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Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too lerge to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, ^eft to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmAs d des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichi, 11 est film* d partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche k droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 1> A LETTER TO The Hon. & Ven. ARCHDEACON STKACHA?J lit D • REPLY TO SOME PASSAGES IN HIS *' LETTER TO DR. CHALMERS ON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF BISHOP HOBART,*' .:ihi'^. RB8PGCTINO THE PRIIVGIPIiES AMD EFFi:CT§ or ■.■-i;K' THE BIBLE SOCIETY BY VHa HEV. J. B. HARRIS. D. ». If ^ORK, UPPER. CANADA. 1833. I "'■f^-.-- ,*• , .. f .^..-n**.^. -^ « -■:■•»-'-■ X.. :'''"'•■ ?:l m A LCTTEK TO Tlio Hon. &. V cii. AKClIt>i:ACOX STKACUAX IN n E P L Y TO SOME PASSAGES IN III3 "LETTER TO DR. CHALMERS ON THE LIFE ASD CHARACTER OF BISHOP HOB ART," :>^ RESPECTINa TUB PRUVCIPLSS AIVD EFFECTS or "I THE BIBLE SOCIETY. YORK, irPEKc A^'AI)^, I /f3J 4 LETTER, A* V ENERABLE SIR, I beg to return you my acknowledgipentg ;for the copy of your letter to Dr. Chalmers, on the Jife and character of the late Bishop lIosiVRT : and, iho' the expression of my opinion, brief aa was tlie term of my acquaintance with that Prolate, and stranger as I wa« .at the time to the United States, and their institutioiis. can add nothing to tlie warm panegyric of one so much better (lunMli'd to judge of his .public charactei:, as yourself; I may be allowed to in(iulj,-o in the expres- sion of sincere esteem, and respect, with which that short acquaintance inspired me; sentiments, which I imagine few could resist, who, like me, liad experienced, tho' but for a week, the frank, and warm-hearted kind- ness which so eminently characterised him. It is therefore no slight addition to the reluctance with which, I assure you, I differ from yourself on the subject of the following remarks, to find that I am also opposed tp 80 high, and respected an authority as Bishop Hodart. I refer to that partof your letter inwhicii you,mention, and so strongly adopt, the Bishop'i opinions respecting the co-operation of members of our Church, with other Denominations, for any religious purpose. Persuaded howfivQr as I an, (and acting as I do upon the persnasiou) that a member, and a minis'- r four Establishment may promote the gene- ral spread of religion, in uni n with christians of other denominations, without violating either consistency, or principle ; you will not be^ surpris> ed that I should be desirous of meeting, at least, some of the more serious charges which you urge against^ such associations, and their supporters ; nor that the authority of the names which maintain these charges, should only increase my anxiety to prove them groundless. I would beg, in passing, to remark on the connexion in which you intro- duce this subject in your letter, that the union of different denominations for religious purposes, has surely nothing in common with the separation of Education /rom religion ; and i am sorry to see two principles of such op- posite nature and tendency, thus represented as kindred. That these prin- ciples are not in fact generally advocated by the same perEOuswill bd suffi- ciently apparent from a referencs to tho two institutions wliich we may d* 4 i.nTriR. Ar. look ipin an 'h»u ^rnni\ roproi»<^nt«tivo8, t!ir B'.blft Socielr, and the Vn\- V Tsify of Lonrloit : v< ry fi-w indocd of tlie iictive friends of the former be- ing found among tho supporters of tlic latter. Of tho throp cv'.lp, — iiidifT'ri'ncc to nli^rion, tho eappod foundations of ("'hri.»t anity, and thn niulfipli'MJ ranks of infidelity — which you say have arison from the joint operation of thpsi> principles, I cannot eupposo any rLvisoiiiiij,' by wliich the two hittt^r can bealtributsHl to roli^ions at<80ciationH — 'lor, ind.'ed, is it at all o'jvio is how i^van rcWg.om indiffbrencn should be produced by Sociotios whoso o!)jtMt is tho general promotion of religion. If by r .'lij,'io!is iudilferc'ncL' bt umlirstood a mitigation of Sectarian jealou- ay, a;i.l an allay in:.' of thai S'Misitiv.i approhension which sees in every dif- ference 0^ oj)iniou an iiidicat.o:iof treacheroup hostility, I am happy to be- lieve that such has been one of the effectfl of the religioiifi co-operation of Churihmen and l)i.«sentcr.>!, and I cannof •' ink that any injtiry has thereby lofU done to reli},'ion. •Tlie IJlshop deemed the Bible Society objectionable, because having tho same objects, it bocamu a sort of rival to the Bible and I'rayer-Book Soci- ety, and abijiorbed funds, which, in justice, belonged to the latter.' As I be- lieve tliiti is an objection which has been Bomctimes entertained against the Bible Society in England, with relation to the Venerable Society, for Pro- moting Christian Knowledge, 1 will here venture to consider it in that re- lation — The Bible Society then is a rival of the Society for P. C. K, and interferes with its objects and views. But why must it be a rival ? Can- not two Societies, as well as two individuals, perform similar acts of bene- volence, without rivalry ? Or must I forbear to relieve the wants of the des- titute, lest I shonld be considered the rival of a charitable neighbour? And again, when it is said that the Societies interfere, where does this interfe- rence appear ? Where has it happened that the excellent designs of ou*" Church Society have been thwarted, or impeded by the Bible Society " The latter Society desires, and professes, that its operations should assist, and further, those of all religious institutions ; as is declared in the 2d law of the British and Foreign Bible Society's constitution. 'This Society shall add its endeavours to those employed by other Societies for circnla. ting the Scriptures.' Indeed, the origin of this Society may be traced to to an undertaking, in effect, auxiliary to the Christian Knowledge Society ; for when a very large edition of the VVelsh Bible, printed by the Venerable Society, in 1799, was exhausted, so that " the Scriptures became verj' dear in the principality, in 1802 some pious and benevolent individuals ])ro- jected a new impression, the circumstances connected with which, even- tually led to the formation of the British and Foreign Bible Society."* In Scotland also, the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge, furnished the Bible Society with a copy of a Gaelic translation, as soon as comple- ted ; "from tvbich the Bible Society executed their editions in 1807, which ^ Htrns't introductiou to th» Scriptur«i. .h I ^' I i 1 1', I I.KTTER. &c. 6 (an the Scottish Roiiiety rem uiuihk to supply tho ur;,'ont, and vory iiii. inorouB dcmandn for t!ic uacrcd writings) were purchased, at rednrcd prices by tlic poor IIi{,'hlandcrH, witli the Uvuhcst expressions ofgratitudo/'t We must remember that tlie circulation of the Scriptures in only oru; of many valuable objects of the Society for P. C. K. : the greater proiwrtion of her funds i8 applied, partly in the diKtribution of Prayer Bookn, and various relijjioue and moral publications, in accordance with the principles of our Church ; partly in tlie encourrfjement of Sunday Schools ; largely in sup. port of Foreign Missions ; and gfiicrully in promoting the knowledge of Christianity, coiifonaably to Church principles, by any favorable and fitting opportunity. Iler moans tlior<;fore of cfTocting the circulation of the Scriptures, are comparatively liniitod. Should it be said, as by Bishop lIoBART, in reference to the Orthodox Society of Now- York, that' if this Sooi«!ty deemed it expedient to circulate a larger projjortiou of Bibles than liad hitherto