Disadvantages of gratuitous distribution, generally.

Society report;-" The readiness of the poor to make their periodical payments is most gratifying. Their alacrity and punctuality have been such, that the Associations have been induced very generally to advance the Bible or Testament to the poor subscriber, after a proportion of the sum has been paid; relying on his character for the payment of the remaining purchase-money. By means of this small indulgence, which they have never found to be abused, the poor are encouraged to pay with the utmost cheerfulness the entire cost of the books." And, as a specimen of the mode of distribution adopted, they add,-"Of 195 Bibles and Testaments issued by five of our Associations within four months, 185 were sold at the cost prices."

--

The following is extracted from the Annual Report of the Lower Rotherhithe Association: "The Committee beg to relate an anecdote of a person under no fear as to the operation of the property-tax: in other words, he works for ten shillings and sixpence per week. He applied to have his name put down for a Bible, and professed a strong desire to have one; and said he would pay for it as he could spare the money; at all events, at not less than threepence per week. Threepence he paid, ninepence he brought the next night, one shilling the next; and so great was his anxiety, that having collected the sum of four shillings, he brought it on the fifth night, at eleven o'clock, to secure his wished-for prize."

The Huddersfield Ladies' Association, in their First Annual Report, observe,-"The children appear to take great pleasure in saving the little money which is given them in the course of the week, that they may put in (as they term it) for a Bible; and are quite anxious for the Collectors on the Monday morning. In many families there are three subscribers in each; namely, the parents and two children." To which it is added, "118 copies of the sacred scriptures have been already distributed, for which prime cost has been paid."

The Helstone Ladies' Association observe ;-"We have to state, that all the Bibles and Testaments have been disposed of at the cost price; and in no instance has discontent manifested itself in those who have purchased them."

VII. The disadvantages attendant on the gratuitous distribution of Bibles and Testaments, as a general practice, have been repeatedly alluded to in the preceding pages; but as cases may sometimes occur to justify this mode of supply, it is the object of the Eleventh By-Law to provide the means for carrying it into effect. The difficulties which opposed themselves to any specific arrange ment, and the peculiar delicacy required to guard against fraud on the one hand, and the neglect of a positive duty on the other, were perceived at an early period; and the plan of proceeding recom mended in the By-Law, and adopted by Ladies' Associations universally, has proved the most effectual expedient hitherto devised. The necessity of gratuitous grants, especially in places where the "Loan Fund" is adopted (See Chapter VIII. Section II.),

Liberality of the Poor.

will be rarely found to exist; and in a well-organised Association, where the collectors regularly adhere to the system of weekly visits, even the inclination to be thus supplied will generally give place to a better feeling :-a desire will be excited among the poor to procure Bibles for themselves, and increased industry and But let it never be economy will speedily furnish the means. forgotten, that the occasional grant of a Bible may be a Christian duty, and that" the blessing of him who is ready to perish" may sanctify the gift.-" A minister lately entered the cottage of one of his parishioners. He heard a voice. He listened. It was the voice of a child, reading the Scriptures by the bed-side of a dying mother. "Where, my child, did you learn to read ?" "At the Sunday School." "Who gave you that Bible?" "A Member of the Bible Society." Surely there never was a gem or jewel worn by British female,-surely there never sparkled a diamond in the courts of kings,-which would not be gladly expended to purchase such a Bible, to be used by such a child, on such an occasion !"*

VIII. Many of the observations just offered are equally applicable to the Twelfth By-Law. It is evident that a Bible and Testament constitute an adequate supply, generally speaking, for every family; but where there are several children, and especially when they are about to leave home for service, the importance of encouraging their parents to supply them with this, their best companion, will be duly appreciated. The Committee of the Plymouth Ladies' Society observe,

"It is a touching and a beautiful sight, and by no means unfrequent, when the collectors are called on to receive from the pittance of age and infirmity the weekly penny for the purchase of a Bible or a Testament, designed to be the legacy of affection to the lisping grandchild. The poor have feelings; and rightly do they seek to embalm and perpetuate their memories, by selecting such a memorial."

But this benevolent principle acquires a higher value, when we behold its influence extending beyond the limits of the domestic circle.-The Committee of the Sherborne Ladies' Association report:

"A poor youth, about eighteen years of age, called on one of your secretaries for two Testaments. On being asked if he had not some months past obtained a Bible for himself, he replied, "Yes; I do not now buy for my self: there is a poor lad living near me without a Bible, and I want him to read it, because it has done me so much good: the other I want to carry to an old woman, who has long been confined to her bed, in order that I may read to her; and I assure you, there is no Bible in the room, and I wish to leave it there, for the good of all her neighbours who visit her."

And the exemplary Committee of the Colchester and East-Essex Auxiliary Society place this subject in a new and interesting point of view, by stating, that, "among the recent issues, have been twelve

Speech of the Rev. John Cawood at the Worcester Meeting, 1813.

Circulation of Monthly Extracts.

Bibles, at the reduced price, to the proprietor of the principal inn in this town, to be placed in the sleeping-rooms, for the use of those who have occasion to take up a temporary residence there. Your Committee would recommend the practice to be adopted as generally as possible; and sincerely hope the good intentions of those who have commenced it will be fully realized."

IX. The following extracts, in addition to the remarks submitted in Chap. I. Section VIII., will exemplify the beneficial effects resulting from the provisions of the Thirteenth By-Law:

Westminster, 1818.-" The plan recently adopted, of printing Monthly Extracts,' from the correspondence of the Parent Society, has been highly beneficial, in exciting new and zealous exertions in the several departments of the society. With these extracts in his hand, every contributor to the Society can trace its increasing progress and success, in opening the treasures of Divine Wisdom to regions hitherto unsupplied with the word of life.”

