CONSTITUTION

OF THE

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY,

PORMED BY

A CONVENTION OF DELEGATES,

HELD IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, MAY, 1816.

TOGETHER WITH THEIR

ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES ;

A NOTICE OF THEIR PROCEEDINGS ;

AND

A List of their Officers.

FORMATION

OF THE

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

At a meeting of Delegates from different Bible Societies, convened in the Consistory Room of the Reformed Dutch Church on the 8th day of May, 1816; Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. of NewJersey, was chosen President of the Convention, and the Rev. Dr. J. B. ROMEyn, and Rev. L. BEECHER, Secretaries.

The meeting was then opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Nott.

The following persons appeared as Delegates :
Rev. Dr. S. SPRING, from the Merrimack Bible Society.
Rev. Mr. HUMPHREYS,

} Fairfield Bible Society.
• Dr. I. LEWIS,
Rev. Dr. JOHN M. MASON,

PHILIP MILLEDOLER,
J. B. ROXEYN,

New York Bible Society.
Mr. J. WILLIAMS,
Mr. GARDINER SPRING,
Dr. BRADFORD,
Dr. NEILL,

Albany Bible Society.
Mr. CHESTER,
Mr. WILLIAM WILLIAMS,

Oneida Bible Society
General JOHN LINCKLA':N,
Rev. ANDREW OLIVER,
Eli F. COOLEY,

Otsego Bible Society.
Mr. JAMES COOPER,
Mr. GUYSBERT B. VROOM,
HENRY W. WARNER,

New-York Auxiliary Bible Society.
W. C. MULLIGAN,

ROBERT SEDGWICK, Rev. Dr. E. Nort,

Union College Bible Society.

Rensselaer Bible Society. Rev. Dr. S. BLATCHFORD,

Saratoga Bible Society.

The members marked thus (*) came in after the convention was formed, and before the adoption of the constitution and address.

Rev. Dr. J. BASSETT,

Mr. SAYRE,

Mr. D. S. BOGART, Mr. A. VAN SINDERIN,

CHARLES WRIGHT,
Rev. Mr. R. FOREST,
Mr. Levi CALLENDER,

ORIN Day,
Mr. Joshua Y. WALLACE,

ACE,
SAMUEL BAYARD,
Rev. Dr. J. RICHARDS,

Mr. G. S. WOODHULL,

Mr. J. M'DOWELL,
Mr. THOMAS J. BIGGS,

J. W. PLATT,
Rev. Mr. David JONES,
Mr. C. HORNBLOWER, •

John E. CALDWELL,
Rev. Mr. S. WILMER,
Mr. M. S. CLARKE,

New-Jersey Bible Society.

.

Nassau Hall Bible Society.

Rev. Mr. J. H. RICE,

Newark Bible Society.
Fem. Bible Society of Burlington.

Do. do.' do. Kingston.
Gloucester Bible Society.
Franklin Bible Society.
Virginia Bible Society.
Frederick Bible Society.
Norfolk Bible Society.
Petersburgh Bible Society.
Lynchburgh Bible Society.
North Carolina Bible Society.
Kentucky Bible Society.
Cayuga Bible Society.
Washington County (N. Y.) do.

Mr. W. BURD,
Rev. Dr. Hall,

Dr. J. BLYTNE,
Mr. H. FORD,
Rev. Dr. A. Proudfit,

The following gentlemen, though not formally commissioned as delegates; yet appearing, from satisfactory evidence, to be substantial representatives of their respective Societies, or a number of members thereof, for all the purposes contemplated by this convention, were admitted to seats, viz.

Rev. Mr. LYMAN BEECHER,
Mr. IchaBOD SKINNER,

Connecticut.
Rev. Mr. N. W. Taylor,
Rev. Dr. J. MORSE, from the Middlesex, New Hampshire, and Dart-

mouth University Bible Society.
Mr. William Jay, from the Westchester Auxiliary Bible Society.
Rev. Mr. HeNSHAW,

Bible and Common Prayer Book Mr. Joshua SANDS, *General Swift,

Society of Long Island.