New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-15
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN b.
BILE SOCIETY.

HE ANNIN Or Ati< IN 'AA"AS->N' 40
BILE SOCIETY.
The American Bible Society held their forty-second
Anniversary on Thursday morning in the Church Of the
Puitsns, the Hon. THEODORE FRELIsGHrYsEs, Pes
idert in the chair The church crowded to its ~
most capacity, and many were standing in the asss.
At precisely 10 clock the exercises opened the
Rev. Dr. HATFIELD reading the first chapter Of the
Epse of S. Peter ard offering fervent and eloquent
urayer after which the President add essed the meet
ing. He raid:
This anniversary will hereafter date one OF the most
b,lowed seasons that ever blessed fallen world.
God has revealed His love and power in glorious
mo festsiops as the last fe~ months give eydsnce.
With no special means employed, with no eIcting
irNuepces to awaken feeling, the voice OF God hos
gone forth 10 the silent ssty OF truth cong iernS
aid 10 conquer. lts trophies have been multiplied all
over the land from every class condition aud charac
ter The Spirit Of God has wrought these wonders OF
mercy ard grace. To Him be ell the praise; and all
His footsteps the strongly illustrate the necessity
and importance OF His Word. Tne Bible meets the
wants of men, Even the oelusiors OF superstition aaa
the exrave gaDce Of fan .tciam afford the strongest
reason and motives for thu diffusion of the true light
from the sacred pages OF inspiration. The de-
luded heath en- mother, as che ofieis her ch'ld to
sn unknown god against oil the pleadinga Of
the heart witt eises to the SD necessity Of the
Bible. Human nature, In its grief5 as well az IN
its Joys and thankfultess, thiret' for an object
on which to base its dependence for relief and SYM
pdthy The blood thar fals on th6 ails OF supelslt-
ton shows the cravings of the bert, in its blind
nees. Ii IT, indeed, q degraded sabjsctOn OF spirit
that bows down TO wood aid soDe and yet that very
debasemeIt springs from q source where once the
Christians God WAS sought ana KNOW ana where
He sin again be declared. The wants Ct humanity
are all Of them arguments for the truthfnness OF the
Bible. We cannot approach the fdtuIe world with
any confidence celmnessw,hout 1t. Changes, sud-
den ard uncOptJOahle often meet US; how snail we
meet tbem1 The grave that narrow house for all
living lies psthwhat can relieve Its fore
bookings or e1pouad that gloomy fact, to which every
moment brings us nearer Nothing but the Word Of
Ged-6nd here alone sorrow finds sure Comforter
and perplexity a safe guide.
And the great laws Of conscience plead for the
Bible. reveals principles ~isely adapted to the
dictates Of this witr within, aud that truhuuy
admopish of its pleasures and psbs that no man
who loo ks into the workings Of his own heart can well
fail Of the finn conviction. that the Lord Of the con-
science lie the God of the Bible.
One Ct the bIightsst features OF this blessed book IS
to be trs,ed in it's peece-speakng character IL not
only recot ces Goa 20 but a.o man, to his bro
ther. Nothing is 60 esiog % the soul or 50 soothing
the good words o, ne spirit Of God persusding to
forbeaI arce to charitable constructions and forgive
ness The subj sthics Of tue Bible eurpsss all otner
systems, when 1t joins the charity that sesketh not
her that hopeth sll tnings and endureth all things
that 81 ffereth long and is kind-Ieecng the ms
called codes Of clivary and honoI ard rises to the
msgna imous temper OF forgiveness even to seventy
tin es sevep." Let then be encouraged to spread
abroad this only guide to duty and happiness. IL
yiudcates it's own claims the sword OF the spirit,
blessed Of God that ball return unto him void,
nor fail to accomplish bis pleasure and prosper in the
tbirg wheretO he sends It.
HENRY FISHER, esq the Assistant Treasurer, read
the Tteasurers report and the Rev. DR.. BRIGHAM,
one of TIE Secretaries, resd that Of the Managers.
From there 1t appeared that,
During the past year, - new life directors have
been added ana $50 life members.
In the same time 50 new auaiaries, most OF them 10
the rev States ana Territories.
TIE receipts Of the year have been $500 759 i9. OF
this sum- 1852 S3 0l from the sale of books and
$l37 92S IS from donations and legaces. Thisincome
is less then that of last year, the difference being
mostly in legaces. 1880
Tie books printed have been 100000 Bibles and
3Sl 900 Testaments and 900 volumes In rasd letters
fer the blind; making total OF 63l ,5O0
The iss ues Of the year have been ZIG, SS volumes
making total since the formation OF the society 81
II S08,4S.
thiIty.fve including those IN Cahfornia and Oregon.
Three also are employed in foreign c0urtres one 10
Brazil, one IN Spanish America, and oae in Turkey.
Grants of inoLey for publishing the Scriptures
abroad have been greater than ever before, amount
ing to $3 1872 90. Tbese funds have gone to France,
Russia, Geneva tor italy,. Turkey Persia, India
(NortbeIn and Sou.herD), Siam, aod China.
TIE Rev. DIR. HOPKINS, President OF Williams Col-
lege was then introduced, who offered the following
resolution:
ROred That Report .b.r.rt Of which h: been read
be pr ned circulated under the direction Of the Managers
He ssid that we are told in the Bible that man was
made in the image Of Coda feeble image, perhaps,
lie the image of the in the dew drop, but yet an
mage. Ore attribute Of this Likeness was the power
of working in other places. This Society works 10
nearly all the different portions OF the globe Ihs
Society is working together with God. We also work
with all Gods people All other societies are nothing
without ths-the Bible is the basis Of al societies.
Ii is glorious thus to work with God and with all
good men, But it is also necessary taat We work for
God.
ri. Rev DR.. McILyAtsE Bishop of Ohio, rose to
second the resolution and signify his acceptance Of the
report. He said in looking around him he saw many
fsces whom be knew formerly. From the year 1873
till 1888 be was present et every anniversary, but
since then % years bad elapsed without his being
present. This was not from any lack of loveOn his
part oLt from tier duties which prevented nj from
enjoying that pleasure. In ssyng that be loved the
Bible Society il was not the Society that was hon
ored, but himself. He was mucA pleased with tho
uenner in which the Society had passed THROUGH the
trials of tie past year. He hoped that the Society
would hencefOrth enjoy TIE peaceabe fruits of right
eOusIess We must take care not to rely too much
upon the ners book we must not iely TOO much upon
tie outward symbols and expressions of the Word of
God. We must RELY upon the grace Of God-tAat
grace which is yet In Heaven, in the hands OF the
great High Priest.
The resolution was then adopted.
The Rev. DR.. CUMMINGS of Middleton, Conn, then
offered the following resolution:
Rcoed That due appreciation OF the design OF d 10 the
gift Of The Bbe and practical rea'zsn CT the Importance Of
afusioD.
He said that about 500 years ago there was re:
nsrkabe scene befors King Agrppa, when Paul
asked him, " Beevest thou the Propncts!" This So
ciety might say to thousands, BsIievest thou the
Bible r. In proportion TO that belief mus. you aid
this Society. Ii is no rev experiment; it seeks to
give the tired Word Of God not msrred by human com
meLts, but pure as silver tIisd 10 the furnace. But
oftnt.mes repeated truth creates Dissatisfaction No
truths received with satisfaction than the
divine origin of the Bible reverence for the Bible
was nculcated in almost every man before ne cou.d
understand 1t. But the very union which character.
zsd this Society might lessen l.s etfclency We ell