been done, it w;is fully in their power to increase their sub. Rcription for this express purpose.' I would reply, in the first place, where does the expediency of circulating the Bible stoj), short of its possession by f'very one who can read it! And in the next place, I should vory much question, even supposing such increased subscri|>tion made, whether our Society, supported by only one denomination of Christians, could act with 8uch energy and comprehensiveness, as to reach, and supply, the wants of every member, even of our own communion ; whereas, the Bible Society concentrating as it do-s, tho energies of the whole ('hristian world, on this single point, is necessarily enabled toeffect its object in the highest possible degree in which human agency can eft'ect it ; and, accordingly, I doubt not but that thousands belonging to our Church have received the word of Goj through tho Bible Society, who, from their remote and scattered situations would never have been renched through any other channel. Why, then, [ think I may fairly ask, in reply to a counter interrogation in your letter, why should a member of our Society be the less zealous in furthering its main designs, because he lends his countenance and support to another Society which, by efft;cting on a universal scale, the one common object of distri- buting the Scriptur«s, does, in fact, enable the former to apply a greater por. tion of its funds, in the furtherance of those particular objects whieh especi- ally belong to it as a Church Society, and in which he, as a Churchman, is especially interested .' But it is next objected that the Bible Society absorbs fimds ' which be- long in justice' to the Church Society. To this I would reply, that if a wi- der diffusion of the Scriptures can be effected by the two Societies, than by the Christian Knowledge Society singly, tins argument, were the fact which it assumes, fully established, would be no conclusive objection; since the quantity of good communicated, and not the channel by which it is con- veyed is tiie first consideration : and therefore even granting that part o * Jlorne's introduction to tli» Scriptures. t) i.i; TTKU, >S:r. Mil' supply u! 'Ju: lo.-iiicr cliaiiiu'l were ilivcrtccl iiilo tlie lunvouo, UiisJwouliJ lie no just subjocl of royret, if tiiodivididBlrinm carried I'crtility through a iiuich widor field, than it, did ulion coiiliiiod to a single channel. The tliot liowovoY wliicli is astiiiiii (),r/7 eA-rlusive " Society is more in the way of their duty, may still feel thnt this Ibrnis no suflicient excuse tor doing nothing for" mtiir. ci- ivliirh thnr iras tw Bihl^ S'x;i'V//, numbered "i,(MM) subscribers, the gross receipts were JC12,(HH); the number of Bibles isRiied was 7,100 ; of Prayer Books 14,(HK). In 1810 after the Bible Sc'y had been the years in operation, there was the following increase at the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: the subscribers were ;i,.500; income "i;i6,0(M>; Bildes issued 9,000; Prayer Books, 19,000 . In 1817 the numbers had swelled to the following: subscribers 12,()(K); income £60,000 : Bibles H.M.OOO : Prayer Books 89,(KK). In 1828 subscribers were about M,(M)0 ; income i:68,(K»0 ; Bibles/)8,0(H) ; Prayer Books 15n,000 When the sudden increase of all these numbers, in 12 years after the formation of the Bible Society, is compared with their small amount during a century previous, it is no violent inference, to attribute this advance to the general religious impulse which was produced by the operations of the Bible Society, and consequently, to believe, that this Soci- ety has most effectually promoted, instead of impeding, the progress of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. As to the abstract question of interference, if the mere fact, that, the Bi- ble Society pursues an object which forms one branch of the operations of *he Society for P. C. K. were a valid objection againBt the former, it must *c equally valid against all othcrr. ; and its effect slioidd be, that when « Sv>- the Bu ions of it must n R So- _ I.ETTKR, &r. 7 ticty had oucc been forinou for tlio promotion c/i" ;iny r'-Iit^ioiw object, uo 6thcr Society ought ever to tiiink of promoting tlio same object ; ami co;i- •equcntly, not only the Prayer-Bool? and Homily Society, and the (riuircli Missionary Society, arc oflicioiis intruders u].on Ihe province of tlic Socie- ty for P. C. K. ; but this latter Society itself, and tiie Sociely for propaga- ting the Gospel in Forei;fn parts, have been lor I'M) years guilty of violatinij the principle of non-interferonce. 1 know it may be said that these Societies are exclusively Church Societies, and that the Bible Society is a promiscu- ous one ; but if the argument of interference bo worth any thinj]^, it is cer- tainly as applicable to the former, as to the latter. Fortunately, however, this principle has only been partially applied; and the Soineties I have mentioned, have proceeded in their Christian labours with an uminiinity undisturbed by the comnmnity of their objects, and with a success, eviden- cing, an I believe, the divine blessing on their eflbrts. In truth, the world aflbnls an ample; field for tlii.' exertions not only of all these, but of the Bible Society also, without their coming into any iniiar- monious collision, or feeling any rivalry, save as to which shall effect the greatest good. And in no portion of this vast universal field, is there more room for such exertions than in British America, where so extensive is the ground, and so few the labourers, that as we cannot hope to have the means of planting our own Church in every remote district, we may cordially bid God speed to other members of (^hrist's Catholic Church, in their endea- vours to teach the knowledge of His name, where ignorance and ungodli- ness must otherwise grow, and prevail. But, again, "such a general institution was further to be deprecated, as it could not, in any degree, be under the direction or control of Church people, who, mixed up with many denominations would become a minority; and it was therefore evident that the adversaries of the (^hurch would preserve their as- cendancy, & prevent any salutary influence from being exerted on the j)art of our people, unless subservient to their views." How far this argument may be borne out by the actual circumstances of the Bible S'cy in the United States. 1 have no present means of judging; but to the Bible Sc'y. In England, it is to- tally inapplicable. All the business of that Soc iety is conducted by a Com- mittee consisting of "Thirty- six Laymen, six of whom shall be Foreigners resident in London or its vicinity ; httif the mnainder shall be members of the Church of England, and the other half members of other denomination^ of Christians."* When, besides this, it is considered that clerical mcni- bers of all denominations arc entitled to attend, and vote at this committee ; and how much more numerous are the Clergy of our Church, than of other denominations ; when, it is also considered that the President and thirty. seven Vice-Presidents, who are all members of the Church of EnMand, are ex-officio members of this Committee, and many of them regular attcud- * Constitution of British and Foreign Bible Society. t 8 LKTTER, ir. antB.'