Stereotype press is now in operation. It has already printed 7506 copies of the Bible, and is engaged in another edition of 2500. Considering the style of execution this is esteemed the cheapest edition of the Bible published in this country. From the fourth annual Report of the New-York Bible Society, it appears, that since its organization it has distributed 8239 Bibles. The fourth annual Report of the Connecticut Bible Society states, that since its formation 7644 Bibles have been distributed. They have also voted to remit to India $500, to forward the printing of the scriptures in the Eastern languages, which had been retarded by the loss of paper and types at Serampore. The first annual Report of a new Bible Society, under the title of the Otsego County Bible Society, has been received. A female Bible Society has also been formed in this state at Geneva, on Seneca Lake. A number of young men, in the city of New-York, have formed a respectable association under the name of the Auxiliary New-York Bible Society. Another society has been instituted at Salem, in the county of Washington. A similar institution has commenced at Springfield, (Mass.) under the title of the Hamden Bible Society. Another in the District of Maine. Another in Rhode-Island, and an Auxiliary Bible Society in Philadelphia. The first Report of the Bible Society at Nassau Hall, composed of the officers and students of the College at Princeton, has been received. The Philadelphia Bible Society is endeavoring to promote the formation of Auxiliary Societies in the state of Pennsylvania. The mission of Messrs. Schermerhorn and Mills to the west and south, has been attended with happy effects. The formation of the Ohio Bible Society at Marietta, of the Nashville Bible Society in Tennessee, of the Mississippi Bible Society at Natches, and of the Louisiana Bible Society at New-Orleans, has been some of the fruit of their labors. The whole number of such societies known to be in existence in this country is twenty-seven. From the District of Maine, to New-Orleans, the United States are blessed with these benevolent associations. In them party forgets its bitterness, and the various denominations of Christians unite in harmony to diffuse among the poor the gospel of salvation. Many thousand Bibles are thus annually dispersed among the necessitous in our land. This is scattering immortal seed, which will produce, we trust, a rich harvest of piety on earth, and of perfect holiness and happiness in heaven. While the English nation is groaning under the pressure of heavy taxes, we contemplate with pleasure and astonishment the efforts of the British and Foreign Bible Society. It has now been in operation above nine years, and has distributed 634,519 Bibles and Testaments. The receipts for the last year were 76,4507. sterling, about $340,000. Under the fostering care of this noble institution other societies have been established on the continent. They have been formed recently at Presburgh in Hungary, at Zurich in Switzerland, at Stutgard the capital of Wertembergh, at Altona, at Osnabruck, at Lubech, at Frankfort, and one in Swedish Pomerania. A society which promises extensive usefulness, has been established in the Russian Empire. The circumstances which led to its formation are a remarkable evidence of an overruling Providence.The Emperor Alexander has taken a deep intererest in its success. He has presented it with 25,000 rubles,* and is an annual suscriber of 10,000. All ranks and denominations have harmoniously united for the diffusion of the Scriptures through this extensive Empire. In Finland a Bible Society has been formed, and an edition of the Bible in the Finnish language is in the press at St. Petersburgh. It is worthy of remark, that some Catholic priests have cordially co-operated with the designs of these societies. When the existing relations between Great-Britain, and Spain and Portugal, are considered, the success of their united efforts against their common enemy, the rapid revolution which is taking place in the religious opin ions of the latter kingdoms, it appears highly probable, that a vast field will be opened in these nations, and in their dependencies in Europe and America, for the diffusion of the word of life. In Asia, the translation and printing of the Scriptures, in the languages of the East, is progressing. The value of the property lost by the fire at Serampore, has been more than made good by the liberal donations of the beneficent. The late act of the British Parliament for admitting Christian teachers into India, has opened an unbounded field for the exercise of benevolence in these nations, now covered with gross darkness.