The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-08
Annual Exhibition and Concert by the Pupils
OF the ms titution for the blind.

I..l-z1 - - -
Annual Exhibition and Concert by the Pupils
OF the Institution for the Blind.
We attended this exhibition yesterday afternoon,
glad to see that crowded and fashionable audience
were gathered within the walls of the Tabernacle to
greet the interesting young band of unfortunates
who were there assembled-though we question if
the term unfortunate in this case is not misapplied
for certainly, after the exercises and Rotations
which we witnessed, we remain in doubt as to
whether the loss of sight is really such deprivation
as has hitherto been supposed. We have all read
poeucal descriptions of those afflicted with this
malady Who, that has perused Bul,rers Last
Days Of Pompei," but remembers that charming
creation of his fancy, the blind girl &C Nyd,a y
and the wonderful tact which guided her in the
absence of the light of day. But the perfection to
which the instruction of the blind is carried now-a-
day, Is really more surprising than any fiction, and
we cannot but admit the beautiful arrangement Of
nature. which in deprivng the human frame, in
sense endows with such increased sensibty in the
rest Ii reflects tho greatest credit the perseverance
and ingenuity OF the preccptos of the institution, who
have thus been tho means of remedying, far
pupils And We noticed with delight the aHectionate
intercourse which existed between them. But We
must to our subject and describe the exercises
They began with the performance of the grand
march by the band, followed by the reading of the
Scriptures from raised copies and the foremost
tced in this part Of tho proceedings Miss Cynthia
Bullock, very talented and interesting little girl The
next was anthem, by the choir III wash my hands
in nnocency," tho music of which is composed by Pro-
lessor Re this piece reflects much credit on the pupils
which performed with exquisite taste and received
the unbounded plaudts of the vast assembage. Next
came examinations in geography astronomy chemistry,
history, geometry, and arithmetic and indeed
not little surprised to hear the correctly
Of pap Mss
played great vocal powers in the sacred song Ewes
Lamentaion" and her performance the panoforte
caused worry lively interest amongst the vast
blagc Two others of the pupils Miss Frances Jane Cros
by and Miss Bullock, whose have before taken
Enthusiastically received Several duets trios and exa.
limitations of tho pupils followed after which there
presto movement" played as finale by the band, with
mnch taste In conclusion must add that observed
tone of religious feeling running through the whole
exercises which evinced that not only the ofheir
temporal interests has been attended to- but sense
OF their eternal salvation impressed on thom.
American Tract Society.
This Society held its twentieth anniversary yes
terday morning, at the Broadway Tabernacle, and
was attended by crowded audience. We were
struck by the great preponderance of the ladies'
the gentlemen, the latter not composing probably
more than oneffth of the assembly, and those were
mostly clergymen from the country and strangers in
the city. However, it was most delightful to see
the great interest manifested by them the proceed
ceedngs of this most important society; the benefits
resulting from which, have been, and are contnu-
ally, felt over the whole world. 1t has increased in
strength each succeeding year of its existence; and
the report of this, its twentieth anniversary, shows
that though its operations most extended, still
they are, Judging from its past career but in its in
fancy.
The Hon. THEODORE FRELINGHUYsEN presided in
the CHAIR and the meeting, after being called to
Elizabethtown, who invoked the divine blessing on
the audience and Society, after which MosEs ALLEN
Esq., read an abstract of rhe Treasurers report, by
which il appeared that the receipts for the year a.
mounted to 1852 1916 Y, and the disbursements
amounted to the same sum, out of which had been
expended for colportage, 1882 ;43 travelling
agents, $3.50 IS; corresponding secretaries and
clerks, $7,6l374; foreign and pagan lands appro-
pIlanons, $6,OoO; postage, taxes, insurance, &c,
Mn. w. A. HALLock then read an abstract of the pub
fishing and foreign departments showing that 6s new
and useful publications had been stereotyped by drcc-
ton Of the Society during the past year. Tho Society
have published in ALL lli6 publications besides
20o7 approved for circulation abroad that there have
been circulated during the year. 757 Volumes $685.
60 publications, 1871 TAI 800 pages, being of
81 pages over the preceding year. and making the
053796 The Society have printed during the year
5000 volumes in German, of four page tract 100 900
copies, and Of another, $4,000.
The committee have sanctioned during the year o99
distinct grants OF publications amounting to 237osl95
pages of which l3,94,s47 have been distributed by col
poreurs and agents among the destitutc and 3oll $50
pages have been delivered to members directors
king the total gratutous issues nearly mil
lion pages, in value nearly ,000
r. S. Cook then read the report on domestic opera
tons, Of which the following is an abstract:
The progress made in reaching the destitute of
our population native and foreign, protestant and papa
shows that the most hopeless classes accessible to
tho Gospel But catholic organization is indispensable
evangelical denominations in every new
settlement; and aording in its constitution publca-
which may silence the cavis of nfdelty and popery
The results of the year most cheering and
age to still farther enlargement Of the Socety's home
operations While miscellaneous tract distribution and
systematic tract visitation have been prosecuted as
vigorously as in former years and the grants home
missionaries, and boatmens chaplan's &c OK.
coed those OF any previous year. the circulation of pub
locations by colporteurs and volume agents has been
nearly doubled mostly in destitute districts never prev
ousy visited One hundred and ortythrcc coporteurs
volume agents and supcrntendens of coportagc have
been engaged in the Socety service during the whole
ncludng Texas and exclusive of those in the service
OF the Society at Boston and other auxares of whom
one hundred and three still employed OF the whole
number, three colportcurs have been devoted to the
Welsh Irish and colored population to sailors and
seamcn; to the French 26 to the Germans Gncludng
converted Romansts and l07 chiefly for the destitute
native population. The number of families visited
exceeds 1853 000 with Of whom the colporcurs have
had personal religious conversation prayer; far
from AZ 600 families who were destitute of all religious
books except the Bible, each supplied with a book
gratuitously and several thousands with the Bible or
volumes exceeds s74 600 including 900 sets of DAu
bigne's History of the Reformation.
Dr. BErcHER, OF Cincinnati, made notion that mas
much as this Society constitutes great part the evan
gecal mon ,mcnt which God in his mercy has raised up
that the report just read be adopted.
Dr. Bacon seconded the notion and trusted thew would
be satisfactory in their indications of the present and fu
ure usefulness Of the Society and the line of conduct it
had laid down for its rule.
DR.. KNOX, of the Reformed Dutch Church, addressed
the meeting and compared the growth and increase of
this Society to that of grain Of mustard seed which,
being planted in time gave out many branches. that
the fowls of the air rested in their shadow. The great
OF THIS Society had reached the greater portion
of all the Christian families in this land 1t had penetrated
into many hidden abode of misery and wrctchedness
and purified many sink of vice and proAgacy Its in
uence had been felt wherever an American Protc slant
missionary stationed 1t had brought Of the danger
of perdton thousands of souls and tens of
had been chcored and sanctifed by it their way to
heaven. Chrsts Church, through it, had been edited
and during twenty years it had gone year after year
increasing in prosperity and favor with the people OF
God and at this day It has deep hold on the Christian
community, and to God we lift up hearts and commit
its future state Not unto u.s. but unto him, be all the
praise 1t is monument reared in testimony of
the fact, that the Evangelical Church, however
distinguished by sccts but one and an embodiment