The Nominating Committee presented the following ticket, which was unanimously adopted:— PRESIDENT. REV. B. T. WELCH, D.D. Rev. E. LATHROP, D.D., N. Y. W. W. TODD, Esq., N. Y. VICE-PRESIDENTS. Rev. ALEXIS CASWELL, D.D., R. I. Rev. R. E. PATTISON, D.D., Me. Hon. IRA HARRIS, LL.D., N. Y. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. Rev. RUFUS BABCOCK, D.D. RECORDING SECRETARY. TREASURER. NATHAN C. PLATT. FIRST CLASS, TO SERVE ONE YEAR. REV. RUFUS BABCOCK, D.D., SECOND CLASS, TO SERVE TWO YEARS. THIRD CLASS, TO SERVE THREE YEARS. The President made a few remarks, expressive of his feelings in his re-election, and indicating his strong attachment to the noble and glorious work in which the Society is engaged. The Corresponding Secretary stated that he accepted the appointment, with the understanding that he would retire from office whenever a successor can be found. Rev. Mr. WARREN, of Troy, presented the following resolution, and supported it with appropriate and pertinent remarks: Resolved, That it is the true policy of this Society to enter at once and vigorously upon the publication of Bibles in the English language, and their distribution by colporteurs among our population at large. Referred to Committee-WARREN, BENEDICT, REESE, SWAIM, and LATHROP. After interesting remarks from several brethren, adjourned to 8 o'clock, after singing the Doxology. 8 o'clock P. M.-The Society reassembled. Singing. Prayer by Dr. BENEDICT. Treasurer's Report presented and accepted, sustained by the Hon. Mr. BOKEE. The Corresponding Secretary's Report was presented. Acceptance moved by Rev. Mr. LEONARD, of Ohio, and seconded by Rev. Mr. SwAIM, of Massachu setts. Accepted, and directed to be published, under the direction of the Board. Rev. Mr. WARREN, from the Committee appointed on his resolution offered in the morning, submitted the following resolution, which was unanimously passed : Resolved, That the wants of the American population demand that this Society enter more fully and vigorously upon the work of circulating the Scriptures in the English, German, and other languages, in North America, and to secure the establishment of auxiliaries to the American and Foreign Bible Society, employing colporteurs and other agencies for the purpose. Rev. Mr. LANE, colored brother, from Boston, made some interesting remarks, and a collection was taken up in behalf of his church. Rev. L. NORMANDEAU, of the Grand Ligne Mission, addressed the meeting on the state of religion and Scripture distribution in Canada. Adjourned to 7 1-2 P. M. Benediction by the Pastor. 7 1-2 o'clock, P. M.-The Society reassembled. After singing Hymn 277, Prayer was offered by Rev. GORDON ROBBINS, of Hartford, Conn. Rev. Mr. DAVIDSON, of Canada West, presented the following resolution, and spoke in its favor. Unanimously passed: Resolved, That the present is an eventful period in the history of the world, and one which calls upon the friends of religious and political freedom and Bible Christianity, in language not to be misunderstood, to exert all their energies, and call into requisition every available instrumentality, in order to multiply and circulate faithful translations of the Word in those countries which are opening to receive them; especially as by this means, accompanied by the Divine blessing, Paganism, Mohammedanism, and Popery will be effectually overthrown, despotism destroyed, error eradicated moral darkness dispelled, and men everywhere be brought to rejoice in the light and liberty of the "glorious Gospel of the blessed God." The President announced that Dr. MASON, who was expected to speak, was prevented by indisposition from being present, but that the address prepared by him would be read by Dr. LATHROP, which was accordingly done. 926th Hymn was sung. Rev. LEWIS SMITH, from New Mexico, then addressed the Society, and dwelt particularly on the advantages of colporteur labor, as being the best system of carrying the Gospel to the multitudes. Not one in 1,200 in New Mexico can read. But they always receive the Missionary kindly, treat him courteously, and listen attentively. On motion of Rev. O. W. BRIGGS, Resolved, That the thanks of this Society are tendered to the Rev. Dr. MAGOON for his Anniversary discourse, and to the brethren who have addressed it on the present occasion, and that they are requested to furnish copies for publication with the Minutes. On motion of Rev. S. W. FIELD, of Providence, R. L., Resolved, That our thanks are due, and are cordially tendered, to the Pastor and members of the First Baptist Church, Brooklyn, for their cordial welcome and generous hospitalities during this Anniversary. Rev. Mr. HARRISON's Report, on Building Committee's Report was