tihvaxy of t:hc theological ^eminarjp 
 
 PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 A. G. Cameron, Ph.D. 
 5.18.11 
 
 ^:?61 
 
THE 
 
 BIBLE AGENT'S GUIDE. 
 
 / 
 
 The American Bible Society— having the ^corlcl for its field, and the 
 circulation of the Scriptures for its object — operates for this purpose 
 abroad, by the instrumentahty of missionaries, and at home through the 
 medium of auxiUary societies. These auxiliaries usually embrace a sin- 
 gle County, and now number between fifteen hundred and two thou.sand. 
 As it is found that they are essential to the greatest usefulness of the 
 Parent Society, it is designed to increase the number from time to time, 
 until each County in the Union has one. 
 
 In some of the States the formation of societies has been extended still 
 farther ; one being organized in each town or precinct auxiliary to the 
 County Society, and sustaining a similar relation to it that this does to 
 the American. Each of these branch societies has a small depository of 
 Bibles and Testaments, and a local agent, generally, in every school dis- 
 trict, to assist in raising funds and circulating the Scriptures. Immedi- 
 ately after each annual meeting, an eifort is made in all of the districts 
 for these purposes. Subscriptions are taken payable annually ; the 
 agent collecting the annual instalments as they fall due, and inviting those 
 who are not members to become such, by pledging and paying such sums 
 as they choose. 
 
 The plan of operating 'through^branch Societies has a number of ad- 
 vantages : 
 
 1st. A more general interest is excited. The people feel that these lo- 
 cal Societies, organized in their own neighborhoods, with their officers 
 selected from among them, their annual meetings held in their midst, and 
 of which all are invited to become members, are their men, and hence 
 manifest much more interest in sustaining them than they would a mere 
 county organization, having its head quarters at a distance, controlled by 
 men with whom they are unacquainted, and the annual meetings of which 
 they seldom or never attend. 
 
 2nd. The work of raising funds and circulating books is done more ef- 
 fectually. "Where funds arc raised merely by public collections, only a 
 portion of the friends of the cause are reached, and where books are cir- 
 culated by a Bible Colporteur but once in three or four years, many fom- 
 ilies remain unsupplied during part of the interim. But on the plan 
 proposed, each family is reached with a svibscription book and with Bi- 
 bles and Testaments every year. 
 
 od. The establishment of Depositories. One of these is connected with 
 each branch Society, from which Bibles and Testaments may be obtain- 
 ed at low prices, or for gratuitous distribution, where necessary. These 
 depositories being accessible to all, thousands of copies of the Scriptures 
 are annually issued from them, which ^would not be circulated if there 
 were County Depositories onhj. 
 
 ggisi 
 
4th, It is more economical. The labors of the local agents are gratuit- 
 ous, and thus expense is saved. On the old plan of employing Bible Col- 
 porteurs to circulate the Scriptures and do little or nothjfig else, a large 
 share of what is received from ihcir sale is exhausted in paying for their 
 circulation, and at the close of the effort the County Society is often deep- 
 ly in debt for Bibles and Testaments, without the means of paying. 
 There is no sufficient reason why many of these books should not be cir- 
 culated without cost, and by securing local agents to do it, we not 
 only save expense, but confer a favor on these fellow-laborers. There is 
 also no suiBcient reason why a traveling agent should not be both a col- 
 lector and distributor at the same time, and thus pay his own way several 
 times over. Although some of the work has to be performed by salaried 
 agents, yet it is much less than would be necessary did they not have the 
 assistance of the local ones, for even if sonie of the latter are inefficient, 
 others will perform a great deal of valuable service. The traveling 
 agents can also operate much more successfully in their visits from house 
 to house, if they have a local agent — a neighbor to pilot them, introduce 
 them, and aid them by their influence and advocacy, than they could 
 without. 
 
 5th, The reflex influence exerted upon the local agents is valuable. 
 They find that in watering others they are watered themselves — that it 
 promotes their own growth in grace and preparation for heaven, to labor 
 for the welfare of others — that they are especially benefited and quicken- 
 ed in the Divine life, by supplying the destitute poor with the Scriptures, 
 and witnessing their gratitude upon the reception of the 'gifts. 
 
 6th These local societies, like those of which they are branches, circu- 
 late the Scriptures without note or comment, and hence are sustained- by 
 different denominations". The union of Christians in their respective lo- 
 calities, for the promotion of a common Christian and philanthropic object, 
 will have a tendency to demolish the sectarian walls which divide them, 
 and thus be productive of good. 
 
 The plan of taking subscriptions payable annually, also has its advan- 
 tages: 
 
 1st. It obviates the necessity of getting up an entirely new subscrip- 
 tion list every year, and thus saves agency. 
 
 2nd. It secures a larger income. Where an individual subscribes to 
 pay but once, he frequently neglects to redeem his pledge until the close 
 of the year, or the commencement of the next, and then pleads that he 
 cannot make a subscription for another ycav, because he has just paid 
 his old one, or, perhaps, because he has not yet paid it. But the amount 
 of an annual subscription becomes due at a certain time each year, and 
 if a member has neglected to make his yearly payments, we call on him 
 at the same time for as many installments as remain unpaid, and thus ^^^ 
 cure an e5^?/2«a/€?ii for an annual donation, though it may not have been 
 paid annually. 
 
 3d. It cultivates habits of systematic lenefl^ence. The principle usually 
 acted upon is to give what happens to be convenient, and hence, if there 
 is a partial failure of crops, or pressure in the money market, benevolent 
 contributions are among the first things curtailed. They should be among 
 the last, and hence, the friends of our principal benevolent institutions, 
 should adopt the plan of giving a certain amount annually to each, whe- 
 ther it is exactly convenient or not ; and if necessary, retrench expendi- 
 tures for themselves, instead of their gifts to tho cause of Christ. By 
 
pledging certain sums to be paid at certain sea?ons annually, individuals 
 will know, also, at v/hat times they become due — can lay by money to 
 meet those payments, and will cultivate habits of system in giving, now 
 so rare, yet so important. 
 
 The plan of operating through branch Societies, by local agents 
 and annual subscriptions, has been in operation in one of the North-wes- 
 tern States for several years, and has been found to work wdl. The 
 number of branch Societies organized here has been over one thousand, 
 not twenty of which have ceased to exist ; and the State, though behind 
 several others in population and wealth, is now the third in the Union in 
 the amount of its remittances to the American Bible Society. It is true 
 that there is much machinery connected with this plan, and it requires 
 care, experience, efficiency a.nd perseverance to manage it successfully ; but 
 we think it better to have some machinery and accomplish something 
 commensurate with the importance of the object, rather than to have a 
 plan so simple as to be almost destitute of power. 
 
 NEED OF AGENTS. 
 
 That traveling agents for the promotion of the Bible cause are needed 
 is obvious to officers of Bible Societies who have an opportunity of learn- 
 ing: how little would be accomplished without them. But some who are 
 differently situated do not understand why the duties of agents can not 
 be performed by Pastors. Such persons seem to suppose that the duty 
 of an agent is merely to raise money, whereas our Bible Societies have few 
 if any mere collecting agents. If nothing were to be done but to raise 
 funds, and if Pastors would take hold of this work, as they might, and 
 espeiially if the Bible Society were a denominational institution, it is 
 possible that agents might be dispensed with, though experience proves 
 that uien who devote their attention to a single object, can accomplish 
 more for it jhan those who've attention is divided among several. But the 
 truth is, that raising funds is only one out of many things requiring the 
 attention of agents ; and our Bible Societies would find it important to em- 
 ploy them even if they did not get a dollar in donations personally. Even 
 if the work can be performed to a great extent by others gratuitously, there 
 must be some one well acquainted with it, to lay it out, and superintend 
 its execution. Agents are expected to diffuse information, awaken an in- 
 terest, organize and set in motion Societies, order books, establish depos- 
 itories, settle accounts, collect dues, remit funds, &c., &c., — duties which 
 will olten be neglected by those not specially devoted to the work. They 
 are also expected to perform important ynissionary labor ; to search out 
 and supply the destitute with the Scriptures ; recommend their perusal, 
 and a conformity to their precepts. There are thousands of families in 
 our country who will never have the Bible unless it is taken to their 
 homes by paid agents, and the money expended for this missionary ser- 
 vice, if necessary, is just as legitimately expended as that for the purchase 
 of books. When men give money to the Bible cause they ought not to 
 expect that every cent of their contributions will be laid out in the pur- 
 chase of Bibles, for these will do no good unless they are put into circu- 
 lation. It is sometimes asked, if Missionary Societies can get along with- 
 out agents, why not Bible Societies ? We reply that Missionary Socie- 
 ties do not get along without them. Their agents or missionaries are in 
 foreign lands, and nearly all that these Societies raise is very properly ex- 
 pended in their support. On the contrary, the missionaries or agents of 
 
Bible Societief; are peiforming an equally important work at home ; and 
 if eflBcient, only a small part of what is raised need be expended in their 
 support. 
 
 The eflSciency of the system, and the permanence 'of the organiza- 
 tions proposed in this pamphlet, will depend very much upon the travel- 
 ing agents ; and the principal object in preparing it is to point out their 
 qualifications and duties in connection with these organizations. 
 
 GENERAL AGENT. 
 
 A superintendent in this movement is indispensable — just as indispen- 
 sable as that a watch should have a main-spring — and the General Agent 
 sustains a similar relation to the machinery of this system that the main- 
 spring does to the other machinery of a watch. He I'eeps it moving. 
 He organizes and resuscitates County Societies — confers with their com- 
 mittees in relation to the plan and its prosecution — finds suitable men for 
 county agents, and recommends their employment — furnishes them with 
 the necessary papers, and takes charge of what are left at the close of 
 their labors — keeps up a correspondence with them, and labors with them 
 when practicable — assists in providing Counties with agents at the right 
 time, and agents with fields of labor — presents the Bible cause in the 
 more important places, and diffuses information in relation to it through 
 the press — sees that books are ordered and funds remitted — settles ac- 
 counts and collects dues — attends annual meetings, and in various 
 other ways, labors to promote the cause to which he is devoted. 
 
 Hence, he should be a business man, and a man willing to devote him- 
 self to business six days out of every seven. No one who considers his 
 work done for the 'vvGok, when he has presented the cause on the Sab- 
 bath, should accept of such an agency. Nor should he be unwilling to 
 engage in personal solicitation, and perform, when occasion requires, the 
 duties of a county agent. Nor should he leave it to the societies or com- 
 mittees to do the work alone. He and his paid assistants must do much 
 of it themselves, through the Societies, with their assent and co-operation. 
 Nor should the work be allowed to stop long in any county, on account 
 of the difficulty of securing the requisite number of county agents. 
 They must be secured, and at the right time, also. It will not answer to 
 have a county visited when it happens to be convenient; but a particu- 
 lar time each year should be assigned to each county, and agents secured 
 to make the effort at that time without fail. No such word as "cannot" 
 should have any place in the system. Nor should any general agent 
 adopt the plan proposed who does not design to continue in the work for 
 years, and ca^rry out the system which he commences. It is better not 
 to form branch societies at all than to leave them to die, and the subscrip- 
 tions and books deposited with them to be lost. 
 
 COUNTY AGENTS. 
 
 These are both collecting and distributing Agents. They form 
 branch societies, and attend annual meetings — present the Bible 
 Causp tr» congregation? on the Sabbath, and viait from house to house 
 during the wppk — furnish local agents with the necessary book.? and 
 papers, and assist them in the discharge of their duties — send out 
 numerous circulars, writ^ numerous letters — examine and settle ac- 
 counts, and in general act as the Executive of the Society for which 
 they labor. Each County Society has an agent for a few weoksor 
 
months annually, as there is no other method by which the branch 
 Societies can be kept in active operation. But as his services are 
 not needed in one County for the whole year, he labors in several con- 
 tiguous ones — the annual meetings in these Counties being held in 
 such successive order that he can attend them all. By this arrange- 
 ment the Agent cm have constant employment, and the Societies 
 can have the labors of an experienced agent, which is very impor- 
 tant. The General Agent confers with the County. Committees, and 
 the candidates for employment, and makes arrangements for their 
 labors, in case they are acceptable, AVhen an agent completes the 
 eifort in a County, he receives his compensation for the time spent 
 there, and charges the next County Society for the time spent in its 
 service. The field of a County Agent usually embraces from four 
 to six Counties, thus giving him two or three months annually to 
 each. With such assistance as he can secure from the local agents, 
 he is expected to keep the machinery in these counties in active 
 operation — to have the field well supplied with the Scriptures, and 
 make it productive of funds for the general Cause. After he has ac- 
 quired some experience, he can perform, to some extent, the duties 
 of a General Agent on his particular field, as well as those of a 
 County Agent, and thus render the visits of an Agent of the Parent 
 Society unnecessary. He is also expected to be the Corresponding 
 Secretarij for his district, keeping the organizations within its bounds 
 in motion by his pen, when he is unable to do so by his pi-esence. 
 On subsequent pages, various duties requiring the use of the pen 
 will be pointed out, and he will have occasion to use it during all of 
 his leisure moments. ;No one who cannot compose and write rapidly, 
 perspicuously and courteously, or who is unwilling to attend to the 
 necessary correspondence, as well as to other duties, should aspire 
 to such a position. 
 
 The prosperity of the Cause on any field will depend very much 
 upon the qualifications of the Agent. Among others, he should 
 possess the following ; 
 
 1st. Industry. — This is a very important qualification. The 
 work will require the entire services of the agent from early dawn 
 until the time for rest, and from Monday morning until Saturday 
 night. If he wastes his time in sleep, or in idle chit-chat, or in do- 
 ing nothing, the cause will, of course, suffer. Ho sliould never be 
 seen unemployed or waiting. While his days are spent in visiting 
 from house to house, his mornings, evenings, and other fragments of 
 time should be occupied in writing, of which he will have much to 
 perform. Closely, connected with industry, is the habit of transacting 
 business ra/jirf^/. Every word spoken should "tell" for the object 
 aimed at, and no foreign topic should prolong the conversation, By 
 observing these rules, some agents visit twice as many families diiily 
 as others. An Agent can endure to be more busy than others, from 
 the fact that there is so much variety in his labors. At one time he is 
 riding, at another writing, and at another talking, so that the frequent 
 changes, together with exercise in the open air, make his labors 
 much less wearing than those nf the clnse student, nr of the man 
 who, from morning until night, wields the cradle or the axe. 
 
 2d. Energy. — Another important characteristic is Energy — that 
 kind of energy which overcomes obstacles, and blots the word '"fail- 
 
are" from the vocabulary — that kind which dooides what phonld be 
 done, and gucceedsin accomplishinprit — that kind which hefd-* not the 
 opposition of the wicked, and regards not the hardships of the work. 
 Hd. Tact. — Not prevarication, not deception ; not taking: a course 
 which will bring odium upon the cause, but taking the riglit course, 
 and succeeding, instead of the wrong one, and failing. 
 
 4th. Pkrsf.veranck. — Few cnusee ocCRnion greater embflrras- 
 ment. or nre morp injurious to the work, than the want of stability 
 and pprmnnence on the part of Agents. Our machinery is so com- 
 plicated, and experiencp in the management of branch Soo.ipties so 
 imp<irtnnt, that ihose without it are prone to make sad work, and if 
 there is a constant change of agents, so that we have to depend 
 ypon the inexperienced, the prosperity of the cause is, of course, 
 retarded. The true policy, therefore, is not to enc:a?e men who 
 will become discouraged by slight obstacles, and resign just as they 
 have become prepared to operate efficiently, but to st^cure those 
 who will give up everything else and make the Agency a business 
 for years — a professinn. and who, for the sakei of (joinff ffnod, will be 
 willing to endure hardness as the servants of Jesus Christ. 
 
 5th. Education. — 'I he importance of thi.s will he obvious. Es- 
 pecially should the agent be a good penman and accountant. 
 
 6th. Accuracy and Mf.thod. — There are so many accounts to 
 be kept, and so much machinery to be managed, that these habits 
 are very important. Thei'e should be a place for everything?, and 
 everything in its place— a time for everything, and everything 
 done in its time — a way of doing everything, and everything done 
 in the right way. Especially should the Agent be methodical in the 
 care and use of his manuscript and printed papers, having a place 
 for each, and each in its place. Otherwi>e, as they are so nume- 
 Touf-, they will be likely to get into confusion, and when one of them 
 is wanted, a long search will be necessary. 
 
 7th. Thr Ability to Interest and Instruct a Chnorega* 
 TloN. — huUviduals expect that an agent, whose mind and whose lec- 
 tures are constantly on one subject, will present something interest- 
 ing, and it they are turned oif with a dry. prosy address, they are 
 disatipninted. The agent should make the requisite preparation for 
 his puhlic eflforts, should have his addresses well spiced with facts, 
 should be animated in his delivery, and, if possible, should prove 
 him-elf a workman that need not be ashamed to stand in any pulpit. 
 
 8th. Appearance and Behavior. — An agent s-hould be a gentle- 
 man. We do not mean a fop, but a gentleman in the true sense of 
 the word, .'ill improprieties in conduct or conversation, which have 
 a tendency to disgust, should be avoided. The ageu*. should so con- 
 duct himself towards those whose hospitality he shares as that they 
 will be glad to have him call again, and he should so treat those who 
 refuse to give as that he may apply to them afterwards. Nor should 
 an agent be regardless of the appearance of his dress and traveling 
 equipage. Although he should not be foppish or extravagant in his 
 apparel, yet his influence and usefulness will be promoted by dress- 
 ing in accordance with his employment, and clothing which would 
 answer to wear on a farm or in a shop will hardly answer for us when 
 we are constantly meeting with strangers, many of whom will form 
 their opinione of us and of our cause, by our pereonal appearance. 
 
We owe it to the Society which we represent, and to the dignity of 
 our office, to pay some attention to this matter. If we do so, we 
 shall find more ready access to pulpits on the Sabbath, and to the 
 pockets of the wealthy during the week. We shall also find the lo- 
 cal agents, especially in cities and villages, more ready to accom- 
 pan7 and introduce us. 
 
 9th. The absence of a Sectarian Spirit. — The agent should 
 go out not as a representative of any particular denomination, but 
 as the representative of the B'ble Society. He t^hould n^member 
 that he is laboring ft>r difi'erent denominations and be careful not to 
 give offence to any by expressions or conduct. 
 
