PART III. CHAP. II. 1813-14. tributed to the funds of the Society, more than Count Steinheil,) 66 no doubt, you will join us in blessing God; inasmuch as it affords a decisive proof, that the prevalence of infidelity, of indifference to divine things, and of a practical levity, not less destructive than either, has not extinguished, in the breast of this generally poor, but manly and industrious nation, an ardent love for the word of God; and a pleasing hope, that he will lift upon them the light of his reconciled countenance in Christ, and, with temporal peace and quiet, grant them that peace of God which passeth all understanding, and which shall end in everlasting rest in a better world." Much has already been said in commendation of the Bâsle Society; and it must further be observed, that every step in the course of its proceedings, by developing new traits of activity, judgment, and perseverance, gives it fresh claims to admiration and regard. Rapid advances were made in the edition of a small German Bible, (amounting to 10,000 copies,) for the youth in their schools: this, which issued from the press in September, 1814, was shortly after followed by a fifth edition of the larger Bible, on standing types, for the adults and the aged; and scope III. was found for the distribution of both, through PART channels which were continually opening in new and unexpected directions. Nor were the operations of this diligent and improving Society confined to the members of the Protestant community. The disposition among the Catholics, in their vicinity, to receive the Scriptures, opened a wide field for benevolent exertion. Aided by pecuniary grants from the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Committee at Bâsle drew largely upon the Catholic depositories at Ratisbon and Marburg, for the service of the members of that persuasion, both in Germany and Switzerland, whose applications for copies appeared to increase, in proportion as supplies were administered. Similar exertions were made by the Zurich Bible Society, which, besides distributing Bibles, of which it had made an immediate purchase, completed an edition of the New Testament, on large types, in the month of January, 1814, and commenced the distribution with great diligence and liberality. In these measures it obtained a zealous co-operation from the Committees at Schaffhausen, and at Chur. "Present" (said the Zurich Society, in its ac-. knowledgment, through its Secretary)" our most sincere thanks to that Society which has so generously come to our assistance. But for you, we should not possess our New Testament. CHAP. II. 1813-14. PART CHAP. II. 1813-14. Without you, we should not have been able to sell cheaply, or give away 600 Bibles to the poor. May the Lord reward you!" As the course of the narrative has brought us to Switzerland, it may be of advantage to commence the enumeration of the new Societies, from that portion of Europe; and so much the rather, because of the near relation between the Society now first to be mentioned, and that which has last been described. On the 3d of July, 1813, was formed, the St. Gall Bible Society, for the purpose of supplying the Canton of that name, as well the Catholic as the Protestant part of it, with the Holy Scriptures. Of the origin of this Institution, and the manner in which its establishment was effected, the following account is given by the Very Rev. G. G. Scherer, Dean of the Protestant Clergy of St. Gall, and President of the Society, in his eloquent and impressive address at the first anniversary: 66 Through the medium of our respected member, Mr. Gaspard Steinman,* very liberał * Some light will be thrown on the character of this venerable man, by the following extract from one of his letters: I wish to work while it is called to-day; being now in my seventy-fourth year, and feeling desirous to render myself useful in my day and generation. Our Lord well deserves that all the powers of our body and soul should be entirely consecrated to him. Blessed be his name, he drew me at an early period to contributions had previously been raised, and more than 800 Bibles, and 3,300 Testaments, from Bâsle, had been distributed in different parts of this Canton. Even among our Catholic brethren, under the fatherly direction of the excellent Vicar-General, Von Wessenberg, more than 20,000 Testaments have been circulated through his diocese, since the period of his entrance upon his functions; and by the cooperation of several diligent and enlightened clergymen of that persuasion, the Catholics had begun to acknowledge the great value of the Holy Scriptures, and to peruse them with pleasure and advantage. All these circumstances excited in the breast of the highly-estimable Mr. Steinman, a desire to see a Bible Society established among us; that with united zeal we might labor in the cause of the glorious work in which he had already been so actively and unremittingly engaged. At his request, a number of pious and respectable persons assembled, on the 3d of July, 1813, and the foundation of our Bible Society was laid." The proceedings of this Society were cha PART III. СНАР. II. 1813-14. himself; and the nearer I approach the grave, the more I rejoice in having chosen so good a Master, and been privileged by him to contribute in any small degree to the building of his III. CHAP. II. 1813-14. PART racterized by a continuance of that zeal and liberality so conspicuous in the circumstances which led to its formation. Intent upon fulfilling the design of its establishment, its Committee entered into a friendly communication with the Society at Bâsle, and co-operated with that Institution in supplying to Protestants and Catholics, indifferently, according to the versions accredited by their respective communions, the oracles of their common salvation. By the liberal and truly Christian policy of the VicarGeneral, within whose jurisdiction between eighty and ninety out of the one hundred Catholic parishes in the Canton of St. Gall are situated, the interdict prohibiting the people from reading the Scriptures was superseded; and nearly nine tenths of the Catholic population throughout the Canton were not only permitted, but encouraged to peruse them. This consideration will, of itself, render the St. Gall Society a powerful Auxiliary to the Parent Institution (for such it may with truth be denominated) at Bâsle. Aided by the vigorous co-operation of the Committees at Schaffhausen and Chur, and of the Societies at Zurich and St. Gall, (not to mention those which have since arisen, and which are yet progressively arising,) the Bâsle Society may become a distinguished luminary; perhaps the centre of a system by |