Glasgow, &c. Associations.—Savings from infancy. such comparatively well-disposed youths, will the danger arising from bad associates be diminished, the influence of religious example be generally diffused, and the attention of all be habitually drawn to the good ways of the Lord. While engaged in providing Bibles for others, may the God of all grace make them anxious to read and understand their own; and while assisting in the glorious work of making others wise unto salvation, may each of them be made wise for himself!" The aggregate amounts derived to the funds of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Societies, from this source, to the year 1819, are, Edinburgh, from seven Juvenile Associations. £.546. 1.0 By similar Associations at Aberdeen, Greenock, Paisley, &c. a proportional degree of zeal and liberality has been manifested; and it is very probable, that in many other parts of Great Britain combined indications of the interest felt by the young in this work of mercy, have been discovered, although the particulars have not been made public. The following is selected from among numerous evidences of an individual desire to contribute towards an object which even children can understand and appreciate. After an interesting meeting in the North of England, a paper was handed to the author, of which the following is a transcript : . "A young person was at the meeting last night, whose exertions in aid of the Bible Society began at perhaps an earlier period than most in the room and as I feel confident that the circumstance excites in her mind no feeling but that of gratitude to GOD, and to her excellent parents, I will mention the fact to you, in the hope of its furnishing a hint for usefulness to others. In her days of infancy, when a penny was given to her for learning a hymn, it was, at her mother's suggestion, deposited in a little box till it had five companions; they were then exchanged for a silver sixpence. A shilling, by the same process, soon occupied its place, or became united to it at once, by a chapter being committed to memory. Whenever ten shillings could be counted, they were placed by the child in the hand of her affectionate father, who returned to his pleased little-one a promissory note for the ten shillings with interest, in due form. On the establishment of the Bible Society here, the several notes were produced, and the accumulated fund was called in:-it amounted to TEN GUINEAS, which were with unspeakable pleasure committed to its better bank, as 'Suvings from Infancy, and inserted as such in the first Annual Report of the Auxiliary Society." SECTION II. RULES AND REGULATIONS, In preparing the following regulations, the author has endeavoured to render them as simple as possible; and such observations are subjoined as appeared necessary to make Rules for Juvenile Bible Associations.-Observations. the plan perfectly intelligible to those for whose use they are designed. 1. RULES recommended for adoption by JUVENILE BIBLE ASSOCIATIONS. I. That an Association be now formed in connexion with the Auxiliary (or Branch) Bible Society (or denominated "The ·Bible Association), to be Juvenile Bible Association, for the purpose of contributing towards the circulation of the holy scriptures, without note or comment, throughout the world." II. That each Member of this Association subscribe not less than one penny a-week; and that every person presenting a donation of one guinea, or upwards, either at one time or within a year, shall be a member for life. III. That the business of this Association be conducted by a treasurer, secretary, and a committee, consisting of all the members who collect sixpence or upwards per week: the treasurer and secretary to be chosen annually, and to be eligible for re-election. day of every month, at IV. That the committee meet on the - o'clock precisely, and that the business commence as soon as five members are present. V. That each collector be furnished by the secretary with a collectingbook, numbered according to the order of appointment, for the purpose of entering the names of contributors and Bible subscribers; and that the amount received shall be paid over to the treasurer at every committee meeting. VI. That if any member of this Association wishes to subscribe for a Bible or Testament for his (or her) own use, or for the supply of any poor child or person unable to subscribe, such subscription shall be received, and the Bible or Testament be delivered when the cost-price has been paid. VII. That the whole of the contributions, after deducting incidental expenses, shall be paid by the treasurer, quarterly, to the committee of the Auxiliary (or Branch) Bible Society (or Bible Association), to be applied, after paying for any Bibles and Testaments which have been received, to the general object of the British and Foreign Bible Society. VIII. That a general meeting of the subscribers shall be held annually, when the treasurer's account, as audited by the committee, shall be presented, the proceedings of the last year reported, and a treasurer and secretary appointed. A copy of the Report to be sent to the committee of the Auxiliary (or Branch) Society (or ·Bible Association). IX. That A.B. be treasurer, and C. D. secretary for the year ensuing. X. That a copy of these Rules, signed by the treasurer and secretary, be transmitted to the committee of the Auxiliary (or Branch) Society (or -- Bible Association); and that they be respectfully requested to furnish the Association with their Annual Reports, and with five copies of the "Extracts of Correspondence," monthly. OBSERVATIONS. 1st Rule. If the society be established in a school, it may be denominated "The Bible Association of Mr. (Mrs. or Miss―'s) School." 2d Rule. In School Associations, the privilege of being lifemembers may be extended to those subscribers who leave the school, but who still manifest an interest in the cause. Observations on the Rules and Regulations. 3d Rule. The TREASURER of a School Association should always be one of the principals or teachers of the seminary. The SECRETARY should be one of the scholars; and in this appointment, the master (or mistress) should be consulted:-temper and character, as well as ability, should distinguish the individual selected. 