BATH DISTRICT COMMITTEE.

A SPECIAL Meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge having been summoned, to take into consideration the expediency of appointing a separate Committee to superintend the publication, and promote the circulation of Versions of the Holy Scriptures, and of the Book of Common Prayer in foreign languages; and likewise of establishing a separate Fund for the extension of the Society's operations in this department of its designs :

It was unanimously resolved by the Bath District Committee, assembled at Weymouth House, Jan. 30, 1834; the Rev. G. A. BAKER in the Chair;

On the motion of Johnson Phillett, Esq. Mayor of Bath; seconded by the Rev. C. M. Mount, that the following -resolutions of this Committee be laid before the Parent Society for their consideration →→→

1. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the operations of this Society should be strictly confined to the limits of the British Empire.

2. That no part of the funds ought to be appropriated to other than the general purposes of the Society, within the limits aforesaid.

Signed, G. A. BAKER, M. A.
Chairman.
W. D. WILLIS, M. A. Dist. Sec.

To the Rev. W. Purker..

MY DEAR SIR,-Above I send you -the resolutions unanimously passed at a meeting of the Bath Committee, called for the purpose of considering the propositions announced in the Advertisement, summoning a general special meeting of the Society in London. I am desired to express the sentiments of our Committee in explanation of the above resolutions; that if it should be deemed expedient for the Society to engage in the translation, printing, and circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Liturgy in foreign languages, to a greater extent than at present, (of the expediency of which they entertain a strong doubt,)

those languages, we are persuaded, ought to be such only as are used within the limits of the British dominions. The Committee are clearly of opinion, that the expenses of these foreign translations, or reprintings, should be defrayed out of a fund, separate (as it is proposed) from that of the general designs of the Society, and raised specifically for the purpose. And moreover, that in the event of such fund being raised, and given in trust to the Society, that the contributors to any such separate fund, not being members subscribing to the general designs, should not, in consequence of contributing to such fund alone, be constituted members of the Society. We strongly deprecate any part of the present funds of the Society being appropriated to the undertaking; for, however large the income may be, it is not sufficient to carry forward our present operations on a scale to which they might be extended. It is -to be remembered how few Bibles or books of any kind the Society distributes gratuitously; and surely, if it could be afforded, much might be done which is not done in this way at home.

We feel convinced that many of our subscribers, as well as those of other districts, will not choose their money to be expended in providing Bibles for the members of foreign Churches, and erecting machinery for their distribution in other lands, while the poor of England, and the still poorer in spiritual knowledge abounding in our Colonies, are left unsupplied. As members of this National Church, we conceive that this, our Church Society, has no right to interfere with the translations and spiritual business of other national churches. This may be competent, perhaps, for the Bible Society, which has no distinctive church character, but not for us. Should any surplus income be found over and above the current expenditure of the Society, a most ample field for its employment is spread before us. In such case, we might almost say in any case, the destitution and misery impending over the affairs and the Missionaries of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in

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Foreign Parts, has the first claim npon the bounty of the Society. For, if a wider extension of our operations be deemed expedient, can a effectual instrument for promoting Christian Knowledge in our foreign possessions be procured, than that institution which sends forth the word of God by the living preachers of the gospel?

1. We trust, therefore, that if the Parent Board should deem it expedient to extend the operations of the Society, so as to embrace foreign translations of the Bible and Liturgy, such operations will be strictly confined to the limits of the British Empire.

2. And also, that no part of our present funds be expended on the undertaking, whether thus limited or not; and,

3. That, if a separate fund be raised, the subscribers to that fund alone, become not, in consequence, members of the Society; and

4. That on no account will this Society interfere with the business of Foreign Churches.

Believe me, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours, W. D. WILLIS, Dis. Sec. Depository, 10, Argyle-street, Buth, Feb. 6, 1834.

