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engaged in their several exercises, afforded a gratification to those who were present, which cannot easily be described.

Time and language fail us to do justice to this subject; yet we cannot refrain from bearing our feeble testimony in favour of these Institutions, in which are laid the very foundations of moral and religious society; and therefore cannot but hope they will be extensively introduced, and permanently supported throughout our country.

WIDOWS' SOCIETY.

We invite the attention of our readers to the case of the interesting Institution of which we publish the following Annual Report; and beg them to consider the situation to which its Managers must inevitably be reduced, unless the helping hand of benevolence afford the needful supply. Shollit be said, that in this large and wealthy metropolis, inhabited by Christums, one of our oldest, most respectable, and useful charitable Societies, is compelled to withhold its wonted relief from a considerable number of desolate, but virtuous, widows, and fatherless children, who are dependent on them for even a small pittance, wherewith to purchase a few loaves of bread to stop the cravings of hunger, some coarse garments to shelter their limbs from the wintry blast; and a few sticks of wood to cook their scanty and humble food? Shall the channels through which the charity of our fellowcitizens have flowed for nineteen years past, dispensing comfort and gladness to the distressed widow, and her young and helpless offspring, be now dried up, through the failure of those small tributary streams which formerly supplied them with the milk and the wine of charity? We trust the mere mention of the situation of that worthy Society will call forth the necessary aid from a generous and Christian Public.

The Annual Meeting of the Society for the relief of Poor Widows with Small Children, was held at the N. York City Hotel, on the 20th instant. The Treasurer rendered her accounts for the year. The Secretary then read the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Managers, and the following REPORT.

THE 19th Anniversary of the Society has arrived; and we are desirous of laying before the Meeting a summary, but we hope satisfactory, account of the proceedings of the last year.

Our benefactors have been liberal beyond what we had reason to expect, considering the number of benevolent institutions which have arisen in this city, and have justly claimed a participation of the bounty of its inhabitants: but our resources are inadequate to the increasing demands on the Society. Our class of poor will ever remain among the most interesting of those who solicit the patronage of the Public. Had we time to detail the sufferings of the individuals and families which have been relieved, we are conscious there would be sufficient excitement for the same liberality which cas hitherto supported this Institution. As far as possible, we have endeavoured to discriminate between that poverty which is the result of idle and vicious habits, and which, according to our constitution, has no claim upon our bounty,-and that which in the Provi dence of God has overtaken meritorious and suffering families. We

confidently assert, that the sick have been visited, and cordials and medicines administered to them with tenderness and attention; the bereaved and distressed have been encouraged and consoled; the Maniac provided with an asylum;-the Orphan led to a place of refuge and each family, we believe, have found a counsellor and friend in the Managers of this Institution. For some years it has been the opinion of some of the Members of this Board, who have witnessed the large funds that are necessary to give even a small pittance to each family, that from the increase of population of this city, your bounty is likely to be, and indeed has already become so diffusive, as to render the distribution not only laborious to the Managers, but also of small benefit to the Widows and Orphans,-except in case of sickness or peculiar affliction, when nothing needful has been withheld. It therefore has been thought expedient to limit the number of Widows, and to afford exclusively assistance to such as come within the limitation. This will not be thought injudicious, when it is considered that there has not been for some years past less than 200 Widows and 560 children on your Managers' books. At the present time they amount to 202 widows and 500 children. Allowing only three dollars a month for each family for six months, the time during which relief is usually extended to them, the sum at the close of the season amounts to 3636 dollars, without allowing for sickness and peculiar cases of distress. There never has been a majority in the board for this measure; though it continues to be advocated by those whose judgment and experience are entitled to the greatest respect. It is now brought before you, in order that we may have an opportunity of knowing how far such a measure would meet with general approbation. In closing this report, it becomes us to cherish with devout recollection the remembrance of His Charity, who for our sakes became poor, and who has left his command on record for our instruction, "To visit the Fatherless and Widow in their affliction," and hath condescended to add, for our encouragement, "He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord."

After the reading of the Report, the Society proceeded to the election of Managers for the ensuing year; when the following Ladies were elected :

Mrs. J. E. Caldwell, First Directress; Mrs. S. Boyd, Second do.; Mrs. Colonel Few, Treasurer; Miss Mary Laight, Secretary. Managers---Mrs. D. Andrews; Mrs. M. Boorman, Mrs. Ď. Codwise, Mrs. L. Coit, Mrs. S. Ledyard, Mrs. P. Ludlow, Mrs. P. Perit, Mrs. H. Tenbrook, Mrs. Dr. Rodgers, Mrs. Dr. N Romayne, Mrs. D. Gelston, Miss Murray.

BIBLE SOSIETIES.

A Bible Society has been formed at Mount Holly, Burlington County, (N. J.) Auxiliary to the New-Jersey Bible Society.

On the 1st of October last, a meeting of citizens was held in Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pa. and ja Bible Society formed, named THE SUSQUEHANNAH BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE

CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. II.] Saturday, December 7, 1816.

[No. 11.

THE TWELFTH REPORT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN

During the

BIBLE SOCIETY,

(Continued from page 149.)

course of his journey through Germany, Dr. Steinkopff had the satisfaction to assist at the formation of the six following Bible Societies :

1. One for the town and Circle of Cleve, containing a population of about 60,000 persons.

2. The Osnaburg Bible Society, in connexion with that for the kingdom of Hanover. Osnaburg comprehends a population of about 130,000 souls. The meeting for the formation of this Society was attended by the principal members of the government, (among whom is a Catholic nobleman,) and the chief Clergy. The Catholic Clergy have expressed a determination to assist in the distribution of the New Testament published by Professor Van Ess; and many of them have subscribed to this new Institution.