 10th. Piety. — Last, though not least, we mention active piety as 
 not only an important, but as an essential characteristic uf a good 
 Bible Agent. This qualification, so important to every one, is es- 
 pecially so to agents. We have been led almost to tremble in view 
 of the crushing responsibilities renting upon them. Mingling, as 
 they do, with thousands, they of necessity exert an influence that 
 will tell for weal or woe upon the eternal destinies of those upon 
 whom this influence is exerted. A traveling Bible Agent enjoys op- 
 portunities of usefulness not possessed by those who remain sta- 
 tionary, and if he does nothing but merely promote the mechanical 
 circulati(»n of the Scriptures, without endeavoring to rt-commend and 
 exemplify their religit)n, he will have a most fearful account to ren- 
 der up in the judgment, Although he is not expected to introduce 
 religiitus conversation and prayer in every family which he visits, 
 yet he can frequently do this, especially where he .spends the night, 
 and can accompany the douatimiof a Bible or a Testament with an 
 exhnrtatiDn or a remark, which God may make use of as the means 
 of the conversion of a soul that will live forever. 
 
 DOCUxMEXrS. 
 
 Of these, some fifteen or twenty different kind.s will be needed, 
 They should be thorougiily and Irequentiy examined by the agent, 
 so that lie will be at no loss to understand their correct use. 
 
 J St, This Pami'HLkt. — One of these .-hnuid be the constant com- 
 panion r)f the agent — should be read by him repeatedly, and referri'd 
 to whenever he is at a loss with regard to the manner of t| crating, 
 Espicially shnuld the specimens of accounts in it be undeistood aud 
 adopKd as a pattern. 
 
 2d. ('(INSTITUTIONS. — f^ne of these should be left, fiftr-r the blanks 
 have been filled, with each i^ecretary and each Treusurer, to be c>p- 
 ied or pa.-ted into their books. 'I hose de.-igned for Auxiliary Sncie- 
 ties, and used by the General Agent, are somewhat diff^erent from 
 those adopted by Branch Societies, and furnished by County Agents. 
 
 3d. SUB.SCUIPTION Books. — A separate one is used ineacii dis- 
 trict, and left with the agent for that district, that he may ob'ain 
 additional fubscriptious^ — collect the unpaid ones, &.c. On tlie fir.-t 
 page are explanations to subscribers, and on some of the last sug- 
 gestions to local agents, to which their attention should be directed. 
 
 4th. TuAXScuiBiNG Books, — One of these is made out fur each 
 society aud contains thenames and Post Ufiices of the officers — the 
 time uf the last annual meeting — the place of the next one — th© 
 
names of the subscribers, with their payments — a summary, &c. 
 This is retained by the County Agent for his future use. or that of 
 his successor, and serves as a guide to him in his operations. 
 
 5th. Abbreviated Transcribino Books. — The County Agent 
 sends one of these to the General Agent immediately after comple- 
 ting his labors in each Society and uses another for a cover to his 
 full one, in ease he does not make out a new one. 
 
 0th. Circulars with Notices. — There are several kinds of 
 these, viz : Annual, semi-annual and quarterly to main officers and 
 to Local Agents — those of each kind to the latter being different 
 from those to the former. These circulars are filled up by the 
 County Agent, and sent out unsealed by mail three or four weeks 
 before the meetings occur. Their object is not only to notify the 
 meetings but to suggest the performance of certain duties by those 
 who receive them. Care should be taken te send the right ones to 
 the right persons and at the right times. W^ also have blank cards 
 for notices of quarterly meetings, which we fill up and leave with 
 the officers and agents immediately after each annual meeting where 
 quarterly meetings are to be held. 
 
 7th. Distributors Books. — These are for recording the sales and 
 gifts of books, and entering th a tf items by the Traveling Agent. 
 They should be used for the original entries of these items, as much 
 labor will thereby be saved. 
 
 8th. Blanks for deeds, notes, &c., with general circulars in rela- 
 tion to their use. The agent sends these out ahead of him by mail 
 to prepare the way for his applications for large sums when he 
 arrives. 
 
 9th. Blanks for Local Agents' Reports. — One of these is 
 placed in the hands of each local agent when the traveling agent 
 leaves him. The latter places upon the outside, the address of the 
 Treasurer, to whom it is to be sent, and upon the inside the names 
 of the individuals who remain to be seen. The formfer obtains such 
 additional subscriptions as he may be able to, upon his subscription 
 Ijook — copies the amount of each on to his report opposite the right 
 names, and forwards it to the Treasurer. If he has received books 
 for circulation he also reports upon this blank the disposition made 
 of them. 
 
 10th. Treasurers'' Reports. — They are for the use of Treasur- 
 ers of branch societies. One of them is enclosed in a cireular to 
 each Treasurer, a short time before each meeting, that he may fill 
 it up and have it ready. These also are of different kinds, adapted 
 to annual, semi-annual, and quarterly meetings, and care should be 
 taken to send the right kinds at the right times. 
 
 11th. An explanatory pamphlet in relation to the nature of the sub- 
 scriptions &c., or a tract in relation to the Bible — the Bible cause, 
 or benevolence, which should be left with each family. The object 
 is to diffuse information — excite an interst in tht3 Bible cause — pro- 
 mote love for the Bible and induce habits of beneficence. 
 
 I2th. Certificates of Life Membership. — These are to be 
 signed by the President and Secretary of the Society, to which the 
 donation is made, or if not convenient to obtain their signatures 
 then by the traveling agent, and placed in the hands of those who 
 

 
 are entitled to them. Life Members of the Parent Society obtain 
 their certificates from New York. 
 
 13th. " Suggestions to Treasurers." — One of these is pasted 
 into the fore part of each Treasurer's book and his attention called 
 to it. 
 
 14th, "Specimens of Accounts."— One of these is also stitched 
 into each Treasurer's book and the necessary explanations with re- 
 gard to it given. 
 
 15th. County Sumjiaries. — These are made out by the County 
 Agent at the close of his effort in each County, by adding together 
 the summaries of the several towns or precincts, thus showing the 
 aggregate and presenting a view of the cause in the County. TKey 
 also contain several other important items. A copy of each is for- 
 warded to the General Agent and aflFords him material for his articles 
 for the press. 
 
 In additional to the foregoing, there are several occasional papers, 
 the object of which will be seen by examination. By a proper un- 
 derstanding and use of these various documents, an agent can 
 accomplish double what he could without them. 
 
 SUGGESTIONS TO COUNTY AGENTS. 
 
 Having referred briefly to the plan of operating — the qualifica- 
 tions of a good agent and the necessary papers, we proceed to make 
 some suggestions under several headings — with regard to the min- 
 uti09 of the plan and the manner of operating. These suggestions 
 must of necessity be desultory and somewhat unconnected. Some 
 of those to which we wish to give special prominence, may be 
 alluded to under more than one heading. Their object, however, is 
 not an exhibition of rhetoric, but to secure system and efliciency. 
 They are made after some twenty years experience in the Bible 
 Agency, and every line is penned with a view to previous results 
 and necessities ascertained by actual obsei'vation. The importance 
 of these suggestions would be learned by County Bible Agents 
 from their own observation should they continue long in the work, 
 but as " experience keeps a dear school," it is presumed that those 
 for whom they are designed will prefer to conform their course to 
 them at once, rather than learn their importance by witnessing the 
 disastrous effects of pursuing a contrary plan. It will therefore 
 be expected that the agent will studi/ what follows, thoroughly until 
 he becomes perfectly acquainted with the manner of operating and 
 then refer to these remarks, frequently for counsel and guidance. 
 
 If he will do so, he can hardly help succeeding. Where agents 
 have failed heretofore, it has generally been because they have not 
 understood or carried out the suggestions with which they have been 
 furnished. It must therefore be understood in the outset, that each 
 agent, instead of having a plan of hi3j)wn or working without one, 
 must carry out the system which has been adopted after years of study 
 and observation, and which has received the approbation of hundreds 
 of executive committees. Otherwise there will be no uniformity, 
 and our admirable machinery, instead of moving on with the regu- 
 larity of clock work, will become disfirranged, and comparatively 
 powerless. 
 
 The necessary outfit for a County Agent, will consist of a good 
 Jleet horse — a buggy with a good sized box and heavy springs — a 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 chest or trunk for books and a leather basket for the same purpose — 
 a pair of large saddle-bags — a port-folio — pen — pocket inkstand — 
 pencil — piece of India rubber — blotting paper, vial of mucilage, &c. 
 
 The importance of ajlcet horse is obvious, as with such a one the 
 agent will spend less time in going from place to place and more in 
 the actual duties of his work than otherwise. 
 
 The leather basket is for carrying books from the wagon to the 
 houses. It is usually made by saddlers — of hpa'uess leather — at a 
 cost of about $2.50. The size and shape should be such as to hold 
 one of the Eoyal Octavo Bibles with a variety of the smaller kinds. 
 The leather forming the bottom and sides will be extended as a cover 
 and thus make it water proof. The saddle-bags are for use in trav- 
 eling on horseback when the going is bad. They should be large 
 enough to contain the necessary papers and clothing, with a few 
 small books, &c., for circulation. The outfit is of course furnished 
 by the agent himself, but the articles composing it will not lose their 
 value when he ceases to labor in the cause. 
 
 Organization of Societies and labors in Connection with 
 THEM. — The agent will find that his chief business is with branch 
 societies and that his operations will be mainly through the medium 
 of these organizations. One of his first duties therefore, will be to 
 go to the Court House, and with the assistance of some one there 
 possessing the requisite information, make an outline map of the 
 county in which he is to labor — showing the towns or precincts — 
 villages — streams, &c. A copy of this map should be forwarded to 
 the agent of the Parent Society unless already supplied. The orig- 
 inal should be kept with the transcribing books, referred to often, 
 and handed over by the agent for the use of his successor. It will 
 also be well for you to have a map of the State. 
 
 It is usual to form one branch society in each town or precinct in 
 the county (except the one containing the County Depository) al- 
 though in some instances for good reasons the boundaries are other- 
 wise. We do not always organize a society wherever there is a vil- 
 lage or a Church, for sometimes several villages or Churches should 
 be embraced in one, but we form them wherever tliere is settled ter- 
 ritory sufficient. At the county seat or head quarters of the county 
 society, it is not customary to form a branch as tlie existence of the 
 county society and the county depository there render it unneces- 
 sary. Local agents for the territory not embraced in any branch 
 can be appointed by the county committee or by yourself, and these 
 agents can make their returns to the county treasurer, and have 
 their accounts on his book. The summary of the transcribing book 
 used here, although the book may be labelled " County Society," 
 should only embrace what is not included in the branch summaries, 
 the aggregate county summary being made out on a separate paper. 
 
 The agent should ascertain from those acquainted iu the county 
 where branches should be organized — what territory they should 
 embrace, and to whom he can send appointments for meetings to 
 form them. Sometimes, however, it will be best to spend a Sabbath 
 in the place without any previous appointment and organize the soci- 
 ety at some stated meeting, with the assistance of the officiating 
 minister. 
 
 When societies are formed the order of exercises should generally 
 
11 
 
 be as follows : 1st. The address, in which the nature, objects and 
 importance of the organization should be clearly stated. 2nd. The 
 appointment of a chairman and a secretary for the occasion. 3d. 
 The proposal (by the agent) and the passage by the congregation, 
 of a resolution to form a society. 4th. The proposal (by the agent) 
 and the adoption by the congregation, of one of our printed consti- 
 tutions properly filled out. oth. The election of officers. Gth. Tak- 
 ing subscriptions. 7th. Finding the place of the first meeting, 
 8th. Introducing the plan of quarterly meetings, and selecting the 
 times and places of them, if adopted. 
 
 The time of the annual meeting is left by the Constitution to the 
 officers or traveling agent^ as it is important that he be at liberty to 
 arrange his programme so as to attend all in his field, but the place 
 is selected that the agent for the next year may know where to call 
 it, even if he is unacquainted in the county. 
 
 Where there is likely to be a good congregation at meetings to 
 organize, or at annual meetings, and especially where these occur 
 on the Sabbath the nomination of officers had better be made before 
 hand, both in order not to detain the congregation, and because two 
 or three individuals, with time to consider, and knowing what is 
 wanted, can make a better selection than a house full would be like- 
 ly to do on the " spur of the moment." The nomination will, of 
 course, be submitted to the congregation for their approval or re- 
 jection, and such changes made as are deemed necessary. 
 
 Where the agent is to attend two or three meetings in a town on 
 the same day he had better attempt to organize at the first appoint- 
 ment. If he fails here (which will seldom be the case) he will have 
 his other meetings in reserve where he can make like attempts. If 
 he does not fail he can make known to those composing his congre- 
 gations in the after part of the day what has been done — read to 
 them the Constitution — list of officers, &c., and invite them to be- 
 come members of the society. 
 
 At meetings to organize — at annual meetings, and at all other 
 Bible meetings subscriptions should be taken on slips of paper, and 
 afterwards transferred to the subscription books where they belong. 
 You will need the assistance of individuals acquainted in the town 
 in determining where to place them. But you should generally 
 avoid having public collections taken, and should insist upon having 
 every contributor's name written whether he pays down or not. — 
 Public collections seldom amount to much, and they prevent individ- 
 uals giving respectable sums as they would if they subscribed. 
 
 Should all attempts to organize in a town or precinct prove abor- 
 tive, and the agent still be satisfied that a society is needed there, 
 he can appoint a treasurer and local agents himself, and proceed 
 much as if an organization had been eft'ected. Or if the appoint- 
 ment of a treasurer and depositary is not advisable, he can secure 
 local agents and direct them to make their returns to the county 
 treasurer, or connect them with a neighboring branch. 
 
 When a society is formed, the way is prepared for the commence- 
 ment of operations. But the agent must not suppose that his work 
 is now done. The plan of forming societies, and then leaving them 
 alone to do the work devolved upon them by their Constitutions, is 
 the grand reason why so many of them have ceased to exist, Th« 
 
12 
 
 trareling a^ent must do the work through these societies, with such 
 assistance as he can get from local agents. And yet he should im- 
 press upon these local agents that the work is their' s, as it certainly 
 is, and that he is merely helping them. Instead of asking thbui to 
 visit with him through their respective districts, he should offer to 
 confer a favor by going with them. Whether this favor is desired 
 or not, nothing but a lack of time should prevent his canvassing the 
 district, either with the local agent or alone. He will generally 
 succeed better even alone than would the local agent alone, but will 
 accomplish much more if said agent is with him, and hence should 
 secure his services if possible. To this end you will find it of ad- 
 vantage to spend the night or dine with the agent, whose assistance 
 you wish the next morning or afternoon, rather than the one with 
 Avhom you have been laboring. If you wait to enjoy the hospitality 
 of the latter, the former may have left home before your ?irrival, or 
 made arrangements which will prevent his accompanying you. Even 
 if he has not you will have less opportunity to interest him in the 
 cause before starting out, by documents and conversation than 
 otherwise. 
 
 When an agent appointed at the meeting declines acting, the 
 traveling agent should appoint a substitute. It is sometimes diffi- 
 cult to secure a local agent, but the traveling agent must persevere 
 until he succeeds. If he cannot find a man who will accept, he 
 must appoint a woman. If he can find no one in the district for the 
 office, he must seek one out of it, as no district should be left 
 unprovided for. It is. occasionally necessary, however, to unite two 
 adjoining school districts, appointing one agent for both, and indi- 
 cating it on the transcribing book. 
 
 In some instances, the agent appointed at the meeting is not 
 found at home. In such a case, either a substitute should be ap- 
 pointed ; or, if this is not best, and there is no doubt of the accept- 
 ance of the office by the one nominated, the traveling agent should 
 perform as much of the work as time will allow, and thenleave the 
 subscription book and blank for report at his house, with a letter 
 informing him of his appointment, and the duties devolving upon 
 him. It is better, however, to secure a substitute, as agents sel- 
 dom accomplish much unless we can have a personal interview with 
 them, get their consent to act, and instruct them with regard to 
 their duties. 
 
 By the word " district," is meant a school district, unless otherwise 
 specified. In cities and large villages, however, a school district 
 would be too large for a field, and the division should be by streets, 
 and in rare cases in the country, two school districts should be 
 united, or the division should be made by other boundary lines. — 
 These districts should all be named or designated, either by their 
 boundaries, their numbers, or some prominent individual or object 
 within their bounds, and their designations should appear at the top 
 of the tr inscribing book allotted to these districts. The names of 
 the districts should be the same from year to year, unless there are 
 important reasons for altering them, and when two are united for 
 our purposes, the names of both should appear at the top of the page. 
 
 It often happens that districts are overlooked at the meetings, 
 which should be provided for by the agent. To this end, he shoald 
 
13 
 
 consult his map, and make diligent inquiries, that no part of the 
 territory be neglected. This is a very important matter. Too 
 many agents seldom look at their maps, and hence leave part of the 
 territory for years without any provision for its visitation. Where 
 a school district is in two towns, the whole of it should be connected 
 with one society — generally the one in the town containing the 
 school house, or the larger share of the families. 
 