^" I need nut say, that if our Church be ciidan^^crcd by the fiiblo Sa- ciety, at least it is not because Churcli people mixed up with many denoiu' inations, form "a minority" in its pioceedings.f If the objection means that the Society is not under the entire control of Church people, this of course is the case ; because, were it so under the con- trol of the Ciiurch, or any other particular body of Christians, it would cease to be a general Society. I must here, by the way, venture to avow that I cannot bring myself to consider all who differ from our Church, as therefore, her •adversaries'. | Where the genuine .syxrj/ of Christianity operates, and its fundamental truths, are held in common, a diflierence of opinion on some other (and those, it may be, not trilling) points, will make neither individuals, nor Churches, hostile to each other : and hence as our church certainly is not the "adversary" of many Christian communities which dissent from her, so I believe we should wrong a large proportion of those communities, in imputing to them the feelings, and conduct of • adversaries' towards ourselves. I by no means feel called uport to advocate the motives of all denominations of christians, but in justifica. tiou of my own readiness to co-operate with them on common Christian groimd, I must declare, that I do feel bound to exercise towards them that "real liberality which judges candidly of the motives of others;" and there- fore, though I do not, of course, doubt, that all of them, if they are sincere in their opinions, desire the extension of their own communions ; still, I can- not believe that the majority of them are influenced by such feelings of hos- tility as would induce them to associate themselves with professions of gen- cral amity, in a Society of such a nature as the Bible Society, for the mere purpose of insidiously acting against our Church. Unfortunately there aro those among some denominations whom we cannot by any exertion of char- ity, doubt to be actuated by a most unchristian spirit of animosity, wiiilst zeal for religion is only the cloak for designs of a far different chtsracter i but these I verily believe to be comparatively few ; at all events, whatever may be their hostile dispositions against the Church, the Bible Society ia certainly not the field for gratifying them. * Lord Teignmouth, tlic President, was for many years, whilst liis health permitted, an unremitting coadjutor, and drew up many of the earlier re- ports. Among others. Lord Bcxley is conspicuous for the active interest he has taken in the affairs of the Society ever since its formation ; he is one of the most regular attendants at the committee, OTcr whoso meetings he coo • (ttantly presides, when present. f Out of fifteen speakers at Ih*; last anniversary, in May, ten at least wcro members of our Church, including four Bishops and four Clergymen. t I am happy to find uiyself countenanced in this avowal, by your appeal (in 'A Bermon preached at the Visitation, &C.''' to the generally prevailing " harmony among the various denominations of Christians in Upper Cana- da," and especially by your expectation of" friendly dispositions towards our establishment' iu two pruiaincnt uiiU numerous cuimnunions which difTet from us. ■ LET^fEU, <^c. Admitting, however, for the (sake of argument, that Diuentera had all th« inclination imputed to them, of making thd Bible Socir>ty an instrument o^ strengthening their own communions, and weakening ours, and that the So. ety were capable of being converted to such a purpose ; this would be a most forcible reason, why Churchmen should not leave them to execute these de. fligna, without a counteracting influence ; for if such be the real object of other denominations, they would sursly not pursue it less ardently, or lees luccessfully, in our absence, than in our presence. Suppoao, further, tha^ every m3raber of our Churcii wcro to refusa all concern in the Bible Soci. cty ; what would be the effbct of such a general manifestation of suspicion and aversion on the part of Ciiuroh-pcoplc towards all the Christian world beside? If it ware not equivalent to a declaration of open hostility on our part, certainly nothing could moro effectually tend to set al> other Christians in united array against up, and to generate a resentful bitterness, not likely to bo confined to one side, disgraceful to the name of Christianity, and affording its enemies new occasion for tri- umph and reproach. As th? Society, on the contrary, now exists, support- ed by all parties, it is l)ic promoter of kindly feelings, and candour amongst them all. The joint pursuit of a laudable, and tspecially of a charitable ob- ject, necessarily produces a good understanding between the parties so as- sociated ; and such, tho.igh an incid(;ntal, is by no moans the least, good ef- fect of tin B^ble So;:iety, in the Christian world. In the midst of prevailing religious jealousies, and repulsiveness, that Society has presented a point of re-union ; about which, Christians of every Churcli have mot, as brethren, and where, whilst engaged in the same labour of universal Christian philan- thropy, they have forgotten the Siiibboleths of party distinction, and only re- membered they were servants of tlic same Lord, and partakers in the same covenant of redemption. But again, the Bishop used to say, " that the co'ant!?nanc3 given to the Bible Society by many members of the Church of England, was very de- trimental to their own establishment." And why ? •• Because it lifted thtf dissenters to an equality with the Church, and enabled them to act in a compact body against her interests : that they made tlie distribution ot the Bible an instrument of influence, for it was notorious that church people were seldom or never employed in this service." — I must own I do not quite understand what is meant by "lifting Dissenters to an equality with the Church." What is the disadvantageous inequality which it implies they pre- viously laboured under ; and from which, by the Bible Society, they are ex- tricated ? I can hardly suppose that Bishop Hobart could intend to re- cognise, or allow of any superiority belonging to our Church because it is the established Church ; and though I fully appreciate the great religious advantages of an establishment, I cannot conceive how its members lose* or diminish those advantages, by acting in concert with others, in matters where nothing is to be conceded, on one side, or on the sther. Is the ins- id LFfTEft, &e. ^alitj implied, that of tb? high gro und on which our church stands, tt U^ hei apostolic constitution, and ministry! But how do her members dimi* nish this superiority by co-operating with Dissenters at the Bible Society 1 They are not thereby drawn down into dissent ; nor (what is perhaps more immediately to the purpose, tho' scarcely an evil to be depreciated by us) ar3 Dissenters lifted into churchmen : tho inequality in' this respect stiW I'emains; Churchmen are Churchmen 6till,and Dissenters, I doubt,aro Dis- senters still. With regard to the notorious fact, that church people are seldom or ne- ver employed by this Society, in tlic diistribution of the Bible, in Engia nd, I scarcely know what to understand by distribution, as an instrument of influence. The officu of tho agents (four foreign, and three do- domastic) who arc employed in promoting tho objects of the Society, i8» not the actual distribution of the Bible; but the reorganization, or encou- ragement, of existing Societies, in ditTt-'rcnt parts of the world, and the es- tablishment of new ones : these agents, it is to be remembered, arc appoint, cd by tho committee of management, and I need only again refer to ths elements whicli compose that committee, to make it evident, that they would bo very unlikely to appoint any prrson, in whoso integrity of conduct they had not implicit confidence : and it is the fact, that they exercise the moat scrupulous caution on tliis head. The most general means of circulating the Scriptures in Kngland ara DepositoricF, and of tiiese tho only two that I positively recollect, were not in the charge of Dissenters ; and I believe tliat in most villages and country towns, in England, where the Clergyman is a