The Sun.
London, England, 1824-10-25 00:00:00

CANTERBURY AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

•
On Wednesday, (he 20th•instant, the Anniver-
sary of this benevolent Institution, was held at the Guildhall.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor, O. SNOULTENT, Esq. took
the Chair at half-past 12 o'clock, anti in a perspicuous speech
explained the objects of the meeting, which had his most cordial
approbation, and referred to the Report for the full details of
the proceedings of the Society.
The Rev..lonN Saximread the Report, which contained
the h-ratifying intelligence that 300 Bibles, and 384 Testaments,
making a total of Mil copies of the Scripture, had been distri-
buted by this Auxiliary during the past. year ; and that the
Canterbury Society, since its formation, had been the ho.ppy
ru instment of circulating, chiefly among the poor in this ne4;ll-
- no fewer than 5943 copies or the word of God. The
Report proceeded to•CMittittulate the meeting,on.the progres-
sive increase of the funds of the Society which had risen during
the last year to nearly double the prior year.. In noticing the
amazing progress of the Parent Society, the Report stated that
it had been the honoured means of circulating 3044,324 copies
of the word of life in the British dominions only, besides
000,000 in the different languages of the European Continent,
and that through the labours and patronage of the British and
Foreign Bible Society, the Holy Scriptures had been translated
into 140 ditferent Isnguages and dialects.
J. B. Wiummi, Esq. AIX. in moving that the Report be
adopted and printed, took occasion to express the high degree
of pleasure he fell in uniting with a Society so pre-eminently
useful and honourable as the British and Foreign Bible So-
ciety, whose funds indeed were the funds of charity, in aiding
which we were instrumental of promoting the insterests of im-
mortal souls.

The Rev. S. G MITI:EN, in an interesting manner, seconded
the resolution.

The Rev. Mr. Semmr., Swiss Minister, of London, bore
testimony, from personal observation, of the happy effects
produced in his own country by the exertions of the Bri-
tish and Foreign Bible Society, Ile appeared us a Swiss
witness to the revival of true religion . throughout the Cuts-
tons of Swisserland by means of the Bible Society ; and
to whatever country of Europe we turned we should and j
similar effects produced. Russia had been so essentially be-
nefitted by its labours, that the Bible Society of that country
was now so strong as to support all the claims on its
_e fierce
benevo-
lence ; and here it was gratifying to remark that th
Cossack now retired from the sanguinary conflict of fieldsof battle, might be seen in his rude abode anxiously study-
ing the precepts of the words of peace. The Reverend
.
Gentleman. went at length into a tatfacts, lof showing that &
the labours of the Society had produced an immense blessing
to
—.had diffused a spirit of Christian be-
nevolenceworld, and had elevated the cha-
racternt tinatlieon in the eyes of all intelligent the
o fantilitieill uyrorui of
guits:ohiu
fo-
reigners, by arraying that character in all the charms of Chris-
tian philanthropy.
Rev. Mr. CUSWORTJI warmly advocated the interests of the
British and Foreign Bible Society, because its constitution was
so liberal, and its object so truly ehristiun.
Rev. T. BAATLET in a strain of nervous eloquence, wive.
cated the cause of the Institution, and remarked, that during
the last year, 40,000 copies of the Scriptures had been distri.
bated in Ireland. It was the Bible alone which produced
that civilization, which had elevated the nations of Europe, and
particularly this country to the enjoyment of equal rights, and
the happiness of unbounded comforts. If we would judge of
the benefits the Bible has conferred, look at Britain, look at
Rome, at Greece, before the dawn of Christianity; look at
New Zealand, at Africa • turns the eyes to Hindustan, and
see the wretched victims Of idolatry, and judge what we owe
to the Bible, whose precepts teach us to love our neighbours.
We regret our limits will not allow us to fellow the Reverend
Gentleman through his interesting details, which rivetted at-
tention.

J. P. PLITAINT XX, Esq. in moving thanks to the Officers and
Collectors, said the highest recompence which could he en.
joyed must arise in the minds of all persons actively engaged
in a work so benevolent, as that of distributing the word of
life to their fellow men ; and the reflections of such persons,
in the day of judgment, would be of the most exalted kind,
where they may happily see some of the poor, whom they
have been the instruments of learning to read and love their
bibles, standing at the right hand of their Supreme Judge and
Saviour. The Ilible Society must continue a blessing, while its
conductors are inspired by those principles of universal berie_
volencet which have hitherto actuated their counsels. The
Learned Gentleman contrasted the state of Otaheite 20 years
since, with its present condition, and shewed the efficacy of the
Divine word in the change effected. In Sierra Leone, similar
changes had been produced; and the native negroes have Fined,
though black without, have soul within.
CHARLES SANDYS, .l S4l. in a short speech, seconded the
Resolution. _ . .

---11eV. 1.. SANDYs shortly moved thanks to the Mayor, which
being seconded by the Bev. T. Bartlett, was carried unani.
,musty.
The MAYon, after returning thanks for the expression of
their favourable sentiments, assured the meeting he had been_
highly gratified with the interesting details Submitted to them,
and that he should always feel most happy in premixing by tth
means in his power so laudable an Institution.
At lialf-past six o'clock in the evening, the Anniversary of
the Canterbury Ladies Bible Association, was held in the
t.; 404, J. li. Wildman, Esq. M.P. in the Chair.