adopted. The Special Committee to whom was referred the Report of the Committee appointed by the Society in April, 1852, to procure premises for the use of the Society, beg leave to present the following Report: The facts embraced in this paper are matters of special gratulation among us, as well as of gratitude to God. The Committee whose report has been referred to us, was charged with an important dutyto procure a home for the Society. Their work has been accomplished, so as to justify a final report. Such an occasion should not be allowed to pass without fixing in our minds the nature and magnitude of the work accomplished, and impressing us with gratitude to God, who has guided and blessed 1 it. The purchase of a property-the arrangements for erecting a building upon it—the raising of a subscription to cover the expense of the original purchase-the offer of rooms to other denominational Societies, which have been accepted by the HOME MISSION and the Publication Societies-åre among the matters embraced in this Report, and are each the evidence of the valuable services of the Committee, in accomplishing the most important work ever undertaken for this Society. We have now a permanent home, which will always remain an evidence of the regard of the denomi nation where the Society may be established, and sustained in its great work of Bible distribution, and which, with all its revenues and advantages, will forever be devoted to that sacred object. We feel that it is proper, in accepting the final report of this Committee, to express our appreciation of their labors, and to impress on the friends of the Society generally, the importance of giving an early attention to the payment of the subscriptions that have been made, but not yet wholly collected. The following resolutions are respectfully reported to the Society: Resolved, That the Report of the Committee appointed by the Society in April, 1852, to procure premises for their use, be accepted, and the Committee discharged, and that all their unfinished business be referred to the Board of Managers, with power. Resolved, That the members of this Society cordially thank the Committee for the ability and laborious fidelity with which they have executed their high trust. Resolved, That we acknowledge our debt of gratitude to the God of the Bible, for his blessing in the efforts put forth to procure a permanent home for this Society, whence streams of Bible Christianity may flow forth to bless the human race; and that, in our mutual congratulations on this result, we should find encouragement to commensurate exertions in the proper work of the Society. All which is respectfully submitted. NEW YORK, May 8th, 1855. TO THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY: JOHN C. HARRISON, Chairman of Committee. The Committee appointed by the Society on the 14th April, 1852, to procure premises for the use of the Society, respectfully present their final report, In January, 1853, the property, known as numbers 115 and 117 Nassau street, was purchased at $55,000, and the Society entered upon the occupancy on the 2d day of May in that year. The location selected was in every respect satisfactory, but the building then upon it was inconvenient for the occupation of the Society, and not available to produce any income, The erection of a new building being generally acceded to as desirable, the responsibility and charge of constructing it was undertaken by the Real Estate Committee appointed by the Board of Managers, with the concurrence of this Committee, as has been particularly stated in previous reports of your Committee. This building has now been completed. The services appropriate to its opening were held in the building in September last. At the commencement of the incoming financial year of the Society, they find themselves in full possession of the building, entirely completed, and its surplus rooms almost wholly rented and producing an income. The present is therefore an appropriate season for the final report of the Committee, that they have secured "premises in an eligible location in this city for the use of the Society." According to the wish of the donors, the Committee have made certain provisions in reference to the property, which were made public at the time; the principal one of which was, that rooms should be furnished to certain other Societies of the denomination. The proper tender, under this provision, has been made by the Board of Managers and accepted by the American Baptist Home Mission Society and the American Baptist Publication Society. The construction of the new building has been under the charge of the Real Estate Committee of the Board. They have reported to the Board that stores