I 
 
 BV 2370 .N53 W3 1858 
 Watson, Alexander, 1815? 
 
 1865, 
 History of the New York 
 
HISTORY 
 
 -. ■ 6 iO?l 
 
 i/ 
 
 NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY, 
 
 FBOM ITS ORIGIN IN 1823 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 ^ 
 
 By ALEXANDER WATSON. 
 
 C03IPILED CHIEFLY FROM THE RECORDS OF THE SOCIETY, BY 
 REQUEST OF ITS OFFICERS AND MANAGERS. 
 
 NEW YORK 
 ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, 683 BROADWAY 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The following brief record of the origin and growth of the 
 New York Bible Society was undertaken, as stated in its title, 
 at the request of the Officers and Managers of that society. 
 
 It was originally intended to form an appendix to the thirty- 
 fourth Annual Report, but, although condensed in its details as 
 closely as seemed at all compatible with tolerable clearness of 
 statement, it unavoidably grew to such a length as to preclude 
 its publication with the report. 
 
 The Printing and Publishing Committee of the Board, to 
 whose judgment, in connection with some additional members 
 pro tem.j the matter and mode of publication was referred, by 
 their Chairman, C. A. Davison, Esq., recommended that it be 
 issued in the form in which it is now presented ; as calculated 
 not only to interest the numerous friends of the society, but also 
 to form in some sense a manual of information, particularly for 
 new members of the board, who, under the peculiar limitations 
 of the 6th article of the constitution, come in annually, and not 
 unfrequently constitute a pretty large proportion of the whole 
 number of managers. 
 
 Most of the statements of fact have been derived from the 
 official records of the society, but for the circumstances pre- 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 ceding its organization the compiler is indebted to Messrs. 
 Frederick Bull, and Walter M. Smith, Esquires; while a few 
 extraneous facts referred to in connection with its early history 
 have been derived from Annual Reports of the American Bible 
 Society, files of the New York Observer, and a volume of the 
 Missionary Register. 
 
 The various items that are inserted somewhat out of their 
 regular order of time will be found included in brackets, to dis- 
 tinguish them from the current narrative. 
 
 The spirit of prayerful and unselfish devotion to the Master's 
 work, which crops out everywhere in the records of the society, 
 constitutes the strong primitive basis of its entire organization. 
 This at first interested the writer in perusing the details of its 
 work, and has made the preparation of this unambitious sketch 
 a labour of love. Should it prove in any degree useful, the re- 
 w'ard of that labour will be complete. 
 
 For the opinions implied or incidentally expressed in the 
 work, the compiler, so far as he is aware, is alone responsible. 
 The normal relations of Principal (or Parent, though the w^ord 
 is infelicitous) and Auxiliary, in all voluntary associations for 
 the purposes of Christian benevolence, is a matter of deep and 
 general interest to the Christian community ; and the convictions 
 expressed at the close of this narrative, in reference to the 
 arrangement equitable and desirable for this society, extend 
 equally to all other similar societies in healthful existence ; and 
 the practical recognition of the principles involved in them is 
 \dewed as essential to the happiest and most efficient action in 
 every great department of associated Christian efibrt. 
 
HISTORY 
 
 NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY, 
 
 182 3. 
 
 This society, originally known as the "Young 
 Men's New York Bible Society," like most of the 
 important benevolent enterprises of our age, sprang 
 out of an awakened religious feeling in the com- 
 munity in which it had its birth. 
 
 At the opening of the year 1822, an interesting 
 and powerful work of Divine grace was in prog- 
 ress in one of the largest and most influential 
 Presbyterian Churches in the city (the Rev. Dr. 
 Spring's), which, having commenced early in the 
 winter, continued through the spring of that year, 
 extending, in a greater or less degree, to other 
 churches and congregations. As the first-fruits of 
 this outpouring of God's Spirit, about one hundred 
 members were added to the church first alluded to, 
 at two successive communion seasons, while to 
 others many additions were also made. 
 
6 HISTORY OF THE (1823. 
 
 The effect of such a visitation of the Holy Spirit 
 was very apparent in causing an unusual activity 
 in the religious life of the city. 
 
 In the summer the yellow fever prevailed to an 
 alarming extent, so that below Beekman Street the 
 citizens left their homes and places of business to 
 avoid it. On their return in the autumn, measures 
 were taken to interest the young men of the city 
 in the cause of the Bible. 
 
 In the spring of 1823 the then existing New 
 York Bible Society, taking into consideration the 
 circumstance that no Bible association existed in 
 this city which enlisted the active exertions of 
 young men exclusively, proposed the formation of 
 a Young Men's Bible Society, to be auxiliary to 
 them. With this view they appointed a committee, 
 of which John R. Hurd, Esq., was chairman. Upon 
 reflection and conference it was determined to invite 
 a number of young men from the different evangel- 
 ical churches to meet at the house of Mr. Hurd, in 
 White Street, for general consultation and action. 
 
 At this meeting, composed perhaps entirely of 
 Sabbath school teachers, it was resolved to form 
 a Young Men's Bible Society ; and after further con- 
 sultation, and the preparation of a constitution, and 
 list of officers, circulars were issued calling a public 
 meeting in a school-room in Thames Street, on the 
 22d September, 1823. 
 
 On this occasion, John R. Hurd, Esq., presided, and 
 Mr. Anthony P. Halsey was chosen secretary. The 
 
1823.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 7 
 
 meeting was addressed by clergymen and laymen 
 of different religious denominations, and it was 
 unanimously determined to form the proposed 
 Young Men's New York Bible Society. A Consti- 
 tution, giving effect to this decision, was read by the 
 chairman, and adopted. 
 
 The chairman also submitted a list of names of 
 officers and managers, who were by resolution de- 
 clared elected. The following are the names of 
 the officers : 
 
 President HORATIO GILLET. 
 
 Vice Presidents. 
 
 1. Anthony P. Halsey, 4. Louis King, 
 
 2. Georgh Colgate, 5. Henry Bennett, 
 
 3. John Neilson, Jr., 6, Joseph Sands, (in place of 
 
 Fred. T. Peet, ^vllo declined.) 
 
 Secretaries. 
 Frederick Bull, Corresponding. 
 Frederick A. Guion, Recording, (who served one month, 
 
 and exchanged positions with Mr. Geo. A. Bartow, who 
 
 became first Recording Secretary.) 
 
 Treasurer Silas M. Butler. 
 
 Of the managers elected at this time, several 
 formally declined, and several others resigned within 
 a few months ; their places were filled with some 
 apparent difficulty ; one seat at least, after a second 
 or third resignation of its incumbent, remaining 
 vacant until the close of the year 1824. 
 
 [The original constitution adopted at this meet- 
 
8 HISTORY OF THE (1823. 
 
 ing has been amended at various times, in accom- 
 modation to the changed relations of the society, 
 consequent upon the dissolution of its first Parent 
 Society, and other circumstances. The principal 
 alterations were made in 1832 and 1849. In the 
 former year, by inserting the words " without note 
 or comment," in the 2d article ; and by increasing 
 the number of managers to forty, dividing them 
 into two classes, securing the annual expiration of 
 the terms of service of one half the Board. In 1840 
 the 2d article was amended, by omitting the words 
 " to engage the co-operation of young persons in ;" 
 thus in effect changing the declared object of the 
 society. As a necessary consequence, article 3d 
 was omitted, and no more auxiliaries sought. The 
 age of eligibility was also changed (article 6th), 
 by making "twenty-one" and "forty" the minimum 
 and maximum, instead of "eighteen" and "thirty- 
 five." In 1854 the 6th article was again amended, 
 by increasing the number of managers to "fifty." — 
 (See Document A., Appendix.)] 
 
 The Board of Managers, having been directed by 
 the society to hold their first meeting on Thursday, 
 the 25th instant, met on that day, the President, 
 Horatio Gillet, in the chair, and appointed commit- 
 tees to prepare by-laws, and to obtain a suitable 
 depository for Bibles, &c. 
 
 [This first meeting of the Board of Managers v/as 
 opened by reading the Scriptures, but the mode of 
 closins: is not stated. It however became the cus- 
 
1823.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 9 
 
 torn to open and close with reading the Scriptures, 
 but the first meeting of each new Board was opened 
 with prayer. 
 
 In August, 1839, it was resolved in future to close 
 the meetings of the Board with prayer, which prac- 
 tice still continues, generally followed by the dox- 
 ology. 
 
 Throughout the whole course of the Society's 
 existence, the meetings of its Board of Managers 
 have been well attended ; members absenting them- 
 selves from several consecutive meetings without 
 rendering an excuse were cut off by a stringent 
 by-law, which has of late been so modified as to 
 require a vote of the Board for the actual excision 
 of a member.] 
 
 At a meeting held October 16th, 1823, a commit- 
 tee was appointed to nominate standing commit- 
 tees ; and the "president and secretary" were 
 authorized to purchase 100 Bibles "for the use of 
 the members," to be placed in care of the secretary 
 until a depository was provided. At this time a 
 grant by the American Bible Society of the free use 
 of a room in the Bible House, Nassau Street, " for 
 the meetings of the Board," was also reported. At 
 the meeting in November (13th), the committee re- 
 ported five standing committees (see Document C, 
 Appendix,) and the store of Mr. J. P. Havens as a 
 depository for Bibles, &c. 
 
 The society, thus organized and prepared for 
 duty, seems to have stood for a time, like the la- 
 
10 HISTORY OF THE (1823. 
 
 bourers in the market-place, at a loss, and waiting 
 for employment. The field in which they had ex- 
 pected to work appeared to be already full of la- 
 bourers ;' and almost the first thing discovered, when 
 they attempted to begin was, that the w^orkmen 
 were in one another's way. There were four, if 
 not five, Bible societies already in active existence, 
 besides various ward Bible associations, the New 
 York S. S. Union, and the New York City Tract 
 Society ; each of which was doing at least a part of 
 the work which a young men's Bible society might 
 be well adapted to perform. 
 
 These societies were as follows, viz. : 
 
 1. The "American Bible Society," formed May 8th, 1816. 
 
 2. The " New York Female Auxiliary Bible Society," formed 
 
 May 11th, 1816. 
 
 3. The "Marine Bible Society," formed March 12th, 1817. 
 
 4. The "New York Bible Society," formed in 1819 by a union 
 
 of the "New York Bible Society," established in 1809, with 
 the "Auxiliary New York Bible Society," established in 
 1813, which, previous to their union, had distributed an 
 aggregate of 27,695 volumes, of which 1,588 were New 
 Testaments. It was recognized as auxiliary by the Ameri- 
 can Bible Society in February, 1820. 
 
 5. The "Young Ladies' New York Bible Society," formed , 
 
 which became merged in the New York Female B. S. (No. 2), 
 in 1836. 
 
 None of these societies seemed quite prepared 
 either to make way for the new organization to 
 work directly, or to accord to it a position higher 
 or more definite than that of a subordinate or aux- 
 
1823.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 11 
 
 iliary in what was itself really an auxiliary work ; 
 viz., the supply of Sabbath schools, through the 
 New York Sunday School Union (chiefly with books 
 for premiums). 
 
 Its relation to its parent was defined by the fol- 
 lowing amendment to the constitution of that soci- 
 ety, adopted in November, 1823: 
 
 Every member of the Young Men's Bible Society ^ who shall 
 have paid at one time to that society the sum of ten dollars, or 
 who shall have been seven years a member of that society, shall 
 be entitled to a life membership in the New York Bible Society 
 on payment of the further sum of ten dollars ; and the President 
 and other officers of the Young Men's New York Bible Society 
 shall be honorary members for the time being of the New York 
 Bible Society, and may attend the meetings of its Board of Man- 
 agers. 
 
 This was kindly done, but did not afford work, 
 which the newly formed society seemed chiefly to 
 desire. 
 
 Thus, like a true child of faith, it stood for some 
 months in the attitude of inquiry as to what the 
 Master would have it to do. Its friends probably 
 asked the question aloud in the social intercourse 
 of Christian brethren; for at its December meeting 
 (22d) the following communication was received 
 from the Parent Board ; 
 
 November 28th, 1823. 
 Mr. Fred'k Bull, Cor. Sec. — 
 
 Sir : — I communicate the following resolutions, adopted by 
 
 our Board of Managers at their last meeting : 
 
 Resolved, That the correspondijig secretary be a committee to 
 
12 HISTORY OF THE (1824. 
 
 devise a plan for farthering the vie^Ys and desires of the New 
 York Bible Society. 
 
 Resolved, That the Board of Managers of the Young Men's 
 New York Bible Society be requested to appoint a committee to 
 confer and unite with the aforesaid committee for the aforesaid 
 purpose. 
 
 Wm. C. Mulligan, 
 
 Cor. Sec. N. Y. B. S. 
 
 Whereupon Mr. Bull was appointed a committee 
 on the part of the Board. 
 
 182 4. 
 
 In February, (26th) 1824, the distributing com- 
 mittee were directed to obtain and sign printed or- 
 ders on the depository, for Bibles and Testaments, 
 and distribute some of them among- the managers. 
 
 In March (25th), the depository was reported to 
 be in the same state as in February, and in April, 
 the same as in March, except the delivery of one 
 Bible. 
 
 At the April (22d) meeting, Mr. Bull reported 
 that nothing definite had been done by the commit- 
 tees of conference, and the following resolution, 
 indicating some proper impatience, under what 
 seemed to be coerced inaction, w^as adopted. May 
 27th: 
 
 Resolved, That the following proposal be made to the Board 
 of Managers of the New York Bible Society, — That this society 
 will undertake to supply such Svmday schools of this city with 
 Bibles and Testaments as have hitherto been supplied by the 
 Parent Society. 
 
1824.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY, 13 
 
 Resolved^ That a tender of the personal services of the mem- 
 bers of this Board be made to the Parent Society, to aid in the 
 distribution of the Bible, whenever notice shall be given that 
 such services are needed. 
 
 While thus seeking for an opening for active la- 
 bour, its first direct work came to it in the form of 
 two applications which were received at this meet- 
 ing. One was from the Female S. S., No. 8, through 
 Mr. Russel!, (the kind and number of books not 
 stated,) which was granted. The other was an ap- 
 plication, reported by Mr. Colgate, as made to 
 Mr. Winterton, in behalf of a tribe of Indians in 
 the western part of the State, for "a supply of 
 Bibles ;" and Mr. W. was authorized to draw on the 
 depository for as many as he might deem expedient. 
 
 At the meeting of the Board, held August 30th, 
 1824, the following communication was received 
 through the corresponding secretary : 
 
 New York, August 28th, 1824. 
 Mr. George A. Dwight — 
 
 Dear Sir : — I have the pleasure to announce to you that the 
 proposal of your society to undertake to supply such Sunday 
 schools of this city with Bibles and Testaments, as have hith- 
 erto been supplied by the Parent Society, has been acceded to by 
 our directors. The discussion to which it gave rise, while it 
 showed the importance of this part of our society's distribution, 
 also gave a favourable \'iew of the sentiments and intentions of 
 yours in relation to it. We have always considered that to sup- 
 ply the Sunday schools was among the best plans to carry into 
 effect the objects of our association; the Board therefore receive, 
 with some degree of solicitude, the application to give up their 
 superintendence of it to your Society : they however finally con- 
 
14 HISTORY OF THE (1824. 
 
 sented to relinquish it in your favourj and in doing so are fully 
 impressed with the opinion that they yield to you a responsibil- 
 ity of no ordinary character, and a gratification w-hich has been 
 theirs for several years. This gratification is freely transferred, 
 "because it is not less the duty, than it should be the wish of our 
 society, to add to the pleasures of their auxiliary institutions. 
 From the present time the Smiday schools of our city will be 
 referred to your managers for Bibles and Testaments, and our 
 committee, hitherto charged with supplying them, will cease to 
 act. These schools will, for some time at least, fully employ 
 your resources. For that reason, as well as for others stated in 
 my interview with you, our managers request that they may be 
 the sole object of your attention. While such an arrangement 
 exists, your attention is directed to a specific object, while ours 
 is given to other claims, without interfering with yours, and 
 with the best effect on our kindred institutions. 
 I am. Sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 William C. Mulligan, 
 Corresponding Secretary of N. Y. B. S. 
 
 Whereupon the following preamble and resolu- 
 tion, ofFered by Mr. W. M. Smith, were adopted : 
 
 Whereas it has been considered expedient that the several 
 Bible societies in this city should have a separate sphere of ac- 
 tion, and as this Board have expressed their opinion to that 
 effect, and have proposed to the Parent Society to allow them 
 the right of supplying the Sunday schools of this city, and as 
 said society have consented to allow this Board that part of their 
 duties. Therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to superin- 
 tend the furnishing of the Sunday schools, to whom all applica- 
 tions for Bibles and Testaments must be made. 
 
1824.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 15 
 
 Messrs. Dwight, W. M. Smith, Sands, Gibson, and 
 Russell were appointed said committee. 
 
 The work thus seriously committed to the society 
 it set about performing in the manner which seems 
 to have been previously adopted, and for which 
 therefore the Board must not be held responsible. 
 It was a system of working by indirection, of mak- 
 ing bestowments at second or third hand ; hence 
 we find in September (23d), 1824, that the "S. S. 
 committee had drawn on the depository for 100 
 Testaments and twenty-five Bibles, for the use of 
 the distributing committee of the New York Sun- 
 day School Association." 
 
 In October (20th), the S. S. committee report not 
 having drawn on the depository, because it was 
 empty : and the purchasing committee was author- 
 ized to obtain fifty Bibles and 200 Testaments. 
 
 At the November (11th) meeting, the S. S. com- 
 mittee report these books as placed at the disposal of 
 the "visiting committee," which is supposed to mean 
 the visiting committee of the N. Y. S. S. Union. 
 
 [The report of the New York Bible Society, the 
 parent of this society, for 1826, illustrates this un- 
 fortunate idiosyncrasy. At its anniversary in that 
 year, a resolution was advocated, and passed, "that 
 it is the incumbent duty of this society to supply 
 the wants of this city." But the report showed, that 
 of the 2,331 volumes, reported as issued during the 
 year, only 345 volumes had been directly disposed 
 of, if eA^en so many; of the rest, 1,870 had been 
 
16 HISTORY OF THE (1825. 
 
 taken by the Young Men's Bible Society, and 116 
 by other city Bible associations.] 
 
 At the first anniversary of the society, held at 
 the City Hotel, November 22d, 1824, Henry Ben- 
 nett, Esq., was made President ; George Colgate, 
 Joseph Sands, Wm. Winterton, Frederick A. Guion, 
 Oliver E. Cobb, and Henry E. Thomas, Vice Presi- 
 dents ; Geo. A. Dwight, Corresponding Secretary ; 
 Marinus Willett, Jr., Recording Secretary, (on the 
 resignation of Mr. Bartow,) and Walter M. Smith, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 The names of the managers chosen at this anni- 
 versary are not given in the minutes. 
 
 1825. 
 
 In January, 1825, a communication was received 
 from the New York Female Auxiliary B. S., con- 
 taining a request that the Board would examine 
 and supply the necessities of the sixth ward ; upon 
 which it was resolved, "that the subject be laid 
 before the Board of the Parent Society, and that 
 they be requested to inform us what measures they 
 have adopted with respect to visitations in the vari- 
 ous parts of the city." No further mention is made 
 of this first proposition to engage directly in the 
 work of supplying the destitute; and so far as can 
 be learned, the only direct labour at this time was 
 a limited distribution by members of the Board. 
 
 In the summer of 1825, a committee was ap- 
 pointed to devise means to enlarge the funds of the 
 
1825.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 17 
 
 society; and their report, presented July Gth, is as 
 follows : 
 
 The committee appointed to devise means to enlarge the 
 funds of the society respectfully report : That they have given 
 to the subject the consideration due to its importance, and are 
 fully of opinion that the first care of the Board should be to en- 
 gage the co-operation of the numerous Sabbath school teachers 
 of this city; inasmuch as, generally considered, their feelings 
 are alive to any object tending to advance the Redeemer's 
 kingdom, and consequently must be highly favourable to the 
 spread of the Holy Scriptures. Added to this, the fact of their 
 being almoners of our bounty must unite their hearts to us by a 
 tie of no ordinary nature. We are not merely working together 
 in the same cause, but are immediately acting together, and 
 aiding each other, and breaking and cultivating the same spot. 
 We are supplying the seed; they are scattering it; and we are 
 both looking for the time, when the dews and showers having 
 descended, a glorious harvest shall be gathered from the same 
 field. 
 