 In passing through a district, the county and local agents will 
 find several items on their hands, as follows : 
 
 1st. Obtaining new Subscriptions. — For although funds may be 
 raised at public meetings, the agent should not rely upon these 
 alone. Many will subscribe to the Bible cause if called upon at 
 their homes, who are not seen by you in public ; and these pledges 
 are frequently more liberal than those made in church. As wo 
 avail ourselves of this method of raising funds, we need not fail in 
 our efforts, even if there is no opportunity of presenting the cause 
 in public. The subscriptions obtained should be as large as possible, 
 especially those first on the book, and the list should not be suffered 
 to dwindle down to pittances, if it can with propriety be avoided. 
 You will find that to have a list of liberal subscriptions, previously 
 obtained in the vicinity, to exhibit, will aid materially, or if you 
 have no such list, the individual donations acknowledged in the 
 Bible Society Eecord can be presented as examples. The fact that 
 our subscriptions are payable annually, and that our income in suc- 
 ceeding years, as well as the present, will depend upon the size of 
 the subscriptions, enhances the importance of your raising them to 
 the highest practicable amount. In soliciting subscriptions, care 
 should be taken not to overlook any person. We want to have all 
 become members of the Society, and should invite wives as well as 
 husbands — children as well as parents, and employes as well as 
 employers. In this way, we may obtain several subscribers in the 
 same family, and benefit the subscribers as well the cause. In most 
 of the Societies, the Constitutions provide that subscribers of $1 or 
 upwards, shall be entitled to a common Bible or its value in Testa- 
 ments, to distribute for every dollar contributed. With this 
 proviso, properly presented, you can induce many individuals 
 to increase the size of their subscriptions, or make larger new ones 
 than they would otherwise do. But you should guard against lim- 
 iting the subscription to $1, and should esplain the importance 
 and advantages of giving $2, or $3, or $5, or still larger sums, 
 annually. Subscriptions, to constitute life members, need not be 
 transient, more than others, and an individual making an annual 
 subscription of $5 can constitute some member of his family or 
 other friend a life member as often as he pays it. The agent should 
 manage to have as many as possible of the subscriptions paid at 
 the time they are given. Many of those taken on time are not 
 ' paid at all, and others only after a long period, and after repeated 
 efforts to collect. The fact that but few of the local agents Avill do 
 their whole duty, and that many of the subscriptions have to be 
 collected by the traveling agent, enhances the importance of this 
 suggestion. We judge of an agent's success not so much by the 
 subscriptions which he obtains as by the cash which he collects. 
 Most of our subscriptions are now taken payable annually, which 
 
14 
 
 are preferable to transient ones for reasons stated in another part of 
 this pamphlet. But there is need of being very explicit in our 
 explanations of the nature of these subscriptions, or else when 
 subsequent installments are called for, there will be a plea of mis- 
 understanding and expressions of dissatisfaction. New agents do 
 not generally realize the importance of this explicitness until they 
 attempt to collect, when they find cause to blame themselves or 
 their predecessors for not exercising more care. We have had a 
 great deal of trouble in consequence of agents writing subscriptions 
 as annual which were not understood by subscribers to be such, and 
 must guard this point sedulously hereafter. It is not enough 
 to say that subscriptions will be considered and copied as annual 
 unless otherwise designated, but we must explain what is meant by 
 " annual," and have it fully understood that the amount of the 
 subscription will be called for every year until withdrawn or altered. 
 Where subscriptions are taken by private application, the explana- 
 tions and pledge should either be read by or to each subscriber, or 
 the agent should state clearly the nature of these subscriptions. — 
 Where they are taken in public congregations on slips of paper, 
 to be transferred to the books afterwards, the agent should always 
 take time at the close of his address, to read the pledge to which 
 names are to be attached, and make the necessary explanations. 
 After explaining the nature and advantages of annual subscriptions, 
 and urging all to make such instead of transient ones, it is well to 
 state that all will be considered as annual unless otherwise designa- 
 ted — thus making annual subscriptions the rule, and leaving sub- 
 scribers to make theirs exceptions, if they wish, and will so desig- 
 nate them. 
 
 Another kind of subscriptions are those payable quarterly — that 
 is. not dividing the amount into quarters, but paj-ing the full amount 
 four times each year. We sometimes solicit such, because some 
 persons will give much more in this way than if they paid but once 
 a year. Indeed some will pay as much once a quarter, if asked thus 
 often, as they would in a whole year, if applied to but once during 
 that time. Our subscription books can be prepared for registering 
 the payments on such subscriptions, by simply dividing the space 
 designed for annual payments into four parts, and entering the 
 quarterly payments separately in each quarter of the space. Where 
 we take quarterly subscriptions, it will be important to explain that 
 they are not to be divided by four and one fourth part paid quarter- 
 ly, but that t\\G full amount is due every three months. 
 
 In our subscription and transcribing books, we use the words 
 "transient" and "optional" as synonymous, and write either as may 
 seem best. Many of our transient subscribers will pay almost 
 erery year if called on, (though it is optional with tliem to do so or 
 not,) and perhaps will be a little morij likely to pay if the word 
 " optional" instead of " transient" is written opposite their names. 
 It will especially bo best to write " optional" where there is any 
 doubt whether the subscription was designed to be annual or tran- 
 sient. 
 
 2. The Collection of Installments due on previous Sub- 
 scriptions. — At the time of the first effort after the organization of 
 a Society, there will of course be nothing of this kind on your hands, 
 
15 
 
 (unless there are annual subscriptions within its bounds which pre- 
 viously belonged to another Society,) but in succeeding years this 
 will constitute an important item of the work. A traveling Agent 
 who is acquainted with the business and possesses the requisite 
 tact, will succeed much better in collecting back installments than 
 will a local one, and hence should perform as much of this work us 
 possible. In doing so, much prudence and skill will be requisite, 
 especially in cases where persons are not disposed to acknowledge 
 their subscriptions as annual or quarterly. Where there is a prob- 
 ability that the old one will be repudiated, it will bo best to ask for 
 anew subscription at first, and have its nature fully understood and 
 recorded. If you obtain it, the old one can be crossed out, after 
 what was due on it previous to the present year has been paid. If 
 you fail to secure a new one, then you can refer to the old one and 
 make the most you can out of it. Many persons who profess not to 
 have understood their subscriptions as annual, can by a little reason- 
 ing be induced to let them stand as such now, and pay their back 
 installments. It will be our duty to try to persuade them to do this, 
 and others to change theirs from transient to annual wherever we 
 can. But it is important to leave every one good natured — to avoid 
 the impressioji that we are endeavoring to bind them against their 
 wills, and hence if they insist, we allow them to change their sub- 
 scriptions to transient or optional, or mark them withdrawn. 
 
 Where a person has been paying his subscription for several years, 
 and there is no doubt about his understanding it as annual, then we ask 
 him for whatever may be due on it, instead of inviting him to subscribe 
 anew. The amount due on an annual or quarterly subscri^jtion^at any •• 
 time, can be ascertained by looking at the date of it, calculat/THe amount ^ ■* '-' 
 which has since fallen due, and subtracting therefrom the sum of the / 
 payments ; the balance will be the amount now to be collected, and the ■'' 
 [)lan of ascertaining it should be explained to the subscriber by an exhi- 
 bition of the pledge with the date and payments. Some times it will be 
 the amount for several quarters or years, as persons may have neglected 
 to pay their installments when they became due. Herein is one of the 
 advantages of such subscriptions, viz : that if payments are not made on 
 them at the proper time, they do not prevent the recurrence of other dues at 
 stated periods, and we can subsequently call for several of these at once. 
 We can thus frequently collect twice or thrice as much in a given time, as 
 we could without such pledges. Still it is better that the installments be 
 collected regularly and promptly, for if a subscriber Mis far behind, he 
 is apt to become discouraged in view of the amount due, and either re- 
 pudiate the whole, or pay up and withdraw. Where we cannot prevent 
 withdrawals, we nuist explain that the back installments, including the 
 one for the present year, should be paid before writing " witlidrawn." 
 By the conditions of the pledge, an installment becomes due at the time 
 of subscribing, and annually thereafter, or immediately after each annual 
 meeting. Hence, if a subscriber does not withdraw before the close of 
 the year, another installment should be paid at the commencement of the 
 next. 
 
 It is of great importance that these annual dues should be collected 
 early in each year, and we should explain to subscribers and local agents 
 that they are due immediately after each annual meeting, and to be collect- 
 ed as soon after as possible, and not that they have the whole year to make 
 
16 
 
 their payments and collections in. If these are delayed, tliey not only 
 postpone the supply of the destitute with the Scriptures, but interfere 
 with the next year's operations, and, as removals and deaths are so fre- 
 quent, many of these pledgefwill 1)L' worthless unless they arc collected 
 promptly. 
 
 Where payments are made for several years or quarters at once, the 
 amount for each should bo entered separately in the proper spaces so that 
 each year or quarter may have the right credit. Great care should Ijc 
 taken to have all of the subscriptions dated con-ectly, and all of the cred- 
 its entered so that it may be known at anj'-time just what a subscriber has 
 paid from the commencement, and how much he is still owing. Where 
 new bocks are made out the subscriptions should be dated lack as they 
 are on the old ones, and aU that subscribers have paid should be transfer- 
 red either in items or the aggregate to the new. We want to keep the 
 books so that they will show even twenty or thirty years hence, just what 
 each annual subscriber, who has not withdrawn or altered his subscription, 
 has paid from the commencement. 
 
 In some places the subscriptions are all transient, and to such, the fore- 
 going remarks are inapplicable. All that is necessary with regard to these 
 is to see that they are collected «»* once. They M'ill require less attention 
 and cause less perplexity than others, but on the whole, v.-ill result in a 
 smaller income and less benefit to subscribers. In States where there are 
 frequent changes in the general superintendency, it will be unwise to so- 
 licit annual or quarterly subscriptions, but where the same general agent 
 can look after such subscriptions for a number of years, and have their 
 nature fully explained and understood when taken, he will find them 
 preferable to transient ones. 
 
 3d. The Disposal of Bibles and Testaments. — These should 
 be introduced at every house — as many being sold as possible, and 
 given as necessary. They should not be exhibited, however, until 
 the first item of business has been disposed of. Too many objects 
 at once distract attention ; and moreover, if the books are presented 
 first, men will sometimes buy one or two, supposing" that they are 
 helping the society in that way, and decline subscribing. Many a 
 man also is more benevolent to himself than to others, or ia other 
 words is more selfish than benevolent, and will sooner give $5,00 for 
 a splendid Bible for himself than $1,00 for the supply of his poor 
 neighbors. It should be made known to purchasers that instead of 
 conferring a favor upon the society by buying its books, the society 
 is conferring a favor upon them by furnishing them books for less 
 than what the^rare worth, and often for less than cost. Great caro 
 should be exercised to ascertain and supply all of tbe destitute — not 
 only those who are entirely without but those who have only a muti- 
 lated copy of the Scriptures, and not only destitute families with 
 Bibles, but destitute children with Testaments. The supply of 
 domestics and other persons not particularly connected with any 
 family, should also bo looked after. In ascertaining what families 
 are destitute of a whole or of any part of a Bible, it is important to 
 proceed cautiously, so as not to wound feelings, and so as to avoid 
 the appearance oi' impertinence. The truth with regard to supply 
 can often be drawn out by indirect inquiries, and where this is pos- 
 sible, it is better than to put the question directly. 
 
IT 
 
 Bonks sknuld ant he sold mi, rrcdit . — Mmiy of those thus dis- 
 posed of are neTpr paid for, and others only with an expense in col- 
 lecting, which renders it unprofitable. The expectation that men 
 will hand in the pay without being asked for it, is generally falla- 
 cious, and it is better to give away at first than to sell on credit, and 
 then lose the debt. The uninformed sometimes become possessed 
 of the idea, after an agent has left, that he was sent out to give away 
 books indiscriminately, and unless they pay for them at the time of 
 purchasing, refuse to do so at all. Besides, the agent is obliged to 
 account for all the books which he receives, either in cash or in books 
 given and deposited. 
 
 Where the county agent has time to visit nearly every family and 
 circulate the books himself, he will not leave any with the local 
 agent. Where he has not, he will leave a small quantity with said 
 agent— have them charged to him on the treasurer's book, and the 
 necessary entries made in the depository account. 
 
 For further suggestions in relation to the circulation of Bibles and 
 Testaments you are referred to the first two pages of the " Distrib- 
 utor's Book " — one of which should always be carried in your pocket 
 for the convenience of making entries. The necessary entries 
 in it should be made as you pass along, and not on slips of paper or 
 on other books to be copied afterwards. For the distributor's books 
 have been prepared with columns and printed headings, so as to ob- 
 viate the necessity of much writing, which would be requisite with- 
 out them. Even if considerable space is needed for every day's labor, 
 it should be used, as other books can be furnished when wanted. 
 
 4th. The "Bible Society Eecord" should be introduced in every 
 house, and as many subscribers obtained for it as possible. The 
 terms to single subscribers are 25 cents \)gv annum, in advance. — 
 The object, however, is not merely the subscription price, but the 
 diffusion of information. You can obtain sjiecimeu numbers from 
 the officers of the county society. The names of subscribers, with 
 the money, should be forwarded promptly to the general agent at the 
 Bible House, N. Y., with a request that he will discontinue at the 
 end of the year without farther notice. 
 
 oth. One of the explanatory pamphlets or tracts before alluded to 
 should be placed in each family. It is true that it would not be proper 
 for Bible agents to circulate miscellaneous tracts, and especially sec- 
 tarian ones; but those that have a bearing upon our work— those which 
 explain its importance and our plans for its promotion — those which 
 recommend the Bible and inculcate a spirit of benevolence, may be cii*- 
 culated with as much propriety as "Annual Reports," or " Bible Society 
 Records " — especially if done without cost to the Society. By leaving 
 one of these silent messengers to exert an influence after we have gone, 
 we can, not only make our visits briefer, but if we have been unable to 
 accomplish anything else, there will be consolation in reflecting that 
 Ave may at least have sown seed that will produce fruit hereafter. Dis- 
 crimination should of course be used in selecting tracts for different 
 families, so that they may be appropriate. To new annual subscribers 
 it will be well to give one of the pamphlets explaining the nature of the 
 subscriptions and the duties and privileges of subscribers. For those 
 who are skeptical, the tracts in relation to the inspiration and authenticity 
 of the Scriptures will be appropriate. "Where you leave a Bible you can 
 c 
 
18 
 
 also, with iimch propriety, leave a tract in relation to its value or the im- 
 portance of its i)erusal. To Christians, it will be well to ijivo the tracts 
 or volumes in relation to beneficence, while the tract entitled "The 
 Bible Cause," may with propriety be placed in hands of almost any 
 Protestant. We have tracts in relation to the Bible and the Bible Cause 
 in the German language, which shoidd be circulated freely among the 
 Germans, though the latter should not be placed in the hands of Cdtholica. 
 When the county agent has spent as much time as is necessary or 
 consistent in a district, he leaves the subscription book and blank for 
 report with the local agent, and gives him the necessary instructions with 
 regard to his future labors. On the blank report he is to place the address 
 of the Treasurer and names of all whom he expects the local agent will visit 
 — inform him how he is to make it out — when he is to send it to the treas- 
 urer, when he is to call for the unpaid subscriptions, &c. You will notice 
 blanks in the report to be filled out by yourself, stating the time of return- 
 ing it. It is best that the time named should Ijc only a week or two ahead, 
 ■AS 2)ro»iptncss in completing the work is important, and although a long 
 time may be allotted to the effort, it will be likely to be delayed until near 
 the close of the period. The local agent should understand that he is not 
 to wait until the unpaid subscriptions are all collected before reporting, 
 but that he is to forward his report as soon as all of the liimilics in his 
 district have been once visited, and send in the subscription money after- 
 wards, when it is collected. He should also be requested to collect the 
 unpaid subscriptions jyi'oniptli/ T'hey are due as soon as given, or im- 
 mediately after each annual meeting ; and if their jiayment is deferred 
 until near the close of the j^car, they interfere with the operations of the 
 next, andthe supply of the destitute with the Scriptures is also delayed. 
 
 It will not answer for you to leave the subscription book and blank 
 for report with some one else to send to the local agent, as in this 
 case they may never reach him. Besides, it is important that you 
 see him personally, and give him such verbal instructions and ex- 
 planations as may be necessary. Hence, an additional reason for 
 having him with you in your visits, for in this case when you are ready 
 to pass on to another district, you can place the papers in his hcinds 
 without the necessity of going back to his house. Moreover, if he 
 has accompanied you and learned your method of procedure, he will be 
 better prepared to discharge the remaining duties devolving upon him. 
 
 Before leaving him, you place upon your transcribing book his 
 name and post office, and copy into it the subscriptions on his book, 
 with the payments. The name of the agent should be written with 
 a pencil, so that when there is a change, it can give place to another. 
 The given name should appear in all cases ; and if the agent is a 
 lady, 'Mrs.' or ']\riss' should be placed before it. lire svhscriptions, both on 
 the transcribing and subscription books, siiould be written with a^jcn, and 
 hence a pen and pocket inkstand should ahatyshe carried with you. 
 
 After having passed through all of the districts in the way sug- 
 gested, and after having furnished the secretary with the Constitu- 
 tion, minutes of the meeting for organizing, and blank book in 
 which to copy them, your last business before leaving the society 
 will be to call on the treasurer, furnish him with a blank book and 
 assist him in opening the necessary accounts. In the fore part of 
 this book you will paste a Constitution and card of suggestions to 
 treasurers, and stitch a '• specimen of accounts." The blank books 
 usually purchased for the secretaries and treasurers of these socie- 
 
19 
 
 ties are of the qimrto form, and cost from 15 to 25 cents each. The 
 agent should be careful to keep himself supplied with these, 
 and if he purchases by the quantity, he can obtain them cheaper 
 than otherwise. It is better that those designed for treasurers 
 should he cross-ruled for dates, dollars and cents, and that the sec- 
 retary's books should be without these cross-rules. 
 
 In addition to an account book, the agent furnishes the treasurer 
 with a depository sign, and sees that it is nailed up in some con- 
 spicuous place before he leaves. The general agent pi-ocures signs 
 
 liy the quantity, and sells them to the county agents at cost. 
 
 The county agent advances from his own money the cost of the 
 signs and blank books which is refunded i)y the branch societies, 
 and thus not brought into his account with the county society. 
 
 The first account which you assist the treasurer of the branch 
 society in opening, is for the books which you leave with him — 
 varying in amount from $5 to $20, according to the supply on hand, 
 and the probable number needed where deposited. These are of 
 course marked and charged to him, and those which go out of his 
 hands are credited on the opposite page. If in addition to those 
 deposited with the treasurers, you leave books with the local agents 
 fi'om your own stock, they are charged and credited in the deposit- 
 ary's account, just as if they passed through his hands. The books 
 which he sells need not be credited at the time, or by items, unless 
 lie prefers, as the sales can be ascertained at the end of the year, 
 or whenever an inventory is taken, by subtracting the amount 
 of the books otherwise disposed of and those on hand from the 
 amount received. Neither the books which you sell and give to 
 individuals, or the monej^ received for what )m:)u sell, goes into the 
 book and cash account of the branch treasurer, as you circulate these 
 books for the County society, and account for them and the cash for 
 those sold to the treasurer of that society. It is not best to leave 
 many costly books with treasurers, and especially not with local 
 agents, as we can not afford the capital, and they are liable to injury. 
 The prices of books left with Treasurers or Agents should always be 
 marked in them, to correspond with tliose in the County Depository. 
 
 The next is the treasurer's account. Here on the Dr. side, what- 
 ever you have collected on subcriptions is charged to the treasurer, 
 whether it passes through his hands or not. On the opposite page he 
 is credited with whatever you have advanced for the sign and blank 
 books, and you take the amount out of the Bible Society's purse and 
 put it into your own, to replace what you have advanced for them. 
 He is then credited Avith the balance which you have collected, 
 (together with what he pays you, if any,) as paid to the county soci- 
 ety, for which you give him your receipt and charge the amount in 
 your account. 
 
 Next follow accounts with the local agents. Accounts should be 
 opened with all of them before you leave the Treasurer, whether 
 any entries are to be made in them at that time or not, as it is i-ery 
 important that he should know who these agents are. 
 
