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.
The Ireasurer's and Managers reports 70
the past year were read by Henry Fisher. ESQ.
and Rev. DIR: Brigham. The receipts of the yea
amount TO S346, l.57-much less than thos,
OF the previous year. The number of Bibles
printed during the year amount to 275 400, ant
Oh Iestaments to $4,000; making total o
w, 40O. The number of volumes issued il
t49,o9o. Inc number issued since the organiza
ton of the Society is lO,653.647. Grants O
DiDies ana Iestaments have been made, as il
former years, to auxiliary societies, to Other
benevolent institutions, and to individuals, fol
gratuitous distribution. The number of agents
at present employed in the domestic field i.
thlrty-hye, including two on the Pacific coast
During the year, new German octave Bible
also Testament and Psalms have been pub
lshed, from an approved edition of Kanstein
A Spanish New Testament, from the Greek
also, Welsh and English Testament, in parable
columns, and an English 8vo small plea Bible
without references. An imperial auarto 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 o.
books in the library is prepared, and is abou
to be issued.
Rev. 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 al
1 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 a 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 a work which should enlist
the sympathies of every man who believed il
the saving truths of Christianity.
Rev. DR.. Black, of Pittsburgh, spoke of the
objections which had been urged against the
reading of the Bible; but they came from
church which, after an agony and struggle o
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
distribution of the Bible in that quarter.
A resolution was presented and spoken tc
by Rev. w. Holloway, of Brooklyn. 1t was
seconded by Rev. DIR. Tying, who read letter,
from Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, of Massachu
sets, and the Hon. III. 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 S39,9S979 total receipts fol
the same period, SIC, 1884. 28-leaving balance
of S44.49.
The Rev. Thomas L. Davidson, of Canada
West, offered and spoke upon a 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
| n Gol1 IN
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, anG
remarked upon it as a grand field for colpor
teurs. He alluded to the ignorance of the PEG
| pie, and also to their general Spanish charac
ter. He said that the whole Territory nigh
be reclaimed for Christ, if his servants would
| 90 forth with great zeal and faith to the work
AMERICAN AND FOREIGN ANTI-sLAvERY
| SOCIETY.
The annual meeting of this Association wa.
held on Tuesday, May 9Th. In the annual re
port, allusion is made to the large number O
books and tracts that have been published by
the Society; the establishment of the Ndtion0
Era by the educational committee, which was
subsequently sold to the present proprietor, DR.
|
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 il
furtherance of the cause. The efforts of the
Society, it is said, have been devoted to carry
ing out the great principles of the American
AntiSlavery Society, as promulgated at Phila
delphia, on the 4th of December, 1853, OF
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 belle
that more direct efforts should be made thar
heretofore for the abolition of Slavery in thu
United States; and that the sinfulness, lille
gality, and unconstitutionality, of Americar
Slavery should be more extensively inculcated
Allusion is also made to the establishment of &
new Society, entitled "The Abolition Societ,
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
liton 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 fai
there is little expectation of anything effectua
being accomplished by the present generation
in bringing to an end the most accused sys
tenn of iniquity that disgraces this country. ant
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. Z. Whiting, Treasurer; William
Goodell, Secretary.
| There is also an Executive Committee, con
sisting of Simeon S. Jocelyn, /. R. Barbour
Samuel Wilde, George Whipple, William H
Pillow, Charles B. Ray John W: Hill, William