History of the American Bible society, revised, and brought down to the present time
^ ■-^c.^ ♦^■v. c .3' ,^^^^ OK o • k " . 0 ■ vD i^ -„.*'' ^ **^ .-j^.-.S •^,. „< .*"» .-y^ ^^^^^w^ fOHK , HAIx^PF.B * BIl.nHF.kS , l84g. ; ■ " ^ HISTORY OF THE AIERICM BIBLE SOCIETY. REVISED, AND BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME. h, BY Wi'P.'STEIGKLAND, D.D, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY REV. N. L. RICE, D.D., OF CINCINNATI. ' The Lord gave the word ; great was the company of those that published it." Psalm Ixviii., 11. ^ ll^% NEW YORK: HARPER k BROTHERS, PUBLISH ERS^ PEARL STBEET, FBANKLIN SQUARE. 1856. No,/. ^ .to n|^^\i^ ^ <\i IJntovcJ, according to Act of Congress, in the year one tliousnnd eight Inmdrcd and fifty-six, by ^ • ■ i IIAKrUK & BROTIIHRS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern Mstrict of New York. TO THE OFFICERS AND MANAGERS OF THK AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, Ql\^\Q toork IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. RECOMMENDATION. Undekstanding that the Eev. Dr. Strickland is about issuing a revised and improved edition of his History of the American Bible Society, we embrace the opportunity, as individuals, to express our favorable opinion of the work. It contains much information that must be very valuable to all who take an interest in the spread of the Holy Scriptures. As the author was for several years an agent of the American Bible Society, he enjoyed great facilities for be- coming intimately acquainted with the Society, its policy, and opera- tions. "We believe the work to be substantially correct and reliable. We therefore very cheerfully comply with the request of the re- spected author to express this opinion, and to commend the work to the Christian public, and especially to the friends of the Bible cause. We hope the work may have an extensive circulation. J, C. Beigham, Joseph Holdich. PREFACE The necessity of some such work as the following was suggested to the mind of the author when he en- tered upon his duties as agent of the American Bihle Society several years since. He found the field of lahor in which he had en- gaged one concerning the nature of which he kn^w hut little. To ohtain such information as would qual- ify him for his work, it therefore hecame necessary for him to study the policy and operations of the society, as contained in the printed reports, circulars, and let- ters of instruction issued from the Board from time to time, and emhracing a period of many years. He found that, to give a full and intelligihle answer in regard to almost any important topic connected with the society, the whole field of its operations must he searched, and the scattered fragments lying here and there must he gathered up and arranged. In the preparation of each of the thirty -nine chap- ters, with hut few exceptions, the writer has traveled over the entire ground every time, collecting from the reports and collateral documents every important fact connected therewith. He has made no attempt whatever at emhellish- ment, his ohject having heen to present a plain, un- varnished narrative of facts, as they have occurred in yi PREFACE. the operations of the society, in consecutive order. How far he has succeeded in this humble attempt is left for the reader to determine. For assistance in the compilation of the work, the writer acknowledges his indebtedness to the follow- ing works : Dr. Spring's Life of Rev. Samuel J. Mills, Home's Introduction, Townley's Biblical Literature, Buchanan's Researches in Asia, Anderson's Annals of the English Bible, D'Aubigne's Reformation, Ed- wards's Missionary Gazetteer, Choules's History of Missions, Wyckoff's Bible Question, &c. He also takes pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to the Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., Corresponding Secre- tary of the American Bible Society. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY PRIOR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. Advent of the Puritans — Causes which led them to seek an Asylum in this New World — Their Love for the Bible and Rights of Conscience — Incorporation of Bi- ble Principles with the Institutions of the Countiy — Hume's Testimony concern- ing the Puritans — The Edict of Henry VIII. respecting the Reading of the Scrip- tures revoked — Scriptures with diflBculty obtained — The May Flower and the Bi- ble— Webster's Bunker Hill Oration — Efforts of the Colonists to supply the Scrip- tures— Laws requiring eveiy Family to have a Copy of — Meeting of the First Con- gress— Made no Laws for the establishment of Religion — Protects all in the en- joyment of the Rights of Conscience — Washington's Address — ^Action of Congress in reg'ard to Bible Destitution — Appointment of a Committee— Population of the Country — Number of Bibles in the World — Report of the Committee — Congress ordered an Importation of English Bibles — Subsequently recommended the Print- ing an Edition of the Bible — This a Bible Nation — Congress a Bible Society — De Tocqueville — Infidel Revolution in France — No Bibles — Rome — Testimony of American Statesmen — Love of the Bible — A national Sentiment — Illustrative Licident — Testimony of the most profound Scholar of the Age — Example of the Friends of the Bible Cause in England — Organization of local Bible Societies in this Country — DiflBculty of procuring Books — Copies often defective — Anxiety of Christians to circulate the Scriptures Page 17 CAUSES WHICH PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. Careful. Consultation of oflScial Records — Drs. Biggs and Beecher — Dr. Beech- er only surviving Oflficer of Convention — Dr. Spring — His Devotion to the Bible Cause — Subject of an Organization discussed — Communications in Relation to — General Interest awakened — Correspondent of the Panoplist — Importance of Or- ganization argued — New Jersey Bible Society — Origination of a Plan — Sent to Sister Bible Societies — Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society — Res- olutions of — Hon. Elias Boudinot — Calling of a Convention — Extent of the Invita- tion— Interesting Facts and Incidents furnished by Dr. Beecher — First Cause which led the Way to the Formation of the Society — Second — Third — Rev. Sam- uel J. Mills — His personal Appearance and Character — Personal Conversation — Meeting of the Convention — Sublime Spectacle — DiflSculties in combining all De- nominations— Fears and Hopes — Difficulties threatened — Dr. Mason — His happy Mode of dispelling Difficulties — Successful Issue 23 ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. Command of Jesus Christ — Primary Object of the Bible Society — Christians of almost every Denomination from all Parts of the Country represented in the Con- vention— Names of Officers and Members of the Convention — Model of an Evan- gelical Alliance — Protestant Rule — Committee to draft Constitution — Report of Committee — Constitution adopted Article by Article — Election of Managers — Election of Officers — Address to the People of the United States — Nature of the viii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. Discussions in the Convention — Exclusion of Sectarianism — Different Churches — The good Feelings which prevailed — Divine Approbation — Many Doubts settled in regard to the Feasibility of the Organization — Reliance upon the Divine Bless- ing Page 27 MANAGERS AND OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. Officers known to the Constitution — Number of Managers — Ex-officio Mem- bers of the Board — Powers vested in the Board by the Constitution — Officers of the Society — Special and Standing Committees — By-Laws — First Officers all de- ceased— Only two or three surviving Managers — Scrupulous Economy — Society has no permanent Funds — Managers and Officers perform their Duties gratui- tously— Present Officers of the Society 35 BIBLE HOUSE. Pecuniary Condition of the Society at its Organization — Want of a Bible House, Materials, &c. — Kindness and Hospitality of early Friends — Stereotype Plates — Applications for Bibles — Supplied by the New York Bible Society — Present of Stereotype Plates — Donation from British and Foreign Bible Society — Commit- tee of Five to take Charge of Property of Society — Powers of — Prospects of Success — Location of surplus Stereotype Plates — Discussion in relation there- to— Final Action — Conditions on which Plates should be loaned — Importance of concentrating the Business of the Society in one Establishment — Propriety of erecting a Bible House discussed — Corner Stone laid in 1822 — Finished same Year — Description of Bible House — Additional Buildings — Number and Kinds of Presses employed — Number of Bibles printed daily — Number of Hands — Kinds and Qualities of Bibles printed — Reprint of the Annual Reports — Publica- tion of the " Brief View of the Plan of Operations of the American Bible Soci- ety"— Also a *' Statement as to the Character of foreign Versions printed by the Society"— Bible for the Blind— Ojibwa— New Bible House 53 ACTS OF INCORPORATION. Importance of — Form of a Bequest to the Society — Act of Legislature of New York in relation to the Society's Property — An Act to confirm certain Trusts — An Act to incorporate the American Bible Society — Proceedings had by the Board after the Passage of the Act of Incorporation — An Ordinance to establish a Board of Managers and for other Purposes 65 PRINTING, PUBLICATION, AND CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. Home Field — Number of Copies of the Scriptures printed the first Year — Num- ber issued — Number gratuitously circulated — First Donation — Resolution of the Society in relation to gratuitous Distributions — Second Year, numbers printed — Issued— Donated— ThirdYear— Fourth— Fifth— Sixth— Seventh— Eighth— Ninth —Tenth— Eleventh— Twelfth— Thirteenth— Fourteenth— Fifteenth— Sixteenth- Seventeenth — Eighteenth — Nineteenth — Twentieth — Twenty-first — Second — Third— Fourth —Fifth — Sixth— Seventh —Eighth — Ninth —Thirtieth— Thirty- first— Second— Third— Fourth— Fifth— Sixth— Seventh— Eighth— Ninth— Bibles in foreign Languages imported — Total Number issued — Immigrants — German — French — Irish — Italian — Swede — Welshmen — Spaniard — Jew — Pole — Arab — Norwegian, and others — Auxiliaries — Universal Circulation — Opposition from Ro- man Catholics — Burned the Bible — Effi^rts of, to exclude it from Common Schools — Citizens taxed to educate Romanists — Papal Rapacity — Roman Bishop's Declara- tion— Opinion of Congress in an Address to the People of Great Britain in regard SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. jx to the Character of Romanism — University of France — Bible in our Common Schools — Among Slaves— Efforts to supply — Committee appointed by Board to in- vestigate the Subject — Their Report Page 68 BIBLE IN PRISONS. Convicts — Objects of Christian Sympathy — Example of Christ — Punishment reformatory — Every Cell should be supplied with the Bible — Penitentiaries, Jails, Hospitals, Houses of Correction and Refuge, supplied by Auxiliaries — Donations made to State Prisons — Connecticut — Auburn — Virginia — Sing-Sing — New York —Ohio— Writer's Visit to in 1847— V^arden— Chaplain— Good Effects of Bible and Sabbath Schools — Scene in the Chapel — The Commission of Christ to the Church 83 BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN AND BOATMEN. Marine Bible Society of New York — Design of— Grant of Bibles to — To numer- ous Marine Bible Societies Grants made — Interesting Statistics — Agent employed by New York Marine Bible Society — Sailors' Reading-room — Rev. Mr. Shaw's Com- munication— Describes the Field of Operation — Demands increasing — Prevalence of Temperance — Diffusion of Religious Books — Erection of Seamen's Chapels — Chaplains at Mobile — Havre — Smyrna — Rio Janeiro — Honolulu and Canton — Bread upon the Waters — Bibles for Singapore — Martha's Vineyard — Communica- tion in regard to Canals in the West — Lakes — Grants to numerous Societies. .* 86 BIBLE IN THE ARMY. Bible early introduced into the Army of the United States — Request from an OfHcer of high Rank — Arrangements for a systematic Supply of Subalterns and Privates — Lieutenant Kinsley — Soldiers at West Point — Supply of Military Posts — Permission from War Department to send Bibles, &c. — Report of Chaplain on Governor's and Bedlow's Islands — Interesting Facts and Incidents — Supply to Major Thompson, of Cantonment Leavenworth — Supply of remote Military Posts — Rev. N. Sayre Harris and others — An Association of Clergymen who had once been connected with Army and Navy — Chaplain at Fort Brooke — Soldiers in Mex- ican Army , 95 BIBLE IN THE NAVY. Donation to the United States Ship John Adams in 1818 — Proposition of the Managers to the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy to supply that Department with Bibles — Entertained in a pleasing Manner — Three thousand five hundred Bi- bles granted to furnish every Officer and Seaman in the Navy — Instructions from the Navy Department in relation to Preservation and Use of — Naval Stations sup- phed — Norfolk — Washington City — Portsmouth — Charleston — New Orleans — New York and Philadelphia — Captain Chauncey — Captain Creighton — United States Naval Chaplain — Ships of War — Extract of Letter from Captain John C. Long, Commander of United States Schooner Dolphin in the Pacific — Interesting Disposition of Bibles — Sloops of War — Ship of War Belle Poule, commanded by a Son of Louis Philippe — Ship Columbus — Ship Ohio — Army and Navy Committee — United States Frigate Congress 98 BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. Interest awakened in their Behalf — Sunday-school Bible published — Price re- duced— Liberal Gratuities to Sabbath Schools — Organization of the British and Foreign Bible Society suggested by supplying Sunday School in Wales — Interest- X SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. ing Incident — Supply of Sunday Schools an appropriate Work — Appropriations made to Institutions of a general Character — Sunday Schools first established in England — Met Opposition — Found in every Christian Country — Missionary Sta- tions— King of Prussia — Advantages of early Training — American Sunday-school Union — Resolutions passed by the Board in regard to the Supply of Sunday Schools by Auxiliaries — New York Sunday-school Union — Massachusetts — Methodist Epis- copal— Protestant Episcopal — Resolutions passed by the Board for the Promotion of the Circulation and Reading of the Scriptures by Youth and Children — Accept- able to the Auxiliaries — Canada Sunday-school Union — Sunday-school Union of Reformed Dutch Church — These Unions prohibited from making Donations where Auxiliaries existed — General Synod Sunday-school Union Page 102 BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. Distributers first appointed by Auxiliaries — Friends who offered their Services gratuitously — This Course universally pursued by the Auxiliaries — By this Means thousands of Famihes were put in possession of the Bible — The Plan had its Dif- ficulties— An Effort made to supply every Family in the United States in two Years — Suggestion came from a highly respected Auxiliary, accompanied by a Pledge of five thousand Dollars — Other Auxiliaries approved — Annual Meeting of the Society sanctioned the Enterprise — At the Expiration of three Years the Work was done — Reaction — Thought by many the Bible Work was completed — Many Auxiliaries died — Many disastrous Results — In 1839 another Proposition was made to the Board by one of its Auxiliaries to supply the entire World in twenty Years — Tne Annual Meeting resolved to attempt its Accomplishment as soon as practicable — Application from American Tract Society — Discussions in re- gard to Propriety of Tract Colporteurs distributing Scriptures gratuitously — Char- acter of the American Tract Society — Resolutions of the Board on the Subject of Bible Distribution — History of the PoUcy of the Society — Circular of American Tract Society to Colporteurs — Plan of the Committee on Distribution — Appoint- ment of Bible Distributers — Resolutions of said Committee — Adopted by the Board — The Plan an admirable one — Co-operation of Auxiliaries desirable — Circulation of the Life-giving Word 110 BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. This Country the Possession and Home of the Indian — Natural Suggestion — Early Emblem — The Device of that Emblem — Indian Bible the first printed on the American Continent — Corporation for the Propagation of the Gospel — Second Edition of the Bible — Translation into Indian Language an lierculean Labor- — Objects that first claimed the Attention of the American Bible Society — First Grant of Money — Missionaries of the United Brethren — Delaware Indians — Tuscaroras — Mohawk — Montreal Bible Society — Indians at Lake of the Two Mountains — Caughnawaga Village — Indians Roman Catholics — Council of Chiefs in regard to receiving the Scriptures — Mission Schools among Indians supplied — Senecas — Cherokees and Choctaws — Grant to the American Board for Indian Missions un- der their Care — Appropriation toward printing Cherokee Scriptures — Bible Soci- ety among the Indians — Interesting Letter — Methodist Mission among Indians in Canada assisted — Letter from Missionary at Bay of Quinte — Bishop Kemper — Green Bay — Indian Church Members — Appropriation for printing New Testa- ment in the Dacotah Language — Indians at Lac qui Parle Mission — Quapaw In- dians— Ojibwa Indians near Lake Superior — Creek Indians — Cherokee Bible So- ciety— Choctaws — Presbyterian Board of Missions for Indian Stations — American Board 124 SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xi BIBLE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. Mission among the Flat-head Indians — Grant of Bibles to Missionaries — English and German Bibles and Testaments to Methodist Missionaries — Grant to an inde- pendent Missionary — American Board of Commissioners — Immigrants for Oregon — Rev. Mr. Roberts, Superintendent of Oregon Mission — Home Missionary Society, a Grant of Bibles and Testaments in English, German, French, and Spanish Lan- guages— Communication from Mr. Roberts — Condition of the Territory — Roman- ism, Campbellism, Rationalism, Socinianism, and Infidelity — Country trying and captivating to the Church — Hopes of the Colony clouded — Awful Providence — Or- phan Asylum — Boarding School at Tualatin Plains — California — The Ophir of the West and the El Dorado of the Poet — The Gold Mania — Bibles sent by the Board — ^More precious than Gold — And more plentiful too Page 128 TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES. Short History of the English Bible — Translation in Anglo-Saxon Verse in sev- enth Century — Psalms translated by Adhelm — Saxon Version of the four Gospels by Egbert, eighth Century — Entire Bible by the Venerable Bede — Ninth Century, Alfred the Great — Portions of the Bible in Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman — Dark Ages — Middle of fourteenth Century — Passing off of the Moral Eclipse — Translation of the Bible by Wiclif— Other Translations — Entire Bible by Tyndal — His literary Attainments — His Persecutions — His Translations seized and burn- ed— Himself strangled to Death and Body burned — Miles Coverdale — Cranraer — Great Bible — Number of Bibles in Circulation among the English in 1553 — Use of Scriptures prohibited by Mary — Coverdale and English Exiles at Geneva — Pub- lication of Scriptures in Time of Elizabeth — Bishop's Bible — Rheimish Version at Douay — Our present Version — King James I. — Dr. culate — Calcutta and British and Foreign Bible Society refused them Aid on that very Ground — Committee never knew before that such Translations as the Bur- mese were made and approved by any Denominations of Christians in India or elsewhere — Could not grant their Request for various Reasons — Violation of Com- pact— Sectarian — Resolutions in regard to — Protest of Dr. Cone, Baptist Member of Committee — Charged the Board with Inconsistency — Asserted that the Demand was in accordance with the Regulations of the Society — Charged the Board with Injustice — Board learned for the first Time that Dr. Judson's Translation was ex- clusively Sectarian, though it was pubUshed at the Expense of the Society — The Version of the Baptists claimed to be " correct and faithful" — Charge of Injustice no candid Baptist would believe well founded — Unjust to have complied with their Demands — Unheard of Requirement — The Board charged with having changed its Policy — Had published such Versions before — This denied — Had been deceived in two Instances — Another Charge — Unfounded — Strange Inconsistency — German and Dutch Bibles — Rule of Society — English Bible set up as a Standard — Reply — Last Charge — Statement in regard to pecuniary Matters — Legacy of Mr. Marsh — Baptist Assumption — Rejection of the Term " Baptist" in their Charter — Amer- ican Bible Union Page 130 BIBLE IN CANADA. Society forwarded Bibles through the Vermont Bible Society — French Bibles — Rev. Thaddeus Osgood — Montreal Bible Society — Bibles sent to Mr. Hoyt — Letter from Corresponding Secretary of Montreal Bible Society — Annual Report of same Society — Sanstead — Archdeacon Wix — The Destitute of Newfoundland — Settlers between St. John's and Bay of Islands — Emissaries of the Church of Rome — Straits of Belle Isle — Missionary Society of Methodist Episcopal Church — Amer- ican Baptist Home Missionary Society — Resolution of Montreal Bible Society — Grant to — Report of— Causes of Opposition — British and Foreign Bible Society — Condition of the Country — Manner in which Scriptures received — Opposition of Papal Clergy — Bible and Priest-— Alternately burn each other — Grants — Madame Feller — Swiss Mission in Canada — Rev. Caleb Strong, of Montreal — Rev. Mr. Wolf — French Canadian Missionary Society — Schools — Destitute Families at Grand Ligne — Rev. H. W^ilson was granted Bibles and Testaments for a Colony of Color- ed Persons ; 166 BIBLE IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. Sources of Information in regard to Introduction of Bible into, consulted — Com- munication from an American Gentleman residing in Mexico to the Board — Re- ception of Scriptures there — Correspondence opened with an intelligent Gentleman residing in the City of Mexico — Communication from Rev. Mr. Brigham — Personal Knowledge of and extensive Correspondence — His Statements in regard to Con- dition of the Country — Spanish Bibles sent to Agents — Letter from Mr. Brigham, dated Vera Cruz — Made Arrangements for Sale and Distribution of Bibles — Amer- ican Consul — His Co-operation — Matamoras, Tampico, Puebla, and Mazatlan — Bi- bles and Testaments sent — Letter from an Agent of British and Foreign Bible So- ciety, residing in Mexico, to Rev. Dr. Milnor, Secretary for Foreign Correspond- ence, propounding Questions in regard to the Circulation of the Protestant Scrip- tures— Some of the Priesthood in favor of the Circulation of the Scriptures — Be- came Members of the British and Foreign Bible Society — Query — Large Sale of Bibles in nine Months — San Juan de Los Lagos — Annual Fair — Splendid Temple — Idol worshiped an Image of the Virgin Mary — Aguas Calientes — Queretaro, Ze- laya, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara — Parts of Scriptures SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xiii sold — But one Diocese in Mexico prohibiting Sale and Circulation of the Bible — Not eight Copies of the Spanish Bible in the entire State of Chihuahua — Bibles sent there and to Western Coast — Distracted State of the Country — Province of Texas — Sumner Bacon, Esq. — Nine out of every Ten in the Jurisdiction of Na- cogdoches destitute of the Scriptures — Bibles sent to City of Mexico — Revolt of Texas — Independence acknowledged by other Sovereignties and annexed to the United States — Prior to its Admission into the Union a Bible Society was formed at Houston, the Capital — Members of Congress and other distinguished Individu- als participated in the Exercises — An Agent of the American Bible Society sold to the Society a large Stock of Bibles — Resolutions of Texas Bible Society — Amer- ican Merchant at Mazatlan — Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions — Yucatan — Bibles sent — W. H. Brown, Esq. Prospect of introducing the Scriptures into — Board procured a Set of Stereotype Plates — Scriptures in Spanish sent to — Primary Schools in Municipality of Bue- nos Ayres — Extensive Correspondence opened — Liberal Donations from the Brit- ish and Foreign Bible Society to American Bible Society for South America — Fa- vorable Change in Spanish Colonies — Correspondence in relation to printing Padre Scio's Version of New Testament — Scriptures sent to different Parts of Country — Arrangements made for printing Padre Scio's Version — Demand for Scriptures increase — Bibles sent — A Version approved of by Roman Catholics — Vulgate — The Bible found by Luther in his Cell — Patagonia — Provinces on both Sides of the Parana, Monte Video, Bahia, the Brazils, Valparaiso, Chili, Mendoza — Efforts to enlighten — Formation of a National Bible Society at Bogota — Donation of the Board to their Depository — Establishment of a Society at the City of Caraccas — Interesting Communications fram Mr. John C. Brigham, Agent of the American Board — Wants of the Country — Facilities for supplying — Mr. Brigham's Distribu- tions of Bibles in the Republics of Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mex- ico— Grants made to various Agents — Sold to Merchants — Extravagant Prices — Bibles intrusted to a Gentleman trading on Magdalena River — Also to a Gentleman at Maracaibo — Vessel wrecked— Bibles plundered by Indians — Sold by them at high Prices to Citizens — Philippine Islands — Surinam and Paramaribo — Country involved in War — British and Foreign Bible Society exclude the Apocrypha from Spanish Bible — Circulation restricted — Sale prohibited by Ecclesiastical Decree — Grounds of stated — A Box of Testaments sent to Valparaiso — Objections to un- canonical Books still existed — Officer of United States Navy on the Coast — Board sent an Agent to South America — Instructions — Communication from — People xiv SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. favorable to his Mission — Opposition from Roman Catholic Bishop — Had to re- move his Bibles to save them from the Flames — Sold some in Chili and Peru — ■ Joaquin Mosquera — Primary Schools of Bogota — Rev. Mr. Torrey at St. Catha- rine's, Brazil — Methodist Missionary Society — Rio Janeiro — Communication from Rev. Mr. Spaulding — Portuguese and French Scriptures — Appeal from the Meth- odist Missionaries, Rev. Messrs. Kidder and Spaulding, to the Board — Population of Brazil — Catholic Priesthood — Opposition to Bible — Rev. Mr. Norris, Methodist Missionary — Spanish, Danish, and Italian Scriptures — Bibles sent to a Lady for Distribution — Nicaragua, Honduras — Foreign Evangelical Society — American Consul — Concluding Remarks Page 180 BIBLE IN FRANCE. France a Republic — The Bible has free Circulation — Great Change in this Re- spect— Respect for the Bible — Donation to the American Bible Society from Brit- ish and Foreign of Stereotype Plates for French Bible — France one of the first foreign Fields occupied by the American Bible Society — Assistance rendered to Rev. F. Leo, of Paris, in printing two Stereotype Editions of the New Testament — Letter from Dr. Mason to — The Formation of the Protestant Bible Society of Paris — Increased Facilities afforded by political Events — Proposition of a benevo- lent Gentleman in one of our Cities — Number of Bibles circulated in France in the Year 1821 — How accomplished — Number of Protestants in that Country — Grant of Money to Protestant Bible Society — Extracts from the Communication of the Committee of the French and Foreign Bible Society — Grant of money to — Supply of German Immigrants passing through France to America — Number of Auxilia- ries of the Protestant Bible Society — Grant of the Board to supply the City of Ly- ons and Vicinity with the Scriptures — An additional Grant to enable the Lyons Bible Society to procure a Set of Stereotype Plates — Another Grant was made, on the Recommendation of the Rev. Robert Baird, D.D., for supplying the Destitute in France and Spain — Encouraging Letter from the Secretary of the Lyons Bible Society — Number of Bibles circulated in the different Departments of France in 1840 — Grant to Rev. Mr. Sawtelle of Bibles and Testaments for Circulation in Havre — To the Foreign Evangelical Society, under the Direction of Dr. Baird, $500 — Interesting Letter from — Colporteurs — Swiss Committee — A Million and a Half of Bibles sent to France by British and Foreign Bible Society at different times, besides large Grants of Money — Agent of British and Foreign Bible Society, M. Pressense — Grant to Foreign Evangelical Society — Grant to French and Foreign Bible Society — Gratifying Letter from Count de la Borde, one of the Secretaries of — Interesting Results among the Catholics of Bible Circulation — Archbishop of Toulouse — Revival of a false Accusation — Challenge sent to by a Member of the Swiss Committee — Pamphlet published, entitled " Reply to the Circular of the Archbishop" — Several Priests left the Church of Rome — Pamphlets published by them, entitled " Farewell to Rome" and " The Pope" — Salutary Sensation pro- duced— Triumph of the Bible — Priests, Monks, and Nuns engaged as Colporteurs — Grant to Foreign Evangelical Society to aid in printing and circulating Scriptures in Switzerland — Other Grants to French and Foreign Bible Society — Secretary Count de la Borde communicated an Account of the determined and persevering Opposition of the Papal Priesthood since the Accession of the new Pope, Pius IX. — The Title of Reformer a Misnomer — His Liberalism the Result of Necessity, not Choice — Unable to resist the Laws of Progress — ObUged to flee the Papal Chair— A Spirit of Inquiry awakened — Grants to the Evangelical Society and French and Foreign Bible Society — Letter from one of the Secretaries since the late Revolu- tion— Empty Treasury and Depository — A Crisis full of sublime moral Interest — SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. XV Liberty gained can only be secured by a National Bible Morality — Rev, Mr. Bridel, Delegate to the American Bible Society — His Representation of Condition and Wants of France — Interest excited — Resolution to contribute $10,000 during the Year — Hotel Gibbon — Voltaire's Declaration concerning the Bible Page 187 BIBLE IN SPAIN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, AND AUSTRIA. Earliest Information in regard to Circulation of Scriptures in Spain — Publication of the Spanish New Testament among the first Things considered by the Board — Want of Ability alone deterred from the Undertaking — Few Copies introduced — Distributions through Natives residing in England — Copy of each Edition of Span- ish Scriptures sent by Request to Secretary of French and Foreign Bible Society — British and Foreign Bible Society sent an Agent into Spain — Rev. Mr. Borrow — His " Bible in Spain" — His Travels — Description of Country — Her Inquisition — Changed from Butcher to Banker — Wars devastated the Country — Poverty — Pope's Cries for Peter Pence — Pope's pastoral Letter — Among the Peasantry a Willingness to read the Scriptures — Madrid — Translated and printed the Gospel in the Gipsy Language — Imprisoned — Reflections on passing the Court of the Prison — Apostrophe to the Pope — Imprisonment resulted in Good — Civil War — Communication to the Board from a Protestant Merchant — Openings of Providence for Circulation of Scriptures — Box of Spanish Bibles sent — Irreformable Spirit of Popery — Policy of Bible Society — Foreign Evangelical Society — Box of Spanish Bibles and Testaments — Latest Intelligence — But little accomplished in Italy, Por- tugal, Austria, and other Papal Countries — Philo-Italian Society — Increased Cir- culation— Correspondent at Rome — Bible freely circulated — Mr. Corderoy — Bible Meeting at Lucca — Society formed — Collection of $100 — Request of Inhabitants of Sicily for the Scriptures — Correspondent of London Times — Bibles advertised for sale in Rome — Austria — Cheering Prospects 195 BIBLE PROHIBITION IN ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES. Facts in relation to — First great Fact — Index Prohibitorum — Decree of Council of Trent — Only enforced strictly where Romanism dominant — Austria — Bibles prohibited in all Languages — Protestant Tyrolese expatriated — France — Popery a dead Tree — Belgium — Bible Distribution suppressed by brute Force — Bishop Bruges' Denunciation of Bible Societies — Rome's Effrontery only equaled by her Ignorance — Ridiculous Performances on Ascension Day — TJuanimous Consent of the Fathers — Proof of priestly Ignorance — Assertion of Dr. Brownlee — Ridiculous Assumption — Spain — Bishop of Astorga — Condition on which he might print a Spanish Version of the Scriptures — Mr. Borrow's Translation — Italy — Bible con- demned— Unknown — Virgin Mary chief Object of Adoration — Sardinia — Twenty- four Persons imprisoned for having the Bible in their Possession — Leghorn — Rome — Bible a strange and rare Book — Fifteen large Volumes — Roman Church never published an Edition of New Testament in Greek — Ireland — Encyclical Letter of Leo XII. — Pastoral Address — Archbishop of Tuam — Missionaries at Damascus — South and Central America — l3ishop of Quito — West Indies — Boast of a Roman Bishop — " Faithful" deprived of the Bible in Protestant as well as Papal Countries — Popish Opposition in England — Letter of Rev. Peter Gandolphy to Bishop Marsh in 1813 — Sincerity of his Professions — Pretended Catholic Bible Society — Bible- burning in Ireland — In the United States — In Canada — Testimony of Macaulay in his History of England in regard to Romanism * ♦ 201 xvi SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. BIBLE IN SANDWICH, WEST INDIA, AND OTHER ISLANDS. Word of Prophecy — Isles shall wait for his Law — Sandwich Islands — Attention of the Society called to at an early Day — Interest awakened — First Missionaries — American Board — Bibles sent — Natives educated at the Mission School, Con- necticut— Copies of Scriptures sent to Kings of Owhyhee and Atooi — Bibles for Mariners at Sandwich Islands — Gospel of Matthew in Hawaiian Language pub- lished by Society — Mr. Loomis — Request of the Rulers to have the entire Bible in the Hawaiian Tongue — No Prejudices against the Word of God — Board received a Box of Slavonian New Testaments from St. Petersburg for Russian Ships — Let- ter from Rev. Mr. Knill of St. Petersburg — Letter from the Islands — Prospects of Success — Grant of $5000 — Number of Missionaries on the Islands — Number of Natives able to read — Grant of Money to American Board — Communication from the Missionaries — Progress in translating and printing the Scriptures — Letter from one of the Missionaries — Glorious Revival of Religion — Number of regular Hear- ers— Number of Copies of New Testament pubUshed — Another Grant of Money by the Board — Still further Assistance toward publishing the Hawaiian Scriptures — Completion of the Translation of the entire Bible — Manuscript examined by the Board — Number of Communicants in eighteen Churches — Number of Pupils con- nected with the Common Schools — Number of Readers — Two Editions of New Testament published — Forcible Establishment of French Papal Missionaries — Grant to Chaplain of Seamen's Friend Society — $10,000 appropriated by the Board — Hawaiian Bible Society auxiliary to American Bible Society — Additional Grant of Money — Statement of the Nature and Extent of Operations of Hawaiian Bible Society — Laws of the Islands based upon the Bible — Grant of Money — Increased Interest in the Circulation of the Scriptures — Additional Grant — Bible Society one of Efficiency and System — Letters expected — West India and other Islands — Bi- bles sent to Trinidad and Santa Croix — St. Name of China, whence derived — Extravagant Notions of Chinese — Extent of the Country — Population — Form of Government — A Missionary Field — Christian Mission to from Syria, 637 — Bible translated into the Chinese Language by Prime Minister of the Emperor — Prevalence of Christianity — Professor Lassar, of Anglo- Hindoo College — Translation of the Gospel of Matthew — Translation of the four Gospels by — Translation by Dr. Marshman, elder Pupil of Mr. Lassar — Operations SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xvii of British and Foreign and American Bible Societies — Letter from Dr. Morrison at Canton — Free Circulation of Scriptures impracticable — Whole Bible printed in Chinese from a Translation of Drs. Morrison and Milne — Communication from Rev. Mr. Bridgman at Canton — Great Changes had taken place favorable to the Circulation of the Scriptures — Tw^o Editions of the Bible, three of New Testa- ment, and four of Psalms put in circulation — Number of — Chinese a reading Peo- ple— In this Respect superior to any Pagan Nation — Thousands accessible — No one Language in the World in w^hich Bible could be read by so many Millions — Survey of the Field — Third Part of the Human Family — Labors and Tours of GutzlafF — Siam and Southern China — Appropriation by the Board of $3000 — Let- ter from the Mission in Canton — Leang Afa, a Convert from Paganism — Bible Dis- tributer— Students and Literati — Present to the King