diff options
Diffstat (limited to '39139-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 39139-0.txt | 1207 |
1 files changed, 1207 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/39139-0.txt b/39139-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b7d9df --- /dev/null +++ b/39139-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1207 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Letter to the Right Hon. Lord Bexley, by +Francis Cunningham + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Letter to the Right Hon. Lord Bexley + containing a statement to the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society + + +Author: Francis Cunningham + + + +Release Date: March 14, 2012 [eBook #39139] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LETTER TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD +BEXLEY*** + + +Transcribed from the 1827 J. Hatchard and Son edition, by David Price, +email ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + + A + LETTER + TO + THE RIGHT HON. LORD BEXLEY, + + + CONTAINING A + STATEMENT MADE TO THE COMMITTEE + OF THE + British and Foreign Bible Society, + AS TO THE + RELATIONS OF THAT INSTITUTION, + WITH + FRANCE, THE VALLEYS OF + PIEDMONT, SWITZERLAND AND GERMANY. + + * * * * * + + BY FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM, M. A. + RECTOR OF PAKEFIELD, SUFFOLK. + + * * * * * + + LONDON: + J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILY. + + 1827. + + * * * * * + + LONDON: + IBOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY STREET, STRAND. + + + + +PREFACE + + +The circumstances which have given rise to the publication of the +following letter are briefly these:—At the departure of the Author for +the continent, in the month of April, 1826, he tendered his services +generally to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and +received from that body the power of disposing of a certain number of +copies of Bibles and Testaments, at any opportunities which might present +themselves to him on his journey. Of this power he availed himself; and, +on his return to London, in the month of December, he went to the +Committee to give an account of the trust which had been committed to +him. Whilst he was doing this, it was natural that he should add to his +statement a few observations, connected with the objects of the +Institution itself; and more especially, as various errors, into which it +was charged with having fallen, had become the subjects of public +discussion, both in Scotland and in England. These observations Lord +Bexley, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Bible Society, then occupying +the Chair of the Committee, requested, in the name of those over whom he +presided, might be communicated in writing; and, in compliance with this +request, the following statement was sent. + +After some delay, the author, at the suggestion of several friends, has +been led to make it public, hoping that it may supply to the supporters +of the Bible Society new motives for earnestly and generously persevering +in their efforts to promote the circulation of the Scriptures; and, to +the assailants of that Institution, an answer to some of the charges +which they, in his apprehension, have hastily and unwarrantably brought +forward. + +The Author can only hope this document may be a means of forwarding the +interests of the Bible Society—an Institution, which, in his mind, +whatever may be the evil resulting from the circulation of the apocryphal +books, has sown the seed of more important benefits to mankind than even +the Reformation itself. + + * * * * * + +_Pakefield_, _April_ 5, 1827. + + + + +A +LETTER, +_&c._ + + + * * * * * + + MY LORD, + +In compliance with a wish so kindly expressed by your Lordship, I shall +now endeavour to communicate in writing the substance of what I took the +liberty of stating in the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible +Society. The observations there made chiefly respected the state of +religion on the continent of Europe—especially as connected with that +institution whose Committee I had the honour of addressing; and they were +exclusively such as had been suggested to me during a journey of eight +months through the various countries, to which it was my endeavour to +draw the attention of your Lordship and the Committee. + +I must beg leave, however, to preface this brief and inadequate statement +by two or three observations. + +In the first place, I must intreat that if this written document should +not be found precisely to correspond in expression or detail with the +address to the Committee, the difference may be ascribed, not to +intention, but to a defect of memory. That address was altogether +extempore; and my recollection of particular expressions I may have +employed, is very imperfect. + +In the next place, I wish to have it understood, that although I should +not have committed this statement to the press, except at the wish of +some members of the Committee of the Bible Society, I, myself am alone +responsible for the facts and opinions it contains. It was highly +satisfactory to me to discover that many of the views taken by myself of +the subjects upon which I spoke, corresponded with those of a large +proportion of the Committee. In other points, I might not be so +fortunate as to agree with that majority. But, whatever might be the +amount of that agreement or disagreement, I desire alone to be made +responsible for the contents of this paper. + +I must also be permitted to say that, in this communication, a few names +and particulars have been suppressed, which I did not hesitate to produce +to the Committee. It is obvious that circumstances which might safely be +named within walls, from which they were not likely to escape; might +produce inconvenience, if published and circulated upon the continent of +Europe. + +I shall now proceed to give the substance of what I ventured to offer to +the Committee. + +My first visit was to France, where I remained almost continually +journeying for several months. It was a satisfaction to me to arrive at +Paris in time to attend the annual public meeting of the Bible Society. +I can truly say that the meeting was in the highest degree interesting. +The character of the reports, especially those of the Ladies’ and +Mechanics’ Society—the attendance of so many ministers of religion—the +introduction of extempore speaking—the feeling of warmth and zeal which +seemed almost universally to prevail—left me no doubt but that a deep +interest pervaded the minds of large numbers on the subject of the +circulation of the Scriptures. I afterwards visited many of the +auxiliaries, great and small, of the Society in different provinces, and +the hopes formed at the meeting at Paris were not disappointed. It +happened to me to pass through one small village in a very solitary +situation in the centre of France, where three associations had been +formed—one of children, another of young women, and a third of the +population at large. In this village, under a very pious and able +minister, Mr. Duvivier, it was interesting to observe to what an extent +education had gone hand in hand with the circulation of the word of God. +Some of the children in the school repeated, as a Sunday task, not less +than two hundred verses of the New Testament. + +With many of the larger auxiliaries of the Society, I was particularly +gratified. In some districts the circulation of the Scriptures was very +considerable. In others, much still remained to be done. The Protestant +ministers were the general agents and protectors of the institution; and, +there were many of them full of activity. Two collateral benefits of the +Bible Society were particularly obvious in France,—in the first place, +the truly valuable object which it supplied to many pious, active, and +benevolent minds, which powers might have been otherwise unemployed: and +in the next place, the rallying point which it afforded for the really +pious of all classes. It is difficult to say to what an extent the +society has enlarged the efficiency, and strengthened the union of the +religious body amongst the Protestants. + +Such was the influence of these and other circumstances on my own mind, +that I often found occasion to observe to my fellow travellers, that, if +ever I had doubted the benefits of the society, those doubts must now +have vanished. + +Amongst both Catholics and Protestants much good has been accomplished by +the British and Foreign Bible Society. By means of one of the most +active agents of this institution, the late Mr. Owen, the society was +regularly established amongst the Protestants. And, amongst the +Catholics, even where the Bible Society has not been able to obtain any +regular establishment by means of our agents, a large number of Bibles +and Testaments has been distributed in the schools, hospitals, and +prisons, and amongst the population at large. I have seen the Testaments +of this society in various important schools; in the hands of the sick, +and in the wards of the hospital. I have known them carried to the +infirm and the dying by those who are so emphatically and justly called +the Sœurs de la Charité. I had myself also the happiness of distributing +five hundred copies of those so kindly committed to me by the society in +a prison containing upwards of four thousand individuals. We cannot +believe that these various gifts have been made in vain. Much of the +fruit will be discovered only on the great day, when the secrets of all +hearts shall be disclosed. But in the mean time no man can follow the +course of the Bible without perceiving the benefits resulting from its +circulation. In one instance, I cannot but doubt that the conversion of +a large body from Popery to Protestantism, in a city in the south of +France, has been materially assisted by the operations of this society. + +There are yet two points in connexion with France, on which I feel it +necessary to trouble the Committee. In the first place, I have a debt of +justice and gratitude to render to Professor Kieffer, your society’s +agent at Paris. I will here say nothing on the subject of his opinions +with regard to the distribution of the Apocryphal books, except that, +whether he is right or wrong, he has found many both good and wise men on +the continent and elsewhere, who agree in the views which he has adopted. +With respect to his religious orthodoxy, which I understand has been most +unjustly called in question in this country, I feel it right to say, that +no one who knows him can entertain a doubt. + +As to talents, diligence, vigilance, and zeal, as an agent of this +society, he has few equals, and can scarcely have a superior. As a man +of business, of regularity, vigour, and dispatch, he is very +conspicuous—and those who know the immense deficiency of business-like +habits on the continent, will know how to value such important qualities +in the agent they employ. + +The other subject respects the decision of the British and Foreign Bible +Society, as to the distribution of the Apocryphal books. It would be +unjust to deny that, when the question concerning the rejection of these +books was first proposed to the Bible Societies in France, they almost +unanimously declared their strong preference for Bibles with the +Apocrypha. In the _Lutheran_, which is the smaller part of the +Protestant church of France, this preference still, to a considerable +degree, prevails. But among the members and ministers of the _Reformed_ +church, and especially those who felt the real value of the word of God, +I was rejoiced to find, how few dissented from your late resolution. And +I feel assured that, when the question comes to be presented to +continental churches in all its bearings, and the danger is shown of thus +commingling error with truth, their grounds of opposition will be +removed; and they will feel it their duty to pursue the same course as +that in which your society has so wisely taken the lead. + +It remains only with regard to France, that I should take the