Address to the Mistresses of Families.

printed, and two or three sent to each of the members. The names of the Patronesses, Officers, and Committee may be advantageously prefixed; and in some societies the following observations have been appended :

"The RULES and REGULATIONS of the SOCIETY, with the ByLAWS of the COMMITTEE, are forwarded to the Members, in the earnest hope that they sufficiently explain the nature of those interesting duties which are required from them. The purity of the design can only be maintained by the watchful care of those who are privileged to take an active part in the practical details of the Bible Society; and it is, therefore, incumbent on them to adhere, with scrupulous attention, to the simple nature of the institution, and in the spirit of meekness and comprehensive charity to pursue the object.

6. The circulation, by means of the Collectors, of an Address to the Mistresses of Families, on the formation of a Ladies' Branch Society, has been attended with considerable advantage, in every point of view.

The specimen subjoined will sufficiently explain the nature and design of such a document, which should be prepared at the primary meeting of the Committee:

"MADAM,-We have the pleasure to inform you, that a Society has been recently established, denominated "The Ladies' Branch of the Plymouth, Plymouth-Dock, and Stonehouse Auxiliary Bible Society," which, by a division of the towns and neighbourhood into districts, and the formation of an Association of Ladies in each, proposes to unite the exertions of all Females, whose benevolence may dispose them, to supply every individual who is destitute of the holy scriptures, with copies of the Authorised Version without note or comment, by collecting their subscription of one penny or upwards per week, according to their circumstances. Two Ladies will regularly call for these subscriptions.

66

It is hoped that many important advantages will result from this plan of regularly visiting the labouring classes of society: their real condition will be thus correctly ascertained, and opportunity afforded of recommending habits of order, cleanliness, and frugality. But it is to its advantages, with respect to domestic servants, that your attention is more particularly solicited much of our comfort depends upon this class of society; and surely it is of importance to furnish them with those sacred records, which, if seriously perused, will insure their good conduct, while they promote their present comfort and guide them to future happiness. It may be said, that most servants are furnished with Bibles by their masters; but it has been very generally observed, that Bibles thus provided are not so justly valued as those which are purchased by themselves, and thus become a part of their individual property.

"These observations are respectfully presented to your consideration : and if you approve of them, you are solicited to speak to your servants upon the subject; the regulations of this society not permitting any collector to apply to a servant, except through the medium or by permission of her

Specimens of the Books and Papers.-Minute Books.

mistress. If your servants become subscribers, their subscriptions will be called for, either quarterly, monthly, or weekly, at your pleasure; and in due time, Bibles and Testaments will be delivered to them, either at or under the cost prices, and considerably cheaper than they could be purchased at a bookseller's.

"Donations and free-subscriptions will be thankfully received by the collectors, in order to enable the society to deliver Bibles at reduced prices, or gratuitously to those who are unable to pay the cost price.

Should a consideration of these suggestions, which are respectfully submitted, induce you, Madam, to favour the society with your personal cooperation, as a member of one of the District Associations, your name will be gratefully received. More than 10,000 British Ladies are now engaged in this important and interesting employment, which requires the of only one hour in the week. Many Ladies of the highest rank and station appropriation take an active part in the proceedings of similar societies; and the practical results have more than surpassed the most sanguine anticipations of those connected with the institution: habits of order, sobriety, cleanliness, decorum, and loyalty, have been acquired by the labouring classes; and the general welfare of society has been sensibly and essentially promoted, wherever a Ladies' Bible Association has been established.

By order of the Committee,
A. B.

C. D. Secretaries."
E. F.

7. The forms of the Books and Papers, and the mode of keeping the accounts, resemble in many particulars those of an Auxiliary Society, which have been minutely described in Chapter II., Section V. Where any difference exists, it will be distinctly pointed out in the subsequent observations.

In all the following Specimens, the entries in Italics, and the amounts of moneys, are to be considered as manuscript.

NO. I.-MINUTE BOOK.

The rough and fair Minute Books are precisely similar in form to those of an Auxiliary Society. The following specimen, which includes the proceedings of the first and second meetings of the Committee, will sufficiently illustrate the mode of transacting the business.

At a Meeting of the Presidents, Treasurers, and Secretaries of the several Ladies' Bible Associations in the towns of Plymouth, Plymouth Dock, Stonehouse, and their vicinity;

PRESENT,

A. B. in the Chair;

and the following Officers of the respective Associations,

[Here follow the names]

with Messrs- -[here follow the names of the Secretaries of the Auxiliary Society, and that of a gentleman who attended on behalf of the Parent Institution], Visitors.

Minutes of the First Committee Meeting.

The following Resolutions were unanimously adopted :

1. That a Ladies' Branch of the Auxiliary Bible Society of these towns be now established, of which the following shall be the Rules and Regulations:(See the Second Division of this Section.)

2. That the regular meetings of the Committee be held on the last Tuesday in every month, at eleven o'clock precisely, in the forenoon; and that the said meetings be held at the Lecture-room of the Literary and Philosophical Society, Plymouth Dock, until a suitable Depository be opened.

3. That the following be the By-laws of the Committee:(See the Fourth Division of this Section.)

4. That the following Ladies be the Officers of this Society; viz.

5. That the Minute Secretary be requested to have 250 copies of the Rules and By-laws printed, and to send three copies to every member of the Committee.

6. That the Address to the Mistresses of Families, now produced and read, (see the Sixth Division of this Section) be adopted; and that the Minute Secretary be requested to have 1000 copies printed, and an adequate number sent to the Minute Secretary of each Association, to be addressed and circulated at the discretion of the collectors.

