pointed, when the Board for the ensuing year shall be elected, and such other business transacted as may best promote the objects of the organization. Rev. O. C. Wheeler, formerly a Manager of this Society, and lately a Missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, has been the efficient coadjutor of the Board, in accomplishing this desirable object. His letter upon the subject contains so many matters of interest that we cannot forbear to give it, almost entire, a place in the Report. WM. H. WYCKOFF, ESQ SAN FRANCISCo, October 30th, 1849. MY DEAR BROTHER.-Your kind favor of January 9th came to hand on the 5th July, and would have received earlier attention, could I have written you any thing of interest. I am happy to hear that the dear brethren of the Board have not forgotten me; nor am I less gratified to know that you still wish my feeble services. Being still the only Baptist minister in the State who is devoted to the work of the ministry, and my abilities so slow in action and so limited in power, that, I am unable to do more than one thing at a time, my operations must of necessity be slow and uncertain. God has blessed us abundantly in giving us a safe passage hither, and good health since our arrival. He gave us the first church edifice in California, and on the 21st instant, gave us the first candidate for immersion; for the last 2 1-2 months has given us a congregation 100 per cent larger than any other on the Pacific coast. He has thrown around us a Society of able, pious, active men, who have voluntarily relieved the Missionary Board from any further support for us, after the first proximo; by giving us a salary of ten thousand dollars per annum, to be paid in monthly instalments, in advance. Slow and imbecile as my movements may be, it has been a firm purpose with me, that so far as God should give me wisdom, every move that has my sanction in California must be right. I will not bend myself to the loose manner of working in the kingdom of Christ, which characterises the operations of some men. On the 24th instant we completed the organization of " The Bible Society of California, auxiliary to the American & Foreign Bible Society." We had a precious meeting, adopted the accompanying constitution and entered upon a temporary organization (see private note,) which was now completed by the subscription for 12 life memberships, and a goodly number of annual memberships, and the appointment of the following list of officers: President, Rev. O. C. WHEELER ;Vice-President, A. W. RICHARDSON; Secretary, R. H. TAYLOR; Treasurer, J. F. POPE. Managers, B. S. Edwards, M. G. Leonard, C. L. Ross, B. G. Latimer, George Inwood, of San Francisco; Dea. James Appleton, Hon. J.D. Hoppe, Rev. B. Brierly, of San Jose ; J. S. Bradford, of Benecia; Alfred Peabody, of Sacramento City. This is the first Bible Society in California and I presume the first on the Pacific coast. At all events, it, starts well, so far as money is concerned. Our subscription is worth nearly $300 already, and we dare not say how rapidly we think it would increase if it had the time and attention it deserves. My duties are too onerous to allow me to do much, though I hope I may raise a thousand or two within the year. We want a man to come here and devote himself to Colportage and its concomitants. We have no one here that I can recommend. The American Bible Society has an agent here, but he was a little too slow in his movements, for us Baptists. Bible distribution is not as promising here now, as the collection of funds, nor as much so as it will probably be in another year. A good man, adapted to the work would raise several thousands here in a year, besides doing a vast amount of good in the Missionary work. But see that you send no second rate man, he will not go; better send him to any other place on earth. We hope, we may confidently expect, that our Society will soon become your most efficient auxiliary. Yours for the Bible cause, Oregon. O. C. WHEELER. In a letter, dated January 30th, 1849, from Clatsop Plains, near Astoria, Brother Ezra Fisher, Missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, thus makes mention of a Paragraph Bible and Testament sent from our depository. This communication was addressed to our late General Agent, the lamented Brother Allen. "You have my sincere thanks for your affectionate epistle, as well as for the Reports, and the Paragraph Bible and Testament. They are very neatly executed, and do credit to the superintendents of the American and Foreign Bible Society's operations." Brother Fisher proceeds vividly to portray the necessities of the new population among whom he is cast, and urges that every proper effort be made to enlighten them in the truths of the gospel. We have not yet received information of the reception and distribution of the Scriptures, which towards the close of last year we appropriated to the Home Mission Society for the use of its Missionaries in Oregon. Publications. The number of copies of the Sacred Scriptures published at the Depository within the year, is 41,269. These, added to those of former years, make the whole number 334,327. Issues. The issues of the year have been 13,759 Bibles, and 31,618 Testaments. Total 45,377. Books on Hand. On the 4th of April, 1850, there were on hand at the Depository, 9,129 Bibles