Book Society, London Dissenters

Book Society, London Dissenters, 1750-1800 – This Society was founded in London in 1750 for promoting religious knowledge among the poor. The society was founded by a Mr. Benjamin Forfitt, a member of the Independent congregation at the Weigh-house under William Langford and John Clayton. Rowland Hill preached the annual sermon for the Society in 1791, so he may have been the Society’s secretary that year as well, but that is not clear. Among the ministers who preached annual sermons for the Society were Samuel Stennett (1755), Samuel Medley (1789), and John Rippon (1796 and 1803).  Baptists who served as stewards included John and Joseph Flight, Robert Keene, John Collett Ryland, James Davidson, Bannister Flight, Benjamin Tomkins, Samuel Beddome, Joseph Gutteridge, Henry Keene, William Lepard, John Pelly Lepard, John Hemming, Boswell Beddome, Henry Smithers, Joseph Wickenden, John Cowell, John Foster, Samuel Medley, Jr., and Benjamin Lepard.  For more on the Book Society, see John Rippon, A Discourse on the Origin and Progress of the Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor, From It’s Commencement in 1750, to the year 1802 … To which is added A Complete List of the Treasurers and Other Officers, as well as of the Ministers who have Preached the Annual Sermons, and of the Gentlemen who have Served the Office of Stewards  (London, [1803?].