Temporal Necessities of the Poor ascertained.

philanthropists;-facts which incontrovertibly establish a truth of equal importance to the statesman, the patriot, and the Christian; that ignorance is the parent and the nurse of crime; and that education, on the basis of the Bible, is the foundation of individual happiness and of national morality, strength, and safety.

5. That the intimate knowledge of the actual state of the labouring classes, acquired by means of Bible Associations, has been made conducive to the relief of their temporal necessities, is a fact which every Collector can testify. Of this result, the following extracts afford a satisfactory evidence :

Southampton, 1817.-" It has been gratifying to your Committee to observe, that the interests of general benevolence have been promoted by the efforts of the Ladies' Bible Association; many miserable and destitute persons having, by their means, been sought out and assisted, with that prudent discrimination which alone entitles to the name of charity the aid that is bestowed on the necessitous."

Jersey Ladies', 1820." It may not be irrelevant here to remark, although unconnected with the immediate object of the society, that whilst administering to the mental wants of their fellow-creatures, their bodily necessities have not been overlooked; and that many a poor family has been fed and clothed, whose miseries would have remained unknown, but for the visits of your members in their official capacity."

Poole Ladies', 1819.-" The constant visits of the Collectors to the habitations of the poor, have rendered them more familiar with the wants and woes of their fellow-creatures; and this has awakened fresh anxiety for their relief; many of whom, in consequence of their repeated and friendly visits, have acquired habits of greater neatness in their persons and houses: and the distresses of some, whose modesty had prevented a voluntary disclosure of them, have thus been discovered, and effectually relieved."

Rochdale, 1820.—" In the judgment of your Committee, the system of LADIES' BIBLE ASSOCIATIONS is, perhaps, as perfect as any ever devised by the ingenuity of benevolence. The habitations of a large population are almost instantly visited, and the want of Bibles ascertained :-the mode of payment is so adapted to the circumstances of the poor-expectation precedes the possession of the sacred volume-a friendly intercourse is maintainedso many sympathies are, on the one hand, awakened, and on the other, such gratitude is excited, that every unprejudiced mind must admit, that, while hardier frames are employed in more distant and public work, the female sex are most suitable distributors of domestic charity. Your Committee, in recalling to your minds the Report of the Ladies, merely to answer an objection to weekly contributions from the poor in this season of distress, would point out this circumstance, that though you have heard what sum has been received from the poor, you have not been told what benefits, in a thousand forms, the Agents of the Association have bestowed on the objects of their weekly visits."

'Plymouth Ladies', 1820.-" Of the collateral benefits of your institution, there is no one more striking, nor of which the Collectors speak with greater confidence, than the opportunities afforded, by their regular visits among the poor, of discovering and relieving real distress. Many an unrecorded instance of this will recur to the recollection of the Collectors; which, if it speak not to the public, furnishes to individual consciousness a most satisfactory pledge that its labours have not been in vain. It is by means of these visits to the poor, that their characters are developed; that it becomes

Necessities of the Poor relieved.

possible to distinguish between the worthless and the deserving-between the clamorous mendicant and the unobtrusive sufferer. Acting upon this conviction, the Gentlemen of the Committee for relieving the distresses of the poor in Dock and Stoke, during the late severe season, requested the assistance of the Collectors of the respective Associations-satisfied that no other persons had such opportunities of becoming acquainted with the individual necessities of the families in their districts; and consequently, none would be so little liable to imposition in the distribution of the funds raised for their relief.-Your Committee would here lay before you one or two circumstances corroborative of the foregoing remarks. In prosecuting their inquiries in one house, the Collectors found a poor woman who procured her subsistence by knitting, in which employment she sometimes earned two shillings per week, ninepence of which she paid for rent: she had neither bedding nor fire, although it was during the inclemency of winter. Her distress, which was previously unknown to any one, was relieved by the immediate supply of a bed and blanket, and some small allowance from the parish. A loan Testament was also placed in her hands. Her health, which had suffered considerably, was gradually re-established, and she enjoyed a comparative state of comfort. On again seeing the Ladies, she burst into tears of gratitude, and said, The LORD must have directed their steps to her dwelling, to preserve her from perishing from want.” ”

The Collectors of another Association report, that, "going into a room to inquire if the inhabitants of it possessed the sacred scriptures, they were struck with the appearance of a boy, about sixteen years of age, sitting silently by the fire-side, whom they discovered to be totally blind, having lost the organ of vision in infancy. On entering into conversation with him, they found him possessed of a mind susceptible of cultivation : he expressed an ardent desire to be led to the house of GOD; and his mother remarked, that he often bitterly lamented, when the bell sounded from a neighbouring church, that the want of clothes prevented him from going with the multitude to keep holy-day. On making his situation known, he was soon furnished with necessary apparel; and has ever since been a regular and constant attendant at church. He has been admitted into a Sunday-School, where his conduct is exemplary, and his progress rapid: he has committed to memory the whole of one of the Epistles, several chapters of Isaiah, and many of the Psalms." It will gratify the reader to learn, that, through the continued exertions of those benevolent Ladies, this poor boy is about to be admitted into an asylum for the blind, in order to gratify his earnest desire to acquire the means of contributing towards his own support.

