The Watchman

NEW YORK ANNIVERSARIES

From the New York Observer.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Abstract of the 20th Annual Report.

New Auxiliary Societies.

In the course of the year, twenty-four of these auxiliaries have been formed; most of which embrace an entire county. The whole number of these societies is now nearly 1,000.

Receipts.

The receipts of the year from all societies amount to $104,899 45, and were received from the following sources: In payment for Bibles and Testaments sold, $12,766 75; from bequests $18,589 66; for distribution in foreign countries, $13,489 19; unrestricted contributions; $25,112 07.

Expenditures.

The expenditures of the year have been $107,910 92, leaving a balance in the treasury of $9,965 70. This balance is owing in part to the fact that a large legacy has been received, and too near the close of the year to allow of its being wisely expended. In part it arises from the fact, that some of the foreign versions to be aided are undergoing important revisions, and the translation of others, nearly ready, are not fully completed; consequently the Board are inclined to wait a few months for further intelligence, before making many extensive appropriations.

The circulation of the Scriptures in foreign countries has now become a matter of great responsibility and solicitude with the Board. During the past year it has received more than ordinary attention. Great pains have been taken to study the nature and spirit of the constitution in regard to the character of versions to be patronized, and the principles on which new translations are to be made, in order to receive the aid of this society. The following preamble and resolutions, adopted in February last, will show the result of their deliberations:

By the constitution of the American Bible Society, its Managers, in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures are restricted to such copies as are "without note or comment;" and in the English language, to "the version in common use." The design of these restrictions clearly seems to have been so to simplify and mark out the duties of the society, that all the religious denominations of which it is composed might harmoniously unite in performing these duties.

As the Managers are now called to aid extensively in circulating the sacred Scriptures in languages other than the English they deem it their duty, in conformity with the obvious spirit of their compact, to adopt the following resolutions as the rule of their conduct in making appropriations for the circulation of the Scriptures in all foreign tongues:

Resolved, That in appropriating money for the translating, printing, or distributing of the sacred Scriptures in foreign languages, the Managers feel at liberty to encourage only such versions as conform in the principles of their translation to the common English version, at least so far as that all religious denominations represented in this Society can consistently use and circulate said versions in their several schools and communities.

Resolved, That a copy of the above preamble and resolution be sent to each of the missionary Boards accustomed to receive pecuniary grants from the Society, with a request that the same may be transmitted to their respective mission stations where the Scriptures are in progress of translation, and also that the said several missionary Boards be informed that their application for aid should be accompanied with a declaration that the version which they propose to circulate are executed in accordance with the above resolution.

Heretofore, grants towards the printing and circulation of the Scriptures abroad have mostly been made through missionary bodies of different denominations. This method must yet, to some extent, be continued. It appears to the Board, however, that they ought, as soon as practicable, to have well qualified agents of their own at the important missionary stations, who shall superintend the interests of the Bible cause, and make frequent and direct returns to this institution. The Board have therefore concluded, after full conference with the missionary bodies interested, to procure and send a Bible agent to Singapore, and another to the eastern part of the Mediterranean.

The Board have also determined what class of expenditures connected with the preparation and diffusion of the Scriptures they can consistently defray. Detailed information on this topic, and in relation to the character and compensation of foreign Bible agents, will be found in the entire Report, when published.

New Bibles and Testaments.

Plates have been ordered for a new pocket French Bible and Testament; for a pocket English Bible, of small diamond type; for a German pocket Testament, and a pocket Spanish Testament; also for a large pica Testament, with the book of Psalms appended to it, for aged people.

Books have also been ordered from the depository of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in the Italian, Portuguese, Welch, Swedish, and Danish tongues.

None of the above books, however, will be ready for delivery under several months.

Change of Officers.

Near the close of the year, Hubert Van Wagenen, Esq. resigned his office as Treasurer, and John Nitchie, Esq. was appointed his successor. Mr. Nitchie also receives and executes orders on the depository for Books as heretofore.

Mr. Robert S. Winslow has resigned the office of Recording Secretary and Accountant, and engaged in private employment. The Board have concluded, in appointing a successor, to add to his duties that of General Agent. This office is as yet vacant.

The increasing business of the society in publishing the Scriptures in different tongues, and the importance of great accuracy in the versions issued, has led the Board to appoint an editor, who is to devote one half of his time to the interests of the society. For the coming year the Rev. George Bush, of the New York University, is appointed to the above office.

It has also been determined to appoint an Assistant Secretary, who is to spend a part of his time in the Corresponding Secretary's Office; and the remainder in visiting the auxiliary societies in the Middle and Eastern States.