 While it is a fact that many of the class alluded to have 
 aided us by funds, influence, and personal assistance, we have 
 reason to believe that the number is small, very small, in com- 
 parison with what it might and ought to be. 
 
 Your committee therefore recommend the follow- 
 ing resolutions, vi?. : 
 
 1. Resolved, That the corresponding secretary be requested to 
 address, through the medium of the New York Observer and 
 Religious Chronicle, the young men of the city, and particularly 
 those attached to Sabbath schools, inviting their co-operation in 
 aid of this society. 
 
 2. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer 
 with the chairman of the Sunday school teachers of this city, 
 and request him to make known to that body, at their next meet- 
 
18 HISTORY OF THE (1825. 
 
 ing, the special object of this society, with a view of extending 
 the information throughout the schools. 
 
 3. Resolved^ That the Sabbath schools of this city be dis- 
 tricted, and a committee of nine appointed, into whose hands the 
 subscription books of the Society shall be placed, for the purpose 
 of visiting said Sabbath schools, and engaging the exertions of 
 such as have not already come out to the help of the Society. 
 
 4. Resolved, That the said committee be requested to wait 
 upon the chairman or secretaiy of the visiting committee of the 
 New York Sunday School Union Society, and request that the 
 said committee make known to the several schools in their visits 
 the object of this Society, and endeavour to increase the interest 
 in its favour. In behalf of the committee, 
 
 H. E. Thomas, Chairman. 
 
 This report was adopted, and a committee ap- 
 pointed accordingly, whose report was presented in 
 September, 1825, as follows : 
 
 The committee appointed to confer with the Association of 
 Teachers and Visiting Committees of Sabbath Schools report : 
 
 That they have attended to the duty assigned them, and, on 
 the part of the former body, have had the satisfaction of having 
 a resolution passed, expressive of their high sense of the services 
 of this Society, and our cordial reception as a powerful auxiliary 
 to the Sabbath school cause. 
 
 On behalf of the coipmittee, 
 
 H. E. Thomas, Chairman, 
 
 At the second anniversary, held Dec. 26th, 1825, 
 the following board of officers and managers were 
 chosen. The names of a few who seem to have 
 been efficient labourers in the first year of the So- 
 ciety are missing in it ; but the list is inserted, as 
 probably representing fairly the Christian charac- 
 
1826.) 
 
 NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 19 
 
 ter and stamina of the organization at that point of 
 its history. Those marked with a * were mem- 
 bers of the Board in the first year. Those with a t 
 were elected at the first anniversary. The rest 
 were new members: 
 
 President * Henry Bennett. 
 
 Vice Presidents, 
 *1. George Colgate, *4. Wm. Winterton, 
 
 *2. Joseph Sands, *6. Oliver E. Cobb, 
 
 *3. Marinus Willett, Jr., *6. Frederick A. Guion. 
 
 Secretaries. 
 * George A. Dwight, Cor. f Alfred Edwards, Rec. 
 Treasurer ...... * Walter M. Smith. 
 
 Managers. 
 t Henry E. Thomas, fWm. E. Lewis, 
 
 * A. G. Cochrane, * Jas. P. Drummond, 
 
 * Theoph. Russell, * Jas. T. Smith, 
 
 * Henry Roosevelt, John H. Williams, 
 Win. E. Dodge, Wm. P. Disosway, 
 
 * Frederick Bull, 
 
 * E. H. Stokes, 
 t Jas. H. Rathbone, 
 
 * R. A. Striker, 
 *Finley Wright, 
 Washington Murray, John Post, 
 
 H. S. Whittemore, Jeremiah Wilbur, 
 Henry H. Leeds, T. G. Talmage, 
 
 Wm. Hurry, Wm. P. Donaldson 
 
 F. A. Bokee, 
 
 Nathan Caswell, 
 
 Theo. W. Porter, 
 SoutherPd Douglass, 
 Edmund K. Bussing, 
 Jireh Bull, 
 Noel Robertson, 
 
 (See Document B, Appendix.) 
 
 1826. 
 
 Through the years 1825 and 1826 the mode of 
 operation continued as before. At the close of the 
 former year, one Bible and two Testaments re- 
 mained in the depository, and 435 Bibles and 1,350 
 
20 HISTORY OF THE (1826. 
 
 Testaments had been distributed " through a com- 
 mittee of the S. S. Union Society," who visited the 
 schools monthly, and rewarded the scholars by drafts 
 upon the depository of the Y. M. N. Y. Bible So- 
 ciety. A grant of fifty Bibles had also been made 
 in June to the " Female Union S. S. Association." 
 
 Of the 280 Bibles and 1,423 Testaments furnished 
 to the N. Y. S. S. Union in 1826, " all the Bibles and 
 about 350 Testaments were given as rewards; the 
 remainder of the latter for the use of the schools." 
 
 In the course of this year the city was districted 
 for the collection of funds, and a committee ap- 
 pointed to divide the board of managers into com- 
 mittees for soliciting aid, within the limits of the 
 several districts. It reported as follows, at the 
 meeting in June : 
 
 Front Street. — Henry Bennett, M, Willett, Jr., Jas. T. Smith. 
 
 Maiden Lane.—R. E. Thomas, H. S. Whittemore, T. G. Tal- 
 mage. 
 
 Washington and West Streets. — ^W. Murray, N. Caswell, Noel 
 Robertson. 
 
 South Street.— F. Bull, J. P. Drummond, T. Russell. 
 
 Williain and Fulton Streets. — F. A. Bokee, Wm. Hurry, 
 R. 0. Dwight. 
 
 Greenicich Street. — Henry Roosevelt, R. A. Striker. 
 
 Pearl Street.— Geo. A. Dwight, H. H. Leeds, W. E. Dodge. 
 
 Wall Street.— 0. E. Cobb, F. A. Guion. 
 
 Pine and Cedar Streets. — W. M. Smith, Jos. Sands, E. K. 
 Bussing. 
 
 Broadway. — Wm. Winterton, A. G. Cochrane, E. H. Stokes. 
 
 These committees visited the several districts as- 
 
1827.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 21 
 
 signed to them, and obtained something more than 
 $250 in donations to the Society. 
 
 1827. 
 
 Early in the year 1827 a grant of Bibles and Test- 
 aments to the value of $50 was made to the Yomig 
 Ladies' New York Bible Society. It was also re- 
 solved to furnish supplies to the Female S. S. Union. 
 The entire distribution for the year amounted to 
 2,248 volumes. In October a donation of 100 Bibles 
 and 200 Testaments was received from the New 
 York Bible Society, for which thanks were formally 
 voted at the anniversary. 
 
 [In pursuance of the object proposed in the third 
 article of the constitution, repeated efforts were made 
 in various directions for the formation of auxiliaries. 
 
 In 18^7, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Havens, 
 Walter M. Smith, Kimball, and Rev. Albert Judson, 
 succeeded in forming the Young Men's Brooklyn 
 Bible Society; which, so far as shown by the record, 
 is the only auxiliary from which the young parent 
 received any amount of material aid. 
 
 The interchange of Christian counsels and court- 
 esies with its Orange Count}^ auxiliary, formed in 
 1830, was pleasant, and doubtless mutually encour- 
 aging, but not otherwise important. 
 
 Its experiments in forming" Youth's Bible Associa- 
 tions," reserving the right of appointing some mem- 
 ber of the board as president, proved also quite un- 
 satisfactory ; and though for some years, particularly 
 
22 HISTORY OF THE (1828. 
 
 in 1832, the formation of ward and other auxiliaries 
 was pursued with earnestness, and clung to with 
 tenacity, the whole system appears to have been 
 silently abandoned before its formal revocation by 
 the constitutional amendments made at the society's 
 sixteenth anniversary, held January 15th, 1840.] 
 
 The committee of arrangements for the fourth 
 anniversary of the society (November, 1827) pro- 
 posed to the Board that the following resolution 
 should be submitted to the society on that occasion : 
 
 Resolved^ That the board of direction be requested to appoint 
 a committee to confer with the Parent Society on the subject of 
 supplying the destitute families in the city and county of New 
 York with Bibles. 
 
 The resolution was so offered, and adopted, and 
 subscriptions made to the amount of $690 50, con- 
 ditioned upon the prosecution of the work of city 
 supply by the Board. 
 
 To the amount so subscribed, $30 were added 
 early in the year 1828, through Mrs. Bethune, "to- 
 wards distributing the Word of God among the 
 destitute in this city." 
 
 18 28. 
 This subject which had so interested the Society 
 at its annual meeting was brought before the new 
 Board at its first meeting, Nov. 8th, 1827, under the 
 above resolution, and Messrs. F. Bull, Wm. Win- 
 terton, Henry E. Thomas, O. E. Cobb, and Robert 
 O. Dwight were appointed by the chairman the 
 committee of conference. It was also 
 
1828.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 23 
 
 Resolved, That as. we are now commencing the labours of a 
 new year, and an extensive field of operation appears to be pre- 
 senting itself to our view, it becomes us all to be increasingly 
 diligent in discharging the duties that may devolve upon us, and 
 we hereby pledge ourselves accordingly. 
 
 At the next meeting of the Board, December 6, 
 1827, the committee made the following report: 
 
 The committee, appointed at the last meeting of the Board, to 
 confer with the Board of Managers of the New Yoik Bible Soci- 
 ety on the subject of supplying the destitute families of the city 
 and county of New York with Bibles, report : That they have 
 had an interview with a committee from that Body, who after 
 hearing the communication from this Board, and learning that 
 it was not our object to interfere, but to co-operate, seemed 
 highly gratified, and agreed without delay to confer with the 
 Managers of the American Bible Society on some plan for the 
 accomplishment of this great object. 
 
 At a recent interview with several members of that committee, 
 we are informed that they have a plan prepared to submit to 
 their board next Monday evening, which, if approved, will be 
 presented to the public on Monday evening, the 17th inst., at 
 the annual meeting of the New York Bible Society ; and they 
 intend to make every effort to facilitate its execution. 
 Signed, in behalf of the committee, 
 
 William Winterton. 
 
 No further reference to this plan, or the subject 
 of it, is on record ; but the plan actually adopted 
 was the dissolution of the old " New Y'ork Bible 
 Society," and the formation of ward Bible associa- 
 tions, which in 1828 partially explored the city, and 
 found 952 families destitute of the Bible ; collected 
 $1,900 09, and made a donation to the American 
 Bible Society of 8909 14. 
 
24 HISTORY OF THE (1828. 
 
 [At the end of one year these ward Bible associa- 
 tions were combined in, or superseded by the "New 
 York City Bible Society," with which the Female 
 B. S. was expected to co-operate in its performance 
 of the local work. According to the Report of 
 the American Bible Society for that year, the so- 
 ciety so formed had a "president, vice president, 
 secretary, treasurer, and depositary, with a board 
 of seventy-five directors." It was recognized as an 
 auxiliary by the American Bible Society in April, 
 1829, one month after the Young Men's Bible So- 
 ciety.] 
 
 The work which the Young Men's Bible Society 
 had sought, and for which its friends had partially 
 provided the means, being thus assumed by others, 
 the Society pursued its work of supplying the Scrip- 
 tures to Sabbath schools ; calculating in its annual 
 estimate that it would require an increase in re- 
 ceipts of about 8400 to "enable it to meet the de- 
 mands of the New York S. S. Union" for the year 
 (1828). 
 
 At the March meeting of the Board, it was 
 
 Resolvedj That as the object of supplying all the destitute 
 families in the city and county of New York has been under- 
 taken, (that is, by the other societies,) a committee of this Board 
 volunteer to collect the amount subscribed for this purpose at 
 the last annual meeting of this society, with a view to its being 
 paid over proportionably to destitute ward Bible societies, 
 
 Messrs. H. E. Thomas, 0. E. Cobb, Drummond, 
 
1828.) NEW YORK DIBLE SOCIETY. 25 
 
 Edwards, Winterton, F. Bull, Thornton, and Dodge 
 volunteered as the above committee. 
 
 In January of this year (1828) an application was 
 made by the "S. S. Union of the M. E. Church" for 
 a supply of Bibles and Testaments for the use of 
 their Sabbath schools, accompanied by a notifica- 
 tion that they cheerfully consent to permit the 
 Board to enter their schools for the purpose of so- 
 liciting subscriptions in aid of the Bible Cause. 
 
 This application was referred to a special com- 
 mittee, who reported against it, on the ground that 
 it was beyond the province of the Society to apply 
 its funds " to the supply of any sectarian institu- 
 tion," and suggesting to our Methodist brethren that 
 they become auxiliary to the American Bible Soci- 
 ety, and thus obtain like facilities as the Society in 
 the purchase of Bibles and Testaments at cost 
 prices. Some feeling evidently grew out of it; a 
 committee of the Board being appointed in May " to 
 take into consideration the difficulties," &c. Sev- 
 eral meetings passed without any report, but at the 
 August meeting the following communication was 
 received from the American Bible Society: 
 
 American Bible Society House, ) 
 New York, August 7th, 1828. ) 
 
 Mr. G. a. Dwigiit, Cor. Sec. Y. M. N. Y. B. S. :— 
 
 Your communication of March last, in relation to procuring 
 books of the American Bible Society as an auxiliary until recog- 
 nized, was this day laid before the Board. It was determined 
 that the privilege requested by your society should be granted. 
 It was furthermore resolved, that a donation of two hundred 
 
26 HISTORY OF THE (1828. 
 
 Bibles and five hundred Testaments should be made to your 
 Society, for the specific purpose of supplying the Sunday 
 schools connected with the Methodist Episcopal Churches in this 
 city. 
 
 It is hoped that you will receive and transmit these books to 
 those for whom they are designed, and that peace, holiness, and 
 the salvation of many youth, will be the happy result. 
 
 John C. Brigham, Cor. Sec. A. B. S. 
 
 The matter was again referred to a committee, 
 and after a little delay an order for the books was 
 sent to the Meth. Epis. S. S. Society, with a polite 
 note stating that they were a donation from the 
 American Bible Society, through the Y. M. N. Y. 
 B. S., and the controversy was thus happily ended. 
 
 Pleasanter incidents closed the year. A commit- 
 tee of conference, in regard to co-operation in the 
 work of Sabbath school supply, had been appointed 
 by the Young Ladies' Bible Societj^, which was met 
 by a similar committee of the Board, and an ar- 
 rangement made that the young ladies should take 
 charge of the supply for the girls' schools, and this 
 Society furnish supplies for the boys. 
 
 A grant of twenty-five Bibles and 100 Testaments 
 was made in October to the Rev. Mr. Stanford "for a 
 Sabbath school among the prisoners at Blackwell's 
 Island," and another, in November, of fifty Bibles 
 to a Sabbath school in the Greenwich Penitentiary. 
 These grants mark the commencement of the 
 Society's efforts among the Humane and Criminal 
 Institutions of the city. 
 
1828.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 27 
 
 The former of them was acknowledged in the 
 following communication to the recording secretary : 
 
 Mr. Alfred Edwards — 
 
 Dear Sir : — I solicit the favour of your presenting my sincere 
 acknowledgments to the managers of the Young Men's New 
 York Bible Society for their unsolicited and pious donation of 
 twenty -five Bibles and one hundred Testaments, for the use of 
 the Sabbath school formed among the prisoners at Blackwell's 
 Island. 
 
 In my far advanced years, it is a peculiar luxury to my heart, 
 that while there are so many young men in our city who de- 
 vote themselves to a life of vanity and dissipation, there are 
 others whom the Lord has enriched with his fear, and are asso- 
 ciated for the most important purpose of circulating the Holy 
 Scriptures among the poor and Avretched of our community. 
 Most devoutly do I pray that the number may be increased ; and 
 that the Divine Spirit, who indited the sacred page, may cause 
 the Word of Christ to dwell in each of the young men's hearts, 
 and accompany their public efforts with holy benediction, that 
 by their means thousands of sinners may be led into the way of 
 salvation, to the glory of the Lord. 
 I am, respected sir. 
 
 Yours in the Gospel, 
 
 John Stanford. 
 
 [At the anniversaries of 1828, '29, and '30, no 
 reference was made to supplying the destitute fam- 
 ilies of the city ; but increased diligence and en- 
 larged liberality were urged in view of the increase 
 of Sabbath schools under the care of the N. Y. S. S. 
 Union, and renewed efforts proposed to form and 
 foster "numerous auxiliaries," and to induce young 
 men to " address themselves to labours of Christian 
 
28 HISTORY OF THE (1829. 
 
 benevolence." An address to the young men of the 
 United States was issued with this view in 1831, 
 and probably had much to do with the formation 
 of many of the Young Men's Bible vSocieties that 
 originated about that time. Last, but not least, 
 the necessity of "more humble and unceasing prayer" 
 was often and earnestly suggested.] 
 
 18 2 9. 
 
 The Society, having surrendered the supply of one 
 half the Sabbath schools to the Young Ladies' Bible 
 Society, soon found itself in want of employment 
 for its energies, and various propositions were made 
 and discussed "for extending the sphere of its ope- 
 rations ;" though at the same time it discouraged 
 direct applications from city Sabbath schools which 
 had become disconnected from the N. Y. S. S. Union, 
 through which alone, at this period, it seemed dis- 
 posed to act in the home field. Such applications 
 were repeatedly made, and invariably refused, un- 
 less shown to be peculiar in their claims, as being 
 for adults, &c. 
 
 But in spite of this feeling, the spirit of active 
 Christian life in which the Society had its birth, 
 and which formed its vital spring, while rejoicing 
 in even limited opportunities of doing good, was 
 not satisfied with them, but looked forward and 
 abroad for other openings. Its proper work came 
 slowl}^, yet perhaps nearly as fast as, amid the va- 
 
1829.) 
 
 NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 29 
 
 rious hinderances to them, its strength and experi- 
 ence grew. 
 
 At the meeting of the Board in January, 1829, it 
 was 
 
 Resolved, That we, deeply impressed with a sense of our 
 obligations to our constituents, do pledge ourselves, individually 
 and jointly, to use all proper measures to further the views of 
 the society, and endeavour to make it an increasing and lasting 
 benefit to those around us; feeling and acknowledging always 
 our entire dependence on our Heavenly Father for strength to 
 perform our labour, and a blessing to crown it with success. 
 
 It was also resolved to receive pledges from indi- 
 vidual members of certain amounts, to be paid in 
 or before October, in new subscribers, donors, or 
 funds. The following are the first pledges given 
 in this manner 
 
 Wm. Winterton 
 
 . . $30 
 
 Walter M. Smith 
 
 . . $20 
 
 A. Edwards . . 
 
 . 30 
 
 Wilmot Williams 
 
 . . 20 
 
 F. A. Guion . 
 
 . 25 
 
 Wm, Walker . 
 
 . 20 
 
 C.L.Roberts . 
 
 . 25 
 
 Norman White . 
 
 . . 20 
 
 J. S. Davenport 
 
 . 25 
 
 Duncan McArthur 
 
 . 20 
 
 P. R. Roach . . 
 
 . 25 
 
 Edward Field . 
 
 . 20 
 
 John Smalley . 
 
 . 25 
 
 Jireh Bull . . 
 
 . 20 
 
 0. E. Cobb . . 
 
 . 25 
 
 J. P. Drummond 
 
 . 20 
 
 F. S. Winston . 
 
 . 20 
 
 G. Buck, Jr. . . 
 
 . 20 
 
 G. U. Richards . 
 
 . 30 
 
 W. E. Whiting . 
 
 . 15 
 
 H.N. Peck . . 
 
 . 20 
 
 N. St. John . . 
 
 . 15 
 
 H. E. Thomas . 
 
 . 20 
 
 E. B. Huntington 
 
 . 15 
 
 F.Bull . . . 
 
 . 20 
 
 Wm. H. Byron . 
 
 , 15 
 
 Wm. E. Dodge . 
 
 . 20 
 
 A. W. Corey . 
 
 . 10 
 
 T. R. Green . . 
 
 . 20 
 
 J. G. Tappan . 
 
 . 15 
 
 E. K. Bussing . 
 
 . 20 
 
 John Post . . . 
 