Boston, 1819.-" By weekly visits to such poor families as are subscribing for Bibles, the Collectors have obtained a full acquaintance, not only with their moral wants, but with their temporal domestic wants likewise. These wants have also been supplied: the various distresses of numbers have been greatly alleviated: the sick have been furnished with medicine; the hungry have been fed, and the naked have been clothed. A CLOTHING SOCIETY also has been formed, and is principally supported by the Ladies, who are active members of the Association."

6. A striking improvement has been witnessed in the domestic habits of the poor: and in no respect is it more conspicuously manifested than by an increased attention to cleanliness and decorum.

Dudley, 1813.-The Rev. Dr. Booker, the highly-respected Vicar of this extensive parish, observed, at the General Meeting of the Worcester Auxiliary Society-" On going among the dwellings of the poor, our Committee

Improvement in the Domestic Habits of the Poor.

soon began to remark a difference between those families who possessed a Bible and those who were destitute of it; so striking a difference, that, on entering any house, we could generally tell, without making an inquiry, whether it contained a Bible or not: for, with few exceptions, where the Bible was not, cleanliness was not; but every thing, both in person and apartment,' that is squalid and disgusting. On the contrary, among persons of the same trade or calling, wherever the Book of God blessed the humble dwelling, every thing seemed sanctified by it: every thing was clean; every thing decent and in order.' He, then, must be a bad politician, and a worse philosopher, who has to learn what a close alliance there is between foul habits and religious ignorance."

Lyme, 1819." The Ladies have, with the utmost pleasure, observed, that the poor in general subscribe with the greatest cheerfulness; and that, on the day when the Collectors are expected, in many instances both persons and houses are cleaned in readiness to receive the visitors."

Plymouth Ladies', 1819.-" The conviction once established, that the Collectors have no other aim in their visits than the good of their subscribers, enables them to recommend with effect, improved habits of decency and cleanliness. In these particulars, many of their apartments present a striking contrast to what they did at first; and, in some cases, the poor have not been backward to acknowledge, with gratitude, the increased comfort which they have derived from attention to their friendly hints."

Daventry Ladies', 1820.—“It is really comfortable," observed a poor woman to one of the Collectors, " to see the change since last year. So many used to be either standing at their doors, or running about the streets, on a Sunday evening, who are now shut in their houses, reading the Bible to their families."

Seven Dials', Westminster, 1816.-" One person, who formerly employed the hours of the LORD's-Day in reading a Sunday newspaper, has relinquished his usual gratification, and has devoted his time and money to the purchase and study of a Bible: his wife has burnt the objectionable books they before possessed, in the presence of her husband; and he, who once, delighted in them, now reads his Bible, and attends the house of GoD, which he had before forsaken."

Blackfriars, &c. London, 1816.-" Several very wicked and profane persons, who habitually worked together, were persuaded to join your Association. No sooner had they received a Bible, than one person read aloud, for the benefit of the rest, while they partook of their meals. Doubtless, curiosity at first induced the perusal; but after that stimulus subsided, they continued the practice, till they gradually discovered that there is a divine reality in the Bible, which they had never before suspected. An important alteration was soon evident in the conduct and conversation of several of these persons: they were induced statedly to read the Bible for themselves, to fear an oath, and to frequent the house of God."

Liverpool Ladies', 1819.-" A woman has given up the ruinous practice of drinking spirits; and her whole conduct appears to have been altered: her cellar and children are now clean and neat. She is subscribing for a Bible, and is often found reading the Testament. Her husband has become a regular attendant on public worship, and assists in raising the weekly subscription, which at first he opposed."

7. It is to Bible Associations we are indebted, if not for the absolute origin of SAVINGS BANKS, at least for their general extension; and for the disposition excited in the labouring classes to avail themselves of the advantages afforded by those admirable institu

Habits of Loyalty and good Order promoted.

tions, and by establishments of a kindred nature. The following extracts will afford a gratifying illustration of these remarks :

Liverpool, Ladies', 1819.-" Often, upon a first visit to an abode of penury' and wretchedness, has a Collector been reminded, that it was more becoming in her to give than to receive; and that to raise a penny per week for any other article than food or raiment was wholly impossible: but when she has once succeeded in convincing the inhabitants that she has sought only their welfare; and has kindly directed them how to provide, by a prudent disposal of their income, for their own comfort and that of their families; not only has the weekly penny been easily spared for a Bible, but, in many instances, the Collector has afterwards been requested to receive even a shilling a-week in the summer, as a provision for the temporal wants which might be felt in the winter: thus the poor have been essentially served, by being taught to help themselves. As the confidence in the Ladies, on the part of the subscribers, has increased, so generally has this disposition been manifested, that the Committees of several Associations, whose districts are inhabited principally by the labouring classes, have deemed it expedient to form themselves into SOCIETIES FOR SAVINGS: and in the Harrington Association alone, independently of money for Bibles, more than 2201. has been deposited, in small sums, for blankets, coals, and the Savings Bank."