— This act, so honorable to the nation, has been past in a triumphant manner. Wherever Missionaries are sent, if permanent good is effected, they must carry the Bible in their hands in the language of the natives. It is hoped that through the exertions of the disciples of the cross, this book will soon become an acceptable present to many thousands and millions of those, who are now stupid idolators. In this quarter of the world, two respectable societies have been formed, one at Calcutta, and one in the island of Ceylon. Do not these facts seem to justify the belief, that God is silently preparing the means for the conversion of the nations? May we not hope that the seed, which his Providence is scattering through the earth, will be quickened by his Spirit? Is it improbable that we now discern the first glimmering of the dawning of the Millennial day? We ask all to give in proportion to their ability. The mite of the widow will not be forgotten before God. The wants of millions are an imperious call upon your charity. The destitute of our own land have the first claim upon your beneficence, but let your views also be extended to the multitudes in foreign countries, who are groping in the darkness of the shadow of death. * The value of a Russian Ruble is one dollar. After the reading of the Report, the Society proceeded to the election of the following officers for the ensuing year: JONAS PLATT, Esq. President, Rev. ASAHEL S. NORTON, Vice-President, Rev. Azel Backus, D. D. Rev. Calvin Bushnell, Abraham Williams, Samuel F. Snowden, Oliver Wetmore, James Eells, John Frost, John Eastman, Samuel Rich, Geo. Huntington, Esq. DIRECTORS. REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE (LONDON) MISSIONARY SOCIETY, MAY 13, 1813. (Concluded from page 320.) Mr. Read, who teaches a school at Amlamgoddy, is appointed to superintend the schools (in number about twenty-eight) in the district of Galle. He found them in a deplorable state, owing partly to the negligence of the masters, and partly to the reluctance of the natives to send their children to school. But there is reason to hope, that by the encouragement now given to the schools by the Government, the increased diligence of the teachers, and the distribution of the Scriptures in the Cingalese language,† which may shortly be expected, the Missionary prospects will soon become much brighter, especially if some able English Missionaries can be sent to labor there. "I hope, (says a gentleman resident in Ceylon,) the Missionary Society, and all societies for promoting the glorious cause, will consider this, and strain every nerve to send some able teachers to this country; never was such a harvest as is prepared for the reapers." The Directors have been informed, that Mr. Palm and Mr. Ehrhardt have, by the kindness of Government, been appointed to two of the churches, and are so provided for, that the Society will be relieved from the expense of their future support. Before we quit this part of the globe, it will be proper to notice the efforts which have been made in this country, in favor of the LASCARES AND CHINESE,—who, having navigated British vessels from India, usually reside some months in this metropolis, before their return. The Committee, to whom the business was entrust An Auxiliary Bible Society has been formed in Ceylon, under the auspi ces of the Governor and most respectable residents, from which, by the blessing of Heaven, the most pleasing results may be anticipated. The people will soon have the Scriptures not only in the Tamul, but in the Cingalese language. ed, report, that, in pursuing the object of their designation, they have not been exempt from difficulties; but that they have engaged two persons, who, during their leisure hours, have, in the space of eight months, made considerable progress in the Bengalee language, in which they are able to read the New Testament with tolerable ease, and that each of them has translated two tracts into that tongue; and the Committee hope they will soon be enabled to converse with the Lascars on the subject of religion, and ultimately prove of great use to them;-a third also has for some months past applied himself, in his leisure hours, to the Chinese language, that he is no less indefatigable in his pursuits, and that his prospect of success is no less pleasing than that of his fellow-laborers beforementioned. The Direct ors next pass on to CHINA—an empire so vast, so populous, and so idolatrous, that it cannot be mentioned by Christians without exciting sentiments of the deepest concern. On the shores of this immense country our excellent brother, Mr. Morrison, has persevered, for several years, in his solitary, but most interesting labours-in translating into the language of more than three hundred millions of the benighted descendants of Adam, the Scriptures of Truth. Mr. Morrison, whose acquaintance with the Chinese language has, perhaps, seldom been exceeded by any European, has completed his Grammar of the Chinese Language, which he has presented to Lord Minto, Governor General of Bengal; he has printed his translation of the Gopel of Luke, a single copy of which he has sent to the Directors, whose gratitude to the British and Foreign Bible Society, for their second generous donation to Mr. Morrison, in aid of his Chinese version of the Scriptures, induced them immediately to present that copy to the Committee, that they might deposit in their Biblical Library a book of so much interest, and to the production of which they had so liberally contributed. The directors have also presented to the Committee the only printed copy transmitted from Vizagapatam, of the Gospel of Mark in the Telinga language, translated by our Missionaries. And the Directors feel a pleasure in again acknowledging with unfeigned respect and affection their obligations to that excellent Society, in whose growing greatness and usefulness they exceedingly rejoice, for the readiness with which, on every application, they have furnished Bibles for their Missionary stations in different parts of the world. ' Mr. Morrison has transmitted to us the copy of an Edict, which was issued by the emperor of China,* whereby printing religious books and establishing preachers are made capital offences. The Roman Catholic Missionaries at Pekin have been silenced, and some of them imprisoned, till they can be transported to Europe. Mr. Morrison however proceeds in his work undismayed, but with all necessary caution and prudence. He has formed a Catechism in the Chinese language, and also a tract on the Way of Salvation: "I must," he says, "go forward, trusting in the the Lord. We will scru•See a copy of this edict in No. XXIV. of the Miss. Trans. pulously obey Governments, as far as their decrees do not oppose what is required by the Almighty; I will be careful not to invite the notice of Government. I am, though sensible of my weakness, not discouraged, but thankful that my own most sanguine hopes have been more than realized. In the midst of discouragement, the practicability of acquiring the language, in no very great length of time, of translating the Scriptures, and of having them printed in China, has been demonstrated. I am grateful to the Divine Being, for having imployed me in this good work, and should I die soon, it will afford me pleasure in my last moments."- "When I am dead, God may raise up some Chinese who will republish these, and thereby proclaim to the millions of his 'countrymen the Unity of God, the redemption that is in Christ, with all its preceding and consquent doctrines, and these may lead to the eternal life of many. Little as has been done, I did not expect, four years ago, that by this time so much would have been effected; if the labor had been a million times more, I should not have regretted it." The Directors hope that, notwithstanding the imperial edict (which there is reason to think will not be severely acted upon, especially in the provinces), many copies of the translation will, by means of merchants and sailors who frequent Prince of Wales's Island, Java, and other adjacent countries, find their way into the heart of the empire, and that God will bless his own word to the salvation of many, and possibly the very prohibition may excite in the people a greater curiosity to obtain and peruse it. Mr. Morrison having frequently complained of being left to serve alone in this great work, and fearing that in case of his death it might be for a long time suspended, the Directors have sent forth Mr. Milne, by the way of the Cape, who they hope will prove an acceptable fellow labourer. The Directors have also, according to Mr. Morrison's earnest recommendation, determined on commencing a mission to the populous island of Java, in which it is said there are thirty millions of inhabitants, including two hundred thousand Chinese, among whom the Scriptures may be freely distributed. It ought not to be forgetten, that the zeal of our worthy brother has also been manifested by promoting among the European residents at Canton a subscription towards the Auxiliary Bible Society at Calcutta, to the treasurer of which he has transmitted 285 dollars. WEST INDIES. TOBAGO. It was the intention of the Directors, as intimated in the last Report, to remove Mr. Elliot to New Carlisle, but they have yielded to his wishes to continue a longer time at Tobago. The chapel erected here, which will seat about two hundred persons, was opened in May last, and a tolerable number of persons, both white and black, attended. Mr. Elliot hopes that his labors are not altogether fruitless; the morals of many of the negroes are improved ; and one of the managers informs him that he frequently hears them reproving each other for sin; a few also seem to be truly concerned for the salvation of their souls. A serious gentleman from England |