 . 10 
 
 Total . 
 
 $655 
 
30 HISTORY OF THE (1830. 
 
 1830. 
 
 The supply of Humane and Criminal Institutions, 
 begun in 1828, was continued in 1829 and 1830, in 
 which years grants were first made to the House 
 of Refuge and Almshouse. 
 
 At this period, also, frequent direct applications 
 for individual Sabbath schools, and for distribution, 
 began to be received from abroad, which in all ap- 
 parently proper cases were promptly and cheerfully 
 met, the practice being followed more or less down 
 to 1843. (See Document F, Appendix.) 
 
 In June, 1830, a donation of 1300 was made to 
 the American Bible Society in aid of its under- 
 taking to supply every destitute family in the Union 
 with a copy of the Bible ; and 2,000 New Testa- 
 ments were granted to aid the American Sunday 
 School Union in supplying Sabbath Schools in the 
 valley of the Mississippi ; and at its November 
 meeting, the Board adopted a resolution to be sub- 
 mitted to the Society at its anniversary " authori- 
 zing the managers to extend the sphere of opera- 
 tion of this society, by supplying such Sunday 
 schools with the New Testament as have been, or 
 shall be, formed by the American Sunday School 
 Union in the State of Illinois, or in such other 
 States as the Board may select." 
 
 The seventh anniversary was held at the City 
 Hotel, November 22d, 1830 ; and the following brief 
 extract from the annual report, then presented, is 
 
1831.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 31 
 
 all we have been able to obtain. It has the ring 
 of the true Christian metal : 
 
 We have all marked, with equal delight and astonishment, 
 how strongly the tide of Christian sympathy has set to\Yard the 
 great valley of the West, and how unprecedented the volume of 
 charity which has poured into its bosom. The Board could not 
 see the mighty flood, so like in character to our own little stream, 
 sweep by, \vithout being partially drawn into its current. We 
 have sent 2,000 Testaments for Sabbath schools, to be formed in 
 the Western States. 
 
 1831. 
 
 The influence of this anniversary seems to have 
 been eminently happy. At the first meeting of the 
 new Board, 3,000 additional Testaments were or- 
 dered on to St. Louis with despatch ; and immedi- 
 ately thereafter, in Januar}', 1831, more systematic 
 and vigorous plans were devised, both for home and 
 V/estern operations, as well as in respect to finances 
 for their support. It was just at this point that a 
 member of the board reported " a donation of twenty 
 dollars, as a thank-ofiering from a father for the 
 conversion of three of his children." 
 
 On the 7th of April, 1831, a proposition was re- 
 ceived from the " Young Ladies' New York Bible 
 Society," off'ering to undertake the entire supply of 
 the Sabbath schools belonging to the New York 
 Sunday School Union with Bibles and Testaments. 
 
 At the May (5th) meeting of the Board, this pro- 
 posal, on recommendation of a committee, was 
 " thankfully accepted," and the corresponding secre- 
 
82 HISTORY OF THE (1831. 
 
 tary directed to notify the visiting committee of the 
 New York Sunday School Union of the change. 
 This completed the separation of the Society from 
 the work, which had hitherto been regarded as 
 the peculiar object and first duty of its organiza- 
 tion, and to which it had for the most part been 
 practically compelled to confine itself, and seemed 
 to leave it nothing to do within its proper local 
 bounds. 
 
 Larger fields, however, were opening, which 
 the Society moved on steadily, yet cautiousl}^, to 
 occupy. 
 
 At the same meeting the following resolution 
 was adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That; in reliance upon the Giver of every good and 
 perfect gift, this society will supply the schools under the charge 
 of the American Sunday School Union, and all that may be 
 formed by the same in the State of Missouri, with Testaments 
 for the use of Sabbath schools, under the same regulations as 
 those adopted by the Board in regard to Sabbath schools in 
 Illinois. 
 
 A resolution was also passed, directing that all 
 applications from Sabbath schools in the city be 
 referred "to the Committee on Applications." The 
 door of Christian charity was thus opened to those 
 denominational Sabbath schools which, while the 
 Society was interlinked with the New York Sunday 
 School Union, it had not seemed to favour ; but 
 which, from this time forward, have been recognized 
 as within its proper province, and made, from time 
 to time, recipients of its grants. 
 
1831.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 33 
 
 At the August (4th) meeting, "the president stated 
 that he had received a communication from the 
 New York City Bible Society, requesting a commit- 
 tee from our society to confer with them upon the 
 expediency of resigning their labours to our Society." 
 The committee appointed for this purpose reported 
 at the September (1st) meeting. The report was 
 accepted, and discussed in committee of the whole, 
 which discussion was resumed at a special meeting, 
 held September 17, at which Mr. Henry E. Thomas, 
 a former member of the Board, who had always 
 shown an interest in the subject of city supply, 
 was invited to sit with the Board, and to take a 
 part in their deliberations. 
 
 After a prolonged discussion of the subject, the 
 Board 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to make fur- 
 ther inquiries, and obtain additional information, in relation to 
 the proposition submitted to us by the New York City Bible 
 Society. 
 
 Messrs. Winterton, Green, Winston, Brown, and 
 Cobb were appointed said committee. 
 
 At the regular meeting of the Board, held Octo- 
 ber 6th, 1831, the committee made the following 
 report : 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred the proposition of the 
 New York City Bible Society, report, that they have taken pains 
 to look into the past operations of that society, and feel convinced 
 that the only difficulty in the way of the regular supply of this 
 city with Bibles has been, the inactivity of the board of that 
 institution ; and, from the character of the individuals composing 
 
34 HISTORY OF THE (1831. 
 
 it, we know that this inactivity must have proceeded from some 
 other cause than a disposition to shrink from duty. They al- 
 ready do so much in other societies, that nothing is left of their 
 energy or time for this; there is no prospect, therefore, of the 
 work being done, unless we assume it. Your committee have 
 also ascertained that about half of the wards only will require 
 the direct attention of our Board, although it will be proper to 
 keep a constant and vigilant eye to the manner in which the 
 duty is done in the wards otherwise provided for. But, in the 
 part of the city which will require our active and immediate 
 exertion, your committee believe that the necessities are greater 
 than was at first supposed, and will be incessantly recurring, in 
 consequence of the arrival and settlement of emigrants. The 
 City Bible Society's expenditure, which has been about $1,000 
 per annum, affords a very imperfect criterion of what we shall 
 need, because that society has not been thorough in its work. 
 Your committee have also learned that we may depend upon the 
 partial assistance of the tract distributers, but not on the associa- 
 tion of the "Young Men's Society ;"and would recommend that, 
 if the business is undertaken by this Society, means be adopted to 
 distribute the Bibles among the poor by selling them, rather than 
 gratuitously, as it is notorious that numbers of copies received as 
 gifts are regarded only as pawns for the dram-shop. Finally, 
 your committee are of opinion that the Board can efficiently pro- 
 vide for the constant supply of the city population, if it address 
 itself to the labour with an humble, determined, prayerful, and 
 persevering spirit; and therefore recommend the attempt only 
 upon the supposition that every member of the Board is prepared 
 to engage in it personally, especially those upon whom the pres- 
 ent duties of the Society fall most lightly. If this supposition is 
 well founded, your committee suggest the following resolution : 
 Resolved, That this Society accede to the proposition of the 
 New York City Bible Society, and that every member of the 
 Board of Managers is requested to make it his daily prayer for 
 the ensuing month ; that we may adopt the wisest plan, and 
 
Committee. 
 
 1831.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 35 
 
 pursue it with the purest motives, in discharging our new 
 duties. 
 
 William WintertoNj 
 
 Frederick S. Winston^ 
 
 John G. Brower, 
 
 T. R. Green, 
 
 This report was accepted by the Board, and the 
 subject of it carefully considered at successive meet- 
 ings. It was finally resolved to accept the proposi- 
 tion of the New York City Bible Society, and as- 
 sume its responsibilities in relation to the supply of 
 the destitute families of the city, whenever that 
 society should have ceased to exist, provided this 
 decision should be sanctioned by the Society at its 
 eighth anniversary. In the annual report this new 
 opening was treated as a marked Providence in the 
 history of the Society, and as presenting an object 
 for its labours lying within the range of Christian 
 prudence, which, it is well added, "must always 
 lean one hand, at least, on Christian faith." 
 
 The Society, at its anniversary, November 29,1831, 
 approved the undertaking ; and, on the 9th of Jan- 
 uary following, the New York City Bible Society, 
 after an existence of three years, formally dissolved, 
 the act being communicated to the Board, on the 
 17th of January, as follows : 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the New York City Bible Society, January 9th, 1832. 
 
 Whereas the Young Men's New York Bible Society did, at 
 their last annual meeting, determine to assume the duties of the 
 New York City Bible Society, whenever the latter should cease 
 to exist : Therefore, 
 
36 HISTORY OF THE (1832. 
 
 Resolved, That this society be now dissolved, and that the sec- 
 retary inform the Young Men's New York Bible Society of the 
 
 same. 
 
 J. Brouwer, 
 
 Recording Secretary. 
 As the surrender of the supply of city Sabbath 
 schools in May had separated the Society from what 
 bad been arbitrarily regarded as its peculiar work, 
 this step introduced it to labours seeming naturally 
 and properly to belong to it. 
 
 1832. 
 
 At the first meeting of the new Board, December 
 1st, 1831, preparatory steps were taken for the pros- 
 ecution of the important work resolved upon. A 
 stamp bearing the name of the society was adopted, 
 to be placed upon the books it might distribute, and 
 thus in a measure prevent imposition or abuse. A 
 committee of nine was also appointed to devise a 
 plan of operations. 
 
 At the regular meeting, January 17, 1832, the 
 committee, having conferred with the New York 
 City Tract Society's committee, reported a plan, of 
 which the following are the essential features : 
 
 1 . The tract visitors of the New York City Tract Society to be 
 furnished with blanks, in which to record monthly the names 
 and residences of families found destitute of the Bible. 
 
 2. These cases of destitution to be reported to the ward com- 
 mittee of the Board, the appointment of which was also provided 
 for. 
 
 3. That some member of the ward committee should attend 
 the monthly meetings of the tract distributers, and arrange for 
 
1832.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 37 
 
 the supply of the destitute either through the tract distributers 
 or personally. The committee also to take further measures, if 
 necessary, to ascertain if every family within the ward possessed 
 the Bible. 
 
 4. In those wards in which Bible societies existed, the destitu- 
 tion ascertained was to be reported to them monthly by the ward 
 committee, and, if not attended to, then to be reported to the 
 Board. 
 
 5. In certain wards (sixth, ninth, fourteenth, and fifteenth), it 
 was made the duty of the ward committee to issue circulars, and 
 distribute them to every house, giving information where those 
 who wanted Bibles might obtain them. In these wards it was 
 also made the duty of the committees to solicit funds, to visit 
 personally, and distribute the Scriptures, with power to call in 
 necessary volunteer aid. In some of these wards, it is stated 
 that two-thirds of the destitute supplied were discovered through 
 the circulars thus distributed. 
 
 The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and eighth 
 wards had been for several years supplied by the 
 New York Female Bible Society, and at first a de- 
 sire was expressed by them to continue the supply, 
 reporting monthly to the Board " the amount and 
 details of their labours ;" but at the meeting of the 
 Board in March (1st), it was informed that the New 
 York Female Bible Society "had resolved to with- 
 draw from the labour of supplying" those wards, 
 " and to devote its funds to other purposes." 
 
 A committee was immediately appointed, of which 
 Timothy R. Green was chairman, to arrange those 
 wards under the general plan above described, which 
 was done ; and the ward committees were directed 
 to explain to the superintendent of tract distribution 
 
38 HISTORY OF THE (1832. 
 
 in their respective wards " the present arrangement, 
 and the causes of the past apparent neglect ; re- 
 questing also that they urge their distributers to 
 return monthly all existing cases of destitution." 
 
 Further : The committee suggest to their brethren of the 
 Board that too much care cannot be taken in all our intercourse 
 with our friends engaged in the tract distribution to manifest 
 that our object is always to co-operate, never to interfere with 
 them. Circumstances have come to the knowledge of the com- 
 mittee, in the course of their investigations, which show that, 
 without great prudence on our part, our motives may be miscon- 
 strued, and therefore not appreciated. 
 
 With special reference to the necessary provisions 
 for these new Western and home fields of labour, 
 vigorous financial movements were also made. 
 The report of the committee appointed on this sub- 
 ject, which was "accepted and adopted" at the 
 March meeting of the Board, recommended : 
 
 That as many churches as might be deemed expedient or 
 practicable be represented in the Board, and that to each church 
 so represented, and to such other churches as the Board may 
 think proper, a church committee of at least one member should 
 be appointed to raise funds, by enrolling the young men as mem- 
 bers, and if possible, by forming, with the previous consent and 
 concurrence of the pastor, associations which vrould regularly 
 raise contributions for the Bible Cause, and present them to or 
 through the Society. Also, that in those wards wholly depend- 
 ent upon the Board, the ward committees should, if practicable, 
 ''hold frequent meetings of the friends of the Bible in their re- 
 spective wards, and thereby raise as much money as can be pru- 
 dently solicited." Finally, the committee suggested the ap- 
 pointment of a committee " to prepare, and cause to be inserted 
 
1832.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 39 
 
 in all the religious papers of the city, such notices of tlie Society 
 and its operations as might appear calculated to interest the 
 Christian public in its behalf." 
 
 In the midst of these measures for meeting their 
 new responsibilities, the Board received an appli- 
 cation from the N. Y. S. S. Union for 3,000 Bibles, for 
 the use of the Sabbath schools under their care. 
 After consideration at a special meeting, it was con- 
 eluded, that the Board having undertaken duties, the 
 extent of which it could not yet distinctly appre- 
 ciate, was "not prepared to make" the donation; 
 and a direct application to the American Bible So- 
 ciety by the N. Y. S. S. Union was suggested. 
 
 In the course of this summer (1832) the cholera 
 came among us, and in view of the solemn visitation 
 it was 
 
 Resolved, That God having raised the rod of his chastisement 
 over the field of our operations, we will, as members of this 
 Board, endeavour, in discharging our duties, to feel that it be- 
 comes us to do with our might what our hands find to do ; as 
 those we would benefit, and we who seek their good, may, at an 
 hour when we least expect, be called to our eternal destinies ; 
 and should we be scattered by the terror of the prevailing pesti- 
 lence, we will, one and all, remember the objects of our Society 
 in daily prayer. 
 
 The distribution to destitute families during this 
 first and calamitous year was small, and was 
 effected entirely through individual members of the 
 Board, ward committees, and to some extent by the 
 clergy of the city churches, who now began to be 
 supplied with Bibles for distribution. The grants to 
 
40 HISTORY OF THE (1832. 
 
 Humane and Criminal Institutions were increased 
 slightly over those of the previous year ; and a grant 
 of one Bible and forty Testaments w^as made to the 
 convalescing patients of a cholera hospital, on ap- 
 plication of a physician. 
 
 The labours of the Society among the military 
 posts in the harbour of New York had been com- 
 menced in October, 1831, by the supply of 125 New 
 Testaments to a company of U. S» soldiers about to 
 leave for Virginia and other parts of the United 
 States ; in which case " the application came from 
 the soldiers, who were anxious to obtain the Word 
 of God to carry with them." 
 
 The work in this department increased consid- 
 erably, in 1832, in connection with the efforts of 
 Rev. Mr. Burnett, Chaplain at Governor's Island. 
 At the ninth anniversary of the society, held No- 
 vember 29th, 1832, the supply of military posts in 
 New York Harbour was formally added to the 
 standing duties of the society. It was also 
 
 Resolved^ That it be considered a prominent duty by every 
 member of this society, to make mention of its interests in his 
 daily prayers, while he does what he can to promote its welfare, 
 and extend its influence. 
 
 An amendment to the 7th (8th original) article 
 of the constitution was adopted at this time, by 
 which the number of managers was increased to 
 forty, and divided into two equal classes, so that the 
 terms of one half of the number should expire an- 
 
1833.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 41 
 
 nually, but leave them re-eligible. Other unimport- 
 ant changes were also made. 
 
 1833. 
 
 At the close of the anniversary meeting of 1832, 
 Mr. Oliver E. Cobb was elected President, and ful- 
 filled the duties of his office at the regular meetings 
 of the Board in December, January, and February ; 
 was absent on account of sickness from the two fol- 
 lowing meetings, and was buried on Sunday, April 
 28th, 1833. The Board held a special meeting to 
 attend his funeral, and adopted resolutions express- 
 ive of their sense of the loss sustained by his fam- 
 ily and the Societ}'. 
 
 Mr. Cobb is the only officer of the Society who 
 has died while an actual incumbent. He was one 
 of the original members of the Board, dying in the 
 tenth year of a faithful and devoted service. It 
 cannot be amiss to insert here a brief notice of his 
 character from the tenth annual report : 
 
 He was an active, enterprising, useful, and amiable member 
 of society. To talents of no mean order he united a goodness of 
 heart, a gentleness of manner, and a simplicity of Christian 
 character, which made him the beloved of many, and the friend 
 of all To the cause of his Redeemer, he was an invalu- 
 able servant, and bright is the example which he has left for 
 our imitation ; he hath passed from among us without reproach, 
 having performed the work which his Master gave him to do ; 
 and leaving a name consecrated by the virtues of a life devoted 
 to God. 
 
 A new certificate of honorary membership, en- 
 
42 HISTORY CF THE (1833. 
 
 graved by Mr. Samuel Styles, after a design painted 
 by Weir, was adopted at the opening of this year 
 (1833), and the original design was presented by 
 the Board to Mr. Joseph H. Colton, with thanks for 
 his services on the committee to obtain the cer- 
 tificate. 
 
 In February, the Purchasing Committee were au- 
 thorized to furnish the clergymen of the city with 
 such Bibles and Testaments as might be necessary 
 to supply the destitute found by them in their visits 
 among the people of their respective charges, re- 
 questing them to report the cases of destitution and 
 supply to the chairman of that committee. 
 
 At the regular meeting in May (2d), the following 
 resolution, previously offered by Mr. Timothy R. 
 Green, was adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That it be the duty of the several ward committees 
 (except the 12th) to attend personally to supplying with the 
 Word of God such families as they may ascertain to be destitute, 
 from the reports of the tract distributers or otherwise. 
 
 This subject was repeatedly brought up in the 
 course of this year, in a manner indicating the con- 
 viction of the Board that all was not done that 
 ought to be done, although the distribution in this 
 department nearly quadrupled within the year ; 
 and at the regular meeting, in November (7th), " a 
 resolution with reference to supplying the destitute 
 families of the city m.ore efficiently" was off'ered, 
 and referred to a special committee, consisting of 
 Messrs. M'Arthur, Mason, and Winslow. 
 
1833.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 43 
 
 In September, th-e Board by resolution undertook 
 to supply all U. S. Government vessels on their 
 leaving this port, and for the first time appointed 
 a committee on Naval Stations ; and a committee 
 was also directed " to inquire into the expediency 
 of supplying the packet-ships to Havre, London, 
 and Liverpool." 
 
 Early in the year a special committee had been 
 appointed to report the draft of a constitution for 
 auxiliary societies. The committee several times 
 reported progress, but made no final report until 
 after the anniversary. 
 
 The most important measure of this year, how^- 
 ever, was the determination to attempt to raise 
 8 10,000, in aid of the effort of the American Bible So- 
 ciety to give the Bible to all the accessible population 
 of the globe, witThin the shortest practicable period. 
 
 Three evenings. May 2d, 3d, and 4th, were spent 
 in the consideration of this great subject, the Rev. 
 Dr. Plumer, of Virginia, being present with the 
 Board, and addressing them at length. 
 
 After still further discussion at subsequent meet- 
 ings, and on ascertaining the views of the Parent 
 Society, and its willingness to yield the entire local 
 field to this society for collections, until the project 
 of raising such sum should be carried out, the Board 
 at its October meeting reconsidered its former reso- 
 lutions, by which the amount had been specifically 
 designated for expenditure by Mr. Gutzlaff in China, 
 and unanimously 
 
44 HISTORY OF THE (1834. 
 
 Resolved, That we will endeavour to raise the sum of $10,000 
 during the current year of the Parent Society, which, or such 
 part thereof as we shall he ahle to ohtain, shall he appropriated 
 through the American Bible Society, as so much of their pledge 
 of $30,000 for foreign distribution. 
 
