Star.
London, England, 1823-05-14 00:00:00

1I 4V AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

Yesterday the Anniversary Meeting of the Society
for the Distribution of Bibles amongst Sailors and
Soldiers was held at the Kings Concert Rooms, which
were excessively crowded, chiefly by Ladies, who ap-
peared to take a stronz interest in the spiritual wel-
fare of the objects of the Society. Lord Viscount
LORTON took the' Chair.
The SECRETARY read the Report, which repre-
sented that the Society bad been greatly cramped by
their want of adequate funds; but they were deter-
mined to proceed in their course of making all in the
Army and Navy soldiers and sailors of J E3US CHRIST,
and not to sheath the spiritual 'sword whilst one re-
mained who did not submit to the sacred standard.
Tbe Institution had received strong aid from the
Auxiliary Societies in Ireland and Scotland, and also
from the Ladies' Association, at the head of which
was the Duchess of Beaufort. The exertions of the
Ladies in behalf of the soldiers and sailors had been
by far the most efficient, and they had made the
greatest subscriptions to the Society—(.4pplause).—
The Society had appointed an officer to travel from
station to station and offer Bibles and Testaments to
the soldiers; and he had distributed altogether nine
thousand copies of the Scriptures, and had succeeded
in getting in return upwards of one hundred pounds.
This agent had been eminently successful in sup-
planting blasphemous and seditious tracts, which he
feared had been extensively circulated amongst the
soldiers. Notwithstanding the endeavours which were
made by persons to seduce the soldiers, there was a
strong desire amongst them for the Scriptures, which
desire was manifested by the actual purchase of theni.
Nothing could be better than the plan of selling the
Scriptures at the cost price; for the thance was, that
the man who paid for them would read and prize
them more than if he had them for nothing. The
Report concluded by an exhortation to the friends of
the Scriptures to come forward, and save the sol-
diers from the current of infidelity which was let
loose upon them.
Lord CALTHORPE, in moving that the Report
should be received, said, there was a peculiar pro-
priety in the friends of Christianity coming forward
to communicate the benefits of the Scriptures to the
preservers of their country. They owed it to them
in gratitude; but it became an imperative duty when
they found that those odious efforts that were making
in every part of the country, to sap the foundation
((their faith, were also extended to the soldiers. No-
thing could so well tend to humanize and make war
less savage as the Scriptures; by making soldiers
Christian warriors, and preparing them to endure,
with fortitude and patience, the trials and hardships
to which they were subject—(Great applause).
Mr. STEWART, seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
.Major MAXWELL of the Hon. East India Com-
pany's service, said he believed there was now not a
• more religious, and consequently a more humane
body of soldiers, than those who composed the body
of the British army. He had himself heard a testi-
mony paid to their humanity by the French King.
He was present when that Monarch, after the battle
of Waterloo, called around him the Commander and
Staff of the British Army. When he was surrounded
by the soldiers, he addressed them in these words, in
. English:—" Gentlemen, I am indebted to you for
much. I speak not of your valour ; that I leave to
history—but I speak of your humanity ; I thank you
for your humanity to my poor people. I thank you
as their father"—(Applause). He concluded by mov-
ing a Resolution of Thanks to the Royal and Noble
Patrons of the Institution.
Lord GAMBIER addressed the. Meeting at great
length.—The motion was carried unanimously.
The Rev. Dr. CLARK, Captain GORDON, of the
Royal Navy, and Major-General ORD, spoke warmly
in favour of the object of the Meeting.
Captain BLAYNEY, of the Royal Navy, moved a
Resolution in an able speech.
Captain H. Goanow, of the Royal Navy, addressed
the Meeting at great length, moving acknowledg-
ments to other societies for their assistance.
Several other Officers addressed the Meeting in
pious speeches, which were warmly applauded by
the Ladies, and after a subscription had beets made,
the Meeting separated.

Disputes have broken out among the Jews at Berlin, respect-
.ing the form of Divine Worship; the consequence has been► se-
veral taw-suits, and the closing of the New Temple.
in couscquence of the newly-regulated administration of Sibe-
ria, the inhabitatibs of that country will be judged, in all crimi-
nal cases, by their own laws.