 If you have left any books with them, or if they obtain any from 
 the Treasurer, they should of course be charged with the amount. 
 They should also be charged from time to time with what they re- 
 port as having collected as donations. On the opposite side, they 
 
20 
 
 should be credited iu separate items, with what they pay on dona- 
 tion account — what they pay for books sold, with tlie books given 
 and with those returned. The tras-eling agent sliould see that thesn 
 local agents' accounts are balanced every year, and if necessary, 
 should obtain information, money or books from them to enable him 
 to do it, as otherwise tbe society may suffer loss. Hence it will be 
 well for him to have the Treasurer's book with him as he passes 
 through a society after its annual meeting. If a local agent has 
 made use of Bible Society money which he cannot refund, his ac- 
 count should be balanced by a note drawing interest, which should be 
 left with the bi'anch Treasurer. The same remarks apply to delin- 
 quent Treasurers, except that their notes should be left with the 
 County Treasurer. In either case, a memorandum of the matter 
 should be made on the transcribing book, and reported to the general 
 agent, with name and P. 0. of the debtor. 
 
 The accounts between the traveling agent and County Society 
 will, of course, not appear in the branch society books, but the 
 necessary entries in them should be made before leaving each branch. 
 In your County Summary, you will find blanks prepared both for 
 your book and cash accounts with the County Society. In the 
 former, you will charge the books which you receive, and credit 
 those which you dispose of and return. Those left with local agents 
 of branches, as well as those deposited with the Treasurer, should 
 be credited as delivered to the Society. In your cash account, you 
 will charge yourself with what you receive from the Society, (ex- 
 cept what is paid you for blank books and sign,) including that 
 collected by you from subscribers and local agents, as well as that 
 paid you by the Treasui'er. At the close of your labors in the 
 County, you will also charge yourself with the cash for books sold 
 by yourself. You will credit yourself, from time to time, as you 
 may make payments to the County Treasurer, and, when ( you have 
 Unishedthe effort in a County,) with the amount of your services and 
 expenses. You will find it important to complete the summary of 
 your transcribing book before leaving the branch Treasurer, as you 
 will need items from his book for this purpose. 
 
 At the close of your labors in a County, you have a final settle- 
 ment with the County Treasurer, when your accounts, previously 
 commenced on his book, as well as those in your own, should be 
 completed and balanced. The Treasurer then charges the branch 
 Societies with the books which you have delivered to them, and 
 credits them Avith the money which you have received from them. 
 
 The County Treasurer should charge himself with the whole 
 amount received by the Agent, including that retained for services 
 and expenses, and credit himself witli the amount retained as paid 
 to 3'ou, thus showing the entire transaction. 
 
 The entries, both on tlie County and branch Society books, should 
 generally be made by the Treasurers rather than by the agent, but 
 you should see that they are made correctly and at the time, instead 
 of leaving memoranila for them to transfer to their books afterwards. 
 For further information in relation to accounts, you are referred to 
 tlie specimens bound hennvitli, or those furnished to Treasurers. 
 
 The transeriliing book slioiild be nuide out at intervals as yon 
 progress in your work, and (inisbed liefore you leave the Society. 
 
21 ^ 
 
 It is bad policy to delay it until afterwards, and then endeavor to 
 make it out from imperfect memoranda. As soon as may be after 
 it is finished, an abbreviated book should be made, containing all 
 that is in the full one, except the mames of subscribers and their 
 payments. One of these should then be sent to the Agent of the 
 Parent Society with a letter in relation to your labors, He will thus 
 know how you are succeeding, and can give advice and aid you by 
 correspondence as he could not do without examining the books. By 
 having them, he will also be in possession of the names and post 
 offices of the officers and local agents — can send circulars to them 
 in relation to various matters, if he chooses, and can call on them 
 to remind them of their duties, as he passes from place to place. 
 
 When County Agents first commence their labors, and until they 
 become accustomed to making out the transcribing books, it is 
 usual to send the full ones to the general agent, so that any errors 
 in them may be pointed out. But afterwards they keep the full 
 ones and forward the others. In case the full book should at any 
 time be lost, the abbreviated one would be important as a substitute, 
 and hence another reason for making it. When a county agent 
 ceases to labor in the cause, he of course delivers all transcribing 
 books and other papers to the general Agent, to be placed by him 
 in the hands of his successor. 
 
 ANNUAL .MEETINGS OF BRANCHES. 
 
 The foregoing remarks refer more particularly to the first efTurts in 
 connection with the formation of branch societies. Some of those 
 which follow will have more reference to succeeding efforts in connec- 
 tion with their annual meetings, though the work in both cases is 
 similar. 
 
 At the time of the first canvass of a county on the plan delineated 
 upon these pages, it is designed that the traveling agent shall spend 
 time enough to visit every family and do the work thoroughly. In 
 succeeding years when the effort is made in connection witli the an- 
 nual meetings, and these meetings are held in accordance with a 
 plan previously made out, the time is limited by the progranmie. — 
 Less time is devoted to a county for these succeeding efforts than 
 was devoted to the first one, and yet it is designed to allow en(nigii 
 to enable the county agent to call upon most of^uhscrihers, and 
 many other individuals in company with the local agents, heaving as 
 finv as possible to be visited by them alone. 
 
 Where societies have been already organized the first business of 
 the county agent will be to make out a programme for his meetings, 
 or receive one from the general agent and send out his notices. 
 Sometimes additional societies should be formed, which should be 
 provided for in the programme. The constitutions authorize the 
 agents to call the annual meetings of the branch societies at any 
 time, but notwithstanding tkis license, they should be held, if prac- 
 ticable, about a year from the time of the previous ones. The meet- 
 ings should usually be called from three to seven days apart — the 
 time after each depending upon the size and importance of the so- 
 ciety, so as to give the agent time enough between these meetings 
 to perform the necessary work. The county agent notifies them by 
 sending a circular of one kind to each local agent, and nf another 
 
22 
 
 kind to each of the other officers. They are filled out durmg eve- 
 nings and other leisure moments — forwarded unsealed, and prepaid, 
 (one cent each,) and the expense charged to the county society. 
 The object of sending tliem to the local agents is not only to give 
 notice of the meetings but to request them to finish collecting, and 
 send their money and subscription books to the treasurer, As it 
 will take sometime for these circulars to lie transmitted, especially 
 to out-of-the-way othces, as they may lie in the offices some time 
 after arriving, and as the agents need some time to perform their 
 work and make their returns, we usually mail them three or four 
 weeks before the meetings occur. 
 
 Although the notices in the circulars to main officers are the same 
 as those in the ones sent to local agents, yet the reading below is 
 different, and hence care should be taken not to confound the two, 
 and send to individuals the wrong kinds. The one directed to th« 
 treasurer should contain a blank for his report. In filling out the 
 notices, the programme and transcribing books should be before you, 
 the former for the purpos(? of ascertaining the times, and the latter 
 the places of the meetings. 
 
 In addition to notifying the meetings by circulars it may be well 
 for you to publish them together, and in as brief a space as possible 
 in the county papers. An article in these papers from yourself or 
 some one of the committee in relation to these meetings and your 
 operations may be of use to yourself and the cause. The same re- 
 marks apply to semi-annual and quarterly meetings. 
 
 The programme having once been made out, and the meetings noti- 
 fied, the agent must attend them without fail. If home is to be visited, 
 or any other business attended to, it must be provided for in the pro- 
 gi'amme, as the accomplishment of the work depends upon the pre- 
 sence of the agent. As the general agent will have a copy of the 
 plan, and may be guided by it in his arrangem(?uts to meet you or 
 to attend the county meeting, yours should not be altered except 
 for grave reasons, and if altered he should be immediately informed 
 of it. 
 
 Before leaving the county treasurer, it will be important for you 
 to get from him a quantity of books to circulate a:ul replenish de- 
 positories with ; also a statement of money paid in and books drawn 
 out by each society during the year, that you may compare it with 
 entries on the branch society account books, and be able to correct 
 any errors which may have occurred. 
 
 The agent should be at the house of the treasurer an hour or two 
 before the meeting to assist him, if necessary, in balancing his ac- 
 counts and making out his report. These accounts should be 
 closed at the time of each annual meeting nnd any money or books 
 received afterwards should go into the new accounts and be em- 
 braced in the next year's report. 
 
 The depository account should be Inilanced first, (after charging 
 tlie books returned by local agents, if previously credited,) and the 
 amount credited as books sold to make it balance should be rhiirgei/ 
 in the cash account. The books on hand should b(» charged forward 
 in a new account. The local agent's accounts should be examined, 
 and all money credited to them, and not previously charged to Ihe 
 treasurer, slumld be entered now. 
 
The treasurer's cash account shouhl Iw bahmced by his iiayinj; 
 you for the county society and croditinj^ himself with wliatever i> 
 shown to bo in his hands, for which your receipt shouhl b(! givcoi. 
 In case you cannot get the money, it should be charged in liis new 
 account if re-appointed, and if not, a note for the amount shouhl be 
 taken and left with the county treasurer — a memorandum of the mat- 
 ter beina; made on the transcribing book. 
 
 The local agent's account should be balanced cither before or after 
 the meeting, by crediting all books given and returned, as well as the 
 money paid, and if there is anything lacking, a memorandum should 
 1)0 made of it, and the agents seen by yourself in ridation to it. The 
 report of the treasurer should be brief, clear and comprehensive, 
 and should be handed over to the secretary to he recorded. 
 
 At the annual meetings the order of exercises should be as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 1st, singing and pra3'er ; tind, the secretary's report ; or, if he 
 has none, reading the Constitution, ininutes of the last meeting, list 
 of officers, &c. ; Ord, Treasurer's report : 4th, election of otlicers : 
 oth, selecting the place of the next meeting, and of semi-annual and 
 quarterly meetings, if they are to be held ; 6th, appointment of del- 
 egates to the county meetings ; 7th, the address ; 8th, taking sub- 
 scriptions. 
 
 At these meetings, or at meelings appointed to organize, the busi- 
 ness should be transacted, even if but few are present, so that the 
 agent can commence operating immediately after. This is generally 
 preferable to adjourning for a larger audience. Incase, however, ttt 
 an utter failure to have a meeting, the old main officers can remain, 
 and you can appoint local agents yourself, and proceed with tlie 
 work as if a meeting had been held. 
 
 The secretaries appointed to take the minutes of these meetings 
 frequently do not do it correctly, and it will often bo necessary 
 for you to write them out and place them in the hands of the 
 permanent secretai'y. Whenever there is a change of secretaries or 
 treasurers, the agent should see that the record book, account book, 
 sign, depository, &c., are transferred, and that the new otHcers are 
 instructed with regard to their duties. It will hardly answer to 
 leave the old officers to transfer matters to their sucessors. In some 
 instances the agent will tied the old account books tilled up, or the 
 old signs defaced, and in such cases should furnish naw ones. 
 
 After the annual meeting the duties of the county agent will be 
 somewhat similar to those heretofore pointed out as devolving upon 
 him after the meetings for organizing. lie will, however, have the 
 additional labor to perform of settling old accounts and looking after 
 old subscriptions, it is true that the local agents have been re- 
 quested in the circulars to settle their accounts and leave their sub- 
 scription books with the treasurer, but he will lind that many of them 
 have neglected to do so, and that it will be necessary for him to call 
 at their homes. In visiting a district for this pupose, it will be well 
 to perform the whole work for that district at that time, so as to avoid 
 the necessity of a second visit. It Avill be important for you to collect 
 all of the subscription book-s, obtaining such as jou do not find in 
 the hands of the treasurer at the houses of the agents. From these 
 you should copy into your transcribing book the additional subscrip- 
 
24 
 
 tinus KbtiiinHd by the lucal agents, ii<>t Ucforo reported to you, and 
 the payments made since the ag'eut for the previous year left them. 
 In case one of those subscription books cannot be found, you will 
 have to make out a new one, co}>ving the subscriptions from your 
 transcribing book. This is one reason for keeping such a book. 
 In some other instances, where the subscription or transcribing books 
 have become veiy much soiled, or Avhero there have been many 
 changes, it will be best to make out new ones, omitting the worth- 
 less ones, or else transfer such as are available to succeeding pages 
 and paste the old pages together. For that and other pui'poses, a vial 
 of mucilage should always be carried by the agent. Where the old 
 hook is still used, and subscribers have removed to another district 
 or society in the county they are transferred to that, and so marked 
 on the book. Where they have left the county, they should be 
 marked removed. Where they have withdrawn, the word withdrawn 
 opposite their names will signify this also. Where persons increase 
 the size of their subscriptions, (which those who are able should be 
 invited to do,) they should be entered as new ones, and the old ones, 
 if paid, marked "transferred.^' or the name can remain in the old 
 place with the amount opposite altered and the date of the increase 
 entered between the name and the sum. When new ones are added 
 to a page on either book under those of an earlier date a dash ( — ) 
 should be made across the column or columns opposite, until the one 
 is reached with a date coiTesponding with that of the subscription. 
 
 It is very important that the subscription and transcribing books 
 exactly correspond,, and they should be examined by the traveling 
 agent with this in view, and made to do so by entering any names 
 and payments upon either which may be necessary. If he collects 
 anything after he leaves the subscription book in the hands of a 
 local agent, he should not only credit it in the transcribing book, 
 but if he cannot go back, should write a letter to the local agent, 
 requesting him to make similar credits on his subscription book. 
 Otherwise the local agent may call upon subscribers for the same 
 money, and thus produce dissatisfaction. 
 
 While the old transcribing book is used, it will be necessary to 
 cover it each year with one of the abbreviated books, containing 
 blanks for the names of the new officers, summary, &c. The blanks 
 on the inside of these abbreviated books, when used for covers, need 
 not be filled, as the names of the local agents, &c., should appear 
 in the body of the book, over their subscriptions. 
 
 The subscription books, after having been used by yourself as 
 long as time will allow, in obtaining new subscriptions, collecting 
 old ones, <fcc., are then left in the hands of the local agents witli 
 blanks for reports, and such instructions as may be necessary. 
 The same course with regard to ()[»oning and settling accounts — 
 transmitting transcribing books, &c., is pursued during each suc- 
 ceeding year, as the iirst. 
 
 If your work in a society is finished before the time of the meeting 
 in the next one, you can proceed thither and commence canvassing 
 before it is held. We never icaii for the time of meeting to occur, 
 for although our labors are usually subsequent to it, we can find 
 enough to do previously. 
 
SEMI-ANNIIAT. MEETLNGJ?. 
 
 It i.s well to li.'Id seini-anniial iiioetings, to be attended by an agent, 
 M-hen tlie societies arc not disposed to liold quarterly ones without his 
 assistance. They arc called in rapid succession, according to a pro- 
 gTamnie previously made out, generality one every evening, or at least 
 six every week, so that the expense oif agency connected with them is 
 tnfling. It is well to arrange the progranime so that the agent may spend 
 his Sabbaths in places where he did not address congi-egations at the time 
 of the annual meetings. The principal objects of these semi-annual 
 meetings are to secure more efficiency on the part of local agents — induce 
 (hem to close up their work earlier in the year than otherwise — provide 
 substitutes in case of the failure of any of them to act efficientlv — rc- 
 ]ilenish the Depositories, if necesssary — gather up the funds on hand for 
 the County Societ}', and give a new impulse to the organization, so that 
 something will be acccomplishod during the last half of the year. Unless 
 something is done to secure these results, many of (he societies will re- 
 main almost dormant from the time of one annual meeting to that of 
 another — subscriptions will be lost from death, removals, &c., or, if col- 
 lected at all, it will be so near the close of one year that it will interfere 
 with the operations of the next. 
 
 The traveling agent sends out circulars to the officers and local agents 
 three or four weeks before these meetings occur — giving notice of them, 
 and urging the receivers to discharge the duties devolving upon them. 
 At the time of each meeting he sees that the necessary business is trans- 
 acted — delivers an address, if it seems proper, and spends the day suc- 
 ceeding each in doing what is most necessary for the promotion of the 
 cause. There will be much to be done on this day, and he should not leave 
 for the next society until there is barely time enough to drive to it and 
 get ready for its meeting. If he does nothing but merely travel from 
 society to society, and attend the semi-annual meetings, he might almost 
 as well be out of the county. One of the main reasons for having a 
 traveling agent at the time of these meetings is, that he may put the 
 machinery ni working order for the last half of the year, and give it a new 
 impulse. Both at the meeting and subsequently he should endeavor to 
 guard against the impression that the work for the year is done ; for, al- 
 lliough in the ciixulars we rerjuest the local agents to complete their labors 
 jirevious to the semi-annual meetings, we must not be too sanguine that 
 they will do so. In nearly all the districts there will be subscriptions to 
 be collected, or new ones to l)e obtained, or books to be circulated. The 
 traveling agent will need to call at the homes of such local agents as were 
 not at the meeting and urge them to perform their duties ; or, if there is 
 110 probability that they will do so, secure substitutes, and place the sub- 
 scription books, and perhaps Bibles and Testaments, in their hands. 
 Either with or without the local agent, he should call on as many sub- 
 scribers, and others, as time will allow — for although it is not expected 
 to inake a general canvass, he can frequently spend a few hours in calling 
 upon subscribers — especially in villages, where calls can be made rapidly 
 — and accomphsh much by so doing. Every proper opportunity sliould 
 likewise be embraced to obtain new subscriptions. Not only should 
 additional members be solicited at the meeting, but if there are individual 
 who will be at all likely to make liberal subscriptions, they should be vis- 
 ited at their homes the next day. At the close of the tour in a county in 
 connection with semi-annual meetings, a copy of the book and cash ac- 
 count of the county agent should be sent to the general agent, as is done 
 4 ■ ■ 
 
26 
 
 at the close of the annual ones. Ho slionid also be informed of any 
 changes in officers or agents, that they may be entered on his abbreviated 
 books. 
 
 QUARTERLY MEETINGS. 
 
 These, when held, take the place of semi-annual ones. They arc 
 deemed preferable, and we persuade the societies to arrange for them 
 whenever practicable. One object is to get the local agents to make calls 
 as often as once a quarter, until they can linish their woi'k, instead of 
 allowing it to remain unattended to until near the close of the year. The 
 circulars which we send to them, notifying these quarterly meetings, and 
 requesting them to collect money, circulate books, &c., and report what 
 they have done, will have a tendency to secure this result, so that, even if 
 the meeting is a failure, the calling of it will not ha in vain. 
 
 Another object is to save expense, as these jneetings are to be held, 
 generally, without a traveling agent. We shall also secure a better attend- 
 ance, as they can all be held on Sabbaths, while semi-annnal meetings, at- 
 tended by a traveling agent, must of necessity be held luostly on week days. 
 
 Still another object, is by having these meetings in ditferent parts of 
 the society, to bring their influence to bear upon those who would not 
 attend the annual ones away from their immediate neighborhoods. 
 
 Then, also, those Avho deliver the addresses on these occasions will l)e 
 likely to become more interested in the cause themselves, l>y their efforts 
 to interest others. 
 
