IV. On motion of the Rev. Dr. M'LEOD, of New-York, seconded by the Rev. JOSHUA L. WILSON, of Cincinnati, Ohio, RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Board of Managers for their exertions in conducting the business of this Society. V. On motion of WILLIAM JAY, Esq. of Westchester County, N. York, seconded by THOMAS EDDY, of New-York, RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Society be presented to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, for their early and decided approbation of the institution of this Society, expressed in the Narrative of the State of Religion in their bounds. VI. On motion of JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq. of Boston, seconded by the Rev. Mr. FELTUS, of New-York, RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Society be presented to the numerous Auxiliary Bible Societies for their exertions to promote the object and increase the funds of this Society. VII. On motion of SAMUEL BAYARD, Esq. of Princeton, N. Jersey, seconded by the Hon. ANDREW KIRKPATRICK, of New-Brunswick, N. Jersey, RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Society be presented to the congregations and individuals which have constituted their Pastors members for life of this Society. VIII. On motion of JOSHUA M. WALLACE, Esq. of Burlington, N. Jersey, seconded by the Rev. IRA HART, of Stonington, Conn. RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Meeting be presented to all those individuals and Societies who have contributed to the funds of this Institution. On the recommendation of the Board of Managers, RESOLVED, That the XIVth Article of the Constitution be so altered, that the Board of Managers shall meet on the first Thursday, instead of the first Wednesday, in each month. The Managers of the AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY desire with thankfulness to recognize the hand of their God, which has been good upon the Institution throughout the first year of its existence. The harmony, cordiality, and forbearance, displayed in the proceedings of the Convention who formed it, afforded satisfactory evidence of the Divine approbation, and a sure pledge of the Divine blessing upon its future fate. Many who had doubted of the practicability of the plan, yielded to the pleasing conviction that they were mistaken, and joined with those who had never doubted on the subject, in cherishing the hope that the National Institution would realize the most sanguine expectations of its ultimate prosperity. Its formation was hailed as a great and glorious era in the history of our country, and its means of accomplishing the all-important end of its formation have been increased with more than ordinary rapidity. The Managers feel it their duty to state, that the plan of such an institution was first suggested by the British and Foreign Bible Society, to the Philadelphia Bible Society. No measures, however, were adopted to attempt its execution, until the New-Jersey Bible Society undertook the experiment. Although baffled in their first effort, their worthy President, acting in conformity to their wishes, persevered in the good work, and finally succeeded. Called, by the unanimous voice of the Managers, to the Presidency of the National Institution, he is, in the decline of life, enjoying that pleasure which springs from his work of faith and labor of love, thus far owned of God, and promising the highest and most lasting blessings to this Western Continent. The Managers, in entering on the duties of their responsible office, felt that their first exertions ought to be directed towards the procurement of well executed stereotype plates, for the accommodation of large districts of the American Continent. They accordingly, at an early period, contracted for three sets of stereotype plates in octavo, and three in duodecimo. The octavo sets have all been delivered at the Depository; and measures have been adopted to make them as correct as possible before they are used. The duodecimos will be finished in the month of June ensuing [one of which they have resolved to locate in Lexington, Kentucky, under the direction of the Kentucky Bible Society. As they were not in a capacity to print Bibles, having no plates of their own, they declined answering the various applications for Bibles which they received from Auxiliary Societies. They thought that it would be inexpedient to become the purchasers of Bibles for these Auxiliaries; and, therefore, in those cases where monies were sent with the express stipulation that Bibles to the amount should be returned, they resolved, if required, to pay over the same to the Societies which sent them; or to pay over the whole, or any part of them, to the NewYork Bible Society, who would furnish the Auxiliaries with the required number of Bibles. They were, however, soon enabled, by the munificent liberality of the New-York, and the New-York Auxiliary, Bible Societies, to supply their Auxiliaries. Those Societies presented them with a set of stereotype plates of