liberty of +urging upon the Committee the duties of the most strenuous and +affectionate co-operation. It is impossible not to consider the general +state of the Protestant churches as much advanced during the interval of +five years when I before visited them. The political feeling of the +Protestants appeared to me a good deal improved; and the government in +general of France has done much to deserve their confidence and +gratitude. The Protestants themselves seem to me much more sensible of +the state of decay in their church; and are in proportion desirous of its +restoration to life. It is true that heterodoxy of a very deplorable +kind has, to a considerable degree, crept into the universities of that +country. But I was often struck by observing, that when some of the +clergy taught in those universities, entered upon the discharge of their +pastoral office; and it became their direct object to withdraw the +profligate from sin, and lead the miserable to comfort—to confirm the +wavering, to meet the wants and wishes of our fallen nature, to assuage +the sufferings of an awakened conscience, and supply a strong refuge in +the hour of death, they have been compelled to desert their own ground, +and seek, within the enclosure of orthodox and evangelical religion, the +weapons of their warfare, and the means of consolation and of joy. I was +delighted indeed to find some of those who had been instructed in the +Neological school, among the most zealous promoters of the truth as it is +in Christ. + +I shall next beg of the Committee to pass on with me from France to +_Italy_. To the northern parts of this country, however, my visit was +alone extended; and there I found the same obstacles to exist against the +free circulation of the word of God, of which other travellers have +complained. One exception however may be stated, and that with regard to +a people whose cause has excited a warm and most honourable interest in +this country—the Protestant inhabitants of Piedmont. They, in common +with the other Protestant subjects of the King of Sardinia, are now +permitted to receive books of every kind, on payment of duty, and, on the +condition that they are neither sold, lent, nor given to Catholics. This +concession came at a time of peculiar importance; as it facilitated the +introduction of the large grant of Bibles lately made by this society to +the Protestant inhabitants of the vallies. And I learned from the +principal agent of the Bible Society in those quarters, that they had +received nearly 5000 {6} Bibles and Testaments from different +institutions. These grants are of greater value at this moment, when the +Vaudois Committee in London is so wisely and assiduously labouring to +establish schools of various kinds in these vallies. I am requested to +present the cordial thanks of the ministers of the Vaudois church to this +society. + +The next point to which I would call the attention of this Committee, is +Geneva. The character and services of the Bible Society in that city +have, it appears to me, been grievously misrepresented in some of the +recent publications in this country, on the subject of the Apocryphal +controversy. From the fact of the society in Geneva not discovering much +zeal for the distribution of the Geneva version of 1805, of which the +orthodoxy was called in question, the consequence has arisen, that the +friends of that version have gradually seceded from the ranks of the +institution. And, let it be recorded to the praise of the society at +Geneva, that, when the great mass of the continental Bible Societies were +anxious, by establishing counter resolutions of their own, to manifest a +spirit of resistance to the Anti-Apocryphal resolution of the London +Committee, the Geneva Society opposed this measure, and publicly +manifested its fidelity towards the British and Foreign Bible Society, +and its lively gratitude for the favours bestowed upon it through a +series of years. Assisted by powerful auxiliaries, and especially by +that of Satigny, under the administration of a most enlightened and +devout member of the church, M. le Pasteur Gaussen, they are doing much +for that part of Switzerland, and supplying an example on the continent, +of sending money for the distribution of books in remote parts of the +world. Of two individuals, occupying distinguished posts in that +society, I must say a few words. Its president, M. Vernet, is a person +who has experimentally felt the value of the Bible, and manifested, in +circumstances of deep trial, his confidence in its instructions and +consolations; and the secretary, M. Gautier, is an individual in whose +friendship as a Christian, and zeal as a member of this society, I have +found much cause to rejoice. That the Committee is not framed upon a +more comprehensive and generous principle, is to be regretted; but it +labours assiduously and successfully as to the great object for which it +is brought together. + +The Bible Society of the Canton de Vaud has acted upon the principle of +securing to itself a permanent income, for the perpetual distribution of +the Holy Scriptures, independent of new contributions—by funding its +capital. This measure has displeased many individuals in the Canton; and +has probably assisted to give birth to other societies in Lausanne and +its neighbourhood, acting upon a different principle. I speak from +pretty accurate knowledge of that Canton, when I say, that the state of +religion is very remarkably improved in it. It is impossible that any +one who reads the religious publications of the day should be ignorant of +the severe measures adopted by the government of the Canton de Vaud, +within a few years, to prevent religious meetings, and otherwise obstruct +the course of true religion. But the advancement in piety, and +especially amongst the members of the Established Church, is not a little +conspicuous. I can truly say, that I visited no place where the spirit +of religious enquiry was more alive, and where the taste was more +extended for simple biblical