 We hope, as another result, by committing these meetings to the 
 people — and especially to the officers and local agents — to bring them to 
 feel that the cause is their own — to give them an opportunitj^ of showing 
 that they can do something themselves — to lead them to depend less upon 
 traveling agents, and to make the societies more self-sustaining. 
 
 An objection which may be raised against quarterly meetings is, tiiat 
 they will give the Bible cause undue prominence, and weary congrega- 
 tions by its too frequent presentation. But the same objections might he 
 raised against monthly concerts for missions or Sabbath schools, or indeed 
 against frequent religious meetings of any kind. We need to meet fre- 
 quently to do good as v.'cll as to </et good ; and once in three months i.-- 
 not too often to have our attention called to our indebtedness to the Bible, 
 or our responsiliilities in connection with its circulation. Besides, these 
 quarterly meetings are to be held in dilterent neighborhoods, so that each 
 will generally have but one meeting during the year. 
 
 But the traveling agent, though absent, must be the life and .soul of 
 these meetings, as without his attention they will amount to but little. 
 At the annual meeting he should introduce and reconunend them, stating 
 clearlj?^ the reasons therefor; and if the society votes to adopt them, have 
 the day, time of day, and place of each, decided upon and recorded by 
 the Secretary. 
 
 Unless there are special reasons to the contrary, these u'.eetings had better 
 be held on the first Sabbath of each (juarter of the year — that is (omitting 
 one), on the first Sabbaths of March, June, September and December — so 
 that the agent can send out his notices for one quarter, and thus have 
 this duty off his mind until it is time to send again. Otherwise he nuist 
 be constantly on the qui vive, lest the pro{)er time for mailing the circulars, 
 &c., to a particular society, should pass by. It will also, generally, be 
 better to have them in the afternoon or evening, so that notices can be 
 given in the forenoon of the same day, and so that different congrega- 
 tions can better unite in attending them. 
 
It will be best to have but three quarterl}^ meetings each year, omitting 
 the one for the quarter during which th(^ annual one is usuall}^ held. The 
 propriety of having them in different places should be suggested b}^ the 
 agent, who will malce the necessary memoranda concerning them upon 
 his transcri))ing and abbreviated books. He should also leave a memo- 
 randum of their times and places, with each officer and local agent, blanks 
 having been prepared for the purpose. 
 
 About three or four weeks previous to each meeting he should send 
 circulars to the officers and agents, calling attention to them and to their 
 duties in connection with them. If it will not increase the postage, the 
 notices in these circulars should be fdled out before sending them. If it 
 will, they can be filled out Ijy those who receive them, if you have left 
 with them the quarterly cards, or memoranda, as before suggested. At 
 the bottom of the circulars sent to local agents will be found blanks for 
 their quarterly reports. In the one sent to the Treasurer, or in the let- 
 ters to him, a blank report on a separate piece of paper should be enclosed. 
 The principal danger of the failure of quarterly meetings will be the 
 neglect of the officers to secure speakers and make other necessary ar- 
 rangements. They should, therefore, be instructed with regard to their 
 duties in connection with these meetings by the agent, before he leaves, and 
 reminded of them by letter afterwards. In addition to this it will be well 
 for the agent, with the approbation of the othcers, to secm'c certain min- 
 isters, or other per.sons, to deliver the addresses at the several meetings, 
 and minute their names and post offices on his transcribing book, in con- 
 nection with each, so that he may address them in relation to their en- 
 gagements at a proper time afterwards. 
 
 In connection with the quarterly meetings there will be duties to be 
 performed similar to those heretofore pointed out as devolving upon the 
 traveling agent, in connection with the semi-annual ones. Jlut, as he 
 does not attend the quarterly meetings, he must, by correspondence, se- 
 cure the performance of these duties by others. From the local agent's 
 reports, which have been sent him, or from the lack of such reports, he 
 will be likeh' to know what ones are not efficient, and where changes 
 should be made. He can suggest these changes to the Treasurer, and 
 also the importance of his transferring the subscription books, if any are 
 made, to the new local agents, and informing them of their duties, lie 
 will also request the Treasurer to send him, immediately after the meeting, 
 his quarterly report, with a record of changes, &c., on the back, and also 
 the reports of the local agents. In this way he can be kept informed of 
 what is being done, and will know Ijetter what to do himself in future. 
 This information will be of special use to him in making out his pro- 
 gramme for the next annual meetings. If he finds that a societ}- is effi- 
 cient, and doing its work properly without him, he can arrange his 
 appointments so as to devote but little time to it ; while, if he finds that 
 almost nothing is done in his absence, he will, of course, give it more 
 time in his programme, so as to make up their lack of service by his 
 personal efforts. He should also correspond with the Treasurer in rela- 
 tion to remitting funds, procuring books, itc, and if he cannot get the 
 neces.sary work done by hun, or information from him, should write to 
 some other officer of the society. 
 
 Although we want to make the quarterly meetings general, yot, in 
 some counties, part of the societies may vote to have them, and others 
 only semi-annual ones. In such cases, if the agent attends the latter, he 
 can at the same time pay a hasty visit to such societies as hold quarterly 
 
1>S 
 
 meetings, and do whatever may seem necessary within their l)Ounds. 
 tliough lie does not attend their nieetinfis. If he does not attend the 
 semi-annual ones, they had better be on the Sabbath, as much larger con- 
 gregations can then be gathered. Even if an agent does not attend any 
 meetings except the annual ones, it may be well, if he has tune, to pass 
 rapidly through the various societies, at some time during the year, for 
 the purpose of setting in order anything which may have become disar- 
 ranged, and giving them a new impulse. He can do this to some extent 
 in passing from one portion of his field to another, or in going to and 
 returning from his home. In this case, the plan is to call upon all of the 
 Treasurers and as many of the local agents as possible, and write briel' 
 letters to others, after learning from the Treasurers or their ])Ooks that 
 they have not completed the work. He can also call upon such sub- 
 scribers as he passes, being always careful to inform local agents what he 
 collects, and to request them to collect i'rom others. In this way he can 
 pass through two or three societies daily — gather up funds for the comity 
 society, and impart velocity to machinery which might otherwise remain 
 motionless to the end of the year. 
 
 COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING. 
 
 This is usually held at the close of the labors of the agent in tlie 
 county. He will generally present the cause to the churches at the 
 county seat, and canvass the territory not included in the branches pre- 
 vious to the county meeting. As this is designed for the entii'e county, 
 and partly for the transaction of business, it should occur on a week day. 
 The executive committee should be consulted on the first an-ival of the 
 agent in the county, when the time and place of this meeting shoidd lie 
 decided upon, and when also local agents for the county seat and vicinity 
 can be appointed. 
 
 The interest and usefulness of the county anniversary, and the num- 
 bers present, will dejiend very much upon yourself — upon your tact and 
 zeal in "getting it up." Tlie best way is Avith the assistance of some 
 members of the committee to secure a number of speakers, assigning a 
 topic to each, and then have a quantitj^ of attractive hand bills printed, 
 announcing not only the time and place of the meeting, ])ut the speakers 
 and their themes, and post them as you jiass over the county. In ad- 
 dition to this, the meeting should be published in the county papers, and 
 by clergymen in their desks, from notices furnished b}' j^ourself It may 
 be w ell, also, to refer to the gathering at the meetings of the branch so- 
 cieties, and have delegates appointed, \vith the imdcrstanding, however, 
 that this does not exclude others from attending. 
 
 The meeting having been thus announced, suitable re]iorts should be 
 made ready, the preparation of which will, in some instances, re(iuire 
 j'our assistance for a day or two. The treasurer's report should exhibil 
 the cash received from each branch socict}', the donations at the county 
 seat, the amount from sales in the depository and liy the county agent, 
 llie amoimt from other sources, the aggregate, and disposition made of it. 
 His Depository report should show the amount of books received and 
 the disposition made of them, the amount deliverecl to each Branch So- 
 ciety being reported separately. Following this, should be a statement 
 oi" the account between the County Society and the American. Befon- 
 making out the Treasurer's account, an inventory of the ))ooks on hand 
 should of course be taken, and his accounts bo balanced. 
 
 The Secretary's report should be more general, presenting a history »{ 
 
V 29 
 
 operations during; the year, or during the existence of tlie society-, if 
 thought best ; and embracing some of the main items of the Treasurer's 
 and County Agent's rejiorts. A copy of this should be forwarded to the 
 Parent Socict}'. 
 
 The agent's report should exhibit the results of his labors, and the con- 
 dition of the cause in the county, and should embrace the aggregates of 
 his county summary, v.ith such interesting facts as have lallcn under his 
 observation. The reports should be presented, and the necessary l)usi- 
 ness transacted before the addresses. 
 
 Where the society is in a condidion to make a donation to the A. B. S. 
 it should he suggested, and action taken by the society or its executive 
 committee. This donation can be applied to constitute life members of 
 the Parent Society, and it will be vi^cU for you to present the names of 
 efficient local Agents for this honor. After the meeting, an account of it 
 and of the operations of the Society, should be published in the county 
 papers. This account sliould be so prepared as to make the best im- 
 pression possible. 
 
 A count}^ summary, with a brief statement of what was done at the 
 meeting, atid nanus of all new officers, should be forwarded soon after, 
 by the county agent, to the Agent of the Parent Society. 
 
 In case of a change of county Treasurers, the Agent should l)efon' 
 leaving the county, assist in removing the books and o])ening new ac- 
 counts, and should inform the Ijranch treasurers of such change. 
 
 SUGGESTIONS IN RELATION TO BIBLE MEETINGS. 
 
 Meetings for the formation of branch societies are usually held on ihe 
 Sabbath, as it is dcsiralile to address a good congregation before organ- 
 izing. Matters can be so arranged before hand, that the organization 
 need occupy but a few moments. 
 
 Annual meetings of branch societies should generally occm- on week- 
 day evenings. "Where two are held weekly, Wednesday and Saturday 
 evenings willl be the most appropriate times. Saturday evening \\\\\ 
 generally be preferable to Sunday, at least in villages, for the following 
 reasons: 1st. If we make an appointment while at a distance, for an 
 annual meeting on Sunday, it may interfere with some previous appoiiU- 
 ment. 2d. While the transaction of the business of an annual meeting 
 occupies but little time, and may l)e done on the Sabbatli without sin, if 
 necessary, yet it seems more appropriate for a week day. •'!(!. Although 
 the congregation will be small on Saturday evening, yet if the husines.s 
 is disposed of then, the agent will he more at liberty to present the cause, 
 whenever there may be opportunities, on the following day, and can then 
 state what was done at the meeting, and what has been accomplished Ijy 
 the society. Should there not be enough out at the Saturday evening 
 appointment to transact the business, it can be adjourned to some hour 
 of the Sabbath. But when officers are to be appointed at a Sabbath 
 meeting, or at any other where a good congregation is expected, tlio 
 nomination, as before stated, should Ije made out beforehand, as it is 
 disastrous to the interests of a meeting to keep a large audience waiting 
 I'or bashful men to nominate officers, and selections made at such times 
 are very apt to be injudicious. 
 
 Not only should the business be transacted at the annual meeting, 
 even if but iiew are present, but a l)rief address should be delivered, as il 
 is desirable to make these meetings interesting, that they may be well 
 attended hereafter. The officers are requested in the circulai's to provide 
 
30 
 
 speakers for these occasions, but they often fail to do so, and in such 
 cases the duty will devolve upon j-ourself. The agent should arrange to 
 address two or throe congregatious each Sabbath, if possible. Some 
 times he can make special appointment:; for this purpose, and sometiines 
 can fill the appointments of others, or mal:e a few remarks at the close 
 of their sermons. The ol»jects of these meetings is both to diffuse in- 
 formation and to secure subscriptions. During the fall and winter it 
 may be well to have week evening appointments for lectures, in addition 
 to those at the annual meetings. The agent can write to the treasurer 
 beforehand, stating what evenings, in addition to the one of the annual 
 meeting, he expects to spend within the bounds of the society, and re- 
 questing him to make appointments at such places, other than the one 
 where the annual meeting is held, as he may think best, and inform him 
 on his arrival. But a better course is for each agent to note on the 
 transcribing book (especially for the 1)enefit of his successor, who may 
 be a stranger in the county) the places where sucli meetings should be 
 held, and then the traveling agent can himself decide where he will 
 address congregations on particular evenings, and send notices directlj' 
 to the local agents in those districts. If his county map shows the 
 school districts, it vrill aid him in making his appointments. 
 
 LOCAL AGENTS. 
 These are essential to our system. We cannot do without them ; and 
 yet it will not answer to depend upon them entirely. Some of the county 
 agents, observing the inefficiency of many of the local ones, conclude 
 that it is vain to endeavor to get them to perform the work, and do not 
 take sufficient pains to initiate and superintend tliem. Others rely too 
 much upon them, and do not spend sufiicient time in personal solicitation 
 themselves. The proper course is for traveling agents to steer between 
 these extremes — to spend as much time in personal visitation as possible, 
 and yet so instruct and incite their local fellow-laborers that something 
 will be done after they have left, lie should, of course, exercise good 
 judgment in the apportionment of his time to diiierent parts of a society 
 ■ — spending it where there is the most need of his labors. Where he can 
 find no one upon whom he can depend to do the work, it will be important 
 that he should spend more time in canvassing personally, while in other 
 districts where he can find local agents who will be sure to do it he can, 
 if necessary, leave more in their hands. So far as we can get local 
 agents to do the work and do it right, the expense of agency may be 
 saved, and the spiritual good of those who perform this labor will be 
 promoted. There ought to lie interest enough in the Bible cause in eveiy 
 community to sustain Bible organizations and perform the necessary 
 labor in connection with them without foreign assistance. "While, there- 
 fore, we take things as they are and not as they should be, and while we 
 act upon the assumption that what we do ourselves is done beyond a per- 
 ad venture, and that what we leave otliers to accomplish raay be performed, 
 and may not be, and while we attend to the et ceterns of our work during 
 mornings, evenings, and other leisure moments, so that the unbroken 
 days may be spent in canvassing, yet we should aim to secure the 
 most service j^ossible from tliose wlio serve gratuitously. In order to do 
 this, several things should be kept in view. 
 
 1st. Care should le taken to secure local agents wlio will serve. It will 
 not answer to leave our subscription books with men merely because 
 they were appointed as agents^ .Unless they will agree to perform the 
 
31 
 
 duties of their agency, others should be secured who -will. At an 
 nual meetings it will be v/ell to call for volunteers to act in this capacity, 
 on the principle that volunteer soldiers arc more interested and efficient 
 than drafted ones. After having ])rovided for as many districts as possi- 
 ble in this w.ay, others can be supplied iiy nomination. Our experience 
 is that ladies are generally more faithful and successful solicitors than 
 gentlemen, and they should often bo appointed — especially in compactly 
 settled districts, where they can visit without difficulty. Sometimes both 
 a lady and gentleman are appointed for a single district, so tliat if one 
 neglects the woric the other may attend to it. In such cases, it is 1)etter 
 that they be members of the same family and use the same subscription 
 book. 
 
 2d. Care should he tal-en to imprens upon the minds of the agents the 
 fact thai the. worl: is their own (as it certainly is), and that if we labor 
 together we are helping them instead of their helping us. If they receive 
 this impression they will be much more ready than otherwise' to avail 
 themselves of our assistance, and arrange their business so as to make 
 calls when we can go with them ; whereas, if they get an idea that it is 
 our vrork, the natural conclusion is, that we may attend to it. Their 
 presence with us in our visits is of great importance, not only because 
 we shall thus succeed mucli better than otherwise, but that they may 
 witness our manner of operating, and be better prepared to finish the 
 remaining work. Hence we should always have the male local agents 
 with us in our visits, if possible ; and if we place properly before them 
 their responsibilities, and otfer to help them, instead of asking them to 
 help us, we can generally secure their company. 
 
 3d. We sliould instruct tlie local agents thorougldy icith regard to their 
 duties. Their attention should be called to the explanations and sugges- 
 tions in their subscription books. They should read them before they 
 commence their visits. Tiie^^ should also receive from you such addit- 
 ional explanations and instructions as may be necessary. Hence it is 
 very important that you should have personal interviews with them. If 
 this is impracticable, information can bo communicated to them by letter. 
 But, by all means, never leave their subscription books and reports any 
 v/here but in their ovrn I'amilies or in the post office. If you entrust 
 them to the treasurer, or others, the agent may never get them. 
 
 4th. The local agents shovJd he svpervised and prompted hy you after 
 you hare left. It will not answer for 3-on to leave them without this, for 
 if you do so many of them will accomplish nothing. It is true that tlm 
 constitutions make it the duty of the treasurers t) exercise this supervi- 
 sion, and we induce them to do it, so far as possible; but many of them 
 are as neglectful of tlieir duties as tiie local agents, and unless the latter 
 are reached by you directly they will not be incited at all. 
 
 The plan, therefore, as before stated, is to leave a blank for a report 
 with each local agent, to be filled out snd sent to the treasurer a few days 
 after. Care should always be taken to specify the tim.e of forwarding it, 
 Vjoth in the blanks of the report and verbally, and to write the address 
 of the treasurer upon it. One object of these reports is to get the local 
 agents to perform their work within a specified time, and another that 
 we may know what they have done. After the treasurer has received 
 them and copied the necessary entries into his book, he is to forward 
 them by mail to the traveling agent at the county scat, or such other 
 place as you may designate. On their reception you will copy the addi- 
 tional subscriptions reported into your transcribing book, and add the 
 
results of the labors of tlio aj^cnls in all (lepartiiicnts to tlioso of your 
 own, so as to present at the county meeting a summary of all that has 
 been done in the county, so Ihr as reported. But in many cases you 
 will have to write to the treasiu'crs, repeating your request for the re- 
 ports of the local agents; and will sometimes have to apply to some 
 other officer or to the agents themselves, and even then will probably 
 get fioni only part of them. To those who have not reported it will be 
 im])ovtant that you write brief letters, reminding them of the need of 
 (heir performing their work, and informing the treasurer what they hav^' 
 done. Sometimes you may have to repeat your letters to these agents 
 two or three times l)efore j-ou can get any response, and tinally may 
 lind it necessary to suggest to the treasurer tlte appointment of substi- 
 tutes and transfer of subscription books. All this will, oi' course, re- 
 quire correspondence; but it is utter folly to appoint local agents and 
 leave them to do nothing, and they must be reminded of their duties 
 imtil they will pertbnn them, or give place to others. The traveling 
 agent must remember that he is the corresponding secretary for his dis- 
 trict, and that he is to keep the machinery of a society moving, during 
 his absence, by his pen. Almost all men must be reminded of their 
 duties, or they will neglect to perform them. A letter which can be 
 written in live minutes will sometimes accomplish as nnich for the i-ause 
 as could be performed in half a day by personal effort on the ground. 
 TREASURER. 
 'I'hc oiHce of Treasurer is the most important one in a branch society. 
 He is not only the Treasurer, but the Depositary and Superintendent for 
 the association. The constitution makes it his duty "to superintend the 
 operations of the local ' agents, provide substitutes in tlie case of flic 
 failure of any of them to act efficiently, receive from them what they 
 collect, pay it to the treasurer of the county society, obtain from him the 
 requisite quantity of books, and take the supervision of their circulation." 
 Such being his duties, care should be taken to select the right man for 
 the station ; one who feels an interest in the cause, and wlio Mill be willing 
 to devote the requisite time to the discharge of his duties — one M'ho will 
 not only keep the accounts and books properly, and forward money 
 )n-ompt]y, but who will correspond with the traveling agent, and assist 
 him in keeping the society in operation. It is important, also, that he 
 reside centrall3% and if in a, village, that he have a store, or otlice, or shop, 
 or .some other ]>lace of business, where he and the books can readily be 
 found. The county agent should suggest these things when a man fov 
 the otfice is to be nominated. He should also instruct treasurers as well 
 as local agents with regard to their duties. Tlieir attention should be 
 dii'ected to the article in the constitution delining these duties, and to the 
 card of " Suggestions to Treasurers," one of which should be pasted into 
 each of their books. Also to the printed " specimens of accounts" in 
 the books. 
 