Blackheath, 1818.-"The occasional circulation of the Monthly Extracts' among persons who knew but little of the extensive labours of the Bible Society, has made the most salutary impression. It has, in many cases, silenced objections, and brought new friends to the cause in which that Society and its Auxiliaries are engaged."

Plymouth Ladies', 1820.-" Your Committee have, during the past year, judged it expedient to give increased circulation to those very interesting documents, the Monthly Extracts of Correspondence;' having been satisfied of their tendency to excite and maintain a powerful interest in the operations of the Parent Society. By rich and poor they are perused with equal interest. In most of the poorer districts they are regularly circulated; and the eagerness with which they are inquired for, evinces that poverty may restrain the hand, but cannot chill the heart."

Specimens of all the Books and Reports referred to in the ByLaws, will be found in one connected series in Section V. of this Chapter, with such remarks and explanations as may be necessary to illustrate their practical tendency.

SECTION IV.

ON THE MODE OF ESTABLISHING AND ORGANIZING LADIES' BIBLE ASSOCIATIONS.

1. In places where Auxiliary or Branch Societies are established and properly organized, the formation of Associations generally originates with their Committees: and it will be recollected, that their By-Laws (Chap. II. Sect. III.) are framed with particular reference to this subject. The mode of proceeding, in regard to Associations conducted by Gentlemen, has been explicitly detailed in Chap. III. Sect. IV.; and the members of a District Committee will find no difficulty in accommodating the directions there given to the peculiar circumstances of a Ladies' Society. When the

Facility of establishing Ladies' Associations.

measure arises spontaneously with any Lady, the first proceeding, after forming a provisional committee of three or more Ladies, should be, to request the assistance of the nearest Auxiliary or Branch Committee, who immediately depute a judicious Sub-Committee,-if regular District Committees be not already appointed,-to meet the Ladies, and afford them every requisite aid in carrying the design into effect. It is the duty of those gentlemen to make the necessary arrangements for the general meeting; to conduct the proceedings of such meeting; and to relieve the Ladies of all that part of the business which involves publicity and active exertion.

2. Such is the facility with which a Ladies' Bible Association may be established, and the readiness of the female sex to co-operate in this work of benevolence, that the author has frequently found a few hours sufficient for the purpose. After introducing the subject at the annual meeting of an Auxiliary or Branch Society, and briefly explaining the nature and design of the proposed institution, accompanied with a sketch of the results of similar societies, a meeting of Ladies has been appointed for the same evening, or the following day, when the Association has been regularly formed, and the Committee organised. Whether this plan, or the more deliberate and methodical mode alluded to in the preceding paragraph, be adopted, the following order of proceedings will be found to embrace the several heads of business to be transacted.-The entries in italics will be considered as manuscript.

3. ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS AT THE FORMATION of a Ladies' BIBLE ASSOCIATION.

Aylesbury, 18th September, 1817.

At a Meeting convened for the purpose of establishing a LADIES' BIBLE ASSOCIATION for Aylesbury and its vicinity;

Sir James Macintosh, Bart. in the Chair.

A. B. having explained the nature and design of the proposed society, and detailed the beneficial effects of similar institutions in other places, the following Resolutions were unanimously adopted; viz.

No. 1. Moved by C. D.; seconded by E. F.

"That a Society be now formed, to be called The Aylesbury Ladies' Bible Association;' of which the following shall be the Rules and Regulations." (See Rules, Section III.)

No. 2. Moved by G. H.; seconded by I. K.

"That the following be the Officers of this Association; viz.

Lady Nugent......... Patroness.
Lady Macintosh......President.

Order of Proceedings at the Formation of an Association.

" And that the following Ladies be members of the COMMITTEE, with power to add to their number, and to obtain such further patronage as they may deem suitable ;" viz.

[Here follow the names of the Ladies.]

No. 3. Moved by L. M.; seconded by N. O.

"That the following be the By-Laws of the Committee of this Association." (See By-Laws, Section III.)

No. 4. Moved by P. Q.; seconded by R. S.

"That the Secretaries be authorised to get two hundred copies of the Rules and By-Laws, and five hundred copies of the Form of the Monthly Reports, printed: and to procure the requisite account-books, papers, and collectingbags, for the use of the Association; and that they send, as soon as possible, to the Collectors of each district,

Six copies of the Rules and By-Laws.

A Visiting Book,

A Collecting Book, properly marked and headed.

A Collecting Bag, marked with the number of the district.

A Form of the Monthly Report.

Twenty Bible Subscribers' Cards.

Twenty Transfer Tickets;

And a supply of printed Papers.

On the receipt of which, the several District Committees are requested to commence their inquiries."

(For Specimens of the Books, Papers, &c. alluded to in this resolution, see Sect.V.)

No. 5. Moved by T. U.; seconded by W. X.

"That the Committee meet at the National School-Room, on next Monday, the 22d instant, at eleven o'clock precisely, in order to divide the town and neighbourhood into convenient districts, and appoint one or more members to each as collectors. And that such meeting be open to any other Ladies who may feel disposed to join the Committee."

No. 6. Moved by Y. Z.; seconded by A. B.

"That the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to A. B., for the favor of his company and assistance on this occasion."

No. 7. Moved by C. D.; seconded by E. F.

"That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the Chairman, for his able and obliging conduct in the Chair."

The Chairman having acknowledged the vote of thanks, adjourned the meeting.

4. OBSERVATIONS.

In addition to the remarks on this branch of the subject, in the corresponding divisions of the preceding Chapters, the following hints may be found useful: