New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-08
THE ANNIVERSARIES.
THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.


At o'clock yesterday morning the members of the
American Tract Society met at the Brick Church Or.
Sprnp'sl corner of Beekman and Nassau streets and
Park row. for the transaction of the regular business,
nreyous to the meeting at the Tabernacle for the cee.
braton Of the Anniversary.
Chief Justice WILLIAMS of Connecticut, the Presi-
dent of the Society occupied the chair The attend
ance on the occasion very large; all the available
space either for sitting standing both in the body
of the church and in the gallery, was occupied Many
eminent divines from abroad were present, a. were
nearly all who hold connection with the Society In
this and neghborng cities. The attendance OF men,
bers and Others on the occasion cOnd not have been
less than fifteen hundred.
The proceedings on the occasion were opened with q
PRAYER by the Rev. DIR. De WITT.
The Rev. DIR. KNOX, in behalf of the Executive
Committee of which he Is a member, then read the
subioned communication to the Society:
Mr.. President: On this the thirty-frst anniver-
sary of the American Tract Society, the Executive
Committee in meeting their constituents, are happy
and thankful TO be able to state that the general con-
don of the affairs of the institution Is IN high de-
gree prosperous.
The receipts into It's treasury during the last year
have been greater than in any former year, and from
year to wear the perfection OF its organization ana ITS
efficiency in carving out the real objects for which 1t
exists become more thorough. by rising 600 c0ipor-
te,rs and other agencies s extensive, varied evan
geical and excellent publications scattered broad
cast over the world and penetrate almost every land
The building whence these silent messengers oi
salvation TO the peshng and destitute issue provided
by the special municence of citizens OF New-A ork,
IL substantial ample and well adapted to lt3 uses
The machinery and mcchanlcal Appliances enipioyeu'
NV constant Improvement have been brought t. high
degree of perfection. vast amount OF Work - per
formed both cheaply and well. Much gratutous
labor it constantly bestowed by the ConIueesn ms
cheering and their action in every case mas oeen win
entire unanimiy, harmony and affection. lhey nave
prayerfully and asiduously sought TO perform ther
fN.sI 4I.fr .fasf1i nlnf4 "A
in sin in the sphere and under the limitations assigned
them. Doubtlss they have come short ana may nave
erred bI. they have no private or personal en's 10
n,omote m this service, other than are common 10
their fellow Christians who labor for the advancement
of the cause and kingdom of our common Lord.
II will not be regarded as inappropriate, on the
present occasion, to say word respecting the Secre
iaries | am quite that express The unanimous
sentiment of my colleagues, well as my own, when
saw that these brethren who devote their 'choe time
To the Society and receive rerV Smd@ pecuhaIy re-
ration give to the service patient, palntul anu
exhaustng toll and men of practical experience,
entire fidelity and high administrative talent vi tnS'
the actual position of the Society and It's capaoiheS
for widespread effective and benehcent "cuon aloru
ample proof. . ., -
The institution under God depends for IT'S efficiency,
even for its existence upon the confidence ana la'or
of the Christian community 800 . -,
This confidence and favor, by which it has been
puYfured and enabled to convey the nght OF III. 10 Ee
destitute and pcrishng, it has largely enjoyed by
some of it, constituents, however, its administrator
in some respects IA YOU all know, has been the suo-
ject of earest snimadyersiOn. ~ Is hopeo tEa' is
mas been in no small degree the result Of mlsapprehen
sion.
In relation to shall only at present refer you to
a publication recently made by the Committee over
their own signatures, and to the extract from the
yeport printed with the programme OF thus day pro
ceeoings and in the hands of you all. Anything that
would blight or cireumscrioe the lnnaehee o. an ~
Gor an hcnign wen cast over II the oarh ran ol
sc;on would surely be deprecated by every Chis-
tian Al every patriot heart ,.,,;.a.;,,
The Committee have no scorers Inc pun. 'o''9
tbev have issued and distributed are before the
WIZ WIZ 1le funds gathered publicly announced,
VI are neither boarded nor wasted ont expended as
Sted in the Treasurers report ana puohsneo 10 the
orld know Of no negligence IN theiT slliu ..
W. M incubation, no misapplcstlon; have never
t",.c,eS any. Certain it ir, that the connection ol
orr Committee with the Secretary IS not entirely g'a
!;tors hut at a continual expenditure OF money rs
T "a If time and toll. From any scrutiny when tue
Soc;e.v NAV be disposed 10 regard as neediu, they
-, NOT and never have had, any disposition 10
link. Charged by YOU with the performance OF
Jntrs often laborous, o.ten diihcul sometimes zen
g., tbcy Ak only for the judgment OF Christian cAndo''
.v.o,rrtoSs PROPOSED BY THE coMMITrr.
The Rev. DR.. Knox, after concluding the above
read the following: ,.. 81, e., ,.,i.,,
Az H.. Nv, orb MAY =. 1853 was 1nau.nno' sly
Iist IL be recommended 10 ne s9cisy 90
- ,cie Of The Constitution, by adding 20 u sj
u ss' ion of the Board Of Dcclos va Ca sAa''
:. :, NIB .cly announced for a. least ''N U"'
The ''s ~ Cop,,uton shall not be altered eHesP, al
" sp-ua meeting. and by vote 81 800 NJ Dectos
Re- present on lecommcndao OF o fr a, least tea
which shall Lave been publicly sr,S o. -
days" fkoN lh' D.. Rohert Pennel, the wee
,,D5ssn, of The Soccty has departed tn' ne a." ~
Drs Brodhead Lindsey and Cone Diec'o -. rl.-es rem
Committee - candlisos 10 Nsf,rhes,er
- yncrut the Hon. Robert L. Csru,beis % Gnftou
I,n foI icePtesideut, and the Rev MsiO n d Pres
m - New York, Gr0 the Rev. John G. Young D'"'' 49,
- - Dnuyio College, Kentucky, for Directors. -,
Tbe President announced that the INST ouSin'e'
10 would be the election of officers.
m. rev. Dr. Bacon Of New-llaven moved 10 sus
"a rc election Of officers to enable Judge Jessup t'
f0eI resolnion which had been preparcd-a reSoiu
ton anil orzing the appointment of Committee o
regard u Tie subject Which aa4 been a.lu1et