in Corea of twenty-one Vol- umes of the Scriptures — Cheteang — Chusa Islands — Fokin Province — Eagerness of the Inhabitants for the Scriptures — A Work against the three Superstitions of China by Gutzlaff — Letter from Mr. Bridgman, Missionary at Canton — Printing of Chinese Bible at Malacca — Missionary Ship — Letter from Leang Afa — Letter from Rev. Mr. Antiquity of India — Country, when known to Europe — Extent of — Population — Number of Europeans — Possessions in India — A Missionary Field — Visited by Apostles — Traditions and Monuments — St. Thomas — His Estimation of the Sav- ior's Commission — India interesting to the Philosopher — Dr. Henry's Opinion of the Philosophy of — Traces of philosophical Development on a large Scale — Spec- ulations not the Design of this History — Facts pertaining to religious Condition of the Country — Dark Picture — Men by Philosophy can not be made acquainted with God. Chin-India. — Description of — Identity of Language and Manners with China and India Proper — Interesting Points — Birmah — Baptist Brethren — Malacca, the Ophir of the Old Testament — Burial-place of Milne — Labors of — Anglo-Chinese College — Introduction of the Bible into China — College of Fort William at Bengal A xviii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. t —Translation of the Scriptures — Oriental Literature — First Protestant Mission at Tranquebar — Translation of the Bible into Tamul Language — Bible Societies at Calcutta, Serampore, Bombay, and Madras — Operation of in circulating Scriptures — Report of Secretary from — Masses at Mirzapore soliciting the Scriptures — Com- munication from Drs. Carey and Marshman — Scriptures published in five of the Languages of India — ^New Testament and Parts of the Old in ten, the New Testa- ment alone in six more — Remaining ten some one of the Gospels — Expense de- frayed by the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies — $1000 to prepare the Scriptures in Sanscrit, Bengalee, Hindee, Mahratta, and Orissa Languages — Report of British and Foreign Bible Society — Bible circulated in thirty Languages of India — Anglo-Chinese, Tamul, Goojurattu, Cingalese, and Pali Languages — The latter the Language of the Literati of Birmah — Singapore — Grant of $1200 to print Judson's Translation of the New Testament in Burmese — Access to 17,000,000 in that Language — Appropriation to American Board for Scriptures in India, $5000 — An additional Grant of $5000 — Translations in the Mahratta Language — Con- formity of Versions to English Version — One in forty of Mahratta People able to read — Four hundred thousand Readers — Grant of $3000 — Burman Empire, $5000 — Interesting Items in regard to Circulation of the Scriptures — Eleven Missionaries among Mahrattas — Population 12,000,000 — Schools — Bible read in — Cheering In- telligence from Birmah — Baptist Board at Maulmein — Mr. Kincaid's Voyage up the Irrawaddy River — Grant to Western Foreign Missionary Society at Pittsburg for Missionaries in Northern India, $500 — To Baptist Missions in Burman Em- pire a Grant of $7000 — Old Testament in course of PubUcation — Bible among Sea- men in Singapore — To various Boards, $17,000 — Letter from Rev. Amos Sutton — Description of a Festival — 100,000 before the bloody Moloch — Letter from Rev. Messrs. Scudder and Winslow — Tamul Language — 500,000 able to read — Zeloo- goo Language — Prospect of an entire Copy of the Bible in Mahratta — Letter from Missionary at Madras — Inhabitants can not be reached by the oral Word — An Ap- propriation of $4000 — Encouraging Prospects in Madras — Land open in all its Length and Breadth — 75,000,000 accessible — Government favorable — In all Places People come in Crowds to get the Scriptures — Distributions — $20,000 a Year ask- ed from the American Bible Society — Bazars in Madura — Visited by Distributers —Grant of $2000— To the Station at Madras, $7000— Population of the City of Bombay — Character of— -Mahratta Language — Scriptures in Hebrew and Parses — Condition of the Jews — Followers of Zoroaster — Translation of Paine's Age of Reason — Doctrines of Zoroaster — Selections from Voltaire — British Possessions between India and Persia — Grant of English Bibles and Testaments for those learn- ing that Language at Madras— $2000 to the Presbyterian Board for Northern In- dia— Letter from Secretary of the Board, Walter Lowrie, Esq. — Printing Presses in India — Unable to supply the Demands — Rev. Mr. Sutton, Baptist Mission at Orissa, a Grant of $100 — Bibles on request of Walter Lowrie, Esq. — Tamul Scrip- tures through Rev. Mr. Winslow, at Madras, to Rev. Mr. Heyer, a Missionary of the Lutheran Church — Publishing Scriptures in Lodiana, Northern India, $3000 ■ — Samples furnished — Mission Station at Madras — Distribution in Southern India, $3500 — Bombay, $1000 — Bible Distribution among Hindoos, Mussulmans, and Jews — Tour of Mr. Hume, Secretary of Bombay Bible Society, to Goa — Residence of Roman Catholic Archbishop — Buchanan's Description of— Present Condition — Ruins of the Inquisition — Missionaries at Siam, $1000 — Letter from Rev. Mr. Robinson — Indo-Chinese Languages — Grant for Madura, $1500 — Presbyterian Board, $7000— Description of Bombay— Its Inhabitants— Editors of City Papers — Infidel Publications — Conclusion Pao-e 233 SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xix • BIBLE IN CEYLON. 