The Sun.
London, England, 1821-07-09 00:00:00

WINCHESTER.

SEVENTH REPORT of the WINCHtSTER Dia;
CESAN and. DISTRICT COMMITTEE, in AID
of the SOCIETY for PROMOTING CHRISTIAN
KNOWLEDGE, 1821.

The early, part of last year wore an aspect unfriendly to me.
rality and religion. Infidelity and blasphemy were spreading,
far and wide, their pestilential poison, and the most indefati-
gable industry was directed to the overthrow of Christianity,
and, with it, of every thing sacred and venerable in the country
in which we have the happiness to live.
The evil was of such a magnitude,-and so extensiVe had been
its progress, that the friends of good order and religion felt:
themselves bound, in an especial manner, to call into action alt
the means within their power to check and counteract the dread-
ful consequences which must inevitably have ensued, arei
which are still to be seriously apPreliended, from such auda-i
cious licentiousness. Accordingly, the earnest attention of the,
Society was directed to the subject ; a Committee was'appointed
for the special purpose of counteracting blasphemous and in,
fidel publications, and was entrusted with full discretionary
powers, under a Committee of Superintendance, suited to, meet
the exigencies of so extraordinary a crisis. They were in-'
strutted to invite contributions from the public in aid of their
designs, and not only to publish, in a more popular form , and
at a diminished charge, the tracts relating to these subjects
which were already on the Society's list, but to provide and cir-
culate at the lowest prices such other books and tracts as might,
in their judgment, be best suited to the object in view. . They
were also instructed to enter into innnediate correspondence
with the Diocesan and District Committees in various parts of
the country.
The zeal and energy with which their communications were
met by this Diocesan Committee, and by several other District
Committees within this diocese, were briefly noticed in the last
Annual Report. It was then also stated that an itinerant
agent had been taken into employ for the purpose of circulating,
more effectually, such tracts as were best calculated to arrest
the progress of the evil.
This Committee have very great satisfaction in reporting that
the said agent conducted himself, during the whole time that
he was so employed, in a manner which entitled him to their
approbation and thanks, having uniformly rendered the most
efficient service in forwarding their views, and supplying them
with accurate information as to the extent to which the evil had
been carried. From this it appeared that though the poison of
infidelity had been, in several places, covertly and industriously
circulated, yet it did not existto such a degree as to preclude the
hope that the measures adopted to counteract its effects might,
under Providence, be successful.
The sum subscribed in this deanery alone, for these special
purposes, amounted to 1141. ; and there were distributed, partly
gratuitously, partly at very reduced prices, above 7500 book 3
and tracts on such subjects as might prove an antidote to the
poison which had been so mischievously administered. There
is a residue of 381. 13s. Bd. to be applied to a similar or arli
other purpose which may be thought most desirable.
The anti-infidel tracts were dispersed also in the deaneries of
Droxford, Southampton, Fordingbridge and Andover,
considerable success, particularly Bishop Watson's Apolog
for the Bible, and Bishop Porteus's Summary of the Evidences
of Christianity.
The Committee have also great satisfaction m stating at the
same time, that the circulation of Bibles, Testaments, Praf er
Books, and other books and tracts, which arc always to be mad
at the depdts of the several District Committees, has been coil'
siderable. There have been distributed, during the last year'.
Bibles. Test. P. Books. Psalt. Tracts`
In the Deanery of Win-
chesterd Sombourne, 176 145 598
resfor
sing and d
7
Deanery of Basingstoke 94 95 480 67 „4 "'2
Deanry of Alton - - 123 137 219 53 ~41
Tl,onery of Southampton 7:2 40 280 --4"
Deanery of Droxford - 110 100 730 75 109?
Dcaury of runtingbnClge 89 " 97 443 92'1
Deanry of Andover - 24 • 80 163 40 121

