So soon as their present engagements will permit, and the liberality of the American people shall furnish them with the means, they will cheerfully become almoners, in money as well as Bibles, to all such destitute parts, at home and abroad, as may require the one or the other. Thus far they have endeavored to discharge their duties, not only faithfully but intelligently, so as to ensure the approbation of the society and the public. The Managers cannot conclude their Report without observing, that the origin, increase and success of Bible Societies constitute one of the most remarkable events of the day in which we live. God has been pleased to make the people of Great Britain the instrument of forming, maturing, cherishing, and constantly and substantially aiding these Societies, not only within her own territories, but throughout the world. Greater honor has never been conferred upon any people, since the sceptre departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet. Not to pay a tribute of respect to them on an occasion like the present, would be ungrateful; and to pay a smaller tribute than this, would discover a criminal disregard to the work of the Lord and the operation of his hands. To honor those whom God honors, is both a Christian privilege and duty. Of the founders and patrons of the British and Foreign Bible Society-a Society pre-eminent in the felicity of its design and the grandeur of its plans-when they are gone down to the grave, posterity will say, in the language of an eminent statesman and orator of antiquity, "Bestowing their lives on the public, they have every one received a praise that will never decay, a sepulchre that will always be most illustrious;—not that in which their bones lie moldering, but that in which their fame is preserved, to be on every occasion, when honor is the employ of either word or act, eternally remembered." No glory is comparable to that of doing good to our fellow-men and of all the various kinds of good that we can do to each other, none is comparable to that which has a respect directly to the benefit of the spiritual estate of mankind. This is to do them good in the life which now is, by securing to them eternal good in the life which is to come. Such is the high and holy aim of Bible Societies in every part of our world, who, following in the track of the illustrious Parent Institution, guided by her experience, and quickened by her example, are depositing the seeds of truth among the nations to whom they have access, with the confident hope that the Lord will cause it to spring up and bear fruit to his own glory and the salvation of myriads of our fallen race. The word has gone out of His mouth who cannot lie, that in every place incense shall be offered unto his name, and a pure offering; and the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform his promise. The American Bible Society in account with RICHARD VARICK, Treasurer. July 11. To Cash paid for $1,800 six per cent. funded debt, at per cent. which was afterwards sold for account of the Society, Oct. 15. To Cash repaid the Pittsburgh Bible Society, moneys received from them for the purchase of Bibles, which could not be furnished to them at that period, 1816. Sept. 7. By Cash received from the Pittsburgh Bible Society for the purchase of Bibles, which was afterwards repaid to them, Nov. 19. By Cash for $1,800 of six per cent. funded debt, purchased at per cent. and brokerage, and again sold for account of the Society,. 300 40 1,601 49 1,901 89 1,901 89 June 14. To Cash paid for $3,000 six per cent. funded debt, at $911 per cent. now standing in the name of the Treasurer, Nov. 19. By Cash received, as an advance or net profit, on the above $1,800, 122 19 2,752 50 1817. 1817. Apr. 30. To balance this day due from the Treasu Apr. 30. To cash paid for paper, printing, types, and other charges and expenses of the Society, rer to the American Bible Society, in stocks and moneys, New York, April 30, 1817. Treasurer Am. Bible Society. AUDITORS' CERTIFICATE. The subscribers being a Committee appointed to audit the account of Richard Varick, Treasurer of the Society, REPORT, That, in compliance with the Resolution of the Board of Managers, they have inspected the Account exhibited by the Treasurer, of the Receipts by him for the Society, from the first establishment thereof, (being the 11th May, 1816,) to the 30th day of April last inclusive; That, from that account, it appears that the Treasurer has received, in Stocks and Moneys, 35,877 dollars and 46 cents, [exclusive of 300 dollars and 40 cents, received from the Pittsburgh Bible Society, for Bibles not furnished, and the moneys repaid to them in cash; and 1,601 dollars and 49 cents, received for 1,800 dollars of six per cent. funded debt, purchased by him and afterwards again sold for account of the Society, The Committee further Report, That they have also examined the debts of that Account, and have compared the items of charge with the vouchers produced by the Treasurer in support thereof respectively, and found them to be correct; and that the whole expenditures by him [exclusive of the 1,601 dollars and 49 cents, paid by him as aforesaid for the 1,800 dollars of six per cent. funded debt, which were again sold by him, and that sum credited; and the 300 dollars and 40 cents repaid to the Pittsburgh Bible Society as aforesaid, and the sum of 2,752 dollars and 50 cents, paid by the Treasurer for 3,000 dollars of six per cent. funded debt of the United States, still standing in his name for the use of the Society] amount to 19,218 dollars and 3 cents; and that there remained in the hands of the Treasurer on the said 30th day of April last, in Stocks and Cash, a balance of thirteen thou sand nine hundred and six dollars and ninety-three cents. The Committee further Report, That the funds of the American Bible Society, in the hands of the Treasurer on that day, consisted of the following items of Stocks (for which Certificates were produced to us) and of Moneys deposited in the Merchants' Bank, viz. 1. 