Organization of the Committee.

Association; where simplicity of language is one of the principal means by which the attention of a popular assembly can be engaged. And especially, those cheering anecdotes and interesting facts, of which no friend to the Bible Society should be ignorant, ought to be brought forward; and, if prudently introduced, the effect is irresistible :-they exhibit the most striking illustration of the design, and they are remembered when argument is forgotten.-It is scarcely necessary to observe, that no anecdotes should be introduced which are not well authenticated.

III. It may not be improper to suggest, that the length of the General Meeting ought not to exceed from two to three hours; the auditory should depart with a desire of hearing more of "this new thing," rather than fatigued and inconvenienced by too long detention from their homes and families. On this part of the subject, the reader is referred to Chap. I. Section XIV. and to Chap. II. Section V. for such general observations as appeared necessary to elucidate the nature and character of those meetings.

8. As the ORGANIZATION of the new society cannot be considered complete until after the first regular monthly meeting of the Committee, it is necessary to detail the proceedings of that meeting.

The chair being taken at the hour appointed, the names of the members present are marked off in the list, and those of visitors inserted in the Rough Minute Book:-the Minute Secretary next reads the Resolutions adopted at the General Meeting, including the Rules of the Association. The duties that devolve on the Committee, as arising out of those proceedings, are then regularly fulfilled by the adoption of the following RESOLUTIONS:

1. That the duties of the respective secretaries be thus defined,— 1. That A. B. be MINUTE Secretary.

II. That C. D. be CASH Secretary.

III. That E. F. be BIBLE Secretary.

and that the Minute Secretary furnish his colleagues and the treasurer with their proper books and papers.

2. That the following individuals be added to the Committee.

[Here insert the names and address of new members, each of whom should be proposed by one and seconded by another member, to whom he is personally known.]

3. That the district embraced by this Association be sub-divided as under: viz.

[Here specify the Streets, Lanes, &c. comprised in the District No. 1, and proceed in a similar manner to describe every other district correctly.] +

• See Specimens, Chap. VII. Section 5.

+ See Chap. VII. Section IV. for a more full explanation.

Resolutions adopted at their primary Meeting.

The Minute Secretary then reads, distinctly, the description of No. 1, and the Chairman requests the members present to offer their services for those districts which they prefer, while the Minule Secretary frames the following

Resolution:

4. That the following be the appointment of the members of the Committee as Collectors: viz.

District No. 1. G. H. and I. K.
2. L. M. and N. O.

[Proceeding in a similar manner with respect to all the districts of the Association.]

5. That the following be the By-Laws of this Committee (see Section III.); and that the secretaries be authorised to get copies of the Rules and By-Laws printed as soon as possible, and send two copies to every member of the Committee, and ten copies to the Committee of the Auxiliary Society.

6. That the secretaries immediately furnish the secretary of each district with proper visiting and collecting books, printed papers for circulation, and all other requisites; and that the collectors be requested to commence their visits on next, the instant.

was re

The Cash Secretary having reported that the sum of £.ceived at the door at the close of the General Meeting, and that he had paid £.- for incidental expenses attending the said Meeting; RESOLVED,

7. That the balance of £.▬▬▬ be paid over to the Treasurer.

8. That the Treasurer and Secretaries be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee of the Auxiliary [or Branch] Society, to present a copy of the Rules adopted at the General Meeting, and to request permission to lay out the funds in the purchase of Bibles and Testaments at their depository, in the manner prescribed by the 8th Rule.

On these Resolutions it is only necessary to remark, that the Secretaries should make their own arrangements, with regard to the division of their duties, previous to the meeting of the Committee. All business arising out of the Minutes should receive the immediate attention of those officers; but in this stage of the proceedings, more particularly, delay should be studiously avoided. The numerous advantages resulting from the attendance of the members of the Auxiliary Committee at the Monthly Committee Meetings of the Association, are too obvious to require particular notice :-the members of the District Committee should always receive an official invitation to those meetings, and the occasional company of their colleagues be likewise solicited.

The "Hints to Officers and Collectors," constituting Section I. of Chap. VIII. will be found to embrace a general view of their respective duties.

9. Having thus traced the rise and progress of a Bible Association to the conclusion of the First Meeting of the regular

* See Chap. VII. Section V.

The importance of punctuality in collecting, illustrated.

Committee, it is not necessary to follow the subsequent proceedings of the Society. That which has been already detailed will afford every requisite information, and convince the friends of the cause, that the establishment of those institutions is attended with little difficulty, and that simplicity is the prominent feature in the plan. But it may not be improper to submit a few general hints illustrative of the system adopted, and the observance of which has been found conducive to success.

1. Where any doubt exists as to the actual dearth of the holy scriptures in a parish or district, it should be the duty of the Provisional Committee of the intended Association to appoint a SubCommittee, to ascertain the fact by a personal investigation. This is the more necessary in those districts in which a parochial or private fund for the supply of Bibles exists, as the inadequacy of all such funds to supply the demand, forms a powerful argument at a General Meeting.

II. In the appointment of Secretaries, and in the selection of the Committee, attention should be paid to their religious professions. If eligible persons offer, it is adviseable that the Secretaries should be of different persuasion; and that one-half of the Committee should consist of members of the Established Church. much care cannot be taken to introduce into every branch of the society, that admirable regulation of the Parent Institution, which attracts the affections and secures the co-operation of every denomination of Christians.

