an able commentary upon those acts of the A. B. S. which led to the formation of a separate organization, and embraces a condensed and lucid explanation of the reasons which impelled the Baptist denomination to embark in the glorious enterprise of giving the Bible faithfully translated to all nations. The 6th number of the quarterly paper contains a brief summary of the opinions of Baptists throughout the United States respecting the duty of the A. and F. B. S. to engage in the work of Home distribution. Particular regard is due to the opinions of the churches upon this subject, because they have been elicited by a special circular from the largest Convention of Baptists ever assembled in this country. The Board are happy to find that in no equivocal terms have the churches of our denomination declared their belief, that the whole world is the appropriate field of the A. and F. B. Society's operations. Hitherto the quarterly paper has been unavoidably engrossed by subjects embracing the opinions of distant brethren as to the extent of the field; future numbers will, we trust, be employed in detailing the amount of work actually performed. Care will be taken to forward the paper to the churches, or to those ministers whose residence is known; it is therefore hoped that such as do not receive it, will give information of the fact to the Corresponding Secretary of the Society. In executing the trust committed to them, the Board have been happy in being able to avail themselves of the agency of 3 experienced brethren during a part of the year. While they deeply feel the importance of having a suitable number of competent agents, permanently devoted to the interests of this Society, the Board earnestly call the attention of the churches and of pious individuals to the practicability of promoting the Bible cause, by annual collections in their respective congregations, and by donations from individuals, unsolicited by the agents, and thus permitting them to devote their efforts in those places where spontaneous liberality may not be expected. To the pastors of churches do we particularly F appeal. We entreat them to adopt the earliest measures to form Auxiliary Societies in their respective congregations in every city, town, and village, and thus create a bond of union among the friends of the Bible, throughout the length and breadth of the land, to sustain by their prayers and by their liberality the sacred cause of Fible translation and distribution. The Board of Managers also appeal to the churches. Especially let those who enjoy the stated preaching of the gospel, adopt measures to constitute their pastors, Directors or members for life of the A. and F. B. S. By this means they will confer upon their minister a token of Christian affection, and at the same time, greatly promote the cause of truth. Any member of the church or congregation may accomplish this important object by presenting to a few friends, a subscription paper like the following: Impressed with the belief, that it is our duty to aid in circulating the Bible faithfully translated, and desirous of manifesting our regard for our minister, Rev. we agree to pay the sum affixed to our respective names, to constitute him a Life Director of the A. and F. B. S. The following agents have been employed by the Society during the past year, viz: Brother Edward Kingsford has laboured with great acceptance from April until January last, when he resigned his agency, to become the pastor of the Baptist church in Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania. In September last, brother Archibald Maclay relinquished his long and faithful pastorship of the Baptist church in Mulberry street, New York, under the conviction that in the service of the Bible Society, Divine Providence has opened before him a field of paramount usefulness. The Board feel great pleasure in expressing their approbation of his untiring and judicious labours. A brother in the south says: "If the agency of brother Maclay had been attended with no other advantage, such have been the results of his truly evangelical preaching, in the conversion of sinners, and promoting the growth of piety in the souls of believers, that the benefits of his agency cannot be computed." The labours of brother Maclay have been chiefly confined to a part of the southern and western states, where he has obtained in subscriptions and donations upwards of $15,000. The subscriptions are generally from friends in the south and west, whose strong attachment to the cause of truth insures the future redemption of their pledges. Brother Daniel Hascall has continued in the service of the Society since April last. He has laboured chiefly in the states of New York, Vermont, and a part of Massachusetts, where several County and other Societies auxiliary to the parent institution have been formed, and pledges of future contributions to the funds have been received. At the request of brother Kingsford, a minister in the western part of New York performed a short tour of agency within the bounds of the Holland Purchase Yearly Meeting. By the brethren composing this body he was cordially received, and he remarks: "Resolutions were passed