,oti 695 2933 240 5833
This Committee were happy to have it in their power to pre'
sent gratuitously 200 copies of Bishop Gibson's Advice to Yet"
sons lately recovered from Sickness, and 100 copies of. Sir J.
Stonhouse's Friendly Advice to a Patient, to the County 11°5"
pital for the use of the patients ; which were thankfully' ,re-
ceived by the Committee of Governors of that excellent Insti-
tution.
tution.
A Sermon was preached at Lymington in June last, by thct.
Rev. Ellice Jones, Secretary to the Fordingbridge Distr4
Committee, after which a collection amounting to 131. 105. •
was made for the benefit of the Society.
It has been resolved also in that deanery, to request the cler-
gymen of the several parishes to preach a Sermon once in e'en.'
three years, for the purpose of bringing into more ger'er
knowledge the nature and designs of the Society, and at thg
same time to make a collection for its use and benefit. jet,
It is in contemplation to open a new branch of the Pistr
Committee at Droxford, as being more convenient for th
e
,
northern part of that deanery, and the present curate of pr°,--ry
ford, the Rev. Mr. Grant, has been recommended as a very
proper Secretary for that purpose.
In reporting the transactions of the last year, this Committe,ei
cannot omit the opportunity of adverting, with sentirnen!s:4
respect and regret, to the death of their late venerable Presider
and Diocesan, under whose sanction and authority they w"
first embodied, and who continued, to the' last, to extend to
them his cordial co-operation and support. His Successor i°
the See has kindly accepted the office of President, and Iv',
expressed an. interest in the future continuance and uulity
their proceedings. ot
It is matter of considerable gratification and encouragellls.„
to this Committee to observe, that in the last Report of the
ciety, mention is made of the great assistance which it contint!';
to derive from the co-operation of the Diocesan and Dists,"4
Committees, now so generally established, and that its desibit
for the promotion of Christian knowledge are thereby. mu
facilitated and extended. The words in which that assistanc
is acknowledged will form a suitable and proper coneltision e.,
this Report, and are well calculated to stimulate to future &""
increased exertion.
" The transactions and concerns of the Diocesan and °fall
" trict Committees have been conducted with zeal, ability, "'at,
" diligence. Every separate object of the society has he°ll,l in
tentiveY kept in view, and its designs have been promo-coot
" many instances with indefatigable exertion, and the Lot,
" cordial co-operation. They,look forward on this aecr.6o
" with sanguine hope to the continued. proess of chtr's
" knowledge by these'means, and they anticipate the geThbo
" fects winch, in every Diocese of the Empire, will atteoLiel.,
" endeavours thus zealously pursued to enlighten the lwielr
44 standing, and to exercise a salutary influence over the
" gious conduct of the ignorant and uninstructed."
By order of the Conimittee,
LISCOMBE CLARKE } r:t*
JAMES HODGES, Secretaf
FOP
Account of the Fund raised for the special Purpose
~00-
chasing, and distributing, Anti-Infidel Tracts.-I°',"
DECEIVED.
Donations - - - 114 3""
For Tracts sold . - - la 1 0

1643*

ToLli

From the Southampton Committee, 4 Weeks) 6 u
Remuneration of the Itinerant Agent . 5
___-------1,
1".1t21'
tic
.1:. '' 1
O
Carriage of Tracts
- - " " - 040 4 0 Hawkers Licence - " " " " " 09 /
Paper - - - - - - - - 41 3
Four Bills for Tracts, from London - -
Extra Tracts, purchased of the Diocesan Corn- 1 016 41
1 mittee - . - - 1 0
3
For Tracts purchased of the Southampton J.
6
Committee - - - 13
), j 5 ,4 0
Advertisements and Printing - - - - 31 i 0
T.o the Itinerant Agent employed to sell the Tracts 01 i
For a Wrapper - - - - - 0 0
Donation to the Assistant Secretary, in considc- 2
ration of additional Employment, respect:ng
3g 14 131 i
the Tracts - - - - - -
Balance (in hand) - . .
13$ 14 a i
• _________. .
, -
* besides four parochial libraries, consisting of.
20,V01i
each. nlteS..

PAID.