supporter of the So. ciety, cither himself, or one of his congregation, acts as Depositary. If the Clerg}'man is opposed to the B.blo Society, and has any influence among his flock, it is not to b« wondered at, that the D-^positary should not be a churchman i but it would hardly be fair to attribute this to the machi* nations of the Dissenters. And this suggests the more general observation, that if, in the conduct of a Society, which freely invites the co-operation of al^ Christians, churchmen, as well as Dissenters, tiie members of our church, in any ph^^ thin'; pro^);r to stand aloof, and take no part in the busines*» they have surely no right to object to the Society, that it is under the influ. ence of Dssenters ; nor to impute to Dissenters the design of acquiring such influence. I beg tobs understooJ as by no m^ans judging the motives of such members of our Church, as do not join the Bible Society, but I pro. test against their making tho effects of their own conduct, an argument against the principles, or practice or* that Society. But you proceed to tell us that, the Bishop charged the Episcopal friends 0f the Bible Society with a "sickly prostration of all prineiplei" which regvdf LErrER, iie. M tands, M tdf mben dimi« lie Society 1 is pcrhapg reciated by respect stiU ibt,aro Dis- Idom or nc« n Engla nd, instrument three do- Sociely, is* I or encou- ind tijo cs- xe appoint, efer to th? they would nduct they c the mo3t igland arc •llect, were llagos and • of the So. "sitary. If y influence should not the machi* iff in the ion of all church, in J busines*' r the influ. acquiring he motives , but I pro- argument pal friends ch regard* the worahip of God as a matter of no consequence, and rests in pcnoct in- different e to 'religious truih.— Now if a churchman be fully pereuaded of the excellence, and purity of his own form of worship, and be ready on all fitting occasions to maintain this opinion ; if he coneciensciously adhere to it, and endeavour to rjcominond it by liis life, and deportment ; surely he may be guiltless of" prostrafon of principle," even thougii he eliould not shun all relig.oiia intercourse with those who worship God in a different form, or, who do not agree with hiui in the interpretation of f onje doctrinal parts of Scripture. Were the members of the Bible Society rcquirec'. to declare that they believed all the interpretations of certain passages by diffjr.'nt eect.o, to be equally sound and pure, they would bs jiistly char^jabl-; with indiffjrenco totlietruo import of Scripture ; but they arj required to niike no such admissioii, nor is any one considered, as, in any degree, counte- nancing tenets at variance with his own : it is perliectly understood by all, that the ground of union is, not any sacrifice of opinion, but the simple fact, that however tiny may differ as to what is the trutli, they all believe, and acknowledge it to be contained in the Bible ; and therefore they can most cordially join in the common effort of circulating the Bible. ••What (it is exclaimed) shall we apsst other denominations in promoting error " Before we yield to the conclnsiveneFs of t his appeal, let us consider howfar it is applicable to the operations of the Bible Society. I think it is suffi- ciently clear from the principles and constitution of tlie Socieiy, as I have stated them, that its operations are no further instrumental in promoting any particular tenets, than giving the Bible to a person can be said to pro- mote them : and if the mero fact of putting tiie Scriptures into the hands of any man whatever be a promotion of error, we should be doing good ser- vico to religion, could we prevent every o:l^ who was not a charchmin, having the Bible at all ; for it cannot confirm him less in his error, thut the Bible should be given him at the sole cost of a Dissenter, then if the ex- pense were shared by a Churchman. The Bible Society is in fact no more chargeable with promoting dissent, than if it did literally, what it does vir. tually ; place so many copies of the Scripture in the high way, and say to all who passed, ♦ whosoever will let hira take freely.' But even granting that the zeal of projolytism should mVco a dis. senting agent of the Society so far abuse bis trust, as to endeavour to con- vert it into a means of insinuating, and propagating his own particular te- nets : with whom would he succeed ? With those belonging to our commu. nion ? This he could not do, unless we suppose a want of proper instruc- tion, and watchfulness, not very creditable to our own church, if it existed in the place : and if it were not ir. existence, it is surely better that a man should be an active, and pious Christian of any denomination, than that he should live altogether • without God in the world,' and without any par. ticipatioD ifi religious ordinanccR. And this is the extent to which, even br II LBTTBR, Atf. abuse, I could, as a member of the Bible S ocictjr, aesist other d^nominutU ons " in promoting error." But, it ia nr;»^d, there certainly arcaonn donominations, which the Bible Society admita into nioniburahip whoso tonots a sincere churchman muat bslicve to b3 dmjjrojs err or, and involving most vital poinlo. True, and for the sake of some weaker brethren, I should not be sorry did n o such momb'jra bulo:i^ to the Society, though I think there are great ohJcctionB Against makmg any restrictions in its constitution. The number of members, however, of persuasions wliich we cannot but consider as Antichristian, is small; and for this plainreason, that thoirtoncts will not bear a candid examu nation, by the test of the uncorruptcd, and unmutilatcd word of God, that iii by the Bible, as it is circulated by thj Bible Society ; and in this view, for my own part, I am glad that sucli denominations are admitted ; being persuaded that in proportion as men have free opportunity of consulting for themselves, ths pure Scriptures, the lefs daugjr must there be, of their be- coming confirmed in positively unscriptural error. The disciple of the most pHrvorted doctrine, would be tar more likely to discover, and abandon his delusion, with the Bible in his iiand, than if left to imbibe without this standard to refer to, the pernicious representations of misguided, or design, ing teachers. That this is no visionary, or fanciful arsrument, is sufficiently attested by the attempts of seme sectarians to support their tenets by their own translation of the New Testament. By a rather singular association of objections to the Bible Society, tho principle Oi' indifL'rencc to religious truth, upon which it is said to be found- ed, is connected with the chargs that its mr;mbors ' proclaim their own praises in the public journals,' and * bandy compliments' with each other at their public meetings. I am not at all disposed to defend the practice of reci' procating compliments at such meetings, which I believe was at one time be- coming too prevalent ; but not recently, for it was soon corrected by the good • ense and proper feeling of the loss ardent, but more judicious members ; and (he spirit of simplicity, and earnestness, which has latterly characterised the generality of addresses at the anniversary meetings of the Society, has not been one of the least gratifying of its features. Had, however, the members indulged in these complimentary addresses to a much greater extent, I can. not think this would have formed any serious argument against the Society itself. Again, as to the publicity of the anniversary meetings, the greater, or less d3gree of public attention, which is attracted by such meetings of (haritable Societies, certainly affects not the character of their designs, but it is nevertheless, in every point of view, gratifying and encouraging, when the general interest which is felt in their objects, is evinced by the number* who attend to hear the periodical reports of their proceedings, and success. Your own expression of the extreme loathsomeness of the Reports of the Bible Society, is a strong one i but I persuade myself is ascribable matter > i USTTKItt Ac. inominutU the Biblo Tian muat True, and J n o such )hj cctions tncmbere* ristian, is id exaiDN d, that isi ;his view, d; being fiulting for their be- )le of the 1 abandon ithout this or design. ufTiciently Is by their •ciety, the be found* heir own other at of reci- time bc> the good lers ; and crised the has not members t, I can. Society greater, ctings of igns, but ng, when numbers success. ts of the e matter t ■ f to previous distaite, than to any thing really so ofTensive in the matter or •tylo of the Reports, to the generality of sober Christians.