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quarterly, to embrace the Treasurer's receipts in detail, arranged by States, in such a manner as would render their republication unnecessary at the end of the year. As a still more important change, it was also resolved, that one of these four numbers immediately succeeding our Anniversary should be a double one, containing the Annual Report, with the usual accompanying documents, as much compressed as possible. In this way it was believed a greater amount of information would be communicated to the Life Members and Directors of the Institution:-it would reach them at less distant intervals-it can be sent to all entitled to receive it, through the mail, at a trifling expense for postage, and there will certainly be a more reasonable ground of hope that these small documents will be thoroughly read, than when a very much larger missive is once a year sent forth. It is also proposed to put up in wrappers the entire four numbers of these papers, at the end of the year, to be furnished only on requisition, as the annual transactions of the Society. This plan is designed to save something from the amount of incidental expenses. The recentness, however, of both the above experiments, will scarcely permit the Board, or the Society, to judge intelligently of their wisdom. It is hoped they may have full scope for a satisfactory trial, which, if it prove successful, will become a source of mutual congratulation. If, on the other hand, these plans fail to meet the expectations and hopes of the Society, it will not be difficult to resume the former course. To complete the list of changes of the year, it becomes requisite to state, that for the esteemed Corresponding Secretary of last year, and for nearly one-half of the Agents, it has been necessary to procure substitutes. Not one of these has left his post here from any lessened interest in the Society: on the contrary, all have given decisive and satisfactory assurance of their high appreciation of its value, and their determination in the different spheres which they respectively occupy, to continue rendering such aid as may be in their power, to the promotion of its interests. This, though very gratifying, does not prevent altogether the disadvantage and impediment which such frequent transitions throw in our pathway. It is hoped that more of permanency and steadfastness may hereafter be

witnessed.

The formation of a Bible Board at Nashville, in May last, to which result, the tendency for a half dozen years past, has been steadily progressing; and the consequent absorbing from us of no less than 60 auxiliaries in that quarter; together with the active, persevering opposition of another Bible organization and its Agents nearer home, threatened, at one time, materially to hinder our work.

By the blessing of God, and the vigorous and liberal efforts of many of our friends, these fears have ultimately been dissipated, and the year has closed with cheering auspices. Perhaps it should not be mentioned as an exception to these, that the Society have most unexpectedly and wrongfully, as they think, been required to remove from the premises, which for ten years, they have occupied by the earnest solicitation of the First Baptist church in New York. The whole history of this singular transaction has already been placed on record by a report from the Board to a Special Meeting of the Society, convened in New York on the 14th ult. Further notice of it is not, therefore, required; but the Society and its friends will feel the necessity laid upon them by a vigorous,

simultaneous movement, to repair this injustice, and provide for the permanent occupancy of their local business, so as most efficiently to promote the great object of their organization.

THE COLLECTION OF FUNDS.

No part of their duty occasions the Board more anxious solicitude, than the endeavor to ascertain and carry into execution the best plan for securing the pecuniary means requisite in furnishing the Word of Life to the destitute. The experience of kindred organizations among American Baptists, has, of late years, especially, tended very strongly to lessen reliance upon formal auxiliaries other than churches, where no other object is embraced than securing an annual contribution.

In cases where there is combined with this, the duty of supplying a portion of the destitute in its vicinity with the Bread of Life, such an auxiliary has a superadded service well adapted to keep up the organization.

The American Bible Society secures a large portion of its annual receipts from such auxiliaries, continued in healthful vigor, by having appropriate work constantly before their eyes. Our case is in a great degree different, because the larger portion of the annual receipts, are each year appropriated in cash to the foreign field dependent on our aid. To a great degree, therefore, our case more resembles our missionary organizations. They have found, as we do, that the formation of auxiliaries, independent of, and separate from the churches, where the whole purpose was to induce the regular contribution of funds, is nearly labor lost. They run well for a time, but ere long, the individuals most relied on, remove from the place, or die, or they tire of a routine which seems superfluous. Unless the parent Society, by its agents or a Secretary, or some special deputation can regularly keep alive these auxiliaries, or unless they are made an appendage to something more stable than themselves, as an association, or a pastoral conference, or something of this character, they are apt to fall by their own weight or die of inaction. Our best and most efficient agents, though always instructed to extend their fostering care to such auxiliaries, so often find that their resuscitation costs more than it proves to be worth, have generally, of late years, felt little disposition to form new auxiliaries, except where some local interest demanded a permanent depository, which would require the custody of such an organization. The annual contributions of regular subscribers, either for life-membership or life-directorship, or the annual collections at the appointed season, by the church and congregation, either after an appeal from an agent, or on the fair statement of the case by their own pastor, seems on the whole the favorite method of rendering the expected aid to the Society.

After the separation from us of nearly one-half the original supporters of the Society in the Southern States, since the amount of requisitions upon us had not been diminished, but was rather increasing, it became obvious that if we would secure an adequate supply of means, from this so greatly reduced field, it must be by a more thorough cultivation. This required more laborers, and though the Board were very much averse to the additional outlay thus occasioned, there seemed no practical method of avoiding it. A gradual increase of agency service has therefore been attempted, and is now in the stage of incipient experiment.