reading. The severity of the government has +in a great measure relaxed. The piety of the people has increased. Is +it unfair to consider as one of the instruments of this improvement, +that, in addition to the number of Bibles before in circulation there has +been circulated, by the Bible Society of that place, 15,000 copies of the +word of God, amongst a population of 160,000 persons? + +As to the newly revised edition of Osterwald’s Bible, published at +Lausanne, it is impossible not to condemn in it both the deviations from +the original, and the employment, in what are called the improvements, of +a great deal of paraphrastic language. In speaking of that edition of +the Bible, I think it right, however, to bear my humble testimony to the +general character of the authors of this revision; and to state my +conviction of the facility with which your Committee may have been +betrayed into something of undue confidence in them. The gentlemen +engaged in that revision, were some of them amongst the persons in the +highest general estimation for talents and piety: of Professor Levade, +the president of the Lausanne Bible Society, I may say that a more +faithful friend to the general distribution of the Scriptures cannot be +found. I have myself taken the liberty of strongly expressing my dissent +from him upon various subjects connected with the society in general, and +the Lausanne edition in particular. But I must be allowed to say to his +honour, that, independent of the labour and cost he has sacrificed on +this edition of the Bible, he has for a series of years sustained the +burden of the Cantonal Bible Society on his almost unassisted shoulders, +and continues to exhaust the strength of his declining age in giving +efficiency to the operations of this Institution. + +The next Bible Society of importance which I visited was that of Basle. +I was there soon brought into communication with the Committee on the +subject of their temporary estrangement from your Society on the ground +of the late resolution as to the Apocryphal Books. I endeavoured to +explain to the Committee the probable result of the resolutions to which +they had come of refusing to be even the agents of those Societies which +had resolved in no way to assist in the circulation of the Apocrypha. +When they found that the decision of the London Committee was the result, +not of prejudice, but of conscience, they at once gave up their own +resolutions, and acquiesced in the proposal which was made to them. They +passed a resolution expressive of their kind sympathy towards the British +and Foreign Bible Society; and they undertook still to serve it as +agents; although, at the same time, they could not, according to their +judgment of the question, consent personally, and for themselves, to +circulate Bibles without the Apocryphal Books. I cannot easily convey to +you the high opinion which I formed of the Committee of the Bible Society +of Basle, and of its venerable President, the Antistes. The interest +which they feel, and the labour which they devote to the distribution of +the Scriptures is what I have never seen exceeded in any other place, and +I can have no doubt, that whatever commission you are pleased to entrust +to them, will be judiciously and faithfully executed. + +It is my wish in the last place to say something on the state of Germany. +And here the few observations I have to offer will be of a somewhat more +general nature, or, at least, less confined to particular societies. + + + +I. As to the question of the Apocrypha. + + +The German Societies labour under great difficulty respecting the +Apocryphal Books; and the greater part of them are not at present +disposed to give them up. They ground their determination in general +upon the following reasons. 1st. In all cases in Germany the Societies +are sanctioned by the government of the respective countries, on the +implied condition of distributing the Scriptures as approved by the +ecclesiastical authority, i.e. with the Apocryphal Books. In some cases +that condition is even expressed. The Societies could not therefore +alter the mode of distributing the Scriptures, without the permission of +the government, which permission they apprehend would not be granted if +it were asked. 2d. There are in Germany a vast variety of moral school +books, the lessons of which are taken partly from the Apocrypha, and +which they imagine would be useless if the Apocrypha were taken from +common use. 3dly. The original principle on which the Foreign Societies +formed their alliance with the British and Foreign Bible Society was +_conciliatory_. The Anti-apocryphal resolution they hold to be +_reforming_; and they think that no Bible Society has a right to +establish a reforming principle as a law to other Bible Societies. 4th. +The question being, as they conceive, whether each Bible Society shall be +permitted to bind the Apocrypha together with the canonical books, at +their own expence; they think they may claim for the Apocrypha bound up +with the Bible, the same liberty which is exercised in England in the +case of prayer books bound up with the word of God. A person, they +apprehend, in this country may bind up with the Bible he receives from +the Bible Society whatever tract he pleases, without forfeiting his right +as a member of that Society.—Some persons desire to retain the Apocryphal +books as valuable historical documents; others fear the ill consequences +which might result from appearing to the ill-informed to take away a part +of Scripture.