The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-02 00:00:00

PEODUCTION OF CHEAP BIBLES.

A mood public meeting took place last evening, at
the Meebeaks' lastitaidon, itontltamptou•buildings, on the
gabfest of the low wages paid to the parties employed in the
reduction of the British and Foreign Bible Society's bibles.
There was a crowded arezdance.
Mr. LUKE J. HANSARD presided.
Mr. JONATHAN DIJNCAN moved:
" That any attempt to circulate the Bible, which is given
by Its glorious Author to be a blessing to man, without fully
and 6/My remunerating the labourer by whom it is pro-
&teed, is a dined violation of every principle that it
inealestee."
_ . . . . .

It the Bible Society believed the truth of the book they
circulated they were breaded with hypocrisy If they did not
obey its precept.. (Hear, heir.) Much was maid now.a-
days about cheapnen ,• bat with the working classes it gene-
rally meant a great deal of labour fir a very little money ;
but what they ought to strive for was a great deal of money
for a very little labour. (Cheers.) It was justly complained
that the rich were getting richer and the poor poorer; and
thou in head was a most detestable attempt at carrying
out this operation, because perpetrated under a hypocritical
garb. (L'heen.) Let the workpeople firmly mist this im-
position, and they would be supported by public opinion ;
and those now oppressing them would be glad to yield.
(Cheers.)
Mr. JOSEPH MACKEY wended the resolution. He

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recommended aU ministers and conductors of Sunday schools
to give the preference tc. the Christian Knowiedp Society's
Bibles over those of the Bible Society.
Mr. JOHN R. TAYLOR gave some details as to the low
wages of artisans generally, and attributed the evil to the
overweening love of cheapness amongst the higher alarms. If
the evil were not arrested, the very vitals of society would
soon be destrged. (Hear, bear.)
The resolution was unanimously adopted, as was each of
the succeeding ones.
Mr. ED WARDS moved—

That the reply of the British and Foreign Bible Society
to the memorial of the public meeting held at the Mechanics'
Institution on the 20th of S. ptember, ' expreesi. g their in-
tention sotto take soy proceedings therein,' is received by
this meeting with deep regret : and it is therefore confirmed
in the conviction that the allegations contained therein, vie. :
1. That the principal cheap editions of the Bible and Testa.
ment waded by their society, are prod need by exacting large
reductions from the wages of female labour. 2. That suck
cheapness, so procured, has unhappily led to still further
reductions in the wages of labour employed In binding the
Sacred Scriptures sold by other partite, with a view to com-
pete with the prices of their society. 3. That the answer
given to the • Appeal' of the journeymen bookbinders by
their contract/us, is a palpable violation of all truth, and
calculated to mislead the donors and sub•cribers of their

institution : would upon inquiry be fully sustained."
The women bookbinders who now brought their COO be-
fore the public were oppressed, not only by a powerful
capitalist, but by the of the wealthiest societies to exist
ems. When the society found themselves able to mikes re-
duction of twopence in their prices, they mast have known
that it was to come out of the wages of the poor workpeople.
The Christian Knowledge Society's prices were 7s. 6d.; those
of the Bible Society, 6s. At the former rate of payment, a
woman might possibly earn, with 60 hours' labour, 9s. 6d. a
week. This was little enough, in all conscience; but with
this sum the workpeople of the Bible Society would have
been content. For folding and sewing the whole of last
year's issue of 1,107,518 co, its, the women had received only,
4,2011.25. 11d. Dividing this by the number employed, it
gave au average of only 62.100, a week for the folders, and
71. 3d. for the sewen. (" near, hear," and " Shame.")
Even this pittance could enly be gained by unremitting labour
throughout the year. How, then, could the courgettes, have
stated that her hands might earn, on the wages she gave,
7s. 64. to 15i. a week? The work of Outliner and Spottis-
wode, done by the same contractress,was paid still lower. The
prices of the Christian Knowledge Society gave an average of
Bs. 6d. a west to the folders, end Ba. 104 d. to the sewers,
being 25 per cent. more. Notwithstanding this saving in
the pike of labour, the Bible Society had only reduced their
prices 14 per cent., putting the remaining 11 per cent. in
their pickets. (Rear, hear.) War it not a humiliating re-
flection that a cheap bible should be associated with female
depravity ? (Cheers.)
Mr. W. CHIPPAiLELD seconded the resolution.

The following resolutions were also agreed to:
" That any attempt oa the part of the British and Foreign
Bible Society to suppress inquiry, must be regarded with
suspicion, and is wholly at variance with every principle of
justice and equity recorded in the pages of the inspired
volume they are engaged in circulating, to promote the pre-
sent and everlasting welfare of man."
"That the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible
,Society having refused to entertain the memorial of the
public meeting, this meeting recommend that a memorial bet
presented to all ministers and sabbath school teachers on be-
e half of the injured bookfoldin and sewers, imploring them
to discontinue the use of Bibles and Testaments supplied by
the British and Foreign Bible Society, until a fair lemon.
11 rating pries is paid for female labour."
1 The proceedings terminated with a vote of thank]; to the
chairman.