The Sun.
London, England, 1821-11-01 00:00:00

AUXtIAAILY- BIBLE SOCIETIES.

TUE ANNIVERSARY OF THE LONDON AUXI-

MARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

Yesterday the Annual Meeting of the above
Society was held in the Egyptian Hall of the.
Mansion House. The attendance was numerous
and respectable. The centre of the room was
appropriated to Ladies, and was completely filled.
by females elegantly attired, and of 'most bite-,
resting appearance: Tice parts of the room ap-
propriated to Gentlemen were full to overflowing,
but the strictest decorum prevailed under the
superint:Fnaance of the Laity AYOII, who pre-
sided on this occasion.. A strong sensation was
produced _in the room by the introduction of an
Indian Warrior in the full costume of his country.
He Was of portly demeanour,* intelligent aspect,
and greatly attracted the attention of all pre-
sent.—The business of the day commenced at
about half-past eleven.
The LORD MA-von,son taking the Chair at
that hour, addressed a few words to the 'sleet,
ing, in which he expre'ssed himself sensibly flat=
tered by the honour they had done him in call-
ing him to so important a situation, when a sub-
ject of such deep and universal interest to the
happiness of mankind was to be brought under
consideration. He could not help feeling at the
same time,. that lie was surrounded by many per-
sons more competent than himself to umkrtake
such an office ; but as he felt proud of the dis-
tinction, it should be his endeavour to disdiarge
the duties thus imposed On,hirn to the utmost of
abilities.—(Applause.)

The Annual Report was thin read by the
Rev. Mr. CLAYTON. After sore introductory
observations, the Report proceeds as follows.:—

, . .
Your Cofnmittec are liappy to be able to announce that
the receipts and issues of this year have exceeded those of former
years, the particulars of which will be detailed in the Treasurer's
statement. The amount received during the year is 12421..145.
_ _ .. . ...

The amount ;paid to the Parent ,s;ocieti is 10221. is. Gd.
The nrniiher of 'Bibles and 'Testaments distributed since the
last Report, is 1302 Bibles, 531 Testaments, making a total of
26,2.27 copies o 1 Holy Scriptures circulated sines the com-
mencement of the So;:iety.
The CoMmittee have not been inattentive to the command
Which they received at-their appointment, respecting the forma-
tion of a Ladies' Branch. After having repeatedly deliberated
upon, and cautiously examined the plan recommended by the
-Parent Society, the Commitbm adopted most of its regulations,
and having convened a public meeting at the City of London
Tavern, succeeded in establishing a Ladies' Branch to the City
of Lender] Auxiliary-Bible Society,under auspices more favour-
able than they had ever ventured to anticinate.
" Her Royal Highness the Duchess of kent has condescend-
ed to become-the President of the Society.
" Ladies have accented the office of Vice-Presidents. Mrs.
Fry and Mrs. John Deacon have consented to act as Joint
Treasurer;:, and more than 170 Ladies have engved to ascer-
tain the wants of the poor, to receive their contAutions' and
to distribute the 'Scriptures with system, punctuality, and per-
severance.