the duodecimo size and brevier type; in consequence of which donation, 10,000 copies, according to their direction, have been printed; of which about 6000 have been sold and distributed. They have lately ordered 2,500 copies to be printed from the octavo plates, and 7,500 from the duodecimo plates. In establishing the prices at which Bibles were to be sold, the Board of Managers considered it a duty to make a difference between such Societies and individuals as are auxiliary to, and members of, the National Institution, and such as are not; and therefore adopted the following rule: "That to the cost of the paper, press-work, and binding of the Bibles printed for the Society from the stereotype plates, five per cent. be added for interest, insurance and wear of said plates; which aggregate amount shall be considered the cost of the Bibles; and that these Bibles shall be sold at said cost price to all Bible Societies who do not contribute to the funds of this Institution; and that the said amount of five per cent. shall be deducted from said cost price on all Bibles sold to Auxiliaries, and such other Societies as contribute to the funds of this Institution." Applications having been made at an early period, from different parts of the United States, for New Testaments, the Managers took the subject of printing and circulating the New, apart from the Old Testament, into their consideration. After mature deliberation, they resolved that, for the present, it was inexpedient for them to do this in the English language. As the necessary expenses of carrying into effect the vast design of the National Institution were great, the Managers felt it their duty to adopt such measures as promised a supply of their wants. They ap pointed a Committee in each ward of the city of New-York, to collect subscriptions; and directed a Circular Letter to be sent to every Minister of the various denominations of Christians in the United States, request" ing a congregational collection in their aid-as also a Circular to the different Bible Societies who had not united with the National Institution, soliciting aid; and one to influential men in different parts of the United States, calling upon them to come forward in the good work, and enclosing a Plan for an Auxiliary Society, and Branch Associations. They cannot, at present, state the degree of success which has attended their applications. There is no doubt but many Ministers have been omitted, not intentionally, but from want of information. So soon as they are known, application will be made to them. The Managers are happy to state, that the following Societies, in existence previous to the formation of the American Bible Society, have become Auxiliary, viz. Virginia Bible Society, Petersburgh Bible Society, Virginia, Burlington Female Bible Society, New Jersey, Hampden Bible Society, Massachusetts, New Hampshire Bible Society, Bible Society of Massachusetts, Bible Society of Nassau Hall, New Jersey, Scioto Bible Society, Ohio, Female Bible Society of Poughkeepsie, New-York, Bible Society of Salem and vicinity, Massachusetts, Bible Society of District of Columbia, Oneida Bible Society, New-York, 66 27 27 66 29 June 11 66 13 66 18 July 10 66 10 25 66 29 August 3 66 6 "16 19 21 Essex Bible Society, New-York, Feb. Pittsburgh Bible Society, Pennsylvania, Bible Society of Lynchburg, Virginia, March 28 The following Societies have been formed as Auxiliaries to the Na American Bible Society of Young Men, New Brunswick, N. J. Gloucester Bible Society, New Jersey, Fayetteville Bible Society, North Carolina, Female Auxiliary Bible Society of Courtland Co. New-York, Bible Society of Westfield, New Jersey, Cortland Auxiliary Bible Society, New-York, Amity Female Bible Society, Orange County, New-York, Kentucky Bible Society, Albemarle and Orange Bible Society, Virginia, Auxiliary Bible Society of Red Hook and Rhinebeck, New-York, Fishkill Auxiliary Bible Society, New-York, Green's Farms Auxiliary Female Bible Society, Connecticut, Female Bible Society of Kingston, New-York, Female Bible Society of Cincinnati, Ohio, Delaware County Bible Society, Pennsylvania, Ulster County Bible Society, New-York, Benson Young Ladies' Bible Society, Seneca Bible Society, New-York, Female Bible Society of New-Haven, Connecticut, Bible Society of the Town of Bergen, New Jersey, Rahway Female Bible Society, New Jersey, Lexington Bible Society, Virginia, Madison County Bible Society, New-York, Auxiliary Bible Society of Montgomery County, New-York, Bloomfield Bible Society, New Jersey. Broome County Bible Society, New-York, Steuben County Bible Society, New-York, Roxborough Bible Society, Pennsylvania, 13 Branch Society of the town of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Feb. 66 April 2 There is reason to believe that there are more Societies Auxiliary to the National Institution; but the Managers have received no official account of them. They requested, in the statement published December 17, 1816, every Society becoming Auxiliary, so soon as convenient, |