Plymouth Ladies', 1820.-"Your Committee have great pleasure in stating, that the hope expressed in their last Report, that the Associations established in these towns might operate in promoting habits of saving among the lower classes, has been justified by the successful formation of a society for the direct and express purpose of assisting the poor in making some provision, during the time they are regularly employed, for the hardships of the winter-season. The " PLYMOUTH PROVIDENT SOCIETY," established early in the spring, has already two hundred and sixty-seven depositors, whose weekly savings are collected by Ladies, on a plan similar to that of the Associations: and from the eagerness with which it has been met by the poor, your Committee are confirmed in their anticipation, that the habit once formed, its application to other objects will easily and naturally follow."

8. It has been well remarked, that every feeling inspired by the operations of a Bible Association, is on the side of virtue and independence; and forms a strong preservative against that mean, selfish, and degraded spirit, to which a great part of the miseries of the ignorant and profligate are owing. In no respect has the justice of this observation been more decisively proved, than in the loyalty and good order which have characterized the members of these institutions, in every part of our country:

"It is a well-authenticated fact," observe the Committee of the Sherborne Branch Society, "that wherever the Bible Society has conveyed her living stream, the demoralising effects of sedition and tumult have been crushed; so that not one of her members has been identified with those who have evinced insubordination to the government under which we enjoy so many real blessings; but have been found cultivating peace on earth and good-will towards men. If we look, therefore, only to our own domestic advantages, the preservation of our youth, the tranquillity and prosperity of our empire, we cannot but solicit all who have put their hands to this good work to be steadfast and unmoveable."

9. It will readily be believed, that the influence of a cause productive of effects like these must extend beyond the immediate

Influence of the Holy Scriptures, in Suffering and the approach of Death.

objects, and manifest its practical tendency in the feelings and disposition of the agents. That such has been the result, the following extracts will be a sufficient evidence :

Plymouth Ladies', 1819.-"Nor have the advantages resulting from these visits of mercy been wholly confined to the poor: the Collectors feel, that they too have to acknowledge their obligations:-valuable lessons of contentment, patience, and resignation, have been learnt in these abodes of poverty:-the opportunity of doing good has been the blessed opportunity of purchasing pure and elevated pleasures:-and some of your Collectors have traced their first feelings of genuine benevolence to the knowledge thus acquired of the actual degree of wretchedness existing among so many of their fellow-creatures, of which before they had formed but a faint and inoperative conception."

Liverpool Ladies', 1820.-"The Collectors have not only been cheered by observing the happy effects of their labours upon others, but also by perceiving the blessing return to themselves. The question naturally suggests itself, If a knowledge of the Bible which I distribute is essential to the present and future happiness of others, is it not equally so to mine?' They have hence been induced, in more instances than one, to 'search the Scriptures' with personal interest; and two Collectors, who now rest from their labours, left behind them an undisputed testimony, that, having been first led by this consideration to an attentive examination of the contents of the sacred volume, under the blessing of God, they found them able to make them " wise unto salvation.'"

10. "Nothing," said an estimable Clergyman to the author of this work, "nothing of an earthly nature has ever tended more to strengthen my hands, than the Ladies' Bible Association of my parish. I behold its fruits everywhere. I see them budding in my school; I behold them ripening in my daily visits to my people; but, above all, I see them matured as I sit beside the dying Christian-poor in this world's wealth, but rich in faith. And let me add, that my congregation has materially increased since the establishment of this blessed Society."

11. To these testimonies, it only remains to add that which crowns the whole. Let us follow the Bible to the bed of suffering and of death; and trace it in its sacred office, under the regenerating and sanctifying influence of that Holy Spirit by which it was dictated in mercy and applied in love. Here the believing heart finds an answer to the all-important question, "What is truth?"— Here the vain delusions of the world, its cares, its sorrows, and its joys, assume their real value:-Here nothing can satisfy, console, and animate, but that which comes from Him who triumphed over death. If the Bible can mitigate the calamities of life, where is the philanthropist who would withhold the balm? If it can disarm the king of terrors, and dispel the last cloud that hangs upon the confines of mortality, where is the Christian who would not fly to introduce the messenger of joy and peace?

The Committee of the North-West London Auxiliary Society, in their Report for 1819, communicate the following particulars, as detailed by the Collectors of a district in the Cavendish-Square Association :