3. Koenigsfeld Bible Society; a small institution in the midst of the Black Forest, and surrounded with many Catholic villages, some of whose inhabitants have lately expressed an anxious wish to obtain the treasure of a Bible.

4. Nassau Homburg Bible Society, founded with the sanction of their Serene Highnesses, the Landgrave of Hesse Hamburg, and the Duke and the Prince Sovereign of Nassau.

The immediate sphere of its appointment will comprise a popu lation of 350,000, but it effects will extend to the neighbouring parts, as far as its means will admit.

5. Frankfort Bible Society. A small Bible Committee had previously existed in this town, and been actively employed for several years in the dissemination of Bibles and Testaments. This new Institution has the sanction of Government, and its funds are assisted by many of the first families in Frankfort. Depository will be formed there, from which the neighbouring Bible Societies may be conveniently furnished with copies of the Scriptures.

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6. A Bible Society for the Principalities of Neuwied and Wied Runkel, containing a population of about 35,000. This undertaking was warmly encouraged by the two ruling Princes, who, with the Princess Dowager, have expressed their approbation of the efforts of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and their deVOL. II.-No. 11.

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termination to assist the local Institution, as soon as the political arrangements relative to their Principalities should be completed.

The Bible Societies in Switzerland which came under the personal observation of Dr. Steinkopff, are those of Schaffhausen, St. Gall, Zurich, and Basle, among all which there subsists a friendly connexion. It may be said of them collectively, that their proceedings exhibit great zeal, and that they are liberally supported. They have already circulated more than 60,000 copies of the Scriptures. Protestants and Catholics indiscriminately receive them in the German, French, Italian, and Romanese languages; and many of the Roman Catholic Clergy have been active in their distribution. All these Societies have received gratifying proofs of the good effects produced by their benevolent labours, in the increase of moral habits, piety, domestic order, and a charitable spirit, within the sphere of their respective ope

rations.

The Geneva Bible Society has opened a correspondence with Protestant Clergymen in France, and by their assistance has been enabled to supply many of the Protestants in that kingdom with copies of the Scriptures, at the charge of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

A Society has also been established for the principality of Neufchatel, under the sanction of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Authorities, which promises to become an useful Ally to the Societies at Lausanne and Geneva; and, chiefly through the exertions and liberality of the former, a similar Society has been provisionally organized among the Waldenses inhabiting the vallies of Piedmont. They compose thirteen parishes, and a population of 17,000 souls; but such is their poverty, that they were not able to collect more than 501. for the purpose of purchasing the Scriptures. To the Society at Neufchatel your Committee have presented a donation of 100l., and to that of the Waldenses, (or Valais,) in consideration of their particular circumstances, the sum of 2001.

Your Committee regret the necessity of omitting much interesting information obtained by Dr. Steinkopff, during the course of his journey, comprising a distance of nearly 5000 miles. The Report of Dr. Steinkopff, in this, as well as in the former instance, proves the beneficial effects resulting from the personal communication of a representative of the British and Foreign Bible Society, with the Members of similar Institutions, and others disposed to promote its object, in foreign countries. The opportunities afforded by it, of kindling zeal, and encouraging exertion, of developing the object of the British and Foreign Bible Society, of inculcating the importance of adhering to its fundamental principles, of communicating the benefits of its experience, of suggesting hints for improvement, and of confirming the bonds of an amicable intercourse, are advantages of the first importance to

the influence and success of the Institution, all which have, in the present instance, been abundantly obtained.

Two years have elapsed since the establishment of the Danish Bible Society; but its organization was not fully completed before November last, when his Excellency Count Schimmelman was elected President, and the venerable Bishop Munter, and the President and First Deputy of the Chancery were nominated Vice-Presidents. The Committee then entered upon their operations, resolving to assemble every fortnight, and to begin the organization of Auxiliary Societies.

As one among other results of these measures, an Auxiliary Society has been established in Sleswick Holstein, with the sanction of his Danish Majesty. To this Auxiliary a donation of 3001. has been presented.

One of the first works determined on by the Committee of the Danish Bible Society, was, to print the Gospel of St. Matthew in the Faroese language, a dialect of the Norse, or ancient Icelandie, in which no part of the Scriptures has ever yet been published.

The information communicated in former Reports respecting Iceland, renders it unnecessary to enter into minute details, on the present occasion. It will be recollected that the Rev. E. Henderson proceeded to that country, with the sanction of the Committee, for the purpose of superintending the distribution of the Icelandic Scriptures, printed at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society. This commission, in the discharge of which he was exposed to many perils, has been executed, in a.. manner most satisfactory to his employers, and beneficial to the poor but grateful inhabitants of that island.

With a view to render permanent the advantages conferred on the latter, Mr. Henderson, previously to his departure from Iceland, adopted preparatory steps for the establishment of a Bible Society there; the foundation of which was laid at the Annual Meeting of the Synod, under the patronage of the highest Civit and Ecclesiastical Authorities.

The want of the Scriptures in Iceland was extreme: it was deeply felt and lamented by the people; but their sorrow has been turned into joy and there is perhaps no part of the world to which the British and Foreign Bible Society has extended its benevolence, where it has been more cordially welcomed, and more gratefully acknowledged, than in Iceland.

In a pamphlet published by a respectable author at Stockholm, in March, 1815, it is stated, that, previously to the establishment of the Bible Society in Sweden, not one out of eighty of the poorèr classes had a copy of the scriptures, and that, according to a well-founded calculation, not fewer than 400,000 families in that kingdom were destitute of that inestimable treasure.

Your Committee have now the satisfaction to report, that,

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