 The name and residence of the county treasurer should be given to 
 each local one, and they shoulil be instructed to forward, to him Bible 
 money whenever they have a lew dollars on hand, and to obtain from 
 him books whenever needed. They should be reminded that books are 
 not to be sold on credit, unless tliey will advance the money, and that 
 the society's funds are not to be borrowed for private ])urposes, but kept 
 sacred until there is an ojipctrtunity to forward them. They should also 
 be instructed fully with regard to the reasons and importance of sending 
 reports and letters to the county agents. 
 
33 , 
 
 AUDITING ACCOUNTS. 
 In addition U> his other duties, the !i.:ront has t() be a sort of cjeneral 
 auditor. Our treasurers are usually c^ood men, hut not always ^ood 
 accountants, and somotimcs neglect to make entries, or inadvertently 
 make wrong ones, which result in loss to the cause unless corrected. 
 The agent should be the guardian of the society's interests in this 
 respect, and hence should be a good accountant, and make himself 
 perfectly acquainted with the method of accounts exhibited in the 
 specimen. The account book of the county society, as well as those 
 of the branches, will usually be accessible to him, and the treasurers 
 will often be glad of his assistance in straightening their accounts. 
 He will, of course, be as ready to point out errors against the treas- 
 urer as against the society, and should be " eagle-eyed " in detecting 
 mistakes on either side. He should see that the books are char"-ed, 
 in the county treasurer's depositary account, at the scllinq prices. 
 Some societies add a tritle to the catalogue prices to cover the ex- 
 pense of transportation, boxes, &c. ; and even where this is not 
 done, the amount of the New York bill is different from the amount 
 of the books at the catalogue prices, as the A. B. S. makes a dis- 
 count to its auxilaries. If, therefore, merely the amount of the 
 bill is charged, the society loses. It will likewise devolve upon the 
 agent to see that whatever books are returned to a treasurer are 
 re-charged in his depositary account, as of course they were cred- 
 ited to him when they went out of his hands. He should also see 
 that all books not otherwise accounted for are paid for in cash. This 
 remark applies to the accounts of agents as well as treasurers. The 
 onlyjproper course is for all who receive books to be charged with 
 whatever come into their hands, and credited with all that aio dis- 
 posed of otherwise than by sale. Then, when a settlement is to be 
 made, add to these credits the books on hand, and subtract the 
 amountlfrom the amount received. This will show what have been 
 sold, which should be credited to balance, and the same amount 
 charged in the treasurer's account as cash for books sold. If par/. 
 of the amount jl has already been credited and charged, then, of 
 course, only the remainder should now be entered. Errors in ac- 
 counts and loss to the societies frequently result from an attempt to 
 keep an account of the sales in a depositaiy, or by the agent, by 
 entering and adding individual items. While thoro is no objection 
 to entering items of sale, and while, in the case of agents, both 
 traveling and local, it should be done, yet it will not answer to depend 
 upon this to ascertain the exact amount, for occasionally a book may 
 be sold and the seller forget to make an entry of it. The only cor- 
 rect plan, therefore, as before stated, is to make every individual 
 who receives books responsible for the whole amount, and require 
 him to pay for all that he cannot show have been disposed of other- 
 wise than by sale. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that our system of book-keeping re- 
 quires two entries, in different accounts, of all money received or 
 books delivered. For instance : if a branch treasurer receives 
 money from a local agent, he credits it to that agent and charges it 
 to himself. If he delivers books to him, he credits himself and 
 charges the agent. So if a county treasurer receives money from a 
 branch society, he credits the society and charges himself. W lie 
 5 
 
34 
 
 pays monpy to tho Amorican Bible Socifity, he charges that society 
 and credits himself. One advantage of this system is, that we can 
 sometimes correct errors in one account by referring to another. 
 But this plan requires the careful inspection of these accounts by 
 the auditor, for treasurers sometimes receive money from local 
 agents or branch societies and credit it in their accounts, without 
 thinking of the importance of also charging it to themselves. The 
 appointment of an auditing committee to inspect accounts without 
 the assistance of an agent, is generally of but little use. Such a 
 committee seldom does much more than to ascertain that the additions 
 and subtractions are correct, while an agent accustomed to our 
 method of accounts, and knowing Avhat has been done, will see that 
 all necessary entries are made. 
 
 OllDERINi; BOOKS. 
 
 This matter will require the attention of tin; county agent in the 
 absence of the general one. Without suggestions from an agent, 
 the executive committees frequently neglect to send for books in 
 time, or if they do order, they very often make injudicious selections. 
 A very common ei'ror is to neglect to send in season for the books 
 to be used by the I raveling agent irltile on the ground. Most of them 
 will be needed at that time, as he replenishes the depositaries and 
 circulates personally. If he does this properly, very few additional 
 ones will be called for by the branch societies until his next visit. 
 It is, therefore, generally unwise to order n large supply at the close 
 of his labors (though a few may be needed), for most of them may 
 remain as idle capital in the depositary for nearly a year, subject to 
 the risk of being injured or destroyed. But if an agent passes 
 through a county during th(^ interim of his annual efforts, then will 
 be the time to consult the committees and see that such books are 
 sent for as will be needed at the time of the annual meetings. If 
 he does not have this opportunity, he can correspond in relation t(j 
 the matter. 
 
 Another error consists in procuring too great a larictij of books, 
 thus perplexing agents and others with a multiplicity of prices, and 
 getting some kinds whicli are unsaleable. The agent's experience 
 will enable him to recommend the proper kinds. 
 
 Still another error consists in ordering too large; a proportion of 
 books in costly bindings thus absorliing the resources of the society, 
 _ or plunging it into debt. The true object of Bible societies is the 
 ^14.^ supply of the destitute, and if t4**i cai)ital and the time of their agents 
 are expended in furnishing high-priced books to the rich at cost, the 
 end for which these associations were organized is defeated. If the 
 American Bible Society adopted the plan of almost all other pub- 
 lishing inslitutious, and charged for its books enough above the cost of 
 manufacture to pay for their circulation, the case would be different ; 
 but as they are sold at about cost, and sometimes never paid for, 
 the more we deal in high-priced books, the more we detract from 
 our ability to supply the destitute. Hence those who want them 
 had better purchase of booksellers, who make a prolit and can afford 
 to sell them. While, therefore, it may be well to have a few books 
 in fancy bindings for the accommodation of those who may call at the 
 county depositary, the bulk of the order should Ije made up of the 
 plainer kinds. A good supply of cheap Bibles and Testaments, for 
 
:^.5 
 
 gratuitous distribution, ought atuucijs to hci on iiand. These we 
 must have, while, although it is well to be supplied with other 
 kinds, the distribution need not lie suspended if we happen to be 
 out of them. 
 
 Sometimes a few books are needed for immediate use sooner than 
 they can be obtained from New York. In such cases, if there is no 
 general depositary on the field, a supply can usually be obtained 
 from some neighboring society. Where this is done, unless they 
 are paid for or returned the amount should be reported to the treas- 
 urer of the parent society, who will credit it to one auxiliary and 
 charge it to the other. 
 
 ADDRESSES, &c. 
 Much depends upon an agent making a good impression by his 
 public speaking. And yet, perhaps not so much upon his abiiitj/ to 
 interest a congregation as upon his pursuing llie right covrse. The 
 following suggestions are therefore offered : 
 
 1st, Addresses should he well prepared. No one should go before a 
 congregation on behalf of an important object without some previous 
 preparation. It is well to lorite lectures occasionally — not that they 
 must be read ; indeed, it is generally best to speak extempore, es- 
 pecially to congregations not accustomed to written discourses. 
 But whether they are read or not, they should be studied beforehand 
 ■ — should be well arranged, and filled with thought and facts. The 
 long winter evenings, when not otherwise occupied, will furnish op- 
 portunities for us to prepare them. We never spend these long 
 winter evenings in social chit-clfat, but are always busy with pen 
 and paper. 
 
 2d. They slioidd he appropriate and tc the point. The plan of 
 choosing a text and preaching a sermon about something else, 
 merely alluding to your work at the close is unjust to the audience 
 and to the cause which you profess to plead. People expect an agent 
 to address them on the subject of his agency, and a Bible agent 
 needs the whole time to present the objects, plans, fields, results, 
 &c., of Bible society efforts. He should, therefore, dash into his 
 subject at once, and if ho can not do so from a text, he had better 
 dispense with its use, 
 
 Jkl. TItey should he brief, seldom exceeding thirty or fort}' min- 
 utes in length. Jf they are too long, the interest of the congrega- 
 tion flags — they become impatient, and the object of the discourse is 
 defeated. Besides considerable time will I^e required at the close 
 of the address for explanations and subscriptions, and it is important 
 that the latter lie taken l»efore any have become wearied and left 
 the house. 
 
 The explanutions should be clear and compridu-nsive, and yet as 
 brief as is consistent. The design, nature, time of payment, &c., 
 of the subscriptions, should be fully set forth. All should be in- 
 vited to pay at the time who can, and others should be informed 
 publicly to whom their pc'iymcnts can be made. 
 
 We should insist upon having the names of all who contribute, and 
 never, unless in very i:)eculiar circumstances, take a mere public 
 collection. Such collections seldom amount to much, and they pre- 
 vent individuals giving respectable sums. Most persons will pay 
 three or four times as much if they write their names, as thev will if 
 
3^ 
 
 tbey coutribute without iloinj^ so. .Moreover, we want to .secure au- 
 uual subscriptions, so fur as iiossiblc, which may be relied on for an 
 income hereafter, and hence need the names of these who give such, 
 whether they are paid at the time or not. 
 
 In taking pledges in public congregations it is necessary that the 
 agent should exercise some supervision and generalship. It will 
 hardly answer for him to sit down in the pulpit and leave tlmse whu 
 circulate the papers to take their own course. He should he down 
 among them, supply them with cards and pencils, assign them ti) 
 ditierent tiers of slips, caution tiiom to write the full names, and 
 plainly ; to mark all paid that should be, to proceed slou-ly and give 
 all a chance, &c. Some men will pass through a congregation in 
 great haste, merely holding the papers at the people as they pass 
 along, and return without anything, while others will go to each in- 
 dividual personally, use a little persuasion, and meet with good suc- 
 cess. AYe have subscription cards for use in public congregations, 
 but if you are not supplied with them, slips of common paper will 
 answer. 
 
 Sometimes men who succeed well in their week-day labors, and 
 can also make a good statement in pul)lic, are not qualified to address 
 fastidious congregations. When this is the case with an agent, he 
 ought to be conscious of it, and secure the presentation of the cause 
 by the pastor, while ho attends to make such remarks as may be 
 necessary at the close, and superintend the subscriptions. Unless 
 he is a good public speaker, this will often be better than for him to 
 deliver a regular address. 
 
 Some of the agents may occupy their fields for several years, but 
 of course will wish to avoid saying things twice to the same con- 
 gregation. Hence it will be well to keep a record of the skele- 
 tons used at each place for future reference. 
 
 We are frequently meeting with statistics and incidents appro- 
 priate to Bible addresses, and yet many of them will pass from our 
 minds unless they are recorded. It is well, therefore, to copy theni 
 into a book and to commit some of them to memory. 
 
 LARGE SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
 
 That the\' are needed, no one acquainted with the magnitude of 
 the work to be accomplished will deny. That they might be given, 
 no one who knows the resources of the professed friends of the 
 Bible, and what large sums they expend uselessly or hoard for their 
 injury and that of their children, will doubt. "But the important 
 question with us is, how can large subscriptions be obtained ?" We 
 reply, the way to secure large sums is to ask for them; and 
 although the entire amount asked may seldom be granted, yet larger 
 sums will often be given than if small ones only were solicited. This 
 has been the e.xi>erienco of almost every successful agent. 
 
 A former agent of G College related that he once obtained 
 
 from one man a donation of 8J5,()U0 for it. He laid before him the 
 origin, history, usefulness, and want.s of the institution, and then, 
 instead of inquiring of him what he would give, asked him for 
 enough to endow a profes.sorship ($I5,0!H)). The man seemed as- 
 tonished at the request, but dropping his head in deep study he 
 thought for a moment, and replied, ''[will gire it."' remarking that 
 
37 
 
 he was iiulebteil to religion and tlio f-hurcli for wliat \w was. Said 
 the agent, " Had I asked liim for a Imndred or iivo hnndred dollars, 
 that is pr<>bal)ly all I should have obtained." 
 
 So in raising funds for the Bible cause. Ask a man for llfty cents 
 and he will not l)e likely to give more. But ask him for thirty, or 
 one hundred and fifty, or five hundred, ov one thousand d(dlarsi and 
 he may give it, or if he doe.s not, lie will be likely to contribute a 
 larger donation than if wo solicited but a small sum at first. Of 
 course we do not mean that all we have to do is merely to ask. We 
 must present motives — must urge men by the true oljject of life — by 
 the right use of property — by the responsibilities that rest upon 
 them — by the value of the Bible — by the condition of the destitute 
 — by the worth of the soul, and by other motives, to be benevolent. 
 In short, we must exhibit some skill in persuading men-, without which 
 we are unqualilied to be soliciting agents. In our applications it is 
 important that wo present the world as our field — a field to be sup- 
 plied with the Bible by the present generation, and that its accom- 
 plishment requires munificent contributions. Instead of telling an 
 audience, or an individual, how much good thirty or fifty cents will 
 do, it is much better to remind them of the good that may result 
 from tim contributions of //i-e, i/iir/y, or one hundred dollars. We 
 must talk about large sums, exhibit the large subscriptions of others, 
 ask for large donatiou.s, raise the ideas of those to whom we apply 
 as high as possible, and then, of course, take what we can get, ex- 
 pressing our thanks for the same, though we may be disappointed 
 in the amount. 
 
 We have some documents in relation to large donations of money, 
 railroad stock, notes, land, &c., which it will be well to send out 
 ahead of us by mail, to prepare the way for our applications. In 
 this case, it is important to keep a list of the names of those to 
 whom we send, and a memorandum of the results of our applications, 
 so as not to send on apply to the same persons twice, unless there is 
 hope of good by so doing. 
 
 LIFE MEMBEBS. 
 
 In accordance with the constitutions of the branch societies, five 
 dollars constitutes a life member — the receiver of the certificate of 
 life membership being entitled to a common bible annually for dis- 
 tribution. You will promote the interests of the cause, by obtaining 
 as many subscriptions of this size as possible, where you cannot 
 secure larger ones. If these are payable annually, some friend of 
 each contributor can be constituted a life member every year, as 
 long as the subscription is paid. You will be furnished with a sup- 
 ply of certificates, and should get the signatures of the President or 
 Secretary, or both, to the requisite number if convenient, and if not, 
 sign them yourself as agent. The exhibition of them will aid you 
 in obtaining life members. They should be filled out by a good 
 penman, and be delivered by j-ourself, whether the subscriptions 
 have been paid or not, as there will be but little danger of their 
 being used to draw books with, until payment is made, as their pos- 
 session may prompt payment, and as, if left with others to be deliv- 
 ered, they may never be received. It will bo well for you to suggest 
 to subscribers of five dollars the idea of cnustituting members of 
 
88 
 
 their families, or otlier friends, instead of themselves life members. 
 tis, if they constitute themselves such, they may after^vards plead 
 their life membership as an excuse for not giving. 
 
 Ten dollars sometimes constitutes a life member of a county so- 
 ciety. AVheu this is the case, it will be well to obtain such sums 
 whenever practicable, and especially at the county seat and vicinity, 
 where there is generally no branch. lUank certiiicates for such life 
 members can be obtained from New York, or if not convenient to 
 get them, those designed for life members of branches will answer. 
 Thirlij dollars constitutes a life member of the American Bible 
 Society, with the privilege of drawing, for distribution, one dollar's 
 worth of Bibles or Testaments annually, and receiving the Annual 
 Report and Bible Society Record. It will be the duty of the agent 
 to secure as many subscriptions of this size as possible, and to ask 
 for them whenever there is the least probability of obtaining them. 
 You will be aided very much in this eifort by having a specimen 
 certificate to exhibit, which will be sent to you on application to 
 Henry Fisher, Bible House, Astor Place, New York, Where the 
 cash cannot be obtained to constitute life members of the Parent 
 Society at the time, pledges may be taken and sent to the general 
 agent, and if a subscriber is unwilling to pledge thirty dollars, paya- 
 ble at once, it may be conditioned to be paid in two or three annual 
 installments. These notes should always be dated, the name and 
 post-office of the individual to be constituted a life member inserted, 
 and the post-oftice, county, and state of the signer, written at the 
 top or bottom of the pledge. The subscribers should ba instructed 
 to forward the installments, as fast as they become due, to the gen- 
 eral agent for the State, or to the treasurer at New York ; and that 
 when the last installment is paid, the certificate will be forwarded 
 by mail. 
 
 One hundred and fifty dollars constitutes a life director of the A. 
 B. S., and you wiH, perhaps, be able to secure some payments or 
 pledges of this amount. 
 
 Y'^ou will do well, also, to suggest, on proper occasions, that the 
 A. B. S. will be glad to receive legacies for the furtherance of its 
 important work, and to inquire of Judges of Probate, or Registers, 
 whether they have wills in their possession in which the Bible So- 
 ciety is interested. 
 