100 shares of stock in the Bank of America, [estimated at par, and received and credited as such by the Treasurer, in his account,] equal to II. 10 Half shares of Stock in the Marine and Fire Insurance III. 3,000 dollars of six per cent. funded debt of the United States, V. A Deposit in the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Cincin nati, to the credit of the Treasurer, VI. A balance in the Merchants' Bank in the city of New-York, All which is respectfully submitted, JOHN ASPINWALL, DIVIE BETHUNE, $10,000 00 250 00 2,752 50 250 00 150 00 3,256 93 $16,659 43 Committe mittee. New-York, May 7, 1817. APPENDIX. Letter from the Hon. Elias Boudinot, President of the American Bible Society. BURLINGTON, June 5, 1816. REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 1st instant, officially announcing my election to the chair of the American Bible Society. In expressing my grateful acceptance of this undeserved compliment, (after trusting to the gracious influence of Almighty God,) my confidence is in the aid and assistance of my worthy colleagues, by which alone I can entertain a hope of being useful in so very a respectable body, engaged in this all-important undertaking. I am not ashamed to confess, that I accept of the appointment of President of the American Bible Society, as the greatest honor that could have been conferred on me this side of the grave. I am so convinced that the whole of this business is the work of God himself, by his Holy Spirit, that even hoping against hope, I am encouraged to press on through good report and evil report, to accomplish his will on earth as it is in heaven. So apparent is the hand of God in thus disposing the hearts of so many men, so diversified in their sentiments as to religious matters of minor importance, and uniting them as a band of brothers in this grand object; that even infidels are compelled to say, it is the work of the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes! In vain is the opposition of man: as well might he attempt to arrest" the arm of Omnipotence, or fix a barrier around the throne of God." Having this confidence, let us go on and we shall prosper. I can say no more: my feeble frame and exhausted spirit scarcely suffer me, lying in my bed, to dictate language sufficiently efficient to represent my deep sense of the polite attention of your honorable body. All I can add is, that should it please a Sovereign God to suffer me to meet my faithful fellowlaborers in the gospel vineyard, I will most cordially endeavor to make up, in unwearied attention and industry, what may be deficient in the mind and understanding. Accept of my acknowledgment of the polite manner in which you have made the communication. I am, Rev. and dear Sir, with esteem, Your humble and obedient servant, Rev. Dr. ROMEYN, Secretary for Domestic Extract of a letter from the Rev. John Owen, Secretary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. BRIGHTON, August 3, 1816. MY DEAR SIR,-The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have instructed me to offer you their warmest congratulations on the event of the formation of the American Bible Society; an event which they con sider as truly auspicious, and pregnant with consequences most advantageous to the promotion of that great work in which the American brethren and themselves are mutually engaged. To these congratulations our Committee have added a grant of £500; and they trust that both will be accepted as indications and pledges of that friendly disposition which it is their desire to cultivate and manifest towards every class and description of their transatlantic fellow-laborers. The crisis at which the American Bible Society has been formed, and the cordial unanimity which has reigned throughout all the proceedings which led to its establishment, encourage the most sanguine hopes of its proving, in the hand of God, a powerful auxiliary in the confederate warfare which is now carrying on against ignorance and sin. May those hopes be realized, and may new trophies be added, through its instrumentality, to those triumphs which have already been reaped by the arms of our common Redeemer. I am, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours, JOHN OWEN, Secretary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. Dr. BOUDINOT, President of the American Bible Society. Letter from Prince Galitzin, President of the Russian Bible Society, to Joshua Wallace, Esq. of New Jersey, President of the Convention which formed the American Bible Society. SIR,-Your letter of the 23d May, a. c. (anno currente,) containing information of the establishment of the American Bible Society, was duly received by me, and brought to the knowledge of the Committee of the Russian Bible Society at their first meeting. The information of such an event as the forming a National Bible Institution for the United States of America, for the purpose of promoting the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, not only at home, but also in other countries, whether Christian, Mohammedan, or Pagan, was certainly of a nature to produce the most joyful feelings in the breasts of all who take a sincere part in this great and salutary cause. It is with peculiar pleasure that we saw thus a new step made towards hastening forward that happy period, when the knowledge of the word of life will become universal glory to Him, who deigns to inspire his people every where with the use of means for the spiritual welfare of the human race! The sphere of operation which the American Bible Society has prescribed to its activity, is very extensive and important. We have perused with satisfaction the Constitution and the Address to their countrymen, and we are happy to see that the same principles animate our American fellow-laborers, which lead us to the same important end. Thus, notwithstanding the distance which separates us, being approximated by the same spirit of unity and action, we reach you the right hand of fellowship from these remote parts, and unanimously engage to exert ourselves for the same cause of benevolence. Yes, sir, it will certainly be very agreeable for us to communicate mutually with your Society about our proceedings and successes; and we shall always be ready to take a most hearty interest in all that belongs to your work, which is the work of charity, even the work of God. We have not failed to forward some of the copies of your proceedings and Constitution you have sent us, to some of our branch Societies, in order to make them acquainted with your benevolent Institution. And in return we have felt ourselves obliged to communicate to you some small publications |