Nature of the Funds-Annual Report.-By-Laws.

the very few cases which, in a well-organized society, demand attention. These cases will be still more rare, if the plan of the Loan-fund-which will be considered in its proper place-be adopted in an early stage of the proceedings of a Bible Association. IV. The observations already submitted, relative to the selection of suitable persons as Secretaries of an Auxiliary Society (see Chap. II. Section III.), being equally applicable in reference to a Ladies' Branch, supersede the necessity of further remark in this place. Nothing is more detrimental to the interests of a Bible Society than the frequent change of Secretaries, which should never be made without sufficient cause.

v. It should be distinctly understood, that, with the exception of such donations and subscriptions as may be derived from the honorary officers, a Ladies' Branch Society possesses no funds but those of the connected Associations. The extent of remittances for the general object of the Parent Institution will, consequently, depend on the amount voted for this express purpose by the respective Committees of these Associations; and, from the aggregate amount, the incidental expenses of the Branch Society should be deducted, and the surplus balance be annually remitted to the Auxiliary Society, as provided by the 5th Rule.

VI. To those who are familiar with the Annual Reports of the Liverpool, Manchester, and Plymouth Ladies' Societies, the 6th Rule will carry its own recommendation. Few documents have issued from the press, better calculated to arrest the attention and excite an interest in behalf of the cause whose merits they attest. This publication should appear as soon as possible after the Annual Meeting; and should contain a brief, but lucid compendium of the proceedings and comparative state of the several Associations; with a judicious selection of such passages from their Reports, as may exhibit a faithful exposition of the beneficial effects produced. A copy of the Treasurer's account, as audited, should be appended, with an alphabetical list of all free contributors to the respective Associations of half-a-guinea per annum and upwards. The requisite number of copies for the supply of those subscribers should be sent, as soon as possible, to the Secretaries of each Association; and, if the Report be not published jointly with that of the Auxiliary Society, twelve copies should be transmitted to the Committee of the Parent Institution.

One of the first duties of the Committee will be, the consideration and adoption of a Code of By-Laws, which will form the subject of the next division.

4. BY-LAWS,

Recommended for adoption by the Committee of a Ladies' Branch Society. I. That the Committee shall meet at the

month, at

o'clock precisely.

on the in every

By-Laws recommended for adoption.

II. As soon after-o'clock as five members shall be present, the chair shall be taken, and the business commenced.

III. The names of the members shall be called over at o'clock; and no one who comes at a later hour shall be entered upon the Minutes as present, though entitled to vote.

IV. That the chair shall be taken by the President: in her absence, by the Treasurer: and in the absence of these officers, the Committee shall appoint a Lady to the chair from among themselves.

V. The order of proceeding at each monthly meeting shall be,

1. To read the Minutes of the preceding meeting; and to dispose of business arising therefrom.

2. To call on the Treasurer of each Association, in order, for a written Report, and any money voted by the Association.

3. To call for a written report from each District Committee, in the order of establishment of the Associations they represent.

4. To consider the Treasurer's and District Committee's reports, and dispose of any business arising from them.

5. To receive the Cash Secretary's monthly statement of the funds of the society.

6. To receive the Bible Secretary's report of Bibles and Testaments received and delivered, and the stock on hand; with any official communications the Secretaries may have to make.

7. To receive the Cash Secretary's report of Remittances from the Associations, and vote the amount to the Treasurer.

8. To receive the Branch Treasurer's report of the state of the funds, and vote such sum as may be deemed expedient to the Auxiliary Society; an acknowledgment to be received of all such payments, and produced at the next meeting of the Committee. After which, fresh propositions shall be taken into consideration.

VI. All orders upon the Treasurer shall be, by regular vote of the Committee, extracted from the Minutes, and signed by one of the Secretaries. VII. A Depository of Bibles and Testaments shall be established, from which no books shall be delivered without an order signed by one of the Secretaries.

VIII. No order for Bibles and Testaments shall be recognised, until the amount, at cost prices, shall have been remitted.