 As before stated, life members and directors of the parent society 
 are entitled to the Annual Reports and to a certain amount of book- 
 every year. The former, on account of the expense of postage, are 
 not often sent, unless applied for, though they can sometimes be 
 obtained at the county depositaries. The hooks can always be ob- 
 tained there, when more convenient than to get them from New 
 York. But in such cases, the amount drawn, with the names of tin- 
 drawers, should be reported to the treasurer of the A. B. S., so that 
 the auxiliary may bo properly credited. It should be made known 
 to members of the parent society, and of its auxiliaries and branches, 
 that the books to be drawn are of the cheaper kinds, for distribution 
 to the destitute, and not for their own use, or as presents to friends 
 already supplied. 
 
 The books to which life member* of brunches, and subscribers of 
 one dollar or more, are entitled, can be drawn from the de- 
 
39 
 
 positories of the societies of whicli they are meinber.s. It is 
 better that they should ^et thorn there than to receive them from 
 the agent. If they are not sufficiently anxious to obtain them to pjo 
 to the depositary for the purpose, they will hardly be likely to dis- 
 pose of them judiciously if placed in their hands. 
 
 CHILDREN'S BIBLE FUND. 
 
 The Americaa lUblc Society devotes a small portion of the "Re- 
 cord" to a " Children's Department." and acknowledges donations 
 to the "Children's Bible Fund." It is very desirable to interest 
 children in the work of spreading the Scriptures, not only on account 
 of the amount which may l)e realized from tliem now, but on account 
 of the good which will result to them, and that they may be trained 
 to contribute cheerfully and regularly hei-eafter. The agent will 
 therefore improve every opportunity of addressing Sabbath Schools, 
 and taking subscriptions in them, for the promotion of this enter- 
 l)rise. These subscriptions will be left with the Superintendent, to 
 be collected by him and forwarded to the Treasurer of the A. B. S., 
 and will be credited to the Sabbath School from whence the money 
 came. 
 
 Money for the " Children's Bible Fund," — that to constitute life 
 members of the parent society, and that to pay for the " Record," — 
 is sent directly to New York, while all other money (except for 
 signs, blank books, &c.,) is paid to the treasurer of the county society. 
 
 In addition to the above, it is well to get subscriptions from chil- 
 dren (with the consent of their parents) at their homes, or by 
 addressing day schools for five or ten minutes, and taking pledges 
 on the spot. They will be pleased with the idea of thus becoming 
 members of the society, and although the sums may not be large, 
 the results of early giving may be seen afterwards in increased and 
 systematic contributions. As these small sums might be used as 
 precedents for adults to give small ones also, if placed on the pages 
 with the others, it will be well to devote one of the last pages of 
 the book to children's subscriptions, and head it with the pen ac- 
 cordingly. Still, these subscriptions need not be so very small, if 
 the agent properly impresses the minds of parents and children 
 with the magnitude of the object, and the importance of liberal do- 
 nations. The contributions of children — except where th(^y give in 
 the capacity of ^abhallL Schools — should go into tlie treasury of 
 the local society, the same as any other money collected by local 
 agents. 
 
 THE RECORD FOR LOCAL AGENTS AND OFFICERS OF 
 BRANCHES. 
 It is very desirable that these fellow-laborers should receive this 
 paper, that they may be reminded, by its monthly reception, of their 
 duties — that they may be interested and informed with regard to 
 the doings of Bible societies, and that they may have specimens to 
 use in obtaining subscribers for the publication. At the close ol 
 the effort in each county, therefore, the traveling agent will forward 
 their names to Mr. C T. Rowe, Bible House, Astor Place, New 
 York, with a request that he will send the " Record" to them for 
 one year. The expense {V2h cents per annum to auxiliaries) will in 
 
40 
 
 almost all cases be cheerfully assumed by those auxiliaries ; and 
 after consulting the county officers, if they do not object, you can, 
 in ordering the papers, request Mr. Rowe to charge them to the 
 county society. If they do object, you can request him to send 
 them free, and it will be done. In case they are to be charged to 
 the auxiliary, the amount (which will be as many times 124 cents as 
 there are agents and ofiicers in the county,) should be credited 
 to the A. B. S. in its account on the county treasurer's book, that 
 this may correspond with the accounts in New York. 
 
 Some complaint has been made at the Bible House that the names 
 and post-offices of those for whom the "Record" is ordered, are 
 written so illegibly that they cannot be deciphered. Also, that the 
 names of subscribers who have paid for the paper are mixed with 
 those of local agents and otliers who receive it at the cost of the 
 county society, so that it is difficult to know how much to charge. 
 We must try to guard against both of these complaints hereafter. 
 It will be well, in ordering '• Records," to state the number to be 
 charged to the county society, the number which have been paid for 
 by subscribers, and the number expected gratuitously. 
 
 ADDITIONAL COUNTY AGENTS. 
 There will frequently be openings for new county agents, and 
 those who are already in the field, and know what qualifications are 
 needed, can aid the general agent very much in securing the re- 
 quisite number of efficient fellow-laborers. You will, therefore, 
 confer a favor by suggesting the agency to such as you deem quali- 
 fied for it, and putting those who wish to engage, in communication 
 with the agent of the parent society. 15ut whoever inti'oduces an 
 agent into this work, touches chords that will vibrate for weal or woe 
 forever, and hence great caution should be used not to recommend 
 men who are unfit for the office. 
 
 COMPLAINTS OF PREDECESSORS. 
 While engaged in your labors, you will occasionally hear C(Mn- 
 plaints of former agents and their operations. Your good sense 
 and your experience will teach you to pay but little attention to 
 these complaints. They often arise from a misunderstanding of the 
 facts, and were the individual against whom they are ui'ged on the 
 ground, he would be able to explain his conduct satisfactorily. You 
 will, therefore, instead of assenting to the justice of these com- 
 plaints, and joining the defamcrs of your predecessor, explain his 
 conduct, and apologise for him so far as is consistent with truth and 
 propriety, remembering that you may in turn be assailed, and the 
 cause and yourself need the like favor from your successor. 
 
 PRINTING. 
 
 Editors and publishers are generally willing to make subscriptions 
 of five, ten, or thirty dollars each, payable in printing. We thus 
 get much of our job printing done without expense to the society. 
 You will please solicit such subscriptions where you cannot get 
 them payable in money, and when successful, ascertain the cost of 
 a certain job, leave a specimen of tin; papers which you wish printed, 
 and get them before leaving the county. Almost any one of our 
 
41 
 
 numerous kinds will come in use, hut the subscription and transcri- 
 bing books are usually printed in Ira-ge ([uantities, aqd furnished by 
 the general agent. If possible, you should read (with great care) 
 and correct the proof-sheet of your job, as otherwise, when you 
 receive the papers, you may he mortified by the numerous errors in 
 them. Such of these papers as you do not need for jour own use, 
 should be delivered to the general agent. Such kinds as you expect 
 to receive from him, should be applied for in time, so that they may 
 reach you before you are entirely out, and all that you will need 
 for some time ahead should be applied for at the same time, so as to 
 save expense. Small packages can ])e best sent by mail, and large 
 ones by express. 
 
 COUNTY AGENTS' POST OFFICES. 
 These should be the county seats, or the head-quarters of the 
 respective County Bible Societies for which they labor. They will 
 be ofteuer at these places than at any other, and can send there 
 frequently from different parts of the county. If they undertake to 
 receive their communications at various post ofBces, they may fail to 
 reach these offices until after they have left the vicinity, and thus cause 
 embarrassment. The General Agent will therefore address you at the 
 post office where the County Depository is located, and it will be 
 well for you to request other correspondents to do the same. Rolls. 
 packages and papers should be inquired for as well as letters, and 
 their reception acknowledged. When you leave the county, a note 
 should be left with the P. M., requesting him to forward mail matter 
 to your next post office. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE GENERAL AGENT. 
 As the Agent of the Parent Society has the general supervision 
 of the entire field, and is responsible for its proper cultivation, a 
 brisk correspondence should be kept up between him and the County 
 Agents. He should also receive the reports or abbreviated books 
 from them promptly, so that he may know what they are doing, and 
 make the necessary suggestions in reply. Unless he does receive them 
 promptly, one of the principal objects of sending them at all is lost. 
 One should, therefore, be mailed to him immediately after the com- 
 pletion of the work in each branch society, with a letter conveying 
 additional information. These letters will, of course, be replied to 
 if necessary, but the non-reception of replies should not prevent 
 the regular transmission of transcribing books and letters as often 
 as once or twice a week. A memorandum should be kept by the 
 County Agent of the books forwarded, so that he may know when 
 all have been sent. It is true that the County Agent receives his 
 salary from the County Societies, but this should make no difference 
 with his intercourse v/ith the Agent of the Parent Society, for the 
 former is most likely indebted to the latter for his situation, and the 
 County Committees and General Agent are supposed to work in har- 
 mony. Besides, no General Agent can carry out any plan on his 
 field unless he has the co-operation of his fellow-laborers, and knows 
 what they are doing. As he gives himself wholly to the work, he 
 is, of course, better prepared to supervise the labors of the County 
 Agents than are the Executive Committees ; and as this supervision 
 Q 
 
4:2 
 
 i.s designed for the benefit of both Agents and Societies, all parties 
 generally assent to it cheerfully. Even if the Superintendent has 
 occasion sometimes to point out errors, it should not give offence, as 
 all are liahle to commit them, and " those who tell us our faults may 
 be our best friends." In addition to the results of the Agent's la- 
 bors, there are many other things connected with the Bible cause 
 which the Superintendent needs to know, and which will occur to 
 the County Agents when penning their communications. Especially 
 should they report the doings ofeach County meeting or Committee 
 meeting which they attend and the General Agent does not, and 
 after each County annual meeting, send him the names of all new 
 officers, including the Vice Presidents and Directors. When letters 
 are written to the General Agent, his unanswered ones should be re- 
 read, and the information which he has requested in them communi- 
 cated. 
 
 THE BIBLE AGENT A HOME MISSIONARY. 
 
 While we are intent on raising funds for the Bible cause, we must 
 remember that this is not our whole duty. There is not only a busi- 
 ness part, but a missionary part to our work. The ultimate object 
 is to do good. Hence, while funds must be raised, every Agent is 
 expected to pay particular attention to the circulation of books, 
 and especially to the supply of the destitute. Notwithstanding all 
 that has been done in previous years, there are probably one million 
 of families, or five millions of individuals in our country destitute 
 of an entire cojiy of the Scriptures, many of whom will remain in 
 this condition, unless sought out and supplied by Agents. We 
 must, therefore, be particular to inquire into the wants of families 
 wiih regard to the Scriptures, and see that they are supplied by 
 sale or gift. We must be sure that every family has a %ohole Bible, 
 and, in addition to this, that ever}'- domestic, or boarder, or child, 
 able to read, has either a Bible or Testament of his or her own. It 
 will not answer to make the circulation of books a mere incidental 
 matter. We must exhibit them, and explain the extent to which the 
 Society wishes to go in the supply. 
 
 In addition to the circulation of books, we can do much good by 
 speaking of their value, urging their perusal and a conformity to 
 their requirements, especially when placed in the hands of children. 
 We can also do much good by religious conversation and prayer, — 
 especially in families whose hospitalities we share, and in those who 
 are destitute of religious privileges — by speaking in Conference 
 meetings — by addressing Sabbath Schools, and by improving the 
 hourly opportunities of usefulness with which we are favored. We 
 enjoy opportunities of usefulness such as are possessed by few — 
 and these golden opportunities of making our fellow men better and 
 happier, fully compensate for the privations and hardships connected 
 with our work. Hence, one of the most important qualifications for 
 a Bible Agent is ardent piety — not ostentatious, and yet so perva- 
 ding that it will be manifested to all with whom he comes in contact. 
 Such an individual will accomplish much good in addition to the cir- 
 culation of the Sdriptures, and in his succeeding visits will be wel- 
 comed by Christians to their homes and their confidence. We m.ay 
 be very successful as Agents, so far as appears upon paper, and yet 
 if we have not manifested the spirit of Christ in our labors — if we 
 
43 
 
 liave not left the impression that we ai-e good men, striving to do 
 good, it might have lieon better for the cause if we had never been 
 connected with it. But whih? it is important to do good personally, 
 it is not best to have long conversations with those who cavil with 
 regard to the Bible or the Bible cause. Wo cannot afford the time, 
 and such conversations seldom result in much good. We had better 
 leave a tract for them to peruse after we have gone, while we spend 
 our time where our efforts v.'ill not be in vain. 
 
 Permanence, Perseverance and Devotion to the Work. — 
 It is very important that those who labor in the Bible cause on the 
 plan heretofore proposed, should make the agency a business for at 
 least some years, if not a profession for life. The cause suffers bv 
 frequent changes of agents. The Bible work, as well as almost any 
 other, requires experience. After having secured and initiated an 
 agent for a field, we want to feel that it is provided for. for future 
 years, as well as the present. He can frequently do better on it in 
 succeeding years than the first, on account of his acquaintance with 
 the people, and the geography of the country, as well as on account 
 of his increased acquaintance with the work. 
 
 Especially, do we need to depend upon agents to fulfill their 
 engagements. There seems, sometimes, to be a want of feeling of 
 moral obligation to do as agreed. We have been sorely perplexed, 
 and the Bible cause very much injured by agents violating their 
 engagements and leaving their work before the completion of coun- 
 ties which they had agreed to canvass. On some occasions, after 
 having spent much valuable time in preparing the way for agents 
 and instructing them with regard to their duties, and after having 
 made 2'>ositivc arrangements with them to perform the work in cer- 
 tain counties and depended upon them to do it, they have suddenly 
 left without any seeming compunctions of conscience or regard for 
 the obligations which they had assumed, and we have been under 
 the necessity of letting the machinery stop until we could find and 
 initiate another man, and then have it managed by an inexperienced 
 agent. The proper time to resign, if at all, is at the close of an 
 effort in a county, and not in the midst of it. We must therefore 
 remind those who lack perseverance, and who are disposed to change 
 their employments frequently, that after having agreed to canvass a 
 county, it is for their own interests, as well as for those of the 
 Society, that they complete their engagements, unless honorably 
 released. Otherwise the Society will bo under no moral or legal 
 obligation to pay even for the time actually spent. The injury to 
 the cause will frequently be as much as his time was worth. If 
 unforseen circumstances render it impossible for an agent to proceed, 
 there will be no difficulty in getting released, and receiving pay for 
 the labor previously performed. But the mere fact of a disinclina- 
 tion to labor in tl»e cause, or, of an opportunity to secure more 
 lucrative employment, will hardly be considered a sufficient reason 
 for allowing the work to stop, or committing it to a now man. 
 
 It is also important that agents should arrange their affairs so as 
 to devote themselves wholly to the work. If their attention is divi- 
 ded between their own business and that of the Society, both will 
 be likely to suffer. We generally ne^d, and can find employment 
 
44 
 
 for good agents tliroughout the entire year, and they will find it for 
 their pecuniary interests, as well as for the good of the Bible cause, 
 to have as few deductions from their salaries on account of absence 
 from the work as possiltle. 
 
 PUNCTUALITY. 
 
 Our system makes it necessary that our appointments be made 
 weeks or months beforehand, Jind that our work in each Society 
 should be performed at a particular time, and not merely when it 
 happens to be convenient. If that time passes by, there is no other 
 for it, as the remainder of the yqhv is assigned to other places. 
 Moreover, a th e i * machinery is so connected, that the failure of a 
 single wheel to perform its part, may derange the operations of 
 many others. Hence, when an agent has engaged to be at certain 
 places at certain times, no slight obstacle should deter him. li' 
 home is to be visited, or business attended to, it must be provided 
 for in the programme. And when the programme is made, a little 
 rain, or cold, or mud, must not prevent his filling it. It is well for 
 agents to be provided with covered vehicles, so as to be able to 
 travel in all kinds of weather. In case of the sickness of an agent, the 
 best arrangement possible should be made to keep up with the work. 
 Sometimes he can get a good man to take his place for a few days, 
 laboring under his supervision and receiving his wages. But in 
 such case, if he can remain in the county until he recovers, and 
 superintend the operations of his assistant, on the ground, it will 
 generally be better than to travel fifty or one hundred miles to reach 
 his home, thus exposing himself in his journey and leaving the 
 cause to suffer during his absence. 
 
 CONVEYANCES. 
 
 In portions of the country snow frequently falls to such a depth 
 as to make it difficult to proceed with a buggy, and yet does not 
 remain long enough to render it safe to venture far with a cutter, or 
 to depend long upon it. In such cases the best course is to get 
 plank runners (which can be made after the snow falls in a few 
 hours, and at trifling expense,) and attach the buggy, box and thills 
 to them. When the sleighing leaves', the runners can be sold or 
 abandoned without much loss, and the use of the wheels resumed. 
 In other portions farther south, the difficulty, especially during the 
 winter and spring, is on account of the mud which for weeks to- 
 gether, renders it impossible to travel with speed or pleasure. 
 Hence, the agent should be provided witli a pair of large saddle- 
 bags as before suggested, and go on horseback whenever necessary-. 
 In this way he can with less detriment to his horse, frequently visit 
 twice as many families in a day, and accomplish twice as much for 
 the cause as if he attempted to drag his buggy through the mud. 
 Sometimes it may be best to leave the buggy at the county seat, 
 and sometimes for the sake of replenishing the depositories and 
 saddle-bags, to take it from one branch Society to another, leaving 
 it with the Treasurer while visiting difi'erent parts of the Society on 
 horseback. But whenever the state of the roads will permit, it 
 will be better to travel with a buggy or on runners, not only foi-" the 
 
45 
 
 purpose of oarryincr a larp^or supply of liooks, but the local an:ents 
 also. 
 
 MAPS. 
 
 A pjood outlino map of each county is essential for the guidance 
 of the agent in his work. It can be best commenced at the count}' 
 seat, where the necessary information can be obtained, and where a 
 county map can generally be copied from. It should show the con- 
 gressional townships, names and boundaries of the towns or precincts, 
 names and bounds of the Bible Societies, when different from those 
 of the towns, the head quarters of the same, with the school dis- 
 tricts, the villages, principal streams, &c. The head quarters of 
 the Societies and the names or numbers and boundaries of thi- 
 school districts, can be ascertained and marked from information 
 which you obtain wliile visiting the branches. Tlie paper should be 
 large enough to admit noting all these things upon it plainly. Sucli 
 a map will be of great use to you and your successors, and should 
 l)e consulted often. It will guide you in reaching the Treasurer 
 and local agents of each Society with the least travel, and will 
 enable you to know what school districts should be provided for and 
 visited. A copy of this should be forwarded to the General Agent, 
 while the original should be kept safely with the transcribing books, 
 and handed over with them when you discontinue your labors. 
 
 ARTICLES FOR THE PRESS. 
 
