 3364 were free contributors; more than three thousand Bibles and Testaments had been distributed by sale; and the aggregate amount collected was 2552l. 16s. 10d., of which the sum of 518l. 1s. 4d. was remitted for the general object of the Parent Institution. During this period, more than 20,800 visits had been paid, and been attended, by the blessing of GOD, with the happiest results, not only to the families of the poor, but amongst the collectors themselves." In surveying these unexampled effects, well might the Committee observe,

"

"Though the operations of your society, like the mechanism of a watch, have been concealed from view, their influence has extended through the circle of the Associations, and their beneficial effects have been pointed out by the Branch Committee, as the hours by the fingers on the dial: the eye of the most indifferent will be struck with the pleasing results; while the more attentive observer will perceive the adaptation of the various parts to the perfection of the whole, and, thereby discerning the signs of the times,' will give the praise to that divine Artificer, whose providence directs and regulates all our movements."

. The establishment of the Ladies' Branch of the Liverpool Auxiliary Society was immediately followed by that of a similar institution at MANCHESTER: and the plan was adopted at a later period by the Ladies of PLYMOUTH, HULL, and NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. The complete success with which it has been attended, not only in its pecuniary and moral results, but in its tendency to preserve inviolate the principles and regulations recommended by the Parent Society, justifies the expectation, that the Ladies' Associations in the several auxiliary districts of the metropolis will speedily form establishments of a like nature; and that the principal towns and cities of the empire, in which more than one Female Association is found expedient, will follow the example. In the formation of the societies just enumerated, and especially that for Plymouth and its vicinity, many improve

Regulations of a Ladies' Branch Society.

ments in the original design suggested themselves; and it is now submitted in its matured state, with such observations as appear necessary to render the various regulations more clear and intelligible.

2. RULES and REGULATIONS recommended for adoption by the LADIES' BRANCH of an Auxiliary Bible Society.

I. That we form ourselves into a society in connexion with the British and Foreign Bible Society, through the medium of the Auxiliary Society, for the purpose of contributing towards the circulation of the holy scriptures without note or comment, particularly in ▬▬▬, and its vicinity; and that this society be denominated "The Ladies' Branch of the Auxiliary Bible Society."

II. That the business of this society be condueted by a Committee, composed of the honorary members, the Treasurers, and Secretaries of all the Ladies' Bible Associations now formed, or which may hereafter be formed, in connexion with the Auxiliary Bible Society, and of all the Patro

nesses and Vice-Patronesses who may join the institution. III. That the objects of this Committee shall be,

1. To preserve one uniform mode of proceeding throughout all the Associations represented in this Branch Committee.

2. To provide a regular medium of communication, by means of this Committee, with the Committee of the Auxiliary Society, and thereby facilitate the operations of each Association.

3. To constitute a medium, through which the several Associations ⚫ may receive their Bibles and Testaments from, and remit their contributions to, the Auxiliary Society, and recommend to the Committee of that institution any deserving objects of gratuitous supply. 4. To condense the several Reports of the respective Associations, and prepare and publish one Annual Report of the whole proceedings of the united Associations.

5. To solicit and obtain patronage.

IV. That the Committee meet once a month or oftener, on some day to be fixed by themselves.

V. That a President, Treasurer, and three (or more) Secretaries, eligible to re-election, shall be annually chosen at the Committee Meeting in

VI. That, in consideration of the offer of the Auxiliary Bible Society to allow to this Branch the privileges which they are allowed by the Parent Society, the whole of the funds be paid, after supplying local wants and deducting incidental expenses, to the Treasurer of the Auxiliary Society, to be by him remitted to the Parent Institution, as the contribution of the Ladies' Branch of the Bible Society for and its vicinity, and stated as such in their Annual Report.

VII. That this Committee prepare an Annual Report of its proceedings, which shall be transmitted to the Secretaries of the Auxiliary Society, on or before the of --- in each year, and which shall be read and published as the Report of the Ladies' Branch of the Auxiliary Bible Society. And that every collector, and every contributor of half-a-guinea or upwards per annum, be entitled to a copy.

VIII. That this Branch, and all the Associations in the town (or city) and its immediate vicinity connected therewith, hold their anniversary meetings conjointly with those of the Auxiliary Society. But that the Associations established at a distance, although in connexion with this Society, shall be

Observations on the Rules:-Claims for gratuitous supply

at liberty to hold their respective annual meetings, if the Local Committees deem it expedient.

VIII. That a copy of these Rules, signed by the Secretaries, be transmitted to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and to the Committee of the Auxiliary Society.

3. OBSERVATIONS.

Although the remarks already made, in reference to the Rules of an Auxiliary Society (see Chapter II. Section II.), are equally applicable, in their general tendency, to the institution now under review, there are some peculiar features in the preceding Regulations which require more particular consideration :

1. As the Ladies' Branch of an Auxiliary Society is composed, exclusively, of the honorary and other officers of Female Associations within the district, it is evident that such an institution cannot be formed until some progress is made towards the establishment of the latter. At Liverpool, the case was different; as the materials for a Branch Committee previously existed: but at Manchester, Plymouth, &c. the Associations were formed in the first instance, and the institution in question immediately followed. It will, however, be found highly desirable, to prepare the frame-work of the society as early as possible; and this may be easily done when only one or two of the projected Associations are established: the ulterior proceedings will thus be materially facilitated, and a due degree of regularity, order, and cohesion be secured and maintained. The several united Associations should not only consider themselves as parts of a whole, but as dependent on the Branch Society, which is constituted for the general benefit of all; and it is obvious, that the sooner those principles are practically applied, the greater will be that mutual harmony and good understanding which should always characterize the system.

II. In the formation of a new Association, it should be the duty of the Branch Secretaries to afford every requisite assistance to the Committee of the Auxiliary Society: but it is in the organization of the Committee that the services and experience of those Ladies will be found most valuable and efficient. The Account Books, Papers, copies of the Branch Rules, and all other necessary documents, should be immediately supplied; and the Secretaries be fully instructed in the duties they are expected to discharge, not only in regard to their own distinct Association, but as connected with the Branch Society. The importance of full and regular Reports, and of a strict adherence to the Rules adopted, should be especially enforced.

III. It will be perceived, that it is recommended to confine the power of making gratuitous grants, exclusively, to the Committee of the Auxiliary Society. By this regulation, much trouble is avoided, while every prudent facility is afforded to the supply of