*
' mAi
CHARI.KS HKNRY t'ONTOIT
A
Century
of
Achievement
The History or
The New York Bible
and
Common Prayer Book
Society
for
One Hundred Years
ARTHUR LOWNDES
D. D.
EDWIN S. GORHAM
New York
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFOR1S
SANTA BARBARA
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV.
Thirty-Third Annual Report of 1841 Thirty-Fourth Annual Report of
1842 Progress with German Prayer Book Reported Testimony Borne
to Value of Grants to Mariners To U. S. Navy And Army New
Quarters for the Society at 20 John Street Distribution of Prayer Books
in the Prisons Thirty-Fifth Annual Report of 1843 Thirty-Sixth An-
nual Report of 1844 Testimonies as to the Value of the Prayer Book as a
Missionary Agency Books Sent to the Indian Nation To Texas Sand-
wich Isles Summary of the Church's Work in the Sandwich Isles
Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of 1845 Necessity Felt of Having Standard
Editions of the Bible and Prayer Book Tables Showing Wide Distribution
of Grants 481
CHAPTER XVI.
Annual Meeting and Thirty-Eighth Report of 1846 Progress of the
French and German Prayer-Books Adoption of a Seal Rector of St.
Mark's Church Decides Against Claim of Society to Share in Belts'
Legacy Annual Meeting and Thirty-Ninth Report, 1847 Annual Meet-
ing and Fortieth Report, 1848 Testimony from Virginian Gentleman
Correspondence with the Secretary of the Navy Annual Meeting and
Forty-First Annual Report, 1849 Grants to California and Oregon Com-
mittee on an Endowment Fund Appointed Annual Meeting and Forty-
Second Report, 1850 Letter from Rev. Flavel S. Mines First Offering
to the Society from California Labels for the Society's Books Presented
by Mr. Richard Wood Court Decides Against Claims of Society to Share
in Pope Legacy Report of Endowment Committee Annual Meeting and
Forty-Third Report, 1851 518
CHAPTER XVII.
Annual Meeting and Forty-Fourth Report, 1852 Sermon by Dr. Wain-
wright, Bishop-Elect A Committee on Finance Appointed General Con-
vention of 1853 Delegation from ihe S. P. G. Sermon by Dr. Spencer,
iii.
iv. Contents.
formerly Bishop of Madras Annual Meeting and Forty-Fifth Report,
1853 Annual Meeting and Firty-Sixth Report, 1854 Legacies from James
P. Van Home and John Noble Annual Meeting and Forty-Seventh Re-
port, 1855 Discussions on a Standard Bible for the American Church
Memorial of the Society to the General Convention Committees Appointed
by the General Convention Letter by Rev. Henry M. Mason Meeting
and Forty-Eighth Report, 1856 The Society Arranges with Protestant
Episcopal Tract Society as to Proportion of Expense in Printing the Stand-
ard Bible Calls for a Spanish Prayer Book Distribution of Books Ex-
tended to Liberia and South America General Convention of 1856 Re-
port of Committee on Standard Bible Committee of Five Appointed
Correspondence between the Society and the Committee Anniversary
Meeting, 1857 Sermon by Bishop Kip Election of Officers Forty-Ninth
Report Editions in Spanish and Italian Urged The Necessity for a
Standard Bible Correspondence thereon with Dr. Mason 557
CHAPTER XVIII.
Annual Meeting and Fiftieth Report, 1858 Standard Bible Considered
References to the "Eyre and Strahan" Edition Report on the Different
Editions of the Prayer Book Issued by the Society Spanish Edition
Authorized Title of Stereotype Fund Altered to that of Permanent
Fund Elaborate Report of Committee on the Standard Bible Resolu-
tions Passed by the Board Apathy of Churchmen in Regard to Standard
Bible Indebtedness of the Church to Zeal of Dr. Mason Distribution of
French Prayer Books to French Canadians at Kanakee County, Illinois
Letter from Father Chiniquy Further Work on the Spanish Prayer Book. 613
CHAPTER XIX.
Annual Meeting of 1859 Fifty- First Annual Report Is an Historical
Account of the Bible in the Church in America General Convention of
1859 Report from Committee of Prayer Book Society Presented to General
Convention Report Accepted by both Houses The Rev. Dr. Mason
Appointed Typographical Corrector for Standard Bible General Conven-
tion Appoints Joint Committee on the Standard Bible A Committee Ap-
painted by the Board of Managers on a Spanish Prayer Book Report of
Committee Committee on Standard Bible Enlarged Report of Com-
mittee on Standard Bible Resolutions Proposed Report, of 1860, from
the Committee on the Standard Bible Resolutions Proposed by Committee
not Accepted Resignations of the Rev. Joshua Weaver and Judge Bell
Rev. Dr. McVickar Asked to Draw up Annual Report He Declines
Annual Meeting of 1860 Fifty-Second Annual Report Offer to Translate
the Prayer Book in Hungarian Committee on Distribution Appointed
Their Report Resolutions Adopted Governing Editions to Be Kept by the
Society " t _ 644
Contents. v.
CHAPTER XX.
The Civil War Distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books Among the
Soldiers Death of Bishop Onderdonk Warm Tribute to his Memory
Report of 1861 Death of Mr. Thomas Butler Election of
Mr. James Pott as Treasurer and Agent Anniversary Meeting, Sep-
tember 28, 1862 Sermon by Mr. Cornelius R. Duffie Report
Minute on Death of Mr. Butler New Home of the Society at No.
5 Cooper Union General Convention of 1862 Intrusion of Politics
Report of Committee on Typographical Errors in the Bible Reports
Accepted and Committee Appointed The Pope Legacy Revision of Con-
stitution and By-Laws Report of Committee on Pope Legacy Annual
Meeting October n, 1863 Sermon by Dr. William Stevens Perry Dis-
tribution of Prayer Books in the South Incidents Related by Bishop
Whipple Publication of the Prayer Book in Spanish Grant of Books
for the Naval School at Newport The Bishop Withdraws his Letter of
Disapproval of the New By-Laws The New Constitution and By-Laws
Adopted Book of Selections from the Prayer Book for Use of Army and
Navy Suggested Committee Reports Against the Proposal Anniversary
Meeting and Report, October, 1864 The Hanford Legacy Special Meet-
ing November 23, 1864 Condition of Stereotype Plates Considered New
Plates Proposed The Proposal Accepted Resolution on Pope Legacy
Course of Lectures on the Bible Decided On Committee Appointed on
the Most Accurate Edition of the Bible Annual Meeting and Report of
1865 Uniformly Paged Edition of the Prayer Book Minute on the Death
of Rev. E. R. T. Cook 677
CHAPTER XXL
General Convention of 1865 Report of Joint Committee on Typographi-
cal Errors in Bible Joint Committee Appointed Translation of Part of
the Prayer Book in Dakota Language The Mohawk Edition Report of
1866 Over 44,000 Volumes Distributed Prosperous and Sound Financial
Condition of Society First Year Since Its Formation that Receipts Ex-
ceed Expenditures No Further Mention Made of the Standard Bible in
Reports of the Society Meetings in 1867 Report From Rev. Mr. Well-
man Report for 1868 Change in Methods of Administration Adopted
Appointment of Rev. Merritt H. Wellman as Special Agent to Collect Funds
for the Society General Convention of 1868 Report of Committee on
Standard Bible Committee Reports Against Printing an Edition
in America Recommends Adoption of British Oxford Edition of 1852
Report Adopted and Committee Discharged Inaction Due Mainly to
Deaths of Rev. Dr. Mason and Mr. Hugh D. Evans Action Reconsidered
and Committee Continued Report of Committee on Bible Legacy from
Mrs. Elizabeth Wooley Committee on Spanish Prayer Book Appointed
Report for 1869 Election of Officers Report for 1870 Election of
Officers Successful Methods of the Special Agent Rev. M. H. Wellman
vi. Contents.
Legacy from John Alstyne Report for 1871 Election of Officers Re-
port for 1872 Election of Officers Report for 1873 Legacy from
J. P. Van Home Election of Officers Death of Mr. Floyd Smith
Report for 1874 Election of Officers Legacy from George Merritt
Death of Rev. Dr. Montgomery 724
CHAPTER XXII.
Report from Committee on Funds of Society Release Given in Matter
of Duvant Legacy Report for 1875 Election of Officers The German
Prayer Book Report of Committee Summary of Action of General
Convention on the Several Versions of the Prayer Book Report for
1876 Election of Officers Report for 1877 Election of Officers Death
of Hamilton Bruce Report on Ten Year's Work, 1868-1877 Death of
Rev. Caleb Clapp Death of John W. Mitchell Report for 1878 Work
among American Indians Prayer Books in Indian Dialects Translations
in the Dakota Tongue Election of Officers, 1878 Death of Cyrus Cur-
tiss Report for 1879 Election of Officers Prayer Book in Norwe-
gian Report for 1880 Election of Officers 75<
CHAPTER XXIIL
Translation of Prayer Book into Italian A Translation Presented to
General Convention, 1880, by Rev. Mr. Stauder Accompanied by a Pre-
amble Action by the Society Report for 1881 Election of Officers
Report of Committee Adverse to Mr. Stauder s Version Report on the
German Prayer Book Minute on Death of Frederick De Peyster Report
for 1882 Report on the German Prayer Book Meetings in 1883
Minute on Death of W. B. Clerke Address Made by Bishop Young of
Florida Inaccuracies in Spanish Translation Pointed Out Report for
1884 New Translation of the French Prayer Book Translation of the
Prayer Book into Norwegian Prepared by Bishop Whipple Minute on
the Death of W. R. Ronalds Legacy from I. Woodey Letter from the
Albany Bible and Prayer Book Society on Desirability of a Swedish Trans-
lation of the Prayer Book Adverse Report of a Committee on a Swedish
Prayer Book W. H. Vanderbilt Legacy Special Committee Appointed
on Amendment of Charter Reports Adversely Report for 1885 Com-
mittee Appointed to Report to Next General Convention on Necessary
Changes in the Standard Prayer Book in Way of Enlargement and Enrich-
ment Action of General Convention Book Annexed Report Minute
on Death of Bishop Lay 787
CHAPTER XXIV.
Annual Meeting, October, 1886 Report for 1886 S. M. Edson and
Caleb Clapp Legacies General Convention of 1866 Joint Committee on
Liturgical Revision Death of Bishop Horatio Potter Paper by Rev.
Contents. vii.
Joshua Weaver on the Standard Edition of the Bible Report for 1887
Minute on the Death of the Rev. Dr. Price Report for 1888 Minute on
the Death of Rev. Dr. Morgan And of F. W. Foote Gift of his
Collection of Prayer Books to the Society by Professor Egleston Report
of 1889 General Convention of 1889 Joint Committee on Standard Prayer
Book Memorial from American Bible Society to General Convention
The German Translation of the Prayer Book Report of Special Commit-
tee Appropriation for Prayer Book in Japanese 817
CHAPTER XXV.
Election of Officers, 1890 Report for 1890 Legacies from George P.
Clapp, and M. L. Ripley Request from South America for the Prayer
Book in Portuguese Report from Committee on Versions Changes Sanc-
tioned in French Translation Progress of the Japanese Prayer Book
Election of Officers for 1891 Report for 1891 Minute on the Death of
Rev. Joshua Weaver And of Rev. A. Bloomer Hart Appropriation
Voted for Prayer Book in Japanese Minute on the Death of S. P. Bell
Progress of German Translation Election of Officers for 1892 Report
for 1892 General Convention of 1892 Standard Prayer Book Accepted,
and Adopted Report of Committee of House of Bishops on Prayer Book
in German Prayer Book Distribution Society Course of Sermons on
the Prayer Book Application for Prayer Books for American Churches in
Europe Declined Prayer Book in Chinese Considered Report for 1893
And Election of Officers Minute on Death of George E. Shortridge
Election of Officers for 1894 Report for 1894 Report for 1895 Election
of Officers, 1895 Copies of Prayer Book in Japanese, Presented to the
Society Appropriation for Chinese Book Report for 1896 Election of
Officers Completion of Translation of Prayer Book into Chinese Report
for 1897 Election of Officers Minute on the Death of the Rev. Dr.
Langford Action on Gospels in Syriac Report for 1898 Election of
Officers Appropriation for Prayer Book in Portuguese And for Psalter
for the Blind Action on Prayer Book ia German Publication of Syriac
Gospels declined Revision of Prayer Book in Spanish Further Appro-
priation for Prayer Book in Chinese And for Prayer Book in Japanese
Report for 1899 Election of Officers Paper on "The Prayer Book in
English" by the Rev. Dr. Hart 835
CHAPTER XXVI.
Death of Professor Egleston Minute on his Death Report for 1900
Minute on Death of Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D. Appointment of R. M. Pott
as Assistant Treasurer Election of Officers, 1900 Report on the German
and Spanish Prayer Books Minute on Death of the Rev. John Wesley
Brown, D.D. And on Death of the Rev. Brady Electus Backus, D.D.
Report for 1901 Election of Officers, 1901 Report on Spanish Prayer
Book Proposed Alterations in Title Page Referred to Counsel Report
viii. Contents.
on German Prayer Book Report for 1902 Election of Officers, 1902
Report of Committee on Versions Letter from Bishop Brent Report
for 1903 Election of Officers, 1903 Report of Committee on Versions
German Prayer Book Printed Spanish Prayer Book Awaiting Communi-
cations from Bishops in Spanish Speaking Possessions Minute on Death
of Henry Rogers Report for 1004 Request for Local Editions of the
Spanish Prayer Book Referred to Committee of General Convention
Minute on Death of James Pott Election of John McLean Nash as Treas-
urer Report of Chairman of Committee of General Convention Adverse
to Local Editions of Spanish Prayer Book Action of General Convention
on Spanish Prayer Book Spanish Prayer Book as Revised by Rev. Dr.
Lowndes Accepted by Committee of General Convention And Published
Report for 1905 Election of Officers, 1905 Minute on Death of Frank
Drisler R. M. Pott Appointed Agent Committee Appointed on A His-
tory of the Society to Be Issued in the Centennial Year of its Existence
Sympathy Extended to San Francisco Sufferers Report for 1906 Agent's
Report Election of Officers, 1006 Report of Committee on History of
Society Change in By-Laws Report for 1907 Election of Officers,
1907 Plates of Obsolete French Prayer Book Ordered Destroyed Indian
Service Book Issued for Alaska Report of Committee on Centennial
Report for 1908 Officers for 1908 Minutes on Death of Bishop Potter
and Dr. Dix Agent's Report Table of Distribution Report from
Centennial Committee 872
CHAPTER XXVII.
Preparations Made for the Centennial Service Consent Given by the
Rector of Trinity Church for Holding the Service in that Church Special
Music under Direction of Victor Baier Bishop of New York Unable to
be Present The Word of Greeting to be Said by the Bishop of Connecti-
cut Reasons for Asking him Historical Address to be Given by Rev.
Dr. Lowndes Bishops Appoint Delegates to Represent their Dioceses at
this Solemn Act of Thanksgiving The Bishop of London Appoints the
Rt. Rev. Dr. Courtney to Represent him The S. P. G. and the S. P. C. K.
Appoint Rectors of Perth Amboy and Jamaica to Represent them Dis-
tinguished Persons Asked to Attend Sympathetic Message from Arch-
bishop Platon Letters from Bishop Raphael The Governor of New
York The Russian Consul General Action of the Bishops of New York,
Long Island, New Jersey and Newark Special Order of Service Drawn
up by Dr. Lowndes Full List of Delegates From Dioceses in the Foreign
Mission Field In United States Possessions In United States Semina-
ries Universities Colleges Institutions Army and Navy Extracts
from "The Churchman" "The Living Church" "The Southern Church-
man" 907
Contents. ix.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Word of Greeting by the Bishop of Connecticut 920
CHAPTER XXIX.
A Century of Achievement, being the Historical Address delivered by the
Rev. Dr. Lowndes 923
CHAPTER XXX.
The Centennial Service, Trinity Church, New York, April 14, 1909 957
APPENDIX.
I.
List of Pamphlets in the Bible Society Controversy, referred to on page 29. 987
II.
List of Original Donors and Subscribers to the Society in the year 1811, re
ferred to on page 47 988
III.
List of Original Donors and Subscribers to the Auxiliary Society in the year
1816, referred to on page 78 992
IV.
List of Books Distributed to the Pupils of Trinity Church Sunday School,
as Gifts, Christmas Day, 1832, referred to on page 119 997
V.
Act of Incorporation and Bye-Laws of the Auxiliary New-York Bible and
Common Prayer Book Society, 1818, referred to on page 133 997
VI.
List of Donors to the Stereotype Fund in 1833, referred to on page 398. .. . 1003
INDEX 1008
ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME II.
PAGE.
CHARLES HENRY CONTOIT Frontispiece.
JOHN McVICKAR 524
THOMAS C. BUTLER 682
JAMES POTT 884
A HISTORY OF
THE NEW YORK BIBLE AND
COMMON PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY.
CHAPTER XV.
CONTENTS.
Thirty-Third Annual Report of 1841 Thirty-Fourth Annual Report of
1842 Progress with German Prayer Book Reported Testimony Borne
to Value of Grants to Mariners To U. S. Navy And Army New
Quarters for the Society at 20 John Street Distribution of Prayer Books
in the Prisons Thirty-Fifth Annual Report of 1843 Thirty-Sixth An-
nual Report of 1844 Testimonies as to the Value of the Prayer Book as a
Missionary Agency Books Sent to the Indian Nation To Texas Sand-
wich Isles Summary of the Church's Work in the Sandwich Isles
Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of 1845 Necessity Felt of Having Standard
Editions of the Bible and Prayer Book Tables Showing Wide Distribution
of Grants.
w
HEN the Board of Managers met in October, 1841,
to present their
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE THIRTY-THIRD
CONSECUTIVE REPORT,
they made the following encouraging statements.
The receipts have been as follows :
From 48 Country Parishes $318 67
6 City Parishes 343 36
i City Parish for last year 1 50 oo
Auxiliaries 25 oo
Sales T >95! 46
Donations 529 25
Subscriptions 392 oo
Schatzel Fund 140 oo
Donations to constitute a patron and life mem-
ber, &c 240 oo
Miscellaneous sums 136 25
$4,192 92
The payments have been made as follows :
481
(31)
482 Thirty-Third Report. [1841
For paper, printing and binding and for books pur-
chased, including $140 for books on account of
the Schatzel Fund 2 > 66 3 1
For incidental expenses 858 97
$2,925 28
Since the last anniversary the Board have added to their stock
of books 2,013 Bibles and 8,031 Prayer Books, and have now in
press a further edition of 10,000 Prayer Books.
Bibles. Testa'nts. P. Books. Hymns. Ger. Lit
Distribution, gratuitous, 563 461 5049 82 250
Distribution, by sales, 627 151 3805 234 33
Total, 1190 612 8854 316 283
Whole number of volumes distributed gratuitously and by
sales, 11,255.
The Board are happy to state that the receipts of funds and
distribution of books have exceeded the receipts and distribution
of the previous year, though the collections in the city churches
have not amounted to one-half as much as in each of the three
preceding years.
The Board have not confined their gratuitous distribution to
this Diocese or this State; but have acted on the principle that
the Society is an auxiliary to the Church in supplying the word
of God and its authorized exposition wherever the Church her-
self has gone. Hence a very large proportion of the gratuitous
distribution has been through the missionaries who have been
sent out to the rough and destitute portions of the West and
South.
In this way the Board believe they are acting in their appro-
priate sphere, assisting and co-operating in the movements of the
Church through her ministry for the gathering of men to the
fold of Christ.
The duties connected with the work are of so important a
character that the Board would fain hope they hold a prominent
place in the affections and prayers of all the members of the
Church. Christians, realizing their own experience of the rich
blessings of the Gospel of Christ as they are furnished in the
ordinances and institutions of the Church, and participating in
the grace of Christ's holy sacraments, cannot but desire that
1841] Thirty-Third Report. 483
these privileges and blessings may be extended to their neigh-
bours, their fellow countrymen, to all who are their brethren in
the common ties of redemption from sin through Christ our Lord.
The Church of which we are members, taking her true posi-
tion as the Catholic Church having mission in this land, a pecu-
liar, indeed, an awful responsibility rests upon her and every
individual high or low, rich or poor, who has the happiness to
be numbered within her fold. The Board would desire that the
true position of the Church here indicated, should be well weighed
by all.
It is the will, it is the command of God, that the Gospel should
be preached to every creature. This preaching of the Gospel
includes necessarily the institutions of the Gospel, the sustaining,
the cherishing, the perpetuation of these institutions so as to
embrace all the lost sons of Adam within their blessed influence.
The ministers of Christ are charged primarily with this preach-
ing; but they are not charged exclusively with it. The divine
economy provides that all orders and degrees of men in Christ's
Holy Church shall perform their respective parts and offices in
this work. The laity no less than the clergy are to see that the
Gospel is preached. Both are to do it by their continual prayers
and holy lives; the laity are to do it by assisting, supporting,
sympathizing with, and encouraging those heralds divinely com-
missioned; and one of the means by which this assistance is to
be rendered is supplying in abundance the Holy Scriptures and
the Book of Common Prayer. To this office of the Church as a
Preacher (and the Book of Common Prayer is in a peculiar sense
an agent by which she preaches), everything else must be held
in a subordinate relation; influence, talent, worldly wealth, are
all to be exercised to this end, that God may be glorified by the
preaching of His Son Christ Jesus.
If at this day those who have lands or possessions are not
expected to sell them and lay the price at the Apostles' feet; if
at this day Christians are not expected to merge individual rights
(so called), in one general interest, and to have all things in
common, the principle which governed in these Scripture ex-
amples is still binding.
They who are in the Church are one brotherhood, living for
one object; that object the service of their Divine Master and
Head. Whatever they have is consecrated to that service ; so that
484 Thirty-Third Report. [1841
they no more look every man on his own things, but every man
on the things of another. The Holy Church, thus constituted, is
to go on gathering in one nation after another of the kingdoms
of this world, and one after another of the human race, until she
ultimately absorb all within herself and thus accomplish the
divine mission with which she is entrusted.
In her onward course she has come to this country ; and here
she stands upon our shores in the simple majesty of Apostolic
proportions, and asserts her commission to be the divinely ap-
pointed Preacher of the Gospel to all the people of this land. It
is in this attitude that the members of this, our branch of
Christ's Universal Church, should regard her. They belong to a
Church to which is committed the evangelizing of this country;
the healing of its divisions; the bringing into one its multiform
creeds and systems; the restoring among those who name the
name of Christ, the one altar, and the converting to the faith and
purity of the Gospel all who now reject or disregard it.
This is the office of the Church which God has established in
this country, and in humble dependence on him who is ever with
her, in confidence and trust in his unfailing promises, she will
one day it may be a very distant day she will one day accom-
plish all of her important office. The proof of this truth is
written in the fore-ground of all those passages of Holy Scrip-
ture which inculcate the unity of the Church, and the fruits and
grace of the Holy Spirit, as the adornment of all her members,
and in those prophecies which foretell the complete triumph of
Messiah's Kingdom.
From this truth there is a practical duty, resulting in which
all are deeply concerned. Every parish and all the members of
every parish, are a part of that body to which this great work is
committed. To some extent, that is, just in proportion as God
has given ability and opportunity, are they responsible for the
doings of the work in this Vineyard of their Lord and Master.
The Board, in behalf of the Society, on this ground as offering
an important opportunity to Churchmen to aid the Church in her
movements as the Preacher of the Gospel, appeal with confidence
for the funds necessary to enlarge their operations. They have
already given a pledge for such enlargement. Hitherto their
printing and circulation of the Holy Scriptures and of the Book
of Common Prayer have been confined to copies in the Eng-
1841] Election of Officers. 485
lish language. But some months since the Board announced
that they would issue an edition of the Book of Common Prayer
in the German language, as soon as the means, taken by the Gen-
eral Convention for the authorization of a translation, should be
completed.
The calls for the Prayer Book in German are many and urgent ;
and it is not doubted that a world of much usefulness is here
opened to the Society.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
BESt^;,v. & .
By order of the Board.
The usual anniversary of the diocesan Societies, appointed to
be held in St. Bartholomew's Church on the evening of October
6, 1841, was not held "on account of a violent equinoctial storm"
raging at the time, as the record in the minutes reads. Only a
few members being able to attend, the meeting was indefinitely
postponed. (Folio 119.)
At an adjourned meeting of the Society held at the Depository,
28 Ann Street, the Qth day of November, 1841, the Right Rev.
Bishop Onderdonk in the Chair, the following Officers and Man-
agers were elected for the ensuing year.
Officers.
Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, President ex-officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, 2d Vice President.
Rev. J. M. Wainwright, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Hugh Smith, D.D., 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
C. N. S. Rowland, ?th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas Browning, Treasurer.
Thomas C. Butler, Agent.
Managers: Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Rev. Lot Jones, Rev.
Joseph H. Price, Rev. Edward Y. Higbee, Rev. Lewis P. W.
Balch, Rev. James D. Carder, Rev. Edward N. Mead, Rev.
Charles Jones, Rev. J. Price, J. D. Fitch, M.D., Frederick De
Peyster, William M. Benjamin, John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick,
486 Stereotype Fund. [1842
John W. Mitchell/ Theophilus Peck, Samuel T. Skidmore, J. B.
Herrick, Abraham Van Ingen, Charles Tomes, William A. Dun-
can, William J. Pinckney, Alexander L. McDonald, Charles
Congdon.
Attest: WILLIAM H. BELL, Secretary of the Meeting.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas Browning, Thomas C.
Butler, Rev. J. H. Price, C. N. S. Rowland, William H. Hobart,
M.D.
Committee on Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Lot
Jones, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Edward
Y. Higbee, Thomas Browning, and Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas
Browning, and Thomas C. Butler.
At the meeting of December 14, 1841, a letter was read from
Captain Augustus Proal, mariner, thanking the Society for their
donation of Bibles and Prayer Books, in which he gave an ac-
count of the good effect produced upon the seamen by these
volumes.
The condition of the Society is seen from this special report of
the Treasurer.
The total amount of property of the Stereotype Fund amounts
as follows:
1 set of folio Stereotype plates of Common Prayer
Book, value $322 c;o
2 do Octavo, do, do i ,700 oo
1 do i2mo, do, do 100 oo
2 do i8mo, do, do 1,200 oo
2 do I2mo, do, do, Bible i977 30
I Certificate of N. Y. State 5 p. ct. Stock, Redeem-
able in 1858 500 oo
i do, do 200 oo
i do, do, 6 p. ct. do, Redeemable in 1862 1,000 oo
Cash balance on hand 300 87
$7,310 67
New York, 8 February, 1842.
THOMAS BROWNING, Treasurer.
1842] Stereotype Fund. 487
Total amount of property Stereotype Fund as above. $7,310 67
Schatzel Fund . 2,000 oo
$9,310 67
The Committee on the Stereotype Fund presented the follow-
ing report:
That on the seventh day of January the Treasurer withdrew
from deposit with the Life & Trust Company, six hundred dol-
lars with eleven 41-100 dollars interest due thereon at 5 per ct.
per annum which with the one hundred and seventy-one 3-100
dollars, furnished by the Agent, amounted to seven hundred and
eighty-two 50-100 dollars, with which the committee purchased
one thousand dollars 6 per cent, stock of the State of New York,
payable in the year 1862.
1000 Dollars of 6 p. ct. stock purchased at 78 pr. ct.
with 2.50 Brokerage is . $782 50
The result of which will be to the Society, that 1000
Dollars at 6 p. ct. interest for 20 years will pro-
duce. Int. 1200 principal 1000, will be $2,200 oo
782.50, at 7 pr. ct., Interest 1095.50 782.50 1,878 oo
Making a net gain over 7 pr. ct. interest on the investment of
$322.
Respectfully submitted. New York, i Feby. 1842.
FLOYD SMITH,
THOMAS BROWNING,
THOS. C. BUTLER,
Committee on Stereotype Fund.
For the third time within a decade the Society sought a new
home.
On motion Messrs. Butler, Bostwick and Bell were appointed
a committee with power to hire a part of the building No. 20
John Street from the Sunday School Union, and also if prac-
ticable to unite with them and the Tract Society.
On August 9, 1842, the following resolution was passed :
"That with the consent of the Bishop of the Diocese, and the
concurrence of the Manager of the New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society, and of the Education and Missionary
Society, at the ensuing anniversary and until otherwise ordered,
instead of the exercises which have been hitherto customary,
488 Annual Meeting. [1842
there be 'Evening Prayer' and a sermon to be preached by a
Presbyter appointed by the Bishop, and that in the sermon, or
in a statement to be read before the sermon, as the Bishop shall
determine, there be given a summary of the proceedings of the
several Societies, to be furnished by the secretaries thereof re-
spectively." (Folio 135.)
ANNUAL MEETING.
At a meeting of the Society held at the Depository, 20 John
Street, on Thursday, the 6th day of October, 1842, the Rev. John
McVickar. D.D., in the Chair, the following Officers and Man-
agers were elected for the ensuing year :
Officers.
Rt. Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, President ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. J. M. Wainwright, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. Hugh Smith, D.D., 3d Vice President
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William G. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
C. N. S. Rowland, 7th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas Browning, Treasurer.
Thomas C. Butler, Agent.
Managers: Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Rev. John Mc-
Vickar, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Price, Rev. Edward Y. Higbee,
Rev. Lewis P. W. Balch. Rev. James D. Carder, Rev. Edward
N. Mead, Rev. Charles Jones, Rev. Smith Pyne, J. D. Fitch,
M.D., Theodore De Peyster, William M. Benjamin, John Al-
styne, C. B. Bostwick, John M. Mitchell, Theophilus Peck, Sam-
uel T. Skidmore, J. B. Herrick, George T. Strong, Charles
Tomes, William A. Duncan, William J. Pinckney, Alexander L.
McDonald, Charles Congdon.
Attest : THOMAS C. BUTLER, Secretary of the Meeting.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas Browning, Thomas C.
Butler, Rev. J. N. Price, C. N. S. Rowland, W. N. Hobart, M.D.
1842] Thirty-Fourth Report. 489
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Edward
G. Higbee, Thomas Browning, and Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund: Floyd Smith, Thomas
Browning, and Thomas C. Butler.
SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE THIRTY-FOURTH
CONSECUTIVE REPORT.
In presenting their Sixth Annual Report, the Managers of
the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society are
gratified to be able to give an encouraging view of their opera-
tions for the past year. There have been printed and bound for
distribution during the past year, 1,000 Testaments from the
stereotype plates presented by James Swords, Esq., 1,000 large
Prayer Books, 10,000 smaller do.
The Managers have also purchased 80 large Bibles for dis-
tribution to the aged. And they have now in press to meet the
coming wants a further edition of 6,000 Prayer Books.
The distribution and sales have been as follows :
Bibles. Testa'ats. P. Books. Large. P. & H.
Sales, 472 176 3,462 510
Gratuitous Distribution, 626 349 6,831 406
1,098 525 10,293 916 184
But while they report an increase in their distribution as com-
pared with that of last year, they regret they 'are compelled to
report a decrease in the funds received.
The receipts have been as follows :
From Country Parishes $33 1 76
City do 652 43
Auxiliary Societies 34 oo
Sales 1,848 35
Donations 178 04
Subscribers 305 oo
Interest 207 66
Collection in St. Paul's Chapel at the Con-
vention 76 67
Life Members 65 oo
For a German Prayer Book 1 5 50
The payments have been made as follows :
For paper, printing, binding and expenses $3,729 90
490 Thirty- Fourth Report. [1842
Being $804.62 more than the preceding year, the distribution
has been 1,761 volumes more than last year, while the receipts
have been $398.51 less.
Ought this to be so? Ought we as members of the Church,
blessed with the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, favoured
too by the kind providence of God, with a most admirable Lit-
urgy, in which the truth is forcibly and beautifully developed,
permit ourselves to remain sluggish or indifferent to the wide
diffusion of the Sacred Volume, and its appropriate companion,
the Book of Common Prayer. As to the latter let it be observed,
that there has never been a time, in our judgment, since its first
compilation when its diffusion would have contributed more to
the spread of the truth.
The attention of the Christian world is peculiarly drawn at
the present time to the importance of liturgical services in gen-
eral, and to the purity and appropriateness of our own in particu-
lar. Now, though we do not claim absolute perfection for our
Book of Prayer, yet we may safely offer it for comparison and
challenge competition with any other extant. In the words of a
learned and excellent divine, 1 who hath diligently studied its
contents and compared them with the purest standards, "Though
all Churches in the world have and ever had forms of prayer,
yet none was ever blessed with so comprehensive, so exact, and
so inoffensive a composure as ours, which is so judiciously con-
trived that the wisest may exercise at once their knowledge and
devotion, yet so plain that the most ignorant may pray with
understanding, so full that nothing is omitted which is fit to be
asked in public, and so particular that it comprised! most things
which we would ask in private, and yet so short as not to tire
any that hath devotion. Its doctrine is pure and primitive. Its
ceremonies so few and innocent, that most Christians would
agree in them. Its method is exact and natural. Its language
significant and perspicuous, most of the words and phrases being
taken out of the Holy Scriptures, and the rest are expressions of
the first and purest ages. So that whosoever takes exception at
these must quarrel with the language of the Holy Ghost, and fall
out with the Church in her greatest innocence. And in the opin-
ion of the most impartial and excellent Grotius, who was no
I. Dean Comber, Preface to The Companion to the Temple.
1842] Thirty-Fourth Report. 491
member of, nor had any obligation to this Church, our Liturgy
comes so near to the primitive pattern, that none of the reformed
Churches can compare with it. Whoever desires to worship God
with zeal and knowledge, spirit and truth, purity and sincerity,
may do it by these devout forms. And to this end may the God
of peace give us all meek hearts, quiet spirits and devout affec-
tions, and free us from all sloth and prejudice, and that we may
have full churches, frequent prayers, and fervent charity, that
uniting our prayers here, we may all join in his praises hereafter."
The Church fearlessly presents her formularies for examina-
tion, and her children will do her great injustice in withholding
the means of spreading far and wide, through her Prayer Book,
the knowledge of the purity of her faith, the apostolic constitu-
tion of her ministry, the order and solemnity which pervades her
temples, and the fervency of the language in which her devotions
are offered.
To this we might add that no time could be pointed out, when
there has been more favourable opportunity for the distribution
of the Prayer Book. Had your Board the means at their dis-
posal, hundreds might be scattered, where one is now sent on its
solitary pilgrimage. The army and navy present inviting fields
for the operations of this Society, and we might go on dispensing
instruction through its pages until not a seaman in his perilous
course through the deep, 1 not a soldier in the outposts scattered
through the dreary wilderness of our frontier, but would bless
the charity which had moved Christians to send such spiritual
comforts to the destitute. Nay, our prisons would more truly
become houses of reformation, could this silent monitor be sent
to each convict to awaken his penitence to instruct him in the
tender mercy of God, and put appropriate petitions in his mouth
i. The preference of seamen for services conducted with the Prayer Book
is a fact as remarkable as it is well authenticated. "I have repeatedly," says
one who from his experience has had ample means of knowing, "observed
the manner in which sailors spoke of religious services on shipboard. When
extemporaneously conducted, they always say in speaking casually of them,
'the captain,' or whoever the leader might be, he had prayer, or meeting, or
church, as it might happen, but when the liturgy had been used, we had, etc.,
showing clearly to my mind that it was only in the latter case they consid-
ered they had taken any part."
492 Thirty-Fourth Report. [1842
to supplicate that mercy, and grace for future amendment 1
It hath instruction and consolation for all classes and condi-
tions of men, and in the missionary operations of our Church
becomes ofttimes a most effective missionary, in its silent course,
calling attention to that living ministry, the divine origin of
which it proclaims and while it commends itself to the affec-
tions of all, it wins its way a ready reception. Instances might
be named not only of its public and private use by Christians of
other denominations, but of its being openly recommended by
some of the teachers of these denominations, 2 so numerous and
1. The following is here inserted as but one proof from many which might
be adduced to show the beneficial effects of the work in which this Society is
engaged. About six years ago 800 Prayer Books were distributed through the
Mount Pleasant State Prison (now Sing Sing) in this State, so as to fur-
nish one to each convict. The following letter was afterwards received from
a convict discharged at the expiration of his sentence, to whom these and
kindred efforts had been greatly blessed:
Worthy and dear Sir,
Permit an unworthy man, who in time of affliction has had the comfortable
satisfaction of being partially acquainted with you, again to address you. Be
pleased, kind Sir, to accept my most sincere thanks for the comforts you
were enabled to impart to me, not only in public, but in private conversation,
by the assurance of the never failing mercy of God, even to the chiefest of
sinners, who will but repent, forsake sin, and believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. Receive my thanks for furnishing us with Prayer Books and teach-
ing us the great benefits resulting from a sincere use of them. I think the
Prayer Book at that time was one means of giving an entire new turn to my
mind, and so far establishing it that I have endeavoured to worship with and
by it ever since, and I find it one of the most comforting guides to under-
standing the gospel plan of salvation that I have ever met with, and wish it
my constant companion. Also receive my thanks for your particular atten-
tion in furnishing tracts. They were of much service to me in bringing my
mind to a decision that I will aim ''to live soberly, righteously and godly"
the remainder of this mortal life. For all these kind offices and efforts of
yours may God reward you with unperishable riches both here and here-
after, and I entreat you, Sir, continue your exertions for those immortal
aouls. I have for some time past been attending the church where the Rev.
officiates. I contemplate ere long, if God will, to join myself
to the Church under his care ; may God give me the necessary preparation of
heart.
With sentiments of high esteem,
Your unworthy and humble servant, .
2. Applications are frequently made by Ministers of the Presbyterian
Baptist, and Methodist denominations for donations of Prayer Books, espec-
ially for use in the Navy, in hospitals and other similar institutions, which
are always granted to the extent of the Society's means.
1842] German Prayer Book. 493
inviting are the channels through which it may be distributed.
In conclusion the Board would ask the prayers and contribu-
tions of all who prize God's holy word of all who love to wor-
ship after the pattern and often in the words of the Apostles and
Martyrs, that they may be enabled to increase their efforts foe
the wide diffusion of gospel truth, gospel order, and gospel holi-
ness.
The MSS. of the German Prayer Book which had been sent
to the Society by Bishop Doane, had been sent for revision to
Professor Henry and the Rev. George Burgess, and at the meet-
ing of February 8, 1842, it was reported that n MSS. numbers
had been revised, but that it was not expedient to go to press
with them till they had been further examined by other German
scholars.
It was reported that a letter of thanks had been received from
Mr. Stockbridge (a Baptist Minister), Chaplain on board the
U. S. Ship Independence, for the donation made to him of 100
Prayer Books. (Folio 129.)
At the same meeting a donation of 75 Prayer Books was made
to the garrison at Fort Hamilton.
The Society hired part of the building at 20 John Street from
the Sunday School Union and went into their new quarters June,
1842. At their first meeting in John Street, the Secretary read a
letter from Mr. James Swords, in which he offered to present the
Society with a set of stereotype plates of the New Testament,
which were gratefully accepted.
In May, 1842, Mr. James Swords presented to the Society a set
of stereotype plates of the New Testament, which gift was duly
acknowledged at the meeting of June 14, 1842. (Folio 133.)
The minutes of the meeting of November 8, 1842, are full of
interest. Sales and distributions are reported as amounting to
5,288 volumes.
By advice of the Bishop 36 copies of the Prayer Book in French
and 1 1 copies of the Psalms in French were purchased and sub-
stantially bound and presented to the Rev. C. H. Williamson who
had formed a Church of the Holy Evangelists in Vandewater
Street, which met at i o'clock for service. Five hundred copies
of the Prayer Book had been purchased.
The gratifying announcement was made that 10 quarto Bibles,
494
Annual Meeting. [1842
containing the Apocrypha had been obtained in exchange for 150
i8mo Prayer Books.
The Agent read a letter which he had written to the Secretary
of the Navy in reference to the purchase of Prayer Books.
(Folio 139.)
At a meeting of June 13, 1843, it was stated that a request had
been made to the Society to print a manual of devotions for the
use of the Army and Navy of the United States, when it was re-
solved that such an action was entirely beyond the legitimate
scope of the Society.
Dr. McVickar was requested to ascertain upon what terms the
S. P. C. K. would furnish the Society with copies of the Bible in
sheets. (Folio I4 2 -)
ANNUAL MEETING.
At a meeting of the Society, held at the Depository, 20 John
Street, on Thursday, the 5th day of October, 1843, F1 y d Smith,
Esq., in the Chair, the following Officers and Managers were
elected for the ensuing year :
Officers.
Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, D.D., President ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. Hugh Smith, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
C. N. S. Rowland, 7th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, M.D.. 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas Browning, Treasurer.
Thomas C. Butler, Agent.
Managers: Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Rev. John Mc-
Vickar, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Price, Rev. Edward Y. Higbee,
Rev. Lewis W. Balch, Rev. James S. Carder, Rev. Edward N.
Mead, Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, Rev. Smith Pyne, Messrs.
David H. Hoyt, Frederick De Peyster, William M. Benjamin,
John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John M. Mitchell, Theophilus
Peck, Samuel T. Skidmore, J. B. Herrick, George T. Strong,
Robert D. Weeks, William A. Duncan, William I. Pinckney,
1843] Thirty-Fifth Report. 495
Alexander L. MacDonald, John R. Livingston, Jr.
Attest : THOMAS C. BUTLER, Secretary of the Meeting.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement: Thomas Browning, Thomas C.
Butler, Rev. J. N. Price, C. N. S. Rowland, W. H. Hobart, M.D.
Committee of Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Lot
Jones, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Edward
Y. Higbee, Thomas Browning, and Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas
Browning, and Thomas C. Butler.
SEVENTH ANNUAL BEING THE THIRTY-FIFTH CONSECUTIVE
REPORT.
In presenting their Seventh Annual Report, the Managers of
the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society deem it
advisable, for the information of their patrons and friends,
briefly to state the results since the union of the Parent and
Auxiliary Societies, and change of their system in 1837, from
the first of October of that year to the ist of October, 1843.
The sales and gratuitous distributions have extended to:
Bibles 6,517, Testaments 4,996, Prayer Books 54,730, Large
Prayer Books 3,463, Psalms and Hymns 1,409, German Liturgy
862, making a total of 71,977 volumes.
That in the same period their stock of stereotype plates has
been increased by purchases from the Permanent Fund of one
new set of I2mo Bible plates, and by the liberality of James
Swords, Esq., of one set of i8mo Testament plates.
The Permanent Fund has also gradually increased by the con-
tributions of Life Members, and the liberal bequest of Jacob
Schatzel, Esq., of 2,000 dollars, the interest of which is appropri-
ated for the gratuitous distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books,
partly of large type for the aged.
The transactions of the past year consist of
Bibles. Testaments. Prayer Books. Large do. P. & H.
Cash Sales, 824 496 5,966 546 571
Gratuitous Distribution, 749 519 7,455 199 37
!>573 1,013 I342I 745 608
And Printed and Bound, 2,000 2,000 14,000 1,000 125
496 Thirty-Fifth Report. [1843
An immediate edition of 8,000 Prayer Books is wanted, and
at least a similar quantity will be further wanted to meet the de-
mands of the present year; 1,000 large Prayer Books will be re-
quired, and no doubt also a further reprint of Bibles and Testa-
ments. A reference to the Treasurer's Report will show that the
whole disposable fund in the treasury is only the small sum of
$377.81, to commence these important and necessary expendi-
tures with.
The receipts have been :
From 66 Country Parishes $402 39
2 Brooklyn do 20 50
12 City do 5*5 55
i Auxiliary do 7
Sales 2,526 08
Donations 4 7 2
Subscribers 348 50
Interest 220 oo
Life Members 135
$4,605 74
Payments for Paper, Printing, Binding and Ex-
penses amount to $4> : 35 5&
The Managers will not pause to compare the foregoing re-
sults with those of preceding years (in order to deduce from the
comparison an argument for encouragement or discouragement).
They would rather beg their fellow Churchmen, who are, or
ought to be, in common with themselves, God's stewards in dis-
pensing these holy books, to ask themselves whether due honour
is rendered to God through our agency in this work; and whether
justice is done to the Church, whose members we are, and to our
fellow men, whose debtors we are, by our scanty efforts in dis-
tributing those "Scriptures which are able to make wise unto
salvation," and that Prayer Book which we all profess to love
and reverence as the worthiest companion of the Book of books,
the fittest instrument of prayer and praise, a most effectual bond
of union to all whose common right and privilege it is to follow
its guidance and imbibe its spirit. As Churchmen, are we suf-
ficiently earnest and active in making the institution constituted
under the sanction of the Church in this Diocese an efficient
agent in dispensing the Sacred Volume to all who need it, within
1843] Thirty-Fifth Report. 497
the sphere of our influence? Surely the preceding statement
tnswers emphatically NO!
We would also make the Prayer Book the constant handmaid
of the Bible. In vindication of the honour thus put upon the
Liturgy, we appeal to the historical fact that from the beginning
it hath ever been so; whether under the Old Economy of the
Temple and in the Synagogue, or under the New, alike in the
times of the Apostles, the Fathers and their followers, even to
our own. And as to the particular offices to whose use and ob-
servance we of this branch of CHRIST'S Church Catholic are
bound, we hold them to be scriptural, so primitive, so Catholic
in their style and temper, so well and wisely fitted and propor-
tioned to our spiritual necessities, that we may without presump-
tion assert, that they most . strongly commend themselves to the
favourable regard of every devout and enlightened mind.
The characteristic merits of our venerable Liturgy have been
so frequently and clearly set forth, that it were superfluous here
to make the attempt did our space permit. We would only sug-
gest a single argument in favour of the distribution of the
Prayer Book, that is not sufficiently weighed by many, who feel
its force in part, viz. : that it is the most competent witness to
the true meaning of Holy Scripture; the best exponent of the
Primitive Catholic Faith. Our time-hallowed Liturgy is to us
the voice of antiquity, giving utterance to the testimony of the
Fathers touching those things, wherein they agreed with one
another, and with those who preceded them, even the Apostles of
our Lord. The most laborious student of antiquity can but con-
firm, or at most develop by his researches the teaching of the
Prayer Book whose lessons are acceptable and intelligible to all,
who study them with docility and reverence.
Whether we regard the Prayer Book as our best help, next
to the Holy Bible, in teaching God's word .and ways; or as the
fittest vehicle to bear on high the tribute of prayer and praise to
Him from whose bounty we derive them and all our blessings;
it surely behooves us as Churchmen endowed so richly with the
means of grace, to impart freely to others of our abundance
both in token of our gratitude for past mercies and in depreca-
tion of those whose future judgments which our neglect of our
duties and privileges must call upon our heads, should God re-
ward us according to our deserts.
All which is respectfully submitted.
(32)
498 Prayer Book for the Blind. [1843
ANNUAL MEETING, OCTOBER 3, 1844.
The officers elected were :
Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, D.D., President ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. J. M. Wainwright, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
C. N. S. Rowland, ;th Vice President.
Willam H. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, Rev. Edward Y. Higbee,
D.D., Rev. Lewis P. W. Balch, Rev. James N. Carder, Rev. Ed-
ward N. Mead, Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, Rev. Henry J. White-
house, D.D., Rev. John M. Forbes, Rev. Samuel L. Southard,
Messrs. David Hubbell Hoyt, William M. Benjamin, John Al-
styne, C. B. Bostwick, John W. Mitchell, Theophilus Peck,
Samuel T. Skidmore, J. B. Herrick, George T. Strong, William
A. Duncan, William T. Pinckney, Alexander L. McDonald,
John R. Livingston, Jr., S. M. Hitchcock, Federick De Peyster.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangements : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. J. H.
Price, C. N. S. Rowland, W. H. Hobart, M.D.
Committee of Distribution :-- Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Lot
Jones, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Edward
Y. Higbee, D.D., and Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith and Thomas
C. Butler.
At the meeting of October 17, 1843, the question of printing
the Psalter in raised letters for the use of the blind was brought
up and referred to the Agent to report upon. Later on, April 9,
1844, tne subject was again taken up and Professor McVickar
and the Agent of the Society were appointed a committee to
bring the matter of printing the whole Prayer Book for the use
of the blind, before the Church at large.
1844] Thirty-Sixth Report. 499
A letter of thanks was also read at this meeting for the So-
ciety's grant of "several elegant copies of the Book of Common
Prayer to the Missionary at Constantinople/' (Folio 158.)
Sufficient interest not having been aroused in the Church for
the edition of the Prayer Book for the use of the blind, the com-
mittee so reported on June n, 1844, and were discharged.
It appears that up to this date the Society had not considered
it advisable to grant Bibles and Prayer Books in suitable editions
for the lecturn or desk.
EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE THIRTY- SIXTH CON-
SECUTIVE REPORT.
The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society has
now in the good providence of God, completed the Thirty-Sixth
year of its unobstrusive, yet useful labours. Under several
forms of outward organization it has for more than a third of a
century steadily devoted itself to the one grand object of its es-
tablishment the aiding the Bishops and Pastors of the Church,
and also the Laity in their several spheres of responsibility and
action in the great and good work of extending the kingdom of
the Redeemer by supplying them with copies of the Word of God
and its best exposition, and a most valuable guide to devotion, the
Book of Common Prayer, for distribution among those who have
not the means or the inclination to purchase them.
As the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society,
our Institution was the first established in this country except
the Bible Society of Philadelphia for the gratuitous distribu-
tion of the Holy Scriptures.
It has, therefore, on every account, from its object, its age, and
its faithful labours, the strongest claims upon the countenance
and support of Churchmen.
Its object is to do good, as an humble assistant to God's minis-
ters, and those associated with them as "Fellow helpers" in the
all important work of proclaiming abroad the faith once delivered
to the saints, of turning men from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God, and of building up believers in their
most holy faith. It proffers to the ambassadors of Christ as they
go forth to "make disciples," to feed and tend the sheep of the
Lord Jesus to catechists, to parents, to teachers, to all who have
the welfare of immortal souls, and the interests of Christ's Holy
500 Thirty-Sixth Report. [1844
Church at heart it proffers to those, for use in their labour of
love, the blessed volume of inspiration, that Book of books "on
every page stamped with the seal of high Divinity, " and as its
not unmeet companion, that best of uninspired books, our
Book of Common Prayer which embodies the witness of the Holy
Catholic Church from its very foundation, to the grand essential
doctrines and facts recorded in the Holy Scripture. Such is the
offer of our Society to all who desire to promote the spiritual wel-
fare of their fellow men, springing from the deep-seated convict-
tion that without the dissemination of the written Word of God,
the oral teaching and personal labours of the ministers of Christ,
of Catechists and others, would be comparatively ineffectual, and
that without furnishing at the same time a guide of devotion and
a summary of the cardinal truths contained in Holy Scripture.
Such is the offer of our Society to all who desire to promote
the spiritual welfare of their fellow men, springing from
the deep seated conviction that without the dissemination of
the written Word of God, the oral teaching and personal
labours of the Ministers of Christ, of Catechists, and others,
would be comparatively inneffectual; and that without fur-
nishing at the same time a guide to devotion, and a sum-
mary of the cardinal truths contained in Holy Scripture,
all of which have in turn, and that again and again been perver-
ted and denied there would be no security for the due perform-
ance of Christian worship, and other social duties; and no suf-
ficient safeguard against the wresting of the Scriptures to the
destruction of its readers.
Not that our Society refuses to give the Bible save when ac-
companied by the Prayer Book, as has been averred. To all who
ask for a copy of the Holy Scriptures alone she gives it gladly,
and willingly, never turning a deaf ear to such a request. If
they do not desire, or do not need that volume, which, containing
as it does, an authorized digest of the truth of the Bible, she
deems it right and proper to make a companion to the same when-
ever practicable, it makes no difference. She gladly gives the
Scriptures alone, for "where Common Prayer Books are not
wanted or would not be read, it would be worse than an absurdity
to refuse to give the Bible." 1 And let it be remembered that
I. Bishop Hobart.
1844] Thirty-Sixth Keport. 501
this our Society has now done for thirty-six years, being the
second association in the United States for the dissemination of
the Word of God ; and being the first, notwithstanding the small-
ness of its resources, to reduce the price of the Bible, and to offer
for sale a neat and fair copy for fifty cents, when far inferior
ones had never been sold lower than eighty-one cents. This
reduction in the price of copies of the Scriptures was effected by
our institution, and for the sole purpose of scattering abroad the
blessed seed of the Word yet more widely. No slight proof this
of its interest in this branch of its professed operations.
But it is said that the Holy Scriptures should always be dis-
tributed without note or comment, and that societies professing
to pursue this course should be supported in preference to those
which do not. Now to this we reply, that the distribution of the
Bible without note or comment is an impossibility; and were it
not so, would be wrong.
We may say it is an impossibility, since unless you deprive
men of speech they will as they give the Scriptures, accompany
them with exhortation, or reproof, or instruction, as they may
think is needed, and such exhortation, or reproof, or instruction,
though it may be in consonance with the Word of God, is yet not
that Word, but a comment upon it.
The Bible is then, of necessity, always distributed with the
comments of the body or individual distributing it; in other
words, with their explanation or tradition.
But were this not of necessity the case, still we should feel
ourselves bound to abstain from such a mode of disseminating
the Word of God; and that because it would imply a divorce of
the Word of God from the Church of God, and would be at vari-
ance with the original mode of its publication.
The Holy Scriptures when first given to the Church of God,
were accompanied by the oral teaching of those by whom they
were indited, and others inspired by the Holy Ghost, Prophets,
Evangelists and Apostles ; and from that time to the present, the
holy volume has ever been presented to the members of Christ's
fold accompanied by the witness of the Church, in her Creeds
and Articles and Formularies, as to its true meaning and intent.
This is a fact which none will question. Ought we then now,
at this late period, to attempt to pursue a different course; at
this period, too, when the most discordant doctrines and prin-
502 Thirty-Sixth Report. [1844
dples are advocated all around us. their champions, one and all,
appealing to Holy Scripture as their authority ? Is this a time in
which to throw down the landmarks, and to destroy the beacon
lights which the Catholic Church has, in the "ages all along"
erected for the guidance and safety of her children ?
When the infidel denier of the Divinity of our Blessed Lord
and of the Atonement through his blood, and the proud asserter
of the native purity of man, and the self-sufficient decrier of
the mysteries of the Gospel, and contemptuous despiser of the
Holy Church, and the bold leveller of all authority greater than
his own, when these and such as these fill our land with their
heretical tenets, claiming to find for them in the Bible a sufficient
support, shall we, can we, dare we, keep back, or in any way
cover, the Church's witness, from the beginning universally,
to the fact, that what these false teachers proclaim as the verities
of Scripture, are but blasphemies, deceits and fables, without the
shadow of a warrant from the sacred volume? No! So to act
would be faithless to our trust, faithless to the Church, faithless
to the souls of men, faithless to the Lord who bought us, faith-
less to God.
Far from us be such a course. Much rather will we continue
to walk "in the old paths," and listen ourselves, and teach others
to listen, to the teaching of the Church, as it is embodied in our
noble Liturgy, as to what is, and what is not the true sense of
the inspired records; determined by the grace of God, always to
accept the one, and reject the other, and by word and deed to
seek to win others to do the same.
With these principles of action, the Board of Managers have
now completed another year of their labours, during which their
gratuitous distribution has amounted to 1,215 Bibles, 1,341 Tes-
taments, 9,128 Prayer Books; and their sales to 283 Bibles, 374
Testaments, 4,548 Prayer Books, to which is to be added 382
Psalms and Hymns; making a total of 1,498 Bibles, 1,715 Tes-
taments, 13,678 Prayer Books, and 382 Hymns and Psalms; in
all 17,271 volumes. Their receipts for the same time to their
Disposable Fund have been, from Parochial Contributions, Do-
nations and Subscriptions, $2,215.66, and from Sales, Interest,
and Life Members to $2,729.88. Total, $4,945.54.
The payments for paper, printing, binding and expenses have
amounted to $4,462.37.
1844] ThirtySixth Report. 503
Of their distributions a large portion have been to the clergy
of the Church, in our new and feeble parishes, and missionaries,
especially in the West. This feature of their operations the
Board think should be made more generally known to Church-
men. It would then, they are persuaded, secure from them an
increased liberality. What would our missionaries do, were it
not for the help which this and kindred institutions afford them ?
How could they organize new congregations and establish Sun-
day and parochial schools, or visit effectively their districts, if
they were not supplied with copies of the Holy Scripture and of
the Liturgy. Of the need of the operations of this Society, and
of the dismay which would fill the hearts of these worthy labour-
ers in the Lord's vineyard, should its bounty fail, some estimate
may be formed from the following statements made by some of
the clergy in their applications to the Board for aid.
The first is from a Missionary in Kentucky.
"I have a wide and interesting field here in which there is
prospect of a good harvest for the Church of our affections, pro-
vided the effort already begun can be sustained by the Church, as
I am confident it will by the promises of the Divine Head.
"If I remain here, which in some way I must do, it is my pur-
pose to have a limited depository of our Books, Bibles, School
Books, &c. There is nothing of the kind in the country; and I
am convinced that, among a people who have heretofore greatly
neglected education, the way of the Church must be prepared,
and the rough places made smooth, by the Bible, Prayer Book
and Tract distribution, and the sale of other books. I have
already a fine Sunday School, without a single book or tract in it,
save such as the scholars bring.
"I am willing to become a colporteur, and dispense the Word
to God, to a waiting people, from day to day, and enlist others,
provided I can have the means : and if our Church presses can-
not send them, I am resolved to make application elsewhere, for
I can do little here without books, and am not able to buy them.
The people know little of our Church; and therefore knowledge
must be dispensed, and a want excited before they will contribute
for these things.
"P. S. The operations already begun here are as follows : I
have four congregations one in town and three in the country
in neither of which have we respondents, or books enough for
504 Thirty-Sixth Keport. [1844
the entire services. Two Sunday Schools, one in town and the
other in the country with invitations to open others and not
a book for distribution. A congregation of blacks, on Sunday
nights, who, ex memoria, repeat or respond in our evening ser-
vice. Some of them can read but have no Prayer Books. I
spend an hour before the services begin, in teaching them to read
and spell, and they tell me they would much rather spend their
perquisite money for books and learning than for ardent spirits.
They need, and would buy, Bibles, Testaments, &c.
"Aside form these regular appointments, I have daily opportu-
nities of circulating information, but stand in need of the good
seed to sow.
"We need tracts and books for hard-drinkers, profane swearers,
and Sabbath breakers ; and if any one of these must be designated
as the besetment of this land; it is the latter. Oh, that our
Church, whose prerogative it is, would enter in and possess this
goodly land !"
Our next extract is from a Missionary in Wisconsin.
"We have just completed a neat little Gothic Church, and be-
ing very few in number and extremely weak at that, it has
exhausted all the means that we could control, and left us about
$200 in debt, which however we hope, by the blessing of Divine
Providence, soon to be able to discharge. Our Church is well
filled every Sunday, and its prosperity seems to be onward; but
there are daily calls for Prayer Books, and we have none to sup-
ply them. We are not able to purchase them at this time. Can
you exert an influence by which our wants may be supplied?
You will do the Church a great favour and receive the warmest
thanks of many of her friends. We pledge ourselves, that if our
request be granted, as soon as we get out of debt for our Church,
we will from time to time make contributions to any fund to
which we may be directed, until we discharge at least the obli-
gations under which any donation of books may place us."
The next extract is from a gentleman of Boston.
"I have received a large bundle of Prayer Books and Tracts
for distribution at Salmon Falls, for which please accept my sin-
cere thanks. The supply of Tracts is ample; but we shall have
opportunity soon to use a large number of Prayer Books, as the
population will be soon 800 persons, and this Church the only
place of worship. Whenever it is consistent with your other
1844] Thirty-Sixth Keport. 505
numerous calls to furnish more, they will be gratefully received
by the poor persons at Salmon Falls, and you may be assured
they will go into immediate and constant use."
The following is from a Missionary in Indiana :
"We are in want of More Prayer Books 100 of which can in
a very short time be profitably circulated. So large a request I
am aware may seem extravagant, but I beg you to consider that
the ground I occupy is entirely new ; and that in a full quarter of
the State, I am the only minister of the Church."
A Clergyman of Ohio writes as follows :
"If 50 are too many, cannot you send me 25 or 30 of the
Prayer Books, and a few Testaments and Bibles? There are
connected with this parish, about 20 families of Episcopalians
from the Isle of Man, worthy good people. I have service
among them (four miles from town) monthly, and I want the
Prayer Books mostly for them. I will do as I have done once
before ,while at , make a collection for your Society, and
would do so very soon, but our Vestry are engaged in repairing
and painting the Church just now. But the collection shall be
forwarded in the course, of the year. It may amount to $5 or
$10.
"I hope it will be convenient for you to comply with my re-
quest, as 50 Prayer Books cannot be more usefully disposed of
anywhere else than among these (as we call them) 'Manx
people.' '
The last extract that we give is from a Clergyman of New
York.
"A valued fried a Churchman with his family is about go-
ing to Wisconsin, to settle in a place which presents favourable
indications for the establishment of a Church. Now I desire to
have him furnished with 50 to 75 Prayer Books and a good
assortment of Tracts and I know not how to accomplish the
object except through you. When our offerings are next col-
lected for the Bible and Prayer Book Society, I shall endeavour
to have the amount swelled in consideration of the request I am
now making to you. I shall appeal personally to some of our
wealthy parishioners to increase their offerings, when next col-
lected, for an institution which has such meritorious claims upon
their regard. The family are now packing up and getting ready
to go. I should be glad, therefore, if you can consistently grant
606 The Church in Hawaii. [1844
my request to have the books and tracts sent up by the first boat." 1
In conclusion, the Board would express the hope that their
labours may continue to find favour with Churchmen, and that
liberal, and yet more liberal offerings may be made to its treasury.
Under their present system of operations, every dollar contributed
to their funds is expended directly for the great object of their
institution ; inasmuch as the sales provide for the expenses of the
agencies and the like, and leave a surplus for the benevolent pur-
poses of the Society. What more can Churchmen desire to
secure their free and abundant gifts?
May God the Holy Ghost inspire all our hearts with his heav-
enly gift of charity ! May we all have grace to show by our deeds
that we are the disciples of Him who though rich, for our sakes
became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich!
All which is respectfully submitted.
The extent of the territory covered by the distribution is shown
when we read in the tabular statement for this year, that fifty
Prayer Books were sent to the "Indian Nation" ; one hundred
and fifty to Texas, then an independent Republic ; and one hun-
dred to the Sandwich Islands.
What influence these Prayer Books had in turning the atten-
tion of those islanders of the Pacific to the orderly ways of the
Church it is impossible now to ascertain. No clergyman of the
American Church had, so far as can be learned, ever visited that
far away land. Their religious instruction had been entirely by
missionaries sent by the American Board of Foreign Missions in
1820.
Previously, John Young and Isaac Davis, two American
sailors, who had been captured while trading with their com-
panions on the coast in 1779, but soon released and given posi-
tions of high honour and influence, had instructed them in the
arts of civilization and made the way for direct Christian teach-
ing easier.
It is traditional that, realizing the discovery of the Islands by
Captain Cook, the natives desired that ministers of the Church of
England should impart to them Christian faith and doctrine.
But being assured by Mr. Young that the American mission-
i. The Tracts referred to are those of the Protestant Episcopal Tract
Society.
1844] The Church in Hawaii. 507
aries would teach them the same Gospel, they gladly received
them, and many soon professed themselves Christians.
It was not until seventeen years after the donation of Prayer
Books from New York that King Kamehameha IV. applied to
Queen Victoria to send to him and his people a Bishop and Mis-
sionaries.
The expenses were generously provided for by the venerable
Propagation Society and a special committee.
The Rev. Thomas Nettleship Staley, Principal of Wadsworth
Collegiate School, was selected as Bishop, and consecrated in
Lambeth Palace Chapel on December 15, 1861, by Archbishop
Sumner, assisted by the Bishops of London (Dr. A. C. Tait)
and Oxford (Dr. Samuel Wilber force).
Accompanied by the Rev. G. Mason and the Rev. E. Ibbotson,
he arrived in Honolulu on October n, 1862.
He immediately commenced a vigorous and successful work.
Of the 68,000 natives in 1860, about 20,000 were Protestant,
20,000 Roman Catholic, 3,000 Mormons, and 25,000 of no special
religious faith.
A visit to the United States in 1865 gave him the opportunity
to plead for the interest of the American Church in his mission.
He addressed the General Convention in session at Philadelphia
and presented a letter from King Kamehameha V. to the Bishops
Of this Church. 1
He took part in the consecration of the Rev. George M. Ran-
dall as Missionary Bishop of Colorado in the Church of the Mes-
siah, Boston, on December 28, 1865.
During this visit he secured an amount sufficient for the sal-
aries of two priests of the American Church then at work in his
island diocese, the Rev. George B. Whipple, a brother of the
Bishop, and the Rev. T. Warren.
In 1870 Bishop Staley resigned, as the drain upon his private
means was too great. In 1872 he became Rector of Oakley and
Vicar of Croxale in the Diocese of Southwell, England.
The Rev. Alfred Willis, perpetual Curate of St. Mark's, New
Brompton, Kent, England, was consecrated for the Hawaiian
Mission at Lambeth on February 2, 1872, by Archbishop Tait,
assisted by the Bishops of London (Dr. John Jackson), Winches-
i. Journal General Convention, 1865, pp. 167, 176, 181, 191.
The letter of the King in full is on p. 192.
508 Standard Prayer Book. [1845
ter (Dr. Samuel Wilberforce), and Rochester (Dr. Thomas
Leigh Claughton).
From the beginning of his administration, the whole support
from England for his stipend and other expenses was borne by
the venerable Propagation Society.
After the annexation of the Islands to the United States, on
July 7, 1898, Bishop Willis continued in charge until the General
Convention, which met in San Francisco in October, 1901, pro-
vided for the erection of Hawaii into the Missionary Jurisdic-
tion of Honolulu, to take effect on April 2, 1902.
At a special meeting of the House of Bishops held in Christ
Church, Cincinnati, on April 17, 1902, the Rev. Henry Bond
Restarick, of the Diocese of Los Angeles, was elected as Mis-
sionary Bishop of Honolulu. He was consecrated in his own
parish Church, St. Paul's, San Diego, on Wednesday, July 2,
1902, by the Bishops of California (Dr. William F. Nichols),
assisted by the Bishops of Los Angeles (Dr. Joseph H. John-
son), New Mexico and Arizona (Dr. John M. Kendrick), and
Southern Ohio (Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar).
Thus, fifty-eight years after the Society's gift, the Sandwich
Islands came under the jurisdiction of the American Church. 1
The necessity for having a Standard Prayer Book and a
Standard Bible had been felt for some time. We find that at
the meeting of December 12, 1843, the Agent reported that he
had received a verbal proposition from the Rev. Dr. Wainwright,
one of the committee appointed at the last General Convention
to revise and publish a standard copy of the Book of Common
Prayer, relative to its being stereotyped by this Society. It was
thereupon Resolved, that a committee be appointed to confer with
the Rev. Dr. Wainwright and his associates, and together plan,
and report to the Board their proceedings.
The printing of a standard issue of the Prayer Book seems to
have been attended with difficulties, and the selection of Messrs.
Harpers as publishers of it aroused a good deal of feeling among
the members of the society.
I. For references to and action concerning the Church in Hawaii, see
Journal General Convention, 1898, pp. 135, 137, 347, 349, 359; Journal General
Convention, 1901, pp. 3 2,111, 112, 120, 147, 154, 194, 282, 283, 380, 381;
Journal General Convention, 1904, pp. 18, 28, 35, 61, 404, 471.
1845] Standard Prayer Book. 509
We read in the minutes of April 8, 1845 :
"It appearing upon inquiry, that this new issue had not been
corrected according to the Standard edition set forth by the late
General Convention, and it appearing also from the minutes of
this Society under date of December 12, 1843, tnat this Society
had reason to hope that it would be the agent selected to publish
said Standard Prayer Book in preference to the Messrs. Har-
pers, a dissenting establishment, and wholly unconnected with
the Church. It was thereupon
"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to inquire
and report at the next meeting of this Board as to the fact con-
nected with the octavo stereotype plates of the Standard Prayer
Book.
"The Chair appointed Messrs. Haight, Mitchell and Butler.
"The Rev. Mr. Haight, from the committee appointed on the
1 3th of August, 1844, to inquire into the expediency of publish-
ing an authorized octavo edition of the Bible to be used as a
Standard edition 'made a verbal report and asked leave for the
committee to be continued to enable them to confer with the com-
mittee of the General Convention on that subject,' which was
granted.
"The Agent having reported verbally that he had been unable
to negotiate, agreeably to a resolution of this Board at its last
meeting, with the Messrs. Harpers of the Methodist Church,
publishers of the Standard edition of the Book of Common
Prayer as set forth and authorized by the last General Conven-
tion of the Church, for copies in sheets of the iSmo size; and
that it was impracticable to alter the plates of this Society, in
conformity with said authorized edition.
"It was thereupon Resolved, That a committee be appointed
with power to devise ways and means to procure a set of
stereotype plates of the i8mo size of the authorized edition of
the Book of Common Prayer for the use of this Society.
"The Chair appointed Messrs. Carder, Hoyt, and Butler."
(Folio 174.)
And on April 22d this Committee reported :
"That in the prosecution of the duty assigned them they had
a conference with the Rev. Dr. Wainwright under whose direc-
tion the plates were prepared and all matters relating thereto
arranged, and that after receiving from him an extended state-
ment of his acts in the premises, and the reasons by which he
510 Standard Prayer Book. [1845
was governed, they deemed it best in accordance with his wish,
that a special meeting of the Board should be called that he
might state directly to the members there convened, all the cir-
cumstances connected with the subject: The present meeting
accordingly has been summoned and your committee beg leave
to ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the
matter referred to them, that the Board may act directly thereon..
BENJ. I. HAIGHT,
THOMAS C. BUTLER,
JOHN W. MITCHELL,
Committee.
"New York, April 22, 1845.
"Dr. Wainwright then vacated the chair and called Rev. Mr.
Haight to preside. And then entered upon an explanation of
his agency with respect to the Octavo Stereotype Standard
Plates of the Book of Common Prayer. In the course of what
he read, the original subscription list for procuring a set of
plates for the standard edition, the proceeding of the Committee
of the General Convention thereon, letters, resolutions, etc.
The Rev. Dr. Wainwright having retired, the following reso-
lution was passed :
"The Board having heard the statement of the Rev. Dr. Wain-
wright, and his explanation upon points suggested by members
present, it was on motion
"Resolved, That while the Board are fully satisfied that in
pursuing the course which he has now detailed in reference to
the plates of the Standard Prayer Book, Dr. Wainwright was
actuated by the desire to disseminate as widely as possible cor-
rect and elegant editions of our Liturgy and had no intention
of abridging or interfering with the rights of the New York
Bible and Common Prayer Book Society they still hold it to
have been the right of said Society to have received the plates
in accordance with the terms of the subscription for procuring
of the same, and that the said Society was entitled to the honour
and the profit of being the publisher of the Standard Prayer
Book.
Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolution be fur-
nished to the Rev. Dr. Wainwright by the Secretary/'
(Folio 175.)
Annual Meeting, 511
The Society appears to have established the wise custom of
presenting to every new diocese a grant of Bibles and Prayer
Books. The first Bishop of Alabama, Dr. Cobb, in acknowl-
edging the customary grant remarked that "to a new Diocese
hardly any present could be more acceptable." (Folio 179.)
June 10, 1845.
ANNUAL MEETING.
The Annual Meeting of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, was held at the Church Depository, No.
20 John Street, in the City of New York, October 2, 1845, at
5 o'clock P. M.
The Rev. Lot Jones was called to the Chair, and David Hub-
bell appointed Secretary.
The following Officers and Managers for the ensuing year
were elected by ballot.
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. J. M. Wainwright, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
Wliliam E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
C. S. N. Rowland, 7th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers : Rev. Joseph H. Price, Rev. Edward Y. Higbee,
D.D., Rev. Lewis P. W. Balch, Rev. James D. Carder, Rev.
Edward N. Mead, Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, Rev. Henry J.
Whitehouse, D.D., Rev. John M. Forbes, Rev. S. L. Southard,
Messrs. David H. Hoyt, Frederic De Peyster, William M. Ben-
jamin, John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John W. Mitchell, The-
ophilus Peck, Samuel T. Skidmore, J. B. Herrick, George T.
Strong, William A. Duncan, William T. Pinckney, Alexander
L. McDonald, John L. Livingston, Jr. S. M. Hitchcock.
A draft of the Annual Report was presented and adopted,
and on motion it was ordered to print twelve hundred copies
under the direction of the Agent and Secretary.
512 Thirty -Seventh Report. [1845
Messrs. Floyd Smith and William H. Bell were appointed a
Committee to audit the Treasurer's accounts.
A vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr. Vinton, Rector of Em-
manuel Church, Brooklyn, was passed for the Sermon preached
by him before this Society, in conjunction with other Diocesan
Institutions; and the meeting adjourned.
NINTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CON-
SECUTIVE REPORT OF THE NEW YORK BIBLE AND
COMMON PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY.
Referring to the statements annexed, and especially the Treas-
urer's account, may the question in all kindness be asked, To
what shall we attribute the reduced and insufficient contributions
to this Society? Not to a want of liberality in the people of
God (although this age is not remarkable for charity), for
thousands upon thousands have been given by those to whom
we should naturally look for means to print and circulate the
Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. But their wealth has
been bestowed elsewhere scattered, it may be, and in some
cases lost, among the many objects now soliciting their aid.
And the report above will show how small the portion which
has been received by this Society.
Now we do not mean to censure or condemn the widest
liberality, nor to ask to be the only recipient of the bounty of
the Church. But we suppose that we have reason to complain,
not on our own behalf, but in the name of God and His
Church, whose Word and Witness we are trying to make
known, that among these charitable objects, this Society has
not assigned to it its just and relative position. And to this, at
least in part, and in no smtll degree, we must attribute the
deficiency to which we have alluded.
There is a growing inclination in the members of the Church
to give the preference to something new and to contribute to
tlie object which is furthest off, rather than to that which is the
nearest home. And when an appeal is made in favour of an
object which embraces both the charm of novelty and that of
distance too, it is almost sure to be attended by success. Let
us exhibit in few words, the reasons why this Society should
not be overlooked and other objects preferred.
1845] Thirty- Seventh Report. 613
It is the duty of the Church to circulate the Word of God,
which has been given her in trust. Her ministry are to preach
the Gospel still as at the first and were it not for the invention
of the art of printing by which the copies of the Bible may be
multiplied, it could be published in no other way, and all the
knowledge which the people would possess of Holy Scripture,
would be that obtained by the hearing of it read in the Lord's
house, and by the expositions of the clergy. But with the
ability, we will assume that there has been developed upon the
Church the duty of multiplying the copies of the Word of
God. And she is likewise, we will even say, more strongly
bound, to send it not without her comment and construction of
its meaning and design. The private judgments of mankind
about the Scripture never have agreed and never can agree,
and the only appeal from individual interpretation is to the
teaching of the Church. It is then a prominent duty of the
Church to send them, and to send both and in proportion to
the opportunity and the demand. Again, as there is no written
revelation from on high, but that comprised within the sacred
volume, so there is no interpretations of so much authority as
the Book of Common Prayer. An individual production may
be sound in doctrine but this is so.
Other books are profitable for some things but this for
every thing for all doctrine; and not for doctrine only, but for
practice and for discipline : for teaching not only that there are
means of grace, but where to seek and when and where to
use them. Without the Book of Common Prayer a man can
scarcely learn his duty to the Church, and the best means in all
respects of serving God. In comprehensiveness and practical
utility, all other uninspired books cannot together form a sub-
stitute for this, if they were all within the reach of every man.
And we are well persuaded that, on the whole, no uninspired
book is likely to be so successful as an instrument of good to
men of every grade of life and every character. It has been,
and if it were used aright, it ever would be found, a most suc-
cessful preacher.
Another feature in this Society is this that in its operations
it is a charity which begins at home, by publishing the Bible
and the Book of Common Prayer so cheap as to be within the
(33)
514 Thirty -Seventh Report. [1845
reach of many even of the poor among us, and by giving to
those who have no money, without money and without price;
and at the same time a charity which does not KEEP at home,
but extends its influence and benefits wherever they are sought,
in every diocese, throughout the land. In this respect it has
the advantage, as in many more, of other charities. Some are
personal some local. Some domestic, some foreign. But this,
regarding our diocese at home, is foreign and domestic. Lastly,
in aiding this Society, there is not only a certainty of doing
good, which is of itself a great consideration, but also a cer-
tainty that no evil will be mingled with the good which cer-
tainly can be attained in very few of all the undertakings which
now solicit aid. Our means are limited, and the past distribution
of these precious volumes less than that which we could wish.
But we are cheered by the reflection, that that which we have
done, is positive, unmingled good, and is well done. One more
remark It is not enough to continue the same distributions
which enabled the Society to supply the demands of former
times. The increase of population everywhere, increases the de-
mand and yet our ability to meet it is less great! And now
we commend this worthy enterprise to the prayers and patronage
of all who love the Church which the Redeemer loved, and for
which He gave Himself, and above all to the love of God.
The following table will give us an idea of the wide distribu-
tion in that year.
Bibles. Test'ts. P. B.
To New Hampshire 1 1 . . 106
" Massachusetts i . . 196
" Rhode Island 10 . . 24
" Connecticut 29 18 354
" Vermont . . 38
' New Jersey 33 76 246
' Pennsylvania 2 . . 2
" Virginia 3 . . 39
North Carolina . . . . 30
' South Carolina 12 12 24
" Ohio 12 . . 76
' Kentucky 16 32 100
Tennessee TO 12 24
' Indiana 32 42 106
1845] Thirty-Seventh Report. 515
To Illinois . . . . 60
" Michigan 19 30 129
" Indian Territory . . 18
" Arkansas 69 120 431
" Wisconsin 39 32 310
" Missouri 37 . . 156
" Mississipi . . . . 18
" Louisiana 12 24 74
" Florida 26 50 178
" Alabama 60 36 562
" Texas 32 30 16
" China and other Foreign . . . . 99
" Army .. 135
" Navy and Merchant Vessels 129 31 618
" Western New York 39 59 658
" New York Diocese, Clinton State
Prison, other prisons, Hospitals,
Asylums, City Missions, Sunday
Schools, Subscribers, &c 637 293 2,876
1,270 915 7,687
Sales to Auxiliaries, Sunday Schools,
and Individuals, &c 330 322 3>4 2 7
i ,600 1,237 11,114
With 197 Psalms and Hymns, making a total of 14,148 volumes.
Treasurer's Report.
New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society in account
with Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer.
Disposable Fund.
1845- Dr.
Sept. 30. To Cash paid for paper $1.367 74
Do. Do. printing 199 91
Do. Do. binding 2,061 44
Do. Do. books purchased 38 15
Do. Do. incidental expenses,
Agent's salary, $500; boy,
$50 $550 00
516 Thirty -Seventh Report. [1845
Rent, $197.50; fire insurance,
$625 ; marine do., $5.45 209 20
Packing boxes, postage, cartage,
&c 30 67
$789 87
To Stereotype Fund for use of plates. ... 90 50
$4,547 61
To balance overdrawn $612 44
1844. Cr.
Oct. i. By balance on hand $246 63
1845-
Sept. 30 By Cash from forty-eight Country Par-
ishes 349 49
By Cash from nine in Western New York, 25 59
By Cash seventeen City Parishes 569 58
By Cash five Brooklyn Parishes 122 19
By Cash B., P. B. and T. Soc. Theo. Semi-
nary 6 oo
By Cash Sales by Agent 1,910 69
Do. Donations 2 10 oo
Do. Subscribers 355 oo
By Cash Schatzel Fund, interest 140 oo
" Balance overdrawn to new account. ... 612 44
$4,547 61
Stereotype Fund.
^ 1845- Dr.
Sept. 30. To cash paid T. B. Smith for correcting
folio Prayer Book plates $32 87
To cash Newell & Co., correcting Psalms
and Hymns plate 81 25
To cash Newell & Co., on account of ster-
eotyping French Prayer Book 300 oo
To balance on hand transferred to new
account 824 14
$1,238 26
1845] Thirty-Seventh Report. 517
1844. Cr.
Oct. i . By balance on hand $984 76
1845-
Sept. 30. By interest on mortgage 138 oo
To cash to constitute Miss Eliza McLeod
a Life Member 25 oo
To Disposable Fund, use of stereotype
plates 90 50
$1,238 26
Schatzel Fund.
1845. Dr.
Sept. 30. To cash paid Disposable Fund for Bibles
and Prayer Books, agreeable to will. . . . $140 oo
1845. Cr.
Sept. 30. By cash received for interest $140 oo
CHAPTER XVI.
CONTENTS.
Annual Meeting and Thirty- Eighth Report of 1846 Progress of the
French and German Prayer-Books Adoption of a Seal Rector of St.
Mark's Church Decides Against Claim of Society to Share in Betts'
Legacy Annual Meeting and Thirty-Ninth Report, 1847 Annual Meet-
ing and Fortieth Report, 1848 Testimony from Virginian Gentleman
Correspondence with the Secretary of the Navy Annual Meeting and
Forty-First Annual Report, 1849 Grants to California and Oregon Com-
mittee on an Endowment Fund Appointed Annual Meeting and Forty-
Second Report, 1850 Letter from Rev. Flavel S. Mines First Offering
to the Society from California Labels for the Society's Books Presented
by Mr. Richard Wood Court Decides Against Claims of Society to Share
in Pope Legacy Report of Endowment Committee Annual Meeting and
Forty-Third Report, 1851.
VERY few notes of interest are to be found at this period
between the annual meetings.
A delay occurred in the issue of the French Prayer
Book owing to the plates of Psalter having been consumed
by fire in the building where they were being made and, new
plates had, accordingly, to be cast. (Folio 183.)
ANNUAL MEETING.
The Annual Meeting for the election of Officers and Mana-
gers for the ensuing year was held at the Depository, No. 20
John Street, New York, on Thursday, the 8th of October, 1846,
at 9 o'clock A. M., and was called to order by D. H. Hoyt, Esq.,
who nominated Thomas C. Butler, Chairman, and William H.
Bell, Secretary.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
The Secretary presented the Annual Report of the Board for
the past year, being the 38th Annual Report since the original
organization of the Society. And on motion it was resolved
518
Election of Officers. 519
that an edition of twelve hundred copies of said report be
printed under the direction of the Agent and Treasurer.
On motion the Chairman appointed Floyd Smith, Esq., and
William H. Bell, a Committee to audit the Treasurer's account
for the past fiscal year.
On motion, Resolved, That this incorporation proceed to elect
Officers and Managers for the ensuing year. Messrs. Hoyt and
Guion were appointed Tellers, who, on counting the ballots,
reported the ticket herewith as duly elected.
Officers elected at the Annual Meeting, October, 1846:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, 7th Vice President.
William H'. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers : Rev. Joseph H. Price, Rev. Edward Y. Higbee,
D.D., Rev. Lewis P. W. Balch, Rev. James D. Carder, Rev.
Edward H. Mead, Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, Rev. Henry J.
Whitehouse, D.D., Rev. John M. Forbes, D.D., Rev. Samuel L.
Southard, David H. Hoyt, Frederick De Peyster, William M.
Benjamin, John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John W. Mitchell,
Theophilus Peck, Samuel T. Skidmore, J. B. Herrick, G. S.
Wood, William A. Duncan, A. H. Greene, Alexander L. Mc-
Donald, John R. Livingston, Jr., S. M. Hitchcock.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joseph
H. Price, Charles N. S. Rowland, William H. Hobart, M.D.
Committee of Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Lot
Jones, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee of Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Edward
Y. Higbee, Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler.
520 Thirty-Eighth Report. [1846
TENTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE THIRTY-EIGHTH CON-
SECUTIVE REPORT.
In making their Annual Report the Board feel that they may
congratulate the Society on a decided improvement during the
past year over that which preceded it, in the sphere of its use-
fulness; it has operated more widely on the community, dis-
tributed its books more freely, come into closer contact through
the medium of seamen and soldiers missions, with fresh classes
of men, and through its French version of the Prayer Book,
already completed, and its German Prayer Book in a state of
forwardness is now being brought into influential connection
with a large and daily increasing foreign population in our city
and country.
From all these causes it may safely be asserted that at no
former period has the Society more fully carried out the great
ends of its establishment, or was ever more entitled to call upon
its members for a liberal and generous support. Year by year
it is providing under God's blessing new and enlarged materials
for usefulness, and also, we may trust, gathering fresh triumphs
for the Gospel and the Church.
For the statistics of the past year reference is made to the
Report of the Treasurer and Agent, by which it appears that the
receipts have not been to the extent demanded by the Society's
expenditure. A deficiency appears in the item of City Collec-
tions, in both New York and Brooklyn; this it is presumed is
incidental, and will soon be made up with interest, when the
report of the Society shall be laid before the Churches.
The French Prayer Book has constituted one of the heaviest
items of expense, but it has been well and permanently done;
the errors of the old edition carefully corrected, the version
itself generally amended, stereotype plates of the first quality
prepared, and an edition of 1,500 copies printed, to an amount
exceeding eleven hundred dollars.
Before closing this notice of the French Prayer Book, the
Board would take occasion to express their deep obligation to
the Rev. C. H. Williamson, for his untiring and gratuitous
labours in securing its accuracy and completeness.
The German version to which allusion has been made, has also
1846] Thirty-Eighth Report. 521
after many difficulties been completed in manuscript, and is now
in the hands of the Agent under the direction of the Board.
For stereotyping this highly important work and striking off
at once a large edition, considerable funds, it is evident, will be
immediately wanted, nor can we doubt that they will be as
readily furnished. The swelling number of our German emi-
grants, already exceeding fifty thousand in the City of New
York and counted by millions in the population of our country,
demand unquestionably from the Church some provision for
their spiritual instruction; and what provision, we ask, can be
so efficient as our own beautiful Liturgy, presented to them in
their native tongue. It will bring before them the Church of
Christ in a form more sound and spiritual than they have been
accustomed to behold it, well fitted to be a refuge to reflecting
and pious minds, not only from the wild errors of that arrogant
creed into which German Protestantism has of ,late run, but
also from the snares of that blind superstition of which the
Church of Rome in their own lands stands forth as the patron
and defender, and which in this country is too apt to drive men
into the ranks of infidelity and vice. Under such auspices will
the German Prayer Book come before them, and we cannot
doubt will quickly win its way, under God's blessing, to their
love and confidence, and the German Church of our land,
founded we may truly say, by the labours of our Society, be-
come both for them and us a' powerful instrument of national
good. Nor let any underrate the necessity for any such foreign
provision. The adult emigrant must be operated upon through
the medium of his native tongue : in that language he prays, in
that language he must be taught. His religion has its roots in
nursery work, and long after he has learned to use the English
as the language of the business of life will German still be
found to be that of his affections and his faith. 1
It is for this perpetual stream of adult German emigrants
that the German Prayer Book and Church is now needed; not
I. In touching proof of this, it was once mentioned to the writer by the
late Rev. F. Schaeffer, that invariably in their dying hours German was the
language of the emigrant, even those who had almost forgotten it through
long disuse, and that their last prayers were invariably those first learned,
viz., the prayers of the nursery.
522 Thirty- Eighth Report. [1846
as a permanent provision but as a stepping stone to something
further as a connecting link of power and love to bind to the
faith and interests of the Church a race kindred, though
foreign, and sufficiently numerous as we already feel, to wield
a powerful influence either for good or evil over the destinies of
our land.
Touching another class of citizens may we also congratulate
the Society on the wide influence of the Church among them,
through the medium of our labours, we allude to the class of
seamen, whose moral and religious change of character of late
years, and decided preference of the Church services, is mainly
due to the diffusion of the Prayer Book among them, enforced
as it has been by the zealous labours in this city of an untiring
missionary of the Church.
A second chapel, well named of the "Holy Comforter," is now
ready for use. and as it will demand from our shelves fresh
supplies of the Prayer Book, so will it also demand from
Churchmen fresh means to enable us to replace them.
The last point of interest to which the Board would call atten-
tion is the recent rapid extension of the Prayer Book among the
troops of the United States. This is a comparatively new
field of labour, and bids fair to be a fertile one. The same
moral conquest that Christian love has already attained over the
sailor is now about to be extended to the soldier whose spiritual
condition may be said to be the last unexplored corner of our
domestic missionary field.
Of the readiness and often joy with which the Prayer Book
is received and the happy influence it is found to produce among
them, the Board are enabled to speak confidently from the
personal and habitual observation of one of its members. At
the single post of Fort Columbus (Governor's Island) more
than 1,500 Prayer Books have been distributed within the last
three months, and in every case to men desiring it. Out of
the California regiment of 800 men, not a man was found to
decline the gift, most were zealous for it, some even with tears
received it as a relic of home, and a memorial of their Christian
land, to solace them in the far wilderness.
Such were the feelings of the soldiers, while of the officers,
not one but was prompt to acknowledge the value of the Prayer
Book, as well for its aid to discipline as for its deeper spiritual
1846] Thirty-Eighth Report. 523
use. It is a pleasing thought that through our beneficence, and
that of a kindred Society in Philadelphia, 1 they go thus pro-
vided every man with his Prayer Book, and in the settled reso-
lution repeatedly expressed of using it in public worship on
board their respective ships; they show further that the bounty
of this Society has not been misapplied. This door of entrance
then to a class of men hitherto almost excluded from Christian
sympathy, is now through many combining circumstances, as
by the hand of Providence thrown wide open to the labours of
Churchmen; and this Society as the Church's representative
must enter boldly in and fulfil its mission of Christian duty.
Let not the appointed labourer be wanting in zeal, and the Lord
of the Harvest will not permit him to want the needful means
to do his work. God will surely open the hearts of Churchmen
to respond to this call also. Only "let us be very bold" in His
service : we have laid our hands on the plough and must not look
back, the field opens before us, demanding furrows long and
deep, that the good seed we scatter may take firmer root. By
zeal and fidelity is our Society to win the Church's confidence,
we are but an executive hand to do its work, and the more faith-
fully the hand labours the more freely, we know, does the body's
strength flow into it ; so let us believe it will be with us.
Christ our head has through his constituted ministers called
us to this task, and the Church, his living body, will send
strength into the arm that is doing his work; only let us be
faithful. Wherever God's providence has opened a door, let us
enter; where he clears a path, let us pursue it; whenever a de-
mand for the Bible or Prayer Book arises, let us freely supply
it, being well assured that we are laying the foundations of our
strength in laying those of the Church.
We close but with a single argument addressed to the Church
at large, but it is one which commends this Society peculiarly to
its undivided confidence. It is this, as touching the labours of
other Church Societies there may be a divided opinion bearing
on the wisdom or discretion of their actions; touching our
there can be none; our wisdom is the Church's wisdom, we do
but utter her voice. The Bible and the Prayer Book are the
I. A portion of the Prayer Books distributed came from the liberal
donation of the Bishop White Prayer Book Society of Philadelphia.
524 Thirty- Eighth Report. [1846
only words we speak, and as to discretion, ours is but that dis-
cretion of charity taught by Christ. "Give to him that asketh
of thee and turn not away thy face from any poor man."
Call us not then to any other account than want of zeal; let
this be our only issue when impleaded before the Church, Are
we found zealous in our appointed work? or do we slumber at
our post? while the Church is moving onward at quick step are
we lagging behind? that is the question. By this then let us be
judged, and according as the answer be so let us be esteemed
and supported, not by a party but by the Church, not by a sec-
tion but by the whole. And what say facts as to the value of
our labour? By what arm of power (humanly speaking) we ask,
is the Church now winning its triumphs, shaming adversaries,
softening prejudices, and silencing the gainsayer? By what
instrument, save that which our Society furnishes, by the ten
thousand volumes of the Prayer Book annually poured forth
from our own press, and which would become hundreds of thou-
sands if the Church would but sanction by her contributions
what the Society stands ready by its zeal to carry out; and that
because it is well assured that such enlargement is due to the
Church's needs. Again then, we say, let the Church, whose
servants we are, and at whose tribunal we stand, try us by our
zeal, and not by the scanty measure which she herself has hither-
to imposed upon our labours.
On part of the Committee.
J. McViCKAR, Chairman.
The Treasurer's account showed that fifty-three country, fif-
teen city, four Brooklyn and nine Western New York
parishes had contributed during the year the sum of eight hun-
dred and thirty-eight dollars and sixty-two cents ($838.62) ;
that the sales had amounted to two thousand and eighty-six
dollars and eighty-one cents ; that from subscribers, donations
and the interest on the Schatzel Fund there had been received
seven hundred and forty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($747.50),
and that the Bible, Prayer Book and Tract Society of the General
Theological Seminary had contributed thirty dollars and fifty
cents ($30.50), making a total of thirty-seven hundred and
three dollars and forty-three cents ($3,703.43). The expendi-
tures for paper, printing, binding, purchase of books, Agent's
JOHN McVICKAR
1847] Seal for Society. 525
salary, rent, and use of plates were thirty- four hundred and
eleven dollars and fifty-eight cents (3,411.58), reducing the
deficit of the preceding year to three hundred and twenty dol-
lars and fifty-nine cents ($320.59).
The distributions for the year were :
Bibles. Testaments, Prayer Books. Ps. and H4-
Gratuitous 702 906
Sales 367 311 4,881 469
1,069 J 2i7
Making a total of 15,207 volumes.
A grant of Bibles was made to the officers of the army on
the eve of their embarkation for Mexico (Folio 195), February
9, 1847. ^ the same meeting this interesting resolution was
passed :
"That it be referred to the Rev. Professor McVickar to con-
sider how far it would be expedient and advisable to prepare a
design emblematical of the Sacred character of the Bible dis-
tinguishing it from all the books, and report thereon at a future
meeting of the Board." (Folio 196.)
Dr. McVickar reported at the meeting of April 13, 1847
(Folio 198), that he had selected the seal of the Society, which
was accepted and the same directed to be impressed upon the
cover of the Bibles, with the understanding that if purchasers
or donors should prefer copies without this device, they might
have them.
The Secretary informed the Board April I3th, 1847 (Folio
199), that he had" addressed a letter of inquiry to the Rector
of "St. Mark's Church of the Bowery," relative to a bequest
made by the late Charles D. Betts a late member of this So-
ciety, to be distributed by the said Rector "Amongst the differ-
ent institutions of the Church for promoting the cause of Reli-
gion." And that the Rector's reply was unfavourable to the
claims of this Society, as it in his judgment was not such an
"institution of the Church as deserved such a bounty."
ANNUAL MEETING.
The Annual Meeting of this Incorporation, for the election
of Officers and Managers for the ensuing year, was held at the
626 Election of Officers. [1847
Depository, No. 20 John Street, New York, on Thursday, the
7th of October, 1847, at 9 o'clock A. M.
The Rev. Richard Cox was appointed Chairman, and D. Hub-
bell Hoyt, Secretary. The minutes of the last annual meeting
were read and approved. The Secretary presented the annual
report of the Board for the past year, being the 3Qth Annual
Report since the original organization of the Society. And on
motion it was Resolved, That an edition of twelve hundred and
fifty copies of said Report be printed under the direction of the
Agent and Treasurer.
On motion the Chairman appointed William H. Bell, Esq.,
and Andrew H. Green, Esq., a committee to audit the Treas-
urer's account for the past fiscal year.
On motion, Resolved, That this incorporation proceed to
elect Officers and Managers for the ensuing year. Messrs. Hoyt
and Green were appointed Tellers, who on counting the ballots
reported the ticket herewith as duly elected.
Officers elected at the Annual Meeting, October, 1847:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, 7th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. Lewis P. W. Balch, Rev. James D. Carder, Rev. M. P.
Parks, Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. Henry J. White-
house, D.D., Rev. John M. Forbes, D.D., Rev. Samuel L.
Southard, David H. Hoyt, Frederick De Peyster, Joseph W.
Winans, John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John W. Mitchell,
Theophilus Peck, J. B. Herrick, W. T. Pinckney, William A.
Duncan, Andrew H. Green, Alexander L. McDonald, John R.
Livingston, Jr., S. M. Hitchcock.
1847] Thirty- Ninth Report. 527
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joseph
H. Price, D.D., Charles N. S. Rowland, William H. Hobart,
M.D.
Committee of Distribution : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Lot
Jones, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates: Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, D.D., Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on the Stereotype Fund: Floyd Smith, Thomas
C. Butler.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE THIRTY-NINTH
CONSECUTIVE REPORT.
The Board of Managers report to the Society that with the
blessing of Divine Providence they have been enabled to dis-
charge the duties imposed upon them with a measure of success at
least equal to that of any former year. Mindful of the influence
which the volumes they publish are commissioned to wield, and
coveting opportunities to give them the widest possible circula-
tion they have used the means placed at their disposal, with all
industry and carefulness, and in every instance have answered
the demands made upon them by the needy and the judiciously
benevolent.
The proportion of sales, as has nearly always been the case
in the history of the Society, has been small when compared with
the gratuitous distribution. The charity of a few has helped
us meet the wants of many; while the conscientious determina-
tion of others to do all they can for themselves has led them to
extend our operations by rendering a pecuniary equivalent for
the books they order from the Depository. Were the pious
consideration of these excellent brethren as frequently imitated
as it should be, the annual number of our publications would be
very much larger than it can be under present circumstances;
for then we would be impelled to make gratuitous distributions
through channels of which we cannot now avail ourselves. We
do not wish to be less generous to missionaries and others than
we have been. What we ask is the privilege of being more so;
and we think it can be obtained if they who need our volumes
will be careful to pay for them when they are able to do so.
528 Thirty-Ninth Report. [1847
The gratuitous distribution has been, of Bibles, 793 ; of Testa-
ments, 645; of Prayer Books, 7,712; of Psalms and Hymns, 58.
The sales have been, of Bibles, 318; Testaments, 171 ; Prayer
Books, 4,828; of Psalms and Hymns, 175.
The total number of volumes put in circulation is 14,500.
This is a result which cannot but be gratifying to all who take
any interest in this Society. For be it remembered, we are not
issuing ordinary books of instruction and entertainment. The
volumes we send on their errands of love and mercy are im-
parted to us from Heaven; the one coming to us directly under
the sanction of inspiration, the other being received and used
under the authority and direction of the Church. This is not
the place to argue for the necessity of possessing the Bible. We
may assume that to be admitted. We would not be without the
Holy Scriptures ourselves ; and on Christian principles we ought
to be unwilling that others should be destitute of what we re-
gard as such valuable and important helps to us in the knowl-
edge and practice of sacred things. We must therefore rejoice
that through the Society's instrumentality, the Bible has been
placed in many a hand which otherwise would not have held it,
and its precious truths reached many a heart to which before
they were strangers. The last day must reveal the immense
good which in this quiet way has been effected.
The circulation of the Book of Common Prayer is almost
indispensable to the extension of our Church. For in that Book
are the doctrines of the Church, and her appointed form of
worship. By many she is loved mainly for its excellencies and
beauties; and multitudes of others, being first captivated by it
are now among the strongest supporters of everything which she
distinctively maintains. Even among our distinguished Bishops
there are some whose love for the Church was kindled by the
perusal of this inimitable volume of truth and devotion, a
volume because of the prejudice against which, before it had
fallen in their way, they had regarded the Church with dislike
and suspicion.
The Missionary can do nothing without the Book of Com-
mon Prayer. It contains the way in which he must teach his
people to pray. It is the means whereby his congregations are
gathered, and the band by which he holds them to the truth as
we derive it from the Scriptures. It is therefore not a small
occasion of congratulation that we are enabled to report the dis-
1847] Thirty-Ninth Report. 529
tribution of so many thousands of our precious manual.
They have been sent in every direction; and it is certain
wherever they have gone they have been on an errand, and are
accomplishing a work identical with the object held in view by
our Saviour throughout his sojourn on earth. They embrace,
as we firmly believe, the best means of promoting God's glory;
and of them too we expect to hear the best accounts on the day
when the Lord shall come to gather up his jewels.
No allusion is made to what might have been done. Our
business has been merely to speak of what has really been ac-
complished. From what we have been permitted to do we can
judge of what, with larger means, in our humble way we might
have done for Christ and his Church. We ask, therefore, for an
increase of this power to do good; and pledge ourselves to the
same faithfulness, economy and zeal that have characterized the
labours of the past years. The good we may be enabled to com-
pass shall be increased in more than a proportional degree by
every additional dollar placed at our disposal.
We have received during the year from collections, donors,
subscribers, &c., $2,068.59; and from sales at the Depository,
$2,347.78; making in all, $4,416.37. Our expenses for paper,
printing, binding, rent, salaries, &c., have been $4,453.53; the
balance in the Treasury is $488.98.
There have been published during the past year 2,000 Testa-
ments, 5,000 Common Prayer Books, of our ordinary size. 1,000
Common Prayer Books on larger type and of superior quality,
1,150 Common Prayer Books on small type, 2,000 Common
Prayer Books on large I2mo and octavo, 1,250 German Prayer
Books, 1,250 Psalms and Hymns of small and large size. An
edition of 2,000 Bibles and 5,000 Common Prayer Books will
soon be ready for the press.
Steps have thus been taken to begin the operations of the
ensuing year with earnestness and vigour.
Let the friends of the great cause \ve are striving to serve
furnish the required pecuniary ability and there shall not be at
our Missionary stations, or in any other places capable of being
affected by our influence, a single individual devoid of the vol-
ume in which God has made known the way of life, or of that
other volume, by which they W'ho use it are united in feeling,
sentiment and act, because they engage in the effective and pre-
vailing duty of Common Prayer.
(34)
630 Election of Officers. [1848
December 14, 1847, the Collect for the Second Sunday in
Advent was ordered to be printed and prefixed to future publi-
cations of the Bible. (Folio 204.)
On February 8, 1848, the Vice President communicated the
fact that the Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learn-^
ing were about to import from England copies of the standard
edition of the Bible, published under the direction of the vener-
able Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, for country
parishes, and also small tracts, and wishing to know if this
Society would act as Agent in selling and distributing the same.
It was on motion, Resolved, That this Society stand ready to
undertake the agency of such sale should it be agreeable to the
Society for Promoting Religion and Learning. (Folio 206.)
At the Annual Meeting, October, 1848, these officers were
elected :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., $d Vice President.
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, 7th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers : Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. Lewis B. W. Balch, Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y.
Higbee, D.D., Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. Henry J.
Whitehouse, D.D., Rev. William Morris, Rev. Samuel L.
Southard, David H. Hoyt, Frederick De Peyster, Joseph W.
Winans, George P. Rogers, John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John
W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, W. T. Pinckney, William A.
Duncan, Andrew H. Green, Alexander L. McDonald, John R.
Livingston, Jr., S. M. Hitchcock, Hamilton Fish.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joseph
H. Price, D.D., Charles N. S. Rowland, William H. Hobart,
M.D.
1843] Fortieth Report,
Committee of Distribution : rThqmjas C. Butler, Rev. Lot
Jones, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Edward
Y. Higbee, D.D., Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund: Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler. A
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE FORTIETH CONSECU-
TIVE REPORT.
The Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, beg leave to present this their Fortieth Con-
secutive Report. The Board would not fail to express its grati-
tude to God for the success attending its efforts during the past
year ; and this in the midst of opposition from enemies, competi-
tion from pretended friends, without and within, lukewannness
of many, and faithfulness of but few. Whilst sectarians of every
name are crying aloud, give the Bible freely and without price,
and whilst many in the Church are crying in loud and long har-
angues, "spread the Bible before the people pour out through
every channel that which will keep out Romanism and preserve
the faith of Protestantism," what are their fruits? Why, this
Bible Society languishes is unable to supply the calls from far
and near for the Word of Life, and in its desires to do good and
to distribute, and in its hopes of arousing the zeal and charity of
the rich, has gone beyond its means during the past year.
The commands to ministers of the Church of Christ,
"Charge them who are rich in this world that they be ready
to give and glad to distribute."
"To do good and to distribute forget -not/'
Have fallen upon the ears of the hearers as sounding brass,
or a tinkling cymbal. Are men aware what it is they neglect
to sustain, when this great benevolent charity ig compelled by
pecuniary necessity to pause in its saving career, and to turn away
empty from its doors any hand stretched out to it for relief and
knowledge? Here is no doubtful good; no party measure; no
production of peculiar minds. It is the book of instructions of
God to man, and the book of the answers of man to God. It is
the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. The one with the
authority of God to command, the other with the authority of
God's Church to instruct in obedience.
532 Fortieth Report. [1848
In these days of false doctrine, heresy and schism, can it be
that the only Society for the spread of the Bible and the Book
of Common Prayer, which we have, is necessitated to pause over
its indebtedness for the past, and remain for the present not
inactive but painfully circumscribed, by lack of pecuniary means,
in carrying out the desires of the Church?
In the midst of many calls this should be prominent this
should be first. It is to place in the way of the wanderer that
which, of all others, is most likely to attract his attention, and
that which will guide him to the right understanding of what he
reads. Is there a Christian who looks back upon the good done,
or forward to what may be done, who can hear of the wants of
this Society, and not contribute to the utmost of his ability?
Can he forget that he has taken up the neglected Bible in an idle
moment, as he has done a thousand times before, and listlessly
glancing over its pages, has been spell-bound by some passage
his eyes rivetted upon it his soul chained to it, he drew the
book nearer he read it again it was himself he saw, truthful
and lifelike he clung to it as his own, wondering what hand
could have painted him in real life? What eye has stolen into
his heart and written down his untold thoughts? He may have
wondered, but he cannot forget that the reading and instruction
under the blessing of God's Holy Spirit had done its work ; drew
widely the line between religion and the world displayed in
bright colours the inheritance to which he was heir, and has in-
duced him to cling to it closer and closer day by day.