—Of all these reasons it may be said that they are founded, +rather on views of expediency, than conscience; and are not therefore to +be put in comparison with the great principle involved in this question, +and which has directed the decision of the London Committee, viz. whether +that which is _not_ the word of God ought to be put on a level with that +which _is_. I cannot but think that if our Christian brethren in Germany +were led to this view of the question; that if the writers on the +subject, in this country, were to direct a little of the zeal for their +instruction upon this point; the more pious part of our neighbours would +be induced, at no distant period, to adopt the resolution which we have +established. In the meantime, there are very many persons and districts, +as the correspondence of the Society may testify, who, even now, are +willing to receive and distribute the Bible without the apocryphal +writings. The example of these societies will, I doubt not, work +powerfully upon others. + +From all that I was able to learn in Germany, it appeared to me that, to +every class of protestants, the resolution of your Committee respecting +the Apocrypha will be attended with immense advantage. Great benefit may +result, from this resolution, to the general theological teaching of that +country. A large proportion of the errors of the German divines, appear +to me to have originated in breaking down the boundaries of inspiration. +The first work published by Semler, who may be considered as the +originator of the new school of Theology, in Germany, is entitled +“Apparatus ad liberalem Novi Testamenti Interpretationem.” The object of +this work is to give extent to the powers of human reason; and, in +defiance of the common notions of the authority of inspiration, to +accommodate Scripture to the philosophic views of the author.—Subsequent +writers have contended for the partial inspiration of the Scripture; +others for the unreasonableness of inspiration altogether, &c. till the +dignity and authority of the divine sanction, is wholly withdrawn from +the word of God, and critics have felt themselves at liberty to discuss +both the books of the Bible, and their contents with no other restraint +than they would feel in the examination of the most ordinary publication. +Now the anti-apocryphal resolution of the Committee will I conceive go +far to suggest for each man’s consideration, this important +question—“What is, and what is not the Bible?” and, thus, a primary and +most important question will be discussed, one which must stand at the +basis of all sound theology; and this, if rightly determined, will assist +to bring back the German divines from the wild notions they have so +generally adopted; and the benefit resulting from this resolution will +probably be a larger distribution of the Bible itself. In those cases +amongst the protestants where the societies may refuse to act as agents +for the distribution of our canonical books, which cases will, I +apprehend, eventually be very few; those societies may be prompted to +greater exertion to secure their independent existence; and in the case +of most Bible Societies, it will be found that they are capable of doing +much more for themselves, and others, than they have done, whilst they +continued to receive assistance from this country. + +With respect to the Catholic population any considerable distribution of +the _Old_ Testament will undoubtedly be prevented by the Anti-apocryphal +resolution. But this need not hinder the circulation of the _New_ +Testament. This indeed may be distributed in larger abundance than +before. Leander Van Ess told me that he had then before him applications +for 30,000 copies of the Catholic New Testament, whilst he had only two +or 300 in his depository; and that he waited only for the direction of +your Society to encrease his circulation to a very great amount.—I have +no hesitation then in offering my cordial approbation to those who have +supported the Anti-apocryphal Resolution of the Bible Society. +Independently of every other consideration, this resolution will I think, +speedily, as well as remotely, be attended with important benefit as +respects the advancement of real Christian knowledge. + +II. It may be desirable to say a few words as to the _Committees and +officers of the German_ Bible Societies. It has been a subject of grief +to me, on my return to this country, to find these individuals +reproached, in very general terms, as ‘infidels,’ ‘Neologians,’ +‘designing men,’ ‘who have taken the offices they hold for their crafts’ +sake,’ &c. + +It is true I apprehend that many Neologians are connected with the Bible +Societies in Germany,—some by virtue of the offices they hold, and others +voluntarily. In Heidelburg for instance the fundamental rules of the +Society placed all the professors of divinity attached to the university, +ex-officio, upon the Committee of the Bible Society. One of these +individuals is the professor Paulus. But from all the inquiries I was +able to make, I could never learn that any individual in Germany, +publicly holding neological opinions, was an _active agent_ of the Bible +Society. And how could any thing like an active agency be expected of +such individuals. After the Bible Society had been formed in Germany, it +soon spread very rapidly. Many Neologians, from various motives no +doubt, enlisted themselves in its ranks. But what was the real history +of this movement? The religious body were the originators of these +societies, but they were soon compelled to seek the protection of others +in authority, because the existence of societies in many countries must +depend upon their sanction; and they were glad, even in other cases, to +make those who heeded not the word of God themselves, the distributors of +it to the rest of the world. But if, at this time, there are inactive +agents of the German Bible Societies; if there are even secretaries who +feel very little of the value of the Bible,—are there no counterparts to +these in our own country? We take the best we can get,—lament their +deficiencies,—and devoutly wish them better; but still we prefer the +deposit for Bibles being placed in such hands, rather than having no +deposit at all. + +I am able, however, by a convincing document, to shew what is the real +estimate taken of the Bible Society by the Neological party in Germany. +There is published at Darmstadt what is called the Church Newspaper, +which is devoted to the consideration of subjects connected with +religion. The editor of this paper, as you will judge by the following +extract, is a Neologian, and let us hear the language in which he speaks +of the Bible Societies. + +Extract from the Church Newspaper of Germany, Kirchen Allgemeine Zeitung, +published at Darmstadt, Sept. 28th 1826. + + _Heading of the Number_. + + “Verily were Christ now to appear again he would say, ‘Woe unto you, + Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites,’ for ye anxiously cling to the + letter of the Scriptures, which ye misunderstand; and the spirit, of + which ye cannot comprehend; ye insist on the doctrine of a dead + faith, but neglect the weightier matters of the law, judgment and + mercy; and ye appear outwardly pious whilst within ye are full of + hypocrisy and wickedness. Depart from me, he would exclaim, ye + workers of iniquity, projectors of heresy, slanderers, and breakers + of the peace, I never knew you.” + + “ON BIBLE SOCIETIES.” + +After stating some general advantages which might result from the +distribution of the Scriptures amongst the Heathen, such as “calling into +action the slumbering energies of man,” “ameliorating his nature,” and +laying the “foundation of his moral improvement;” the editor goes on to +mention the ordinary arguments which are made use of against Bible +Institutions in Germany, and which arise chiefly from the part which +foreigners have taken in their establishment. + +He then states some particular reasons which should lead his readers more +carefully to consider the mode of conducting Bible Societies, and to +greater caution in lending them their support and patronage, particularly +at the present period. + +I now give the translation of an extract. + + “In the first place we feel ourselves constrained to assert, that the + dissemination of the Scriptures does not appear to us to be conducted + in a proper spirit, and with proper views. If we investigate the + character of many of those who distinguish themselves by more than + ordinary activity in the cause, it cannot be denied that they very + frequently seem to possess only a narrow view of theology, and + exceeding littleness of mind. That laudable veneration, which they + feel for the word of God, easily acts in them, in the absence of more + solid theological attainments, as a check to the liberty of thought + and judgment, to which Christianity leads; they confound an + ecclesiastical system of doctrine with the Gospel, they adhere with + enthusiastic devotedness to exterior forms, and sacrifice to these + the heavenly spirit of Christianity; they seek the essentials of our + religion in the blood and wound theology {15} (blut und wunden + theologie) of former centuries, and it is sufficiently clear that, by + the exertions of such men, a blind adherence to the mere letter of + the word of God is again sought to be brought into use, to the great + injury of genuine Christianity and moral improvement. The peculiar + interest which Mystics and Pietists of the present day take in the + advancement of Bible Societies, and the connection in which they + frequently stand with those who create disorders, by dissent and + separation from the church, is a sign of the times which ought not to + be passed over unnoticed.” + +The editor next objects to the resolution taken in England on the subject +of the Apocrypha. This the editor thinks should be opposed, on the +ground, amongst other reasons, that two _thirds of the canonical books of +the Old Testament_ might _with far less injury be withheld than one +single book of the Apocrypha_, for instance, the book of Sirach, &c. &c. + +I think from this extract it will be obvious, that the Bible Society +abroad is regarded by the enemies of the truth as a great instrument for +promoting evangelical religion; and, in spite of what has been said +against its agents and its apocryphal books, I cannot but concur with the +German editor, in his general argument. It is my deliberate conviction, +that the Bible Society has been in Germany the instrument of the greatest +good; and, if some of the heads of this institution have not profited by +it as they ought, the poor at least, in many considerable districts, have +been gainers to an extent of which those are little aware who have not +carefully investigated the subject. + +In another part of the continent, I certainly found some persons, +professedly heterodox in their opinions, who were nevertheless, active +friends of the Bible Society. In one case, I heard that the public +meeting of a very large city; and in another, that the welfare of a +society, in an immense Protestant district, depended upon the exertions +of persons of the class above described. But could I fail, in such +cases, to thank God, who had kindly placed the antidote so near to the +bane, and had employed an enemy of the truth as the destroyer of his own +principles? + +III. A point, to which I must refer, is that of the _persecution of +religious characters_ in Germany, and which persecutions have been +represented as at least sanctioned by the friends of the Bible Society. +This statement as a general fact, I believe to be utterly incorrect. I +took great pains to investigate it on the spot. I wish, for obvious +reasons, not to enter far into particulars. But of one individual, whose +history has been before the public, and whose sufferings have been +introduced to their notice with a sort of tragical effect, I can venture, +after a minute inquiry, to affirm, that his troubles arose, not so much +from his simple proclamation of the truths of the Gospel, as from his +indiscretions, from his resistance to civil as well as ecclesiastical +regulations, and his general intemperance of conduct. I must also add, +that some of the persons who _protected_ that individual, were at the +very time active agents of the Bible Society in their own country. One +simple fact will be sufficient to establish these statements. The truths +of the Gospel have been and are proclaimed, and are tolerated, and even +approved in several of the places from