The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-09
ANNIVERSARY WEEK IN new YORK
Eff II H ID Az.


Elf It HI DAY.
ThIrty.Fifth Anniversary Of the American
Bible Society.
This society held their thrty-fth anniversary
yesterday, at the Broadway Tabernacle which was,
in few minutes after the time appointed, 90 oclock
A. M } completely filed, there being scarcely stand
ing room in the body Of the building
The Hon. THEODORE FRELINGHUYsEN was called
to the chair, and, contrary to the socety's former
custom, the exercises were opened by prayer, as
well as the reading OF portion of the scriptures.
DR.. TYING, who had before strongly opposed this
Innovation evinced his concurrence in the measure,
by delivering the prayer himself He also read the
appointed scriptuIal passages; after which, the
President read an address.
The Treasurer's report was made by JOSEPH
HYDE, Esq, General Agent and Assistant Trea-
surer, which showed that the receipts Of the year,
from all sources, have been S276,S So. This
sum, including egacies, is somewhat less than the
income Of the previous year; but, excluding lega-
cies, is larger, by $500 ls. The amount received
by legacies in the past year but slS 200, where
as, in the previous one it amounted to 3OOOO-thus
showing that their living friends were active as
| ever, or more 90.
The annual report, read by DR.. BRIGHAM COM
meloed by stating that they had to announce, with
regret, that during the past year one of the Vice.
| Presidents, Isaac Carow, Esq, had been removed
| by death. Within the same period sixty three
auxiliary societies had been formed. The number
Of Bibles and Testaments issued were, SOP, 1872
making a total, since the formation Of the society,
of ST., 967. The Board had issued new diamond
/ 6imo. New Testament, some Of the copies having
also the Book Of Psalms appended They had also
81 To-.
| children ana imperfect readers; New Testament
| of Swedish AMI English in parallel columns. a
similar Testament in French and English, in
eoIis. Of Pielsra'on. hhsy haa .so sGmple'e -
brew and Greek The Book Of Genesis and
the Book Of Acts had boen published at the Soce-
| tvs House, III the Grebo tongue, for Western
Africa, translated by the Rev. Mr.. Payne, a Pro-
testant Episcopal Missionary. The Gospel Of John
was also soon 10 be printed The number Of agents
/ employed Lad been Unity, including two III Iexas
ana III California, ana onc part Of tho year, in
Hayti, w. Grants Of books had been maze to
I local auxiliaries, to Sunday schools seamen, mis-
any, and other benevolent societies, and TO in
di,iuuals Ter distribution at numerous places, at
home ard abb Dad, the land and on the waters.
No Needy applicant had been sent empty away.
Besides the grants OF books funds had been furnish
ed iof publishing the Scriptures IN France; also -
! the Missionary Boards Of the Presbyterian, the
Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, and
Congi, gatioLai Churches, for publishing the same
IN lhl II. Inc accounts hau clo5cu On the Ist
April, since which time two further appropriations
had been made-one for the publication of the
| Armenian bible, and one for the North Anne
| rican Indians. The dsstitution was not now
| 50 great as it had been, nor was, he was happy to
say, the dissemination to receive the Bible Where
TIN ee-titls OF he people had formerly refused,
| they did lot now find one fourth doing So The
reverend gentleman than briefly remarked that, I'M
Ike other societies who produced many books,
they came before the meeting, "a usual, with
the A pamphlet vas about to be pro-
dIced, pointing cut the variations IN the dif,
fercLt EDITIONS and versions Of this one book; and
| while they would be surprised to find how many
small ones there were 10 be found, they would be
giatit,a 10 learn how they coincdedin all material
and important parts. The society had already done
much; but 50 large was our population becoming,
that they must do more.
Rev MIR. NEWTON moved that the report be
printed and circulated under the control Of the
Board OF Managers. Many Of his hearees, he said,
had been ministers of religion and, as members Of
! bency client institutions, responsible for the right
! management OF the trusts committed to them
! They had never witnessed Inore care, more sound
judgment, or more devotion, than the managers
had shown to the best interests of the society.
Their responsibility was great in directing the OPP
position TO the king Of this world. The re-
quiz ed had some thng i'll it resembling that Of the
care felt by mother-a Christian mothcr-for her
child. Such n care had devolved upon these gen.
tlemen and it right, he thought, that this re-
port should be printed and approved He was
| proud that he haa been called upon to move the
resolution, and of the opportunity it afforded him TO
felt for the noble institution.
| The Rev. Dr. PIERCE, Of Georgia, rose to second
the resolution though he felt IL mpruden to DO so,
| as far he personally concerned, as he had
| been seriously afflicted, and was suffering. He
lad intended TO address note TO the society, beg
ging to be excused; but us he was the only repre-
sentative Of them from far South as Georgia, he
thought il would be benefit to the society that no
should give some statement Of their progress there
and had attended lie would confine himself to some
facts only, ard leave the advocates of the Bible
cause TO those in better health in mind and body,
than he was That cause had ever been favoritc
object Of his life, and all Il sir efforts had met with
| his waImest concurrence In ls27, he had become
| life member; in ISIS, life director, and in loii,
| their agent in Georgia. lie had been surprised to
find ia State compai atiyely old, how much his SER
| vices needed. lie was told when he first went
there, that he would not find fifty persons without
Bible, and he was determined TO test this question
| thoroughly. lilo employs respectable minister
there to ascertain the truth; and IN village about
| twenty miles square, there were found two hun
| drcd and fifty families without Bible, and this
| in n place Astounding to astonishing extent I'm
| churches aud preachers. This was matter of fact,
and had been demonstrated to him, as he thought
| the question was one Of sufficient Importance to
! be examined to the bottom lie found that, gene
rally the families had but Bible each, matter
how many children they had reared, and "a these
formed families they were left entirely without
| the Holy Scriptures. He had always, then, COM
MERGED his lectures by pointing on, to parents
how improper such course was, and there was
soon scarcely family not engaged IN procuring a
/ copy fol each child. The bible distributors now
would not find the land as he found IL their
| object could be carried out, and he was confident
they would succeed beyond their most sanguinc ex-
IectatioIs. lie was satisfied, and whoever read
The Scriptures would come TO the same conclusion,
that tn. bible was intended TO be the book If the
| people, and they must distribute IL. The people
| would never come TO them--they must carry u to
them, and urge their acceptance Of IT, and endca-
70 hten their minds. and induce them TO seek
! the religion Of the Bible well as the simple
4 POSSESSION Of it. The world did hot contain subj
! cicnt number Of bibles, made la the way OF bu-
| siness, 10 supply the wants Of the people. II VIC
could 20 along without any increase Of population
but with merely the same living inhabitants on the
earth il would take centuries supply every man,
woman and child with copy. lie had attended a
/ camp meeting on Sunday week, aud had mentioned
\ that he was ON his way 10 New York, 10 "a meeting