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Vice-Presidents.-Treasurer.

afford a happy illustration of that Christian charity, and liberality of sentiment, so consonant with the principle and object of the Institution*.

'II. The Vice-Presidents.

No particular duty is annexed to this office, except that of presiding, in the absence of the President, at the Meetings of the Committee; which are occasionally attended by several of the Prelates, Noblemen, and other Gentlemen comprised in the list, containing, at present, twenty-six names. Of these, no one is more regular in his attendance, or more regardful of the duties that devolve on him, as Chairman, than the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whose short but powerful defence of the fundamental principles of the Society will be found in the Appendix. It is indeed a gratifying and consoling circumstance, in times like the present, that we behold Prelates of the Established Church, Ministers of the Crown, and other individuals of high rank and extensive influence, rallying round an Institution so peculiarly calculated to promote and maintain the best and dearest interests of our country. If it be true-as it assuredly isthat "Righteousness exalteth a nation," the dissemination of the Holy Scriptures at home, and the practical exemplification of their spirit and their letter, by sending them to distant lands, afford a well-grounded hope, that Great Britain may be long preserved at peace within herself, and a blessing to the whole earth.

III. The Treasurer.

This officer presides at the meetings of the Committee, in the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents. All bills, on account of grants to Foreign Societies, &c. are drawn on him, by authority of the Committee, officially communicated. The power of giving orders on the Treasurer is vested solely in the Sub-Committee of Finance; two, at least, of whom must sign every order. As the management and controul of the funds are confided to this Sub-Committee, they direct the temporary investment of any occasional surplus, in the public securities, for the benefit of the Institution; reserving such balance, in the hands of the Treasurer, as may appear necessary for current expenses and immediate claims.

The Reports of the first Twelve Years were drawn up principally by the President: since that period, from the declining state of his Lordship's health, this office has devolved upon Mr. Owen, by whom it continues to be performed.

Secretaries-their respective duties.

The Treasurer's accounts, with those of the Sub-Committee of Finance, and all bills and vouchers, are annually submitted to the Auditors; and an abstract, signed by them, is included in the Report.

To this officer the remittances by Auxiliary Societies should be made, with a distinct specification of the accounts to which they are to be entered; and he should immediately furnish the Accountant with a statement of the same, for insertion in the books of the Society.

IV. The Secretaries.

Were it consistent with the nature of a work of this description, the author would gladly avail himself of the opportunity now afforded, to express his sense of the invaluable services of those gentlemen who appear to have been raised up and qualified for this especial purpose. Nothing but a devoted zeal for the cause in which they are engaged could have supported them, during seventeen years, in the discharge of duties equally arduous and important, and attended with the sacrifice of no inconsiderable portion of time, health, and domestic comfort. Adopting the grateful language of the Committee for 1813, it may be truly said, that "the gratuitous services, unremitted zeal, and indefatigable exertions of those three Secretaries of the Institution, far indeed exceed any acknowledgments which it is in the power of the Committee to make; and the magnitude of them can be measured only by the extent of the benefits which they have produced."

The duties which devolve on the Secretaries include,

1. The Correspondence of the Society, both Foreign and Domestic.

2. Attendance at the Annual Meetings of Auxiliary and other Societies; in which they are occasionally assisted by some of the Honorary Life-Governors and other members of the Institution, both Lay and Clerical. 3. Attendance at the regular Committee Meetings. To these may be added, their highly important services on Sub-Committees (of all which they are officially Members); the preparing and editing of the Monthly Extracts, Annual Reports, &c.; and that general superintendence of the Society, in all its relations, which the nature of their office implies.

To the Clerical and Foreign Secretaries the Institution is further indebted for their valuable services during extensive continental tours. The importance of those visits, and the

Stipendiary Officers :-Assistant Secretary and Accountant.

beneficial effects resulting from them, will be appreciated by all who have read with attention the annual reports of the Society and it is only necessary to add, in no one respect have they been more profitably directed, than in maturing the system of the Continental Bible Institutions, and improving the organization of their Committees.

If any consideration can add to the grateful affection with which the services of these invaluable men are contemplated, it is that of tracing in the Dissenting Secretary, the Founder of the Society; in his Clerical colleague, its eloquent Advocate and Historian; and in their Foreign co-adjutor, the Dispenser of British benevolence to his countrymen, and the organ of their gratitude and their love.

3. The Stipendiary Officers of the Institution are,

1. The Assistant Secretary and Accountant.

To this officer, all correspondence relative to the funds; advice concerning remittances by Auxiliary Societies; and applications for visiting these Institutions, should be addressed. In his department the financial accounts of the Institution are concentrated. He examines all bills referred by the General Committee to the Sub-Committee of Finance, previous to their being audited and paid by the latter. He presents monthly to the Committee, a statement of the assets in the hands of the Treasurer, and of the outstanding engagements of the Society; and keeps the general accounts of the Institution, which he exhibits, with their proper vouchers, once every quarter to the Auditors, for whose signature he prepares a general abstract of the receipts and expenditure of the Society, up to that period of the current

year.