highly approving and warmly commending the claims of the A. and F. B. S. After which, the Holland Purchase Yearly Meeting Bible Society was formed, and every member of the meeting (so far as I could learn) became a member of the Society." DONATIONS AND LEGACIES, Mr. Stephen B. Munn, well known in this community as an enterprising and judicious merchant, after carefully examining the nature of our various benevolent institutions, was brought to the conclusion, that the American and Foreign Bible Society merited his special patronage. To this Society, having for its single object, to give to all mankind the whole Bible faithfully translated, Mr. Munn has granted the sum of EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS. The Board of Managers welcome this expression of enlightened Christian liberality as a cheering indication of Divine approbation, and they confidently believe that when the object of the American and Foreign Bible Society shall be better understood, its claims will be generally appreciated, and, that many to whom God has granted the means, will be found willing to bestow their bounty upon an institution sa obviously engaged in promoting the cause of God, by diffusing the unmutilated pages of divine revelation. The following extract from a letter on behalf of a small church consisting of seven baptized Indians who reside in the inhospitable regions of Lake Superior, will be read with pleasure by all who love the Saviour. Their pious zeal will not be disregarded by Him, who accepted "the widow's mite" when a larger offering was wanting. "With this you will receive $31 50 as a donation made by the Mission church under my care. We feel a deep interest in the prosperity of the A. and F. B. S. and hope that God will abundantly bless it, and crown the labours of his servants with success proportionate to the importance of the enterprise. May the benign influence of your Society be extensively felt even to the ends of the earth, and may God employ it as an agent in giving to all nations the pure and unadulterated word of Life." The attention of those who may prefer to remember the Society in their last will" is directed to the "form of a bequest" printed on the cover of this Report. But the Board of Managers would, with much deference, commend to all who pray for the prosperity of Zion, the example of Stephen B. Munn, who, resolving to act as his own Executor, has lately replenished the treasuries of several benevolent institutions by his munificence. "Bounty," says an able writer " is the most compendious way to plenty-as the five loaves were multiplied by division, and augmented by subtraction." LIBRARY. A well selected Library is of considerable importance to the interests of this Society, and it is therefore hoped that [its friends will contribute copies of old versions of the Bible and such other books as they may think adapted to the wants of this institution. Several valuable donations have lately been made, among which the Board would mention 31 volumes, comprising copies of the various versions of the Sacred Scriptures published by the British Baptist Missionary Society, viz: 1 vol. 4to. Sungskrit historical books. | 1 vol. 8vo. Mahratta poetical books. 4 i8vo. Hindee Pentateuch, histori cal, poetical and prophetical books. 1 vol. 8vo. Vikaneera Testament. prophetical books. "Bengalee New Testament. Pentateuch. historical books. 66 Ootkula poetical books. 46 66 poetical books. prophetical books.. Orissa Pentateuch, historical books. "Sungskrit prophetical books. 1 5 volumes, 8vo. Chinese Bible. prophets. To the above may be added, a complete set of the British and Foreign Bible Society's Reports, presented by the Rev J. O. Choules, of Buffalo, N. Y. These books are all substantially bound, and form the commencement of a Biblical Library which will, we trust, be speedily enlarged by the faithful labours of Baptist missionaries abroad, and the liberality of brethren in our own land. CONCLUSION. The Board of Managers are incompetent fully to express their gratitude to God for the success which has hitherto attended the labours of the A. and F. B. S. But they entreat the churches not to forget that more than twenty nations and tribes, embracing several hundred millions of our race, are dependent measurably, on the instrumentality of Baptists for a supply of the bread of life. O let them not perish for want, while we have enough, and to spare. From the animating recollections of the past, the Board look forward with joyful anticipations to the future, confidently believing that the Lord has raised up this institution as a means of extending the knowledge of his glory, until it shall "cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." Then shall the morally dead in every clime arise to newness of life, and tidings be heard which will thrill every bosom in Christendom, and over which angels around the throne will rejoice. The Board would call upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ and pray for the coming of his kingdom, to remember in their supplications. the interests of the A. and F. B. S. And unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be glory and dominion for ever. Amen, |