IX. Two Auditors shall be annually chosen, to whom all bills shall be referred for examination. They shall also investigate the accounts of the society, and present a statement of the same, signed by them, to the Committee Meeting, immediately preceding the Annual Meeting in each year.

X. The Secretaries shall call a special meeting of the Committee, on receiving a requisition signed by five members; or they may do so on their own authority alone: such meeting not to take place until three days after the date of the summons, which shall specify the object of the meeting. XI. The President, Treasurer, and Secretaries of each Association now formed, or which shall hereafter be formed, in connexion with the Auxiliary Society, shall be a District Committee of this Society for such *Association.

XII. The Treasurer of each Association shall present, monthly, a written report, detailing the precise state of the funds of such Association.

XIII. Each District Committee shall present, monthly, a written report, detailing the precise state of such Association, exclusive of its financial con

cerns.

XIV. The Secretaries are authorised to procure the requisite Account Books, Papers, &c. for the use of this society and of the several Associations; and shall keep an account of all Books and Papers furnished to the latter.

Observations on the By-Laws.

XV. The Secretaries shall be, er officio, members of the Committees of all the Associations connected with this society.

XVI. No new By-Law shall be made, nor any existing By-Law repealed or altered, without one month's previous notice being given, and a copy of the proposed addition or alteration sent to every member of the Committee.

5. OBSERVATIONS.

The similarity of these By-Laws, in many essential points, to those recommended for adoption by the Committees of Auxiliary Societies, justifies a reference to the Observations on the latter (See Chap. II. Section III.), for such general explanations as appear necessary. A considerable degree of repetition is inseparable from a work of this nature; and where it can be avoided with a due regard to explicitness, the candid reader of any separate chapter will forgive the additional trouble to which he is subjected. Those peculiar features which distinguish the practical regulations of a Ladies' Branch Society will now be considered.

1. It is highly desirable, for reasons which are sufficiently obvious, that the Committee-meetings of all Female societies should be held in the early part of the day: eleven or twelve o'clock is generally found to be the most suitable time: and if punctuality of attendance, and strict adherence to the prescribed regulations, be observed, two hours will be found amply sufficient for the transaction of the business. Every member should be furnished, annually, with a Committee-Card (See Specimen No. 10, Seventh Division of this Section); and any further intimation of the regular monthly meetings will be unnecessary. It is the duty of the Minute Secretary to prepare an Agenda, or Paper of Business (See Specimen, Chap. I. Section II.) which is laid, with a copy of the By-Laws, before the Lady who presides.

11. The various Reports alluded to in the Fifth By-Law will be described in a subsequent division of this Section:-their regular presentation at every Committee-meeting is essential to the preservation of order; and in case of any omission, measures should be immediately adopted to prevent its recurrence. The design of this By-Law is two-fold ;-first, to obtain a full and faithful representation of the circumstances of every Association; and secondly, to ascertain the precise state of the whole connected institution. These reports, therefore, should receive the most deliberate consideration, and the respective District Committees be prepared to afford any requisite explanation. The causes which have produced any extraordinary change, whether favourable or unfavourable, should be diligently investigated-if any Association appear in a declining state, the most prompt and judicious measures for its revival should be adopted, by the appointment of a suitable SubCommittee for this especial purpose :-where a more than usual degree of success, either pecuniary or moral, has been experienced,

Depository-its nature and advantages.

the means of its attainment should be ascertained and considered, in reference to their more general application; and, if the slightest deviation from the principles and rules of the Society be manifested, the most decided measures should be taken to correct the evil and prevent its repetition. The Committee, in all their proceedings, should consider themselves the guardians of the interests, the peace, and the character of the united Associations: and, remembering, that "whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it;" press forward in that "more excellent way," by which an évidence is afforded that they are members of " the body of Christ."

