The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-17

The meeting was called to order by tn
President, Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, VIII,
made brief and appropriate address. He CAV
snort sketch OF the past history of the Societ,
and Its present condition, and spoke of tn,
hopeful prosperity with which it entered upor
the work of the present year.
Ihe Ireasurer's and Managers reports fo
the past year were read by Henry Fisher. ESQ.
and Rev. Or. Brigham. The receipts of the yea
amount TO S346 l.57-much less than thos,
OF the previous year. The number of Bible,
printed during the year amount to 5,400, ant
OF OIL, Iestaments to $4,000; making total o
9oi ,4O0. The number of volumes issued i,
.49'o9o. Inc number issued since the organiza
ton of the Society is lO.653.647 Grants O
Dlpies ana Iestaments have been made, as il
former years, to auxiliary societies, to Other
benevolent institutions, and to individuals, fol
gratultous distribution. The number of agents
at present employed in the domestic field is
thlrty-hve, including two on the Pacific coast
| Durlng the year, new German octave Bible
also Testament and Psalms, have been pub
llshed, from an approved edition of Kanstein
A Spanish New Testament, from the Greek
also, a Welsh and English Testament in parallel
columns, and an English Svo small plea Bible
without references. An imperial quarto Bible
designed to be the standard book of the Socie
ty, IS now In press, and will be ready for delivery
IN few months. A royal octave Bible, with
references, Is also IN course of manufacture. A
Portuguese New Testament. translated from
the Greek, is ordered to be printed: also, a new
diamond reference Bible. A new catalogue OF
books in the library is prepared, and is about
| to be issued.
Hev. Dr. Murray gave an account of theo
logical discussion which he had with Catholic
clergyman, and then proceeded to speak of the
| blessings which the Bible conferred upon all
| by whom it was read. 1t gave freedom to the
mind OF man and this, he said, was the reason
why the Catholic Church refused to allow its
members to read it. 1t knew we'll that if il
once made such a concession, its power and
| influence would soon be overthrown. 1t feared
the Bible as its greatest enemy, and kept the
mind of the Catholic community in state of ig
norance and darkness, by Withholding from them
the truths which it contained, and without which
| there could be no true liberty.
Rev. Professor Haven, of the Michigan
University, spoke in reference to the circula.
ton OF the Bible, as work which should enlist
the sympathies of every man who believed in
the saving truths of Christianity.
Rev. DIR. Black, of Pittsburgh, spoke of the
objections which had been urged against the
reading of the Bible; but they came from a
church which, after an agony and a struggle OF
eighteen centuries, at last produced the doc.
| trine of the " Immaculate Conception" Why
should the objections of such church have
any influence, when it was used for the purpose
of imperilling the souls of men, by Withholding
from them the right of private judgment and
the truths of the Bible?
Rev. Mr.. Thompson gave an account of the
condition of the East, and particularly of the
Holy Land and showed the necessity for the
Il tcfr ,h,,t,O go ba Al
A resolution was presented and spoken to
by Rev. w. Holloway, of Brooklyn. 1t was
seconded by Rev. DIR. Tying, who read letters
from Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, of Massachu.
sets, and the Hon. H. w. billiard, of Alabama
regretting their inability to be present
AT the conclusion of Rev. DR.. Tyng's remarks
benediction was pronounced, and the meeting
adjourned.
| AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY
(BAPTIST)
The Eighteenth Anniversary of this Society
was held on Tuesday morning, in the First Bap-
fist Church, in Nassau street, Brooklyn The
Rev. DR.. WEIGH occupied the chair PRAYER
was offered by the Rev. Mr.. Harrison, of Phil
adelphia. Rev. Mr. Chick, of Massachusetts,
read some select portions of the Bible, as new.
ly translated.
The total amount of disbursements for the
past year was S39,989.79; total receipts for
the same period, $40, O34.28-leaying a balance
of S44.49.
The Rev. Thomas L. Davidson, of Canada
West offered and spoke upon resolution urg-
ing the necessity of an increased circulation of
the Word of God in the hitherto heather coun-
tries that are now willing to receive it. The
resolution was carried.
The Rev. Nevius Smith, lately returned from
a missionary field in New Mexico, addressed
the Society. He said that the greatest obstacle
to the gospel in that Territory is the prevalence
of Romanism. There are sixty thousand Cath
olics among the population. Mr.. Smith gave
a geographical account of New Mexico, and
remarked upon it as a grand field for colpor-
teurs. He alluded to the ignorance of the peo-
pie, and also to their general Spanish charac-
ter. He said that the whole Territory might
be reclaimed for Christ, if his servants would
go forth with great zeal and faith to the work.
AMERICAN AND FOREIGN ANTI-sLAvERY
SOCIETY.
The annual meeting of this Association was
held on Tuesday, May 9Th. In the annual re-
port, allusion is made to the large number of
books and tracts that have been published by
the Society; the establishment of the National
Era by the educational committee, which was
subsequently sold to the present proprietor, DR..
Bailey; the liberation of the Amistad Africans,
and the establishment of the Mendi Mission,
under the auspices of the American Mission
airy Association.) which were brought about
under the influence Of the committee; and the
various measures that have been adopted in
furtherance of the cause. The efforts of the
Society, it is said, have been devoted to carry
ing ont the great principles of the American
Anti-Slavery Society, as promulgated at Phila-
delp hia, on the 4th of December, 1853, on
Christian principles, until higher aims are de-
manded by the exigencies of the cause
A large portion of the Society and of the
committee are now impressed with the belief
that more direct efforts should be made than
heretofore for the abolition of Slavery in the
United States and that the sinfulness, lille
gality, and unconstitutionality, of American
Slavery should be more extensively inculcated
Allusion is also made to the establishment of a
new Society, entitled "The Abolition Society
New York City and Vicinity" having the same
objects in view. The report states, in conclu-
sion, that the only hope for the peaceful abo-
lition of Slavery seems to rest in the adoption
of such principles as the foregoing, with CORES
ponding action by the people of the country.
If they prevail there is hope, but if they fail
there is little expectation of anything effectual
being accomplished by the present generation
in bringing to an end the most accused sys-
tenn of iniquity that disgraces this country, and
insults the living God, in the person of the poor
oppressed slaves of the land
The officers of the Society are Lewis Tap
pan, President; James McCune Smith, Vice
President; w. E. Whiting, Treasurer; William
Goodell, Secretary.
There is also an Executive Committee, con-
sisting of Simeon S. Jocelyn, l. R. Barbour,
Samuel Wilde, George Whipple, William h.
Pillow, Charles B. Ray, John W. Hill, William