whence this individual was driven. + +With respect to the Canton de Vaud, a statement to the same effect has +been made. It is certain that an angry feeling was excited in the minds +of several members of the Committee of the Bible Society of that +district, on the occasion which gave rise to the persecutions in that +Canton. At the same time, any participation in this persecution is, as +to himself, distinctly disavowed by Professor Levade; and certainly those +who were the writers or actors in this persecution do not appear in any +way in the list of the officers of the Bible Society. Two circumstances +connected with the measures which were pursued in this Canton, in +opposition to religious meetings, are sufficiently remarkable and +interesting to deserve our notice. In the first place, the astonishing +progress of religion during this period; and, in the second, the +discovery, during the brief continuance of this opposition, of the utter +inefficiency of intolerant measures in checking the progress of inquiry +after truth. + +IV. A point, which I must bring before your notice, is the actual _state +of true religion_ on the _continent_, and more especially in _Germany_. +It is certainly true that Neology has to a lamentable extent taken +possession of the universities, the public prints, and the higher orders +of society. At the same time I believe, that the statements which have +gone abroad, of the extent of its prevalence, are, as to two points, +inaccurate. In the first place, they describe only one side of the case; +for, if there is much infidelity and neology on the continent, there is +also a considerable sprinkling of true religion. And, secondly, The evil +which has existed, and does exist, may be said to be every day +diminishing. As to the first of these facts, I could point out +individuals, parishes, and districts, where real religion is in active +operation; places and persons altogether unconnected with those agents +from England, who have been said to be the only instruments of doing +important good on the continent, and which are therefore unrecognised by +them, and possibly unknown to them. I could name one little knot of +parishes, all within a small circle, in which are twelve ministers, +earnest, orthodox, and devout servants of the Redeemer. I could name +another place, where forty ministers were lately assembled for purposes +of religious and spiritual communion. I might also allege the fact, that +at different universities there are professors who openly, and from the +heart, confess the true faith. I may indeed affirm that, from the +cottages of the poor to the palaces of kings, there are those who walk +worthy their high vocation as Christians and as men. The admitted evils +are every day diminishing. The number of converts is increasing. The +opinions of Paulus and Schulthess seem likely to die away with +themselves. What can be more remarkable than the change which has taken +place in the kingdom of Prussia, where the leaders of the state and the +university may now be said to hold the very opposite creed to that which +obtained with their immediate predecessors? + +There are two individuals, of whom, as connected with Germany, I feel it +right to say a few words—the one is Leander Van Ess, the other your late +invaluable Secretary, Dr. Steinkopff. + +Leander Van Ess I had the happiness of visiting; and I remained with him +during a day, which I passed at Darmstadt. It was impossible not to be +prepared, by his writings, to form a very high estimate of his character +and his labours; and these expectations were, in my case, in no wise +disappointed. I was struck with his holy devotedness to his great +object, with his unwearied diligence, with his unbounded charity. He is +a man who rises at four o’clock in the morning to his daily task; pursues +it often without cessation through the day; and, as I was informed by +those best acquainted with his habits, he is often found at midnight +occupied with his work. He is making a new version of the Bible, which, +by the help of the continental Bible Societies, he is about to print; +and, although he holds the opinions of the church to which he belongs on +the subject of the Apocrypha, he wishes this opinion to be no hinderance +to others; so that they will, in any way, read the word of God. He is, +therefore, preparing his version for publication, in three forms. First, +with the Vulgate printed in a small type at the bottom of each page, and +with the Apocrypha intermixed; this is the form in which the Catholics +wish to receive it. Secondly, without the Vulgate, and with the +Apocrypha appended, for the Protestants of that country. Thirdly, +without the apocryphal books, for the distribution of our own Bible +Society, if we are disposed to adopt it. Here is a specimen of that +largeness of charity by which every part of his conduct is influenced. +So that, by Protestants and Catholics, who are partakers of the same +spirit, he is alike esteemed. The king of Wirtemberg has presented him +with a medal, in token of his useful labours in his kingdom. The +grand-duke of Baden has given him money to purchase Testaments. And the +government under which he lives sanction his proceedings, and one member +in particular of the royal family of the grand-duke affords him constant +protection and assistance. So that kings, I may say, are “the nursing +fathers” of his plans and labours. I consider this society as +privileged, in no ordinary degree, in having such an agent and friend on +the continent. The assistance which he has already rendered to the +Society has been very considerable. He has a great work on his hands. +Communications are always to be kept open, letters to be written; and, in +a country where there is a fastidiousness in receiving any religious +offering from abroad, no one, who has not tried the experiment, can judge +how much judgment, care, and delicacy it requires to bestow the gift +without injuring the cause it is intended to promote. + +The other individual, to whom I have ventured to