S. P. G. LICHFIELD.

As great exertions are now being made in various parts of the kingdom, for the benefit of the above Society, in consequence of the gradual discontinuance of the Parliamentary Grant, and in furtherance of the views of the Board in London, which has lately printed (in accordance with a suggestion of the Lichfield Diocesan Committee)" Extracts from the Annual Report and Correspondence," for the encouragement of low subscriptions, I have thought it might answer a useful purpose to make known, through the medium of your valuable miscellany, the successful results of the latter measure in this city, and its immediate vicinity, and the simple means by which the interests of the Society have here been largely promoted, with reference to

VOL. XVI. NO. III.

contributors among the middle classes of the community. In pursuance of their views, the resident Clergy proceeded to circulate copies of the "Extracts" generally among their parishioners; and after a short interval the Parochial Minister, accompanied by the Diocesan Secretary, commenced a personal canvass, of which the results far exceeded their expectations. I should observe, that in no instance was pressing solicitation used, but merely (after explaining the antiquity and excellence, the designs and ohjects, of the Incorporated Society, its enjoyment of the patronage of the whole Episcopal Bench, its maintenance of a well-educated and regularly ordained Clergy as Missionaries, its support of colleges and schools in North America and the East Indies, its close and exclusive connexion with the Church of England, the withdrawal of the Parliamentary Grant, &c. &c.) a willingness was expressed to receive any annual subscriptions (or donations) which might be freely tendered. In this manner, the members of our Committee were gradually increased from 80, a very respectable number,to 211, of whom 109 are of the class above-mentioned, contributing yearly more than 30. Twenty-five annual Subscribers of one guinea and upwards, were at the same time added to the list. I shall only observe, in conclusion, that the experience of my coadjutors and myself justifies the conviction; that much more might be effected by a little exertion than is usually imagined, that a readiness to contribute to religious charities, too frequently perverted to sectarian purposes, unless properly directed, forms a prevailing spirit of the age; and that our visit was generally well received, and even acknowledged as an honour. SPENCER MADAN, Lichfield Dioc. Sec.

AT the eleventh annual meeting, holden in the Consistory Court of the Cathedral, on Thursday, the 26th of December, 1833, the Hon and Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, President, in the chair, the Secretary

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announced the adoption by the Board in London; of the suggestion of this Committee to publish annually "Extracts from the Report and Correspondence," for the use and encouragement of contributors from the middle classes of the community. The list of Subscribers, of whom, in the city of Lichfield, upwards of 100 (or about half the whole number) contribute annually from two shillings and sixpence to half-a-guinea, sufficiently shews the successful results of this measure.

It appeared from the Treasurer's accounts, that a balance, amounting to 95l. 3s. 10d., had been remitted to the Parent Society in the course of the year.

$

SPENCER MADAN, Sec.

[The Subscribers for the present year amount to 211, and their contributions to near 150l.]

NATIONAL SCHOOL IN PRESTBURY.

AT this place, a National School, sufficiently capacious for the reception of fifty boys and fifty girls, is about to be built, and to be supported by subscription. T. Edwards, Esq. and the Rev. J. Edwards, Incumbent of Prestbury, have offered a piece of ground for the purpose; and these gentlemen, in conjunction with Major Baines, the Rev. C. Capel, Messrs. Smith, Whalley, and J. Nicholson, constitute a committee for the purpose of effecting the benevolent and desirable object.

WE are happy to observe, that not only is a deeper interest expressed in the proceedings of this Society; but that the Committee are making strenuous exertions to stem the tide of Popery, and extend the saving knowledge of the gospel of our Lord.

A priestly faction rules Ireland with a rod of iron, and their Jesuitical emissaries are on the alert in England, and have even attempted the establishments of idol-worship in Cambridge! Surely then it is time for the Protestant priesthood to stand 66 up and sanctify the people." During the last quarter of 1833, meetings for this purpose were held at Southampton, Salisbury, Cambridge, and Bath. At Portsea, Inverness, and Guernsey; at Cheltenham, Ramsgate, and Hereford; in every part of the kingdom, indeed, a spirit is abroad, which, under Providence, may still defeat the machinations of the "man of sin," and his creatures in these realms.

At such a crisis, it cannot be matter of surprise that the neighbourhood of EPSOM, which took so conspicuous a lead in opposing Popish emancipation, should be early in the field; and consequently on the 19th of February, preliminary meeting was held at the

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Spread Eagle. G. SPERLING, Esq. in the Chair.

The Chairman, in a short speech, stated the object of the Society, and expressed a fervent hope that Providence would be pleased to bless an undertaking, which had only in view the glory of God and the promulgation of the gospel of Christ.

