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Observations on the LOAN TICKETS.

Book, under the head "Bible Secretary."-See No. xv. FIRST SPECIMEN.

VII. Where no Ladies' Branch Society is formed, but two or more Associations are in connexion with an Auxiliary or Branch Society, a similar mode of proceeding may be adopted: and in the Metropolis, the plan of a periodical "Conference" affords peculiar facilities for carrying it into effect.

VIII. This subject may appear of comparatively trifling importance but those who have had experience in the practical duties of Bible Associations, will not speedily forget the difficulties and misrepresentations to which they were subjected before the introduction of this plan, by the adoption of which they have been entirely obviated.

IX. It must be evident that this mode cannot be pursued when the Bible Subscriber removes to a considerable distance, as the expense of postage precludes the necessary intercourse. The usual proceeding in such a case, is, either to refund the money received, or to get the subscriber to authorise some person to continue the subscription, and receive the Bible or Testament. Occurrences of this kind are not very uncommon; and the character and reputation of the society will be best maintained, by immediately refunding the money paid by any subscriber thus circumstanced, who may

wish to have it returned.

NO. VII.-LOAN TICKETS.

It has been already observed, that the Association in question has adopted the Loan-Fund plan. For the Rules and Regulations by which it is governed, and a short statement of its more prominent advantages, the 'reader is referred to Chap. VIII. Sect. II. It is now necessary to describe the practical application of these Rules.

1. The Tickets are of the same size as the Specimen, and are printed on stout paper. They are stitched in books, containing 100 Tickets each; and given in charge to the BIBLE Secretary, who places one of the books before the Treasurer at every Committee meeting.

II. In the case to which the Specimen refers, it will be found (see No. 1. Second Specimen) that the collectors describe Mary Candler as destitute of the holy scriptures, " a widow, and very poor;" circumstances which they, very properly, judged to be sufficient grounds for recommending her to the Committee, as a suitable object for a Loan Testament. She was accordingly recommended in their next Monthly Report (see No. x, Second Specimen); and being approved by the Committee, the ticket was filled up by the Treasurer at the table, and handed to the collectors, by

When the Chair is filled by the Treasurer, she requests one of the Collectors to sit near her, and fulfil this duty.

Specimen of the LOAN TICKET.-Delivery TICKETS.

whom it was signed, and delivered to Mary Candler; who was at the same time told to apply for the Testament at the specified time, and to preserve it from injury while in her possession.

III. As the Rules of the Loan Fund authorise a collector to extend the advantages of it to persons in sickness, &c., without waiting for a Committee meeting, it should be recollected that the same form of application must be adopted, although the Testament may have been delivered: as, without this, the regular order of the proceedings would be violated, and the Bible Secretary's account and vouchers be incomplete.

IV. When the Bible Secretary receives the Ticket, she makes the requisite entry in the Loan-Fund Book, and fills up the blanks at the end of the ticket, by inserting the No. of the Testament lent, which she then delivers.

v. According to the Rules, the respective collectors have authority to extend the loan beyond a month; but their Monthly Report should specify every outstanding Testament in their district.

SUPPLIED WITH TESTAMENT NO. 7.

SPECIMEN OF THE LOAN TICKET.

Charles' LADIES' BIBLE ASSOCIATION.

DISTRICT

No. 2.

The Bearer, Mary Candler,

9th of July, 1819.

Residing at No. 3, Plough Court,

is the person to whom the loan of a Pica Testament was voted at the last Meeting of the Committee.

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I. Although this Association adopts the plan of Public Distri bution, some cases occur, and will be found to occur in most Associations, which justify a departure from it; and provision is made for such cases by the Eighth By-Law.-See. Observation on that By-Law, Section III.

11. The Tickets are the same size as the Specimen, and are printed on stout paper. They are stitched in books containing

Specimen of the Delivery Ticket.-PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION TICKET.
50 each, and one or two books of each kind will be generally found
sufficient for a moderately extensive Association: they are given in
charge to the Bible Secretary.

III. The case to which the Specimen refers, was one which
amply justified the immediate delivery of the Bible. By the entry
in the VISITING Book (See No. 1. Second Specimen), it appeared
that Mary Cox was in bad health, and "anxious for a Bible:" and
by the COLLECTING Book (No. 11. Second Specimen), it will be found
that she had not only paid up the Cost price, but had become a Free
Contributor of twopence a-week. Under these circumstances,
the collectors immediately applied to the Bible Secretary, who
filled up the ticket and check; and cutting off the former, delivered
it to the collectors, by whom it was given to the subscriber.

IV. In Associations which have not adopted the plan of public distributions, each district is furnished with a book of these tickets, and the collectors apply to the Bible Secretary when a further supply is required.

v. It will be perceived that the number following the subscriber's name has reference to her number in the "Bible Book" (See No. XVIII. First Specimen). This will be found useful in detecting any error. The number is inserted by the Bible Secretary when the Ticket is presented.

