Bible Book.-Order Book-Treasurer's Book. NO. IV.-BIBLE BOOK. This has been already described under the title of "Depositary's Book," (Chap. II. Section V. No.5.); and the only points of difference are, that the Bibles and Testaments are received from the Auxiliary Society, and the issues are restricted to the respective Associations. The last column on the Credit side should consequently be omitted, in preparing this book for a Ladies' Branch Society. No. V. BIBLE SECRETARY'S ORrder book. This Book has been fully described, as No. 4 in Section V. of Chapter II.; and the few alterations required in reference to a Ladies' Branch Society will readily suggest themselves. But as the duties of a Depositary are, in more than one institution of this description, discharged by the Bible Secretary, it may be necessary to observe, that where this is the case, the middle form, marked "B," may be altogether dispensed with. When the Bible Secretary of an Association sends an order for Bibles and Testaments, the Depositary first ascertains whether the stock on hand enables her to comply with it: if not, it should be returned, and a fresh order be given for that part which can be supplied. Such disappointments will rarely occur, if due care be taken to maintain a sufficient and assorted stock in the depository; but it is of material consequence that the entries in the Bible Book shall agree with the vouchers. If, as already recommended, the orders be given to the Branch Bible Secretary at the regular Committee-meetings, delay will generally be avoided; as she can immediately ascertain the state of the stock on hand, by reference to her report on the table. Of the preceding Books, Nos. 1 and 2 are kept by the Minute Secretary; No. 3, by the Cash Secretary; and Nos. 4 and 5, by the Bible Secretary. NO. VI. TREASURER'S BOOK. This may be of octavo size, ruled like a common account book; in which the Treasurer, for her own satisfaction, keeps a duplicate copy of her account as entered in the Cash Book. The following specimen will afford a sufficient illustration:— D'. 'The Ladies' Branch of the Plymouth, &c. Auxiliary Bible Society. C'. 1818. £. s. d. Nov.25. To Auxiliary Society, on Purchase Account.250. 0. 0 1818. £. s. d. 275. 0.0 Ditto ditto..... 316.10. 0 ....... Specimen of the Treasurer's Monthly Report. It will be recollected, that the Treasurer makes no payment without receiving a copy of the minute which authorises it; and which is preserved as her voucher, and produced to the Auditors at the end of the year, when the Annual Statement of receipts and disbursements is prepared. See Chap. II. Section V. No. 11. NO. VII. TREASURER'S REPORT. This Report is presented to every Monthly Meeting of the Committee, pursuant to the VIIth By-Law, and requires no further explanation than is afforded in the following specimen : No. 3. LADIES' BRANCH OF THE PLYMOUTH, &c. AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. The TREASURER's Report of Receipts and Disbursements, from the 27th of December, 1818, to the 25th of January, 1819. RECEIVED. 1819. Balance in hand, last Month's Report. £. s. d. 362.10.0 25 Jan. From Cash Secretary this day, on account of Associations 520. 0.0 Ditto.. ditto. . Donations and Subscriptions 5. 5.0 1818. Total to account for £.887.15.0 PAID. £. s. d 28 Dec. To the Auxiliary Society, on Purchase Account 300.0.0 NO. VIII. CASH SECRETARY'S MONTHLY STATEMENT. This document is filled up previous to every Committee-meeting, and consequently does not include the money paid in by the several Associations at that particular meeting. It is designed to exhibit a clear abstract of the financial concerns of the society, and serves as a general check on all the accounts. The Specimen subjoined precludes the necessity of farther explanation, except in reference to the first column, which contains the respective amounts remitted since the last annual meeting. That of the Plymouth, &c. Society, being held in September, accounts for the comparatively small amounts entered. No. 26. Cash Secretary's Monthly Statement. LADIES' BRANCH OF THE PLYMOUTH, &c. AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. CASH SECRETARY'S Monthly Statement, presented 29th of December, 1820. STATE OF THE SOCIETY'S FUNDS ON THE 28th of December. Bible Secretary's Monthly Report.-Committee-Card-and Specimen. NO. IX.—BIBLE SECRETARY'S MONTHLY REPORT. This Report, like the preceding, is filled up previous to the Committee-meeting, and contains a detailed account of all Bibles and Testaments received and delivered, with the stock on hand. A similar document, as connected with an Auxiliary Society, having been fully described in Chapter II. Section V. No. 7. it is only necessary to refer to the Specimen there given.-The few verbal alterations necessary, in order to adapt the form to a Ladies' Branch Society, will be readily perceived. NO. X.-COMMITTEE CARD. It has been observed, in the fifth division of this Section, that every member should be furnished, annually, with a Committee Card, and that any further intimation of the regular monthly meetings will be unnecessary. The expense of issuing notices to those Ladies who reside at a distance from the place of meeting, is frequently considerable; and this, with the attendant trouble, is completely obviated by the expedient now recommended. The following Specimen is a transcript of the Card adopted at Plymouth; and by introducing the " Auxiliary" Society, a still further saving of expense is effected. PLYMOUTH, PLYMOUTH-DOCK, STONEHOUSE, &c. On the other side of the Card, the name of the member for whose use it is designed is inserted, with the following intimation. "It is earnestly hoped, that, by a strict attention to this Card, a punctual attendance of the respective Committees may be obtained, and the society be relieved from the many disadvantages which must inevitably accompany a neglect of this most important duty." The public proceedings conducted exclusively by Gentlemen. The Monthly Reports presented by the District Committees, and by the Treasurers of the respective Associations, will be considered in Section V., as more properly appertaining to that division of the Chapter. 8. In no respect are the advantages of a Ladies' Branch Society more conspicuous, than in the facilities afforded by them to the extension of the system of Female Associations. Where every requisite and proper assistance can be given by qualified individuals of their own sex, the laudable desire to form those important institutions is promptly and efficiently met; while the best security is attained for their proceeding on firm ground, and maintaining unimpaired the simple principles of their establishment. This remark finds its best illustration in the history of the Liverpool, Manchester, and Plymouth Societies; which have gradually extended their limits beyond the districts originally embraced; and have thereby not only preserved, but increased their strength, and essentially promoted the general cause. Without exercising any authority but that which is cheerfully conceded by the respective Associations, and without the power of evincing any undue partiality, this centre of unity and concord attracts the confidence and affection of the various Committees, and preserves the order and regularity of the whole. It may not be altogether unnecessary to observe, that even when assisting in the establishment and organization of new Associations, the Branch Committees alluded to have never taken any part in the public proceedings connected with such institutions, which have wholly devolved on the gentlemen of the respective Auxiliary Societies. If any circumstance have occurred, calculated to justify the fear which has, in some few quarters, been expressed in reference to female exertion, it has been concealed with unexampled caution and success, and has never reached the ears of those who are most deeply interested in detecting and correcting the evil. On the contrary, it is but justice to remark, that the prudence, the decorum, and the propriety, which have marked the operations of Ladies' Bible Societies, and characterized the demeanour of those by whom they are conducted, can only be equalled by the zeal and diligence they have manifested, and the unparalleled success of their proceedings. 9. This section of the chapter cannot with propriety be closed, without transcribing the Resolutions of the Committee previous to the Annual Meeting, which, it will be recollected, is held jointly with that of the Auxiliary Society. The |