A General Agency is to be established for the Southern States. The Rev. William M. Atkinson, of Petersburg, Va. has been appointed to this office. He is to visit the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, to procure and confer with local agents, to attend important Bible and other meetings, and to promote in all proper ways the interests of the Bible cause in the section of country specified.

A General Agent, with similar powers and similar objects in view, is to be appointed, as soon as a proper individual can be found, for the Western States. He will probably be located at Cincinnati. The Board attach to these two appointments a high importance.

Bibles and Testaments issued.

English Bibles 63,160
English Testaments 150,018
German Bibles 1,996
German Testaments 1,818
French Bibles 593
French Testaments 756
Spanish Bibles 169
Spanish Testaments 213
Modern Greek Testaments 3,646
Portuguese Bibles and Testaments 51
Welsh Bibles and Testaments 66
Arabic, Syriac, Swedish and Dutch Bibles and Testaments 58
Italian, Polish, Danish, Gaelic and Indian 73

Making in all, 221,694 copies, and an aggregate since the formation of the society 1,989,430.

New Testaments for the Blind

In addition to $1,000 granted the previous year, $500 more have been granted since the last anniversary towards the publication of this interesting work. The last sum was contributed by the New York Female Bible Society. The work is now in press at Boston, under the superintendence of the New England Institution for the education of the Blind. The first of four volumes is completed. The remainder will be published in the course of two months

Female Bible Society.

The Boston Female Bible Society have generously granted to the Parent Society $1,718-79 of their permanent fund. The Pittsburgh Female Bible Society has paid into your treasury $350, to constitute the Rev. Messrs. Lowrie, Wilson and Newton, missionaries to Northern India, members for life of the Am. Bible Soc. From the Female Bible Societies of Wilmington and Newcastle, Del.; Middletown, Ct.; Dutchess County, N. Y.; Middlebury, Vt.; Lexington, Ky.; Georgetown, D. C., and several others, important aid has been received during the year.

Young Men's Bible Societies.

One of these was formed early in the year at Providence; R. I. and one of uncommon activity. After supplying the city of Providence, it was resolved to supply every destitute family in the state with the Bible, and every child under fifteen years of age with the Testament. This resolution has been carried into thorough execution, and in a great measure by the personal labors of the members; 1,705 Bibles and 6,540 Testaments have been distributed. Upwards of 1,200 families were found destitute.

Another Young Men's Bible Society has been formed in the German Reformed Theological Seminary, at York, Pa., for the laudable purpose of supplying destitute Germans with the scriptures.

The Young Men's Bible Society of New York is now engaged in furnishing a copy of the New Testament to every destitute child in this city.

Other Auxiliaries.

While many of the local societies have been inactive the past year, and have forwarded no communications, others have encouraged the Board by their efforts and reports. The Virginia Bible Society has sustained an agent of its own all the year, and paid into your treasury for books, and as donations, $6,177.

The Maryland Bible Society has defrayed the half of an agent's expenses, and has been actively engaged in effecting distributions.

The Berkshire Co. Bible Society of Massachusetts has paid over, mostly as a donation, $1,638; and the Worcester County Bible Society of the same State has in contemplation to raise $5,000. The Rensselaer Bible Society of N. Y. has lately paid over $570, which completes its pledge of $2,000. The Long Island Bible Society of N. Y. has employed an agent, and is actively engaged in exploring and supplying every part of the island. Several of the societies in the northern and western part of the State are engaged in the same work. The Society in St. Lawrence county has supplied not only 776 destitute families, but every reader in the country who would receive a copy. More than 4,000 Bibles and 12,000 Testaments have been there circulated since last May. It may be questioned whether any district in the world of 42,000 souls is at this moment as well furnished with the word of Life as St. Lawrence county.

The St. Clairsville Bible Society of Ohio, which supplied the county five years since, now finds more than 600 families without the Bible. Several other counties in that State, Shelby county in Kentucky, Sumner County in Tennessee, and others in Illinois and Missouri are engaged in supplying destitute households, or in furnishing the Testament to children according to the recommendations of the Parent Society at the last anniversary. In this latter work more or less counties in almost every State are successfully engaged. Seldom has a measure met with such general approbation.

The Bible Society of Illinois for the purpose of home and foreign supply has undertaken to raise a generous sum, as has also the Society of Washington City, D. C. An individual connected with the latter society has seriously and prayerfully offered to your Board the sum of $10,000 on condition that nine other persons shall, within five years, contribute each a like sum. Should this proposition be complied with, how much will ten men accomplish for the perishing heathen.

Agencies.

During a part of the whole year the Board has had one agent in Vermont, one in New York, one (a short period) in New Jersey, one in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio and Michigan, one in Illinois, one in Missouri, one in Kentucky, one in Tennessee and Alabama, one in South Carolina and Georgia, one in Texas, and one in South America. One also, a Greek priest, has recently been appointed in Greece.