It is likewise his duty to acknowledge all remittances, and conduct the domestic correspondence of the Society connected with his department;-to give notices of meeting to the members of the Committee, and of the several SubCommittees, and prepare the necessary documents to lay before them; to attend their sittings, and take the minutes of their proceedings; and subsequently to enter the same, together with abstracts of the several letters received, in the Fair-Minute Books, of which he keeps regular Indexes ;and to communicate such orders and instructions as are from time to time given by the Committee. He assists the Secretaries in revising for the press the proofs of the Society's publications. He keeps an Alphabetical Register, into which every subscription and donation to the Society is posted from the Collector's Book, in order to enable the

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Stipendiary Officers:-Assistant Foreign Secretary-DepositaryAuditors to see that the subscriptions are duly collected. From this register he prepares, twice in the year, a list of all subscriptions that appear to be more than six months overdue; and corrects the register, when such list has been returned by the Collector, and submitted to the Auditors.

This officer gives security to the Committee for the trust reposed in him.

In this department two Clerks are engaged.

The mode of keeping the accounts with Auxiliary Societies will be considered in the next Section.

II. Assistant Foreign Secretary.

The extent and importance of the Foreign operations had long required this recent addition to the establishment. The correspondence with Continental and other Foreign Societies, and the translation of letters, official documents, &c. constituted a heavy and increasing mass of duty, which it became impossible for the Secretaries to discharge with justice to themselves and the Society.

This officer and one Clerk find full occupation in this extensive and extending department.

III. The Depositary.

To this officer, the correspondence concerning supplies of Bibles and Testaments is to be addressed. He examines the paper on which the Society's books are printed, as well as the printing and binding of the various versions; reports to the Committee when new editions are wanted; superintends the imports and exports, as well as the execution of the other orders in his department; keeps a particular account of all copies received and delivered, and furnishes Bills of Parcels to Societies and individuals. Specimens of the various translations and editions are kept in the Depository, and may be seen by Subscribers, on application, during the hours of business.

From this office, the Annual Reports, Monthly Extracts of Correspondence, and all other papers printed by the Society, are forwarded to Auxiliaries and kindred Institutions in Foreign countries throughout the world.

The Depositary is responsible to the Committee for the stock under his charge, and gives security for his trust. He has the assistance of a Clerk, a Warehouseman, and three or more Porters, according to the press of business, in order to transact the requisite duties with system and despatch. It may be mentioned here, that, by a recent regulation, no packages are sent out until they are first weighed, and the weight

Collector.-Mode of supplying Subscribers and Societies-Reduced Prices. marked upon them; thereby preventing overcharges and other mistakes by the carriers.

IV. Collector.

To this officer, all correspondence concerning individual subscriptions to the British and Foreign Bible Society should be addressed. He enters the particulars of every subscription and donation received, in a book, which is added up whenever he makes a payment to the Treasurer; and being then handed to the Accountant, it shews the items of which each payment is constituted; and the Treasurer is debited, and the individual subscribers credited accordingly. The Collector gives security for the trust reposed in him, and is remunerated for his trouble by a commission of five per cent. on the amount of annual subscriptions paid to the society.

By a recent arrangement, the Collector submits, monthly, to the General Committee, a list of Subscribers deceased, or who may have withdrawn or declined, together with references to his authority for such statement. This list, being handed from member to member, an opportunity is afforded for considering whether it be probable that, through their influence, they may prevail upon some who have withdrawn to renew their subscriptions.

Attendance is given daily at the Society's House, from nine in the morning, until seven in the Evening.

SECTION VI.

MODE OF SUPPLYING SUBSCRIBERS AND AUXILIARY SOCIETIES, AND OF KEEPING THE ACCOUNTS.

1. Pursuant to the Tenth rule of the Society, the Committee have adopted the following regulations in reference to the supply of INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBERS:—

"At the reduced prices, as specified in the Society's Catalogue”, each Annual Subscriber of One Guinea has the privilege of purchasing Bibles and Testaments, within the year, to the amount of Five Guineas; and in like proportion for every additional Guinea subscribed. A Benefactor of Ten Guineas may purchase to the same amount as an Annual Subscriber of One Guinea; and a Benefactor of Fifty Pounds, as an Annual Subscriber of Five Guineas.

"A further quantity may also be had (upon application to the Committee) at the cost prices.

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As some persons have misunderstood the intention of the Society in issuing Bibles and Testaments at reduced prices, it may be necessary to mention, that such supplies are exclusively intended for subscribers who purchase according to their privilege.

• See Appendix, No. II.
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