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Establishment and organization of the Reading Association.—Abingdon, &c.

apology in the importance of its subject-the next Female Association to be noticed is that of READING.

It will be recollected, that it was in this town the first regular Auxiliary Society was established; and seven years having elapsed since that memorable event, it might have been rationally presumed that the primary object of local supply had been fully accomplished. Some casual inquiry, however, induced a doubt as to the correctness of this conclusion: and an appeal having been made to the Ladies, it was promptly recognised; and the Association was instituted on the 4th of April 1816, with a degree of unanimity and zeal rarely equalled and never surpassed. The town, containing a population of about 12,000, was divided into 54 districts, which were regularly and systematically visited every week, by one hundred and nine ladies; the results of whose exertions during the first four weeks, as reported at the Committeemeeting held on the 14th of May, exhibited a list of 1790 contributors, of whom 863 were subscribers for Bibles and Testaments, and an aggregate collection of 103. 16s. At the termination of the first year, 1056 copies of the holy scriptures had been distributed by sale; and 6431. 12s. 3d. had been paid into the hands of the Treasurer, of which 70%. was unanimously voted, as a primary remittance for the general object of the Parent Institution.

15. The unprecedented success of the Reading Ladies' Association, and of several similar establishments formed about the same period in the neighbouring villages, in connexion with the Henley Auxiliary Society, induced the Committee of the latter institution to include in the Appendix to their Annual Report for 1816, a detailed statement of the Southwark system, as applicable to Female Associations. This publication being extensively circulated, produced a considerable effect. At ABINGDON, SOUTHAMPTON, BRISTOL, BRIGHTON, LEWES, WEYMOUTH, POOLE, BRIDPORT, SHERBORNE, and many places of minor importance, Ladies' Associations were eedily organized; and it was evident that a disposition in their favour was rapidly spreading throughout the kingdom. In the course of these operations, the author had found occasion to revise the Rules and By-laws originally framed at Godalming; experience and more close observation having suggested various improvements in the plan, calculated to facilitate and simplify the proceedings. In October 1817, the entire code of Regulations was submitted to the Committee of the Parent Society; and after a full and minute examination into the tendency of each particular part, and such few

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Revision of Rules by the Parent Committee.-Effects.

alterations as appeared necessary to render the design more clear and explicit, it received the unanimous approval of the General Committee on the 17th of November; and a Resolution was adopted, that copies should be immediately printed and circulated in the name and under the sanction of the

British and Foreign Bible Society. This decision was officially announced by the following communication, prefixed to the "Monthly Extracts of Correspondence, No. 4.”

(6 Society's House, Earl Street, Blackfriars, Nov. 17, 1817. "The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society avail themselves of their monthly communication, to make known the result of their recent inquiries and proceedings, in reference to certain points materially connected with the interests of the institution.

"The first subject of their investigation was, the most proper mode of turning to advantageous account the zeal so generally and laudably manifested by the Female sex in favour of the society's object, both in its Domestic and Foreign Department. The course which that zeal had spontaneously taken in the establishment of 'Ladies' Bible Associations,' left nothing for the Committee to do, but to recommend the best means which their experience could furnish, for giving to Female agency, in this way of employing it, a prudent and useful direction. With this view, the Committee examined the Regulations in most general use: and they now present them in a revised form, in the hope that they may be found serviceable in modelling that class of Associations, which, if regularly constituted, and discreetly conducted, is likely to become an instrument of extensive and permanent good."

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The consequence of these judicious and well-timed proceedings, and of this explicit approval on the part of those to whom the superintendence of the system is so beneficially entrusted, were speedily manifested. Before the close of that year, no fewer than twenty-eight Female Associations were established and organized in the counties of Buckingham, Oxford, Northampton, and Lancaster; and the following year was characterized by the formation of more than seventy similar institutions.

16. Such were the origin and progress of that system, which will be developed in Section III.: but it is first necessary to consider the nature and constitution of Ladies' BRANCH Societies, to which some slight allusion has been already made. These institutions are of a more recent origin, and were not contemplated when the plan of Female Associations was first devised; but they claim priority of place, on the grounds of their importance, and on those of clear and lucid arrangement. They will therefore form the subject of the next section.

* See Section III. of this Chapter.

Origin of Ladies' Branch Societies.

It would indeed be unjust, in a section which professes to trace the history of Female exertion in the best of causes, to omit a distinct allusion to a Lady, whose ardent zeal and perseverance justify the application of the inspired language"Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all." Those readers who are familiar with the Annual Reports of the Parent Society, will recognise, in this allusion, "a correspondent at a principal naval station," who has, during the last eleven years, been the honoured instrument of distributing more than twenty-nine thousand copies of the holy scriptures, in ten different languages, among a description of persons to which few could find access, except those who are animated, like her, with a fervent desire to promote the glory of GoD in the salvation of her fellow-creatures.

SECTION II.

ON LADIES' BRANCH SOCIETIES.

1. In unfolding the practical constitution of the auxiliary system, we are perpetually reminded of the insufficiency of every human invention, for the accomplishment of even the best and purest ends. The works of the Divine Architect alone bear the stamp of wisdom and perfection; and the highest attainment of sublunary intelligence can only be a progressive approach towards that excellence which it can never reach. It has been already observed, that every successive improvement of this system has been the result of accidental circumstances; and the division of it which now claims our attention, exhibits a striking illustration of this remark.