To reach the majority of our churches, who otherwise would not contribute to our treasury, it will require to be somewhat farther extended. And though in many parts of the field, there is little hope that it will prove immediately largely remunerative; yet the Board have satisfactory evidence that it is sowing good seed, which will ultimately yield, some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold. The earnest desire of the Board has been and will be sedulously directed to securing good men, worthy of the entire confidence of the churches and pastors, among whom they are sent forth: so that their influence in promoting the religious and other benevolent interests involved, may be a full compensation for the cost of their services over and above the money they collect, or the Bibles and Testaments they distribute for us.* It is deserving of consideration whether a portion of the salary and expenses of these agents who devote much of their time and labor to the Bible distribution, should not be charged to the donation department of our enterprize. This, while strictly just, would relieve to this extent at least, the apparently heavy per-centage so much complained of in some quarters, for the collection of our funds. It would also enable us, wisely and prudently to extend in some of the sparsely settled portions of the states and territories of this Union, such an agency as their case requires, having in view the double object, to supply the destitute with the word of life, and to awaken compassion and liberality for the furtherance of this work.

RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR.

These are eminently encouraging, taking into view all the adverse influences above noticed. The collections from churches, associations, and individuals, exceed those of the preceding, or indeed any former year of our history, amounting in all to $23,000.

The Society has received the following sixteen legacies during the past year:

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Richard Carney, late of Portsmouth, Va...

Oliver Alcott, late of Upper Alton, Ill., being the proceeds of land sold.
Mrs. Ann Fradgly, late of New York..

Barnard H. Howard, late of Adam's Basin, N. Y...

200 00

100 00

100 00

100 00

47 00

4,000 00

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$5,962 00

While both of the above items show a healthy increase over former years, the receipts from auxiliaries for reasons above explained, have been considerably less. Only forty-five of the whole number on our lists appear to have furnished any donations to our treasury the last year, amounting in all to $1,895.67. Where they are employing their own surplus funds, as does the New York City Bible Society, in maintaining colporteurs of their own for Bible distribution, a

* For fuller illustrations of this point, see several articles in the first half of the Periodical paper for April last.

method has been suggested in accordance with which, such outlays may be reported as donations hereafter, and of course will be charged to the donation department of our enterprize. This seemed desirable in order to bring into one view whatever is done by the parent Society, and its auxiliaries for their common objects. It is proposed to omit the insertion of the list of auxiliaries usually printed in the annual report, for the present year, with the view of giving to it a thorough revision, so as to retain only those which coöperate with us. The sum of $1,200.62 had been received in return for books donated chiefly in Germany and France. It may be found practicable at no distant day to extend among the receivers of the Sacred Scriptures in India, Burmah, Siam, and China, this wise requirement of payment in whole or in part for the inestimable favor. Hitherto, we believe, little or nothing of this character has been attempted; or if so, the avails of such returns have not been reported to us. It seems highly deserving of consideration, by those who dispense the bread of life, whether they would not make these sacred books more adequately prized by securing, whenever practicable, some returns.

They would thus indirectly convey a true and important impression to these darkened minds, that the efforts for their enlightenment are made at heavy expense, by those who seek their present and eternal welfare.

The sales of Bibles and Testaments from the depository for the past year is about the same as the preceding, though from some little delay in obtaining certain expected payments near the end of the year, until after the books were closed, the amount of receipts from this source is more than a thousand dollars lessshowing only $7,113.81.

The entire receipts for the year amount therefore to $42,312.25, a sum little more than $1,705 less than the unprecedentedly large receipts of the preceding year, when the proper deductions are made from them. This in view of all the circumstances of the case, must be deemed eminently satisfactory and cheering, as indicating undiminished confidence in the great body of the true friends and supporters of this institution, notwithstanding the unwarrantable and altogether unprecedented efforts made to alienate them from it. As the liabilities both at home and abroad, are likely to be greater the ensuing year than ever before, the necessity is both obvious and urgent to increase the receipts in an equal proportion.

If all concerned will do what they can consistently, with other claims, this cause, with GOD'S blessing, which hitherto has distinguished it, may go on prosperously.

PUBLICATION AND SALES DEPARTMENT.

A separate Report was submitted at the Special Meeting in New-York, on this department, in harmony with the requirements of last year. It showed conclusively that it can be conducted without remaining a burden to the Society, and the indications of desire for its continuance by nearly all the members and friends of the Society, in all parts of the country, seem to have decided this question conclusively.

The appropriations of Bibles and Testaments the past year have been somewhat larger than the preceding year, as follows:

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"Rev. Samuel Jones, colporteur for Am. Tract Soc.. in Liberty, Mo.,-

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18 75

175 2675

19 80

15 47

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14 00

50 00

82 81

"James L. Wood, Staten Island,..

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8 50

"Catskill church, N. Y.,..

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RECEIPTS AND ISSUES OF BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS. These have scarcely kept pace with the average rate of progress which might reasonably be expected of us.

The transition state in which by the recommendation of the Society we have been placed since the last anniversary, between manufacturing and purchasing, has tended to this result: and in the last quarter of the year, the prospect of early removal from our late place of business, has also made us the more willing not to increase the stock on hand beyond the requirement of absolute necessity. Large orders are now being executed for us which within a few weeks will greatly increase the amount and variety, of Bibles and Testaments in the depository.

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