In the 4th Month (April,) 1813, I entered this Society, as a Member of the Committee, at the request of some of its active members. In the course of attending its meetings, I had an opportunity of hearing the relation, not only of the general success of the undertaking, but of a considerable number of individual cases of extraordinary aptitude, even in persons far advanced in age, in receiving education, as well as of the evident improvement in the moral character of some of these ; which soon excited in my mind no small degree of interest in the prosperity of this Society, and a wish to contribute my mite to promote it, by whatever means I conceived to come within the compass of my humble abilities. Amongst other exertions I endeavoured to make for the benefit of the general cause, I drew up and presented to the Committee an Address, with a view of submitting it to their judgment whether, if printed and dispersed in this city, as well as distant parts of the country, it was calculated to promote the great object of this benevolent Association. The Address being read, the Committee were pleased to express their approbation of it; it was then resolved,

That a private Committee be appointed to consider and determine upon the best means of circulating Dr. Pole's Address, so that it may combine the advantage of benefiting this Institution, with the most extensive circulation and usefulness: and that the said Committee do consist of the following persons-Rev. Joseph Entwisle, Mr. Stephen Prust, Mr. James Davis, Rev. William Wait, Rev. Michael Maurice, Rev. Thomas Roberts, Rev. William Day, Rev. Kelk, and Mr.

Benjamin Donne, who shall meet for that purpose on Monday evening next, the 31st inst."-One thousand copies of the Address were, by order of the Committee, and at their expense, printed off, and distributed gratuitously to the subscribers and others; many of which were sent about the kingdom, and, from subsequent information, this little production appears to have excited a considerable degree of zeal amongst the well-disposed

in

many other places, where Adult Schools are now established; and in some, the subject is at this time occupying their deliberation. This little publication was entitled

An Address to the Committee of the Bristol Society for teaching the Adult Poor to read the Holy Scriptures.

WHEN I was solicited to become a Member of the Committee of this useful and very important Institution, I gave my consent with considerable reluctance : I was fearful that my professional and other engagements would not allow me a sufficient portion of time to discharge, with propriety, the duties of such a station. I entertained, also, a strong apprehension of being deficient in the requisite qualifications for promoting the great and important objects for which the Society for Educating Adults has been established. I was, however, after some deliberation, encouraged to hope that I might acquire information and improvement, by associating with men of talents superior to my own. I considered that this Committee should be composed of persons qualified to advise and regulate the various movements of all the subordinate officers; and to suggest the most probable means of insuring the accomplishment of the important ends, which have called forth the general exertions of so many of our fellowcitizens. With these views, it seems just to remark, that no man should become a member of such a Committee in a torpid and paralyzed state of mind, or to be merely an idle spectator of other men's actions.

Since I have had an opportunity of attending two or three of the meetings of the Committee, I have both seen and heard enough to rouse even an apathized mind

to a lively sensibility, and pious lamentation for the situation of thousands of the labouring poor, and their rising offspring; who have hitherto been deprived of the inestimable privilege of reading for themselves the sacred volume of divine and soul-interesting truths, and learning the principles and precepts of the Christian religion, which they profess to believe. We are now called upon to become instrumental in opening the windows to admit celestial light into the habitations of darkness and ignorance; that those who sit in the valley of the shadow of death may be brought to the saving knowledge of the Lord, to "sing forth the honour of his name, and make his praise glorious.'

To teach the unlearned poor, who have arrived at mature years, and to qualify them to peruse the sacred records, is the great-the laudable object which has so signally excited our attention. Who that is impressed with a due sense of its importance-who that contemplates its effects on posterity, can refuse his assistance to such an undertaking ?-Who ought not to lend his aid to dig the trenches, through which are to flow the streams of divine knowledge to the ignorant-consolation to the afflicted-strength to the weak-warnings to the licentious-hope to the desponding-in short, the glad tidings of great joy to a fallen and degenerate world?

For our encouragement, let us remember the words of the afflicted servant of God, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble; the Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed on the earth." which may be subjoined the warning of the Psalmist, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall also cry himself, but shall not be heard."

To

"We may consider this and the Bible Society, as one body, from their mutual dependence: The head cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee.' Who is ignorant that to distribute Bibles to persons unable to read, is like putting instruments into the hands of

cripples, who have no power to use them? It must therefore be evident, that the present lamentable condition of the poor claims our immediate and most sedulous exertions; if we would render the Bible subservient to the glorious purpose for which it was intended-to make known the means of salvation to all ranks of our fellow creatures, and to guide the footsteps of rebellious man through this vale of tears to the eternal Paradise of God."

"If we are disposed to visit the humble dwellings of the labouring classes in this city, and the cottages in its suburbs, we shall find abundant encouragement to apply the language of the Apostle James, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him?' And is it not of high importance to every true believer, to partake of the blessing promised to him that considereth the poor? Surely, to diffuse hope and joy, thanksgiving and the voice of melody, to the cottages of sorrow-to the chambers of wretchedness, is an employment worthy of a mind devoted to God, and anxious to follow the example of our divine Lord and Master. We are required also to learn of Him, who was meek and lowly of heart, that we may enter into, and for ever enjoy, that rest which is prepared for the people of God."

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When we take a view of the extended energies so admirably exerted to establish and support an universal system of education, and also for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures to the remotest regions of ignorance and superstition, it will not be difficult to observe two prominent circumstances, which strongly persuade us that the hand of the Almighty has given existence to both these great and noble Institutions-Institutions pregnant with incalculable advantages to civil and religious society. I here allude to the plan of general education preceding, by some years, that for distributing the sacred Scriptures-in which we trace the hand of -Infinite Wisdom; because the former of these was not

undertaken in contemplation of the latter; nor were the purposes of Divine Goodness manifested, until he had given existence to them both. The second circumstance is what must have excited the astonishment of this, and, perhaps I may say, of surrounding nations: that these Institutions have flourished, beyond all example, in times of the greatest pecuniary embarrassment. The purses of Princes and Nobles have been liberally opened their munificence has flowed in copious streams for the support of these two great undertakings-whilst even children and persons in the humbler walks of life, have made their sacrifices with cheerfulness, and contributed their mites toward the distribution of the Holy Scriptures. Nay, they have esteemed it a privilege to be allowed to put their feeble hands to so great and good a work. May we not then exclaim with the Psalmist, "The Lord gave the word, great was the company of those that published it."

What christian can contemplate with indifference the effect of the public meetings, which have been held in almost every part of this country! These have exhibited a spirit highly becoming the profession of christianity. The odious bars of prejudice and bigotry have been broken asunder. Ministers, as well as others eminent for piety, of all denominations, have united heart and hand to devote alike their time, their talents, and their substance to promote, not the prosperity of commerce for their own aggrandizement-not the advancement of arts and sciences, to secure importance to themselves—not the furtherance of sect or party; but to diffuse knowledge among the ignorant-to sow the seeds of virtue among their profane and debased fellow creatures, and, with the purest benevolence, to plant the tree of life on the most distant shores.

It is admitted, that some persons, of no common minds, have regarded all attempts to instruct adults as chimerical; but, after what has been done in Bristol and its vicinity, such an opinion must prove like a baseless fabric. The general and rapid improvement of the