7. That the Minute Secretary be requested to have 100 Committee-cards❤ printed, and to have two copies sent to every member of the Committee. 8. That the Minute Secretary be requested to fulfil the duty prescribed by the Eighth General Rule.

9. That I.K., L.M., and N.O., be requested to examine and report to the next meeting, where a suitable place can be procured for a depositary. I.K. to act as Secretary of this Sub-committee.

10. That the District Committees be requested to report to the next meeting, the number of copies of the "Monthly Extracts" required by their respective Associations, in order to enable this Committee to order a suitable regular supply.

11. That P.Q. and R.S. be appointed Auditors for the present year.

12. That the Minute Secretary be requested to furnish the District Committees, and other parties interested, with Forms of the several Reports required by the By-laws, as early as possible.

13. That the Secretaries address an application to the following Ladies, respectfully soliciting their patronage of this institution:

[Here follow the Names of several Ladies of distinguished rank and character.] 14. That this Committee adjourn to Tuesday, the 24th instant, at 11 o'clock.

The importance of completing all the preliminary arrangements as soon as possible, so as to get the society regularly organized, justifies a Special Committee Meeting in this early stage of the proceedings. This consideration will be strengthened, if the services of Gentlemen connected with the Parent Institution can be obtained;

See Specimen, No. 10 of this Section.

Minutes of the Second Committee Meeting.

as the advantage of their assistance will be so far appreciated as to prevent their unnecessary detention. The subsequent Minutes embrace the usual proceedings at the Second Committee Meeting.

At the Second Meeting of the Committee, 24th November, 1818;

PRESENT,

A.B. in the Chair.

C.D., E.F., G.H., and I.K., Visitors;

and those Ladies whose names are marked off in the list :

The Minutes of the last meeting having been read, it was RESOLVED—

15. That the said Minutes be confirmed.

16. The Minute Secretary reported, that the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 12th Minutes were complied with.

17. I.K., on behalf of the Sub-Committee appointed by the 9th Minute, 'reported, that they had seen and provisionally engaged a very eligible room for a Depository at Mr. W-'s, No. Street, at the annual rent of six guineas, subject to the approval of the Committee..

18. RESOLVED, That this meeting approve and confirm the said engagement; and that the Treasurer and Secretaries be requested to have the room properly fitted up as a Depository.

19. That the Minute Secretary request the Committee of the Auxiliary Society to order from the Parent Institution, on account of this Committee, a regular monthly supply of six hundred copies of the "Extracts of Correspondence," for the connected Associations.

20. That the 13th Minute be continued.

21. Reports were presented and read from the Treasurers of the respective Associations, of which the following is an abstract :

1. Charles'

2. St. Andrews'

3. Northern Dock

4. Southern Dock

5. Stonehouse

Received this month.

48 2

10

26 0 7

34. 16. 6

19 3

5

22. Reports were presented and read from the several District Committees in order; and it was resolved, that the said Reports be received.

23. The depository not being yet opened, no report was presented by the Bible Secretary.

24. The Cash Secretary reported, that the total amount paid in this day by the Treasurers of the several Associations, is £. 275.

25. RESOLVED, That the said sum of £. 275 be paid to the Treasurer. 26. The Treasurer presented her report, by which it appears that the amount in her hands is £. 275,

27. RESOLVED, That the Treasurer be requested to remit £. 250 to the Cash Secretary of the Auxiliary Society, on Purchase Account.

28. That the Bible Secretary be requested to order from the Bible Secretary of the Auxiliary Society, Bibles and Testaments, at cost prices,

C C

Report Book superseded by a Guard Book.-Cash Book.

of such descriptions as she may deem most suitable, to an amount not exceeding 2501.

29. The Minute Secretary presented a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Ivy-bridge Ladies' Association, formed on the 23d instant in connexion with this society; and reported that the following Ladies had been elected officers of that institution, viz.

Cash Secretary.

Bible Secretary,

whom she had supplied with the requisite books and papers.

30. RESOLVED, That it be strongly recommended to the Committee of every Association in connexion with this society, to establish, by private subscription,, a Loan-fund, for the purchase of Bibles and Testaments, or Testaments only, at their discretion; and that a copy of the Rules of such institution be transmitted, with this Resolution, to the respective Minute Secretaries. 31. That this Meeting do now adjourn.

NO. II.-REPORT BOOK.

This book is designed to be a register of the facts and ob servations contained in the Monthly Reports of the District Committees. But it is respectfully submitted, that the necessity of such a record, and the trouble of transcribing from these documents, may be altogether obviated by the plan of pasting the Reports in what is called a Guard Book (See Chap. II. Section IV. 9th division); a few leaves at the beginning of which may be appropriated to the purposes of an Index, to promote facility of reference when preparing the Annual Report, &c. For instance, the following, among other heads, may be adopted; the figures referring to the pages which contain illustrations of the subject:

"Advantages of the Loan-fund"-3, 8, 22, 36, 41.

"Advantage of circulating the Monthly Extracts"-2, 7, 13. "Collateral Benefits"-1, 4, 11, 14, 23, 33, 40.

Those societies which prefer the former mode, of copying the Facts and Observations contained in the Reports, will find the proper book for this purpose described in Section V.

NO. III.-CASH BOOK.

This book is precisely similar to the Leger of an Auxiliary Society (see Chap. II. Section V. No. 3.), except that it may be of a smaller size. The only accounts required to be kept, are those with the Treasurer, the Auxiliary Society, every separate Association, and incidental expenses; and a few folios at the end may be reserved for the Annual Statement, on the plan recommended to Auxiliary Societies, Chap. II. Section V. No. 11.

• See Chapter VIII. Section II.