* A p3rs3'i uiicquiint3d with the question, would suppose, from the tenug in wliich the Bible Society is oflcn discussed by its oppoiients, that it origt. li&te 1 with Disssnters, as a scheme to advance themselves at the expense of the Church: that though churchmen are admitted, to save appearancest they aro only mad^ to assist in their own subversion, the Society being un* der the paramount influence of Dissenters who compose the controlling mtjority. H ^ would hs very far from imagining, that it is, in truth, an aaso< ciation to pro.'noto no separate viewj : forthit all denominations are alike in. terested in its operations ; and great would be his surprise when he after- wards found, that from its first formation, a nobleman of exemplary piety hasbsen its President ; that among its iirst Vice-Presidents, were four Bish* ops, insludinj th3 vjn arable mm; of Porteus;f ani that it has also en- * Daring th2 firattwalvo yo-irsoftheoxistonjT of th^ BlbloSnsioty, its Rap. orts wjro drdwa up by th) Vjn<;ra!)le Nobbman, who is its Presidont ; and sines thit tiin3, till lU3ly, by thi R)V. J. Owen, a tilont?,! an;l exemplary Clergy. - min of our Cliurcli, I am not awaro who has compiled the Ueports of recent Tears. t Both Bishop Porteus, and Lord B3xUy, have ably defended the object and priaciploa of thj Bibb Society — the latter in two Utters; one of which was addru383J to Dr. IVIirsh, Professor of Divinity at Cambridge. From the form, er, I cinnot but qaoto som] objorvations, both becaui^e they show tint the same preJictionn of evil conse'iiiences to the Church, were always made by 8om3 perso ts, us are now mide, but whicli have never been fulfilled; and be* ciuse it gives m^ tho opportunity of setting against the opinion of the lata B'shop of N J W.York, the opinion of the no less active and distinguished Biih. op of London. His Biographer, Dr. Hodgson, remarks that, " ho saw instant, ly that a design of sue!) mig.iitudc, which aimed at nothing less than the dis- persion of thj Bibb ovar evdry acQJssible part of the world, could only be ac complishid by tho asaociition of man of all religious persuasions. Ha enter* taint) J ths hape thit it might oparato as a bond of union between contending partias, &, :. ; w!iilst, therefore, ha remained firmly attached to the original So. ciety for PromitingC.iristian Knowledge, whoso exertions, as far as its limited sphere allowed, no one ever held in higher estimation, — he gave, at the same tima, the sanction of his name, without scruple to the new one : and the more he considered its object, and the longer experience he had of the spirit and principles on which it was conducted, the more deeply he was convinced that it merited all tho support which the Church of England could give it. The Bible Society " is now (says the Bishop himself,) well known, and firmly established, and has completely triumphed over all the attempts made to destroy it. None of those secret dark designs, none of those plots and con. spiracios to subvert the established Church, and which were so confidently pre dieted as the inevitable efftict of this Society, have yet been discovered in it.— It is, in fact, much better employed. It goes on quietly and steadily in the prosecution of itis great object, and pays no sort of regard to the vneers and cavils of its opponents. At a later date, he says, " I cannot but add in justice to th>s Society, which has been so much opposed, misrepresented, and traduc* ed, that all the important works in which it has been engaged, have been carri- ed on with the utmost harmony and unanimity, without any. difference of opinion — without the slightest symptom of any hostile or treacherous design against the Church, and witfabut any other ipkla upien their ittittdr, bttttlNit of 14 LBTTBR. ^. rolled in the Mine nak, the nuDM of Liverpool, Mid HArrowby, tnd Bex. ley, and m&ny other statetmen, whose influence ha* been uniformly, and Effectually exerted in lupport of the Church; and finally, that the member* of the Church of England, in its direction, are more numerous than thoso of all other denominations ; whilst not only arc its members, who belong to our Church, themselves asaiflting their own communion, in combining with others ; but whatever assistance Churclimcn thus render to Disscnturd, pre cisely the same assistance do Dissenters render to t!ic Church. In the counteracting, and overcoming of infidelity, Christians of all da* nominations are alike interested, and bound to exL^rt themselves. Iiifidelsi however, bclon:^ to no Church ; and henco whoro they arc concerned, tho universality uf the Bible Society's constitution, gives it a decided advantage over Societies connected with any particular denomination, for two reasons ; Urst, because thoy more especially confine their efibrts, each to the com* paratively narrow circle of its own communion ; whilst the Bible Society extending as widely as possible, the knowledge of the Christian ScriptursR. In fact, all tlic approiieiisiouH to whiuli this Society has given rise, arc now found to bo but viiin terrors; and nil tlio prophecies of mischief and evil that would result from it, are HiUiticd by facts. It is rising uniformly in reputation and credit, and gaining new accessions of strength and revenue, and at; aching to itself, more and more, tlio approbation and support of every real friend to the Church, and to religion." »Such was the opinion of a Prolate, whose memory is deservedly revered by our Chnrcli ; and who, whilst thus advocating the claims of the Bible (Society, was a conscientious and active supporter of the t ocicty for Promoting ( hristian Knowledge, the designs of which his name still promotes, attached to some of the most esteemed works which that Society dis. tributes. It is true that since the lime of I'orteus, a difleroncc of opinion has arisen among the members, on two points ; the first respecting tlie circulation of the apocrypha, with the canonical books of the Old Testament; the second concerning the exclusion from the Society of all who do not avow their l>elief in the docrine of the Trinity. As the >' ocicty |>rofc8ses to circulate the Scrip, turcs, which all Christians receive, it was, I think, with great propriety, ru* Kolved that the copies circulated by the Society, should not contain the apoc. ryphal books; and this no churchman can think objectionable, inat^nnich as the Church does not apply those Books " to establish any doctrine." The samo fundamental principle must also exclude the idea of any test for membership ; to recognise which, would at once destroy the essential character of the ^'oci. ety, and excite those feelings which it is especially dotigned to allay. The moving of this question has, hAWevcr, caused the secession of some iiiembers from the original Society, who have formed themselves into another, on par* tially exclusive principles: though some of the seccdcrs have, on maturer con. cideration, rejoined the first. Notwithstanding the secession alluded to, tho subscsiptions to the original Society were larger last year, than the previous ; and the harmony and unanimity at the anniversary were complete. I cannot therefore allow your conclusion that " Bi^hop Hobart's views on this subject ere now generally admitted." I should rather conclude from the agitation of these questions, that the Bible Society is not based upon, nor does it engender, that indifference to religious truth which you suppose ; though I confess I would rather not have seen such proof of tho contrary. I am not acquainted with tho " extraordinary preface to one «.f the Foreign Editions of the Bible" to whibi) yott allude ; but as it is contrary to the Society's constitution, to circulate any observations with the Bible, I apprehend the preface you mention was ao| jpfi^ the Society's sanction. (<$•< n«te. Appendix.) i ,1 cannot subject ation of igcndtr, ilwoulc) with tho :o whiob late ant/ WM ao) LBTTER, Ac. 19 i 4 Hnit§ the word of God in ojie broad* .