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The following gentlemen were also received as members, viz.

*JOHN MURRAY, Jun.

*THOMAS EDDY,

*JOHN GRISCOM,

*Dr. VALENTINE MOTT,

On motion,

of the Society of Friends.

Resolved unanimously, That it is expedient to establish, without delay, a general Bible Institution, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment.

A committee, consisting of Dr. NOTT, Dr. MASON, Mr. BAYARD, Mr. WILMER, Mr. BEECHER, CHARLES WRIGHT, Mr. RICE, Mr. JONES, Dr. MORSE, Mr. JAY, and Dr. BLYTHE, was appointed to prepare the plan of a constitution of the said Society, and an address to the public, on the nature and objects thereof.

And the convention adjourned until the morning of Friday the 11th inst. at eleven o'clock.

The convention met according to adjournment, and their committee laid before them the draft of a constitution, which having been read first in the whole, and afterwards by paragraphs, and carefully considered, was unanimously adopted; and is hereunto annexed.

The committee reported also an address to the public, which in like manner was unanimously approved, and is hereunto annexed.

The convention then proceeded to the choice of managers of the American Bible Society for the current year, and the following persons were unanimously chosen: viz.

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WILLIAM BAYARD,

PETER M'CArtee,

THOMAS SHIELDS,

ROBERT RALSTON,
JOHN R. B. RODGERS,
Dr. PETER WILSON,
JEREMIAH EVARTS,
JOHN WATTS, M. D.
THOMAS EDDY,
WILLIAM JOHNSON,

JOSHUA SANDS,
GEORGE WArner,
DE WITT CLINTON,
JOHN WARDER,
SAMUEL BAYARD,
DUNCAN P. CAMPBELL,
JOHN ASPINWALL,

JOHN MURRAY, Jun.
CHARLES WRIGHT,

CORNELIUS HEYER.

After due notice of their appointment, the managers met in the City Hall on the 11th May, and unanimously elected the persons whose names are hereunto subjoined, to the offices for which they are named respectively.

Information of this choice was communicated by a committee of the managers to the convention, who having before resolved, that the first annual meeting of the "American Bible Society" be held in the city of New-York; and the business of the convention being now accomplished, their meeting was closed with prayer by the Rev. Mr. WILMER, and the convention was dissolved.

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Hon. ISAAC SHELBY,

of Connecticut.
of Vermont.

of Rhode Island.

GEORGE MADISON, Esq. of Kentucky.

Hon. WILLIAM TILGHMAN,
Hon. BUSHROD WASHINGTON,

WILLIAM WIRT, Esq.
Hon. CHARLES C. PINCKNEY,
Hon. WILLIAM Gaston,

Hon. THOMAS WORTHINGTON,
Hoп THOMAS POSEY,
Hon. JAMES BROWN,

JOHN BOLTON, Esq.

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Hon. FELIX Grundy,
ROBERT OLIVER, Esq.
JOSEPH NOURSE, Esq.

VOL. I,

of Pennsylvania.

of Virginia.

of South Carolina.
of North Carolina,
of Ohio.
of Indiana.
of Louisiana.

of Georgia.
of Tennessee.
of Maryland.

of the District of Columbia.

Secretary for Foreign Correspondence.

Rev. Dr. J. M. MASON.

Secretary for Domestic Correspondence.

Rev. Dr. J. B. ROMEYN.

Treasurer.

RICHARD VARICK, Esq.

2

CONSTITUTION.

I. This Society shall be known by the name of 'The AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, of which the sole object shall be, to encourage a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment. The only copies in the English language to be circulated by the Society, shall be of the version now in common use.

II. This Society shall add its endeavors to those employed by other Societies, for circulating the Scriptures throughout the United States and their territories; and shall furnish them with stereotype plates, or such other assistance as circumstances may require. This Society shall also, according to its ability, extend its influence to other countries, whether Christian, Mohammedan, or Pagan.

III. All Bible Societies shall be allowed to purchase at cost from this. Society, Bibles for distribution within their own districts. The members of all such Bible Societies as shall agree to place their surplus revenue, after supplying their own districts with Bibles, at the disposal of this Society, shall be entitled to vote in all meetings of the Society; and the officers of such Societies shall be, ex officio, directors of this.

IV. Each subscriber of three dollars annually, shall be a member.

V. Each subscriber of thirty dollars at one time, shall be a member for life.

* VI. Each subscriber of fifteen dollars annually, shall be a Director.

VII. Each subscriber of one hundred and fifty dollars at one time, or who shall, by one additional payment, increase his original subscription. to one hundred and fifty dollars, shall be a Director for life.

VIII. Directors shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Board of Managers.

IX. A Board of Managers shall be appointed to conduct the business. of the Society, consisting of thirty-six Laymen, of whom twenty-four shall reside in the city of New-York or its vicinity. One fourth part of the whole number shall go out of office at the expiration of each year, but shall be re-eligible.

Every Minister of the Gospel, who, is a member of the Society, shall be entitled to meet and vote with the Board of Managers, and be possessed of the same powers as a Manager himself.

* This article was expunged in 1819.

The Managers shall appoint all officers, and call special general meetings, and fill such vacancies as may occur, by death or otherwise, in their own Board.

X. Each member of the Society shall be entitled, under the direction of the Board of Managers, to purchase Bibles and Testaments at the Society's prices, which shall be as low as possible.

XI. The annual meetings of the Society shall be held at New-York or Philadelphia, at the option of the Society, on the second Thursday of May, in each year; when the Managers shall be chosen, the accounts presented, and the proceedings of the foregoing year reported.

XII. The President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretaries, for the time being, shall be considered, ex officio, members of the Board of Managers.

XIII. At the general meetings of the Society, and the meetings of the Managers, the President, or in his absence the Vice-President first on the list then present; and in the absence of all the Vice-Presidents, such member as shall be appointed for that purpose, shall preside at the meeting.

XIV. The Managers shall meet on the first Wednesday in each month, or oftener, if necessary, at such place in the city of New-York as they shall from time to time adjourn to.

XV. The Managers shall have the power of appointing such persons as have rendered essential services to the Society, either members for life, or Directors for life.

XVI. The whole minutes of every meeting shall be signed by the Chairman.

XVII. The President, or, in his absence, the Vice-President first on the list in the city of New-York, may, at the written request of six members of the Board, call special meetings of the Board of Managers, causing three days' notice of such meetings to be given.

+ XVIII. The Board of Managers may admit to the privileges of an Auxiliary, any Society which was organized and had commenced the printing, publication, and issuing of the Sacred Scriptures before the establishment of this Society, with such relaxation of the terms of admission, hereunto prescribed, as the said Board, two thirds of the members present consenting, may think proper.

XIX. No alteration shall be made to this Constitution, except by the Society at an annual meeting, on the recommendation of the Board of Managers.

This article was added in 1819.

This article was added in 1829.

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