REV. F. MERRIAM, Maine, reports, for January, a fine field in the eastern portion of the State for Bible distribution; some can be sold, but many must be given away to the destitute and the necessitous. Hears sad complaints about the salaries of officers, in our own and other Societies. Hopes the most rigid economy will be practised in all departments of our labors. Hopes all our agents are economical and industrious; finds five hundred dollars per annum salary enough for him; with that can give away sixty dollars a year to benevolent objects, and have a little left. "You see in what littles I gather up the funds, and must know there is some labor about it." As an illustration of this last remark of our brother, we had the curiosity to count the items of receipts in this one month's collection. They are found to number 253, varying from 3 cts. to $24 in amount, and forming an aggregate of $365.95. Our venerable and long faithful volunteer agent in North-eastern Ohio, Rev. LINUS AUSTIN, of Akron, in sending us the amount of his collections, takes occasion thus to remark:-"I am sorry there is a division among the Baptists, and another Society for the revision of the translation of our English Bible; but I am more grieved to see such a bad spirit manifested as I am obliged to see when I read the publications in our papers. I read of a division between Paul and Barnabas-the contention so sharp that they parted; but they kept about their work, and rejoiced in each other's prosperity, and I am sorry it has not been so in our case. If I think I owe the Bible Union one hundred dollars for their object, why should I fail to give your Society as much or more than before, for their important work? I have the happiness to believe your Society has done, is doing, and will do great good; and should the other succeed in doing a work well pleasing to God, let us all rejoice in it. I therefore say that both Societies will share in my prayers, my good wishes, and in my donations." [If all possessed this spirit, how great would be the improvement! The opposi sition, the collision, the strife, has all originated with the innovators and would-be supplanters of the American and Foreign Bible Society. Such at least is our full conviction. For defending ourselves when indispensably necessary, we can scarcely be blamed, for we must contend earnestly for the truth. If we have been provoked into an improper and unbecoming spirit in any case, we would be humbled before God and our brethren for the wrong, and strive in future to be more guarded. In the mean time let all candid, impartial minds remember that to others, not us, belongs the blame of waging an unscrupulous war upon a rival institution; seeking, right or wrong, to supplant and "drive it to the wall," as the Bible Union says of us.]* *There does not seem to be any inherent necessity of collision and strife between the Bible Union, formed on account of a supposed necessity of preparing and publishing a new or amended version of the Scriptures in the English language, and the American and Foreign Bible Society, having its hands full of other work; but the Bible Union, from first to last, as the circu lars of its Secretary show, has earnestly labored to hinder the work of the Bible Society, and to prevent, if possible, the contribution of a dollar to its treasury. In this opposition, the New-York Chronicle, as the special organ of the Bible Union, has borne a conspicuous part, by misrepresentations and insinuations against the officers, the agents, and the auxiliaries of the American and Foreign Bible Society. The favorite idea of late with the Chronicle is, that the Bible Society is useless. For thirteen years, up to May, 1850, it was one of the most important and valuable of all our organizations. Now, though it is doing the same work in the same way it did then, it is entirely unnecessary! So say the President, Dr. Cone, the Secretary, Mr. Wyckoff, and the chief advocate of the Bible Union, Mr. Judd! What noble consistency! For these men to oppose and assail the Society which they used to praise and advocate, while it has not changed at all, (indeed, because it would not change at their bidding.) this, in their esteem, is meekness and forbearance in perfection! And if we venture to remonstrate, and show them their inconsistency, this is deadly persecution!! Will they or their friends try to reconcile these inconsistencies? We confess our inability to do it. BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS, In different languages, in all desirable varieties of size, price, and adaptedness to the tastes and wishes of purchasers or distributors, constantly on hand, and orders, small or large, promptly executed, at the Rooms of the American and Foreign Bible Society. As recommended in the last Annual Report, the Society has confined itself almost exclusively to purchasing from other Bible institutions, or from individual publishers, instead of increasing their own expense and labor by attempting to compete with them. Such is the excellence and cheapness of these issues, that any necessity for a different course can no longer be plead. Several extensive orders to the printers of the British and Foreign Bible Society's publications will soon be received, presenting specimens of rare beauty, at economical prices. Among the new issues of that institution, we have seen a few pages of a 12mo Bible, with references inserted after each verse, in the German fashion; "which promises "-so says our esteemed friend, Rev. Dr. Kingsford, who called our attention to it" to be an admirable plan, and one which will greatly facilitate the study of the Scriptures." FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. DURING the last quarter, there has been appropriated and paid: 1,250 For translating, printing, and distributing Scriptures in Chinese, $1,500 Dr. Devan, 500 An additional sum of $1,500 has also been voted, for revising, printing, and distributing the Scriptures in Karen. A beautiful specimen of the Karen Bible, royal 8vo, to be comprised in about 1000 pages, has been sent to us, executed at the Mission press, Tavoy, by the indefatigable Bennet, for our society. Who would not willingly aid in bearing the expense of furnishing such a volume to a family of this interesting people? Rev. J. L. Shuck has renewed his appeal to us for $500, to aid him in putting to press his