He cannot forget that sweetest of moments in a Christian
life, when, touched by the pencil of light with a ray from the
Great Master's Book, he found himself alone, and perhaps for
the first time, on his knees in that Great Master's presence.
Memory running back over the many good words read in an idle
moment and with listless thoughts, but stored away by the steady
unwearied instruction of the Church, brightened like the rising
sun, and exhibited with the freshness of morn the goodness and
the love of God, which struck a sympathizing chord within his
heart, and brought him home again ; and,
"Shall we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Shall we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny?"
1848] Fortieth Report. 533
It is impossible that there is a Christian who would willingly
deprive the erring of the guide of his way. He cannot be a true
Christian who wishes to act, but does not. The will, without
action, is not sufficient when we have the means. It signifies as
little to wish well without acting well as to act well without
wishing well. Christ has said, "He that is not with me and he
that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad."
Charity requires wills and actions. It does not consist in
flourishing pretences, but in real practice; not in ostentatious,
loud-sounding words, but in active, self-sacrificing works ; not in
contentious bickerings, but in doing good ; not in allowing others
to pay for what we think ought to be done, but to thank God
that we have the opportunity, and gladly contribute what we
have to give; not spending time in explaining away charity, but
endeavouring to have enthroned in our hearts and exhibited in
our conduct that charity which thinketh no evil but is ready to
every good work.
Number of Bibles distributed 695
" Testaments distributed 832
Prayer Books distributed 7,076
Bibles sold 364
Testaments sold 143
Prayer Books sold 3,31 1
Psalms and Hymns sold 140
Total 12,561
For amount of receipts and expenditures, reference is made to
the annual report of the Treasurer; by which it will be seen,
there is a deficiency in the disposable fund of seventeen hundred
and seventy-five dollars and nine cents, which it is hoped the
liberality of the friends of the Bible and Prayer Book will correct
in the ensuing year.
WILLIAM MORRIS, Chairman.
Appended to this report is this,
Extract of a Letter, from a Clergyman of Virginia.
"Thos. C Butler, Esq.
"My dear Sir: By your kind attention and liberality I re-
ceived from the Societies which, as agent, you represent, a few
634 Fortieth Report. [1848
Prayer Books and a specimen number of each of your Tracts,
together with a polite note from yourself, giving me to under-
stand an order specifying such tracts as would be acceptable,
would receive attention. Please accept personally, and convey
to all whom it may concern, my grateful acknowledgements for
this and for similar favours in years past.
"I have read most of the tracts published by your
Society, and most heartily approve of their general tone
and spirit. From my knowledge of their character I always
circulate them with confidence. The fact that they are
deemed worthy of publication by the Society is to me a
sufficient guarantee of their intrinsic excellence. My par-
ish embraces an entire county, and I frequently officiate in
some of the adjoining counties where there is no resident clergy-
man. I have, therefore, great facilities for the distribution of
Prayer Books and Church documents. I am also engaged in
giving such religious instruction as the laws will permit, to the
coloured population; many of them can read, and Prayer Books
circulated among them are of great service in improving their
spiritual condition and correcting their wild and extravagant
notions in regard to religion. I have a Church expressly ap-
propriated to them and find no difficulty in making them familiar
with the most important parts of the Church service, so as to
conduct the worship entirely in accordance with the Church sys-
tem. Although without a missionary stipend, I am occupying,
emphatically, missionary ground, and have no means which I
can appropriate to the purchase of Prayer Books or Tracts; I
am, therefore, dependent for a supply upon the liberality of
friends at a distance.
"If you consider my case worthy of your notice, I shall be
truly thankful for any appropriation, large or small. I could
circulate to advantge, if I had them, fifty Prayer Books within
the next six months, and almost any quantity of Tracts."
TREASURER'S REPORT.
New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society.
Disposable Fund.
1847. Dr.
Oct. I. To Cash paid for paper $2,270 96
To Cash paid for printing 413 19
Fortieth Report. 535
1848.
Oct. 1. To Cash paid for binding. i>794 1O
To Cash paid for books purchased 381 67
To Cash paid Agent's salary, $500; boy,
$5 55 oo
To Cash paid Sunday School Union rent.. . 120 oo
To Cash paid Fire Insurance, Packing
Boxes, Twine, &c 1 1 5 18
$5,645 10
1848.
Oct. i. To balance overdrawn $1,775 09
1847. Cr.
Oct. i. By balance in the Treasury $34 12
" Cash from 58 Country Parishes 467 20
1848.
Oct. i. By Cash from n Parishes in Western New
York 48 02
" Cash from 19 City Parishes 738 87
" Cash from 6 Parishes in Brooklyn 78 58
" Cash from Donations 482 85
" Cash from Subscribers 403 50
" Cash from Interest of the Schatzel
Fund 140 oo
" Cash from Sales by the Agent M/6 87
" Balance overdrawn to the new account. i,775 09
I0
THOMAS C. BUTLER, Treasurer.
Stereotype Fund.
1847. Dr.
Oct. To Cash paid correcting stereotype plates $70 oo
1848.
April. To Cash paid altering plates 3 50
Oct. i. To balance in Treasury to new account 828 93
$902 43
536 Fortieth Report. [184&
1847. Cr.
Oct. i . By balance in Treasury $463 1 1
By Cash to constitute Rev. John M. Forbes,
D.D., a Life Member 25 oo
By Cash interest on mortgage of $2,300. . . 138 oo
1848.
Feb'y. By Cash to constitute James P. Van Home
a Life Manager 50 oo
By Cash to constitute the Hon. Samuel Jones
a Life Member 25 oo
Aug. 4. By Cash annual income from the estate of
Hanford Smith, by W. S. Fatouite, Esq.,
Executor 176 32
Sept. By Cash to constitute Samuel S. Tiffany, of
Brooklyn, a Life Member 25 oo
$902 43
By balance from old account $828 93
THOMAS C. BUTLER, Treasurer.
Schatzel Fund.
Dr.
Oct. i. To cash paid to Disposable Fund for Prayer
Books $140 oo
Cr.
Oct. i. By interest received from bond and mort-
gage of $2,000 $140 oo
We, the subscribers, appointed by the members of the New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, to audit the
accounts of the Treasurer, hereby certify that they have ex-
amined the same, the vouchers and additions, and find them
correct; and that there was due by the Treasurer to the Stereo-
type Fund eight hundred and twenty-eight dollars and ninety-
three cents, and that there was due to the Treasurer from the
Disposable Fund, seventeen hundred and seventy-five dollars and
nine cents, on the first of October last.
New York, November 7, 1848.
DAVID HUBBELL HOYT,
WILLIAM H. BELL,
Auditing Committee.
1849] Books for the Navy. 537
At the meeting of February 13, 1849, ^ was
"Resolved, That the Agent prepare a statement of the num-
ber of Prayer Books supplied by this Society to the American
Marine, including the United States Navy at the Port of New
York, and immigrants to California during the last year : Also
copies of communications relating thereto he may have received
from the Chaplain of the United States on this station during
the same period, in order to bring before "The Church'' the
facts connected with the large distribution of the Book of Com-
mon Prayer in those directions.
"Resolved, That a Committee of four be appointed, with
power to present such statement to the Honourable the Secre-
tary of the Navy, and respectfully solicit from him that all
future supplies of the Book of Common Prayer for use of the
Navy be purchased from this Society. And that they take such
other measures as they may deem advisable and necessary for
the purpose of increasing the funds of the Society, commensu-
rate with the increased demands upon its bounty.
"Resolved, That the Rev. Professor McVickar, Rev. Dr.
Haight, Thomas C. Butler and John R. Livingston be such
Committee." (Folio 215.)
Mr. William Ballou Preston, the then Secretary of the Navy,
replied to the Society, under date of April 24, 1849, an d de-
clined to order the purchase of books on the ground that no
specific appropriation had been made by Congress for that pur-
pose. (Folio 219.)
The committee was continued with the object of devising
further measures in relation to the future supply of Prayer
Books for the Navy.
At the same meeting the Agent was authorized to import
Bibles to the value of $250 from the Oxford Press.
At the Annual Meeting, October, 1849, the following officers
were elected :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Lot Jones, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
538 Forty-First Report. [1849
Charles N. S. Rowland, ?th Vice President
William H. Hobaft, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas G. Btttlef, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers : Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. Lewis P. W. Balch, Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y.
Higbee, D.D., Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. Henry J.
White-house, D.D., Rev. William Morris, Rev. Samuel L.
Southard, Rev. William H. Lewis, D.D., David H. Hoyt, Fred-
erick De Peyster, Joseph W. Winans, John Alstyne, C. B. Bost-
wick, John W. Mitchell, W. T. Pinckney, William A. Duncan,
Andrew H. Green, Alexander L. McDonald, John R. Living-
ston, Jr., S. M. Hitchcock, James Van Norden.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joseph
H. Price, D.D., Charles N. S. Rowland, William H. Hobart,
M.D.
Committee of Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Lot
Jones, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates: Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, D.D., Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler.
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE FORTY-FIRST CON-
SECUTIVE REPORT.
There have been distributed since the last annual report, of
Bibles, 771; Testaments, 429; Prayer Books, 8,434.
There have been sold 454 Bibles, 144 Testaments, 4,452
Prayer Books, with 235 Psalms and Hymns; making a total
circulation of 14,919 volumes.
The receipts from sales amount to $2,171.78; the contribu-
tions, &c., $2,790.14; total $4,961.92; leaving a present deficiency
in the Treasury of $120.02.
The deficiency last year was $1,775.09.
Payments this year $3,306.85.
It will be seen that these statistics indicate a larger receipt of
funds, both from sales and contributions, and larger distribu-
tions of the Sacred volumes than the previous year.
1849] Forty-First Report.
But whether the benefits of the Society were more or less
conspicuous, whether its affairs were depressed or prosperous,
our duty as ; Churchmen remains unaltered. For as the Bible
is the world's heritage, and the Church is her Lord's Keeper
and witness of the Holy Scriptures, so it is the foremost duty
of Churchmen to fulfil their trust by multiplying and diffusing
volumes of God's Word in every language and every land. We
desire Churchmen to bear in mind that we are a Bible Society,
the oldest in the State of New York; and therefore we claim to
be the almoners of the Church in fulfilling the duty of distrib-
uting the Bible.
.Nor is the obligation to print and disseminate the Common
Prayer Book a duty less imperative on Churchmen. For if
Churchmen do not spread abroad the Prayer Book, who else
will? If we wait for Dissenters to do this work, we shall wait
till they are converted and become Churchmen.
But the most efficient means of accomplishing their conver-
sion is by acquainting them with the Prayer Book. Hence the
spectacle of sectarianism in its thousand shapes, only thus adds
stimulus to the holy motive, pressing upon Churchmen to be
zealous.
Again: If we wait for those who do not profess and call
themselves Christians to demand the Prayer Book we must re-
nounce our belief in native depravity and expect an unheard of
miracle of a clean thing coming forth from an unclean. But
"no foundation can yield both salt water and fresh." No.
Churchmen must bestow the Common Prayer Book liberally or
the duty will not be done at all, nor the charity be accomplished.
But why is the dissemination of the Prayer Book a Duty and
a Charity ?
The duty is obvious on the lowest principle of propagandism.
Every community of Christians are bound to publish their
opinions, provided they honestly believe them to be true and
profitable to the soul's health. This is the argument for the zeal
of sects. We recognize its force. We must contend against its
power. It is flooding our land with doctrines on morality and
religion which "the truth as it is in Jesus" contradicts, and the
Church must therefore oppose. The sincerity of our faith, how-
ever, needs to be attested by corresponding, if not superior,
activity in diffusing the Prayer Book.
540 Forty-First Report. [ 1 849
But the Churchman is not governed by a sectarian motive.
He cares that his fellowmen should believe what he believes,
neither because he believes it, nor to magnify the influence of
his party. But he desires that the faith of all men should be
according to the doctrine of Christ, and the doctrine of Christ
is authenticated by the Church. The Prayer Book is the
Church's testimony; her faithful witness of the will of God;
her sacred instruction touching all things which a man should
believe and do to be saved; and the Divine interpreter of the
written Word. The Prayer Book contains the doctrine, discip-
line, and the worship of Christians, which Apostles (inspired
and guided by the Holy Ghost) taught and directed, in that
primitive age before the books of the New Testament were
penned, and the Canon of Holy Scripture was formed.
The Churchman inherits the Prayer Book. He does not re-
ceive it merely because it accords with his faith; but his faith
is regulated to conform with the Prayer Book. It is his teacher.
It is Christ's voice to him not only but to all the world. He
that heareth it hath no right to withhold it from those around
him. It is the voice of the Saviour, crying "Behold and seel
here are the old paths! here is the good way! walk therein and
ye shall find rest for your souls."
In short, the Churchman must say, concerning his duty of
circulating the Prayer Book, what the Apostle averred of his
obligation to preach the Gospel : "Though I circulate the Prayer
Book I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is laid upon me;
yea woe is unto me if I circulate not the Prayer Book. For if
I do this thing willingly I have a reward : but if against my will,
a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me."
And now let us explain the charity of this work.
Suppose a man reading the Bible, to be startled by the saying
of our blessed Lord : "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved : but he that believeth not shall be damned."
He proceeds to inquire, most anxiously, what he must believe.
He wants to know what the Christian faith is. He must know
this on peril of damnation. His soul is in jeopardy. His sal-
vation is covenanted on the conditions of faith and baptism.
And for fault of a true faith he is threatened with everlasting
woe.
He applies to the sectarian, and is informed that he must
1849] Forty-First Keport. 541
believe in Christ. All agree in this comprehensive answer.
But it does not suffice. He must know what to believe con-
cerning Christ. And here they disagree. One bids him believe
one thing, another contradicts one says "Believe in justification
by faith" another rejoins, "by works a man is justified." One
affirms that the elect shall be saved ; another proclaims universal
salvation. One proclaims that Christ's Deity is a cardinal doc-
trine of the Scriptures. Another denies it. Each one appeals
to the Bible. All have some favourite Doctor of Divinity to
back them. The poor, miserable, jaded inquirer, searches the
Scriptures for himself. Like the Ethiopian eunuch he studies
them carefully: but when asked by the Evangelist, "Under-
standest thou what thou readest?" he rejoins, "How can I except
some man should guide me." Then must the Churchman put
into his hand the Prayer Book, which "preaches unto him
Jesus." No doctor in divinity is its author it is the embodi-
ment of "the faith once delivered to the saints." The inquirer
learns "the articles of the Christian faith as contained in the
Apostles' Creed.'' He is taught the true doctrine of Baptism.
He is instructed in the things which pertain to salvation: and his
faith stands not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
"Jesus Christ and him crucified," is the grand and pervading
subject of the Church's teaching, in the volume which is sub-
mitted to his study.
O! this is true Charity; and the soul which has been tossed
to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by
the sleight of men and cunning craftiness \yhereby they lie in
wait to deceive, "will invoke blessings on the Church, which
hath spoken to him the truth in love;" and will "grow up in him,
in all things, which is the Head, even Christ."
Now keeping steadily in mind our office and obligation to
circulate the Holy Bible, it must be obvious, that although we
invariably bestow the Bible wherever asked, yet the duty and
charity of Churchmen require them to endeavour to circulate
the Bible and Prayer Book together. Bishop Hobart
earnestly commended this method of missionary action. The
title of our Society demonstrates that we are pledged to exe-
cute the mission. This method is congruous with the his-
tory of God's dealings with men; for at first He sent forth the
ministry of the Church, and afterward committed to the Church
542 Forty-First Report.
the Holy Scriptures to be joint and inseparable witnesses of
truth ; wherefore the will of God seems plainly to require that
"what he hath joined together men ought not to put asunder."
The past year has been a remarkable era in the history of our
Society. A nation has been born in a day; and the emigrants
here thronged our office demanding the Prayer Book to carry
with the Bible to their new home on the Pacific Coast. Men
have felt their own wants, and the wants of humanity, even
while they were dazzled by the glittering of gold in the Sacra-
mento valley. 1
If the Church but fulfils her duty and ministers heavenly
charity, in sustaining the operations of this Society, a reward
awaits her sons and daughters more precious than gol& more
resplendent than gems.
The past year, also, is the Third CentenniaJ Anniversary of
the Restoration of the Primitive Faith to the Church in Engr
land. On Whitsunday the Churches in that Empire, and many
in our own country, celebrated the blessing of the restored Ljtr
urgy. Copious offerings were presented at the Holy Comrnunion
in token of gratitude to God, the Holy Ghost, furnishing mean^
for the more abundant supply of that blessed volume, which the
compilers acknowledge to be the fruits of His divine Inspir-
ation.
The Treasurer and Agent in presenting the report of the
proceedings of the past year .deems it advisable to give a brief
statement of the transactions since the change of system, rather
over twelve years ago, when the two Societies, Parent and Aiyt-
iliary, united in the hope of producing more extended and better
results.
The Society for the period of more than forty years, has been,
and is, the only general Society in the .United States for the
gratuitous distribution of the Bible, Testament and Book of
Common Prayer to all who apply in need.
After an experience of rising twenty-eight years, under what
was termed a gratuitous agency, the Managers deemed it neces-
sary to adopt a different system. At that period the joint funds
. There were granted for California during the year 48 Bibles, 21 Tes-
taments, 803 Prayer Books. For Oregon 6 Bibles, 20 Prayer Books.
1849] Forty-First
in possession amounted to $2,0? 1.23, am} stereotype plates \r\
value $4,500, without a Bible or Prayer Bpok at cpmmancl.
During the past twelve years there has beeri $de4 sigfrf sets,
of stereotype plates, one each of the Bible, Testarnent, folip,
8vo, i8mo, 24mo, French and German Prayer Books.
The present value of the stereotype fimd, after due allowance
for use of the plates is, of the latter $6,500, loans cm mortgage
$4,300, balance in Treasury $1,862; a total of $12,662.
Of the disposable fund, the value of books and debts put-
standing is $3,414, less amount of bills payable for paper, bindT
ing, &c., $1,919, is $1,43 5^-$ 1 4,097, being an increase of
property during twelve years of $7,575-77- The receipts for
those twelve years to the disposable fund have feeeri tweny-four
thousand one hundred and sixty- four dollars. The gratuitous
distribution of Bibles, I2mo and 8vo, 9,233; of Testaments,
i8mp and I2mo, 8,796; of Prayer Books, large, 3,285; of the
common i8mo 82,092, and of Psalms and Hymns, 704; being
equivalent in their cost to 128,442 of the j8mo Prayer Books.
The sales during the same period have been 4,796 Bibles, 2,733
Testaments, 2,863 Psalms and Hymns, and 45,842 Prayer
Books making a total circulation of 1160,349 volumes of th$
various sizes. The Society by haying become its pwn publisher
and salesman, has been enabled to defray all its contingent exr
penses and distribute gratuitously more in value than the whole
amount of contributions received fpr the purpose.
The more liberally it is supported the more extensively can jf
grant; for the larger amount pf receipts wi}l not increase the
contingent expenses .of the Depository.
It confidently appeals to future Whitsunday collections in
further commemoration of an anniversary of the Prayer Book,
and in the hope that such collections, may fee general among
Episcopalians, and they be willing circulators of their belove4
liturgy, and the Bible from which it is compiled, that all may
be able to receive of both, or either of these most valuable bppks,
as their need may require,
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS C. BUTLER, Treasurer and Agent
9th October, 1849.
When the Treasurer and Agent made the above report on
544 Endowment Fund. [1849
October i6th, the Society took a notable step. It appointed a
committee to raise an Endowment Fund to maintain its gratui-
tous distribution of the Bible and Prayer Book. At the meeting
of December nth this committee reported. (Folio 227.)
The subject has appeared to your committee so important and
so practicable that they cannot but regard it as an extraordinary
fact that the Society should have existed forty years without
even an attempt, to any great extent, to procure such an endow-
ment.
It is important when we look at the object, the circulation of
the sacred Scriptures and the Book of Common Prayer and
the scanty pittance on which this solemn duty, with a zeal and
fidelity worthy of all praise, has been discharged. It is practi-
cable too, since on the ground of services rendered, we have a
certain claim on all the Dioceses. For more than forty years
this has been the only general Society of the Church for the
gratuitous distribution of the Bible, Testament and Book of
Common Prayer.
Considerations urged by other associations for the distribu-
tion of the Bible may be urged by this with greater power. It
is the only Society instituted for this purpose, around which the
great body of Churchmen will ever rally. If it be a duty to cir-
culate the sacred volume it is one incumbent on the Church.
Especially would we observe, that if the Bible is to be circulated,
it must be in the received translation. And is not that as the
sacred property of the Church to be sacredly guarded and pre-
served. Your committee, however, refrain from extending their
report to such considerations as furnish matter for an Appeal to
the Public. They purpose that the endowment be fixed at
twenty-five thousand dollars, that it be divided into five hun-
dred Life Memberships, that the privilege of a life member,
and also of one who subscribes more than fifty dollars, be made
known with the appeal. That in such manner as the Board may
please a layman be requested to draft the Appeal.
That at least fifty gentlemen from every part of the Union,
known to our citizens, be asked to sign the Appeal.
Having these signatures, that the consent of all Bishops be
asked to send the Appeal into every Diocese.
1850] A Standard Bible. 545
Not more than one-fifth of the whole number of names shall
be those of clergymen.
Very respectfully,
JOSEPH H. PRICE,
FREDERICK DE PEYSTER,
THOS. C. BUTLER.
After the reading of which report, it was
Resolved, That the report just read by the Rev. Dr. Price,
from the Committee on the Endowment Fund of this Society,
be referred back to the same committee with power to add to
their number of clergymen and laymen, and carry out the sug-
gestions and resolutions contained in said report. And also to
prepare an Appeal to be submitted to an adjourned meeting of
this board, to be held on Thursday, the 2oth of December inst.,
at 2 P. M.
"The Rev. Dr. Price then offered the following resolution,
which was unanimously adopted :
"Resolved, That at a time when a new effort is to be made in
behalf of the Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, this
Board would deliberately record their sense of the obligation of
this Society to their Agent, Thomas C. Butler, for the wisdom,
untiring industry, and strict economy with which for twelve
years he has managed its concerns. And to express the prayer
of their hearts that their venerable friend, now in his /6th year,
may long be spared to discharge as now, with all the vigour of
youth, a duty that looks not for its reward to anything this
world can give."
On December 20, 1849, the Committee on Endowment re-
ported that Mr. Murray Hoffman had consented to draft the
Appeal, and recommended the passage of a resolution referring
to the committee of ten, with power, the carrying out of the
plans perfected. (Folio 229.)
On June n, 1850, the following report was presented on the
subject, of the Standard Bible :
"The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
anxious to promote much so desirable an object as that of secur-
ing a Standard Edition of the Holy Bible, respectfully offers its
services to the General Convention as publishers of the revised
edition contemplated by a resolution of the Convention of 1844,
and virtually revised in that of 1847.
(35)
546 Forty-Second Report. [1850
"The Society does not presume to offer any argument in be-
half of the property, perhaps it had better be said, the necessity
of having such a standard. For the action of several General
Conventions, from 1817 down to that of 1847, evinces an ap-
propriately high estimate of so very desirable an object. But it
deems itself to be acting only in its proper sphere, when it sug-
gests, that its facilities, its powers and the duties it has assumed,
indicate it as a fit instrument or agent to engage in the work.
Should the offer of its co-operation be accepted, it will cheer-
fully submit to be governed in the publication by any regulations
which it supposes the General Convention may be inclined ta
enact.
"It would respectfully add that its being the oldest Bible
Society in our Church, as well as its location in the great com-
mercial metropolis of our country, would seem to favour the
employment for the end proposed."
At the annual meeting of 1850 the officers elected were the
same as in 1849.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox r
Rev. Lewis P. W. Baich, Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y.
Higbee, D.D., Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. Henry J-
Whitehouse, D.D., Rev. William Morris, Rev. Cornelius N.
Duffie, Rev. Charles H. Halsey, Frederick De Peyster, Cyrus
Curtiss, John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John W. Mitchell, Samuel
Skidmore, W. T. Pinckney, William A. Duncan, Andrew H.
Green, Alexander L. McDonald, John R. Livingston, Jr., S. M.
Hitchcock, James Van Norden, Isaac Fryer.
The Standing Committee the same as in 1849.
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE FORTY-SECOND
CONSECUTIVE REPORT.
In presenting their Annual Report for 1850, the Managers
of the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
would respectfully state that their receipts from sales and contri-
butions have fallen somewhat short of those of the preceding
year. Consequently the number of volumes which they have been
enabled to circulate has been fewer than they could have wished,,
though not much different from the past year. That such has
been the case is certainly to be lamented. Our country has en-
joyed a year of unexampled prosperity, so that the ability has
1850] Forty-Second Report. 547
not been wanting to have increased tenfold our income. Our
extent of territory has been greatly enlarged, and our popula-
tion wonderfully multiplied, so that, as it is obvious, the need
of a more numerous distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books has
been greater. As Christians, and therefore Churchmen, we shall
admit that the operations of the Society should at least keep pace
with the increase of those who are to be benefitted by them.
As patriots, and men anxious for the perpetuity of our civil
institutions, we may also heartily desire throughout our land
the widest possible circulation of the Bible and the Book of
Common Prayer. It would require no lengthened or laboured
argument to show the beneficial influence which the Church
whose exponents are the Bible and Prayer Book united is cal-
culated to exert. The Church, like its Master, is the same yes-
terday, to-day and forever perfect and entire, wanting noth-
ing. The Church is the salt of the earth it preserves in
greater or less degree whatever comes in contact with it.
It does not vary and adapt itself to the caprice of those in
authority, or "the very madness of the people." It can be made
the medium of action by no external and adverse power. The
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
is free and independent owing allegiance only to her own
Bishops and Pastors, and to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
It alone provides, and, if followed, would secure, the daily offer-
ing of prayer "for all sorts and conditions of men," for those
in authority and for those under it; with her oneness of doc-
trine and worship; her daily prayers for national peace; her
completeness within herself; and her conservatism, the Church
cannot fail to exert the happiest influence wherever it may be
planted and the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer are
the seeds from which it springs. As lovers of the good old
Saxon, and those desirous of the preservation of the English
language in its purity, we might likewise advocate the distri-
bution to the utmost extent of the Bible and Prayer Book.
Those holy men who compiled the Prayer Book adorned it with
the jewels of our language. It contains the choicest and purest
words; the most harmonious and expressive sentences, and the
most exact idioms. The language of those who enjoy its daily
service, and are familiar with its occasional offices, can never
548 Forty-Second Report. [1850
be inexpressive, rude or vulgar. For its words are, indeed,
"pure words."
The following letter, received this day from a presbyter of
the Diocese of New York, who was the very first to plant the
Cross and unfurl the banner of the Church in California, our
new possessions on the shores of the Pacific, will be read with
thrilling interest:
"New York, 25 Sept. 1850.
"Thos. C. Butler, Esq.,
"Agent New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society.
"Dear Sir,
"I truly regret that the state of my health, which has recently
suffered entire prostration from the hardships of a disastrous
voyage, although much improved, will not permit me safely to
take part this evening in the anniversary celebration of the New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society. I should other-
wise have counted it a pleasure and still should have felt it a
duty, to embrace the opportunity accorded me of bearing testi-
mony to the silent but efficient usefulness of that Society in a
field not more novel for its characters, than wide in its extent,
and mighty in its influence on the future. I have had it con-
stantly on my mind, unsolicited, to make you the sharer of our
joy at the results which your faith foresaw, and your u'ork of
faith foreshadowed, and only the prospect of shortly returning
to this city has constantly prevented my fulfilling the intention.
"With the supply of Prayer Books left for my use on board
the 'Crescent City,' on my departure from New York, we were
able to sustain becomingly the services of the Church on the
Isthmus of Panama, as also to supply to a small extent several
vesels sailing thence from San Francisco, and by a still
further supply from your Rooms, in the hands of another
gentleman, to keep up a regular and well observed service on
our ship for the nine weeks we were at sea. By the aid of other
liberal grants, and purchases by friends from your Society, the
decent worship of the Church has been promptly and perma-
nently established in San Francisco, and in other towns of the
Pacific (and instances not a few have come within rny notice)
where in the furthest mines the little brown-covered Prayer
Book has awakened the voices of the desert, and 'made the
1850] Forty-Second Report. 549
wilderness glad for them.' Also in ships on the long voyage
around 'the Cape' there have been numerous instances in
which the wise provisions of the Church have suggested the
mode, and the charities of your Society or of its friends, the
means of worship, where worship would otherwise, in such mixed
companies, have been impracticable. For the Prayer Book is
a priest and a preacher, whose reputation for purity, for pathos,
and for power is so well established, that wherever its voice is
raised, it rinds the ear willing to listen, while its strains are in
striking harmony with the majestic voices of the sea: nowhere
more than on the distant waters does it wake the sweet echoes
of the voices and hearts at home. Perhaps it may in the last
day be found true, that the same little brown-covered book has
fulfilled its mission, in a thousand ships, bearing the emigration
to that distant region, as I am sure that, much more than a thou-
sand times, its familiar words of comfort and of hope, though
spoken by the lips of laymen, have won the heart and awakened
the faith of the sorrowing circle, as they committed a brother
to an emigrant's grave, whether in the deep or in the desert. And
having now imparted information gathered from personal fam-
iliarity with the facts, and intended to cheer you in a good
work, if you will 'suffer the word of exhortation,' I will
express the hope that the friends of the Prayer Book will often
embrace the opportunities that offer to send this unexceptionable
and everywhere respected and welcome messenger of the
Church, with the companies and multitudes now thronging to
that shore. Much good has resulted from individuals taking
with them a few of these books, and making such judicious use
of them as circumstances indicated, or by making them over to the
clergy in the country. As far as I have information, a Prayer
Book in California is never lost, is nowhere despised, but every-
where welcome and everywhere useful.
"Trusting that God, by the increase of His blessing, will give
continual enlargement, both to your plans and sphere, and means
of usefulness, I am, dear Sir, with many thanks for aid per-
sonally received in my labours from the publications of your
Society,
"Yours respectfully, FLAVEL S. MINES.
"P. S. As the first offering from the Church in California
550 Book Labels. [1850
to any charitable institution, please accept from the 'Church of
the Holy Trinity' in San Francisco one hundred dollars.
"F. S. M."
The Treasurer's Report showed the receipts from all sources
were $4,982.45, of which $2,461.50 were the proceeds of sales
at the Depository.
The expenditures were $5,316.42, leaving a deficit of $333.97.
The Stereotype Fund was reported as having expended
$597.83, and received $438.00, including a legacy of $200 from
the estate of Mr. Hanford Smith, leaving a balance of $1,702.27.
The distributions for the year were in almost every State of
the Union, to the various charitable institutions, Sunday Schools,
and prisons, and the army and navy.
Bibles Testaments. Pra\er Books. Psa. & Hym.
Gratuitous 738 778 8,903
Sales 256 274 3,872 205
994 1,052 12,775 2 5
Making a total of 15,026.
The Secretaries of the General Convention informed the So-
ciety that its communication on the subject of a Standard Bible
had been referred to a committee appointed on that subject.
The Society thereupon, November 5, 1850 (folio 241), ap-
pointed a committee of three to confer with the committee of
the General Convention.
On the same day the Agent reported that Mr. Richard
Wood had presented to the Society two stereotype plates for
labels suitable for pasting inside the Bibles and Prayer Books
issued by the Society. The one for Bibles contained besides
the Collect for. the Second Sunday in Advent, Bishop Wilson's
Prayer, "Grant, O Lord, that in reading thy Holy Word, I may
never prefer my private sentiments before those of the Church
in the purely ancient times of Christianity," and the mottoes,
"Christ and the Church," "Evangelistic Truth and Apostolic
Order," "Hear the Church," "One Lord, one Faith, one Bap-
tism," and the label intended for the Prayer Books had ex-
tracts from Cranmer, Calvin, Wesley, Adam Clarke, Herbert,
and Dr. South, with the same mottoes.
This committee ascertaining that the General Convention had
1851] The Pope Legacy. 551
not appointed a joint committee, so reported, and were at their
request discharged, December 16, 1850. (Folio 242.)
At the same meeting Mr. Mitchell reported that the court had
decided against the claims of the Society to share in the Pope
legacy. Whereupon the matter was left in the hands of the
Financial Committee with power to make an appeal to the
Court of Appeals.
On February nth the Endowment Committee reported that
they had had this matter under consideration and after delib-
erating upon the different views presented, and the benefit ex-
pected from the realization of the proposed measure, had in-
structed their chairman to submit to the Society the propriety
of reconsidering the resolution, under which the committee were
appointed, as the difference in opinion in regard to the amount
of the endowment suggests, and the length of time which has
elapsed since the project was set on foot, seem to render such
reconsideration expedient, and the discharge of the committee
called for, with the view of reorganizing it under a fresh reso-
lution.
This report was on motion accepted and the committee dis-
charged.
Mr. DePeyster on behalf of the Committee of Finance, to
whom was referred with power at the last meeting the subject
of Mr. Pope's legacy to this Society, reported that they had had
an interview with Messrs. Mitchell and Hoffman, the counsel
in the case, and upon examining the history and facts related
to this bequest, and in accordance with the views of Mr. Hoff-
man, contained in his letter hereto appended, had directed an
appeal to be made to the Court of Appeals for its final decision
thereon. The following is Mr. Hoffman's letter referred to :
"My dear Sir:
"In the case of Andrews vs. The New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society, I beg to renew the statements which
I have before made to Mr. Mitchell. I think an appeal is ad-
visable under all the circumstances for these reasons I have
not a doubt but that the request would be sanctioned in Eng-
land.
"I consider that law as the true law to govern this case as it
is to be judged by the rule prevalent before the revised
Forty-Third Report. [1851
Statutes. After two decisions against us, another prevalent
feeling in our courts, the success certainly becomes very doubt-
ful. But the Society could litigate at a very slight expense.
They share the printing with the Theological Seminary. I
give all my past services without charge in case of failure, and
I charge for my services in the Court of Appeals $37.50 to
each institution. The utmost extent of advance which I can
anticipate will fall upon the Society, will be $150 in case of
failure. I think the experiment is well worth the sum.
"Yours very truly,
"MURRAY HOFFMAN."
On September 9th, 1851, a resolution was passed asking Dr.
McVickar to furnish the Board for preservation and future
reference copies of all correspondence or so much thereof as
relates to the Standard Edition of the Bible which he may have
had with individuals or Societies, either as chairman of this
Board or as a member of the late committee of this Board on
that subject. (Folio 349.)
In the margin is the pencil annotation, "Dr. reported he had
only scraps contained in private letters."
At the Annual Meeting in 1851 the officers elected in October,
1849, still retained their places. There was no change in the
membership of the Standing Committees. In the Board of
Managers there were some necessary substitutions.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. E. R. T. Cook, Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y.
Higbee, D.D., Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. William
Morris, Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, Rev. J. W. Diller, D.D.,
Frederick De Peyster, Cyrus Curtiss, John Alstyne, C. B. Bost-
wick, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, W. T. Pinckney,
William A. Duncan, Andrew H. Green, Alexander L. McDon-
ald, John R. Livingston, S. M. Hitchcock, James Van Norden,
Isaac Fryer.
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT BEING THE FORTY-THIRD CON-
SECUTIVE REPORT.
The Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society, in presenting again their annual Re-
port, would in the first place call attention very briefly to the
1851] Forty-Third Report. 553
condition and operations of the Society during the year just
closing. They had hoped to come before the Society with the
gratifying statement that their receipts had been larger than in
the previous year and the circulation of volumes greatly in-
creased. They regret to say, however, that these expectations
have been disappointed.
Their receipts so far from being greater have beeji two hun-
dred and twenty dollars less than they were during the year
preceding. This difference is owing mainly to the failure of
the Churches in the country to make accustomed collections.
The amount thus contributed being four hundred and forty
dollars less than was acknowledged in the last report. It is
true that the distribution of volumes has been notwithstanding
nine hundred more than in the preceding year; but it should
be remembered that with the increased ability of the Church,
and the increasing demands upon this Society, year by year,
not to do much more each year than in the last, is virtually to
do less ; not to advance is to lose ground. Yet in order to effect
even this the Disposable Fund has been overdrawn to the
amount of nearly two thousand dollars.
The distribution of volumes has been as follows : Bibles 857,
Testaments 370, Prayer Books 9,375, and Psalms and Hymns
85 ; total freely distributed ten thousand six hundred and eighty-
seven.
The sales have been, Bibles 389, Testaments 167, Prayer
Books 4,380, Psalms and Hymns 322; total sold 5,258, making
a grand total distribution and sold of 15,950 volumes. Such
is a general statement of the condition and operations of the
Society during the past year; the full particulars appear by
reference to the report of the Treasurer and Agent.
In explanation of the disproportion between the distribution
and sales of the Bible and those of the Book of Common Prayer,
which from the statements just given appear so great and
striking, it may be observed that \vhile there are almost number-
less associations for the distribution of the Bible, which are
pouring in their thousand streams into the treasury of a great
parent Society, and enabling it to send forth an abundant supply,
there are but very few Societies whose object it is to circulate
the Book of Common Prayer.
And further, while a very large proportion of the funds of
554 Forty-Third Report. [1851
these various Bible Societies is derived from the subscriptions
of members of the Church, this Institution of their own Church
receives from them the merest trifle in support of its opera-
tions. Yet being the chief source whence Prayer Books can be
obtained free of cost, while the Bible may be thus procured
from so many other institutions, the applications for the former
are, of course, far more frequent.
This is to be expected from the nature of the case, and this
Society is therefore bound under present conditions to appro-
priate the larger portion of its means to the publication of that
volume for which the greatest demands upon it are made. This
Society, too, is no mere local or Diocesan Institution. Situated
in the great commercial metropolis of the Union, it is constantly
receiving applications from every quarter of our land from
Maine to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coasts.
Thus general in its designs and extensive in the sphere of its
operations it deserves the support of all members of the Church.
Upon the inestimable value of the Word of God, and the
claims of its best expositor, the Book of Common Prayer, the
Board feel that in addressing Christians and Churchmen they
need not enlarge. They would, however, beg leave to stir up
their minds by way of remembrance, and most earnestly press
home upon the hearts and consciences of all the duty of aiding
in the circulation of these blessed volumes.
In the free distribution of the Bible it is true that Church-
men (at least as compared with the offerings of others) are
doing their part, although not through the agency of the
Church Societies, yet, as has been remarked, by their liberal
contributions to other institutions. But that the same can also
be affirmed of their endeavors to circulate that volume which
they all prize and love next to the Bible none will pretend when
they learn that the entire amount given to this Society during
the whole of the past year, comprehending collections in city
and country churches, donations and annual subscriptions, has
been less than $2,400.
This is all which Churchmen with all their love for the
Church and with all their acknowledged wealth have given this
Society; a Society which stands ready to do a great and a holy
work which all approve, and which only asks of them that out
of their abundance, out of their superfluity, they will but place
1851] Forty-Third Report. 555
the means for doing it in their hands. These means are not-
notwithstanding withheld; and yet if the Church is ever going to
extend her boundaries, especially in the destitute and newly set-
tled portions of our vast and rapidly growing land, it must be
by making her principles known, and in what way can this be
done so well as by scattering far and wide her public, authorized
standard? If ever, too, those who are now strangers to her holy
ways, are to lift up together in her courts the voice of prayer
and praise, they must be provided with her manual for public
service.
Here, we can say to every inquirer, here in this volume are
contained her principles and form of worship. And here, too,
we may say in this Society is a platform on which all who call
themselves Churchmen can stand and work together. This
volume contains the faith and worship of the Church, in the
Church's own words. To this then all of every shade of
opinion on minor points, allowed within her borders can sub-
scribe. This all can aid in circulating, that so by means of it
the Church may be represented as she represents herself, as she
really is, and not only as the authorized exponent of the
Church's faith does the Prayer Book commend itself to all
Churchmen, but one would imagine that as an unrivalled guide in
devotional exercises, as according to its very title a "Book of
Common Prayer," in which all truly devout and spiritually
minded persons can cordially unite, it would be dear to the
hearts of "all who profess and call themselves Christians."
Here we are taught how to pray in language so simple that
the most unlettered, even the little child, can understand and
feel it all, yet at the same time so majestic and sublime that the
most cultured intellect must admire it for its dignity, and find
equal to the expression of all of its loftiest aspirations.
Here are prayers rational, yet fervent, pure, primitive, al-
most inspired; hallowed by the lips of saints and martyrs,
"through the ages all along," who now rest in Paradise; by
the use of which their pure spirits have been trained for
Heaven; aye, on which those spirits have ever been borne up
to Heaven as if on Angels' wings, or the wings of the Holy
Dove itself, while yet their bodies were on earth.
Truly, prayers, such as these, one would imagine that every
being possessed of Christian feeling and true devotion must
556 Forty-Third Report. [1851
wish to place as the most filling companion to the Bible, in the
hands of all within his reach.
May not this Society then, whose object is to do this very
thing, may it not well ask and expect the support, the hearty,
liberal and efficient support of all the members of the Church?
May it not reasonably anticipate that while they read the one
Inspired Volume, or while they pray in the beautiful and impres-
sive language of the other, only not inspired, they will remem-
ber the claims of this Society, whose object is to bring both these
dearly prized, and daily used volumes, in so far as may be, within
the reach of all?
The managers ask, then, that the interest of the Members of
the Church in this Institution, and in the great object which it
has in view, may be both manifested and quickened by their
prayers to God for His blessing upon it, and by conscientious,
liberal, systematic offerings in its behalf.
In the Treasurer's report the receipts from donations, sub-
scriptions and collections in the city and country churches are
given as $2,172.27, the sales at the Depository as $2,288.38, and
the interest account, including that on the Schatzel Fund, as
$292.39, making a total of $4,753.04. The expenditures for
paper, printing, binding, purchase of books, rent, salaries, and
incidentals, were $6,744.79, leaving a deficit of $1,991.75.
CHAPTER XVII.
CONTENTS.
Annual Meeting and Forty-Fourth Report, 1852 Sermon by Dr. Wain-
wright, Bishop-Elect A Committee on Finance Appointed General Con-
vention of 1853 Delegation from the S. P. G. Sermon by Dr. Spencer,
formerly Bishop of Madras Annual Meeting and Forty-Fifth Report,
1853 Annual Meeting and Firty-Sixth Report, 1854 Legacies from James
P. Van Home and John Noble Annual Meeting and Forty- Seventh Re-
port, 1855 Discussions on a Standard Bible for the American Church
Memorial of the Society to the General Convention Committees Appointed
by the General Convention Letter by Rev. Henry M. Mason Meeting
and Forty- Eighth Report, 1856 The Society Arranges with Protestant
Episcopal Tract Society as to Proportion of Expense in Printing the Stand-
ard Bible Calls for a Spanish Prayer Book Distribution of Books Ex-
tended to Liberia and South America General Convention of 1856 Re-
port of Committee on Standard Bible Committee of Five Appointed
Correspondence between the Society and the Committee Anniversary
Meeting, 1857 Sermon by Bishop Kip Election of Officers Forty-Ninth
Report Editions in Spanish and Italian Urged The Necessity for a
Standard Bible Correspondence thereon with Dr. Mason.
WITH renewed vigour and happy anticipation the So-
ciety met for its Forty-third Anniversary in the fall
of 1852. The election of Dr. Wainwright as pro-
visional Bishop relieved the Diocese of New York
from the pressure of great anxiety, much apathy, and bitter
controversy.
This is reflected in the contemporary account of the memor-
able occasion. The cheering words of the Bishop-elect and the
practical suggestions of Dr. Price are significant of the high
expectations for the future.
ANNUAL MEETING, OCTOBER, 1852.
The Annual Meeting of the different Societies connected with
this Diocese was held Sunday evening, October 3d, at St. Ste-
phen's Church, in this city. There was a large congregation
present, and the services were all exceedingly interesting. The
557
558 Annual Meeting. [1852
Rev. Dr. Wainwright {the Bishop-elect) was in the chancel, with
the Rector of the Church, Rev. Dr. Price, both of whom in the
course of the evening, made addresses.
The Rev. A. B. Hart said Evening Prayer, assisted by Rev.
Mr. Halsey in the lesson. There were present also, in surplices.
Rev. Dr. Morris and Rev. Messrs Gallaudet, Eigenbrodt,
Duffy, Leonard and others. Rev. Dr. Van Kleeck, of Troy,
preached the sermon, and the Bishop-ekct said the concluding
prayers and pronounced the Benediction. The music was ex-
ceedingly fine upon the occasion.
The preacher took his text from the 4th chapter of 2 Cor-
inthians ii. verse 7. "We have this treasure in earthen ves-
sels." It was an excellent and appropriate discourse, containing
allusions to the auspicious result of the last week's deliberations
in the Convention, as promising good to the cause of missions,
the spread of the gospel, and the prosperity of the Church.
The preacher adverted to the impatience and rashness of the
perverts to Rome, and of those who would go out of the
church to which they belong, to form and favour other instru-
mentalities than those which it is their duty to forward and
support, in their zeal for what they call evangelism, in contra-
distinction to the teachings of the church. He hoped a better
day now dawned, and that the unity which has now manifested
itself in securing a head to this long distracted diocese, would
surely prove a bond of peace, and of triumph to the cause of
the Church.
Dr. Wainwright then rose and read the following statement
of the affairs of the different associations connected with the
Protestant Episcopal Church in this diocese, and in aid of
which contributions of the congregation were solicited :
THE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT
Has, the past year, rendered aid to the instruction of
scholars in number 43
The current expenses to attain that object having
been chiefly supplied by the Society for the pro-
motion of Religion and Learning, amount to
about $4,500
The Parochial Collections scarcely amounting to one-tenth part.
1852] Annual Meeting. 559
THE MISSIONARY COMMITTEE
Have, in important places in the Diocese, complied
with applications, and appointed 61 stations.
The number of Missionaries now on duty under
the appointments are 44
The amount of stipends paid Missionaries and due
them ist of October, 1852 $5,702.00
Amount of funds in the Treasury, chief-
ly derived from the liberal donation
of Trinity Church, on the Jubilee. . . . $3,459.29
Receipts during the year from 103
Churches 2,050.94
Deficient to meet the payments due to
Missionaries, ist October I 9 I -77
$5,702.06
To pay the stipends the coming year of the present
number of Missionaries, will require $6,200.00
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL TRACT SOCIETY
Has extended its list of Tracts to No. 211 ; will soon
publish the Church Almanac for 1853.
The gratuitous distribution of Tracts the past year
to all applicants in need 1,180,500 pages.
The sales during the same period were 606,852
The indebtedness in cash to the Treasury
at the commencement of the year was. $922.63
The payments during the same period
were 1,672.48
$2,595.11
Receipts from all resources of sales,
subscriptions, collections, &c $1,882.19
Leaving a cash balance overdrawn and
due to the Treasury of 712.92
$2,59511
THE NEW YORK BIBLE AND COMMON PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY.
The gratuitous distribution to all who have applied has been
851 Bibles, 572 Testaments, 3,943 Prayer Books, and 62 Psalms
and Hymns. The sales during the same period, for which cash
560 Annual Meeting. [1852
has been received, 394 Bibles, 316 Testaments, and 4,407 Prayer
Books, and 148 Psalms and Hymns. Being a total of 15,758
volumes.
The Disposable Fund was overdrawn in cash on the
commencement of our year, ist October, '51 $1,991.74
The cash payments to this time, ist October, '52. ... 3,374-68
$5,366.42
Receipts from 24 Churches in the cities
of New York and Brooklyn $862.38
Receipts from country churches 1,091.09
Interest $76.44, cash sales $2,306.51,
donations $385.77, subscriptions
$454-50 3> 22 Z' I 9
$5,276.66
Leaving the Treasury overdrawn 89.76
Notes outstanding 1,405.61
Notes issued by the Society for paper, printing and binding,
$1,405.61, payable at different periods.
Having read this Dr. Wainwright proceeded to make the fol-
lowing remarks, which were listened to with deep attention, and
the closing allusions to his new relation to the Diocese with per-
ceptible emotion.
He said :
"You have heard this brief statement of what has been ac-
complished by these Societies, but there is a great want of funds
to carry on those important works and especially in the mission-
ary department. You see that we want a considerable amount
of funds to pay the stipends those small stipends of our faith-
ful missionaries. We need a great deal more to carry on the
cause as it should be; however on this point I will not dwell
this evening, because you have been specially called upon to re-
spond to this call for the purposes of the Bible and Prayer Book
Society. From the statement that I have read you perceive that
there is a vast distinction between the number of Bibles and
Prayer Books distributed. I need not say that that could not
arise from any indifference on your part to the Word of God.
It could not be that we purchased more Prayer Books than
Bibles, because the Bibles may be procured by other sources
than ours; but there has been a larger number of Prayer Books.
1852J Annual Meeting. 5bl
This Society is working this great object to send forth the Word
of God. A large amount of good will be effected by this. Here
vessels are constantly arriving from and going to all parts.
Here your faithful missionaries are at work to give these
Prayer Books to all those vessels, and I well know that they
are received with gratitude by the sailors, and I know that a vast
amount of good has been effected by this means. These earn-
estly appeal to us in this great commercial metropolis, and I
say, if we had three times the amount of funds we have at
present it could be most effectually used in the great work be-
fore us; but it is not my province to stir you up in order that
you contribute bountifully to this cause. My excellent and be-
loved brother has faithfully performed his duty, and it has
been assigned to me to make the statement, but I could not con-
clude without these few remarks on a subject always dear to
my heart, and now by the Providence of God to become ten-
fold dearer to me, and to awaken in me a ten- fold anxiety that
this important work should be carried forward in the Church.
Brethren, I now leave it in your hands."
Dr. Price followed up the remarks of the Rev. Bishop-elect
with additional statements designed to produce the same effect,
and especially urged a more active and vigorous support of these
different associations, and their objects. He called the special
attention of those present to that important object of the Bible
and Prayer Book Society, the Permanent Endowment of
twenty- five thousand dollars, of which sum the portion of
twenty thousand dollars is to be securely invested for the
gratuitous distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books, and the
remainder, five thousand dollars, is to form a specific fund for
the putting forth a standard edition of the Bible, as contempla-
ted by the late General Convention. Such subscriptions to be in
sums of $25 and upwards; or, should such supposed action not
take place, then such amount collected to be funded in perpetuity
for the supply of Bibles and Prayer Books to the destitute poor.
The collection taken up on this interesting occasion was very
handsome as we are pleased to learn. 1
The elevation of Dr. Wainwright caused a readjustment of
the Vice Presidents at the annual meeting. The enlargement of
I. Taken from a newspaper extract pasted on folio 352.
(36)
562 Forty-Fourth Report. [1852
the plans of the Society made necessary a new committee, whose
duty it should be to care for the finances of the Society.
Officers elected at the annual meeting, October, 1852:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex-officio.
Rev. J. M. Wainwright, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., 2d Vice Preident.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice Preident.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., 4th Vice Preident.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, jth Vice President.
William H. Hobart, 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox r
Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y. Higbee, D.D., Rev. Ben-
jamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. J. T. Schroeder, D.D., Rev. Wil-
liam Morris, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, Rev. J. W. Diller r
Rev. Christopher B. Wyatt, Frederick De Peyster, Cyrus Curtiss,
John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T.
Skidmore, Abraham B. Sands, William A. Duncan, John Heck-
er, Alexander L. McDonald, John R. Livingston, S. M. Hitch-
cock, James Van Norden, Isaac Fryer.
Standing Committees:
Committee of Arrangement; Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Jos-
eph H. Price, D.D., Charles N. S. Rowland, William H. Hobart,
M.D.
Committee of Distribution : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Francis
Vinton, D.D., Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates; Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, D.D., and Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund; Floyd Smith, and Thomas
C. Butler.
Committee on Finance : Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T-
Skidmore, James VanNorden.
FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT.
The Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Common
1852] Forty-Fourth Report. 563
Prayer Book Society respectfully present the following statistics
of their operations during the past year :
Bibles distributed gratuitously 863
Testaments distributed gratuitously 5572
Prayer Books distributed gratuitously 9H5
Psalms and Hymns distributed gratuitously 62
Bibles sold 394
Testaments sold , 316
Prayer Books sold 4874
Psalms and Hymns sold 148
Total of volumes during the year 16374
The amount of receipts and expenditures are as follows:
Receipts from twenty two city churches in New York $961.19
Receipts from six churches in Brooklyn 143-54
Receipts from country churches 1473.62
Receipts from Interest 76.41
Receipts from Sales 2306.71
Receipts from Donations 41 1.02
Receipts from Subscriptions 468.50
Collections at the Anniversary meeting held at Saint
Stephen's Church 1 58.80
$6001.79
Expenditures during the year $3411.51
Disposable Fund overdrawn last year. . 1991.75 5403.26
Leaving in the Disposable Fund a sur-
plus this year of $598.54
On comparing the above amounts with the statistics as given
in the last four years, it appears that the free distribution of Bib-
les has been about the same as last year, and more than any pre-
vious year; that of Testaments is larger than last year but is sur-
passed by 1848 and 1850; that of Prayer Books is less than last
year but greater than the previous years.
The sale of Bibles is greater than in any previous year except
1849; that of Testaments is the highest, and that of Prayer
Books is also the highest. The actual receipts are higher
this year than any other, while the expenditures have been
less, so that the deficit of last year has been transfered from
$1,991.75 to a balance of $598.54. The total of volumes em-
564 Forty-Fourth Report. [1852
braced in the report is somewhat more than last year, and more
than any previous year.
It thus appears that on the whole, the Society cannot be said to
have gained much in its distributions during the past year, but
has quietly held on its own way, doing good to the utmost of its
small means faithfully and economically and the present time
finds it, as usual holding out its hands and raising its voice to the
Church, whose instrument it is, to pour forth liberally her offer-
ings in order that the field of the world, which spreads out on
every side around us its unproductive wastes may be sowed thick-
ly and speedily with the good seed.
It must be confessed on glancing over the figures of the above
statistics that the Church has been very neglectful of her duty
toward this, her authorized agent for doing an important portion
of her work.
When we look back over the field of controversy which the
Church has been compelled to carry on with the sects around her
and see how large a part has been fought about the Liturgy ;
when we read the rapturous encomiums with which her worth-
ies have been wont to speak of that compendium of her faith and
her devotions; when, moreover, we examine each portion of
that our glorious heritage, when we trace back part after part,
even of minute details, through the long use of ages, and reflect
how the ancient saints have written these words which we now
daily repeat, how the faith and devotion of unnumbered gener-
ation of God's people, in all parts of the world, have gone up
to the throne of God in the same language, which is now so
familiar to our lips, and professedly so dear to our hearts, and
then look upon a whole year's exertions in communicating this
inestimable blessing to others, there are few of us who deserve
the name of Churchmen, who are not overwhelmed with shame
at the glaring contrast and the grievous greatness of our short
comings.
No excuse for this neglect can be found in the fact of differ-
ences existing between the various portions of the Church in mat-
ters of doctrine or opinion. The Bible, the Testament, the Prayer
Book, and the Psalms and Hymns set forth with the sanction of
the Church these are the only books which this Society has any
authority to publish, to distribute, or to sell. There is no room
for party suspicion or party denunciation here. All are equally
1852] Forty-Fourth Report. 565
agreed that the Bible, as the revealed Word of God, ought to be
deeply, faithfully, constantly studied by all who are or who
would become his people.
All are equally agreed to abide by the "Prayer Book as it is,"
the exponent of the faith as the Church has always held the same,
and has always been ready to appeal to the Scriptures to prove it
thereby. Here then, if in no other object, all can with united
hearts and hands, aid one another in carrying forward the great
work of the church in this our land.
Indeed, such is the infirmity of human nature, the very fact
that in the operations of this Society no cause of dispute can be
found has been probably one reason why its claims have been so
sadly neglected. While controversy was raging on every other
subject, the minds of Churchmen have been too much dis-
tracted to take due care of the quiet little Society, which was
known neither to strive nor cry, nor was its voice heard in the
streets. And they have now so fallen into the habit of working
only for that which is fiercely opposed by somebody that zeal in
this Society seems to be left at a low temperature mainly for
lack of opposition enough to give it exercise and keep it warm.
But now, when it is to be hoped, the violence of controversy is
somewhat abated, and Churchmen feel disposed to search for
something at which they can labour peacefully and quietly for the
glory of God and the good of the Church, rather than form what
they can attack or defend, we think we may look hopefully and
confidently for a rapid increase of usefulness placed in our
hands, and the amount of good thereby accomplished.
There is another cause of shame in considering the present
position of this Society. If it were yet young, new to the ideas
and feelings of the Church, a Society whose expediency was
questionable, and whose usefulness was as yet untried, there
might be some plausible excuse for the smallness of its receipts,
and the miserably contracted sphere of its operations. But it is
not so.
Not only is it demanded, by the wants of the Church on every
hand, but it is old and long tried, and therefore deserves to be bet-
ter treated. On the title page of this pamphlet, printed in large
capitals, that the rebuke may stare us in the face, it is stated that
this is the FORTY-FOURTH consecutive Annual Report of this
Societv.
506 Forty-Fourth Report. [1852
Forty four years has it been in existence ; and yet we are dis-
tributing in a whole year only 863 Bibles, a little more than 9000
Prayer Books, while the gross receipts from actual contributions
to her disposable Fund are only $3618.87.
All this is surely bad enough and too bad. But there is this
to console us, the last eight years, through which we have been
dragging on a lazy existence so far as good work are concerned,
are now, it is to be hoped, nearly over. Without an acting personal
head to this Diocese, every general and diocesan institution of
the Church has felt the want of guiding counsel and superin-
tending care. In spite of every feeling of shame and conscious
short comings, it has been impossible to revive the tone of the
system, or to restore its energy and healthy vigour, while the
head was paralyzed. It has been amongst us as described by the
words of the prophet, while the whole head has been sick, the
whole heart has been faint. Every portion of the Diocese has
felt it. Every portion of the Diocese has lamented over it, and
longed for a relief which should once more breathe a new life
into all our labours for the good of the Church.
That happy consummation is now at hand. And it has been
reached in such a way that the general heart of the Church re-
vives, looking now for peace as to controversy, and rapid
strides forward in all good works and enterprises for the ad-
vancement of her heavenly kingdom. Every church society
this year may be expected to reap a larger harvest of means
and scatter more widely than ever their gifts of good things.
And among the rest surely this will not be forgotten. Parishes
which have not for many years contributed will now, \ve trust,
be roused to remember their duty. And those which in their
infancy, have received freely for their needs, will now in the
day of their flourishing manhood, pour into our treasury a
liberal and overflowing return from the abundance with which
it has pleased God to bless them. Thus shall the good seed be
sown this year by us more widely than ever before, a dawn of
better things has, within a very brief period, been manifested
by adding to the contributions of the stereotype fund those of
two patrons, two life managers and twenty life members, and it
is confidently hoped that every friend of the Church, possessing
the ability, will be induced to follow the good example by a
record of their names and their bounty.
1853] Anniversary Meeting. 567
Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, even
our own God, shall give us His blessing.
At the meeting of June 14, 1853, a device was ordered to
be stamped on all the books issued by the Society.
The General Convention of 1853, which met in Trinity
Church, New York City, on Wednesday, October 5, had the
pleasure of welcoming the first official representatives of the
Church of England. They were a deputation from the Vener-
able Propagation Society, to which the Colonial Church was
indebted for a long course of nursing care and protection. That
Society had in the previous year concluded the celebration of
its third jubilee which was graced by the presence of two
American Bishops, Dr. McCoskry, of Michigan, and Dr. De
Lancey, of Western New York, with Dr. Wainwright, Secre-
tary of the House of Bishops. The invitation they gave in be-
half of the American Bishops that the Society would send, as
a symbol of the fraternal love between the Church of England
and the Church in America, chosen men to attend the General
Convention in the following year was enthusiastically accepted.
The former Bishop of Madras, the Right Rev. George John
Trevor Spencer; the Archdeacon of Middlesex, Dr. John Sin-
clair; the Rev. Ernest Hawkins, Prebendary of St. Paul's Lon-
don, and Secretary of the Society ; and the Rev. Henry Caswell,
Vicar of Figheldean, were chosen. Arriving in New York some
days before the opening of the General Convention they were
made the honoured guest of the New York Churchmen, re-
ceiving a hearty welcome and many courteous attentions.
The announcement that Bishop Spencer had kindly consented
to preach the sermon at the anniversary of the Diocesan So-
cieties, added much to the interest felt in that function.
The sermon does not appear in full either in a printed
pamphlet or in the Church papers of the period. Its scope can
be gathered from the abstract found in this account of the
anniversary, taken from some journal of the day and made a
part of the Report for 1853.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIOCESAN SOCIETIES.
The interesting anniversary was celebrated on Sunday, the
2d of October, in St. Thomas's Church. Evening Prayer was
568 Sermon by Bishop Spencer. [1853
said by the Rev. Dr. Van Kleeck, the lessons being read by the
Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, of the English delegation. A
brief extract of the annual reports of the four Societies was
then read by Rev. Dr. Haight. The sermon was preached by
the Right Rev. Bishop Spencer from the text : "And he went
through the cities and villages teaching and journeying toward
Jerusalem."
After the preliminary remarks concerning the Twelve and
the preaching of the Gospel by them, the Bishop passed on to
the vast extent of missionary work now going on in the various
parts of the world. He then 'spoke in detail of the Societies
whose joint anniversary was that evening celebrated.
The Bible and Prayer Book Society was devoted to the cir-
culation of first the Bible, that best gift of God to man; and
next, to that of the Book of Common Prayer. This book, he
said, he loved and venerated. Though he was a stranger to this
country, yet he was not a stranger in our Liturgy. Every word
of the Prayer Book, he declared, to be founded plainly and un-
answerably on the blessed Bible. As to the Protestant Epis-
copal Tract Society, he liked its name. He loved it because it
was Protestant, and we are Protestant, the very use of the word
is a bold and thorough vindication of the right. We were Pro-
testant against every ism that disturbs the Church. We were
Protestant, because Catholic, and Catholic because Protestant.
He liked the word Episcopal because he was a thorough be-
liever in the Divine authority of Episcopacy.
Passing to the Diocesan Missionary Society, he said that its
very name was full of the love for souls and for Christ; that
the missionary spirit was essential to the existence of the
Church, and also that the immense number of British emigrants
daily arriving in New York offered vast unoccupied fields of
missionary labour. The vast importance of the Education So-
ciety, also in training a thorough and reliable clergy was men-
tioned.
These four Societies, he said, were faithful handmaidens of
the Church to which they belonged, and he earnestly exhorted
the congregation to a cordial support of them. Even if he were
a stranger, he hoped that in this way they would not refuse to
hear his voice; yet he was not a stranger but at home. He
found religion here a practical reality.
1853] Election of Officers. 569
The Church of England and that of America are one in their
Liturgy, in their receiving truly and really, because spiritually,
the Body and Blood of Christ, in their zeal in good works, in
their Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Laity, all eager to advance
the cause of their Master. He urged each one to do his best in
sustaining these Societies, they thus by their fruits would go
through the cities and villages journeying toward the heavenly
Jerusalem. He called on each individual to aid, by his prayers,
his love, his self-denial and alms, and to aid now, for none of
them could be sure that they would have another opportunity.
The Provisional Bishop added a few stirring and energetic
remarks.
The Bishop of Illinois read the Offertory. After singing
part of the iO2d Hymn 1 Bishop Wainwright pronounced the
benediction and the large congregation dispersed.
Officers elected at the Annual Meeting, October 4th, 1853 :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex-officio.
Right Rev. J. M. Wainwright, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, 7th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers : Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y. Higbee, D.D., Rev.
Benjamin 1. Haight, D.D., Rev. J. F. Schroeder, D.D., Rev.
William Morris, Rev. Cornelius R. Duffle, Rev. J. W. Diller,
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Frederick De Peyster, Cyrus Curtiss, John
Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skid-
more, Abraham B. Sands, William A. Duncan, John Hecker,
I. "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Does his successive journeys run.
His kingdom spread from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more."
In the present Hymnal it is No. 261.
570 Forty-Fifth Report. [1853
Alexander L. McDonald, John R. Livingston, S. M. Hitchcock,
James Van Norden, Isaac Fryer.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Rev. Thomas C. Butler, Rev.
Joseph H. Price, D.D., Charles N. S. Rowland, William H.
Hobart, M.D.
Committee of Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Francis
Vinton, D.D., Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler.
Committee on Finance : Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T.
Skidmore, James Van Norden.
FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT.
The Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society respectfully present this their Forty-
Fifth Annual Report :
Distribution of books in the past year Bibles, Testaments
and Prayer Books by sale or gratuitously, 18,939 volumes. 1
RECEIPTS.
For the benefit of the Stereotype Fund from patrons,
life members and bequests $1,323 oo
From New York City Churches 800 oo
From Brooklyn Churches 197 oo
From Country Churches 1,184 92
Donations 153 oo
Subscriptions 450 oo
Sales 2,052 08
$4,837 oo
Leaving a balance, in the Treasury to the Dispos-
able Fund of $1,406 88
I. The distribution was in twenty-four States and Territories, the Army
and Navy, the Marine Corps, Sunday Schools, Hospitals and Asylums. It
included 1,164 Bibles, 515 Testaments, and 9.878 Prayer Books.
1853] Forty-Fifth Report. 571
These balances will be very soon exhausted. New editions of
the Prayer Book in French, of the Testament, and 121110 Prayer
Book, and an entire new edition of the i8mo Prayer Book, now
in process of stereotyping, which will be published early in the
year 1854. The print is larger than usual, and intended to be
both cheap and handsome.
Many other editions will have to be reprinted, and need the
liberal aid of increased contributions.
Faithful still to the trust, the Society has during the last year,
as in former years, distributed far and near to the utmost ex-
tent of the means furnished by the Church ; but notwithstanding
the larger balance than usual in its favour now reported lo be
in the Treasury, the strange fact which has appeared in every
former report, is to be recorded also in this that the pecuniary
means supplied bear no just proportion to the nature and ob-
jects of the charity, nor to the numbers, wealth and professions
of those whose bounden duty it is to support it.
Were this Society one of recent origin, or one whose acts
involved controversy in the Church doctrines or opinions about
W'hich the minds of men are divided or religious enterprises
of doubtful expediency and uncertain results, then might we be
able to account for the indifference with which it seems to be
regarded.
But we have here an institution which has borne the severest
test that time can apply to it, for a period of forty-live years
a charity which no one will say has not been faith full}- ad-
ministered, which though placed in the City of New York has
freely sent abroad its good gifts to every quarter of the Amer-
ican Church, a teacher of no new or disputed doctrine, a leader
in no doubtful enterprise, but a guide in the old paths, an
acknowledged minister of truth and peace, giving with open
hand the Word of God and the Church's Book of Common
Prayer, ministering those means of grace and salvation which
all men in the Church confess to be without controversy the
means of grace and salvation, when we consider this fact, in
connection with the extent and wealth of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the Diocese of New York and in the United
States, and then compare both with the financial statement
which we are obliged to present, year by year, we are forced to
the conclusion that the Protestant Episcopal Church, though
572 Election of Officers. [1854
surrounded by enemies numerous and strong, has far more to
fear from the apathy within her walls than from any hostile
array without. And that in order to the fulfilment of her great
mission in this land, a more full and true charity than is now
manifested must inspire her heart and strengthen her hands.
In 1854 the Society was the recipient of a legacy of $20,000
from James P. Van Home.
In the summer of the same year the Society transferred its
offices to 53 East I3th Street.
The committee of the Board appointed to confer with a com-
mittee of the Tract Society on the subject of the relative pro-
portion of the expenses to be borne by the Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society and the Tract Society reported on Sep-
tember 12, 1854.
"That after a consultation with that committee, and due ex-
amination into the receipts and expenses of the Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society, they have arrived at the following
conclusion : That the expenses of the Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society be the proportion of two-thirds of the expenses in
the operations of the two Societies from the first day of April
last, and recommend the adoption of the following resolution :
"Resolved, That the Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
pay two-thirds of the expenses of the two Societies, commencing
on the first day of April, 1854. Which resolution on motion
was unanimously passed." (Folio 35.)
At the annual election held in October, 1854, new names
appear in the list of officers and managers.
The high hopes cherished of the strengthening and renewal
of the Church in the Diocese under the administration of Bishop
Wainwright were only partially realized, for after a laborious
and fruitful episcopate of twenty-two months he rested from
his earthly labours on September 21, 1854. To the vacant chair
was chosen the Rev. Dr. Horatio Potter, Rector of St. Peter's
Church, Albany, who had long been the energetic President of
the Albany Bible and Prayer Book Society and a firm friend of
the parent Society.
Officers elected at the Annual Meeting, October 3d, 1854:
Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex-officio.
Rev. H. Potter, D.D., Provisional Bishop-Elect, ist Vice
President.
1854] Election of Officers. 573
Rev. William Berrian, 2d Vice President.
Rev. J. McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, /th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y. Higbee, D.D., Rev.
Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev, J. F. Schroeder, D.D., Rev.
Thomas H. Taylor, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, Rev. J. W.
Diller, Rev. Joshua Weaver, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Frederick
De Peyster, Cyrus Curtiss, John Alstyne, C. B. Bostwick, John
W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, Abraham B. Sands, William
A. Duncan, John Hecker, Alexander L. McDonald, John R.
Livingston, James Van Norden, Isaac Fryer.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joseph
H. Price, Rev. Joshua Weaver, William H. Hobart, M.D.
Committee of Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler.
Committee on Finance : Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T.
Skidmore, James Van Norden.
FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT.
A bequest of $2,000 has made the present year's income of
this Society from all sources, in round numbers, $7,000. Ex-
cluding the bequest, its ordinary receipts have not exceeded
those of the past year.
It has sold and distributed gratis during the twelve months
more than 20,000 volumes of Bibles, New Testaments and
Prayer Books.
574 Forty-Sixth Report. [1854
The precise amount of receipts, sales, gifts and expenses will
be found detailed in the annual report of the Treasurer.
Since we are reading to-day the Forty-Sixth Annual Report
of the Society it will be perceived that it verges toward a half
century of its existence. It has strown the years with works of
beneficence in the exact proportion in which the liberality of
Churchmen has enabled it to bless the land with the issues of
its books. The glory of its successes or the shame of its weak-
ness is the outgrowth of your zeal or lukewarmness, and for
the extent of its labours the responsibility to our Judge rests,
Churchmen, with you.
By a happy union of name and purposes, it is entitled The
Bible and Common Prayer Book Society; for to the intelligent
Christian the Bible and Prayer Book, as in our Churches, so in
our houses, should be inseparable companions. The reasons
which inspire your love of the Bible are the reasons which
authorize your love of the Prayer Book. As the sacred Scrip-
tures are your fountain of doctrine, devotion and morality, your
Liturgy and ritual systematize that doctrine, devotion and
morality. They are not rivals, disputing for your favour, but
co-relatives and friends. If the one by its admonitions move
us to repentance and worship; the other by its offices assists us
in the acts of repentance and worship. If the Bible inculcates
through its pages the tenets of an orthodox faith the Prayer
Book gathers these tenets together in the compact symbol of
the Apostles' Creed, that while the heart believes the lips may
confess. Indeed the sentences, the versicles, the canticles, the
whole Psalter, the Epistles and Gospels are taken bodily from
the Bible, while Creeds and Eucharist, Angelic and Ambrosian
Hymns have been sounded through the ages from the dawn of
Christianity, and the Collects and Litany are so fragrant of
the breath of Scriptural devotion that, if foreign praise were
needed, men like Adam Clarke and Robert Hall, and their peers
among the sects, have exhausted the language of religious
eulogy upon the Prayer Book.
There are Societies without the Church engaged in the publi-
cation and circulation of the Scriptures alone, unattended with
their interpreter and auxiliary, the Prayer Book. Now, it is
a blessed work to diffuse the light of inspiration; and the wis-
dom of your own Church deems that it is most effectually ac-
1854] Forty-Sixth Report. 575
complishing that work by sending forth the Bible in company
with a volume that facilitates the understanding and applies
the sense of its sacred lessons. Yet there are members of her
body who estrange their funds from her support, and cast their
contributions into the treasury of an alien Society, thus conveying
a practical reproach to their own institutions and lessening their
power and means of usefulness. It is like the courtesy which
artificial worldlings keep for strangers, while kindness is nig-
gard and silent at home. Is it filial, is it just, thus to subtract
from the resources of your nursing mother and then dolefully
lament her leanness? to cripple her energies and then point at
the littleness of her labours? Another Bible Society built up
with colossal dimensions, by bequest after bequest poured into
its coffers, has been enabled almost to monopolize the publica-
tion of the sacred volume, to translate it into various languages,
to issue cheap and large editions, and so doubtless to lessen our
opportunities for labour and liberality in this department of our
operations.
Nevertheless, according to the measure of your munificence,
the Society continues its unremitting exertions. And we trust
we hear in the thanks and blessings of the needy, the blessings
of Almighty God upon our poor endeavours. The number of
volumes sent out this year on their errand of piety and love
will bear us some small testimony. Beside our English editions
of Bible and Prayers we have the Prayer Book fully translated
into German and French, and stereotyped. In these and in our
mother tongue it is daily doing throughout the land its silent
and unceasing good. It lies under the emigrant's pillow and
is borne in the soldier's knapsack, to illumine his barrack or
tent. It rests, a precious treasure, on the deal table of a log
house in the wilderness ; and by the side of its sacred companion
is found inviting the traveller to worship, in the parlors of sum-
mer resorts and hotels among the mountains. It is the mis-
sionary's vade tnecum in the valley of the Willamette, and his
spiritual alms 1 on the far banks of the Columbia. The gold
hunter weeps as he turns its pages in the mines of Sonora, and
the devout sailor from our ports is comforted by its prayers
as he rolls on the waves of the Atlantic. Touched by its inter-
I. Evidently a slip of the pen for Arms.
576 Forty-Sixth Report. [1854
cessions, while ministering at the altar in a Southern diocese
distant from his home, we have seen the tears flow down the
cheeks of a venerable Bishop, remembering the Communion of
the Saints, remembering that in that hour his endeared kindred
worshipped in the words of the same affecting formula. Left in
the abode or placed casually in the hands of some pious
"stranger to the commonwealth of our Israel," it has dispelled
her prejudies by its heavenly devotions, or mastered his faith
by a conviction of "the truth as it is in Jesus," and led his foot-
steps to the sacred ministry, whose highest order he has since
adorned.
And what shall we say more in such brief space to stir your
interest and draw out your liberality in behalf of the institution
which is the offspring of your own Church, the nurseling of
your bounty, the handmaid of the ministry in their evangelical
enterprise, whose twin productions have a single aim benign and
holy? Of all respects in which a Christian straightened in
revenue should retrench his expenses, religion is the last what-
ever his income, if above penury, now as anciently, ITS TITHE
BELONGS TO GOD.
If there be "hard times" let opulence forego its costly equip-
page, and luxury the rich viands of its table; let fashion wear
its unsoiled dress a season longer, check superfluous display in
its social reunions, and stint the embellishments of home; but
not grow frugal suddenly when sweet charity holds out her
hand for Christ and his dispersed suffering children. Whatever
"the times" we will have bread for our hunger and appetites.
Let us not famish our souls to their consumption, or make our
near or distant brethren and unconverted wanderer craving
spiritual food, the victims of our faithless parsimony. The soul
of Christianity is self-denial. David but foreshadowed its
great thought, as if inspired with a presentiment of the cross,
when at Oman's threshing-floor, propitiating God, whose angel
had stayed the pestilence, he asked, "Shall I offer unto God of
that which cost me nothing?" In heaven no offering is accepted
until hallowed by your hearts' self-sacrifice. Without this sub-
lime and sanctifying grace we have yet to learn the tenor in our
inmost souls, we have yet to exemplify the life of our baptismal
vows. He who would follow Christ to heaven must daily do
his deeds of loving self-denial.
1854] Election of Officers. 577
The Treasurer's Report showed that the "Stereotype Fund"
had received twenty-eight hundred and twenty-four dollars and
seventy-eight cents $2,824.78), which included a legacy from
the estate of Mr. John Noble of two thousand dollars (2,000;,
interest upon investments, fees of life members, and income of
the legacy of Mr. Hanford Smith. The expenditures were for
stereotype plates and investment, which made the net balance
for the year seventeen hundred and eighty-eight dollars and
thirty cents ($1,788.30).
The receipts for the "Disposable Fund" included collections
in the city and country churches, subscriptions and donations
amounting to twenty-five hundred and fifty-five dollars arid
nine cents ($2,555.09), and cash sales of fifteen hundred and
twenty-one dollars and eighty-five cents ($1,521.85).
The expenditures for paper, binding, purchase of books, rent
and incidentals had been seven thousand one hundred and
ninety-seven dollars and one cent ($7,197.01), leaving a deficit
of one thousand five hundred and seventy-two dollars and nine-
teen cents ($1,572.19).
The detailed statement of the Agent showed that the distribu-
tion had been in twenty-eight States and Territories, South
America, the Army and Navy, the various charitable institu-
tions of New York City in addition to the books granted to
Sunday Schools and to the various parishes and missions in the
dioceses of the State of New York. Thirteen hundred and
fifty-five Bibles, seven hundred and sixty-two Testaments, and
thirteen thousand three hundred and fifty Prayer Books had
been granted. The sales had been two hundred and twelve
Bibles, six hundred and twenty-four Testaments, and four
thousand one hundred and thirty Prayer Books, and seventy-one
Psalms and Hymns, making a total of twenty thousand five
hundred and two volumes.
At the Annual Election, held on October, 1855, tne on ty
change in the management of the Society was the addition of
the Rev. Sullivan H. Weston, an assistant minister of Trinity
Parish, stationed at St. John's Chapel, to the Board of Mana-
gers.
In the Annual Report we find the same plea as in previous
reports for a fuller recognition of the work of the Society.
The honourable history of the Diocese is effectively used as a
strong argument for increased offerings.
(37)
578 Forty- Seventh Report. [1855
FORTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT.
The Forty-Seventh Annual Report of this now almost ven-
erable Society is herewith placed before the Church a record,,
alas! of limited labours through Churchmen's forgotten duties.
Its distribution of volumes during the past year has not quite
equalled that of the preceding, through the deficiency of funds.
Contributions have come in slowly, and from half -opened hands-
collections in churches have been few and small. The only
diocese whose account presents an increase over the preceding
year is that of Western New York, in whose Churches the
Whitsunday collection has been generally made and liberally
responded to. Would to God, brethren, that that anniversary
of the outpouring of the Spirit on the primitive Church, when,
men sold their possessions and laid down the money at the
Apostles' feet were more operative now, and more faithfully
consecrated to Christian almsgiving. Then would there be iu>
room for the complaint now uttered that the oldest and most
Church-like of the charities of our Church has been "forgotten
in the daily ministration." More especially would we urge this
plea on the city churches of our neighbourhood, where the union
of wealth and Churchmanship entitle us to look with confidence
for the means to carry on the Church's work, but where
through the past year, Churchmen have too much forgotten
both our claim and our needs. Nor from the living treasury
alone should our undying charities be sustained. We should
be remembered in its dying distribution. A bequest of dying
Churchmen will be a living memento of their regard for and
attachment to the institutions devoted to the wide spread of the
Gospel of the living GOD.
For the details of the Society's receipts and gratuitous dis-
tribution, we refer to the accompanying report of the Treas-
urer. It is a painful picture; and before we turn in hope to the
future we must learn wisdom from the past, by considering the
causes and remedy for such falling off. On the management
of the Society the blame cannot rest, for we are but the
Church's almoners, trustees of its bounty, and as such account-
able but for that which comes into our hands. Faithfulness irr
our trust, diligence in our work, economy in our management,
none, we think, can deny to us. Our hands are clean and our
1855] Forty- Seventh Report. 579
hearts, we trust, zealous in our work; and that is all the mana-
gers of any charity can do to bring down GOD'S blessing upon it.
What lies beyond is in other hands, springs from other hearts,
and rests on other consciences; and to them, the clergy as well
as the laity of our Church, do we appeal, on the score of love
to their Church, and of duty to its divine Head, as well as to
motives of general benevolence to multiply and enlarge their
offerings to the treasury of this Society, that it may give as it
will then receive, with a freer hand the best gifts of the Gospel
the Bible and the Prayer Book the Gospel of CHRIST with
the Church of CHRIST. But in this union perhaps lies with many
the objection, viz., that the Prayer Book should be thus united,
as if it were of equal value of necessity with the revealed
Word of GOD. Strange to think that such misconception should
ever arise in the mind of a Churchman, or such prejudice ever
prevail to close his heart or hand to this our long-established
labour of faith and love. The union here complained of is a
Gospel union, and not one of man's making. It is but the WORD
OF GOD going forth, as it ever has done, through the Church of
GOD. The Prayer Book here stands, as in its truth it is, the
representative of our branch of the Church Catholic ; and as such
is the preacher of the very Gospel on which the Church is built.
It is therefore, not an incidental, arbitrary accompaniment, as
many think, to the sacred volume, but comes simply in place of
the voice of the Living Teacher, unfolding that faith once de-
livered to the Saints, bringing it home to the heart and con-
science, and teaching to the young, the ignorant, and the peni-
tent, words of holy prayer that may give utterance to the feel-
ings which GOD'S HOLY WORD has awakened within them. Such
is the true relation the Prayer Book bears to the Bible, and such
the inestimable value it possesses as its accompaniment. While
its truth and worth are, we acknowledge, from the Bible, its
value and need are not superseded by the Bible, for it goes to
supply the spiritual want that the Bible awakens. It is a scrip-
tural guide to the yearning heart, deepening the Gospel hold
upon the conscience, opening the door to Christ's Church upon
earth, and guiding and supporting the faltering steps of the
penitent till he kneel in faith and love at the foot of the Cross.
Away, then, with the idle prejudice that would underrate our
Society and its labours because it conjoins, what we may rever-
580 Forty-Seventh Report. [1855
ently say, GOD hath joined, the Gospel and the Church, the Bible
and the preacher of it.
So far, then, from keeping back this, our union of the Prayer
Book with the Bible (as some timid defenders of our Society
have done) we would rather bring it prominently forward as the
very principle on which we stand, and by which we are willing
to be judged; judged we say, not alone by Churchmen but by
every candid Christian, who reads his Bible in faith, and ex-
amines the needs of his own heart and conscience in Godly
sincerity. Such an one will not be the last to acknowledge as
indeed thousands, not of the Church have fully and fearlessly
done, that among our Church blessings they admire or envy
none so much as its possession of a Liturgy, so scriptural in
doctrine, so noble and beautiful in expression, and above all so
well fitted to form the Christian's daily manual alike in public
worship and private devotion. And now we naturally ask any
Churchman if such be the feelings entertained toward the
Prayer Book by those without, admiration or envy according
to the varying character of their minds what we ask should
be the feelings toward it of those within? How should they
value it alike for themselves and others, and what limit should
they set to their liberality and zeal for spreading it abroad ?
Let every Churchman ponder well these questions, and then
ask himself what he has actually done to forward this good
work. We repeat, that as a Society we hold up as our banner
this union of the Prayer Book with the Bible, and perhaps take
some blame to ourselves that it has not always been thus plainly
and adequately urged and that in this particular we have fallen
somewhat, through sympathy with our age, from the high and
clear advocacy of it, by the noble and fearless founder of our
Society, the loved and venerated Hobart. His language always
bespoke for this union the reverence due to an Apostolic doc-
trine and precept. It was with him "the Gospel in the Church,"
no chance companionship of the volumes but a holy and scrip-
tural one. The Bible, the overflowing fountain, the Prayer
Book the purest of its streams. To this doctrine, then, let
Churchmen now lovingly return, and it will awaken in them a
zeal and liberality such as no motive of mere worldly expedi-
ency can ever either awaken or know. The locked up fountains
of Christian charity will then be unsealed for our cause; larger
1855] Forty-Seventh Report. 581
streams of bounty will flow into our treasury, and a richer
harvest ripen under our hands, till the whole land acknowledge
itself our debtor, and our Society become what our venerated
founder ever laboured to make it, and ever contended it ought
to be, the right hand of strength to our clergy and our people,
and an ever growing blessing to generations yet to come. And
great, in truth, our need! for while the Church has slept the
enemy hath sown tares; and through the length and breadth of
our land thorns and briars springing up have almost choked out
the good seed of the Gospel. That seed, which solitary and
scattered missionaries have been able to sow in the wilderness,
but unable to cultivate, the gift from our Society, of the Bible and
Prayer Book, abiding missionaries have, under GOD, preserved
and kept alive.
But more, our whole land is our debtor. For its true and
conservative and spiritual life, our age and land looks greatly
under GOD'S mercy, to our branch of the Church Catholic, rec-
onciling, as it does, beyond all other in its Liturgy and services,
reason with faith and freedom with submission. Now, our
thinking age demands that problem to be solved; and to every
candid mind, the Church in her teaching does solve it. But of
that teaching our Prayer Book is the sanctuary. It follows then
that it is to be the chosen instrument for that end. Shall we
not then, both as Churchmen, and as patriots, freely use that
instrument of power which GOD has given us, and with it arm
the hands of all our clergy, all our laity, all our people, against
the flood of infidelity and vice that threatens alike our liberties
and our religion.
This is the practical question which our report now presses
home on every heart and conscience of every Churchman; and
let his contributions answer it. As we love our Church, as we
love our country, as we would save the one from wild fanatic
error, the other from lawless violence, let us scatter broadcast
through our land Bible with Prayer Book; and let us not fear
to inscribe on our alms as well as our hearts the banner word
of the sainted Hobart: "The Prayer Book with the Bible; the
Gospel of Christ in the Church of Christ."
The Treasurer reported that there had been added to the
Stereotype Fund by life membership fees, interest on invest-
582 A Standard Bible. [1855
ments and legacies eight hundred and thirty-three dollars and
thirty-six cents. There were no expenditures. For the Dis-
posable Fund, the receipts from Church collections, subscrip-
tions and donations had been two thousand two hundred and
seventy-five dollars and sixteen cents ; the cash sales by the agent
had been sixteen hundred and four dollars and two cents. The
expenses for paper, binding, printing, rent, salaries and inci-
dentals, including the deficit of the previous year, had been six
thousand eight hundred and seventeen dollars and six cents,
making a net deficit of twenty-seven hundred and ninety-six
dollars and six cents.
The whole number of books circulated is not given, but the
gratuitous distribution was, Bibles 1,107, Testaments 753, and
Prayer Books 9,757.
The subject of declaring some edition of the King James'
version of the Holy Scriptures the standard edition of the
American Church had been widely discussed previous to the
General Convention of 1817. At that Convention the Bishops
were asked to take the matter into consideration. A joint com-
mittee, appointed in 1820, reported in 1823, recommending that
the edition published in 1812 by Eyre and Strahan, of London,
be the standard edition. Their report was unanimously adopted.
The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society had
been greatly interested in the success of the measures proposed
in several subsequent Conventions to carry this recommendation
into effect. It sent a Memorial to the General Convention of
1850, offering its services as publishers of the proposed edition
of the standard contemplated by a resolution in 1844, which had
been virtually renewed in 1847.
The Memorial was referred to the Committee on Prayer
Book, of which the Rev. Dr. Henry M. Mason was chairman.
A favourable report was made recommending the acceptance of
the offer under certain conditions, and the appointment of a
special committee to report in 1853.
In the report presented by this committee, of which Dr.
Mason was the chairman, the medium quarto Bible published
at Oxford in 1852 was recommended as the standard; the New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society as the publishers
of the American standard edition under the direction of a joint
1856] A Standard Bible. 583
special committee to supervise the reprint and correct any
errors of the press.
The weighty matters of the perversion of the Bishop of
North Carolina to the Church of Rome, and the discussion of
the extension of the Episcopate to California and Oregon did
not allow the proper consideration of the report, and although
it had been presented on the third day of the session, Friday,
October 7, it was not until the tenth day of the session, after
having been on the Calendar as "the Order of the Day" and
called up several times, that the subject was finally recommitted
for further report in I856. 1
At the April meeting of the Board of Managers of this So-
ciety in 1856,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair
to correspond with the committee appointed by the last General
Convention of the Church upon the subject of publishing or
adopting a standard and authorized edition of the Bible to be
used in Churches. Rev. Messrs. Weaver and Duffie and Mr. Bell
were appointed. (Folio 47.)
The committee appointed to correspond with the committee
of the General Convention on the Standard Edition of the Bible
reported that they had written to the Rev. Dr. H. M. Mason,
Chairman of the Committee of the House of Delegates on that
subject, and that no answer had as yet been received. The
Society did not have to wait long before receiving this satis-
factory answer from the eminent Biblical scholar, whose erudi-
tion had made him fitted for the position to which he had been
chosen.
The committee on the Standard Edition of the Bible reported
the following letter from Rev. H. M. Mason, Chairman of a
like Committee of the House of Delegates, appointed at the
last General Convention:
Easton, June i3th, 1856.
Brethren,
I will take the earliest opportunity since my return home to
I. See Journal General Convention, 1850, pp. 33, 73 ; Journal General
Convention, 1853, pp. 31, 34, 56, 65, 74.
The Memorial is on p. 223, Journal, 1850. It is addressed "To our right
Reverend Fathers, the Bishops, and House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in
General Convention assembled, Cincinnati."
It is signed : "By order of the Board of Managers."
584 A Standard Bible. [1856
reply to your communication of May 26th, on the subject of
the Standard Bible.
The General Convention of 1823, as appears from the journal
of that year, pp. 50, 65, 101, accepted the report of a committee
of a previous Convention, by which the Bible published by Eyre
and Strahan in 1812 became the Standard Bible of our Churches
in America, and till another is substituted it remains so. The
Convention of 1844 appointed a joint committee to prepare a
Standard Edition of the Bible to be presented to the next Gen-
eral Convention, but no report was made by that committee to
the Convention of 1847, which appointed another joint com-
mittee with a like result, of no report to the Convention of 1850.
But in the Convention of 1850 the proposal of the New York
Bible and Prayer Book Society to be the publishers of the
Standard Bible, was made and accepted with conditions as
stated in the resolutions, pp. 33, 34, of the journal, and a special
committee of the House of Deputies was appointed to carry
those resolutions into execution. This committee made a re-
port to the Convention of 1853, and as a preliminary measure
to the reprint of the Bible by the New York Society recom-
mended in place of the Eyre and Strahan edition, the quarto
Oxford edition, which they had good reason to believe the most
perfect extant, as it is at this time the Standard Edition of the
Church of England.
The Convention of 1853, on \vhose Journal, pp. 31, 32, 33,
the report appears, without making the proposed substitution,
appointed a new committee, modelling it so as to consist wholly
of clergymen, instead of the mixture of clergy and laity of
which the former consisted. This committee have been in com-
munication with regard to what typographical errors may be
found in the Standard of the Church of England, but as yet
have prepared no report.
Although not competent to decide in what the next meeting
of the committee will result, I may for the satisfaction of your
Society, express the opinion that there will be no further action
taken than the renewed recommendation of the Convention of
1853, of an entire conformity between our own standard and
that of England, and the adoption of the latter, as that from
which your Society will make its reprint with the exception of
1856] Spanish Prayer Book. 585
such typographical errors as the committee shall see fit to refer
to in their report.
To invite your Society to commence a reprint to be offered
to the Convention, if that be the purport of the enquiry,
"whether it is intended to have any part of the work completed
by the time of the meeting of the next Convention," is I pre-
sume not contemplated by the committee as the action of that
body, though to be readily conjectured, is still in the future.
In the present condition of the Christian World, the subject
is now more than at any former period of serious moment. If
I have failed in answering explicitly your enquiries, or giving
the amount of information your communication requries, it will
give me pleasure to furnish any further satisfaction that lies
in my power. And with great respect to the Society and your-
selves, I remain, Brethren,
Yours truly in the Gospel and Church,
HENRY M. MASON 1
On April 8, 1856, it was resolved that a committee of three
be appointed to confer with the committee appointed by the
last General Convention of the Church on the publication of the
Prayer Book in the Spanish language. The chair appointed
Rev. Mr. Hart, Messrs. Sands and DePeyster.
This committee reported at the next meeting, June loth, 1856.
The committee appointed at the last meeting of the Board on
the translation of the Prayer Book into Spanish reported the
following letter from the Bishop of Pennsylvania to A. B. Hart,
chairman of the committee :
Philadelphia, May 16, 1856.
Rev. and Dear Sir,
I have to acknowledge yours of the 1/j.th inst. No progress
has been made by the Committee on the Spanish Prayer Book.
The Rev. Dr. Coleman, at whose instance it was raised, is now
absent at the South, when he returns I will convene the mem-
bers, and will lay before them your letter. A Spaniard in this
city (said to be an accomplished Castilian) has carefully re-
vised the Spanish version printed in England and finds many
mistakes, he says. At first thought we had better decline act-
i. Folio 50.
586 Election of Officers. [1856
ing and leave the whole matter to our English Brethren. Events,
however, are fast showing that our influence over the American
population who speak Spanish is to be all paramount, and our
Church may have in that direction an open door. It is very
likely that when your committee meets they may desire the co-
operation of your Society, in which case you will hear further
from me. Very truly yours,
ALONZO POTTER.
The committee again reported September 23, 1856.
Mr. DePeyster, from the committee on the Spanish trans-
lation of the Book of Common Prayer, reported that the Morn-
ing and Evening Service with the occasional prayers were in
progress of completion under the supervision of the Rev. Dr.
Hawks of this city, and so far as completed would be pre-
sented to the General Convention at its meeting in Philadelphia,
ist of October, 1856. Also that the congregation of the Church
of the Ascension in this city had raised the sum of $200.00 for
the printing of said Prayer Book when authorized by the Gen-
eral Convention, and asked that the committee be continued.
On motion, resolved, that the committee on the translation of
the Spanish Prayer Book be continued.
At the Annual Meeting of the Society, held October /th,
1856, these officers were chosen:
President, the Bishop of the Diocese, ex officio.
The Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., ist Vice President.
The Rev. William Berrian, D.D., 2d Vice President.
The Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
The Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, /th Vice President.
William H. Hobart, M.D., 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. Edward Y. Higbee, D.D.,
Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D.,
Rev. Thomas H. Taylor, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, Rev.
1856] Forty-Eighth Report. 587
Joshua Weaver, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Sullivan H. Wes-
ton, Frederick De Peyster, Cyrus Curtiss, John Alstyne, C. B.
Bostwick, John M. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, Abraham B.
Sands, William A. Duncan, Alexander L. McDonald, John R.
Livingston, James Van Norden, Isaac Fryer, Samuel P. Bell.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joseph
H. Price, D.D., Rev. Joshua Weaver, William H. Hobart, M.D.
Committee of Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, D.D., Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler.
Committee on Finance : Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T.
Skidmore, James Van Norden.
The Report, which it is understood was written by the Rev.
Professor McVickar, was largely retrospective and historical.
The intimate knowledge Dr. McVickar had concerning the in-
tentions of the founder of both Societies makes his comment
of peculiar value and importance.
As this report was prepared before the meeting of the Gen-
eral Convention, it would have been premature to announce in
it the preliminary steps to the publication of a Standard Bible.
FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT.
A few months after our last anniversary meeting forty years
were completed since the formation of the "Auxiliary New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society." It was called
"auxiliary" because of the declaration of its Constitution, "that
its object shall be to aid the Bible and Common Prayer Book
Society, established in New York in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and nine, in the distribution of the
Bible and Book of Common Prayer."
The lapse of nearly twenty years may have rendered it not
a useless piece of information to some of our friends, that this
Society now celebrating its anniversary was formed iQth of
April, 1837, by a union of the two above mentioned Societies;
588 Forty- Eighth Report. [1856
strictly speaking, then, we are now reporting the operations of
a pious charity which had its origin in 1809, not far from half
century ago. Of the many fathers and brethren in the Church,
who during this long period liberally contributed to that charity
and faithfully aided its operations, many have fallen asleep in
Jesus, and should this report meet the ear or eye of any who
were among the early promoters of this charity, we would
tender to them our respectful congratulations that the good
work is still proceeding, and venture to express the hope that
they find sufficient encouragement to persevere unto the end, as
God gives them ability, in sustaining and encouraging that
work. Although, however, the beneficent workings of our par-
ticular organization are to be dated only so far back as 1809,
yet its blessed object was earlier attended to. That very useful
and efficient corporation, "The Protestant Episcopal Society
for promoting Religion and Learning in the State of New
York," had its origin in the corporation of Trinity Church in
this city, who enriched and strengthened it at a very early day by
an endowment in real estate. One of the objects of that So-
ciety being it is believed the gratuitous distribution of the Bible
and Book of Common Prayer, for which Trinity Church had
made application as early as 1797.
At all events, this was the first Society established to aid the
Church in this Diocese in its legitimate, peculiar work, for
which we are humble agents, of spreading the blessed Gospel
and strengthening its influence.
As was before observed, however, the first organized effort
for the special purpose of gratuitously dstributing the Bible and
Prayer-Book was made in 1809, in the establishment of the
Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society.
Those who first enlisted in its management have all gone to
their rest. Let their names be held in respectful and affectionate
remembrance. The following were elected the first Board of
Managers: The Rt. Rev. Benjamin Moore, D.D., President: the
Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the City of New-
York; Matthew Clarkson, Henry Rogers, Thomas Harvey,
George Dominick, Jacob LeRoy, William Bayard, John Onder-
donk, David B. Ogden and John Slidell, of the laity ; Gulian
Ludlow, Treasurer, and the Rev. Thomas Lyell, Secretary.
It is an historical fact that ought not to be forgotten,
1856] Forty-Eighth Report. 589
that in the establishment of this Society, regard was had
not only to its sacredly important immediate object, but also to
the prosecution of that object on right principles, and in the
right way. It was intended as a distinct movement of the
Church, as such, in the unity of the Faith, Ministry and Sacra-
ments set forth and required in the Gospel, and of the worship
of the Triune God, by provisions conformable to the Gospel, and
favourable to the diffusion of its spirit among men. It was
intended as a movement of the Church, as such, in that great
cause of glory to God, which He has entrusted to His Church,
as a witness, keeper, and dispenser of His Word ; and His agency,
by His appointment under His control, and through the energy
of the Holy Spirit, in the prosecution of that cause to all the
momentous purposes of good designed by "the grace of God
that bringeth salvation to all men."
The New- York Auxiliary Bible and Common Prayer-Book
Society was organized in Trinity Church Vestry Room, 26th
January, 1816, under the auspices of Bishop Hobart, and
solemnly inaugurated in the same Church on March 8th, 1816.
On this occasion Bishop Hobart made an address to the Society,
from which we think it not inappropriate to present the follow-
ing extract : "Who are the individuals that, animated by the
glow of sacred benevolence, are engaged in this meritorious
work? Not only the ministers of the sanctuary, who, if they
were indifferent to such designs, would basely desert the cause
to which they are devoted by the most solemn engagements
not merely the Fathers in Israel, who, it is to be supposed,
would be more easily induced to withdraw from the world, the
vanity of which experience must have taught them, in order to
advance plans that secure for themselves and their fellow-mortals
imperishable treasures and durable enjoyments did I see only
these engaged in the hallowed purpose of extending the bless-
ings of the Gospel, gratifying as would be the scene, it would
be only what could reasonably be expected. But when I look
around me and behold the younger part of Society withdrawing
from pursuits to them so promising, and from pleasures to them
so fascinating, in order to bring their tribute to the altar of the
Saviour when I see them devoting to the glorious object of
diffusing the truths and blessings of God's word a zeal, an as-
siduity, a perseverence that leave far behind their fathers and
590 Forty-Eighth Report. [1856
their elder brethren, and even those from whom they have been
accustomed to catch the spirit of religious ardour my heart is
filled with unutterable delight, and from my soul I bless them
for their pious emulation, and implore on them the blessing of
God."
Circumstances have from time to time rendered necessary a
re-affirmation, explanation and defence of the objects and great
principles above stated.
Bishop Hobart, it is well known, was distinguished in this
department of earnest contention "for the faith once delivered
to the saints." Would it not be well that his godly instructions
and counsels, and his eloquent pleadings on the subject should
be kept before the Church? It would be a means of the right
guidance of her members in prosecuting religious objects.
Sound and sacred encouragement, too, to earnestness and zeal
in this cannot but be afforded by the reflection that it is done
in such wise as not merely to advance any particular object
specially in view, but also to give strength and efficiency to the
legitimate character and divinely appointed purposes of the
Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
In 1817 this Auxiliary Society procured from the Legislature
of the State an act of incorporation, to continue in force for
twenty years. After the expiration of that time, it was, on due
conference between the two Societies the original of 1809 and
the Auxiliary deemed best to organize a new Society by their
union. This was done April 19, 1837, since which time our
present New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society has
continued the good work commenced by its predecessors ; per-
haps it may with more propriety be said by itself in two former
states of existence in one line of operations in 1809, to which
was added another in 1816. The first annual report of this
consolidated Society, in October 1837, bears just testimony to
the worth of the Auxiliary Society as one "which had accom-
plished so much good and had been so signally blessed in its
progress/'
In 1841, after four years' operation, the Society was incor-
porated under its present charter by the Legislature.
It has always been its desire and design to extend its benefi-
cent operations as widely as possible an effort which has been
faithfully sought to the full extent of its means and oppor-
1856] Forty-Eighth Report. 591
tunity, without limit of diocese, nation or language. Its sacred
volumes have gone everywhere to strengthen the cause of Christ
and His Church, where it is known, and bring it to the heads
and hearts of those who are strangers to it.
We have now on our shelves the Prayer Book in French and
German, and since the emancipation of the South American
States from the Spanish yoke and the opening of that half of
the continent to American enterprise, we have had repeated and
most urgent calls for a translation in the Spanish language.
This we hope soon to have also as the committee appointed at
the last General Convention will, it is understood, be ready to
report a translation in such a state of forwardness as to justify
them in authorizing this Society to proceed to stereotype it
funds in aid of that purpose having been most liberally pro-
vided by the Church of the Ascension in this city, whose praise
is in all the Churches, and it is hoped others will follow their
good example, and furnish requisite funds to complete the im-
portant undertaking. The following statistics will show the
state of our funds and other property, and the operations in
which in the discharge of our trust we have been engaged dur-
ing the past year.
New York, September 23, 1856.
The Treasurer reported payments for life managership, life
membership, and interest, of one thousand one hundred and
fifty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents ($1,157. 75), which made
the amount of the Stereotype Fund three thousand seven hun-
dred and seventy-nine dollars and forty-one cents ($3,779.41).
The receipts for the Disposable Fund had been from all
sources, including collections, subscriptions, donations and
sales, five thousand and forty-one dollars and fifteen cents
($5,041.15). The expenditures for paper, printing, binding,
purchase of books, rent, salaries and incidentals, including the
adverse balance of two thousand seven hundred and ninety-six
dollars and eighty-eight cents ($2,796.88), were nine thousand
forty-four dollars and twenty cents ($9,044.20).
The Agent reported that there had been distributed gratui-
tously in twenty-five States and Territories, Central America,
Liberia, the Army, Navy and charitable institutions with Sun-
day and other schools in the Diocese of New York
592 A Standard Bible. [1856
Bibles. Testaments. Prayer Books.
1,030 425 11,654
The sales had been 289 385 5,243
Making the total circulation, 19,026 volumes.
Dr. McVickar was quite right in saying that Trinity Church
had made an appropriation for the distribution of the Book of
Common Prayer, only the date was 1801 and not 1797, as will
be seen from this resolution of the Vestry, which through the
courtesy of the Corporation, we have been able to transcribe.
"December I4th, 1801, Resolved, That the sum of 100 pounds
be allowed by this Board for the purchase of Common Prayer
Books, and that the same be put in the hands of the Bishop to
be distributed by him among such congregations as he may con-
ceive standing most in need of them."
It may therefore be truly said that to Trinity Church belongs
the honour of being first in the field for the free distribution of
the Prayer Book.
The General Convention met in St. Luke's Church, Philadel-
phia, on Wednesday, October i, 1856. Its sessions were con-
tinued until Tuesday, October 21 ; many important matters were
before it, including the Report on the Memorial "to the Bishops
in council," of the Rev. Dr. William A. Muhlenberg, and many
of the clergy, praying for adaptation of the Church to the needs
of the times and the many nationalities in the land.
The pressure of other business did not permit the presenta-
tion of the Report of the Committee on the Standard Bible until
the thirteenth day of the session, Wednesday, October 15.
In it was presented, succintly and forcibly, the reasons why
a Standard Bible should be issued by the American Church;
speaking with full knowledge of the fact, it declared that many
of the editions circulated in this country were faulty, it recom-
mended the appointment of "a typographical corrector;" the
appointment of a committee of five, "of whom the reviser shall
be one," to whom the revision when made shall be submitted
for approval, or approved, "in its progressive stages;" and the
presentation of the revision in full to the next General Con-
vention in a printed form.
There was some opposition to taking up the subject in the
Convention, and it was promptly moved to lay the reprint on
1856] A Standard Bible. 593
the table, and recommit it for full report at the next General
Convention.
The matter was debated, some verbal changes made in the
resolutions, a paragraph limiting corrections to conformity with
"the present standard edition," inserted and the report and reso-
lutions were then adopted.
The Chairman, the Rev. Dr. William Creighton, of New
York, appointed as the Committee of Five, the Rev. Drs. Henry
M. Mason, Alexander H. Vinton, C. W. Andrews, and Messrs.
Luther Bradish and Hugh Davy Evans.