 The Parent Society had previously resolved to 
 make their appropriation of $3,000 for China from 
 the amount to be raised by this Society. 
 
 The committee sought, and obtained the aid of 
 Rev. Dr. Proudfit, of Salem, N. Y., in soliciting con- 
 tributions. The venerable man, in his letter of ac- 
 ceptance to the committee, says : 
 
 Permit me, therefore, respectfully to recommend that your 
 committee occasionally meet on purpose to implore His blessing 
 on this your honourable design ; then the execution will be easy, 
 and the result happy and glorious. The copies of Divine Truth, 
 thrown into circulation by this contribution, will add other gems 
 to your Master's crown, and your own crown, through eternal 
 ages. 
 
 The w^ork thus undertaken in faith and prayer 
 was accomplished in season, the pledge redeemed, 
 **and the amount paid in cash." Suitable acknowl- 
 edgments of the services rendered by the Rev. Dr. 
 Proudfit were made, at a special meeting held for 
 the purpose, in January, 1834. 
 
 183 4. 
 
 At the first meeting of the new Board, December 
 12th, 1833, the special committee appointed in No- 
 vember, "with reference to supplying the destitute 
 families of the city more efficiently," reported a plan 
 
1834.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 45 
 
 for this purpose, which, after being discussed until 
 a late hour, was laid over, together with a propo- 
 sition to condense the standing committees, to an 
 adjourned meeting to be held December 13th, at 
 which time the latter was definitely laid on the 
 table, and the usual standing committees were ap- 
 pointed. The former, which is not on record, was 
 also, after some further discussion, laid on the table ; 
 and the different ward committees were instructed 
 "to take immediate measures to ascertain and sup- 
 ply the destitution throughout the city, and report 
 the result in March." 
 
 At this meeting measures were taken for defining 
 the proper duties of the various standing commit- 
 tees. 
 
 A special committee was also appointed to inquire 
 and report in reference to supplying the emigrants 
 arriving at this port with the Bible, and to devise 
 a plan of operations. The committee reported at 
 an adjourned meeting in March (13th), and the dis- 
 cussion of their report was continued at the regular 
 meeting in April (4th). The resolutions reported 
 by them were adopted. They expressed the high 
 sense of the importance of this work to the future 
 civil and religious interests of the country; and 
 determined, in reliance on the Divine blessing, to 
 supply every emigrant family landing at this port 
 " with a copy of the Sacred Scriptures in their own 
 language." 
 
 For this purpose a " Standing Committee on Emi- 
 
46 HISTORY OF THE (1834. 
 
 grants" was now first appointed, and it was resolved 
 to employ an agent to labour in this department un- 
 der the direction of the committee. This committee 
 was also directed to confer with the Parent Society 
 and with the Marine Bible Society as to any co- 
 operation to be expected from them. In June (5th) 
 the committee reported the appointment of Mr. 
 C. C. Andrews as their Agent, and subsequently, at 
 the regular meetings of the Board, gave interesting 
 accounts of his labours. The expense of this de- 
 partment was estimated by the committee, on the 
 basis of 36,000 arrivals yearly, at 82,500 per annum. 
 
 The agent was instructed to distribute the Scrip- 
 tures among the families arriving, and to secure the 
 co-operation of owners and captains. This, in gen- 
 eral, seems to have been readily effected; and, in 
 addition to his personal distribution, the agent placed 
 Bibles on board the ships for the use of passengers 
 on the return voyage. In connection with this 
 work, a part of an office. No. 20 Wall Street, wais 
 rented for thirty-one dollars per annum. 
 
 Beginning in 1833, and continuing through 1834, 
 the work of the Society, particularly in connection 
 with the naval and emigrant committees, came 
 more and more into contact with the work of the 
 Marine Bible Society, calling frequently for those 
 committees of conference, which finally, in 1S39, 
 resulted in the entire assumption of its duties. 
 
 In the course of this year (1834) a majority of 
 the wards were reported by their respective commit- 
 
1835.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 47 
 
 ^es as for the most part well supplied with Bibles. 
 One of them (the eighth) had employed an agent ; 
 which measure, after discussion, was approved. In 
 the annual report, the work of city distribution is 
 characterized as " a self-denying duty," " though not 
 unfrequently enlivened by incidents of great inter- 
 est." At the eleventh anniversary, December 10th, 
 1834, the work of supplying emigrant fam.ilies was 
 made one of the regular operations of the society, 
 
 1835. 
 
 At the opening meeting for this year, held as 
 usual in December (25th) of the year preceding, the 
 wish of the Parent Board to devolve upon this Soci- 
 ety the entire public collection of funds in this city 
 for the Bible Cause was communicated to the Board. 
 
 It was, after due consideration, unanimously 
 
 Resolved^ That this Board will assume for the current year the 
 public collection of all moneys in the city for the Bible Cause. 
 
 A standing committee of seven was immediately 
 appointed as a "committee of ways and means," 
 with directions to communicate to the Parent Board 
 the action of this Society in the matter. 
 
 The auxiliary committee was requested to inquire 
 into the condition of the ward auxiliaries, and also 
 other ward Bible societies not auxiliary, and report 
 at the next meeting. They reported in March (5th), 
 but nothing special appears except a resolution 
 requesting the ward committees to see that the des- 
 titute are supplied in two wards (seventh and thir- 
 
48 HISTORY OF THE (1835. 
 
 teenth), where auxiliaries had existed, which it may 
 be inferred had suspended. 
 
 In February (5th) the Committee of Ways and 
 Means reported having engaged the services of Mr. 
 H. D. Ward as an agent of the society, and other 
 measures adopted by them, w^hich were approved. 
 The resignation of Mr. Andrews as agent was re- 
 ceived and accepted at this meeting, he being about 
 to remove to the West. 
 
 In April Mr. Ward was placed under the direc- 
 tion of "the Committee of Ways and Means and 
 Emigrant Committee ;" and in July, on account of 
 ill health, he employed Mr. Jacobson to act in his 
 stead among emigrants. 
 
 In May (7th) an interesting letter from the Rev. 
 Charles GutzlafF, of China, in reply to a communi- 
 cation addressed to him, by order of the Board, by 
 the corresponding secretary, was read, gratefully 
 acknowledging the contribution of funds by this so- 
 ciety for the new edition of the Chinese Scriptures, 
 which, in co-operation with Mr. Bridgman, he was 
 employed in preparing. 
 
 In this year a proposition was made to distrib- 
 ute the Scriptures among emigrants in portions, 
 in the form of tracts, but, under the judicious action 
 of the Parent Board, it was abandoned. 
 
 Various propositions were also made by persons 
 disconnected with the Board to employ the agent 
 among emigrants in the incidental distribution of 
 temperance tracts, and "cards" notifying them of 
 
1836.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 49 
 
 time and place of worship, which the Board refused 
 to sanction. 
 
 In relation to the supply of city destitution, the 
 usual resolution was adopted at the January (8th) 
 meeting, referring it to the ward committees for 
 prompt attention and accomplishment. In Septem- 
 ber (3d) it was resolved to supply all children under 
 fifteen years of age, who could read, with the New 
 Testament, and the ward committees were instructed 
 " to see that it is thoroughly and promptly done ;" 
 and further, in November, the chairmen of the sev- 
 eral ward committees were directed to keep a sup- 
 ply of Bibles on hand, and inform "the tract w^ard 
 agents" where they may be obtained, and furnish 
 them, when requested, at their several residences. 
 
 At the close of this year, Mr. Walter M. Smith, 
 who had been eleven years treasurer, retired from 
 that office and from the Board, having become in- 
 eligible by age, the limit being thirty-five. Reso- 
 lutions of thanks for long and faithful services were 
 adopted, and a pleasant "token of esteem and re- 
 gard" presented to him. 
 
 1836. 
 
 At the opening of this year the plan for supplying 
 the poor children of the city gratuitously with the 
 New Testament was* again brought before the 
 Board, and referred to the ward committees with 
 detailed instructions for effecting it, accompanied 
 by the annual resolution in reference to supplying 
 families. 
 
 4 
 
50 HISTORY OF THE (1836. 
 
 j^ the same time the committee of ways and 
 means was requested to consider if any, and what 
 change is necessary in the present mode of distrib- 
 uting the Bible, and to report at the next meeting 
 of the Board, which they did, but recommended no 
 change. At a subsequent stage of the meeting, a 
 special committee on the same subject was raised, 
 consisting of Messrs. Edwards, Green, and Warriner. 
 In April the committee reported resolutions, which 
 were at once adopted, "that the present mode of 
 distribution through the tract agents of the different, 
 wards be continued as far as is practicable ; and in 
 any of the wards where there are no tract agents, it 
 be done, as formerly, by the members of the Board ;" 
 and farther directing that a supply of Bibles be 
 kept at an appointed central place in each ward, 
 under charge of some member of the ward commit- 
 tee, whose duty it was made " to see that the tract 
 agents are always supplied," and report monthly to 
 the Board. 
 
 Bible distribution to Hotels was first suggested at 
 the February (4th) meeting of the Board by Mr. 
 George T. Fox, who proposed " supplying each bed- 
 room of the principal hotels of this city with a copy 
 of the Scriptures," beginning " with the Astor Hotel 
 if practicable; " which was afiterward accomplished. 
 
 In March (3d) an application was received, in 
 behalf of the New York Sunday School Union, for 
 "100 Bibles for premiums," in consequence of the be- 
 lief that the Young Ladies' Bible Society had dis- 
 
1837-39.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 51* 
 
 solved. It was referred to the Committee on Appli- 
 cations with power. This committee reported, in 
 April, that the Young Ladies' Bible Society had 
 united with the New York Female Bible Society, 
 and that the latter had placed $300 worth of Bibles 
 at the disposal of the New York Sunday School 
 Union. 
 
 In March (3d) Mr. Luther P. Hubbard was ap- 
 pointed Agent of the society under direction of the 
 Emigrant Committee, in connection with the Ma- 
 rine Bible Society, each society furnishing half the 
 amount of his salary. 
 
 The interest of the year's work lay in the reports 
 of Rev. Mr. Burnett, of labours at the navy yard 
 and naval stations ; the operations of Rev. John 
 Rudy among the German population of the city; 
 and of Mr. L. P. Hubbard among emigrants. An 
 interesting report was also presented by Messrs. 
 Rand and G. T. Fox of their personal visitation in 
 the sixth ward. 
 
 1837—1839. 
 
 During these three years, but little if any change 
 occurred, except by simple enlargement, in any of 
 the home operations of the society. The various com- 
 mittees performed the duties indicated by their ti- 
 tles, or specially imposed upon them. The Emigrant 
 Committee, through its agent, Mr. Hubbard, did much 
 marine work, but always in harmony with the Ma- 
 rine Bible Society. The Rev. Mr. Rudy continued 
 
52 HISTORY OF THE (1837-39. 
 
 to distribute the Scriptures among the resident 
 German population until 1839, and was a valued 
 labourer in that field. 
 
 The supply of destitute families in the city con- 
 tinued to be chiefly made through the tract mission- 
 aries and distributers, under the supervision of the 
 ward committees. In August (3d), 1837, the subject 
 of this Society aiding in the support of the tract 
 missionaries was mentioned in the Board, and laid 
 over for a future time. 
 
 In the spring of 1839 (April 6th) the chairmen 
 of the several ward committees were requested to 
 report what arrangements had been made for the 
 annual examination and supply of the different 
 wards ; and in October the Board, in view of the 
 large amount of their debt to the Parent Society, re- 
 solved to suspend their usual distributions, " except 
 among destitute families in the city," until that debt 
 should be paid, unless under special directions from 
 the Board. 
 
 Some important changes in the general system 
 of the society's efforts also occurred during this 
 period. 
 
 1st. At the first organization of the society, the sup- 
 ply of Sabbath schools with Bibles and Testaments 
 as premiums, through the New York Sunday School 
 Union, was assigned to it, and long regarded as its 
 sole work. But in July, 1838, it was, on an appli- 
 cation from the New York Sunday School Union, 
 declared inexpedient to grant Bibles to that society 
 
1837-39.) * NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 53 
 
 for use as premiums; and although in May, 1839, 
 it was reported to the Board that the New York 
 Female Bible Society had declined occupying any 
 part of the Sabbath school field, the decision of 1838 
 was adhered to in acting upon an application in 
 June (6th) of that year. 
 
 2d. The supply of the Western States with New 
 Testaments for Sabbath schools was formally un- 
 dertaken in 1830-31, throtigh the American Sunday 
 School Union, and, though a thousand miles dis- 
 tant, constituted at that time the only extensive and 
 important field of the Society's operations. It ex- 
 tended in 1837 to the States of Illinois, Missouri, 
 Indiana, Michigan, and the Wisconsin Territory, to 
 which grants were made at various times, forming 
 an aggregate of 14,000 New Testaments. In 1839 
 this extra-territorial work had been silently but en- 
 tirely abandoned. 
 
 3d. The formation of auxiliaries, which had often 
 been looked to as one of the most important of the 
 Society's modes of action, though results did not 
 justify this, was also given up ; the article relating 
 to them being omitted from the constitution, and the 
 standing committee on auxiliaries discontinued. 
 
 4th. The name of the Society was changed by 
 striking out the prefix, " Young Men's," in the first 
 article of the constitution. 
 
 5th. The second article of the constitution was 
 amended so as to declare the sole object of the So- 
 ciety to be "the distribution of the Sacred Scrip- 
 
54 HISTORY OF THE * (1837-39. 
 
 tures without note or comment," instead of "to 
 engage the co-operation of young persons" in such 
 distribution. 
 
 In February (8th), 1839, the Committee of Ways 
 and Means (Mr. A. R. Walsh, Chairman) were em- 
 powered to appoint the church committees, and 
 receive their reports, which appointments have from 
 that time devolved upon this committee as one of 
 its regular duties. 
 
 That committee also submitted a resolution, which 
 was adopted, as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That the Parent Society be requested to recognize 
 us as its representative for the public collection of its funds in 
 this city, and also to acknowledge as coming through us any 
 contributions from this city, which may be paid direct to their 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Upon this subject a committee of conference was 
 appointed (Messrs. A. R. Walsh, Fox, and Edwards), 
 and the result is embodied in the following resolu- 
 tion reported by them at the May (2d) meeting and 
 adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That this Board will cheerfully continue the annual 
 collection of funds for the Bible Cause in the churches of this 
 city, as intrusted to them by the resolution of the Parent Society 
 of A]3ril 4th : and that they will faithfully improve every oppor- 
 tunity, with which God in his providence may favour them, to pro- 
 mote the Cause of the Bible, and make its saving truth univer- 
 sally known. 
 
 A. Robertson Walsh, 
 
 Chairman. 
 
 The importance of this subject was also urged in 
 the annual report of that year, and its bearings upon 
 
1840-44.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 55^ 
 
 the interests of the Society, and on the general Bible 
 Cause in this city, were discussed. A supplement- 
 ary notice was also appended to the Annual Re- 
 port, referring to the difficulties which had arisen 
 in the collection of funds " from the several appli- 
 cations made to the Christian public by the socie- 
 ties occupying the various departments of this one 
 great cause ;" and the Report of 1840 announced 
 " this Society as occupying the entire field ; and be- 
 ing, with the exception of the Female Bible Society, 
 the only collecting and distributing auxiliary of the 
 American Bible Society in the city of New York." 
 
 1840 — 1844. 
 
 Propositions had been made and negotiations en- 
 tered into for an arrangement by which the Marine 
 Bible Society, which had laboured in its peculiarly 
 interesting department for nearly twenty-three 
 years, should surrender its field of labour to this 
 society. At the opening of the year 1840, those 
 negotiations were closed, as implied in the supple- 
 mentary notice mentioned above, and the Society 
 assumed the duties and half the debt of the Ma- 
 rine Bible Society, the amount thus assumed being 
 $823 39 ; the Parent Society agreeing to cancel the 
 other half, and the Marine Bible Society stipulating 
 to pay over to the New York Bible Society all 
 funds which might be received by them. 
 
 [The work thus assumed was conducted under the 
 charge of the appropriate committee of our Board, 
 
56 HISTORY OF THE (1840-44. 
 
 with associates from the Marine Bible Society until 
 the close of 1849, when the appointment of asso- 
 ciates ceased ; since which the Marine Bible So- 
 ciety has had only a formal existence.] 
 
 " Seamen" being thus added to our list of objects, 
 received much attention, and repaid, in the special 
 interest connected with their supply, the labour it 
 involved, the men often seeming eager and grateful 
 for the Word of God. 
 
 The Marine work was re-organized at the open- 
 ing of this year, and the shipping, coasters, &c., 
 divided into districts, which were severally placed 
 under charge of individual members of the com- 
 mittee, and the monthly details of their personal 
 visitation of them, as laid before the Board, furnish- 
 ed matter of great interest to the Christian heart. 
 
 During these five years, no other striking change 
 was made in the action of the Society, or in the ob- 
 jects to which its attention was directed. Certain 
 small items of distribution to fire companies, &c., 
 were thrown under the new head of " Sundries" in 
 its reports, and a proposition was made to ascertain 
 the practicability and propriety of supplying mili- 
 tary companies. The supply of hotels was some- 
 what enlarged. Provision was made for supplying 
 the poor blind on leaving the asylum. The Com- 
 mittee on Naval Stations visited and supplied for- 
 eign vessels of war entering our harbour. 
 
 In April (2d), 1840, the death of Timothy R. Green, 
 long an active member of the Board, and but recently 
 
1840-44.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 57 
 
 President of the Society, was reported, and the fol- 
 lowing resolution, with others, was adopted : 
 
 Resolvedj That his kind and courteous demeanour, his can- 
 dour, his manly freedom from sectarian prejudice, his brotherly 
 kindness to all who bore the name of his Master, his cool, dis- 
 criminating judgment, his persevering devotion to the cause of 
 our common faith, and the unbroken consistency of his Christian 
 walk and conversation, while they made him eminently useful 
 and beloved in life, have rendered his memory sacred and dear to 
 the members of this Board. 
 
 Early in 1840, applications for Bibles from the 
 New York Sunday School Union brought up the 
 question of re-opening relations with that society, 
 which had been postponed in April, 1836, in conse- 
 quence of the donation of $300 worth of Bibles to 
 that Union by the Female Bible Society. 
 
 The committee on applications, to whom the sub- 
 ject was referred, presented the following resolu- 
 tions at the meeting of June 4th, 1840 : 
 
 Resolved, That our society being the only local society con- 
 nected with the American Bible Society, and the schools being 
 supplied from no other source, it is our duty to grant supplies 
 of Bibles and Testaments for the use of Sunday schools in this 
 city. 
 
 Resolved, That it is desirable to furnish the schools through 
 the Union or Society with which they are connected, and that 
 those schools not so connected be furnished by a committee of 
 this Board. 
 
 Resolved, That it is not expedient to grant supplies of Bibles 
 and Testaments for premiums and rewards. 
 
 At the regular meeting of the Board, February 4th, 
 1841, the last resolution was reconsidered. The 
 
58 HISTORY OF THE (1840-44. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Campfield addressed the Board upon the 
 subject, and the following resolution was adopted 
 by a vote of seventeen to sixteen : 
 
 Resolved. That the corresponding secretary be requested to 
 inform the secretary of the New York Sunday School Union that 
 this society are now prepared to furnish them with such Bibles 
 and Testaments as they may require for rewards. 
 
 Grants were made accordingly. 
 
 In June (2d), 1842, reports of Bibles being put to 
 improper uses came before the Board, and a commit- 
 tee of inquiry was appointed. The committee re- 
 ported July 7th, and were requested to make further 
 inquiries. The subject occupied the attention of 
 the board at three consecutive meetings ; and from 
 statements made in September (1st), it appeared 
 that something more than $500 worth of premium 
 Bibles and Testaments had been granted within two 
 years, besides common Bibles and Testaments to 
 about an equal amount. The question lay over 
 from September to January 5th, 1843, when the fol- 
 lowing resolutions were' adopted : 
 
 Resolved^ That for the future we discontinue the supply of 
 premium Bibles and Testaments. 
 