 The editors of newspapers, secular as well as religious, are gen- 
 erally willing to lend the use of their columns for the promotion of 
 the Bible cause. Such Agents as are qualified to write for the pub- 
 lic should adopt this method of increasing their usefulness. In 
 addition to programmes and notices, it will be well to publish, occa- 
 sionally, brief articles in relation to our work. Sucli articles, if 
 properly prepared, will serve as a favorable introduction to the peo- 
 ple, and pave the way for calls upon them. But care should be 
 exercised, as otherwise they may do more harm than good. They 
 should not be of a nature to give offence or provoke controversy. 
 Especial care should be exercised in the preparation of the reports 
 of meetings and the doings of societies. Instead of a verbatim re- 
 port, embracing all the dry details, it is much better to write a gen- 
 eral article, bringing out such facts, and sucli only as are calculated 
 to make a good impression on behalf of our cause. 
 
 EFFORTS AMONG FOREIGNERS. 
 The number of European immigrants in the United States, and 
 their destitution of the Scriptures— the good resulting from their 
 circulation among them, and the willingness of such as aro Protest- 
 ants to contribute for their circulation, justify increased attention 
 from us. The Protestants are almost universally willing to con- 
 tribute to the Bible cause, when it is properly explained to them. 
 Although their gifts are not large, yet a larger proportion of tliem 
 subscribe than in congregations of Americans. Tlie proper way to 
 present the cause to them by those who cannot speak their language, 
 is to make some explanatory statements in English (which some of 
 tliem will understand) at the close of a sermon from their pastor, or 
 
4:0 
 
 in place of it; then have him follow you with a similar statement in 
 the language of the people adcli'essod, and thou rirculate slips for 
 subscriptions. Such subscrii^tions had better be transient until 
 they become better acquainted with our operations. In all places 
 where there are foreigners, we should inquire if there are not con- 
 gregations of them which we can address, and see their pastors and 
 make arrangements to do so if possible. Nor should they be neg- 
 lected in our family visitations. If jiracticable, one of their own 
 number, who speaks also the English language, should accompany 
 us on these occasions. We shall thus, in addition to raising some- 
 thing for the cause, be able to supply the Biblical wants of these 
 foreigners. There is generally a gi;eater destitution among them 
 than among Americans, and hence their supply should receive more 
 attention. Unless already acquainted, we should always enquire, 
 previous to visiting branch societies, whether there are foreigners in 
 them, for whom a supply of Scriptures should be taken out. 
 
 SUPPLY OF CRIMINAL AND HUMANE INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 There is generally in each county a jail and a poor-house. The 
 inmates of these institutions require the visits of the Bible Agent 
 annually. No classes need the Scriptures more, and perhaps none 
 will be more likely to be benfitted by them. We should attend 
 to their supply'' in every county which we visit. ■ * 
 
 CIRCULATION OF BIBLES BY TRACT COLPORTEURS 
 - AND OTHERS. 
 
 Notwithstanding the efforts of Bible Societies, the Colporteurs of 
 Tract Societies usually find some forty thousand families, every 
 year, destitute of the Scriptures. They dislike to leave them in this 
 condition, and frequently apply to the Depositaries of County Bible 
 Societies for books for their supplj^. As there is no danger of cir- 
 culating too many Bibles, and as these Colporteurs may supply some 
 who would bo missed by Bible Agents, it is well to encourage -these 
 applications and to advise Bible Committees and Depositaries to 
 furnish the needed books of the cheaper kind. But it should be 
 understood that those who circulate them are to return to the De- 
 positories what are left, and the money received for those sold, with 
 a report stating the disposition made of those not returned. Tlie 
 same remarks apply to applications of Pastors for books to circulate, 
 which should also be encouraged. 
 
 ANNUAL REPORTS, &C., OF THE A. B. S. 
 
 The object of these is to diffuse information in relation to the doings of 
 the Society, and increase an interest in the circulation of the Scriptures. 
 A few are usualy sent with tlie Bibles and Testaments ordered to eat-h 
 auxiliary. Sometimes a quantity is also sent to the General Agent to be 
 placed in the hands of his fellow-laborers for circulation. These, together 
 with what you may lind in the County Depositories should be sold so far 
 as practicable, l)ut sometimes given to Clergymen and other prominent 
 friends of the Society. The price is 25 cts., which about covers the cost. 
 When thty are purchased they will be more likely to he read than if re- 
 ceived without pa}', and the money will help defray the expense of publl- 
 
47 
 
 ration. If you will ahvays have one of these in your basket of hooks, and 
 exhibit it, you can sell many of tliem. Whatever is received for them 
 should be sent to tlie General A^ent, Avho will remit to New York. In 
 addition to Reports you will often find in the County Depositor}^ other pu))- 
 lications of the A. 1j. S. such as " Addresses at Anniversaries." "Bible 
 Society Manuals," <tc., which should be taken out and distributed by you. 
 'fhey are printed to do good, but may remain in tb.e deiiositorics until 
 destroyed, unless circulated by the traveling agents. 
 
 COUxNiTY SUMMARIES. 
 
 These are designed to present a concise view of the doings of the agent 
 in each branch Society, and also the aggregate results of his laboi-s in the 
 county. They arc made out by entering tlie summaries of the branches sepa- 
 rately, and adding them to get the aggregate. This addition should al- 
 icays he made 7>ij the County Ageiit. To this should >»e added what has 
 been done by tlie local agents so far as reported. In the fore part of the 
 form are blanks for his book and cash accounts, and on the last page, 
 blanks for "items from the County Treasurer's account." One of these 
 County Sunnnaries should be be exhibited to the Secretary before the 
 annual meeting, that he may obtain item.s from it for his report. This 
 should be left with him or the Treasurer. Another should Ije forwarded 
 to the General Agent with the names of all the County Officers, vtc, ijii- 
 mediately after the meeting. If a County Agent attends semi-annual 
 meetings, or Labors in a County during the interim of annual ones, he 
 should also send a County Summary-, and a copj- of book and cash ac- 
 count to the General Agent at the close of the effort. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 A Bible Agent is supposed to know all about Bible Society operations, 
 and should be able to answer almost any question concerning them, which 
 may be asked. Hence, he will tind it useful to have the " History of the 
 American Bible Society'," written by Rev. W. P. Strickland, formerly one 
 of the Society's Agents, and its general correctness endorsed by secreta- 
 ries Brigham and Holdich. He will also find its facts of use in the pre- 
 paration of addresses. It is a large octavo volumne, published by the 
 Messrs. Harpers, New Y'ork, and sold at $1,50, with perhaps a discount 
 to agents. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 
 
 1st. When you settle with the Treasurers of Branch Societies, 
 the papers in their possession, should be examined — such as are of 
 no farther use, destroyed, and such as can be used hereafter, taken 
 into your possession. 
 
 2d. Whatever printed papers, subscription books, &c., you have 
 left when you discontinue your Agency, should be returned to the 
 General Agent. These papers, of course, cost money, and should 
 not be wasted or lost. 
 
 3d. Bible Society money should always be kept separate from 
 the money of the Agent, a different pocket being used for each, so 
 t-hat any error in accounts can be ascertained by counting the cash 
 on hand. 
 
 4th. Y"ou v/ill sometimes be able to purchase Home Missionary 
 drafts of Ministers. It will be well to do so when you can, the 
 draft being handed to the Treasurer instead of so much money. 
 
" 48 
 
 5th. The time for which you will be expected to charge, will be 
 that actually spent in the service of the Society, not including that 
 occupied in getting to the county, or that spent out of it after- 
 wards. This is the course pursued by Teachers, Mechanics, and 
 indeed almost every class, who are paid by the week or the month. 
 
 6th. Your neccssai'y traveling expenses will bo box'ne by the 
 Society, but they should be as little as possible, and if you take the 
 right course, avoiding public houses, yon will generally be enter- 
 tained gratuitously. It will be better generally, to seek the hospi- 
 tality of laymen than of ministers, for the former are usually better 
 able to afford it, and the latter have much other company. You 
 will, of course, endeavor to make yourself a welcome guest, and 
 not cause unnecessary trouble. If you take care of your horse 
 yourself, he will not only often fare better, but those who entertain 
 you will be better pleased. They will also he better pleased if you 
 rise early and commence at once the duties of the day, either by 
 writing or otherwise, than if you slumber until late, or remain un- 
 employed while meals are being prepared. 
 
 7th. Y^our bill for expenses will include what you pay for toll, 
 postage, stationery, &c., but not washing. 
 
 8th. Y'our wages can be drawn as fast as earned if necessary, 
 but an agent should be careful never to orerdraw under any circum- 
 fitances. The amount of your salary should not be made too public, 
 if it can with propriety be avoided. 
 
 9th. The matter on the printed papers, a s Avell as in the "Guide," 
 should not only be read but studied, so that you will become per- 
 fectly familiar with the -use to be made of them. They should bo 
 kept without being rumpled, and the different kinds in separate par- 
 cels. It will be much better to carry them in Jlat packages than in 
 rolls. 
 
 10th. Each Agent should have a small book containing the ac- 
 counts between tlie auxiliaries on his lield and the American Bible 
 Society. He should get the Dr. or Cr. balance at a given date 
 from the General Agent or the Treasurer at New Y^ork, and after 
 entering it should also charge the auxiliary from time to time, with 
 the books and records purchased, and credit it Avith the remittances. 
 He can thus at any time, inform the Society of the state of its 
 account at New Y'ork. 
 
 11th. Many of our printed papers are of the size of a sheet of fools cap, 
 so folded as to make IG pages, — too large to be enclosed conveniently in a 
 common envelope. , The General Agent v/ill, therefore, if you request, fur- 
 nish envelopes the size referred to, to 1)0 used in transmitting transcribing 
 books, county summaries, etc., to him. 
 
 12th. When a Society has been organized, the work in it should 
 be completed, and the book sent to the General Agent, before labor- 
 ing much, if any, elsewhere. It is bad policy to go back two or 
 three times to linish up. 
 
 13th. On the transcribing book and abbreviated transcribing book 
 for the head-quarters of the County Society, please enter the names 
 of the Vice Presidents and Directors, as well as those of the other 
 officers. 
 
 14th. County Agents, sometimes tlirough inadvcrtance, re^jresent 
 themselves as Agents of the American Bible (Society, which of course 
 
40 
 
 they arc not, hut of the various Couuty Societies, for whieh they lahor. 
 This is uot only a misrepresentation, hut it makes the imi)ression that 
 there are too many Ag;ents of the Anieriean Bible Society, and when an 
 Agent of the Parent Society labors in any place, the people cannot un- 
 serstancl why there should be two Agents of the same Society in the 
 dame county. 
 
 loth. In some cases there is not cave enough exercised to learn the 
 Post Offices of Officers and Agents of Branch Societies, but they are in- 
 ferred without asking. Hence, we pay postage on many circulars, &c., 
 which never reach those to whom they are directed. The Post Office of 
 each Officer and Agent should be learned from the individual Jiimself, or 
 from those who are certain to know, unless the traveling agent is certain 
 beforehand. 
 
 16th. Some agents have seemed to suppose that when they failed to 
 have a meeting, they must postpone the work. This is not the case, as 
 the work can be done if necessary, without a meeting, and should be per- 
 formed during the time allotted to it in the programme. The meeting is 
 of less importance than that the agent perform the work pointed out in 
 the guide. The necessary results can not be secured unless he visits 
 from house to house himself, and if he will do this, something will be ac- 
 complished w-hethcr a meeting can be held or not. He can also get the 
 Society to work even without a meeting, so that something will be done 
 after he leaves. 
 
 17th. The importance of having the nature of the annual subscriptions 
 fully understood, is so great that every agent is solicited to read carefully 
 the suggestions relative to this matter, and to refer to them often. 
 
 18th. Please send to the General Agent from time to time, the names 
 and post offices of wealthy friends of our cause, so that they may be furn- 
 ished with documents that will keep alive their interest, and perhaps in- 
 duce liberal conti-ibutions. 
 
 19th. Please also furnish statements of any interesting incidents con- 
 nected with the Bible cause suitable for publication in the Record, or else- 
 where. 
 
 20th. Should there be anything in this pamphlet, or in the mode of 
 operating, not fully understood, and should you need additional informa- 
 tion, the General Agent will be happy to impart it, on being informed 
 of the fact. 
 
 Finally, the Bible Agent should have his heart in the work, and 
 endeavor, by every consistent method, whether suggested in the fore- 
 going observations or not, to promote the interests of the cause to 
 which he has pledged his time and his energies. 
 

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ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 American Bible Society, its method of operating, - - - 1 
 
 Agents, need of - - - - - - - 3 
 
 Accounts, method of keeping tlieni, - - - - - 19 
 
 " specimens of - - - - - - oO 
 
 " auditing, - - - - - . . 83 
 
 Addresses should be well prepared, - - - - 35 
 
 " should be appropriate, - - - - - 35 
 
 " should be Ijricf, - .... 35 
 
 ' explanations in connection with - - - - 35 
 
 " should be recorded, - - - - - 3r> 
 
 Articles for the Press, - - . - - - 45 
 
 Annual Reports of the A. B. S., - - - - - 46 
 
 Annual Meetings, to be held by a programme, - - ■ "21 
 
 " " how notified, - - - - ' - 22 
 
 " " accounts to be settled in connection with - 22 
 " " order of exercises at .... 23 
 
 " " tnisiness of should be transacted, even if but few 
 
 are present, - - - - - 23 
 
 " " records of - - - - - - 23 
 
 " " duties of agent after . ... 23 
 
 Bibles and Testaments, when to be exhibited, - - - 10 
 
 " " " should not be sold on credit, - - 17 
 
 " should be ordered judiciously, - - 34 
 
 Branch Societies, their importance, - - - - 1 
 
 Bible Society Record, subscriptions to - - - - 17 
 
 " " for agents and officers, - - - 39 
 
 " " care in ordering it, - - - - 40 
 
 Ulank Books, their form and cost, - - - - 19 
 
 Bible Meetings, when held, - - - - - - 29 
 
 " extra ones, ..... 30 
 
 County Agents, their duties and qualifications, - - - 5 
 
 " their appearance and l)ehavior, - - - (5 
 
 " '■ should l)e Home Missionaries, - - - 42 
 
 " '' should be persevering, - - . . 4;', 
 
 *' " rapid tours of - - - - - 28 
 
 '' " corresponding secretaries for theii' fields, - 5 
 
 " " additional ones, - - - - - 4U 
 
 " " post-offices, - - - - - 41 
 
00 
 
 I'.V.K- 
 
 County Annual Meeting, when held, - - . - 28 
 
 " " " how prepaiofl for. 2S 
 
 " " " duties after it, - - . o'.) 
 Complaints of predecessors, - - - . -to 
 Children's Bible fund, ---... ;]»( 
 
 Conveyances, ------- 44 
 
 Circulation of books by others, - - - . . ^t; 
 
 County summaries, ------ 47 
 
 Documents, -------- 7 
 
 Destitute, care not to wound their feelings, - - - jc, 
 
 " should ha iiu^p:pY\l^<\ thoroughly, - - . - u; 
 
 Efforts among foreigners, ------ 45 
 
 General Agent, his duties and (jualitications, - - - - 4 
 
 " " correspondence with - - - .41 
 
 History of the A. B. 8., - - - - - - 47 
 
 Local Agents essential to the system, - - - - :jit 
 
 " " errors of county agents with regard to tliem, - - 30 
 
 care in their selection, - - - - 30 
 
 volunteers should be solicited, - - • ol 
 
 " " females preferable, - - - - - ;jl 
 
 " should understand that the work is ^A<?iVa(r«. - - ;jl 
 
 " should be instructed thoroughly, - - .■',1 
 
 " should be required to report, - - - • "il 
 
 should be addi'essed by letter, - - ;j-2 
 
 Life Members of branch societies, - - - - - 37 
 
 " " of county societies, - - - - 38 
 
 " of the A. B. S., - - - - - 38 
 
 Life Directors, ------ ;i!> 
 
 Legacies, - - - - - - - 38 
 
 Maps, - - ----- 45 
 
 Outfit, !• 
 
 Organization of societies, and labors in connection with them, - 10 
 
 Pamphlets, - - - - - - - - 17 
 
 Public collections should be avoided, - - - - 35 
 
 Punctuality, - - - - - - - - 44 
 
 Printing, - - - - - - 40 
 
 Quarterly Meetings preferable to semi-annual ones, - - - 26 
 
 " " their objects, - - - - • 26 
 
 " " to be held without an agent, - - - 26 
 " " agent to perform his duties in connection with 
 
 them by coiTespondencc, - - - 26 
 
 Subscriptions, annual, their advantages, - - - - 2 
 
 " " importance of explaining their nature, - 14 
 
 "' " method of collecting them, - - 14 
 
56 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 13 
 36 
 14 
 14 
 36 
 18 
 24 
 24 
 25 
 
 Subscriptions, obtaining new ones, . - - 
 
 " obtaining large ones, . . - - 
 
 " ([uarterly . . . . - 
 
 " optional or transient . . . - 
 
 '' superintendenceof obtaining them in public, - 
 
 Subscription Bonks to be left with local agents 2}C.rsonaUi/, 
 
 " " when new ones should be made, - 
 
 Subscription and Transcribing Books should correspond, 
 Semi-Annual Meetings, their objects, - - - - 
 
 " " duties of agents in connection with them, 25 
 
 Supply of criminal and humane institutions, - - - 4C 
 
 Signs, -------- 19 
 
 Transcribing Books, when made, - - - - - 20 
 
 " " how disposed of, • - - - 21 
 
 Treasurer, duties of his office, - - - - - 32 
 
 '' importance of his oflBce, - - - - 32 
 
 " should be selected judiciously, - - - - 32 
 
 " should be properly instructed, - - - - 32 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS: - - - - - 47 
 
 Synopsis. — 1st. Old papers ; 2d. Papers should be returned ; 3d. Bi- 
 }>le money to be ke_pt by itself; 4th. Home missionary drafts ; oth. 
 The time to be charged for ; 6th. Traveling expenses ; 7th. AYhat 
 expenses do and do not include ; 8th. Drawing wages ; 9th. Printed 
 papers should be studied and taken care of ; 10th. Accounts with 
 the parent society ; 11th. Large envelopes ; 12th. The work in each 
 branch to be completed before leaving it ; 13th. County transcribing 
 book to contain the names of all the officers ; 14th. County agents 
 not agents of the parent society ; 15th. Post-offices of officers and 
 local agents ; 16th. Work can be done without a meeting ; 17th. 
 Annual subscriptions ; 18th. Names of wealthy friends ; 19th. Inter- 
 esting incidents ; 20th. Additional information. 
 
DATE DUE