Too

III. Great advantage has resulted from engaging Foremen, Clerks, and Superintendants of manufactories and workshops, as members of the Committee; their influence and example, when properly directed, being found to operate powerfully on the subordinate workmen. Similar benefit has been derived from engaging the valuable services of a class of young men, who are never backward in promoting the great cause of religion and morality-the Teachers in Sunday Schools: their exertions in behalf of the Bible Society have been conspicuous; and the effect on the minds of the children has surpassed the most sanguine expectations.

IV. The importance of punctuality in collecting the subscriptions has been already adverted to. When the collectors call regularly once a week, the subscriptions are cheerfully paid; but if they neglect their duty, the poor are too frequently induced to apply their money to other purposes. The following little anecdote will

illustrate this observation:

In one of the Associations connected with the Southwark Auxiliary Society, an old Soldier had long been a cheerful free-contributor of a penny a week. The Collectors having omitted to call for three successive weeks, visited him at the beginning of the fourth,

R

Origin of the Southwark Conference.

and informed him that they believed he owed them four-pence: the old man smiled, and, pointing to a tea-cup on the chimney-piece, replied, Gentlemen, you have been lazy, and I'll punish you for it :in that tea-cup I laid by for you a penny a week for three weeks; but as you did not think proper to call for it, I spent it; and I'll now give you only a penny: this will make you more careful in futurethe cause is too good to be neglected." It may not be improper to add, that this lesson from the old man was not lost on the Collectors.

SECTION V.

THE QUARTERLY CONFERENCE.

Proceeding with the detail of the system as adopted in Southwark, the next subject for consideration is that of the Quarterly Conference; an institution to which, humanly speaking, much of the success which has resulted may be ascribed. Many of the following remarks, in reference to this measure, and to the effects and influence of Bible Associations in that important and interesting district, may require an apology to those who have perused the Reports of the Southwark Society; but where the observations of the author have been confirmed by experience, he has not hesitated to express them in the same language which he originally adopted.

1. When the Southwark Associations had been established, it was perceived, that, although a constant and harmonious intercourse was kept up between the Auxiliary Society and each of those dependencies, something was yet required which should bring the whole into one collected point of view,-some centre of unity and concord, which should attract the various members of the family, and from which the rays might emanate, conveying heat and light to the boundaries of the system. This centre was happily found in the establishment of a regular Quarterly Conference, comprising the members of the Auxiliary Committee, and deputations, consisting of eight, ten, or twelve members, from the Committee of each Association (in which the respective officers are included), but at which the other members of the different Committees have the privilege of attending as visitors.

2. The following are the REGULATIONS of the Quarterly Conference, with such improvements as appear expedient:I. That A. B. be requested to officiate as secretary.

II. This Conferenceshall consist of the president, vice-presidents, treasurer, secretaries, and Committee of the Auxiliary Bible Society; the presi

Regulations of the Quarterly Conference.

dents, vice-presidents, treasurers, and secretaries of the respective Associations connected with the said Auxiliary; and a deputation from each of their Committees: the names of the members deputed to be transmitted to the secretary, at least four days previous to each Conference.

III. This Conference shall be held on the evening of the first Thursday in January, April, July, and October, at six o'clock precisely. IV. The order of proceeding shall be :

1. To elect a chairman.

2. To call over the names of the members.

3. To read, and confirm or correct, the Minutes of the preceding Conference, and dispose of any business arising therefrom.

4. To call on the secretaries of the Auxiliary Committee for such information as they may deem necessary and interesting.

5. To receive the reports from the Associations in their order of esta blishment.

6. To receive and consider new propositions.

V. The report from each Association shall not exceed the limits of a folio sheet, prepared for that purpose, and supplied by the Secretary ;*—and shall specify

1. Total amount of moneys received since the establishment.
2. Amount received since the last Conference.

3. Total amount paid to the Auxiliary since the establishment.

4. Amount paid to the Auxiliary since the last Conference.

5. Total number of Bibles and Testaments delivered at cost-prices.

6. Total number of Bibles and Testaments delivered under cost-prices. 7. Total number of Bibles and Testaments gratuitously distributed.

8. Total number of subscribers for Bibles and Testaments.

9.- Total number of free contributors.

10. Increase or decrease of subscribers in the last quarter.

11. The number of individuals on the Committee, and the average number of those who have attended during the last quarter.

12. A statement of any interesting facts and observations, including the result of inquiries among the pawnbrokers.

VI. No report shall be received, unless it has been previously adopted at a regular committee meeting of the Associations and in case any Association shall omit to present a report, the secretary shall remind them, by letter, of such omission.

VII. All resolutions relating exclusively to the internal government of the Conference shall be binding: but those which regard the proceedings of the Associations shall be sent to the Committee of each, simply as a recommendation, having been first entered on the Minutes.

VIII. Any person making a proposition shall put it in writing, and hand it to the secretary.

IX. No person shall be permitted to speak more than once on the same question, unless in explanation.

X. In order to defray the incidental expenses of this Conference, each Association shall from time to time remit such sums as shall be required to the secretary, who shall submit an account of his receipts and disburse ments annually at the January Conference. But no sum exceeding five pounds shall be voted by the Conference at one time, without the written consent of each Association having been previously obtained.

See Specimen, Fourth Division of this Section.