Presented by the London Baptist Missionary Society, to the American and Foreign Bible Society, through C. G. Sommers. Presented, from the Baptist Mission Press, in Calcutta. Vols. 4 copies of Bengali New Testaments, 8vo. 14 copies of Hindustani, Gospel of Matthew, full bd. in calf. 2226 8vo. sup. thick covers. half bound do. 3 full bd. in cloth. 4 66 with marginal references, 8vo. do. "12mo. sewed in superior thick covers. 66 12mo. do. 3 the 4 Gospels and the Acts toge-3 gether, 8vo. full bd. in cloth. 66 4 66 each, single, 8vo. half bd. in sheep. 4 bd. in cloth. "sewed in stiff covers and cloth backs. 6 66 Bengali Bible, do do do 66 66 Luke, 8vo. do do Yates' Biblical Apparatus, stitched in coloured covers. 66 Armenian Gospel of Matthew. Hindoo New Testament, I tani, printed in Roman characters. 1 Gos. of John in Japanese, I 1 1 1 66 Gos. of Mark in Bengali, 1 Gos. of John in Bengali, 1 Life of Christ in Burman, 1 66 Armenian, 8vo. Essence of the Bible in 8vo. Karen Spelling Book, 8vo. Pilgrim's progress, Ben- Baxter's Call, in Bengali 8vo. Ten Commandments in Two Parbekes, or Burman native books. Pali's Sacred Writings, on palm leaf. 1 12mo. 8vo. Bengali Hymn Book, 1 and English, Chinese, Chinese, Svo. Miscellaneous. 1 copy of Dr. Morrison's Chinese New 1 vol. folio German Bible, by Martin Luther, 1 vol. folio, comprising the Old Testament, by Arius Montanus, in Hebrew and La tin; and the Greek and Latin New Testament, printed at Leipsic, by Christian Kirchner, presented by Rev. J. G. Oncken. vol. folio Geneva Bible, translated by Coverdale, Gilby, Goodman, Whitting ham, Sampson, Cole, Knox, Bodleigh, and Pullaine-made at Geneva in 1561, and first printed in England, 1576, presented by Rev. W. Southwood. The Board having thus briefly stated the prominent occurrences of the past year, in connexion with the A. & F. B. S. close their report with a few reflections. The preservation of the sacred Books, notwithstanding the gloomy superstition, which, during many centuries spread the veil of moral night over the face of the earth, claims our devout gratitude, and can be ascribed only to the gracious interposition of heaven. Assailed on every side, and in almost every age, by the philosophy, the wit, and the enmity of the world, the Bible has everywhere achieved a victory over the loftiest genius and the fiercest energies that have combined to obscure the glory of its radiance. Yes, the oracles of God survive; not only the dispersion of the Jews, to whom they were first committed, but the wisdom of Jehovah is exhibited in making them witnesses of the authenticity and inspiration of those very pages which announced the birth, the death and the resurrection of the Messiah whom in their blindness they persecuted and crucified. This blessed book, which the experience of ages has identified with the best interest of mankind, Baptists stand pledged to distribute among all nations. But the Board wish not to conceal the fact, that, independent of that unbroken moral wilderness which lies before us in Mohammedan and heathen lands; much remains to be done in countries professedly christian-many thousands even in the United States are uttering the imploring cry, "Give us the Bible-give us the Bread of Life, lest we perish!" From the just expectations awakened by the organization of this institution, and the actual wants of millions whose piercing moan has reached us, the A. & F. B. S. and the denomination by which they are sustained, are under imperious obligations to go forward. To retrograde, or even to pause, would be disastrous and degrading. Let no one say, the work is too great. If our reliance were upon what human power can effect, we might indeed shrink from the prospect before us; but the work of Bible Socie ties is the work of faith; and their success will always bear a proportion to their fidelity. THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD SHALL BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD, AND OF HIS CHRIST. Faithful is he who hath promised, who also WILL do it. Whatever be the policy, the power, or the numbers of those who endeavour to impede the march of this institution, the Board see nothing that can invalidate the soundness of its principles, or that should diminish their confidence in its ultimate triumph. The friends of this society have embarked in the enterprise, not from a love of schism, but from a deep conviction of the divine origin of the Bible, and that its pages might be preserved from interpolation. The Bible is the source of their dearest hopes, the foundation of their work, and the centre of their union; and they believe that its faithful translation and universal dissemination are imperatively demanded alike by the command of God, and the spiritual wants of mankind. Under a grateful sense of the divine favour, and in humble reliance upon His continued blessing, let the A. & F. B. Society go forward;" remembering that the finger of God upon the dial of time admonishes all his servants to "work while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work." On