The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-26 00:00:00

BIBLES FOR CHINA.

Yesterday a very numerously attended meeting of
the subvcribers and friends of this society was held in the
Egyptian-hall, at the Mansion-house, to celebrite its
jubilee year (the society haying been established in the ychr
1S0.1), and to assist in rai.ing a fund to be appropriated to
the circulation of the Scriptures in China.
The Earl of Shafteo,ury, Mr. R. Spooner, MP . Mr.
Alderman and Sheriff Vire, and a numb. r of City gi
men and clergymen (both of the established church and the
various Protestant dissenting sects) were on the I,:siforin
The body of the hell was almos: exclusively occupied by
ladies.

The Res. Gro. Raow:i (one of the secretaries of the
sxiety) haying opened the Du inns of the day by Dialog
e nue passages of Scripture, read letters of apology trow tbe
Archbishop of Caaterbury, Lord John Russell, Mr. Labou-
chere, M.P. (who enclosed 231.), Mr. Fortner (who for-
warded 1001), and Mr. Thornton, the treasurer of the
society, alleging illness or business as the cause of their
absence.

The LORD MeVon said he tilt very great pleasure in
having the opportunity of presiding at a meeting of this
society, and a great hoaeur to contribute in a humble degree
to the promotion of its glorious purposes. TRW were cir-
cumstances of peculiar interest in the present meeting. This
was the jubilee year of the society, and it was desirable,
when they celebrated those rare recurring periods,that they
should 1114111ille w Nether the objects (Attie society were stiel
the same, in what way its proceedings Ind been car-
' lied on, what had been the extent of its wetulnese,
and whether it presented the same claims upon public atten-
lion that it did fifty year ago. All these queetions could
be answered satisfactorily. At the present time the num-
ber of branch societies in connection with the parent so-
ciety was 8,:122, end the languages into which the scriptures
were now tmoslated, anal in which the society had pro-
moted the distribution, iniating, or translation of theme as
not less than 150, whines', when the society was tire
established, the translati i.s of the Bible, hi whole, or in
part, extended only to abut 50 languages. (Hear, hear.)
In conclusion, he called attention to the opening which was
afforded by present events in China for the circulation of
the Scriptures there, end to the proposal fur sending them
a million copies of the New Testament in the Chinese lan-
guage, obeervirg that as they might be sold at 4d. per
copy, they would be thus brought within the reacts of all
classes of the population of :hat empire. He thnucht the
City of Landon, leukiag at its vast wealth, and the cent
menial benefits it derive. from the opening of the Cline
trade ought to provide the means for furnishirg this million
of Testaments. (Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. 'incises then presented to his lordship the
copy of the Bible, from which the passage of Scripture by
winch the meeting bed been opened had been read, as an
acknowledgment for his aid and countenance to the society,
and fur his kindness in presiding on the present occasion.
Ills LORDSHIP briefly acknowledged the comiliment.
The Rev. ltuneur Futter then read a statement of the
purposes oh the meeting, tae history of the society, and an-
nouncing that the aggregate of the Jubilee fund raised up
to the present time was 32,0001.
The Earl of Susere-ecue, who was loudly cheered,
appealed to the meeting to support a misty whose ob-
ject was to dispense to others that Word of Clod which had
wen the means of blessing this country with internal peace
and civil and religious freedom. (Hear, hear.)
The Hon. and Rev. Canon VILLIERS moved a resolution
acknowledging the labours and the success of the society,
welcoming its year of jubilee, and praying Gad to multiply
its resources and its usefulness, which, having been
seconded by Ae Rev. Dr. Tidosen, was carried unanimously,
as was another proposed by Mr. Samuel Gurney, and
seconded by Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wire, declaring it
eo be the duty and privilege of Great Britain to use all her
opportunities and influence to promote the widest possible
circulation, both at home and abroad, of that Holy Book to
which she owed so much of her social, civil, and religions
pre-etniamice.
A vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor, moved by Mr. R.
Bevan and seconded by the Rey. Dr. Becham, wale then put
and carried by acclamation, and after a brief acknowledg-
ment from his lordship the meeting separated.
Amongst the subscriptions announced was one of 1001.
from Mr. Bevan.