«ad.comprehenitTe •tream over the whole moral surface; not only depositing the seed of life on the cultivated fiolda of various Chriiitinn denominations, but also carrying; it into the v/asto corners, and desert tracts of unbelief— and secondly, because tho captiou* •nfidcl is far more likely to receive with respect, that volume, which ho is •truck by observing, tliat the wlioh? Christian body unites to press upon his candid examination; than if it had been presented by any one denomination, whose offers he might affect to treat as the bigotted attempls of proselyting to a party. The Dritish and Foreign Bible Society has itself, besides tho Separate elforta of upwards of sixty Foreign Societies in different parts of the world, circulated more than soven millions of copies of the Scriptures, and it is impossible not to believe that such a vast diffusion of the written rcvelatio:! of (Jod, must have opposed a powerful barrier to the progress of infidelity ; and certainly, Churchmen, as well as Dissenters, are concerned to promote a cause, from wliich we arc justified in expecting such an effect. But besides this object of common intfro8t,in cliccking infidelity, and be- Bides the uupport, to religion generally which all denominations give, by co- operating at the Bible Society ; it would not be difficult to adduce many in- stances of direct benefit accruing 1o the Church of England, from the Bi- ble Society, and its oporatiotis. First might be mentioned, the vast num. ber of translations of the Scriptures into languages of all parts of tho world, which this Society has effected. The Society for Promoting Chris- tian Knowledge, as 1 have before remarked, in consequence of its varied objects, could not und:rtake the translation of the Scripturcs'to any great extent ; whilst the Bible Society has been able to complete translations, into upwards of a hundred languages, and dialects, which have been attempted by no other Society. In India alone ni was stated by the Bishop of Calcut- ta, at the last Anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, out of 153 dialects spo'ien through that Empire 104 had been exclusively under- taken by the Bible Society : the inestimable advantage of these transla- t'lots in forwarding the objects of our missionaries, is too palpable to need insisting on ; and is most fully appreciated by the representatives of oUf Church, in that extensive field. As another example of the positive advancement of the interests of our Church by the Bible Society, it might be noticed that in several instances, particularly in India, those ministers, who have been primarily employed by that Society, in translating the Scriptures, have subsequently applied their knowledge of the languages, to the translation of our Liturgy, which they have brought into use among the natives. And here I must mention as alike honorable to the candour of the individual and demonstrative of tho excellence of our worship, that we are indebted for a Chinese Version of our Liturgy, to a Dissenting Clergyman (Dr. Thompson); who, being deeir. «U0 of furniihingthe natives with a form of Prayer, and meeting with none' t " Itt LSTTBEt 4t. which iflcmed fo well adapted, ai the Liturgy of the Church of England, tranilated it for the uae of hii converts, and liia tranilation hai since been printed by our Prayer Book and Homily Society. — Amongst many of our own clergy in India who have been in honored correvpuudence, at the lame time, with the 'Prayer Book and Homily,' the * Church Missionary,' and the * Bible' Societiei, stands foremost the apostolic Henry Martyn, to whose nam I may add those of the scarcely less devoted Schwartz, and Coloph, Missionaries of the Society for Propagating the Gospel; of Buchanan ; and, in the present day, of Archdeacon Corrie. Another occasion on which our Church experienced direct assistance from the Bible Society, was in its vote of X5000 to Bishop Middleton, on the formation of Bishop's Collcgo at Calcutta, in aid of translating the Scriptures, at that Institution ; and I think this may be justly adduced, as an instance, in which the Dissenting influence, at the Society, made no ob- stacle to a liberal donation, which certainly cannot be said to be " subssrvi* ent to their views" in sny party sense, tho' I believe entirely according with their views, as members of the B.ble Society, desirous of promoting the diffusion of the Scriptures through all the world. Surely, Sir, a Society which has been the means of sending the word of God into almost every corner of the Globe, so that there is now, scarcely a known race of men, who have not the Scriptures in a language which they can understand ; a Society whose object is so striking, and, by its simple philanthropy, so directly recommends itself to the Christian world, that its counterparts are to be found in every Christian State, in every quarter of the earth : a society which has actually done so much for our own Church, as well as for the general interests of Religion ; in whose service so many devoted, and exemplary ministeri?, of our own, and of other denominations, have laboured, and died, which has numbered amongst its friends, a Portbv* a MiLNBR ; and a Buchanan ; in days gone by ; and which is, at this mo- ment, countenanced, and supported, by eleven of our Bishops, and by other characters most distinguished, as m station, so in piety and talent,— surely this is not the Socieiy which calls its supporters to * trifle with tho laws of God ;' which is founded upon * total indifference to religious truth'; upon a * sickly prostration of all principle.' The question of Religions tract Societies, involves, so much the same general principle, as that of the Bible Society, that it was to be expected, that they should have, in general, the same opponents, and the same friends. I speak with reference to those Tract Societies which, like the Societies of London, and Dublin, disseminate none, but publications which all genuine christians approve of, and receive. To these it is objected, that ** by keep- ing out of view the distinctive principles of our Church, we lead to the belief, that they are of little importance." Now I believe I shall not exceed the initb, in saying, that five oat of six ordinary sermons, written, or preacbedf* ,i n V LHTTEK, kc 17 4i«ntal truths" of ftiitli in Go I lliru' (,'hr';sf, iind corul.ict a'^rcpublf* t!ion.'to jho' all nu'iition of pcculiur toiR-ts Lr ofiiiUoil ; than Ih likely to arieo, bo- cause every at^rinon preached from our pulpits, doos n»it exprestily advocate Rpiscoj)acy, or Infant Bapti^■nl. It is both proper, and nfodful tiiiit we slionld, from time to time, explain, and establis'.i to onr hearers, the poiiU.s wiiich (listiii;;,M':aIi onr Cliiirch from all otherE ; but as these points happily boar a i'lnnW proportion to (.lie points of fundamental importance, on which then- is a ^"•eneral agreement, it is not often that the former will come to bespecially treated. And so the Church- man, who, in conunon with other (Mirisfiany, disseminates the common truths of Christianity, is not thereby jireeliided from distributinf;, in his se- parate ciiaracter as a m<'iiil)er of th'' Clinrcii of I', ijfland, other tracts, par- ticularly addressed to the explanation und maiutenance of our distinctive Itrinciiib .