On the 25th of March, 1817, a society was established in LIVERPOOL, under the designation of the "Liverpool Ladies' Auxiliary Bible Society;" conducted by a treasurer, two secretaries, and a committee of twenty-four other ladies; and under the patronage of the Countess of Derby, Lady Stanley, and other elevated characters in the neighbourhood. A judicious Address was adopted and circulated, wherein the "great deficiency of Bibles still existing among the poorer classes in the town and vicinity," and the importance of " the general objects of the Parent Institution," were strongly urged, as the grounds of appeal to the public sympathy and benevolence.. About sixty ladies, having subsequently offered their services. as collectors, were appointed to extensive districts, under the direction of the respective members of the Committee, to

Liverpool Ladies' Auxiliary Society-Defective nature of the plan. whom they presented their reports monthly, and paid over the amount collected.

In announcing this institution, the Committee of the Liverpool Auxiliary Society, in their Sixth Annual Report, ob

serve:

"Your Committee had lamented equally with all their predecessors, the great inefficiency of Gentlemen, in a plan professing to embrace the distribution of the Bible, through every part of a numerous, poor, and ever-varying population. That defect will be supplied-that difficulty will be removed. A society of Ladies will be organized, under the direction of their own Committee, which, by dividing the town into districts, and examining minutely into the wants of the poor, may be able to supply them, under circumstances of more hope and encouragement than can be expected from any other plan. The benevolence of the female character leads Ladies continually into those scenes of sorrow and suffering, where the mind is (humanly speaking) more pervious to the lessons of the Gospel. Your Committee anticipate a period, not very far distant, when the Ladies' Society may abundantly supply their lack of service, and promote in the hearts of the poor, generally through the town, the interests of that spiritual kingdom, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Their influence will be materially useful in the collection of small subscriptions: and if these District Associations be put into full activity, the difficulties hitherto experienced will, probably, be materially diminished, the support of the poor more extensively obtained, and the poor themselves brought into more intimate acquaintance with their duty to the commands, and their interest in the blessings of the Gospel."

That those prospects have been abundantly realized, will be shewn in the sequel: but the experience of a few months was sufficient to convince the Ladies thus engaged, that the plan they had adopted was totally inadequate to the end designed. No provision was made for exciting and perpetuating that feeling, which gives to every individual engaged in the work, an interest in its success;-the local districts were too extensive, and many parts of them were, consequently, unvisited; the mode of gratuitous supply was carried to a mischievous excess ;-but, above all, no measures were devised for awakening, in the labouring classes of the community, the benevolent principle, and calling into life and exercise, even within the walls of a cottage, those Christian charities, the developement of which are among the first and happiest results of Bible Associations. In reference to these, and other defects in their system, the Committee of Ladies observe, in their First Annual Report:

"The further the collectors advanced in the work, the more they were convinced of its urgent necessity, and of their inability to perform it. The funds of the Society being inadequate to the demands for Bibles and Testaments, even at reduced prices, your Committee were obliged to refuse several applications for grants to persons in indigent circumstances; but a seasonable donation of Bibles and Testaments, to the amount of 51, intended for the

The Liverpool Ladies' Branch Society established.

temporary supply of such persons as were unable to purchase, prevented the inconvenience which this circumstance would otherwise have occasioned. New difficulties were, however, continually arising, which called for new and untried expedients; and the benevolent designs of the institution were frequently impeded, by that want of system which your Committee felt themselves incompetent to supply."

Such was the state of this society in December 1817, when the author accepted an invitation to assist in organizing it on more correct principles. On investigation, it appeared that, during the preceding nine months, about 500 persons had entered their names as subscribers for Bibles and Testaments, and about 200 as free contributors; that 271 copies of the Scriptures had been distributed by sale, and 35 gratuitously; and that the total amount collected was 4121. 18s. 3d.

In a district, the population of which exceeded one hundred thousand, it was evident that one Bible Association would be insufficient: and as no plan had hitherto existed for connecting several institutions of this description, conducted by Females, with the same Auxiliary Society, it became necessary to devise a mode by which their operations should be carried on with uniformity and effect. The precedents exhibited in Southwark, Westminster, the City of London, and Bristol, were totally inapplicable to Liverpool; as in these, and many other populous places, Gentlemen's Associations pre-occupied the ground.-After mature deliberation, it was resolved to divide the town and its immediate vicinity into ten districts, and to establish and organize a Female Association in each; of which the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Treasurers, and Secretaries, unitedly, should constitute a distinct Society or Committee, under the designation of "The Ladies' Branch of the Liverpool Auxiliary Society." From this plan, it was presumed, many beneficial effects would result:-the several Associations, under the superintending care and direction of judicious individuals of their own sex, would preserve an uniformity of design and proceeding;-a regular and proper medium of communication with the Auxiliary Society would be provided, calculated to prevent trouble to all parties, and to facilitate the separate and combined operations ;-the remittances would be received, and the Bibles and Testaments issued, with order, economy, and despatch;-any improvements in the system would be deliberately considered, and effectually recommended;-and one Annual Report would exhibit the collective results of the whole institution.

A Code of Rules and By-Laws, founded on these princi

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