 Resolved^ That while we concur in the passage of the above 
 resolution, we entertain no hostility to the interests of the New 
 York Sunday School Union, nor wish to express any opinion ad- 
 verse to the propriety of giving premiums by that institution : but 
 simply express the opinion of this Board, that the distribution of 
 Bibles and Testaments for premiums to any Sunday school in- 
 volves a principle at variance with the general object for which 
 the society was organized; viz., the supplying of the destitute 
 with the Sacred Scriptures. 
 
1840-41.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 59 
 
 Resolved^ That the corresponding secretary be requested to 
 communicate the above resolutions to the New York Sunday 
 School Union, 
 
 At the February (2d) meeting of the Board, 1843, 
 an application, comprising premium and other Bi- 
 bles and Testaments, was presented from the New 
 York Sunday School Union, which was granted so 
 far as consistent with the resolution adopted in Jan- 
 uary. A committee of gentlemen also appeared in 
 behalf of the New York Sunday School Union, and 
 requested a committee of conference, which was 
 appointed, consisting of Messrs. Van Rensselaer, 
 Edwards, and Blatchford. At the April meeting, 
 the committee reported that they had fully discussed 
 the subject in conference ; and recommended that 
 the Board adhere to its resolution of January 5th, 
 which recommendation, "after a long and able dis- 
 cussion," was adopted. In June, 1844, a grant of 
 750 Bibles of the ordinary st3-le was made to the 
 Sunday School Union, and grants of similar Bibles 
 and Testaments have been made annually since for 
 the use of Sabbath schools, to the New York and 
 other S. S. Unions or Boards. They sometimes 
 reach the extent of 5,000 volumes in a j-ear, but no 
 detailed or specific reports are made to the Board 
 of the mode in which these grants are disposed of. 
 
 In August, 1841, the subject of making grants 
 of Bibles and Testaments in various parts of the 
 country was presented, and the Board resolved to 
 discontinue them. In May, 1842, it was proposed 
 
60 HISTORY OF THE (1840-44. 
 
 to rescind this resolution ; but the question being 
 laid over until June, and the views of the Secretary 
 of the Parent Society having been ascertained, the 
 decision was adhered to, although not carried out 
 strictly till near the close of 1843. 
 
 The system of direct grants to Sabbath schools 
 outside of the city, thus discontinued, had existed 
 almost from the first, and was entirely independent 
 of those large consignments of New Testaments 
 for the supply of the Western States which had 
 been made through the American Sunday School 
 Union from 1831 to 1839. Under it grants had at 
 various times been made to Sabbath schools in the 
 counties of Albany, Alleghan}^, Chautauque, Dutch- 
 ess, Erie, Greene, Kings, Onondaga, Putnam, Rock- 
 land, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Wayne, 
 Westchester, and others ; in the States of Illinois, 
 Ohio, Iowa, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania ; in 
 North Carolina and Rhode Island, Mississippi and 
 Connecticut, Michigan, and the Territories of Ar- 
 kansas and Florida ; in Lower Canada and Ber- 
 muda, and " an island in the St, Lawrence." (See 
 Document F, Appendix.) 
 
 In 1841 (March and June) an arrangement was 
 made with the Brooklyn Bible Society, by which 
 they assumed the supply of the navy yard, while 
 this society retained the duty of supplying National 
 vessels lying there, or leaving the harbour. 
 
 In the finances some difficulties were met, and 
 finally overcome. A resolution to raise $4,000 as a 
 
1840-44.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 61 
 
 donation to the Parent Society was adopted in Jan- 
 uary (7th), 1841. This was accomplished, but left 
 the society nearly 12,000 in debt. Early in 1842 
 this subject was urged upon the attention of the 
 Board, and members requested to exert themselves 
 to obtain new subscribers, and in the collection of 
 funds, exercising " careful economy in distribution." 
 The Corresponding Secretary of the Parent Society 
 addressed the board upon the subject in March (2d), 
 1843 ; and in May of that year the Ptev. Mr. (now 
 Bishop) Janes submitted the following resolution 
 from the Parent Board, for the regulation of the 
 financial relations of this Society with them : 
 
 Resolved^ That the following plan for effecting collections in 
 this city be recommended to the Board of Managers of the New 
 York Bible Society, viz. : That the Parent Society make applica- 
 tions to individuals for donations, in sums of thirty dollars and 
 upwards, on their own account exclusively ; that the New York 
 Bible Society make its public collections as usual, and applica- 
 tions for individual donations in sums less than thirty dollars • 
 and that they be at liberty to ask the services of either of the 
 Secretaries of this Board in presenting the Cause to the churches. 
 In case any donation is received by this Board, under this arrange- 
 ment, of a less sum than thirty dollars, the same shall be cred- 
 ited to the New York Bible Society in its account with the Parent 
 Society ; provided, it be understood that any subscriber be at lib- 
 erty to designate to which society his donation shall be paid. 
 
 After a full discussion of the above resolution, it 
 was, on motion. 
 
 Resolved^ That the words, '-in sums less than thirty dollars," 
 be stricken out ; and that the resolution thus amended be com- 
 municated to the Parent Board. 
 
62 HISTORY OF THE (1840-44. 
 
 About this time, a cordial invitation was given 
 to the Secretaries of the Parent Society to be pres- 
 ent at the meetings of the board. A similar in- 
 vitation was extended " to om- co-labourers, the tract 
 missionaries." An invitation also was received in 
 November (2d), 1843, from the Philadelphia Bible 
 Society, inviting the members of this Board to sit as 
 corresponding members at their meetings when con- 
 venient ; which was cordially reciprocated by a 
 corresponding invitation to members of the Phila- 
 delphia Board. 
 
 The following resolution, presented by Mr. Dodge 
 July 2d, 1840, and laid over from time to time, was 
 taken up January 7th, 1841 : 
 
 Resolved^ That in tlie future distribution of the Bible in the 
 wards, the tract distributers be requested to make their applica- 
 tions for Bibles to the chairman through the tract agent ; and 
 that the committee attend in person to its delivery, keeping a 
 record of the name and residence of those supplied. 
 
 After much discussion it was laid on the table ; 
 and, on motion, 
 
 Resolved, That the several ward committees be directed to 
 ascertain, and report at the regular meeting in July next, that 
 every destitute family in their wards has been supplied with a 
 Bible. 
 
 In January (4th), 1844, Messrs. Sharpe, Walsh, 
 and Blatchford were appointed a committee to 
 " consider the propriety of appointing one or more 
 colporteurs to be employed in this city, in the distri- 
 bution of the Sacred Scriptures." It was also 
 
1840-44.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 63 
 
 Resolved, That the ward committees adopt such measures as 
 shall enable them to make a final report of full supply of the 
 wards at the meeting in May next. 
 
 The committee on colporteurs reported, in Feb- 
 ruary (1st), resolutions approving of " the system 
 of colportage in the distribution of the Bible," and 
 for the appointment of a committee with authority 
 to select, and employ for six months, a suitable per- 
 son for the work. After prolonged discussion the 
 subject was laid over to the March (7th) meeting, 
 and then deferred until April (4th), when it Avas 
 further discussed, and again laid over. At the May 
 (2d) meeting, after full discussion, the resolutions, 
 with an unimportant amendment, were adopted. 
 
 In June (6th) a committee of three (Messrs. Buck, 
 Blatchford, and Sharpe) w^as appointed, "author- 
 ized to employ Conrad Rilling until the first day 
 of November next, to distribute the Bible chiefly 
 among the resident and emigrant population speak- 
 ing either the German or the French language." 
 It was also resolved that the work should be prose- 
 cuted by him " without reference to any sectarian 
 views;" also that he be designated as "the Distrib- 
 uting Agent." Reports of his operations were 
 presented from month to month to the Board by 
 the Committee. In November (7th) he was re-ap- 
 pointed for six months, and with but slight change 
 in the sphere of his labours, by being limited to 
 emigrants on arrival, has continued until now a 
 faithful and devoted labourer in this field. 
 
64 HISTORY OF THE (1845-49. 
 
 1845—1849. 
 
 At the anniversary in 1844, some remarks were 
 made by a speaker, to which exception seems to 
 have been publicly taken ; for at the first meeting 
 of the board thereafter (December 5th, 1844), resolu- 
 tions were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be 
 published, disavowing responsibility for the individ- 
 ual opinions of speakers or members ; affirming 
 strongly the singleness of the Society's object as de- 
 clared in the second article of the constitution ; re- 
 gretting "the occasion, or supposed occasion," of 
 offence ; and expressing earnestly the hope " that 
 nothing may ever occur to interrupt that love and 
 harmony which ought to be found, if anywhere 
 upon earth, among those who are associated for the 
 distribution of God's Holy Word." 
 
 At the opening of the year 1845, a correspondence 
 occurred between the Episcopal Church Committee 
 and various clergymen of that communion, which 
 gave promise of good to the interests of the society. 
 
 In March, 1846, the propriety of seeking to obtain 
 collections in Unitarian churches was suggested as 
 an inquiry, and laid over until the April meeting, 
 when it was " indefinitely postponed." 
 
 At a special meeting held February 19th, 1846, 
 Mr. Blatchford, from a committee previously ap- 
 pointed, presented a remonstrance to the Legislature 
 of this State against granting a charter to the Bap- 
 tist Bible Society under the title of "American and 
 
1845-49.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 65 
 
 Foreign Bible Society," which was read and adopted 
 as the remonstrance of this Board, and the president 
 was charged with the duty of transmitting it to the 
 Legislature. 
 
 In the course of this year some thirty of the city 
 hotels were supplied with Bibles for their public 
 and private parlours, and for their lodging rooms, the 
 distribution reaching to 2,237 volumes. Volunteers 
 for the army in California and Mexico also received 
 supplies. 
 
 In 1847 an application was received from the N. Y. 
 S. S. Union " for a grant of Bibles to be distributed 
 as premiums," which was respectfully declined, as 
 being violative of the fundamental object of the 
 society, — "the supply of the destitute with the 
 Scriptures." 
 
 Although in 1845 the Marine and Emigrant Com- 
 mittee continued united in name, the work of sup- 
 plying emigrants was chiefly done by Mr. Rilling, 
 under the direction of a "Committee on Special 
 Distribution," and the results were separately re- 
 ported at the anniversar}^ 
 
 In 1846 the latter committee became the "Emi- 
 grant Committee," Mr. Rilling continuing its Dis- 
 tributing Agent ; while Mr. Hubbard laboured un- 
 der the direction of the Marine Committee. 
 
 March 4th, 1847, "The Emigrant and Agency 
 Committee were empowered to employ Mr. Henry 
 Goubelman as distributer among the German and 
 French population of the upper part of the city." 
 
66 HISTORY OF THE (1845-49. 
 
 Mr. Goubelman has been re-appointed from time to 
 time, being transferred, in December, 1852, from the 
 Emigrant Committee to that for the supply of the 
 destitute resident population, and still continues to 
 labour promiscuously among the French and Ger- 
 man population. 
 
 In June (7th), 1848, in view of the increasing im- 
 migration from Ireland, the Emigrant Committee 
 was " authorized and requested to employ a suita- 
 ble agent to labour among the Irish emigrants." 
 To this duty Mr. Stephen Smyth was appointed, 
 and has been continued by re-appointment in the 
 same field to the present time. 
 
 In February (3d) of this year, the supply of the 
 Seaman's Retreat, Staten Island, was made a part 
 of the duty of the Marine Committee. 
 
 In August, 184G, a communication was received 
 from Rev. Dr. Brigham, Secretary of the Parent So- 
 ciety, " asking a committee of conference in adjust- 
 ing some plan respecting the retail distribution from 
 the depository." Messrs. A. R. Walsh and G. H. 
 Williams were appointed as the committee ; and at 
 the meeting in September (3d) the following pre- 
 amble and resolution were reported by that com- 
 mittee, and adopted by the Board : 
 
 That in view of the increase of the sale of Bibles in the De- 
 pository of the American Bible Society, thereby making a large 
 inroad upon the time of its Agents, and as according to the pol- 
 icy of the Parent Institution, as applied to other parts of our 
 country, this is peculiarly the work of its auxiliaries; therefore. 
 
1845-49.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 67 
 
 Resolved, That we accede to the proposition of the Ameri- 
 can Bible Society communicated this evening; and that we will, 
 from and after the first of November next, assume the duty of 
 conducting the sales of Bibles, and the distribution of Bibles, to 
 life members and directors of the American Bible Society, at an 
 office in the Bible House to be provided by the Parent Institution, 
 under the supervision of the Purchasing Committee. 
 
 The subject of supplying the destitute resident 
 population commanded much attention and labour 
 throughout this period. 
 
 At the meeting held January 2d, 1845, Messrs. 
 A. R. Walsh, Dr. Post, and E. H. Blatchford were 
 appointed a special committee " to prepare printed 
 instructions for Bible distributers, and also a blank 
 form for the monthly returns of the tract missiona- 
 ries." The Committee of Ways and Means also 
 reported the issue of a circular to the churches giv- 
 ing a condensed account of our operations. Which 
 of these documents gave offence is not expressly 
 stated, but at the March meeting explanations were 
 asked by a committee from the tract missionaries, 
 who had been led to regard "the circular" "in the 
 light of a censure upon their proceedings," which 
 was declared to be " entirely foreign to the design 
 of this Board." 
 
 At the January and March meetings in 1846, the 
 importance of this department of the society's work 
 was urged, and the limited amount of distribution 
 remarked upon, and on motion of Mr. Walsh a com- 
 mittee was appointed " to inquire if any, and what 
 improvements can be made in the present system." 
 
68 HISTOEY OF THE (1845-49. 
 
 In April (2d) the committee reported a resolution 
 to appoint a committee of three to take charge of 
 the "special distribution and sale of the Holy 
 Scriptures throughout our city," "with power to 
 employ a suitable agent." The resolution was 
 adopted, and Messrs. A. R. Walsh, Titus, and Con- 
 over appointed as such committee. The committee 
 failed to find a suitable agent until in November 
 (30th), when they reported that the services of the 
 Rev. Mr. Wolcott, one of the Agents of the Parent 
 Society, had been engaged for this work. 
 
 At the meeting in January (7th), 1847, an inter- 
 esting report of the labours of Mr. Wolcott in the 
 visitation of the tenth ward was submitted, and the 
 general arrangements of the committee for the work 
 were stated and approved. 
 
 Statements were made from month to month of 
 the progress of the work, until at the meeting in 
 September (2d) it w^as reported as completed with 
 the following results : 
 
 Number of families •vii^ited - - - - 18,724 
 
 " " found destitute - - 3,045 = 16 1-4 percent. 
 
 " " supplied - - 1,808 
 
 " " who refused- 1,135 = 
 
 Amount received for sales $223 24 
 
 Cost of gratuitous distribution - - - - $515 88 
 
 Total number of volumes distributed 2,574 
 
 At the first meeting of the new Board, in Decem- 
 ber (7th), 1848, a resolution was submitted by Mr. 
 Blatchford, that " in view of the responsibility we 
 
1845-49.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 69 
 
 have assumed, it is expedient to re-explore this 
 city through agents to be specially employed for 
 that purpose," which was referred to a committee, 
 consisting of Messrs. Blatchford, H. K. Bull, Kings- 
 ley, Davis, and Underhill. 
 
 The committee reported at the next meeting (Jan- 
 uary 4th, 1849), recommending the re-exploration 
 of a single ward by the present agents of the Board, 
 as a test of the necessity and warrant for full re- 
 exploration. The recommendation was adopted, 
 and referred to the same committee for execution. 
 
 At the February (1st) meeting of the Board, the 
 committee reported that they had selected the 
 tenth ward for re- exploration, and that of 2,987 
 families visited by the agents, 200, or about seven 
 per cent., were found entirely destitute of the Scrip- 
 tures. The following resolution was submitted by 
 thern, and adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That a committee be appointed, with power to se- 
 lect and employ a suitable person or persons to act as distribu- 
 ting agents for the society, whose duty it shall be thoroughly to 
 explore the city, in the course of a year, and as far as possible, 
 to keep it supplied with the Scriptures, under the supervision of 
 an appropriate committee. 
 
 In the month of March, the committee, which 
 had been continued in the charge of this work, 
 employed Alexander Watson as Distributing Agent, 
 who, with the exception of a recess of six months 
 in 1853-54, has continued until now to labour un- 
 
"70 HISTORY OF THE (1850-57. 
 
 der the direction of the "Committee on the Sup- 
 ply of the Destitute Resident Population." 
 
 In the summer of 1849, also, the Rev. Mr. Hed- 
 strom began his valued gratuitous labours among 
 the Norwegian and Danish immigrants, which are 
 still continued. 
 
 1850—1857. 
 
 From 1850 onward to the present time, no new 
 department has been added to the labours of this 
 society, nor any new principles of action been ap- 
 plied. All changes have been mere matters of 
 detail or of progress. 
 
 In January of the former year, L. P. Hubbard 
 was re-engaged to labour exclusively in the marine 
 work, chiefly among seamen. William Irving was 
 employed as clerk in the depository, and Rev. Mr. 
 Potter as an additional agent to labour among the 
 destitute resident population, which office he re- 
 signed at the end of ten months, having accepted a 
 call to preach in the West. In May, Mr. Hubbard 
 was compelled by sickness to give up his field of 
 labour, and shortly after resigned his connection with 
 the Society. In June, Mr. John S. Pierson was ap- 
 pointed Marine Agent, which position he still holds, 
 and Mr. Horace Hunt was appointed General Agent, 
 with charge of the depository. In the same month, 
 the President, E. H. Blatchford, Esq., tendered his 
 resignation on account of failing health ; but, upon 
 the unanimous request of the Board, it was not 
 pressed. 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 71 
 
 In the report of this year, the distribution by 
 ward committees and city clergy was included in 
 the statistics of the supply of destitute resident 
 population. (See Document E, Appendix.) 
 
 In June, 1851, the Committee of Ways and Means 
 was instructed to confer with the Parent Society 
 on a new " plan of collections in this city in aid of 
 the Bible Cause." The conference resulted in the 
 appointment of the Rev. Mr. Tuttle as a collecting 
 agent for this city, which arrangement subsisted but 
 for a short time, when the Society fell back upon 
 the system previously pursued from its origin ; de- 
 pending, in the matter of finances, upon receipts 
 from annual and life members and donors, collec- 
 tions in churches, and sales of books, with such 
 legacies as Christian love may commit to it for 
 disbursement. (See Document D, Appendix.) 
 
 In March, 1853, it was ascertained and reported 
 from a committee of the Board, by Mr. W. Allen 
 Butler, that "the amount contributed to the gen- 
 eral Bible Cause by the city of New York, in 1852, 
 was $30,358 70; of which $10,246 71, exclusive of 
 donations, came through the New York Bible Soci- 
 ety." The financial relations of the Society with 
 the Parent Board, and to the Christian public, have 
 been for more than twenty years matters of serious 
 consideration, and sometimes of concern, in the 
 Board, without as yet reaching a satisfactory ad- 
 justment. 
 
 In the course of 1852, the hotels of the city, which 
 
72 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 (1850-57. 
 
 during the previous ten years had been supplied with 
 Bibles, for parlours and lodging rooms, to the number 
 of 6,243, were revisited, and not more than one or two 
 cases of abuse of the Bible were found. 
 
 In 1852, the Committee on Supply of Destitute Resi- 
 dent Population reported the exploration and supply 
 of the city completed, with the following results : 
 
 1 
 
 1st. 
 
 1 
 > 
 
 s 
 
 11 
 
 -o-S 
 111 
 
 §T3(/2 
 
 503 
 
 0) o 
 3h 
 
 ■S ji 
 
 Distribution gratis 
 
 Distribution 
 by sale. 
 
 >> 
 
 JQ 
 
 si 
 
 Sis 
 
 o «" 
 
 ^3 
 > 
 
 Is 
 
 11 
 fid 
 
 3 
 
 si 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 li 
 
 (5" 
 
 2S 
 
 ill 
 
 to - .2 
 
 v^ c 
 
 i 
 s 
 
 ad 
 § 
 
 s 
 
 1,838 
 
 27t 
 
 317 
 
 159 
 
 8 
 
 109 
 
 20 
 
 25 
 
 321 
 
 18 81 
 
 $52 691 
 
 2&4 
 
 3,715 
 
 951 
 
 25^ 
 
 463 
 
 220 
 
 13 
 
 91 
 
 43 
 
 9 
 
 376 
 
 12 04 
 
 73 36 
 
 3d. 
 