‘‘ The Cee-arnittee will refrain from expressing the delightful
anticipations which this measure has excited, and will confi-
dently wait till the, return of another anniversary before they
enlarge upon this interesting subject. They may then proba-
bly have the opportunity of appealing to experience and to
facts in confirmation of their animating hopes.
" The Committee have now the painful duty to inform the
Meeting, that the Rev. D. Wilson has been constrained by ill-
ness to resign the cffiee of Secretary'; an office in which he has
conferred important benefit upon the Society.
" During the past year, the Hon. and Rev. G. T. Noel, and
the Rev. W. Dealtry, have preached sermons in behalf of the
Society. One of these was attended by the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor and Mr. Sheriff Waithman.
" The Committee would now gratefully record their obliga-
tion to the Corporation of 'the City of London, who have pre-
sented to the Society the liberal donation of one hundred
guineas. When the Committee acknowledged this grant, they
requested the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor to accept a
complete-set of the Annual Reports of the British and Foreign
Bible Society, and of your Auxiliary, with which request his
Lordship complied in the most courteous manner.
" In passing from this allusion to the Chief Magistrate, the
Committee would not withhold a public acknowledgment of the
obliging attention and assistance which they have derived from
several of the Aldermen, and from both the late Sheriffs. This
assistance has keen of great importance to.the Committee in
their efforts to supply the Prisons of the Metropolis with the
•Ho:':y Scriptures.
" Itt New,gate 42 Bibles and 33 Testaments have been dis-
tributed, in order that every cell and day-room may have copies
of the Scriptures in proportion to the number of its inmates.-
-The Committee have repeatedly seen the prisoners reading the
Bibles, with which they have been supplied by your liberality.
" In Giltspur-street Prison 211 Bibles have been distributed,
-some of -which are chained to particular stations, and placed
upon desks prepared for them by the Governor. •
" To the Fleet Prison 24 Bibles and 24 Testaments have
been granted, which are kept by the Governor, and lent to
those persons who are willing to readaliem.
" A zealous Agent of the Society is accustomed to visit this '
Prison, in order to offer Bibles to the prisoners at reduced
prices.
" From White-cross-street Prison the Committee have re-
ceived additional testimony of the benefits which are resulting
from time plan adopted in that establishment, which was detailed
to you in the last Report. The Bibles occupy a conspicuous
station over every table; they were gratefully received, are care-
fully preserved, frequently read, and highly valued. All the
Governors of these prisons have afforded the Committee every
possible facility in the performance of the undertaking.
" The Committee have also, through the recommendation of
Mr. Sheriff Williams, presented 100 Bibles to the last female
convicts who were sent from their native country; and the Com-
mittee would now renew an expression ofgratitude to that Gen-
tleman for his assistance in the execution of this grant. Upon
.the cover of each -Bible was stamped in large characters " 4 The
gift of the City of London Auxiliary Bible Society," and within
the cover was written the name of the woman to whom it was
given. The Bibles were delivered to the convicts by one of
Mrs. Fry's Prison Committee after the vessel had sailed from
London."
The Report thus concludes :
(,‘ But while the Comthittee mourn over the ignorance and
misery which still exist, they acknowledge with admiring grati-
tude that the Divine blessing has prospered in an astonishing
degree the undertakings of the British and Foreign Bible
.Society.
, " They. will not attempt to describe the operations and results
of this noble Institution, for who can number the blessings it
has dispersed in every quarter of the globe? Who can follow
it through the different nations of Christendom, and mark the
ignorance it has counteracted, the sorrows it has assuaged, the
'miseries it has healed, the asperities it has softened, the charity
it has enldtidll, the souls it has saved ?'
. - " Who can follow it through the vast regions of Asia, and
calculate the numerous copies of the Scriptures in the various
languages of the East, which it has Circulated, and is circulat-
ing amidst the countries enveloped in Pagan or Mahomedan
darkness ? -

" Even Africa,, in its western, southern, and now eastern
shores, is rising from its degraded stata to hear the words of
grace and truth.
" And in the imense continent of America, both north and
south, zealous efforts are now made to disseminate the sacred
word. - -

"While the Committee refer to these splendid results, they
would call upon surrounding friends to implore a continuance
and an extension of them.

" Let the motto of the City of London vibrate through this
assembly ' Domine, dirige nos ;' and let every success be as.
cribed to Him alone from whom cometh every.good and perfect
gift, ' Not unto us, not unto us, 0 Lord, but unto thy name, 0
Lord, would we give glory.'
" Let all now duly estimate the opportunity which is pre-
sented to them. Let all now, according to their ability, by
their pecuniary contributions, by their earnest supplications, and
by their z:.al.ous efforts, aid a sp,:iety which is scattering around
with a benignant hand Llessings spiritual as well es temporal.
Its aim is universal love ; its instruments are truth and boll-
ness • its statutes th.: sacred Scriptures ; its simple dependence
the divine blessin:y ; its reformation the tacit and noiseless sub-
jection of the heart t its friends all who love toe Bible ; its tem-
per, meekness, and long suffering ; its triumphs, joy in the Holy
Spirit ; its tendency, the happiness of man ; its consummation,
everlasting life.'"
tln the course of reading the Report, the Rev. Mr. CLAYTON
intimated, that the Hon. and Rev. Gerard Noel had consented
to be nominated as Secretary to the Society, in the room of the
Rev. Daniel Wilson, who had resigned in consequence of ill