and offices in the building, not needed for the accommodation of this and the other Societies, have been rented to the amount of $11,925; and that the estimated value of the rooms yet to be rented is placed at $850; and also that they propose to make up their final account of the construction of the building, as of the date of the 30th April 1855. The special duty of this Committee has been to make the original purchase of the property, and to raise and collect the subscription to pay for the same. The accounts thereof have been audited to this date and show the original cost of the property, including taxes, insurance, and other expenses incurred in relation thereto, at $58,070 81. The subscriptions have been completed in amount to $55,000, by nearly eight hundred subscribers, of which has been collected the sum of $43,065 93, ubject to an interest account, and the expenses of agents, charges, &c., in collecting the subscrip tions. Your Committee do not think it necessary to delay their final report on account of the uncollected subscriptions, but that this duty may be referred to the proper officers of the Society. They therefore recommend that their financial account, the collection of the residue of the subscription, and their unfinished business, be referred to the Board of Managers. The Committee can, with feelings of gratitude, congratulate the Society upon the accomplishment of the work committed to them in procuring a property for the use of the Society, a building given to them by their friends, with such a general and wide-spread cooperation, and for objects dear to every friend of the Bible. Yet they cannot omit to urge upon the friends of the Society the importance of making early payment of the subscriptions still remaining uncollected; and of making such additional subscriptions as may be necessary to pay, in addition to the price of the land, the expenses above stated, and the expenses by agents, &c., incurred in the collection of the subscriptions-that the original purchase may be the entire and completed work of the denomination. The grounds and reasons for such an interest, as is invoked, need no argument from us. The considerations and promised advantages which urged us to this work have become realized, and we can point to them as facts, which now bear their own evidence to the value and importance of the enter prise. Our purpose has been to sustain and establish a Society, whose object it is to distribute the Word of God to the human race, an object as broad and lasting as the world, and divinely appointed as the means of hearing and of faith. And in view of the origin and history of this Bible House, we can all unite in our acknowledgments of the Divine goodness, which has guided and blessed us in completing a work, in which we have no other intention, than a humble desire for the extension of the knowledge of his word, and for his glory. NEW YORK, May 5th, 1855. Respectfully submitted. S. P. TOWNSEND, Chairman. Proceedings all referred to Board for publication. Benediction by President. WARREN CARTER, Recording Secretary. Treasurer's Report. THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY In Account with Nathan C. Platt, Treasurer. Balance due April 30, 1854,.. To cash paid as follows: 66 Chinese Scriptures, including the progress of translation of the Assamese Mission,. Telogoo Mission,. German Mission,......................... French Mission,. Rev. J. G. Oncken, for Germany, Avails of sales of Scriptures, by Colporteurs in our employ..... Chinese Mission in California,.. One Quarter's Salary, three Colporteurs in New Mexico,..... Total appropriations, 7,300 00 389 77 300 00 300 00 169 30 1,328 15 20,037 22 Paper for Bibles,. ...... 803 85 403 94 3,134 11 Paper, Printing, and Binding Annual Report, and Periodical Coal for heating Managers, Committee, Corresponding Secretary, Collecting and Distributing Agents and their Travelling Expenses, 8,689 24 138 24 American Baptist Home Mission Society, and Bible House Fund, Received on Account of Bible House Fund, since last Anniversary, $19,000. We, the subscribers, a committee appointed by the Board of Managers of the American and Foreign Bible Society, to audit the accounts of the Treasurer, do report that we have examined the accounis and vouchers for the last year just closed, and find the same correct. The receipts from all sources have been forty thousand and thirty-four dollars and twenty-eight cents, and the payments have been thirty-nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine dollars and nty-nine cents, leaving a balance in the treasury at this date of forty-four dollars and forty-nine ? April 30 1855 SAMUEL RAYNOR, JOHN M. BRUCE, JR. } Auditing Committee. |