 1,249 
 
 144 
 
 12 
 
 74 
 
 85 
 
 16 
 
 81 
 
 39 
 
 10 
 
 231 
 
 12 17 
 
 36 11^ 
 
 5th. 
 
 3,835 
 
 462 
 
 12 
 
 172 
 
 247 
 
 17 
 
 179 
 
 98 
 
 67 
 
 608 
 
 35 911 
 
 97 27^ 
 
 6th. 
 
 3,725 
 
 1,17S 
 
 3Ii 
 
 411 
 
 385 
 
 21 
 
 237 
 
 75 
 
 22 
 
 740 
 
 20 81i 
 
 143 061 
 
 7th. 
 
 4,235 
 
 698 
 
 16^ 
 
 334 
 
 133 
 
 80 
 
 277 
 
 117 
 
 105 
 
 712 
 
 46 m 
 
 80 13 
 
 8th. 
 
 5,833 
 
 57S 
 
 10 
 
 171 
 
 193 
 
 22 
 
 58 
 
 211 
 
 28 
 
 512 
 
 58 693 
 
 76 79t 
 
 9th. 
 
 6,465 
 
 483 
 
 n 
 
 122 
 
 200 
 
 222 
 
 248 
 
 442 
 
 412 
 
 1,524 
 
 167 75| 
 
 146 81J 
 
 *10th. 
 
 2,987 
 
 200 
 
 65 
 
 5f! 
 
 150 
 
 
 
 24 
 
 92 
 
 266 
 
 11 83 
 
 48 02 
 
 nth. 
 
 7,920 
 
 1,225 
 
 15.V 
 
 292 
 
 562 
 
 63 
 
 446 
 
 275 
 
 425 
 
 1,771 
 
 122 253 
 
 285 05i 
 
 12th. 
 
 1,472 
 
 295 
 
 20 
 
 100 
 
 89 
 
 69 
 
 151 
 
 99 
 
 86 
 
 494 
 
 32 OOi 
 
 61 56 
 
 13th. 
 
 4,217 
 
 609 
 
 14i 
 
 191 
 
 239 
 
 41 
 
 244 
 
 100 
 
 78 
 
 702 
 
 39 25 
 
 123 26 
 
 14th. 
 
 4,220 
 
 672 
 
 16 
 
 196 
 
 220 
 
 99 
 
 149 
 
 147 
 
 155 
 
 770 
 
 64 49i 
 
 111 14^ 
 
 15th. 
 
 3,038 
 
 173 
 
 5,^ 
 
 51 
 
 82 
 
 147 
 
 84 
 
 98 
 
 67 
 
 478 
 
 40 971 
 
 71 06f 
 
 16th. 
 
 10,942 
 
 1,526 
 
 14 
 
 454 
 
 460 
 
 258 
 
 499 
 
 668 
 
 663 
 
 2,548 
 
 282 92 
 
 284 03^ 
 
 17th. 
 
 7,195 
 
 1,040 
 
 Ui 
 
 296 
 
 485 
 
 186 
 
 360 
 
 216 
 
 336 
 
 1,583 
 
 106 29 
 
 274 11 
 
 18th. 
 
 6,371 
 
 1,036 
 
 16i 
 
 306 
 
 332 
 
 271 
 
 464 
 
 276 
 
 224 
 
 1,567 
 
 113 29 
 
 207 08^ 
 
 19th. 
 
 3,751 
 
 854 
 
 m 
 
 182 
 
 316 
 
 98 
 
 420 
 
 178 
 
 199 
 
 1,211 
 
 78 83i 
 
 177 41^ 
 
 Total 
 
 83,008 
 
 12,621 
 
 tl5i 
 
 4,182 
 
 4,557 
 
 1,631 
 
 4,097 
 
 3,126 
 
 3,003 
 
 16,414 
 
 1,254 77a 
 
 2,349 OOi 
 
 * Incomplete. f Average percentage. 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 73 
 
 The statements of this table are the results of a 
 thorough exploration of the whole city, from the 
 Battery to Kingsbridge, made by the agents of the 
 Society, carrying the Bible from house to house, and 
 from family to family, through all classes of the 
 community; the Scriptures being furnished to fami- 
 lies, to domestics, to young persons in workshops, 
 and to children, as widely and freely as in the 
 judgment of those agents it could be wisely done. 
 
 In the year 1834, the destitutions of the city 
 were reported as thoroughly supplied by a distri- 
 bution of 1,499 volumes ; in 1847 (see page 68), with 
 2,574 volumes, 1,808 of which were furnished to 
 destitute families; in the above, from 1849 to 1852, 
 by a distribution of 16,414 volumes, of which 4,557 
 were furnished to destitute families. 
 
 At the close of this year, Mr. Goubelman was 
 transferred from the Emigrant Committee to the 
 Committee on Supply of the Destitute Resident 
 Population. 
 
 In November, 1854, the revisitation of about one- 
 third of the city had been effected, and a compari- 
 son of the results with those ascertained in the 
 same wards, as reported in 1852, showed an increase 
 of destitution of the Bible of less than one per cent., 
 with rather more than a corresponding increase in 
 the families supplied ; a decrease of fifteen and one- 
 third per cent, in the refusals of the Bible ; and an 
 increase of 4,114 volumes in the total distribution. 
 Unhappily, it also showed that a large influx of 
 
74 HISTORY OF THE (1850-57. 
 
 such families had occurred as were unable to read ; 
 and who, therefore, were left unsupplied. 
 
 In March, 1853, Mr. Hunt resigned his position 
 as General Agent. In April, when his resignation 
 took effect, Mr. J. B. M'Comb was appointed in his 
 stead. At this time the Parent Society was about 
 removing from Nassau Street to the new Bible 
 House, Astor Place ; and at the March meeting of 
 the Board, it was 
 
 Resolved, That it is expedient that arrangements be made 
 with the American Bible Society for the continuance of the de- 
 pository under charge of this Society, and for suitable rooms for 
 the sale of Bibles in their new Bible House. Also, 
 
 Resolved, That it be referred to the Purchasing Committee to 
 carry out their arrangements with the Parent Society, with 
 power. 
 
 In April, the committee reported that they had 
 consummated the arrangements with the American 
 Bible Society for the depository in the new build- 
 ing, and that they were authorized by said society 
 to fit up the room assigned to them under the direc- 
 tion of Mr. Hyde, and that the present depository 
 arrangements, originally made in 1847, should be 
 continued. The depository was placed under charge 
 of the General Agent, Mr. M'Comb. 
 
 In May (5th), a letter was read to the Board, 
 from the Corresponding Secretary of the American 
 Bible Society, "respecting the sale of Bibles in the 
 city of New York," and asking a committee of con- 
 ference to meet a similar committee of the Parent 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 75 
 
 Board. The committee was appointed (Messrs. 
 Underbill, Smith, Kingsley, and Ide) ; and, at the 
 meeting in June, reported a remonstrance to the 
 Parent Board, against the action of that body in 
 changing the consummated arrangement in refer- 
 ence to the depository. This was adopted by the 
 Board, and the committee directed further to confer 
 with any committee that Board might appoint. At 
 the same meeting, a communication was received 
 from the Corresponding Secretary of the Parent 
 Society "in reference to a room for the sale of 
 Bibles by this Society." At the regular meetings in 
 July, August, and October, this question occupied 
 the Board, the original resolutions, on the subject 
 of the depository, adopted September 3, 1846, being 
 read in August, and in October a reply from the 
 Board of the Parent Society to the remonstrance 
 adopted in June, in which the Parent Board ad- 
 hered to its decision to retain the room for retail 
 sales under its own control, but expressed a will- 
 ingness to afford this Society " every reasonable 
 facility" for making similar sales. 
 
 A special meeting was held October 28, 1853, with 
 reference to this matter. The President opened 
 the meeting by reading the eleventh chapter of 
 Isaiah, and remarked that, in consideration of the 
 important bearing which the action of this meet- 
 ing might have upon the interests of the Society, 
 it had been thought proper to engage in prayer 
 before proceeding to business. Whereupon, the 
 
76 HISTORY OF THE (1850-57. 
 
 board united in prayer with Mr. De Forest ; when 
 the following resolution was unanimously adopted : 
 
 Resolved^ That this Board deem it inexpedient to establish 
 a depository for the retail sale of books, while the same field is 
 occupied by the Parent Board. 
 
 The second resolution, after a very calm and pro- 
 tracted discussion, during which it was again read, 
 together with the report, was unanimously adopted; 
 viz. : 
 
 Resolved^ That we respectfully submit to the American Bible 
 Society the propriety of its assuming the entire charge of the 
 Bible Cause within the city and county of New York. 
 
 At a meeting of the Board, held November 18th, 
 a communication from the Board of the Parent So- 
 ciety, in reply to the foregoing, and re-affirming the 
 previous views and decisions of that Board, was 
 read, and laid on the table. 
 
 At the first meeting of the new Board, December 
 1st, 1853, the aforesaid communication was taken 
 from the table, and, with the whole subject, referred 
 to a committee consisting of Messrs. De Forest, Ide, 
 Underbill, Scott, W. Allen Butler, Backus, and Hay- 
 ward. At the January (1854) meeting, the com- 
 mittee reported, re-affirming the first resolution of 
 October 28, 1853, and dismissing the further con- 
 sideration of the communication of the Parent Board 
 referred to them. 
 
 The questions involved in this matter remained 
 without essential modification until May, 1855 ; 
 when, on motion of Mr. Peter Carter, the Purchasing 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 77 
 
 and General Distribution Committee were author- 
 ized to hire and fit up rooms for a depository at 
 No. 7 Beekman Street, and engage a suitable per- 
 son as General Agent. At the regular meeting in 
 June, the committee reported that the depository 
 would be ready by the 15th inst., and that the serv- 
 ices of Mr. Nathan Camp had been engaged as 
 General Agent. 
 
 [As this work is passing through the press, the 
 Board has decided to relinquish its "Depository and 
 Sales-room" in May, 1858, on account of the ex- 
 pense to the Society which it involves.] 
 
 In April, 1855, Mr. W. Allen Butler communica- 
 ted a letter just received by him as Corresponding 
 Secretary from the Secretary of the British and For- 
 eign Bible Society, in reply to a circular which, as 
 directed by the Board in June, 1854, he had ad- 
 dressed to that society, and to various local Bible 
 societies at British ports, " on the subject of the sup- 
 ply of emigrants sailing from such ports." The 
 letter breathed a Christian spirit ; admitting some 
 remissness in the past, stating the new means to be 
 adopted to meet the demands of the work, suggest- 
 ing some peculiar local difficulties in the way of 
 making them completely effective, and cordially 
 thanking this Society for the zeal and devotedness 
 of its past efforts in this department of its labours. 
 The Board ordered the correspondence entered in 
 full upon the journal. 
 
 In pleasant coincidence with this was the new 
 
78 H [STORY OF THE (1850-57. 
 
 arrangement, which commenced in August of this 
 year, by which Castle Garden was made the exclu- 
 sive landing place for immigrants, thus very greatly 
 facilitating the labours of our agents, and securing 
 much more thoroughness in the supply. 
 
 At the regular meeting June 5th, 1856, a detailed 
 report of its operations was received from the Ma- 
 rine Committee, particularly in relation to the com- 
 bination of tract distribution with its work of Bible 
 distribution on board ships. After some discussion, 
 resolutions were adopted approving the general 
 plan and execution of the work, and recognizing 
 the importance and utility of permitting an inci- 
 dental distribution of tracts by any of its agents, 
 but declaring that " in the judgment of the Board 
 tract distribution should be strictly incidental ;" and 
 that "great care and discrimination are necessary, 
 on the part of the Marine Committee and its 
 Agent," to avoid a departure from this principle. 
 
 In the course of 1857, Mr. Byrne was employed 
 to labour among seamen, which he did with great 
 zeal and interest for a short time ; but in July his 
 health demanded a return to his native country, and 
 the Board parted with him, with resolutions of re- 
 gret, and assurance of interest and esteem. Mr. 
 Parker was also employed for some months in the 
 course of this year in visiting destitute families. 
 
 At the meeting held January 8th, 1857, on motion 
 of H. G. De Forest, it was 
 
 Resolved, That with a view to mutual encouragement and 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 79 
 
 edification this Board invite the former officers of the Board of 
 Managers, who may be accessible, to meet with them at the next 
 regular meeting of the Board, on Thursday, the 5th day of Feb- 
 ruary, at 7i P. M., and that the Corresponding Secretary ex- 
 tend this invitation as far as may be practicable. 
 
 This invitation called together a number of the 
 former members and officers of the Board, among 
 whom were three members of the original Board. 
 The president expressed the pleasure felt by the 
 Board in meeting the older friends and officers of 
 the Society, and made some interesting statements 
 in reference to its progress since they had ceased to 
 be connected with it. Earnest prayers for a con- 
 tinued blessing upon the Society were offered by 
 those who had often prayed for it in other years. 
 Interesting addresses were made, and impressive 
 reminiscences communicated ; all the older members 
 referring particularly and with much feeling to the 
 hallowed Christian influence pervading the earlier 
 meetings of the Board, making them, in the lan- 
 guage of the Hon. Judge Slosson, " precious means 
 of grace." 
 
 The whole meeting had the character of a happy 
 and inspiring Christian reunion. 
 
 A letter was read from Norman White, Esq., a 
 former president, of which the following is an ex- 
 tract : 
 
 It is nearly thirty years since I first became associated with 
 others in the management of the Young Men's New York Bible 
 Society, and I can truly say that I recur to no period of my life 
 with recollections in all respects so agreeable as while discharg- 
 
80 HISTORY OF THE (1850-57. 
 
 ing my duties in that connection. It is almost twenty years 
 since I was disqiialified by your constitution, as it then stood, 
 from longer serving in the management; yet I have watched 
 your progress and witnessed your prosperity with unfeigned sat- 
 isfaction. Your society from small beginnings has gone on with 
 steady perseverance, increasing in favour and prosperity until its 
 annual income has arisen from a few hundred dollars to more 
 than twenty thousand. 
 
 But w^e look for greater things. There is a growing feeling 
 that the Bible is the Book which, under Providence, is to be 
 relied upon as the great instrumentality in the salvation of the 
 world. More vigorous efforts are demanded in this Cause. 
 
 The disastrous monetary panic of October, 1857, 
 found the Society largely in debt to the American 
 Bible Society ; and, for a time, it was apprehended 
 that it would not be possible to close the year free 
 from liabilities, as had been uniformly done since 
 1850 ; but the friends of the Bible, within and 
 without the Board, made an earnest effort to this 
 end, and accomplished it. 
 
 At the close of this year, Mr. Henry Ide retired 
 from the Presidency of the Society, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Mr. J. W. Underhill. 
 
 In the hasty survey which we have thus taken 
 of the growth of our Society, it is observable that 
 its later years afford but meagre materials for his- 
 tory, unless we should amplify details which are 
 condensed in statistical tables, inserted in the Ap- 
 pendix to this work, or embody here the current re- 
 ports of the actual field w^ork of its agents, extracts 
 from which usually accompany its annual reports. 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 81 
 
 Beginning in 1824 by supplying the New York 
 Sunday School Union with the Scriptures for be- 
 stowment in the schools under its care as premiums 
 and rewards, the Society continued to labour al- 
 most exclusively in this direction until 1829, when 
 the Humane and Criminal Institutions of our city 
 began to be furnished. The soldiers at our military 
 posts were first supplied in 1831. In 1832 the sup- 
 ply of the destitute resident population was begun 
 by ward committees of the Board, and through 
 grants to the clergy of the city. The supply of the 
 naval stations in our harbour, the distribution to 
 immigrants, and that among the seamen of our 
 commercial marine, domestic and foreign, were un- 
 dertaken in 1834. From 1840 to 1844 various 
 small items were added. Hotels, engine compa- 
 nies, &c., received such grants as seemed desirable 
 and judicious. In the former year the supply of 
 the Sabbath schools connected with the New York 
 S. S. Union, which had for a while been ac- 
 complished through other agencies, was resumed ; 
 and in the latter year a special supply of des- 
 titute resident families was made. In 1845 the 
 marine work and the supply of immigrants, which 
 for ten years had been combined, were placed 
 in charge of distinct committees ; and since that 
 time the practice of sending small lots of Bibles, 
 &c., in various languages, by sea-going vessels, for 
 distribution in foreign ports, and to passengers on 
 the return voyage, has been adopted by the Marine 
 
 6 
 
82 HISTORY OF THE (1850-57. 
 
 Committee with interesting and valuable results. 
 In 1847 the whole city was explored, and some 1,800 
 destitute families supplied (see page 68) ; and in 
 1849 a standing committee on the supply of the 
 destitute resident population was appointed, charged 
 with the periodical re-exploration of the cit}^ and 
 the supply of its destitutions. This seemed to com- 
 plete the Society's necessary agencies for its vari- 
 ous fields of distribution. 
 
 The means of the Society have kept pace with 
 the enlargement of its sphere of labour, and the 
 increase of the objects of its charities. In the 
 first 3^ear of its existence its receipts were 8273 ; 
 in 1857, independent of sales, they were 814,659 11. 
 Its issues in 1824 were 583 volumes, almost exclu- 
 sively in English. In 1857 they had grown to 
 67,020 volumes, in more than twenty different lan- 
 guages ; the grand total of its issues in thirty-four 
 years reaching 1,140,380 volumes. Its donations to 
 the American Bible Society, since it became auxil- 
 iary in 1829, have amounted to 842,099 93; or 
 about an average of $1,450 annually. 
 
 Though the Society has thus grov/n, as we have 
 seen, from the very feeblest infancy to strength, it 
 has not yet been permitted to attain its full and 
 proper development. The machinery of the move- 
 ments demanded in our w^ork is not yet perfect. 
 Three things are important, if not essential, to its 
 future competency for the work, to which, in the 
 natural course of events, the Society must be called: — 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 83 
 
 1st. To be entirely rid of its original defect of 
 indirection in its proper work ; to require and re- 
 ceive a direct account of every volume or package 
 of volumes it sends forth, so far as they may be 
 properly traceable by any agency concerned in 
 their distribution. There are inherent and invinci- 
 ble difficulties in the way of equitably accomplish- 
 ing the highest attainable good by any other 
 process. 
 
 2d. That, like her sister auxiliaries through- 
 out the Union, she alone may be regarded as the 
 Bible Society of the region over which her la- 
 bours extend ; that all funds raised within her 
 proper limits be collected by her, or credited to 
 her, unless on special request of contributors to 
 the contrary ; that, in like manner, the distribu- 
 tion of the Scriptures within those limits, whether 
 by sale or grant, be left with her ; all applications 
 for grants being referred to her decision, which 
 decision, unless in extraordinary cases, should be 
 final. Under such a system, frequent occasions 
 would be found and embraced for the manifestation 
 of mutual confidence and liberality between Parent 
 and Auxiliary. It is alike honourable to the Society 
 and grateful to the lovers of peace that, notwith- 
 standing the conviction upon the minds of its friends 
 that its natural and equitable position has not hith- 
 erto been accorded to it, its abundant labours have 
 been nobly and cheerfully performed ; but it is not 
 on this account the less, but the more desirable and 
 
84 HISTORY OF THE (1850-57. 
 
 proper that the occasion for that conviction should 
 be removed. We love the American Bible Society, 
 and pray that nothing may ever be permitted to 
 interfere w^ith its advancement in honour and use- 
 fulness. But while that stands out, owned and hon- 
 oured, for the Union and the world, this Society 
 should stand with equal prominence, though not 
 with equal grandeur, for the city and county of New 
 York — a crown of glory to its Christian patriots. 
 
 3d. A permanent and free location for her depos- 
 itory and business offices. Thirty-four years of 
 earnest labours for the moral and spiritual benefit 
 of our city, extending themselves, as Providence has 
 opened the way, into every penal and philanthropic 
 institution in our midst ; to the homes of misery, and 
 haunts of vice, which, like plague spots, are still 
 found among us ; to every family of our multitudi- 
 nous and commingled population ; to the strangers 
 as they come in crowds to seek a happier home 
 than the Old World afforded ; to every vessel that 
 floats upon our waters ; and to many of these com- 
 mitting further " ventures" of God's Word, that they 
 may carry them to the distant and the destitute, 
 giving thus withal a character to our seamen and 
 our commerce of which even the Empire City may 
 be proud ; — labours such as these constitute a claim, 
 in behalf of this Society, to be provided with a 
 " local habitation." 
 