The Rev. M. Ferrall (prayers having been said) entered at considerable length into a detail of the views of the Committee, under whom he acted. He gave all due credit to the sincerity of the Romanists, and the great talents of many of the Popish missionaries; but argued that these very circumstances called for renewed exertions on the part of the Protestants. The Rev. gentleman produced a variety of documents, shewing the progress of Popery in various parts of England, and the great increase of chapels, colleges, and schools, in those places where Popery had established her strongholds. He next adverted to the adoration of images, and the worship of the Virgin, which he shewed to be an invasion of the mediatorial kingdom of Christ; and calculated not only to rob the Son of God of his undoubted rights, but to degrade the worship of

the triune Godhead to idolatry. In conclusion, he declared that the Papists only remained in idolatry from a want of spiritual instruction, and earnestly entreated the meeting to second the objects of the Reformation Society as much as lay in their power.

H. Gosse, Esq., a county magistrate, although not exactly coinciding in all the views of the last speaker, said that the explanation now made had placed the subject in a point of view he had not hitherto contemplated it, and he should be happy to accord his support. He farther thought that a vote of thanks was due to the Reverend gentleman, for his able and explicit state

ments.

W. Everest, Esq. seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The Rev. Stephen Isaacson, being especially called upon by the Chairman, said, that as a stranger, he had no intention of intruding his observations upon the meeting, but that being called upon in so pointed a manner, he felt it his duty at once to state, that he fully concurred in all the views entertained by the Society. His first labour in the ministerial field was a work against Popery, and the conviction he then felt of its errors and abominations had

"Grown with his growth, and strengthened with his strength."

The progress of the Papal superstition was at once awful and wonderful. That men of enlightened education should relapse into the darkness of Romanism, presented to his mind a perfect anomaly: the manna of the wilderness was not so valuable to the Israelites in the desert, as the gospel to the Christian; the former nourished the mortal, the latter the immortal man; both were the gift of the same bountiful Father and God, but one was temporal, the other eternal. He should not detain the meeting by any discursive or lengthened remarks, being perfectly satisfied that all who were there assembled had but one feeling, and that feeling was that "the people might not perish for lack of knowledge."

The Rev. Mr. Darby made a few observations in support of the Society, the objects of which he declared met with his most cordial approbation.

A subscription was afterwards entered into, and a proposal made for the establishment of a permanent Committee for the formation of a Branch Association, which we sincerely hope will be carried into effect.

DOMESTIC. · Parliament has at length re-assembled, and our readers will have a fair opportunity of judging what the country has to expect from a reformed House of Commons.

My Lord Grey, for every body knows, it is his speech, like Gratiano, "talks an infinite deal of nothing.' But let that pass, and proceed we to ask, What has the Legislature done?

1. Wasted two or three nights' debate respecting an Irish papist and a briefless barrister, of whom little is known, and less cared.

2. Ministers have been virtually defeated on the Pension List.

3. Ditto on the Agricultural Question.

4. One night they obtained a majority, as part of O'Connell's tail, in a base attack upon Baron Smith, one of the most conscientious and upright judges that ever adorned the Irish Bench; and a few nights subsequent, they were deserted upon the same question, and left in a minority!!

5. The Irish Church Spoliation is progressing, and the ministers of the Established Church are to be mulcted in the amount of some 751. per cent.!!

6. Mr. Stanley has eulogized all the "sayings and doings" of his worthy colleagues.

7. Lord Althorp, having pronounced the Agricultural interest to be in a most depressed condition, and the Commercial and Manufacturing to be most encouraging, (see Speech from the throne,) candidly, logically, and with sound policy, relieves the latter, which wanted, by his own account, no such relief, at the expense of the former, which on all hands is acknowledged to be in a most deplorable condition. Verily the men of Gotham are not the only sapient sages!

FRANCE. We last month announced that the volcano was beginning to smoke. Since then flames have issued from the craters of Lyons and Marseilles, and the laya tide sets strong towards Paris.

SPAIN and PORTUGAL.-Petty skirmishes continue between the rebels and the troops of the two legitimate monarchs, but nothing decisive has taken place; nor is it probable that

any material change will occur, till the advance of spring enables the royal troops to take the field in force.

In other parts of the Continent things remain in statu quo; and the rise of the funds, both foreign and British, show that, among the moneyed interest, there is increased confidence in the permanence of the peace at present existing between the leading All at present

nations of the world.

THE COLONIES. remains quiet in the West Indies, but the resident planters look forward with intense anxiety to the month of August, when the new relation between the master and servant takes place.

In the East slight stroke of a political earthquake have been felt; which, amongst the reflecting portion of the community, create considerable anxiety.