■;. The key to llishop HonAUr'.-- opinions, yon observe, is to be found in Iub " not rcco^nisiniT, as a true Church, anv bodv of iirofessinir Christians who differed fro.n ''.im in tlieir leadiiii; trullis, and who liad not a separate order of Bisliops, r 'sts &. Deacons." Ii'by thi-< it is intended to assert, that no church whic' ! :• s not corresjunid with ours, as to its ministry, and doctrine, can produce tit ■ i:r.e authority of Scripture for its jiractice and principlesi I agr.'C in the jioi'..i:;v» ; ^-it tliat, on this account, we oufrht to denounce all other Churches ns ful'jf ;i'id therefon^ their members unlit to bo associated with, in promoting any "-'^li^ious design, is an inference, which neither her ablest chaniplon.s, nor, I tlnnlv, does our Church herself, countenance. It can scarcely be questioned thiit Episcopacy was the government ap- pointed by the apostles wherever they planted a separatf, and sufficiently . numerous Christian C'hurch ; and that the primitive Church wiiilst yet ex- empt from uninspired innovation, for centuries followed this npostolic insti- tution — and hence our Church, formed on such a mode!, and supported by such authority, has every Scrijitural argument in its favor, which an institu- tion could have, short of a positive precept ; such actual precept however there is not, and in the absence of that, however firmly we may be convinc- ed ourselves, of the superior authority of our Church, we are not warranted 'n condemning all other forma as absolutely false, nor justilicd in refusing all religious communion with those who adiiere to them. "Such indeed (says Archbishop Seckkr) as obstinately deny the fundamental doctrines, or transgress the fundamental precepts of Christianity, ought to be rejected from Christian communion. But to renounce communicating with any. Others who are willing to admit us to it on lawful terms, is the way to cutoff ourselves, not them, from the body of Christ ; who we doubt not will allow those on botii sides to belong to his Church, who, through pardonable pae. pione and mistakes, will not allow one another to do po." Archbishop Waiik« *t"ler MprcBiing hiK conviction of the authority of Kitiicopacy, audi Uia r»- 18 u:tT£r, &€. pret tlitc any Cliorchcs should reject it, proceeds to say, " still, far be it frim' me, to judfTO eo hardly, as to lelirvc, that in consequence of euch defect, (tlio want of Episcopacy) any of them ouj^iit to bo severed from our com. munion ; or, to |>roi:ounci', willi some of our furious writers, that they havo r.o true, and valid sacrament?, and Ihen'lbre arc scarcely Christians." — Bishop ToMMNE, at a laLor dal*, aftor (f-ituhlisliing tin apostolic origin, and primitive ado;itio;ior II ;> oiV'picy, co!ich!do>:, "y-tl readily ac';nowledg3 that, tiior? jy r.o ;/?•.■>•■; / in th.e ?n\'W T.^r-'rjneiii, v.liicii cnnmands that every Church should h<:' '/overiicd hy D s'.c;?&." It ca:i;;o' ho said of the men who mad? these admi^i-ionp, th it tliey wero disalioct nI to th.? Ciun-ch, or that, tho d''siro of "acoTupt and hollow popularity" was tiioir mo'.ive. Seckeb, und ^VAIi■r:, and Tomlinl-, ar? roi nauies to w!;'e:i the^o iiuputations can attach. Tlry felt, and most ably demonstrated t'.io t'crip'oura! (jrounds on whicli our Churoh is huilt, but r^till th?y lusilat.d not to iic':no'.vled^.3 that those g.ounds were exauipio, and not prL^cept; aud tiiat tiurj fore greatly as we may wonder and la;iij:it, that au example, wliieh app^^ars so clear» eliould not have been uuivorbllly foi!o?.'cd, it heconu's not us to pro.iounco a judgment reproba'ing all opin:o:;s but our own, on a point, which tho Holy Ghost has certainly not so e,\prosd!y decided, as to make all diflerence of opinion respecting it necessarily sinful. The feelings of tiie Churcli lierself towards all other Christian communities arc Eufficieiiily diduciblo from her Liturgy. Shj instructs her members to declare their belief " in the ho'y Catho'ic Cliurch, and in ihi Communio.i of Saints." On the latterclausc I have already quoted a rcmirl< of Sccker's ; and, amongst his observations o i t!ie formr^r, is this, " Churches whicli wide- ly differ from each other in several notions and custom?, Jnay notwithstand- ing, each of them, b3 tndy Catholic churchi's. Tin Church of England pro- tends not indeed absurdly to both • wholeCatholic Church, but she is undoubt- edly a sound and excellent m^mbjr of it." -Iga.n in the Ltany, the Church prays " that it may please God to rule, and gov r.\ his holy Church Universal, 'n the right way," where we may observe, tliatthro' the ' Church Universal' comprehends many var.oas d.mo.iiinatious, it is implied in this petition, that th?y may all b3 * vi th: ri'^kt ica-j.' Similar p'-titio.is occur in other parts of the Liturgy, in beliilf oftin Catiiolic or Universal Clujrch, in all of which, our Church unda iht:!dly pray.^, for tho welfare, and spiritual advancc- mgnt, of cv^ry several Churcli, which by its adherence to the fundamcMtal truths of Christianity, is a part, and m3mb2r of the U.iivorsal Church i whilst it i.s deserving of note, that tho general tenor of these petitions is, that the Body Catholic, may continue 'in unity, and Godly lov<3.' And ^ cannot doubt that if none of the sons of our Church had ever assumed a haughtier tone, or expressed harsher opinions towards those without her pale, than the example of their venerable mother justifies, much of tlie feeling oi Dissent, if not much of Dissent itself, would never have existed. Let me not be deemed insensible to the superiority of our Church, nor at J LSTTETl, die 19 i*lI\ indispoaed to assert it. I am, on the contrarj', bo convinced of the aol*. -dity of her foundations, and of the excellence of lior structure, as to believo it perfectly unn'jcsssary to scroon hor by a wall of prjjuJicos, and ©(Tended feelings, from the near approach, and inspection of others ; for the mora nearly she is coiiternplat-d, to the jrreatcr udvantntje will she ever appear. She is, howevcT, often placed, in tlie predicament of a fair island, whose in- habitants, thro' an excess of api)rjhonsion, suspiciously shun all external in- tercourse, and inv.vst their t^'"it().-y wit'i rfu:'i hrisllinir demonstrations of re- pulse to all amicable advancoF, that it is only re/rardod from a distance, ai an inhospitable, and iio.stile rofrion ; whereas if strani,'ers were encouraged to approach its shores, the nearer prospect mii^ht induce some to explore ita interior; ai'd these .struck witli beauties, tind advantajros which they had never imagined, might dt.lrnnine to adopt it for their home, and thus xa- creasc its prosperity, aiid srtrei'.gth. I would withdraw noL^gltim-Ue defences of our Church against hoatila attacks, but these dcfoncjs are intrinsic : in her own purity, and soundnees, and integrity, I believe her to be invulnerable: and were she but left to Btand fairly upon her own merits, divested of that veil of prejudices with wiiich, but too frcqucnllj', repulsive jealousy, o'^. one hand, and consequent ir- ritation, and resentment, on the other, have, in the eyes of those witho;iti enveloped iier ; the apostol c model of her government, the simple dignity of her expressive, and Scriptural ordinances, the f rvent piety of her devotions, with the decent order, and sober cont^istency which pervade the whole, would present a " beauty of holiness" which must command respect, even vvher* it failed to secure attachment. With respect to t!ie general principle which T am advocating, I infer that if our Church be so candidly disposed towards other bodies of Cliristiansi as not merely to permit of the interchange of social civilitie.