to this Committee, in the Reports of the last three years, we are not furnished with data by which the amount of outfits can be accurately ascertained.

The

In the Society's Report for 1830, the pledges given to forty-two missionaries, for forty-two years service, exclusive of outfits, is found to be the moderate sum of SIXTEEN THOUSAND AND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS!! Of these fortytwo missionaries, eighteen were located in Ohio. amount of aid pledged to these eighteen men, was the moderate sum of SEVEN THOUSAND AND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!!! This, too, was exclusive of their outfits, which amounted to EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DOLLARS! The above exposition, is only given as a specimen of the transactions of this Society, so far as money matters are concerned. . I will now disclose an important fact, which at least, is not generally known in East Tennessee. It is this:-Álmost every young Hopkinsian preacher settled in the bounds of the East Tennessee Synod, having a school, with one small congregation or more, receives at present, or has received, a certain stipulated sum of money from this Society, for his labors as a home missionary. And at the same time they are getting this money, they either by the suppression of truth, or the expression of falsehood, make the impression upon the minds of the people, that their schools and congregations are their only means of a support. And this system of disguised villainy, is carried on to a greater or less extent, in the bounds of all those Synods and Presbyteries which favor the American Home. And in some instances, money has been collected for the Foreign Board, or the General Assembly's Board, and afterwards appropriated to the American Home! I was once an eye witness to a transaction of this kind; and I intend, in another part of this work, to exhibit this case in its true light. This may be an American association, but so far as its constitution goes, it is certainly very unlike the society to which the Lord Jesus Christ has committed the management of Christian Missions. And the above proceedings may be in strict accordance with Presbyterianism; but they are certainly at war with that system of Gospel truth, which forbids lying and stealing; unless it can be made appear, that "the truth of God did more abound through their lie."

This society has now been in existence just long enough to see its ninth anniversary. Its design, according to the constitution, is, to send missionaries to labor in the "destitute regions" in the United States. And what regions are desti

tute? I answer, all those regions in which Calvinists do not possess a lordly pre-eminence. And who are home missionaries? Why, every one of these little college-bred chaps and theological scavengers, who are without regular salaries, or other means of a support. In the west, we are miserably infested with these missionaries, who go prowling and skulking about through our country, from one rich neighborhood to another, making proselytes and begging money. And all who do not approach these wandering stars with wide-spread, and well replenished pocket books, are looked upon as niggards and infidels, and enemies to God. They have crowded in upon us till our country is literally overrun with them, and our citizens almost begged to death. Request one of these pious youths to sing you "one of the songs of Zion," and he will condescend graciously, to even "sing the Lord's song in a strange land;" but the chorus will be money! MONEY!! MONEY!!! And can there be any doubt, but what they are guided by sordid views of interest, instead of a generous love of truth, or a desire to save souls? And is not the bulk of their time spent in trying to invent new, and improved patent triggers, for their national gull-traps? And with these men, and the denominations which send them out on such expeditions, is not money and power the great concern?

To conclude: It is time for us to take an alarm at the state of things which already exist-yea, as American citizens, it is but prudent jealousy for us to be on our guard, as were our forefathers, previous to the dark days of the revolution. Our forefathers did not wait until Great Britain had riveted her yoke on their necks by laws and standing armies-but seeing all the consequences in the bills of taxation laid before the British Parliament, they denied the principle on which the bills were founded; and by thus denying the first principles they avoided the disastrous consequences which must have ensued. And if, as American citizens, we wish to retain our liberties, we must, in the outset, refuse to contribute our money to the support of these societies. For it is plain to be seen, that the accumulation of so much money, for such purposes, is the first step to the establishment of a rich church, a proud, pompous and tithing ministry; which have in all countries heretofore, for upwards of fifteen hundred years, oppressed mankind and seized from their labor, a comfortable support for a lazy, blind, bigoted, corrupt and persecuting priesthood.

I refer you reader, to the history of France, of Spain, and more recently, of England and Ireland, for instances of the

H

effects of the priesthood living and moving and having their being in wealth. But what was the condition of the colonies in this country before the revolution? Why, the tenth calf, pig, colt, lamb, chicken, duck, turkey, &c. or 50,000 pounds of tobacco were taken from the industrious farmers by the titheman, to support the Presbyterian and Congregational clergymen, then in holy orders. And the Hopkinsian ministry, so late as 1826, even in East Tennessee, attempted to revive this odious tithing system. They advocated its claims both from the pulpit and the press; telling their people in the mean time, that unless they would give liberally, the Lord would neither prosper them here, nor save them hereafter! And it was not till then, that their members learned why it was, they had incorporated into their system of theology, the doctrine of disinterested benevolence! The preaching of this doctrine is always ominous of a call for money: it is all priestcraft, and an invention contrived and carried on by Calvinistic priests, for their own power and profit. And I say unto all, resist them!

CHAPTER X.

THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY-ITS RISE AND PROGRESS IMPRUDENT CONDUCT OF SOME OF ITS AGENTS-THE WHOLE SOCIETY LIABLE TO BE ABUSED, &c.

not.

WHAT! the courteous reader is ready to ask, will any one oppose a Bible Society? Or, will any one oppose the circulation of the Scriptures "without note or comment?" I hope At least, I hope never to see a Christian, in any way whatever, arrayed against the Bible. For one, at least, I am determined, never to be found in opposition to the Scriptures; nor yet, to the organization of Bible societies, let them be formed by whom they may: provided nevertheless, they are established upon principles any where in the neighborhood of moral honesty. Indeed why should I? Man, the creature of a moment, is destined to live forever. He stands trembling on the very verge of eternity, and must soon land in heaven or hell. How important, then, that he be instructed in the way to happiness! But how is he to learn the way? To what source of information must he fly, as an infallible guide to happiness and heaven? I answer, to the Bible-to the book of God. And I add, there is no other book in this wide

world, beside the Bible, in which we find either a satisfactory idea of our Maker, or the manner in which he should be worshipped. It is the Bible only, which teaches us, both that God is, and that "he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him." And with more truth than ever it may be said:→ "This sacred book, from heaven bestow'd,

The apostate world to bless,
A light to mark the pilgrim's road,
Through this dark wilderness.

I would not let this volume lie
Neglected and unknown,
For it must raise me to the sky,
Or bear my spirit down.

This book reveals a Saviour's charms,
And life and light restores,

Secures my soul from death's alarms,
Or aggravates my woes."

How great and untiring, then, should our efforts be to distribute this invaluable treasure! Should we not go forth, in this glorious enterprize, with all the ardor of exertion, and all the liveliness of Christian feeling? But time would fail me to tell of the general advantages, as to matters of both faith and practice, which are derived from the Holy Scriptures.

Of all the modern efforts to illuminate the world, Bible, societies hold a high, if not the first place. Such particular societies, with particular objects, are excellent. Still, they should be carefully, economically, and vigorously prosecuted; and then, not only will good be done by a great and universal move, but good feeling and fellowship will be produced among Christians of every name. Almost every Christian nation has a Bible society. The British and Foreign Bible Society is the oldest, most efficient and extensive. This society had printed previous to January, 1816, 640,700 Bibles, and 830,432 testaments, besides 25,000 Bibles and 50,000 testaments purchased on that continent. The expenditures of the society at that time, in eleven years, the length of time it had been in existence, was 1,549,300 dollars. And, at the early period of 1816, the British and Foreign Bible Society, had assisted in printing the Bible in sixty-three different languages. At so early a date as 1816, there were, in the United States, 129 Bible societies. And there are, at this time, double that number in America; nor would I say too much, if I were to assert, that there are now, three times that number.

With regard to the origin of the American Bible Society, I have to say, it was organized in the city of New-York, in

1816, by delegates from local Bible societies, in various parts of America. A board of managers, consisting of thirtysix laymen, were appointed, to whom was entrusted the management of the society; measures were then taken by the board, to procure stereotyped plates, and to prepare Bibles and testaments at a low rate, for gratuitous distribution among the poor and destitute. This institution, has now been in successful operation nearly eighteen years. Since its commencement, it has issued one million five hundred and thirty-three thousand six hundred and sixty-eight copies of Bibles and testaments, in seven different languages. From the report of 1833, it will be seen, that during that year, it issued ninety-one thousand one hundred and sixty-eight Bibles and testaments. The number of Bibles and testaments issued during this year, was, according to the society's report, ninety-one thousand one hundred and sixty-eight. The amount expended during the same year, was, eighty-six thousand three hundred and sixty-two dollars!

So it will be seen, that by the time the salaries of local and travelling agents, clerks, &c. are paid by this institution, its publications cost the community nearly as much, per copy, as they would do, were they to purchase them from the different book stores in our country. Still, they boast of the cheapness of their publications! Too much of the people's money is, in this way, given to these agents, clerks, &c. And this, with me, is a weighty objection against the A. B. Society. And according to the above calculation, the American Bible Society, is certainly a very expensive concern to the community.

As it regards the American Bible Society, so long as it circulates the Holy Scriptures, "WITHOUT NOTE OR COMMENT," no church can sustain an injury by its action; and I believe that the constitution of this society could be so altered and arranged as to bring every religious denomination heartily to its aid, and unite every Bible society in our country in a truly laudable enterprise.

But some important alterations, both in its constitution and policy, must be made before this can, or at least will be done. For I assert, that under the provisions of its constitution, any sect, having money enough, can take charge of it, and control its operations as they may think proper to do. And, as proof of this, permit me to say, that Presbyterians and Congregationalists, have almost the entire control of the society at this time, and have had from its commencement. But much is said about furnishing the poor with Bibles,