Distributions among Seamen.

Distributions among this class of men continue to increase. In addition to those copies furnished along the ports of our coast, and on the lakes, rivers, and canals, many are distributed abroad by commanders of vessels and seamen's chaplains. The Rev. Mr. Ely, chaplain at Havre in France, has made extensive distributions among seamen and emigrants about to embark for America. Other distributions have been made by Rev. Mr. Johnson, chaplain at Rio Janeiro, by Rev. Mr. Stevens, at Canton, and Rev. Mr. Diell at the Sandwich Islands. The latter furnishes many copies to whalemen, and says that on board of two whaling ships, Sunday schools are established. At several of the foreign mission stations Bibles have been solicited among seamen.

In addition to the above, books have been sent on request to Canada, to Newfoundland, to Liberia, to Hayti and to Greece. To the latter kingdom 2,500 modern Greek Testaments have been sent in course of the year.

Translations in progress.

Translations into the Hebrew-Spanish; and modern Armenian and the Armenian-Turkish are in preparation by Armenian missionaries at Constantinople. At the Protestant Episcopal press at Syra under care of the Rev. Dr. Robertson, the Greek-Turkish Bible is about to be issued for the British and Foreign, and the American Bible Societies. At the Sandwich Islands the New Testament is completed in the Hawaiian tongue, and various parts of the Old Testament are in progress of translation. The Chinese scriptures are undergoing an important revision.

Pecuniary Grants.

Appropriations have been made in course of the year towards printing and circulating the scriptures in foreign countries to the amount of $45,000; all of which, with the exception of $5,000, has been paid. These grants have mostly been made to missionary bodies connected with various religious denominations, namely, the Protestant Episcopal, the Methodist Episcopal, the Presbyterian, the Baptist, the Congregational and the Moravian. They have been made to circulate the scriptures in China, in Burmah, in Siam, in Bengal, in Northern India, in the Turkish Empire, in Russia, Germany, France and Spain. Some of these grants were made in the early part of the year, before the attention of the Board had been particularly called to the character of translations. Most of them, however, have been made since the 17th of February last, and have been adopted on the terms proposed by the resolutions of that date. This department of the Managers' labor, distributions abroad, though of indescribable importance, and of great promise, is yet attended with difficulties. Great caution, prudence, meekness, and forbearance will be requisite, in order to a faithful discharge of their duties to the Giver of the Bible, to the perishing heathen, and to their associates connected with this benevolent association. They would devoutly implore the guidance of that wisdom which is from above.

Foreign Bible Societies.

It is gratifying to learn that the bible Societies of England, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Prussia, and Sweden, as well as those of Calcutta, of Ceylon, of Madras, and Bombay, are still favored of the Lord, and are continually increasing in means and usefulness.

Conclusion

In conclusion the Managers have to say, that in reviewing the history of the year, much of a painful character is disclosed. While thousands at home and millions abroad are yet seen without the Bible, there is at the same time much to awaken present gratitude and to inspire hope for the future. That wonderful book, which in all past ages has dispensed light and blessings wherever it has gone, still retains its transfusing power over individuals and communities.

The evils arising from the absence of this book are always palpable and melancholy. This is seen in the present past condition of every pagan nation; in the miseries which came upon the Hebrew church: in the long reign of the wicked Manasseh, when the law of the Lord was neglected and lost; in the darkness which enveloped the Christian world through the long winter which preceded the Reformation. It is seen in the downward course of neighborhoods, families, and individuals, which cast away this divine directory.

On the other hand, the blessed influence of the Bible are seen wherever this volume finds a welcome. Witness its happy effects in the days of Nehemiah, when Ezra read from the law of the Lord in the ears of all the people. See the light which broke forth from its pages, when Luther and his coadjutors held up this volume as the only guide of life. Behold the order, the joy, the peace, the hope, which prevail at all times, in all places, and in every condition of man, where this book is consulted and understood.

With such effects everywhere attending this volume, with the numerous organizations throughout Christendom for its diffusion, with translators and distributors scattering themselves along the borders of almost every heathen country, and with the manifold promises of this word, that its blessings shall yet extend to every people, your Board cannot but be encouraged in their work, and urged on to greater and greater exertions. Difficulties may indeed arise in their course, obstacles may intervene, mistakes may occur, friends may sometimes fail, fellow laborers may be cut down, yet the great cause of the Bible must continue to advance. With this expectation before them, and with a humble reliance on that arm which has hitherto been their protection, your Board submit this report to their constituents, and invite their co-operation in the labors of another year.