Shanghae New Testament, and the appropriation has been made. English Bibles and Testaments, to the amount of $100, of various sizes and prices, have also been donated to Liberia, Africa, to be distributed by the Baptist missionaries of both Boards. To the Rev. J. G. Oncken, for Scripture distribution in Germany, and the payment of colporteur sevices and other expenses connected with this work, the further sum has been paid of $4,240 50; and his estimate for the year 1852 will require at least $4,000 additional, which has also been voted, to be paid quarterly. There remains also nearly $5,000 more, to be appropriated at the next monthly meeting, to meet the demands made on us for aid to the Missionary Union. DEATH OF REV. J. T. JONES, D.D. Our beloved brother Jones, the able translator of the New Testament, and portions of the Old, into the Siamese language, was called to his reward on the 13th of September last. Since the death of Dr. Judson, we have been accustomed to regard him one of the first of translators among our foreign missionaries. His admirable and modest preface to the second edition of the Siamese New Testament is a fair index of his patient, toilsome, and able labors in this department. Sustained by our appropriations, and accustomed, as his health allowed, to correspond regularly with How dark these rooms, we feel most deeply the loss, personally and officially. seems the dispensation which has just now removed him! Oh for faith to trust where we cannot trace the wisdom and goodness of His ways, who doeth all things well! Our esteemed brother, J. H. Chandler, missionary printer at Bangkok, but now temporarily in this country, thus writes us: "It would afford me pleasure to prepare a full notice of the life and labors of Dr. Jones; but my time is so fully employed in preparing our new fonts of Siamese type, that I have not the needful time at command. He translated the New Testament, and nearly completed the book of Genesis. It was his wish that Rev. Mr. Caswell (a missionary of the American Board) should translate the Old Testament; and hence his delay in commencing the work. But God has taken them both to himself, and the work must be done by others. I fear it will be a long time before any one will be qualified to fill his place. His translations and writings were regarded by the Siamese as excellent and accurate specimens of their language. The Phra Klang (Minister of Foreign Affairs) remarked one time, that "Dr. Jones knew too much of the language, for he had a better knowledge of it than himself." EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 66 From REV. T. T. DEVAN, under date of Lyons, 12th of January, thus writes: circumstances needless to be detailed, it is impossible for me to quote the exact number of the Holy Scriptures distributed during the year. It is much larger than that of the copies purchased on your account herewith forwarded, (88 Bibles, 330 Testaments, and 30 Books of Psalms.) "The almost insuperable difficulties raised by government against Bible distribution, and the increasing severity with which colporteurs are treated, even to the present moment, have greatly interfered with the free circulation of the Word of God. The people, too, being in the continual apprehension of suffering from political causes, are loth to spend their money for the purchase of books, so that the colporteur sometimes spends many days without selling even a single Testament. In order, however, to leave no means untried whereby to circulate THE WORD, I employed the poorer members of the churches, when they were out of work, to distribute the sacred Scriptures. "In forwarding you the accompanying report, I would take the liberty of drawing your attention to the fact that there remains not in my hands so much as one cent, for which I am to render you an account during the present year. This fact I had already mentioned to brother Cutting some six months ago. His reply was very kind and full of promise; but it amounted to nothing as to a practical result. "I frankly confess to you that I feel this want of interest in my work on the part of the American and Foreign Bible Society the more, when I think upon the great and substantial interest taken by some of our churches in the political men and politics of Europe. I feel mortified at the fact that Christians should practically forget that the circulation of the pure Word of God among the nations, and the adoption of its principles, can alone give a basis, a stability to freedom.” Before the above letter of our esteemed fellow-laborer in the Board of the American and Foreign Bible Society in former years was written, an adequate remittance had been voted him; and before his letter reached us, it had been forwarded. We trust that, fully a month since, he has received it; and, by a subsequent letter, dispatched to him from these rooms, he will also have learned that "our churches”— at least, so far as the supporters of the American and Foreign Bible Society are concerned-are not turned away from reliance on the circulation of the Scriptures, as the only basis of civil or religious liberty. We shall hope to hear from our brother next time in a more cheerful strain. Two interesting letters have also been received from Rev. J. G. ONCKEN, of Hamburg, who thus writes under date of January 3d, 1852: To the Corresponding Secretary of the American and Foreign Bible Society: MY DEAR BROTHER-I am duly favored with yours, dated December 5th, from which I learn with pleasure your reappointment to the Secretaryship of the American and Foreign Bible Society. I pray that our gracious Lord may give you all necessary grace for this important post. Many thanks to the Directors for their recent grant of $1,500. I hope this amount will be on its way hither before this reaches you, having advanced all the money I can command on behalf of the Society. You will also greatly oblige me to state, as early as possible, if the Board will be able to pay for the 5,000 School Bibles, which will be out in fourteen days; for if, contrary to my expectations, your Society should not be able to aid me in this urgent case, I shall be obliged to apply to other quarters. To the Edinburgh Bible Society I have already applied; and there is some prospect that the Directors will pay for one half of the 5,000 copies. How long, however, it will be before I receive a definite