motion of Rev. J. B. Taylor of Richmond, seconded by Rev. Baron Stow of Boston, it was unanimously Resolved, That the Report, an abstract of which has now been read, be printed and circulated under the direction of the Board of Managers. On motion of Rev. R. W. Cushman of Philadelphia, seconded by Rev. Jno. Peck of Cazenovia, N. Y. it was Resolved, As the sense of this meeting, that the formation of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and its efforts to give to the nations of the earth the Bible translated; deserve the approval, and may justly ask the co-operation, of the Christian world. [Br. Cushman's Address will be found in the Appendix, No. I.] On motion of Rev. S. W. Lynde of Cincinnati, seconded by Rev. Eli Ball of Virginia, it was Resolved, That we devoutly recognise the necessity of Divine influence, and earnestly implore the direction and aid of Almighty God, in the prosecution of our benevolent enterprise. Dr. Chapin, from the Committee of Nomination, presented a list of Officers and Managers for the ensuing year; which, on motion, duly made and seconded, was unanimously adopted. (See page 3, of the Report.) On motion of Dr. Bolles of Boston, seconded by Rev. Alfred Bennett of Homer, N. Y. it was Resolved, That the next anniversary of the Society be held in the Meeting-house of the Oliver-street Baptist Church, New-York, April 28th, 1840, at 9 A. M. for the election of Officers and Managers; -public exercises to commence at 10 o'clock. The Missionary Hymn, From Greenland's icy mountains, &c. was sung, and the Society adjourned. MEETING OF THE BOARD. New-York, May 1st, 1839. The Board of Managers met in Oliver-street, at 4 o'clock, P. M. The President in the chair. Prayer by Jacob H. Brouner, of New-York. On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimously Resolved, That the sum of five thousand dollars be appropriated and paid to the Baptist General Convention of the United States, to aid in publishing and circulating translations of the Sacred Scriptures, made by Baptist missionaries, in Asia. BY-LAWS AND ORDER OF BUSINESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 1. All meetings shall be opened with prayer. 2. All Committees shall be nominated by the presiding officer, and approved by the Board, unless otherwise specially ordered. 3. No moneys shall be paid out of the Treasury but by order of the Board. 4. All resolutions, if required, shall be presented in writing. ORDER OF BUSINESS. 1. Reading minutes of last meeting. 5. Reports of Select Committees. 2. Treasurer's Report. 3. Communications of Cor. Sec'y. 6. Unfinished business. APPENDIX. I. Speech of R. W. CUSHMAN, before the American and Foreign Bible Society, on the question of a separate Bible organization in the Baptist denomination. RESOLVED, As the sense of this meeting, that the formation of the American and Foreign Bible Society, and its efforts to give to the nations of the earth the Bible translated, deserve the approval, and may justly ask the co-operation, of the Christian world. I am aware, Mr. President, of the engrossing scope of this resolution. I am aware, that it looks not only to the vindication of this Society, from the imputation of being indebted for its birth and character to a parentage of sectarianism, which, from many christians of other denominations who have not had the means of correct information, it has had to bear; but that it contemplates their support. With this design it was drawn up and I ask leave to sustain it, with the hope that my christian brethren present, of every name, will be prepared, before I sit down, not only to justify its formation, but to give it, henceforth, their sympathies, their prayers, and their help. As the resolution looks rather towards the public than the Society, I ask permission so far to depart from the usage of anniversaries, as to look that way too; and, to direct my observations rather to the assembly, for whose ear, indeed, every address is really intended, than to the chair which presides over the interests for which I plead. In this world, full of fallen men and fallen angels too, it ought not to be surprising that good is evil spoken of; that facts should be misstated, and motives misunderstood. The American and Foreign Bible Society had not its origin in a schismatic spirit, as has been widely misrepresented and believed; not in a wish for innovation; not in a disinclination of the denomination among whom it originated to co-operate with their brethren of other denominations; but in circumstances which they could neither avert nor control. The Baptists have ever deprecated the necessity of their ecclesiastical severance from the rest of the christian brotherhood; and have ever earnestly prayed, and laboured, that that necessity might be done away. And when, in the institution of the Bible enterprise, one spot was found upon which all could meet and work together, they hailed it as the "Isle of the Blest." Indeed, the Bible enterprise, whose grand aim has been to combine |