 The Christian citizens of New York have done 
 wisely and rightly in providing for the American 
 
1850-57.) NEW YORK BIBLE SOCIETY. 85 
 
 Bible and Tract Societies, almost from the incep- 
 tion of those grand Christian enterprises ; and why 
 should not a modicum of the same Christian liberal- 
 ity be invoked to furnish a home for the child whom 
 they have nourished — for their own " son that serv- 
 eth them" in the distribution of the Word of God, 
 the Bread of Life, to the perishing in their midst ? 
 It is not too much to say that the name of the man, 
 whose heart the Lord shall stir up to do this good 
 thing, will fill the brightest line upon the enduring 
 scroll that bears the record of the benefactors of 
 New York to the future generations of her sons. 
 
 In reference to those aids needed by the Society 
 which no position can supply, nor money purchase, 
 we prefer not to speak our own words, but to gather 
 counsel from the wisdom of the past. The report 
 of this Society for 1842 truly remarks : 
 
 The Board are called upon to look at this subject with the 
 eye of faith. They should regard it in the light of proph- 
 ecy ; they should undertake the work, armed with the ^' prom- 
 ises" of God; and thoroughly persuaded that, through the in- 
 strumentality of the Gospel alone, either read or preached, is 
 the kingdom of Satan to be upturned, and "the kingdom of grace 
 to be established. It is to be feared that we do not regard 
 this work sufficiently as a spiritual enterprise. In the collec- 
 tion and disbursement of moneys, and in the rough encounters 
 we are sometimes subjected to in the course of distribution, we 
 are naturally inclined to lose sight, in a measure, of the great 
 end and design of our association ; to wit, the furtherance of 
 Christ's spiritual kingdom in the earth. There is danger here 
 which requires watchfulness. We are too apt, again, to be 
 
86 HISTORY OF N. Y. BIBLE SOCIETY. (1850-57. 
 
 discouraged at not beholding visibly the fruits of our labours. 
 This should not be, Bible distribution is a M^ork of " faith." 
 We must enter upon it, believing in Him who hath said : " My 
 word shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that 
 which I please, and prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." 
 
 The following extract from the last Annual 
 Report by the esteemed Timothy R. Green (pre- 
 sented in 1832), is as entirely suited to the con- 
 dition and circumstances of the Society to-day as 
 when written a quarter of a century ago, and 
 embodies as truly the sentiments of its Board of 
 Managers : 
 
 In conclusion, your Board would express its conviction that 
 whatever benefits to the community may heretofore have flowed 
 from this Society, they are the results of close dependence upon 
 the Answerer of prayer. His shrouding providence has again 
 and again broken away, and offered from the bosoms of its opening 
 clouds fields of duty new and large, and full of promise to our 
 humble toil. He has enabled us more than once to reap where 
 we had ourselves sown — a favour which the "Lord of the har- 
 vest" bestows upon few of his labourers. Our whole history 
 confirms the testimony of the prophet, " It is not in man that 
 walketh to direct his steps :" and yet, our cause has been almost 
 undeviatingly onward, if not continually and uniformly accel- 
 erated. While we recognize the arm which has been stretched 
 out to direct and to uphold us, we would cling to it anew, and 
 confide in its strength. We call upon all who have watched our 
 progress, and especially on all whose aid hath furthered it, to 
 inscribe our name and our efforts upon the scroll of their daily 
 supplication, with which they enter the presence chamber of the 
 Highest, and draw near to the throne of his grace ; and there to 
 give them, with their own holiest and fondest hopes, into the 
 hand of the one Great Intercessor. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 DOCUMENT A. 
 
 ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION, 
 
 Adopted September 22, 1823. 
 
 article i. 
 The Society shall be called the Young Men's New York 
 Bible Society, and shall be auxiliary to the New York Bible 
 Society. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Tlie object of this Society shall be to engage the co-operation 
 of young persons in the distribution of the Sacred Scriptures, 
 and to raise funds for this purpose, and in aid of the funds of 
 the Parent Society. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 This Society shall use its endeavours to promote the formation 
 of young men's, youth's, and juvenile Auxiliary Bible Societies, 
 wherever a field may be opened for the same. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 The Bibles and Testaments, circulated by this Society, shall 
 be purchased of the New York Bible Society ; and the surplus 
 funds of this institution, at the close of the year, shall be trans- 
 mitted to the Treasurer of the New York Bible Society. 
 
88 APPENDIX. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 Every person under thirty years of age, subscribing one dollar 
 and fifty cents annually, shall be a meinber of this Society ; and 
 each subscriber of ten dollars at one time shall be a member of 
 this Society till he has attained the age of thirty years. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 Every person subscribing twenty dollars at one time shall be 
 an honorary member of this Society for life, and shall be enti- 
 tled as such to attend the meetings of the Board of Managers, 
 and at such meetings to express his opinion in the usual manner 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 The President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and Corresponding 
 Secretary of the New York Bible Society shall be, ex officio, hon- 
 orary members of this institution. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 The affairs of this Society shall be conducted by a President, 
 six Vice Presidents^ a Treasurer, a Corresponding Secretary, a 
 Recording Secretary, and thirty Managers, of whom none shall 
 be less than eighteen years of age. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 There shall be a meeting of the Society on the tliird Monday 
 in October, at which time the election for officers for the ensuing 
 year shall take place, and the annual report shall be presented 
 by the Board of Managers, and arrangements made for the cele- 
 bration of the anniversary, which shall take place on the third 
 Monday in November, or as soon thereafter as practicable. 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 The Board of Managers shall meet at least once every month, 
 shall fill their own vacancies, make their own by-laws, call 
 their own meetings, and, with a majority of tw^o-thirds, call a 
 special general meeting of the Society. 
 
DOCUMENT A. 89 
 
 ARTICLE XI. 
 
 Every member of this institution, arriving at the age of thirty- 
 years, shall receive a certificate addressed to the President of the 
 New York Bible Society, stating the amount of donation or sub- 
 scription paid by him ; of the issuing of which certificate the 
 Secretary of the New York Bible Society shall be advised by the 
 Corresponding Secretary of the institution, in order that the 
 member, whose connexion with this institution is thus dissolved 
 with the Auxiliary, may be invited to transfer his relation to the 
 Parent Institution. 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 Every meeting, either of the Society, or of the Board of Mana- 
 gers, shall be opened with reading a portion of the Scriptures ; 
 and the proceedings of every meeting of the Board of Managers 
 shall be duly recorded and signed by the Secretary; and the pro- 
 ceedings of every meeting of the Society shall be signed by the 
 Chairman. 
 
 ARTICLE XIII. 
 
 Every member of this Society shall be entitled to receive one 
 Bible gratuitously at the time of his subscription, and also at all 
 times to purchase what Bibles and Testaments he may wish at 
 cost. 
 
 ARTICLE XIV. 
 
 Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of 
 the Society, and seven members shall form a quorum at any 
 meeting of the Board of Managers. 
 
 ARTICLE XV. 
 
 This Constitution shall not be altered without the concurrence 
 of two-thirds of the members present at a regular meeting of the 
 Society, or at a special meeting of the Society, called by a notice 
 given in four of the principal public papers of the city, which 
 notice shall specify that an alteration in the Constitution is pro- 
 
90 APPENDIX. 
 
 This Constitution was amended at the second an- 
 niversary of the Society, held at the City Hotel, De- 
 cember 26th, 1825, articles 5th and 6th (original) 
 being replaced by a single article, 5th, as follows : 
 
 "Article 6th. Every person subscribing one dol- 
 lar and fifty cents annually shall be a member of 
 this Society ; and each subscriber of fifteen dollars 
 at one time shall be a member for life." 
 
 Article 8th (original), which became article 7th 
 by the above change, was amended by limiting the 
 age of officers to not "less than eighteen, or more 
 than thirty -jive years of age." 
 
 Article 9th (original), which became 8th, was 
 amended as follows : 
 
 "Article 8th. The annual meeting shall be held 
 on the last Thursday in November, at which time 
 the annual report shall be presented by the Board 
 of Managers, and an election of officers for the en- 
 suing year shall take place." 
 
 Article lltli (original) was omitted. 
 
 Article 15th (original), which became 13th, was 
 amended by striking out all after the first clause, 
 leaving the Constitution alterable only b}" a two- 
 thirds vote " of the members present at a regular 
 meeting of the Society." 
 
 At the fifth anniversary of the Societ}^ November 
 17th, 1828, several amendments are said to have 
 been adopted, but are not recorded. They were no 
 doubt changes in the 1st, 4th, and 6th (7th original) 
 articles, in view of becoming auxiliary to the Amer- 
 
DOCUMENT A. 91 
 
 ican Bible Society, which occurred- in March fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 At the seventh anniversary of the Society, in No- 
 vember, 1830, the Constitution W3,s amended by in- 
 serting the words " or more^ after " one dollar and 
 fifty cents," in the 5th article. 
 
 At its ninth anniversary, in November, 1832, arti- 
 cle 2d (original) was amended by inserting the 
 words '^without note or comment,^'' after the word 
 " Scriptures." 
 
 Article 3d (original) was amended by substitu- 
 ting the words '^ every exertion" for "its endeav- 
 ours," in the first clause. 
 
 Article 5th (original 0th) was amended by insert- 
 ing the words "or more^'' after "fifteen dollars," in 
 the last clause. 
 
 Article 7th (original 8th) was amended by in- 
 creasing the number of Managers to "/or/?/," and 
 adding to it the provision that " one half of the 
 whole number of Managers shall go out of office at 
 the expiration of each year, but shall be re-eligible." 
 
 Article 8th (original 9th) was so amended as to 
 leave the particular day " in the month of Novem- 
 ber," on which the annual meeting might be held, 
 to the pleasure of the Board of Managers. 
 
 Article 10th (original 11th) was omitted, and by 
 the omission articles 11th and 12th (original 12th 
 and 13th) became articles 10th and 11th. 
 
 Article 13th (original 15th) was numbered 14th, 
 and the two following new articles placed before it: 
 
92 APPENDIX. 
 
 "Article 12th. The Managers shall have the 
 power of constituting such persons as they deem 
 proper honorary members of the Society." 
 
 "Article 13th. The Corresponding Secretaries of 
 all societies auxiliary to this shall be considered, ex 
 officio, members of the Board of Managers." The 
 word "corresponding" being omitted in the article, 
 as printed in the annual report. 
 
 At a meeting held November 8th, 1838, article 
 8th (original 9th) was amended by inserting the 
 word '^January''' instead of the word "November;" 
 and the fifteenth and sixteenth anniversaries of the 
 Society were held in that month. 
 
 At its sixteenth anniversary, held January 15th, 
 1840, the following amendments were made : 
 
 Article 1st was amended by striking out the 
 words " Young Meii's^ 
 
 Article 2d was amended by omitting the words 
 *'/o engage the co-operation of young persons in,^^ 
 after "be" in the first line. 
 
 Article 3d was omitted. 
 
 Article 4th. In this article a redundant clause 
 was omitted. 
 
 Article 7th (original 8th), which became article 
 6th, was amended by inserting " twenty-one'''' and 
 "forty^"' years as the minimum and maximum of the 
 age of officers, instead of "eighteen" and "thirty- 
 five" years. 
 
 ' In article 8th (original 9th), which became arti- 
 cle 7th, the word " November" w^as restored. 
 
DOCUMENT A. 93 
 
 Article 10th (original ISth), which became arti- 
 cle 9th, was amended by striking off the provision 
 in reference to the purchase of books by members. 
 
 Article 13th, added in 1832, was omitted, and 
 article 14th became article 12th. 
 
 At its thirty-first anniversary, held in November, 
 1854, the Constitution of the Society was amended 
 as follows : 
 
 Article 6th, by inserting the word ^'fiftif instead 
 of " forty," as the number of Managers to be annu- 
 ally elected. 
 
 Article 7th, by adding a provision that " in case 
 of failure to elect the whole number of Managers 
 at such annual meeting, the Board of Managers 
 elected at such meeting shall have power to fill all 
 vacancies." 
 
 The Constitution now stands as follows : 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 This Society shall be called the New York Bible Society, 
 Auxiliary to the American Bible Society. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 The object of this Society shall be the distribution of the 
 Sacred Scriptures without note or commentj and the raising of 
 funds for this purpose, and in aid of the funds of the Parent 
 Society. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 The Bibles and Testaments circulated by this Society shall be 
 purchased of the American Bible Society, and its surplus funds 
 shall be paid over to the Parent Society. 
 
94 APPENDIX. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 Every person subscribing Si 50, or more, annually, shall be 
 a Member of this Society; and each subscriber of $15, or more, 
 at one time, shall be a Member for Life. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 The President and first Vice President, in the City of New 
 York, Treasurer and Secretaries, of the American Bible Society, 
 shall be, ex officio, Honorary IMembers of this Institution. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 The affairs of this Society shall be conducted by a President, 
 six Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, a Corresponding Secretary, 
 Recording Secretary, and fifty Managers, of whom none shall 
 be less than twenty-one, or more than forty years of age. One 
 half of the whole number of the Managers shall go out of office 
 at the expiration of each year, but shall be re-eligible. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 The Annual Meeting shall be held in the month of Novem- 
 ber, at which time the Annual Report shall be presented by the 
 Board, and an election of Ofiicers and jNIanagers shall take place 
 for the ensuing year ; and in case of failure to elect the whole 
 number of Managers at such Annual Meeting, the Board of 
 Managers, elected at such meeting, shall have power to fill all 
 vacancies. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 The Board of Managers shall meet at least once every month ; 
 shall fill their own vacancies ; make their own By-Laws ; call 
 their own Meetings ; and, with a majority of two-thirds, call a 
 Special General Meeting of the Society. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 Every Member of the Society shall be entitled to receive one 
 Bible gratuitously at the time of his subscription. 
 
DOCUMENT B. 95 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 Fifteen Members shall constitute a quorum at any'meetin"- of 
 the Society; and seven INIanagers, including the Otficers, shall 
 constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Managers. 
 
 ARTICLE XI. 
 
 The Managers shall have the power of constituting such per- 
 sons as they deem proper Honorary ^Members of the Society. 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 This Constitution shall not be altered without the concurrence 
 of two-thirds of the members present at a regular meeting of the 
 Society. 
 
 DOCUMENT B. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 From the date of its organization to the present 
 time, the Society has had sixteen Presidents. Those 
 marked thus (*) served by re-election : 
 
 Presidents 
 
 1 . Horatio Gillet, 
 
 2. Henry Bennett, 
 
 3. Wm. Winterton, 
 
 4. Oliver E. Cobb, 
 
 5. Norman White, 
 
 6. Frederick S. Winston, 
 
 7. Timothy R. Green, 
 
 8. Alfred Edwards, 
 
 9. John Slosson, 
 
 10. Wm. P. Buel, 
 
 11. A. Robertson Walsh, 
 
 t Mr. Cobb presided in December, 1832, and .Tanuary and February, 1833; was 
 excused on account of sickness in March and April; and was buried April 28 1833. 
 
 When elected. 
 
 September 22, 1823. 
 November 22, 1824. 
 
 Term of Service. 
 
 1 year. 
 
 *4 '^ 
 
 a 
 
 17, 1828. 
 
 *4 
 
 
 u 
 
 28, 1832. 
 
 tl 
 
 
 u 
 
 27, 1833. 
 
 *3 
 
 
 January 
 
 23, 1836. 
 3, 1839. 
 
 *2 
 1 
 
 
 " 15, 1840. 
 November 20, 1843. 
 
 *4 
 
 *2 
 
 
 (.'. 
 
 17, 1845. 
 
 #2 
 
 
 u 
 
 22, 1847. 
 
 *2 
 
 
96 
 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 When elected. 
 
 Term of Service, 
 
 12. 
 
 E. H. Blatchford, 
 
 November 
 
 26, 1849. 
 
 1 year. 
 
 13. 
 
 Thomas Bond, 
 
 a 
 
 20, 1850. 
 
 * 2 " 
 
 14. 
 
 Henry K. Bull, 
 
 u 
 
 22, 1852.] 
 
 1 " 
 
 15. 
 
 E. M. KiDgsley, 
 
 a 
 
 21, 1853. 
 
 *2 " 
 
 16. 
 
 Henry Ide, 
 
 u 
 
 26, 1855. 
 
 *2 '• 
 
 34 years. 
 
 It has had ten Treasurers, viz. 
 
 1. Silas Butler, Jr., who served in 1824 
 
 2. Walter M. Smith, 
 
 3. Solomon Warriner, 
 
 4. George D. Baldwin, 
 
 5. Samuel B. SchiefFelin, 
 
 6. George H. Williams, 
 
 7. Wm. A. Smith, 
 
 8. James M. Fuller, 
 
 9. Henry P. Marshall, 
 10. Henry Olmsted, 
 
 a in 1824, 
 
 1 
 
 year, 
 
 '' 1825—1835, 
 
 11 
 
 
 " 1836, 1837, 
 
 2 
 
 
 •' 1838—1840, 
 
 3 
 
 
 '' 1841, 1842, 
 
 2 
 
 
 " 1843—1848, 
 
 6 
 
 
 'i 1849—1852, 
 
 4 
 
 
 " 1853, 
 
 1 
 
 
 " 1854, 
 
 1 
 
 
 " 1855—1857, 
 
 3 
 
 
 34 years. 
 
 The following gentlemen have held the offices of 
 Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, viz. : 
 
 Corresponding. 
 1. Frederick Bull, who served in 1824, 1 year. 
 
 2. 
 
 George A. Dwight, 
 
 cc 
 
 1825—1828, 
 
 4 
 
 3. 
 
 Timothy R. Green, 
 
 a 
 
 1829—1832, 
 
 4 
 
 4. 
 
 John Slosson, 
 
 li 
 
 1833—1838, l 
 1841—1843, ) 
 
 9 
 
 6. 
 
 cc 
 
 u 
 
 5. 
 
 J. R. Van Rensselaer, 
 
 a 
 
 1839, 1840, 
 
 2 
 
 7. 
 
 E. H. Blatchford, 
 
 li 
 
 1844—1846, 1 
 1849, 
 
 4 
 
 9. 
 
 u 
 
 u 
 
 8. 
 
 Geo. N. Titus, 
 
 IC 
 
 1847, 1848, 1 
 1850, ) 
 
 3 
 
 10. 
 
 u 
 
 11 
 
DOCUMENT C. 9-7 
 
 11. H. G. De Forest, who served in 1851, 1852, 2 years. 
 
 12. Wm. Allen Butler, " 1853—1855, 3 " 
 
 13. C. A. Davison,* " 1856, 1857, ^ 2 " 
 
 ' 34 years. 
 
 • The present incumbent. 
 
 Recording. 
 1 . Frederick A. Guion, who served a month, and then exchanged 
 positions with Mr. Bartow in the Board. 
 George A. Bartow, who served in 1824, 1 year. 
 
 2. 
 
 Marinns Willett, Jr., 
 
 u 
 
 1825, 
 
 1 " 
 
 3. 
 
 Alfred Edwards, 
 
 u 
 
 1826—1839, 
 
 14 " 
 
 4. 
 
 Thomas Bond, 
 
 a 
 
 1840—1845, 
 
 6 " 
 
 5. 
 
 John F. Williams, 
 
 a 
 
 1846—1852, 
 
 7 " 
 
 6. 
 
 F. E. Butler, 
 
 a 
 
 1853, 1854, 
 
 2 '' 
 
 7. 
 
 James G. Holden,* 
 
 a 
 
 1855—1857, 
 
 3 " 
 
 
 * The present incumbent. 
 
 34 years. 
 
 DOCUMENT C. 
 
 COMMITTEES. 
 At a meeting of the Board, held November 13, 
 1823, a Nominating Committee, which had been 
 appointed at a previous meeting, reported names 
 for the following committees for 1824, viz. : 
 
 Committee on Bible Societies ; that is, Aux- 
 iliaries (see Art. 3 of Constitution), Purchas- 
 ing, Finance, Distributing, and Committee of 
 Arrangements. 
 For 1825 and 1826. — Only two committees are 
 mentioned, viz.. 
 
