The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-12

American Bible Socistx.

Tho thirty-eghth anniversary of the American Bible
Society celebrated yesterday in the Broadway Taber
nace in the presence of very large audience composed
chiefly to their credit be it said Of the ladies' Of this
city.
The ceremonies of the day were commenced with dc.
| votonal exercises after which
Tie President, the Hon. 7. FRErISaHUYsES addressed
the meeting He said that this assemblage Of people
was collected together to further the progress Of the
peacespeakng Bible While its revelations occasionally
perplex the mind the way Of salvation plainly de-
signated that the wayfarng need not The
humbest peasant stands by the side of the most exalted
philosopher. When life and immortality brought to
light the highest and the lowest stand together and the
revelation meets the mind OF every human being.
We learn "a great deal Of this adaptation OF the
Scriptures from the reception given to them when
Irst promulgated by their Divine Author. The world
did not at first hail the glad tdings of great
joy when they Offered but read that the
mon people heard them gladly. While the proud Phari
scorned the truths Of the word of God they
with Heayenaught drecness to the hearts Of the poor
The Bible spells out 10 childhood lessons OF divine in
struction. 1t tells of who cared for little children
To shut out the Light from the mind Of the people be-
the Bible contains mysteries would be foolish
to try to shut out the light Of the Man is to be
judged for himself and therefore should read for himself
4 There is no precious privilege for which peop'e
should contend than the free and unqualified right
Of reading the Bible. The emgran too will learn that
when he is welcomed TO these shores he to enjoy
| the privilege without molestaton tint.
The annual reports of the society then read to the
meeting. The following is an abstract Of their con-
| tents -
DuIps be I s :, the have been 70
snar
have been added to sh society life
ss;sss !. s'sss 5 'sss'
The number Bibles printed during the year 3Os
and Testaments h6, 6OQ making total Of S62 900.
ss
able suspension Of atoms for six weeks owing.
sr sunday soSoe penal
and a en-
at present thirty four agents employed.
including in Texas in California and in Ore
Plates boon rr.psred edition Of the I'm,
STANDARD imperial ouartO Bible papits in type larger
than plea is and will BIO ready for distribution
Ihe library contains nearly 1000 volumes, many of them
BESIDES grants SIS lss have granted by
lands ospssay Sorfern and southera
the direction of Missionary Boards and Bible soce
The following are the resolutions, unanimously Adopt
ed, which formed texts for the speeches.
% That an a. d Of Which ha
tie nssra GsPsEsSs s''A a'D' 'n' 1li''S.'. y
the Bible TO tho work Of mental and moral iiiumina-
tion furnishes commanding motive for its universal dfu
has the wisdom Of the M be
shundsntiy eonhrmea at the present day BY the
Of ana oss Which is 1 the
Resolved That the vast extent and attractive features
ton and
IS Il III Of @ Ia Y1 there
Essi1sS That PORES which been
Ito satissie lee every enrissisn and work. not
until all nations read in their tongues the
g Resolved That there are many decisive indications
that universal humanity Is now awaking TO painful CON
lar which TIE Bss alone can and
that in view Of this fact the duty Of and
becoming every day more pressing.
The Rev. DR.. ANDREWS of Virginia, moved the adoption
OF the first resolution. lie confined himself TO the sub
ject of authority religion lie said il not enough
for religious bodies to hold certain doctrines which could
be proved only h their creeds but every man should
be convinced Of their TRUTH from his personal nves.
tigation of the sacred Scriptures
r The Rev DR. Nelly spoke to the second resolution lie
saidt the various indications OF progress all
joce but when viewed concretely, of have
opinions. While join in the general jubilee
things entirely overlooked II those who sincere
y welded TO the OF humanity lose sight of the
! ment OF progress, the result will be that nGdey will
destroy all beneficial influences The posulatc OF
argument IT, that man by nature is ignorant being
yet endowed with The capacity Of acquiring
This is axiom Man is also an inquisitiye being
this Fundamental law Is the basil of all his
He naturally inquiries, What am II what is my destiny
He inquiries from whose hand and for what purpose
this vast extended universe And from whatever
the comes, in that will be found the only
sound philosophy. Our position is, that the Bible,
and the Bible only answers to such inquiries to
be found The Bible tells that the universe is the
result of cause-that there is all Being Of
infinite power and goodness We do not claim for the
Bible that it teaches science. That short sentencen
the beginning cd created the heavens and the earth
is enough The whole unes in saying there is
herself with that greatest enigma but here
too the Bible furnishes with the only reliable inor-
nation. With ancient philosophers man was great
fact In the Bible find simple solution OF that fact
1t tells w that man is composed of mind and matter
tells us that man has spirit that can love- and love ia
also OF the Immortality Of the soul but its ideas dim
and cloudy He would not say word in disparagemeni
of human reason. 1t wonderful triumph she
achieved when, without assistance from tbs word OF
God she asserted her superiority Of mind matter
her immortality. Yet it only conjecture and one
philosophy was not able 10 solve the probenlSf death
For four thousand the effort had been made but in
vain. II when philosophy despaired Of success tina,
We heard voice from the Bible, saying-'I the
surrecon and the life The Bible discloses Son
God as our champon-as having descended into the
grave. and as coming forth with the keys Of
death in his hand This is our philosophy
There ia another kind Of illumination spoken OF in the
resolution have the honor Of moving-it is a moral
illumination. The soul must have truth-epiritua
tuth-snd it i to be found nowhere else bit in the
Bible. Men seek it elsewhere yet the Bible alone has
furnished certain answer to their anxious asking
only system that can furnish with code OF nora
is 10 be found in the Bible Other books but ethical
this is regeneratve-it our nature and assim
acs il to the likeness OF Christ II is in this
the Bible is the worlds great hope IL is the sinners
sure refuge II written for the world the world
must have IL. If our statesmen would only keep TIE
Rible above party factions it would guide our Union
across the Of time, and in the words Of your own
great Webster would perpeuato it nscpnrable
let us as nation send out this truth the world.
his the intervention, the noble example Of which
set when Cod spared net his Son. but freely deliver
cd him UP for MS ALL
Tie ReE lr EEfcHsR troubled at the epidemic, in.
fidelity which had been breathing the land In this
world he said u seems rs II in existence AMI
had all the elements Of body am convinced that
am man, and have an exist &C. This is oil want
IL seems, too, as If think; and my maxim s that
which seems ey dence Of the fact II appears
II was surrounded by world and that there must
some oyerruling power big enough 10 make Il.
Der Inc time when thought the very high but
thought that If could get to the top of the chimney
could reach it, Afterwards learnt distance from
the SUM- sol have 10 believe in its existence
NOW 90 you think that the God who made the and