«, but to teach US to pray for their spiritual welfare, as boing all included within the palo of Christ's Catholic Ciiurch; neitlier her principles, nor her spirit, pre- clude her children from making common cause with their brethren of other denominations, in the extension of the universal Church, and in the over- throw of the kingdom of darkness, where such co-operation is effected, not only without compromise, but without collision even, of principle. Towards the close of your letter, yon pay a warm and eloquent tribute* (in which you must carry with you the feelings of all who are acquainted with their labours) to the devoted zeal of our first two Eastern Bishop?, and of the late Bishop of New- York ; between whom you imagmc you perceive many points of rescmblanco. I think, however, that I discover oao point in which the two former differed considerably from the latter, and that is* In the extent to which they carried the principle of avoiding religious com. mnnication with other denom'mationa. I 't so LrTTKT! uU, V.C C. r have&lreaJy mt»nt lorK'd the fact of tlic Hiitiuii and Fori'i^n BIUo Soci- ety h.ivinj; voted JL'5(KR) to llissfiop Midilloton, for proriioliiiif tlie dosiuiiB of tht' Cullo^e, \v'liif;h ho founded at Calciilta ; find it appcnrf, tliat that learned and d»n-oted prelate, did not consider that he was coinproin.gjnjr his I'ipis- copal fidelity, by av?ceptir;j a grant, ijiven in ;lie .-'pirit cf Chriftian eharity, thon<,'li it wp.s part ofa fnnd ra'sed by the joint exertionf, and contributiojitu of Ciiurchnioii and Dis^enterd. Of Bishop Ileber's opinion, aa to the general principle, we have IiIh own •tatenient recorded, in a lott.-r addre.'^.'^'r! l,y him to the Cluirch Mi.s3aioim_ riori in ('eyloii, " respectiii;^ the propriety ul" their en^fairiiicr with Missiona. rics of other relitrious .iecte, in solemn cuiifenMice on topics conneeted with their work anionir the 11 'atlieii." " I have first (he proceeds) to express tny thankfjln '.-ig to God, for V.\^ b/otherly and tolerant Bj)irit, wliieh 1 have noticed amon;,' those, who, with less or ^'reater dilliTfinees of opinions, and discrepancies of doctrine and disci|>line, alitnidantly to he deplored, yet hold, ai I am persuaded, the same faith in the cross, and shall bo found, ai I trust, in the last day, on the sar>ie Rod; of Salvation." llo tiicn adds a caution, that they take can; not to level in the eyes of others, or of them. Belv8e affords a gratify iny presumption, tliat neither the heads of the Church, nor those Venerable Societies with whom our Colonial Bishops are so inti- maU'ly connec-teil, see such treacii'jry or even suc!i indiirercce to the interests oi'i'icir own Cimrch, in the Clerical 8upi)ori,or3 of the Biblo So- ciety, as to coTi:^idor them unfit to bo entrusted with the highest offices of spiritual ^^overnnit'iit. Bofoi-o I cnnchido, I must, bo;/, notwitlistaiulinrj any observations I may have made ou particular f)i)itiio;is, to repeat my ii.ifeiirned esteem, and re- spect, for the momory and character of Bishop Ilobart, to whose energy and ability. Episcopacy is under such irreat and lasting obligations. It is indeed, mainly, (under (iod) tlirough his exertions, that the Episcopal Church in America lias spreail to an extent, and now occupies, in spite of the difficulties it has had to contend with, a position of general respect and influence, which are in themselves no mean indirect evidence of the purity of its origin, — 1 beg also, in closing those remarks, to assure you that tiiey have been prompted by but two motives : first, the wish of vindi- cating from misai)prehensioii, a society, imperfectly, as I imagine, understood here ; but which 1 conscientiously believe to have been the instrument of great good in the cause of Religion ; and secondly, the desire, of, at tho same time, justifying my own support of that Society. I trust these motives may be my apology for trespassing on your attention ; whilst I am persuaded they will secure me your candid interpretation of what I bav« advanced. 1 beg to subscribe myself, Venerable Sir, Your faithful friend and servant, JOS. H. HARRIS. r. C. Collfsre, 31 « Oct., 1832. P. S. For several of the facts to which I have adverted, I am indebted to a work called " an Analysis on the Bible Society," of whose e-xistenco I was not aware when I began this letter : indeed I had concluded my ob- servations without any book of reference on the subject, except a last year'a • Report,' wiien I accidentally saw the ' Analysis' lying on a shelf at the Depository. I own I was struck with tiie coincidence of thus opportunelj meeting with such unexpected corroborati ve evidence. APPENDIX. {See Conclusion of Note, page H.) Since sending my Letter to the press, I have BRon soma pamphlets lately published in England, o;i tlie 8ut>jfi;t of tlio Bible Society ; in ona or which (written by John Joseph Gurney, a member of the Society of Friends, and well known in the rolig'.ous and philanthropic world), I find the following notice of a Strasburgh edition of the Bible, which I supposo to be timt to which you allude . " At an early period in the history of the Society, an edition of tho Gorman Bible, partly through tho aid of our funds, was printed at Stras* burgli. Profossor lIiFF.NKii of that place, without the knowledge of tho Committee in Ijondon, added to the volume a Preface, which is said to have been of a very objectionable teiuluicy. Whether it was so, or not, (and witnesses vary on the subject) eucli a proceeding was directly op- posed to one of our primary rules. As soon therefon', as tho circnnistan* ces were made known to the ('ommitter. Lord Teionmouth, as well as the other oflicers of the Society, warmly remonstrated, and continued their rcmontrancee, till the Preface was withilravvn." It appears thon, not only that this " extraordinary preface", was with- out the sanction of the British and Foreign Society, but that that Society so successfully exerted its influence on the occasion, as to procure a largO numbar of Bibles to be dissominatod in Germany, without any comment, which, but for its influence, would have been accom^-inied by an objection- able introduction. The following statement shows in so striking a light, not only how little there is to apprehend from the admission of Socinians into the Bible Society, and how decided is the feeling of the vast majority of the mem- bers respecting their doctrines ; but also how plainly the bulk of their own denomination, feels the Society to bo opposed to their tenets ; that I can- not forbear extracting it, " A gentleman who hi^s taken great pains to enquire into the subject, computes the number of otTicr'-bearers in the Bible Society, and its depen- dencies throughout Great Britain, at 10,000, of whom Uiree arc Socinians ; the number of members of ('ommitties, including Collectors, at 37,500, of whom thirty-two are Socinians : and the entire number of Subscribers at 100,001), of whom not quite one hundred are Socinians." And it is especi- ally wortiiy of remark, that ^' during tlie twenty-seven years of the Society's existence, not a single Socinian, has ever been chosen on the CommiUee" of tht Parent Society. •ORKISrONDBNT rEIKTINO.OmCI, TOUI, V. fl.