answer from the Edinburgh Society, I cannot say; and I therefore entreat you to put me in possession of the decision of the Board as early as possible. I shall pay attention to your directions in reference to the journals of the colporteurs. I should have forwarded my annual accounts with the Society the ensuing week, but for a missionary tour to East Friesland; on my return I shall hasten to do so. About 20,000 copies of the Holy Scriptures, and 45,000 Gospels, have been distributed at the expense of the American and Foreign Bible Society during the past year; a fact which calls for our warmest gratitude to our gracious Lord, as also to our American brethren, who, constrained by the love of Christ and the compassion felt for perishing sinners, have so nobly aided us in the great cause of our exalted Redeemer. May the Spirit of the Lord abundantly bless the seed sown to the conversion of many sinners, and the edification of God's people! The whole stock of the School Bibles will be disposed of before this reaches you, and the demands are still increasing; therefore, dear brethren, once more, if you possibly can, help us at the present crisis. With brotherly love to yourself and all the brethren composing the Board, Your affectionate brother, J. G. ONCKEN. A month later, viz., February 2d, he writes again, thankfully acknowledging the receipt of $1,500 remittance: and gives the following outlines of his remaining wants for the current year: "As to the pecuniary aid required for the present year, (1852) independently of the above remittance, I shall require, to the best of my calculation, from 28,000 to 30,000 marks, i. e., $8,500; one half of which will, however, I hope, be covered by the amount received for Scriptures sold." He proceeds to enumerate the items of this large sum, the principal of which we here insert for the information of our friends: 15,000 Danish Testaments with Psalms, 15,000 German Testaments with Psalms, Duplicate plates of Testament now being stereotyped at Berlin, "I trust that the Board will be able to meet this necessity for Germany, and that thus the great work, in which we are jointly engaged, may be carried on without interruption. "You will greatly oblige me by bringing the wants of this mission before your Board as early as possible; and by informing me whether the amount required for Bible operations in this country will be furnished by the American and Foreign Bible Society. "I have recently been in East Friesland and the Grand-duchy of Oldenburg, where our missionaries and colporteurs continue to meet with much success in their labors. Every where the want of more laborers is felt, and there is now no prospect of being able to diminish the number of colporteurs employed at your expense. Our opportunities for spreading the truth as it is in Jesus, will, to all appearance, soon be greatly diminished; hence, it is our duty to work while it is day. "In the hope of an early reply, and with affectionate regards to yourself and the brethren comprising the Board, Yours, in the Lord, "J. G. ONCKEN." A long and deeply interesting letter has also been received from Rev. AMos SUTTON, D.D., dated Khundittar, Orissa, December 1st, 1851, from which two or three brief extracts only are here given, as the more appropriate place for the document in full, will be the forthcoming Annual Report: "Since I last communicated with you, I have made two short trips, one down and the second up the Cuttack river. In each of these, a large number of copies of the sacred Word were put in circulation. The season, however, has now arrived for more extended efforts; and I hope to be able to report a good cold season campaign. "The Harmony of the Gospels has been completed, and is now in the binder's hands. A copy is on its way to Calcutta for you. I hope that, ere it reaches you, a large number will be distributed in various parts of our wide field in Orissa." In a closing note he says: "I am now in a populous district of Orissa, prosecuting the work of Scripture distribution, to which I am pledged. We hope to start today up the Brahmnunee, and circulate portions of the undying Word among people seldom visited by the missionary of the cross. The Word which liveth and abideth for ever, is all our trust. And in the day of India's visitation, our hope is, that the efforts now making will lead to results such as followed the labors of Wickliff, Luther, and Tindal, in Europe. It is incorruptible seed we sow, and shall produce its proper fruit. "With cordial Christian regard to yourself and beloved colleagues, believe me Yours, faithfully, A. SUTTON." TESTIMONY OF RETURNED MISSIONARIES. Ir is a gratifying circumstance, in the midst of some trials and perplexities, and the opposition of some of our early coadjutors, that the returned missionaries, without exception, so far as we have been able to learn, are the steadfast friends of the American and Foreign Bible Society. They do not wish, and certainly it is no part of our plan or purpose, to draw them into any controversy. When, however, their casual remarks have been used for a purpose they had not intended, it seems but simple justice to themselves, that they should be allowed to define their own position in self-defense. For this purpose, we insert the following extract of a letter from our brother Chandler, printer in the Siam Mission, giving the whole of his testimony, voluntarily proffered, in regard to our institution: "I have ever regarded the American and Foreign Bible Society as one of the most important Societies connected with our denomination. I was present at the annual meeting of the Board of Missions in Hartford, Conn., (in 1836,) when its formation was first advocated; and from what was then said of the importance of having a Bible Society of our own, and from the great good it has done since its formation, has ever led me to regard it with deep and lively interest. When the act of incorporation was obtained, I understood the Society was virtually pledged to confine itself to the common English Bible, in the English department, and the best translations in the foreign. And so long as the Society holds its present act of incorporation, I should deeply regret any deviation from this course. "Soon after my return to the United States, I called at the Bible Rooms, and remarked to brother Ward that I looked to the American and Foreign Bible |