III. The Depository should be established in a central and convenient place; and if in or near the house where the Committeemeetings are held, it will be the more desirable. The gentlemen of the Liverpool Bible Society have supplied their Ladies' Branch with eligible premises, for both purposes; and at Plymouth, a suitable room has been procured, at the annual rent of six pounds, which is fitted up as a Depository, and in which the Committee also meet. A sufficient, though not an extravagant stock of Bibles and Testaments, to answer the demands of the Associations, should be constantly kept on hand, and properly arranged; and the Books should be frequently examined, not only to ascertain the correctness of the Stock-list, but to insure their preservation. Another department of the Depository should include an adequate supply of Account-Books, Visiting and Collecting-Books, printed Papers, Forms of the various Reports, &c. for the use of the society and its connected Associations. The Reports of the Parent Institution, and of Auxiliary and other societies, with a connected series of the "Monthly Extracts," constitute a valuable addition to the Depository. It will save considerable trouble to all parties, if the Bible Secretary of the respective Associations deliver their order for any Bibles and Testaments required, at the close of the regular Committee-meetings; but as many unforeseen circumstances will require attention, the Branch Secretaries should appoint one day, weekly, when they may be met with at the Depository at stated hours.

IV. Although recent personal investigation has established the melancholy fact, that many extensive districts in our own highlyfavoured country are, in a lamentable degree, destitute of the holy scriptures; yet experience has proved, that it is not by gratuitous supply this deficiency can be best remedied. A mass of irresistible evidence has already testified, not only to the ability but the inclination of the labouring classes to aid themselves, and to the superior value attached to that blessing which has been thus obtained, when the mode of procuring it has been opened to them. No instance has, hitherto, occurred, wherein a Female Association in connexion with a Ladies' Branch has required a supply of Bibles and Testaments beyond the amount of money remitted: on the contrary, a

Inexpediency of Special Committees.-Choice of Secretaries.

laudable desire is manifested to contribute in aid of the general design of the Parent Society; and this disposition, it is confidently hoped, will become still more universal. But it should not be concealed, that a degree of lukewarmness has been witnessed, in some quarters, in reference to the Foreign operations of the Bible Society. It has been asked, "Why cannot foreign nations supply themselves; and why should we be required to assist them?" To this inquiry, the Christian will find the best answer in his Bible, and in his own heart: and those who are acquainted with the state of other countries, and especially of Heathen lands, will find in the simple words," they cannot help themselves," a sufficient, because a true reply. But this subject has been so fully treated in the preceding parts of this work (see Chap. I. Sections X. & XI.), that it is not necessary to enlarge on it in this place. Shall it be said in the nineteenth century, and in a land which owes to foreigners this sacred foundation of its dearest rights and its highest privileges, that they shall now look to her in vain ?-Shall the seas which bound her shores circumscribe the range of her benevolence; instead of fulfilling the gracious designs of her God and Saviour, by bearing to all kindreds, tongues, and people, the evidence of her gratitude, and the charter of our common salvation?" Silver and gold THEY have none;" but never will England refuse to say unto them, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

v. In a Ladies' Branch Society, as in all kindred institutions, the necessity for special Committee-meetings will seldom occur, if the Secretaries be executive in the discharge of their duties. A moderate exercise of fore-thought will generally enable them to bring forward every subject requiring consideration, at the regular monthly meetings; at which nothing is more likely to insure the punctual attendance of the members, than the avoidance of extraordinary claims on their time.

VI. The privilege conferred on the Secretaries by the XVth By-Law, will be found highly conducive to the interests of the several Associations; and it is very desirable that those officers should avail themselves of it, as far as may be consistent with their more immediate duties. The correct knowledge thus acquired of the system, in all its practical relations, will enable them to conduct the general business with ease and efficacy. If other Ladies properly qualified can be found to occupy this important station, it is recommended that they shall not be selected from among the officers of the united Associations; for although it may reasonably be expected that no undue partiality would be manifested, in the event of such selection, the mere suspicion of its existence would weaken the hands of the Secretaries, and contract their field of usefulness.

When the Rules and By-Laws have been maturely considered and adopted, a certain number of copies should be