and 11,440 Testaments, making a total of 20,569 volumes. Of the Bibles 8,144 were English, 102 German, 896 Welsh, 498 French, and 61 Italian. Library. Forty-one books have been presented to the Library, making the whole number received 1,607. Legacies. We have received during the year from the estate of Daniel Baldwin, Esq., of Washington, Pa. Hon. Nicholas Brown, Providence, R. I., 8th instalment, 200 00 Rev. Francis Wayland, Sen., Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Miss Ann Van Horn, of Ohio, in part, 100 00 - 50 00 Beach Vanderpoel, Esq., of New Jersey, Jacob Whitman, Esq., Belvidere Illinois, 100 00 50 00 $1162 25 Life Members and Directors. Five hundred and nine Members for life, and fifteen Directors for life, have been added to our number. Receipts and Disbursements. The gross receipts for the year, have been $41,625,01. This sum includes a balance from last year of $631,95. The disbursements have been $41,235,33, leaving a balance on hand of $389,68. Excluding from last year's receipts the money received from Insurance Companies as compensation for loss by fire, the nett advance in receipts above those of 1849, is $3676,72. When it is considered that the receipts of that year surpassed those of any preceding twelve months by several thousand dollars, the financial progress of the Society indicates marked prosperity, and a gradual but well-sustained growth. Proposition to amend the English Testament. During the first year of this Society's existence, its operations in the circulation of the Sacred Scriptures were confined to heathen lands. In the year 1838, the Constitution was amended so as to embrace "ALL LANDS." At the same time the following resolutions were adopted by the Society. Resolved, That this Society will expect of their Board of Managers, in carrying into effect the second article of the constitution, the most sedulous care in patronising such versions only of the Sacred Scriptures into the languages of the heathen, as have been, or may be, faithfully made, and are approved by competent examiners. Resolved, That in the distribution of the scriptures in the English language, they will use the commonly received version until otherwise directed by the Society. At the last Annual Meeting of the Society, the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That the restriction laid by the Society on the Board of Managers in 1838," to use only the commonly received version in the distribution of the Scriptures in the English language" BE REMOVED. The Board in consequence, at its first stated meeting, referred to a special committee to report upon the expediency of adopting measures for correcting the English Testament. That committee reported the following resolutions, which, after a long and interesting discussion were adopted in January last. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board, the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament ought to be faithfully and accurately translated into every living language. Resolved, That wherever in versions now in use, known and obvious errors exist, and wherever the meaning of the original is concealed or obscured, suitable measures ought to be prosecuted to correct those versions, so as to render the truth clear and intelligible to the ordinary reader. Resolved, That in regard to the expediency of this Board undertaking the correction of the common English version, a decided difference of opinion exists, and therefore that it be judged most prudent to await the intructions of the Society. Conclusion. The close of another financial year, suggests solemn reflections. Who among us can say that he has done all in his power for the circulation of God's word, that he has felt as much and prayed as earnestly as the importance of the work required; and that he has contributed of his means with a spirit of enlarged liberality as the Lord has prospered him? Millions of the human race have perished since the year commenced. They have died without a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, never having possessed the Scriptures which are able to make men wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Are none of those who contribute to the funds of this Society, or who have failed to contribute, guilty of having neglected their duty towards those who have perished for lack of knowledge? Surely all must plead that they have more or less fallen short of what the Lord required of them. All are guilty in view of God's goodness and our obligations. But the opportunity is now afforded-not of retrieving the past; that has gone never to be recalled,—but of redeeming the time present, of commencing the new year with a more liberal spirit, a more consistent piety, a more devoted zeal for God and the spread of His truth. Let us reflect how much Christ did and suffered to procure that truth for man. And shall we who possess it, fail to give it in its purity to those who have it not? Shall we through faithlessness, through remissness, through covetousness, neglect to furnish the bread of life to the famishing? Shall we prove ourselves so selfish as to refuse participation in that, the value of which will be enhanced to ourselves by being communicated to others? Such heartlessness is forbidden by nature, for who does not sympathize with his suffering fellows; but far more |