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Observations on the COLLECTORS' MONTHLY REPOrt.

NO. X.-COLLECTORS' MONTHLY REPORT. Hitherto we have considered the duties of a Collector, only in reference to her character as such; but we have now to view her as a member of the Committee, and as supplying that information which shall satisfy herself, her colleagues, and the public; that the cause of benevolence wherein she is engaged is one that is worthy of pursuit, and that the results of her exertions are beneficial to her fellow-creatures.

1. This Report is contained on both sides of a half sheet of copy paper; and should be filled up previous to the meeting of the Committee, and placed, with the money collected, in the Bag.

II. The importance of these Monthly Reports will be evident, when it is considered, that it is to them we are indebted for the most full and authentic details relative to the domestic proceedings of the Bible Society. The Collectors may be considered as the representatives of that Institution, within their allotted sphere of usefulness; and their reports constitute the materials for those general statements which the Association furnishes to the Branch or Auxiliary Society; as well as an interesting portion of the annual details published by the latter, and transmitted to the Parent Institution. This periodical information, like the contributions by which it is accompanied, may be compared to those rivulets, small but refreshing, that gradually increase the river into which they flow, till the united waters, rolling onward, dispense health and fertility around.

III. An examination of the FIRST SPECIMEN will convince the reader, that the form of this report is so prepared as to save the time and trouble of the Collectors as much as possible: but care should be taken that every blank is filled. The erroneous insertion of a subscriber's name a second time is one of the principal risks against which a Collector must be on her guard. It should be always remembered, that the only information required, under this head, relates to those who have become subscribers, or free contributors, since the preceding report; and that the object is, to enable the Secretaries to keep a correct list of all the contributors and subscribers. All persons giving donations, should be included, during the current year, in the return of "Number of Free Contributors." A reference to the Collecting Book (See No. 11. Second Specimen) will afford any further requisite explanation.

IV. It frequently happens, especially at the commencement of an Association, that the spaces left for the insertion of new subscribers' names are inadequate to the purpose. In such case, a piece of paper should be appended to the report, for those names which cannot be inserted in the printed form. It will be perceived, that the other particulars required are also obtained from the Collecting Book; and their importance will be obvious to those who consider how necessary it is to provide a constant check on the books of the Association, in order that any inaccuracy or omission may be promptly corrected.

Observations on the Collectors' Monthly Report.

v. It sometimes happens, that the subscriber wishes for a different kind of Bible or Testament to that originally selected; and this wish should always be gratified. The principal advantage will still be attained that of enabling the Bible Secretary to keep a stock of the descriptions most in request.

vi. Allusion has already been made to the importance of those "Facts and Observations" which these reports have been the means of eliciting, and which the SECOND SPECIMEN is designed to illustrate. But it cannot be too strongly impressed on the minds of Collectors, that the best fact is that which is best authenticated; and the best observation, that which is the result of experience. Facts, like valuable fruit, should be attentively watched, and suffered to ripen and mature before they are gathered; and it will be generally found, that those are the most precious which have been the longest in attaining this state of maturity. Nor is an inferior degree of caution and prudence requisite in reporting these facts:-compression, simplicity of language, and a disposition to withhold rather than exaggerate the truth, will always render a fact more pleasing in itself, and excite a greater degree of interest in the auditors. When the allotted space is insufficient to contain the information which the Collector wishes to communicate, a piece of paper is appended to the report.-See Ivth Observation.

A reference to the Visiting Book (No. 1. Second Specimen) will enable the reader to trace the information communicated in this part of the First Monthly Report.

VII. As the annexed Specimens are transcripts of the First Monthly Report presented by the Collectors of a district, they do not embrace some important subjects which arise out of the proceedings of the Association. In order to give a clear view of this part of the system, a copy of the Sixth Monthly Report of the same Collectors is subjoined.-The interesting facts which it com municates preclude the necessity of apology for this apparent repe tition.

VIII. The Collectors who sign the report, are those who have acted during the past month. It frequently happens, that illness, absence from home, or some other unavoidable cause, prevents one or more of the Collectors of a district fulfilling the requisite duties; and it is necessary that the Secretaries and Committee should know to whom they may refer, in case of any explanation being required. The names are not read at the Committee.

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IX. The interesting fact related under the head of "LOAN STOCK," in the second of the two following Duplicate Specimens, is a delightful evidence of the advantages of this part of the plan; especially as the author is enabled to state, on the same respectable authority, that the perusal of the sacred records was obviously blessed to this poor penitent, who died "with a hope full of immortality, rejoicing in the name of Jesus Christ!"

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