4th Rule. The day and hour of the committee-meeting should be such as do not interfere with the duties of the members, who should endeavour to meet punctually, and to give their undivided, attention to the business. At every committee-meeting, the treasurer presides to preserve order. When the secretary calls for the Reports, the collectors, beginning with No. 1., present their books (see Specimen), and pay over the money to the treasurer, while the secretary examines the additions in the book. When all have been presented, the secretary reports the amount of each, and the total sum received. The treasurer then reports any payment made to the Auxiliary (or Branch) Society (or Association) since the last meeting; after which, any claims for Bibles and Testaments are received, and the stock in hand (if any) is reported by the secretary. 5th Rule.-In School Associations, the collectors should be approved by the master (or mistress) before they are furnished with books and in all juvenile societies, they should be selected with caution. The entry of every sum should be made at the time it is received, and the collecting book be neatly and correctly kept. 6th Rule.-In Sunday Schools, and other Associations of poor children, the rate at which Bibles and Testaments shall be delivered may be fixed by the committee. In many instances it may be desirable to deliver them when half the cost-price has been paid, and in some few cases gratuitously; but this should be done only after strict personal investigation. 7th Rule.-The treasurer should receive an acknowledgment for all payments to the Auxiliary (or Branch) Society, and submit it to the next meeting of the committee: and the secretary should present the account of any Bibles and Testaments received. 8th Rule. In School Associations, the Annual Meeting may be advantageously held immediately before the vacation. The children should be allowed to take home their books, (which should be carefully preserved and returned,) and any papers relative to the society; by which means an interest in the object may be materially promoted and extended. 10th Rule. The "Extracts of Correspondence" should circulate among the members, and be lent to their friends and acquaintance. Nothing is more likely to confirm their attachment to the society, than the perusal of these important and interesting documents. The number required will depend on the extent of the Association. Collecting Book.-Minute Book.-Proceedings at a Committee Meeting. SECTION III. MODE OF KEEPING THE ACCOUNTS. In all the Specimens referred to or contained in this Section, the entries in Italics are to be considered as Manuscript. The following Books are recommended for Juvenile Bible Associations: 1. THE COLLECTING BOOK. As this book, with which every Collector is furnished by the Secretary, is precisely similar to the Specimen No. 2 of the "Collecting Book" used in Ladies' Bible Associations, it is only necessary to refer the reader to Chap. VII. Section V., where every requisite information will be obtained. 2. MINUTE BOOK. This is a thin quarto book, and is kept by the Secretary. The names of the Committee should be inserted on the first page, with blanks opposite to each notifying their attendance, as described in the Specimen of the "Fair Minute Book," Chap. II. Section V. The Rules of the Association should next be inserted; and then the Minutes of every Committee Meeting in succession. The following Specimen of the Minutes of a Committee Meeting will sufficiently illustrate this part of the subject: At the Sixth Meeting of the Committee, held on the 13th of April 1820: PRESENT: Mrs. A. B. in the Chair, and those Ladies who are marked as present in the list. 56. The Minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the Treasurer reported that she had paid to the Cash Secretary of the Auxiliary Society, since the last meeting, the sum of 81. 10s., for which an acknowledgment was now produced, and marked No. 2 by the Secretary. Also, that the total amount paid to the Auxiliary Society since the establishment was 217. 15s. 57. The Secretary reported, that she had received from the Depositary of the Auxiliary Bible Society, since the last meeting, two Brevier and three Nonpareil Bibles, and three Pica and two Pocket Testaments, amounting to 21. 5s.; and that the total amount of Bibles and Testaments received from the Auxiliary Society since the establishment is 4l. 7s. 10d. If the Minutes be numbered progressively throughout the book, it will save considerable time and trouble in referring to any particular subject. The first Minute of the Seventh Committee Meeting will thus be numbered, “ 60." Specimen of Proceedings at a Committee Meeting. 58. The Reports having been called for from the Collectors, the following sums were paid in : which said sum of 61. 16s. 3d. was paid over to the Treasurer. 59. The following copies of the holy scriptures were delivered: viz. To the Collector No. 4, a Nonpareil Bible, for the supply of Mary Smith, a little girl of ten years of age, who has paid up the cost-price. This interesting child had been long very anxious for a Bible; but her parents, who are honest but extremely poor cottagers, were unable to afford the money. Mary often brought the Collector sixpence at a time, and once brought a shilling. On being asked how she had obtained so much, it appeared that she rose every morning by five o'clock, in order to collect violets and other early spring flowers, which she made up in bunches and sold in the market. This was her own spontaneous act, suggested by her earnest desire to obtain a Bible, which will be doubly valuable as the reward of her early industry. To the Collector No. 7, a Pica Testament for the supply of John Simpson, a little orphan boy, who has paid up more than half the cost-price. He earned the money by going on errands; he is supported by the parish; and the Collector has very properly refused to take more from him, as he now wishes to lay by all his little savings to buy clothes. To the Collector No. 13, a Brevier Testament for Jane Williams, a servant in the family, who has been taught to read by the Collector, and cheerfully pays the costprice.-Adjourned. 3. TREASURER'S BOOK. This book may be of the same size as the Collecting Book, but should be ruled according to the following Specimen. |