refer, is your late dear +and honoured Secretary, Dr. Steinkopff. The present was not the first +opportunity I had enjoyed of tracing the extent of his labour, and of +ascertaining the estimation in which he is held on the continent. It is +right to be known, that Dr. Steinkopff, before he came to England, filled +an office of large correspondence on the subject of religion, and which +gave him perhaps a better acquaintance with the religious state of +Germany, than, I may venture to say, any other individual. He has +constantly held communications with his successors in the important and +influential office which he himself held; and this has given, to himself, +a power of judging of the exact state of the continent; and, to his +labours, a degree of efficiency, which could scarcely have been possessed +without it. But when I speak of the value of Dr. Steinkopff to the Bible +Society, it is not to any mere outward circumstance I would mainly +advert. I may venture to say, that his character has been one grand +instrument of your success on the continent. “If,” said a person, of +considerable influence in Germany, to me, “you do not want Dr. Steinkopff +any longer in England, send him over here, and he will find friends +enough.” Wherever he has appeared, either as the officer of your Society +or as a private individual, he has left a name behind him which, next to +the favour of the Master he has so affectionately and devotedly served, +and the good which he has been the instrument of effecting for his +fellow-creatures, may be his comfort in his hours of sickness and of +solitude. I saw none who knew him who were not ready to bear testimony +to his humility, his conscientiousness, his vigour, his undeviating +devotedness to the Society whose officer he was. May God long preserve +him to assist us by his counsels, and to advocate the cause of the +Society, with a voice which, whether at home or abroad, has been rarely +heard in vain. + +I will now venture, in conclusion, to urge upon the Committee, as the +plain inference from the foregoing statements, what appears to me to be a +most imperious duty. It is that of cultivating and to manifesting a +_spirit of kindness_, _of generosity_, _and enlarged benevolence towards +our continental brethren_. If it be considered as an offence that we +express our “unfeigned Christian regards” towards many of our fellow +labourers abroad, I trust that we shall continue thus to offend. I had +constantly occasion on the continent, whilst speaking on the subject of +the Apocrypha to those who most materially differed from us, to urge, +that, whereas by the new resolution of the British and Foreign Bible +Society, the ground upon which we could unite was somewhat narrowed, our +temper of mind, our sympathy, and love might remain the same; and that, +if we could hope less than ever to “reconcile all opinions,” we might +still endeavour “to unite all hearts.” + +This was the leading principle of our Society in the infancy of its +institution; and, now that we are more matured in age, let us labour not +to depart from it. Far then from advising the officers of this Society +to suffer themselves, in their communications with the continent, to be +lectured into a cold, dry, measured style of writing, I would exhort them +to give vent to their warm and generous feelings. They may, in so doing, +err in the sight of those disposed to make men “offenders for a word;” +but they will better please the compassionate Master they serve; they +will, under the divine blessing, cherish the fainting spirit of +continental Christianity, and fan that spark of piety and zeal which is +lighted up, I trust, never to be extinguished. + +I hope too the Committee will be encouraged as to the general objects and +operations of the Society. I am, by actual observation, more than ever +convinced, that, on a very large scale, this institution is on the +continent, a favoured instrument in the hands of Divine Providence. The +good which it has accomplished is immense. The evils which have been +charged upon it, exist, rather in imagination, than in reality. Let the +Committee go on to do what they can, and to do all in the spirit of love +and generosity. Let them commit every endeavour to the blessing of Him +to whom the souls of the multitudes scattered over the continent are +unspeakably dear; let them be confident that the word of the Lord will +have free course and be glorified; and that millions will arise, at the +last day, to acknowledge with gratitude and joy the labours of this +Society. Let the temper of the Society remain unimpaired at home; and it +need not be disquieted at objections or assaults which will not at least +commend themselves to the world at large, by the general spirit in which +they have been defended. And may we never fail to repose an honourable +confidence in the officers and friends of the Society; nor forget, in +judging of others, to take into account the infirmities of our common +nature. May we feel that, having embarked in the glorious enterprise of +making all men acquainted with the pure and unadulterated word of God, it +is not for us to be checked by slight obstacles; but to go forward, +conquering and to conquer, in the name of him who has loved us, and given +himself for us, and who has consigned this volume, as his precious +legacy, to a perishing and suffering world. + + Believe me, my Lord, + + Your Lordship’s very obedient servant, + + F. CUNNINGHAM. + +_Pakefield_, _Lowestoft_, + _Jan._ 5, 1827. + + * * * * * + + LONDON: + IBOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY STREET, STRAND. + + + + +Footnotes + + +{6} 2397 Bibles, 2436 Testaments. + +{15} The doctrine of the atonement of Christ, and justification by +faith. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LETTER TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD +BEXLEY*** + + +******* This file should be named 39139-0.txt or 39139-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/1/3/39139 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |