have virtually undertaken to labour in the vineyard of the LORD. -True it is, that the work, being his, will assuredly be accomplished in his own time, whether we of this generation, contribute our endeavours to accelerate its completion or not:-but, as men are his instruments, let not the shame be ours of leaving this glorious work to the fidelity and activity of others ;-let us be ambitious of the honourable distinction of promoting the prosperity of his holy church universal, of enjoying the gratifying thought, that multitudes may be indebted to us for the salvation of their souls.

The vast, the infinite importance of the last mentioned motive, must be deeply impressed on our minds, when we reflect on the solemn truth, repeatedly declared in the word of God, that "there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved" but that of JESUS CHRIST; when we look, with an eye of pity, on the miserable state of the heathen throughout the world, and of thousands of the poor and ignorant in every Christian land, who, destitute of the means of salvation, are almost as wretched as the heathen.-The deplorable state of the world “lying in sin and wickedness," when duly considered, must awaken every compassionate and generous feeling in our hearts, and excite us to renovated energy and ardour, to accomplish the designs of the gracious Saviour, "who wills that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth, and be saved through him."-Engaged in his service, we cannot but feel, with the apostle Paul, that "it is good to be zealously affected in a good thing,"—that while any thing remains to be done, for the salvation of our fellowsinners, no Christian ought to think his object attained; and that none should remit their exertions to propagate the gospel until the day of millennial felicity shall have arrived, when the kingdom of God shall universally prevail, and his will be done on earth as in heaven.-The coming of this happy time may he in his mercy hasten, for Jesus Christ's sake.-Amen.

UNION BIBLE SOCIETY OF GREENBRIER AND MONRoe.*
Extract from the First Annual Report.

The Treasurer's receipts show that there has been collected in all $333; of this there has been paid out for 100 Testaments and 72 Bibles, purchased at Staunton, together with other contingent expenses $83 21 1-2, leaving a balance of $249 78 1-2. But your Managers having applied to the parent society of New-York, have been promptly furnished with two boxes of the sacred scriptures, containing 160 Bibles, 140 Testaments, and 20 German Bibles, the amount of which was $214 90; when paid, will leave a balance of $34 83 1-2.

Two counties in the State of VirginiaWest of the Allegany Mountains containing nearly 12,000 inhabitants of whom about 900 are slaves.

VOL. VII.

H

Of the books received from Staunton, we have given into the hands of several persons for distribution, 44 Bibles and 46 Testaments, but are unable to say as to the precise manner in which they have been distributed, but believe they have generally been given away. There is now on hand, in this place, 24 Bibles and 54 Testaments, subject to the control of the succeeding Managers.

From this statement it will appear, that although but little has been done, yet our efforts have not been altogether unsuccessful; that we have only with diligence to co-operate with the Christian world gererally in the great work of disseminating the scriptures, and by the blessing of Heaven, our efforts may be crowned with

success.

Extract of a letter from the Secretary of the Society, written in January, 1820.

The Board of Managers of the Bible Society of Greenbrier and Monroe, beg leave to call the attention of the Board of Managers of the American Bible Society to the wants of this section of country. Our society has been in existence a little more than one year. During this period the demand for the word of truth has increased far beyond our expectation. Since the 27th of Nov. we have received too boxes, containing 160 Bibles and Testaments each; and in less than two months they have been nearly all distributed, and although we have as yet confined ourselves almost entirely to Greenbrier and Monroe, these counties are by no means supplied. Except the Bible Society of Abingdon, which lies one hundred and eighty miles south-west, and near the Tennessee line, ours is the only Bible society in the state, whose field of operation lies west of the Allegany mountain; so that we have a vast field, stretching from the Allegany to the Ohio and Kentucky on the one side, and to Pennsylvania on the other, embracing a population of at least 100,000 souls. We do not, indeed, expect to traverse this vast region to disseminate the scriptures, although this would be a pleasing employment; but we feel confident, if we had them, we could partially supply many districts, and perhaps could form Auxiliary Associations to aid us in the work of distribution.

Taking into view, therefore, the pressing wants of great multitudes in this country, and the urgent demand which prevails at present for the scriptures, we would ask, can the American Bible Society do a better thing than to grant us a gratuitous supply of Bibles and Testaments? By thus aiding, you will cause the present demand for the Bible to animate us in our labours, instead of overwhelming and discouraging us. Already has the American Bible Society encouraged and promoted our diligence in the Bible cause, by attending with promptness to our application for Bibles, and furnishing excellent editions of the scriptures at a very cheap rate; but should this request be granted, you will lay us under additional obligations to be grateful.

ULSTER COUNTY, N. Y. AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

Extract from the Third Report.

The Ulster County Bible Society was formed Nov. 30, 1816-has purchased 400 Bibles; of which 300 have been given away, 10 sold, and 90 on hand, for sale at low prices, or for gratuitous distribution, in the discretion of the managers; has collected $518; has donated $100 to the American Bible Society, besides paying, during the last year, to the parent society, $74 25 for Bibles, and heretofore donating to that society $66 65 through the congregation at Kingston; has 20 life members, by payment of $10 and upwards, and about 150 annual members, both male and female, of $1 each.

ANNIVERSARIES.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The fourth anniversary meeting of this society took place at the City Hotel, on Thursday the 11th inst. The Hon. ELIAS BOUDINOT, LLD. the venerable President of the society, took the chair at 10 o'clock, when the exercises of the day were commenced by the Rev. Dr. Richards, of Newark, who read the eighty-ninth Psalm. A brief and appropriate address of the president was then read by the Rev. John B. Romeyn, D. D.; the Annual Report was read by the Rev. James Milnor, D. D. rector of St. Georges' Church in this city and secretary for domestic correspondence. The usual motions were made, and addresses of an unusually interesting character delivered by the Hon. JOHN COTTON SMITH, late Governor of Connecticut; the Rev. THOMAS LYELL, rector of Christ Church, in this city; the Rev. THOMAS BALDWIN, D. D. minister of the first Baptist Church in Boston; the Rev. ABEL Mc EwEN, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in New-London; the Rev. ARTHUR STANSBURY, of Albany; the Rev. LYMAN BEECHER, D. D. pastor of the Church of Christ in Litchfield, Con.; the Hon. ROGER MINOT SHERMAN, of Con. and the Rev. EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, D. D. of Newark.

It is no disparagement to former occasions to say, that this anniversary was more deeply interesting than any preceding one. The speakers seemed to break through the restraints of formality, and to feel the influence of a pious enthusiasm, which they communicated to the assembly; and we felt assured, that we were participating with speakers and with hearers in a delightful communion of sentiment and feeling. It was no parade of eloquence which we admired;-nor are we making it our present business to applaud the talent and the genius which may have been displayed. It was the exhibition of deep and solemn feeling; of earnest engagedness in the best cause-for the weightiest reasons; it was the eloquence of the age of benevolence, which affect

ed us; such as has long delighted and thrilled the annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and many other Christian institutions in Great Britain. We rejoice in its appearance in its real excellence, in the annual meeting of the American Bible Society. May it continue from year to year to animate and influence its members, and may thousands meet to com-mingle the noblest sentiments and the holiest feelings; to become, by communion of hearts, encouraged and strengthened for every sacrifice and every effort.

We are aware that many excellent people have felt a dislike to these anniversary celebrations, as savouring too much of unchristian display. And if they are occasions in which parade is the great feature, they are utterly inconsistent with the cause they profess to serve, and a foul disgrace to those who present themselves for public admiration. But, though there may, in this, as in all good things on earth, be evil mingled with the good, we feel sure, that public anniversaries, where communion of feeling is promoted by free and familiar speeches, are not deserving of any peculiar imputation of evil; and that they may be made productive of excellent consequences. Indeed we are well informed by those who have witnessed the anniversaries of the great institutions in Britain, which we believe are the finest spectacles that the British metropolis presents to the benevolent traveller, that all the prejudice which they have previously entertained against those meetings, as mere matters of parade, has been immediately removed, when they have seen the exhibition of pious enthusiasm which has appeared to animate the speakers, and when all have seemed to mingle in one common sentiment of zeal, and in one common expression of hearty approbation. If we were to take the liberty to state what it is which has in particular put us behind British Christians in the works of benevolence, in which we have been too sluggishly engaged, it is that we have wanted that glow of feeling which has been promoted among them by their joyful anniversaries. When one first perceives its operations, or reads an account of them, he may consider it only as a momentary and occasional excitement; but when he sees it continuing unabated from year to year, he can hardly fail to discover in it a portion of that spirit which actuated HIM who is represented as saying, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."

We know no sublimer subjects of real eloquence than the exertions, and designs, and prospects, which the present day presents, nor a nobler field than the annual meeting of a society engaged in spreading abroad among all the tribes of men, a revelation from God their Maker. We know not a sublimer spectacle than is presented when a speaker pours forth his whole soul in favour of the Bible, and unites every heart in benevolent desires and benevolent determinations. An effect like this, we

cannot but feel, was produced by the exercises of the anniversary of the American Bible Society.

With intense gratification did its members sympathize in the feelings and sentiments of the speakers, while they fully exhibited the motives and encouragements to perseverance in their efforts. And was there one mind that did not unite in the general sentiment of love, and hope, and faith, with which the silent assembly seemed to receive those sure words of prophecy which closed the solemn exercise, describing, in the most heavenly strain, that glorious consummation which a dispersed Bible will produce, The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together: they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea?"

THE UNITEd foreign MISSIONARY SOCIETY

Held their annual meeting on Wednesday afternoon the 10th inst. The Report was read by the Rev Dr. Milledoler, Corresponding Secretary; after which, in moving and seconding resolutions for the acceptance of the Report and thanks to the Board of Directors, addresses, were made by the Rev. Edward D. Griffin, D. D. of Newark; the Rev. John Mc Dowell, D. D. of Elizabethtown; the Rev. Philip M. Whelpley, of this city, and the Rev. Mr. Forrest, of Delaware county.

In common with many friends of the society we anticipated a full house, and were somewhat disappointed to find the assembly rather thin; we do not believe the public fully understood the nature of the meeting, as this was the first anniversary of this Society which has been celebrated by public addresses. Had they expected that communion of sentiment and feeling on the great interest of the cause of Christ, which the assembly enjoyed on that occasion, we are sure that nothing but important duties would have prevented their attendance.

In the Report, we were gratified with a statement of the late doings of the Board, in sending out the Osage Mission; and the assurance, that they are still endeavouring to prepare the way for a mission to South America.'

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MELIORATING

JEWS.

THE CONDITION OF THE

In our number for February 12th, we gave an account of the formation of a society for colonizing and evangelizing the Jews. This society has since been incorporated by the Legislature of this State, under the name of "The American Society for meliorating the condition of the Jews." They held their first annual