 Purchasing and Sunday School. 
 
98 APPENDIX. 
 
 For 1827 and 1828. — Purchasing Committee and 
 Finance Committee. (This committee in 1828 be- 
 ing composed of volunteers.) 
 
 For 1829 and 1830. — Three standing committees 
 were appointed, viz. : 
 
 Auxiliary, Purchasing, and Finance. 
 
 For 1831. — Auxiliary, Purchasing, and Finance 
 Committees, and two Committees on Applications ; 
 one on those from within the bounds of the " New 
 York" and the Southern Sunday School Unions, and 
 one on applications from " abroad." 
 
 For 1832. — Auxiliar}^, Purchasing, and Finance 
 Committees, and a Committee on Applications were 
 appointed ; to which in January (17th) were added, 
 for the first time, ward committees (for fourteen 
 wards), and in May (3d) committees for the several 
 churches represented in the Board ; but neither of 
 the two latter became at this time standing com- 
 mittees. 
 
 For 1833. — Auxiliary, Purchasing, Finance, and 
 Publishing Committees, and Committees on Appli- 
 cations, Humane and Criminal Institutions, and 
 Military Posts, with fifteen ward committees ; to 
 which in January (3d) was added a Printing Com- 
 mittee " for the ensuing year." 
 
 For 1834. — After laying on the table a plan for 
 " condensing the standing committees," the follow- 
 ing were appointed, viz. : — Auxiliary, Purchasing, 
 Finance, and Printing and Publishing Committees ; 
 Committees on Applications, on Humane and Crim- 
 
DOCUMENT C. 99 
 
 inal Institutions, on Military Posts, on Naval Sta- 
 tions, on Vacancies, on Arrangements ; and fifteen 
 ward committees. 
 
 For 1835. — All the foregoing, except Committee 
 of Arrangements, were appointed, with the addition 
 of Committee of Ways and Means, and Emigrant 
 Committee, which latter had been appointed as a 
 special committee in March (7th) preceding. 
 
 For 1836 and 1837. — The same committees were 
 appointed — in the latter year for sixteen wards. 
 
 For 1838. — The same, but for seventeen wards. 
 
 For 1839. — The Auxiliary Committee was dis- 
 continued, and one " Committee on Naval Sta- 
 tions and Military Posts'* appointed. The rest as 
 before. 
 
 For 1840. — Committees of Ways and Means, Fi- 
 nance, Applications, Humane and Criminal Institu- 
 tions, Military Posts, Naval Stations, Vacancies, 
 Printing and Publishing, Emigrant, and a Marine 
 Committee, with associates from the Marine Bible 
 Society ; seventeen Ward Committees ; an Episco- 
 pal Church Committee of nine ; a Methodist Church 
 Committee of four ; a Baptist Church Committee 
 of one ; and committees for thirty-five individual 
 churches, appointed by Committee of Ways and 
 Means, and making their reports to it. 
 
 For 1841. — The same committees were appointed, 
 but the " Marine and Emigrant" were united, with 
 associates from the Marine Bible Society as before. 
 
 For 1842-43-44. — The same committees and ar- 
 
100 APPENDIX. 
 
 rangement, with the addition of "Committee on 
 Public Meetings and Sermons." 
 
 For 1845. — The same, with the further addition 
 of "Committee on Special Distribution" ("chiefly 
 to resident and emigrant foreigners"). 
 
 For 1846. — The same committees ; but the Com- 
 mittee on Special Distribution took the title of 
 " Emigrant Committee," and was disjoined from 
 the " Marine," which latter continued to have as- 
 sociates from the Marine Bible Society until the 
 close of 1849. 
 
 For 1847. — The same committees, with the addi- 
 tion of an " Agency Committee" (for city distribu- 
 tion), and an Eighteenth Ward Committee. 
 
 For 1848 and 1849. — The same committees and 
 arrangement. 
 
 For 1850 annually to 1854. — The same, with the 
 addition of " Committee on Supply of the Destitute 
 Resident Population ;" and an increase in the num- 
 ber of ward and church committees. 
 
 For 1855-56-57. — The same, with the addition of 
 an "Auditing Committee," and the change of title 
 of the " Purchasing Committee" to that of " Pur- 
 chasing and General Distribution Committee," and 
 the mode of constituting it defined by a special 
 by-law. 
 
 They now stand as follows, viz. : 
 
 Committee of Ways and Means ; on Supply of 
 Destitute Resident Population ; Marine ; Emigrant ; 
 on Humane and Criminal Institutions; on Naval 
 
DOCUMENT C. 101 
 
 Stations ; on Military Posts ; Printing and Publish- 
 ing ; on Applications ; on Vacancies ; on Public 
 Meetings and Sermons ; Purchasing and General 
 Distribution ; Auditing ; Finance ; twenty Ward 
 Committees (for twenty-two wards) ; an Episcopal 
 Church Committee ; a Methodist Church Committee ; 
 and committees for between fifty and sixty individ- 
 ual churches. 
 
 The standing committees down to 1845 wxre either 
 nominated by a committee and elected, or nominated 
 by the President, and approved by the Board ; but 
 for that year, and since, all committees (except 
 Church Committees) have been appointed by " the 
 Chair," unless on special motion. The President of 
 the Society is, ex officio, a member of all the stand- 
 ing committees, the duties of which are thus de- 
 fined in the last edition of the by-laws : 
 
 DUTIES OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS, ^ 
 
 To have the Bible Cause presented to all the congregations of 
 the various religious denominations represented in the society, 
 for the purpose of raising funds ; to appoint Church Committees 
 from among the members of the Board, who shall make collec- 
 tions in the churches to wliich they shall be assigned. 
 
 FINANCE COMMITTEE. 
 
 To collect the annual dues of members, procure new mem- 
 bers, and solicit and collect donations and subscriptions. 
 
 PURCHASING AND GENERAL DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE. 
 
 To purchase and deliver all books issued by the society, and 
 take charge of the sales and gratuitous distribution at the depos- 
 
102 APPENDIX. 
 
 itory. They shall have power to make donations not exceeding 
 one hundred dollars in value. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON SUPPLY OF THE DESTITUTE RESIDENT POPU- 
 LATION. 
 
 To attend to the distribution of the Scriptures among the des- 
 titute city population, and the supplying of hotels. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON HUMANE AND CRIMINAL INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 To visit all such institutions in the city, and see that they are 
 kept well supplied with the Sacred Scriptures. 
 
 J COMMITTEE ON APPLICATIONS. 
 
 To receive all applications for donations from others than fam- 
 ilies in the city, during the recess of the Board, and, in case of 
 emergency, to grant them. 
 
 MARINE COMMITTEE. 
 
 To attend to the distribution of the Scriptures among seamen 
 and boatmen, and to furnish steamboats and the shipping in the 
 harbour with a suitable supply of Bibles and Testaments, for 
 the use of their crews and passengers ] also, to supply the ma- 
 rine hospitals. 
 
 EMIGRANT COMMITTEE. 
 
 To attend to the distribution of the Scriptures among emi- 
 grants. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON NAVAL STATIONS. 
 
 To visit the naval stations, and naval vessels in the harbour of 
 New York, and receive all applications from them for Bibles 
 and Testaments, and see that they are supplied. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 To visit the military posts in the harbour of New York, and 
 city recruiting stations, and receive all applications from them 
 for Bibles and Testaments, and see that they are kept sup- 
 plied. 
 
DOCUMENT D. 103 
 
 WARD COMMITTEES. 
 
 To supply destitute families in their respective wards with 
 the Bible, and destitute children, who can read, with a copy of 
 the New Testament ; and also to see that a supply of Bibles and 
 Testaments for distribution is kept under the charge of the chair- 
 man of the ward committee, or of the tract missionary of the 
 ward; their monthly distribution to be regularly reported to the 
 Board. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SERMONS. 
 
 To make arrangements for the anniversary and other public 
 meetings, and sermons designed to promote the objects of the 
 society. 
 
 PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMMITTEE. 
 
 To attend to the printing of the society, and to prepare, and 
 cause to be inserted in the newspapers of the city, such commu- 
 nications relative to the society and its operations, as may, from 
 time to time, appear calculated to interest the Christian public 
 in its behalf. 
 
 COMMITTEE ON VACANCIES. 
 
 To nominate candidates to fill all vacancies which may occur 
 in the Board, first satisfying themselves that such candidates 
 are of good Christian standing, and that they are willing to serve. 
 
 AUDITING COMMITTEE. 
 
 To audit the Treasurer's accounts, and all other bills and 
 accounts, before being presented to the Board for payment. 
 
 DOCUMENT D. 
 
 FINANCES. 
 The smallness of the Society's receipts at the 
 first, and their gradual increase with the increase 
 of its work, are fully shown in connection with its 
 
l04 APPENDIX. 
 
 issues, and the various objects of its labours, in the 
 annexed table (Document E) ; but the statement 
 thus given does not exhibit the processes by which 
 the funds were obtained. 
 
 The Finance Committee, appointed at the first 
 meeting, was aided in its duties by every member 
 of the Board, each one of whom was provided with 
 a small book for the purpose of recording the 
 names of such annual subscribers and donors as he 
 might obtain ; and by the earnest members of the 
 original Board many names and donations were ob- 
 tained and reported at the monthly meetings in 1824. 
 In the memorandum books of the Officers and Man- 
 agers the names of annual members and donors lay 
 scattered, until, in the fall of 1824, they were col- 
 lected and recorded by order of the Board, and the 
 number of subscription books reduced to six, to be 
 used by members in rotation. In 1 825-6-7-8, the So- 
 ciety was active, and through the strenuous efforts of 
 the Board, the receipts, though comparatively small, 
 steadily increased. For this object, committees 
 were appointed, from time to time, to "visit the 
 Sunday schools of the city with a book, and engage 
 the young men as members," including " a commit- 
 tee of two, to visit the village of Brooklyn (whose 
 Sunday schools were furnished with Bibles by this 
 Society), to solicit, and if practicable, form a plan 
 for annual funds from that quarter;" and a sub- 
 scription book was left with Moses Allen to solicit 
 aid from Sunday School No. 63, at New Utrecht. 
 
DOCUMENT D. 105 
 
 The city of New York was also divided into dis- 
 tricts, and committees appointed to visit them (see 
 page 20). Many of the members of the Board vol- 
 unteered their services in these labours, which were 
 .arduous and sometimes discouraging. 
 
 The Finance Committee for 1829 was composed 
 entirely of volunteers, and in this year the first in- 
 stance occurs of the members of the Board pledging 
 themselves in advance to obtain a certain number 
 of subscribers, or an equivalent in funds. This was 
 repeated in 1830, and has often been practised 
 since. In 1832 the old plan of each member carry- 
 ing a subscription book was again adopted, and 
 forty books ordered; the individual responsibility 
 of members being urgently pressed upon them in 
 this connection. In this year, also, church commit- 
 tees were first appointed, and such appointments 
 were renewed by the Board from year to year, until, 
 in 1840, on the suggestion of the Committee of Ways 
 and Means, which had been organized in 1835, that 
 committee was authorized by the Board to appoint 
 general and individual church committees annually, 
 and receive reports and estimates from them, which 
 course is still pursued. This measure seemed to 
 complete the necessary financial agencies of the 
 Board. Material for circulation, in the form of an- 
 nual reports, or circulars containing abstracts of 
 the labours and necessities of the Society, was from 
 time to time furnished to the Committee of Ways 
 
106 APPENDIX. 
 
 and Means, and to the Finance Committee, for use 
 in tlie discharge of their duties. 
 
 By the instrumentalities thus arranged, almost all 
 the funds of the Society have been raised ; a few 
 legacies of small amount, and a few donations from 
 without our limits, being excepted. Among the 
 latter may be named a donation of 150, in 1830, 
 from the Young Men's Bible Society of Brooklyn, 
 organized by a committee of our Board in 1827. 
 
 In this department, so far as recorded, only two 
 contributions " in kind" have been made ; one be- 
 ing a donation through the Treasurer, in 1826, of 
 two dozen of Ritter's razor-strops, given by the 
 maker ; and the other, a donation in 1837, from Mr. 
 Rand, of six engravings of Lord Bexley, President 
 of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 The following is the form of a bequest to the 
 Society: 
 
 I give and bequeath to my Executors the sum of dol- 
 lars, in trust, to pay the same to the person who, when the 
 same shall be payable, shall act as Treasurer of the New York 
 Bible Society, formed in the City of New York, in the year 
 eighteen hundred and twenty-three, to be applied to the charita- 
 ble purposes and uses of the said Society. 
 
DOCUMENT E. 
 
 107 
 
 
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108 APPENDIX. 
 
 DOCUMENT F. 
 
 SPECIAL GRANTS 
 
 MADE TO SABBATH SCHOOLS IN VARIOUS STATES AND TERRITO- 
 RIESj AND ABROAD, FROM 1829 TO 1843, INCLUDING A FEW 
 CITY GRANTS. 
 
 1829. 
 
 Bibles. Test's. 
 
 To a ^'very destitute" S. S. at Rye, Westchester 
 
 Co., N. Y. 50 
 
 S. S. at Sawpits, in the town of Rye - - 50 
 
 '• at East Hunter, Greene Co., N. Y., " on 
 
 the Catskills" 18 
 
 " at Hackensack, N. J., by Mr. Hague - 50 
 
 " at Lexington, Greene Co., N. Y. - - 18 
 
 " at Paterson, N. J., "which began in Jan- 
 uary with sixteen scholars," and in Octo- 
 ber had 200, by Mr. C. P. Jacobs- - 20 50 
 
 " at White Plains and Greensburgh, by Rev. 
 
 Chester Long 72 
 
 " at Marlborough, Ulster Co., N. Y., " as 
 
 premiums," by E. Pardee, Sup't - - 12 8 
 
 " in " Dr. Fisher's Church," Paterson, N. J. 10 25 
 
 1830. 
 To S. S. in " Elder Daniel Lewis' Congregation," 
 
 at Paterson, N. J. - - - - 50 
 
 '• at Sing Sing, by request of Messrs. L. 
 
 Bleecker and S. H. Cone . - - 50 
 
 " at North Hardiston, N. J., by Rev. E. R. 
 
 Fairchild 50 
 
 " on Governor's Island - . - - 25 
 
 " at Saugerties, Ulster Co., N. Y. - - 40 
 
 " at Cold Spring, Putnam Co., N. Y., raised 
 and sustained and partly supplied by 
 some students from West Point Military 
 Academy ------ 50 
 
DOCUMENT F. 109 
 
 Bibles. Test's. 
 
 To S. S. at Sawpits, Westchester Co.^ N. Y., by 
 
 Rev. N. C. Saxton .... 50 
 
 " "in a destitute place near Palmyra, 
 
 Wayne Co., N. Y.," by C. L. Roberts - 2 20 
 
 " at Sloansville, Schoharie Co., N. Y., by 
 
 Mr. Wm. Gooding - . . - 5 30 
 
 " at Quincy, 111., of about 100 scholars, 
 which had been in operation three years 
 without being able to procure a single 
 Testament, by H. H. Snow - - - 10 100 
 
 " at Jacksonville, 111. ... - 50 
 
 1831. 
 To S. S. seven miles from Morristown, N. J., 
 
 " where the prayer meetings of the S. S. 
 
 are the only religious privileges of the 
 
 neighbourhood" 10 20 
 
 " of Baptist Ch., Cairo, Greene Co., (on 
 
 application of Rev. Thomas Stokes) - 5 40 
 
 " in Ripley, Chautauque Co., N. Y. - 5 25 
 
 Rutherford Co. (N. C.) S. S. Union, to be 
 
 used in their S. S. (on application of J. 
 
 Forman) 200 
 
 To S. S. on an island in the river St. Lawrence 
 
 (S. & S. Richards) - - - - 40 
 
 " in New London, Conn. - . - - 50 
 
 " in the town of Neversink, Sullivan Co. 
 
 (on application of Erastus Smith) - 60 
 
 Baptist S. S., Oyster Bay (Rev. Mr. Earle) - 6 6 
 
 S. S. at Erie, Penn. (by Rev. S. H. Cone) - 50 
 
 " at Sawpits, N. Y. (on appl'n of G. Sharp) 18 
 
 Coloured Charity School in Pub. S. No. 10, 
 
 containing about 300 scholars (some 
 
 aged and infirm), on appl'n of J. H. 
 
 Taylor 12 50 
 
110 APPENDIX. 
 
 Bibles. Test's. 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 
 25 
 
 
 32 
 
 25 
 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 To Sunday and Infant School at Harlem - 
 S. S. in Glasgow, Ulster Co. - - - 
 " in the town of Esperance, Schoharie Co., 
 
 N. Y. 
 
 Key West (appl'n of Floyd Smith) 
 S. S. at Devil's Half Acre, Greene Co. 
 '' in Albany, N. Y., that had been refused 
 
 by the Co. Society ("Elder Welsh's") - 25 
 
 N. B. In the next month they returned thanks, 
 and asked for twenty-five more (not 
 
 granted) 
 
 To S. S. in Haverstraw, Rockland Co. - - 6 20 
 
 1833. 
 
 To S. S.'s in Fayetteville and Hartsville, Onon- 
 daga Co., N. Y. . - . . 20 75 
 
 S. S. at Fishkill Landing (St. Ann's Church, 
 
 on appl'n of John Pintard) 
 " at Oyster Bay, L. I. - 
 
 D. Lawrence, for use of a Bethesda, or Orphan 
 Asylum, at Pike, Alleghany Co., N. Y. 
 
 S. S. at Wappinger's Creek, Dutchess Co. - 
 " Dayton, Ohio (Jas. S. Young) 
 
 Soldiers at Fort Dawson, Ark. Ter. 
 
 Bethel Union, for destitute sailors at prayer 
 
 meetings 25 
 
 S. S.'s in Lower Canada, Rev. Wm. R. Hoyt 1,000 
 
 " Wilberforce Col'd Free School in Bermuda" 
 (Mrs. J. Holt), and Bibles for aged 
 Christians 4 25 
 
 S. S. in Morris Co., N. J. - - - - 30 
 
 1834. 
 To (D. Lawrence) Bethesda, or Orphan Asylum, 
 
 Pike, Alleghany Co., N. Y. - - 5 30 
 
 25 
 
 25 
 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 37 
 
 12 
 
 
 12 
 
 
libles. 
 
 Test's. 
 
 15 
 
 15 
 
 
 25 
 
 
 30 
 
 12 
 
 24 
 
 25 
 
 100 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 400 
 
 25 
 
 
 
 •12 
 
 10 
 
 50 
 
 40 
 
 100 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 DOCUMENT F. Ill 
 
 To S. S. at Hobokeii (Mr. Rand) 
 
 " in Michigan - - _ - - 
 
 '' in Mississippi 
 
 Orphan Asylum, Buffalo - . . - 
 Soldiers at Tampa Bay, Fla. - . - 
 S. S, of St. Matthew's Ch., Jersey City 
 
 " at Holmdel, N. J. - . - . 
 
 Exploring Expedition 
 
 S. S. in Woodbridge, N. J. (J. R. Church) - 
 
 " in N.J. 
 
 " of French adults and children, Platts- 
 burg, N. Y. (Mr. Boake) - 
 
 " on the island of '• Cananacut," R. L, and 
 at Cow Hill (Rev. Mr. Vinton - 
 
 " at Hallett's Cove, L. 1. (Epis. S. S.) - 
 
 1839. 
 To S. S. (Isaac Moses) in behalf of ladies of Heb, 
 
 Congregation, Crosby Street - - 25 
 
 Rev. INIr, Vinton, Providence, R. I. - - 20 60 
 
 1840. 
 To S. S. (Rev. Mr. Clark) Paterson, N. J. - 25 
 Rev. F, Vinton, for Church of the Ascension, 
 Wakefield, R. I., one quarto and ten min- 
 ion Bibles 11 
 
 G. Nathan, for Jewish S. S. - . - 25 
 
 S. S. in Rockland Co. (col'd) - - - Q 
 
 1841. 
 To Fort Madison, Iowa Ter. - - - - 6 40 
 
 S. S. of Ref. Dutch Ch., Grand Rapids, 111. - 25 50 
 
 1843. 
 To S. S., Leesville, N. J. 25 40 
 
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