By a special joint committee the Rev. Henry M. Mason was
nominated as typographical corrector and duly confirmed by
both houses. 1
The Society, as soon as it learned of the action of the Gen-
eral Convention, commenced a correspondence with Dr. Mason.
Several of its members, like Judge Bell, were enthusiastic over
the proposed publication. They were sincerely desirous that
the work should be a monument to the regard for the Word of
God in the accepted English version felt by the Church in
America, in dignity and beauty of typography, in texture of its
paper, and all the other requisites to good book-making.
Judge Bell reported at the quarterly meeting of the Mana-
gers held several weeks after the adjournment of the General
Convention, this interesting correspondence. He was a diligent
student of the subject of Biblical Literature, and was able in
his correspondence with Dr. Mason to offer intelligent and use-
ful suggestions.
The Committee on the Standard Edition of the Bible re-
ported the following correspondence with the Rev. Henry
M. Mason, D.D. :
Rev. Henry M. Mason, D.D.
Dear Sir, Since the adjournment of the General Convention
I have learnt that you have been appointed under a joint reso-
lution of the two houses to read and correct the typographical
errors in the received English Edition of the Bible. As I have
seen no indication to the contrary, I suppose the medium quarto
edition published at Oxford by Christian Knowledge Society
i. Journal General Convention, 1856, pp. 76, 77, 80, 118, 147, 152, 209.
(38)
594 A Standard Bible. [1856
will be the one selected by you; if that be so, and our New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society can afford you
any facilities we will cheerfully do so. We have a copy of the
edition above referred to and I should be happy of the oppor-
tunity of sending it to you, if you desire to have it, or anything
else that may further and aid you in the task you have taken
upon yourself.
Respectfully,
Yours, etc.,
WM. H. BELL,
Sec'y N. Y. B. & C. P. B. S.
Feast of All Saints, 1856.
No. 52 John Street, New York.
52 John Street, New York,
November 22d, 1856.
Rev. Henry M. Mason, D.D.
Dear Sir, Shortly after the adjournment of our late Gen-
eral Convention I took the liberty of writing to you, as the
person selected by the Convention to read and correct the typo-
graphical errors of our commonly received version of the
English Bible, offering to send you a copy of the medium
quarto edition published by the Christian Knowledge Society
of London, but not hearing from you I suppose my letter to
have miscarried. I was in error as to the edition: it should
have been the edition "Printed at the University Press, Oxford,
for the Protestant Episcopal Society for promoting Religion
and Learning in the State of New York, 1852" considered
the most correct edition extant.
The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society,
feeling anxious that the work of correction should be proceeded
with, with all the despatch that the nature and importance of
the undertaking will admit of, stand ready to afford you all the
facilities in its power to that end. It proposes, therefore, with
your consent and approbation, that you have copies of your
corrections made and forwarded from time to time to us, as the
work progresses, we paying for the copying, and we will have
the same set in type preparatory to stereotyping, and transmit
copies of the sheets to you as fast as printed, with ample mar-
gins and space for correction upon them: with which co-
1856] A Standard Bible. 695
operation we think your committee will be able to have the
whole text in print and ready to be presented to the next Gen-
eral Convention. Any suggestions, therefore, that you may be
pleased to make to us, to aid and assist you, will be cheerfully
undertaken by our Society.
Our Board of Managers will meet on the 2d Tuesday of De-
cember next, and if convenient to you I should be pleased to
receive your answer to this proposition in time to lay it before
them for their action.
With great respect,
Your obedt. Servt.
WM. H. BELL,
Sec'y N. Y. B. & C. P. B. S.
Answer.
To William H. Bell, Esq.,
Secretary of the New York Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society:
Dear Sir, Many circumstances, any other than disregard of
it, prevented a reply to your first communication, or the im-
portant subject to which your second also relates.
In the course of several years I have been engaged in reading
over the whole Bible with reference to the typographical errors.
But the edition I made use of as the most correct was the
medium quarto stereotyped edition published at Oxford in
1850. I design under the action of our late General Conven-
tion to revise the Holy Scriptures as if I were undertaking it
entirely anew. And gratefully acknowledging the kindness of
your Society who are so deply pledged in what concerns the
interest of the Church, I gladly therefore avail myself of your
offer of putting in my hand the edition including the Apocrypha
to which you refer as the most correct now extant, and which
I presume in some respects typographically differs, besides be-
ing superior as a work of art, from the stereotyped edition I
have been using.
By certain resolutions of the Convention of 1823 the edition
of Eyre and Strahan, printed in 1812, is yet the Standard of
our Church in this country, and as the terms of my appointment
oblige me to use it I should esteem it a favour to be put in
possession of a copy, having none in my hands at this time.
596 A Standard Bible. [1856
The pressure of my parochial duties at this ecclesiastical
season of the year will not permit me to commence my labours
before the month of January next. But after that, and in con-
formity with the views which your Society present, I will for-
ward copies of corrections as they arise and as the work pro-
gresses, to be submitted to the committee who have the matter
in charge.
With great respect to the Society and the Board of Managers,
I remain, Dear Sir,
Your friend and servant, in Christ and His Church,
HENRY M. MASON/
Easton, November 28th, 1856.
The correspondence was approved, and this commendation
adopted at the meeting held in December, 1856:
Whereupon, it was on motion, Resolved, That this Board ap-
prove of the action of the Committee on the Standard Edition
of the Bible. And that the Committee is hereby requested to
furnish the Rev. Dr. Mason with a copy of Eyre and Stra-
han's edition of the Bible of 1812, and also a copy of the
medium quarto edition published at the University Press, Ox-
ford, for the Protestant Episcopal Society for Promoting Re-
ligion and Learning in the State of New York, 1852.
Resolved, That the (Board) approve of the above, and that
the said committee be continued. (Folio 60.)
With the high aim of issuing this Standard Bible the Mana-
gers and every member of the Society bent all their energies to
interesting those who had wealth and a sincere love of the
Church and the purity of the Written Word of God in the
undertaking.
The time, however, was unpropitious. Political excitement
ran high, a Presidential campaign of much bitterness was in
progress. The financial centres were again disturbed. The very
rapid absorption of the available capital in various enterprises,
and especially in the West, was producing its inevitable results.
Few seemed to care whether the American Church had a
i. Folio 57.
1857] Anniversary Meetings. 597
Standard Bible, and contributions for that purpose were small
and few.
The Society was hopeful and continued its ordinary work
with unabated zeal.
On October I4th, 1856, a committee was appointed to
"apply to the Vestry of Trinity Church of this city for a dona-
tion of land for the use of this Society." This committee does
not appear to have reported, but an investigation of the Records
of Trinity Parish shows that the request was considered on June
12, 1857, and declined at the meeting of April n, 1859.
A strange request came from Paris and was reported to the
Board, June 12, 1857.
"The Agent reported a communication from a Mr. Kirk, a
Presbyterian Minister, now in Paris, France, asking a donation
for Prayer Books for a meeting house which had opened for
Americans. And that he had sent him 100 English and 10
French copies of the Prayer Book, which was approved by the
Board."
It was a very real gratification when that pious Bishop, Dr.
William Ingraham Kip, came to his native city after four years
of hard and successful work in California, and told both pri-
vately and publicly the real benefit done by the Society in his
Diocese. It was a further gratification that he consented to
preach the sermon at the anniversary of the Diocesan Societies
in October, 1857.
There has been preserved this contemporary account :
PUBLIC MEETINGS ANNIVERSARIES OF THE P. E. SOCIETIES.
The anniversary celebrations of the "New York Bible and
Common Prayer Book Societies," "The Protestant Episcopal
Tract Society," "The Missionary Committee of the Diocese of
New York," and of "The Committee on the Education Fund
of the P. E. Church," were held in Trinity Chapel on Sunday
evening. There was a very large congregation.
The clergymen present in the stalls and within the rails were
the Right Reverend Bishop Kip, of California; Rev. Dr. Higbee,
Rev. Dr. Haight, Rev. Dr. McVickar, Rev. Dr. Shelton, of
Buffalo; Rev. Dr. Hobart, Rev. S. H. Weston, Rev. F. Ogilby
and Rev. Morgan Dix, and Rev. Dr. Johnson, of the Theological
Anniversary Meeting. [1857
Seminary. Several other clergymen were in the body of the
Church.
Evening Prayer was said by the Rev. F. Ogilby, to the end
of the Creed, and the remainder by Rev. Dr. Hobart.
The Lesson was read by the Rev. Dr. Shelton, of Buffalo.
The following Psalms, etc., were chanted and sung during the
services :
First selection of Psalms (iQth, 24th and iO3d, the iO3d an-
tiphonally), Cantate Dominie (as an anthem), and the two first
verses of the 8/th selection of Psalms. 1
The Rev. Dr. McVickar read the following:
REPORTS.
Report of Education Committee.
Receipts from 62 Churches $694 oo
Contribution from the Society for the Promotion
of Religious Learning 3>54 J o
$4,235 oo
The above sum has been expended in educating 41 students
in colleges and seminaries destined for the Ministry.
There has been loaned without interest to graduating class
$600, for text books $300; total $900. Grand total, $5,135.0x3.
The coming year will demand much larger contributions from
the Churches of the Diocese, inasmuch as the number thus to
be educated will probably exceed 50, all of which are entirely
dependent on the aid given by Church funds.
J. McViCKAR, Superintendent.
Diocesan Missionary Committee.
There are 61 Missionaries at work in the Diocese. The total
receipts for the year are $9,760.48. Although there is an in-
i. Selection 87, from the CVII. Psalm of David.
Part I.
"Magnify Jehovah's name ;
For his mercies ever sure,
From Eternity the same,
To Eternity endure."
In the present Hymnal it is No. 475.
1857] Anniversary Meeting. 599
crease on any previous year, yet there is nothing in the treasury
to pay these self-denying men their quarter's stipend, due on
the first of this month.
Of the individual donations of the year, amounting to $1,396,
the principal portion was the munificent gift of a single indi-
vidual. We trust the Missionary cause of the Diocese will re-
ceive increased attention and aid in a private way. There are
a number of persons who would at once send to the treasury of
the Diocesan Mission a substantial offering could they realize
the distress caused to our faithful missionaries by the failure of
their stipends.
ISAAC H. TUTTLE, Sec. Diocesan Missions.
New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society.
Receipts the past year from Legacies, Life Mem-
bers to the Stereotype Fund $966 25
Receipts from City Churches, $889.33 > Country
Churches, $1,272.36; sales, $209.74; interest,
rents, $3,006.68; annual subscribers, $160; dona-
tions, $302 5,427 71
Payments for paper, printing, binding, and expen-
ses 5,107 77
The Disposable Fund remaining yet largely deficient.
Gratuitous distributions, 734 Bibles, 532 Testaments, 10,012
Prayer Books.
Cash sales, 301 Bibles, 205 Testaments, 5,469 Prayer Books.
Protestant Episcopal Tract Society.
Receipts from Life Members and Interest to Per-
manent Fund $90 oo
Receipts from City Churches, $397.96; Country
Churches, $202.65 ; from cash sales, $978.88 ; an-
nual subscribers, $231.50; donations, $61.63;
rent, etc !.956 74
To payments for paper, printing, tracts and al-
manacs 2,221 64
Making a small improvement on the Disposable Fund which
is still largely deficient, and needs the kind aid of friends of the
Church.
600 Sermon by Bishop Kip. [1857
Gratuitous distributions the past year, pages of
tracts 837,574
Sales of Tracts 550,552
1,388,126
THOMAS C. BUTLER, Treasurer and Agent.
The Right Rev. the Bishop (Kip) of California, then preached
from the following text, "Beginning with Jerusalem." Luke
xxiv. part of v. 47.
The Right Rev. Prelate commenced by stating, that as the
days of our Lord were drawing to a close, He begun to organize
that Divine system which was intended to Christianize the
World. And now after eighteen centuries that system was still
as strong as when its glorious message went forth from Jeru-
salem. The Right Rev. preacher said that it had occurred to
him as he came to plead for the Church Societies, that New
York, like Jerusalem, was the very centre of the power of the
Gospel, and here the work should begin. He did not plead for
a single Diocese, but for the whole land, for many in this land
had never heard the Gospel, of if they had heard, it was only
mixed with heresy, schism, and superstition. To begin thus in
the centre of the land, would be to follow the example of our
Lord who was himself the first preacher of the Gospel. But
Christ was a patriot, for though extending his Gospel to the
whole world, He showed a love for His own country, and His
heart yearned to the children of Abraham. He would pass
Gethsemane and Calvary without a tear, but He wept over
Jerusalem. Although He saw before Him the sufferings He
was to endure, there He turned to that city with a warmth of
affection which no ingratitude could abate, and when He sent
his disciples to preach the Gospel, the only restriction He placed
upon them was to begin at the very land which was still crim-
soned with His blood. Beginning at home then in our efforts
to Christianize the land was but following the example of our
Lord, and therefore it was to be hoped that the Diocesan work
would be aided and encouraged. Strangers were daily coming
among us who would soon be our law-givers and sovereigns,
and they may be sacrificing our dearest interest to their passions
and crimes become a curse to us and destroy that liberty which
1857] Election of Officers. 601
has been handed down to us by our forefathers. Should we
neglect to train them in religion and virtue, they would get into
our halls of legislation and into our schools and institutions,
until, like the curse of Egypt, their ignorance and superstition
would become a dreadful plague spot upon the land. To send
the Gospel then to those gathering millions, the Church must
go on the topmost wave or else she would never reach the
mighty torrent. By the responsibility then which rested on his
hearers he called on them to aid in helping those who called
"Come to the help of the Lord," and fearful would be their
responsibility if they neglected the duty or gave with a feeling
of avarice. He had called on them through the love of country,
but there was a higher love, even the love of Christ for sinful
man, and by that love he implored them to aid in the spread of
the Gospel.
At the close of the sermon a collection was taken up in aid
of the funds of the Protestant Episcopal Tract Society, the
Rev. Dr. Higbee reading the sentences in the offertory.
The 103 Hymn 1 was then sung, the Bishop of California
said the concluding prayer, and pronounced the benediction.
At the Annual Meeting held soon after these officers were
chosen :
Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rt. Rev. H. Potter, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Charles N. S. Rowland, /th Vice President.
Alexander L. McDonald, 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
I. "From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the Creator's praise arise,
Jehovah's glorious Name be sung
Through every land, by every tongue."
In the present Hymnal it is No. 468.
602 Forty-Ninth Report. [1857
Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. E. Y. Higbee, D.D., Rev. Ben-
jamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. J. H. Hobart, D.D., Rev. Thomas
H. Taylor, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, Rev. Joshua Weaver,
Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Sullivan H. Weston, Rev. Peter
S. Chauncey, Frederick De Peyster, Cyrus Curtiss, John Caswell,
John W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, Abraham B. Sand,
William A. Duncan, John R. Livingston, James Van Norden,
Isaac Fryer, Samuel P. Bell, John C. Thatcher.
FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT.
The Book of Common Prayer especially presented to our re-
gard by the present occasion furnishes us with motives of de-
vout thankfulness to God, not only for its provisions for the
conducting of public worship and the administration of the
Sacraments, but also by every department of its instrumentality,
in hallowing to the purpose of evangelical piety, occasions and
circumstances, more or less public or private which mark the
divine dispensations towards us. Among the provisions of the
latter description a prominent place is held by the "Forms of
Prayer to be used in families." They are characterized by a
fulness, brevity, and pointedness, and a faithful adherence to
the great principles of Evangelical and Catholic devotion, well
fitting them for a place in that blessed volume, and for leading
the domestic circle in truly Christian and edifying devotion to
the Throne of the Heavenly Grace.
A petition in the Evening Family Prayer, which may be
supposed to be of familiar use to the members of this Society,
seems to have a special bearing, well fitted for serious consid-
stration on the object of this Anniversary meeting. It is in the
words, "Be gracious unto Thy Church, and grant that every
member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may serve
Thee faithfully."
What prayer can be better adapted to go home to the heart
of every worshipper, to raise it to God in the fervency of per-
sonally interested devotion, and to be remembered, when con-
science, ere nightly rest is sought searches and tries the heart
to see how true it has been to its duties, and how pure, honest
and sincere in its acts, professions, and exercises of the day!
A solemn practical Gospel truth is embodied in this petition,
which it behooves all the members of the Church to bear seri-
1857] Forty-Ninth Report. 603
ously in mind. It is that each one has a "vocation and minis-
try" in which he is bound to serve God ''faithfully." It be-
comes not your Board of Managers to say how each individual
is to satisfy his conscience as to what is his special "vocation and
ministry." We are aware that this is a question which demands
for its true and just solution an understanding well informed
in the principles and duties of devotion regulated by the order
and affections warmed by the Spirit of the Gospel. It would
of course be presumptuous in us to suggest advice upon this
deeply interesting subject. It is in the best hands when in those
of a pastoral guide, who is an able minister of the New Testa-
ment.
This subject was suggested by the present call of our atten-
tion to a "vocation and ministry" intimately connected with the
cause of God and His Church the serving of the interest of
that cause by providing for the extensive publishing and dis-
tributing of those kindred volumes, the Bible and the Book of
Common Prayer.
The first presents that cause just as the Holy Spirit revealed
it from Heaven; and the second, as Christ ordained that His
Church should take it up, present it to the world, and extend
to men His own appointed means of preserving it in its integrity
and purity and of carrying it to full success in blessings on the
rightful relations, connections, and pursuits of the world, and
individuals in whatever can best promote their civil, social and
domestic usefulness, and their personal comfort and happiness
in all that concerns their highest interest for time and eternity.
This surely is a "vocation and ministry" in which we ought
to thank God that He has given us grace and opportunity to
engage.
Let us pray and strive that we may serve Him therein "faith-
fully." It is a "vocation and ministry" which from the objects
it has in view, and the present and prospective, always present
and prospective, need the world and the Church have, and will
ever have of its operations, requires of those who engage in
it that they never cease conservative action, never cease aggres-
sive action, never cease accumulative action; for they are
needed in the Church always even unto the end of the world.
Fellow members of the Society, your Board of Managers are
well aware that they have no right to be your counsellors, ex-
604 Forty-Ninth Report. [1857
cept as far as fellow members of the Church may take sweet
counsel together touching her duties and interests. But we
would respectively and affectionately suggest that we all strive
to be constantly more and more faithful in our "vocation and
ministry." Besides the motive to this, arising out of the nature
of the service, there is much in the history of this particular de-
partment of duty to enlist in its discharge our intelligent respect
and heartfelt earnestness.
Our Society was the second formed in this country, the
Philadelphia Society being the first for the extensive publica-
tion and distribution of the Holy Bible. It was the first
formed on the principle that The Church, in its Evangelical char-
acteristics of Faith, Ministry, Sacraments and Order, is by
divine appointment and authority the proper agent for the
spreading abroad the blessed Gospel, and drawing men into the
right understanding and proper application of it in all the
requisites of Christian faith and duty. It had at its foundation
nearly fifty years ago, and has ever had, the full approval and
confidence of the Bishop, and (with exceptions hardly \vorth
noting) the clergy and laity of this diocese.
It has always had the approval and co-operation of the
bishops, clergy and laity generally throughout the American
Church. It may fairly be considered as a vocation and ministry
of a genuine Gospel and Church character, and having there-
fore a reasonable claim upon the encouragement, support and co-
operation of all American Christians as far as they desire "that
the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly
received and truly followed in all places to the breaking down
the kingdom of sin, Satan and death, till at length the whole
of Christ's dispersed sheep being gathered into one fold shall
become partakers of everlasting life." 1
They cannot do better than to encourage, in any proper way,
the circulation of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.
The former is the Christian's sole reliance for the knowledge of
God, of true religion, of the way of salvation, and of all that
pertains to happiness in the life that now is, and in that which
is to come. The latter is no sectarian volume; it fairly and
confidently challenges investigation as to wherein it has assim-
I. Prayer at the Meeting of Convention.
1857] Forty-Ninth Report. 605
ilated itself to any system not in harmony with the Gospel. Let
it be thoughtfully examined as to the faith, ministry, the ordi-
nances, the worship and the piety, which the Bible requires, and
it will be found a guide and aid in the Evangelical cause entitled
to the admiration and adoption of all who "love our Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth."
These it has in its pervading principles and prominent pro-
visions for successive ages from that of the Apostles. These
it now has in the blessed errand of British and American
Catholicity for spreading the true Gospel around the globe; and
in the almost only remaining hope of checking the wide spread
deleterious influences of Popish and Protestant error, and bring-
ing all who profess and call themselves Christians to be true to the
faith and piety which God requires of those who would be
Christians indeed; and these it will continue to have more and
more while the two great branches of the Catholic Church,
which have it in charge, are faithful in guarding it from inno-
vation and devoutly labouring for its constantly increasing cir-
culation, for disseminating sound instruction in its holy teach-
ings, and for interesting individual hearts, minds and souls in
its sanctifying and saving influence. They who serve God faith-
fully in such a "vocation and ministry," ever adding (for
such only is faithful service) in their own characters and lives,
examples of the excellence of the Evangelical and Catholic
system of faith, piety and virtue, which they are contributing
to diffuse among men, may certainly be considered as happily
striving to be among "Christ's faithful soldiers and servants,"
an essential part of which duty is that self-dedication which
give sto the holy cause time, service, and pecuniary aid, in cordial
and liberal proportion to the means and opportunities furnished
us by that kind and good Heavenly Father who asks that His
love may be requited.
In commending such considerations to the hearts and con-
sciences of their fellow members of the Society the Managers
humbly trust that they are not insensible to their holy and
momentous claims upon themselves.
Besides the general interest attached to these considerations,
there is a special one growing out of the daily increasing ming-
ling of foreign languages with our own in these United States
and contiguous territories. To do our duty to the Church of
600 Forty-Ninth Report. [1857
God, we, of this branch of it, should be prepared to circulate its
Liturgy in especially the Indian, French, German and Spanish
languages.
In the first three we have duly authorized translations and
hope that the Church will furnish us the means of meeting all
demands for their profitable circulation. The last we have not
yet. Exemplary Christian liberality has been exercised for
supplying the deficiency. We respectfully and earnestly ask
that the whole necessary means be speedily furnished.
A great door, and effectual, will thus be opened for honour to
Him whom all people, nations, and languages are bound to
serve for an important and interesting discharge of duty to us,
of whom all people, nations and languages are brethren.
There are now, and in all probability will be for generations
coming, among us and being incorporated with us multitudes
"out of every nation under Heaven," a great part of whom will
never know any other than their own native tongue. If there
is anything serious in the responsibilities of the Catholic
Church, it must be the duty of the branch of it established in
this nation to see that these should through its instrumentality,
be able to take up the Pentecostal effusion of wonder and
gratitude, "We do hear them speak in our own tongue, wherein
we were born, the. wonderful works of God." Be Caesar's the
things that are Caesar's. The Church, the spouse of Christ
God's representative on earth too has her things. God speed
all efforts for moulding into one concentration of sound principle
and policy ail that relates to civil welfare and interests among
those of diverse nations, who are constantly coming among us;
and as important means of so desirable a consummation the
substitution among them of ours for all other languages; yet
while other languages do prevail among them they must be
the media through which their souls are to be cared for: and
the Church is herein God's appointed instrument and agent.
We ask our friends to bear in mind the importance and
necessity of our being always prepared to meet such demands.
As a motive to prompt and liberal action, we need hardly refer
to the proofs every day presented of the favourable influences
of the Church, as distinguished both from Popery and uncath-
olic Protestantism, in the cause of that sound conservatism and
good order which by God's blessing, most tends to the working
1857] Forty-Ninth Report. 607
together for our Republic's substantial good, of the foreign and
heterogeneous elements constantly entering into its composition.
STANDARD BIBLE.
Our Society is partly concerned in carrying out the im-
portant measure of having a STANDARD BIBLE for the Ameri-
can Church, in which that prepared with so much care in the
reign of King James the First, as the Catholic English Bible,
shall be preserved in its integrity. The General Convention of
the American Branch of that Church has an able Committee
on the subject, which again has the valuable services of a
learned and sound divine, who has for several years been de-
voting to it a large share of study and reflection, under the
most favourable auspices principles true to the Gospel and the
Church access to the best means of information and a con-
scientious desire and a determination not to seek anything neiv,
but to adhere, and to go back where needed, to conformity with
that standard English Bible, probably the best and truest trans-
lation in any modern language, which was so important an
agent in the establishment of Reformed Catholicism as dis-
tinguished on Evengelical principles, from what is uncatholic
and unevangelical in Popery and Protestantism. Proofs are
daily accumulating around us not unfrequently the result of
ultra-Protestant experience in honest and good minds of the
necessity of definite and distinctive Church action in whatever
relates to the great essentials of Bible religion. For such action
this Society was formed.
Be all concerned in its "vocation and ministry" true to the
principle !
The General Convention has on reasonable considerations
selected our Society as the publisher of the standard Bible.
We trust that we need not say that no efforts or means will be
spared by the Board of Managers to give the Church and world,
in that Bible, a perfect specimen of typographical accuracy and
excellence. It will surely be a blessed and glorious privilege
worth working and praying for to have ours the "Imprimatur,"
which will certify to all men that the American Church gives
them in its genuineness and integrity, the good old English
Catholic Bible, so well approved among the best Christians by
their understanding, so loved by their affections, and of such
608 Amendment to Bye-Laws. [1857
tested efficiency in ministering to the maintenance and interests
of the true faith, piety and charity of the Gospel; and to man's
guidance, support, responsibilities and trials of this earthly pil-
grimage.
The subjoined reports of the Treasurer and Agent give the
account of our stewardship for the past year, and their perusal
will show how much the Society stands in need of faithful
prayer and aid by the members and friends of The Church.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
October i, 1857.
In addition to the summary presented at the Anniversary
meeting the Treasurer's report showed that in the Disposable
Fund there was a deficit of $3,414.03. The Stereotype Fund
was $4,745.64. No disbursements have been made from that
fund.
While the Committee on the new Standard were gathering
editions of the Holy Scriptures, and corresponding with Dr.
Mason, the general work was actively pursued. The year was
one of distinct advance although the full needs of the Society
were not met by the contributions received.
The following resolutions were passed and committee ap-
pointed :
"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer
with the Right Reverend the Provisional Bishop of the Diocese,
with the Board of Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Tract
Society, the Society for promoting Religion and Learning in the
State of New York, and with the Missionary Committee of the
Diocese, in reference to the expediency of holding a joint public
meeting on the evening of the first day of the meeting of the
Annual Convention of the Diocese, with a view of bringing the
important objects of these several Diocesan institutions more
prominently before the clerical and lay members of the Diocesan
Convention; and also to suggest corresponding alterations in
Section 2 of Article 5 of the By-Laws and of the resolution of
this Board on the same subject, passed Qth August, 1842, as may
be deemed necessary by them, and that they report with all
convenient speed." (Folio 73.)
At the meeting of December 8, 1857, a committee was ap-
pointed to revise the existing by-laws of the Society. The com-
1858] A Standard Bible. 609
mittee made a lengthy report at the next meeting, February 9,
1858. (Folio 77.)
The gist of this report was contained in three schedules.
Schedule A recommended that the balance due to the "Disposable
Fund" be placed to the credit of the "Stereotype Fund."
Schedule B recommended the changing of the term "Stereotype
Fund" to "Permanent Fund." Schedule C contained a de-
tailed statement of the investments and resources of the So-
ciety.
The committee appointed to confer with the Provisional
Bishop relative to the expediency of changing the mode of
celebrating the anniversary of the Church Societies, reported
that it was expedient to make the contemplated change. (Folio
82.)
The following entries in the minutes for June 8, 1858, are of
interest.
"The Secretary from the Committee on the Standard Bible
read a letter from the Rev. Henry M. Mason, typographical cor-
rector of the Bible, in which he says he is preparing a com-
munication for the Committee of the General Convention on
the subject, and will communicate the same to this Board.
"The Committee on the translation of the Book of Common
Prayer into the Spanish language reported that the progress of
the committee on that subject by the General Convention was
not equal to the importance of the work.
"An application from the Rev. John P. Robinson, Seaman's
Chaplain at the Port of Boston, to print an edition of the Book
of Common Prayer in the Portuguese language, in preparation
by him : Whereupon it was Resolved, That this Society has no
authority to print the Book of Common Prayer in any language
other than the English without the permission of the General
Convention for that purpose.
At the meeting of September 27, 1858, the Secretary read
these communications from Dr. Mason:
"To the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society.
"Easton, Sept. 24th, 1858.
"Brethren,
"From the accompanying paper which I sent to each mem-
(39)
610 A Standard Bible. [1858
her of the Committee on typographical errors, it will be
seen that two questions were laid before them for their ad-
vice and decision. The one relates to the numerical mode of
drawing attention to the marginal reading: the other to the
proposition to be made to your body in reference to commencing
at once the printing of the Bible according to the plan proposed,
and rules laid down to the typographical corrector as stated in
the circular.
"In answer to the first of these questions the majority of the
Committee are decided in favour of the Arabic numbers as
used in the last and best Standard of England, while two of
the Committee are not so explicit, but express a readiness to
acquiesce in the opinion of the majority. In answer to the
second inquiry embracing the proposition to your body, the
Committee are decided and unanimous in favour of the proposed
plan.
"With the highest respect, I remain,
Faithfully yours,
"HENRY M. MASON."
The "accompanying paper" alluded to in the above letter is as
follows :
"Easton, May, 1858.
"I desire the instructions of the Committee on Typographical
Errors upon a point which will affect the printing of the sacred
volume throughout its entire contents.
"Acting upon the sixth rule of King James, the translators
employed two marks for the Marginal readings which they af-
fixed to the text of their translation; the one mark was a cross
or dagger (f), referring to the more literal rendering of the
Hebrew or Greek work, the other two parallel lines (||) refer-
ring to the different senses such words might bear. These
marks have been continued in all subsequent editions, that con-
tain the marginal readings with the exception of the last and
most perfect edition that has ever appeared in our tongue of the
Holy Volume. This edition, which I presume is now the English
Standard Edition which is printed at Oxford at the University
Press, which bears on the title page of the copy I have been using,
"Printed for the Episcopal Society for promoting Religion and
Learning in the State of New York," differs from others in the
1858]
A Standard Bible.
611
mode of referring to the marginal readings by using the Arabic
numbers instead of the cross and parallel lines. I give an ex-
ample as follows, making use of the first that occurs to the
purpose in Gen. i. 20:
1 1 And God said, Let the
waters bring forth abund-
antly the 1 1 moving crea-
ture that hath f life, and
the f fowl, that may fly
above the earth in the
t open firmament of heav-
en.
Translator's ed-
ition Of i' II
Oxford of 1850
and 1851 com-
monly called Col-
lingwood with
other editions
Oxford for the
N. Y. Society
1852.
II or creeping
t Heb. Soul
t Heb. let fowl
fly
+ Heb. face of
the firmament of
heaven
II or creeping
t Heb. Soul
t Heb. let : fowl
fly
t Heb face of
the firmament of
heaven
5. or creeping
2. Heb. Soul
3. Heb. let Jowl
fly.
4. Heb. face of
the firmament of
heaven.
"In this example, the first numerical reference is 5, because
there are four preceding marginal references attached to other
verses, and that is the last reference on the page, the verse
chosen being continued on the following page, and therefore
the next reference is marked by the first unit used on a page
which is 2, as the number i is never employed, because, I pre-
sume, of its similarity to the letter "i." The adoption of this
mode of referring to the marginal reading is recommendable
among other reasons, as being employed in the most accurate
edition of the Scriptures now recognized in the Church of Eng-
land, and that which will direct the printing of the edition ex-
pected to emanate from your committee.
"It was resolved at the last meeting of the committee that the
course to be pursued by the typographical corrector should be
an examination of the four leading British editions, including
the present standard of the American Church; the majority of
these editions to be in any case decisive; but where any two
differ from the other two, the edition of 1611 was to determine
that difference. Without entering into details, a renewed typo-
graphical revision, though not yet completed, enables me to be
satisfied that the edition to which I have referred as now the
most perfect, is a basis on which the work of our committee
may be best and most reliably carried out.
"I propose therefore to the committee, that as the New York
Society, in conformity with the resolution of the General Con-
vention of 1850, are to set forth the proposed Standard, we
submit to them, that they reprint from the aforesaid edition, a
612 A Standard Bible. [1858
copy of the proof -sheets being consecutively sent to the typo-
graphical corrector who shall forward the same with the pro-
posed corrections to each of the committee by whose sanction
or otherwise he shall be coerced.
"There does not appear to me any other process by which the
object of the General Convention can be so well reached with-
out involving frequent meetings of the committee not likely to
be attained, or an expense of previously printing or circulating
among the members copies of my suggestions, for which ex-
pense no provision has been made and which might not be as
effectual as the method proposed.
"The reprint of the English Standard, with such typographical
corrections as the committee approve, and beyond such correc-
tions our commission does not extend, will be, I apprehend, the
best guarantee to the public, and more consequently, to our
Church, that there will be no tampering with the authorized
version.
"I remain, respectfully yours,
"HENRY M. MASON/'
Mr. Bell, the Secretary, adds to this letter the following note :
Mem: Committee of General Convention on the Standard
Bible, appointed 1850, are Rev. Drs. Henry M. Mason, M.A., D.
W. Howe, and C. W. Andrews and Luther Bradish and Hugh
Davy Evans. (Folio 88.)
CHAPTER XVIII.
CONTENTS.
Annual Meeting and Fiftieth Report, 1858 Standard Bible Considered
References to the "Eyre and Strahan" Edition Report on the Different
Editions of the Prayer Book Issued by the Society Spanish Edition
Authorized Title of Stereotype Fund Altered to that of Permanent
Fund Elaborate Report of Committee on the Standard Bible Resolu-
tions Passed by the Board Apathy of Churchmen in Regard to Standard
Bible Indebtedness of the Church to Zeal of Dr. Mason Distribution of
French Prayer Books to French Canadians at Kanakee County, Illinois
Letter from Father Chiniquy Further Work on the Spanish Prayer Book.
THROUGH the courtesy of Mrs. Morgan Dix we are able
to give this interesting extract from the Diary of the
Rev. Dr. Dix, which shows how the Rev. Christopher B.
Wyatt, Rector of St. Thomas's Church, Windsor, was
enabled to accept the invitation of the Society and preach at the
Anniversary Meeting, on Sunday, October 3d, 1858, in Calvary
Church, New York :
"Friday, October i, 1858. It appears that on Sunday night,,
there is to be a sermon before the Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society, Tract Society, etc. The Rev. Mr. Wyatt is to
preach, but cannot do so unless a substitute take his place. I
therefore agreed yesterday at the Convention, to go to Cornwall
for him on Sunday next, if he would preach for me at St.
Paul's in the morning, which he agreed to do. This arrange-
ment was made very suddenly, but at the very earnest request
of two of the Vestrymen of Trinity, and mainly to secure Mr.
Wyatt for next Sunday night."
At the Annual Meeting, October, 5, 1858, these officers were
chosen :
Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. J. McVickar, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
613
614 Fiftieth Report. [1858
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Alexander L. McDonald, Seventh Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Eighth Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Richard Cox,
Rev. E. Y. Higbee, D.D., Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev.
J. H. Hobart, D.D., Rev. Thomas H. Taylor, D.D., Rev. Cor-
nelius R. Duffie, Rev. Joshua Weaver, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart,
Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alexander L. Leonard, Rev. E. R. T.
Cooke, Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore,
Abraham B. Sands, William A. Duncan, John R. Livingston,
James Van Norden, Samuel P. Bell, Augustus L. Clarkson,
James Pott, William H. Lee, William R. Ronalds.
Standing Committees.
Committee Of Arrangement : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joshua
Weaver, Rev. Richard Cox, William A. Duncan.
Committee of Distribution : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Edward
Y. Higbee, D.D., Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Stereotype Fund : Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler.
Committee on Finance: Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T.
Skidmore, James Van Norden.
THE FIFTIETH ANNUAL REPORT.
For the Year Ending October ist, A. D. 1858.
Under the protection and blessing of Almighty God this So-
ciety has in the progress of its history and operations reached
another Anniversary celebration. For all her usefulness, all the
good she has, during the past year, accomplished, we ascribe unto
God glory and honour and thanksgiving. "Not unto us, O Lord,
not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory for Thy mercy and
Thy truth's sake."
The work of the year has been as follows :
1858]
Fiftieth Report.
615
DISTRIBUTIONS.
Bibles.
Testaments.
P. B
Maine . . . . 25
New Hampshire 13 . . 59
Vermont . . . . 50
Massachusetts 175 12 345
Connecticut 6 . . 466
New Jersey . . . . 429
Pennsylvania 24 . . 223
Maryland 8 . . 41
Ohio . . . . 71
Illinois 41 20 533
Iowa . . 20 193
Louisiana . . . . 3
California . . . . 300
Texas 4 3 3
Indiana 24 . . 227
Michigan 10 24 151
Wisconsin 100 223 324
Virginia 3 18 63
Minnesota 21 . . 436
Kentucky . . . . 50
Mississippi 9 25 75
Kansas i . . 138
Alabama . . ' . . 25
South Carolina . . . . 34
France . . . . 200
South America i . . 36
Central America . . . . 37
Army . . . . 152
Navy and Marine 19 TOO 1,301
Diocese of Western New York. . . . 127 12 1,630
Diocese of New York, Prisons,
Hospitals, Asylums, Sunday
Schools, Missionaries, Mem-
bers, etc 322 566 4,886
908 1,023 12,506
Cash Sales 702 181 5,443
616 Fiftieth Report. [1858
Total circulation twenty thousand seven hundred and sixty-
three volumes.
From the above figures it will be seen that, though local in its
organization and management, it is yet to all practical purposes a
general Society. And such being the case, it has always been
accounted reasonable and proper that we should look to the dif-
ferent dioceses in which our publications circulate for some cor-
responding proportion of the means needed to carry on these
operations. But this and all previous reports show how much
such expectations have been disappointed. While larger distri-
butions have every year been made in a majority of the dioceses
in the land the funds by which the Society has been enabled to
do this have with two or three exceptions come chiefly from
New York. We do not wish to speak of this as complaining, or
as being "weary in well doing," but rather to "stir up the pure
minds" of our brethren abroad "by way of remembrance," and
to assure them that their contributions would be of great ad-
vantage to us. Sometimes demands are made upon the Society
as if its funds were inexhaustible, and ever abundantly at hand.
We beg leave to assure the Church everywhere, that while we
have no more pleasant duty than to respond in the most liberal
manner to calls made upon us for books, yet that we are often,
of necessity, obliged to curtail orders, and to supply in more
scanty manner than was requested of us. Very true, indeed, it is,
that many portions of the Church which look to this Society for
a supply of Books are unable to make much if any return in
money collected, being purely missionary ground. But the Board
conclude, and they deem it a reasonable conclusion, that where
the missionary portions of a diocese are supplied gratuitously,
the other portions which have ability ought to help sustain insti-
tutions which furnish these gratuitous supplies.
Let it be understood, in all this, that the only object had in
view of the Board is to respond favourably to all demands made
upon them for books, and this it can only do by being supplied
with means from collections made throughout the Church. We
have little that can be called an Endowment, and are therefore
dependent on the free-will offerings of the Church, as they are
yearly supplied to us.
There is need of more liberal and frequent gifts and donations
to this Society. This may be urged in all sections of the Church.
1858] Fiftieth Report. 617
The Board proceeds with the strictest economy and without
debt. It owes no man anything. This is its rule of operation,
and therefore if the Church expects books and publications from
it, the Church must first supply it with funds; and doing this it
may be sure that the same will be returned with usury. Brethren
of our Common Faith, bear then with the exhortation of our
Lord "Freely ye have received, freely give."
PUBLICATIONS.
THE BIBLE. The Society has supplied of its own publica-
tions, but one edition of the Bible, and that a small I2mo edi-
tion intended more especially for a cheap copy and for gratuitous
distribution.
As the Church in this country has never set forth a standard,
there seemed to be no object in publishing other and larger
books, but rather to obtain directly from the press in England
the larger and more expensive editions. Still the Society has
not regarded its mission as fulfilled in this, but has constantly
been looking forward with interest to an American standard
edition of the Bible, put forth by the Protestant Episcopal
Church. So long ago as 1817 the want of a standard edition of
the Bible was felt, and a request made to the General Con-
vention which met that year in New York City, that one
might be provided. This request was listened to at the time,
and at the Convention of 1820 a Committee was appointed to
take the matter under consideration, and report at the next
Convention. In 1823 the Committee reported, and on their
recommendation the English edition of Eyre and Strahan pub-
lished in 1812 was adopted as the standard.
There is something curious about this edition of Eyre and
Strahan.
The Bishops say they "have never seen it" ; there is some rea-
son to think there never was any such edition published. At all
events the book cannot now be found and recognized. This
Board has made diligent search for it now for two or three
years, and has not yet obtained it or even heard of it, neither
here or in England. If, then, there ever was such an edition, it
is of no account to the Church in this country certainly. But
even if it could be found there is scarcely a doubt but it would
prove erroneous and unfit for a standard. Such certainly is the
618 Fiftieth Report. [1858
case with the Eyre and Strahan edition of 1806, which the House
of Bishops all along couple with the edition of 1812, and, by
implication, made of quite as much authority.
Lately a return has been made to this subject. As a previous
report informed you, a committee has been appointed by the
General Convention to put forth an edition conformable to the
old standards, and which shall be the standard edition of the
Church in this country.
In due time, therefore, we may hope to be blessed with what
is especially in this day, so imperatively demanded, an American
edition of the Holy Bible, which the members of the Church may
refer to with confidence, and know it to be the Word of God.
This Book, according to an arrangement with the Committee,
is to be published by this Society, and the application of the sub-
ject, therefore, is that some considerable amount of funds will,
ere long, be needed by the Board for this purpose. We then
account it prudent thus early to bring the matter before the
Church, in the hope that her members, knowing this coming
necessity, will be moved to make a prompt and liberal provision
to meet it. Any gifts or bequests designed for this object will
be received by the Treasurer of the New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society, and safely kept until their use is
needed. We may add that various editions of the Bible and New
Testament are to be had at the Depository, at prices vary-
ing according to size and binding.
PRAYER BOOKS. The results of the revolution rendered many
local changes necessary in the English Book of Common Prayer
to adapt it to this country. It consequently became important, or
rather necessary to arrange an American Prayer Book, and this
has been chiefly, if not altogether, published here. This Society
has therefore published several different editions of the Book of
Common Prayer ; they are as follows :
32mo, from 10 cents upwards.
24mo, from 20 cents upwards.
i8mo, from 18 cents upwards.
I2mo, from 40 cents upwards.
Octavo, from 60 cents upwards.
Folio for desk, from $3 upwards; German, i8mo, 25 cents
and upwards; French i8mo, 40 cents and upwards. Psalms and
Hymns, i8mo, I2mo, octavo.
1858] Fiftieth Report. 619
Spanish and Portugese translations are also called for, and the
Society is ready to undertake the preparation of them, but as
the General Convention has supreme authority in the matter of
setting forth new translations, the Society cannot proceed with
them unless authorized by the Convention.
A Spanish translation of the American Book of Common
Prayer was authorized, and put in charge of a Committee, but
for some cause does not seem to progress very rapidly towards
completion. As this Society has already received, in the way of
collections, a fund of some amount for the purpose of publishing
a Spanish edition of the Prayer Book, and as it is very desirable
that such a translation should be promptly made, it is hoped that
the next General Convention will provide against any further
delay in the issue of this edition, and also that they will author-
ize an edition in the Portuguese language.
The Board cannot close their report without urging very earn-
estly on the Church the necessity of larger gifts and donations
to the Society. If its operations are to be carried on in any just
proportion to the demands made upon it, and the necessities
which are every day increasing and becoming more urgent, this
is imperative. It is a thing which the Church ought to hear with
shame and confusion of face, that notwithstanding the increas-
ing necessities and increasing demands which are pressing the
Society more and more every year, her receipts for the last year
are two thousand dollars less than they were the previous year.
True it is that charitable institutions generally received less than
usual the past year, but the greater shame that such is the case.
If people suppose that they are going to better their fortunes,
and improve their temporal estates by such kind of economy,
they will probably find themselves mistaken. It will not do
amid the extravagant and spendthrift course which people seem
determined to pursue in regard to temporal matters to reckon on
excusing their parsimony and niggardliness towards God by
complaining of the hardness of the times and scarcity of money.
Times are not hard when extravagant expenditures are needed
for worldliness and folly ; money is not scarce when pleasure and
dissipation and sensuality calls. Perhaps there never has been a
year in the history of this country more remarkable for extrava-
gant expenditures and useless waste of money than the one just
now approaching its close. And think ye to satisfy God with
620 Spanish Prayer Book. [1858
the hypercritical pretence that times are hard and money scarce ?
More wise and salutary far it will be for people to be moved to
larger charity and more abundant good works, by the adverse
dispensation which lately the wisdom of God has brought upon
our land.
The urgent need of the Prayer Book in the Spanish language,
as mentioned in this Report, had been felt for some years. The
Bishop White Prayer Book Society of Philadelphia presented a
memorial to the General Convention of 1853, m which they
mention : "our present and prospective relations to a large mass
of Spanish population," which in their opinion "makes it impera-
tive, we conceive, upon the American Church to furnish that
people, not only with the Bible but with the Prayer Book, as the
best means of understanding and carrying out into actual prac-
tice the doctrines and worship enjoined in God's holy Word.
Personal observation and inquiry in the Island of Cuba within
the last two years by one of the Committee satisfied him that
both would b ecordially received by many; and the proposed
measure meets with the warm approbation of others familiar
with the state of things there whom he consulted." 1
The memorial was referred to the Committee on the Prayer
Book, of which the Rev. Henry M. Mason (was Chairman), who
reported favourably, and recommended the appointment of a
joint Committee "to revise a translation of the Prayer Book into
the Spanish language, and to make their report to the next Gen-
eral Convention."
Both Houses approved the report, and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Alonzo
Potter, of Pennsylvania, and the Rev. Drs. Henry W. Ducachet
and John Coleman, of Philadelphia, were appointed a Committee
"to prepare a translation of the Book of Common Prayer in the
Spanish language." They had power to add to their number.
Bishop Potter was authorized to set forth the translation for use
"in any congregation where such a translation may be required.
At the General Convention of 1856, the Committee through its
i. Journal, General Convention, 1853. See pp. 4$, 96, 100, 162, 180, 194.
For' the memorial in full see pp. 317, 318. It is Appendix No. 2. It is
signed by a Committee of the Society: the Rev. Drs. John Coleman, Henry
W. Ducachet, Richard S. Trapier, "Missionary to the Seamen, Port of Phil-
adelphia, Mr. James I. Newbold, Mr. Arthur G. Coffin."
1858] Committee on Standard Bible. 621
Chairman, Bishop Potter, reported progress and asked to be
continued. The House of Deputies, on the motion of the Rev.
Dr. William Bacon Stevens, of Philadelphia, requested the
Committee to use the power given to them to add three to their
number. 1
In his statements for this year the Treasurer changes the title
of that previously styled "Stereotype Fund" to "Permanent
Fund."
This fund had been increased during the year from interest
and life membership fees $619.31. From it had been trans-
ferred to the "Disposable Fund" $3,724.33, leaving a balance of
$1,640.62 in the Fund.
The Disposable Fund had received from collections, interest,
rent, donations, and subscriptions, $2,681.80; from sales,
$1,885.92; and from the "anniversary collection at Calvary
Church" $102.04. The expenditures had been, for paper, print-
ing and binding, purchase of books, salaries, rent and other ex-
penses, $4,980.06, to which must be added $3,414.03, the deficit
of the previous year, making a total of $8,394.09.
The minutes of the Society contain no allusion to the work of
the Committee of the General Convention, which evidently was
proceeding with its task in its own way, and not submitting any
portion of it for approval to the Managers of the Society.
At the meeting of October 12, 1858, a grant was made of 150
Prayer Books to Captain Rogers, "for the use of the navy en-
gaged in the Paraguay Expedition."
On December 14, 1858, the Secretary reported a vacancy in
the Committee on the Standard Bible, Rev. Dr. Haight having
declined. Whereupon the Rev. Dr. Seabury was elected in his
place. The Committee on the variations and typographical er-
rors between the i8mo and T2mo editions of the New Testament
reported in writing, from which it appears that they had with
the assistance of the Rev. Dr. Morris, compared the first eleven
chapters of the Gospel of St. Matthew of the version under
examination with the Greek text of Greesback, carefully com-
paring the two publications of the Society with the Standard
Oxford edition, and found errors of the press in the i8mo
amounting to 101, and in the I2mo amounting to 76. That the
i. Journal, General Convention, 1856. See pp. 135, 177, 190.
622 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
errors noted consisted chiefly in punctuation and substituting
Roman letters where there should be italics; and although the
errors noted in said eleven chapters of the Gospel of St. Matthew
did not affect any essential doctrine, yet from the gross careless-
ness evinced in those few chapters, the committee recommended
the following resolution : "Resolved, That the i8mo editions of
the New Testament published by this Society separately from
the Old, be suppressed, and that the plates from which it had
been printed be destroyed."
On motion, the report was accepted, and the resolution was
passed, and the committee was discharged.
The committee appointed at the last meeting to compare and
correct the plates of the Book of Common Prayer belonging to
this Society with the Standard set forth by the General Conven-
tion, reported, that they had examined said plates and found that
they had been corrected by the Standard shortly after the same
was set forth, and asked to be discharged, whereupon the com-
mittee on the Plates of the Prayer Book were discharged.
The committee on the translation of the Book of Common
Prayer into the Spanish language reported that they had no new
communications to make since their last report to the board.
At the meeting of January 4, 1859, this Report of the com-
mittee on the Standard Bible was presented, and it still remains,
the best account of the subject.
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE NEW YORK
BIBLE AND COMMON PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY.
The Committee on the Standard Bible beg leave to respect-
fully report: That they were appointed by a resolution of the
Board in April, 1856, to confer with the committee of the Gen-
eral Convention on the Standard Bible approved in Convention
f J 853, with a view to induce them, if possible, to present their
work complete at the next Convention to sit in October, 1856.
But nothing was accomplished by the committee of the General
Convention of 1853, ar >d a new Committee was appointed by
the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies and a Typographical
Corrector by a joint resolution of the two Houses to carry on the
work. Your Committee have, therefore, been continued to the
present time, on the part of this board to give its aid and assist-
ance to the General Convention of the Church in their laudable
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 623
endeavour to prepare a Standard of the Holy Scriptures for that
Branch of the Catholic Church planted in America by the nur-
turing care of the Church of England.
The Church has always been "the faithful witness and Keeper
of Holy Writ" from the beginning as well under the New as
under the Old Dispensation.
It is now seventy years since the Church took her stand in
America as an Independent National Church, preserving never-
theless her unity and fellowship with the Church Catholic. And
it may not be either uninteresting nor unprofitable, before we
proceed to the main object of this report, to take a retrospective
view of the history of the Bible in its relation to the Church in
this country.
It is evident, that when the Church of England transmitted to
us the Apostolic order of Bishops, together with her Book of
Common Prayer, she also transmitted to us the Canon of Holy
Scriptures in their integrity and purity as a sacred deposit; and
that which was the Standard Bible of the Church of England
at that time became and was by the law of the Universal Church,
the Standard of the Church in this country, and was so to con-
tinue, until she in her wisdom and strength should see the neces-
sity of guarding the integrity of the sacred text, by taking its
publication into her own hands and under her own control, as its
"Witness and Keeper" as declared by her Articles.
The translation put forth by the Church of England under
Royal Authority in the 1611, as the "Standard" of The Church,
and the reprints from it under the same authority, continued to
be so down to the year 1769, when in consequence of the numer-
ous typographical errors that had crept into the text, the Vice
Chancellor and delegates of the Clarendon Press at Oxford, di-
rected Dr. Blaney to compare and collate a new edition, by the
edition of 1611, which was done and published in quarto and
folio; and thenceforward declared to be the Standard, from
which all others were to be printed. This then, or an authorized
reprint from it, was the Standard of the Church in this coun-
try at its organization in 1789.
Immediately after the Revolution, printers in this country took
it upon themselves to print the Bible without the authority of
the Church, and without bestowing that care, in the selection of
the copy, and in correction of the press, which the importance of
624 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
the work demanded; and the consequence was that numerous
errors crept into the text some of a dangerous character par-
ticularly the corruption of the text vi. Acts, v. 3, by substituting
"ye" for "me" in the sentence "whom we may appoint over this
business."
The subject was brought to the notice of the General Conven-
tion sitting in this City in 1817, supposing it to be the work of
an enemy, so as to favour the independent or congregational doc-
trine of setting apart men for the work of the Ministry in the
Church, in opposition to her ancient practice. But the charge
could not be laid to that or any other sect, although they may in
their blindness and ignorance have adopted it. It was evidently
an error, a gross error of the press, dating as far back as 1638
in an Edition printed at Cambridge in England, and carelessly
followed in four successive editions in London (1660, 1674,
1679, 1686), one in Amsterdam (1679), two in Edinburgh
(1673, 1675), and again at Cambridge, when it was discovered,
corrected, and a new edition in quarto published the same year.
The error, however, appears to have been continued by an un-
authorized press down to our own times, as a copy was found in
one of the pews of the Church where the Convention was then
assembled.
The consequence of this discovery was a most respectful re-
quest, from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies to the House
of Bishops, "to designate and establish some specific edition of
the Old and New Testament without note or comment to be
considered as the authentic version or standard by which the
genuineness of all copies of the Holy Scriptures used by the
members of the Church, was to be ascertained, thereby to secure
them against perversions and the people of our communion from
error either in doctrine or discipline."
To this reasonable request the House of Bishops replied, "that
deeming the subject a matter requiring very serious attention
and deliberation, they would give it that attention and delibera-
tion, and report at the next Convention." 1
I. For the convenience of the readers of this History reference to the
Journals of the General Convention are appended, which were not necessary
in a Report intended only to be read and then entered upon the official
records.
For the action of 1817 see Journal General Convention, 1817, pp. 36, 49, 50.
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 625
The Auxiliary New York Bible and Common Prayer Book
Society this year (1817) obtained a charter from the State, and
immediately set about procuring a set of stereotype plates of the
Bible of the duodecimo size, and after a patient investigation as
to the best means to accomplish this end, they in January, 1819,
entered into an agreement with Elihu White of this City, a Type
and Stereotype founder, to make the Society "a set of Stereotype
plates for the Bible of an edition to be furnished by the said
Society," to be delivered complete on or before the first day of
July then next for the sum of twenty-three hundred dollars, at
which time the plates were delivered; but owing to a want of
funds for the purchase of paper and to pay for printing, the
plates were not put to use until 1821, when the first edition was
printed from them bearing the following imprint on the title
page, "Stereotyped by E. & J. White for the Auxiliary New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Sociey instituted in
1816."
1821 It does not appear from the proceedings of the Society,
the reports of the committee having the matter in charge, or the
agreement itself, what size the plates were to be, whether I2mo,
8vo, or what other, and a specimen of the type only was annexed
to the contract. What edition was followed, nowhere appears.
And the members of the committee having it in charge have no
recollection on the subject.
These same plates are now used by this Society, being I2mo
size; which from examinations recently made by a committee of
this board have been found faulty and full of errors not of a
character however to affect the sense or meaning of the text.
To resume the Proceedings of the General Convention.
In 1820 the House of Bishops sent a communication to the
House of Clerical and Lay Deputies saying that they had kept the
subject on their minds, and that the result of their observations
was, that in England the Bible was printed by authority ; and the
persons printing it by such authority were liable to a heavy pen-
alty in case of the nonperformance of their trust. And they be-
lieved, that in comparing their different experiences, that incor-
rectness seldom happened in the English Editions, printed by
Authority; although they cautioned the House against editions
issued in the same country in evasion of the law; that they had
(40)
626 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
seen corrupt copies, and pointed out the manner of detecting
them.
But in regard to the editions published in the United States,
they found generally as correct, as could have been expected from
a press that acted without responsibility; and they conceived
that the guarding against errors of any description to be an ob-
ject worthy of the care of the Church. They further said, that
Editions of Eyre & Strahan. London, 1806 and 1812, had been
spoken of in recent publications as the most perfect extant; and
although they had never seen a copy of either of these editions
they thought one of them might safely be trusted as a standard,
and proposed the appointment of a joint committee of both
Houses to take such measures during the recess of the Conven-
tion as they might find suitable for the establishment of a stand-
ard according to which all copies of the Scriptures to be recom-
mended to the use of the members of the Church should be
printed. 1
A joint committee was accordingly appointed which reported
to the General Convention of 1823 sitting in Philadelphia, "That
certain testimonies borne to two editions of Eyre & Strahan,
published in the years 1806 and 1812, which they believed to be
the most perfect of all concerning which they had received intelli-
gence; and recommended the adoption of the edition of 1812 as
the Standard of the Church, which they believed to be the same,
of which some copies had been imported by S. Potter, a book
seller in Philadelphia, and were then for sale by him, bearing on
the title page the date of 1813."
At this Convention (1823) a Canon (No. 2 of that year) was
passed, authorizing "each diocese to appoint some suitable per-
son to compare and correct all new editions of the Bible by a
standard edition agreed upon by the General Convention, and a
certificate of their having been so compared and corrected should
be published" in the same manner as is now done in the pub-
lishing of the Book of Common Prayer.
To this Canon was subsequently annexed a resolution that all
further conventions should appoint a committee to whom there
might be communicated all errors (if any) in the edition of the
Bible published under the operation of this canon ; and that such
I. Journal General Convention, 1820, pp. 16, 54, 55.
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 627
errors should be certified on the journals of the Convention. 1
In the next Convention of 1826 a joint committee of the two
Houses was appointed under the above Canon and resolution;
and to enable them to determine what were and what were not
errors according to the prescribed standard, they asked, and ob-
tained authority, to purchase a copy of the standard edition, at
the expense of the Convention for the use of the Committee. 2
Nothing was ever afterward heard of this committee, or of the
standard copy, which they had been authorized to purchase. In-
deed, one of the committee who is still living says he has no rec-
ollection of anything having been done by the committee, and
thinks no Bible was purchased; he has no recollection of ever
having seen it. 8
In the Convention of 1835, a committee under the same Canon
now called Canon 44 of 1832 was appointed, by the House
of Clerical and Lay Deputies to consider the expediency of
publishing an edition of the Bible corresponding with the stand-
ard edition.
The House of Bishops however proposed a substitute, which
was accepted and concurred in by the lower House, committing
the work to the learned and venerable faculty of the General
Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States, who were directed to compare and collate the best
accessible editions of the Holy Bible in the English language and
to have it printed by some printing establishment which would
undertake the expense of the work, a Bible to be set forth by
them as the Standard Bible of the Church ; and that they should
appoint some suitable person to superintend the printing and to
correct the press. 4
1. Journal General Convention, 1823, pp. 50, 54, 65, 101. The Canon was
known as Canon II. of 1823. It is still in force. It is now Canon 40.
Constitution and Canons for the Government of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States of America. Adopted in General Convention,
1789-1904, p. 105. i vo. pp. 150. Printed for the Convention, 1905.
2. Journal, General Convention, 1826, pp. 15, 18, 20, 21, 70, 74, 83. The
members of the Joint Committee were Bishop White, Bishop Croes, the Rev.
Drs. William H. Milner, Charles H. Wheton, Benjamin T. Onderdonk,
Jackson Kemper.
3. Judge Bell has made this Memorandum before this last sentence,
"Bp. O." Evidently referring to Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk.
4. Journal General Convention, 1835, pp. 55, 77, 81, 109.
628 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
By these directions and powers given to the learned faculty by
this resolution, the General Convention virtually ignored the so-
called Standard as well as the 2. canon of 1823.
The whole Church felt satisfied at this announcement, and
looked forward with intense anxiety and interest to the meeting
of the next Convention; as from the great scholarship, deep
learning and patient investigations that would be so willingly
bestowed on the work by the Faculty they were expected to
report as the result of their labours a correct and reliable Stand-
ard of the Holy Scriptures worthy of the Institution and of
the Church.
Accordingly at the Convention of 1838 the Faculty reported,
"that inasmuch as there were many of the best editions of the
Bible, to which they had no access, and as they had no fund as-
signed on which they could draw to meet the necessary expenses
of the undertaking, it had not been in their power to perform the
service requested by the resolution of the Convention." 1
The next move was in 1844, when a joint committee of the
two Houses were appointed under the same Canon, "to prepare a
standard edition of the Bible to be presented at the next General
Convention." 2
No report was made by this committee to the Convention of
1847, an d it was continued and reappointed by both Houses to
report in i85O. 3
This Society anxiously watched these abortive proceedings of
the General Convention of the Church. It was the only source
whence it could derive its authority to publish a standard Bible
for the Church. It was also aware that the Convention of 1823
had designated a supposed English edition as "The Standard,"
but they were also aware that this Standard was not possessed
by itself or by any of its members or of the clergy of the
Church if ever seen by them.
1. Journal General Convention, 1838, pp. 19, 22, 90.
2. Journal General Convention, 1844, pp. 89, 96, 165, 166. The joint
Committee were: Bishops Benjamin T. Onderdonk, George W. Doane, Wil-
liam R. Whittingham, the Rev. Drs. Henry M. Mason, Wm. Cooper Mead
and Thomas W. Coit.
3. Journal General Convention, 1847, pp. 106, 141.
Bishop Brownell was substituted for Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk on
the joint Committee.
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 629
At an early period as before stated and before any Canon was
passed on the subject, it had taken upon itself to issue an edition
in I2mo for gratuitous distribution; but now the Canon of 1823
stood in its way. It had become an institution recognized by the
Church, and its benefits were dispensed with a liberal hand
throughout the whole extent of the nation. And numerous appli-
cations were made to it for Bibles suitable for the desk in
Churches ; but it had not the means of supplying them.
Finding that after twenty-six years of fruitless labour on the
part of the General Convention, that no Bible would be published
by their authority, the Board had to have recourse to their
Mother Church in England, and in 1843 procured a supply
through the venerable Society for Promoting Christian Knowl-
edge. And in the following year (1844) appointed a committee
to enquire into the expediency of publishing an authorized edition
of the Bible in octavo form, to be used as a standard edition, in
expectation that the Convention, that was to meet in that year,
would take some definite action upon the subject. But the com-
mittee appointed at that Convention did nothing, as has been
already shown.
In 1848 "The Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion
of Religion and Learning in the State of New York," having
also become wearied with the tardiness of the General Conven-
tion, entered into an arrangement with the venerable Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge to furnish it with copies of the
standard edition published under its auspices at the University
Presses, and employed this Society as their agent for their sale
and distribution.
The General Convention of 1850 having also failed to accom-
plish anything in relation to the Standard Bible, the Society for
Promoting Religion and Learning, etc., arranged with the Society
in England to have an edition in quarto printed at the Oxford
Press in 1852 with the imprint of the P. E. Society for the Pro-
motion of Religion and Learning in the State of New York,
which they have since kept on sale.
In anticipation however of the meeting of the General Con-
vention in 1850, this Board prepared and presented a petition to
both Houses of the Convention, "Respectfully offering its ser-
vices to the General Convention as publishers of the revised edi-
tion contemplated by a resolution of the Convention in 1844 and
630 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
virtually renewed in 1847." "And that should the offer of its co-
operation be accepted, would cheerfully submit to be governed
in the publication by any regulation which it supposed the Gen-
eral Convention might be inclined to enact."
That veteran scholar and Divine, the Present Typographical
Corrector of the Bible, who had laboured with successive correc-
tions during one whole generation of the human race, and had
never lost sight of the subject, brought in a report to the House
of Clerical and Lay Deputies recommending the acceptance of
the proposals of this Board. A resolution was thereupon passed :
Authorizing the "committee to contract with this Society for a
standard edition of the Bible, provided in making such contract
the committee should not exceed the price at which a similar
publication could be contracted for, with other publishers. And
that such copy, when published, was not to be received as a
standard edition until it should receive the sanction of the Gen-
eral Convention."
It would seem by this resolution, that the General Convention
contemplated being at the expense of printing the edition. The
petition was referred to the Committee on the Prayer Book in
the lower House, and in the House of Bishops, "to the existing
committee on the Standard Bible with power to act in the prem-
ises." There was no joint action by the two Houses, and the
matter slept quietly for another three years.
During the recess of the Convention of 1850, the venerable
Chairman of the Committee in the lower House of Clerical and
Lay Deputies employed himself, with the aid of this Society, in
collecting information relative to the condition of the Bible in
England, which he embodied in a most valuable report, made to
the Convention of 1853.
In this report the learned author says, "that since the Princeps
Edition of 1611, the errors of the press in multitudinous editions
of the Bible were becoming so numerous as to call for the notice
of the lower House of Convocation in England ; and for the Royal
interference. Nor was the evil to any great extent averted till
in 1769 a complete revision was made by Dr. Blaney under the
direction of the Vice-Chancellor and delegates of the Clarendon
Press. No subsequent general revision or collation of the Eng-
lish Bible has taken place. In our country,, where the publica-
tion of the Bible is at every man's option, too many editions have
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 631
been found crowded with typographical errors, and faulty in
numerous other not unimportant respects. And even in England,
where by the laws of the land, from four sources only, under
Royal sanction, can editions of the Holy Scriptures emanate
variations, though slight, or apparent between the copies bearing
the impress of those sources."
"The incorrectness of so many editions and the blemishes in
all, united with the duty of our Church as its hereditary guardian
to protect the integrity of the English Scriptures, attracted so
early as the year 1817 the attention of our General Convention to
the subject. And in 1823 the edition of Eyre & Strahan, pub-
lished in England and then considered the most perfect extant,
was recommended as the standard to be recognized by our
Church, till such time as she thought proper to put forth an
edition of her own. At subsequent triennial meetings, the sub-
ject was again and again brought before both Houses of the
General Convention, till the appointment of a committee to treat
with the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society."
Embodied in this report is a letter from His Grace the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, in April, 1851, in which he says, "During
the years 1834, 1835 and 1836, the delegates of the Oxford and
Syndics of the Cambridge Press, had a long and laborious cor-
respondence on the state of the text in the Bible as then printed,
and until then there had been much inaccuracy. A correct text
according to the edition of 1611 was then adopted both in the
Oxford and in the Cambridge Bibles."
Mr. Combe, the superintendent of the Oxford Press, in a letter
to the Archbishop says :
"The text of all the Oxford editions of the Bible is now
the same, and is in conformity with the edition of 1611,
which is and has been for many years adopted for the standard
text; the medium quarto book is stereotyped, which pro-
tects it from casual errors, and having been long in use without
the detection of an error, I have reason to think that it may be
considered as perfect as a book can be, and may therefore be re-
ceived as the Standard of the Society."
The report proceeds :
"Upon such authority your committee could not hesitate
to recognize the above quarto stereotyped edition published
at Oxford as the Standard Bible of the Church of England.
632 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
The New York Bible and Prayer Book Society in its com
munication appears to wait the determination of this Con-
vention before action as publishers on their former petition. And
your committee recommend the adoption of the edition named in
the Archbishop of Canterbury's letter, as that from which a
republication in this country by our Church shall be made. An
examination of it has resulted in the discovery of but very few
particulars, which your committee would decidedly prefer to
change, not one, which would importantly affect the sense, and
but few of which a doubt might not be entertained whether they
are even typographical errors."
To this report was appended the following resolutions :
1. That the medium quarto Bible stereotyped at Oxford be
the recognized Standard of this Church until an American Re-
print be made and adopted as hereinafter contemplated.
2. That the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book So-
ciety be the publishers from that Standard of the reprint above
mentioned, provided in making any contract the committee shall
not exceed the price at which a similar publication could be con-
tracted for with other publishers.
3. That a joint committee of five be appointed to supervise the
reprint aforesaid, with authority to correct the errors of the
press, and report to the next General Convention the edition so
published for its adoption as "the American Standard Edition."
No other notice was taken by the House of Clerical and Lay
Deputies of this carefully drawn report, the materials for which
cost so much time and labour to collect, than by making it the
"order for the day" for six successive days, and then without any
vote or discussion, summarily disposed of it, by discharging the
committee.
The committee was afterwards reconstructed in the lower
House and directed to report in full and in print at the next
General Convention in 1856.
The House of Bishops took no action on the subject.
The committee of the Clerical and Lay Deputies reported to
that house in 1856 : "That the propriety and even necessity of
protecting the integrity of the sacred text of Scriptures was not
less stringent then, but necessarily more so, than at any period
since the attention of the General Convention was first called to
it. That too many of the editions of the Holy Scriptures issued
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 633
in this country are faulty in respect of typography, or in changes,
which affect the volume either as it came from the hands of the
translators under King James I., or as it exists in the present
Standard of the Church of England." And urged, "that the
protection of the General Convention should be interposed for
the guardianship of the great depository of our Faith in the
English tongue."
To their report was also appended three resolutions, which
after undergoing slight amendments were passed by the lower
House.
1. That a competent person be appointed by the Convention to
correct typographical errors in the authorized translation of the
Holy Scriptures referring to the present Standard edition.
2. That a committee of five be appointed to whom the proposed
corrections when made or in their progressive stages shall be
submitted for their approval.
3. That the report of this committee with the proposed correc-
tions in full be printed and presented to the next General Con-
vention for their final action.
The first resolution was sent to the House of Bishops, where
it was laid on the table. The two last were not sent up, and no
further action was had on them. A resolution appointing a joint
committee of the two houses to nominate a typographical cor-
rector, contemplated by the first resolution, was however sent to
the House of Bishops, who concurred, and a joint committee was
appointed, who united upon a typographical corrector, who was
reported to the respective Houses and confirmed.
Shortly after the adjournment of the Convention of 1856 your
committee, by the direction of this Board, wrote to the typo-
graphical corrector appointed by the tw T o Houses as above stated,
tendering the services of this Society (in the spirit of their peti-
tion of 1850) in bringing out the Book as fast as the corrector
could prepare the copy.
But the corrector had all along laboured under the disadvantage
of not possessing the editions required by the order of the com-
mittee of five, with which to compare; but the greatest of these
wants was the edition of 1812 designated by the General Con-
vention, and to which he was confined by the resolution of the
Convention ; which edition your committee, after enquiries made
both in this countrv and in England, had not been able to find.
634 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
It will be remembered that neither the Bishops nor the joint com-
mittee who recommended the edition of 1812, speak of the size
of the book, whether folio, quarto, 8vo, I2mo, or i8mo. And as
before observed, they all admitted that they had not seen the
Book, but ventured a belief "that it was the same of which some
copies had been imported by S. Potter, Bookseller, and were
then (1823) for sale by him, the title page of which bore date
1813," without mentioning its size.
Your committee have hitherto been unable to find an edition
of Eyre & Strahan of 1812 of any size; they have advertised
for it in New York and London, examined the public libraries in
this city and Harvard University, as also private libraries, and
the reviews and magazines of that period, without success.
They find, however, that Mr. T. Hartwell Home published
his "Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the
Holy Scriptures" in 1818, shortly after the adjournment of the
Convention of 1817 when the Bishops were requested to enquire
into the subject of a Standard Bible, to which work it is sup-
posed the Bishops and committees referred "by certain testi-
monies borne to the editions of Eyre & Strahan published in
1806 and 1812."
In the first edition of Mr. Home's work, after noticing Dr.
Blaney's edition of 1769, which had been considered and adopted
as the Standord of the English Church, says: "Notwithstand-
ing, however, the great labour and attention bestowed by Dr.
Blaney, his edition must yield the palm of accuracy to the very
beautiful and correct edition published by Messrs. Eyre & Stra-
han, his Majesty's printers, but printed by Mr. Woodfall in 1806
and again in 1812 in quarto."
Messrs. Eyre & Strahan's edition may therefore be regarded
as approaching as near as possible to what Bibliographers term
an "immaculate text."
In a subsequent edition published in 1823 Mr. Home adds to
the above: "It will be gratifying to know that they (editions
of 1806 and 1812) have been recommended by the Church in
America as its standard editions, to which future editions of the
Holy Scriptures are to be made conformable." And then ap-
pends this note. "The London edition of 1806 being exhausted,
a new impression was put to press in 1810 and completed with
equal beauty and accuracy in 1812. And published in 1813."
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 635
And refers to the action of the General Convention held at Phila-
delphia, May, 1820.
In an edition at the same work much enlarged, London, 1834,
Mr. Home corrects the above note and says : "It will be gratify-
ing to the reader to know that the edition of 1813 has been rec-
ommended by the General Convention of the P. E. Church in
America to be adopted as the Standard edition, to which future
editions of the English version of the Holy Scriptures are to be
made conformable." Here again Mr. Home is in error. Our
Church did not adopt the edition of Eyre & Strahan published in
1813, but of 1812, which it seems never had an existence. It
was no doubt an error, in following Mr. Home's recommenda-
tion contained in his first edition of 1818, but it has the force of
law ; so far as to exclude the use of any other edition of the same
publishers.
It is evident, therefore, that our Church has no standard Bible
of her own selection. The law passed by her in 1823 upon ex-
amination has proved to be a nullity; and no one has a right
so to construe that law, as to substitute another book of a dif-
ferent size or of a different date. Books have ear-marks, by
which they are known and distinguished first by size, second by
the title page containing the name of the printer or publisher,
third, the year and place where published. And having been once
designated, although erroneously, nothing short of legislative au-
thority or enactment can alter it.
We conclude, therefore, that until we have further legislative
action on the part of the Church here, she must fall back upon the
common or canon law of the Church of England, whence she
sprang and received the Scriptures, and can use none other stand-
ard than that designated by her to be the Standard, which we
have seen is the Oxford quarto edition of 1851 presented to the
Convention of 1853 for its adoption.
Failing to find a copy of Eyre & Strahan of 1812 your com-
mittee have sent to the Typographical Corrector a copy published
by Eyre & Strahan in quarto in 1806 mentioned with such ap-
probation by Mr. Home as having "but one erratum," and one
of the two recommended by the Convention of 1820 a copy of
the Oxford medium quarto of 1851, one of the same printed in
1852 at Oxford for the P. E. Society for promoting Religion and
and Learning in the State of New York, and the last authorized
636 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
edition in duodecimo published in Edinburgh in 1851.
In August, 1858, your committee received from the Typo-
graphical Corrector a copy of the plan which the Convention com-
mittee had adopted for making their corrections which was laid
before this Board and is entered on its minutes.
By it that committee resolved, "that the course to be pursued
by the Typographical Corrector should be an examination of the
four leading British editions, including the present Standard of
the American Church." The majority of these to be in any case
decisive, but where any two differed from the other two, the
edition of 1611 was to determine the difference.
2nd. That this Society should set in type a copy of the edition
of the Bible of the P. E. Society for Promoting R. & L. in the
State of New York, Oxford, 1852, and send the sheets to the
Corrector to read the proofs preparatory to being stereotyped."
This last proposition your committee varied by proposing to
send to the Corrector a copy of the Oxford edition of 1851 in
sheets, upon the margin of which he might make his corrections
and send them back to this Society, to have them set in type sub-
ject to his revision ; which proposition was accepted and the copy
in sheets was sent to him, several of which sheets have been re-
turned with the corrections and are now in the possession of your
committee.
Your committee herewith present an estimate made by Messrs.
Pndney & Russell, Printers and Publishers in this city, for a set
of Stereotype or Electrotype plates of a quarto Bible with mar-
ginal readings and references, containing about 2,000 pages.
New York, 79 John Street,
27 November, 1858.
Dear Sir,
Your communication of the I5th inst. has been received, and
we now transmit to you our answer to your questions therein
contained, in the order they are propounded, in reference to the
printing of the Bible, Oxford Quarto Edition.
Query i. Which is preferable in point of beauty and dura-
bility, Stereotyping or P'lectrotyping ?
Answer. The Electrotype is double the value of the Stereo-
type, inasmuch as the former is copper and the latter lead. It is
however, probable, that when first cast, there would be but little
difference in the impression.
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 637
Query 2. What will be the cost per page of a set of Stereo-
type plates delivered in proper and suitable boxes?
Answer. Three Dollars each.
Query 3. What would be the cost per page of a set of Elec-
trotype plates, delivered in proper and suitable boxes?
Anszver. Three 23-100 Dollars.
Query 4. Estimating the text alone (Old Testament Apoc-
rypha and New Testament) at, say 2,000 pages, what length of
time would it require to complete the plates in either form of
Stereotyping or Electrotyping?
Answer. Provided the copy be all on hand, and there be no
delay in the proofs, the work can be completed in twelve (12)
months : as regards Stereotyping and Electrotyping there would
be no difference necessary for the completion of the work.
Query 5. What would be the most favourable terms as to
payment upon which you could do the work, provided the
prices suit and the Board approve?
Answer. We should prefer a note at six months on the de-
livery of every 100 pages; or we can furnish the work complete,
arranging the amount, when the work has been executed.
Query 6. Could you furnish a correct and reliable proof
reader, and who would he be?
Answer. We have in our employ a very good Greek and He-
brew scholar as proof reader, but the final readings and revisions
would be entrusted to our Mr. Pudney himself, as he would not
be willing to commit the performance of so important a work
to any single person.
Query 7 and 8. What would it cost to print 1,000 copies from
the plates when furnished, including paper, and how long to
print and bind?
Answer. It would cost say $2,820 to print 1,000 copies on a
suitable paper for that purpose; say there were 2,000 pages, we
could have them printed and bound in three months.
In the foregoing estimate we have included the dedication of
the work to King James First, the translators' address to the
reader, and also the Chronological Index.
Yours very respectfully,
PUDNEY & RUSSELL,
Publishers and Printers.
638 Report on Standard Bible. [1858
It will be seen by this estimate that a set of electrotype plates
of quarto size will cost $6,460.00
The printing, paper and binding will cost less than three dol-
lars a volume, so that the Society could furnish a beautiful quarto
edition of the Bible suitable for the desk in Churches for the small
price of five dollars a volume, which after paying first cost would
give $2,000 per 1,000 copies towards refunding the cost of the
plates.
At this stage of the progress of the work a serious question was
propounded to one of your committee viz : what guaranty have
this Society, that the General Convention would adopt the edition
when printed and give it their Imprimatur? Though led to a
strict and careful examination of the Journals of the last General
Convention, for the authority under which the Corrector and
committee are now acting which resulted as hereinbefore stated,
in a failure on the part of the House of Bishops to adopt the reso-
lution of the lower house in the appointment of a joint committee,
but an united action in the appointment of a Typographical Cor-
rector.
Upon ascertaining these facts your committee immediately ad-
dressed the Corrector upon what they deemed an important omis-
ion, and determined to submit the whole matter to the wisdom
and direction of the Board whether it will keep its engagement
with the Convention of eight years' standing and prosecute the
work to its completion, and trust to the good sense and wisdom
of the Convention to give it their Imprimatur.
If precedent were necessary for pursuing this course, we have
it in the case of the French and German translation of the Prayer
Book and the last revision of our own Book of Common Prayer
where the same omission occurs.
While then your committee find no perfect united action of the
two Houses of the General Convention in this matter, they do find
a great deal of separate action, and some collective action, which
altogether seems abundant to establish a ground of real intention
and good faith on their part to put forth an American standard
edition of the Holy Scriptures.
We all know how it is with legislative bodies, that often
through inadvertence or press of business, matters of the most
serious nature are overlooked, when their purpose to have acted
upon them was clear and evident. The whole case they deem will
1858] Report on Standard Bible. 639
be illustrated in the histories of the Prayer Books above instan-
ced.
Your committee are therefore unanimously of the opinion, that
the two Houses in uniting in the appointment of a Typographical
Corrector, have fully indicated their determination, that the pub-
lication of a standard Bible shall be proceeded with, and have also
invested their committee with full power to proceed ; And they,
therefore, submit the following resolutions :
1. Resolved, That this Board proceed in accordance with its of-
fer to the General Convention to procure the Electrotype Plates
from Messrs. Pudney & Russell ; and to publish the standard
edition of the Holy Scriptures as fast as a corrected copy shall be
received from the Corrector.
2. Resolved, That this Board, confident that the Church will
feel the importance and provide for the necessity, will make a
public appeal and by individual effort at once apply itself to the
work of obtaining funds to furnish the plates for the publication.
3. Resolved, That in case the Society is supplied by the Church
with funds sufficient to obtain the plates, it will furnish to the
Church the standard edition of the Bible in quarto form similar
to the Oxford quarto edition of 1852, at a cost of not more than
one-half at most, of what that book can be imported for here in
sheets.
All which is respectfully submitted.
New York, Dec. 21, 1858.
JOSHUA WEAVER,
WM. H. BELL,
Committee. 1
The Board very cordially accepted this report and discussed,
February 8, 1859, the resolutions offered by the Committee.
Finally these were amended in this form :
"i. Resolved, That a committee of be appointed to obtain
subscriptions and otherwise gather funds, to stand distinct from
the ordinary funds of the Society, and to be entitled "The Stand-
ard Bible Edition Fund."
" Resolved, That this Society hereby pledge themselves to
proceed as rapidly as the funds so collected shall permit to com-
plete and publish such edition in accordance with the existing ar-
i. Folios 109 115.
640 Letter from Dr. Mason. [1858
rangements now in progress with the Committee of the General
Convention.
"Which were seconded and after debate the two resolutions
were considered separately, when the first was passed.
"On motion. Resolved, That the blank in the resolution be
filled up with the names of the present committee on the Stand-
ard Bible.
"The second resolution was then moved when a substitute was
offered as follows :
"Resolved, That as soon as said sum shall amount to $600 (the
estimated cost of a set of Electrotype plates) that this Society
will immediately thereafter proceed to procure a set of Electro-
type plates of a medium quarto edition of the Bible now in course
of preparation by the committee of the General Convention of
1856, which resolution was passed."
The following letter from the Rev. Henry M. Mason, D.D.,
the Typographical Corrector, was read, being an answer to en-
quiries addressed to him by the Committee as stated in the report.
"Easton, Dec. 23, 1858.
"Imperative engagements have delayed my answer to your com-
munication dated the 26th of last month, in which inquiry is made
as to the assurance of the next General Convention accepting as
the Standard of our Church the Bible which should be printed
by the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society under
the action of the last and previous General Conventions.
"The solution of this question appears to me to be simple, and
the difficulties presented even if technical are not fundamental.
For it can be shown what Bible the last and all previous conven-
tions have pledged themselves as representing the voice of the
Church, to accept, and that none other will be accepted. And, if
your Society presents such a Bible, then not to accept such Bible
is to put the Convention in an attitude not to be contemplated.
"The cause, which induced the Church, that is, her General Con-
vention to demand a Standard Bible, was the aberations of many,
it might be said all the editions in this country to a greater or less
extent from the Bible known as King James' translation, as per-
fected subsequently by Dr. Blaney's version in other words from
the Standard Bible of the Church of England. Hence the con-
vention of 1823 adopt the Eyre & Strahan Edition of 1812 iden-
1858] Letter from Dr. Mason. 641
tical with that of 1806, as the Standard of our Church. The ac-
tion of the Convention of 1856 makes no change in this respect.
The Standard of England is still our Standard, and that, Con-
vention manifests through its whole proceedings in the matter;
that it had no other purpose, as no previous Convention had,
than to have the Bible of King James as perfected in the English
Standard, to be our Standard. And no lover of the Church
ought to have any other purpose or wish. My own appointment
as Typographical Corrector fortifies this view of the case, by the
care shewn to reject in removing the term "revision," all idea of
anything but keeping strictly to the Standard of England.
"I do not affect to deny that the labours of my office is going
over the text and its accessories, to avoid the minutest errors of
the press, are great ; but the only result will be to keep the Eng-
lish Standard precisely as it is, save such errors as human skill
has not hitherto been able to prevent in passing the press.
"The Convention tells us what is its standard, namely, the most
perfect Standard of England tells us to keep to that Standard
tells us they appoint some one whose very name is significant, to
see that the Standard is kept by limiting his office to typographi-
cal errors, which in my opinion is identical with saying that this
sole office is to see that the Standard is so kept.
"To doubt that the Convention will accept a Bible presented
under rigid compliance with their own orders is to refuse all con-
fidence in the avowed purposes and orders of the Church ; so far
the lower and upper Houses are in agreement, and their acts are
clear and precise. The passage of the first resolution of 1856
presents this view of things, and if the lower House had not
passed the second and third resolutions we should have stood
precisely in this condition the condition of being authorized to
print a Bible which would be accepted, if none but typographical
errors were effected in printing from the British Standard.
"The Bishops did not take the second and third resolutions in
House, though neglected by the House of Bishops, does not alter,
does not vitiate this view of the case; the third resolution has to
do only with the committee appointed by the second, and that
second creates a committee only of the lower House, which has
sometimes appointed committees of its own body without adding
additional members from that House.
"Upon the contrary, present no Bible in 1859, and how shall
(41)
642 Letter from Fr. Chiniquy. [1858
we have one in 1862 or any other year, for the press copies on
which we are to print will remain unaltered. The same un-
founded fear which would stop the printing would stop it always ;
and why entertain that fear now when agitation on the subject
is not only pregnant with admonition but would assure a para-
mount value to our edition and prevent a spurious edition from
whatever quarter from occupying public attention.
"Whenever you inform me that you desire them I will con-
tinue the transmission of the sheets with the typographical cor-
rections, if there be any.
"I remain, very truly yours,
"HENRY M. MASON/'
The manner in which Dr. Mason pursued his stupendous task
and the absolute faith he had that the Church would furnish both
moral and financial support for the new Standard is well shown
in the above letter.
All the zeal, energy and enthusiasm of the Committee and the
Society did not arouse Churchmen, even after the issue of a
circular and appeal, to any realization of their duty in providing
the means for printing a standard edition of the Holy Scrip-
tures. While doing all in their power for this special work, the
Society carefully and faithfully carried on its ordinary opera-
tions.
In view of the fact that Father Chiniquy had publicly denied
that he had entered or intended to enter the Episcopal Church,
the following application forms curious reading:
"The Secretary read an extract from a letter from the Rev.
Charles Chiniquy, Kankakee, 111., a Canadian French Priest and
convert from the Romish Church, to whom in the recess of the
Board had been given 50 copies of the French version of the
Book of Common Prayer, dated August 4, 1859.
" 'I am particularly grateful for the 4 dozen of Prieres Pub-
liques, and if you can send 8 or 10 dozen more they will be
welcome my desire is to put a copy of them if I can into the
hands of every communicant. The Liturgy of the Episcopal
Church is the one we can adopt with less objection. For the
Fathers of the Episcopal Church, in taking away all which was
not scriptural, have retained what was good from the Church of
Rome, and a Roman Catholic who is once enlightened by the
1858] Letter from Fr. Chiniquy. 643
Grace of God to see the errors and superstitions of his perish-
ing Church will always be pleased with the dignity and true
character of the spirit of the Episcopal ritual.' '
The request was courteously acknowledged by the Board, and
a grant of two hundred copies of the French Prayer Book was
made to him, which donation was acknowledged by Father
Chiniquy. The Secretary at the meeting of September 27, 1859,
read a letter from the Rev. Charles Chiniquy, of Kankakee
County, under date 8 September, 1859, acknowledging the re-
ceipt of two hundred copies of the French version of the Book
of Common Prayer, and that his colony had renounced Rome,
and that he had designated the 2Oth of September on which he
intended to administer the Holy Communion according to
the rites of the Church, and asked the prayers of the Society
whereupon, on motion, a further donation of 250 Prayer Books
were made to him.
No little indignation was felt by Churchmen in New York,
and especially by members of the Society, over the particulars
of a letter from Chiniquy dated September 24, in which he
denied that he and his congregation has joined the Episcopal
Church, he said, "It has been quite impossible to me, till now,
to determine whether I could conscientiously join that branch
to the exclusion of the other denominations of Evangelical
Christians. The terrible battles which I had to fight, day and
night, these last three years, against the giant power of Rome
to break our chains, have so much absorbed my time that it
has been impossible to make the necessary inquiries, which in
honour and conscience I must make before taking such a step."
As a matter of fact Chiniquy became in February, 1860, a
Presbyterian, and as Judge Bell caustically notes in the minutes
"divided his congregation half to the Presbyterians, half to the
Baptists."
At the meeting of September 27, 1859, the Committee was,
authorized to employ the services of the Rev. Mr. Rich in
completing the translation of the Prayer Book into Spanish.
CHAPTER XIX.
CONTENTS.
Annual Meeting of 1859 Fifty-First Annual Report Is an Historical
Account of the Bible in the Church in America General Convention of
1859 Report from Committee of Prayer Book Society Presented to General
Convention Report Accepted by both Houses The Rev. Dr. Mason
Appointed Typographical Corrector for Standard Bible General Conven-
tion Appoints Joint Committee on the Standard Bible A Committee Ap-
painted by the Board of Managers on a Spanish Prayer Book Report of
Committee Committee on Standard Bible Enlarged Report of Com-
mittee on Standard Bible Resolutions Proposed Report, of 1860, from
the Committee on the Standard Bible Resolutions Proposed by Committee
not Accepted Resignations of the Rev. Joshua Weaver and Judge Bell
Rev. Dr. McVickar Asked to Draw up Annual Report He Declines
Annual Meeting of 1860 Fifty-Second Annual Report Offer to Translate
the Prayer Book in Hungarian Committee on Distribution Appointed
Their Report Resolutions Adopted Governing Editions to Be Kept by the
Society.
THESE officers were elected at the Annual Meeting, Oc-
tober 6. 1859:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., 2nd Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Alexander L. McDonald, 7th Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, 8th Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary, 52 John Street.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent, 55 East I3th Street.
Managers : Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. W. F. Mor-
gan, D.D., Rev. E. Y. Higbee, D.D., Rev. Benjamin I. Haight,
D.D., Rev. J. H. Hobart, D.D., Rev. Thomas H. Taylor, D.D.,
Rev. Cornelius R. Duffle, Rev. Joshua Weaver, Rev. A. Bloomer
644
1859] y^ Fifty -First Report. 645
Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alexander L. Leonard, Rev. E.
R. T. Cook, Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T.
Skidmore, Abraham B. Sands, William A. Duncan, John C.
Thatcher, James Van Norden, Samuel P. Bell, Augustus L.
Clarkson, James Pott, William H. Lee, William R. Ronalds.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : Thomas C. Butler, Rev. Joshua
Weaver, William A. Duncan.
Committee of Distribution: Thomas C. Butler, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Permanent Fund: Floyd Smith, Thomas C.
Butler.
Committee on Finance: Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T.
Skidmore, James Van Norden.
The Report was prepared by the Recording Secretary, and
contains the substance of the historical review of the action of
the American Church concerning the Bible, given in the Report
of the Special Committee.
FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT.
The Board of Managers, in presenting the Fifty-First An-
nual Report of the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book
Society to their members and the Church, cannot but express
devout thankfulness to the Great Head of the Church for the
great measure of faith and patient endurance He has blessed
them with under the many trying and discouraging circum-
stances in which they at times have been placed.
Amidst so many Societies that have sprung up into existence
around us since this Society was first organized in 1809. com-
bining in them all the elements of the various Protestant sects
that have separated themselves from the One Holy Catholic
and Apostolic Church, with their numerous heresies, it is not
to be expected that our operations could be as enlarged and
extensive as of those who subsequently arose and professed to
distribute the Bible without note or comment, whereas we have
always practiced it. Nevertheless we have at the same time
been always ready when required to do so, to accompany the
646 Fifty-First Report. [1859
Sacred Volume with its handmaid and interpreter, the Book of
Common Prayer.
The uniting of the distribution of the Bible and the Prayer
Book, although not compulsory, but entirely at the option of
the recipient, at a very early day raised unfounded and unjust
prejudices against this Society.
It being a Church institution and acknowledging the Bishop
of the Diocese as its head, its operations were chiefly among
the children of the Church, though not confined to them alone,
nor withheld from those without her sacred pale.
At the commencement of its operations and for many years
after its reorganization it expended its means in the purchase
and distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books, until after the
formation of the Auxiliary New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society in I8I6 1 a young and vigorous shoot
from the parent root who set themselves to work to procure
a set of stereotype plates of the Bible, an art then coming into
vogue ; "the Society having come into the possession of such facts
in reference to the superior advantage of stereotype printing"
as to induce them to procure a set.
The first Bible published by the Society on its own account
was from duodecimo plates, cast by the late Mr. Elihu White,
and delivered by contract to the Society ist of July, 1820.
The records of the Society do not give any information of
the edition of the Bible that w r as followed as copy for these
plates; the General Convention of the Church not having de-
clared at that time what edition should be followed as the
Standard; yet it was provided in the contract with Mr. White
that he would cast the plates 'after the edition furnished by
the Society."
These plates have been carefully kept, and from time to time
corrected as errors in typography appeared, and renewed, and
we believe our duodecimo edition now issued by our Society
to be as correct an edition as any published in this country.
Thousands upon thousands of copies have been distributed
throughout the land, in the Army, Navy, and public institutions.
In this connection, it may not be either unprofitable or unin-
teresting to take an historical review of the Bible in the Church
I. Meeting, April 22, 1816.
1859] Fifty-First Report. 647
in America, of which the Church, in her 2oth Article, has de-
clared herself "the Witness and Keeper." This was not un-
authoratively done until the Articles were adopted in 1801.
And although her members were not restricted to any particular
edition as a standard, yet, as faithful sons of the Church, and
acknowledging the binding force of her ancient Canons, they
adhered to the English standard and gave a preference to that
published in England, being the reprints of the Revision of
James I. of England, in 1611, and of Dr. Blaney's, published in
1769. But a discovery having been made, in 1817, in an Amer-
ican printed Bible, of a corruption of the text of Acts vi. 3, of
''Whom we may appoint over this business," into, "Whom ye
may," &c., aroused the attention of the General Convention of
the Church, then in session.
The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in that Convention
sent a request to the House of Bishops, "Respectfully requesting
them to designate and establish some specific edition of the Old
and New Testament, without note or comment, to be considered
as the authorized revision or standard, by which the genuine-
ness of all copies of the Holy Scriptures, used by the members
of the Church, was to be ascertained, thereby to secure them
against perversions, and the people of our communion from
error, either in discipline or doctrine." 1
The House of Bishops promised to give the subject their at-
tention.
Accordingly, in the Convention of i82O, 2 the Bishops sent a
communication to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that
they had kept the subject in their minds, and that the result of
their observation was, that in England, the Bible was printed by
authority, and the persons printing it were liable to heavy pen-
alty in case of non-performance of their trust. They believed
that in comparing their different experiences, that incorrectness
seldom happened in the English edition published by authority,
although they, at the same time, cautioned the House against
editions issued in England, in evasion of the law that they had
seen Very corrupt copies, and pointed out the method of detect-
ing them.
1. Journal, 1817, p. 36.
2. Journal, 1820, pp. 15, 53.
648 Fifty-First Report. [1859
With regard to the editions printed in this country, they
found them generally as correct as could have been expected
from a press that acted without responsibility; and were of
opinion that the guarding against errors, of any description, was
an object worthy the care of the Church.
They said that editions, published by Eyre & Strahan, Lon-
don, 1806 and 1812, had been spoken of in recent publications
as the most perfect then extant; and recommended the appoint-
ment of a joint committee of the two Houses to take such
measures, during the recess, as they might find suitable for the
establishment of a Standard, according to which all copies of
the Scriptures to be recommended to the use of the members of
the Church, should be printed.
In the Convention of I823 1 a joint committee reported that
they had taken into consideration certain testimonies, borne to
two editions of Eyre & Strahan, published in 1806 and 1812,
and from all the intelligence which had been obtained by them,
they believed those editions to be the most perfect of all. And
they accordingly recommended the edition of 1812, which they
believed to be the same book, of which some copies had been
imported by S. Potter, a bookseller in Philadelphia, the title
page of which bore the date of 1813.
It is a remarkable circumstance that after six years' agitation
and supposed examination into so important a matter as the
purity and integrity of the text of the Holy Scriptures, there is
no evidence that the committee ever saw, much less examined,
a copy of 1812, or any other by Eyre & Strahan. Certainly
nothing appears in the communications of the Bishops or the
report of the joint committee that they had ever seen a copy. It
has since been pretty conclusively ascertained that no edition was
published by that house in i8i2. 2 It was commenced to be
printed in 1810 finished in 1812; but they did not publish it
until 1813, and that was the one that the committee probably
saw in Mr. Potter's store.
A Canon (No. 2) was passed that year, authorizing a Bishop
or standing committee, from time to time, to appoint some suit-
1. Journal, pp. 50, 65, 101.
2. See Lowndes's Bibliography, title, Bible. See Home's introduction to
the critical Study of the Scriptures, 1834, Vol. II., p. 80 of App.
1859] Fifty-First Report. 649
able person to compare and correct all new editions of the Bible
by the standard edition, and requiring a certificate thereof to be
published with the book. At the same time a resolution was
passed, to be appended to the above Canon, requiring all future
conventions to appoint a joint committee to whom should be
communicated all errors in Bibles published under the operation
of this Canon, and such errors to be noted on the Journals.
(Canon 44, of 1832.)
In the following Convention of 1826, this joint committee
was appointed, but inasmuch as they had never seen the Stand-
ard, they asked and obtained leave of the Convention to pur-
chase one at the expense of the Convention but no standard
copy was ever purchased.
Nothing further was done until the Convention of 1835,*
when the Rev. Henry M. Mason, D.D., the present Typographi-
cal Corrector, then a delegate from New Jersey, moved the ap-
pointment of a committeeto consider of the expediency of
publishing an edition of the Bible corresponding to the standard
edition; when, at the suggestion of the House of Bishops, the
faculty of the General Theological Seminary were appointed to
that duty, and being aware of the fact, it is supposed, that the
Convention or the Church did not possess a copy of the author-
ized standard of "1812," they commissioned the faculty to
collate the best accessible editions of the Holy Scriptures in the
English language," and to have printed a Bible, to be set forth
by them, as "the Standard Bible of the Church."
In this connection, however, it cannot be passed over that
great praise is due to the indefatigable and incessant labours of
the Rev. Henry M. Mason, D.D., the present Typographical
Corrector of the Standard Bible, appointed by the last General
Convention; his efforts have been unceasing since 1835, but the
same difficulties have been as unceasingly in the way of progress.
And it nobly became the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, the oldest Society for the free distribu-
tion of the Bible in the country, to come forward and offer its
services to the Church in producing an American reprint to
which she would give her imprimatur.
The subject has been kept alive in the General Convention,
I. 1835, pp. 55, 77, 109.
650 Fifty-First Report. [1859
from 1835 to I 85O, but nothing consummated. In the latter
year, and prior to the meeting of the Convention, this Society
presented a petition to the two Houses "offering its services to
the General Convention, as publisher of the revised edition con-
templated by the resolution of the Convention of 1844, and re-
newed in that of 1847; submitting itself to be governed in its
publication to any regulations which it supposed the General
Convention might be induced to enact." The prayer of the
petition was granted upon certain conditions, but no definite
action was had at that Convention, and the matter lay over till
1853, when the committee on the Standard Bible made an able
report upon the necessity of publishing a standard, in which they
say, ''The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society,
in its communication, appears to await the determination of this
Convention before acting as publishers on their former petition,"
and recommended the Oxford edition of 1851, as the standard
from which to make a reprint. No action was had by the Con-
vention on this report.
In the Convention of 1856, the committee who had been con-
tinued, in their report that year say : "The propriety, and even
the necessity of protecting the integrity of the text of Divine
Revelation, as translated into the Anglo-Saxon tongue, is not
less stringent now, but increasingly more so, than at any period
since the attention of the Supreme Legislature of the Church
was first attracted to the subject. Too many of the editions of
the Holy Scriptures, issued in this country, are faulty in respect
of typography or in changes which effect the volume, either as
it came from the hands of the translators under James L, or as
it exists in the present standard of the Church of England,"
and urged that "the protection of the General Convention should
be interposed for the guardianship of the great depository of
our faith in the English tongue." A resolution was passed ap-
pointing "a competent person to correct the typographical errors
in the authorized translation of the Holy Scriptures, referring to
the present standard edition." 2. A committee of five was ap-
pointed, to whom the proposed corrections, when made, or in
their progressive stages, should be submitted for approval; and,
3. That the report of that committee, with the proposed correc-
tions in full, should be printed, and presented to the next Gen-
eral Convention for final action.
1859] Fifty-First Report. 651
The Board are happy to say, that immediately after the ad-
journment of that Convention, the learned Typographical
Corrector and the committee appointed to approve his labours,
met and adopted as the base of the operations of the Typo-
graphical Corrector, the resolution "That he should examine
the four leading British editions, including the present Standard
of the Church in America, the majority of those in any case to
be decisive; but where any two differed from the other two,
the edition of 1611, that of the translators, was to determine the
difference. Under this resolution, alike simple and safe in its
effects, the course of the Corrector has been pursued.
The editions used are that of ion ; Eyre and Strahan, 1806;
Oxford, 1851, and Edinburgh, 1851; the three last furnished
by this Board.
The corrections are made upon the sheets of the Oxford
medium quarto of 1851, and already many chapters of the cor-
rected sheets have been transmitted to and are in possession of
your Board.
By the direction of the Committee of the General Conven-
tion, the contemplated standard is to be of medium quarto, of
the same size and type as the medium quarto Bible printed at
the University Press, Oxford, in 1852, for the "Protestant
Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learning
in the State of New York," which is a reprint of the Standard
Bible printed at the same press in 1851.
The Board are now preparing electrotype plates for four
pages of the corrected copy sent them by the Corrector, com-
mencing with the Book of Genesis, to be presented to the next
General Convention, which will meet in Richmond on 5th Oc-
tober next (1859), as specimens, for their approval.
The cost of electrotyping the Bible of the medium quarto
size, to include the translator's address, the Apocrypha, &c., it
is estimated will be tbout $6,000; and the Board call, not only
upon you, their constituents, the members of this Society, but also
upon the Church at large, to send their contributions to enable
them to commence and carry on the work to completion. Early
action in this behalf is necessary as the Board have thought it
prudent to pass a resolution not to commence the work until the
sum of $6,000 be secured.
When the plates have been completed, and paid for, we shall
652 Fifty-First Report. [1859
be enabled to present a book, equal in every respect to the Ox-
ford copy, at a cost less than $5 the price of the Oxford being
$i i ; and to furnish it gratuitously to missionaries and poor
parishes.
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.
We print from plates of all sizes, which have been corrected
by the Standard Book, lately corrected and authorized by the
General Convention.
We print it in the English, French, German and Mohawk
languages, and have pressing applications from South America
for a version in the Spanish language. The subject of the
translation of our Prayer Book into Spanish was referred by
the General Convention of 1856 to a Committee of that body,
who have been prevented by ill health, removal and multifari-
ous avocations, from executing the task assigned them.
They have, therefore, expressed their wish, that this Society
already interested in the work, should proceed with the trans-
lation, and we are happy to state that a certain amount has been
appropriated for that object; and that as soon as the literary
labour shall be completed a congregation of this city is pledged
to defray the expense of publication.
The Society and its friends will peruse with pleasure the
Agent's Report of gratuitous distributions of the Book of Com-
mon Prayer during the past year, when they see that we have
been able, with the small means, as the Treasurer's report
shows, that have been placed at our disposal, to give away so
many among the poor of the Church; at the same time it may
possibly cause a blush to suffuse the face of some, that they have
not done something towards increasing the distribution; if so,
that is not our fault they had an opportunity.
One of the most interesting items in the list of distributions
is the 150 in the French language, given to a colony of French
Canadians, consisting of about 6,000 souls, who, in 1856,
separated from the Romish Church in Canada, and settled in St.
Ann's, Kankakee County, in the Diocese of Illinois, under the
pastoral charge of the Rev. Charles Chiniquy, a learned and
devoted priest of that Church, who, in a letter to the Board,
under date September 8, 1859, says: "These Trieres Publiques'
are a true Providence at this moment to me, to advance the mar-
1859] Fifty-First Report. 653
vellous work of grace and mercy which it has pleased Providence
to trust to my feeble hands. Every one wishes to have that
volume; and all those to whom I have been able to give it are
delighted, both by the grandeur and the holy simplicity of the
Christian doctrine and worship of the Episcopal Church. More
than two hundred more are wishing to have that volume, but I
have distributed all that I had, and I am too poor, as well as my
starving people, to think of buying them. We must be satisfied
with what you had the charity to send us, and wait for better
times to get those we are still wanting. Your sublime com-
munion service, which is so well the expression of the sublime
and Divine simplicity of the Last Supper, is attracting the at-
tention and admiration of our new converts, more than any-
thing else; and has helped me much in eradicating from the
minds of every one, the horrible and sacrilegious doctrine of
Rome on that subject.
"I hope that the 25th of this month will be the day chosen,
by God's providence to us, for receiving the Holy Communion,
in the same way our dear Saviour has ordered it.
"I ask for that day the prayers of all our Christian friends
in New York, that that great and sublime action should be well
understood by all our dear new converts."
The Board ask your liberal contributions to enable them to
furnish this colony with all the Books they want gratuitously.
In conclusion, we commend the cause of the Bible and the
Book of Common Prayer to the liberality of the Church every-
where, with the prayer "that God would not leave you destitute
of His manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them always to
His honour and glory."
September 26, 1859.
From the Treasurer's Report of the "Permanent Fund" we
gather that the total receipts during the year were $744.79; and
that the sum of $934.44 had been transferred to the "Dispos-
able Fund." The expenses of this latter Fund had been for
printing, binding, rents, salaries, ets., $5,939.73. The receipts
had been $5,005.29, and the deficit had been met by the trans-
ference of the above sum of $934.44 from the "Permanent
Fund."
The distribution during the year had been, Bibles 644, Testa-
664 Dr. Mason's Report. [1859*
ments 542, Prayer Books 11,256, Psalms and Hymns 155. The
sales had been, Bibles 433, Testaments 179, Prayer Books 8,115,
and Psalms and Hymns 67.
The General Convention of 1859 ne ^ * ts sessions in Rich-
mond, Virginia, from Wednesday, October 5, to Saturday,.
October 22.
Many delicate and important matters came before it for dis-
cussion and decision, notably the restoration to active duty of
Dr. Onderdonk, the Bishop of New York. The practical ap-
plication of the principles enunciated by the commission of
Bishops in their report in 1856 upon the memorial of Dr.
Muhlenberg and others occupied much time. The extension of
the Episcopate to the growing northwest and southwest was
also discussed and favourably considered.
It was not until the tenth day of the session that Dr. Mason,
as Chairman of the Committee on Typographical Errors, pre-
sented a report. In it the progress made since the appointment
of the Committee, and its determination to adhere to the
Standard set forth in 1823 are mentioned. It suggests the cor-
rection of errors by the Oxford edition of 1852, and offers
three resolutions for adoption. The first provided for a joint
Committee to approve the proof sheets of the proposed Stand-
ard as they may be issued by the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society and been examined by a typographical
corrector; and second for the appointment of a Typographical
Corrector ; and the third giving the Committee authority to issue
the Bible so printed as the Standard Edition of this Church. 1
The report was duly accepted, the resolutions adopted and
sent to the House of Bishops for concurrence. Dr. Mason was
then nominated and elected as the Typographical Corrector.
His report, which is an expansion of the communication he had
made to the Society and the members of the committee, forms
an appendix to the Journal.
The Rev. Dr. Creighton, Chairman of the House of Clerical
and Lay Deputies, then appointed as the Committee from that
House, the Rev. Dr. Henry M. Mason, the Rev. Dr. M. A.
I. Journal General Convention, 1859, pp. 80, 81. The Report is signed
by Henry M. Mason, M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Charles M. Andrews.
1859] Spanish Prayer Book. 655
DeW. Howe, the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Andrews, Hon. Hugh
Davey Evans, Hon. Edward A. Newton, the Rev. Joshua
Weaver, and Hon. William H. Bell.
The House promptly approved the report and concurred in
the action of the Lower House by the appointment of Bishops
Whittingham, Elliott, Burgess, Horatio Potter, and Odenheimer
as members of the joint committee. 1
At the meeting of the Board, October n, 1859, a Committee,
consisting of the Rev. Mr. Hart and Messrs. Sands and De
Peyster, was appointed to procure a translation of the Book of
Common Prayer into the Spanish language. (Folio 127.)
"The Chairman of the Committee on the translation of the
Book of Common Prayer into the Spanish language made a
verbal report. That in September last, the Committee of the
General Convention appointed on this subject in 1856, had
abandoned the work of preparing a translation and relinquished
the work to this Society. And that in pursuance of such relin-
quishment and also of a resolution of this Board passed on the
27th September, 1859, he had engaged the Rev. Mr. Rich to
proceed with the translation. But that the General Convention
which met in October, 1859, had referred the translation of the
Book of Common Prayer into the Spanish and Portuguese lan-
guages to a new committee, and that he had conferred with the
Rev. Mr. Dennison, Secretary of the Foreign Committee, who
is on that committee, who informed him that he had the trans-
lations in both languages in his hand, prepared by Theodore
Dwight, and that the committee had authority to print and pub-
lish before the meeting of the Convention. The chairman asked
for further directions. Wherefore, it was Resolved, That the
Committee on the translation of the Book of Common Prayer
into the Spanish language confer with the Committee of the
General Convention with a view to an understanding and ar-
rangement between them and this Society: and if they fail to
come to any satisfactory arrangement then in their discretion
either to proceed w r ith the translation by Mr. Rich or relinquish
it altogether, compensating the Rev. Mr. Rich for his trouble,
and report their doings to this Board." (Folio 128.)
I. Journal General Convention, 1850, pp. 85, 96, 183, 184. Dr. Mason's
Report is on pp. 362, 374.
656 Report on Standard Bible. [1859
The addition to the Committee on the Standard Bible of two
new members of the Society, the Rev. Mr. Weaver and Judge
Bell, gave a new impetus to the work of interesting Churchmen,
and especially those in the City of New York, in the pious and
necessary task of issuing the Standard Bible.
With even greater intensity than three years before, political
excitement absorbed the time and energies of the people. It
was difficult to secure any attention for the well-developed plan
of the Society, not even when the specimen sheets of the pro-
posed Standard had been displayed at the General Convention
in Richmond, and highly approved and commended.
This Committee made another elaborate report which was
read at the meeting of December 13, 1859.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE STANDARD BIBLE.
The Committee on the Standard Bible beg leave to report to
the Board, that on the 4th of January, 1859, they submitted a
report to this Board showing the progress which the Committee
of the General Convention had made in preparing for the pub-
lication of the Standard Bible, and that this Society had been
engaged to electrotype, print and publish it under the direction
of that Committee.
Stating also, that the estimated cost of a set of electrotype
plates would be about six thousand dollars.
On the 8th of February, 1859, the Board, in connection with
this subject, passed the following resolutions :
"i. Resolved, That the Rev. Joshua Weaver, Rev. Samuel Sea-
bury, D.D., and William H. Bell, be a committee to obtain sub-
scriptions and otherwise gather funds to stand distinct from the
ordinary funds of the Society, and be entitled "The Standard
Bible Edition Fund."
"2. Resolved, That as soon as said money shall amount to six
thousand dollars, the estimated cost of a set of electrotype
plates, that this Society will immediately thereafter proceed to
procure a set of electrotype plates, for a medium quarto edition
of the Bible now in course of preparation by the General Con-
vention of 1856."
It will be recollected that the gneat objection operating on
the minds of the members of the Board to their proceeding
with the work then, was not the want of funds but the want of
1859] Report on Standard Bible. 657
assurance that after it had expended its money in the prepar-
ation of the plates the General Convention would receive and
adopt their work as the Standard.
Your Committee determined therefore, if possible, to remove
the objections of the Board, and to that end and as a first and
necessary step, to prepare a specimen plate, of what they in-
tended to do, and present it to the next General Convention for
their approval and get from them an assurance, if approved, that
our work when performed would be accepted by the Church.
After much labour, they at length succeeded in procuring a
specimen plate of parts of the 2d and 3d chapters of the Book
of Genesis, from the copy furnished the Committee by the Typo-
graphical Corrector, which was an exact copy of the Oxford
edition of 1852, except the corrections made by the Typographi-
cal Corrector.
Immediately after the last anniversary meeting of this So-
ciety, one of your Committee repaired to Richmond, Va., with
the specimen plate and a number of impressions taken from it
to present to the Bishops and Clerical and Lay Deputies, there
to assemble on the 5 October last and look after the interests
of their Society. He distributed the sheets among the members
and presented the specimen plate for their critical examination
and inspection. They expressed their entire satisfacton with
the undertaking on the part of this Board, while the Conven-
tion paid the Board the high compliment of appointing two of
its members on their joint committee of publication they did
more, for in order to remove the objections of this Board above
alluded to, to proceeding with the work, they passed a resolution
giving to their joint committee "authority to issue the Bible to
be printed by the Society as the Standard Edition of this
Church."
It may be interesting to the Board to have the whole action
of the General Convention on this subject, which your com-
mittee append and is as follows :
"The Committee to whom at the last General Convention was
referred the subject of the typographical errors, in the author-
ized version of the Holy Scriptures, with a view to the proposed
Standard for this Church, respectfully report:
"That since the last meeting of a General Convention much
progress has been made toward the attainment of a Standard
(42
658 Report on Standard Bible. [1859
Bible for the Church in this country, an object which the
various acts of the great council of the Church, through a long
period of time manifest to have been generally observed, and
which at no period was more desirable than the present. Your
Committee are of the opinion that the present Standard declared
such at the Convention of 1823, being that of Eyre and Strahan,
printed by Wood fall, all should, with the exception of the typo-
graphical errors, be the basis of the proposed Standard : that
in order to avoid whatever typographical errors may there exist,
the edition of Oxford, 1852, should be followed in the text: as
it appears from the superintendent of that Press, delivered be-
fore a Committee of the House of Commons, that a high
premium offered for the detection of each error, had resulted
in the detection of but three, in the lapse of the last twenty
years. And therefore recommended the following resolutions,
which were passed :
"i. Resolved, That the House of Bishops concurring, a joint
committee be appointed to whom shall be submitted the proof
sheets of the proposed Standard as they consecutively appear
from the Press of the New York Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society after having undergone the examination of a
typographical corrector who shall be guided by the present
Standard of the Church, except the typographical errors to be
corrected, by the edition of 1852, printed at Oxford.
"2. That a typographical corrector be appointed to carry out
the above resolution.
"3. That the joint committee have authority to issue the Bible
so printed as the Standard Edition of this Church."
The committee appointed on the part of the House of Depu-
ties to review the proof sheets of the Standard Bible, the Rev.
Drs. Henry M. Mason, M. A. De Wolfe Howe, Charles M.
Andrews, Rev. Joshua Weaver, and Messrs. E. A. Newton,
Hugh Davy Evans and William H. Bell.
"The House of Bishops, on the i8th of October sent to the
House of Deputies the following message:
"The House of Bishops informs the House of Clerical and
Lay Deputies that it has concurred with the House of Clerical
and Lay Deputies in the appointment of a joint committee, to
correct the proof sheets of the Bible. The committee on the
1859] Report on Standard Bible. 659
part of the House Bishops Whittingham, Elliott, Burgess, H.
Potter and Odenheimer."
The Rev. Henry M. Mason, D.D., under the second resolu-
tion, was appointed "Typographical Corrector."
It will be seen, therefore, that the objections which the Board
had in February, 1859, to advance the money for the imme-
diate commencement and steady prosecution of the work has
been effectually removed, by the above action of the General
Convention "the joint Committee have authority to issue the
Bible so printed as the Standard of this Church," and four of
that committee are members of this Society.
Your committee commenced their labours in this matter in
1856, and the new Board at their last meeting held nth Octo-
ber last, by a resolution then passed, have continued them and
authorized them to collect funds to pay for the electrotype plates
of the Standard Bible pursuant to the resolution of 8th Febru-
ary, 1859. And they have taken measures necessary for raising
the funds necessary for this work by procuring subscriptions
to this Society as Patrons, Life Managers and Life Members,
subscriptions and donations, and they entertain no doubt of their
entire success. But in the meantime much valuable time will be
lost in preparing the plates. And inasmuch as there are friends
belonging to this Society and in expectancy more than sufficient
to cover all the expense, your committee suggest that these funds
be pledged to the payment of the making of the plates as fast
as the work proceeds, and that the work be proceeded with
immediately. Your committee think this to be due to the
Church at large, which through her General Convention has
placed such unlimited confidence in the committee of the Gen-
eral Convention and also in this Board as to allow them as soon
as it is finished, without further action on her part, to publish it
as the STANDARD OF THE CHURCH.
They think it due also to the Society whose representatives we
are, that we should secure for it this distinguished honour and
the many advantages that will flow from it.
Your committee are aware that there are those within as well
as without the sacred pale of the Church, who think this work
wholly unnecessary, and can be as well and as cheaply done by
institutions not of the Church. But they respectfully submit,
that the Church herself has rested the matter on higher grounds.
In 1823 she designated the edition, that should thereafter be
660 Report on Standard Bible. [1859
used by her members as the Standard of this Church; and then
passed a law or canon that all future or new editions should be
compared and corrected by it, by some suitable person or persons
appointed by a Bishop of this Church, and a certificate of their
having so compared and corrected it should be published with
said Book. And gave as a reason, that it was "to secure the
Holy Scriptures against perversions and the people of her com-
munion from error either in doctrine or discipline."
In pursuance of the same principle she has now provided for
the publication of an authorized Standard under the immediate
supervision of a committee of her own appointment. By this
action our Church has proved herself to be worthy to perpetuate
the truth which she received from her venerable Mother.
To the Church of England, all who speak the English language
are indebted for the inestimable blessing of being able to read
"in their oivn tongue the wonderful works of God."
They have not received this gift at the hands of unauthorized
ministers, but the Church of England herself has given the Eng-
lish Bible to the English people, and the same Bible is called to
this day the "authorized version," to show that the translation
was not the production of any sect or private person, but the
work of the Church of England, the Divinely appointed "Wit-
ness and Keeper of Holy Writ" for the People of England.
A.cting on the same principle as "the Witness and Keeper of
Holy writ," the Daughter Church has resolved that she will her-
self guard the text of the Authorized Version which she has re-
ceived from the Mother Church and preserve it uncorrupt and
immaculate.
Regarding the accuracy of the sacred text as a matter too
momentous to be left to the care of private persons or irrespons-
ible bodies, she has resolved in her collective council to take it
under her own charge.
The Church will therefore now have a Standard of her own.
On this she has resolved, and from this resolution, prompted by
her pious care for her children, she is not likely to recede. She
will not look beyond her own pale, but will herself provide a
Standard to which her own members, and probably all others in
this country, who revere the "authorized version," will be proud
and willing to defer.
The only question, therefore, for this Board to decide is,
whether it will accept the honour which the Church through her
1859] Report on Standard Bible. 661
General Convention has conferred on it of co-operating with her
and aiding her in the accomplishment of her pious design; or
whether it will suffer the opportunity to be seized by others who
more justly appreciate its importance.
This Society was instituted for the distribution of the Holy
Bible, as well as its best exponent, the Book of Common Prayer.
Its funds have been confided to it by those who love the Holy
Volume, for this purpose. The publication, therefore, of a
Standard edition of the Bible, with a text as nearly immaculate
as possible is not only a part, but an eminent part of its proper
work, and not only a legitimate use of its funds, but the most
sacred and important use, to which they can be applied. But this
is not all : for the General Convention of the Church has done
this Society the honour to invite its co-operation in this laudable
work, and to give it the sanction of its high authority to make
such an edition the Standard for the whole Church of the United
States for the present and future generations.
Under these circumstances, there is but one reason in the opin-
ion of your committee which can justify this Society in refusing
to undertake this work, and that is, the want of pecuniary ability
to accomplish it. To refuse it on any other ground would be to
show itself insensible to its privileges, if not recreant to its
trusts; and therefore your committee take pleasure in inviting
the attention of the Board to a brief statement, which will show,
they think, conclusively, that the Society is in a condition to
undertake with prudence and to carry through by God's blessing,
with safety and success, the work which the General Convention
has in a manner devolved on it.
By Section 3 of Article 2 of the Bye Laws "All sums of money
which shall hereafter be received for life subscriptions shall be
added to the Permanent Fund, and be appropriated to the pro-
curing of Stereotype Plates."
To the credit of this fund, it has been the practice of the treas-
urer to place all money received from Patrons, Life Members
and bequests, without any authority in the Bye Laws for so
doing.
By a reference to the reports of the treasurer and the commit-
tee on finance, made to this Board on the 8th of February, 1857,
and the loth of February, 1858, respectively, the permanent
fund will be found to consist of the following items, viz. :
662 Report on Standard Bible. [1859
Stocks in 5 and 6 per cents $1,391 oo
In Bond and Mortgage 4,300 oo
The debris of the $3,000 Erie convertible bonds in
the hands of the Vestry of Trinity Church on
call, say 1,000 oo
Balance reported by the treasurer ist Oct., 1859. I 45 97
Schatzel Legacy or Fund 2,000 oo
$10,141 97
To this may be added an annuity arising from the estate of
H. Smith, averaging about $250.
In addition to the above, the following bequests have been
made to the Society, payment being suspended during the lives
of the widows, etc.
Ephraim Holbrook $2,000 oo
James P. Van Home 20,000 oo
Chas. E. Cornell 500 oo
John K. Adams i ,600 oo
$24,100 oo
$34,241 97
From this statement the Board will see at once that it has a
sufficient amount of funds on hand and in expectancy to justify
it in immediately proceeding with the work, by pledging the
funds of the Society for its accomplishment, before the meeting
of the next General Convention ; all advances it may make in the
commencement of the work to be reimbursed out of the first col-
lections made to "The Standard Bible Edition Fund."
To have the work well and properly done, it will require all the
time from the present to the meeting of the next General Con-
vention in this city, in 1862. to complete the plates and print an
edition from them.
Your committee therefore propose the passing of the resolu
tions hereto annexed.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
New York, December I3th, A. D. 1859.
Signed JOSHUA WEAVER,
WILLIAM H. BELL,
Committee.
1859] Keport on Standard Bible. 663
The following are the resolutions annexed the above report :
1. Resolved, That this Board approve the action of their com-
mittee on the Standard Bible, and authorize them to procure the
Electrotype plate of the Standard Bible authorized by the Gen-
eral Convention of the Church, and that the Permanent funds of
the Society be pledged for the accomplishment of the work.
2. Resolved, That all subscriptions hereafter secured from
subscribers, patrons, life managers, life members, donations and
bequests until the Standard Bible plates are completed and paid
for, be credited to the "Standard Bible Edition Fund," so desig-
nated by a resolution of this Board the 8th of January, 1859.
3. Resolved, That the treasurer open a separate account with
the "Standard Bible Edition Fund."
4. Resolved, That the Committee on the Standard Bible if
they shall deem it necessary to have the Claims of the Church
and of this Society presented to the public in furtherance of
said collections authorized on the nth of October last, are hereby
authorized to employ a proper and sensible person for that pur-
pose and to pay his expenses out of the collections made by him.
The resolutions were seconded, and after debate the Rev. Mr.
Hart offered the following as substitutes.
1. Resolved, That the Committee on the Standard Bible be
authorized to prepare an address to the Rt. Rev. the Bishops and
the Rev. the clergy throughout the Union, a letter stating what
had been already done by this Society in (towards) securing a
Standard Bible, and how much the Electrotyping of the Book
would cost, and requesting them to use their endeavours to ob-
tain for this Society the requisite amount, and if possible pledge
themselves to contribute a certain sum towards the object, that
the Society may proceed as rapidly as possible in their very use-
ful and important work.
2. Resolved, That this Society proceed in Electrotyping the
plates of the Standard Bible as fast as the money is contributed
and received for accomplishing the object. (Folios 129-137.)
The Board adjourned without taking any action.
At the next meeting, December 20, 1859, it was
"Resolved, That the Standing Committee of this Board on
Finance be a special committee to co-operate with the committee
of this Board on the Standard Bible in raising funds for the
Standard Bible Edition Fund ordered to be collected and
664 Report on Standard Bible. [1859
gathered by the resolutions of this Board passed on the 8th of
February and the nth of October, 1859." (Folio 139.)
Another report from this Committee on the Standard Bible
was presented at the meeting of June 12, 1860.
To the Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society.
The Committee on the Standard Bible, Report,
That on the organization of the present Board, the nth of
October, 1859, after their annual election, the following resolu-
tion was passed.
"Resolved, That the Rev. Joshua Weaver, the Rev. Samuel
Seabury, D.D., and William H. Bell be a committee to act with
the General Committee of the General Convention in the publica-
tion of the Standard Bible. And that the same committee be
authorized to collect funds to pay for the Electrotype plates of
the Standard Bible, pursuant with the resolutions of this Board
passed Feb. 8th, 1859."
At the regular meeting of this Board held December i3th,
1859, your Committee reported the proceedings in full, of the
General Convention held in the month of October previous, on
the subject of the publication of the Standard Bible and the rec-
ognition by that body of the agency of this Society in such publi-
cation, and to which this Society stood fully pledged; to which
report they respectfully refer.
To that report were appended resolutions asking this Board
for an approval or confirmation of the proceedings of the General
Convention, and for authority to set about procuring the Stereo-
type plates of the Bible immediately, upon the pledge of the Per-
manent Fund of the Society.
They also asked that the fee of $25, which by the 3rd par. of
Article 2 of the Bye-Laws of the Society is pledged to the Stereo-
type or Permanent Fund, and also all future subscriptions from
Patrons and Life Managers, donations and bequests, should be
appropriated to the "Standard Bible Edition Fund" until the Bible
was completed and paid for; and that the treasurer should in
accordance therewith open an account with that fund. And that
if the committee should deem it necessary to have the claims of
the Church and of the Society presented to the public in further-
ance of the collection of the funds authorized by the resolution
1860] Report on Standard Bible. 665
of October nth, 1859, above recited, they might be empowered
to employ some suitable person for that purpose and pay his
expenses out of the collections made by him, having it then in
contemplation to engage a clergyman without a cure for that
purpose.
At an adjourned meeting, held on the 2Oth of December, 1859,
the Board appointed the Standing "Committee on Finance," a
special committee to co-operate with this committee for raising
the funds for the Standard Bible.
As had been indicated in their report submitted on the I3th of
December, your committee had then already issued their circular
for subscriptions and donations and had employed Mr. William
H. Good at a salary of $30 per week to canvass the city of New
York, first as an experiment Mr. Good being a disabled clergy-
man of the Church, and highly recommended by Rev. Dr. Hawks,
Messrs. Appleton & Co., and others, as a very efficient man for
that purpose.
After the appointment of the committee on finance, to co-
operate with your committee, they invited that committee to
meet them and laid before them their printed circular, with the
subscriptions that had already been secured.
At this meeting the finance committee added the following to
the printed circular of your committee :
"The undersigned, the Standing Committee on Finance of
the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, in pur-
suance of a resolution of the Board of Managers of said
Society passed 2Oth of December, 1859, concur in the above
action of the Committee on the Standard Bible of said Society."
A copy of their circular with the above endorsement is here-
with annexed.
Mr. Good commenced his labours some time in December and
was engaged at intervals for the space of about three months, in
which time he canvassed the cities of New York, Brooklyn and
Albany.
At a regular meeting of the Board held the loth of April,
1860, one of your committee in the absence of the chairman
made a verbal report of their doings in substance as above re-
ported, when a majority of those present expressed such decided
disapproval of the measures and proceedings of your committee
and of a further continuance of the collections, that your com-
666 Report on Standard Bible. [1860
mittee felt justified the next day in putting a stop to any further
collections, although no mention was made before the Board or
action taken by it.
The list of subscriptions herewith returned will show the
amount subscribed and paid,
i Patron at $100 $100 paid $100
7 Life Managers at 50 350 paid 250
8 Life Members at 25 200 paid 50
69 Subscriptions at 10 690 paid 125
Making a total of subscriptions $1,340 $5 2 5
Leaving a balance of $815 unpaid subscriptions, which are
considered as perfectly available when called for.
Of this $525 paid in, Mr. Good the agent retained $370, being
equal to i2}/ 2 weeks' pay at $30 per week, leaving a balance in
the hands of your committee of $155.00. Out of this balance
they have paid $20.50 for printing and binding circulars and
$63.00 for the two specimens of Electrotype plates sent to the
General Convention, leaving a balance in their hands to the credit
of the Standard Bible Edition Fund of $171.50.
The plate and a few impressions are herewith submitted.
The committee ask that the Secretary of this Board be author-
ized by resolution to issue the usual certificate of membership to
those who have subscribed their circular as Patron, Life Mana-
gers and Life Members. And that the Treasurer credit them
with the respective amounts paid by each, and charge the same
to the Standard Bible Edition Fund.
The report having been read the committee offered the follow-
ing resolutions :
Resolved, That the Secretary issue the usual certificate to the
Patron, Life Managers and Life Members obtained by the com-
mittee on the Standard Bible, and who have paid their dues to
the Standard Bible Edition Fund as mentioned in their report
just read ; and that the several amounts so received and paid out
by said committee be credited and charged by the Treasurer to
the Standard Bible Edition Fund, and the balance in their hands
be paid to the Treasurer to the credit of that fund ; which was
seconded and lost.
The committee then offered the following :
Resolved, That the Secretary be authorized to issue the several
Report on Standard Bible. 667
certificates to the Patron, Life Managers and Life Members pro-
cured by the committee on the Standard Bible and who have
paid their dues to said committee toward the Standard Bible
Edition Fund; which was seconded and on motion laid on the
table.
The following resolution was then offered:
Resolved, That the committee on the Standard Bible be au-
thorized if practicable to make arrangements with some respect-
able publishing house, subject to the sanction of this Board, to
make the Electrotype plates of the Standard Bible with the im-
print of this Society, provided such publisher will do it at his
own risk and expense before the meeting of the next General
Convention, receiving as remuneration therefrom the privilege
of printing and of selling copies from said plates and the profits
arising from same ; which was seconded and lost.
Mr. Dunscomb offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the Committee on the Standard Bible Edition
Fund be requested to report to this Board at its next meeting an
account stating their receipts and disbursements on account of
that fund and present the same to this Board for its approval, and
deliver the amount to the Treasurer with the vouchers, and that
the fund be credited and entered in his books with the sums re-
ceived and paid out, together with the cash balance in the hands
of the committee which it shall pay over ; which was seconded
and carried in the affirmative.
At the meeting of August 14, 1860, the Committee on the
Standard Bible, in obedience to the resolution passed at the last
meeting "to report at this meeting an account of their receipts
and disbursements on account of that fund and present the same
to this Board for its approval," etc., etc., Reported as follows :
Amount subscribed $!,34O oo
To amount of above received $^2s oo
*_/ <J
By cash paid agent, as per voucher , . 370 oo
By cash printing and binding circulars 20 50
By electrotyping two specimen plates and
300 specimen sheets, as per voucher. . . 63 oo
By cash paid Treasurer as per resolution
of June 1 2th, 1860 71 50 $525 oo
By unpaid subscription of the above amount
subscribed 815 oo $1,340 oo
668 Annual Meeting. [I860
Which was moved to lay on the table. The motion not having
been seconded the mover withdrew his motion and moved its
acceptance, which last motion was seconded and carried.
Mr. William H. Bell thereupon resigned his place on the Com-
mittee on the Standard Bible.
The Rev. Joshua Weaver also resigned his place on the same
committee.
Dr. McVickar was appointed the draw up the next Annual
Report. This brought forth the following letter :
Irvington, 22 Aug. 1860.
W. H. Bell, Esq.
Dear Sir, On learning from Mr. Butler the action of the
last meeting of the B. & C. P. B. Society, and the abandonment
on the part of the Com. on the Standard Bible and the edition
entered on a plan so eloquently urged by yourself in the last
report I cannot undertake writing the coming report, which
ought to explain and justify such action. Averse as I was from
the beginning to enter on the financial undertaking, I cannot now
undertake its defence or its abandonment. I must therefore
decline the appointment of a committee to prepare it.
Regretting such necessity, I remain,
Respectfully yours,
JOHN McViCKAR.
A motion to accept the resignation of Dr. McVickar was lost.
On motion it was resolved that the Secretary inform the Rev.
Dr. McVickar that the Board had not abandoned the Standard
Bible as was to be inferred from his note just read, and requested
him to present the Board with its annual report.
The joint Anniversaries of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, the Tract Society, the Diocesan Mission-
ary Committee and the Society for the Promotion of Religion
and Learning in the State of New York, were held in the
Church of the Transfiguration, September 30, 1860, the Rev.
Dr. Rudder, of Albany, being the preacher.
At the Annual Meeting, held October 9, 1860, these officers
were chosen :
i860] Election of Officers. 669
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. William Berrian, D,D., Second Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith. Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Alexander L. McDonald, Seventh Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Eighth Vice President.
William H. Bell, Recording Secretary, No. 52 John Street.
Thomas C. Butler, Treasurer and Agent, No. 55 East I3th
Street.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. William F.
Morgan, D.D., Rev. Edward Y. Higbee, D.D., Rev. Benjamin
I. Haight, D.D., Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D., Rev. Thomas
H. Taylor, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, Rev. Joshua Weaver,
Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alex. T. Leon-
ard, D.D., Rev. E. R. T. Cook, Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W.
Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, Abraham B. Sands, William A.
Duncan, William B. Clarke, James Van Norden, Samuel P. Bell,
Augustus L. Clarkson, James Pott, William R. Ronalds, Thomas
F. Frank.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement: Mr. Thomas C. Butler, Rev.
Joshua Weaver, Mr. William A. Duncan.
Committee of Distribution : Mr. Thomas C. Butler, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Mr. Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Stereotype Plates : Mr. Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, Mr. Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Permanent Fund : Mr. Floyd Smith, Rev. Ed-
ward Y. Higbee, Mr. Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Finance : Mr. Frederick De Peyster, Mr. Sam-
niel T. Skidmore, Mr. James Van Norden.
Committee on Printing: Mr. Thomas C. Butler, Mr. James
Van Norden, Mr. William A. Duncan, Mr. Augustus L. Clark-
son.
The members appointed by the Board of last year having
declined to draw up the Report, the Chair appointed the Rev.
C. R. Duffie to prepare it.
670 Fifty-Second lleport. [1860
THE FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
In presenting this, their Fifty-Second Annual Report, to the
Society and the Church at large, the Board of Managers of the
New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society desire to
enlist the interest, the sympathy and the co-operation of every
member of the Church.
The institution, the management of which is entrusted to their
care, is no private or personal affair, no party or partisan asso-
ciation. Its purpose and sphere are to work for the whole
Church, on the basis of the great and acknowledged standards
of the Church herself, the Bible and the Book of Common
Prayer.
Whatever other differences there may be, there can be none
here. This Society presents a platform on which all who pro-
fess and call themselves Churchmen can meet, and stand and
work together. Every loyal son of the Church must feel that
here, at least, he is making no mistake ; is lending no aid to
error or false teaching, on the right hand or on the left ; for in
all that it disseminates, it goes not one word beyond, and falls
not one word short of the teaching of the Bible and the Church.
The Managers are but the agents, the Society but the instru-
ment for carrying on the work of the Church with greater
efficiency, in the particular department they have assumed, or
rather which has been committed to them. Their sole objects are
to diffuse the knowledge of God's truth, the glorious Gospel of
Jesus Christ as contained in His own inspired word; to extend
His Holy Church by making her principles known, as she her-
self has seen fit to set them forth, by means of that best com-
mentary on Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer (embody-
ing, as it does, the testimony of Christian and truly Catholic
antiquity to the true sense of Scripture), and to promote the
public worship of God, in simplicity, in dignity, in reverence,
"in spirit and in truth," by the use of that primiitive and Scrip-
tural service, so Catholic, so Evangelical, so impressive and in-
spiring, which is contained in our "Form of Sound Words,"
and which, when rightly used, makes the worship of which it is
the vehicle, an act of "Common Prayer" indeed.
And the great and ultimate end of these several designs is the
glory of God, the spiritual w r elfare and eternal salvation of men.
1860] Fifty-Second Report. 671
With such a cause, may we not make our appeal with all
boldness, with all confidence of success? May we not count on
the glad support of all who love God, His Word, His Truth,
and that Church which Christ so loved that He "gave Himself
for it?"
We ask each one, then, who has found, in the reading of the
Scriptures, the knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation,
or comfort in sorrow for sin or for earthly affliction, in "the
blessed hope of everlasting life," from the perusal and appli-
cation of its "precious promises," or whose spirits have risen to
God, with the fervour of true devotion, in the sublime, majestic
and soul-stirring Liturgy of the Church; we ask all such to aid
in supplying these sacred volumes, with their spiritual helps and
consolations, to all who have them not.
We ask the prayers of such for this Society, assured that
there will then be no need to ask for the bestowal of their
worldly means in order to the carrying of its designs into effect,
but that their own impulse will be to bring their free-will offer-
ings to the Treasury of the Lord.
The Treasurer's Report, which follows this brief appeal, and
the tables in the Appendix, will show the work of the Society
during the past year, its receipts and their sources, the amount
of sales and of gratuitous distribution.
The two last, it is gratifying to be able to state, are somewhat
larger than in the previous year.
The Board are ready and anxious to extend their operations,
especially in the matter of gratuitous distribution, for which
there are pressing and almost daily applications from the mis-
sionary field. The measure for their ability and efficiency.
however, is necessarily regulated by the liberality of the Church,
whose agents and almoners they are. The calls are earnest and
incessant for Bibles, for Testaments and for Prayer Books, or
for all in various proportions, and the Board earnestly desire
that the means may be furnished to grant all applications for
whichever of these volumes may be sought at their hands, and
which they are always ready to distribute separately or together.
The Managers also deplore the smallness of its income, which
had necessarily curtailed their work of distribution, which had
been for the vear :
672 Hungarian Prayer Book. [1861
Bibles, Testaments. Prayer Books. Ps. & Hs.
8 10 403 10,794 213
There had been sold. . 411 622 8,379 45
Making a total of .. 1,221 1,025 I 9> 1 73 663
The Treasurer reported that the Permanent Fund which had
been increased by receipts for life membership and interest was
$4,577. 02, from which disbursements had been made of $2,601.61,
leaving a balance in the Fund of $1,975.41. The Disposable
Fund, which was made up of all receipts from ordinary sources,
such as church collections, subscriptions and donations, was re-
ported as $6,683.14, but the expenses for the year had exceeded
that sum, leaving a "balance overdrawn" of $941.09.
Several members of the Board felt that the Society had no
right to distribute other publications than the Bible and Prayer
Book, and accordingly this resolution was passed December n,
1860:
"Resolved, That it be referred to a special committee of three
to examine and report to this Board at its next meeting what
books the Society should distribute by sale or gratuitously, pur-
suant to the intent and proper objects of the institution."
The Rev. Drs. Price and McVickar and the Agent were ap-
pointed as said Committee. (Folio 155.)
Subsequently Dr. Alexander S. Leonard was substituted in
place of Dr. Price, who desired to be excused from serving.
The following interesting communication was made, at the
meeting of February 12, 1861 :
"The Secretary stated that an eminent and educated lady, the
sister of Kossuth, now a member of the Church, had offered to
prepare and present to this Board a translation of the Book of
Common Prayer in the Hungarian language as a free will offer-
ing to the Church if the Board would under proper sanction print
the same for distribution among her countrymen in Hungary.
Whereupon the following resolution was offered :
"Resolved, That this Board is favourably impressed with the
importance of the above undertaking and also of the piety that
prompted the offer, and that they accept same provided the Gen-
eral Convention will approve. (Folio 157.)
The minutes show that there had been a growing feeling of
1861] Keport on Publications. 673
uneasiness among the members of the Board as to the wisdom of
granting all applications either for Bibles or Prayer Books.
As the members pithily remarked, applicants measured their
requests "not by their need, but by their wishes."
On April 9, 1861. Dr. McVickar on behalf of the Committee
on the books to be distributed, Reported,
"That such guidance arising from the intent and objects
of the Society must be found either in its charter or acts of
incorporation, or in the known intent and purposes of those by
whom it was provided as a Church institution. Looking to the
Charter, we find it silent as to anything beyond the words "Bible
and Prayer Book," leaving all minor questions to the wise dis-
cretion of the Trustees, chosen to manage it.
Looking again to the intents of its Church founders, the fol-
lowing is given from personal knowledge of one at least of your
Committee, confirmed by the remembrance of the few who still
remain of that early period and who united in its establishment. 1
Its origin was due, as is well known, to the great influence of
Bishop Hobart, with a view to give a rallying point to Church-
men in the Union of the Prayer Book with the Bible in contra-
distinction to the popular cry for the Bible alone without note or
comment, and the far-spread influence of the recently formed
American Bible Society, uniting as it did on that basis all Prot-
estants out of this Church as well as many from various causes
within it. Its origin, therefore, was part of the battle they fought,
and we may add, long and since won, for the distinctive prin-
ciples of The Church, in contradistinction to the vague Pro-
testantism which then prevailed.
Such was its origin in principle and such has been its invari-
able practice to unite as far as possible, the Prayer Book with
the Bible, as its safest commentary to all and a needful one to the
members of our own communion.
All beyond this in the operations of the Society are questions
of prudence and expediency, to be determined by the wise discre-
tion of the Board, as the cases demanding that exercise from
time to time arise thus, touching the now unquestioned duty
of the Society to guard within the sphere of its influence the
I. Judge Bell has in the margin against this paragraph that the
alluded to is Dr. McVickar.
(43)
674 Report on Publications. [1861
authorized version of the Scripture in its original purity, against
all sectarian alterations this formed no part of its primitive
task, since at its formation and for one-half of its whole course
that authorized version in its purity was equally with the Church
and all Protestant denominations, and as professedly, and per-
haps as carefully followed in their editions though still the im-
print of the Society was both intended to have and had its value as
a distinct and unquestionable guarantee of purity. Now, however,
the case is altered ; what was then only desirable, has now be-
come imperative, viz., that all Bibles issued gratuitously or sold
by us should come either from our own press, or some other
established under Church control and giving professedly the
authorized version, and that the Committee would add in the
following order :
From our own press first to the extent of our means ; after that
the great recognized presses of the Church of England. More
especially those bearing the imprint of the venerable Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts or one of the
Universities of Oxford or Cambridge. And lastly, if needful,
any American editions, under adequate Church guarantee.
To the further question, one evidently dictating the original
resolution under which this committee was appointed, viz.,
whether it was now the original intent of our Society and is not
now, its imperative duty to circulate, whether by sale or gift,
only such copies of the Bible as has received and have the full
and unqualified guarantee of the Society the obvious answer
is that so far as its means go, it has never ceased to recognize
and fulfil that duty by sending forth to the Church what it could
from its own press, and with its own imprint, but this nar-
row means is far within the limits of what the Church public
demands and what it is the duty as well as interest of our Society
to supply as imperatively to demand editions from other sources.
To show how fatal would be the strict application of this ideal
aim of perfection to the practical good the Society is now doing,
we have but to look at what would be the state of our shelves
under its operation one single I2tno copy of the Bible, and that
from half worn plates unfitting it altogether for sale, would rep-
resent our whole wealth in that department rendering altogether
its very existence as a Bible Society.
Report on Publications. 675
To form some idea of the variety of a Christian Public in edi-
tions of the Holy Scriptures we have but to look at the list of
the American Bible Society on the shelves of that popular insti-
tution, viz. : 2 quarto editions of the Bible, 3 royal octavos,
3 ordinary octavo, 3 duodecimo, 2 i8mo, i 241110. I i6mo, I
321110. And these in every variety of type, viz. ; pica, small pica,
long primer, bourgeois, brevier, nonpariel, minion, pearl, agate
and diamond. A list given, not as casting disgrace on our So-
ciety, which has done what it could, however small, though it
may be a charge on Churchmen who have not enabled us to do
more.
Our display of Prayer Books, though larger, amounting to six
sets of plates, is still in its variety far below the actual demand of
the Church, as may be seen by comparing it with that of the ven-
erable English Society its varied list giving choice to English
Churchmen of at least thirty varied editions.
Again, as touching whence should come our supply of Prayer
Books beyond the proceeds of our own press, the committee
would say, that while highly desirable, we should supply the
whole demand from our own press, still until the Society's means
enables us to do so, we must supply our actual deficiency from
others, but only from editions having the Episcopal guarantee,
in our own diocese first ; or in case of necessity, others all Epis-
copally unauthorized editions being excluded.
To one point further the Committee would speak as neces-
sarily involved in the question committed to them. And that is
the proper limits of discretionary action resting on the Treasurer
and the General Agent of the Society. Touching this personal
question, the Committee can speak but in general terms, and rec-
ommend First, that in that officer in whose zeal and fidelity
and the Committee may add, underpaid labour the whole bur-
den and efficiency of the Society rest, the Trustees are bound to
repose a generous confidence both in his integrity and practical
judgment.
Secondly, that while within the limits above stated, out of the
volumes upon our shelves, all orders or applications addressed to
the Secretary are to be supplied, yet acting unofficially he is free
to execute any further orders accompanied by remittance, that
may in his judgment be favourable to extend the interests of the
Society and the Church, reporting the same not as a part of, but
676 Resolutions on Editions. [1861
in addition to his official report at the stated meeting of the
Trustees. (Managers.)
All which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN McVicKAR.
ALEX. S. LEONARD.
Which was read and accepted. Whereupon it was
Resolved, That in accordance with the recommendations in
the report just read, none other than the following editions of the
Bible and Book of Common Prayer shall be kept on the shelves
of this Society either for sale or distribution pursuant to its
Charter : that is to say : in order of precedence :
First. The Bible printed from plates owned by this Society.
Second. Bibles printed and published by the Universities of
Oxford and Cambridge in England ; and those having the im-
print of the venerable Society for Propagating the Gospel in
Foreign Parts.
Third. American editions printed and published under ade-
quate authority of THE CHURCH pursuant to its Canon.
Of the Book of Common Prayer.
First. Prayer Books printed and published by this Society
from its own plates.
Second. Editions printed and published in this Diocese bear-
ing its Episcopal guarantee pursuant to the Canon, of THE
CHURCH.
Third. Editions printed and published in other Dioceses under
Episcopal authority pursuant to the Canon of THE CHURCH. *
i. Folios 164-168.
CHAPTER XX.
CONTENTS.
The Civil War Distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books Among the
Soldiers Death of Bishop Onderdonk Warm Tribute to his Memory-
Report of 1861 Death of Mr. Thomas Butler Election of
Mr. James Pott as Treasurer and Agent Anniversary Meeting, Sep-
tember 28, 1862 Sermon by Mr. Cornelius R. Duffie Report
Minute on Death of Mr. Butler New Home of the Society at No.
5 Cooper Union General Convention of 1862 Intrusion of Politics
Report of Committee on Typographical Errors in the Bible Reports
Accepted and Committee Appointed The Pope Legacy Revision of Con-
stitution and By-Laws Report of Committee on Pope Legacy Annual
Meeting October n, 1863 Sermon by Dr. William Stevens Perry Dis-
tribution of Prayer Books in the South Incidents Related by Bishop
Whipple Publication of the Prayer Book in Spanish Grant of Books
for the Naval School at Newport The Bishop Withdraws his Letter of
Disapproval of the New By-Laws The New Constitution and By-Laws
Adopted Book of Selections from the Prayer Book for Use of Army and
Navy Suggested Committee Reports Against the Proposal Anniversary
Meeting and Report, October, 1864 The Hanford Legacy Special Meet-
ing November 23, 1864 Condition of Stereotype Plates Considered New
Plates Proposed The Proposal Accepted Resolution on Pope Legacy
Course of Lectures on the Bible Decided On Committee Appointed on
the Most Accurate Edition of the Bible Annual Meeting and Report of
1865 Uniformly Paged Edition of the Prayer Book Minute on the Death
of Rev. E. R. T. Cook.
WITH the actual commencement of the Civil War, the
Society found a new field of operation in supplying
the soldiers in camps, forts and garrisons, with Bibles
and Prayer Books. Many troops passed through the
City of New York and were quartered in the barracks in City
Hall Park. To them a small copy of the Prayer Book which
could be carried conveniently in the knapsack \vas a welcome gift.
Many small New Testaments were also distributed. To the
soldiers in the field there were sent many hundreds of volumes
which were received gratefully and read eagerly.
The Society came to the aid of the older Society, "The Bishop
677
678 Death of Bishop Onderdonk. [1861
White Prayer Book Society," and made it, on June nth, 1861,
a grant of 300 German Books of Common Prayer for distribu-
tion among the soldiers sent from Pennsylvania against the
Southern rebellion, and in the same year a grant was made to
the Rev. Thoas. G. Carter, Chaplain, for the use of the I7th
Regiment New York Volunteers under Colonel Lansing.
The members of the Board were deeply affected by the death
of Bishop Onderdonk, on April 30, 1861, and paid this tribute
to his memory. It is the most heartfelt of any minute on the
death of its members passed at any time in the history of the
Society.
The death of the Right Reverend Father in God, Benjamin
Tredwell Onderdonk, D.D., the Bishop of this Diocese and the
President of this Society and Chairman of its Board of Managers,
being announced as having taken place at his residence in this
city on the 3<Dth of April, 1861, since the last meeting of this
Board, the following notitiac of the late Right Reverend Prelate's
connection with this Society were ordered to be entered on the
minutes of this Board as a testimony of affectionate respect for
the deceased.
This Society was organized in the year A. D. 1809, com-
posed of Clergy and Laity. By its Constitution the Board of
Managers consisted of nine Laymen and all the Clergy of the
Church residing in the city of New York.
Immediately after his ordination in 1812 we find him at his
seat in the Board of Managers, and the next year he took an
active part in having the children of the Free Schools in the city
whose parents were Churchmen furnished sittings in the different
Churches and supplied with Prayer Books.
He continued his labours in the Board as a Manager until the
annual meeting of the Society on the Feast of St. Matthew in
1816, when he was elected Secretary, the duties of which he
continued to punctually discharge until, on the demise of Bishop
Hobart, he was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of New York
in November, 1830, when he became the President of the Society
and Chairman of its Board of Msnagers c.v officio, from which
time he presided at all the Annual meetings of the Society and of
its Board of Managers as a matter of conscience and of duty up
to the day that the sentence of suspension was inflicted upon him
1861] Death of Bishop Onderdonk. 679
by the House of Bishops in January, 1845, from which time he
as modestly and conscientiously refrained from exercising the
duties of either office. But during the long years of his invol-
untary retirement from his cherished fields of labour, up to the
day he was' taken from us, he continued to evince the liveliest
interest in the Society's behalf.
And whereas it has pleased the Great Head of the Church to
take to Himself our late Right Reverend Father in God and our
President, therefore be it
Resolved by this Board, That in humble submission to the
mysterious Providence, which during the last half of his Episco-
pate caused our late President "through fiery trials to tread,"
and has now removed him from our midst to his reward in Para-
dise: this Board cannot refrain recording on its minutes their
acknowledgment of the faithful and eminent services rendered
this Society from the commencement of his connection with it;
and their afflictive sense of the loss which it, in common with the
other interests in the Church has sustained in the death of the
illustrious deceased ; and also their unfeigned union in the numer-
ous demonstrations and well deserved tributes of respect and
affection which have alredy been paid to his memory in this
Diocese and in the Diocese of Western New York, his former
charge, to his distinguished talent and zeal as a Christian Bish-
op : to the exemplary urbanity of his deportment : to the uni-
form firmness and integrity of his character : to his unobtrusive
piety and meekness; and to his crowning glory, his patient and
uncomplaining sufferings as a CONFESSOR and MARTYR '''for
Christ His body's sake."
These officers were chosen at the annual meeting, October
ist, 1861 :
The Bishop of the Diocese, ex officio, President.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. William Berrian, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Alexander R. McDonald, Seventh Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Eighth Vice President.
Managers: Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., Rev. William F.
680 Fifty-Third lleport. [1861
Morgan, D.D., Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D.D., Rev. John
Henry Hobart, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, Rev. Joshua
Weaver, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alexan-
der S. Leonard, Rev. E. R. T. Cook, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet,
Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Mr. Cyrus Curtiss, Mr. John W.
Mitchell, Mr. Samuel T. Skidmore, Mr. William A. Duncan, Mr.
William B. Clerke, Mr. James Van Norden, Mr. Samuel P. Bell,
Mr. Augustus L. Clarkson. Mr. James Pott, Mr. Thomas R.
Ronalds, Mr. Thomas F. Frank, Mr. Isaac Fryer.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement: Mr. Thomas C. Butler, Rev.
Joshua Weaver, Mr. William A. Duncan.
Committee of Distribution: Mr. Thomas C. Butler, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Mr. Frederick De Peyster.
Committee of Distribution : Mr. Thomas C. Butler, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Mr. Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Permanent Fund : Mr. Floyd Smith, Rev. W.
F. Morgan, D.D., Mr. Thomas C. Butler.
Committee on Finance : Mr. Frederick De Peyster, Mr.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Mr. James Van Norden.
Committee on Printing: Mr. James Van Norden, Mr. Wil-
liam A. Duncan, Mr. Augustus L. Clarkson.
FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER ist, 1861.
The past year has been one of great embarrassment to the
operations of this Society. Yet, amidst the excitement and
tumult of political strife, and the unhappy civil war into which
that strife has plunged the nation, it has, under the blessing and
guidance of the Great Head of the Church, in the fulfilment of
its mission as the agent of the Church, whose duty it is to pro-
mote peace on earth and good will among men, been unceasing
in its beneficent efforts to the extent of its ability that ability,
so far as pecuniary means are concerned, being dependent upon
the good will and liberality of the friends of a pure religion
and a sound morality.
Since the last year's anniversary very little has been done
outside its routine of collecting funds, and distributing the
1861] Fifty-Third Report. 681
Word of Life to all who would receive it, with its hand-maid,
guide and interpreter, the Book of Common Prayer.
During the two years past the Board of Managers have
printed upwards of 1,000 Bibles from the Society's own plates,
and during the last year twelve thousand copies of the Book of
Common Prayer from its own plates, and purchased 5.000
copies printed by others under Episcopal authority.
Of the Bibles and Testaments, other than our own publica-
tions, we have purchased 527 Bibles and 1,047 Testaments.
The distributions have been 920 Bibles, 1,002 Testaments
and 12,219 Prayer Books, which have not been confined to the
City of New York, as its name would seem to indicate, but has
extended to every Missionary Station, every Diocese, State and
Territory in the country; the army, navy, and public and pri-
vate institutions.
The Board would take this occasion to disarm prejudice and
dispel misapprehension of every kind, by assuring the Church
at large that this Society is neither sectional nor partisan in its
operations, and that the Bible printed and distributed by it is
that same pure Word of God translated into the English lan-
guage, and set forth in the year of our Lord 1611, by the
Church of England. And the Book of Common Prayer, sent
forth by it, is the same as authorized and set forth by the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church in the United States, word for word
and letter for letter, without alteration, abridgment, addition,
note or comment ; purely evangelical in its creed, doctrine and
interpretation of the Bible, so that whoever reads either will
therein find the true riches, unalloyed with modern isms or par-
tisan views.
STANDARD BIBLE.
It will be remembered by the public and the members of this
Society in particular that in their report of 1857 the Board of
Managers announced to the Church that "this Society was a
party concerned in carrying out the important measure of having
a Standard Bible for the American Church, in which that pre-
pared with so much care in the reign of King James the First,
of England, as the Catholic English Bible, should be preserved
in its integrity, and that the General Convention of the Church
in the United States had selected our Society as the publisher of
682 Fifty-Third Report. [1861
her standard Bible"; and added that no effort or means would
be spared by the Board of Managers to give to the Church and
to the world in that Bible a perfect specimen of typographical
accuracy and excellence; but the Board have not been able to
accomplish it.
Since our last anniversary, this Society, and the Church in
this Diocese, have been called upon to mourn the loss of its
early friend, if not one of its founders, in the death of the late
Right Reverend Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk, D.D., the be-
loved and esteemed Bishop of th<* Diocese and President of this
Society.
Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 1861.
The report for 1861 states that there were distributed:
Bibles. Testaments. P. B.
920 1,002 12,219
There were sold 225 203 5,446
1,145 1.205 i7665
Three hundred and ninety-three copies of the Psalms and
Hymns were also sold.
The Treasurer's Report for 1861 showed the Permanent Fund
to be $2,447.69, and the Disposable Fund $6,055.71. There was
an overdrawn balance of $4,434.79.
The total circulation being 24,408 volumes.
On December loth, 1861, on the motion of Mr. Pott, it was
Resolved. That a committee of three be appointed by the
Chairman to consider the subject of raising a special fund for
the gratuitous distribution of the Book of Common Prayer of
this Society to the Army and Navy of the United States.
The Chair appointed Messrs. James Pott, Augustus L. Clark-
son and William B. Clerke.
On the same day it was reported that the Society had sent to
the Chaplain of the Church of Our Lady in the College of Copen-
hagen, a fine copy of the 8vo Standard Prayer Book, with the
seal of the Society imprinted thereon, as a donation from this
Society, under the direction of the Agent. (Folio 178.)
Upon the evening of Christmas Day, 1861, Mr. Thomas C.
Butler, who had been for many years the Treasurer and Agent
of this Society, departed this life. He was a man scrupulous and
THOMAS C. BUTLER
1862] Death of Mr. Butler. 683
exact in all his dealings. His whole life was given to the service
of the Church, and he was known and esteemed far and wide.
He had attained the ripe age of eighty-eight years.
In January, 1862, both this Society and the Protestant Episco-
pal Tract Society placed on record resolutions almost identical
in phraseology expressing their appreciation of Mr. Butler. Only
those of the Tract Society seem to be extant :
Resolved, That the Protestant Episcopal Tract Society by the
recent decease of Thomas C. Butler, Esquire, deplore the loss of
a long tried and zealous member of the Church and of the Society,
one of its institutions, of which Society he was appointed Treas-
urer and Agent, and in which position he diligently laboured to
promote their common interests, to extend their influence, and
by the distribution of Tracts not only in this Diocese but in the
numerous other Dioceses of the Union to aid feeble Parishes, or
those projected and needing supplies, and to furnish to the spirit-
ually destitute generally such nurture and assistance.
Resolved, That in this bereavement the Board of Trustees
recognize the goodness of God in prolonging the life of this
benevolent man to nearly four score years and ten, in the posses-
sion of his mental and physical faculties, thus enabling him to
attend upon the stated ministrations of the Sanctuary, and in
the weekday discharge of his official duties with slight interrup-
tion until a week previous to his death, which occurred on Christ-
mas evening last, when after this long life of constant action and
example, like a sheaf of wheat fully ripe from the harvest, he
was gathered to his eternal rest in the blissful hope of everlasting
life through the merits of his Saviour Jesus Christ.
Resolved, That in the great length of days vouched to our
lamented associate, we are reminded of the interesting fact that
his birth was prior to the existence of the American Republic;
that, born in 1774, his infancy and early youth was passed amidst
the stirring scenes which ushered in its acknowledged independ-
ence, that his manhood devoted to commercial pursuits witnessed
the growing greatness of its metropolis, and although the closing
year of his life the cloud of civil war was lowered over our be-
loved country, yet he lived long enough to see with patriotic gaze
the Union emerging from the gloom, purified and stronger by
the fiery trial; and then lifting his thoughts above the confines of
earth, its sorrows and its cares, as a wayfaring man turneth aside
684 James Pott Elected Agent. [1862
for a night, he must have beheld with the eye of Christian faith
and hope the coming of the bright dawn of the glorious day when
the kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of our Lord
and His Christ.
We are indebted to the courtesy of Mrs. Morgan Dix for this
interesting extract from the Diary of the Rev. Dr. Dix, relating
to Mr. Butler :
"Sunday, September 26, 1858. The offerings this morning at
St. Paul's were appropriated to the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society: and the Agent, Mr. Thos. C. Butler was
there, as usual, to receive them. Mr. Smith and I walked up
with him after service. He is one of the many remarkable men
I know. He was 84 years of age the I3th of May last. He
walked with as quick and strong a step as either of us young men,
and has as good and quick an ear. He never wears an overcoat,
and has not, summer or winter, for 20 years. He had known
personally every Bishop of New York ; stood god-father to a
child baptized by Bishop Provoost ; had several children baptized
by Bishop Moore; entertained Bishop Hobart at his own table;
and of course has known all the rest. At the breaking out of the
American Revolution he was in France, and was imprisoned in
Rouen with many other Americans. Whenever a collection is to
be made in any Church for his Society, he is always sure to be
there; he is an extraordinarily active old man, walks a great deal,
and has very fine health."
In consequence of the death of Mr. Butler, Mr. James Pott,
on the 27th of December, 1861, was appointed Treasurer and
Agent pro tern.
Mr. James Pott was soon after elected Treasurer and Agent.
Acquainted with the details of the work of the Society, he
brought to the discharge of his office both business ability and
unflagging interest in its operations.
At the meeting of March 4th, 1862, Mr. De Peyster presented
what he called "A Plan" whereby the interest of the various
funds of the Society might be safe-guarded. This elaborate
plan covers more than two folio pages on the Minute Book of
the Society, and was referred to a committee to report upon. At
this same meeting Mr. James Pott was appointed Treasurer and
Agent of the Society. A lengthy report on "The Plan" was pre-
sented and adopted at the meeting of April 8, 1862.
1862] Annual Meeting. 685
August 12, 1862, the Agent stated that he had received
from the Margaret Coffin Prayer Book Society of Boston
a copy of selections from the Book of Common Prayer for the
soldiers and sailors, with an offer to sell or exchange with this
Society. The cost of which was Sy 2 cents per copy, and if this
Society preferred it to furnish it with the imprint of this Society
in the title page, at the cost of the expense of a new title page.
The copy exhibited was in a flexible cloth cover $ l /2 by 3^
inches and *4 of an i ncn thick of 96 pages, containing four of
the opening sentences, the entire Morning and Evening Prayer,
with the Litany and Creed, a Prayer for the Sick, for a Person
going to sea, or in battle, the Collects for all the Sundays and
Festivals in the year and the chapter and verse where the Epistle
and Gospel of the day will be found, -the Collect and Ten Com-
mandments, the Ten Selections of Psalms appointed to be used
instead of the Psalms of the day 15 Psalms and 35 Hymns in
meter.
The following resolution was offered : Resolved, That the
Agent be authorized to contract with the "Margaret Coffin
Prayer Book Society" for the purchase or exchange of
copies of their selection from the Prayer Book for the use of
Soldiers and Sailors; which underwent discussion. The reso-
lution was lost.
At the Anniversary meeting held in the Church of the Incar-
nation on the evening of the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity,
September 28, 1862, the sermon was preached by the Rev.
Cornelius R. Duffie, Rector of the Church of St. John the
Baptist, New York City. He was a son of one of the founders
and most generous supporters of the New York Auxiliary
Society. It was clear and well put. His theme was "The Right
Use of the Prayer Book."
At the Annual Meeting, held October 2d, 1862, these officers
were chosen:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. William H. Berrian, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
686 Fifty-Fourth Report. [1862
Frederick De Peyster, Seventh Vice President.
William H. Bell, Eighth Vice President.
A. L. Clarkson, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Treasurer and Agent, No. 5 Cooper Union.
Managers: Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. Duffie, Rev. Joshua Weaver, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev.
Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alexander S. Leonard, D.D., Rev. E. R. T.
Cook, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D.,
Rev. Abraham B. Beach, D.D., Rev. I. H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev.
Henry E. Montgomery; Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mit-
chell, Samuel T. Skiclmore, William A. Duncan, William B.
Clerke, James Van Norden, Samuel P. Bell, Thomas F. Frank,
William R. Ronalds, Isaac Fryer, E. M. Young, Charles E.
Mil nor.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : James Pott, Rev. Joshua
Weaver, Mr. William A. Duncan.
Committee of Distribution: James Pott, Rev. A. Bloomer
Hart, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Permanent Fund : Floyd Smith, Rev. Wil-
liam F. Morgan, D.D., James Pott.
Committee on Finance : Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T.
Skidmore, James Van Norden.
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER ist, 1862.
Entering, as we now do, upon another year in the history of
our Society, we would pause at its threshold to record our sense
of gratitude to that kind Providence, which has not only per-
mitted us to labour in His name and for the promotion of His
cause, but has also not withheld from us His support and bless-
ing.
It is true that we have met with many difficulties and dis-
couragements, and we sadly acknowledge that our work, com-
pared with what it ought to be, seems small and insignificant;
nevertheless, when we remember that the smallest instrument
may be made, by God's blessing, the means for the accomplish-
ment of great results; and when we look at the tokens of His
favour which have dropped here and there upon our pathway,
1862] Fifty-Fourth Report. 687
we cannot but rejoice in having done even the little that we
have, and we are encouraged to press on with new zeal and
energy.
The story of the past is soon told ; it differs but little from
that of the previous years ; applications have come to us from
the missionary, the struggling Church, the hospital. We have
heard the voice of the aged blended with those of childhood
asking for the Word of God and the Book of Prayer; and above
all, the soldier and the sailor have pressed their claims to be
remembered by the Church.
For such an agency as ours we look out upon life in all its
varied forms and phases. While associating with those who
enjoy not only the possession of temporal blessings, but are also
surrounded by all the privileges of our holy religion, we are
called upon to aid in guiding the erring, in reclaiming the
wicked, and in placing the w 7 ords of comfort, hope and encour-
agement in the hands of the weary pilgrim who, deprived of
earth's comforts, in seeking peace and safety in the fold of
Christ. Sometimes the word comes back to us that our mission
has not been in vain ; but oftener far we are constrained to sow
in faith, remembering that God's spirit works silently and not
with the noise of many voices, looking for the results of our
labours to be manifest, not in time, but in eternity.
Before closing this brief record of the past, it is our painful
duty to refer to the loss which we have sustained in the re-
moval by death of our late Agent, who, for more than 25 years
faithfully and zealously laboured in connection with our So-
ciety; and it affords the Board a sad pleasure in view of their
loss, thus publicly to acknowledge their appreciation of his long
and valued services, and to bear record that in the decease of
the late THOMAS C. BUTLER, they recognize the departure of a
tried and faithful soldier and servant of Christ.
Let us now turn to the future ; and, in doing so, we would
speak plainly of its duties and its responsibilities.
Our Depository has been removed to a more central and con-
venieni locality, and this without incurring any additional ex-
pense in rent, and our publications are now being issued in a
more attractive, and we also hope more durable, form. Circu-
lars have, from time to time, been issued with a view to making
our Society more generally known. By a late resolution of the
688 Fifty-Fourth Report. [1862
Board of Managers, "the proceeds of all Church collections will
hereafter be devoted exclusively to the object of gratuitous dis-
tribution."
We are thus fully prepared to do our part, and it only de-
pends upon the measure of support which we may receive to
determine the extent of our work.
It is certainly unnecessary that we should speak at any length
as to the character of that work. The distribution of the Bible
and the Book of Common Prayer hardly requires an argument,
at this day, to prove its importance and to show the duties con-
nected with it. With regard to the former, all who bear the
name of Christian are zealously engaged in its dissemination,
so that now there is no other book which has so free and large
a circulation as the Holy Scriptures. With the Prayer Book
the case is very different; this has been left with the Church
alone to circulate, and the result thus far has been, that year
after year has brought us to the same point urgent appeals for
help on the one hand, and inability to meet them on the other.
The wants even of the members of our own Communion have
never been adequately supplied. Take the total circulation of
all the Prayer Book Societies in the land, and how far short it
falls of the great need! At first sight this may seem a strange
fact, in view of the high estimate which the Church sets upon
her Liturgy; and yet how perfectly in keeping is it with our
personal experiences. How often do we see men only recog-
nizing their greatest blessings when speaking of them, but
ignoring them in their actions.
The miser hoards his gold, spending days and nights in
guarding his treasure, and is ignorant of that proper use of it
which would bring an increase, while ministering also to the
happiness of others. And so, at times, the Church seems to
hoard her brightest jewels, resting satisfied with gazing at their
beauty and proclaiming their perfections, but all the while
guarding them with a selfish avarice or a servile fear.
The Prayer Book comes to us, after the Holy Scriptures, as
one of the richest heritages that man could have, carrying with
it the reverence and respect of every age through which it has
passed. Friends and foes have alike paid it homage, and have
here found a common resting-ground from strife, as they have
1862] Fifty-Fourth Report. 689
dwelt upon the beauty, simplicity and scriptural character of
our Liturgy.
At this time, we see several of the denominations around us
striving to obtain for themselves this boon, so long possessed
by the Church alone. And, as in all their efforts, we readily
discover the strong attraction of the Prayer Book, and that it
is only as they blend in this that they become the fitting channels
of a high and holy public devotion, so should our zeal be
kindled afresh, and show itself in prompt and vigorous action.
Returning, however, to the work, as it now more immediately
presses itself upon us. We have in our hands the applications
of Bishops Kemper and Whipple, and these will soon be fol-
lowed by others. Each of our Missionary Bishops requires
yearly at least 2,000 volumes, in value $500 ; and even these will
only suffice to supply the most urgent calls, leaving none to be
scattered by the wayside, as the minister of God goes forth upon
his never-ending visitations. Let us quote from the letter of
Bishop Whipple his testimony of the value of the Prayer Book
in his distant field of labour: "There is," says the Bishop, 'a
very mistaken idea about the adaptation of the Prayer Book to
the Missionary work; the lack of adaptation is in the Clergy.
The Prayer Book, once simply explained and earnestly used, is
exactly what men need who have no libraries or religious teach-
ers. It may be an untold blessing in a pioneer's home, and a
silent preacher of Jesus and the Resurrection, where no com-
missioned servant of Christ may come. There is something in
the heartiness of a responsive service, which goes straight to
the hearts of those whose daily life is one of isolation. It meets
that longing of men for fellowship, and offers to them a union
whose bonds are sacred from love to Christ. I have met many
instances of the effects of such worship, in leading men to ask
for instruction in holy truth, and have often found that the gift
of a Prayer Book was a blessing to a whole household.''
Leaving the Missionary, and coming nearer home, we find
the work to be done is almost equal in proportion with that of
the others; here is the great centre of life, and it is for us to
strive to mould its influences, by giving to them their proper
course. Our Prayer Book should be found in every public
building where it can can be seen and read. One should be
placed in every room of our hotels, with the name of the hotel
(44)
690 Fifty-Fourth Report. [1862
printed upon its cover. In steamers, sailing vessels and steam-
boats, copies should be distributed; and when we have supplied
every place within our reach, the colporteur should be called in
to aid us in its distribution. Who can tell what eye may rest
upon it, or what may be the result of the casual reading of the
Prayer Book, thus left within the reach of all!
We have heard of a man of large wealth and of high posi-
tion, who once entering into his room, with a troubled spirit
and an aching heart, knelt down, for the first time in his life,
to pray : he knew not how to approach his Maker. As he was
about to rise from his knees imcomforted, his eye fell upon a
Prayer Book, which had long lain as a useless ornament upon
his table; he took it up, and as he turned over its pages, he
found the words his heart was longing for. That book taught
him how to pray, and ever after he loved and cherished it ; and
to show his gratitude, he laid by, each year, a handsome sum
to be used in its free distribution to others.
We have also heard of the sailor who, just before going to
sea, came to beg the gift of a Prayer Book. When asked why
he was so anxious to obtain it, he replied, that upon his former
voyage a shipmate had died, and ere his body had been lowered
into its watery tomb, search was made throughout the vessel
for a Prayer Book, but without success; not one of the officers
could offer up a prayer, and so his poor shipmate had been
buried.
The scene had so weighed upon his mind that he determined
never again to be on board a ship without a Prayer Book.
Thus we might go on reciting instances to show how complete
is the adaptation of the Prayer Book to every class and every
condition in life, but the limits of a Report forbid.
We must, however, before closing, briefly refer once more to
the claim which the soldier is now urging upon us. In the camp,
the field, the hospital, the prison, our Prayer Book may be made,
by God's blessing, his best companion, stay and comforter; and,
certainly, we may not withhold it, but rather liberally bestow
it, grateful for the privilege for so doing.
We know not the mission this book may have to accomplish
amid the scenes of passion and strife which now surround us.
The bond of the Church remains unbroken amid the heaving
elements, and it may be that some fond association, some holy
1862] Fifty-Fourth Report. 691
memories, clustering around her Liturgy, may soften the hearts
of enemies, and unite them once more as friends. One letter
came to us during the past year in which our Prayer Book was
referred to as a link which still remained unsevered. Who can
estimate its strength? Who can limit its influence upon the
future ?
As we look at that future, we see that the day must dawn
when strife will cease, and peace once more visit our distracted
land. Then men will begin to think; then they will recognize
the hand of God in the visitation that has been upon them;
they will begin to long and crave after a religion which mixes
not itself with earth's excitements, whose source is in eternity,
and which, in time, flows on in God's own appointed channels,
till lost again in an eternity of certain peace and love and holi-
ness. This religion the Church alone can offer ; it is to be found
alone within her pale. Let us see to it that the Prayer Book be
not wanting everywhere as a guide, pointing men to her fold,
God is preparing for us a mighty harvest; let us not be found
unprepared to gather it in.
This, briefly, is the work that we would accomplish; these the
fields that we would occupy. Leaving the narrow standpoint
of the past, we would now assume the aggressive, and press
boldly forward in the prosecution of our noble work. Our
motto: "Christ and His Church." Our armour, "the blessing
of God." And our weapons, "the prayers and the gifts of the
faithful."
By order of the Board.
JAMES POTT, Agent.
The Report shows that there had been distributed during the
year :
Bibles. Testaments. P. B.
1,015 749 10,960
There were sold 463 397 6,641
Making a total of 1,478 1,146 17,601
The total circulation being 21,125 volumes.
The Treasurer reported receipts of $7,103.83. The expen-
ditures had been $6,396.11, leaving a balance of $707.72. In
addition to the Schatzel Fund of $2,000.00, there were these
special funds :
The General Convention. [1862
Stereotype, &c $5>53 8 1 7
Spanish Prayer Book 390 13
Standard Bible 71 50
About this time the Society had under consideration the pur-
chase of a house and lot at No. 16 Eleventh Street, which they
could have bought for $13,000 on easy terms. Very unwisely
they let this opportunity slip and made their headquarters at
Cooper Union, on Fourth Avenue, where the Agent had opened
a store for the sale of Church Literature.
The General Convention was held in 1862 in St. John's
Chapel, New York City. It was in session from Wednesday,
October i, to Friday, October 17. An accurate observer says
of it : "The chief subject of discussion was the state of the
country, and the duty of the Church in regard to it. The
Bishop of Michigan, in the opening session, struck the true key-
note of duty, when he declared that the introduction of politics
into our Church councils would be "high treason against GOD/'
In the Lower House the first symptom of the dreaded intru-
sion was tabled by a vote of more than two to one of both
Orders. 1
But this the true and instinctive utterance of the Church
was at length somewhat overborne by the stress of the times.
The New York State election was impending, and to be
decided only a few days after the adjournment of the Conven-
tion. The Hon. Horatio Seymour was a Lay Deputy in the
Lower House, and was also the Democratic candidate for
Governor of the State at the approaching election. That party
went into that election on the war platform, in professing which
they were loudly accused, by their opponents, of being insin-
cere. In order to have a favourable effect on that very im-
portant election the Democratic members of the House were
more willing to "do something" than they would have been at
any other time. The Republicans, of course, were earnest for
any action that would tend to strengthen the hands of the Gov-
ernment, and in their eyes politics and patriotism \vere con-
scientiously identified.
There was a day set apart for "Solemn Humiliation, Prayer
I. Journal General Convention, 1862, pp. 31-34.
1862] The General Convention. 693
and Fasting," with a special service in Trinity Church ; and the
two letters from Cabinet ministers expressing gratification with
that special service (one read openly in the House of Bishops,
and the other shown privately) created the impression that
some of the Right Rev. Fathers were more solicitous to please
the powers at Washington than the Powers of Heaven.
The courage for resisting the intrusion of the secular issue
became more and more quiet during the session. In the Lower
House, Dr. Mead, Dr. Hawks, the Hon. Robert C. Winthrope,
the Hon. Washington Hunt, Dr. Mahan, Judge Chambers, and
many others, fought the battle with the utmost bravery and
persistency, until after more than a week's continuous debate,
the newer subject was very nearly laid on the table again.
The long resolutions of the Committee of Nine, which meant
as nearly as possible just nothing at all, and whose mild ap-
parent censure was carefully put in the potential mood, and in
the paulo-post- future tense, passed by a very small majority;
even the slightest stiffening of its censures being voted down. 1
The one determination from which there was no rlinching,
was that nothing should be said or done which could be used
as a serious obstacle to the spontaneous reunion of the Church
after the war should be over. 2
Under the circumstances the report of the Committee on
Typographical Errors could receive scant attention. It was pre-
sented on the twelfth day of the session, October 13, in the
Lower House, by the Rev. Dr. Mason.
After stating "That causes which it is unnecessary to detail,
have prevented the accomplishment of the work committed to
our care," and emphasizing the importance of issuing a Stand-
ard Bible, and anticipating "at no distant period, the completion
of the object for such a succession of years desired," it recom-
1. The Committee of Nine were: the Rev. Drs. Wm. C. Mead, Edward Y.
Higbee, Wm. D. Wilson, Silas Totten, Samuel C. Thrall; Messrs. Robert
C. Winthrope, Washington Hunt, John N. Cunyngham, Charles B. Goddard.
The Resolutions are on pp. 51, 53; for action on them see pp. 81, 94, Journal,
1862.
2. The Life of the late Right Reverend John Henry Hopkins, First
Bishop of Vermont and seventh Presiding Bishop, by one of his sons (John
Henry Hopkins). New York: F. J. Huntington and Co., 105 Duane Street.
1873- PP- 325, 326.
694 Report of Dr. Mason. [1862
mended the appointment of a joint committee "to whom shall
be submitted the sheets of the proposed standard as they con-
secutively appear from the Press after having undergone the
examination of a Typographical Corrector," the appointment
of such an official; authority to issue the Bible so printed as
the Standard Edition of this Church ; and finally, "That in case
the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society decline
the publication, the Committee be empowered to contract on
such terms as they may deem advisable with any publishing
house, provided that no pecuniary liability accrue to the Con-
vention of this Church." 1
It will be seen that the first three are identical with those
passed in 1859, and that the fourth contemplated the possibility
that the Society would be unable to fulfil its agreement with
the Committee.
In the report of Dr. Mason as Typographical Corrector, it
is said : "During the progress of the last General Convention
some sheets of such a Standard were laid before the members
of that House, and being, without a dissenting voice from those
who examined them, approved, it was thought the present
Convention, through the joint- committee appointed, would see
and receive the completion of a work so long desired, and for
so many successive years declared to be so. Like other human
hopes, these too have not yet been fulfilled. Causes have arisen
which have interfered with the action of the New York Bible
and Common Prayer Book Society to whom was committed, in
appreciation of their claim, the honourable and noble office of
presenting the Standard Bible of the Church to all who speak
or read the Anglo-Saxon tongue on this side of the Atlantic.
These causes it may be will not cease their operation; and it
will be necessary for this Convention to provide for the emer-
gency.
"Such provision with modified renewal of the resolutions
passed at the last Convention will, it is believed, give accom-
plishment at no distant period, to a work in which the Church
has, so dear a stake and in which she has so long and so often
avouched her abiding interest."
Both reports were at once accepted, and the Rev. Dr. Craig
i. Journal General Convention, 1862, p. 71.
1863] Standard Bible. 695
appointed as the Committee from the Lower House, the Rev.
Drs. Henry M. Mason, M. A. De Wolfe Howe, William Pinck-
ney, the Rev. Joshua Weaver, Messrs. Hugh Davey Evans,
Samuel H. Huntington, and William H. Bell.
The House of Bishops concurred in this action and appointed
the Bishops of Delaware, Dr. Alfred Lee, Maine; Dr. George
Burgess, New York; Dr. Horatio Potter, New Jersey; Dr.
William H. Odenheimer, and the Assistant Bishop of Pennsyl-
vania, Dr. William Bacon Stevens, as members of the Joint
Committee. 1
The Joint Committee of the General Convention on the
Standard Bible, formally asked the Society, in a letter dated
November 25, 1862, whether they "were ready to proceed
forth with the printing and publishing of a medium quarto
Standard Bible." The Board appointed a special committee to
consider this communication, which was held on December 17,
J862, when this resolution was passed: "That while the Board
cf Managers fully realize the importance of the speedy publi-
Cition of the Standard Bible referred to and are extremely con-
scious that this Society should be the medium of its publication,
they are nevertheless of the opinion that it would be unwise at
the present time for the Society to commit iself to the position
of undertaking the work. The present troubled condition of
the country, the many extraordinary calls being now made upon
the charity of Churchmen, and the urgent necessity that exists
to out forth a strong effort to supply the great want for Prayer
Books now being presented in our Hospitals, in our Camps,
in our Navy, all impose upon the Society the necessity of cau-
tior. in the undertaking of any new work, however urgent." 2
At the regular meeting held February 10, 1863, Messrs. Ron-
alds and Mitchell reported verbally in regard to the Pope
Legacy, and on motion the subject was referred to a new com-
mittee, consisting of Messrs. De Peyster, Mitchell, Ronalds and
William H. Bell, with instructions to report their opinion in
regard to the same at as early date as practicable.
At the meeting of the Board held April 14, 1863, the report
of the Committee on the Pope Legacy was received and accepted.
1. Journal General Convention, 1862, p. 71.
2. Folio 214.
696 The Pope Legacy. [1863
On motion it was Resolved, That a committee be appointed
to call upon the legal representatives of the estate of the late
Henry P'ope and demand from such representatives the pay-
ment of the legacy left to the New York Auxiliary Bible and
Common Prayer Book Society by the last will and testament
of said Pope, and report at the next meeting of the Board.
The Chair appointed as the Committee under the above reso-
lution Messrs. De Peyster, Skidmore and Ronalds.
The Committee on the revision of the Constitution and By-
Laws reported, and presented printed forms of the Constitution
and By-Laws as revised and amended, which were accepted by
the Board, laid over over for adoption by the Society.
On motion it was Resolved, That the Secretary be requested
to call a special meeting of the Society at the earliest time prac-
ticable, for the purpose of adopting the Revised Constitution and
By-Laws, as presented by the committee.
A special meeting of the Society was held May 12, 186^.
The Chairman stated that the meeting was called for the
special purpose of adopting the Revised Constitution and BT-
Laws, as revised at the last meeting of the Board of Managers
Whereupon, on motion, the Constitution and By-Laws, as
accepted by the Board, was unanimously adopted by the So-
ciety, provided that they receive the approval of the Bishop of
the Diocese.
A special meeting of the Board was held May 26, 1863.
The Committee appointed by the Board of Managers in
the matter of the Pope Legacy, reported, That they failed
in obtaining an interview with Mr. Daniel Lord, couisel
for Mr. Andrew, the trustee of the Pope estate, who declined
the interview on the ground that it would be unprofessional on
his part, but remarked that the Trustee could not pay the
Legacy to this Society except upon a judicial decision.
On motion it was,
Resolved, That the matter relating to the Pope Legacy be re-
ferred to Messrs. De Peyster and Ronalds with directions to
consult Alex. W. Bradford as to the merits and validity of this
Society's claim to said Legacy, to obtain his written opinion
thereon, and submit the same when obtained to this Board.
On September 16, 1863, tne Hon. Alexander W. Bradford
1863] Annual Meeting. 697
gave it as his opinion that the Society was not entitled to the
Pope Legacy on the ground that there was no corporation in
existence in 1844 to take the bequest, and therefore advised
against continuing the litigation. (Folio 15.)
At the Annual Meeting of 1863 these officers were elected:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., ist Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 2d Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury. D.D., 3d Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, 4th Vice President.
Floyd Smith, 5th Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, 6th Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, /th Vice President.
William H. Bell, 8th Vice President.
A. L. Clarkson, Recording Secretary, No. 54 Wall Street.
James Pott, Treasurer and Agent, No. 5 Cooper Union.
Managers : Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. Duffie, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alex-
ander S. Leonard, D.D., Rev. E. R. T. Cook, Rev. Thomas
Gallaudet, Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Rev. A. B. Beach,
D.D., Rev. I. H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. H. E. Montgomery, D.D.,
Rev. W. D. Walker, Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell,
Samuel T. Skidmore, William A. Duncan, William B. Clerke,
James Van Norden, Samuel P. Bell, Thomas F. Frank, Thomas
R. Ronalds, Isaac Fryer, C. E. Milnor, C. C. Guion.
Standing Committees.
Committee of Arrangement : James Pott, Rev. Joshua
Weaver, William A. Duncan.
Committee of Distribution: James Pott, Rev. A. Bloomer
Hart, Frederick De Peyster.
Committee on Permanent Fund : Floyd Smith, Rev. Wil-
liam F. Morgan, D.D., James Pott.
Committee on Finance : Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T.
Skidmore, James Van Norden.
Mr. Pott, the Treasurer, reported that the receipts from all
sources had been $12,309.46; the expenditures for paper, print-
ing, binding, purchase of books, and other necessary objects,
had been $10,673.84, leaving on hand a balance of $1,635.62.
698 Fifty-Fifth Report. [1863
At the Anniversary Meeting held in the Church of the As-
cension, New York City, on the nineteenth Sunday after Trin-
ity, October n, 1863, the sermon was preached by the Rev.
William Stevens-Perry, then Rector of St. Stephen's Church,
Portland, Maine, afterward the Bishop of Iowa. Its subject
was "The Church's Worship, spiritual and true." It set forth
the true reasons for worship and the manifest advantages of
forms which had received the sanction of the Church in its
primitive purity and piety.
FIFTY- FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER ist, 1863.
In our last Annual Report we presented in detail the claims
of our Society, and also the great necessity which existed for
enlarging its field of operations, at the same time appealing to
Churchmen for a more liberal share in its behalf, of their sym-
pathy and support.
We rejoice to say that our appeal was not altogether unsuc-
cessful, as is shown by the following gratifying comparison:
In 1862 we sold 6,645 volumes, amounting to $1,818.
In 1863 we sold 11,168 volumes, amounting to $5,324.
Increase 4,523 volumes, $3,506.
We distributed in 1862, in free grants, 12,724 volumes, while
in 1863 our grants were 19,128 volumes, amounting in value to
$4,200. This shows an increase of 6,400 volumes, and makes
the total circulation, by sales and free distribution, for 1863,
30,300 volumes, valued at $9,500.
This statement affords the proof that to some extent, at least,
Churchmen appreciate the value of the Prayer Book, and the
necessity for its wide and free dissemination; and may we not
also hope that it likewise affords the promise of larger results in
the future.
Many are the letters of thanks we have received, and many
the words of gratitude reported to us for our timely gifts all
impressing upon our minds most forcibly the necessity of re-
newed activity. It is always thus; the nearer we are brought
into contact with a good work, the more our hearts are made
to burn within us, and the more heavily does the sense of re-
sponsibility rest upon us. We have approached closer to the
great want, and its pulsations are felt more strongly.
1863] Fifty-Fifth Keport. - 699
The door is open, and we have entered upon the fleld; and
now each step we take presents a view which urges us on still
further. We hear more plainly now the voices of the thou-
sands in our land who are pleading for the Church's Liturgy.
Pardon us, then, if we again urge this plea upon those who do
not realize its force as we do.
An incident of peculiar interest has occurred during the
past year. It becoming known to some that there was a
great need of Prayer Books at the South, an appeal for that
object was inserted in one of our Church papers; it was re-
sponded to by the receipt of $860, thus enabling us (with the
consent and co-operation of our Government) to forward over
5,000 copies to our Southern brethren. Incidents like these
help to soften the heart, while they remind us of those
interests which the hand of man cannot sunder and which are
above the passions and strife of this mortal life; they tend to
cheer us in our work, by encouraging us to hope that through
the agency of the Church, with God's blessing, the ties now
sundered may ere long be again united.
Bishop Whipple has furnished us with the following inter-
esting- proof of this : Says the Bishop : "I have often known in-
stances where persons who for years have not attended a service
have been led back again to Christ and the Church by the memo-
ries of childhood. There was a station in my Diocese where the
deepest hatred was excited towards the Church by a poor mis-
guided few who knew nothing of the blessed teaching, I found
that an aged Methodist woman was the champion and defender
of the Prayer Book and the teaching of the Church. I won-
dered how one not of its communion could know so much of
its lessons of love about Christ and the Saviour. I asked her.
She said : 'When I was a child I lived in New York and at-
tended St. Paul's Church Sunday School, and Bishop Hobart
used to catechise us and talk about the Prayer Book. I never
forgot his words. We moved away from New York, where
there was no Episcopal Church, but I have not forgotten my love
for the Prayer Book and the teachings of the good Bishop.'' '
This is but one instance among many. Our daily experience
teaches the important lesson, that that form of prayer and praise
which takes hold of the heart in childhood, makes a deep and
lasting impression.
700 Fifty- Fifth Report. [1863
Prayer Books are needed in our public institutions. Under
the supervision of Chaplains they can be largely and profitably
disseminated, and are indispensable in order to interest the at-
tendants upon the public services which are now statedly held.
Every vessel and each sailor that leaves our port should be the
bearer of our Prayer Book. We are constantly called upon to
supply the soldier in the camp and in the hospital. It is a stirring
sight to see the eagerness with which the sick soldier grasps the
Prayer Book, and it is a sad sight to see his look of disappoint-
ment when the gift is denied to him.
But we will not go on, for we are all but repeating an oft-told
story.
There was never a time when our Prayer Book seemed in
such demand as now; the demand comes from all quarters;
God's spirit seems to be moving upon the hearts of thousands
in our land, drawing them gently and quietly to the fold of
Christ, thus working out, amid the sad trials and distractions
of our times, His own great purposes in the extension of His
Church.
We hail with joy each application for a Prayer Book, for it
is an index of the Church's progress; and it adds new fervour
to our prayers, that God's blessing may continue to rest upon
our labours, enabling us still further to extend them to the pro-
motion of His glory and man's spiritual welfare.
The regular meeting of the Board was held December 8, 1863.
The Treasurer's report was presented and read showing a
balance on hand on the ist of December of $1,004.02.
The Agent presented several interesting letters expressing
thanks to the Society for recent donations.
On motion of the Rev. Mr. Weaver, 100 Prayer Books were
granted for the use of the Naval School at Newport.
Mr. Bell here called the attention of the Board to the Report of
the Committee on the Prayer Book of the General Convention,
presented at their last meeting, October, 1862, in which it was
stated that there were numerous variations in several editions
of the Prayer Book as compared with the Standard. (Journal
of Gen. Con., 1862, p. 147.)
On motion of Mr. Ronalds, the Rev. Mr. Hart and Mr. Pott
were reappointed as a committee to examine the matter and re-
port to the Board.
1864] Constitution and By -Laws. 701
A special meeting of the Board was held March 3. 1864.
The Agent stated that the meeting was called for the special
purpose of receiving the Report of the Committee to whom had
been referred the Bishop's letter disapproving of the change in
the By-Laws. The Committee not being able to be present, the
Agent read to the Board a communication received from said
Committee, which was as follows :
Letter, Feb. 20, 1864.
The Bishop withdrew his letter containing objections to our
new By-Laws, and very kindly regretted the trouble which he
thought he had given us. He misapprehended the nature of one
of the Laws.
We concurred with him, you may remember in omitting to
make or report a statement to the Convention ; but the other two
rules, one including all our diocesan clergy in the membership,
and the other regarding the time of the business meeting to be
held not in Convention week, stand as we have furnished them.
Faithfully yours,
A. B. HART.
On hearing the letter it was Resolved, That the Bishop having
withdrawn his objections to the Revised Constitution and By-
Laws as received by the Board, the following thereby become
the Constitution and By-Laws of this Society.
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE NEW-YORK BIBLE AND COMMON
PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY, PASSED APRIL 2IST, 1841,
BY A TWO-THIRD VOTE.
The People of the State of New-York, represented in Senate
and Assembly, do enact as follows :
Sec. i. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, William Berrian, Benjamin
I. Haight, J. M. Wainwright, Floyd Smith, William E. Duns-
comb, C. S. N. Rowland, W. H. Hobart, M.D., Alexander L.
McDonald, William H. Bell, Thomas Browning, Thomas C.
Butler, Samuel Seabury, Hugh Smith, Lot Jones, Joseph H.
Price, Ed\vard Y. Higbee, Lewis P. Y. Balch, Anthony Ten
Broeck, J. D. Carder, Charles Jones, J. D. Fitch, G. A. Sabine,
Frederick De Peyster, William M. Benjamin, Murray Hoffman,
W. T. Pinckney, John Alstyne, Theron Wilbur, C. B. Bost-
wick, John W. Mitchell, Theophilus Peck, Samuel T. Skidmore,
702 Constitution and By-Laws. [1864
William A. Duncan, J. B. Herrick, and Benjamin Loder, and
such others as shall be associated with them, shall be and they
hereby are, constituted a body corporate, by the name of "The
New-York Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society," for the
distribution of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.
Originally organized in the year eigheen hundred and nine, and
continued till its incorporation.
Sec. 2. The management of the affairs and concerns of the
said Society, when the Society is not in session, shall be con-
ducted by a board of officers and managers, to be from time to
time appointed by the said Society. The individuals named in
the first section of this act shall be the first managers of the
corporation, and shall continue in office until a new election by
the Society.
Sec. 3. For the object designated in the first section of this
act generally, or for any purpose connected with such object,
the said corporation shall have power, from time to time, to
purchase, take by gift, devise or bequest, and hold real or per-
sonal estate, and to sell, lease, and otherwise dispose of the
same, provided the aggregate, clear annual value of such estate
shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. The incorporation hereby
created is declared subject to the provisions of chapter three
hundred and sixty, entitled "An act relating to Wills."
Sec. 4. The corporation hereby created shall possess the
powers, and be subject to the restrictions and provisions con-
tained in the third title of the eighteenth chapter of the first
part of the Revised Statutes.
Sec. 5. The Legislature may at any time amend or repeal
this act.
Sec. 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
An Act to Amend an Act entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
New-York Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society/'
Passed, April 2ist, 1841.
Passed April I7th, 1843, by a two-third vote.
The People of the State of New-York, represented in Senate
and Assembly, do enact as follows :
Sec. i. Any number of the managers and officers appointed
by such Society, not less than five, shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business.
1864] Constitution and By-Laws. 703
Sec. 2. The corporation created by the act hereby amended,
shall have one year from the passage of this act to organize and
commence the transaction of business under such act and the
present act.
Sec. 3. The Legislature may at any time amend or repeal
this act.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
BY-LAWS OF THE SOCIETY.
MEMBERS.
This Society shall be composed of the Bishop of the Diocese
of New-York; of all clergymen canonically connected with said
Diocese ; of all members of the Church who shall contribute
annually to its funds a sum not less than two dollars; and of
Life Members and Patrons of the New-York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer-Book Society, established in 1809, and the Auxili-
ary New-York Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society, in-
corporated in 1817: it being understood that such Life Members
and Patrons are, and shall be, entitled to all the privileges, in
respect to receiving Bibles and Prayer-Books, as hereinafter
is provided.
OFFICERS.
The Bishop of the Diocese shall be ex officio President.
There shall also be four clerical and four lay Vice-Presidents,
a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary and an Agent.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the correspond-
ence of the Society under the direction of the Board of Man-
agers. He shall keep copies of all letters written by him and
preserve on file, as their property, all letters which he may re-
ceive, and report from time to time, to the Board, whatever may
be of particular interest in such correspondence.
RECORDING SECRETARY.
The Recording Secretary shall keep the records of the Society
and of the Board of Managers ; and shall preserve the same, and
all papers, and carefully file the same. He shall give notice of all
meetings, and shall furnish the chairman of each committee that
may be appointed, with a copy of the resolution under which it
704 Constitution and By-Laws. [1864
was appointed. He shall keep the seal of this incorporation, and
affix it to any instrument when so directed by the Board, and at-
test the same, and obtain the signature of the President thereto.
THE AGENT.
The agent shall take charge of the funds, books, stereotype
plates and the entire stock of the Society, and shall conduct its
general business under the direction of the Board. He may dis-
tribute at his discretion, a Bible or a Prayer-Book to any poor
person for his or her use, and to every other object of this So-
ciety he may distribute to the extent of six Bibles and twelve
Prayer-Books.
He shall execute all orders for Bibles and Prayer-Books issued
by the President and by the Board. It shall also be his duty to
solicit subscriptions in aid of the objects of the institution. And
he shall present a detailed report, at each meeting of the Board of
Managers, of all his acts. Previously to entering upon the duties
of his office, he shall give his bond, with security, to be approved
of by the business committee, as appointed by the Board of Man-
agers in the sum of five thousand dollars, for the faithful dis-
charge of his duties ; which bond shall be in charge of the Secre-
tary. It shall further be his duty to open an account, under the
direction of the Business Committee, in a bank, to be selected by
them, in which he shall deposit, in the corporate name of the Soc-
iety, all moneys received by him ; and he shall pay thereout by
checks, numerically issued, all sums severally due by the Society,
to be signed by him as Agent.
But should any sum exceed $500, the chairman of said com-
mittee shall also sign said check. In all cases where notice is
given him of payments made for the Society, he shall notify the
Business Committee; and deposit the sum in said bank, subject to
their order.
MEETINGS.
There shall be an annual meeting of the Society in the City of
New York, on the Thursday of the week next succeeding the an-
nual convention of the diocese. A special meeting may, at any
time, be called by the Board of Managers, at the request of the
Bishop, or of any three members of the Society, and written no-
tice thereof shall be given at least five days before such meeting.
1864] Constitution and By-Laws. 705
BOARD OF MANAGERS.
At each annual meeting the Society shall, by ballot, select from
among its members a Board of Managers, consisting of eighteen
clergymen and eighteen laymen. The President, the Vice-Presi-
dents, the Secretaries and the Agent shall be ex officio members
of this Board, but are included in the above number. The Board
shall meet at stated times in the City of New York, or elsewhere
in the Diocese of New York, as it may from time to time deter-
mine. Five members, including at least one clergyman and one
layman, shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall have charge
of all the operations of the Society not otherwise specially pro-
vided for, and shall prepare an annual report, to be presented to
the Society at the end of each fiscal year. Any vacancies occur-
ing in their own body, between the meetings of the Society, may
be filled by them; provided that nominations for such vacancies
shall have been made at a regular meeting previous to the one at
which the election shall be held, and provided also that such elec-
tion shall be by ballot.
AUDITING COMMITTEE.
The Board of Managers shall, at least one month before each
annual meeting of the Society, appoint a committee of two, whose
duty it shall be to audit the Agent's accounts, and make a full
report to the Society of the condition of its financial affairs.
FUNDS.
There shall be the following funds : a Permanent Fund and a
General Fund.
The Permanent Fund shall consist of all moneys given for the
endowment of the Society. When the interest on any portion of
the fund is not specially appropriated by the donor, the same shall
be at the disposal of the Board, and may be used for the general
objects of the Society. The general fund shall consist of all mon-
eys received by this Society not belonging to the Permanent Fund
and shall be appropriated to the general objects of the Society,
under the direction of the Board of Managers; provided, that the
proceeds of all Church collections, as well as other moneys spec-
ially donated for the purpose shall be devoted exclusively to the
gratuitous distribution of the Bible and Book of Common Prayer.
(45)
706 Constitution and By-Laws. [1864
PRIVILEGES.
Every person subscribing and paying to the Society a sum not
less than two dollars annually, shall be, if a male, a member, if
a female, a subscriber thereof, and shall be entitled to receive one
Bible and one Prayer-Book, or three Prayer-Books at his or her
option; and for every additional sum of one dollar and fifty
cents, the same privilege.
Every person contributing, at any one time, the sum of twenty-
five dollars shall be if a male, a member, if a female, a subscriber
for life. The payment of fifty dollars shall constitute a life man-
ager ; of one hundred dollars, a patron.
Life members may become life managers or patrons, by pay-
ing at any one time, the additional sum necessary to constitute
the same.
Life members, life managers and patrons shall be entitled to
draw annually, in Bibles and Prayer-Books, the value of seven
per cent, on the sums paid as above.
AMENDMENTS.
Amendments to these By-Laws may be made at any annual
meeting of the Society by the unanimous consent of the members
present, but in case objection is made, such amendment shall lie
over to the next annual meeting, or to a meeting called for the
purpose, not less than thirty days after the adjournment of the
annual meeting, and then such alteration may be made on a vote
of two-thirds of the members present.
N. B. All By-Laws heretofore existing are hereby repealed.
BY-LAWS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.
Article I. Meetings.
The Board of Managers shall meet on the first Tuesday after
the Annual Election, and on the second Tuesday of every month
thereafter.
Special meetings shall be called by the Secretary at the request
of the Bishop, or any three members.
The order of proceedings at each meeting shall be as follows :
1. Devotion.
2. Reading of the Minutes.
3. Report of Officers.
4. Report of Business Committee.
Constitution and By -Laws. 707
5. Report of Special Committees.
6. Unfinished Business.
7. Miscellaneous Business.
Article II. Business Committee.
There shall be chosen annually by ballot, a committee of five
members, to be denominated the Business Committee, of which
the Agent shall be ex officio, a member, whose directions he shall
carry into effect. At every regular meeting of the Board, one
of this Committee shall retire and his place filled by a new elec-
tion.
This committee shall have power to rent suitable rooms for the
Depository of the Society ; to authorize the employment of subor-
dinate agents ; to superintend all matters relating to the financial
concerns of the Society, under the general direction of the Board
of Managers ; and to receive all applications for donations of Bi-
bles and Prayer-Books exceeding the amount permitted to be dis-
tributed by the Agent; and, shall have power to make appropri-
ations within the limit of the funds devoted to this purpose by the
Board of Managers.
Three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business.
The committee shall keep minutes of all their proceedings, and
read the said minutes at each meeting of the Board, for its ap-
proval.
Article III. Amendments.
Amendments of these By-Laws may be made at any regular
meeting of the Board, by a vote of two-thirds of the members
present, provided such amendment has been proposed at the stated
meeting next preceeding.
Finis.
The Agent requested that in consequence of the increased ex-
pense incurred in the publication of the Book of Common Prayer,
that this Society publish a contracted volume containing select-
ions from said book and suitable for the use of our Army and
Navy.
On motion of Mr. Milnor it was Resolved that the matter be
referred to a committee to confer with the Bishop and report to
the Board. The chair appointed as said committee Messrs. Mil-
708 Annual Meeting. [1864
nor, Bell and Pott. On motion of Mr. .Bell, Dr. Johnson was ad-
ded to the committee. (Folio 25.)
The Regular Meeting of the Board was held April 12, 1864.
The committee to whom was referred the subject of publish-
ing an Edition of the Book of Common Prayer, abridged and
with parts selected, Report, "That in our judgment we find it al-
most impossible to propose a satisfactory abbreviation of the
Book of Common Prayer. The volume, might, however, be re-
printed without the Ordinal and the Psalms in Metre and the
Hymns, which would reduce the price about 30 per cent."
On motion of Dr. McVickar the report was accepted and the
committee discharged.
These officers were elected at the Annual Meeting, September
29, 1864:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph Price, D.D.. First Vice President.
Rev. J. McVickar, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Seventh Vice President.
William H. Bell, Eighth Vice President.
Managers: Rev. W. F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R.
Duffie, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alex. S.
Leonard, D.D., Rev. E. R. T. Cook, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet,
D.D., Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Rev. A. B. Beach, D.D.,
Rev. J. H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. H. E. Montgomery, D.D., Rev.
W. D. Walker, Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell, Samuel
T. Skidmore, William A. Duncan, William B. Clerke, James
Van Norden, Samuel P. Bell, Thomas F. Frank, William R.
Ronalds, Isaac Fryer, C. E. Milnor, Charles A. Budd.
With quiet persistency the Society entered upon a new season
of work.
During the year the country passed through varied experi-
ences. Event followed event with startling rapidity until the
dawn of peace, and the end of conflict brought relief to every one.
The Managers had been able to achieve some of their desires,
1864] Fifty-Sixth Report. 709
and in the report read at the Anniversary urge the Church to
greater achievement through larger gifts for the circulation of
the Bible and Prayer Book.
During the past year it has distributed 25,549 volumes, making
the distribution for the past four years 98,376 volumes, at a cost
of $37496.
At the anniversary in October, 1864, the Managers presented
the
FIFTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT.
Another year has gone from us, and we are here again assem-
bled to present a summary of the labours and benefactions of the
Society during the year just closed. In many respects it is a
pleasant duty. Words of comfort and encouragement we have
for those whose thoughtfulness and liberality have sustained the
work in which we are engaged. Throughout the length and
breadth of our land the Bible and the Prayer Book have been, to
the extent of our ability, circulated, carrying with them to the
penitent and the lonely all those joys and consolations which
flow from the Father of lights, the God of mercy and grace.
We say to the extent of our ability, for undoubtedly more
abundant means would have largely multiplied these blessings.
Although the Society is in an increased degree prosperous and
useful, yet we would gladly see it more so, and we trust such is
to be true of its existence and labours. We need funds greatly,
to put the Society in a condition to do what is expected of it,
and what it ought to do in the way of distributing the Holy
Scriptures. Our Standard yet remains unpublished, the funds
necessary to carry it through the press not having been supplied,
and this surely ought not to have been the case.
With all the blessings God is continually bestowing upon us,
his unworthy creatures, and all the large influxes of wealth which
he is continually permitting many of his people to receive, and
enjoy, there surely ought to be found among those thus highly
favoured gratitude enough to insure to the Society a fund suffi-
cient to enable it to work efficiently in the important matter of
printing and distributing the Bible. The Society needs for such
purposes a fund of twenty-five, or more properly, fifty thousand
dollars. And in this day of prodigal and reckless expenditure in
the perishing things of this world, may we not with a good degree
of confidence ask from those in the Church, whom God has per-
710 Fifty-Sixth Report. [:164
mitted to gather largely of the riches of this world, that they will
by their gifts and donations, see that at least the beginning of
such fund is speedily made? Individuals alone there are who
could give the whole and not miss it ; yea, be blessed in their deed
and prospered in their substance by reason of their so doing. .If
the Church has any duty paramount, surely it is this, to make
known to the nations of the earth the revealed will of God; to
place within the reach of all that blessed volume which contains
this will. The command is, to preach the Gospel to all nations,
and the necessity is, to place within the reach of all that inspired
Book, which gives us the knowledge of the Gospel, and which
makes so plain that knowledge that he may read that runneth,
and there surely learn and understand the will and purport of
the Most High.
Noble and excellent has been the course of the Church of Eng-
land in preserving in their integrity the Holy Scriptures, and
widely distributing them through all lands. But the Church in
this country has signally failed to follow so commendable an
example. It is not too much to say that there is not to this day
published in this country a single edition of the Bible which the
Church can or ought to use in the performance of her appointed
public service. They are all incorrect or imperfect, published
without her authority or inspection, and of which she knowns
nothing as she ought to know.
Most marvellous and inconsistent it is that while the Church
bestows so much care in securing correct editions of the Prayer
Book and proper Sunday School and Church literature all right
and needful certainly she yet allows the Bible to make its way
as best it can, to be published by any irresponsible person, and to
go forth as the Word of God without any scrutiny or examina-
tion whether it is or is not that Word. High time it is certainly
that the Church in this country should wake up to her responsi-
bility in this particular. High time it is that she began to realize
the importance and necessity of watching over the publications
of the Scriptures, yea, of issuing editions of her, own under her
own examination and supervision, and by her own imprimatur
giving security to her members, and to all, that the Bible which
they read is of a truth that Word of God which from the begin-
ning has been held and known to be His revealed Will.
In this day of tampering with the Holy Scriptures it is of
1864] Fifty-Sixth Keport. 711
special importance for her so to do. Allow the Bible is in our land
so carefully guarded in its publication and so brought within the
reach of every one by the low price at which it is sold, or by
gratuitous distribution, that even we may not be without a cor-
rect, authorized edition; yet this is no reason why the Church in
this country should not have her own standard, and be also en-
gaged in printing and multiplying Bibles the more correct edi-
tions we have the more safe we are from wrong translations and
miscievous interpretations of ignorant or designing men, and
associations of men. Besides, a blessing must come upon any
branch of the Church for such labour and painstaking in behalf
of the Scriptures. It can never be a waste of labour or of money
for any portion of the Church to be engaged in issuing correct
and desirable editions of the Scriptures, no matter how many we
may already have. No better evidence, indeed, could be given of
there being in such Church sincere Christian piety and true religi-
ous life. Nor could any appeal go up to the throne of mercy and
blessing more certain to bring down the rich stores of wisdom
and grace which God is wont to bestow upon his faithful people.
To be sure we may be here met by the prevalent objection that
this is not the time to enter upon such a work. Continually we
are obliged to hear the erroneous plea that we had better wait,
and see what is going to be the result of our political difficulties
before we extend any further Church operations. Strange and
humiliating it is that people calling themselves Christians should
quail before the upheavings of society and the revolutions of
empire, and think such a reason why the kingdom of Christ and
of God should halt in their onward progress. Deplorable and
dreadful it is that because of any of the changes and chances of
life, Christian people should account themselves at liberty to
withhold from the cause of the Redeemer one particle of their
zeal and industry. We are told by the prophet that "When the
judgments of God are upon the earth, the inhabitants of the world
will learn righteousness." And shall the people of this day and
generation dare the dangerous sin of attempting to make that
solemn annunciation a lie? Rather let us be admonished by it
to deeds of righteousness. Let us not follow the miserable ex-
ample of those of old, and cry "Lord, Lord !" while we do not the
will of our Father in Heaven. While we so readily run unto
God with prayers that He will deliver us from our danger, let us
712 Fifty-Sixth Report. [1864
also be the most of all earnest in our efforts to promote the ad-
vancement of His Kingdom and the honour of His name. Now,
more than at any other time should the Church be zealous and
laborious in "lengthening her chords and strengthening her
stakes." Now should she especially be active and urgent in
pushing on boldly and largely her work of labour and love. This
would particularly arrest the attention, and secure the favour and
blessing of the great Giver of all victory, and of all good things
permitted us to enjoy. We ask them most respectfully, yet most
earnestly, that the matter here presented may receive due con-
sideration.
Are there not those who will recognize the importance and
duty of providing a fund wherewith the Society may be enabled
to carry out the great object for which it was established? Are
there not those who making disposition of that wealth which
they must one day leave for others to possess and use, will re-
member this Society in this particular and bequeath to it some
portion of that wealth? We humbly pray that God may so in-
cline the hearts and minds of many, and thus lead on to more
enlarged usefulness this humble instrument of His service.
Of the Prayer Book we shall, in conclusion, say no more than
that there also we need more liberal gifts to enable the Society to
meet the large and increasing demands daily made upon it. Al-
though our editions are numerous and good, we would like to
get up others of a different form, and by reason of the great
improvement in late years of bookmaking becoming a
necessity. Also the plates of these on hand are wearing
out, and will soon require to be renewed. Together, then,,
with the manufacture and distribution of the Prayer Book
a great void is continually making in our funds, and which
must be as continually filled up through the kindness and liber-
ality of the charitable and merciful, if the Society is to go on and
fulfil the purpose for which it was created. The following table
of statistics will show the operations of the Society during the
past year. To those whose gifts have enabled us to be thus use-
ful we return the sincere thanks, and respectfully request that
they will, during the coming year, in the same kind and generous
manner keep the Society in remembrance.
We have distributed in free grants during the past year 18,112
volumes, valued at $5,500. Our sales during the same period
1864] Spanish Prayer Book. 713
have been 15,492 volumes, valued at $8,000; making a total dis-
tribution of 34,054 volumes.
At the present moment a large number of applications are be-
fore us for books, and we fear that unless our treasury is kept
replenished we will be unable to meet them. We, therefore, again
express the earnest hope that our appeal for aid will be liberally
responded to.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSHUA WEAVER,
W. D. WALKER,
JAMES POTT.
The statement of the Treasurer, Mr. James Pott, showed re-
ceipts of $20,484.29, including legacies from the Handford estate
of three thousand dollars, and Mr. J. T. Fisher, of one hundred
dollars. The actual expenditures were $19,100.11, which in-
cluded one thousand dollars for stereotype plates for the Spanish
Prayer Book. The Handford legacy was invested in United
States 10-40 bonds, and there was on hand a cash balance of
$1,384.18. The special funds were the Schatzel Fund of two
thousand dollars, the Standard Bible Fund of seventy-one
dollars and fifty cents ($71.50), and those for "stereotyping
and other objects" of seven thousand four hundred and twenty-
eight dollars and fifty cents ($7,428.50), making a total of nine
thousand five hundred dollars ($9,500).
The grants of the Society were widely scattered from Arkansas
to Wisconsin, besides eighty-four Bibles, two hundred and six-
teen Testaments, and three thousand and two hundred and sixty-
two Prayer Books, sent directly to the Army and Navy. Many
of the books sent to various States were for the use of the sol-
diers.
The year of effort by the Society was one in which the people
of the whole country were anxiously awaiting the end of strife.
The people of the North were both surprised and depressed at
the failure of any decisive issue of well planned campaigns. The
Managers of the Society rejoiced that the increased demand
had brought increased means. One very gratifying event was
the publication of the Prayer Book in Spanish, for which a small
fund had long been in their hands. It was in shape a stout
"sixteen-mo" printed on a thick white book paper. The type was
large and clear. While copies of it were sent to the chaplaincies
714 Report of Business Committee. [1864
and individuals in South America and the West Indies, where
it was welcomed and widely circulated, it seems to have had no
influence upon those conscientious men in Mexico who could not
endure the papal system of morals and theology and formed "the
Church of Jesus." They turned to other sources for their ser-
vice book. The only allusion to this publication in the report is
in the Treasurer's statement. The title page is:
"Libro de Oracion Comun y Administracion de los Sacramentos
y Otros Ritos y Ceremonias de La Iglesia segun el uso de la
Iglesia Protestante Episcopal en los Estados Unidos de America.
Juntamente con el Salterio 6 los Salmos de David. Nueva York :
Impresso y Estereotipado por Estaban Hallet, No. 107 Calle de
Fulton. 1863." i6mo, pp. xliii, 804.
A special meeting of the Board was held November 23, 1864.
The Chairman here stated that the meeting was called for the
special purpose of receiving a communication from the Business
Commitee. That committee then presented and read the fol-
lowing report:
Report : With a view of ascertaining the best method for en-
larging the operations of the Society, the Business Committee
has been led to examine into the means at its disposal for accom-
plishing this result. They find the Stereo belonging to the So-
ciety in an old and dilapidated condition, and as a necessary con-
sequence the publications of our Society are very much inferior
in every respect to those of other publishers. In order to meet
the wants of the Church the Agent has been compelled to depend
upon these outside publications by having editions of them
struck off with the Society's imprint. This condition of things
appears to the Committee to be an insuperable obstacle to the
growth of the Society, and they are struck with the singular fact
that a Society making a specialty of the publishing of the Prayer
Book and claiming the support of the Church should thus be
deficient in the very elements of success. The Church looks to
us to fill the demand for Prayer Books, and its liberality places
us in a position to do it well and effectually. Thus far it would
appear that the policy of the Society has been rather to follow
than to lead. One great secret of success with other institutions
has been the constant adaptation evinced in their operations to
the wants of the times. If one edition has become obsolete, they
1864] Report of Business Committee. 715
propose another; if the type is too small they get out a larger
one; they use the means placed at their disposal in accordance
with the wishes of the donors, viz., in adding to the efficiency of
their work, and thus not only secure, but continue the confidence
and warm support of their friends. What would be thought of
the mechanic who never changed his tools, or of the farmer who
was so wedded to the old paths that he refused to adopt any of
the new improvements in labour which were constantly being
introduced? How would the productions of such men compare
with those of more enterprising neighbours? The same compari-
son may apply to our Society. If we work with old and broken
tools we can hardly be surprised if others excel us. With such
considerations pressing upon them, the Committee could only
arrive at one result. If the Society would succeed a spirit of
greater enterprise must be evinced. They feel confident that
there is a large field open before it, and that the Society can be
made one of the most prominent in the country; in fact, that not
only is it a duty to occupy this field, but that there are the strong-
est inducements so to do, for the very filling of it will se-
cure to the Society not only our independent support but also
the means of carrying on the great work of gratuitous distribu-
tion. In view of these facts the Committee has determined to
call a special meeting of the Board and to unanimously recom-
mend the immediate preparation of new sets of Electrotype
Plate, the sizes of the same to be I2mo, i8mo, 241110, and 321110.
These with the Standard would furnish all the sizes required,
and give a complete range.
While respectfully urging this recommendation to the consid-
eration of the Board, the Committee would further state, that it
has been found to be practicable to have these several editions
uniformly issued, viz., paged in accordance with the Standard.
By this simple plan the editions of our Society will be placed on
a different and superior footing to those of any others ; we meet
a want which has been long felt, that of "uniformity." We will
greatly aid the missionary in his work, help the children of our
Sunday Schools, and generally aid in promoting a greater famil-
iarity and ease in following the services of our Church. In fact,
such a plan reaches in the shortest road the want which is at-
tempted to be filled by a Consecutive Prayer Book and otjier
716 The Pope Legacy. [1864
efforts of a similar character, all of which more or less leads
rather to confusion than order and uniformity.
The expense of preparing these plates would be $6,200.00;
deducting from this $450.00, the same to be obtained from old
plates, and we have the net cost about $5,700.00.
To meet this outlay the Society has the following sums in-
vested :
$3,000 in United States 10-40 5 per cent Bonds, $500 in Bond
Trinity Church, $4,000 on Bond and Moagage, $1,500 in Leg-
acy. $9,000 total.
As the editions will be prepared separately the immediate out-
lay will not be so great. It is proposed that as these editions go
to press they be assessed 20 per cent., so that in a period of
five years the Society will receive back the sums originally ex-
pended. Though this may seem at first sight a great undertak-
ing, it must be borne in mind that it is not only perfectly legiti-
mate, but is called for by a pressing necessity. The Committee
feel confident in stating, that its adoption would at once place
the Society as a live institution before the Church, and so create
a sympathy which always attends upon progress, and in addition
to this, as a merely business transaction it has the fair promise of
diverting to our Society the demand which has heretofore been
supplied by other and outside agencies.
Resolved, That the above be presented to the Board for its
consideration at the special meeting to be called on Wednesday
evening the 23d November.
Signed JAMES POTT, Sec.
Business Committee.
Whereupon, on motion of Mr. Floyd Smith, it was
Resolved, That the Board accept and approve of the sugges-
tions contained in the report of the Committee and that the sub-
ject be referred back to said Committee with power to carry into
execution the several propositions contained therein ; and further,
that they be required to report in writing at each regular meeting
of the Board the progress of the work. (Folio 32.)
Mr. Bell asked leave to introduce the following resolution,
which was adopted :
Resolved, That a committee be appointed with power to com-
promise and settle with the estate of the late Henry Pope for the
bequest of $1,500 made by him in 1821 to the Auxiliary Bible
1864] Lectures on the Bible. 717
and Common Prayer Book Society, of which Society The New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society is the legal suc-
cessor; and upon receipt thereof, or of any part thereof, to exe-
cute and give a full receipt and discharge for the same, and that
the Secretary attach the seal of this corporation to such discharge,
if so required by such estate.
Moved and carried that the committee consist of three.
On motion of Mr. Floyd Smith, Messrs. Bell, Pott and Clark-
son were appointed as said committee.
Mr. Ronalds as Chairman of the Business Committee pre-
sented to the Board the bond of the Agent in the sum of $5,000,
as required by the fifth section of the By Laws of the Society,
which was filed with the Secretary.
The Agent then informed the Board that he had made ar-
rangements for a course of Lectures on the Bible, to be delivered
during the coming winter in aid of the funds of the Society, and
requested the approval of the Board. Whereupon, on motion of
the Rev. Dr. Frank McVickar, it was Resolved, That the Board
approve of having a course of Lectures on the Bible, delivered
during the coming winter, by clergymen selected for that pur-
pose. (Folio 35.)
The Agent then offered to the Board for their approval the
following list of subjects to be treated during the course, with
.the names of the clergymen proposed for that purpose.
1. Inspiration. Rev. Dr. Hawkes.
2. Reason and Faith. Rev. Dr. Littlejohn.
3. History of the Canon. Rev. Dr. Coit.
4. History of the English Translation. Rev. Dr. Morgan.
5. Chronology of Scripture. Rev. Dr. Mahan.
6. Prophecy. Bishop Stevens.
7. Miracles. Rev. Dr. Higbee.
8. Connection of the Old and New Testaments. Bishop
Williams.
9. Interpretation.
10. Witness in the believing heart. Rev. Dr. Rudder.
11. The moral conditions requisite for a proper study of
Scripture. Rev. Dr. Washburn.
After discussion, it was finally Resolved, That the Board ac-
cept the List as offered by the Agent, and that it be referred
to him with power, and further, that the Secretary be required
718 Annual Meeting. [1864
to inform the Bishop of the action of the Board by sending him
a copy of the resolutions as adopted. (Folio 36.)
During the year there had been sold 1,728 Bibles and Testa-
ments, and 12,373 Prayer Books. There had been distributed
465 Bibles, 900 Testaments, and 12,576 Prayer Books.
The receipts from all sources had been $21,611.71. The dis-
bursements for all purposes had been $20,848.44, leaving a bal-
ance in the treasury of $763.27. The special funds were :
Schatzel $2,000 oo
Standard Bible 7 1 5
Stereotyping and other objects 8,178 50
The officers of the Society elected at the Annual Meeting on
September 28th, 1865, were:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Seventh Vice President.
William H. Bell,' Eighth Vice President.
Managers : Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, D.D., Rev. Caleb Clapp,
Rev. Alexander S. Leonard, D.D., Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D.,
Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Rev. A. B. Beach, D.D., Rev.
I. H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. H. E. Montgomery, Rev. William D.
Walker. Rev. Ferdinand C. Ewer, D.D., Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss,
John W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, William A. Duncan,
William B. Clerke, James Van Norden, Samuel P. Bell. Thomas
F. Frank, William R. Ronalds, Isaac Fryer, C. E. Milnor,
Charles A. Budd.
The claims of the Society to the Pope legacy were finally
legally waived on behalf of the Society by Mr. Mitchell as re-
ported at the meeting of September 13, 1864. (Folio 37.)
THE FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER i, 1865.
Large wants with comparatively small receipts; a great work
to be done, but a lack of sufficient means. Such of necessity is
1865] Fifty-Seventh Report. 719
the burden of each annual report from a Society aiming at meet-
ing the wants of a growing Church, in the midst of a rapidly
increasing population. Progress, however, has been made, not to
the full extent of our opportunities, yet furnishing ample cause
of gratitude to the great Giver of all good. Our present work
shows signs of an awakening and increasing interest, and the
outlines of a glorious future are growing more and more distinct.
From the first day of October, 1864, to October, 1865, our
sales have reached 1,728 Bibles and Testaments and 12,373
Prayer Books, amounting to $11,415, which is an increase of
$33.400 over the previous year.
And the following exhibit of our sales for the last four year.-. :
1862 ." $1,81770
1863 5,324 oo
1864 8,000 oo
1865 11,41500
is certainly encouraging, while the indications of our present sales
point to even a larger percentage of increase in the coming year.
Our books are rapidly growing in public favour. Church-
now purchase at our Depository, who in former years
scarcely knew of the existence of our Society. This
gratifying result has followed from our aiming to render
the assortment of Bibles and Prayer Books upon our shelves
more complete and attractive than can be found else-
where. In this connection we inaugurated in the past year an
effort for procuring the means to publish an entire new set of
stereotype plates of the several editions of the Prayer Book, each
to be paged uniformly with the Standard Book. Notwithstand-
ing that our appeal for the necessary sum ($6,000) did not meet
with the success to which is is justly entitled, we have prosecuted
the enterprise by preparing the first of the series, a small 481110,
which we hope to have published by the time our report is
printed. The size of the book is especially adapted to use in
Sunday Schools, and we shall be greatly disappointed if it is not
pronounced the best in every respect ever issued in this country.
The importance of furnishing to the Church this series of uni-
formly paged Prayer Books will not allow of any want of zeal
and energy on our part. Too much of the future of this Society's
capacity to meet the growing wants of the Church depends upon
the completion, at an early date, of these new plates. We offer
720 Fifty-Seventh Report. [1865
the first of the series as a specimen of the work, and a proof that
our Society is in earnest, aruj only awaits the means to prosecute
the enterprise to a complete success. The sum asked for is
$6,000. If required for any special charity, it would be forth-
coming in a day. Why not furnished as spontaneously by
Churchmen to a Church institution to carry out an enterprise of
unquestionable good and lasting advantage to the whole Church ?
We are satisfied that, purely as a business enterprise, it is wise
and sure and profitable. Why should not some wealthy layman
furnish this sum of $6,000? We know of no other channel in
which it could be more profitably or surely used for the glory
of God and the good of men.
The present affords an opportunity of placing this Society in
the front rank of instrumentalities for good a position in
which it will be a credit to Churchmen for all time to come.
A careful investigation has satisfied us that the business of the
Bible and Prayer Book Society can as well reach its hundreds
of thousands of volumes as it now does its tens of thousands.
But we must seize the opportunity for extension and growth
when it offers, and press on in the work; applying to all our
operations the well-established principles of business develop-
ment and commercial enterprise.
Why should not one or mare of the laity step forward and
furnish the means ? These things are done in England and else-
where in Protestant Christendom. Why should they not be
done here in our own Society? Look at the catalogue of the
publications of the English "Society for Promoting Christian
Knowledge" ; it contains no less than two hundred and sixty
different styles of Prayer Books, adapted to all ages, wants,
and even tastes. Scarcely a year goes round without additions
being made to the list. In this way the Society adapts itself to
the wants of the times, and receives in return an overflowing
patronage. All that we ask for is to be allowed to start on the
same road of approved success. Let us have at least one Society
whose influence will be known and felt throughout the land.
Confined as its publications are to the Bible and the Book of
Common Prayer, it can speak but one language, and that the
language which all the children of the Church love and cherish.
It is certainly due to the Church that the imprimatur of her own
Society should be oftener seen in her own Bible and Prayer Book.
1865] Fifty-Seventh Report. 721
In view of the missionary character of our Society, it must be
borne in mind that the collecting of any large sum for a special
purpose in driblets requires a great outlay of time and labour,
and is accompanied with considerable expense. In addition, such
a method cannot but interfere seriously with the receipts to the
Donation Fund. Too often contributions to a sum are made at
the expense of that Fund, and thus our present means of doing
good are greatly curtailed. The missionary feature of our work,
sustained by this fund, is too important to be interfered with,
and we are, therefore, constrained to urge special calls upon those
who can contribute largely and promptly.
Turning now to the subject of gratuitous distribution, we have
received, during the past year, for this purpose, from church col-
lections and special donations, the sum of $5,395.03. Our grants
have amounted to $5,204.70.
No other society in the Church distributes books gratuitously
to the same extent as our own, and yet how small the amount
given away compared with the great and urgent need. One mis-
sionary diocese alone could profitably distribute the whole num-
ber of our gifts. In this great city, through the agency of the
newly inaugurated city missions, thousands of Bibles, Testa-
ments and Prayer Books can be judiciously and usefully dis-
tributed. When the missionaries come to us expecting a supply,
we feel ashamed that we cannot respond as we ought. The im-
portance of the success of these missionary efforts we all know;
and what better method to secure it can be devised than the liberal
distribution of the Prayer Book?
It is hard to realize the number of outlets for this book. We
have again and again referred to them. Look at our daily ex-
perience. Here comes a city missionary. He has given away
his scanty supply, and yet the applications are pressing upon him.
He has been seeking to bring the wanderers into the fold, telling
them of Jesus, and His mission of mercy and peace, and yet,
when they ask for a Prayer Book, that they may join in Chris-
tian worship with him, he cannot give; he must bid them wait,
or turn them empty away. How strange that a Church, which
confers so many privileges, should not have sufficient hold upon
the hearts of its members to constrain them to furnish her own
manual of prayer and praise, of guidance and comfort to the
wanderer, the sick and the distressed, freely and without stint.
(46)
722 Fifty-Seventh Report. [1865
The city missionary is followed by the chaplain from some hos-
pital, where the patients are eagerly asking for the Church's Book
of Prayers prayers just suited to their peculiar needs. Often
have we been told how tears of joy have flowed upon the receipt
of this book. But the chaplain must be denied ; we cannot meet
all his wants, and many a heavy heart is made still heavier by
our compelled refusal. Again, there comes an appeal from the
zealous sons and daughters of the Church, acting pioneers in her
behalf, for some Sunday School, just started in a region where
Christ and His religion are almost unknown, and sometimes the
nearness of these regions to our very doors startle us. The little
ones are now asking for the Liturgy of their mother, but we must
turn away. These little ones must too often ask in vain. Again,
we open our letters; here is an appeal from the far West. A
Bishop needs a thousand Prayer Books to distribute on his visita-
tion, by the wayside, to the lonely immigrant, in the infant and
struggling parish, among the few gathered for many a mile in
its Sunday School. We read the letter, and almost wonder how
the good Bishop could thus write ; but then we remember that he
sees and feels the need, and we wonder no longer. A thousand
are asked for, and we send a hundred, sometimes less, but it
takes away fearfully from the little fund. Once more : a man-of-
war is ordered to sea, with her officers and crew of 300 men.
The Chaplain asks that Prayer Books be furnished him. Ser-
vices can be held, the gospel taught, the man-of-war made the
house of God. Here is the best of missionary fields ; for the hon-
our of our religion and the good of our country we long to supply
the full complement, but the 300 must be content with 100, or it
may be that we have only fifty to give. These are but faint
sketches of our almost daily experience the year round.
Another and a special appeal is now coming to quicken our
sensibilities and enlarge our labours; it comes from the desolate
portions of our own land, from the roofless church, the houseless
rector, and the ruined worshippers of some Southern parish. It
is indeed a heart-stirring appeal. Help us for Christ's sake; help
us, we are your brethren. The. sound grows louder and the
appeals more frequent day by day. They must be met. As yet
no means have been placed at the Society's disposal at all adequate
to meet the urgency and extent of the appeals ; but they must and
will be met ; such appeals cannot go unanswered.
1865] Fifty-Seventh Report. 723
We cannot close our report without referring to a most inter-
esting event which has marked the history of the past year,
namely, the formation, in the ancient parish at Stratford, Con-
necticut, of a Bible and Prayer Book Society, auxiliary to our
own. It has already done an excellent work among the parish-
ioners, in fostering a truly fraternal and missionary spirit, and it
has also added a largely increased sum to our receipts. We ac-
cept all such auxiliary associations with true thankfulness, and
bid them a hearty God speed.
The sad duty now remains of noticing the decease of one of
the members of our Board during the past year, the Rev. E. R.
T. Cook, the Rector of St. John the Evangelist in that city. He
was an earnest, faithful labourer in the work of this Society; he
found time amid his many and pressing cares to take an active
interest. We shall miss him from our gatherings, but we may
certainly rejoice in the thought that our loss is his gain; and as
we think of his example, may we be stirred up to greater energy
and zeal during the few short days that may be left to us in
which we labour in the Master's cause for the reward of the
faithful labourer is great.
CHAPTER XXI.
CONTENTS.
General Convention of 1865 Report of Joint Committee on Typographi-
cal Errors in Bible Joint Committee Appointed Translation of Part of
the Prayer Book in Dakota Language The Mohawk Edition Report of
1866 Over 44,000 Volumes Distributed Prosperous and Sound Financial
Condition of Society First Year Since Its Formation that Receipts Ex-
ceed Expenditures No Further Mention Made of the Standard Bible in
Reports of the Society Meetings in 1867 Report From Rev. Mr. Well-
man Report for 1868 Change in Methods of Administration Adopted
Appointment of Rev. Merritt H. Wellman as Special Agent to Collect Funds
for the Society General Convention of 1868 Report of Committee on
Standard Bible Committee Reports Against Printing an Edition
in America Recommends Adoption of British Oxford Edition of 1852
Report Adopted and Committee Discharged Inaction Due Mainly to
Deaths of Rev. Dr. Mason and Mr. Hugh D. Evans Action Reconsidered
and Committee Continued Report of Committee on Bible Legacy from
Mrs. Elizabeth Wooley Committee on Spanish Prayer Book Appointed
Report for 1869 Election of Officers Report for 1870 Election of
Officers Successful Methods of the Special Agent Rev. M. H. Wellman
Legacy from John Alstyne Report for 1871 Election of Officers Re-
port for 1872 Election of Officers Report for 1873 Legacy from
J. P. Van Home Election of Officers Death of Mr. Floyd Smith
Report for 1874 Election of Officers Legacy from George Merritt
Death of Rev. Dr. Montgomery.
PHILADELPHIA being the appointed place for the Gen-
eral Convention of 1865, it held its opening service in St.
Luke's Church, and the business sessions in St. Andrew's
Church. The closing service was on Tuesday, October 24.
It was memorable for the sermon at the opening service by the
Metropolitan of Canada, the Most Rev. Dr. Fulford; the pres-
ence of two southern Bishops, and deputies from three southern
dioceses, the consecration of Dr. Quintard as Bishop of Tennes-
see, and the visit of Dr. Staley, Bishop of Honolulu.
The report of the joint Committee on Typographical Errors
presented its report through Bishop Alfred Lee, Chairman, to the
House of Bishops on Monday, October 9, where it was adopted
724
1866] Annual Meeting.
and communicated to the lower House for concurrence on the
same day. It was signed by Bishops Lee, Potter, Odenheimer,
Stevens, and Burgess, Drs. Mason and Pinckney, and Mr. Hunt-
ington. The representatives of this Society, the Rev. Mr.
Weaver and Judge Bell, did not sign it. Bishop Potter as Presi-
dent of the Society evidently had not furnished any specific in-
formation concerning the reason why the work of printing the
Standard Bible was in abeyance.
The Committee say : "They have been neither indifferent nor
lax in regard to the charge committed to their trust. That trust
is one to which the attention of the Church, through her repre-
sentative body has for a long succession of years been directed;
but its object has not yet been fulfilled. Causes with which your
Committee are not fully acquainted have interfered with the pro-
posal of the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
to become the publishers of the Standard Bible of the Church;
and they are not aware when, if at all, those causes shall cease."
Among the "obstacles" referred to was a plan once proposed of
"a joint imprimatur with the Church of England." They further
explain the delay "as due in part to the critical condition of our
country for the past three years, and the vested interests of
certain publishers of the Scriptures." They recommend in sub-
stance the same resolutions as had been adopted in previous
Conventions.
The joint Committee appointed was composed of Bishops Al-
fred Lee, Burgess, Potter, Odenheimer and Stevens, the Rev.
Drs. Henry M. Mason, M. deW. Howe, William Pinckney, the
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Messrs. Hugh Davy Evans, Samuel H.
Huntington and William H. Bell. The Rev. Dr. Henry Mason
was elected as typographical corrector. 1
No further mention is made in printed reports of this Society
of the Standard Bible.
The officers chosen at the Annual Meeting October 4, 1866,
were:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D.. First Vice President.
Rev. John McVickar, D.D., Second Vice President.
i. Journal General Convention, 1865, pp. 51, 52, 74, 159, 160, 161. Dr.
Mason's Report is on p. 353, Appendix H.
726 Fifty-Eighth Report. [1866
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Seventh Vice President.
William H. Bell, Eighth Vice President.
Managers: Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev.
Alexander S. Leonard, D.D., Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev.
Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Rev. A. B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac
H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. Henry E. Montgomery, D.D., Rev. Wil-
liam D. Walker, D.D., Rev. Ferdinand C. Ewer, D.D., Messrs.
Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, William
A. Duncan, William B. Clerke, James Van Norden, Samuel P.
Bell, Thomas F. Frank, William R. Ronalds, H. Bruce, J. Buck-
ley, Jr.
FiFTY-ElGHTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER ist, 1866.
As we present this, our Fifty-Eighth Annual Report, we feel
that we have cause to express our gratitude for the continued
progress which our Society has made in the good work committed
to its care. It now stands upon a firmer foundation than ever
before, and is in a position which claims for it the universal
confidence and support of the Church.
The record of our operations is as follows :
We have sold and distributed 44,351 volumes, valued at
$25,314.07. Of this amount $5,300 has been devoted to the
free distribution of 16,000 Bibles and Prayer Books.
Though the sum received from the Church collections and
special donations was only $4,800, we are enabled to supply the
deficiency from other sources, the business operations of the
Society having resulted in a profit after defraying all expenses.
This is the first year in the history of our Society that this point
has been attained, and we hope it is the harbinger of still better
things.
The result gives us the more confidence in our appeal, as it is
a guarantee that the offerings from our brethren will be used
only for the free dissemination of the Bible and Prayer Book,
and not be expended in defraying the expenses of the Depository.
1866] Fifty-Eighth Report. 727
It is time now that we looked for a marked increase in this
branch of our work. During the past year we were obliged to
refuse many applications, and double the amount received could
have been judiciously disposed of.
For the coming year we ask for $10,000. It is certainly a
small sum, in view of the magnitude of the work entrusted to
us. $10,000 worth of Bibles and Prayer Books, to be distributed
through the length and breadth of this vast continent ! What is
it? And yet we dare hardly ask for more, for there is a strange
deadness and coldness among the many in regard to the import-
ance of the work.
Other bodies of Christian people spare no means in the circula-
tion of books setting forth their peculiar views, and renewed
efforts are constantly being made to increase the agencies for
their diffusion; and yet, Churchmen, with a few marked excep-
tions, seem blind to the importance of such efforts on their part.
At the present day, if there is one thing more needed than
another, it is the dissemination of a good sound churchly litera-
ture, and in the foremost rank of such must be placed the Book
of Common Prayer. No book would find a more ready recep-
tion than this, and no other be more acceptable to the missionary
to distribute. Its character is known and appreciated by Church-
men, and the highest tribute to its work is often rendered by
those who are not privileged to use it in their public worship;
and yet, how backward are we in its free circulation! It is a
strange phenomenon and hard to explain.
Take the missionary at home and abroad; take the sailor on
the ocean, the prisoner in his cell, the soldier in his camp, the
traveller on his journey, the poor man in his poverty, the child
at the Sunday School to all the gift of a Prayer Book is hailed
with gratitude and yet we give it not.
We know not what to urge ; we can only again and a'gain state
the simple fact, "that we cannot supply the demand made upon
us." More Prayer Books are needed, and if we gave away
$10,000 worth, we would only pave the way for hundreds of
thousands being asked for; but, in so doing, we should sow the
seed of the Church broadcast over the land, and God's glory
would be advanced.
This is our object and for this we pray the free dissemina-
tion of the Prayer Book, for the extension of the Church, and
728 Treasurer's Report. [1866
the promotion of God's glory ; and it is for this we again present
our annual appeal in behalf of the Society.
Before closing our Report, we would refer, with feelings
of gratitude to the kind liberality of the Society for the Pro-
motion of Religion and Learning in placing the sum of $1,500
at our disposal to be employed in the importation of Bibles and
Testaments, until such time as the Society is in a position to issue
its own editions.
The report of the Treasurer showed that the receipts had been
$31,202.61, the expenditure for all purposes had been $27,384.84,
leaving a balance of $3,817.77.
The Schatzel and Standard Bible Funds were the same in
amount as in previous year. The fund for stereotyping and
other objects was $2,178.50.
At the meeting of December n, 1866, Mr. Ronalds read for
the information of the Board the following extract from "The
Churchman" of June 7, 1834, page 670: "Bible. The cheapest
and most accurate edition of the Bible is one which has been
lately furnished by the Auxiliary New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society. It is furnished in duodecimo, on good
paper and with a clear type, almost as large as that of a common
octavo at 50 cents a copy. And no pains have been spared to
make it accurate. Besides the usual proof-reading, it has been
read three times by the Rev. Mr. Whittingham and other per-
sons associated with him for the purpose. It was read and com-
pared with a folio copy in the Theological Seminary of this city,
printed in 1616, five years after the original publication of 1611,
with a folio black letter of 1639, with a Cambridge quarto of the
same date, and a small octavo of a date not long subsequent. To
the first, that of 1616, the headings to the chapters, the paren-
theses, the italics, and the paragraphs were carefully conformed,
and the other editions were collated in correcting the text. The
corrections which were made were noted at the time and are still
preserved by Mr. Whittingham. We are afraid to hazard an
assertion as to their number or importance, but as inaccuracies
in the common editions are much complained of, we wish it to
be generally known, for the good of the community, as well as
for the credit of our Church, that the cheapest and most accurate
copy of the Bible anywhere to be had, may be procured in a
1866] New Methods Proposed. 729
form adapted to private and family use at the Protestant Episco-
pal Press, No. 46 Lumber St., New York."
Mr. Ronalds moved that a committee be appointed for the
purpose of obtaining further information on the subject.
The Chair appointed as the committee Mr. Ronalds, Rev. Mr.
Clapp, and Mr. Van Norden. (Folio 62.)
An interesting and comprehensive report on methods adopted
by the Societies and on measures which would make this Society
more successful was presented by the Business Committee. (Fo-
lio 64.)
At a meeting of the Business Committee the following plan
was presented, and after being read was adopted by them and
recommended to the consideration of the Board, together with
the resolution appended.
The time has now arrived when in the judgment of your com-
mittee a change in the management of the affairs of the Society
would be beneficial, and we propose to briefly state its character,
as also the grounds upon which it is advocated. The Society has
just celebrated its 57th Anniversary. When the present Agent
had assumed charge, its business amounted to $1,800 in sales.
It was not only far from being self supporting but it year by year
fell behind hand in its funds.
On the first of September last this state of things was entirely
changed ; then it was found that the Society met all its expenses,
at the same time that such moneys as had been received from
Legacies and Life Memberships had been saved to the Society.
Your committee consider this desirable change to have originated
from these two facts, ist. Your Agent had been allowed great
freedom of action ; and 2nd, that he had been in a position to
contribute materially to the Society's support, by affording it
facilities which under the old regime it could not command.
The object now contemplated by your committee is to render
these facilities still more beneficial, and in order to elucidate their
views more fully, they would briefly refer to the experiments of
other institutions of a similar character to our own.
In conversation with the Managers of the American Sunday
School Union and American Tract Society, they have found that
one great drawback to their satisfactory progress has arisen from
the impossibility of carrying on their business with the simplicity
that is to be found in private enterprises of a similar character.
730 New Methods Proposed. [1866
The latter Society has frequently sunken large sums of money
which might easily have been saved under a different order of
things.
The Boston Tract Society (a split from the parent institu-
tion) conducts its business through a private concern and has
thus far met with an unusual degree of success. In England,
the British and Foreign Bible Society (the largest in the world
and just double the size of the Common Bible Society) does not
print a single book but employs other agents; it makes use of
private enterprises. In 1805, the Oxford University Press being
involved in debt, an arrangement was made with a young man by
the name of Parker to take the business as his own. He had not
only to raise a large capital, but was impeded by the want of
confidence in many as to his ultimate success ; he not only, how-
ever, suceeded in paying off the debt, but he accumulated during
his life-time the sum of 100,000. At a later period, the Cam-
bridge Press also found that they could not compete with private
publishers, until they had arranged to do their business through
regular booksellers. Arrangements have lately been consum-
mated by the Oxford University Press with the firm of McMillan
& Co., to take the agency of their miscellaneous publications, and
it is the verdict of the English Press that these valuable books
will now be properly issued and generally circulated. In our
view, past experience has proved as clearly as anything can be
proved that the business of publishing and distributing books
does not belong properly to institutions controlled by committees ;
it is not in the nature of things that it should.
Consider the character of an Agent fitted for such a position,
If independent, he is constantly being controlled; if yielding, he
is soon rendered unfit to compete with others. The facts con-
nected with the agency of our late Agent tell their own story.
At first he was active and energetic, but his path was circum-
scribed, he could only reach a certain point, and when old age
overtook him he was found to have lived and laboured without
being able to secure success, and was looked upon by many as
an impediment to the prosperity of the very institution he had
loved so well, and for which he had so faithfully laboured.
Our Society has now reached a point where in the judgment
of your Committee such an arrangement as has been referred to
can be adopted with the prospect of greatly extending its opera-
tions. The plan proposed is as follows :
1867] Agent's Agreement. 731
To arrange with the present Agent for purchase of the stock,
he to assume all the expenses of carrying on the business and to
supply the Society with such books as are needed for gratuitous
distribution at cash price, he to reimburse himself for expenses
by such profits as he is able to make out of the business. The
Agent to attend as now, to the general interests of the Society
under the control of the Board as at present.
In addition to this, we would strongly urge the employment
of a special Agent to present the claims of the Society throughout
the country. The plan as thus proposed relieves the Society of
all expense excepting salaries to Agents. It simplifies the whole
machinery and unites the energies of the Board upon the one
great object of raising funds for the free distribution of Bibles
and Prayer Books. We are satisfied that such a movement would
not only awaken a new interest, but would also add greatly to
the funds of the institution. The plan at once resolves the So-
ciety into an organization simply for stereotyping correct Bibles
and Prayer Books and for their free circulation in accordance
with their act of incorporation. This arrangement can easily be
terminated at the end of the year, but so certain are we of its
desirability that we feel called upon to urge most strongly its
acceptance.
The Agent reported at the next meeting, April gth. The
agreement he was willing to enter into :
Gentlemen, at your request, I respectfully submit the follow-
ing proposition :
ist. 1 will assume all the incidental expenses of carrying on
the business, rent, clerk hire, etc.
2d. I will supply all orders of the Society for Bibles and
Prayer Books at cost price, and see that same are duly delivered.
3d. I will, as now, attend to the general interests of the
Society and its correspondence on the same terms as at present.
In consideration of the above I propose that the Society con-
sent to the following terms :
i st. That I be allowed to purchase the present stock of
Bibles and Prayer Books on such terms as may be satisfactory
to your committee.
2d. That I be allowed the free use of the Society's plates,
on condition that the said plates be kept in order, it being under-
732 Special Agent Appointed. [1867
stood that the ownership of plates is in nowise affected, and
that no alteration can be made in same without the consent of
the Society.
Very respectfully,
(Signed JAMES POTT, Agent.
Resolved, That the Business Committee be authorized to
accept the proposition of the Agent as presented.
On motion the resolution was adopted.
At the Annual Meeting of October 3, 1867, the following
officers were elected :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. J. McVickar, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Third Vice President.
Rev. S. R. Johnson, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
W. E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Seventh Vice President.
William H. Bell, Eighth Vice President.
Augustus L. Clarkson, Secretary.
James Pott, Agent.
Managers : Rev. W. F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. C. R. Duffie,
D.D., Rev. A. B. Hart, Rev. A. B. Beach, D.D., Rev. I. H.
Tuttle, D.D., Rev. H. E. Montgomery, D. D., Rev. Caleb Clapp,
Rev. A. S. Leonard, D.D., Rev. T. Gallaudet, D.D., Rev. W. D.
Walker, Rev. F. C. Ewer, Rev. A. N. Littlejohn, D.D., Messrs.
Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T. Skidmore, W. B.
Clerke, S. P. Bell, W. R. Ronalds, Thomas F. Frank, H. Bruce,
J. Buckley, Jr., A. Proal, Alexander McDonald, H. E. Pierre-
pont.
Carrying out the suggestion of the Business Committee that
a special agent should be appointed to raise funds for the So-
ciety, the Rev. H. M. Wellman was appointed to that office as
reported at the meeting of December loth, 1867. Mr. Wellman
was undoubtedly successful. His first report showed that he
had raised $1,389 in almost two months. (Folio 74.)
No copy of the Fifty-Ninth Report appears to be in existence.
1868] Sixtieth Report. 733
At the Annual Meeting, held September 24th, 1868, the fol-
lowing officers were elected:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. J. McVickar, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. R. S. Johnson, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Sixth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Seventh Vice President.
William H. Bell, Eighth Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Agent.
Managers: Rev. W. F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius R.
Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev.
Alex. S. Leonard, D.D., Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev. W.
J. Seabury, Rev. A. B. Beach, D.D., Rev. I. H. Turtle, D.D.,
Rev. H. E. Montgomery, D.D., Rev. W. D. Walker, Rev. F.
C. Ewer., Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell, Samuel T.
Skidmore, William B. Clerke, A. Proal, Samuel P. Bell, Thomas
F. Frank, A. L. Clarkson, Alexander McDonald, H. Bruce, J.
Buckley, Jr., W. Amery.
In the report for 1868 the Managers announced the change
in the method of administration of their trust for the Church.
SIXTIETH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER
ist, 1868.
About sixteen months ago the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society disposed of its stock of books to Messrs.
Pott and Amery, and consummated an arrangement with those
gentlemen which relieved the Society of all expense for rent
and clerk hire, and of all risk of losses incident to business.
This arrangement reduced the demands upon the Society to the
salary of the agent, the supplying of plates needful for printing
Bibles and Prayer Books and the procuring funds for their gra-
tuitous distribution.
Twelve months ago, following close upon the change above
mentioned, the Managers ventured to appoint a "Special Agent,
the Rev. Merritt H. Wellman, to bring the work of the Society
to the notice of the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Church, and
734 Sixtieth Report. [1868
to procure for it their confidence and earnest co-operation."
The results as developed by the year's experience seem to them
highly encouraging.
It is believed that much has been done by the Special Agent
of a preliminary nature, the fruits of which are not yet realized.
But the Managers are able to report, and they do it with heart-
felt gratitude to God, that the Society has had more than double
its usual ability to make gratuitous grants for the Mission Work
of the Church during the past year.
From October, 1866, to October, 1867, tne Society received
from donations and Church collections three thousand four
hundred and fifty-five dollars and forty-six cents ($3,455.46).
From October, 1867, to October, 1868, it received nine thou-
sand six hundred and forty-five dollars and thirty-six cents
($9,645.36), or six thousand one hundred and eighty-nine dol-
lars and ninety cents in excess of the previous year.
From October, 1866, to October, 1867, the Society donated
565 Bibles, 2,505 Testaments and 10,226 Prayer Books, 13,296
volumes, at a cost of $4,515.19, leaving the Treasury in debt
$1,060.73.
From October, 1867, to October, 1868, the Society donated
829 Bibles, 6,719 Testaments and 20,289 Prayer Books, or
27,837, at a cost of $9,478.15, leaving in the Treasury $167.21.
The Managers are also thankful to say that to every proper
application for books which has been made to the Society
within the year it has promptly and favourably responded. But
at the same time they feel sure that the applications have been
less numerous and for fewer books than the Mission Work of
the Church has needed. They therefore cannot be satisfied that
the Society is doing its full manner of needful work until it can
encourage the clergy of the Church to ask for the largest num-
ber of books that they can judiciously use and distribute in
Mission Work, and then when asked for, promptly and favour-
ably respond to every proper application.
The clergy are the Church's leading workers. It is but the
purest economy of the Church's working ability to give them
the Prayer Book to the utmost extent that it can facilitate their
efforts.
Much as we value this, our Book of Common Prayer; zeal-
ously as we are accustomed to extol its excellencies; heartily as
1868] Sixtieth Report. 735
we ourselves cling to it for its precious teaching and its depth of
holy feeling; still, we are almost certain that, as a body, we have
failed to appreciate the special and great capabilities of this book,
when used as an impersonal preacher of the Gospel of the Son of
God, and a helper to build up believers in faith and godliness.
We do not know how else fully to account for the fact, that we
have been giving our Clergy so few of them to use in their mis-
sionary efforts.
Our Diocesan Bishops appreciate its aptitude, as their cordial
letters to our Special Agent, commending his appeal to the
Clergy and Laity of their Dioceses, show. Our Missionary
Clergy appreciate it, as their eager applications and offers to pay
as much as they can of the cost of the books, show ; and, which
encourages greatly our Special Agent, the most of the Laity,
with whom he has been able to converse, have required but a brief
explanation to elicit from them substantial tokens of their appre-
ciation.
Christ coming, Christ living, Christ suffering, Christ dying,
Christ rising, Christ ascending, Christ interceding, Christ coming
again to judge the world ; is the great story wherewith the
Prayer Book invites perishing men to believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and be saved.
And this book belongs exclusively to our Church and the
Church of England, to possess for ourselves and to use for others.
It is a Reserve which we ought not to neglect to push forward,
in large numbers, along with our personal preachers, to attend
them in their ministrations, to be left behind them where they
cannot stay, and to be sent on before them whither they cannot
themselves yet go.
In conclusion, we would express the belief that it is not too
much to hope for, that our Laity and Clergy will not resist the
pleading of the Holy Spirit, if He shall urge them to make our
Bible and Prayer Book Depository overflow abundantly into the
hands of every Missionary Bishop, Presbyter and Deacon, giving
to each a liberal supply, as a means whereby he may intensify
and enlarge his personal ministrations.
The General Convention of 1868 met in the City of New
York on Wednesday, October 7, when the opening service was
held in Trinity Church, with sermon by Bishop Lee of Dela-
736 Report on Standard Bible. [1868
ware. The House of Deputies sat at the Church of the Trans-
figuration after the third day for their business sessions, and
the House of Bishops in the School Room of Trinity Chapel.
The question of Ritual largely occupied their attention as well
as the division of the Diocese of New York and the admission
of Nebraska as a Diocese.
The report of the joint committee on the Standard Bible was
presented in the House of Deputies on Friday, October 23, by
the Rev. M. A. DeWolf Howe. It mentioned "the grievous
bereavement sustained by this Commitee as well as the Church,
in the removal from earthly cares and labours of three of their
number, so distinguished for piety and scholarship, as the Rt.
Rev. George Burgess, D.D., the Rev. Henry M. Mason, D.D.,
and Mr. Hugh D. Evans. One of these brethren, the Rev. Dr.
Mason, Typographical Corrector, was mainly instrumental in
the appointment and continuance of the Committee, and no one
in our Church had superior qualifications for the task assigned
him." It detailed unavailing efforts to find a publisher for
the proposed Standard Bible, which was an expensive under-
taking. The Committee also questioned whether the work could
be done in the United States "with the perfection of the best
English Editions." The Committee recommended that the
edition known as "the British Oxford Edition of 1852" be
recognized as the "Standard of typography and punctuation."
The report closed with a resolution for the discharge of the
Committee.
It was signed by Bishops Lee, Potter, Odenheimer and Ste-
vens, Drs. Howe and Pinckney, and Mr. Samuel H. Hunting-
ton.
The report was adopted and the Committee discharged. But
the action was soon reconsidered and the Committee continued.
Bishop Lee presented the report in the House of Bishops on
Saturday, October 24, without the resolution for discharging
the Committee, and it was unanimously accepted.
The reconstructed committee was composed of the Bishops
of Delaware, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Penn-
sylvania, the Rev. Drs. Howe, Pinckney, Hare, the Rev. Joshua
Weaver and Messrs. Samuel H. Huntington, William H. Bell
and James Pott. 1
I. See Journal General Convention, 1868, pp. 120, 121, 247, 251, 258.
1869] Spanish Prayer- Book. 737
The Regular Meeting was held on the evening of February 9,
1869. Present, Rev. J. H. Price, D.D., Rev. T. Gallaudet, D.D.,
Rev. C. Clapp, Frederick De Peyster, Augustus L. Clarkson,
James Pott and Wm. Ritchie Ronalds.
The Committee appointed by the Board of Managers of the
New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society on the
publication of the Bible by the Society in the year 1834, submit
the following report:
That on the presentation of the article published in the New
York Churchman of June 7, 1834, to the Rt. Rev. William Rol-
linson Whittingham, Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, he
said, "The statement was made within my knowledge just after
I had embarked on a voyage rendered necessary by very ill
health. The examination described had then just been com-
pleted. My principal assistants were my sister, Mrs. M. A.
Van Ingen and Mr. (afterwards the Rev.) George W. Tush,
then my private secretary, both since deceased. The Rev. J. V.
Van Ingen, then like myself also in ill health, assisted. A
written record of changes made was preserved and bound.
That with a bundle of papers relating to the revision (as I be-
lieve of the bound volume I am sure) are now in my possession,
are entirely at the command of the venerable Society.
Resolved, That the Rt. Rev. William Rollinson Whittingham,
Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, be requested to send the
volume now in his possession, containing a written record of
changes made and preserved of the Bible corrected by him, to
the Society for preservation.
WM. RITCHIE RONALDS,
CALEB CLAPP.
The Secretary reported at this meeting that the Society would
receive about $6,000 from the legacy of Mrs. Elizabeth Wooley.
(Folio 79.)
At the meeting of October 12, 1869, the Rev. A. B. Hart,
D.D., and the Agent, were appointed a Committee on the
Spanish Prayer Book, to report to the Board of Managers.
(Folio 83.)
The records in the minutes are scanty and irregular. There
are no records of the annual meeting for 1869, an d there are
no records of acts done from December I4th, 1869, to March
2ist, 1871.
(47)
738 Sixty- First Report. [1869
We are therefore dependent really upon the printed reports
and announcements for the acts of the Society for the period
between December I4th, 1869, and March 2ist, 1871.
Mr. Wellman's work in behalf of the Society was soon ap-
parent in increased contributions.
He prepared appeals and circulars which were sent to promin-
ent clergymen and laymen. He presented the claims of the
Society in those parishes willing to receive him and offered
many suggestions of value to the Managers.
His missionary experience had shown him the necessity for
books as well as men; and he had access to those who had the
financial ability to forward the Church's work in this way.
SIXTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1869.
The New- York Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society re-
spectfully refers to the retrospect of its work during the past
three years, as being, perhaps, the shortest and best method of
exhibiting its present claim to the favourable and liberal support
of all who love the faithful teaching and sacred paths of Holy
Scripture, as they are wonderfully embodied and expressed in
the Book of Common Prayer.
From October, 1866, to October, 1868, the Society received,
from donations and Church collections, $3,455.46.
From October, 1867, to October, 1868, the Society received,
from donations and Church collections, $9,645.36.
From October, 1868, to October, 1869, the Society received,
from donations and Church collections, $9,457.50.
At the beginning of the year just ended it was hoped that the
year might show a further encouraging increase of ability to re-
spond to the needs of the Church's Mission Work. In this hope
of a further increase, however, we have been disappointed. But
we are thankful to report that we have lost none of the ground
which was gained in the year preceding. We are also thankful
to report that all proper applications from our Bishops and
Clergy were favourably responded to, up to within two or three
weeks of the year. The response to those applications, we trust,
need not be long delayed.
There have been donated the past year, 962 Bibles (20 large
Bibles for the Desk), 3,389 Testaments, and 22,819 Prayer
1869] Sixty-First Report. 739
Books; in all, 27,170 volumes. This shows 3,330 less Teseta-
ments, but 133 Bibles and 2,530 Prayer Books more than were
donated the year previous.
These more than 27,000 volumes have gone into the hands of
25 Bishops and 338 Clergymen, in 42 Dioceses and Missionary
jurisdictions, in parcels of from 10 to 500 volumes.
Through the hands of those Missionaries, these volumes have
gone to take their places of usefulness on the desk and in the
pews, or on benches, and to minister instruction and consolation
in families and to individuals in every section of our country,
and in the foreign fields of our Church's Missionary efforts. If
we could but follow every one of these more than 27,000 "Im-
personal Preachers" of the Gospel of the Son of God to their
particular destination, and then also anticipate their prolonged
work of usefulness in the future, doubtless we should feel that
our work the past year of sending these out to their several places
to minister truth and salvation to perishing human souls, has
been a work, the importance of which Eternity alone can meas-
ure. Certainly it is a work which will not return to us void of
blessed results. We can also believe that it will prosper in that
which God shall please. Therefore, to God will \ve give glory
for the past ; also to Him will we look for grace, and opportunity
in the future to send out, in larger numbers, these aids to wor-
ship, as also ministers of truth and godliness, to those who need
and shall be found willing to receive them.
During the past year the Society had procured new stereotype
plates for a 321110 and a I2mo Prayer Book, paged uniformly
with the Standard Prayer Book. The plates for the 48mo of this
paged series were procured two or three years ago.
The Society now has three, a 481110, a 321110 and a I2tno of
the proposed series of uniformly paged Prayer Books. The
cost of these plates has been met from legacies. No part of the
donations and Church collections annually received are diverted
from the work of gratuitous distribution.
For full financial details, see Treasurer's Report.
In our Report last year, we said : "The Managers cannot be
satisfied that the Society is doing its full measure of needful
work, until it can encourage the Missionaries of the Church to
ask for the largest number of books that they can judiciously use
and distribute in their 'Mission Work.' ' The point at which we
740 Annual Meeting. [1870
can venture to hold out that latitude of encouragement we have
not yet reached. We appeal to all friends of Missionary and Mis-
sion Work to help us to reach it speedily. Help us to reach it in
the year into which we have entered.
To those who reside within the bounds of New- York, let us
say, that in sending your money to us you do not give to New-
York, as some seem to suppose, but you contribute only a portion
of the costs of books which we send to the Missionaries in your
own Diocese. Our experience in the last two years prompts us
to add a word to the Missionaries themselves.
While we cannot feel willing to adopt the illiberal policy of
giving only to those from whom we shall have received, yet there
are grave reasons why every Missionary congregation, which
enjoys the advantages which the charity of others enables us to
confer upon it, should do something towards replenishing our
treasury and enlarging our ability to confer a like benefit upon
the multitude of others who are in an equally needy condition.
Dear Brethren Bishops, Clergy, Laity in thus trying to
stir up your minds and hearts, we have been influenced by no
less a mutual interest than St. Paul expressed when he wrote,
"Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works."
The contributions for the year had been $9,457.50.
At the Annual Election these officers were chosen:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex ofrlcio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, First Vice President.
Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, Second Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Third Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fourth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Fifth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Sixth Vice President.
William H. Bell, Seventh Vice President.
William R. Ronald, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Agent, Cooper Union.
Rev. Merritt H. Wellman, Special Agent.
Managers: Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. DufBe, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Alex-
ander S. Leonard, D.D., Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, Rev. William
J. Seabury, Rev. A. B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D.,
1870] Sixty-Second Keport. 741
Rev. Henry E. Montgomery, D.D., Rev. William D. Walker,
Rev. Ferdinand C. Ewer, Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mit-
chell, Samuel T. Skidmore, William B. Clerke, A. Proal, Samuel
P. Bell, Thomas F. Frank, A. L. Clarkson, Alexander McDon-
ald, H. Bruce, J. Buckley, Jr., W. Amery.
SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1870.
The special effort made during the last three years under
the supervision of the Special Agent, the Rev. Merritt H. Well-
man, has resulted in the free distribution by the Society of
72,645 volumes, Bibles, Testaments and Prayer Books. Grati-
fying as this result appears, it only shows a very limited portion
of the work which might have been, and should have been done.
We need larger contributions in the future if we are to meet the
great demand made upon our funds.
The work of this Society is so well organized as to avoid much
of the useless machinery attached to Church Institutions. We
ask for greater interest to be manifested in the work by those
who have the ability to aid us.
Our work extends over the whole Country it is purely Mis-
sionary. We have to give where we may not expect returns.
The Special Agent is prepared to present the claims of the
Society, personally, whenever and wherever it may be in his
power to do so. We most earnestly commend his appeal to the
consideration of all within the Church, with the earnest prayer
that it will meet with a kind and liberal response.
At the Annual Election, held in October, 1870, these officers
were chosen:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Third Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fourth Vice President.
William E. Dunscomb, Fifth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Sixth Vice President.
William H. Bell, Seventh Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Agent, Cooper Union.
742 Methods of Special Agent. [1870
Rev. Merritt H. Wellman, Special Agent.
Managers: Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. Duffie, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Alexander S. Leonard,
D.D., Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, Rev. William J. Seabury, Rev.
Abraham B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev.
Henry E. Montgomery, Rev. William D. Walker, Rev. Ferdi-
nand C. Ewer, Messrs. Cyrus Curtiss, John W. Mitchell, Samuel
F. Skidmore, William B. Clerke, A. Proal, Samuel P. Bell,
Thomas F. Frank, A. L. Clarkson, Alexander McDonald, H.
Bruce, J. Buckley, Jr., W. Amery.
The Treasurer reported that from all sources there had been
received $17,035.96, of which there had been expended $16,-
185.22, leaving a cash balance of $850.74.
As a specimen of Mr. Wellman's method this circular is here
inserted :
New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, 5 and 13
Cooper Union, Fourth Avenue, New York.
Established A. D. 1809. Local in NAME ONLY, its work is
for the Church at large in all the Dioceses and missionary juris-
dictions.
Its General Object is the Gratuitous Distribution of Bibles
and the Book of Common Prayer.
It specially aims, however, by its present appeals, to secure
such large assistance towards meeting the cost of Prayer Books
as shall place this best "Impersonal Preacher" at the call of all
City, Diocesan and General Missionaries of the Church to the
extent of their opportunities to judiciously use and distribute
them.
One hundred dollars will meet the cost of four hundred
copies of the Society's new and excellent 481110 missionary
Prayer Book. The cost of 241110 and i8mo books is propor-
tionately greater.
JAMES POTT, REV. MERRITT H. WELLMAN,
Agent. Special Agent.
The undersigned will pay $100 for cost of 400 Prayer Books,
to be sent to
or $50 for cost of 200 Prayer Books, to be sent to
or $25 for cost of 100 Prayer Books
1871] Sixty-Third Report. 743
or $ for cost of Prayer Books
or $ for cost of Bibles
Signature,
Address,
Please draw pencil through all except that to which you wish
to sign your name.
At the meeting of March 2ist, 1871, the desirability of erect-
ing or purchasing a building by the Society for its own uses was
referred to the Business Committee.
The Report for 1871 is one of the briefest ever issued by the
Society, and it is also one of the most impressive in its plain
presentation of facts.
The receipts for the year reached the large sum of $45,059.94.
In them was included a legacy of $20,000 from Mr. John Al-
styne.
The disbursements for all purposes, including purchases for
investment of funds, were $44,316.81, leaving a balance of
SIXTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1871.
In presenting its Annual Report "the New York Bible and
Common Prayer Book Society" has again to rejoice in the ex-
tended efforts it has been enabled to put forth in disseminating
the Bible and Prayer Book.
During the past year it has distributed 25,549 volumes,
making the distribution for the past four years 98,376 volumes,
at a cost of $37.496. Our work, as we have so often urged, is a
purely Missionary Work, extending to all portions of our
Church; and we aim to distribute Bibles and Prayer-Books
wherever they are needed. It is only necessary to ask those
who are the recipients of our bounty, to be satisfied of the great
help which our donations afford in extending the knowledge of
our Church, and in aiding in the establishment of her missions.
Many are the thanks we receive almost daily, and many are the
hearts we have cheered.
The extent of the field to be occupied is not easily estimated.
We might in our own Diocese ALONE distribute the volumes
given away during the past year without fully covering the want
744 Sixty-Third Report. [1871
which exists. We have now applications from many of our
Bishops covering thousands of volumes needed for immediate
use in opening up new missionary fields.
Organized as our Society is for the sole purpose of FREE DIS-
TRIBUTION, we feel that we have a strong claim upon all for
liberal contributions in our behalf. We again bespeak for our
Special Agent a kind reception and a liberal response to his
appeal.
We can easily double our donations if the necessary means
are afforded us, and we cannot avoid urging as a strong incen-
tive to all Churchmen to aid us, that in so doing they will help
us to give our Prayer Book a firmer hold upon the people of this,
land, and thus help not only in sustaining, but also in spread-
ing the "faith once for all delivered to the Saints."
These officers were chosen on October 5, 1871 :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Third Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Sixth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Seventh Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Eighth Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Agent, Cooper Union.
Rev. Merritt H. Wellman, Special Agent.
Managers: Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. Durfie, Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev.
Thomas Gallaudet, Rev. William J. Seabury, Rev. Abraham B.
Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. Henry E. Mont-
gomery, D.D., Rev. William D. Walker, Rev. Theodore A.
Eaton, Rev. Joseph H. Rylance, D.D., Messrs. John W. Mit-
chell, William B. Clerke, Samuel P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, H.
Bruce, J. Buckley, Jr., W. Wright, Henry Rogers, William H.
Green, G. D. L. Harison, Thomas Egleston, Edwin Young.
On December 5th, 1871, a Special Meeting was held to con-
sider the acceptance of the gift of a certificate for ten shares
of the Saint Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad Company from
1872] Sixty-Fourth Report. 745
Mr. John H. Swift. It was accompanied by a letter from Mr.
Swift stating these conditions : It was to be held in trust as an
endowment fund, the principal to be held intact, and the stock
not to be sold during Mr. Swift's life-time without his consent.
All dividends of stock were to be added to the principal, and
only the income from it to be used.
The Board with grateful thanks accepted the gift, and acceded
to the conditions.
At the same meeting it was
Resolved, That the Agent be and he is hereby authorized to
expend the sum of $200 under the direction of the Bishop in
correcting the stereotype plates so that the several editions of the
Book of Common Prayer issued by the Society conform in all
respects with the Standard Book of Common Prayer as set forth
by the General Convention of the Church held in Baltimore in
the year 1871. (Folio 93.)
At the meeting of January 9, 1872, it was
Resolved, That until the By-Laws shall be so amended as to
provide expressly for the custody of the Securities for the In-
vestment Funds of the Society, the said Securities shall be de-
posited in charge of the Agent and the Chairman of the Business
Committee.
On motion, Resolved, That the Business Committee are here-
by made the custodians of the Interest and Income of the Society
on all its invested funds, and to be invested by them, except in
such cases as the interest is directed to be applied by the bequests
to the Society for a specific purpose, and then to be applied ac-
cording to such donation, and also of all devises or legacies now
left or hereafter may come to the possession of the Society, and
to be invested by them under the direction of the Board of Man-
agers. (Folio 95.)
SIXTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1872.
The Board of Managers have no elaborate Report to present.
During the past year the Society has steadily carried on the good
work of freely circulating the Bible and the Book of Common
Prayer, thus cheering the hearts of many missionaries.
746 Sixty-Fourth Report. 1872]
What it has accomplished, however encouraging, bears but a
small proportion to the existing need. This is the old and oft
repeated tale, and yet as the missionary spirit extends and our
Church pushes her way more and more into the spiritually desti-
tute portion of our land, it must needs be that the call for the
Prayer-Book will become more frequent and more urgent.
Each month finds the Society unable to meet all the demands
made upon it. It is hard for those not actively engaged in the
work to realize the number, variety, and pressing character of
these calls. The City Mission, with its Hospitals, Asylums,
Schools and Missions the Seaman's Mission covering a field
which the entire income of the Society would hardly enable us to
supply, reaching as it does all classes of vessels sailing from our
port Missions in our own State, in the North, the South, the
East and the West, from all classes and from all directions, the
calls continuously come. One cannot fix the locality any more
than one can limit the extent of the Society's work.
As before stated, so long as the Church exists, and the mis-
sionary spirit lives, so long must the demand for the Prayer-
Book continue. For over fifty years has our Society laboured.
It has seen friend after friend depart, and yet in its old age its
"natural force is not abated" ; its energies have rather been re-
newed. New friends are enlisted in its behalf, and it now sees
before it a future of extended usefulness. Well, then, does it
become all who are interested in its management, to rejoice in
the opportunity thus afforded them of helping forward the
Church's work, not begrudging the time, means, and labour they
may have to expend, but happy in the good they may be able to
accomplish, and looking for their full reward only when the toils
and labour of life are ended.
For over fifty years has our Society laboured. It has seen
friend after friend depart, and yet in its old age, "its natural force
is not abated," its energies have rather been renewed. New
friends are enlisted in its behalf and it now sees before it a future
of extended usefulness.
The distribution of Bibles, New Testaments and Prayer Books
had reached the large number of 31,116. The receipts including
funds withdrawn from the Trust Company for investment had
been $34,156.96.
1872] Annual Meeting. 747
At the Annual Meeting held October 3, 1872, these officers
were elected :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Third Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Sixth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Seventh Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Eighth Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Agent.
Special Agent, Rev. Merritt H. Wellman.
Managers: Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev. Cornelius
R. Ditffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, D.D., Rev. Caleb Clapp,
Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev. William J. Seabury, Rev.
Abraham B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H. Turtle, D.D., Rev. Henry
E. Montgomery, D.D., Rev. William D. Walker, Rev. Theodore
A. Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Rylance, D.D., Messrs. John W.
Mitchell, Wm. B. Clerke, Samuel P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, Hamil-
ton Bruce. Henry Rogers. W. W. Wright, G. D. L. Harison,
William H. Guion, Edwin Young, Thomas Egleston.
An adjourned meeting of the Prayer Book Society was held at
Messrs. Pott, Young & Co.'s on Tuesday evening, November 26,
1872.
Present, Rev. Dr. Price in the Chair, Rev. Mr. Weaver, Rev.
Dr. Duffie, Rev. Dr. Hart, Rev. Dr. Gallaudet, Rev. Mr. Sea-
bury, Rev. Mr. Walker, Messrs. Mitchell, Bell, Clarkson, Ron-
alds, Pott, and Rogers.
The following report was then read by the Chairman of the
Committee, Rev. Mr. Seabury, which on motion was accepted
and ordered to be placed on the Minutes :
The Committee to whom it was referred to revise the By-Laws
of the N. Y. B. and C. P. B. Society, beg leave respectfully to
report that they have very carefully examined them and have
reached the conclusion that they require considerable alteration
in order to adapt them to the present working order of the So-
748 Report on By-Laws. [1872
ciety. They have therefore deemed it advisable to present a
complete set of proposed By-Laws, taking the present ones as
the basis, and making only such additions as seemed desirable.
They have endeavoured to arrange the proposed By-Laws in
such a way that each article shall fully dispose of the subject of
which it treats, so that there may be as little difficulty as possible
in ascertaining the will of the Society in respect to any matter
provided for in its By-Laws.
In view of the fact that the Board of Managers is practically
the working Society, they have thought that it would be more
simple to have the duties of the Board, of the Business Commit-
tee, who are its agents, and of the Treasurer, who -acts in con-
nection with it, all set forth in the Society's By-Laws. In the
judgment of your Committee one cause of confusion has been
that the duties of the Agent, the Business Committee, and the
Board of Managers were contained in various provisions
partly in the By-Laws of the Society, and partly in those of the
Board. They have, therefore, incorporated in the proposed By-
Laws of the Society, herewith submitted, all the By-Laws of the
Board of Managers w r hich seemed necessary for its proper regu-
lation. If these proposed By-Laws are adopted, the action of
the Board of Managers will be sufficiently regulated without
any rules of its own. It will act as the representative of the
Society in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Society.
Your Committee beg to call particular attention to the neces-
sity of altering the present rule of amendments, which, in requir-
ing the unanimous consent of those present at the annual meet-
ing, or the postponement of proposed amendments for at least
the period of thirty days, constitutes, in the judgment of your
Committee, a very unnecessary restriction on the freedom of the
Society to alter its own laws.
Your Committee have endeavoured to frame the proposed By-
Laws in such a way as to deserve the approval of every member
of the Society. But if they have failed in this endeavour they at
least venture to hope that the proposed article of amendment
will be adopted, in order that such amendments as are deemed
necessary in other matters may in the future be proposed with a
better prospect of adoption.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
November 22, 1872, WM. J. SEABURY, Chairman.
1873] Sixty-Fifth Report. 749
The By-Laws as amended were adopted and, in order to con-
form to the change of title in the new By-Laws, the name of
agent was abolished, and that of Treasurer substituted, and
James Pott was duly elected to fill that office. (Folio 105.)
A course of sermons was given in the winter of 1872-73 by
Bishop Littlejohn, and the Rev. Drs. B. H. Paddock, Samuel Os-
good and William F. Morgan. They presented the claims of the
Society, and showed the beauty, adaptability and necessity of the
Book of Common Prayer. The collections at these special ser-
vices were $34 1.8 1.
SIXTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1873.
The New York Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society, in
presenting its Sixty-Fifth Annual Report, would state that its
work has gone on in the usual channel ; all applications for Bibles
and Prayer-Books having been met to the full extent of the So-
ciety's means.
The distribution during the past year has amounted to over
32,000 volumes, and these have been freely scattered throughout
the length and breadth of the land, cheering many hearts.
With us the Prayer-Book is such a constant companion that we
find it hard to realize the feelings of those who are deprived of it.
We could relate many instances where the Missionary could not
find words with which to express his thanks for the Society's do-
nations. He tells us how the members of his household have
gathered round the parcel to see it opened, and when the Prayer-
Book, so long desired, is at last received, tears of joy are shed,
and the earnest prayer goes up for a blessing upon those who
have thus aided them ; they feel they are not forgotten, and that
now the service they love so well can be enjoyed by others.
Not only is the Prayer-Book needed in building up the congre-
gation, but it is better than the best of tracts for free distribution.
Bishop Whipple writes, "of an instance when snow-bound on
one of his journeys he left a Prayer Book at the house at which
he had been staying, and the result was that a whole family was
brought into the Church; he says, "I could tell of scores of
such cases. If I had the means I would give a Prayer Book to
every man, woman and child, in the country ; it is a good preach-
er, it tells only of the Saviour, it never makes mistakes, it does not
750 Sixty-Fifth Report. [1873
assail others, it pleads for unity and love, and speaks the truth in
charity."
This is the book which we seek to circulate, and we certainly
have cause for gratitude in the number we have been able to dis-
tribute, though we cannot but hope for a still more extended cir-
culation in the future.
We have again and again stated our views as to the prosecu-
tion of our work. We are most anxious to obtain the means of
extending it far beyond its present limits. We see new fields
opening constantly, and if we were in a position to occupy them
a great work could be done for the Church.
As the years roll round they bring many changes to remind us
of the necessity of working, and working faithfully, while we
have the time and opportunity.
During the past year two of our Vice Presidents have been re-
moved by death from our midst, the Rev. S. J. Seabury, D.D.,
and the Rev. S. R. Johnson, D.D., men long identified not only
with our Society, but with the past history of our Church.
Feeble health had prevented the former of late years from
meeting with us, but with Dr. Johnson our relations in the So-
ciety were unbroken, he taking an active interest in its concerns
and being a constant attendant at its meetings.
Thus drop one by one, the links which bind us to the past, leav-
ing us to occupy the vacant places and carry on the Master's
work.
May we be found as faithful to our trust as those have been
whom we now commemorate, that so, when we depart, others
may rejoice in the success of our labours.
Even as we are closing our report, we hear of another good
man gone to his rest, and the Church mourns over the loss of the
faithful and zealous Bishop of Colorado.
He was a warm friend of our Institution, and it is certainly no
little satisfaction to us to feel that we have been instrumental in
aiding him in his arduous labours.
The receipts for the year had been $36,952.02, which included
legacies of $20,000 from Mr. J. P. Van Home, $1,000 from Mr.
A. Bibby, and $100 from Mr. L. B. Holmes. A cash balance of
$31.26 was on hand.
1874] Death of Floyd Smith. 751
At the October meeting in 1873, these officers were chosen :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Floyd Smith, Fifth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Sixth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Seventh Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore. Eighth Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Recording Secretary, No. 15 Nassau St.
James Pott, Treasurer, Cooper Union.
Rev. Merritt H. Wellman, Special Agent.
Managers : Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer
Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev.
William J. Seabury, Rev. A. B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac Tuttle,
D.D., Rev. Henry E. Montgomery, D.D., Rev. William D.
Walker, Rev. Theodore Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Rylance,
D.D., Rev. Joseph P. Lundy, D.D., Rev. George J. Geer, D.D.,
Rev. Frank L. Norton, Messrs. John W. Mitchell, William B.
Clerke, Samuel P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, Hamilton Bruce, John
Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright, Henry Rogers, William H. Guion,
G. D. L. Harison, Thomas Egleston, Alexander V. Blake.
During the year the Society met with a serious loss in the
death of Mr. Floyd Smith, a founder of the Auxiliary Society,
who had served as its Agent and had been eminently useful in
his parish, in the diocese, and the Church at large. He died on
Easter Monday, April 6th, 1874.
The Church Journal 1 has this appreciative notice of him :
"We regret to have heard of the death of Mr. Floyd Smith, a
member of the Diocese of New York, whose busy life was closed
at the age of eighty-three on Monday in Easter week. Mr.
Smith had been known and respected in the councils of the
Church for more than half a century. In the annual Convention
of the Diocese he has been for many years a representative of
the Church of the Annunciation, of which he has been a member
since the time of its organization, and for more than twenty
years its Senior Warden. He first took his seat in the Diocesan
Convention in 1816.
I. The Church Journal, New York, April 30, 1874, Vol. XXII. pp. 278-9.
752 Committee on Funds. [1874
"He was a member of the General Convention of 1835,
has since very often been a representative of the Diocese of New
York in that body. He has been also for many years a Trustee
of the General Theological Seminary, and a member of its Stand-
ing Committee, and for forty years he has been annually chosen
by the Convention to serve in the Standing Committee of the
Diocese.
"Thus his loss will be felt not only in his domestic circle, but
also in the wider sphere of Church legislation and government.
He was a Churchman of the days of Bishop Hobart. In his own
parish he was the trusted friend and supporter of the Rev. Dr.
Seabury, and in the Standing Committee the associate of such
men as Gulian C. Verplanck and Chancellor Jones. He was a
man of pure and upright life, of excellent judgment, and of a
firm and well balanced character, and his relations in business
and society as well as in the Church were such as procured for
him the respect and affection of all who knew him."
At a regular meeting held September 8th, 1874. Present, Rev.
J. H. Price, D.D., J. W. Mitchell, Hamilton Bruce, A. L. Clark-
son, S. P. Bell, James Pott, William Ritchie Ronalds.
On motion of Mr. De Peyster the following was resolved and
carried after discussion :
Whereas, The present wants of the Church demand a much
larger supply of Bibles and Books of Common Prayer than the
income of the Society can at this time furnish, arising from the
rapid increase of Parishes in all parts of the Union ; therefore,
Resolved, That it be and is hereby referred to a Special Com-
mittee of five members of the Board to ascertain the amount of
its present funds, and whether the same are without restriction as
to their use. If restrictions, the nature of the same, such inquiry
having in view the expediency and propriety of applying a portion
thereof to meet the above mentioned wants, and to such extent
and in such manner as will satisfactorily carry out the design of
this Incorporation, by the accomplishment of the objects for
which it was specially designed.
The Chairman appointed the Committee as follows: Messrs.
De Peyster, Egleston, Clarkson, Buckley and Bell.
1874] Sixty-Sixth Report. 753
SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1874.
In presenting their Annual Report the Board of Managers feel
that they have much cause for gratitude in the measure of suc-
cess which has attended their efforts during the year just closed,
a year so marked by financial difficulties.
We have distributed 24,034 volumes throughout all portions
of our land receiving, in return, the grateful thanks of those to
whom our donations have been sent.
It is true that our labours are but still limited, and that we
cannot go forth as we would wish to do, offering the Prayer-
Book freely wherever it would find a welcome recipient.
We might quote from many letters almost daily received to
prove the value of our work and to show the good which we are
accomplishing in enabling the missionaries scattered all over our
land to effectually carry on their noble work of preaching the
Gospel. We will, however, give an extract from but one of these.
It is a fair type of the others.
A Missionary from Kentucky writes as follows :
"Mount Sterling, Ky.
"Permit me to thank you very warmly for your generous do-
nations of Prayer Books for my mission. They are the best
Tracts for mission purposes that I know of.
"About a year ago I received quite a large number, which I
have distributed among the people who had scarcely heard of
our Church before, who had never seen a clergyman or received
a Prayer Book in their lives until I took them some. These poor
people knew how to prize them. They receive them with grateful
eagerness, and read them with avidity which would astonish
many of our city, to whom the dear book has been, alas ! in many
cases, too 'Common' all their lives.
"I must tell you a little incident. I stopped at the 'Old Forge'
as it is called, one night on my way to the mountains. I saw
a well-worn Prayer Book on the table, and in my surprise, I ex-
claimed, 'Why, what is this?' 'I don't know what you call it/
said the good woman, 'but I understand it's what 'piscopals, I
think they call them, use. But it's a mighty good book. I would
not part with it for nothing. I should think they must be mighty
good people that use that book.'
(48)
754 Annual Meeting. [1874
"Smiling with real delight I asked her if she read it much. She
said she thought the prayers couldn't be beat, and then it was so
full of Scripture. But she could not understand the Christian
Year. I offered to exchange with her and give her a better copy,
hers was so worn, and part of it gone. No, she would not part
with the old book, it had so often given her much comfort On
my way home I stopped there again, and preached. The large
dining room was crowded, and those simple country folk went
through the service with delight. I was besieged by entreaties to
go again, and for Prayer Books, and the 'Old Forge' is one of
my numerous stations. The Prayer Book was the pioneer of the
Church."
Thus we are striving to sow good seed.
Again we have to notice a break in the number of our active
friends. During the year just closed, another member of our
Board has been removed by death, Mr. Floyd Smith, one of the
oldest and most faithful of our members. He saw the Society in
its infancy, has helped to direct its progress, and rejoiced in its
prosperity. While mourning his loss, we cannot but bear our
testimony thus publicly to his character as a faithful Christian
man.
The Treasurer reported receipts from all sources of $i 1,340.63,
and expenditures of $11,113.88, leaving a balance on hand of
$126.75.
These officers were chosen at the Annual Meeting held October
8, 1874:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Fifth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Sixth Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Seventh Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Eighth Vice President.
Henry Rogers, Secretary, 209 E. I3th St.
James Pott, Treasurer, Cooper Union.
Managers: Rev. Cornelius R. Duffle, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer
Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev.
1874] Death of Rev. Dr. Montgomery. 755
William J. Seabury, Rev. Alfred B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H.
Tuttle, D.D., Rev. H. E. Montgomery, D.D., Rev. William D.
Walker, Rev. Theodore A. Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Rylance,
D.D., Rev. Joseph P. Lundy, D.D., Rev. George J. Geer, D.D.,
Rev. John N. Galleher, D.D., Messrs. John W. Mitchell, William
B. Clerke, Samuel P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, Hamilton Bruce,
J. Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright, Henry Rogers, William H.
Guion, G. G. L. Harison, Thomas Egleston, Alex. V. Blake.
In 1874 the Society received a legacy of $5,000.00 from Mr.
George Merritt.
A special meeting of the Board was held October 28, 1874, at
the office of the Society. Present, Rev. Dr. Dufrie, in the Chair,
Messrs. De Peyster, Mitchell, Clarkson, Clerke, Pott, Buckley,
Ronalds, Egleston, Harison and Rogers.
The regular business order was passed over, and Mr. Pott
stated that the Board was called together for the purpose of pass-
ing suitable resolutions relative to the death of the Rev. Dr. H.
E. Montgomery.
The resolutions were then presented and passed unanimously,
and a copy was ordered to be sent to the family of Dr. Mont-
gomery.
RESOLUTIONS.
"It having pleased Almighty God to remove from our midst
one of our fellow members, the Rev. H. E. Montgomery, D.D.,
therefore,
"Resolved, That we hereby record our sense of the great loss
which has been sustained, not only by our Society, but by the
Church at large. We recognize in him a true Christian man and
faithful Pastor, zealous in all good works, and that now ceasing
from his labours he has gone to his rest, awaiting his reward at
the Resurrection.
"To his family and Parish we offer our deepest sympathy,
praying that the same Fatherly hand that sent the trial may give
to all the submissive will and patient heart to bear it."
CHAPTER XXII.
CONTENTS.
Report from Committee on Funds of Society Release Given in Matter
of Duvant Legacy Report for 1875 Election of Officers The German
Prayer Book Report of Committee Summary of Action of General
Convention on the Several Versions of the Prayer Book Report for
1876 Election of Officers Report for 1877 Election of Officers Death
of Hamilton Bruce Report on Ten Year's Work, 1868-1877 Death of
Rev. Caleb Clapp Death of John W. Mitchell Report for 1878 Work
among American Indians Prayer Books in Indian Dialects Translations
in the Dakota Tongue Election of Officers, 1878 Death of Cyrus Cur-
tiss Report for 1879 Election of Officers Prayer Book in Norwe-
gian Report for 1880 Election of Officers.
A REGULAR Meeting of the Board was held January I2th,
1875. Present, Rev. Drs. Price and Duffie, Rev. A. B.
Hart, Messrs. De Peyster, Mitchell, Clarkson, Ronalds,
Egleston, and the Treasurer.
The Treasurer presented the following report:
Distribution to January ist: 755 Bibles, 10,428
Prayer, 263 Testaments; 11,446 volumes $4,012 41
Receipts from October i, 1874 $13,412 78
Payments 4,029 27
Balance $9*383 5 1
Invested in W. S. Stock, $9,000 (temporarily).
The Minutes of the Business Committee were then read.
Mr. De Peyster then presented the Report of the Special
Committee appointed October 3Oth, 1874, and the following
resolution reported by said Committee was unanimously adopt-
ed:
Resolved, "That your Committee, while recognizing the
growth of the Church and with it the greatly increased demand
for Bibles and Prayer Books, calling as it does, upon our So-
ciety for grants to the full extent of its power, do not deem it
advisable to use any of the Society's funds now invested, but
756
1875] Forty-Seventh Report. 757
they do heartily recommend the adoption of a liberal policy in
the future by appropriating as far as is deemed advisable, a
portion of the proceeds of any legacies that may be received, to
the great object of the Society, viz : the free distribution of
Bibles and Prayer Books." (Folio 122.)
A Regular Meeting of the Board was held May n, 1875.
Present, Rev. Dr. Price in the Chair, Rev. Dr. Duffie, Rev. Mr.
Hart, Messrs. De Peyster, Ronalds, Buckley, Bell and Egleston,
with the Treasurer and Secretary.
A communication was read by the Treasurer, asking a release
of a certain bequest on behalf of the New York Bible Society
by their Committee on Legacies, so that the bequest may be re-
ceived by the Society without fear of future claims. After
discussion the following resolutions were passed :
Whereas, The late Clark Duvant, by his last Will and Testa-
ment, dated September 3d, 1872, has made bequest therein as
follows, viz : "Twenty-third - - I give and bequeath to the New
York Bible Society, incorporated in eighteen hundred and
twenty-tree, Five Thousand Dollars." And \Vhereas, The Ex-
ecutors of the said Will have thought that the New York Bible
and Common Prayer Book Society may hereafter make some
claim against them for the said sum under the said provision of
said will; it is now hereby declared, and
Resolved, That the New York Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society make no claim to the said sum, and hereby release
all claim and right to the same.
On motion the Secretary was directed to make a copy of
above resolutions and transmit to the N. Y. Bible Society.
On behalf of Mr. Bell, Mr. Ronalds presented to the Board
the record and minutes of the early transactions of the N. Y.
Bible and Common Prayer Book Society and the Auxiliary So-
ciety of date 1809, and later on motion the thanks of the Board
were presented to Mr. Bell for the record as above.
SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1875.
The Society of which we here make account has gone on dur-
ing the past year doing in a quiet steady manner the work for
which it was organized and appointed.
Within the year past one of our members, most useful and be-
758 Forty-Eighth Report. [1875
loved and a faithful servant of Christ, also in the ministry of
His Church, the Rev. H. E. Montgomery, D.D., has finished the
work which was given him to do, and rests from his labours.
And in blessing the holy name of God as in the prayer for
Christ's Militant Church we are taught to do "for all His ser-
vants departed this life in His faith and fear," so would we also
desire thankfully to recognize His goodness in having put it into
the hearts of many of His faithful servants, now waiting in Para-
dise the glorious consummation of their faith, to remember in
the final disposition of the property He has given in charge to
them, the Society, the anniversary of which we now celebrate.
Most advantageous have been these legacies to the Society,
and greatly indeed have they aided in its work. May the good
example of these faithful servants of their Lord, who in years
past have departed this life, be before the minds of many yet
alive, to move them to like deeds of charity and benevolence.
As will appear from the table of figures, the distribution has
been, of Bibles 1,670, Testaments 1,168, Prayer Books 31,332,
whole number of volumes 34,170; not very great, perhaps, when
compared with the much work of this kind demanded by the
necessities of our age and country, but still such as we may well
be thankful for having under God accomplished.
The policy of the Board has been to get as large a return for
the books sent out as soon as possible; that is, we encourage the
sale of books as far as may be, rather than the ready and free
distribution, believing that it is better for the recipients to pay
at least a small sum than to receive the book as altogether a gift.
Still it ever has been and ever must be, necessary to distribute
largely without price or return, and this too in many cases where
there is ability to purchase. We all know very well that, with a
large portion of our population the Prayer Book has no value
because they have never learned its character, and so quite unable
to estimate its worth.
And yet we are every day hearing of those who, from this
class, are gathered into the Church through the instrumentality
of a Prayer-Book gratuitously put into their hands. Indeed,
there seems to be scarce any instrumentality so potential in the
hands of the ministry to lead wanderers to the Church's fold as
the Prayer-Book. From our Missionaries we have, continuously,
letters setting forth the excellent influence, and assistance to them
1875] Annual Meeting. 759
of this Book in introducing the Church and gathering congrega-
tions throughout the newly populated portions of our country.
Most important, therefore, is this department for the free dis-
tribution of the Prayer-Book, and earnestly do we appeal to the
Church for larger gifts and donations, that the Society may put
forth renewed energy, and enlarge its operations in some degree
commensurate with the necessities and demands of our rapidly-
increasing and widely-extended population.
But our Society is not a Prayer-Book Society only ; it is also a
Bible Society, and in this respect occupies an advanced and hon-
ourable position. With the exception of the Philadelphia Society,
it was the first organization in this country for the free distribu-
tion of the Holy Scriptures, and during the whole period of its
existence, now more than sixty years, it has faithfully fulfilled
this trust and freely distributed the Word of God as the Church
supplied the means and gave it ability so to do.
Within the last year or two its operations in this particular
have been increased, and the indications are that applications
more and more will be made upon it for donations of Bibles, for
free distribution. Of course the Church will not permit these
applications to be made in vain. With her high appreciation of
the Holy Scriptures, and her deep sense of responsibility in secur-
ing their widespread and, when necessity may be, their free dis-
tribution, we may undoubtedly look to her with confidence to
supply the means necessary to meet all demands of this kind
which may be made upon her.
In conclusion, we are happy to report the Society as judiciously
and economically managed, and the object for which she was
created as widely promoted and as fully advanced as the means
and appliances furnished by the Church have enabled the Board
to do.
Respectfully, then, we make this presentation of the condition
of the Society, and earnestly appeal to the Church for prompt
and liberal donations and subscriptions to sustain the operations
of the coming year.
These officers \vere chosen October 7, 1875:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
760 German Prayer Book. [1876
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Fifth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Sixth Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Seventh Vice President.
Rev. W. E. Reynolds, Eighth Vice President.
Hamilton Bruce, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Treasurer.
Managers : Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer
Hart, Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev.
William J. Seabury, Rev. Alfred B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H.
Tuttle, D.D., Rev. William D. Walker, Rev. Theodore A.
Eaton, D.D., Rev. I. H. Rylance, D.D., Rev. I. P. Lundy, D.D.,
Rev. G. I. Geer, D.D., Rev. J. N. Galleher, Messrs. John W.
Mitchell, William B. Clerke, A. L. Clarkson, Hamilton Bruce,
J. Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright, William H. Guion, Thomas
Egleston, Samuel P. Bell, A. V. Blake. (Folio 129.)
At the meeting held January nth, 1876, Present, Rev. J.
Weaver, Rev. A. B. Hart, Rev. W. J. Seabury, Prof. Thomas
Egleston, Messrs. James Pott, John W. Mitchell, W. Ritchie
Ronalds, John Buckley, Jr., A. L. Clarkson.
Whereas, the Rev. Mr. Seigmund has made statements at the
meeting of the Board of Managers on the translation of the
Prayer Book in the German language and the use of the separate
Offices of the Prayer Book, such as Baptism, Matrimony, Burial
of the Dead, and Visitation of the Sick, among the German
population for the purpose of bringing them into the Church.
Therefore,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Board
with the concurrence of the Bishop of New York to confer with
the joint committee of the General Convention on the translation
of the Book of Common Prayer into the German language either
in parts as the offices named in the preamble or in the whole
together, and that they report the same to the Board.
On motion, the Chair appointed Rev. W. J. Seabury, Professor
Egleston and Mr. Pott.
Resolved, That the Board of Managers of the New York
Bible and Common Prayer Book Society have heard with much
interest the statements made by the Rev. Mr. Seigmund in regard
1876] German Prayer Book. 761
to the translation of the Prayer Book in German, and hereby
return their thanks to him for his attendance at this meeting.
A special meeting was held February ist, 1876, to hear the
report of the Committee on the German Prayer Book.
Present, Rev. J. H. Price, D.D., Rev. A. B. Hart, Rev. W. J.
Seabury, Rev. J. Weaver, Messrs. W. R. Ronalds, John Buck-
ley, Jr., S. P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, Prof. Thomas Egleston, and
J. Pott, Treas.
On motion, Resolved, That the proceedings of the Church in
the General Convention on the subject of the translation of the
Book of Common Prayer into the German language and the
action of the Society in publishing the same in the German lan-
guage be entered on the minutes of this meeting and be made a
part of the records.
The Committee appointed to confer with the Joint Committee
of the General Convention on the German Prayer Book pre-
sented the following report, which was read by the chairman :
To the Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society :
The Committee appointed to confer with the Joint Commit-
tee of the General Convention in accordance with the resolution
adopted by the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book So-
ciety at the meeting held January nth, 1876, beg leave respect-
fully to report that they have applied to the Bishop of New York
for his approval of the proposed conference and of the pro-
posed plan of printing the German Version of the Prayer
Book as the same might be authorized by the Joint Com-
mittee and that the Bishop kindly expressed that approval.
That they thereupon took means to have a meeting of the
Joint Committee called at which they might meet that Com-
mittee, and that this effort resulted in the receipt on the part
of the Chairman of your Committee of letters of approval of the
proposed measures from the Bishop of Maryland and the Bishop
of Northern New Jersey. That on the twenty-fifth of January,
1876, at rooms No. 22 Bible House, New York, the Committee
appointed by the N. Y. Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
to confer with the Joint Committee of the General Convention
in the translation of the Prayer Book into German met the Joint
Committee represented by the Bishop of Western New York
and Professor Drisler. It was agreed
762 German Prayer Book. [1876
First. That the Prayer Book Society would confer an im-
portant service upon the Joint Committee by printing as proof
sheets their German version of the Prayer Book so far as the
work is now completed or may be hereafter.
Second. That such proof sheets should be placed primarily at
the service of the Joint Committee to be freely circulated at home
and abroad for the purpose of eliciting criticism.
Third. That they should also be placed at the service of Ger-
man congregations in dioceses where all of the version might re-
ceive the temporary approbation of the Bishop.
Fourth. That all copies printed by the Society should be
compared with a copy to be certified by the Chairman of the
Joint Committee and delivered to the Society's Agent by the
Rev. George Seigmund, and that all copies should have on the
title page the words "Proof Sheets" in English and indicating
the provisional nature of the publication.
Fifth. That all details of distribution of the copies thus
printed should be left with the Society.
In view of the foregoing your Committee respectfully recom-
mend the adoption of the following resolution :
Resolved, That a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars be
appropriated for printing proof sheets of the German version of
the Book of Common Prayer in accordance with the understand-
ing between the Joint Committee of the General Convention and
the Committee of Conference of the New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society, as expressed in the foregoing report.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
W. J. SEABURY, Chm.
THOS. EGLESTON,
JAMES POTT. (Folio 142.)
On motion, Resolved, that resolution submitted by the Com-
mittee of the German Prayer Book be adopted.
At the meeting of May Qth, 1876, there were presented the
following communications.
The Treasurer read a letter from the Rt. Rev. J. T. Holly,
Bishop of Haiti, expressing his thanks to the Officers and the
Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society for a recent donation of French and English Prayer
Books as well as those made during the last fourteen years, and
1876] Acts of General Convention. 763
also reciting the value of the French translation from the life of
a full blooded African who said the Bible is the Messiah of the
Missionary work and the Prayer Book is the John the Baptist
The Bible is the Master, the Prayer Book is the Servant. The
Bible is the sun in its full noonday splendour, the Prayer Book is
the moon that shines by the light of the sun to illuminate our
darkness.
The work of the German translation progresses slowly. The
office for the Solemnization of Matrimony is now in the hands
of the Printer and will be ready for distribution. (Folio 144.)
Summary of the action of the General Convention on the sev-
eral versions of the Prayer Book.
1844. Bishop Gadsden proposed a Hebrew translation and the
matter was referred to Committee on Prayer Book.
1844. A Committee was appointed on a Welsh translation of
Bishops DeLancey, Whittingham and Elliott, and
discharged in 1849.
1850. Committee appointed by House of Clerical and Lay
Delegates.
1853. Discharged.
1868. Missionary Bishop of China asked for a consultation with
Bishop of Victoria to use such service book as they
may consider desirable and to report results to the
Convention.
1847. House of Bishops proposed the translation of the Book
of Common Prayer into Danish, which was not con-
curred in by the lower house.
1868. The translation into the Swedish language was proposed
and a joint committee was appointed.
1870. The General Convention authorized the Bishops to set
forth such service books in their several Dioceses as
may be in harmony with the teachings of the Church.
1817. The translation of the Book of Common Prayer into the
French was introduced by Bishop Hobart.
1831. A Standard French Prayer Book was published by T. &
J. Swords, under the supervision of Bishop Hobart.
1844. New editions called for. Bishop Onderdonk, Dr. Mc-
Vickar and Verren appointed the Committee.
764 Acts of General Convention. [1876
1847. Committee on French Prayer Book reported and re-
ferred to Committee on the Prayer Book, and by
them approved and adopted, also the translation of
the Psalms and Hymns.
1868. The Joint Committee of Bishops Wilmer, Potter, and
Robinson, and Drs. Jackson, Dix, de Koven, Leon-
ard, and Mr. S. B. Brooks.
1871. Dr. Jackson presented an interesting report. The trans-
lation, when ready may be printed and used with the
consent of the Bishop of any Diocese.
1874. The Committee continued.
1853. Spanish Translation.
The memorial of the Bishop White Prayer Book Society
referred to Committee on Prayer Book. A Commit-
tee appointed to prepare a translation, same to be
authorized by Bishop Potter, Drs. Coleman and
Ducachet.
1859. Committee discharged.
1859. A new Committee on Spanish and Portuguese Transla-
tion. Bishops authorized to set them forth for use,
Bishops Williams, Potter 'and Odenheimer.
1862. Committee continued.
1871. A Joint Committee appointed of Bishops Williams, Kip
and Potter, Drs. Wilson and Nelson, the Rev. W. C.
Stout and Benjamin Stark.
1874. Joint Committee reported. Drs. Wilson, C. K. Hale, H.
Coppee, Mr. T. F. Crane, Mr. B. Stark.
1874. A Joint Committee appointed on the Italian.
The needs of an increasing German population who were fav-
ourably inclined to the Church had made necessary a new trans-
lation of the Book of Common Prayer. The Rev. George F.
Seigmund, of Western New York, had entered with great enthu-
siasm into this work. Educated in Germany, for many years a
Lutheran Minister, a student of Liturgies, he brought to the
task certain definite principles which he thought would make the
book idiomatically perfect, enrich it and render it acceptable to
all German speaking people.
The translations from the Ancient Liturgies were to be direct
and not through the English translation, the language of the "Old
German Agenda" which embodied versions of those liturgies was
1876] Acts of .General Convention. 765
to be used for passages found in the English Book of Common
Prayer, Luther's translation of the Bible into German was to be
the standard, and all Scripture passages, quotations and allusions
were to be conformed to it. In the more distinctive Anglican
portions of the Book, and translations from ancient liturgies not
in the old German service books the words and idioms were to
be conformed to the vocabulary of the old German Bible and Ger-
man liturgies.
The Committee originally appointed in 1850 by the General
Convention, and reappointed in 1862, entered heartily into his
plans, and in a report to the General Convention of 1874, which
met in St. John's Chapel, New York City, commended them and
explained at length the rule upon which he was making his trans-
lation. In closing the Committee says :
"It gives us pleasure to say that such German critics, Schoeb-
erlein, Heusch, Haubt, and others have been consulted. They
have taken a generous interest in the measure, and have borne
the most gratifying testimony to the beauty and liturgic spirit of
the translation. They have taken pains to indicate a few desir-
able alterations and this advice has been followed to a consider-
able extent. As they did not sufficiently allow for the very strict
fidelity to the originals required by our Liturgic Constitutions
we could not always accept their improvements.
"We regret that our venerable Chairman had not been able to
meet with us but we rely upon him for valuable aid in our ulti-
mate action and report.
"The work then is not complete, but it is in a high degree of
forward progress and your Committee respectfully beg to be con-
tinued." 1
This request was unanimously granted by both Houses.
While portions of the German translation had been printed for
use and criticism before the General Convention met in October,
1874, they were still subject to revision and had not been put into
circulation for general use.
I. Journal General Convention, 1874, p. 200. The members of the Com-
mittee were: The Bishop of Maryland (Dr. Whittingham), New Jersey (Dr.
Odenheimer), Western New York (Dr. Coxe. the Rev. Drs. Daniel R.
Goodwin, William D. Wilson, George Leeds, J. Isidor Mombert, Alex-
ander Falk, and Professor Drisler. While Bishop Whittingham, Drs. Good-
win, Mombert and Falk did not sign the Report, it is understood they
approved it.
766 Sixty-Eighth Report. [1876
The issue of the perfected portions was entrusted to this So-
ciety.
SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1876.
In presenting its Sixth-Eighth Annual Report the New York
Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society would once more remind
the members of the Church of the great importance of the work
committed to its trust the free dissemination of the Bible and
Book of Common Prayer. Day by day does the call for both
come to us from all sections of the land, the financial embarrass-
ments of the past few years having put it out of the power of
many congregations to supply their places of worship with the
needed books. Our Missionaries and our Missionary Bishops
cannot hope for success in establishing the Church unless the
Prayer Book can be furnished them for free distribution.
As we have shown, over and over again, the channels for the
circulation of the Prayer Book can be greatly enlarged, if only the
means for more extended work be placed at the disposal of the
Society. During the year closed there have been distributed
2,249 Bibles, 23,832 Prayer Books, and 1,974 Testaments in
all, 28,100 volumes. They have been scattered over all parts of
our land. The grateful thanks of many have been received, and
we know that our Society is recognized as the source of profitable
and most welcome gifts, receiving in return many an earnest
prayer for its continued usefulness.
The Society is now engaged in preparing in separate parts the
translation of the Prayer Book into German. Thus far the Bur-
ial and Marriage services have been printed.
This work is admirably performed by the Rev. J. W. Sigmond, 1
and is conducted under the supervision of the Committee ap-
pointed by the General Convention, thus affording a sure guaran-
tee that the Church will at last have a correct and proper German
Prayer Book, which is so much needed in carrying on success-
fully its present work among the Germans."
While our receipts during the past year have somewhat fallen
off we do not feel discouraged, for we know how frequent and
how urgent have been the calls made from various quarters upon
i. Evidently a misprint for G. F. Siegmund.
1876] Annual Election. 767
our friends, and we also know that with some there has been the
willing heart, but the empty hand. All that we ask is a fair con-
sideration of our cause; its importance can hardly be overstated,
and, with the blessing of God, we will still go on, trusting that
the future will bring us enlarged means as well as enlarged oppor-
tunities.
The Treasurer reported the amount raised from all sources was
$13,385.96, of which five hundred dollars was a legacy from the
late J. Hewlett. The disbursements for expenses and investment
were $12,900.91, leaving a balance of $485.65.
At the annual meeting held October 5th, 1876, these officers
were chosen :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price. D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D. Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Fifth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Sixth Vice President.
Samuel F. Skidmore, Seventh Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Eighth Vice President.
E. S. Gorham, Recording Secretary, Cooper Union.
James Pott, Treasurer, Cooper Union.
Managers : Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloom-
er Hart, D.D., Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D.,
Rev. William J. Seabury, Rev. Alfred Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac
H. Turtle, D.D., Rev. William D. Walker, Rev. Theodore A.
Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Rylance, D.D., Rev. George J.,Geer,
D.D., Rev. John N. Galleher, D.D., Rev. James Mulcahey, D.D.,
Rev. George H. Waters, D.D. Messrs. John W. Mitchell, Wil-
liam B. Clerke, Samuel P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, Hamilton Bruce,
J. Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright, William H. Guion, Thomas Eg-
leston, H. J. Cammann, George S. Shortridge, Henry S. Wyn-
koop.
A letter was read, at the meeting of Sept. u, 1877, from Dr.
Holly, Bishop of Haiti, asking the Society to prepare an 8mo
Prayer Book in the French language, with such minor changes
as would fit it for use in the Church at Haiti.
On motion, it was Resolved, that the Secretary be requested
768 Sixty-Ninth Report. [1877
to acknowledge the receipt of the Bishop's letter, expressing the
Society's sympathy in the work of the Bishop, and informing him
that the Charter of the Society will not allow of the publication
of the Prayer Book by any Society, differing in the slightest de-
gree from the one in use in the United States. At the same time
the Society will cheerfully aid him in any way authorized by the
General Convention not incompatible with its charter and at the
same time within the means at its command. (Folio 154.)
SIXTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1877.
The commencement of another year brings the work of our
Society again prominently before us ; and we certainly have cause
for gratitude in the measure of success which has been vouchsafed
to our labours. By the instrumentality of our Society, 31,816
volumes have been freely distributed throughout the several Dio-
ceses of our Church.
Though it may be true that what we have done bears but little
proportion to the work we would wish to see accomplished, yet it
is also true that we may well be thankful that amidst the financial
depression of our country, our means have not been greatly dimin-
ished.
The importance of our Society to the Church becomes more
and more apparent as the years roll round ; and the want we sup-
ply is more apparent when we consider that during the past year
we have received and answered 670 applications for Bibles and
Prayer Books.
Let us hope that in the year now opening a still greater inter-
est may be manifested, and let us urge upon all the importance of
giving to our Society that place in their prayers and in their ben-
efactions to which it is so justly entitled.
We cannot close our brief report without referring to the loss
we have so recently sustained in the decease of our fellow Mana-
ger, Hamilton Bruce, Esq. Kind, courteous, and efficient, he
ever evinced a deep interest in our Society; and the Treasurer
avails himself of this opportunity of paying a personal tribute to
the memory of one in whom he always found a willing and cheer-
ful adviser and assistant in the prosecution of his labours.
The receipts for the year had been $15,672.97, and after all
1877] Annual Election. 769
necessary disbursements for books and other purposes and invest-
ments, there was a balance of $648.65. A legacy of $2,000 had
been received from the estate of E. Holbrook.
The election resulted in the choice of these officers, October
4, 1877:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Fifth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Sixth Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Seventh Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Eighth Vice President.
E. S. Gorham, Recording Secretary, Cooper Union.
James Pott, Treasurer, Cooper Union.
Managers : Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer
Hart, D.D., Rev. Caleb Clapp, Rev. William J. Seabury, D.D.,
Rev. Alfred B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev.
William D. Walker, Rev. Theodore A. Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph
H. Rylance, D.D., Rev. J. N. Galleher, D.D., Rev. George J.
Geer, D.D., Rev. James Mulcahey, D.D., Rev. George H.
Waters, D.D., Messrs. John W. Mitchell, William B. Clerke,
Samuel P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, J. Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright,
William H. Quion, Thomas Egleston, H. J. Cammann, E. S.
Gorham, George S. Shortridge, Henry S. Wynkoop.
At the meeting in New York, January 8, 1878, there were
present the Rev. A. B. Hart, Rev. Dr. Gallaudet and Messrs.
Ronalds, Egleston, Bell, Pott, and the Secretary.
Mr. Ronalds occupied the Chair and the meeting was opened
with devotions by the Rev. Mr. Hart.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
The Agent presented his Report giving a detailed statement
of the donations made during the past quarter, showing a dis-
tribution of 11,381 volumes, valued at $3,189.79. The receipts
during the same period were $1,028.16.
On motion it was Resolved, That the Treasurer be author-
ized to print an edition of 1,000 copies, to be bound in lots of
(49)
770 Decennial Statement. [1877
250, the whole outlay not to exceed $350. The book to contain
the imprint of the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book
Society.
The Treasurer read several interesting letters acknowledging
the receipt of donations from the Society, also a letter from
Bishop Coxe, enquiring whether the Board could remunerate
the Rev. Mr. Siegmund for his arduous labours in translation
of the Prayer Book into German.
A letter was also read from the Rev. R. C. Rogers, Agent of
the Indian Mission, asking from the Society a grant of 1,000
Prayer Books in the Dakota language, the same to be printed
from plates in possession of the Commission.
Mr. Ronalds presented an interesting paper showing the
statistics of the working of the Society for ten years, as follows:
Statement of the affairs of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, from 1868 to 1877.
In the year 1868 the Managers of the New York Bible and
Common Prayer Book Society inaugurated a new system of
operation for the Society, by which the expenses of the Society
were largely decreased, and the fund for distribution was large-
ly increased, by no longer investing their funds in printing
and publishing, but simply became a distributing Society, re-
serving the control of the electrotype plates under the name of
the Society. A decade has passed away since this system was
adopted, and now is a fittting period to present the results
of what was then thought to be a mere experiment. With the
first of October, 1877, which closed the decade, it shows that
during this period we have received the sum of $107,875.32 in
Church collections, donations, subscriptions and interest on
monies invested, and during the same period there have been
distributed 297,232 Bibles, Prayer Books, Testaments and
Hymnals of the value of $100,532.18, covering every part of
the United States and Territories from the Atlantic to the
Pacific and from the Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, together
with Prayer Books in Spanish to Mexico and Panama, and in
French to the Island of Haiti. The first half of the decade
covering the years 1868-9, 1870-1 and 1872, the receipts from
interest, $7,208.44, subscriptions, etc., $27,118.19, Church col-
lections, $18,974.14; making a total of $53,300.77, distributing
during that period 129,280 volumes of the value of $47,714.59.
1878] Death of Rev. Caleb Clapp. 771
The second half of the decade, covering the years 1893-4-5-
6 and 7, the receipts from interest were $22,624.20, subscrip-
tions, etc., $15,741.10, Church collections $16,209.25, making
a total of $54,574-55; distributing during the same period
149,952 volumes of the value of $52,817.39.
During this decade we have received in bequests the sum of
$68,950, which covers the amount we have invested on bond
and mortgage and stocks and bonds. (Folio 157.)
At the meeting of May I4th, 1878, the following paper with
reference to the death of the Rev. Caleb Clapp was read by Mr.
Pott, and on motion was accepted and ordered to be placed on
the Minutes. "Since the last meeting of our Board of Trustees
one of our number has been called from our midst, and in the
death of the Rev. Caleb Clapp, we have to mourn the loss of a
long tried and valued friend to our Society. Though prevented
by illness from a regular attendance at our meetings, he was in
constant intercourse with the Treasurer, and never failed in
bringing the claims of the Society before the members of his
Church. The Rev. Mr. Clapp was a man of singular simplicity
of character, he was instant in season and out of season in the
care of those committed to his charge. His Sunday School and
his Parochial School claimed much of his attention. The Chil-
dren met daily in the Church for Morning Prayer. Each child
as it committed the Catechism to memory was presented with a
copy of the Prayer Book and the influence of the Church continu-
ally thrown around them that so they might be nurtured and
brought up in His holy ways. The Board of Managers cannot
let a faithful and true Christian Minister, such as our Associate,
the Rev. Caleb Clapp, pass away from our midst without record-
ing their sense of the loss thus sustained by them. (Folio 159).
A Regular Meeting of the Board was held September 10, 1878.
Present, Rev. Dr. Price, Rev. A. B. Hart, Messrs. De Peyster,
Ronalds, Egleston, Bell, Shortridge, and the Treasurer.
The following was then read, and on motion was ordered to
be entered upon the minutes and a copy of the same sent to the
family of the deceased :
"It seems but yesterday that it was our melancholy duty to
772 Death of John W. Mitchell. [1878
record the death of our lamented associate, the Rev. Caleb Clapp,
carried from our midst while yet at an age for active work ; now
it is our sad task to refer to one who having passed the age of
four-score years has but recently been called to his rest. In the
sudden death of John W. Mitchell, Esq., our Society loses one
of its oldest and most faithful members. His first connection
with it dates back to the year 1838. During these forty years
his interest has never flagged; not only has he been constant in
his attendance upon its meetings, but has always been ready to
contribute both of his means and of his time to the promotion of
its welfare, and now that he has passed away his absence will
create a gap not easily to be filled. We shall miss his stately
form and genial presence as also his ripe judgment and legal
experience.
The life of a faithful, consistent Churchman, extending, as
that of Mr. Mitchell's has done, over a period of over four-
score years, brings to our minds, at its close, only the thought
of rest and peace. The battle at last is ended, the victory won
and now the aged warrior rests with those he loved on earth
who have gone before him and with whom he is again united
where no sorrows and no partings ever enter.
"Four-score years! How many are the changes those years
have seen, as we look back upon the record we find the name
of only one surviving member of our Board, at the time of Mr.
Mitchell's election, the respected and honoured name of F De
Peyster, Esq., elected in the year 1832; all the others have
passed away; they bore the early burden of organization, and
in the face of much prejudice and discouragement commenced
and carried forward the good work since committed to our
care. Faithfully they performed their duties and we owe them
a great debt of gratitude. It seems but fitting that we should
refer to the fact, as one more link is broken and we stand over
the grave of our venerated and respected associate. Ought we
not also to profit by the introspect, in forming fresh resolves to
follow more closely the good examples of all those who have
departed this life in the faith and do now rest from their
labours, so that when our work is ended we may also leave be-
hind as the record of a faithful life spent in the Master's ser-
vice." (Folio 161.)
1878] Seventieth Report. 773
SEVENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT,, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1878.
We are now brought to the Seventieth Anniversary of our
New York Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society, and once
again we pause to review the past while preparing for fresh exer-
tions in the future.
In the record for the year just closed we find much to encour-
age us. Through the instrumentality of the Society, 32,500 vol-
umes Bibles, Prayer Books, and Testaments, have been scat-
tered over our land, cheering, guiding and blessing, as we trust,
the hearts of thousands.
The special event of this year to which we may refer is the
issuing by the Society of the Prayer Book in the Dakota lan-
guage. It is the first instance of the publication in this country
of the entire Prayer Book in an Indian tongue. The stereotype
plates of this Book were prepared by our Indian Commission, our
Society supplying 1,000 copies printed and bound, free of cost.
The new German translation of the Prayer Book is advancing
favourably, and we now have, in pamphlet form, for free distri-
bution, the following portions : The Baptismal Offices ; the Cate-
chism; Confirmation; Matrimony; the Churching of Women;
Visitation of the Sick; Communion of the Sick; Burial of the
Dead; Family Prayer; Visitation of Prisoners; the Institution
Office.
As new fields of mission work are opened by our Church, we
must expect to have larger demands made upon our liberality:
and surely, one of the most important agencies in spreading the
knowledge of the truth in the world is the Bible and Prayer Book
Society. In these days of doubt and error is it not a great thing
to put into every man's hand a book that contains the Songs of
the Patriarchs, the Creed of the Apostles, and the Prayers of the
Saints? Can we desire a better safeguard against error, a surer
guide to truth, or cease to labour for the general circulation and
study of that Manual of Common Prayer which has proved such
a blessing to ourselves? Every day there comes an earnest call
for Prayer Books from small but growing stations all over our
land, where the Church has just been planted from prisons and
hospitals and asylums and alms-houses from ships of the navy,
and from our merchant vessels. We cannot meet this call as we
774 Indian Translations. [1878
desire, and therefore ask most earnestly for a generous and lib-
eral support for the work of our Society.
It is our painful duty to record the decease of two of our asso-
ciates during the past year: the Rev. Caleb Clapp and Jno. W.
Mitchell, Esq., have gone to their rest. Both were active in pro-
moting the interests of our Society, and we shall sorely miss their
counsel, zeal and kindly presence.
Mr. J. W. Mitchell had been connected with our institution for
a period of forty years. He had been constant in his attendance
at our meetings, and in his absence we feel that we have lost a
faithful co-worker and a personal friend.
We pray that these yearly indications of the uncertainty of life
may make us more devoted and earnest in the performance of our
duties to our Lord and His Church.
The Treasurer reported receipts of $12,061.14, with a cash
balance of $300.84.
The work of the Church of England among the American In-
dians commenced when Rev. Thorough Good Moor was sent to
Albany in 1704. His salary as Missionary to the Mohawks, the
nearest of the five nations inhabiting the "Long House" extend-
ing from Lake Erie to the Hudson, and known as the Iroquois
Confederacy, was paid jointly by the Crown and the venerable
Propagation Society. It was the intention to build a chapel and
parsonage in the Mohawk country, and that his residence in Al-
bany should be temporary. He was unsuccessful in securing the
desired results, and after several visits to the two Mohawk Cas-
tles, finding indifference instead of zeal, he left Albany in the fall
of 1705.
Previous to his arrival the Rev. Godfrius Dellius, the Dutch
Minister of Albany, and the Rev. Bernardus Freeman, the Dutch
Minister of Schenectady, had served as Indian Missionaries by
the appointment of the Governors of the Province of New York.
Mr. Freeman was successful in his work and with the aid of
the official interpreter translated portions of the Gospel of St.
Mark, the Lord's Prayer, and some selections from the Morning
and Evening Prayer \vith the Litany, into the Mohawk dialect.
These translations he gave to the Rev. Thomas Barclay when
he came to Albany in 1798. Mr. Barclay at once entered upon
the task of converting the Mohawks, and spent portions of the
year among them.
1878] Indian Translations. 775
He found that his efforts were effective in reforming their
manners and morals. With Mr. Lawrence W.Clausen, the Indian
Interpreter, he prepared a primer for the use of the Indian con-
verts, with some portions of Morning and Evening Prayer, sim-
ple instructions in religion and other extracts adapted to make
them understand Christian faith and duty. When in 1712 the
Rev. William Andrews came as Missionary to the Mohawks Mr.
Barclay not only gained for him the good will of the Indians, but
consulted with him upon the Primer nearly ready for printing.
A small edition of it was published in New York in 1714. It
is described as "Hope Books Primer and Prayers." Both the
names of Mr. Barclay and Mr. Andrews appear on the title page.
Our only knowledge of it is from a mention in the Digest of the
Propagation Society, published in 1893, under the title of "For-
eign Translations," etc. 1
It is not mentioned in any list of early printed American
books.
So far as known no copy is in this country. In the following
year was issued what is usually called "The First Mohawk
Prayer Book." It contained portions of the Morning and Even-
ing Prayer, the Litany, Family Prayers and some chapters from
the Old and New Testaments. The translation had been revised
by Mr. Lawrence W. Clausen. 2
It was reissued in a better form and with further portions of
the Book of Common Prayer in 1769. Colonel Daniel Claus,
son-in-law of Sir William Johnson, had thoroughly revised it.
The Rev. Dr. Henry Barclay, son of the first missionary at
Albany and his successor afterwards as Indian Missionary
and Rector of St. Peter's, Albany, then Rector of Trinity
Church, New York City, undertook to see it through the press.
He died before his printing had proceeded far, and the Rev.
Dr. John Ogilvie, who had succeeded him at Albany, then an
assistant minister at Trinity Church, completed the supervision.
The original printer was William Weyman, but upon his
failure and death the work was taken up by Mr. Hugh Gaine
and completed.
1. Classified Digest of the Records of the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. 1701-1902. London : 1893. p. 800.
2. This name is also spelt, Claase.
776 Indian Translations. [1878
The edition of four hundred copies with twelve bound ele-
gantly in morocco for presentation to chiefs and others was
printed. The expense of the edition was borne by Sir William
Johnson, then Superintendent of Indian affairs. Other editions
of the book were printed after the Mohawks had settled in
Canada. ( Quebec, 1 780 ; London, 1 787. ) It has been reprinted
since (notably in 1842, under the supervision of the Rev. Abra-
ham Nelles, who was chief missionary among the Mohawks
and Tuscaroras).
When Eleazer Williams became, in 1815, missionary among
the Oneida Indians, he commenced a revision of the Mohawk
Prayer Book for their use. He was the supposed son of a
Mohawk chief, and afterwards well known as the "Lost Dau-
phin of France," although his claim is at least very improbable.
His knowledge of the tongue in which he had been brought up,
made him the most proper person for the task. It was left un-
finished when he accompanied a party of the Oneida Indians to
Green Bay, Wisconsin. The catechist of the Oneida mission was
Solomon Davis, who was afterwards ordained deacon and priest.
Under this faithful and devoted friend of the Indians a revision
was made and completed in 1837.
It bears the title : A Prayer Book in the Language of the Six
Nations of Indians, containing the Morning and Evening Ser-
vice, the Litany, Catechism, and some of the Collects, and the
Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several occasions in the Book
of Common Prayer of the Protestant Episcopal Church. To-
gether with forms of Family and Private Devotion, compiled
from various translations, and prepared for publication by re-
quest of the Domestic Committee of the Board of Missions of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of
America. By the Rev. Solomon Davis, Missionary to the
Oneidas, at Dutch Creek, Territory of Wisconsin. New York :
Swords, Stanford & Co. D. Fanshaw, Printer. 1837. I2mo
pp. 1 68.
This book is entirely in the Indian dialect with the exception
of the title page, and the captions to the various offices and
divisions which are in English.
There are four hymns, including a translation of the Veni,
Creator Spiritus.
It is understood that this book, substantially, is still in use.
1877] Indian Translations. 777
The title page of Mr. William's translation is :
The Book of Common Prayer
according to the Use of the
Protestant Episcopal Church
in the United States of America.
Translated into the Mohawk or Iroqttois Language, by the re-
quest of the Domestic Committee of the Board of Missions of the
Protestant Episcopal Church.
By the Rev. Eleazer Williams, V.D.M. 1
Revised edition of his former translation.
New York:
Protestant Episcopal Tract Society Depository,
No. 50 John Street, 1853.
1 6 mo. pp. 1 08.
Psalms and Hymns, pp. 67, bound with it.
Contains
Morning and Evening Prayer, the Litany, Psalms i. to viii. in-
clusive, the Catechism, the Family Prayers for morning and
evening.
The Headings, as for instance, Morning Prayer, are in both
English and Mohawk. The title page for the Psalms and
Hymns is,
Selections from the Psalms and Hymns according to the Use
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of
America.
Translated into the Mohawk or Iroquois Language, by the re-
quest of the Domestic Committee of the Board of Missions of the
Protestant Episcopal Church by the Rev. Eleazer Williams,
V.D.M.
Revised edition of his former Translation.
New York :
Protestant Episcopal Tract Society Depository,
No. 50 John Street.
1*853-
i6mo. pp. 67.
I. Verbi Dei Minister. This was the style used by Congregational Min-
isters.
778 Indian Translations. [1877
The Selections from the Psalms are fifty-seven, including the
Veni, Creator Spiritus.
The Dakota translation was largely the work of the Rev.
Samuel D. Hinman, who spent many years among them.
In 1865 he published with the sanction of the Bishop of Min-
nesota a translation of the principal portions of the Book of Com-
mon Prayer into the Dakota dialect.
It contained : the Table of Proper Psalms with the explanatory
note on the reading of the Psalter, the Tables of Lessons for
Sundays and Holy Days, a Table of Feasts and Fasts, a Table to
find Easter, 1865-1880 inclusive, Morning and Evening Prayer,
the Litany, the Special Prayers and Thanksgivings, the Selec-
tions of the Psalms, as found in the Prayer Book before the
revision of 1892 ; the Communion Service, the Collects, Epistles
and Gospels for the Christian Year, the Offices for Holy Baptism,
infant, adult and private, the Catechism, the order of Confirma-
tion, the order for the Solemnization of Matrimony, and the
office for the Burial of the Dead.
It was published with this title page :
IKCE WOCEKIYE WOVVAPI.
QA ISANTANKA MAKOCE
KIN EN
TOKEN WOHDUZE,
QA OKODAKICIYE WAKAN EN
TONAKIYA WOECON KIN,
HENA DE HE VVOVVAPI KIN EE.
SAMUEL DUTTON HINMAN,
MISSIONARY TO DAKOTAS.
ST. PAUL :
PIONEER PRINTING COMPANY.
I86 5 .
On the reverse of the title page is a certificate from Bishop
Whipple dated Faribault, Minn., August i, 1864.
In 1877 another version was issued by a Committee appointed
by Dr. Hare, Bishop of Niobrara. On the reverse of the title
1878] Annual Election. 779
pages it bears a certificate signed by Bishop Hare and the fol-
lowing notice from the committee :
The undersigned present this revision of the Book of Common
Prayer to the Bishop as being a faithful and accurate translation
into Dakota from The Standard Edition.
SAM'L D. HINMAN,
JOSEPH W. COOK,
DAN'L W. HEMANS,
LUKE C. WALKER.
Den ihukuya caje unkicicagapi kin, Okadakiciye Wocekiye
Wowapi kin de, Wanji Yusutapi Kin, he ohnayan Dakota iapi
kin en tanyan qa owotanna nukagapi unkecinpi qa heon Bishop
unqupi.
SAM'L D. HINMAN,
JOSEPH W. COOK,
DAN'L W. HEMANS,
LUKE C. WALKER.
The officers elected at the Annual Meeting, 1878, were:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Vice Presidents :
Rev. Jos. H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Fifth Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Sixth Vice President.
Cyrus Curtiss, Seventh Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Fighth Vice President.
Edwin S. Gorham, Recording Secretary, Cooper Union.
James Pott, Treasurer, Cooper Union.
Managers: Rev. Cornelius T. Duffie, D.D., A. Bloomer Hart,
Rev. William J. Seabury, D.D., Rev. T. Gallaudet, D.D., Rev.
Alfred B. Beach, D.D., Rev, Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. William
D. Walker, Rev. Theodore A. Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Ry-
lance, D.D., Rev. George J. Geer, D.D., Rev. John N. Galleher,
D.D., Rev. James Mulchahey, D.D., Rev. William N. Dunnell,
Messrs. William B. Clerke, Samuel P. Bell, A. L. Clarkson, J.
Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright, Thomas Egleston, H. J. Cammann,
Edwin S. Gorham, George E. Shortridge, H. S. Wynkoop, Chas.
T. De Forrest.
780 Death of Cyrus Curtiss. [1879
An important aid to the gathering of funds and increase of in-
terest was found in the issue both in the Church papers and leaf-
let form of a Whitsunday appeal by the Treasurer.
In that for 1879, Mr. P Qtt savs :
The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society again
asks to be remembered at this Whitsuntide. The recurring anni-
versary of the introduction in the service of the Mother Church,
the Church of England, of the present Book of Common Prayer
offers a fitting occasion for urging the claims of the Society.
During the year just closed our Society has received 776 ap-
plications for Bibles, Prayer Books and Hymnals, and has dis-
tributed 34,000 volumes, valued at $7,350.
That day will be a joyful one to the Society when it can not
only respond to the applications which come to it, but can also
seek out the many openings which exist on all sides for the cir-
culation of the Prayer Book, and which offer in return a good
harvest for our Master's cause.
We ask of all who feel an interest in the extension of our
Church to aid us in our efforts to help on the good work.
JAMES POTT, Treasurer, Cooper Union.
A regular meeting of the Board was held September 9, 1879.
Present, F. De Peyster, Esq., Rev. Dr. Gallaudet, Rev. A. B.
Hart, Messrs. Bell, Ronalds, and the Treasurer.
The Treasurer then read the following notice, which was or-
dered to be placed upon the Minutes and a copy sent to the
family of the late Cyrus Curtiss, Esq.
"Since the last meeting of our Board there has been another
vacancy in our number. One year ago we were called upon tQ
record the decease of John W. Mitchell, Esq. We now have the
painful duty of recording that of Cyrus Curtiss.
"When the present Treasurer entered upon his duties seven-
teen years ago Mr. Curtiss was an active member of our Society,
and though advancing years, with their infirmities, prevented
him for some time back from attending our meetings, his inter-
est in our Society was warm and constant.
"The Treasurer always found in him a ready listener and a
judicious adviser.
"The positions held by Mr. Curtiss in the Councils of the
Church will be hard to fill, for there are few men to be found
1879 Seventy-First Keport. 781
combining in their character such estimable qualities as were
found in that of Mr. Curtiss.
"It is only right and proper that we unite with others in re-
cording our sense of the great loss sustained by the Church in
his decease."
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1879.
In presenting this, their Seventy-first Annual Report, the Man-
agers of the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
feel that they have good cause for encouragement in the prosecu-
tion of their labours.
The interest in their work has been extended, and they have
received many proofs of the good accomplished through the in-
strumentality of the Society.
Seven hundred and thirty-seven applications have been re-
ceived and favourably answered, swelling the number of volumes
distributed to 37,530, the largest ever reached by the Society in
a single year. These comprise 1,874 Bibles, 24,633 Prayer
Books and 11,023 Testaments and Hymnals.
We have to report that the w r ork among the Germans in our
city and in the country is assuming a most important aspect, and
will call for liberal grants of Prayer Books.
The new r translation of the German Prayer Book is making
progress, and we hope by the end of the present year to see it
well toward completion.
The Board has recently had under consideration the propriety
of issuing, in leaflet form and in large type, the Morning and
Evening Prayer, Selections from the Psalter, and special prayers,
as an aid in conducting missionary services. We find, however,
that it does not fall within the province of our Society to issue
incomplete portions of the Prayer Book; and in addition to this
obstacle, the testimony received from many quarters, in favour
of using the Prayer Book in its integrity, as the best aid to Mis-
sionaries, makes us hesitate in pushing the enterprise further.
The Prayer Book, we may say, is the embodiment of the Doc-
trine, Discipline and Worship of the Church ; and there is danger,
in laying our hand upon one portion, and separating it from the
rest, that we may impair the influence which comes from our
Liturgy when received in its fulness. It is a book not only to be
782 Annual Meeting. [1879
used in public worship, but also to be studied in private. Show-
ing as it does, the divine Order of the Church, it will always
prove a safe and sure guide to those who wish to follow in the
"old paths," and to abide by the faith once for all delivered to the
Saints.
During the year just closed we are called upon to mourn the
loss of another and valued member of our Board, Mr. Cyrus Cur-
tiss. He has long been connected with our Society, and has
laboured faithfully in advancing -its interests. He was a man
highly esteemed in the Church, and it will be hard to fill his place.
In conclusion, let us express the earnest hope, that in the year
to come still greater interest may be manifested in our work,
producing still more encouraging results.
The Treasurer reported that these legacies had been left to
the Society:
Mrs. Harrison $1,000 oo
Miss Elizabeth Onderdonk 1,000 oo
W. Watson 250 oo
C. P. Brooks 121 oo
W. Gault . 100 oo
$2,371 oo
Including them the receipts had been $24.010.01. The ex-
penditures for books, salaries and investments left on hand a
balance of $605.74.
At the annual election, October 2, 1879, these officers were
chosen :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Fifth Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Sixth Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Seventh Vice President.
Samuel P. Bell, Eighth Vice President.
Edwin S. Gorham, Recording Secretary, Cooper Union.
James Pott, Treasurer, Cooper Union.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Joshua
Weaver, Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Rev. William F. Morgan,
1880] Norwegian Prayer Book. 783
D.D., Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer Hart,
Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev. William J. Seabury, D.D.,
Rev. Alfred B. Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev.
William D. Walker, Rev. Theodore A. Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph
H. Rylance, D.D., Rev. George J. Geer, D.D., Rev. John N.
Galleher, D.D., Rev. James N. Mulcahey, D.D., Rev. George W.
Douglas, Rev. Clarence Buel, Messrs. Frederick De Peyster,
Samuel T. Skidmore, W. R. Ronalds, Samuel W. Bell, William
B. Clerke, A. L. Clarkson, J. Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright,
Thomas Egleston, Henry J. Cammann, Edwin S. Gorham,
George E. Shortridge, H. S. Wynkoop, Charles T. De Forrest,
Henry Rogers, Fred. W. Foote.
A regular meeting of the Board was held May 12, 1880. Pres-
ent, Rev. Messrs. Hart and Buel, Messrs. De Peyster, Ronalds,
Clerke, Bell, Clarkson, Egleston, Rogers, Foote, Camman and
the Treasurer.
The Chair was taken by F. De Peyster, Esq., and the meeting
opened with devotions by the Rev. A. B. Hart.
On motion the following preamble and resolution was adopted :
A Commission having been authorized by the Universities
of Oxford and Cambridge to revise the present translation of the
Holy Scriptures, and as the work of the Commission is now fast
drawing to a close, it seems proper that the N. Y. Bible and
C. P. B. Society should express its interest in so great an under-
taking. Therefore, be it
Resolved, That a Special Committee of three be appointed
with a view of obtaining information to be laid before the So-
ciety, and also that said Committee be requested to suggest such
action as in their judgment may be advisable for our Society to
take in relation to the subject.
The Chair appointed the Rev. Dr. Douglas, Mr. G. W. Foote
and Mr. Pott.
A communication was presented from Bishop Whipple in re-
gard to a translation of the Prayer Book into the Norwegian
language, and on motion the following preamble and resolution
was adopted :
The Bishop of Minnesota having advised the Treasurer that
he is now engaged in having a translation of the Prayer Book
made into the Norwegian language. Therefore,
784 Seventy-Second Report. [1880
Resolved, That the Treasurer be requested to correspond with
the Bishop of Minnesota in regard to said translation; with a
view of obtaining further information as to the progress of the
work, and of assuring the Bishop of the Society's interest in the
undertaking.
At the same meeting, May 12, 1880, it was on motion,
Resolved, That a special committee of two be appointed to con-
sider and prepare a course of sermons on the Prayer Book, in
behalf of our Society, to be delivered by the Bishops and Clergy
of the Church, during the coming fall and winter.
The Chair appointed Professor Egleston and Mr. Pott.
The continued prosperity of the Society forms a gratifying
contrast to the years when it had pleaded piteously for money to
carry on its work, and this prosperity is gratefully acknowledged
in a Report for 1880.
SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1880.
The Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, in presenting their Seventy-second Annual
Report, gratefully acknowledge the abundant measure of success
which has rewarded their efforts during the past year.
The distribution of books has reached the large number of
46,378.
It has been made, moreover, in response to applications coming
from eight hundred sources, in the various Dioceses of our land,
and the acknowledgments which have been received from very
many quarters have been such as greatly cheer us on to renewed
exertions.
But it must be apparent to every one that no mere statement
of numbers can adequately represent the importance of the work
undertaken by this Society, nor demonstrate the value of its
agency in meeting one of the greatest needs which is daily press-
ing upon the Church.
The Bishops, however, are well informed as to the wants which
we are every year supplying in their various jurisdictions, and,
as they have always shown a hearty sympathy for our work, we
do not hesitate to solicit their testimony in respect to the prompt
and generous responses with which we have always striven to
meet their applications.
1880] Annual Meeting. 785
But, altli9iigh the work of the Society and its results are such
as cannot be represented adequately by figures, yet if we could
publish the hearty expressions of thankfulness we are continually
receiving from clergymen and parishes to whom our donations of
books have furnished the means for conducting the public ser-
vices of the Church, in cases where they could not otherwise have
been undertaken, we could show, at least in part, how great has
been the assistance we have rendered.
Beyond all this, however, we appeal to the increasing desire for
a return to liturgical worship, which is every year becoming more
apparent within the religious communities which have been
strangers to it, as evidence of the Churchly influence now gaining
ground in our midst. And while we cheerfully assign to various
causes a full share in producing this happy tendency, we also
claim that our own Society has exerted silently but efficiently, the
most powerful influence in this direction. For we can hardly
overestimate the effect produced by the free distribution through
so many years of that noble compilation the Book of Common
Prayer which has been commended to the people of this land as
a standard next in value to the Holy Bible, and as being under
God its best interpreter.
The work of the Society is, however, continually increasing,
and its Board of Managers, desirous of extending its efficiency
to the utmost, earnestly solicit a larger sympathy and more gen-
eral contributions in its behalf.
The Treasurer's report showed that there had been received
$33,123.20, which included the payment of a mortgage of
$12,500, and the proceed of the sale of bonds, $6,763.75.
The expenditure including reinvestments had been $32,163.28,
leaving a balance of $969.20.
These officers were chosen :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, Fifth Vice President.
Samuel T. Skidmore, Sixth Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Seventh Vice President.
Samuel P. Bell, Eighth Vice President.
(50)
786 Annual Meeting. [1880
Edwin S. Gorham, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Treasurer.
Managers: Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., Rev. Joshua Weaver,
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., Rev.
Cornelius R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, Rev. Thomas
Gallatidet, D.D., Rev. William J. Seabury, D.D., Rev. Alfred B.
Beach, D.D., Rev. Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. William D.Walker,
Rev. Theodore A. Eaton, D.D., Rev. Joseph H. Rylance, D.D.,
Rev. George J. Geer, D.D., Rev. James Mulcahey, D.D., Rev.
George W. Douglas, Rev. Brady E. Backus, Rev. Clarence Buel,
Messrs. Frederick De Peyster, Samuel T. Skidmore, W. R. Ron-
alds, Samuel P. Bell, William B. Clerke, A. L. Clarkson, J.
Buckley, Jr., W. W. Wright, Thomas Egleston, H. J. Cammann,
Edwin S. Gorham, George E. Shortridge, H. S. Wynkoop,
Charles T. De Forrest, Henry Rogers, Fred. W. Foote.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CONTENTS.
Translation of Prayer Book into Italian A Translation Presented to
General Convention, 1880, by Rev. Mr. Stauder Accompanied by a Pre-
amble Action by the Society Report for 1881 Election of Officers
Report of Committee Adverse to Mr. Stauder's Version Report on the
German Prayer Book Minute on Death of Frederick De Peyster Report
for 1882 Report on the German Prayer Book Meetings in 1883
Minute on Death of W. B. Clerke Address Made by Bishop Young of
Florida Inaccuracies in Spanish Translation Pointed Out Report for
1884 New Translation of the French Prayer Book Translation of the
Prayer Book into Norwegian Prepared by Bishop Whipple Minute on
the Death of W. R. Ronalds Legacy from I. Woodey Letter from the
Albany Bible and Prayer Book Society on Desirability of a Swedish Trans-
lation of the Prayer Book Adverse Report of a Committee on a Swedish
Prayer Book W. H. Vanderbilt Legacy Special Committee Appointed
on Amendment of Charter Reports Adversely Report for 1885 Com-
mittee Appointed to Report to Next General Convention on Necessary
Changes in the Standard Prayer Book in Way of Enlargement and Enrich-
ment Action of General Convention Book Annexed Report Minute
on Death of Bishop Lay.
ITALIAN translations of the Prayer Book had at various
times been brought to the notice of the Society and to the
attention of the Church. The Rev. C. Stauder, Missionary
to the Italians in the City of New York, had presented to
the General Convention of 1880 a MS. of the Book of Common
Prayer translated by him into Italian. Accompanying this ver-
sion was the following preamble :
The Translator of the Book of Common Prayer into Italian
a copy of which he has now the honour of presenting to you
was not born into the Protestant Episcopal Church, but provi-
dentially was led to it, as soon as he was no more a child, tossed
to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.
In the year 1870, when the wisest and most conscientious
scholars of the Western Church were startled by the definition
and enforcement of new Dogmas, the Translator was found
among those who refused to pay obeisance to a "Man Infallible."
787
788 Italian Prayer Book. [1880
For thirty years he had seen but the cold and dull, yet pompous
and obstreperous, ceremonies of the Roman Church, and never
before had he worshipped and ministered except in that Com-
munion. Then, for the first time, he was brought in contact with
the simple but solemn services of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and with her Book of Common Prayer. From that day
the Lord opened the eyes of his mind, and he became the Mes-
senger of the Gospel to his countrymen, sent to them by the
Church of the Prayer Book.
He found more expansiveness of heart in one of the prayers of
that Book, than in all the prayers of the Roman Catholic Rituals
and Missals. He found the Baptismal Service simple and catho-
lic, and divested of all the superfluous and superstitious rites of
the Roman Church. He found the Eucharistic Service deep, and
excellent in form, and embracing all the beauties of the Roman.
Gallican, Ambrosian and Mozarabic Liturgies. He found the
Matins and Vespers a mosaic of beautiful exhortations, lessons
and prayers; the Litany comprehensive; the Burial Service sol-
emn and touching; and the Liturgy, as a whole, a treasury of
precious devotions, instructions and institutions, venerable by the
frosts of antiquity, and valuable for its intrinsic worth, as capable
of making the life of man a continual sacrifice of praise and
thanksgiving.
He then concluded that the Anglican Church possessed a Book
of Worship for the People, as it should be, and saw in this prec-
ious Book the reason why England had been raised in a few years
above a level which long centuries of Latin Christianity had not
succeeded in accomplishing; and he hoped that, through this
precious Volume, America might one day unite all her many fam-
ilies in one Christian body; and, perhaps, become the common
ground, upon which the various branches of the Church Catholic
might again meet.
His thoughts were also carried to his fatherland. And, how
many, he asked himself, in my country know that the Anglican
Church possesses such a beautiful Liturgy? That she has a true
Apostolic Succession? That she rightfully administers the Sac-
raments? That she has in fact a Hierarchy, and has a lawfully
ordained priesthood? And, altogether, that she ministers before
the Lord, and offers a sacrifice more pure, more holy, more spir-
itual, than the Church of Rome? He thought also of the calum-
1880] Italian Prayer Book. 789
nies and slanders, wherewith the priests animadverted on those
who dissented from their systems and practices. He thought of
the darkness and evils of rationalism and infidelity, wherein the
people of his country were plunged by the doctrine, that there
was no salvation, no morality, no Christianity, outside of those
few senseless and meaningless practices of the Church of Rome.
Prompted by this knowledge and by these considerations, and
animated by the spirit of doing good to his fellow countrymen y
the Translator with the help of two faithful Brothers, the Rev.
Drs. Benj. I. Haight, and C. R. Hale, urged in the General Con-
vention of 1874, that the Prayer Book of the Church might be
translated into Italian. Accordingly, a Commission and Joint
Committee was instituted by the Convention for this purpose, in
the persons of the Bishop of Central New York, the Assistant
Bishop of North Carolina, the Rev. R. J. Nevin, D.D., the Rev.
C. Stauder, and F. P. Nash, Esq.
The same year, the Translator published a "Mission Book,"
which was afterwards used in the Missions of the Church among
Italians, and it has done a good work. But calls for the Prayer
Book of the Church having of late years been so pressing and
numerous, he undertook the translation of the same, and with
God's help he has now made it ready for presentation to the Gen-
eral Convention of this year.
To make a perfect translation of a book of this kind, the Trans-
lator felt that it was indispensable to have a thorough knowledge
of the English language, and to be a perfect master of the pure
Tuscan. The command also of the Latin language (especially
as used by the Western Church), together with some knowledge
of Greek and Hebrew, which are the basis of all Liturgies, he felt
a thing of necessity. These qualifications were found in the
Translator, who had also the advantage of having been born and
educated within the Catholic Church, and for the Church, and of
having been at the service of the Church from his youth.
These circumstances make him hope that he has now succeeded
in preparing a satisfactory translation ; namely, that he has ren-
dered into pure Italian all the words in their full doctrinal sense,
with all the beauties and pathos that they convey, without miss-
ing a sentence, or omitting a word, as far as the construction of
the two languages permitted.
The language used all through the translation is not the Ian-
790 Italian Prayer Book. [1880
guage peculiar to the forum or the Academy, nor the language
of the populace of Florence or of Rome, but the pure, simple lan-
guage of the Church ; the grand, sublime, and at the same time,
unaffected and unentangled language of the thorough Italian
scholar ; without provincialisms, eloquent, simple, clear and gram-
matical.
Scriptural sentences and Scriptural phrases have been taken
from the version of Diodati, yet, as this version is more than
three centuries old, wherever there occurred strange or obsolete
words they have been retouched, and in some passages where
Martini's version (from the Vulgate) was more clear and elegant
(as in the first sentence appointed to be read at the Morning Ser-
vice on Easter Sunday), that version was adopted.
The Te Dcum, Bendicite, Veni Creator, Venite, Cantate, etc.,
and other Anthems or Canticles have not been translated from
the Prayer Book, but from the originals, from the Salisbury Mis-
sal, and even from the Ancient Vulgate. A little consideration
will make every critic scholar appreciate the liberty taken.
The Epistles and Gospels, and the Psalter, have not been trans-
lated, as it is left with the General Convention to declare which
translation shall be adopted in the Italian Churches. (The Trans-
lator is confident of producing at an early period his translation
in Italian of the New Testament, and Psalms of David.)
He has also kept in mind, that his call and his duty was not to
improve, correct, or perfect the Prayer Book, but translate it.
For this reason he has not even ventured to remove the super-
fluous punctuation, but he has studiously endeavoured to give
each sign in its place, regarding them more as directions for the
Reader, where he has to make the pause, than as needed marks of
orthography. In a few Rubrics only he had to substitute colons
for commas, so as not to make too much force to the orthography
of his language.
For the above mentioned reason, he felt that he needed to be
very faithful in reproducing literally those terms that the Church
of the Reformation adopted ; as for instance, "Morning Prayer,"
"Evening Prayer," "Service," "Priest," "Convention," "Presid-
ing Bishop," "Lord's Supper," etc.. firmly believing that the
union of the Italian nation to the Anglican Church will be facili-
tated, and that there will be less chance of misunderstanding, by
adopting these words as they are (which in fact, literally trans-
1880] Italian Prayer Book. 791
lated, make perfectly good Italian), rather than by resuming the
terms of the Romish Church, many of which have during the
middle ages ceased to be catholic, and have become entirely
priestly or monkish. Nothing, indeed, would sound more absurd
than to find the "Book of Common Prayer," translated "Rituale,"
and the above mentioned words, "Mattutino," "Vespio," "Uffi-
zio," "Sacerdote" "Sinodo," "Primate," "Messa," etc. Who, for
instance, could induce an Italian to attend the Morning Prayer,
if it was called Mattutino? when even the most ignorant Priests
and Friars now disdain to read or recite Matin, after the Roman
Church has made of it a jargon of broken Scriptural sentences,
forged passages of the Fathers, and foolish legends of monks and
nuns.
The Translator has not found everything smooth and easy in
his work. Difficulties, sometimes insurmountable, have inter-
cepted his way. How, in fact, was he to translate, "Hereby,"
"Selections of Psalms," "Whole State," "Mighty Resurrection,"
"Standing Committee," and other words pure Anglo-Saxon,
which have no equivalent in the language of Italy? He had to
do his best; and this he thinks he has done, by reproducing the
spirit, where he coulcl not reproduce the letter. In the most diffi-
cult passages he needed good counsel and advice, and he obtained
it from the most learned and conscientious scholars of the Church.
Persons also prominent in the Papal Court (how unsearchable
are God's judgments!), and illustrious among the Roman nobility
and at the Italian bar, have given a hand in the revision of the
translation, and helped to make it more perfect ; so that it may be
said that every word contained in it has been sifted, weighed, and
carefully considered.
Also that pervading tinge of antiquity was a hard task to re-
produce in a translation : yet he is confident of having succeeded,
by keeping faithfully to the original. It is that tinge of antiquity
that always reminds the people that the religion of the "Rock of
Ages" (I'Antico del Giorni) is not a new thing, but an old one,
and though vicissitudes may occur, forms of government succeed
each other. Church ceremonies and Liturgies vary, and tongues
be confused ; yet the language whereby we open our hearts to
God, in public or in private, is always the same, namely, the one
which our mother taught us, which was taught to her by her
mother, and which she learned from her mother, and so on. To
792 Italian Prayer Book. [1880
this, our public forms of prayer and worship must be conformed,
and then IT is THE PEOPLE WHO PRAY.
The Translator, in fine, has sung and recited, read and said
these Prayers and Canticles, Psalms and Offices, to his country-
men in his New York Mission, for more than seven years; and
he is familiar with the sound, the phrases, and the expressions
that touch, or touch not, the heart of an Italian. No liturgy
should be imposed upon a people till it has been tried at the Lord's
Table, at the desk, at the organ, and in the choir stalls, and lis-
tened to from the pews.
The Translator submits his translation to the General Conven-
tion; and, if adopted, requests the gentlemen of the Joint Com-
mittee to petition the New York Bible and Prayer Book Society,
or any other body who may be willing, to have it printed and cir-
culated here and in Italy, feeling sure that the salutary influence
of this sacred Book will in a few years be felt among the noble
Italian race, and that many souls will be brought to God, and
great honour derive to the Church. 1
At the meeting of January n, 1881, a communication was
read from the Rev. C. Stauder, asking the Society to print and
issue a Prayer Book in the Italian language.
On motion it was Resolved, That a Special Committee be
appointed to confer with the Rev. Mr. Stauder and also with
the Committee of the General Convention on the Italian Prayer
Book, and to report to the Board their views in regard to
issuing the book.
The Chair appointed Rev. A. B. Hart, Professor Egleston
and the Treasurer.
It was also on motion Resolved, That this same Committee
be requested to enquire into the present condition of the trans-
lation of the Prayer Book into the French langiuage, which
subject was in the hands of a Committee of the General Con-
vention.
On motion the same Committee was requested to report upon
i. The edition of the Prayer Book whence this translation has been
made, is the one in octavo, adopted by the House of Bishops, October I9
A. D. 1871; B. B.' Smith, Presiding Bishop, Henry C. Potter, Secretary:
adopted by the House of Deputies, October 24, A. D. 1871 ; James Craik,
President, Wm. Stevens Perry, Secretary: and printed by the New York
Bible and Prayer Book Society, in 1872.
1881] Seventy-Third Report. 793
the subject of printing the Prayer Book in the Norwegian lan-
guage.
SEVENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT,, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1881.
The Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, in making this their Seventy-third Annual
Report, would say that during the past year there has been noth-
ing of special interest occurring in the affairs of the Society. Its
work has gone on in the usual quiet and unassuming manner;
applications for Bibles and Prayer Books have been received from
all sections of the country, and have met with liberal responses
on the part of this Society, which refuses no request when it has
the volumes to send.
There is no lack of testimony in behalf of the necessity and
importance of the work in which we are engaged. The Prayer
Book holds a foremost place among the agencies for extending
the knowledge of the Church, and our Missionaries could make
but little progress in their work without its aid.
We think that it is generally acknowledged that our Society
holds a most important position among the institutions of the
Church ; and we recognize with feelings of gratitude the wide-
spread interest manifested in its behalf.
We can point with peculiar satisfaction to the efficient aid
we have been instrumental in rendering to the important work
carried on by the General Missionary Society. When we con-
sider that our Society has been the medium for the translation
of our Prayer Book into the German language, which has met
with a hearty endorsement not only in this country, but also in
Germany, where it promises to be the model upon which may
be based the Liturgy of the Reformed Catholics, we feel grati-
fied and encouraged.
We have distributed, from October i, 1880, to October i,
1881, 41,325 volumes, consisting of 1,720 Bibles, 26,200 Prayer
Books, 13,405 Hymnals and Testaments. They were given in
response to 670 applications.
In the year now commencing we trust for a continued support
in our work, which we hope may grow to greatly extended dimen-
sions; for we would gladly distribute double the number of vol-
umes this year that \ve did during the last.
794 Seventy-Third Report. [1881
Before closing our Report we would briefly refer to the desire
urgently expressed by the good Bishop Whipple for a Prayer
Book in the Norwegian language.
He makes the following statement : "The Norwegians make
up almost one-third of our population; they are very numerous
in Wisconsin, Iowa and Dakotah. They are a strong, vigorous
race, a manly freedom loving people, and have a future. Religi-
ously they are Lutherans; but on coming here the law of
sectarian life comes in to disintegrate, and they are scattered
into sects. Some of the thoughtful laymen are looking to our
Church. We must have the whole Prayer Book; mission ser-
vices do not give what they ask; I have secured this translation
and hope some one will help print it. You do not know the
greatness of the opportunity." The Society will be only too glad
to receive special contributions for this work, and thus be made
the instrument for carrying out the wishes of the good Bishop
and helping to gather in a large accession to the Church.
In conclusion, the Managers would remind the members of the
Church generally that this Society, although known as "The New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society," is yet no mere
local or even Diocesan Institution. It is doing a work not alone
or chiefly for the Diocese of New York, but for every Diocese and
missionary jurisdiction in our vast country, a necessary work for
the whole Church, and except for which our Church could not
be made known or its worship offered in numberless places,
where by its instrumentality the blessed privilege of its pure
and primitive service is now enjoyed by thousands of interested
and devout souls.
The Prayer Book is the authoritative exponent of of the Doc-
trine, Discipline and Worship of the Church, its best pioneer
where these are unknown.
It speaks the voice of the Church herself, and of no party.
This Society, then, as doing a work for the whole Church, claims
and asks the prayers and offerings of the whole Church, of
every member of it who loves his spiritual Mother, and desires
the extension of the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
and the worship of God in spirit and in truth.
The Treasurer stated receipts of $25,870.56, which included
a legacy of four thousand dollars ($4,000) from the estate of
1881] Annual Meeting. 795
W. C. Procter, and the payment of a mortgage of three thou-
sand dollars.
After all expenses, including purchase of books, printing,
salaries and investments, had been paid, there was a cash balance
of $944-5 1-
At the Annual Meeting these officers were elected :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. J. H. Price, First Vice President.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, Second Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. W. F. Morgan, D.D., Fourth Vice President.
Frederick De Peyster, First Lay Vice President.
S. T. Skidmore, Second Lay Vice President.
W. R. Ronalds, Third Lay Vice President.
S. P. Bell, Fourth Lay Vice President.
E. S. Gorham, Recording Secretary, 12 Astor Place.
James Pott, Treasurer, 12 Astor Place.
Managers: Rev. J. H. Price, D.D., Rev. Joshua Weaver,
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Rev. W. F. Morgan, D.D., Rev.
Cornelius R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. A. Bloomer Hart, D.D., Rev.
Thomas Gallaudet, D.D., Rev. W. J. Seabury, D.D., Rev. A. B.
Beach, D.D., Rev. I. H. Tuttle, D.D., Rev. T. A. Eaton, D.D.,
Rev. G. J. Geer, D.D., Rev. J. Mulcahey, D.D., Rev. G. W.
Douglas, Rev. Brady E. Backus, Rev. Clarence Buell; Messrs.
Frederick De Peyster, S. T. Skidmore, W. R. Ronalds, S. P.
Bell, William B. Clerke, A. L. Clarkson, J. Buckley, Jr., Thomas
Egleston, H. J. Cammann, E. S. Gorham, George E. Shortridge,
H. S. Wynkoop, Henry Rogers, Fred. W. Foote.
A regular meeting of the Board was held October 19. 1881,
in the office of the Agent, 12 Astor Place.
There were present Rev. Messrs. Hart, Duffie and Buel;
Messrs. Ronalds, Egleston, Rogers, Bell, Shortridge, Mr. Pott,
the Treasurer and the Secretary.
The meeting was opened with devotions by the Rev. Mr.
Hart. Mr. Ronalds in the Chair. This being the first meeting
of the new Board of Managers, nominations were read. Rev.
Dr. Duffie presented and read the Annual Report.
On motion it was Resolved, That the Treasurer be author-
ized to print 1,500 copies of the same.
The Agent then presented a detailed report of the donations
796 Report on Italian Prayer Book. [1881
made by the Society during the past year, also a statement of
the present assets of the Society.
Business Committee. The following members were nomi-
nated for the coming year. A ballot was held and they were
declared duly elected, viz., Henry Rogers, William B. Clerke,
F. W. Foote, George E. Shortridge, James Pott.
On motion of the Treasurer the following resolutions were
adopted :
Resolved, That the Business Committee be authorized to dis-
pose of the following U. S. Extended Bonds now standing in
the name of New York Bible and Common Prayer Book So-
ciety, viz: 46,379, 46,381, $1,000.00; 9,484, 9>485> $5 OO - O ;
18,138. 18,140, $1,000.00; 12,992, 12,995, $100.00; 15,758,
$500.00.
Resolved, That the Treasurer, Mr. James Pott, be authorized
to affix the seal of the Society and attest the same.
Resolved, That the Business Committee be authorized to dis-
pose of 9 Shares No. A 579 Missouri Pacific Railway Company
now standing in the name of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society.
Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to affix the seal
of the Society and attest the same.
On motion the Committee, consisting of Professor Egleston,
Dr. Hart and Mr. Pott, appointed by the last Board on the
translation of the Prayer Book into the French, Italian and
Norwegian languages, was continued. This Committee then
presented the following Report which was accepted and ordered
to be placed on the minutes.
The Special Committee to whom was referred the matter of
the translation of the Italian Prayer Book respectfully report.
The translation of the Rev. Mr. C. Stauder was placed in the
hands of an eminent Italian scholar for examination, who re-
turned in writing a most thorough and scholarly criticism. This
criticism your Committee regrets to say was very unfavourable
and in their opinion precludes any further efforts being made
by the Society towards securing the publication. In addition
to this adverse report the Committee would state that upon an
examination of the wording of the resolutions adopted by the
last General Convention the authority to publish was confined
to translation prepared by Mr. F. P. Nash, of Baltimore.
1881] German Prayer Book. 797
Your Committee ask that their Report be entered upon the
Minutes of the Board for future reference.
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider what
changes in the By-Laws of the Society are necessary to have
the Board of Managers elected in such a way that only a por-
tion of them shall go out of office every year.
The above motion offered by Professor Egleston was carried
and Messrs. Rogers, Egleston and Pott were appointed a Com-
mittee.
At the regular meeting of the Board held January 10, 1882,
there were present, Revs. J. Weaver, A. B. Hart, C. Buel and
G. W. Douglas, and Messrs. Rogers, Clarkson, Egleston, Ron-
alds, and the Secretary and Treasurer.
The following letter from the Rev. G. F. Siegmund was then
read and ordered upon the records :
November 21, 1881.
Dear Mr. Pott:
Of the German translation of the Book of Common Prayer
the larger and most important part is finished and in print.
There are three volumes of which two are in constant use, Ger-
man Mission and a little pamphlet.
1. The Vade Mecum containing the Baptismal Office with the
Churching of Women, the Solemnization of Marriage, the
Visitation Offices, the Communion of the Sick and the Burial
Service; also Family Prayers and Prayers at Sea.
2. The Epistles and the Gospels with the Collects.
3. The Bishops' Ritual with the Ordinal, the services for the
Consecration of Churches and the Institution, the Litany and
the Communion belonging to the Ordinal, and the Articles of
Religion; also Confirmation.
4. The latter is also bound up with the Catechism in a little
manual for the instruction of children.
There is nothing wanting but Morning and Evening Prayer
with the Psalter. The printing of the Psalter was so long de-
layed because the authorized German text is under revision.
But it has passed the second reading and the final adoption
will hardly involve any more changes, we might embody the
Psalter at any time into our Version.
All the parts of Morning and Evening Prayer are also con-
tained in our Mission Service, also the two exhortations of the
798 German Prayer Book. [1881
Communion Service omitted in the Bishops' Celebration; the
Preface of the old translation needs revision, but the Tables
and the Calendar might go into the new book as they stand
unless the new Lectionary is to be added.
All that remains is still subject to the examination and ap-
proval of the Joint Committee which never met but three times
at three consecutive General Conventions and many members of
which act by proxy.
Now, my dear Mr. Pott, you may be aware of the fact that
I am not on the Joint Committee on the German Version of the
Book of Common Prayer. I declined to serve as member be-
cause I would not be bound by a majority vote, but I was ap-
pointed at the General Convention of 1874 as authorized trans-
lator under the rules given in the proceedings of that Conven-
tion and reprinted in the last Annual Report of the Church
German Society.
If I have succeeded in making a better translation than
either that published by the Church of England or our own
former Version, I am sure it is not only due to my peculiar
preparation for this work, but also because I was free to reject
or to accept according to my conscience. The most valuable
suggestions I received were from Bishop Coxe and his associate
in this work, Professor Francis P. Nash, of Baltimore, and
from Liturgical scholars abroad who were asked to give their
criticism. Dr. Falk, after consenting to have the Commission
which he first held transferred to me, has given me the most
generous commendation in the Committee and frequent encour-
agement in private correspondence. The other German member
of Jewish extraction has repeatedly shewn that he has no feel-
ing for the true genius of our noble language, but having no
influence in the Committee his ludicrous emendations were with-
out effect.
Although we have then everything in readiness for the first
chance of a meeting of the Committee, no definite sanction of
the whole book is possible before the meeting of the next Gen-
eral Convention and there is no possibility of any action of the
Committee before that time. The translation is completed; its
publication is yet delayed.
Yours faithfully,
(Sig'd) GEO. F. SIEGMUND.
1882] Death of Frederick de Peyster. 799
The following Resolution was offered by the Rev. G. W.
Douglas, and on motion duly passed :
Resolved, That an appropriation of $250 be voted to the Rev.
George F. Siegmund, D.D., for his valuable services in trans-
lating the Prayer Book into the German language.
At the meeting held on September 12, 1882, the following
Preamble and Resolutions were presented by the Treasurer:
It is our painful duty to record that since the last meeting of
the Board the Society has met with a great loss in the death of
its oldest member, Frederick De Peyster, Esq. He was elected
a member of the Board of Managers in the year 1831, so that
for over fifty years he has been connected with our Society.
His interest in its affairs never flagged. Almost always present
at our meetings and always ready with his advice and co-oper-
ation in carrying out such measures as were proposed for the
extension of the Society's work.
Occupying, as Mr. De Peyster did, such a prominent position
not only in religious but also in secular affairs, it may hardly
be necessary for us to give any extended sketch of his life.
He was a connecting link with the past history of our city and
was a representative of a class which seems to be passing away.
His high social position did not interfere with his kind and
courteous intercourse \vith all with whom he was thrown into
contact; a gentleman of the old school, he was always the
gentleman. His interest was keen and alive in all efforts for
promoting the moral, social and religious condition of his fel-
low men. We will long bear in mind his kindly manners and
his Christian character. We will sadly miss his presence at our
meetings, and it is with feelings of sorrow that we now record
our sense of the loss we have sustained; therefore,
Resolved, That in the death of Frederick De Peyster, Esq.,
the Society has lost not only its oldest member but one who
was prominent in its organization and development.
Resolved, That we bear our testimony to the Christian charac-
ter of Mr. De Peyster as exhibited in the many years with which
we have been associated with him, and also to his zeal and
faithfulness in the performance of any duty devolving upon
him.
800 Seventy-Fourth Report. [1882
Resolved, That we consider Mr. De Peyster's life as affording
a bright example of the citizen, the patriot and the Christian.
Resolved, That we extend to his family and friends our deep
sympathy in the loss they have sustained.
. Resolved, That a copy of the above minute and resolutions be
sent to his son, General Watts De Peyster.
On motion the above resolutions were adopted and ordered to
be recorded upon the minutes. (Folio 204.)
On the same day, the Committee on Bye-Laws proposed
amendments whereby only a portion of the Board of Managers
should go out of office every year. (Folio 200.)
With only slight verbal alterations these proposed amend-
ments were adopted at the annual meeting, October 5, 1882.
SEVENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1882.
Nothing of striking interest has occurred during the past year ;
the same call has been heard for a constant supply of Prayer
Books. Almost daily have urgent appeals come to us for assist-
ance. We have answered 750 applications, distributing 1,228
Bibles, 22,890 Prayer Books, 13,926 Testaments and Hymnals.
In most cases these books are sent where the Church is poor
and struggling for existence, or where a new opening is being
made for her services. Oftentimes when the acknowledgment
of our gift is received we are almost startled at the warm thanks
returned to us; our gifts seem to have a higher value than we in
our surroundings ever place upon them, showing that we do not
realize as we ought to do what it is to work in the missionary
field without the aid of Prayer Books.
Our missionaries certainly have enough in the way of trial
and discouragement to urge us in helping them with free and
liberal grants of Prayer Books.
One other matter has often struck us, and it is the modest way
in which many of the Bishops make their appeals.
They appear to wait until they can wait no longer, and then
apologize for their importunity, whereas we feel that we ought
to anticipate their needs, and that our Society should keep them
well and liberally supplied.
Amidst all the agencies at work in the Church, it may seem
to some that the providing for the distribution of Prayer Books
1882] Annual Meeting. 801
is a matter of small moment. Ask the Bishops and hard work-
ing Missionaries and some of them will place our Society in the
very first rank of all Church Societies.
We therefore urge our claims at the closing of another year
and ask not only for a continued, but an increased support. Let
it not be forgotten that small contributions swell into a large
aggregate when freely and generally given.
We cannot close our Report without special reference to the
great work which has been carried on in the translation of the
Prayer Book into the German language under the auspices of the
Rev. G. F. Siegmund. The translation is nearly completed.
Copies have been distributed among the best Liturgical scholars
in Germany, and but one testimony has been accorded
to its great merit on all sides it is considered the
best translation ever made. We cannot let this opportunity
pass without placing on record our high appreciation of the
service of Dr. Siegmund. In the province of God his health has
been impaired, and his untiring labours appear to be suddenly
ended. A man of unusual culture, full of zeal, with a wonder-
ful adaptability to the great task he undertook, his name should
long be held in grateful memory in the Church.
Another event has also occurred which should not be passed
over in silence. We refer to the death of Frederick De Peyster,
Esq. He was the oldest member of our Society, having been
connected with it since the year 1831, a period of fifty years. His
interest in its welfare never slackened, and we owe him a debt of
gratitude for his faithful labours in its behalf. Year by year have
the links which bound us to the past generation been snapping,
and we are thus reminded that our days will soon be passed and
our work ended.
These officers were elected at the Annual Meeting, held Octo-
ber 5, 1882 :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Vice Presidents.
Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., for one year.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, for two years.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., for three years.
Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., for four years.
(Si)
802 Death of W. B. Clerke. [1883
William R. Ronalds, for one year.
Samuel P. Bell, for two years.
W. B. Clerke, for three years.
Thomas Egleston, for four years.
Edwin S. Gorham, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Treasurer.
Board of Managers.
For one year : Rev. G. W. Douglas, Rev. A. B. Hart, A. L.
Clarkson, J. Buckley.
For two years: Rev. T. Gallaudet, D.D., Rev. W. J. Sea-
bury, H. J. Cammann, J. L. Nash.
For three years: Rev. G. J. Geer, Rev. J. Mulcahey, G. E.
Shortridge, Henry Rogers.
For four years : Rev. C. K. Duffie, D.D., Rev. Clarence Buell,
F. W. Foote, W. S. Wynkoop.
The Treasurer reported the receipt of $27,044.36, including
legacies from the estate of the Rev. R. Prout of $975.00. He
had made disbursements for salaries, books, investments and
other purposes of $27,011.19, leaving a cash balance of $33.17.
At a meeting held on February 14, 1883, on motion of Pro-
fessor Egleston, it was
Resolved, That the Agent be directed to send a copy of all
obtainable translations of the Prayer Book in use in the United
States to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in
London, and that he be requested to ask for copies of all transla-
tions of the English Prayer Book likely to be used in the United
States.
An informal discussion was then held in regard to the transla-
tion of the German Prayer Book by Rev. Dr. Siegmund, and on
motion of Mr. Ronalds the special Committee on Translations
be instructed to confer with the Committee of the General
Convention on the German Prayer Book in regard to the com-
pletion of said translation.
This appreciation of a former associate was adopted on Sep-
tember n, 1883:
Resolved, That the Managers of the Society have heard, with
sincere regret, of the death of W. B. Clerke, Esq. As he was
for many years a member of our Society and always took a
lively and active interest in its affairs, we now place upon record
1883 Seventy -Fifth Report. 803
our appreciation of these services and our sense of the deep loss
we have sustained.
At the Annual Meeting of October i, 1883, the following
vacancies were reported :
First Clerical Vice President, Rev. J. H. Price, D.D.
First Lay Vice President, W. K. Ronalds.
Third Lay Vice President, W. B. Clerke.
A ballot being ordered, the following tickets were elected, for
from year to year.
First Clerical Vice President, Rev. J. H. Price, D.D.
First Lay Vice President, W. K. Ronalds.
Third Lay Vice President, Thomas Egleston.
Fourth Lay Vice President, A. L. Clarkson.
The following members were duly elected by ballot : Rev. H.
Y. Satterlee, D.D., Rev. A. B. Hart, A. L. Clarkson, J. Buckley.
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1883.
The Board in presenting this, its seventy-fifth consecutive Re-
port, has only the ordinary items of information to place before
the Church.
Applications have, as usual, through the whole course of the
year been numerous, and while we have in a large degree re-
sponded favourably, we have yet often had to deplore our inabil-
ity to use advantageously many opportunities offered us for plac-
ing the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer where, under the
blessing of God, we might reasonably have looked for results
alike promotive of personal faith and devotion, and of interest
and affection for the Church.
We need not certainly urge the axiom that the Prayer Book is
always a most comprehensive and true expounder of the Bible.
Most desirable it then is that while distributing the revealed
Word of Life and Truth, our earnest and untiring endeavour
should ever be to accompany it with that unequalled directory
and office of praise and thanksgiving and devotion, the Book of
Common Prayer. Such has ever been the endeavour of the
Board, and for the year just closed the distribution of both these
volumes has been one of the largest and most general in the ex-
perience of the Society, amounting to over forty thousand vol-
umes.
804 Seventy-Sixth Report. [1884
But this larger distribution has only been made at the risk of
advancing somewhat beyond the sum of the funds in hand. This
policy the Board does not intend to pursue, and therefore its
appeal at this time for more liberal donations we trust will be
favourably and promptly responded to. As we have intimated
above, the distribution has been very general, extending through
much the larger number of the Dioceses, and we need not expect,
and we hope do not any of us wish, that the demand will be less-
ened. But an increased demand, as we very well know, calls for
an increase of funds, and so we do again respectfully and earn-
estly beg that more increased subscriptions and donations may be
made to the Society for the coming year.
Editions of the Book of Common Prayer in French and Ger-
man are progressing toward completion, but so much care and
labour are necessary in order to have these books correct, that
this progress is not so rapid as we wish it might be. The Board
is fully aware of the importance of having these books ready at
an early day, and they will be issued just as soon as it is possible
to prepare them.
In closing this report we note with sorrow the death of W. B.
Clerke, Esq., an old and valuable member of the Society and of
this Board.
After the meeting of the Board on May 13, 1884, an address
was made by the Rt. Rev. John F. Young, Bishop of Florida,
upon his visit to Cuba. He incidentally pointed out several inac-
curacies in the present version of the Spanish Prayer Book.
(Folio 216.)
SEVENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT,, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1884.
During the year just closed the Society has distributed 43,900
volumes of Bibles, Prayer Books, and Hymnals, in answer to
600 appeals from all sections of the country. We have reason to
believe that these donations have cheered the hearts of many mis-
sionaries, and have helped in extending the ministrations of the
Church.
The several translations of the Prayer Book, contemplated by
the Society, have not met with any rapid progress toward com-
pletion.
Owing to the necessity of these translations being placed in the
1884] Seventy-Sixth Report. 805
hands of Committees of the General Convention whose members
rarely meet while the Convention is not in session, and owing also
to the want of representation by the Society on these special
Committees, year follows year with nothing being accomplished,
and it is not impossible that the need of the translation may
cease to exist by the time the Church is ready to supply it.
Portions of the German Prayer Book are being printed by
the Society. The manuscript for a new translation of the French
Prayer Book is not as yet prepared, though we are glad in this
instance to report that one of the members of our Board is
actively engaged in pushing this translation forward.
In the matter of the Norwegian Prayer Book, good Bishop
Whipple has prepared a translation, which awaits the approval
of the Committee appointed at the last General Convention. 1
The Society will be glad to receive special contributions to-
wards defraying the expense of this book; it will cost $1,000,
and is much needed in carrying on the work of Missions among
the Norwegians in Minnesota and in other sections of the West.
Turning to the general work of our Society, we can add but
little to what has been said over and over again. We cannot sup-
ply the great need which we know exists.
To-day we had an application for 1,000 Prayer Books for
distribution in Virginia, and as the services of the Church are
introduced into new sections of our country we must be pre-
pared to supply Prayer Books or see a falling off in interest, with
a constant languishing of the good work.
The necessity for the existence of our Society is so apparent,
and appeals so directly to all who love the Church and desire her
extension, that it requires only that we show the work already
done, and express our earnest desire to make the Society still
more effective in order to enlist a heartier sympathy and more
liberal support.
The year just closed has seen the removal of another old and
faithful member of our Society, W. R. Ronalds, Esquire, one of
I. The Committee was appointed on motion of the Bishop of Minnesota,
the members from the House of Bishops being the Bishops of Albany (Dr.
Doane), Wisconsin (Dr. Welles), and Iowa (Dr. Perry) ; from the House
of Deputies, the Rev. George A. Carstensen, the Rev. Arthur C. Stilson,
and Mr. Henry M. Braem. See Journal General Convention, 1883, pp. 93,
114, 121, 296, 304, 307, 312.
806 Table of Distribution. [1884
our Vice Presidents, and for twenty-five years actively engaged
in the Society's work. We find it no easy task to supply the
places of such members, and as we remember their constant in-
terest and consider the results to which they have contributed we
are often reminded of our own short-comings and find an incen-
tive to more zealous efforts.
Let us hope that in the New Year a more enlarged field of
usefulness may be opened to our Society, and that it may not
lack many and earnest supporters.
The receipts from all sources, including a legacy from the
estate of S. Woolley of $5,587.95, and the repayment of a loan
of $4,500.00, were $18,534.44. The expenditures for printing,
salaries, books, rent and investments were $18,070.05, which
left on hand a balance of $464.39.
It may be of interest to know the universal character of the
benefactions of the Society as shown in this
TABLE OF DISTRIBUTIONS.
Bibles. P. B. T. & H
Arkansas . . 100 100
Alabama 50 287 165
Connecticut 44 526 262
California i 419 335
Colorado . . 507 430
Delaware 20 161 121
District of Columbia 31 171 90
Dakota 20 150 125
Florida 21 595 422
Georgia . . 298 317
Iowa 13 537 432
Indiana 92 834 612
Idaho . . 50 50
Kansas . . 215 215
Louisiana 1 1 341 164
New Jersey 53 895 698
Maine 53 714 382
Massachusetts 10 171 124
Maryland 12 743 526
Michigan 37 1,083 757
Minnesota 21 702 617
Montana . . 260 205
1884] Annual Meeting.
New Hampshire . . 115 70
Missouri 8 983 759
Nebraska . . 265 225
Nevada . . 236 224
Ohio 23 581 355
Oregon 313 100
Pennsylvania 40 572 447
South Carolina I 223 238
Tennessee 35 678 431
Texas 25 415 304
Utah 100
Vermont . . 155 125
Washington Territory i 361 331
Wyoming Territory . . 83 40
New Mexico . . 25
Virginia 48 1,228 1,144
Wisconsin 12 1,274 1,014
Foreign 2 322 125
Mississippi . . 325 349
North Carolina 73 1,160 1,032
New York 305 4,582 3,191
1,138 25,252 17,509
At the Annual Meeting of October 2, 1884, the following
vacancies were reported on the Board :
By death, W. K. Ronalds, Esq., First Vice President. By
expiration, Rev. J. Weaver, S. P. Bell, Rev. T. Gallaudet, Rev.
W. J. Seabury, Rev. H. J. Cammann. Also Mr. Joseph M. Knap
and Mr. Charles Nash.
On nomination, the above were duly elected as members of
the Board for four years.
Rev. J. Weaver was elected Second Clerical Vice President,
S. P. Bell, First Lay Vice President, J. Buckley, Fourth Lay
Vice President, Professor Egleston, Third Lay Vice President,
A. L. Clarkson, Second Clerical Vice President.
On motion of Mr. Nash Mr. J. Pott was elected Treasurer,
and Mr. E. S. Gorham was elected Secretary.
At this meeting this memorial was adopted :
"It has become the painful duty of the Agent to report the
808 Seventy-Seventh Report. [1885
death of W. R. Ronalds, Esq., a late member of the Board of
Managers.
"Mr. Ronalds was elected to membership in 1858, and has
always take an active interest in all that concerned the Society.
"We take this opportunity of recording our sense of the
great loss we have sustained, and of expressing our high respect
for the many virtues exhibited in the character of Mr. Ronalds."
At the meeting of May 12, 1885, a communication was read
from the Albany Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, ask-
ing co-operation in the issue of a Swedish Mission Service.
On motion it was Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed
to acknowledge the receipt of the communication above referred
to, and to state that while our Society most heartily sympathizes
in the good work proposed by our Sister Society, yet does not
consider itself at liberty by its act of incorporation, to expend its
funds in the preparation of a Mission Service in any language.
The subject of issuing the Prayer Book in the Norwegian
language was also at this meeting referred to the Committee on
Translations.
At the Annual Meeting of October 8, 1885, the following
elections were declared :
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Third Vice President, for four years.
Rev. J. Mulcahey, D.D., G. E. Shortridge, Henry Rogers, re-
elected for four years.
Rev. T. H. Sill, elected for four years, in place of G. J. Geer,
deceased.
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1885.
This year the Society reaches its Seventy-seventh Anniversary,
vigorous in its efficiency while venerable in age.
The year just closed has been an uneventful one. Owing to
the proposed revision of the Prayer Book it has not seemed advis-
able to push forward the several translations now under consid-
eration by Committees of the General Convention. With regard
to the other branches of our work, we have only to say that, to
the extent of its ability, the Society has spread abroad its bene-
factions throughout the land. We have received the customary
touching appeals for aid, accompanied by graphic descriptions of
the various instances of want. So far as possible, we have sup-
1885] Bishop Lay. 809
plied the needs of those seeking help, and have received most
grateful recognition of the assistance rendered. Most gladly
would we enlarge our gifts ; and, that we may, most earnestly do
we ask for a more liberal support.
So long as the Church continues to maintain a Liturgical wor-
ship, just so long must there be such an agency as this Society for
the supply of the books needed for her Mission Stations and her
feeble parishes.
During the past year we have distributed 1,200 Bibles, 20,000
Prayer Books, and 15,000 Hymnals and Testaments, in forty-
three Dioceses and Missionary Jurisdictions.
In concluding our Report, we record with much sorrow the
decease of two of the most earnest friends of the Society : The
Rt. Rev. Henry Champlin Lay, D.D., Bishop of Easton, always
ready to extend a helping hand, and to say an encouraging word ;
and the Rev. George Jarvis Geer, D.D., a member of our Board,
whose hearty sympathy and warm support we shall not soon for-
get. From the examples of such men we gain courage, and press
on to the discharge of the great work given us to do.
It will here be appropriate to give a few historical notes on
Bishop Lay and Dr. Geer.
Henry Champlin Lay was born in Richmond, Virginia, on
December 20, 1823. At the age of fifteen he entered the Uni-
versity of Virginia at Charlotteville, from which he was grad-
uated in 1842. His Theological studies were pursued at the
Theological Seminary of Virginia at Alexandria. On July 10,
1840, in Christ Church, Alexandria, he was made deacon by
the Rt. Rev. Dr. William Meade, Bishop of the Diocese. He
served in Lynnhaven Parish, Virginia, during six months of
his diaconate.
In 1847 ne t 00 ^ charge of the Church of the Nativity, Hunts-
ville, Alabama. He was ordained priest in that Church on July
12, 1848, by the Rt. Rev. Nicholas N. Cobbs, D.D., Bishop of
the Diocese. He soon took a leading part in the work of the
Church in Alabama, and by his quiet and sympathetic attention
to every part of his duty made Huntsville one of the strongest
and best ordered parishes in the South.
In the course of his work he found that plain and simple
tracts were of use. He prepared, specially for the needs of his
own flock and others in the Diocese, a series of "Tracts for
810 Bishop Lay. [1885
Missionary Use." They were clear, sound and effective. One
of the series, Our Lord in Simon's House, was written by
Bishop Cobbs. They had a large circulation.
At the General Convention of 1859, held in Richmond, Vir-
ginia, he was chosen the Missionary Bishop of the Southwest,
to succeed the lamented Dr. George W. Freeman, who had died
on April 29, 1858.
He was consecrated in St. Paul's Church, Richmond, on Oc-
tober 23, 1859, by the Rt. Rev. Dr. William Meade, assisted by
the Rt. Rev. Dr. Charles Pettit Mcllvaine, the Rt. Rev. Dr.
Leonidas Polk, the Rt. Rev. Dr. William Heathcote DeLancey,
the Rt. Rev. William Rollinson Whittingham, the Rt. Rev. Dr.
Stephen Elliott, the Rt. Rev. Nicholas Hamner Cobbs, and the
Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Atkinson. His Diocese included Arkan-
sas and the Indian Territory. He carried into his Episcopate
the same qualities which had made him an efficient parish priest.
He had hardly commenced his new duties when the political dis-
turbances of the nation led to civil war.
With prudence and fidelity he laboured in his Episcopal office,
not allowing the passions of the hour to deter him from his
spiritual duty. He was prominent in the Council of the short-
lived Church in the Confederate States, he saw Arkansas grow
and consented to its erection as an independent Diocese.
At the close of the war he retired from his Diocese and was
living in North Carolina.
With Bishop Atkinson he attended the General Convention
held in Philadelphia in October, 1865, and was greeted by his
brethren in the Episcopate with love and affection.
On the separation of the Eastern Shore of Maryland from
the Diocese of Maryland and the erection of a new Diocese
under the name of the Diocese of Easton, Bishop Lay was elected
the first Bishop. Having accepted he was formally translated
to that See on April i, 1868.
In his small and compact Diocese he showed how a primitive
Bishop could live and work upon a meagre salary.
His simplicity, his sweetness and gentleness all knew, his
learning, his tact and moderation gave him a wide influence in
the general councils of the Church. He died at his home in
Easton on September 17, 1885, in the sixty-second year of his
age.
1886] George Jarvis Geer. 811
George Jarvis, the second son of the Rev. Alpheus and Sarah
W. (Marshall) Geer, was born at Waterbury, Connecticut, on
February 24, 1821. His father was a well-known clergyman
then serving as Rector of St. John's Church. His son George
received his training for college at the Episcopal Academy of
Connecticut, at Cheshire, then under the principalship of the
Rev. Dr. Eben E. Beardsley. He was graduated from Trinity
College, Hartford, in 1842. His theological studies were at the
General Theological Seminary, New York City. Upon the com-
pletion of his course he was made deacon in Christ Church,
Hartford, by Bishop Brownell, on June 29, 1845. He entered
almost immediately upon his duties as minister in charge of
Christ Church. Ballston, Spa, in the Diocese of New York.
In 1846 he was ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. Dr. DeLancey,
Bishop of Western New York. His work as a parish priest in
a large rural parish was full of that overflowing energy, ardent
enthusiasm, and spiritual fervour so marked throughout his
whole ministry.
In 1853, at the solicitation of his friend, the Rev. Dr. Robert
Shaw Howland, the founder of the Church of the Holy Apostles
on Ninth Avenue in the City of New York, he became his as-
sistant.
The Church of St. Timothy, which had been established in
1852 by the Rev. Tames C. Tracey, in a portion of the city
which was spiritually destitute as a "free Church" and for some
years occupied a small building on Fifty-First Street, after the
death of its founder in June, 1855, came under the fostering
care of Dr. Howland.
Mr. Geer took charge of the services, officiating every Sunday
morning and rendering other clerical and pastoral work. The
parish was developed under him and acquired strength. A pa-
rochial day school was maintained, and the Sunday School very
largely increased.
In September, 1857, Mr. Geer was elected Rector. He still
retained his connection with the Church of the Holy Apostles,
of which, in 1859, he was made the Associate Rector.
In 1860 a frame church was built on Fifty-Fourth Street west
of Eighth Avenue. The intention to build a more permanent
structure was frustrated by the erection of a large tenement
812 George Jarvis Geer. [1886
house on the the west side of the Church. A new location on
West Fifty-Seventh Street was chosen in 1866, and a church
commenced, which was opened on Easter Day, 1867. In 1866
Dr. Geer entirely severed his connection with the Church of the
Holy Apostles, and devoted himself to the development of St.
Timothy's. He also found time to foster the general work of
the Church in the Diocese and the nation.
A skilled musician, he was associated with the Rt. Rev. Dr.
Bedell and the Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg in the preparation of a
Tune Book containing tunes for the Psalms in metre and Hymns,
and also a collection of chants for Morning and Evening Prayer.
This was one of the results of the Memorial movement of 1853.
The Committee was appointed by the House of Bishops in 1856
and the Tune Book was published in 1858. Several of Dr.
Geer's tunes are still in use. Early in 1886 Dr. Geer, threaten-
ed with total blindness, was compelled to give up all work. He
was able, upon his partial restoration to health, to resume the
services in March, 1885. His last service was on Sunday,
March 15, the first time he felt able to officiate without assis-
ance.
His friend, Dr. Henry Mottett, thus describes the end: "The
last Hymn sung that night was 'Abide with Me,' and his hearty
Amen at its close was noted by many. The day after was his
last here, and the beginning of the more blessed life beyond.
There was no death such as we consider it. He was alone in
his room reading his Bible the story of God's call to Samuel,
while yet a child. The world may call it a coincidence ; oh, men
and brethren, we may take it as God's chosen way for calling
to go up higher, your pastor, who was in many ways so vvon-
drously like Samuel of old." 1
The Assistant Bishop in his Convention Address for 1888,
says: ''Dr. Geer as the Pastor of a free Church had all the un-
certainty which comes from such conditions, at a time when he
had passed middle life ; and he had added to this an increasing
loss of hearing and sight which made his perseverencc a daily
marvel ; under these circumstances his sweet and uncomplaining
I. History of the Church Zion and Saint Timothy of New York, p. 246.
Printed for private circulation. New York and London : G. P. Putnam's
Sons, in sketch of Dr. Geer.
1886] Prayer Book Revision. 813
nature which was never soured and which never despaired was
something to honour and remember." 1
The determination that the American Church had made that it
would revise the Prayer Book had necessarily suspended all work
upon the several versions contemplated by the Society. This un-
dertaking was in the care of a committee, which had been orig-
inally appointed at the General Convention of 1880.
The General Convention met in the Church of the Holy Trin-
ity, New York City, for business on the afternoon of Wednesday,
October 6, 1880. The opening service had been held in St.
George's Church, Stuyvesant Square.
Upon Friday, October I5th, the ninth day of the session, the
Rev. Dr. William R. Himtington, of Massachusetts offered this
resolution :
Resolved, The House of Bishops concurring, that a Joint Com-
mittee, to consist of seven Bishops, seven Presbyters, and seven
Laymen be appointed to consider and report to the next General
Convention whether in view of the fact that this Church is soon
to enter upon the second century of its organized existence in this
country, the changed conditions of the national life do not
demand certain alterations in the Book of Common Prayer in the
direction of Liturgical enrichment and increased flexibility of use.
It was placed upon the Calendar and finally reached on Mon-
day, October 25, the seventeenth day of the session. It was vig-
orously debated and adopted on a vote by Dioceses and Orders.
Clergy, ayes 33, nays 9, divided I.
Lay, ayes 20. nays u, divided 4.
The House of Bishops concurred October 26.
The members of the Committee were : The Bishops of Con-
necticut (Dr. John Williams), Easton (Dr. Henry C. Lay),
Pennsylvania (Dr. William B. Stevens), Western New York
(Dr. Arthur C. Coxe), Florida (Dr. John F. Young), Albany
(Dr. William C. Doane), Central New York (Dr. Frederick D.
Huntington). The Rev. Drs. William R. Huntington, E. A.
Dalrymple, Daniel R. Goodwin, Morgan Dix, Edwin Harwood,
Joseph F. Garrison, Francis Harison, the Hon. Hamilton Fish,
LL.D., Prof. Henry Coppee, LL.D.. Hon. Hugh W. Sheffey,
i. Ibid, p. 251.
814 Prayer Book Revision. [1886
LL.D., Hon. John W. Andrews, Hon. James L. Smith, LL.D.,
and Mr. Hill Burgwin. 1
The committee met for organization soon after the rising of
the Convention and held three groups of fully attended sessions
in the City of New York, in January, 1881, October, 1882, and
April, 1883. The Right Rev Dr. Williams was chosen Chair-
man, and the Rev. Dr. Huntington, Secretary. Much of the im-
portant work was done by Sub-committees.
The result of its labours was a report containing thirty-three
resolutions arranged under their proper heads embodying the
changes proposed.
The Report was accompanied with a volume containing the
Prayer Book as it would appear, if these changes were adopted.
It was officially known as the "Book Annexed."
It was originally printed under the title : "The Book Annex-
ed to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Book of Com-
mon Prayer appointed by the General Convention of
MDCCCLXXX. Worcester, Mass. Everett C. Stone."
The discussion of the report occupied much of the time of the
Convention. It was considered by each House in the Committee
of the Whole. Wide divergencies of opinion were manifested.
All the proceedings were recorded in a supplemental Journal
bound up with the regular Journal.
Finally committees of conference were appointed by each
House, Bishop Williams being chairman on the part of the
House of Bishops, and Dr. Huntington on the part of the House
of Deputies. By their tactful skill an agreement was reached.
They presented a report, modelled upon that of the Joint Com-
mittee, with a series of resolutions incorporating the changes that
were desirable. This Report as a Whole was submitted to the
House of Bishops for adoption on the twenty-first day of the
session, October 26, 1883. The record says that on motion of
the Bishop of Albany it was adopted "by a constitutional major-
ity." On the same day it was sent to the House of Deputies for
concurrence.
At the call of "the Lay delegation of the Diocese of Virginia,
seconded by the Clerical delegation of the Diocese of Massachu-
i. See Journal General Convention, 1880, pp. 71, 152, 168, 173, 196, 301,
313, 3i6, 317.
1886] Prayer Book Revision. 815
setts," a vote was taken by Dioceses and Orders. There were in
the Clerical Order, ayes 32, nays 2 ; in the Lay Order, ayes 32,
nays 2 : so the Report was duly concurred in by a Constitutional
majority.
The Joint Committee on the Prayer Book was continued but
without filling the vacancy made by the death of Dr. Dalrymple
of Maryland.
It was resolved that the Treasurer of the General Convention
should acquire the title of the "Book Annexed" from the Right
Rev. Dr. Williams, who legally held the copyright, and that an
edition of the Book should be published as revised by the Conven-
tion under the editorship of a Committee of one from each Order.
Bishop Doane, Dr. Htmtington, and Governor Fish were appoint-
ed. The edition appeared in 1885 under the title :
The Book Annexed to the Report of the Joint Committee on
the Book of Common Prayer, as Modified by the Action of the
General Convention of MDCCCLXXXII. /j.to, pp. 24, 604.
It had a large circulation. All profits from its sales were by
resolution of the Convention given "to the Treasurer of the
Trustees of the Fund for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans
of Deceased Clergymen and of Aged and Infirm and Disabled
Clergymen for the benefit of the said Fund." 1
At the meeting on January 12, 1886, on motion, the following
resolution was adopted :
At a meeting of the New York Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society, held January I, 1886, the Treasurer having re-
ported the receipt of fifty thousand dollars, the amount of the
legacy bequeathed by the late William H. Vanderbilt, Esq., it
was on motion,
Resolved, That the Society acknowledges with feelings of sin-
cere gratitude this munificent gift ; and in order to perpetuate its
recognition, do hereby, Resolve, That the Legacy of $50,000 be
invested as a special fund to be known as the Vanderbilt Fund,
and that only the interest on same be used for the charitable pur-
poses of the Society, namely, the free distribution of Bibles and
Prayer Books (and Hymnals).
After some remarks by the Treasurer the following motion
was made by Mr. Knap :
I. For the proceedings of the Convention see Supplemental Journal, pp.
327-392; for the Report of the Joint Committee, pp. 393-428.
816 Prayer Book Revision. [1886
Resolved, That Messrs. Nash & Pott be appointed a committee
to consider the legality and expediency of having the Charter
amended so as to allow the Society to publish portions of the
Book of Common Prayer and that the said Committee be au-
thorized to call a special meeting of the Board when ready to re-
port, stating object of the meeting. (Folio 225.)
The Special Committee appointed to consider the legality and
expediency of having the Charter amended reported adversely
to such action, May n, 1886, and on the same day it was
Resolved, That the delegates from the Diocese of New York
be respectfully requested, if in their judgment the same be deem-
ed expedient, to request the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies
of the General Convention to have the N. Y. B. & C. P. B. So-
ciety represented upon the several committees having in charge
the various translations of the Prayer Book.
Resolved, That Professor Egleston and the Treasurer be ap-
pointed a committee to consider the propriety of petitioning the
General Convention in behalf of the Society against any changes
being made in the Standard Prayer Book. (Folio 227.)
Upon the adjournment of the Annual Meeting the new Board
of Managers met. Present, Rev. Dr. Duffie, Rev. A. B. Hart,
Rev. Dr. Mulcahey and Messrs. Clarkson, Rogers, Nash, Treas-
urer and Secretary.
The Annual Report was ordered to be printed; 1,500 copies.
On motion the following Business Committee was duly elect-
ed: F. W. Foote, Henry Rogers, George E. Shortridge, F.
McL. Nash, James Pott, Treasurer.
On motion the Treasurer was requested to visit the Assistant
Bishop with a view of interesting him in the work of the So-
ciety.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CONTENTS.
Annual Meeting, October, 1886 Report for 1886 S. M. Eclson and
Caleb Clapp Legacies General Convention of 1866 Joint Committee on
Liturgical Revision > Death of Bishop Horatio Potter Paper by Rev.
Joshua Weaver on the Standard Edition of the Bible Report for 1887
Minute on the Death of the Rev. Dr. Price Report for 1888 Minute on
the Death of Rev. Dr. Morgan And of F. W. Foote Gift of his
Collection of Prayer Books to the Society by Professor Egleston Report
of 1889 General Convention of 1889 Joint Committee on Standard Prayer
Book Memorial from American Bible Society to General Convention
The German Translation of the Prayer Book Report of Special Commit-
tee Appropriation for Prayer Book in Japanese.
AT the Annual Meeting of October 7, 1886, the Secretary
was appointed to cast the ballot for the following per-
sons as nominated by the Board of Managers :
Rev. Dr. F. Morgan, Rev. C. Buel, Rev. C. K.
Duffie, D.D., Mr. F. W. Foote, Mr. H. S. Wynkoop.
The Chair declared the above persons as elected to serve for
four years.
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1886.
We are glad to be able to say that our work has gone on dur-
ing the past year in the usual channel, helping, as we have good
reason to believe, both Bishops and Clergy in their efforts to
plant and sustain the services of the Church.
It is very hard for us to realize the comfort that a donation of
only twenty-five Prayer Books gives to some of our poor Mis-
sionaries ; as they are unable to purchase, they are dependent upon
our Society, and without our aid could hardly make the services
held by them interesting to their people.
During the past year our hearts were cheered by the munificent
gift of $50,000 by the late W. H. Vanderbilt. This money we
propose to invest so that only the interest will be used for the
purposes of the Society. The fund will be known as the "Van-
Si;
(52)
818 Seventy-Eighth Report. [1886
derbilt Fund," and we hope that the gift may stimulate others,
and so in due time our Society be enabled to meet in a liberal
spirit every proper demand upon it. The calls for books must be
expected to increase as the Church increases, and we are anxious
to keep pace with it in our donations of Prayer Books.
It is perhaps hardly proper for us to discuss the value of the
Book Annexed, or to give any opinion as to its methods. We
fully recognize the importance of shortened services, and also
of special services. Living as we do in an age of great mental
and physical development, we must expect to see a correspond-
ing activity in the Church. Though we may not want the text
of the Prayer Book altered, we cannot well oppose any proper
effort which will supply such aids as are needed in educating the
people in its use.
We await with interest the result of the coming discussion,
and we doubt not but that the decision reached will be for the
interests of the Church.
Our donations -during the past year have reached 37,320 vol-
umes, and these have been distributed to every section of the
Church.
The Treasurer reported in addition to the Vanderbilt legacy
these legacies :
S. M. Edson $i ,000 oo
The Rev. Caleb Clapp 2 <533 7
$3533 7
The total receipts had been $72,728.69, and the expenditures
and investments left on hand a cash balance of $46.89.
The General Convention of 1886 met in the city of Chicago
from Wednesday, October 6, to Thursday, October 28. Upon
the second day of the session, Thursday, October 7, the Bishop
of Albany offered in the House of Bishops a resolution providing
for a joint Committee of Conference of "five members of each
order to which shall be referred all memorials and resolutions
presented to either House, whether by individual members, or in
behalf of Dioceses, with reference to the subject of Liturgical
Revision."
An identical resolution, with the proviso that the report,
which was to be made "not later than the tenth day of the ses-
1887] Death of Bishop Horatio Potter. 819
sion," should be acted upon by the House of Bishops in the first
place and be proceeded with to a final determination as if the
matter contained therein had originated in that House, was
offered on the first day of the session in the House of Deputies
by the Rev. Dr. Huntington.
Both Houses concurred in adopting the resolution with the
proviso.
The Presiding Bishop appointed on the Committee, the Chair-
man Dr. Williams, Bishop of Connecticut, having been chosen
by a special resolution, the Bishop of Ohio, Dr. Bedell ; Albany,
Dr. Doane; North Carolina, Dr. Lyman, and the Assistant
Bishop of New York, Dr. Henry C. Potter.
The Committee from the House of Deputies was the Rev. Dr.
Huntington, the Rev. Dr. Egar, the Rev. Dr. Gold, the Rev. Dr.
Hale, the Rev. Dr. Hart, Mr. Sheffey, Mr. Nash, Mr. Shattuck,
Mr. Gilbert, and Mr. Packard.
The discussion of the "Notification" which had been sent out
to the various Dioceses was long. Finally some of the changes
were rejected and others adopted. A new Notification was sent
out concerning the changes which had not been acted upon, and
a new joint Committee upon Liturgical Revision appointed by
both Houses. From the House of Bishops : The Bishop of Al-
bany, Dr. Doane ; New Hampshire, Dr. Niles ; the Assistant Bish-
op of Mississippi, Dr. Thompson ; the Assistant Bishop of New
York, Dr. Potter, and the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Dr. Whitehead.
From the House of Deputies : The Rev. Drs. Huntington, Gold,
Hart, Egar, Swope, Messrs. Sheffey, McWhorter, Woolworth,
Gilbert, and Jackson. 1
It is somewhat remarkable that there was no action taken by
the Board upon the death of its President, Bishop Horatio Pot-
ter, in January, 1887. Similar omissions have been noted con-
cerning the Rev. Dr. Berrian, Rector of Trinity Church, who
was First Vice President, who died in November, 1882, and the
Rev. Dr. John McVickar, who was also a Vice President, who
died in October, 1868.
Horatio, a son of Joseph and Ann (Knight) Potter, was born
at Beekman, Dutchess County, N. Y., on February 9, 1802. He
I. For the proceedings on Liturgical Revision in full, see, for the House
of Bishops, pp. 321-409, and for the House of Deputies, pp. 410-554, Supple-
mentary Journal, General Convention, 1888.
820 Bishop Horatio Potter. [1887
pursued his preliminary studies at the Poughkeepsie Academy,
and proceeded to Union College, Schenectady, from which he
was graduated in 1826.
On Sunday, July 15, 1827, he was made deacon at Pough-
keepsie by Bishop Hobart. He then took charge of the small
parish at Saco, Maine. From there in 1828 he was called to the
Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Washington
(now Trinity) College, Hartford, Connecticut, then in the early
days of its brilliant success under Bishop Brownell. He added
strength to a faculty which had such men as that universal
scholar, Dr. Samuel F. Jarvis, and the Rev. George Washington
Doane. He was ordained priest on December 14, 1828, by
Bishop Brownell in Christ Church, Hartford.
Professor Potter, like the other professors in the college, did
much good work in officiating in vacant parishes near Hartford
and in organizing new missions. In 1833 he was called to St.
Peter's Church, Albany, a parish with an honourable past dating
back to the beginning of the eighteenth century.
Mr. Potter soon became the leader not only in his own parish
but throughout Northern New York. Under him the Albany
Bible and Prayer Book Society took on new life and strength.
Ten parishes were formed into a northern Convocation which
intelligently planted new missions and administered prudently
the funds it obtained from the Diocese and from the parishes
in the Convocation.
A new rectory was built for Dr. Potter in 1847, an ^ it was
seen that a new Church would soon be a necessity.
The bereavement of the Diocese of New York when the first
Provisional Bishop, Dr. Wainwright, after an Episcopate of less
than two years, died from overwork, was deep and sincere.
A few days after his death, at the Annual Convention, Dr.
Potter was chosen Provisional Bishop. He was consecrated in
Trinity Church, New York City, on November 22, 1854, by the
Presiding Bishop, Dr. Brownell, assisted by the Bishops of Ver-
mont (Dr. Hopkins), New Jersey (Dr. Doane), Michigan (Dr.
McCoskry), Maryland (Dr. Whittingham), Massachusetts
(Eastburn), Assistant of Pennsylvania (Dr. Alonzo Potter),
Assistant of Connecticut (Dr. Williams), Illinois (Dr. White-
house), and Montreal (Dr. Fulford).
The sermon was by the Lord Bishop of Montreal. Bishop
1887] The Standard Bible. 821
Potter had a difficult position to fill. The friends of the sus-
pended Bishop, Dr. Onderdonk, were watchful and resented any
reflection upon him; while his opponents were as anxious that
the new Provisional Bishop should favour them and throw dis-
credit upon one whom they thought was justly condemned.
The new Bishop was strictly neutral and in his work as ad-
ministrator of an overgrown Diocese did not allow himself to
utter any words liable to aid either party. He became a power
in the House of Bishops.
He showed how modern ideas of Church work and life could
be grafted upon the old Catholic conception of the Kingdom of
God.
It would be interesting and profitable to show if space allowed
the development of Dr. Potter both as a theologian and an ad-
ministrator.
By the death of Bishop Onderdonk in April, 1861, he became
the Bishop of the Diocese. Seven years later the new Sees of
Long Island and Albany were taken from the Diocese of New
York without impairing its inherent strength. He attended the
first and second Lambeth Conferences in 1867 and 1878. He
received marked attention and exercised much influence in them.
As old age approached he found the burden of work too great,
and in October, 1883, his nephew, the Rev. Dr. Henry Codman
Potter, was consecrated as his coadjutor. His uncle had been
incapacitated for active service since May 3 of that year. He
remained an invalid after an attack of pneumonia for three
years and eight months.
The end of earth came to him peacefully upon January 2, 1887,
in the eighty-second year of his life.
Among the statesmen and worthies of the American Church
Horatio Potter must always have a high place.
On May 10, 1887, it is recorded that the Rev. J. Weaver read
a paper of interest on the Standard Edition of the Bible of this
Church, showing that while the last General Convention had ap-
pointed a Custodian there really was no accepted Standard Text.
The subject was discussed and on motion of Professor Egles-
ton it was
Resolved, That the Rev. Joshua Weaver, Mr. James Pott
and the Secretary be appointed a Committee to report at a future
meeting in regard to the proposed Standard Bible. (Folio 734.)
822 Seventy-Ninth Report. [1887
SEVENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1887.
During the year that has just closed the Society has distributed
gratuitously 1,789 Bibles, 22,000 Prayer Books, and 18,241
Hymnals 42,030 volumes.
Our benefactions have extended to all portions of the Church;
and our only regret is that they have been so limited. The
applications that come to us are most urgent, showing that new
Church enterprises are being constantly inaugurated. The work
in which we are engaged grows thus yearly in importance with
the growth of the Church, and certainly calls for a generous
and hearty support.
The proposed changes in the Prayer Book, though they have
entailed some expense upon the Society, have not apparently in
any way affected the demand made upon it; and the wise fore-
thought of the General Convention in preserving the text un-
altered has prevented any confusion in the use of the Book.
The index of changes is printed in the back of our Prayer
Books, as required, but is probably not referred to by those who
attend Mission Services. The question of new translations has
of course remained an open one until the final revision of the
American Book.
It would be impossible for us to give in detail the many testi-
monials which we receive bearing upon the usefulness of our
work. We have only to place ourselves in imagination in the
position of a Missionary struggling alone amid opposition and
difficulties, far away from the great centres of Church life, earn-
estly striving to introduce the services of the Church, in order to
realize how cheering it must be to him to be supplied with the
needed means of prosecuting his work. Thus are we, day by day,
and year by year, cheering many noble hearts and strengthening
many weary hands.
We ask from Bishops, clergy and laity, their sympathy and
support in our efforts to send the Prayer Book freely throughout
our land. Quietly and surely it will perform its mission, not only
in the Public Service, but also in the home, giving to all the
teaching of Scripture and the words of Prayer.
After attending "to the many testimonials we receive bear-
ing on the usefulness of our work" and appealing to "the Bish-
1888] Death of Rev. Joseph H. Price. 823
ops, clergy and laity" for their support and sympathy in our
efforts to send the Prayer Book freely throughout our land,
the Managers speak of the personal loss they have sustained
during the year :
The year that has closed makes the separation from us of
one who for many years was not only our counsellor, but a
warm friend of our Society; and as we thus refer to the decease
of our departed Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, we wish
to place upon record our appreciation of his many virtues and
our sense of the great loss we have sustained.
How quickly do the years pass around, and the names of
those so long honoured and respected in our Church drop from
our list.
Dating back as we do to the days of Bishop Hobart, we have
no mean list of names to point to as members of our Society;
and most earnestly do we hope that there may be no lack of
others, as the years roll around, who will cheerfully take up the
work that these have laid down, and prosecute it with a new
and youthful zeal.
In the Treasurer's Report the largest item of receipts is that
for interest, $5,611.69; the total amount received being $16,-
696.21. The disbursements, which include $7,000 loaned on
bond and mortgage, were $16,696.21.
At the Annual Election, October 6, 1887, the Secretary was
appointed to cast the ballot for the following persons nominated
by the Board :
Rev. J. H. Price, D.D., First Vice President.
Prof. Thomas Egleston, Second Vice President.
A. L. Clarkson, Third Vice President.
J. Buckley, Jr., Fourth Vice President.
Rev. A. B. Hart, Rev. A. Mackay-Smith, on the Board.
The Chair declared these persons elected for a term of four
years.
On January 12, 1888, the following minute was passed:
Since the last meeting of the Board we have been called upon
to mourn the loss of its oldest member, the Rev. Joseph H.
Price, D.D.
Dr. Price became a member of this Board of Managers in
October, 1838, and died in October, 1881. His membership
covering a period of forty-nine years. Up to comparatively re-
824 The Standard Bible. [1888
cent date he took a lively interest in the affairs of the Society,
was a regular attendant at its meetings and was always ready
to support any effort for the promotion of its usefulness.
As a last proof of his attachment, he provided in his will
that under certain circumstances the Society shall inherit his
property.
Any lengthy and laboured obituary notice of our departed
brother it is unnecessary to attempt. He was a man of marked
ability and at one time occupied a high position in the councils
of the Church. He was outspoken in his convictions and jealous
of his honour, being in all respects and in every relation a faith-
ful and consistent member.
Dr. Price was a man whom his colleagues could not help
honouring and respecting. His latter days were passed in quiet,
unobtrusive seclusion, though his society was sought and his
companionship valued and enjoyed by those who had the op-
portunity of sharing them. He now rests in peace after the
labour and troubles of a long life, and we who have known him
have the sure hope that he will receive the reward which awaits
all who have truly loved and served the Master.
Resolved, That the foregoing tribute be approved and copied
on Minutes of the Meeting of the Board, and a copy of the same
be sent to Henry B. Price, son of the deceased.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Knap and carried. (Folio
740.)
At the meeting held on May 8, 1888, this action was taken:
It being in order, the Committee of three appointed, on the
Standard Bible, at the previous meeting, made their report. Rev.
Joshua Weaver read a carefully prepared report giving a history
of the whole matter dating from 1817, with conclusions and sug-
gestions for resolutions. Mr. James Pott then presented the
minority report. These reports received earnest attention and
much interest was shown in the general discussion which fol-
lowed.
On motion of Rev. Clarence Buel, seconded by Professor
Egleston, both reports were adopted.
On motion the following was carried:
Resolved, That the Agent of this Society be authorized to
hand over MS. of the late Rev. Dr. Mason's Revisions of the
Standard Bible to the Rev. J. A. Spencer, D.D., Custodian of
the Standard Bible, appointed at the last General Convention.
1888] Eightieth Report. 825
Upon September n, 1888, Mr. Pott presented this preamble
and resolution:
Whereas, Since the last meeting of this Society our Vice
President, the Rev. William F. Morgan, D.D., has been removed
by death; be it therefore
Resolved, That the Treasurer be instructed to prepare a suit-
able memorial to his memory and that the same be placed in the
Annual Report.
On motion this resolution was adopted.
The Annual Meeting was held October 4, 1888, and the fol-
lowing gentlemen were declared as elected :
Rev. J. Weaver, First Vice President, till 1892.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Second Vice President, till 1889.
Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D., Third Vice President, till 1890.
Rev. A. B. Hart, Fourth Vice President, till 1891.
Lay Officers:
S. P. Bell, First Vice President, till 1892.
T. Egleston, Second Vice President, till 1892.
A. L. Clarkson, Third Vice President, till 1891.
Henry Rogers, Fourth Vice President, till 1889.
And to fill a vacancy on the Board of Managers, the Rev. J.
W. Brown, D.D., was elected.
These persons were declared elected for the term of four
years, and the Treasurer and Secretary were re-elected.
The Secretary reported the matter of the Committee on the
Standard Bible had been duly submitted to the Bishop in ac-
cordance with resolutions of previous meeting, with no response
in time for this meeting.
EIGHTIETH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1888.
It is very difficult, as the years pass round, to find in the work
of the Society anything that is new or striking to note in its
Annual Report.
The importance of our work becomes more and more apparent
with the growth of our country. As new fields are opened up, so
does the demand for the Prayer Book increase.
It requires no argument to prove the necessity of supplying
Prayer Books in our Mission Jurisdictions, and in our Missions
826 Eightieth Report. [1888
near at home. It is impossible to inaugurate the Services of the
Church without Prayer Books, and as the rent of room and other
needed outlays leaves no available means for their purchase, the
work would be greatly hindered if there were no Society like
ours to step in and supply the needed books. Thanks come to us
from all quarters for the gifts that we bestow, and our only
regret is that we are unable to make our grants at all commen-
surate with the great need which continually exists.
During the year which has just closed we have donated 1,619
Bibles, 24,367 Prayer Books, 19,176 Testaments and Hymnals,
in all, 45,162 volumes; these books having been distributed in all
parts of the country, as shown by the list appended to our Report.
During this coming year we hope to show an extended work,
and trust that the needed means for accomplishing it will not be
withheld.
The proposed changes both in the Prayer Book and Hymnal
must of course, interfere somewhat with the prompt answer to
applications and for a time and until the old editions are exhaust-
ed, lead to onfusion in the use of both books ; and it is only by
the permission to grant the continued use of old editions, as has
been the case in previous changes, that sufficient time is given
to introduce the new editions generally and without confusion.
Since our last Report we have been called upon to mourn the
loss of our Vice President, the Rev. W. F. Morgan, D.D. He
was always a kind and faithful supporter of the interests of our
Society. We always found in him a true and sympathizing
friend. We may not in this place pronounce any empty eulogy;
his character has been well delineated, and his loss recorded by
many who knew and appreciated his worth. His name \vas duly
honoured at our late Convention, and as we remember the many
positions which he held, and the generous interest which he al-
ways showed in all good interests, and more particularly his
relations to our Society, we join most sincerely with others in
paying our tribute of love and respect to his memory.
We sometimes fear that as our Society grows in age, and
those who have so long been interested in its welfare pass away
it may not be so easy to find in this busy and engrossing age
others who will fill their places, and give the time and interest
that they gave to furthering its purposes. But \ve trust that a
work so important as ours will always appeal to the clergy and
1888] William Ferdinand Morgan. 827
people of our Church and thus secure to us the willing workers
we need.
The report is signed by the Treasurer, Mr. James Pott.
The receipts for the year were $29,563.93, which included a
legacy of J. M. Buckingham of $950.00. After defraying all
expenses and making an investment there was left a cash bal-
ance of $409.83.
William Ferdinand, son of Denison and Ursula (Brainard)
Morgan, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on December 21,
1816. After studying in the schools of his native town he en-
tered Union College, Schenectady, from which he was graduated
in 1837. He spent three years in his theological studies at the
General Theological Seminary in New York City. He was
made deacon by Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut, in 1841,
and was advanced to the priesthood in 1842. He served dur-
ing his diaconate as Assistant in Trinity Church, New Haven,
under the Rev. Dr. Harry Crosswell. In 1844 ne accepted the
rectorship of Christ Church, Norwich. Under his vigorous
administration the parish renewed its youth. A new church, one
of the striking successes of the architect, Mr. John Upjohn, was
built. In 1857 he became Rector of St. Thomas' Church, New
York City. His work in the parish in the city and in his Dio-
cese was of peculiar excellence and value. The removal from
Broadway and Houston Street, where St. Thomas' Church had
been a landmark both in its original form and as rebuilt after a
fire which left only the walls standing, excited much comment
and was not effected without serious friction in the congrega-
tion.
The wisdom of the move uptown to Fifty-Third Street and
Fifth Avenue was soon apparent. The new St. Thomas' Church,
built largely under his personal supervision and adorned with
memorials by John La Farge and Augustus St. Gaudens, was
opened in 1870 and consecrated in 1879. The congregation
largely increased. The work for the poor and needy was large
and the Chapel on the East Side was a source of spiritual life
to very many.
Dr. Morgan was both an attractive preacher and a careful
organizer. In 1864 he preached a notable sermon at the open-
ing of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Paris, France, which
was published. Among his assistants in the new St. Thomas'
828 Death of F. W. Foote. [1889
Church were the Rev. Frederick Courtney, afterward Bishop
of Nova Scotia, and the Rev. Alexander Mackay- Smith, the
present Coadjutor Bishop of Pennsylvania.
In April, 1888, Dr. Morgan resigned the rectorship he had
held for thirty-two years and was made Rector Emeritus. He
did not long survive his retirement from active work, for he died
on May 19, 1888, in the seventy-second year of his age.
On January 8, 1889, a letter from Bishop Potter on the
Standard Bible was then read, also a letter from Rev. Joshua
Weaver on the same subject, both of which were ordered on file.
The Secretary being further instructed to write Rev. Mr.
Weaver that they did not consider his action in advertising the
publishing of a Standard Bible as at all personal, and beg to
assure him of their hearty sympathy in his earnest efforts to
promote the welfare of the Church.
On May 21, 1889, another associate is commemorated.
It being in order, Mr. Pott offered the following minute:
Since the last meeting we have to record the unexpected de-
cease of one of the members of our Board, Mr. F. W. Foote.
Mr. Foote was elected a member of our Society in October, 1879.
He has always faithfully attended to the duties which devolved
upon him. He was prompt and clear in his judgments, and as
such was a most useful counsellor to the Treasurer.
We can bear witness to his interest in matters connected with
the Church, and can truly say that in his death we are deprived
of a very useful member of our Board.
On motion the foregoing was adopted.
Professor Egleston spoke with much earnestness on the
desirability of the Society's having a Library to be composed,
among other works of the various editions and translations into
other languages, of the Book of Common Prayer. He showed
how difficult of access these and other works of reference in
Church matters were, and in conclusion kindly offered his col-
lection of Prayer Books to the Society for such a Library.
The Bishop suggested the following resolution, which Pro-
fessor Egleston at once offered:
Resolved, That the proper authority of the Diocesan House
be respectfully requested to provide accommodations for a Li-
brary to be collected by the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society.
1889] Eighty-First Report. 829
At the Annual Meeting of October 3, 1889, on motion the
Secretary was ordered to cast the vote for the following mem-
bers of the Board :
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Henry Rogers, Rev. J. Mulcahey
(expiring 1893), T. H. Sill, George E. Shortridge (expiring
1892), George Stryker (resigned), H. J. Cammann (expiring
1890).
EIGHTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1889.
The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society may
be truthfully characterized as being at once local in its organiza-
tion and general in its work.
For although as a corporation it owes its existence to the
laws of New York, yet in its working out of its aim it makes no
local discrimination, but reaches out to every portion of the
field from which aid is sought.
Thus a glance at the distribution of Bibles, Testaments and
Hymnals during the past year will show that they have been
sent to no less than forty-eight States and Territories, and even
to Churches in foreign lands.
This fact alone gives the Society a strong claim to the cordial
support both of clergy and laity throughout the whole country.
For it must surely be admitted that excepting the divinely
constituted ambassador there can be no more efficient means of
extending the Church than by sending forth the Prayer Book as
the truest interpreter of her life and spirit.
Leaflets and abridgements, or selections from pages, will, do
well enough when accompanied by the voice of the living
.teacher.
But alas! the field is so large and the labourers are so few,
and meanwhile the Prayer Book is keeping alive the spark of
Churchly life, or kindling it anew in many places into which no
ambassador for the Church has yet been sent.
It has been the aim of the Society to meet every proper claim
for assistance which has been presented to it, and during the past
year it has done so very fully. But beyond this, there are a great
many needs, which, though not voiced in the way of direct ap-
peals, the Society would most gladly seek out and supply if it had
the power to do so.
830 Eighty-First Report. [1889
What, for instance, might not be accomplished if, besides sup-
plying actual demands, it could send forth zealous agents charged
with the duty of penetrating into unoccupied fields and distribut-
ing judiciously the Book of Common Prayer and the Church
Hymnal ?
But in order to do this it must be strengthened by enlarged
contributions from all those who would wish to see its work more
active and aggressive.
There is, however, another feature of its operations which has
been practically arrested by the work of revision which has been
going on for the past nine years. We refer to the translation of
the Prayer Book into foreign tongues, now so urgently needed
with reference to the Germans and others of foreign birth, who
form such an important factor in our American national life.
Hence we share strongly the growing desire to have the
work of revision soon brought to its completion. For until
this result shall be reached, it would be manifestly unwise to
engage in the publication of translations or even to incur a large
expenditure in the preparation of new editions. But whenever
a Standard Prayer Book shall be adopted the Society will not
be backward in issuing such versions and editions as, under due
authorization, may be called for.
Your Board of Managers feel an honourable pride in advert-
ing to the fact that the Society which they represent is to be
counted among the most venerable institutions of our American
Church. Hence in its attachment to the Prayer Book, it mani-
fests a deep affection which has only been strengthened by the
ties of more than eighty years of close association.
In the meantime a multitude of new agencies have been spring-
ing up on all sides, and there is at least danger that among them
all those which have been approved by years of efficient use, may
fail of receiving their rightful recognition.
While, therefore, we have only words of warm commendation
for all earnest efforts in every phase of Church activity, we still
ask the continued support of all those who have heretofore been
interested in our work. And to this we add, also, that the acces-
sion of recruits to its list of Patrons and other life contributors,
and also to those making annual contributions, will greatly aid in
the enlargement of its field and increase of its usefulness.
During the past year the Society has sustained a severe loss
1889] The General Convention. 831
in the death of Mr. F. W. Foote, who for the ten preceding years
was a member of the Board of Managers.
He was alike wise in counsel and prudent in action, and the
value of his services as an associate was enhanced by familiar-
ity with the affairs of the Society, which had been acquired by
his long experience.
As a good soldier of Christ he served Him in the "Church
which is his body" with devoted loyalty, and kept in the har-
ness earnest, faithful, and active, until the great Captain came
and called him to his rest.
In closing our report we will only add that the year just passed
has been abundantly blessed in good results, as will readily appear
by the list of distributions hereto attached, and by the many
warm acknowledgments which have been received from those to
whom our aid has gone forth.
But the attainments of the past so far from fostering an
indolent satisfaction, should only inspire to larger hopes and
aims for the time to come.
And so we enter upon the new year, memorable for its Cen-
tennial Associations both in Church and State, with the earnest
hope that it may prove by God's blessing one which shall ex-
hibit results beyond everything which has yet been achieved,
and to this end we ask on behalf of the Society, that while its
old friends are moved to put forth greater efforts very many
new ones may come in and give it their cordial support.
From the Treasurer's statement the Society has received from
all sources, including legacies from the estates of Oliver H.
Vinton $100.00, and S. Wolcott $475.00, and the sale of bonds,
the sum of $25,589.90.
The expenditures had been $25,423.75, leaving a balance of
$165.15.
The General Convention of 1889 met in St. George's Church,
in the City of New York, from October 2 to October 24.
The changes proposed at Chicago three years before were to
be finally acted upon. With the utmost dispatch the progress
through both Houses of the several schedules in the notification
to the Dioceses was tedious and slow.
A committee of conference from both Houses was appointed
on the fourth day of the session, Saturday, October 5, at the
832 The General Convention. [1889
request of the House of Bishops. The members from that
House were: The Bishops of Albany (Dr. Doane), Massachus-
etts (Dr. Paddock), and Maryland (Dr. Paret) ; the members
from the House of Deputies were: The Rev. Dr. Hart, the Rev.
Mr. Blanchard and Mr. Hill Burgwin.
By their efforts all differences were reconciled, and at the end
of the session the two Houses and the Church at large saw with
satisfaction that only the preparation of a Standard Prayer Book
embodying the changes remained to be accomplished by the
Committee whose work had been so careful, painstaking and
continuous. The work of preparing the Standard Prayer Book
was intrusted to a Joint Committee, consisting of the Bishops
of Albany, Iowa, and New York, the Rev. Drs. Huntington,
Kedney and Hart, and Messrs. J. Pierpont Morgan, Joseph
Packard and Samuel Eliot.
The following extracts will shew the action taken by the Gen-
eral Convention on a memorial from the American Bible Society :
House of Bishops.
Eighth Day's Proceedings.
New York, Thursday, October 10, 1889.
"The Bishop of New York on behalf of the Bishop of Western
New York presented a Memorial from the American Bible So-
ciety, which on motion was referred to the Committee of Memor-
ials." 1
New York, Monday, October 14, 1889.
"The Bishop of Albany from the Standing Committee on
Memorials, offered the following resolutions:
"Resolved, ist, That the Memorial of the American Bible So-
ciety be referred to the Committee on the Pastoral Letter." 1
House of Deputies.
Thursday. October 10, 1889.
"The Rev. Dr. Huntington of New York presented a Memorial
from the American Bible Society, asking the official sanction of
the Convention on the Society's work of distributing the Bible
without note or comment, which memorial, on motion was re-
ferred to the Committee on Christian Education." 1
i. Page 33-
i. Ibid 43.
I. Ibid 280.
1889] American Bible Society. 833
St. Luke's Day, Friday, October 18, 1889.
"Mr. Eliot from the Committee on Christian Education pre-
sented the following Report, the resolution appended, which
were adopted.
"Whereas, a Memorial from the American Bible Society,
signed by well known and honoured names has been presented
to this Convention and referred by vote of this House to the
Committee on Education, your Committee have respectfully con-
sidered the communication from the Bible Society, and beg leave
to recommend the following resolutions :
"Resolved, ( i ) That this House desires to express its grateful
acknowledgment of most valuable assistance rendered by the
American Bible Society to Missionaries of the Church in foreign
lands; and,
"Resolved, (2) That this House respectfully requests the
House of Bishops to consider in their Pastoral Letter, the im-
portance of the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in their ver-
nacular to men of various races and tongues."
Pastoral Letter.
"We would not close our brief consideration of the Faith, its
securities and its relations to modern life, without most grateful
reference to our enlarged opportunities for the study and under-
standing of God's Holy Word. We hail with deep, heartfelt sat-
isfaction every pious undertaking by which the Knowledge of the
Sacred Scriptures is brought home to men." 1
The Society presented to the House of Bishops a Memorial
praying that "measures should be taken to secure an early and
correct translation of the Prayer Book into the German lan-
guage." It was referred to the Committee on the Prayer Book,
which reported through its Chairman, Dr. Coxe, of Western New
York, on Thursday, October I7th, this preamble and resolu-
tions :
"Whereas, There is at present no translation in German of
the Book of Common Prayer, the plates of the former defective
translation having been destroyed, and
"Whereas, Church work among the German population has
awakened great interest, and the need of a new translation is
urgent; therefore,
Page 570.
(53)
834 Japanese Prayer Book. [1890
"Resolved, That as soon as the Standard Edition is set forth,
the material already collected by the labours of the late Dr. Sieg-
mund shall be completed and set forth correspondingly." 1
The Special Committee appointed to memorialize the House
of Bishops in regard to a translation of the Prayer Book into
German reported an answer from the House of Bishops stating
that all translations of the Prayer Book were deferred till such
time as the Standard Edition is set forth in English.
On motion of Professor Egleston, the Special Committee on
versions of the Prayer Book, consisting of the Rev. Mr. Hart,
the Archdeacon (Mackay-Smith), Professor Egleston and Mr.
Pott, was appointed under the direction of the Bishop to prepare
such a Manual for the use of the German congregations as in
their judgment was considered expedient.
Resolved, That the New York Bible and Common Prayer
Book Society recognizing the propriety of the Standard Edition
of the Prayer Book being issued in this country, would respect-
fully urge the claims of their Society for the privilege of being
publishers of the same, and that the Rev. the Archdeacon and
Mr. J. McL. Nash, be appointed a Special Committee to present
those claims to the Publishing Committee on the Standard
Prayer Book appointed at the late Convention.
Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to expend the
sum of $200 in experimenting upon printing a 121110, 241110,
32mo and 481110, page for page with the Standard.
On April 8, 1890, these important resolutions were adopted :
Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to issue the
Evening Prayer and Psalter as a Leaflet (pamphlet) in I2mo
size, good type.
Resolved, That a sum not exceeding five hundred (500) dol-
lars be appropriated for the printing of the Prayer Book in the
Japanese language.
In regard to the last resolution the Secretary agreed to write
to Mr. Pott the action of the Board, that he might be able to
see the Church authorities when in Japan and inform them of
this resolution and the interest of this Society in their work there.
I. For the proceedings on Revision, see pp. 145-218, Supplemental Jour-
nal, House of Bishops ; pp. 387-489, Supplemental Journal, House of Depu-
ties; for appointment of Joint Committee on the Standard Prayer, see pp.
87, 358; for presentation and action on Memorial of New York Bible and
Common Prayer Book Society, see pp. 52, 53, 62, 63.
CHAPTER XXV.
CONTENTS.
Election of Officers, 1890 Report for 1890 Legacies from George P.
Qapp, and M. L. Ripley Request from South America for the Prayer
Book in Portuguese Report from Committee on Versions Changes Sanc-
tioned in French Translation Progress of the Japanese Prayer Book
Election of Officers for 1891 Report for 1891 Minute on the Death of
Rev. Joshua Weaver And of Rev. A. Bloomer Hart Appropriation
Voted for Prayer Book in Japanese Minute on the Death of S. P. Bell
Progress of German Translation Election of Officers for 1892 Report
for 1892 General Convention of 1892 Standard Prayer Book Accepted,
and Adopted Report of Committee of House of Bishops on Prayer Book
in German Prayer Book Distribution Society Course of Sermons on
the Prayer Book Application for Prayer Books for American Churches in
Europe Declined Prayer Book in Chinese Considered Report for 1893
And Election of Officers Minute on Death of George E. Shortridge
Election of Officers for 1894 Report for 1894 Report for 1895 Election
of Officers, 1895 Copies of Prayer Book in Japanese, Presented to the
Society Appropriation for Chinese Book Report for 1896 Election of
Officers Completion of Translation of Prayer Book into Chinese Report
for 1897 Election of Officers Minute on the Death of the Rev. Dr.
^Langford Action on Gospels in Syriac Report for 1898 Election of
Officers Appropriation for Prayer Book in Portuguese And for Psalter
for the Blind Action on Prayer Book in German Publication of Syriac
Gospels declined Revision of Prayer Book in Spanish Further Appro-
priation for Prayer Book in Chinese And for Prayer Book in Japanese
Report for 1899 Election of Officers Paper on "The Prayer Book in
English" by the Rev. Dr. Hart.
AT the Annual Meeting of October 2, 1890, on motion, the
Secretary cast the ballot for the following members
whose time had expired : Rev. C. L. Duffie, D.D., Rev.
B. B. Backus, Rev. P. A. H. Brown, Mr. H. J. Cam-
mann, who were duly elected for the following period ending
1894. The Secretary cast the ballot for the following officers,
who were duly declared elected :
835
836 Eighty -Second Report. [1890
OFFICERS 1890-1891.
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, First Clerical Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Second Clerical Vice President.
Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D., Third Clerical Vice President.
Rev. A. B. Hart, Fourth Clerical Vice President.
S. P. Bell, First Lay Vice President.
Thomas Egleston, Second Lay Vice President.
A. L. Clarkson, Third Lay Vice President.
Henry Rogers, Fourth Lay Vice President.
E. S. Gorham, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Treasurer.
EIGHTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1890.
The work of the Society has gone on quietly and effectively
during the past year, and we have much cause for gratitude in
having been able to aid as many parishes and mission stations as
have been recipients of our bounty.
The donations during the past year have amounted to 2,697
Bibles, 25,899 Prayer Books, and 22,837 Testaments and
Hymnals; 51,433 volumes.
It has afforded us much pleasure to have aided by the contri-
bution of $500 in preparing a new translation of the Prayer Book
in the Japanese language. The work is in good hands, and will
be pressed forward. It is all important that our Church should
be properly presented in our Book of Common Prayer, for it
will be no easy task to accustom the Japanese to the use of a
Liturgy.
We are also now engaged in preparing a German translation
of our Prayer Book, and can see no reason why the work should
not be completed this year. It is the purpose of our Society to
aid in all legitimate methods of extending the knowledge of our
Book of Common Prayer, and it certainly will be with us a time
of great rejoicing when this book comes forth in its revised form
and with the endorsement of our General Convention.
We again ask for continued aid and sympathy in our import-
ant work.
1891] Prayer Book Versions. 837
The Treasurer's report shows the receipts to have been
$101,974.37. In them were included legacies from the estates
of G. P. Clapp, $29,500, M. L. Ripley, $2,707.96, $32,207.96,
and $2,941.25 to pay the legacy tax assessed upon the bequest of
Mr. W. H. Vanderbilt, which was generously reimbursed by
his son, Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt.
After paying all expenses and making investments a balance
of $2,833.12 was on hand.
On January 13, 1891, Mr. Pott read a communication from
Columbia, South America, urging the- Society to publish for their
use the Prayer Book in Portuguese. On motion the matter was
referred to the Committee on Versions with power.
Bishop Potter reported that many of his clergy were ignorant
of the changes and additions to the Book of Common Prayer
adopted by the last Convention. On motion it was Resolved,
The Agent be authorized to purchase 1,000 copies of the official
Appendix to the Prayer Book, supplied by the Secretary of the
General Convention and place them at the Bishop's disposal.
The following resolution was also moved and adopted :
That the Secretary be authorized to write to the Archdeacons
of this Diocese and inform them that applications for grants of
Bibles, Prayer Books and Hymnals for their work in the Diocese
would have prompt attention. (Folio 259.)
At the meeting of May 12, 1891, the Committee on Versions
reported progress on the Portuguese Prayer Book. Dr. Egleston
made a full and interesting report of the work on the German
translation of the Prayer Book, stating the work as far as done
at this date had been carefully compared word for word with
other versions, critically studied by German scholars, and was in
his opinion Liturgically, Rhythmically, and in every way as per-
fect as any such work could be.
On motion the Treasurer was authorized to publish the Ger-
man Translation of the Prayer Book when ready for the Press.
On motion of Dr. Egleston the Treasurer was authorized to
make changes in the French Prayer Book, in conformity with the
action of the General Conventions up to the year 1891. On mo-
tion this was referred to Committee on Versions with power.
(Folio 261.)
At the meeting of the Board of Managers, held on October 8,
1891, the proceedings were enlivened by an address from Profes-
838 Eighty-Third Report. [1891
sor Thomas Egleston, who had just returned from Japan, upon
the Church in that Empire, and the progress of the Japanese
Prayer Book.
At the Annual Meeting, October 8, 1891, the Secretary was
instructed to cast the ballot for the following officers :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Rev. Joshua Weaver, First Vice President.
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Second Vice President.
Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D., Third Vice President.
Rev. A. B. Hart, Fourth Vice President.
S. P. Bell, First Lay Vice President.
Thomas Egleston, Second Lay Vice President.
A. L. Clarkson, Third Lay Vice President.
Henry Rogers, Fourth Lay Vice President.
E. S. Gorham, Recording Secretary.
James Pott, Treasurer.
On motion the Secretary was instructed to cast a ballot for
the following members elected to serve till October ist, 1895 :
Rev. A. B. Hart, Rev. A. MacKay Smith, Thomas Egleston,
A. L. Clarkson, J. Buckley, Jr., and E. S. Gorham.
EIGHTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1891.
During the year just closed, the New York Bible and Comman
Prayer Book Society has distributed 55,000 volumes, and it has
its usual report to present of urgent calls made upon its liberality,
and also of the continued evidences of the good results accom-
plished through its agency.
We have contributed $500 during the past year for the new
translation of the Japanese Prayer Book, which work, we under-
stand, is progressing satisfactorily.
It is certainly cause for much gratification that our Society
should be identified with the permanent organization of the native
Church in Japan.
Our new translation of the German Mission Book has nearly
reached completion, and we hope very shortly to have it ready for
distribution.
We rejoice in every opportunity of helping in the extension of
the knowledge of our Church and her services, and feel confident
1891] Appreciative Memorials. 839
in the continued sympathy and support of our brethren in this
good work.
As the years pass by, and we see more and more the indi-
cations of God's presence in drawing His people more closely
together in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace and
righteousness of life, we are the more earnestly alive to the im-
portant part which a society like ours may by God's blessing be
enabled to take in bringing about this great consummation, and
we take fresh courage and press forward in our work.
The total amount received during the year was $18,976.86,
and the expenses for all purposes left a balance of $75.55 in the
treasury.
The whole distribution for the year was 55,000 volumes.
At the meeting held on May 10, 1892, these appreciative
memorials were adopted on the Rev. Joshua Weaver and the
Rev. A. Bloomer Hart
In recording the decease of the Rev. Joshua Weaver, who for
thirty-nine years has been a member of our Board of Managers,
we wish to acknowledge our deep sense of his faithful service in
behalf of the Society.
For many years and during his residence in the City or its
immediate neighbourhood, he was a regular attendant at our
meetings, and even when absent from the City he corresponded in
regard to its interests. His great hope had been to see our
Society the publisher of a Standard Bible, and he made stren-
uous efforts to accomplish his desire.
The Rev. Mr. Weaver was an earnest Christian man, faithful
in the fulfilment of duties, and we have good cause to miss him
as a member of this Society.
But a short time after the decease of the Rev. Joshua Weaver
the Rev. A. Bloomer Hart was removed by death from the num-
ber of our Managers. He entered our Board in 1854, one year
after the Rev. Mr. Weaver.
No one can forget his courteous manners and his Christian
bearing. Until the failings of old age prevented he was always
in his place and always keenly alive to all the interests of our
Society. He was a man of unusual culture, and was most valu-
able to us in his varied knowledge. He occupied an important
840 Standard Prayer Book. [1892
position on the Committee on translations of the Prayer Book.
As we look back upon the past year we realize how great the
loss is that we have sustained in the death of the Rev. Mr. Hart.
Our Society has many and warm friends, and among them
he was most prominent.
At the meeting held on September 19, 1892, copies of the
German version of the Book of Common Prayer were shown
to the members present. The edition was reported as ready for
distribution. The Board took this action on the Japanese Prayer
Book : Mr. Pott read a letter from the Rev. Mr. Tyng, of Japan,
asking from the Society an additional contribution to complete
the work of translating the Prayer Book into the Japanese lan-
guage. After some discussion the following motion was moved
and adopted :
The Treasurer be authorized to remit the additional amount
($250.00) applied for, if approved by the Board of Foreign
Missions. (Folio 268.)
At the Annual Meeting, held on Thursday, October 6, 1892,
this Memorial was adopted : "It becomes our painful duty to
record the decease of another of the Vice Presidents of our
Society, S. P. Bell, Esq. He was elected a member of our
Board in the year 1855. Though quiet and retiring in his char-
acter his judgment on all matters of importance was of great
value. He followed in the steps of his respected father in al-
ways retaining a deep interest in the work of this Society. He
was a man who commanded the respect of all who knew him,
and in his death we met with a great loss. While commending
his character we would also seek to emulate his example as a
Christian man and faithful worker in the Church of God.*'
Rev. Alex. Mackay Smith presented the following motion,
which was adopted :
Resolved, That the Treasurer of the New York Bible and
Common Prayer Book Society be requested to visit the General
Convention in Baltimore with a view of bringing before the
House of Bishops the Communication of this Society relating
to the time of publication of the New Standard Prayer Book,
provided the same meet with the approbation of the Bishop of
New York.
The completion and issue of a translation of the Prayer Book
1892] Eighty-Fourth Report. 841
in German was brought up and discussed as one of the most
important of all the works of the Society, covering as it has a
period of more than fifteen years. Professor Egleston, Chairman
of the Committee on Translations, felt no hesitation is assuring
the Board that this work was as near perfection as possible. Pro-
fessor Egleston spoke also of the Prayer Book in Japanese,
urging the Society to aid the work as far as possible.
A resolution of thanks was passed to Professor Egleston for
his valuable services in the work of translating the Prayer Book
in German.
On motion it was
Resolved, That a copy of the new German and English
Prayer Book be sent to each of the Bishops.
This being the Annual Meeting, the Secretary was ordered
to cast the ballot for the following whose term of office had ex-
pired :
Rev. W. J. Seabury, D.D., Rev. H. Y. Satterlee, D.D., Mr.
H. J. Cammann, Mr. J. McL. Nash, Mr. J. M. Knap.
They were declared duly elected for a new term of office.
On motion, the Secretary was ordered to cast a ballot for the
following, which were duly elected to fill vacancies in the Board :
Rev. William Reid Huntington, D.D., Rector of Grace
Church; the Rev. E. W. Donald, Rector of the Church of the
Ascension; Mr. Frank Warburton, of St. Bartholomew's Parish,
and Mr. Lawson Purdy, of the Church of the Redeemer.
EIGHTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1892.
Coming as we do to the commencement of another year in the
existence of our Society, we are cheered upon its threshold by an
awakened interest in the Prayer Book. We hear on all sides tes-
timony to its great value. Amidst the excitement of theological
discussions, and the upheaval of old traditions and creeds the
Prayer Book is brought forward as a centre for unity and as a
rock of safety. It speaks a devotional language which reaches
the hearts of all. Men of all shades of opinion find in its prayers
an answer to their doubts, their troubles, their aspirations. It is
indeed a grand old book, and were it blotted out the world would
feel its loss.
842 Eighty-Fourth Report. [1892
At home, in the mission field, in the parish church, or in the
grand cathedral, it meets, as no other book can meet, the wants
of our common humanity. We need hardly say that our Society
stands ready to second any proper scheme for its more extended
circulation.
During the past year we have given away 4,216 Bibles and
Testaments, 49,824 Prayer Books and Hymnals. The number
of grants were over 800, showing that our Society has not been
negligent in its work, which covers all sections of our country.
In the issue of the new Standard Prayer Book we welcome
the final closing of liturgical revision and the establishment once
more of a liturgical standard. It is a grand crowning event of
our Centennial year.
In addition to our ordinary operations, it gives us pleasure
to report that our translation of the German Prayer Book is now
complete, and has already met with commendation. It gives
the English and German on opposite pages.
We have also heard of progress being made in the translation
of the Japanese Prayer Book now being issued under the aus-
pices of our Society : while thus noting the progress that has
been made during the past year, it is our sad duty to record the
death of three of our oldest and most valued members, Rev. A.
Bloomer Hart, Rev. Joshua Weaver, and S. P. Bell, Esq. All
were Vice Presidents of our Board of Managers, all took a
deep interest in the welfare of our Society, and all were faithful
in the discharge of their duties. We record the sense of our
loss, and take to heart the lessons which such events pointedly
teach.
We now enter upon a new year, which promises to be one of
great possibilities, and most sincerely do we hope that our So-
ciety may receive a new impetus and its work be greatly enlarged.
In conclusion, we ask for liberal contributions in behalf of our
work, and would also urge the importance of securing legacies in
order that future benefactions in the distribution of Prayer Books
may be secured to the Church.
By payment of a mortgage and ordinary sources of income
the receipts for the year were $44,806.30, and a cash balance
was on hand of $93.75.
1893] Grants of the New Prayer Book. 843
At the General Convention of 1892, which met in Emmanuel
Church, in the City of Baltimore, from Wednesday, October 5,
to Tuesday, October 25, the Report of the Committee on the
Standard Prayer Book was accepted, and the Book then pre-
sented adopted as the Standard Prayer Book, of which the Rev.
Dr. Samuel Hart was made the Custodian.
The House of Bishops, through its Special Committee on the
Prayer Book in German, reported that "their work was assumed
by others and carried to a good degree of forwardness before
they could proceed to their appointed task.
"As this proceeding was in the hands of able and zealous
brethren, it was tacitly agreed that we should await the result
of their zealous labours. The work had not reached us until a
few days ago, and after some examination of its specialties your
Committee is convinced that much further work remains to be
done before this or any other work of the kind can be confi-
dently commended by your Committee for the use of the
Church."
The continuance of the Committee was therefore recommend-
ed, in which the House of Bishops concurred.
The members of the Committee were: the Bishop of Western
New York, Dr. Coxe; Arkansas, Dr. Pierce; Nebraska, Dr.
Worthington; Florida, Dr. Weed, and the Assistant Bishop of
Ohio, Dr. Vincent. 1
At the meeting held on January 10, 1893, The Book of Com-
mon Prayer after the new Standard of 1892, was discussed.
The Agent spoke of the action of the Convention in authorizing
it to go into use on the Festival of All Saints, 1892, and of the
fact that there were no editions on the market at that early date.
Copies of a new edition 321110, Bourgeois type, with the Society's
imprint and stamp were shown, and the Agent informed the
Board of his plan to begin to make grants of the edition at the
beginning of the Lenten Season.
Reference was made to the Prayer Book Distribution Society,
created by the action of the last General Convention. Mr.
I. For action on the Standard Prayer Book, see pp. 8, 17, 22, 67, 25, 45,
47, 53, 56, 116, 127, 134, 175, 248, 285, 270.
For Report of Committee on German version see Journal General Con-
vention, 1892, p. 138.
844 Eighty-Fifth Report. [1893
James Pott was appointed to represent this Society on their
Board.
The Agent proposed a course of Sermons on the Prayer Book
to be given in this city during the year under the auspices of
this Society. After a brief discussion the plan was approved
and the Chairman appointed the following Committee to arrange
the course: The Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D., Rev. B. E. Backus,
D.D., Mr. H. J. Cammann and Mr. James Pott.
A request made by the Bishop of Albany, then in charge 'of
the American Churches in Europe, for a grant of Prayer Books,
to supply them was declared at a meeting held on May, 9, 1893,
"inexpedient," as the grants would be larger than any previously
made.
Mr. Pott also reported an application from China for Special
Services from the Prayer Book in Chinese, which was referred
to the Committee on Translations. (Folio 274.)
EIGHTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1893.
The most important fact for our Society during the past year
is the completion of Prayer Book revision. With it has come a
new and general interest in Prayer Book distribution, an interest
which our Society finds itself glad and most willing to foster and
extend. The formation of a new Prayer Book Society at the late
General Convention has in it, perhaps, the nucleus of a new de-
parture; it certainly has helped to bring the importance of the
Prayer Book as a missionary agency more prominently before
the minds of Churchmen. The Prayer Book as enriched gives us
a Book of which the Church may justly be proud. We find in it
not only the symbol of our faith but also a guide in our daily life,
and a reverent, living medium of intercourse with our Heavenly
Father.
During the year closed, our Society has distributed 61,000
volumes, and finds that the applications for the new Book increase
as the year rolls on. Old as the Prayer Book is, it would seem
as though it was but little known outside of our own Communion.
Strange prejudices bar the door to its entrance into many house-
holds, and it is one of the great purposes of our Society to remove
these prejudices ; and so, during the coming year, we are pre-
1893] Annual Meeting. 845
pared to do all within our power to give the Prayer Book a wider
circulation.
The work upon the Japanese Prayer Book continues. That
upon the Chinese book awaits a thorough revision of the transla-
tion.
It becomes our painful duty, in closing our report, to refer to
the recent decease of J. Buckley, Jr., one of the members of our
Board of Managers. He was elected a member in the year 1866,
and was for a number of years one of our most active members,
and the Agent was indebted to him for wise counsel and hearty
co-operation. He has been absent from the city and an invalid
for some time. By correspondence he kept up his interest in our
work, and now that he is taken from us we feel that our Society
has lost a valued friend.
We cannot avoid a feeling of anxiety as we think of the future.
To supply our missionary jurisdictions and the demands from
missions in our organized Dioceses for the new Prayer Book, is
an undertaking of no little magnitude, and we will need the sym-
pathy and help of all who are interested in the great work of
Prayer Book distribution.
With a view of extending this distribution and reaching indi-
viduals, we would suggest a personal missionary effort on the
part of members of our Church. The miscellaneous distribution
of the Prayer Book through agencies, however good, can never
take the place of personal effort, and we would therefore respect-
fully suggest to the clergy and others that a correspondence be
opened with our Society, looking to the extension of such a
personal distribution of the Prayer Book.
At the Annual Meeting of October 5th, 1893, the Secretary was
ordered to cast the ballot for the following officers as nominated :
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. James Mulchahey, D.D., Second Vice President.
Henry Rogers, Third Lay Vice President.
On motion the Secretary was ordered to cast the ballot for the
following nominations to fill vacancies on the Board :
George E. Shortridge, William A. Duer, and T. W. Perry.
The Chair declared both sets of nominations elected.
Since its last meeting the Society has met with a severe loss
in the death of Mr. George E. Shortridge.
846 Eighty-Sixth Report. [1894
Mr. Shortridge evinced much interest in the work of our
Society, and was always ready to respond to any call for his
active services. He was a most unselfish man and most of his
life was devoted to working for others; more especially in the
Mission work of St. Thomas' Church and in the Mission for
Seamen in New York he was indefatigable in his labours.
We now place upon record our appreciation of his character,
with the expression of our deep sense of the loss that our So-
ciety has sustained in his death.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the foregoing minute be entered upon our
records, and that a copy of the same be sent to the family of the
deceased. (Folio 280.)
On May 8, 1894, the Committee on Versions reported the
Order of Evening Prayer in Swedish as nearly ready.
The election on October 4, 1894, resulted as follows:
The Secretary was ordered to cast the ballot for the follow-
ing for a new term of office : Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D., Second
Vice President. Revs. P. A. H. Brown and B. E. Backus, Fran-
cis Warburton and C. L. Cammann, Jr. To fill vacancies on the
Board : J. V. Brower, C. E. Hastings, James Pott.
EIGHTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1894.
The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society re-
ports, not only continued and gratifying evidences of the good
results accomplished through its agency, but the greatly increased
extension of its work.
During the year just closed its issue of Bibles, Prayer Books
and Hymnals has risen to the sum of 77,000 volumes. Never
before have its donations reached so large a number.
It can be well understood how such a benefaction must have
aided in helping the circulation of the Revised Prayer Book and
Hymnal, and in spreading abroad throughout our land the
knowledge of Christ and His Kingdom.
Many struggling Parishes and Mission Stations in the West
and South, as well as other humbler members of the Household
of Faith nearer home, have been encouraged and informed in the
Church's ways and services by our gifts. Urgent calls for the
1894] Prayer-Book Lectures. 847
new Prayer Book and Hymnal have come in from every section
of the country, and these the Society has used every endeavour,
by its means and activity, to meet. The distribution has covered
fifty-three Dioceses and Missionary Jurisdictions, and was in
response to 1,059 applications.
During the past winter the following lectures were delivered
in behalf of the work of the Society :
"The General Application of the Book of Common Prayer."
I. For the Missionary in his Work, by the Rt. Rev. E. H.
Talbot, D.D., at St. Thomas' Church.
II. For the Christian in his Life, by Rt. Rev. A. C. Coxe, D.D.,
at Heavenly Rest.
III. For the People in their Worship, by Rt. Rev. H. M.
Thompson, D.D., at Trinity Chapel.
IV. For the Catholic Church, by Rt. Rev. W. A. Leonard,
D.D., at Zion and St. Timothy.
We most heartily thank those Bishops who so kindly presented
the claims of our Society in these lectures. The Society has is-
sued the Prayer Book Evening Service in the Swedish language.
Looking forward to the coming year we anticipate a continued
drain upon our resources, and would ask for the continued sym-
pathy and aid of all who desire to see our Prayer Book freely and
largely circulated.
At the meeting held on January 8, 1895, this correspondence
from the minutes of the Business Committee was placed on
record. September 24, 1894. Resolved, That the Treasurer of
the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society be au-
thorized to present to the Board of Missions of the Protestant
Episcopal Church a Cambridge Great Primer Imperial Quarto
Bible, Red Initials and border lines, bound in two volumes, for
use in the Church Mission House.
The following is copy of letter received, dated December 3,
1894:
Mr. James Pott, Treasurer.
My dear Mr. Pott:
At the meeting of the Board of Managers, on Tuesday,
December nth, I had the honour of presenting to the Board
your communication conveying the gift of the beautiful Lecturn
Bible in two volumes for the Church Mission House Chapel,
848 Eighty-Seventh Report. [1895
and I was directed by resolution of the Board to make due
acknowledgment to the Society through yourself for this ex-
ceedingly handsome and appropriate gift, and to express in be-
half of the Board its thanks for it and for the gracious manner
in which it was presented.
Reciprocating most heartily your good wishes, I remain,
Your most obedient,
(Signed) WM. S. LANGFORD, Gen. Secretary.
The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, &c.
May 14, 1895, tne Committee on Versions were authorized
to add the Marriage Service to the Society's Edition of the
German Prayer Book Offices.
EIGHTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1895.
We are glad to report that the work of our Society has met
with a good measure of success during the past year. We have
distributed 4,111 Bibles, 32,443 Prayer Books, 30,483 Hymnals,
1,396 New Testaments, making in all 68,433 volumes.
The demand for Bibles is steadily increasing, showing evidently
an extension of Bible classes in our Parishes.
In regard to the several translations of the Prayer Book, issued
by our Society, we are pleased to report that the Swedish Service
book has met with much favour and appears to be a great help
to the Missionaries in their work, and that its circulation is
steadily increasing. Our Society has now editions of the Prayer
Book in the French, German, Swedish, and Dakota languages,
and it will be glad to extend the list when proper translations are
supplied and a need for them is shown to exist. There is a very
large demand from emigrants for our Prayer Book, which we
are trying to supply, although we regret to say that thus far we
have been unable to do so.
It afforded us much pleasure during the past year to be the
donors to the Domestic .and Foreign Missionary Committee of
our Church of a large quarto Bible, bound in two volumes, with
red initial letters, for use in their new Mission House. As both
Societies are engaged in Mission Work, it seemed most appropri-
ate that there should be in this gift a token of mutual interest and
regard.
1895] Chinese Prayer Book. 849
Now that we are about commencing a new year, we cannot
but express the hope that our new field of usefulness may be ex-
tended by liberal gifts. We do not want to stop short of a dis-
tribution of 100,000 volumes. They are needed, and their free
distribution will be a great help to our Bishops and Missionaries
in their work.
Our legacies during the past year amounted to $2,624.09. May
we not hope that our Society, now one of the oldest in our Dio-
cese, may not be forgotten by those who wisely make provision
in their wills for the work of the Church ?
The Annual Election of October 3, 1895, resulted in the ap-
pointment, for a new term of office (four years), of the Rev. W.
H. Vibbert, D.D., Rev. Henry Chamberlain, Professor Egleston,
and Mr. A. L. Clarkson.
To fill vacancy : Rev. Edw. H. Krans, LL.D., and Mr. Fred.
Clarkson.
The proposed change in the Bye-Laws was adopted.
At the meeting held on May 26, 1896, Professor Egleston
presented to the Board copies of the Prayer Book in the Jap-
anese and also the Chinese languages, lately completed and pub-
lished in those countries by resident clergymen of the Church
in the Mission Field. The copies from Japan were received
with special interest by the Board, as their appropriation of
funds had largely assisted in its publication.
Mr. Pott then presented an appeal to the Board for a book
to contain certain offices from the Book of Common Prayer with
the same translated into the Chinese language, and bound in
one volume, for the work among the Chinese in the United
States. Estimates received showed the work could be done in
Chinese at a moderate cost, the Board were also convinced of
the great need of such a book, and on motion the sum of two
hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) was appropriated for 1,000
copies and plates of a book to contain the Morning and Even-
ing Prayer, the Collects, the Catechism, the Offices of Holy Bap-
tism, Holy Communion and Confirmation in English and
Chinese, the latter to be the New Translation published at
Shanghai, China. (Folio 292.)
At the meeting of September 29, a letter from St. John's
(54)
850 Eighty-Eighth Report. [1896
College, Shanghai, was read, and progress was reported in the
preparation of the books as ordered by the Society, viz : a Book
to contain certain Offices from the Book of Common Prayer.
EIGHTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1896.
Another year has closed in the history of the New York Bible
and Common Prayer Book Society, and in its review we see much
to encourage us in the future. We have distributed 64,576 vol-
umes of Bibles, Prayer Books, and Hymnals, in all parts of the
United States, and no one, perhaps, not intimately acquainted
with our work, can appreciate the help our Society has given in
establishing our Church in various localities. The Prayer Book
and also the Hymnal are the quiet, but effective agents in supply-
ing the spiritual longings of many who have long been wan-
derers without a helper or a guide. It is hard for us, surrounded
as we are by all the privileges of our Church, to realize the com-
fort which its services give to those who have been deprived of
them for years. They are our brethren, and it is not too much to
ask of us to enable them to share somewhat in our blessings.
The Society, during the past year, has tried to meet the want
existing in the need of our Liturgy translated into foreign lan-
guages. We have helped in the translation of the Japanese
Prayer Book, and we are now assisting in procuring a Chinese
Prayer Book for use in this country among the many Chinese
settlers here. The question of providing a Liturgy for the use of
the various nationalities now crowding to our shores is one of
the very greatest importance, and we do not hesitate to ask the
sympathy and co-operation of Church people in our efforts to
supply the need. \Ve already have a Spanish and French Prayer
Book and a Liturgy for the Germans and the Swedes, and we are
preparing one for the Chinese.
The office of our Society is now removed to the Church Mis-
sions Building of our Church, Fourth Avenue and 22nd Street,
and we are thus brought closely into contact with the late move-
ment of the General Convention in spreading a knowledge of the
Prayer Book and increasing its circulation.
Trusting in the continued support of the Church, we enter upon
the work of the new year with renewed courage.
At the Annual Meeting, October i, 1896, the Secretary was
1897] Eighty-Ninth Keport. 851
instructed to cast the ballot for the following officers:
Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., First Vice President.
Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D., Second Vice President.
Prof. Thomas Egleston, First Lay Vice President.
A. L. Clarkson, Second Lay Vice President.
Henry Rogers, Third Lay Vice President.
On motion the Secretary was ordered to cast the ballot for the
following members to a new term of office on the Board of
Managers : Mr. J. M. Knap, Mr. H. J. Cammann, Mr. J. McL.
Nash.
The grants of books during the year showed a distribution
of 3,838 Bibles, 29,448 Prayer Books, 517 New Testaments,
30,773 Hymnals. Total of 64,576 volumes.
At the meeting held on January 26, 1897, Mr. Pott read a
communication from Bishop Graves, Missionary Bishop in China,
informing the Board of the final completion of the translation
of the Book of Common Prayer into the Chinese language, ask-
ing for the assistance of this Society towards the cost of pub-
lishing the same in Japan.
Professor Egleston having visited China and met the Com-
mittee during the progress of the work on this translation spoke
in favour of an appropriation.
On motion the sum of five hundred dollars was appropriated
for part of the cost of publishing the first edition of this new
translation of the Prayer Book in Chinese.
EIGHTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1897.
As we come to another year in the history of our Society, we
certainly have cause for gratitude that its work has been pros-
pered. 1
The necessity of such an organization in our Church must be
apparent to all, as it is impossible to carry on any aggressive
work without the aid of our Prayer Book. It is a book occupying
a different position from any other; it draws its inspiration direct
i. Through an error this report is wrongly numbered. On the cover it
is called the Eighty-Eighth Report instead of the Eighty-Ninth. This error
has consequently caused a wrong numbering of some of the succeeding Re-
ports, but we have here followed the correct numbering.
852 Eighty-Ninth Report. [1897
from the Bible, and, while containing much in common with it,
it is also the interpreter of its teachings and a guide to its precepts.
When we donate a Prayer Book we furnish a teacher of doc-
trine, a manual of intercession, and a guide to right living.
As we review the work of the past year we have the satisfac-
tion of knowing that our Society has been the medium of dis-
tributing 4,246 Bibles, 941 Testaments, 29,900 Prayer Books,
and 29,085 Hymnals.
These books have been sent to all sections of our country, and
were the means of helping to establish the services of our Church
in many of the destitute regions in our land. Letters of thanks
come to us constantly, and many instances are recorded of the
good work accomplished.
As far as possible, we aim to receive something in return for
our gifts. We ask for a church collection in behalf our our So-
ciety, and we strive in every way not to allow its generosity to
be imposed upon.
It has been with feelings of sympathy and gratitude that we
have noticed the awakened interest in the Church to the import-
ance of Prayer Book distribution, and we recognize the great
work done in this direction by the late Rev. William S. Langford,
D.D. We shall miss the inspiration of his presence and the value
of his advice. He worked nobly and he worked well to bring the
members of the Church to an appreciation of the importance of
our Prayer Book as a Missionary agency, extending the influence
of the Church and its teachings. We recognize him as a fellow-
worker, and join with others in a tribute to his many virtues, and
in sorrow at his removal from his post of usefulness.
During the past year the Society has had to mourn over the
loss of one of its clerical members, the Rev. James Mulchahey,
D.D., a man of cultured Christian character and in full sympathy
with all efforts to promote the interests of the Church of which
he was a most loyal member.
At the commencement of a new year we again ask for the
hearty co-operation of Churchmen in carrying on our work. If
"Prayer and Effort" be the motto of our lives in the future, our
Church must go forward in every good work, and \ve will find in
its extension our greatest happiness.
At the Annual Meeting of October 7, 1897, their term of
office having expired, the following were nominated for a new
1897] Death of Dr. Mulchahey. 853
term : Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Rev. T. H. Sill and Mr. Henry
Rogers. To fill vacancies on the Board : Rev. J. W. Brown,
D.D., and Mr. Silas McBee, as certified by the Board.
On motion the Secretary was ordered to cast the ballot, and
these gentlemen were declared duly elected.
The election of officers then followed :
Rev. W. H. Vibbert, D.D., Third Vice President.
James Pott, Treasurer.
E. S. Gorham, Secretary.
The following preamble and resolution were adopted :
Whereas, The New York Bible and Common Prayer Book
Society is considered one of the greatest agents for the mission-
ary work of the Church, and so recognized by officers and mis-
sionaries of the Board of Domestic and Foreign Missions ;
Resolved, That Mr. James Pott, the Treasurer, be requested
to attend the Missionary Council to be held at Milwaukee, Oc-
tober 1 2th, and represent this Society.
On motion adopted.
Mr. Pott made the following resolution :
Whereas, In the Providence of God the Rev. Dr. W. S.
Langford has been removed by death from his field of labour
in behalf of the Missions of our Church, and as our Society has
always been identified with the Board of Missions in its efforts
to supply Bishops and Missionaries with Bibles and Prayer
Books ; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Society authorize Rev. W. H. Vibbert,
D.D., Third Vice President, and Mr. James Pott, Treasurer,
to tender a vote of sympathy to the family of the deceased, and
to the Board of Missions as well, for the loss of so successful
and consecrated a life in the cause of Domestic and Foreign Mis-
sions.
The following minute was then presented by the Committee,
as requested at a previous meeting :
The death of the Rev. James Mulchahey, D.D., having been
announced, the members of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society desire to place upon record their high ap-
preciation of his Christian character as a man and as a Minister
of the Church, and also express their sense of loss in being de-
prived of his efforts in behalf of the Society's welfare. (Folio
302.)
854 Death of Dr. Langford. [1898
The Special Committee on Death of Rev. Dr. Langford, Sec-
retary of the Board of Domestic and Foreign Missions, reported
as follows, on January 25, 1898 :
"It is most fitting that the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society should place upon its records, a minute ex-
pressing the sense of the deep loss it has sustained in the death
of the Rev. Dr. William S. Langford, for no one was more in
aim with the sympathies of our Society, none felt more strongly
than he the great benefits to the cause of Missions from the cir-
culation of the Prayer Book, and none laboured more steadily to
extend its blessed influence. It is indeed to us a cause of pro-
found sorrow to lose so strong an ally, so sympathizing a friend,
so efficient a helper. A man full of the Holy Ghost and of wis-
dom, whose own life was hallowed and shaped by the principles
of the Prayer Book. It was his ambition to give to men every-
where the sober standard of living as taught by that book as the
model upon which their lives should be moulded for God's glory
and for human welfare. He has left us his testimony to the
Prayer Book as a missionary agent ; it is our part to emulate his
zeal to extend the circulation of the Church's book of devotion,
that the bounds of its blessed Kingdom may be enlarged, and
that men everywhere may be taught to worship Him in spirit
and in truth.
"W. H. VlBBERT,
"JAMES POTT,
(Folio 105.) "Committee."
At the meeting held on May 31, 1898, a subject of special
interest to every Christian was discussed and action taken.
The Rev. Yaroo M. Neesam from the Assyrian Mission in
the East, having applied to the Society with the commendation
of the Rt. Rev. H. C. Potter, D.D., Bishop of New York, for
funds to reproduce the Gospels of the Christian Year in the
Syrian and Arabic language, the Treasurer referred the matter to
the Committee on Versions, Professor Egleston the Chairman.
The Committee had doubt as to the work being in the province
of this Society, and sought advice from the Legal Adviser of
the Board, which is submitted as follows:
1898] Ninetieth Report. 855
63 Wall Street,
New York, May 7, 1898.
James Pott, Esq.
Dear Sir, We have considered the question submitted on
behalf of the Bible and Common Prayer Book Society as to the
use of its funds for the purpose of reproducing, by photographic
processes, "The Gospels for the Christian Year" as arranged by
the Church in the Far East.
The Society was incorporated "for the distribution of the
Bible and the Book of Common Prayer" as expressly set forth
in the act of incorporation. We are not so certain that the use
of the Funds for the purpose now suggested is so clearly within
the intention of the Act as to be able to advise in its favour.
We therefore advise against it.
We remain, &c.
S. P. & J. McL. NASH.
The matter was discussed at some length by the Board.
On motion the Chair was requested to name a Committee to
report on the subject as to special Funds for this purpose.
Committee : James Pott, Silas McBee and E. S. Gorham.
NINETIETH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1898.
In reviewing the work of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society for another twelve months, the Managers
find many things not only encouraging to themselves, but which
should be stimulating to the interest and zeal of every member
of the Church.
We have distributed over sixty thousand volumes of the
Bible, Prayer Books and Hymnals, and by the Word thus pub-
lished and circulated the voice of God and His Church has
reached, directly and indirectly, a great multitude in our be-
loved land which no man can number. Every volume has been
a missionary, and the Society has thus really fulfilled one function
of an arch-episcopate in propagating the Gospel in every part,
foreign and domestic, of these United States.
We have no jurisdiction over either sees or schools of
prophets, but we own that which is less expensive and none the
less effective. We have printing presses that can send forth, as
856 Ninetieth Report. [1898
clouds of doves from their windows, white-winged messengers
of peace, speaking by the still, small voice of the Spirit to those
who, weary and heavy-laden, wait for the glad tidings of great
joy-
it is very difficult for us who enjoy all the privileges of the
Church's instruction and worship to appreciate the spiritual
destitution of many in our land and the grateful feelings with
which these our brethren welcome the Book which reveals
Christ to them as the Way of Salvation, and those manuals
which help to frame their thought in fitting prayer to God, and
to tune their lips in reverent praise to Him who is their Saviour
and King.
No work can be more important than that of Bible and Prayer
Book distribution. It makes every home, however humble, in the
dark places of city and country, a centre of divine illumination
and moral power. It fosters and guides the religious sentiment
of the individual and the family, and so of a community. It
clears away common, false opinions and beliefs by the soundness
of the truth as the Church has received and ever taught the same.
Moreover, these are the two great agencies that accompany our
Bishops on entering new fields, still uncultivated and unredeemed
by Christ.
The Liturgy is a great harmonizing factor among the mixed
nationalities who are settlers in our western lands, and it is also
a most potent element in setting forward, as it will be in eventu-
ally attaining that Christian unity for which we all pray. It is
the little leaven which leaveneth the whole lump, creating enquiry
for the Church, love of her ways and confidence in her heavenly
origin and historic order.
We who are the appointed agents of the Church that create and
direct the force which drives the machinery of this noble
organization, will be thankful for any fresh supplies sent in to
augment its motive power; and we are equally as ready to fur-
nish to those who need and desire them these our "sacred
books" of instruction and devotion, which are the oracles of
the one true and living God.
The Apostles spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them
utterance, so we have Gospel and sacraments for Japanese,
Chinese, Germans, Italians every language in which men are
born, that all may know the Way of life, agreeing in the truth
1899] Portuguese Prayer Book. 857
of God's holy Word, confessing His holy Name in common
prayer and praise, living in unity and godly love, and so realizing
the dream of primitive days, and, as expressed by St. Paul :
"One Lord, one faith, one baptism ; one God and Father of all."
During the year just closed our Society has had a most in-
teresting request to publish, from ancient hand-written copies,
the Gospels for the Christian Year in the Arabic and Syriac
languages. Owing, however, to these Gospels differing from
those in our American Prayer Book, it was considered as not
within the province of our Society to publish them. We will be
glad, owing to the great need and importance of the work, to
receive special contributions for its accomplishment. The cost
will be about two thousand dollars.
The Treasurer reported receipts of $61,030.95, including
legacies amounting to $4,000 from the estates of Mr. Wig-
gins, J. Simons and Miss Mary A. Edson. A balance of
$1,779.31 was on hand.
The election of Officers resulted as follows : Rev. C. R. Duf-
fle, D.D., Rev. P. A. H. Brown, Rev. B. E. Bachus, Frank War-
burton, C. E. Hastings. For a new term of office of four years :
Silas McBee, for two years ; James Pott, Treasurer, for one year ;
E. S. Gorham, Secretary, for one year.
On motion the Secretary was ordered to cast the ballot and
these gentlemen were declared elected.
At the meeting of the Board, held on January 31, 1899, the
Business Committee presented a report in which they asked for
the approval of the Board in the action as to the Prayer Book
for the use of the Church in Brazil, in printing and binding
an edition of fifteen hundred copies from plates of the American
Church Missionary Society in the Portuguese language, also an
edition of five thousand copies of the "Church Catechism and
Order of Confirmation" from the same plates, bound together
in pamphlet form for the same Society for work in Brazil.
On motion the Treasurer was authorized to make these grants
and to meet the expenditures involved in making these editions.
At the same meeting several matters of very real importance
were decided. The Secretary read two official letters addressed
to the Society, one from Bishop Whitehead, Pittsburgh, a mem-
ber of Committee of the House of Bishops on the Prayer Book,
and the other from the Assistant Librarian of the Congres-
858 Assyriac Gospels. 1899
sional Library, Washington, D. C, appealing to this Society to
provide for the Blind the Psalter of the Prayer Book in raised
characters (known as the New York Point) for the use of the
blind. The matter was discussed with much interest by the
Board.
On motion the Treasurer was authorized to have made the
Psalter of the Prayer Book for the blind, and to make the esti-
mated expenditure of two hundred and fifty dollars or as much
as may be required to do the work properly.
The following motion was then made and adopted :
Resolved, That the Treasurer be instructed to prepare, with
the assistance of Henry W. Cherouney, the remainder of the
Prayer Book already translated into German but not in print,
and place the same in the hands of the Committee on Transla-
tions of the General Convention.
The Report of Committee on Assyrian and Arabic Gospels
was also presented.
Committee appointed May 3ist, 1898, to report on a plan to
raise a special fund for the publishing of the Gospels of the
Christian Year in the Assyriac and Arabic language, in response
to an appeal to this Society from Rev. W. M. Neesan, of the
Assyrian Mission in the East, beg to report as follows :
In response to a special appeal added to the annual appeal of
this Society, one contribution was received, five dollars ($5.00).
The amount needed will be at least one thousand dollars
($1,000) to reproduce, by the method of photo-engraving, each
page of the Ancient Missal which Mr. Neesan asks for. It
would seem that the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is at the
head of this work, would, no doubt, make effort to have the
work done in England if there were an imperative need for the
book. We infer from Mr. Neesan's representative here, Paul
Shimmon, at the Seminary, that the Archbishop would not lend
much assistance to the undertaking. The Committee thinks it
should be taken up by others than the officers or members of
this Board, inasmuch as the Counsel of this Society stated in
their opinion it is not within the province of this Society to
undertake it.
JAMES POTT,
E. S. GORHAM,
Committee.
1899] Ninety-First Report. 859
Resolved, That the securities and other papers of this Society
be placed in the Garfleld or other safe deposit, in the name of
the Society, and that such company be instructed that the box
shall only be opened by the Treasurer in company with a mem-
ber of the Business Committee of the Board, or in case the
office of Treasurer is vacant, any two members of the Business
Committee may have access to the same.
Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to notify the Safe
Deposit Company of the names of the Treasurer and of the
Business Committee from time to time.
At the meeting held on September 26, 1899, ^ n ^ s action was
taken. On recommendation of the Business Committee,
Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to expend two
hundred and fifty dollars for a revision and correction of the
Prayer Book in Spanish, and one hundred and fifty dollars for
the same work on the Prayer Book in German. Motion carried.
On motion, Resolved, That the sum of five hundred dollars
be contributed toward the work of completing of the Prayer
Book in Chinese, and that the Treasurer be authorized to pay
this amount to the proper authorities.
The Bishop of Tokyo having written to the Society asking
for help to publish a new translation of the New Testament
into Japanese, on the ground that the present and only edition as
published by the American Bible Society, while excellent, is
printed in a style which recommends itself to the uneducated and
not to scholars, it was,
On motion, Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to
send five hundred dollars in response to the Bishop of Tokyo's
appeal toward the new translation of the New Testament into
Japanese, if the Bishop of New York approves. (Folio 318.)
NINETY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1899.
The Society in presenting its abstract of work at the closing of
the year begs to report continued progress. Grants now extend
to our new possessions. Demands from the Chaplains of the
Army and Navy were numerous during the late war, and were
responded to as generously as our means would allow. Appro-
priations have been made by the Board for the careful revision
860 Ninety-First Report. [1899
of the Spanish Prayer Book, as it needs to be made to conform
with the new standard. The work is also progressing on the
German Prayer Book, and also the Prayer Book in Japanese.
In response to official appeals, the Society during the past year
has provided for the blind the Psalter of the Prayer Book, not
hitherto so published. We have the assurance that this has been
highly appreciated in many directions. An edition of the Prayer
Book in Portuguese has been printed and supplied for the work
in Brazil, now in charge of Bishop Kinsolving. There have also
been demands for this book in certain localities where there have
been settlements of Portuguese, notably in New Bedford, Mass.,
and in the West.
The Society adopted an official and perhaps unusual method of
recognizing the three hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the
printing of the Prayer Book in English, by distributing a limited
number of copies of a beautiful pamphlet on the subject, written
by the Rev. Samuel Hart, D.D., custodian of the Prayer Book,
and which has been sent to officials of the Church of England as
well as at home.
The distribution of books during the past year was about sev-
enty thousand volumes, including the Bible in English, German
and French ; and the Prayer Book in various languages, including
an edition in the Dakotah language of the tribe of Indians in the
north of the United States Spanish, Swedish, German, etc.
A falling off in the general contributions from individuals dur-
ing the past year, which we regret to have to report, makes it a
duty to call attention to the claims of this Society.
1. It is engaged in multiplying and disseminating copies of
what few of us will deny are the three best books in the whole
field of literature, the Bible, the Prayer Book and the Hymnal;
and in places in which they are most needed and are likely to be
most useful. It is doing this, too, at the least possible cost to the
Church.
2. The Society is utilizing the Press in a modest, but in one of
the most useful ways in which it is possible to employ it. What-
ever differences of opinion may exist as to how this engine of
influence may best be employed to do the work it is capable of
doing in the field whose other name is the world, the most con-
servative must, we think, admit that there are possibilities here as
1899] Ninety-First Report. 861
yet unrealized, and that this Society, so far as it goes, is utilizing
the Press in one of the wisest of ways.
3. The Society's work is in the line of promoting unity among
Christian people. The heart of Christendom yearns as probably
never before for this, but its intellect, strange to say, subtle and
furnished as it is in this nineteenth century, finds not a way. The
gulfs of division yawn before the gaze of the Church below and
of Heaven above. Contemporaneous voices and pens employed
in discussing the subject arouse prejudices and suspicions, and
the work in consequence lags. But here is the Bible revealing
the Lord's will, and the Prayer Book interpreting it and turning
upon the subject of unity the light of centuries of piety, thought
and history, and in chaste and temperate language, and in a
silence that arouses no prejudice or suspicion. There can scarcely
be a doubt as to the steady influence these companion volumes
are exerting wherever they are studied or used in paving the
way to an acceptance of the proposed conditions of unity.
4. The expansion of the English-speaking peoples and the
spread of their language to the four corners of earth are opening
and ever widening a field of usefulness to a society like ours.
These peoples can take with them no more wholesome influences
than the Society's books. They cannot all take with them
churches, Bishops or missionaries. We cannot send these to
them all, but the books can be taken or sent, and, though but im-
perfect substitutes, they are substitutes rich in comfort, help and
direction. The extension of the flag beyond our southernmost
borders and five thousand miles beyond our remotest west, and
over ten millions of people, is a reminder of the far-reaching
changes that are coming to pass in these strange years.
5. The spread broadcast, as it almost seems, of other literature
in advocacy of various objects, much of it vicious in influence and
more of it opposed to the Church's teaching, makes needful as
much in the way of antidote as may be supplied, and the Society's
work, as far as it goes, is providing this.
6. Our work, it will be confessed, too, is directly in the line of
defending the faith. With the Bible alone it is in danger. With-
out her silent interpreter of the Bible, the Church would find it
harder to preserve the faith. Her Book of Prayer is her armory,
bulwark and guide. It contains her creeds and liturgy and her
862 Annual Meeting. [1889
doctrine as to Holy Scripture, the ministry and the sacraments,
and the same to-day and forever, and is the silent reprover of
strange doctrine and teaching within or without the pulpit.
7. Again, the growing taste for liturgic worship among those
who have not hitherto used it is enlarging the field of opportunity
for the Society.
8. The needs of the foreign populations living among us invite
any help our resources permit us to render.
The above are among the grounds upon which the Society asks
to be remembered. Will not the clergy in giving notice, on the
Sunday after the Ascension, of the Whitsunday collection, call
attention to them, make the Prayer Book perhaps the theme of
the preaching, and ask that the Society may be remembered by
legacies as well as collections? Its receipts from investments at
present are three or four times as large as from collections and
donations. There was a little falling off in the latter the past
year, owing doubtless to the increasing number of objects asking
for help; and the situation may return or continue, although the
needs are sure to increase. The hope and the remedy are the
legacies of the faithful, and it must be that some at least of those
who are rich in this world's goods, and who desire to place them
where they may do most good when they are gone, will like to
invest a portion of them in this Society's work.
The Treasurer reported receipts of $105,473.55, including a
legacy from the estates of Mr. Charles H. Contoit of $67,004.87,
Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt of $10,000, Mr. James of $800, and
Mr. W. W. L. Wheeler of $135. There was on hand a cash
balance of $1,525.56.
At the Annual Meeting of October 5, 1899, the following
were elected : Rev. E. H. Krans, D.D., and Rev. Henry Cham-
berlaine, for a new term of four years.
On motion the ballot was dispensed with and the Secretary
was ordered to cast the ballot.
The Chair announced these gentlemen as duly elected.
Rev. W. H. Vibbert, D.D., Third Clerical Vice President;
Prof. Thomas Egleston, First Lay Vice President; A. L. Clark-
son, Second Lay Vice President, for new term of office for four
years Board of Officers and Managers.
On motion the ballot was dispensed with and the Secretary
was ordered to cast the ballot
1889] Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. 863
The Chair announced these gentlemen as duly elected.
The paper on the Prayer Book by Dr. Hart alluded to in the
Report for 1889 was issued in a form far superior to any publica-
tion ever set forth by this Society.
It is a beautiful specimen of the printer's art and deserves to be
carefully treasured for that reason as well as for the excellency
of the matter.
We here reproduce the text.
THE PRAYER BOOK IN ENGLISH :
A. D. Mdxlix-Mdcccxcix.
On Whitsunday in the year 1549, just three hundred and fifty
years ago, the English Prayer Book was first used. Three cen-
turies and a half is not a very large part of the nineteen centuries
of the Church's history ; but when we compare the time with the
duration of almost anything on earth except the Church of Christ,
we shall say that the Prayer Book has lasted for a long while, so
that it has become one of the institutions of the world. In 1 549,
the boy-king, Edward Vi., had been but two years on the throne
of England, having succeeded his father, the bluff old Henry
VIII. ; printing had been invented barely a century before ; it was
but fifty-seven years since Columbus had discovered the new
world, and no permanent English settlement had yet been made
on the American continent; the whole of the Bible had been trans-
lated into English and copies had been placed in the churches,
but sixty-two years were to elapse before the so-called Authorized
Version should be made. It was a time of great excitement in
both the political and the religious world of western Europe, and
politics and religion were strangely confused in that great move-
ment which we call the Reformation.
The world has changed wonderfully in these three hundred
and fifty years, and no part of it has changed more, or made more
real progress, than its English-speaking part. There are English
colonies in all quarters of the earth, and English outposts in many
places where there are not colonies as yet ; A great republic has
grown up here in North America, which is a nation of English
language and habits and law; many books have been written in
English prose and poetry, which have a lasting place in the litera-
ture of the world ; men live very differently now from the way in
864 Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. [1889
which they lived when Edward VI. was king, and the surround-
ings of their lives have changed greatly. But wherever English-
men have gone and whatever they have done, they have carried
with them and have used the Bible and the Prayer Book in their
own language; these volumes have come to be the real "wells of
English undefiled," unequalled for beauty and power by anything
else that has been written; and with all the changes of "times,
places, and men's manners," this shows that the wants of men's
souls are always the same. We are not surprised that the Bible,
which is the Word of God, should satisfy these wants and prove
to be what all men, everywhere and at all times, need; but it
seems wonderful that the same book of public worship, with but
very few changes, should have satisfied so many people for so
many years. At least two million copies are in use in the United
States, and tens of millions in England and her colonies ; each of
these copies is a teacher, and many of them are missionaries ; and
the book has a strong influence for good on the character of every
one who uses it.
As it is with many other excellent things which we have and
use, so it is with the Prayer Book : for the very reason that we
use it and get good from it all the time, we do not always think
how much it is worth to us. This anniversary year will be a good
time for us to study our Prayer Book and to study about it, by
learning all we can of its history and meaning. We shall find
that it is one of the most interesting of all books, as well as one
that is full of instruction and help.
The Prayer Book not New in the Year Mdxlix.
We all know that the Bible was not new when it was first given
to the English people in their own language. The Old Testament
was written in Hebrew before Christ came into the world, and
the New Testament was written in Greek soon after He ascended
into heaven. Those who had learned these languages could read
the sacred books as they were written. But, as the Church went
all over the world, the Bishops and Priests who taught its truth
the missionaries of those days had to speak to men of different
countries in such a way that they could be understood ; it was
necessary either that they should learn the languages of those to
whom they went, or that they should persuade these others to
1899] Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. 865
learn the language which they themselves spoke. Our mission-
aries to-day do sometimes the one and sometimes the other of
these things; and sometimes, to the satisfaction of all, they do
both. In the earlier days, at least in western Europe, the more
natural course was to try to make the "barbarians," as they were
called, understand the language of the missionaries, which was
Latin. There was a double reason for this: first, because the
Romans were conquering all that part of the world, and thus
Latin was heard everywhere and was used in courts and armies
and for business of every kind; and secondly, because the native
languages had not yet grown to be of importance enough to de-
mand attention. So, even in the British Isles, the Gospel was
largely preached in Latin, and the Bible was read or recited from
versions made into that language. In course of time there was
an Anglo-Saxon language, into which some parts of the Bible
were put in verse or prose ; and then, after the Norman Conquest,
our modern English grew to be a real language, and Wycklif
and others translated the Bible into it, though they did not, as we
should say, publish their translations. But by this time Latin had
come to be looked upon as a kind of sacred language, and its use
had grown into a custom for religious purposes ; so that, strange
to say, it was more and more used, and people knew less and less
of it. At last the time came when it was seen that this was all
wrong ; good Bishops and Priests were persuaded that they must
read God's Word to the people in a language that they could
understand, and the people, who were hungry for God's Word,
knew that they had the right to read it, or at least to hear it, in
their own mother tongue. Then the whole Bible was translated
into English and printed in large type, and put where the people
could find it and where those who knew how to read could read
it to others. It was no new Bible; it was not a "revised" or
"reformed" Bible; it was the old Bible, with a "reformation" in
the way of using it.
Nbw before 1549 it had been with the Prayer Book as with
the Bible. There had been forms for daily worship and for min-
istering Baptism and the Holy Communion and for other sacred
services, from the very earliest days of the history of the Church ;
and in what we now call England, after the Church had been
founded there, there had never been a time when such forms were
not in use; practically they were the same all over western
(55)
866 Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. [1899
Europe. But, as in the case of the Bible, they were at first natur-
ally, and after that unfortunately, in Latin; only there was this
difference, that they were liable to be changed and were changed
as time went on, until the daily services, with their reading and
singing, ceased to be services for the people at all, and in the
service of the Holy Communion (called by the Latin name of the
"Mass") the people had to be content with watching what the
Priest did, and believing that it was the act of worship of which
they were told. And the changes that were made were, as might
be expected, nearly always changes for the worse. The services
for the seven hours of the day, which were said only by the priests
and monks, who knew Latin, became very complicated and hard
to follow, while the amount of Scripture that was read in them
became very small, and many stories were introduced which were
not edifying or not true; while the most sacred service of the
Holy Communion, at which the people were expected to attend,
had become for many of them only a ceremony, and was sur-
rounded by superstitions. What was needed in the case of the
Bible was simply to translate it and give it to the people in Eng-
lish ; but in the case of the services, in order that there might be
a Book of Common Prayer, it was necessary not only to put them
into English, but also to make them more simple and more true.
And this making them more simple and more true could be done,
and was done, after the manner of every real reformation in the
Church, by making them more like what they had been at the
first. Archbishop Cranmer, and others who worked with him,
knew the importance of all this ; they were familiar with the old
forms, and they knew how to make them of use for the English
Church of their own day; and the Archbishop, besides, had re-
markable skill in understanding the meaning of the Latin collects
and other prayers and putting it into English words and phrases.
The result was that there was almost nothing new in the Prayer
Book of 1549. It had the old versicles and canticles and creeds
and prayers, the old collects (most of them then already about a
thousand years old) with their Epistles and Gospels; it had the
Psalms so arranged as to be read through once a month ; it had
tables of daily lessons from the Bible, much longer than had been
read for a great while, because the people were hungry, as was
said, for the Word of God. And those things were corrected
which had been wrong ; new things which told of error were left
1899] Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. 867
out, and old things which were needed to express the truth were
brought back. And so the first Prayer Book which the English
people had in their own tongue was prepared for them on the
principle of their whole Reformation ; it was the old way of wor-
ship, made more simple and more true than it had been, by mak-
ing it like what the Apostles and the early Bishops would have
used and taught. It was thus with the daily services, with the
forms for ministering the Sacraments, and with those for the
other rites and ceremonies of the Church, all of which were in-
cluded in the one Book of Common Prayer.
The people were prepared for this, and anxious for it. There
had been books of private devotion, called "Primers," which had
in them Psalms and Prayers and short Bible readings in English ;
and after the invention of printing these had become fairly com-
mon ; so that intelligent men and women knew parts of some ef
the ancient services. Besides this, before the end of the reign of
Henry VIII. , in 1544, a Litany was prepared in English for
popular use, which is almost exactly the same as our present
Litany; and very soon after Edward VI. became king, an Eng-
lish "Order of the Communion" was published this was in
1548 which was to be used after the Priest had celebrated Mass
and consecrated the bread and wine according to the old form in
Latin ; it provided that the people should be prepared by the Con-
fession and Absolution and Comfortable Words, as they are now
in our Communion Service, to receive the blessed Sacrament of
the Saviour's Body and Blood. These came into their proper
places in the Prayer Book, for which they prepared the way, and
which, we are told, was ready in March, 1549. Its use was de-
layed for three months, partly, no doubt, that those who were to
use it might become familiar with it, but partly that it might have
its beginning on Whitsunday, as a work which had had, and for
which men prayed that it might ever have, the blessing of the
Holy Ghost. And so it is that, though there was almost nothing
new in the English Prayer Book, yet as a Prayer Book in English
it dates from Whitsunday, three hundred and fifty years ago.
The Prayer Book in England since the year Mdxlix.
The Prayer Book has been constantly used in the English
Church for all the years since 1549. Twice its use has been for-
bidden by law: during the reign of Queen Mary, from 1553 to
868 Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. [1899
1558, when cruel means were used against all attempts to reform
the Church ; and again at the end of the reign of Charles I. and
during the Commonwealth, from 1645 to 1660, when the Presby-
terians and Independents were in power. But even in these times
the services of the book were read in secret, so that it is quite true
that its use has been constant. A new edition was prepared and
published in 1552, largely under the influence of some who
thought that there should be more changes from the old forms
than had been made; but this book could hardly have come into
use in many places before the boy-king died. The reign of Queen
Mary, with its bloody persecutions, brough English Churchmen
together and made them see what it was for which they must
stand together and contend. Soon after the accession of Queen
Elizabeth, in 1559, the Prayer Book was again set forth, care
being taken to commend it to the judgment of all sober-minded
English people, and to unite, as far as possible, the advantages of
the first and the second Prayer Books of Edward VI. Since that
time the changes in the book have been for the most part unim-
portant. A few were made after Queen Elizabeth's death, in
1604, as the result of an argument between Churchmen and Puri-
tans in the presence of King James I., about objections which had
been made to certain matters; and a few others date from 1662,
after the end of the Commonwealth and the restoration of Charles
II., when the book was put into its present form. It remains to-
day exactly as it was left then, except for new tables of lessons
adopted about thirty years ago, and the necessary changes in the
names of the sovereign and members of the royal family, who
are mentioned in the prayers. Permission has been given by
Convocation and Parliament for some shortening of the daily
services, but no alteration has been made in the rubrics.
Thus the book has remained the same in all these years, the
editions, at least since 1559, hardly differing in anything that
would be noticed by the ordinary reader. Its position and influ-
ence are well described in the words of a recent historian :
"Based upon services which had behind them fifteen hundred
years of Christian thought, translated into deep and rich English
with rare taste and delicacy, strengthened by the best products of
contemporary learning, and brought into close dependence upon
the authority of Holy Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer
has slowly but surely won its way into the hearts and minds of
1899] Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. 869
Englishmen. It has become their manual of private devotion as
well as their book of public worship. The religious and moral
life of England for three centuries [and a half] has rested upon
the Bible and the Prayer Book, and the national character would
not be what it is, had either of them been banished from her
history."
If Archbishop Cranmer, or Queen Elizabeth, or Sir Walter
Raleigh were to come to-day into any English cathedral or parish
church, or into any of our churches in the United States, the ser-
vice would at once be recognized as the same in which the wor-
shipper had often taken part years ago, the only difficulty being
in the changes of pronunciation which the lapse of time has
brought into the language. And even those who used the old
Latin services, could they but be given a knowledge of the Eng-
lish language, would soon see that as the English Church has
kept the ancient creeds and the ancient Scriptures and the ancient
ministry, so she has kept the worship of ancient times, not only
in its principles, but in its very forms and words.
The Prayer Book in the United States.
When English explorers and colonists came to the Western
world, those who were Churchmen brought with them their
Prayer Books, and many of the expeditions had their chaplains.
In 1579, when Sir Francis Drake landed on the coast of Califor-
nia, his chaplain read prayers ; and this was probably the first use
of the Prayer Book within the present limits of the United States.
But the first permanent settlement in which it was used was that
made at Jamestown in 1607, only fifty-eight years after the book
was set forth in England, and four years before the publication
of what we call the Authorized Version of the Bible. Thus in
Virginia the Prayer Book came with the settlers ; to other colonies
it was brought, at least for public use, by royal governors; and
in others it came more quietly, as in Connecticut, where a single
copy, belonging to a man in a country town, was "the first and
best missionary" of the Church. Wherever Churchmen were
gathered in congregations, and in many places before they as-
sembled for worship, they followed the forms of service of the
mother Church. No Bishop ever visited the colonies to confirm
and ordain, so that the Confirmation and Ordination Services
were not used here; and it is said that some clergymen did not
read at the end of the Baptismal Office the charge to the sponsors
870 Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. [1899
that they should take care to have the child brought to the Bishop
to be confirmed. But in other respects they used the book as it
stood.
Immediately after the Declaration of Independence, the vestry
of the parish of Christ and St. Peter's Churches in Philadelphia
directed that the prayers for the king and the royal family should
no longer be used ; and the Legislature of Virginia ordered that
these prayers should be "accommodated to the change of affairs."
A like course was followed elsewhere, but some of the clergy
would make no alteration in any service until the independence
of the United States was acknowledged ; of these, part ceased to
minister in public, and part persisted in officiating at the
risk of loss of liberty or of life. But when the War
of the Revolution was over, no one doubted that the
Church in these States was free, and was bound to act
for itself. The clergy of Connecticut met before the procla-
mation of peace, elected Dr. Seabury to be their Bishop,
and sent him abroad to seek for consecration in England
or (failing there) in Scotland. When he returned, in 1785, one
of his first acts was to instruct his clergy as to the necessary
changes in the Prayer Book ; and in the next year he set forth a
Communion Office like that which he had found in use among
the Scottish Churchmen. Before this time, however, a conven-
tion of clerical and lay deputies from New York and states south
of it had met, and had agreed to propose for use a Prayer Book
based on the English book, but differing from it in important
matters. This work, which is known as the "Proposed Book,"
was not well received either here or in England, and it was prac-
tically withdrawn. In 1787 the English Bishops consecrated Dr.
William White to be Bishop of Pennsylvania and Dr. Samuel
Provoost to be Bishop of New York ; and at length, in October,
1789, the first really General Convention met in Philadelphia, at
which delegates from all parts of the country were present. It
proceeded to a revision of the English Prayer Book, to adapt it
to the needs of this new land ; and it was ordered that this Ameri-
can Prayer Book, as we call it, should go into use on the first day
of October, 1790, nearly a hundred and ten years ago. There
were some alterations from the English book made necessary by
the independence of the United States ; opportunity was taken to
change some words that were likely to be misunderstood, and to
1899] Dr. Hart on the Prayer Book. 871
make some services more easily used; and the tables of Sunday
lessons were prepared on a new plan. The important change was
the insertion in the Communion Office of a Prayer of Consecra-
tion, almost exactly the same as that which Bishop Seabury had
brought to his diocese from Scotland ; it was more like that in the
first Prayer Book of 1549, and very much more like those used
in the early Church, than is the corresponding prayer in the pres-
ent English book. While we are grateful to the English Church
for all that has come to us from her hands, we should not forget
what we owe to the Scottish Church.
Thus the American edition of the Prayer Book in English was
prepared and came into use. It remained unchanged, except in
one or two places, until a very few years ago. In 1880 a com-
mittee was appointed by the General Convention to consider
whether, at the end of a hundred years, it was desirable that any
additions should be made to the Prayer Book, or any changes
should be made in the rubrics which directed its use. Much atten-
tion was given to this work, and the result was the adoption of
a new Standard Prayer Book in 1892, into which were incor-
porated all the alterations and additions that had been made. The
alterations were mostly in the rubrics, partly for clearness and
partly to allow for some variety in the services; the chief addi-
tions were the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis at Evening
Prayer, the Penitential Office, the services for the Feast of the
Transfiguration, and certain special prayers and thanksgivings,
among them a prayer for missions. It is very interesting to note
how, when our Church seriously considered whether she needed
to make any changes in her Prayer Book as she came to the be-
ginning of the second century of her independent history, she
found that a few alterations and additions were all that were
required. In fact, she was confident that she was, in this regard,
well furnished for her work; and such special preparation as it
seemed desirable to make was, in great part, the taking back of
things which belonged to an earlier day and had been for a time
displaced.
This is in outline the history of the Prayer Book in English, its
origin, its preparation, its use. The book, one of the best things
that God has given His Church, has done and is doing a noble
work for His glory and the benefit of His people ; and this work
we may well believe that it will continue to do until the Lord shall
come again.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CONTENTS.
Death of Professor Egleston Minute on his Death Report for 1900
Minute on Death of Rev. C. R. Duffie, D.D. Appointment of R. M. Pott
as Assistant Treasurer Election of Officers, 1900 Report on the German
and Spanish Prayer Books Minute on Death of the Rev. John Wesley
Brown, D.D. And on Death of the Rev. Brady Electus Backus, D.D.
Report for 1901 Election of Officers, 1901 Report on Spanish Prayer
Book Proposed Alterations in Title Page Referred to Counsel Report
on German Prayer Book Report for 1902 Election of Officers, 1902
Report of Committee on Versions Letter from Bishop Brent Report
for 1903 Election of Officers, 1903 Report of Committee on Versions
German Prayer Book Printed Spanish Prayer Book Awaiting Communi-
cations from Bishops in Spanish Speaking Possessions Minute on Death
of Henry Rogers Report for 1904 Request for Local Editions of the
Spanish Prayer Book Referred to Committee of General Convention
Minute on Death of James Pott Election of John McLean Nash as Treas-
urer Report of Chairman of Committee of General Convention Adverse
to Local Editions of Spanish Prayer Book Action of General Convention
on Spanish Prayer Book Spanish Prayer Book as Revised by Rev. Dr.
Lowndes Accepted by Committee of General Convention And Published
Report for 1905 Election of Officers, 1905 Minute on Death of Frank
Drisler R. M. Pott Appointed Agent Committee Appointed on A His-
tory of the Society to Be Issued in the Centennial Year of its Existence
Sympathy Extended to San Francisco Sufferers Report for 1006 Agent's
Report Election of Officers, 1906 Report of Committee on History of
Society Change in By-Laws Report for 1907 Election of Officers,
1907 Plates of Obsolete French Prayer Book Ordered Destroyed Indian
Service Book Issued for Alaska Report of Committee on Centennial
Report for 1908 Officers for 1908 Minutes on Death of Bishop Potter
and Dr. Dix Agent's Report Table of Distribution Report from
Centennial Committee.
CONSEQUENT on the death of Professor Egleston, this
Minute was ordered spread on the books, January 30,
1900.
Thomas Egleston, Professor at the School of Mines,
New York, Columbia University, and Vestryman of Trinity
Church, this City, and member of the Board of Managers of this
Society.
872
1900] Death of Thomas Egleston. 873
Minute on his Death, January I5th, 1900.
In the death of the late Thomas Egleston the Society has met
with a very great loss.
Professor Egleston was elected a member of the Board of
Trustees in the year 1871, and since that time he had shown a
deep interest in all its affairs, becoming by length of service the
Senior Vice President.
He was particularly interested in the various translations of
the Prayer Book, and for a long time acted as Chairman of the
Committee on Versions.
It is not often that we meet with a man with such numerous
engagements as those which surrounded Professor Egleston,
who could find time for taking an interest in religious societies.
As we all know, he was ready at all times to respond to any call
of duty. Whil/e mourning his loss we feel that we have before
us an example of an earnest, faithful and Christian life, which
it should be our earnest desire to imitate.
Resolved, That the above be placed upon the minutes of the
Society and published in the next issue of the Churchman.
At the meeting held on May 29, 1900, the Secretary reported
a vacancy in the Board by the death of the Rev. Edward Horatio
Krans, LL.D. Mr. Pott then presented the following minute:
It is become our painful duty to report, since the last meeting
of our Board, the death of one of its members, the Rev. Edward
Horatio Krans, LL.D.
He was faithful in his duties and always interested in the
work of our Society. It will be long before we forget his
gentle, loving disposition and his truly Christian character, and
we will sorely miss his companionship.
We are glad to pay this tribute to the memory of our departed
brother, as to one who has been a faithful servant of his Lord
and Master.
This minute was adopted and ordered on the Minutes of the
Society. The Chair also requested a copy to be sent to the
family.
At the meeting held on September 25, 1900, a report from
the Committee on Versions was made by Mr. Pott, who
noted the vacancy on this Committee by the death of Dr. Egles-
ton, and presented the name of Rev. John Peters, D.D., to fill
874 Ninety-First Report. [1900
the vacancy. Mr. Pott then reported progress on the revision of
the Spanish Prayer Book and progress on the publication and
revision of the German Prayer Book.
NINETY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1900.
In making its Ninety-First Annual Report the New York Bible
and Prayer Book Society would state at once that during the past
twelve months it has distributed over 75,000 volumes. This
fact of itself speaks for the usefulness of our Society. But this
fact is emphasized when we consider the extent of this distribu-
tion. It is with deep gratitude to God that we note this extent.
Not only throughout the length and breadth of our own land
have the calls of our Bishops and Clergy been answered, but
those special requests that have come from our newly acquired
possessions for the use of our soldiers and sailors, and for the
introduction of our Church among strangers, these requests
have been answered. There is no better messenger to send far
and wide, next to the living ministry of the Word, than our
Book of Common Prayer. It is the very best instrument that
we can use in making known the teachings of the Church. It
is well to appreciate this, and to welcome every call that comes
to our Society for the increase and enlargement of its useful-
ness. The trust committed to the Society is a great one and
demands the utmost earnestness and devotion on the part of the
Trustees, as also upon our brother Churchmen everywhere.
At the Annual Meeting of October 4, 1900, this minute, pre-
pared by the Rev. Dr. Vibbert and Mr. Pott, was adopted :
Since the last meeting of our Board it has become our painful
duty to record the death of our late member, the Rev. C. R.
Duffie, D.D.
He became a member of our Society at its annual meeting in
1849, an d at tne ti me f ms death was one of our Vice Presidents.
In the early years of our Society Dr. Duffie took a great
interest in all its concerns and was a very regular attendant at
its meetings. He helped not only to build it up but to place it
upon its present firm foundation, and we recognize with grati-
tude his labours in its behalf.
1901] Death of Rev. Dr. Brown. 875
As old age crept on he was obliged to withdraw his active
interest, though still fully sympathizing with us in our work.
It is well for us to have such an example before us, in order
that our best energies may be called forth in behalf of the So-
ciety.
Several amendments to the By-Laws which had since May,
1900, been under the consideration of a special Committee, Mr.
J. McLean Nash and Mr. Pott, were adopted.
The Treasurer then spoke of his many years as Manager and
Treasurer, and asked for an Assistant Treasurer with privilege
of appointment and salary. On motion this was granted, and
his son, Mr. Richard M. Pott, was his appointment.
The elections were then proceeded with, with this result :
Vacancies on Board of Officers Nominations: Third Vice
President, Rev. John W. Brown, D.D. ; Third Lay Vice Presi-
dent, Henry J. Cammann.
On Board of Managers. Term of office having expired, the
following are again nominated for a new term as provided for
in the By-Laws: J. McL. Nash, J. M. Knap, C. E. Hastings,
Silas McBee.
Two Clerical Vacancies Nominations : Rev. Henry Lubeck,
LL.D., Rector Zion and St. Timothy; Rev. A. H. Judge, Rector
St. Matthew's Church.
Elected annually, Treasurer and Secretary Nominations :
Treasurer, James Pott; Secretary, Edwin S. Gorham.
At the meeting held on January 29, 1901, Mr. Pott reported
for the Committee on Versions that the German Book was in the
hands of parties connected with the General Convention.
The Committee reported the present editions as meeting
present need and in general use in German Missions, and pro-
gress was reported on the Spanish Version.
It then being in order, Mr. James Pott presented the follow-
ing Minute in memory of John Wesley Brown, D.D.
Since the date of our last meeting our Society has been called
upon to mourn the loss (by death) of one of its Vice Presidents,
the Rev. John Wesley Brown, D.D.
He was identified with many of our Church Societies, giving
them not only his hearty sympathy, but also his substantial aid,
in the promotion of their several good objects.
876 Ninety-Second Report. [1901
We feel it to be our privilege to unite in the almost universal
testimony to the many virtues which were so prominent in the
character of our deceased friend and fellow associate, the Rev.
John Wesley Brown, D.D.
At the meeting held on September 24, 1901, the following
minute was offered :
In Memoriam Dr. Backus.
Since the date of our last meeting the death of the Rev. Brady
Electus Backus, D.D., removes a member of this Board and
from a parish a Rector devoted to his people.
Dr. Backus was elected to the Board in 1889, and has
attended the meetings with as much frequency as the demands
of a city parish among the poor would permit.
NINETY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1901.
Another year has come and gone, and it is again incumbent
upon our Society to render account of its stewardship.
The year has been in many ways an unusually successful one,
and we point with satisfaction to the opening out of new channels
of endeavour and to work accomplished.
There have been distributed 77,000 books Bibles, Prayer
Books, and Hymnals; 40,000 copies of these being the Book of
Common Prayer, an agency ever silently influencing the entire
Church and accomplishing for Her a most effective missionary
work.
A special effort has been made to introduce the Prayer Book
into families in which it was previously unknown, and where,
voicing prayers for which hitherto no utterance has been found,
and fulfilling the mission of an unobtrusive guide and comforter,
it has proved a most welcome guest ; and to place it in the hands
of Church families too far removed from Church centres to at-
tend the Services. Here oftentimes it has recalled to the elders
the privileges of "the long ago" and stimulated them to speak of
the old Church and the old Faith to the children about them.
The Society has also planned to develop a work on steamboats
and in hotels, for which Prayer Books specially bound are being
prepared.
1902] Spanish Prayer Book. 877
A translation of the Prayer Book into German is now before
the General Convention for its examination and approval, and
we hope before long also to put forth a Spanish Prayer Book for
the use of our outlying possessions.
We beg very gratefully to acknowledge the generous help
accorded us in the past, and in all this work earnestly ask the
people that the campaign in the future may be a still more active
and effective one.
The Treasurer reported legacies from Mary Harvey and Mary
Beach Tousey.
At the Annual Meeting, October 3, 1901, the Elections were:
Rev. Morgan Dix. D.D., First Vice President.
Henry Rogers, First Lay Vice President.
Rev. T. H. Sill, Third Vice President.
Rev. John T. Patey, St. Luke's Parish.
Rev. H. M. Barbour, Church Beloved Disciple.
James Pott, Treasurer.
Edwin S. Gorham. Secretary.
The Secretary read a communication from the Corresponding
Secretary of the Board of Missions, addressed to the Society,
urging the immediate publication of the Spanish Prayer Book,
which was referred to the Committee on Versions.
At the meeting held on January 28, 1902, the Committee on
Versions, Mr. James Pott and Dr. Van Amringe, reported that
work on the Spanish Prayer Book was progressing under the
Rev. Dr. Lowndes.
On the German Prayer Book the Committee reported progress.
Very careful and faithful work had been done by the Com-
mittee of the Convention. On motion of Dr. Van Amringe,
duly seconded, an additional grant of $500 was made toward
the completion of the revised version of the Prayer Book in
German.
At the meeting held on May 27, 1902, the Committee on Ver-
sions requested the Secretary to read correspondence with re-
gard to the Spanish Prayer Book, showing requests from all
parts where the book was needed, urging the immediate issue
of a new edition, and showing requests for upwards of 1,000
copies needed for immediate use in Porto Rico, Cuba and the
Philippines.
878 Ninety-Third Report. [1902
A letter from the Rev. Dr. Lowndes was also read, and one
from Bishop Brent, the former containing a formal offer to see
the new edition through the press, and bestow upon it expert
proof reading. Bishop Brent's letter contained certain requests
which were duly considered, with one exception, in which he
requested that the title page should read "Liturgy of the Church
in the Philippine Islands," the sense of the meeting being that the
addition of the words "according to the use of the Church in the
United States of America" be added. The Secretary also re-
ported that the plates could be made at a cost of about $700.
On motion of Dr. Amringe, duly seconded,
Resolved, That the Business Committee be authorized to pro-
ceed with the immediate issue of the Prayer Book in Spanish
as revised and in accordance with the editor's suggestions, with
power to draw upon the Treasurer for a sum not exceeding
$1,500.00 for the cost thereof. The wording of the title page was
to be submitted to Mr. J. McL. Nash, counsel for the Society, as
to the right of the Society to produce a book according to the
suggestions made by Bishop Brent.
The Secretary offered to superintend this work and get it
through with all speed and care during the summer, hoping to
have the book ready to ship in the early autumn to their several
destinations.
Mr. Pott spoke of the Swedish Liturgy and also in regard to
the Standard Bible.
At a meeting held in September, 1902, the Committee of Ver-
sions reported progress on the German Prayer Book and on the
work of composition and plating of the new edition of the
Spanish Prayer Book during the summer, and that two-thirds of
the work had been done.
NINETY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1902.
The work of our Society has gone on successfully, enabling us
to meet the demands made upon us for Bibles, Prayer Books, etc.
During the past year we have distributed in all sections of the
country 5,346 Bibles, 37,199 Prayer Books, 2,371 Testaments,
and 32,346 Hymnals, in all 77,262 books.
We are receiving many thanks for the help we are affording in
spreading the knowledge of our Church.
1902] Spanish Prayer Book. b79
The Society has materially assisted in the printing of the
Prayer Book in the German, Japanese and Chinese languages,
and is now preparing a translation for use in the Philippines,
which edition, we are glad to say, will very soon be ready for
distribution. We have also contributed to Bishop Schereschew-
sky substantial aid in his translation of the New Testament in
Japanese. In addition to this we have helped toward the prep-
aration of a Psalter for the blind.
It is very cheering and gratifying to read the letters which we
are constantly receiving, which besides assuring us of the good
results of a general circulation in Churches contain many records
of individual benefit, where the Prayer Book is distributed pri-
vately.
Let us hope that our good work may continue and be still fur-
ther prospered.
At the Annual Meeting held on October 2., 1902, Mr. Nash
called attention to a needed investigation of the present laws af-
fecting the By-Laws of this Society, particularly in regard to an
act passed March 23, 1864, as to the annual value of estates.
Legacies were reported from G. P. Clapp.
The election of the Board of Managers resulted thus :
For election for a new term of office and to fill vacancies :
Rev. H. Lubeck, LL.D., Rev. A. H. Judge.
Board: Rev. J. T. Patey, Ph.D., Class of 1905; Mr. A. D.
Chew, Mr. Frank T. Warburton, Mr. F. Drisler, Class of 1904.
Mr. A. L. Clarkson, First Lay Vice President (3 years).
Officers: E. S. Gorham, Secretary (i year); James Pott,
Treasurer (i year).
At the meeting held on January 27, 1903, Mr. J. H. Van
Amringe, Chairman, reported for the Committee on Versions :
We are informed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Worthington, Chair-
man of the Committee of the General Convention on the Ger-
man Prayer Book, new edition, that the work is rapidly closing
to an end, and it is more than likely the book will be entirely
completed by Easter. The Editor of the work on the Spanish
Prayer Book, the Rev. Dr. Lowndes, also reports that the long,
tedious work on the Spanish Prayer Book is almost completed,
and a set of printed proofs should be ready next month. As to
820 Ninety-Fourth Report. [1903
the title page question he has yet to hear from Bishop Brent in
reply to a direct question on the subject as to his wishes in regard
to the edition for the work in that region.
The last letter received is dated October I5th, addressed to
the Secretary of the Society.
"My convictions regarding the Spanish Prayer Book have al-
ready been confirmed. Probably we shall never have regular
Spanish services. When I reach the natives it will be through
their own dialect. Of course we occasionally have a baptism
or one of the different offices in Spanish, and perhaps once in a
while there will be a celebration of the Holy Communion in that
language; but I think that without doubt as time goes on the
Spanish language \vill die out. I tell you this that in order that
those who are revising the Prayer Book will know just what to
expect in this jurisdiction." (Extract from Bishop Brent in let-
ter to Edwin S. Gorham.)
At the meeting held on September 29, 1902, the Committee
on Bye-Laws, Mr. J. McL. Nash, reported that the law affecting
the annual value of estates did not affect the status of this Society
or its income.
NINETY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1903.
During the past year the work of our Society has gone on in
its usual channel of usefulness, helping to make our Church a
living power for good.
We have distributed during the past year in all sections of the
country, 5,838 Bibles, 38,436 Prayer Books, 1.412 Testaments,
33,939 Hymnals, in all 79,625 volumes, thus showing that our
good work has steadily increased.
As we read the letters which come to us in response to our
gifts, we cannot help but rejoice in the help we are rendering to
many poor souls. It is hard for us to realize the great spiritual
destitution existing in many parts of our land. Surrounded as
we are by Church privileges, we do not sympathize as we ought
with those who are deprived of them. How many faithful men
and women there are who, for a bare pittance, are willing to de-
vote their lives to missionary work, and yet who find that the
hard struggle for subsistence has killed in so many others all
religious aspiration how glad they are to have the opportunity
1903] Annual Election. 881
of distributing a Bible or a Prayer Book, it is as good as seed
sown and certainly helps to bring God's children nearer to their
Father.
Let us therefore persevere in our work and let our prayers go
out with our gifts, thankful that we are permitted to bear our
part, however small, in helping on the establishment of God's
kingdom in the world.
These officers were elected at the Annual Meeting in October,
1903:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
1873. Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., D.C.L., First Vice President.
1894. Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., Second Vice President.
1888. Rev. Thomas Henry Sill, Third Vice President.
1858. A. L. Clarkson, First Lay Vice President.
1877. Henry J. Cammann, Third Lay Vice President.
1858. James Pott, Treasurer.
1877. Edwin S. Gorham, Secretary.
Board of Managers
1901. Rev. Henry M. Barbour, Rector of the Church of the
Beloved Disciple.
1889. Rev. Philip A. H. Brown, Vicar of St. John's Chapel.
1894. Rev. Henry Chamberlaine.
1900. Rev. Henry Lubeck, LL.D., Rector of Zion and St. Tim-
othy's Parish.
1901. Rev. John T. Patey, Rector of St. Luke's Church.
1900. Rev. Arthur H. Judge, Rector of St. Matthew's Church.
1902. A. D. Chew.
1902. F. Drisler.
1898. Silas McBee.
1885. John McLean Nash.
1894. Frank T. Warburton.
1899. J- H. Van Amringe.
The Treasurer reported that $39,517.69 had been received,
and after investments and the stated expenses for books, salary
and other purposes, there was on hand a balance of $1,365.70.
At the meeting of May 31, 1904, the Committee on Versions
were able to report the completion of the work on the German
Prayer Book, printed copies of the same being on exhibition.
(56)
882 Death of Henry Rogers. [1904
This edition is the work of the Committee of the General Con-
vention, of which Bishop Worthington was Chairman. The
Committee having no funds the Society undertook to publish the
results of their work when completed. The report on the Span-
ish Prayer Book showed that it was ready for completion as soon
as Bishop Brent and Bishop Van Buren could give the Committee
some advice on the adaptation of the book for local use, etc, for
the Board to consider before finally deciding. (Folio 353.)
At the meeting of October 4, 1904, the German Prayer Book
was reported as being completed and published.
Mr. Pott then presented the following Minute :
Henry Rogers.
It is our painful duty at this time to announce the death of
our late brother manager, Henry Rogers, Esq. Mr. Rogers
was elected upon our Board in the year 1875, and during all that
period has taken a lively interest in the work of our Society.
Rarely absent from our meetings, he could always be depended
upon as a reliable adviser and co-operator in the development
of its work. He was of high Christian attainments. His heart
was always in his work, and consecrated to his Master's service.
We will sorely miss his companionship, for such men as Mr.
Rogers are not often to be met with. We extend to his wife
our sincere sympathy in her bereavement.
On motion this resolution was ordered on the Minutes and a
copy of the same sent to Mrs. H. Rogers.
At the Annual Meeting, held on October 6, 1904, Mr. Pott
also read the following letter from Mrs. Henry Rogers, which
was ordered on the Minutes :
29 West 1 2th Street,
October 5th, 1904.
Mrs. Rogers wishes to express to the Board of Managers of
the Bible and Prayer Book Society her grateful thanks for the
affectionate sympathy given to her in her recent great sorrow,
and also for the loving words spoken of her late husband.
There officers were chosen on October 6, 1904:
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Elected.
1873. Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., D.C.L., First Vice President.
1904] Ninety -Fifth Report. 883
1894. Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., Second Vice President
1888. Rev. Thomas Henry Sill, Third Vice President.
1858. A. L. Clarkson, First Lay Vice President.
1877. Henry J. Cammann, Second Lay Vice President.
1885. J. McL. Nash, Third Vice President.
1877. Edwin S. Gorham, Secretary.
1858. James Pott, Treasurer.
1902. Richard M. Pott, Assistant Treasurer.
Board of Managers.
Elected.
1901. Rev. Henry M. Barbour, Rector of the Church of the
Beloved Disciple.
1889. Rev. Philip A. M. Brown, Vicar of St. John's Chapel.
1894. Rev. Henry Chamberlaine.
1900. Rev. John Lubeck, LL.D., Rector of Zion and St. Timo-
thy's Parish.
1901. Rev. John T. Patey, Rector of St. Luke's Church.
1900. Rev. Arthur H. Judge, Rector of St. Matthew's Church.
1904. T. S. Bangs.
1904. William E. Curtis.
1902. F. Drisler.
1898. Silas McBee.
1894. Frank T. Warburton.
1899. J. H. Van Amringe.
NINETY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1904.
This Society has continued to employ the old channels of use-
fulness, silently widening and deepening them. It is a quiet work,
but none the less fruitful. Struggling missions have been enabled
to progress on churchly lines by your Society's timely donations,
while many a home has been blessed by the book which so uncon-
sciously clarifies our conception of the Deity, so perfectly reveals
His relations to the whole of human life and so appropriately
furnishes the untutored heart with the words that express its
needs and longings.
We are glad to report that the German Prayer Book has at
length been published and is now ready for distribution, and we
would congratulate the Special Committee upon the completion
884 Death of James Pott. [1905
of its arduous labors. May the new book be instrumental in
enlarging the borders of our Church.
The Spanish Prayer Book will soon likewise be on hand for
circulation. It is certainly sorely needed. The Church is eagerly
pressing forward into the new field which recent events have
opened up for her zeal, but it is a lamed and inadequate Church
without the Book of Prayer.
During the year the Society has donated 7,211 Bibles, 41,536
Prayer Books, 1,149 Testaments, and 36,357 Hymnals in all
86,253 volumes.
We would again acknowledge our indebtedness to all who
have in any way assisted us in our undertakings. At the same
time, we have to regret that the income of the Society during the
past year was not quite sufficient to meet the cost of our donations.
The receipts for the year were $47,539.28, including a legacy
from Anna W. McColl, and the cash balance was $1,189.42.
At an undated meeting of the Board there was presented a
Report on the Spanish Prayer Book. The preparation of editions
of the Spanish Prayer Book to comply with requests of the Bish-
ops for changes for local use in the Philippine Islands, Cuba, and
Porto Rico, was, on motion, referred to the Committee on the
Spanish Prayer Book of the General Convention, the Secretary
to report reply at a future meeting.
Mr. Cammann then presented the following resolution:
That the Secretary be requested to write a letter of greeting
to Mr. James Pott and express the best wishes of the Board for
his speedy recovery. On motion, unanimously carried, and each
member signed the original, which was sent with the Secretary's
letter.
A special meeting of the Society was held on February 17,
1905. Dr. Vibbert presided.
It was announced that the special meeting was called to note
the death of Mr. James Pott, Treasurer of the Society since 1862.
It then being in order, Mr. Nash arose and presented the follow-
ing resolution :
JAMES POTT,
Died February 8, 1905.
In the death of James Pott this Society has lost one of its
most distinguished members, who was spared to his office as
JAMES POTT
1905J Minute on James Pott. 885
Treasurer for a longer period than any other person since its
organization. Mr. Pott became a member of the Board in 1858,
and in 1862 was elected Treasurer and Agent for the Society.
Only one member of that period survives him.
During these many years of his active service on the Board,
its growth and usefulness have been steady and strong. His
conservative methods and the wisdom of his suggestions to the
Board have always been appreciated by the members, and the
confidence and support of the Church so generously given to the
Society are a recognition of this fact. The objects and aims of
the work were ever on his mind and heart. The phenomenal
growth of missionary work at home and abroad during the past
half century was aided by the Society, and provision was made
for new conditions. People coming to this continent speaking
other languages were provided with Prayer Books in their
own tongue : Japan and China were assisted with appropriations
from the funds of the Society in the making of the Prayer Book
and Scriptures in their native languages.
At the outbreak, both of the Civil and Spanish Wars, pro-
vision was made for the hospitals and soldiers of army and
navy, where practicable, for such books as the Chaplains asked
for. Mr. Pott's personality was that of a devout Christian man,
of wide sympathy, and he drew such men about him, so that
the Board has always been happy in its unity of thought and
purpose. We quote the opening of his First Annual Report as
Treasurer, made at the end of 1862 :
"The story of the past is soon told. It differs little from pre-
vious years. Applications come to us from the missionary,
struggling Church, and the hospital. We have heard the voices
of the aged blending with those of childhood, asking for the
Word of God, and the Prayer Book, and above all the soldiers
and sailors have pressed their claims to be remembered by the
Church."
In closing this minute we can do no better that appropriate,
as our own, the words he used in reference to his predecessor
many years ago : "It affords the Board sad pleasure, in view of
their loss, thus publicly to acknowledge the appreciation of his
long and valued services, and to bear record that in the decease
of James Pott, we recognize the departure of a tried and faith-
ful soldier of Christ."
886 Spanish Prayer Book. [1905
Which, by all standing, was unanimously passed and ordered
spread upon the Minutes, published in the Church papers and
properly prepared and sent to the family of our deceased brother.
The Chair then called attention to the necessity of electing a
new Treasurer at once. The Secretary announced the nomina-
tion of Mr. J. McL. Nash for the position. On motion he was
duly elected. Mr. Nash accepted the position with a few words
regarding the office, and that he would do all in his power to
advance the interests of the Society.
The Secretary was then requested to read a letter from Bishop
Worthington, Chairman of the Committee of the Convention,
on the Spanish Prayer Book, in which he expressed the opinion
that the Society could in no way vary the edition from that of
the American Standard, however much the Bishops in the
Spanish speaking countries might desire it. On motion of Mr.
Nash, duly seconded, the Secretary was authorized to commun-
icate with these Bishops, namely, Bishop Brent of the Philippines,
Bishop Van Buren, of Porto Rico, and Bishop Knight, of Cuba,
stating that we should proceed at once to finish the Prayer Book
in the Spanish language, which would be in accordance with the
standard of the American Church. The Secretary was also
authorized to proceed at once with the completion of the book,
without any further delay for considerations of the requests
made by these Bishops.
At a meeting held on May 31, 1905, it then being in order,
Mr. Nash asked for action on the revision of the By-Laws as
proposed and accepted at the previous meeting. Mr. Nash read
each article. They were duly passed as originally submitted with
the following addition in Article IX, "except the agent." To
read, The Board of Managers shall consist of the officers of the
Society except the agent.
Mr. Nash then tendered his resignation as Vice-President to
take his new position as Treasurer which on motion was accept-
ed.
The subject of the long contemplated and partly completed
revision of the Prayer Book in Spanish was brought before the
General Convention of 1904 at its sessions in the city of Boston.
The new possessions of the United States being of Spanish origin,
any work in them for the Church needed a revision of the Prayer
Book which could "be understanded of the people," and not writ-
1905] Spanish Prayer Book. 887
ten in stately and archaic Castilian. The Society was ready to
meet the wishes of the workers in Cuba, the Philippine Islands,
and Porto Rico, whenever it knew what was really desired. In
the meantime the old version had been put into competent hands
for thorough examination with a view to its being conformed to
the Spanish spoken at the present time. On October i2th, the
Rt. Rev. Dr. Van Buren, of Porto Rico, offered a resolution in
the House of Bishops requesting the Committee on the Prayer
Book "to report some plan whereby the House of Bishops may
expedite the publication of the Prayer Book and Hymnal in the
Spanish language." 1
The Committee made its report on October 2ist through
Bishop Whittaker, the chairman, recommending for adoption a
resolution appointing "a Committee of three Bishops to whom
this subject of the publication of the Prayer Book, and also of
the Canticles and Hymns in the Spanish language shall be com-
mitted." The report was approved, the resolution adopted, and
the Bishops of Nebraska (Dr. Worthington), Porto Rico (Dr.
Van Buren), and Long Island (Dr. Burgess), were appointed.
The Society at once took action, and in 1905 the revision of the
Spanish Prayer Book as prepared by the Rev. Dr. Lowndes was
ready for approval, which was given in this form :
Notification.
El Comite nombrado por la Camara de Obispos en la Conven-
tion de la Iglesia Protestante Episcopal, que tuvo lugar en Bos-
ton, en el Estado de Massachusetts, Estados Unidos de America,
an el Ano de Nuestro Senor de Mil Novecientos Cuatro, para la
publication del Libro de Oracion Comun en lengua Castellana, ha
adoptado y da a luz esta version Espanola del Libro Establecido
de Oracion Comun y administration de los Sacramentos y Otros
Ritos y Ceremonias de la Iglesia segun el uso de la Iglesia Prot-
estante Episcopal en los Estados Unidos de America juntamente
con el Salterio 6 los Salmos de David.
GEORGE WORTHINGTON, Obispo de Nebraska.
WILLIAM D. WALKER, Obispo de Western New York.
FREDERICK BURGESS, Obispo de Long Island.
Nueva York, Junio 8, 1905.
I. Journal General Convention, 1904, p. 63.
888 Ninety-Sixth Report. [1905
The edition was soon after in circulation and has proved a
powerful aid in the work of the islands of the sea.
NINETY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1905.
In presenting the annual review of the work of the Society, the
Board of Managers have no more than usual to report. From
year to year the work steadily grows, and the benefit of the So-
ciety is more clearly demonstrated. In addition to the ordinary
demands new and larger calls are made upon it by the Bishops
and faithful missionaries in Alaska and the far West, where the
work of the Church is strenuously pushed forward, and where
Bibles and Prayer Books are so urgently needed as potent factors
in the work.
Last year we reported the completion of the German Prayer
Book, and now we are able to say that the new edition of the
Prayer Book in Spanish has been completed and published, and
sent to Manila, Porto Rico and Cuba, to the great satisfaction of
the Bishops, who so sorely needed this essential help in their
work of evangelization.
In response to the various appeals we have sent out 6,050
Bibles, 33,382 Prayer Books, 28,216 Hymnals, 1,645 copies of
the New Testament.
We cannot close this report without appreciative mention of
our late fellow member, Mr. James Pott, for forty years a mem-
ber of the Board and many years its Treasurer. Mr. John
McLean Nash has succeeded him in this office.
Appended to this report are the following letters :
Anniston, Ala., September 20, 1905.
Dear Sir: Your favour of September i2th, notifying me that
you would ship 500 Prayer Books, has been received. Please
accept my grateful appreciation of the kindness of the Prayer
Book Society in furnishing me with books. Since writing to you
I have held another mission. I wish I had the time to tell the
Prayer Book Society through you, what the Book of Common
Prayer will do if permitted. I went into a place where the people
knew nothing of the Church or the Church's service. I began
without my robes, holding our meetings in an ordinary school
house. The first night, having distributed 100 Prayer Books,
1905] Ninety- Sixth Report. 889
I requested the people to turn to the Lord's Prayer. This we
read over half a dozen times until we secured the full, clear,
hearty response from every one present. Then we all knelt
down and said the Lord's Prayer together. After that, with the
Prayer Books in the hands of the people, I entered upon some
explanation of the services. This was Monday night. Tuesday
morning and afternoon I continued the same explanation. Tues-
day night, in the presence of a large congregation, I secured the
hearty reading of the Lord's Prayer and General Confession
again. Then we all kneeled and said these two prayers together.
Explanations followed, and the same was repeated Wednesday
morning and afternoon. By this time I had explained the
Church's robes.
Wednesday night we had the full Evening Service, the clergy
wearing the robes of the Church. I do not think there was one
present who did not enter heartily into the service. From that
time on we had no difficulty in securing the co-operation of the
people in rendering the service of the Church. The mission re-
sulted in baptisms and confirmations, and at its close the Book
of Common Prayer was placed in the hands of those who had
manifested interest in the services. A lay-reader was appointed
and a Sunday School organized. An offering was taken up for
the Prayer Book Society. This will be forwarded to you. This
is a sample of my work.
Sincerely,
(Bishop) C. M. BECKWITH.
Bexley Hall, Gambier, O.,
June 21, 1905.
Dear Sir : In reply to your postal card of the 7th inst., I beg
to acknowledge, on behalf of the vestry and congregation of
Grace Church, Ravenna, O., the receipt of fifteen Bibles, thirty-
five Prayer Books and thirty-five Hymnals, and to thank you for
the grant, which is gratefully received.
The Prayer Books are for use in a community very largely
made up of non-Episcopals, and although the parish has been
established for a long time, the work is constantly one of edu-
cation in the doctrine and worship of the Church. This country
has been burnt over again and again by the fires of "revivals,"
and the effort on our part is to present the Christian religion as
890 Ninety-Sixth Report. [1905
the normal and natural development of our human nature. I
should like to ask in this connection whether I may feel free to
present Prayer Books to those who will make good use of
them, or are they strictly for use in the public services of the
Church? Many of the interested members of the congregation
are young people brought up in families belonging to other
Christian bodies; the choir of boys is largely made up of such.
The Bibles are for use in Sunday School.
I am, dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
(Rev.) WILLIAM L. TORRANCE,
Minister-in-charge of Grace Church, Ravenna, O.
Palouse, Wash., September 2, 1905.
Dear Sir: Allow me to acknowledge with heartfelt thanks
the receipt of 50 Bibles, 100 Prayer Books and 100 Hymnals, all
bound in cloth, and two Bibles and five New Testaments bound in
leather.
I try to teach the ignorant in the west how to use the source
method in answering their own questions from Bible and Prayer
Book, and by having each child handle copies of each at every
Sunday School session, to instil the habit.
I find many children who have never seen either book and are
surprised to learn that the stories and truths they do know are
to be found in the Bible and Prayer Book.
The delight and surprise with which a boy entering high
school read for the first time, the story of creation and David
from a Bible, was a delight to me.
Country doctors and miners have read the burial service over
lonely graves whenever I could not be there.
Yours truly,
(Rev.) WILLIAM H. ROOTS.
Roslyn, Wash., July 26, 1905.
Dear Sir : Would you please convey to the Society my
warmest thanks for the splendid grant of Bibles to Calvary
Church, Roslyn, Wash. I can assure you that you have taken
an anxiety off my mind. I am trying to place a Bible, Prayer
Book and Hymnal in most of the houses in this mining town.
1905] Annual Election. 891
Thanking you again with all my heart for your kindness to
our mission among miners, believe me,
Yours faithfully,
(Rev.) SIDNEY H. MORGAN:.
P. S. The Bibles arrived safely and have filled our hearts
with joy and gratitude.
These officers were elected in October, 1905 :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Elected.
1873. Rev - Morgan Dix, D.D., D.C.L., First Vice President.
1894. Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., Second Vice President.
1888. Rev. Thomas H. Sill, Third Vice President.
1858. A. L. Clarkson, First Lay Vice President.
1877. Henry J. Cammann, Second Lay Vice President.
1889. J. H. Van Amringe, LL.D., Third Lay Vice President.
1877. Edwin S. Gorham, Secretary.
I 95- J- McL, Nash, Treasurer.
1905. Richard M. Pott, Agent.
Board of Managers: 1901, Rev. Henry M. Barbour; 1894,
Rev. Henry Chamberlaine ; 1905, Rev. H. M. Denslow; 1900,
Rev. Arthur H. Judge; 1900, Rev. Henry Lubeck, LL.D.; 1901,
Rev. John T. Patey, Ph.D.; 1904, F. S. Bangs; 1905, C. A.
Clark; 1904, William E. Curtis; 1905, Henry L. Hobart; 1898,
Silas McBee; 1894, Frank T. Warburton.
Auditing Committee : F. T. Warburton, C. A. Clark.
In Memoriam.
Mr. James Pott. Died February 8th, 1905. Became member
of the Board 1858. Elected Treasurer 1862, filling that office
till the day of his death.
Mr. Frank Drisler. Died July igth, 1905. Nominated to the
Society by Dean Van Amringe, and made member of the Board
at the annual meeting of 1902.
The Treasurer stated the receipts as $21,641.46, including a
legacy from Marcia Sherrell, and the expenditures as $18,532.99,
leaving on hand a balance of $3,108.47.
At the annual meeting held on October n, 1905, Mr. Nash
spoke of the approaching Centennial of the Society in 1909 and
892 Centennial History. [1906
asked that the Ch&r appoint a Committee of three to consider
the propriety of preparing a volume to contain a history of the
Society to be worthy of the occasion and mark its first centennial.
The Chair appointed : Dean Van Amringe, Mr. Sill and the
Secretary.
On motion the Secretary was requested to write the family of
the late Mr. Frank Drisler of the Board and express their sym-
pathy.
The, Managers state this important change in the organization
of the Society :
The office of the Treasurer and Agent, held by the late Mr.
James Pott for so many years, has been separated. Mr. John
McLean Nash, a member of the Board, has been elected the
Treasurer and Mr. R. M. Pott becomes the Agent.
It is the Agent's duty to attend to the business affairs of the
Society, to receive and fill all applications for grants as the finan-
cial condition of the Society may warrant. It is also his duty to
solicit funds for the general work of this Society by appeal or
otherwise.
The Secretary, Mr. E. S. Gorham, is also authorized by the
Board to receive requests for grants and pass them to the Agent
for attention.
At the meeting held on January 9, 1906, the Committee ap-
pointed by the Annual Meeting to report to the Board on a suit-
able publication on the history of The New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society to be prepared and issued in recogni-
tion of the first Centennial of the Society occurring in 1909, pre-
sented a preliminary report which was read by the Rev. Mr. Sill.
It showed an extensive consideration of the matter, and was re-
ceived with considerable interest. The Committee, which con-
sisted of the Rev. T. H. Sill, Dean Van Amringe, and Mr. Gor-
ham, stated that this was not its final report and asked to be
continued.
At a meeting held on May 9, 1906, Mr. Warburton, Secretary
of the Business Committee read the minutes of the meeting of
this Committee on the Centennial of the Society, 1909.
Dean Van Amringe spoke of the Report which the Committee
had made, at a previous meeting of the Board, and moved that
the Treasurer be authorized to expend a sum not to exceed Two
1906] Ninety -Seventh Report. 893
Thousand ($2,000) Dollars, for the preparation and publishing
of a volume giving the history of the Society during the first Cen-
tury of its work.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Hobart, and adopted.
Mr. Henry L. Hobart offered the following motion, That we
extend our heart- felt sympathy to our Churches in San Francisco
for the great loss and destruction which has overwhelmed them,
and that we instruct our Secretary, Mr. Gorham, to offer through
Bishop Nichols, whatever Prayer Books and Hymnals may be
needed at the present time.
On motion moved and carried.
At the request of the Committee on the History of the Society
the Rev. Dr. Lowndes undertook to write the History and have
it ready for publication in 1909, the Centennial year of the exist-
ence of the Society.
NINETY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1906.
The Ninety- Seventh Annual Report of this venerable Society
calls for the usual survey of work done during the past year, that
our friends and Churchmen at large may know our endeavour to
keep pace with the demands made upon our resources for the
prudent distribution of Bibles, the Book of Common Prayer and
the Hymnal for the services of the Church.
In this age of marvellous growth in population and of Church
expansion, an age which might well be characterized as "the age
of the open door," it should not be difficult for even a younger
generation of communicants to realize the claims of this Society
upon their generous support.
The earthquake in California at Eastertide wrecked many of
our churches. When services were resumed the Bishop and others
drew heavily upon our resources. The appeal of our brethren
was granted at once, and the Board at its meeting authorized the
Secretary to notify the Bishop of California that the Society was
prepared to supply all the books without delay required for any
portion of his Diocese.
The Bishop of Alaska has had large grants in response to the
appeals of himself and Archdeacons.
The Spanish Prayer Book has proved most acceptable and a
great help to the Church in the Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico.
894 Agent's Report. [1906
During the past year we have made grants which in the aggre-
gate nearly reach a distribution of seventy thousand books. Every
foreign field China, Japan, Africa has sought our assistance,
and not in vain.
At the Annual Meeting of October 10, 1906, the Agent then
presented his report, as follows :
During the past year, from October i, 1905, to October i,
1906, the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
has donated 69,274 volumes, in response to 823 applications;
5,402 Bibles, 32,107 Prayer Books, 30,623 Hymnals, 1,142 Tes-
taments.
No applicant who has a legitimate claim on the Society was re-
fused assistance, but in a few cases, owing to the lack of funds,
the number of books asked for had to be somewhat reduced.
The printing and distributing of 3,000 leaflets containing the
Catechism and Confirmation Service in Spanish was greatly ap-
preciated by the Bishops in Manila, Porto Rico and Cuba.
Many requests and kind letters have been received from the
Clergy in California in response to the offer to supply books made
by the Society. Three thousand volumes have been sent to this
district since the earthquake.
We have also donated 1,000 volumes to Missionaries in Alaska.
I regret that while I have received many promises of contribu-
tions from the recipients of donations, the response to the annual
appeal from the larger parishes has not been very satisfactory.
The income of the Society from this source is some $400 less
than last year. It seems advisable to me, however, to make the
usual appeal again this year, hoping for better results, so that the
activities and usefulness of the Society may be extended.
October 10, 1906. R. M. POTT, Agent.
Which was also accepted and ordered published in the Annual
Report. Legacies from C. A. De Mille and Mrs. F. L. Bours
were reported. It then being in order the meeting proceeded
with the annual election.
The Secretary presented for the Board the following nomina-
tions, class 1906 for new term of office :
Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., Rev. H. M. Denslow, Dean
Van Amringe, Mr. H. J. Cammann.
1907] Ninety-Eighth Report. 895
To fill vacancies : Rev. G. A. Strong, Rector of Christ Church ;
Rev. A. L. Clark.
On motion the ballot was dispensed with and the Secretary
declared these gentlemen duly elected.
And at the same meeting Dean Van Amringe for the Board
reported the preparation of a history of the Society during the
first one hundred years of its work, as in actual preparation for
publication in 1909, the Centennial of the Society.
Mr. Nash having duly given notice at the previous meeting of
proposed change in the By-laws, Article I. That Article was
changed to read as follows :
This Society shall be composed of the Bishop of the Diocese,
life managers or patrons and of such persons as shall have been
elected members by the Board of Managers, and of life members,
life managers and patrons of the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society, established in 1809, and the auxiliary New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, incorporated in
1817.
At a meeting held on May 15, 1907, the business committee re-
ported having several matters under consideration on which they
had deferred action, among them being the applications as pre-
sented from the Bishop of Japan and the Bishop of Porto Rico;
also the request for 1,000 copies of services for Evening Prayer
in the Swedish language for missionary work among the Swedes
in this country. They felt that the latter request could be acceded
to at once as the Society had hitherto provided several editions of
the book for that purpose.
NINETY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1907.
These pages will at once show the great and varied character of
the work of this venerable Society in the extension and activities
of the Church in America and its Missions abroad during the
past year. There is not a day in the business year that applica-
tions are not received, either by letter or verbally.
In every part of the field our Bishops and Missionaries know
that this Society is at their command to equip new or old work,
with the Holy Scriptures and the Book of Common Prayer for
use in the services and to spread among individuals who may be
unwilling strangers to the Bible and to the Church.
896 Agent's Report. [1907
We suffer by not being before the public as something new ;
but our work does not deal with new methods, but with the old
and well-tried work of the Church and the Clergy in the spread
of the Holy Scriptures and the Book of Common Prayer. We
would, therefore, urge upon every Communicant of the Church
the need of continued and generous support.
The income from investments on gifts and legacies of the past
cannot do the work adequately. The offerings of the present
must be increased as the demands upon our resources grow, and
they do grow.
We ask for offerings.
We ask that we may be remembered in bequests.
We ask that all make it a part of their Church work to ad-
vance the cause of this work by their personal support and by
extending a knowledge of this Society to others.
Finally, we ask the Bishops, and especially the Rectors of our
larger Parishes, to bring this report and appeal to their people as
the most pressing work of the Church at this period of its his-
tory.
October, A. D., 1907.
This Appeal takes the place of the Annual Report and puts
plainly the facts which call for the continued exertions of the
Church to keep pace with the demand for the Book of Common
Prayer.
The Treasurer reported that $20,573.51 had been received
from all sources and that after payment of all expenses there was
on hand a balance of $3,668.39.
In the Agent's Report are embodied facts which previously had
been noted in the report of the Board of Managers.
Agent's Annual Report :
To the Board of Managers of the New York Bible and Com-
mon Prayer Book Society.
Gentlemen: As the Agent of your Society I submit the fol-
lowing report for the year 1906-1907 :
From October i, 1906 to October 1907, I have received and
filled 659 applications for Bibles, Prayer Books, Hymnals and
Testaments. In all cases, as far as the income of the Society
would allow I have granted the full number of books desired.
No worthy applicant has had his request entirely refused this
1907] Agent's Report. 897
year. The books donated have been 4,604 Bibles, 36,211 Prayer
Books, 31,188 Hymnals, 1,525 Testaments, a total of 73,528 vol-
umes as compared with 69,293 volumes donated last year.
The work of distributing books has, as usual, extended to
many parts of the world. Only recently a donation of 600
Prayer Books was sent to the Panama district, a new field for
us. and undoubtedly a most important one. Another donation of
more than passing interest was a grant of some 150 Testaments
to the Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, the preacher of Wall Street, for dis-
tribution in his work.
The following matters which were brought to your Agent's
attention were referred to the Business Committee for advice
and instructions :
The Spanish Service Book or Hymnal for Bishop Van Buren.
Provided by an individual.
The reprinting of the Japanese Prayer Book for Bishop Part-
ridge.
The reprinting of the Spanish Prayer Leaflet.
The advisability of making an Indian Service Book for the
Yukon River Indians.
The advisability of making at this time a set of plates of the
Prayer Book in French.
The demand for Prayer Books in foreign languages last year
was, 200 German Prayer Books. 500 Spanish Prayer Books, 150
French Prayer Books.
The annual appeal was sent out as usual at Whitsuntide. The
result, while not being all that could be desired, at least shows a
slight gain over last year. We are still unable, however, to get
the more prosperous parishes to take much, if any, interest on
our behalf. Our receipts from churches and donations this year
amounted to $1,418.78; for last year $1,294.29.
October 9, 1907. R. M. POTT, Agent.
The Society makes this announcement :
In addition to the usual Standard Editions of the Book of
Common Prayer the Society has published the following :
The Prayer Book in the German Language.
The Prayer Book in the Spanish Language.
The Prayer Book in the North American Indian Language.
(Dakota.)
(57)
898 Annual Meeting. [1907
The Prayer Book. Dialect of the Yukon River Indians. (In
preparation. )
The Psalter for the Blind in N. Y. Points.
Also contributions in cash toward the cost of the New Testa-
ment in Japanese, and the Prayer Book in Portuguese, and for a
special edition of 5,000 copies of Book of Common Prayer in
Japanese for Kyoto, Japan.
At the Annual Meeting, held in October, 1907, these officers
were elected and these Committees chosen :
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Elected.
1873. Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., D.C.L., First Vice President.
1894. Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., Second Vice President.
1888. Rev. Thomas Henry Sill, Third Vice President.
1858. A. L. Clarkson, First Lay Vice President.
1877. Henry J. Cammann, Second Lay Vice President.
1899. J. H. Van Amringe, LL.D., Third Lay Vice President.
1877. Edwin S. Gorham, Secretary.
I 95- J- McL. Nash, Treasurer.
1905. Richard M. Pott, Agent.
Board of Managers: 1901, Rev. Henry M. Barbour; 1905,
Rev. H. M. Denslow; 1900, Rev. Arthur Judge; 1900, Rev.
Henry Lubeck, LL.D.; 1906, Rev. George A. Strong; 1901, Rev.
John T. Patey, Ph.D.; 1904, F. S. Bangs; 1905, C. A. Clark;
1906, Appleton L. Clark; 1904, William E. Curtis; 1905, Henry
L. Hobart; 1904, Frank T. Warburton.
The Board According to Classes.
1908 Rev. Henry Lubeck, LL.D., Rev. A. H. Judge, Rev. J.
T. Patey, Ph.D., A. L. Clarkson, F. T. Warburton, F. S. Bangs.
1909 Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., Rev. G. A. Strong,
Rev. H. M. Denslow, J. H. Van Amringe, LL.D., Henry J. Cam-
mann, Appleton L. Clark.
1910 Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., Rev. Thomas H. Sill, Rev.
H. M. Barbour, C. A. Clark, Henry L. Hobart, William E.
Curtis.
Special Committees.
Committee on Versions of the Bible and Book of Common
1908] Death of Dr. Dix. 899
Prayer: J. H. Van Amringe, LL.D., Rev. H. M. Denslow,
Prof. G. T. S.
Business Committee : H. J. Cammann, J. McL. Nash, F. T.
Warburton, F. S. Bangs, C. A. Clarke.
Auditing Committee : F. T. Warburton, C. A. Clarke.
Committee on Centennial of the Society, 1909 : J. H. Van
Amringe, LL.D., Rev. Thomas H. Sill, E. S. Gorham.
Committee on Annual Report : J. McL. Nash, E. S. Gorham,
R. M. Pott.
At the meeting of October 9, 1907, the Agent requested in-
struction in the matter of plates in the French Prayer Book, as
the edition was not correct and obsolete, and another edition was
now provided for and published by Thomas Nelson & Sons. The
plates were ordered to be destroyed.
On January 8, 1908, the Agent made his report for the last
quarter, showing donations of 1,790 Bibles, 12,632 Prayer Books,
10,489 Hymnals, and 541 copies of the New Testament. The
Agent further reported a letter from Bishop Rowe, also one from
the Rt. Rev. Mackay Smith, asking for a large number of Prayer
Books and Hymnals for use and distribution to the North Ger-
man and Bremen steamship lines coming to this country. The
application did not approve itself to the Treasurer, and on mo-
tion, moved and seconded, the application of the Rt. Rev. Mackay
Smith was declined.
At the meeting of May 13, 1908, a copy of the Indian Service
Book made at the request of the Bishop of Alaska was shown by
the Agent, and on examination there was indicated differences in
the Lord's Prayer as printed in the book. On motion moved and
carried, the Agent was requested to write to Rev. J. L. Prevost,
who had read the proof, and ask for explanation of these differ-
ences. The Collect for Easter Day was left out.
Dean Van Amringe for Committee on Centenary History re-
ported the Manuscript of the History complete and in the hands
of the Secretary, who is to go over the whole work in the sum-
mer very carefully and report to the Committee at the Autumn
Meeting.
The motion of Dean Van Amringe on the death of the Rev.
Morgan Dix, D.D., First Vice President, was moved and car-
ried that the Chair and Mr. Gorham prepare a Memorial Minute,
same to be sent to Mrs. Dix and to the Vestry of Trinity Church.
900 Ninety-Ninth Report. [1908
On October 14, 1908, the Agent, Mr. R. M. Pott, made his
annual report as showing the distribution of the following vol-
umes: Bibles, 4,945; Prayer Books, 36,488; Testaments, 1,209;
Hymnals. 32,477.
The Treasurer received a legacy from Mrs. Charles H. Smith.
The Secretary reported having sent the resolution on the death
of the Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D., and the acknowledgment of Mr.
John A. Dix.
The Committee on the Centennial of 1909 reported progress
and were given power to enlarge their committee if necessary.
NiNETY-NlNTH ANNUAL REPORT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING
OCTOBER IST, 1908.
The Report for the year ending October i, 1908, was issued
in January, 1909, and is entitled "The Centennial Year." It is
prefaced by these statements :
This venerable Society is now to hold its One Hundredth An-
niversary. We look with pride and thankfulness on the years
that have gone, and bespeak of all a deep interest in the work we
are expected to do. With the dawn of a new century the demands
are greater, and the outlook is far reaching. We ask the support
of all communicants in the extension of the Church in the United
States of America, and its colonies.
A Request.
Inasmuch as every Diocese has benefited in the past from dona-
tions from this Society, and parishes which are now strong and
wealthy were assisted liberally in their early days of struggle and
privation, the Society is most anxious that this year, on its one
hundredth anniversary, the event be noted by the rectors of all
parishes in the American Church, including those in charge of
all missions, by observing Whitsunday for a collection for this
purpose as in the past. It may be too much to ask for the return
of the custom of reserving an offertory on each Whitsunday, but
we ask especially that it be done this year. To this end the So-
ciety will send you information and facts in due season that you
may inform congregations and ask at the beginning of another
one hundred years of work in the distribution of the Word of
God and the Book of Common Prayer for their offerings as a
special thank-offering for the work of the Society.
1908] Ninety-Ninth Report. 901
After which is printed the Collect for the Society composed by
Bishop Onderdonk and which has already been printed on page
432 of this History.
Then follow the Board of Officers and Managers, A. D. 1908-
1909.
Officers.
The Bishop of the Diocese, President, ex officio.
Elected.
1894. Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., First Vice President
1888. Rev. Thomas Henry Sill, Second Vice President.
1900. Rev. Arthur H. Judge, Third Vice President.
1858. A. L. Clarkson, First Lay Vice President.
1877. Henry J. Cammann, Second Lay Vice President.
1899. J. H. Van Amringe, LL.D., Third Lay Vice President.
1877. Edwin S. Gorham, Secretary.
1882. J. McL. Nash, Treasurer.
1905. Richard M. Pott, Agent.
Board of Managers.
Elected.
1901. Rev. Henry M. Barbour.
1905. Rev. H. M. Denslow, D.D.
1900. Rev. Henry Lubeck, LL.D.
1908. Rev. W. T. Manning, D.D.
1906. Rev. G. A. Strong.
1901. Rev. John T. Patey, Ph.D.
1904. F. S. Bangs.
1905. C. A. Clark.
1906. Appleton L. Clark.
1904. William E. Curtis.
1905. Henry L. Hobart.
1894. Frank T. Warburton.
The Board According to Classes.
I9 09:_Rev. William H. Vibbert, D.D., Rev. G. A. Strong,
Rev. H. M. Denslow, D.D., J. H. Van Amringe, LL.D., Henry
J. Cammann, Appleton L. Clark.
1910: Rev. W. T. Manning, D.D., Rev. Thomas H. Sill,
Rev. H. M. Barbour, C. A. Clark, Henry L. Hobart, William E.
Curtis.
902 Ninety-Ninth Report. [1908
1911 : Rev. Henry Lubeck, LL.D., Rev. A. H. Judge, Rev. J.
T. Patey, Ph.D., A. L. Clarkson, F. T. Warburton, F. S. Bangs.
Special Committees.
Committee on Versions of the Bible and Book of Common
Prayer:J. H. Van Amringe, Ph.D., LL.D., Rev. H. M. Dens-
low, D.D.
Business Committee: H. J. Cammann, J. McL. Nash, F. T.
Warburton, F. S. Bangs, C. A. Clark.
Auditing Committee : F. T. Warburton, C. A. Clark.
Committee on Centennial of the Society, 1909: J. H. Van
Amringe, Ph.D., LL.D., Rev. Thomas H. Sill, E. S. Gorham.
Committee on Annual Report : J. McL. Nash, E. S. Gorham,
R. M. Pott.
Then follow portraits of Bishop Henry Codman Potter and
the Rev. Morgan Dix with these tributes to their memory :
IN MEMORIAM.
Rt. Rev. Henry C. Potter, D.D.., Bishop of New York.
This Society desires to place on record its appreciation of the
unfailing courtesy and consideration shown to it by the late
Bishop of New York, the Rt. Rev. H. C. Potter, D.D., D.C.L.,
during the whole of his episcopate and to express their sense of
the loss which not only the Church, but the whole of the Com-
munity, has experienced by the death of this eminent prelate.
Liberal, courteous, sagacious, and devoted to the many inter-
ests of the Church, he ever endeavoured so to represent its mani-
fold activities that it should be as "a city set on a hill," respected
by all within its borders.
Resolved, therefore, that this sincere expression of our feeling
be spread on the minutes, be sent to his widow with our most re-
spectful condolences, and also published in the Church papers.
Minute passed by the Board at the annual meeting of the New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, October 13, 1908.
IN MEMORIAM.
Morgan Dix, D.D.
By the death, on April 29th, of the Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D.,
D.C.L., the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society
1908] Agent's Report. 903
has lost its First Vice President. Elected as a member of the
Board in 1873, Dr. Dix never failed to show his appreciation of
the work of the Society. His counsels were always on the side
of loyal adherence to its best traditions, and it may be safely said
of him that in his life and teachings he exemplified, what the So-
ciety has ever stood for since its foundation through the efforts
of a former Rector of Trinity Parish, the union in the Christian
life of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. These two
books were the charts by which he guided his long life, both in
his official and personal relations, and to their teachings he was
ever loyal and true.
While we mourn his loss we thank our Heavenly Father for
the bright example of his faith and daily life.
After which comes the
AGENT'S ANNUAL REPORT.
The annual reports of your Agent must of necessity closely
resemble each other, inasmuch as they are mainly a statement of
the number of books donated during the year; and yet it seems
to me that this yearly presentation of the great work our Society
is accomplishing is of genuine importance and will in time bear
more abundant fruit. The constantly increasing demand for
Bibles, Prayer Books and Hymnals must in some way be met,
and it is our hope that the many friends of the Society will
eventually heed our appeal and enable us to proportion our activ-
ity to the growing needs of a growing Church.
From October i, 1907, to October I, 1908, I have received
from all sections of the country applications which required the
distribution of 4,945 Bibles, 36,488 Prayer Books, 32,477
Hymnals and 1,209 Testaments, 75,119 volumes in all, as com-
pared with 73,528 last year.
The Society has also, as you know, during the past year made,
at the request of Bishop Rowe, a Service Book in the Indian Dia-
lect for the Yukon River Indians. For years our Missionaries in
this field have had but a few manuscript copies of this Service
Book and were accordingly greatly hampered in their work.
It is with regret that I call attention to the meagre response
made to our last appeal. Only $1,363.18 was received from
Churches and individuals, and were it not for the income from
904
Agent's Report.
[1908
our investments the work of the Society would have been greatly
curtailed. Surely it is not too much to ask, as we start on our
one hundredth year of activity, that our parishes, as far as pos-
sible, will set apart an annual collection for our work, so that the
free distributoin of books may be continued, notwithstanding- the
increasing demands made upon us.
October i, 1908. R. M. POTT, Agent.
BOOKS DONATED.
October i, 1907, to October I, 1908.
Bibles. Prayer Books. Testaments. Hymnals.
October 552 3,681 97 3,300
November 575 4,348 15 3,952
December 663 4,603 429 3,237
January 771 2,325 85 2,324
February 521 2,505 116 2,341
March 359 2,562 39 2,760
April 122 3,145 5 2,645
May 277 2,605 54 2,499
June 232 2,451 169 2,336
July 217 2,717 2,457
August 299 2,419 25 2,231
September 357 3,127 175 2,395
4,945 36,488 1,209 32,477
GRANTS MADE DURING 1908.
Bibles. Prayer Books. Testaments. Hymnals.
Alabama 75 857 . . . 770
Alaska 100 325 . . . 325
Arizona 7 150 ... 100
Arkansas 151 600 . . . 600
California TOO 1,492 50 1,000
Colorado 50 925 . . . 925
Connecticut 45 686 ... 591
North Dakota ... 206 . . . 200
South Dakota i 820 . . . 620
Delaware 52 100 . . . 100
District of Columbia. 75 275 25 175
1908] Agent's Report. 905
Florida
231
694
Georgia
96
560
Idaho
31
426
Illinois
50
666
Indiana
31
375
Indian Territory. . . .
86
302
Iowa
12
275
Kansas
J 57
891
Kentucky
75
421
Louisiana
55
379
Maine
100
402
Maryland
142
744
Massachusetts
40
75
Michigan
1 02
461
Minnesota
63
735
Mississippi
260
Missouri
15
585
Montana
13
427
Nebraska
150
750
Nevada
IOO
New Hampshire. . . .
25
150
New Jersey
241
1,073
New Mexico
67
275
New York
1,050
6,465
North Carolina
130
1,112
Ohio
r 5 2
1,270
Oklahoma
1 08
650
Oregon
75
950
Pennsylvania
49
632
Rhode Island
. . .
153
South Carolina
60
215
Tennessee
116
677
Texas
212
839
Utah
50
250
Vermont
51
2 3 8
Virginia
263
i,547
West Virginia
26
452
Washington
6 9
512
Wisconsin
158
656
685
425
536
400
6 302
210
4 900
302
368
402
9 742
30 12
410
75 629
260
6 585
422
675
100
35
1,093
275
496 6,576
338 1,260
995
5 450
950
601
... 121
125
10 600
789
250
25 138
50 1,535
427
512
21 706
Liberia
48
627
Hawaii
W ^O
en
Cuba
i
J^
Porto Rico
7Q
CQ
Panama
62
1.4.62
y06 Report from Centennial Committee. [1909
398
6
50
50 950
The Treasurer reported the receipt for the endowment fund
of $5,028.40 on account of legacy from estate of Henry P. Mar-
tin.
On January 8, 1909, the report from the Centennial Committee
was presented, showing that the History of the Society was well
through the Press, and that the arrangements for the Centennial
Service were progressing carefully, and the date having been
arranged for at Trinity Church, April I4th, at eight p. M., which
is one hundred years to the day when the first meeting was held
in the same church, though not the same building.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CONTENTS.
Preparations Made for the Centennial Service Consent Given by the
Rector of Trinity Church for Holding the Service in that Church Special
Music under Direction of Victor Baier Bishop of New York Unable to
be Present The Word of Greeting to be Said by the Bishop of Connecti-
cut Reasons for Asking him Historical Address to be Given by Rev.
Dr. Lowndes Bishops Appoint Delegates to Represent their Dioceses at
this Solemn Act of Thanksgiving The Bishop of London Appoints the
Rt. Rev. Dr. Courtney to Represent him The S. P. G. and the S. P. C. K.
Appoint Rectors of Perth Amboy and Jamaica to Represent them Dis-
tinguished Persons Asked to Attend Sympathetic Message from Arch-
bishop Platon Letters from Bishop Raphael The Governor of New
York The Russian Consul General Action of the Bishops of New York,
Long Island, New Jersey and Newark Special Order of Service Drawn
itp by Dr. Lowndes Full List of Delegates From Dioceses in the Foreign
Mission Field In United States Possessions In United States Semina-
ries Universities Colleges Institutions Army and Navy Extracts
from "The Churchman" "The Living Church" "The Southern Church-
man."
CAREFUL preparation was made in every way to insure
the success of the Centennial Service. It was decided,
as we have seen, to hold the Service in Trinity Church,
for the historic reason that the first meeting of the
Board of Managers had been held in that church a hundred years
before on April I4th, 1909. The Rector of Trinity Church, the
Rev. Dr. Manning, very cordially gave his consent for the use
of the church, and the organist, Victor Baier, Esq., took especial
pains in training the choir for the music for the occasion. Owing
to previous engagements, the Bistiop of New York was unable to
be present and give the Word of Greeting; consequently the
Bishop of Connecticut was asked to address the assembled con-
gregation. He was asked to do this for the double reason that
in his Diocese was founded in 1808 the first organization for the
distribution of the Prayer Book in the American Church, and
that Connecticut is the Mother See of America. The Rev. Dr.
Lowndes was asked to give the Historical Address owing to his
907
908 The Centennial Service. [1909
intimate knowledge of the early history of the Church. Every
Bishop of the American Church, whether in the Home Field
or the Missionary one, was asked to appoint a Delegate to rep-
resent his Diocese or Jurisdiction at this Service as an official
act of thanksgiving on their part for the benefits derived from
this Society during the past hundred years. The Bishop of Lon-
don, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and the So-
ciety for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge were also asked
to appoint Delegates. The Bishop of London appointed the Rt.
Rev. Dr. Frederick Courtney, who had been some time Bishop
of Nova Scotia; and the two venerable Societies appointed the
Rectors of Perth Amboy and Jamaica as being Rectors of two of
our oldest Parishes to represent them respectively.
His Grace Archbishop Platon, of the Russian Orthodox
Church was also asked to attend. He showed his sympathy and
good-will by the following letter :
ORTHODOX ST. NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL.
March 23, 1909.
Dear and Reverend Doctor :
Your very kind invitation was received by His Grace the Arch-
bishop with deepest gratitude to you, to the Rev. Rector of
Trinity Church and to the Society. It would be the Archbishop's
earnest wish to be present at this solemn and sympathetic Service
and to witness the feelings of mutual friendship of both Churches.
However, His Grace asks me to tell you at once, preventing
all possible interference with previous arrangements, that as April
1 4th happens to fall in Easter Week it might happen that some
unexpected and overwhelming duties would call His Grace out
of the city and deprive him of the great honour to be present at
your festivities. In that case may he hope to be excused? If
yes, please accept his sincere willingness to spend that night in
prayer with you, and his best wishes to your Church and to your
Society for many and many years of prosperity, evangelistic
work and progress to the benefit of Christendom.
Shall I add to these my personal greetings and love? I am
sure you believe them to be as firm and sincere as always.
With profound regards, I am,
Yours faithfully,
fr 1 A. HOTOVITZKY.
The Rev. Dr. Lowndes.
1909] The Centennial Service. 909
As he feared, the Archbishop was, to his regret, unable to be
present, but was represented by the Rev. Fathers Hotovitzky and
Turkevich.
Dr. Lowndes also sent an invitation on behalf of the Society
to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Raphael, the Head of the Syrian Greek-
Orthodox Mission in North America, who courteously replied as
follows :
Brooklyn, N. Y., March 24th, 1909.
To the Rev. Arthur Lowndes, D.D.
Rev. and dear Brother :
Your kind invitation to be present in the Chancel of Trinity
Church with my Chaplains on the occasion of the 100 years cel-
ebration of the Bible and Prayer Book Society has been received.
I beg to thank you and the Rector of Trinity Parish for the
courtesy, and will, God willing, be present with my Chaplains on
that happy occasion.
Assuring you of my special regards for yourself,
I remain, yours in the love of Christ,
RAPHAEL,
Bishop of Brooklyn, etc., etc.
Invitations were also sent by the Society to the President of
the United States, the Chief Justice, the Governor of New York,
the Mayor of the City of New York, the British Ambassador, and
the British, Greek and Russian Consuls of the City of New York,
all of whom sent polite letters of regret through their secretaries,
except the Governor of New York and the Russian Consul Gen-
eral, who thus replied :
STATE OF NEW YORK. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
Albany, April 10, 1909.
Mr. Edwin S. Gorham,
Secretary New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society,
Fourth Ave. & 22nd St., New York City.
My dear Mr. Gorham :
I have received your letter of the 8th instant and thank you
for the invitation to attend the Centennial Service of the New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society to be held at
Trinity Church on April I4th. I regret that my engagements
make it impossible for me to meet with you.
910 The Centennial Service. [1909
Appreciating the significance of the important event which
you celebrate, and with best wishes for the continued prosperity
of your Society, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
CHARLES E. HUGHES.
IMPERIAL RUSSIAN CONSULATE GENERAL.
NEW YORK.
Rev. Dr. Arthur Lowndes,
New York.
Most esteemed Sir:
The interest which my predecessor in office Consul General
Lodygensky displayed in all his relations to the Episcopal Church
has certainly been inherited by me and I thank you very much for
sending me tickets for the Centennial Service in Trinity Church,
New York, to which I had the greatest desire to attend.
Unfortunately a cold contracted a fortnight ago which culmi-
nated in an attack of erysipelas prevented me to leave the house.
Until the last moment I had hopes that I would be able to at-
tend your solemn service, which accounts for the late acknowl-
edgment of your kind letter, as I expected to see you personally
to-night and explain the delay. My attending physician would
not listen to my desire and I had only to obey orders, apologizing
to you for my absence.
Hoping in the near future to make your personal acquaintance,
which will be a great pleasure and privilege to me, I beg to be-
lieve me yours
Most respectfully,
BARON SCHLIPPENBACH,
Consul General.
New York, April the I4th, 1909.
The Bishops of New York, Long Island, New Jersey, Newark
and Connecticut sent official notifications to all their Clergy ask-
ing them to call the attention of their congregations to the ap-
proaching service, pointing out the benefits which their Dioceses
had received from the Society during its existence.
A special Order of Service was drawn up by Dr. Lowndes and
authorized for use by the Bishop of New York. This Service
will be found printed in full on page 957.
1909] The Centennial Service. 911
Invitations were also extended to the Army, the Navy, Educa-
tional and Historical Institutions and kindred Societies.
The following is a list of the Reverend Delegates appointed by
their respective Bishops, all of whom, with only two or three ex-
ception, were present at the Service.
The Dioceses are arranged in order of their foundation.
LIST OF DELEGATES.
Foreign Missions.
Mexico, 1904 A. Hamilton Bachus.
Cuba, 1901 Hiram R. Hulse.
Hankow, 1901 Cameron F. MacRae.
Brazil, 1898 T. G. Jackson, D.D.
Kyoto, 1898 A. C. Bunn.
Tokyo, 1886 C. T. Blanchet.
Shanghai, 1844 Henry Martyn Kirkby.
Haiti, 1874 Hutchins C. Bishop.
Cape Palmas, 1836 E. G. Clifton, D.D.
United States Possessions.
Honolulu, 1902 Karl Reiland.
Porto Rico, 1901 The Bishop.
Philippine Islands, 1901 F. Germain.
Panama Zone, 1907 Sydney N. Ussher.
In United States.
Atlanta, 1908 H. R. Fell.
Western Colorado, 1907 William H. Pott.
Eastern Oregon, 1907 Appleton Grannis.
Utah, 1907 Henry H. Sleeper.
Kearney, 1907 L. F. Bower.
Nevada, 1907 James A. McCleary.
Wyoming, 1907 C. A. Livingston.
Idaho, 1907 C. C. Harriman.
Duluth, 1907 Henry Phillip Lyman-Wheaton, D.D.
West Texas, 1904 O. S. Roche.
Harrisburg, 1904 James Cochrane Quinn, D.D.
Western Massachusetts, 1901 C. J. Sniffen.
Salina, 1901 Charles Carroll Edmunds, D.D.
Sacramento, 1898 Livingston Rowe Schuyler.
Michigan City, 1898 Claude N. A. Pooley.
912 The Centennial Service. [1909
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, 1895 H. Lillienthal.
Washington, 1895 John Cornell.
Dallas, 1895 Thomas Costello Johnson.
Lexington, 1895 F. A. MacMillan.
Los Angeles, 1895 C. E. Oswald.
Marquette, 1895 S. P. Simpson.
Asheville, 1895 Nathaniel A. Seagle, D.D.
Southern Virginia, 1892 John F. Steen.
Southern Florida, 1892 D wight F. Cameron.
New Mexico, 1892 R. A. Edwards.
Arizona, 1892 John Henry Logic.
Olympia, 1892 DeWitt L. Pelton.
Spokane, 1892 W. C. Shaw.
Alaska, 1892 John Chapman.
Kansas City, 1890 T. J. Mackinnon.
Oregon, 1889 John A. Wade.
Colorado, 1887 H. A. Handel.
North Dakota, 1883 Philip Cook.
East Carolina, 1883 Kirkland Huske.
Montana, 1880 J. W. Van Ingen.
Springfield, 1887 B. Schulte, D.D.
Quincy, 1877 G. S. A. Moore.
West Virginia, 1877 Gibson W. Harris.
Southern Ohio, 1875 Andrew Chalmers Wilson.
Fond dtt Lac, 1875 Percy C. Pyle.
Western Michigan, 1874 W. H. Van Antwerp, D.D.
Newark, 1874 John Keller.
South Dakota, 1873 Clarence H. Beers.
Central Pennsylvania, 1871 C. J. Palmer.
Arkansas, 1871 G. H. H. Butler.
Albany, 1868 Elmer P. Miller.
Long Island, 1868 Charles H. Snedeker.
Central New York, 1868 Edward Huntington Coley.
Easton, 1868 William Reed Huntington, D.D.
Nebraska, 1868 B. C. Chandler.
Pittsburgh, 1855 William N. Dunnell, D.D.
Kansas, 1859 John F. von Herrlich.
Minnesota, 1857 James Clarence Jones.
California, 1856 R. H. Starr, DD.
Iowa, 1853 Stuart Crockett, D.D.
1909] The Centennial Service. 913
Texas, 1849 ........................ A. B. Kinsolving, D.D.
Milwaukee, 1847 ................. Frank M. Clendenin, D.D.
Western New York, 1838 . . \ ^[ an f is J? s e P h ^'^Y, D ' D -
( Charles H. Boynton.
Indianapolis, 1838 .......................... Hobart Cooke.
Louisiana, 1838 ................... Rockland Tyng Romans.
Florida, 1838 ............... .................. J. D. Skene.
Chicago, 1835 ...................... Joseph Rushton, LL.D.
Michigan, 1832 ............................ W. S. Watson.
Alabama, 1830 .......................... Frank Page, D.D.
Kentucky, 1829 .............................. J. S. Miller.
Tennessee, 1828 ....................... J. N. Steele, Mus.D.
Mississippi, 1826 ......................... Robert S. Wood.
Georgia, 1823 ............................ J. V. Chalmers.
Maine, 1820 ........................ Henry Platt Seymour.
Ohio, 1818 ................................. Elliot White.
North Carolina .................... Isaac M. Pittenger, D.D.
New Hampshire, 1802 ....................... S. S. Mitchel.
Delaware, 1791 ................... T. Gardiner Littell, D.D.
Rhode Island, 1790 ............ Charles Henry Babcock, D.D.
Vermont, 1790 ........................ H. P. Nichols, D.D.
New Jersey, 1785 ...................... H. H. Oberly, D.D.
New York, 1785 ........ The Venerable Archdeacons of New
York. Orange, Dutchess and Richmond.
Pennsylvania, 1785 .............. James DeWolf Perry, D.D.
Virginia. 1785 ............................ John Moncure.
South Carolina, 1785 ..................... John Crary Lord.
Massachusetts, 1784 ............... Leonard Kip Storrs, D.D.
Maryland, 1783 ............................. N. P. Dame.
Connecticut, 1783 ......................... Joseph Hooper.
The General Convention, House of Deputies, was represented
by the Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Anstice ; The General Theological
Seminary by the Rev. Dr. Seabury, Professor of Ecclesiastical
Polity and Law; the Divinity School of Philadelphia, by Rev.
Dr. Lucien M. Robinson, Professor of Liturgies, Church Polity
and Canon Law; Berkeley Divinity School, by the Very Rev.
Dean Hart; St. Stephen's College, Annandale, by the Rev. Dr.
George B. Hopson; Hobart College, by the Rev. Dr. Steward-
son; Trinity College, Hartford, by the Rev. Philip Cook; Sea-
(58)
914 The Centennial Service. [1909
bury Divinity School, by the Rev. C. A. Thomas; Nashotah, by
the Rev. Dr. Samuel Upjohn; The Domestic and Foreign Mis-
sionary Society, by the Rev. Dr. Arthur S. Lloyd.
The Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, appointed as
delegate the Rev. Hugh Birckhead, and the Virginia Theological
Seminary the Rev. Dr. Stires, but both these gentlemen were, to
their regret, unable to be present.
The General Theological Seminary and Columbia University
were represented by a delegation of students in cap and gown;
the New York Historical Society by its President, Mr. Samuel
V. Hoffman ; the New York Society Library by Mr. Beverly
Chew ; the Church League of the Baptized by Miss Koues ; the
Women's Auxiliary by Miss Emery; the New York Training
School for Deaconesses by Dean Knapp and a large number of
Deaconesses ; the Order of the Holy Cross by the Rev. Fr. Ander-
son; and the delegate appointed by the Society of the Mission
Priests of St. John the Evangelist was Fr. Field; and Quarter
Master Sergeant Edward W. O'Keefe in full uniform represented
St. Cornelius' Chapel as one of the Vergers.
The Army was officially represented in the Body of the Church
by the following officers :
Colonel James N. Allison, Chief Commissary, Department of
the East.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Richard, Surgeon, Department of
the East.
Lieutenant Colonel I. W. Littell, Chief Quarter Master. De-
partment of the East.
Captain A. F. Halpin (Retired), Organist and Choir Master,
St. Cornelius' Chapel, Governor's Island.
The Navy was represented by Rear Admiral Goodrich and four
officers.
West Point Academy was represented by Chaplain Edward
Schofield Travers.
A great number of clergy besides the delegates were present in
the procession, and many were also to be seen in the body of the
church. The total number of clergy in the procession was two
hundred and twenty-two, exclusive of the Bishops and Russian
and Greek clergy.
The Order of the Procession will be found further on, page
960 of the Order of Service.
1909] The Centennial Service. 915
The Living Church and the Churchman gave accounts of the
Service. That in the Liz/ing Church was the fullest account,
containing long extracts from the Addresses given by the Bishop
of Connecticut and Dr. Lowndes, but as both these addresses are
printed in full in this History, we give only a condensed account
of the Service from these two papers.
Every diocese in the United States and its foreign possessions
and the Church's missionary field* was represented in the pro-
cession as were the General Theological Seminary, Columbia
University, the Military Academy at West Point, Hobart Col-
lege, St. Stephen's, Annandale, Trinity School and other theo-
logical seminaries. Fifteen officers in uniform attested the in-
terest of the army; Rear- Admiral Goodrich and four of his
officers that of the navy. The number of vested clergy was over
200. The S. P. G. and the S. P. C. K. had designated as their
representatives the rectors of Perth Amboy and Jamaica. These
acted as chaplains to Bishop Courtney, who officially repre-
sented the see of London. In the procession and afterward
within the sanctury rail were Bishop Raphael with his chaplains
and a page, the Rev. Father Hotovitzky and the Rev. Father
Turkevich. Thus the Russian and Greek Churches were repre-
sented. The music by the full choir of Trinity was of excep-
tional grandeur and stateliness. It was choral Evensong with
Handel's anthem, "Their Sound is Gone Out," and the solemn
Te Deum by Stanford as it had been sung at the coronation of
Edward VII.
Condensed from The Churchman of April 24th.
Notwithstanding the storm the great church was filled with
people long before the appointed hour, and hundreds stood
throughout the service for nearly three hours. Every seat in
the stationary and portable pews in the three aisles was occupied.
The main body of the clergy, seminarians, and officers of the
society filled the pews in the middle section of the church. All
the sextons of the parish, including a private of the Thirteenth
Infantry, U. S. A., in full dress uniform, with many service
stripes, from St. Cornelius' Chapel, Governor's Island, were
present, carrying staves and heading divisions of the great pro-
cession. The vicar of Trinity Church, sang the service; Bishop
Parker of New Hampshire read the first lesson, and Bishop
Courtney the second.
916 The Centennial Service. [1909
A hymn and prayer for founders and benefactors from the
Queen Elizabeth Service Book of 1560 followed. The hymn
"O God, Our Help in Ages Past/' was sung with fine effect to
"St. Ann's" Tune before the Bidding Prayer. Then followed a
notable sermon by Dr. Lowndes.
The Board of Managers, headed by the sexton of Trinity
Church, went in procession to the sanctuary rail and remained
there during the singing of the superb setting of the Te Deum
in B flat composed by Stanford. Concluding prayers sung by
the Rev. Dr. Manning, and the giving of the benediction by the
Bishop of Connecticut brought the grand service to an end.
The recessional hymn was, "O Worship the King, All Glorious
Above."
One who has attended all the great festival services in old
Trinity in the last quarter century unqualifiedly pronounced this
to have been the grandest and most stately of them.
Condensed from the Living Church of April 24th.
The Southern Churchman gave the fullest account of the Ser-
vice itself.
CENTENNIAL OF THE NEW YORK BIBLE AND COMMON PRAYER
BOOK SOCIETY.
One of the most interesting events of the past week and indeed
of the year was the Centennial Service of the New York Bible
and Common Prayer Book Society. It was held on April 14, in
old Trinity Church, Broadway and Wall street, New York City.
The sacred place never presented an appearance more beautiful
and suggestive of higher thoughts. The splendid architectural
effects were emphasized by the bright lights and floral decora-
tions.
The service was uplifting and strengthening, the music being
of that high order which has made Trinity famous in Church
annals, and the spirit of deep devotion in the vast throng made
itself felt during the entire service. Notwithstanding the con-
tinual downpour of rain, the attendance was one of the largest
ever known, even in this church, where large congregations are
the rule. Over twenty-nine hundred people were present. The
procession was very long. Beginning at the sacristry door it
reached to the chancel, going the entire length of the nave and
up the middle aisle. There were representatives from all the dio-
1909] The Centennial Service. 917
ceses and missionary jurisdictions, both foreign and domestic,
those representing the twelve original dioceses being accorded
places in the chancel.
The students from the General Theological Seminary and Co-
lumbia University were among the first. With them were repre-
sentatives from Trinity School, New York, Columbia University,
Military Academy of West Point, Hobart, Trinity Theological
School, Hartford, Conn., Virginia Theological Seminary, Gen-
eral Theological Seminary. Philadelphia Divinity School, Cam-
bridge Episcopal School, Berkeley Divinity School, Annandale,
Nashotah, and Seabnry Divinity Schools. All these were repre-
sented by some one in the procession. In the pews there were
laymen representing the New York Historical Society and the
New York Society Library. There were fifteen officers in uni-
form to represent the Army, and Rear-Admiral Goodrich and
four of his officers to represent the Navy. There was a delega-
tion of about twenty deaconesses. The total number of vested
clergy were over two hundred, in the nave of the church, and
twenty-two in the chancel. Every Diocese in the United States,
its foreign possessions and missionary fields were represented.
There were only four Bishops present, owing to the prear-
ranged Easter-tide appointments. They were, the Bishop of
Porto Rico, the Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire, who read
the first Lesson; Bishop Courtney, who read the second Lesson,
and who was there as officially representing the See of London;
the Bishop of Connecticut, who gave the word of greeting and
pronounced the Benediction. The rectors of Perth Amboy and
Jamaica, representing the S. P. G. and the S. P. C. K., acted as
Chaplains to Bishop Courtney, who had as an additional Chap-
lain, an English clergyman, who is a Chaplain to the present
Bishop of London. The vicar sung the service, the rector read
the closing collects at the altar, and the Rev. Dr. Lowndes gave
the address. In the procession and within the sanctuary rail was
Bishop Rafael and his chaplains and page, the Rev. Father Hoto-
vitzky and the Rev. Father Turkevich, representing His Grace
Archbishop Platon. The fact must be particularly emphasized,
that it was especially gracious on the part of Bishop Rafael to be
present, as he was evidently in considerable pain during the whole
of the service. He had to be carried into church on Easter Day,
and had been suffering ever since. He was dressed in cloth of
918 The Centennial Service. [1909
gold and wore his mitre, and his crozier was carried before him
by one of his chaplains.
The address by Dr. Lowndes on "The Achievements of a
Century," gave a complete history of the venerable Society in
whose honour the service was held. The great men identified
with its early history and the earnest workers whose efforts, by
the grace of God, have made it such a power for good during the
century, were gratefully dwelt upon.
Among the many accomplishments of the Society during the
century was the distribution of four millions of copies of the
Bible and Prayer Book throughout our country and even in the
most distant mission fields of the Church. Our beautiful liturgy
has been translated into many languages through the Society.
Among these are the German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portu-
guese, Japanese, and in a number of tongues of our Indian tribes.
As an agency for the propagation of the Gospel the Society
ranks with the very first in the world. In the vast assemblage
and in the heart's interest manifested, it was not difficult to imag-
ine the presence in the spirit of such men as Bishops Provoost,
Benjamin and Richard Channing, Moore and Hobart; Rev.
Messrs. Barry, Bowen, Beach, Howe, Jones, Lyell, Smith, Gen-
eral Clarkson, and Messrs Dominick, Onderdonk, Rogers, LeRoy,
Ogden, Ludlow, Harvey, Bayard, Slidell and James Pott, who
conceived the principles upon which it was founded, and who
stood by it in the trying times.
Surely the grain of mustard seed which they planted at old
Trinity Church, April 14. 1809, has become the great tree, whose
branches extend to all lands.
The night of April I4th was very stormy, there was no cessa-
tion of the rain, and yet notwithstanding the disagreeableness of
the weather a considerable crowd was waiting out in the rain
outside of the Church doors before they were opened at 7 p. m.
In a very short time every available seat was taken and before
eight o'clock a dense crowd of persons were standing up in the
rear of the church, allowing only a narrow passageway for the
procession to pass through. The procession was of such length
that the head -of it had reached its appointed place before the
close of the procession had emerged from the sacristry door. The
altar was ablaze with lights and flowers were massed along the
1909] The Centennial Service. 919
ratable. The music was faultless, and every detail of the Ser-
vice was rendered with smooth precision. The Vicar of Trinity
Church sang the Service, the Bishop of Porto Rico read the first
Lesson and Bishop Courtney the second. At the close of Evening
Prayer the Hymn for the Society was sung and then the Bishop
of Connecticut was escorted to the pulpit where he delivered his
greeting. A Hymn for the Communion of Saints was then
sung, followed by a Collect for the Founders and Benefactors of
the Society, and the old Hymn "O God of Ages" was taken up
with successful effect by the vast congregation, when Dr.
Lowndes ascended the pulpit and said the Bidding Prayer before
beginning his address. The closing Collects were taken by the
Rector of the Parish and the Bishop of Connecticut gave the
Benediction, and with the glorious notes of the Recessional "O
Worship the King" the solemn Service of Thanksgiving was
brought to a close.
It now only remains for us to give the full text of the tw r o ad-
dresses, the one by the Bishop of Connecticut and the other by
Dr. Lowndes.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
WORD OF GREETING BY THE BISHOP OF CONNECTICUT.
BY the courtesy of the Bishop of New York, who to our
great regret cannot be present, it is my privilege, on his
behalf, to say a word of greeting and to welcome you,
brethren, to this Centennial Commemoration. There are gathered
here the representatives of nearly every Diocese, of Missionary
Societies at home and abroad, of Institutions of Learning, of the
United States Army and Navy, of historical and literary societies.
I am glad to see here my Right Reverend Brother, who represents
the Bishop of London, and who himself is the latest of the
many bonds between us and Nova Scotia. Particularly do I
welcome the Right Reverend and eminent representatives of the
Russian, Greek, and Syrian Churches, and I beg to assure them
that the gracious courtesy of their presence is appreciated.
Well may the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book
Society render solemn thanksgiving to God for the hundred years
of work He has enabled it to do. It were unfitting to anticipate
the Historical Address we are to hear from one altogether com-
petent, the scholar who has translated the Prayer Book into Span-
ish, the historian of this Society, and the defender of the Church
in his able and learned Vindication of Anglican Orders. Leav-
ing it to him to tell of the dissemination, by this Society, of the
Holy Bible, let me say a word touching the Book of Common
Prayer.
In Connecticut, a priest of which Diocese, the honoured Dean
of the Berkeley Divinity School, is the Custodian of the Book of
Common Prayer, was founded in 1808 the first organization for
the distribution of the American Prayer Book. This was meet
and right. For to the Book of Common Prayer Connecticut
owes a large debt.
Nearly two centuries ago, in 1716, six years before any per-
manent ministrations of the Church in Connecticut, a devout man
in the ancient town of Guilford, Samuel Smithson, lent a Prayer
Book to a young man of nineteen or twenty, Samuel Johnson, son
of a Congregational deacon. Putting this book into that youth's
920
1909] Word of Greeting. 921
hands began an eventful chapter. The book was studied, its
prayers were committed to memory, and, later, used in his con-
duct of public worship as a Congregational minister. Its princi-
ples of worship and life, its ancient collects, its Catholic faith
and Liturgy, impressed and possessed his spirit. His impressions
led to conferences with chosen friends and the study with them
of ecclesiastical history and polity.
At length, in 1722, all New England was shaken when John-
son with six others, ministers of promise and prominence, in-
cluding the head of Yale College, declared their doubts regard-
ing Presbyterian ordination. Four of the number sailed to Eng-
land to receive Holy Orders. Johnson returned to take charge
of our first parish at Stratford, and to serve for a time as parish
priest for the entire colony. Through the loan of that book,
Johnson became, in the words of President Dwight of Yale, "the
father of Episcopacy in Connecticut." Thus the eldest See of
the Anglican Communion outside the British Isles cherishes the
story of what was wrought by the earliest Church Missionary
within her borders, the Book of Common Prayer.
What the Book was in the days of our fathers, and in the old
time before them, it is no less fitted to be in our day. Isaac. Wal-
ton, you remember, recounts that holy George Herbert, nearing
his death, desired a priest to pray with him, and, being asked,
"What prayers?" replied, "O, sir, the prayers of my mother, the
Church of England ; no other prayers are equal to them !" And
now, our American Book, revised, may be claimed to be indeed
what I heard the Bishop of Albany call it at the Lambeth Con-
ference. A British Bishop spoke of the present American Prayer
Book as "the most perfect service book in English." At once
Bishop Doane called out, "The most perfect in the world." It is
in truth our most winning missionary.
The Book of Common Prayer, moreover, has been and is a
great unifier, an effective instrument of the Holy Spirit of
unity, who maketh men to be of one mind. That sober standard
of feeling, a matter which fourscore years ago Keble pronounced
to be of an importance next to that of a sound rule of faith, that
ideal of Christian nurture, that Catholic spirit that through its
pages breathes like a pure and vivifying breeze, have made the
Book to be an influence counteracting heated sectarian tempers,
and an influence distinctly contributory to the Catholic current
922 Word of Greeting. [1909
now passing through widely separated portions of Christendom.
To instance a specific matter, it is not long since the question
of liturgical worship was, in England and America, at the fore-
front of dividing influences. To-day the question has ceased to
be debated. On this question, as regards public worship, there is
to a large extent substantial agreement. Who will deny that
towards this result the Prayer Book has been instrumental more
than any other single factor ? Who can measure how largely the
drawing together of Christians in these clays may be owing to
those old Collects that have become familiar to our brethren of
other names? Common prayer is likely to come sooner than a
common consensus of opinion. Common prayer and common
sense will soonest make men see the import and result of division
and feel the practical difficulties and the burning shame of dis-
union, without waiting for agreement in opinions. Where opin-
ions divide, common faith and prayer may none the less unite.
The Book of Common Prayer is the common heritage of
English-speaking Christians. It is held in trust by us for them.
As such a trust, let us hold it forth to them. That seemed about
to be done a short while since. If only from the title page might
be stricken out all denominational designation, and the Book go
forth as the Book of Common Prayer according to the use in the
United States of America, that were a consummation devoutly
to be wished.
It is the Prayer Book, including the Ordinal, that shows the
place this Church rightly claims among the ancient historic
branches of the Catholic Church. Through it those brethren may
understand our position, if they will, as we endeavour to under-
stand and recognize theirs.
Meanwhile all Christians, of whatever name, will, I repeat,
pray together sooner than they will think together. Through
common prayer we shall come surely nearer, and, please God,
attain, genuine unity, a visible unity better than any half-way
expedients that perpetuate actual separation, a unity in diversity,
a unity not of compromise but of comprehension, a unity which
shall be agreeable to the will of our Lord. That such unity is no
impossibility, no dream incapable of realization, we may know
as we rise to the height of that great prayer : "That they all may
be one." So our blessed Lord, in His perpetual intercessions I
believe still prays. Well may Christians to that end join with
Him in common prayer.
CHAPTER XXIX.
A CENTURY OF ACHIEVEMENT
BEING THE HISTORICAL ADDRESS DELIVERED
BY THE REV. DR. LOWNDES.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God, which trieth us even as he did
our fathers. Judith viii. 25.
A HUNDRED YEARS ! A century is either long or short,
even as we say that a day has been long or short with
us. Civilized man does not reckon the lapse of time by
years, but by events. The toad may live imbedded for
centuries in the rock, but man lives more within an hour than
the toad, in his inertia, has lived in a thousand years. So, cen-
turies are short, or long, in proportion as they have been centuries
of achievement. What of this century which to-night slips away
into the realm of the past? Has it been one of inertia or devel-
opment, one of sterility or achievement? Do you want a guage
wherewith to test it? Compare the "Clermont" lying at its
moorings, within a stone's throw of where we stand, at the foot
of Rector Street, one hundred years ago to-night, and the
"Mauretania" which glided out of her dock at 10 o'clock this
morning. There you have the measure of this Century's achieve-
ment. I wish I had the time to sketch even in its briefest outline
the development of Art, Science, Engineering and Applied
Mechanics, Surgery, Medicine, or even the development of the
presentation of the Truths of Religion or of the development of
the worship of the Church during these hundred years.
I must, however, say a word or two as to what this City was
in which our forefathers wrought and in which they were
"tried." Broadway was not then as now a canyon of steel-
ribbed structures. It was an avenue on which many of the old-
fashioned, roomy, colonial houses still stood. It was pre-emi-
nently a City of Churches. Within the shadow of the steeple
of Trinity nestled Grace Church, on the southwest corner of
Rector Street and Broadway, and which had but recently been
endowed by the Mother of Churches. Behind it was the Epis-
copal Charity School known now as Trinity School. In Wall
Street, between Nassau and Broadway, stood the old First Pres-
byterian Church, and a little lower down was the old Dutch
Church on Garden Street, now Exchange Place. The Jewish
9 2 3
924 A Century of Achievement. [1909
Synagogue was quite close to the Custom House, on Mill Street,
now South William Street. The Scottish Presbyterian was on
Cedar between Broadway and Nassau, and below it on Pine
Street, between Nassau and William Streets stood the Dutch
Church, which was afterwards sold to the Government in 1845
and was so well known to old New Yorkers as the Post Office.
To the West, on the opposite side of Liberty Street, between
Nassau and Broadway, was the Friends' Meeting House. The
old Methodist Church, known everywhere as the old John Street
Church was on the South side of John Street, between Nassau
and William, and the present Church stands on almost the same
site. The New Dutch Church was on Nassau, between
Cedar and Liberty Streets. The Moravian was on Fair
Street, now Fulton, near the corner of William Street.
The North Church was on the West Side of William, be-
tween Fair and Ann Streets. St. Paul's was as at present.
Christ Church was on Ann Street, on the North Side between
Nassau and William Streets, while the Baptist Church was
on Gold Street, between John Street and what was then
Fair, now Fulton Street. The Roman Catholics worshipped in
St. Peter's Church, which w r as on the site of the present edifice,
on the corner of Barclay and Church Streets. The new Pres-
byterian Church was on the triangle bounded by Chatham Row,
Beekman and Nassau Streets, and always known as the Brick
Church. The Reformed Scotch Church was on the North side
of Chambers Street, between Broadway and Nassau, while the
new Scotch Church was a little higher up, on the corner of what
was then Magazine, now Pearl Street, and Elm Street. The
African Church stood on the West side of Church Street, be-
tween Anthony and Leonard Streets. The Universalist was on
what is now Pearl, then Magazine Street, almost opposite to
what was then Augustus Street and is now Centre Street.
The English Lutheran Zion Church was on the South West
corner of Mott Street. In 1810 the congregation conformed to
our Church and Zion became a parish. In 1853 * ne building was
sold to the Roman Catholics who worshipped in it. The third
Presbyterian Church was on the corner of Henry and Rutgers
Streets. St. John's Chapel had been consecrated in 1807 and still
stands on its present site. Of all these Churches and others that
stood one hundred years ago on the South side of Canal Street
1909] A Century of Achievement. 925
only six are represented to-night. Trinity and its two Chapels,
St. 'Paul's and St. John's ; the old John Street Methodist Church,
St. Peter's Church and St. Patrick's. The Fulton Street Prayer
Meetings are now the only representative of the Churches be-
longing to the Reformed Dutch downtown one hundred years
ago.
Columbia College, whose students were in the procession
to-night, was built upon land bounded eastwardly by Church
Street, South by Barclay, North by Murray and West by
the Hudson. The New York Society Library had its build-
ing in Nassau Street, opposite the middle Dutch Church, between
Cedar and Liberty Streets. The year 1807 had seen the organ-
ization of the New York Hospital, the New York Orphan
Asylum and the beginnings of the free public school system.
The Manumission Society of which General Clarkson had been
president, supported a Free School of about one hundred col-
oured children. It was situate on Cliff Street between Beekman
and Ferry Streets, in the rear of St. George's church-yard.
Societies bearing the name of St. Tammany had existed both
in Philadelphia and New York prior to 1789, but in that year
the present organization known as Tammany Hall, was founded
by William Mooney, an upholsterer living at 23 Nassau Street.
In those days an "upholsterer" meant more than it does to-day.
The upholsterer was evidently one who not only upholstered
furniture in those delicate chintzes which our grandparents so
loved, but one who sold furniture and what goes to the furnish-
ing of a home. It is a singular thing but at that period the
cartmen, who wore their picturesque dress of long white aprons
reaching to their shoe tops and silk hats, and the upholsterers,
were men of great wealth and position in the community. They
were especially prominent and influential in politics. According
to the declaration of principles of Tammany written in 1790, we
read, "This national institution holds up as its object the smile of
charity, the chain of friendship and the flame of liberty; and in
general, whatever may tend to perpetuate the use of freedom
or the political advantage of this country." Its officers were
to consist of native-born Americans. The St. Tammany Socie-
ties at the beginning included men of all parties. Its meetings
were held in Fraunces Tavern, still standing, on the same site,
but it celebrated the I2th of May in tents erected about
926 A Century of Achievement. [1909
two miles up on the Hudson, where large numbers par-
took of refreshments, served precisely at three o'clock, after
which there was singing and smoking and expressions of good-
will and brotherly love. At the same time it is worthy of note
that Tammany was, in 1809, undergoing one of its periodical
housecleanings, for we are told that for the three years pre-
ceding 1809 a series of disclosures regarding Tammany had
astounded the City. In 1 790 the Tammany Society, through the
efforts of John Pintard, became the first American Historical
Society by establishing a Museum for the preservation and
exhibition of all things relating to the history and antiquities
of America. The New York Historical Society, whose delegate
represents this Society to-night, was founded in 1804.
Tammany is not the only Society that has to-day departed
from its original intention and scope. In the colonial period the
celebration of St. Patrick's used to be marked by two standing
toasts. One to the blessed memory of William of Orange and
the other to the Battle of the Boyne.
The city had, a century ago, nine Insurance Companies and
five Banks, five Morning Papers and three Evening ones.
The Church had one paper, The Churchman Magazine.
The right of taxing bread, wine, beer, ale and all other victuals
offered for sale, belonged to the City, but bread alone was taxed.
Overseers were appointed to see that wells and pumps were kept
repaired, clean, and in good condition. There were then six
markets, called the Fly, the Bare, the Exchange, the Oswego,
Catherine, and Hudson. The great financial importance of some
of the trades is shown by the appointment of certain inspectors.
There were inspectors of Pot and Pearl Ashes, Staves and Head-
ing, Sole Leather, Flour and Meal, and of Beef and Pork.
The charges in the shield of the City still bear witness to the
sources of the commercial supremacy of New York. That su-
premacy grew out of the law prohibiting the bolting of flour
outside of the city limits between 1678 and 1694 which gave to
its people the monopoly of the export trade in breadstuffs and
biscuits. This, with the export of furs, made New York the
centre of trade. Whenever we look upon the shield of this great
city, the two flour barrels, the two arms of windmills, and the
two beavers, we are faithfully reminded of what laid the founda-
tion of its commercial greatness.
1909] A Century of Achievement. 927
According to the census of 1810 the population was made up
of 43,448 white males, 43,102 white females, 8,137 free coloured,
and 1,686 slaves, making a total of 96,373, or an increase over
the census of 1808 of 12,843.
The amusements provided for this population consisted of the
Theatre which could seat 1,200 people, Reading Rooms, the
Ranelagh, which was about the junction of Grand and Division
streets, full of shady and agreeable walks. Vauxhall, on the Bow-
ery Road, about two miles from the City Hall, was adorned with
trees, shrubs and statues. It had a constant display of fireworks,
a fine orchestra, a theatre and booths. The Park where the City
Hall now stands was the pride of New Yorkers, but the most
fashionable promenade was along the Battery. Here, on the hot
summer days, there was a cool afternoon breeze, and an abund-
ance of trees afforded welcome shade. Military parades were
frequent, there was an orchestra in Mr. Corrie's public garden
where ice cream and refreshments could be had.
In this brief survey of New York a hundred years ago, men-
tion must not be omitted of the infant Academy of Fine Arts
founded by Robert R. Livingston.
To understand the motives which prompted New York Church-
men to found their Society we must know somewhat of the move-
ments in England which led to the foundation there of various
Societies which had for their primary objects the religious educa-
tion of the people, their moral uplift and the general betterment
of their social conditions.
The close of the eighteenth century, like the close of the seven-
teenth, saw an awakening of the conscience of England to duties
and responsibilities which had been neglected.
The work of the great societies, founded more than two hun-
dred years ago, was, primarily, for the benefit of the "Planta-
tions, Colonies and Factories beyond the Seas" of Great Britain.
The chief object of those formed as the nineteenth century was
dawning, was the elevation of the poor and outcast within the
realm of England.
The formation of these seventeenth century societies can be
traced directly to the zeal, energy, and devotion of one man,
Thomas Bray, whose soul was stirred to its depths by the irre-
ligion and immorality which he witnessed in the greater part of
928 A Century of Achievement. [1909
the American Colonies, on his visits there as Commissary of the
Bishop of London for Maryland.
A descendant of his is now a Student of the General Theo-
logical Seminary whose deputation we have so gladly welcomed
this evening.
To deepen devotion and to counteract the influence of the
scoffing literature of the day, Dr. Bray formed the plan of found-
ing parish libraries in the Colonies. For this object he, and
others, formed, in 1698, The Christian Knowledge Society.
After an existence of more than two hundred years of varied
usefulness, it is still carrying out its purpose as set forth in its
charter.
If the immigrants to the colonies were to retain their religious
and moral principles they must have churches and ministers.
Those, living in colonies where the government was hostile to
the Church of England, with no provision made for the support
of the Established Church, would be as sheep without a shepherd
unless their scanty means were supplemented by the free-will
offering of their wealthier brethren in the Mother Country.
The conversion of the roaming tribes of Indians, whose ideas
of the Deity were vague, to a real knowledge of Almighty God
as revealed in Jesus Christ, was also greatly to be desired.
At the suggestion of Dr. Bray, the Archbishops, Bishops, and
other dignitaries in England organized another Society in Eng-
land under the name of The Incorporated Society for the Propa-
gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which was chartered in
1701.
It had for its double object, the conversion of the Indians and
Negro slaves and the care of the English Churchmen in the Colo-
nies, providing, as far as its means would allow, clergymen,
churches and glebes.
Acting as Chaplains to the representative of the Bishop of
London two Rectors of our oldest Parishes have to-night repre-
sented as delegates these two great Societies. The Rector of
Perth Amboy representing the Society for the Promotion of
Christian Knowledge and the Rector of Jamaica the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel.
One hundred years ago the influence of the Encyclopedists and
of Voltaire was enormous not only in England, but even more
so in this country, where at the close of the War of Independence
1909] A Century of Achievement. 929
it was considered a compliment to their French allies to ape
French modes of thought. In Germany Wilhelm Martin Le-
brecht de Wette was one of the boldest oppugners of the divine
element in the Holy Scriptures in the opening years of the nine-
teenth century and rapidly grew into prominence as one of the
foremost leaders in the onslaught against Revelation.
The attitude which Bishop Hobart, the Rev. H. H. Norris,
and that of his friends here and in England, took was that the
time was especially propitious for the distribution of the Book
of Common Prayer, and that as Churchmen, they ought, while
fully realizing the value of the free distribution of the Bible by
other vSocieties, to bend all their energies to the distribution of
both books together. They felt that the Bible and Prayer Book
ought to be side by side in every house. That each book com-
plemented and illustrated the other. It was malicious to say
they wished to curtail the distribution of free Bibles; on the con-
trary, they wanted to make not one gift, but two gifts.
Indefatigable preacher as Bishop Hobart was he yet was a
great believer in printer's ink. He believed in the wide distribu-
tion of the Prayer Book and of all literature that explained or
defended the position of the Church.
In this connection with printer's ink it is well to remember
that William Bradford, Vestryman of Trinity Church, has the
honour of being the first in America who proposed to print the
Holy Bible complete, Apocrypha and all, and "for those who are
minded to have the Common Prayer Book shall have the whole
bound up for 2.2. shillings."
This was in 1688. Prior to 1711, through the assistance of
Trinity Church, an edition of the Book of Common Prayer was
actually printed. As Mr. William Wallace says in his address
on the Two Hundredth Birthday of William Bradford : "The
first edition of the Book of Common Prayer ever actually printed
in America was printed under the auspices of Trinity Church, by
one of her Vestrymen ; an assistant Minister of the Church, being
himself the surety for the fidelity of the Printer's contracts."
A word for the Trinity Church in which the first Board of
Managers met. It was the second edifice. This building was
consecrated March 25, 1790, by the first Bishop of New York,
Dr. Beach preaching the sermon, and the newspaper accounts
state that it was consecrated in the presence of "a respectable
(59)
930 A Century of Achievement. [1909
number of the people" and that "the President of the United
States, together with the Rev. Clergy of the different denomina-
tions in this City, and many other persons of distinction were
present." The new building was somewhat inferior in size to
the one destroyed by fire in 1766. It was 104 feet long by 72
feet wide. It had really very little pretensions to architectural
beauty and was far inferior to St. Paul's. It was constructed of
common grey stone, with a spire of wood which rested on a stone
tower and rose 180 feet. This tower was on the east side, geo-
graphically speaking, instead of on the west end as the former
tower had been. It contained a ring of eight bells, and was sur-
mounted by a gilt vane.
The great altar window was, until its removal, the largest in
the United States, containing 1,039 panes of glass. The Holy
Table was against the wall, the desk and pulpit being in front of
it without the chancel rails. The floor was paved with grey and
white marble in diamond shape blocks.
I have no knowledge as to the hour the first Board met. No
notice of its meeting appears to have been published in the New
York newspapers, nor is there any account of the meeting itself.
The hours of subsequent meetings vary, some being at 11.30
A. M V others at six o'clock in the evening. The minutes tell us
that "the Bishop being absent in consequence of indisposition of
body the Rev. Dr. Hobart was appointed Chairman."
Besides the Chairman, there were present the Rev. Cave
Jones, the Rev. Thomas Yardley Howe, the Rev. Thomas Lyell,
who was Secretary, and Messrs. George Dominick, Gulian Lud-
low, Henry Rogers, David B. Ogden, Thomas Harvey and Dr.
John Onderdonk.
A word as to these men. Of Dr. Hobart let me say this.
Little did he dream as with his quick nervous steps he trod the
marble floor of the Church on his way to the Vestry-room, and
looked up at the great western window, that within twelve years
he would lie beneath that Chancel, and that the great window
would be removed so as to allow of the large monument to his
memory to be erected there which, curtained by rich and heavy
drapery, formed a most striking altar-piece. The monument is
now in the Vestry-room, having been taken down when this
building, we are worshipping in, was erected, but the remains of
the great Bishop were undisturbed and lie behind me, beneath
the chancel.
1909] A Century of Achievement. 931
The Rev. Cave Jones was a native of New York but com-
menced his ministry in Virginia, and became an Assistant Minis-
ter in Trinity Parish. He was then residing above the Two-
Mile-House, Bowery. He differed so much in temperament with
his colleague Dr. Hobart that a collision between them was in-
evitable, and this led to a severance of his connection with the
Parish. He became, in his later years, Chaplain to the New York
Navy Yard, and devoted his energies to the betterment of sailors
and seamen. To him the Navy is indebted for the suggestions
which led to appointment of regular chaplains.
Dr. Howe was a brilliant lawyer, a class-mate and friend of
Dr. Hobart and Dr. Beasley. He turned from the law to the
Church, and by his eloquence, and zeal, rapidly gained a position
of great influence in the Parish and in the Diocese.
The Rev. Thomas Lyell was originally a Methodist, and a
strong friend of Joseph Pilmore, who was an associate of Wes-
ley, and afterwards the first Rector of Christ Church. To this
rectorship Dr. Lyell succeeded him and held in the City and
Diocese of New York positions of honour and influence, includ-
ing that of being the first Secretary of this Society. He lived
at 6 Warren Street.
Dr. John Onderdonk was a physician of note at 33 Fair
Street. His two sons, Benjamin and Henry, became Bishops of
New York and Pennsylvania respectively. He was a Vestryman
of Trinity Church from 1801 to 1821.
David B. Ogden lived at 21 Pine Street, and was a lawyer
and vestryman of Trinity Church. The family is still repre-
sented on the Vestry by one of the same name, David B. Ogden.
Gulian Ludlow was a merchant living at 15 Whitehall, and
Thomas Harvey also a merchant living at 100 Warren Street.
The George Dominick of 1809 was a lumber merchant in
Chatham Street, and I am inclined to think, the son of Captain
George Dominick of the Second New York Militia, and a Ves-
tryman of Trinity Church from 1787 to 1792, and after whom
in 1761 Dominick Street was named.
Henry Rogers lived at 42 Cortland Street.
These were the men who met one hundred years ago to-night
in the Vestry room of Trinity Church.
The other members of the Board, but who were not present,
were Bishops Provoost and Moore, the Rev. Dr. Beach, the Rev.
932 A Century of Achievement. [1909
Dr. Smith, the Rev. Dr. Channing Moore, the Rev. Nathaniel
Bovven, the Rev. Edmund D. Barry, and the Rev. John V. Bar-
tow, with General Clarkson, and Messrs. Bayard, Slidell and
Le Roy.
Bishop Provoost was living in retirement at No. 26 Green-
wich Street, a few doors below where Dr. Hobart resided.
Bishop Moore lived at 16 Vesey Street, but was not able, as
we have seen, to be out that night.
The Rev. Dr. Abraham Beach lived at No. 40 Cortland Street.
He was a native of Connecticut, and was Rector of Christ Church,
New Brunswick, New Jersey, when in 1784 was held the his-
toric meeting of the Corporation for the Relief of Widows and
Orphans, out of which grew the measures for the organization
of the Church in America. In 1809, he had been for twenty-
five years the Assistant Minister of Trinity Church and. the
strong and firm coadjutor of the first Bishop of New York.
One of the most picturesque characters in the early history of
the American Church is William Smith the younger. He was
Rector of Trinity Church, Newport, R. I., Principal of the Epis-
copal Academy, Cheshire, Connecticut, the first Editor of the
Churchman Magazine, and the author of the Institution Office
in our Prayer Book. He introduced chanting in the American
Church, and not only knew the theory of music and its use in
the Church, but in his old age amused himself with practical
organ building. Peter Erben was one of his disciples. He
resided at the Academy, No. 95 Fair Street.
The Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, a native of South Carolina, was
then Rector of Grace Church, and afterwards became Bishop
of South Carolina.
The Rev. Dr. Channing Moore, a New Yorker, began his
ministry as Rector of Rye, Westchester County, and after
serving as Rector of St. Andrew's Church, Staten Island, be-
came Rector of St. Stephen's Church, New York. He was
chairman of the Committee of the House of Deputies, on
Hymnody. In 1814 he was consecrated second Bishop of Vir-
ginia.
The Rev. Edmund D. Barry lived at No. 204 Duane Street,
having a school of his own, and afterwards became Rector of
St. Matthew's Church, Jersey City.
The Rev. John Vanderbilt Bartow, then a young man, was com-
1909] A Century of Achievement. 933
mencing with great promise his ministry in Bloomingdale at St.
Michael's Church which might be called the Chapel of Ease for
the wealthy New York Churchmen who had their summer resi-
dences in that charming spot. Two months prior to our meeting,
St. Michael's had memorialized Trinity Church to again come to
its assistance, and to help it pay off its debt. That Cor-
poration came to its relief, and one hundred years ago to-night
the ink was scarcely dry on the minutes of the Vestry which
chronicled the resolution of the previous day, April 13, by which
Trinity again parted with some of her patrimony and generously
endowed St. Michael's with six of its lots. On leaving St.
Michael's Mr. Bartow went south where he remained until his
death.
Matthew Clarkson, born in 1758, then lived at 26 Pearl Street.
He was appointed by General Greene aide de camp to General
Arnold, and, in 1786 was made Brigadier General. General
Clarkson took a great deal of interest in the Bible Sociey, and in
the movement for the abolition of Slavery. We have already
seen that he was a President of the Manumission Society. He
was a Vestryman of Trinity Church from 1788 to 1801. The
Clarksons have always been identified with the work of the
American Church, they have held pews continuously in Trinity
Church, and their family is still represented by Augustus L.
Clarkson on the present Board of Managers of this Society.
Jacob LeRoy was a Vestryman of Trinity Church from 1795
to 1815, and lived at No. 81 Liberty Street.
William Bayard, a Merchant, was living at No. 6 State Street,
and was a Vestryman of Trinity Church from 1801 to 1821.
John Slidell was a Merchant living at 48 Broadway.
Surely of these men the words we have just heard read out in
praise of famous men are singularly applicable.
"Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowl-
edge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent in their
instructions : Such as found out musical tunes and recited them
in writing."
Of the action of this Society prior to the meeting on April
I4th in Trinity Church we know but little. The meeting for
Organization was held early in 1808, but on what date we can-
not tell precisely as there is no minute in existence of that pri-
mary meeting, but that it was prior to April we know, as men-
tion is made in the Churchman Magazine for April that a meet-
934 A Century of Achievement. [1909
ing was held at whieh a Constitution was adopted; and the
Board of Managers that met in Trinity Church, one hundred
years ago to-night, were elected at this primary meeting. An
Address was also published in the Churchman Magazine for
March and April setting forth the objects of the new Society.
This Address was probably written by Bishop Hobart. It ends
with this appeal :
"Is this book in the hands of all who value it? The contrary
is the fact. The clergy in the city are often applied to by their
poor parishioners for a Book of Common Prayer. Many also
prize it, and would improve it as a gift who will not go to the
expense of purchasing it. These remarks are obviously more
applicable to parishes in the country, particularly to those which
are forming in new settlements. From these quarters the calls
are frequent for this admirable summary of evangelical truth.
* * * * The earnest prayer is offered to Him who holds in
His hands the hearts of all men, that he would dispose Chris-
tians to aid an institution, humbly devoted to his glory, with the
means of permanently and extensively diffusing the knowledge
of His Word."
As an outcome of the Bible Society, founded in London, a So-
ciety of the same name was established in Philadelphia December
12, 1808. The direction of its affairs was entrusted to a Board
of twenty-four Managers, including Churchmen, Presbyterians,
Moravians, and members of the other "evangelical churches."
Bishop White accepted the presidency and was doubtless the
author of the First Address.
The second meeting of the Board of Managers of our Society
was held on May 3ist and the Treasurer reported the receipts as
being $575.00, whereupon rules for the governance of the So-
ciety were adopted. The Annual Meeting for 1810 was held
February 2/th in Trinity Church and Bishop Moore delivered
the Sermon. He presses home his arguments with these con-
cluding words :
"While ye are receiving the cup of salvation, and drinking to
the refreshment of your souls, let us express our gratitude by
extending it to others who are fainting in the thirsty wilderness
where no water is."
The method of distribution at this time was in this wise : One-
half of the books to be distributed equally among the congrega-
tions in the State of New York outside of the city, one-fourth to
1909] A Century of Achievement. 935
be placed at the disposal of the Bishop to be distributed by him
wherever he thinks there is the most need, and the remaining
one-fourth to be at the disposal of the Board of Managers. The
receipts as given in the First Report of the Board amounted to
$3,251.84.
The crying need was the lack of copies of the Prayer Book
suitable for general circulation. The books which our fore-
fathers used were either bulky octavos or else very small 24mos.
In 1810, possibly, at Bishop Hobart's suggestion, a book of
convenient size and type was issued. It was in both I2mo and
24rno form and issued by the old firm of Thomas and John
Swords. So early as November 24, 1813, the matter of an
edition of the Bible was under consideration.
Bishop Hobart was not content with the formation of this
central Society for the distribution of the Bible and "the silent
Missionary," as he called the Prayer Book, but did all he could to
foster the formation of branch or auxiliary Societies all over
the country, and especially in that vast tract of which he had the
Episcopal oversight.
During the years 1815 and 1816 several Societies were
founded throughout the Diocese, the notable ones being the
Dutchess County Society, the one for Albany and its vicinity.
In the early part of 1816 was formed the Auxiliary New
York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society. This Society
was essentially a Layman's movement, in fact no clergyman
could belong to its Board of Managers. The parent Society
welcomed the new Society and expressed its satisfaction at its
formation. It was, at this period, that arose the unfortunate
controversy between Bishop Hobart and William Jay. As we
read the letters and pamphlets, the Replies and the Answers in
this long drawn out controversy, we can only stand amazed that
two such good and devout men as Hobart and Jay should have
had any controversy at all.
The New York Auxiliary was formed by young men of Trin-
ity Parish. We have already remembered their names in our
Bidding Prayer. Its object, as stated in its constitution, was to
aid the parent Society founded in 1809. At the meeting of Feb-
ruary 27th, 1816, the Rev. Thomas Lyell, who had acted as Sec-
retary since the foundation of the parent Society, resigned and
was succeeded by the Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, who con-
936 A Century of Achievement. [1909
tinued in that office till his elevation to the Episcopate in 1830.
On March 8, 1816, the Auxiliary celebrated its organization by
a Service in Trinity Church at which Bishop Hobart preached.
He emphasizes the reason for the existence of such Societies :
"In translating, then, and publishing the Liturgy in conjunc-
tion with the Bible, and distributing them throughout the world,
we follow the scriptural plan of evangelizing it. We present to
them God's Word and God's Church. For the Liturgy contains
and recognizes the doctrines of the Church, its ministry, and its
worship."
In April, the first Bibles distributed by the Society in a foreign
language were sent forth, being one hundred Bibles in French.
Part of these French Bibles were given to Mr. Eleazar Wil-
liams for distribution among the Indians on the Canadian
border, and part placed at the disposal of the minister of the
French Church du St. Esprit.
In that year also the question of Stereotype Plates was first
discussed and the Auxiliary Society made a grant for that pur-
pose. The Plates were made by Daniel and George Bruce, and
were of i6mo size and of good type. It was the first attempt
to furnish a Book which could be sold at a cheap price and yet
be of convenient size.
The' stereotyped edition having proved successful another
edition was ordered of 8vo size. The Seventh Annual Report
was one full of encouragement. The managers reported having
gratuitously distributed during the seven years of its existence
5,256 volumes. Auxiliary Societies had by then been founded
in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware,
Massachusetts and North Carolina.
The establishment of Sunday Schools in the year 1817 opened
up a new and wide field for the energies of the Prayer Book So-
cieties. St. Paul's Chapel lead the field in number of attendance,
having a roll of 385. Then came the Churches of Christ
Church, St. George's and St. Stephen's. The Ninth Annual Re-
port included the statement that nearly $1,000.00 had been ex-
pended in the purchase of stereotype plates of the Prayer Book.
The zeal of the new Society is also evidenced by the wide dis-
tribution of the Prayer Book. It was sent out to Sunday
Schools, to Prisons, to remote Churches in the State of New
York, to Churches, or congregations, in New Jersey, Massachu-
1909] A Century of Achievement. 937
setts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, North Carolina and
to the boundless Western Territories. In this year also began
that beneficent, and so gratefully appreciated, distribution to
them that "occupy their business in great waters and see the
wonders of the deep." Then was the first grant made to the
Mariner's Church for seamen on the eve of their going to sea.
This fruitful year saw also the grant made to the unfortunate
Liberian Colony. In 1819 President Monroe sent a ship to
establish a colony in Africa and the government appointed the
Rev. Samuel Bacon and Rev. John P. Bankson as its agents.
While the ship was waiting to load, at the foot of Rector Street,
Mr. Bacon wrote to Bishop Hobart pleading for a grant of
Prayer Books. The Society sent the donation although from
papers in my possession it is evident Bishop Hobart paid for
them. So, for the next few years, the growth of the Auxiliary
went on apace. The year 1821 was noteworthy in our Annals, it
saw the foundation of the General Theological Seminary and the
perfected organization of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary
Society. Owing to the prevalence of the scourge of scarlet
fever which so disastrously marked the year of 1822 the re-
ceipts of both Societies fell off considerably and the Thirteenth
Annual Report states the subscriptions during the past year had
not been collected owing to the prevalence of that epidemic.
The following year saw a revival of confidence and, conse-
quently, the reports of the Societies were more cheerful. The
Auriliary reported that it now sold a good Bible, bound in sheep,
for 85 cents. In 1824 the Societies had their plates of the Bible
and Prayer Book corrected and brought into unison with the
Standard adopted by the General Convention. In order not to
lessen the receipts of the Auxiliary Society the parent Society
had, of late years, generously refrained from having special Ser-
mons preached on its own behalf.
The Eleventh Report of the Auxiliary shows how continuous
was its care for sailors whether belonging to the U. S. Navy or
to merchantmen. It details the grant to the U. S. Corvette
"Cyane," and for "officers and crews of United States Ships of
War when at sea." One interesting entry is "for 36 labourers at
the Monroe Ironworks." The Rev. Cave Jones, who was the
faithful U. S. Naval Chaplain at the New York Station, in a
letter to the Society states that
938 A Century of Achievement, [1909
"And officers of the Navy, high in rank too, who have never
before been present at such a scene, have impulsively expressed
the deep impression which has been made on their minds, of the
beneficial results which must arise from the regular performance
of these duties.
"As one immediate consequence, I will take the opportunity
to mention, that a commencement has been made of introducing
the regular performance of public worship, according to the
forms of the Church, on board of several of the ships of war;
and even on board of those which are not, according to the regu-
lations of the navy, entitled to a chaplain. The first arrangement
of this kind was on the ship of war 'Ontario,' on board of which,
previously to her sailing for the Mediterranean, I officiated sev-
eral times, to a very attentive audience; and the commander of
which, Captain Nicholson, gave me assurance, that it was his
determined resolution to have divine service performed, and a
sermon read, every Sunday during the cruise. * * * *
"The same plan has since been pursued on board of the
United States Corvette 'Cyane,' of a still higher grade, but not
entitled to the services of an authorized Minister of religion."
No matter how kindly disposed each Society might be to the
other it is self evident that two institutions existing for the very
same purpose and appealing for its support to the same people
could not exist very long. Either one or the other had to give
way; meanwhile both suffered. It is not, therefore, to be won-
dered at that at the meeting of the parent Society, February 21,
1827, a resolution with a view to the amalgamation of the two
Societies should be adopted.
The Society in their Seventeenth Report very frankly state
that, owing to the activity of the Auxiliary Society, their institu-
tion had become almost exclusively a board of trust for the care
of its permanent fund which amounted to between five and six
thousand dollars. The aggregate of their distribution had been
14,390 volumes, and the aggregate of the Auxiliary was 42,897
volumes.
The Thirteenth Anniversary, October, 1828, was marked by
the presence of Dr. Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia. The Thir-
teenth Auxiliary Report states that the Society had taken upon
itself the stereotyping of the new Hymns and an edition of a
thousand copies had already been distributed. During this year
1909] A Century of Achievement. 939
was founded The Protestant Episcopal Press. Its origin was due
to the desire of Bishop Hobart to establish a central printing and
binding Society that should be devoted exclusively to the inter-
ests of the Church. By 1828 the total aggregate of the Auxil-
iary had risen to 45,526 volumes. The object of The Press was
to do for the American Church what the S. P. C. K. was doing
for England.
Notwithstanding that both Societies had concurred, in 1827,
that an amalgamation was most desirable, for some unknown
reason no definite steps were taken to bring this about. In 1829
the outlook of the parent Society was so gloomy that for the
first time no report was issued. On the other hand, the Auxiliary
seems to have taken on a new lease of life through its association
with The Press. This institution printed Prayer Books for the
Society at a minimum of cost. For the first time we read of a
grant to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, five hun-
dred being donated to it. One hundred copies were donated to
the new U. S. Navy Chaplain.
The parent Society was still in existence, though doing very
little, as is apparent from the minutes of February 3, 1830. The
Committee on the State of the Society again reported progress,
expressing the hope that the measures then pending would soon
result in a union of the two Societies. This is the last entry in
the hand of Bishop Onclerdonk as Secretary. Bishop Hobart's
death, September 12, 1830, was a terrible blow to the Societies
he had founded. He had seen with a prophetic eye the immense
value to the Church of a wide distribution of the Prayer Book.
No Churchman to-day doubts his wisdom or his prescience. This
vast assembly is a vindication of the great Bishop.
The resolutions passed by the Church Societies show plainly
that they were no perfunctory minutes, that the men who wrote
them felt they had lost not only a great Bishop but a warm per-
sonal friend. They bound themselves to wear "as a public mark
of their constant and sacred recollection of the virtues and good
offices of their deceased Diocesan a crape band upon their hats
and upon their arms until the festival of Christmas," that is, for
over three months.
In 1832 the question of amalgamation was again discussed,
and this time, with the idea of forming one organization which
should embrace not only the two Prayer Book Societies but the
Tract Society and The Press.
940 A Century of Achievement. [1909
The Auxiliary was, at this time, making such progress that,
apparently, it was not so desirous of amalgamation. In June,
1833, it appointed a Committee to see what could be done to im-
prove the editions of the Prayer Book both as to quality and as
to appearance, and it likewise projected a new edition of the
Bible. The proof sheets of this edition were read by that pro-
found scholar William R. Whittingham assisted by Mr. Van
Ingen. This edition was universally commended as, being not
only the cheapest but what was far more important, the most
accurate edition of the Bible yet published in America.
Zealous and anxious, in its operations in every quarter, the
Auxiliary never slackened its efforts but the receipts kept dimin-
ishing.
The panic of 1837, which wrecked so many business concerns,
affected the contributions to all Societies, and in that year The
Press had to suspend its operations and the Auxiliary was re-
duced to its lowest ebb.
At this moment, when the faith of our fathers was being tried
by the Lord our God, the matter of the expiration of the Charter
of the Auxiliary had to be faced. Tt happened that while the
Board was anxiously deliberating, at their Meeting of February
ist what course to pursue, they were informed that Bishop On-
derdonk was in the same building. He was requested to attend
their conference, and, as a result of his advice, the Committee
was asked to confer with the New York Bible and Common
Prayer Book Society and to report with all convenient speed.
The result of the negotiations was the transfer of all the prop-
erty of the Auxiliary to the parent Society, July ist, 1837. The
two streams were now united in one river, and the long, but
friendly, rivalry was at last ended.
From 1837 to the present date the reports are numbered con-
secutively the Twenty-ninth to the One Hundredth. While the
parent Society during the years of its inactivity issued no report
yet the Auxiliary never failed issuing its report, so that there
has been, between the two Societies, one hundred consecutive
Reports.
The Auxiliary turned over property and funds amounting to
$4,514.39, most of which consisted of stereotype plates of the
Bible and Prayer Book. The consolidated Society started its
new career with only $86.41 of available cash.
1909] A Century of Achievement. 941
It is well to note that the Auxiliary during its existence of
twenty-one years distributed 110,000 volumes, and yet during
twenty years of its existence it reported that while the cost of
distribution had reached nearly $20,000 the receipts during that
period had been from outside of New York and Brooklyn only
$75-30-
If we add the 15,000 volumes which the parent Society had
distributed during its existence up to the amalgamation, a total
of over 125,000 volumes had been distributed broadcast over
the land, to foreign Missions and to Greece, and to our Sailors
and Soldiers wherever they were serving. Certainly no mean
result and which could only have been accomplished by the great
zeal of the two Boards of Managers and their self-denying
labours. Certainly then, we can give thanks to the Lord our
God who tried our forefathers, but yet found them not wanting
in loyalty to Him and to His Church.
The First Report of the united Society, being the Twenty-
ninth Consecutive Report, gives a brief history of the Societies
since their foundation.
The question of publishing an octavo copy of the Prayer Book
with the rubrics in red came up for consideration in 1837 and
was referred to a Committee who reported favourably.
On the same date, September 12, 1837, we find that St.
George's Church had donated to the Society a sum of money
towards the expense of printing a part of the Prayer Book in
the Mohawk language. At this time was also issued the pamph-
let edition of the Morning and Evening Service in German.
At the request of the Rev. C. S. Stewart, a Congregationalist,
a grant was made to the U. S. Frigate, "Brandywine."
In 1840 the Society received a legacy from Jacob Schatzel,
and thus was created the "Schatzel Fund," the income of which
is employed in paying for Bibles and Prayer Books for gratui-
tous distribution.
In 1841 the question of printing the whole of the Prayer
Book in German came up for consideration and the Society
declared it readiness to undertake the work as soon as the Gen-
eral Convention furnished it with an authorized copy of the
same. In the same year an Act incorporating the Society was
passed by the New York Legislature. In 1843 a request was
made to the Society to print a manual of devotions for the use
942 A Century of Achievement. [1909
of the Army and Navy but it very properly decided that such
action was beyond its province. Constant requests kept coming
in from Naval Chaplains who were Baptists, Methodists or
Presbyterians asking for grants of Prayer Books, and all these
requests were cheerfully complied with. In 1844 a grant of
Prayer Books was made to the Missionary at Constantinople.
Up to 1844 the Society had confined itself in its grants solely
to gifts of books for the use of Pews, it does not appear that
it made any gifts prior to this for the use of the Lecturn or
Prayer-desk. In the Report for 1844 we read of Prayer Books
having been distributed to the "Indian Nation," in Texas, then
an Independent Republic, to a colony of Manxmen, who had
settled in Ohio, and to the Sandwich Isles.
This grant of Prayer Books to the Sandwich Isles was made
seventeen years prior to the letter which King Kamehameha IV.
sent to Queen Victoria asking for a Bishop and Missionaries.
To this Society is, therefore, due the honour of having furnished
the "silent Missionaries" which paved the way for the estab-
lishment of the Church in those Islands of the Pacific.
Printing the Prayer Book in French was a source of heavy
expense to the Society, mainly on account of the plates having
been consumed by fire in 1845.
Ever solicitous of the needs of our soldiers 15,000 Prayer
Books were distributed among them at Fort Columbus, and as
we are told, "in every case to men desiring it." Out of the
California Regiment of 800 many received the book, with tears,
as a relic of home and a memorial of their beloved Church. On
the eve of their embarcation for Mexico a grant was made to
the officers and soldiers of the army. This wide and generous
distribution taxed the resources of the Society to the utmost,
and in their Report for 1848 they pathetically ask, "Can it be
that the only Society for the spread of the Bible and the Book
of Common Prayer, which we have, is necessitated to pause
over its indebtedness for the past, and remain for the present
not inactive, but painfully, circumscribed, by lack of pecuniary
means, in carrying out the desires of the Church?"
In 1849 tne Society took an important step in first starting
to raise an Endowment Fund.
The Rev. Flavel S. Mines, the first to unfurl the banner of the
Church in California, wrote to the Society that by the help of
1909] A Century of Achievement. 943
the grant of books received from them he had been able to keep
up regular services during the nine weeks he was at sea and that
through the Society "the decent worship of the Church had been
promptly and permanently established in San Francisco and
other parts of California." That the "little brown -covered
books" had been the silent but efficient missionaries of the
Church on land and sea, in mine and camp.
The necessity of having Standard Editions of the Bible and
of the Prayer Book had long been felt by this Society, and its
need urged upon the General Convention. The current editions
were full not only of typographical errors, but in some cases of
errors, which were not accidental, as for example, the substitution
in the Sixth Chapter of the Book of the Acts, verse three, of
"whom ye may appoint" for "whom we may appoint." The
first determined action in this matter appears to have been in
1843. Committees of this Society were appointed to confer with
Committees appointed by the General Convention. In 1850 this
Society offered its services to the General Convention towards
the attainment of the much desired end. Committees reported
but nothing of real value was done. Finally, in 1853 the Gen-
eral Convention took what it hoped would be a forward step in
securing a Standard Edition of the Bible. It unanimously
adopted the 1812 Edition of the Bible as published by Eyre and
Strahan, of 7 ondon, as the American Standard Edition, and
appointed our Society as the publishers under the direction of
a joint special Committee. This is not the time nor the occas-
ion to go into all the wearying complications that ensued, of the
vast labours of that great scholar Henry M. Mason, nor of the
protracted conferences between Committees of the General Con-
vention and of this Society, suffice it to say, that the General
Convention had selected as the Standard a book, that no one
could find, or discover any trace of its ever having been pub-
lished.
The Fifty-First Report of the Society gives a full historical
account of the Bible in the Church in America.
A fact not generally known is that the Chaplain of Congress
in 1782 was requested by a committee of that body to examine
and report upon the first American Bible and its general accuracy.
In 1856 the sums from payments of friends who became Life
Members or Life Managers had increased considerably. It
amounted to, for the past year, $1,157.75.
944 A Century of Achievement. [1909
In that year the Society had the courage to ask Trinity to give
it a donation of land, a request, however, which the Corporation
did not feel able to grant.
The same year this unusual request came from a Presbyterian
Minister in Paris asking for a donation of Prayer Books for
a meeting house that had been opened in the French capital for
Americans. A donation of over a hundred copies was imme-
diately sent to this gentleman.
In the Report for 1854 we notice for the first time the mention
of liberal grants to South America.
In 1859 Mr. Rich was engaged by the Society to complete the
translation of the Prayer Book into the Spanish language.
With the actual commencement of the Civil War, the Society
found a new field of operation in supplying the soldiers in camps,
forts and garrisons, with Bibles and Prayer Books. Many
troops passed through the City of New York and were quartered
in the barracks in City Hall Park. To them a small copy of the
Prayer Book which could be carried conveniently in the knap-
sack was a welcome gift. Many small New Testaments were
also distributed. To the soldiers in the field there were sent
many hundreds of volumes which were received gratefully and
eagerly read.
The Society came to the aid of the older Society, "The Bishop
White Prayer Book Society," whose delegate is here to-night,
and made it, on June nth, 1861, a grant of 300 German Books
of Common Prayer, for distribution among the soldiers sent
from Pennsylvania against the Southern rebellion, and in the
same year a grant was made to the Rev. Thos. G. Carter, Chap-
lain, for the use of the I7th Regiment New York Volunteers
under Colonel Lansing.
The members of the Board were deeply affected by the death
of Bishop Onderdonk, on April 30, 1861, and paid a tribute to
his memory, which is the most heartfelt minute of any minute
on the death of its members passed at any time in the history of
the Society.
In the northern Sacristry is the altar-tomb memorial to the
Fourth Bishop of New York, undoubtedly the handsomest
memorial in Trinity Church. The visitor will notice the symbol-
ism of the snake of slander lying crushed beneath the Prelate's
feet.
In consequence of the death in 1861 of Mr. Thomas C. Butler,
1909] A Century of Achievement. 945
who had for so many years been the Treasurer and Agent of the
Society, Mr. James Pott was appointed to succeed him, and for
forty-three years served this Society faithfully.
The management of the affairs of the Society was radically,
and much to its benefit, altered at the suggestion of Mr. Pott.
During the War the question of the Standard Bible was still
agitated. The General Convention formally asked this Society
whether it was ready to issue "a medium quarto Standard Bible."
The Society replied that owing to the troublous times and the
immediate urgent necessity of supplying the Army, the Navy
and the Hospitals with Prayer Books, that great caution must
be used before incurring fresh responsibilities.
In 1863 the first edition of the Prayer Book in Spanish was
issued.
In the same year a course of Lectures on The Prayer Book
was organized by the Society. This course was delivered in the
winter of 1872-1873.
The funds of the Society were materially increased by a legacy
from Mrs. Woolley in 1869, and in 1871 by a larger benefaction
from John Alstyne. In 1872 new bye-laws were passed, the
name of Agent was abolished and that of Treasurer alone substi-
tuted, and Mr. James Pott appointed to that office.
In 1874 a fresh version of the German Prayer Book was pro-
jected.
On October 5th, 1876, the present valued Secretary, Edwin S.
Gorham was elected Secretary, and from January 8th, 1878, to
this date all the minutes are in his handwriting.
It appears to me a bad custom to wait till a man is dead to
record his value. All who know the Society and the work it
has done for the last thirty years know full well how much of
its success has been due to the gentle and quiet persistency of its
Secretary, guided as it has been by his intense loyalty and devo-
tion to the Church.
In 1878 the whole of the Prayer Book was published in the
Dakota tongue, being the first instance of the publication in this
country of the whole Prayer Book in an Indian dialect.
From this time on the bark of the Society sailed in more pros-
perous seas, and that principally owing to the legacies it had re-
ceived. The distribution of books had reached that year the
large number -of 46,378. In 1881 the subject of printing a
Prayer Book in Italian was taken up.
(60)
946 A Century of Achievement. [1909
In 1886 the Society inherited a legacy from William H. Van-
derbilt.
In 1890 an appropriation 
