HOM3IE EVANGELIZATION:
A
VIEWV OF THE WAVANTS AND PROSPECTS
OF
OUR COUNTRY,
BASED
ON THE FACTS AND RELATIONS
OF
COLPORTAI.Ei
BY ONE OF THE
SECRETARIES OF THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
PUBLISHED BY THE
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,
'10 N,SSAU-STREET, NEW YORK. 
I 1.     4
.II.-  -"
I I
tI. 
e',-I I. If'{'K        a
/ _  -1, -- /    - 
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE EXTENT AND) CHARACTER OF THE HOME FIELD.
[mmense extent of our country-Rapidity of settlement-Influence of
steam in extending our frontier-New dispersion-Commron view liinm ited-Colportage reveals destitution-Field characterized in respect, 1.
To means of primary education-2. Inadequacy of ministerial instruc tion and other means of grace-the Apalachian range-the North-west ern states. T3  spirit of sect-4. Prevalence of errors. Influence
of corrupt press..........  5
CHAPTER II.
CHARACTER OF HOME FIELD CONTINUED.
Foreign immigrants-stimate of number-their character-the Irish, Ital ian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French-The Gernan-unaccustomed
to the voluntary principle-estitution of minister-anti-evangelical
literature-ncouragementsan read-are accessible by colportag
must be evangelized,......... 33
AUTHORIZED MEANS OF EVANGELIZATION.
The ministry-The Bible-Parental influenceChristian press-Spiritual
and active church-Relative importance of these agencies-Press in the
Reformation, and in the 17th and 18th centuries-Personal effort in
Papal and Pagan countries-Reliance on the attractive principle-Power
of the ag,ressive principle-Application to ime evangelization,. 47
CHAPTER IV.
COLPORTAGE.
American Tract Society-its scope and spirit-evangelical character of iti
publications-their variety-arrangements for publishing-agencies for
circulating-History and principles of colportage-Character and quali fications of colporteurs-Rules which govern the selection-Candidates
can be foulsd,...........  58
~
11)
.To
4
CHAPTER III. 
C(.NTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
COLPORTACE-CONTINUED.
Supervlsory agencie-Saferguaris-Adaptation to various classes-Ecoliomy
of the system-Treasury incidents-General statistics-Statistics of colpor tage by theological students-esults-Education-Sabbath-schools-Tlhe
Sabbath-Temperance-Intelligent  piety-Revivals-lndividual conver
sions-Revisiting of fields-Anecdote,......  81
CHAPTER VI.
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE,
To Christian union-to individual Christian effort-to the popular literature
and the book-trade-to the family-to our civil and educational institutions
-to moral and religious enterprises-to ministerial education-President
Hlopkins' view,......... 104
CHAPTER VII.
FACILITIES FOR UNIVERSAL EVANGELIZATION.
Existing generation should be reached-The work feasible-No barriers of
church or state-Laborers can be found-Resources ample-Manner of
aiding,.............            1126
CHAPTER VIII.
MOTIVES FOR 1IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
1. Providential facilities for spreading the Gospel-steam-electricity-print ing-press-2. Accessios of territory and the rapid settlement of the Pacific
coast-3. Political changes in Eurole, throwing new responsibilities  OL
-American Christians-4. Tie relations of the American churches to the
heathen world-5. The cross of Christ and the light it sheds on the value
of the soul, the pursuits of earth, the relations of benevolent institutions,
and the duty and destiny of America,...... 13r
APPENDIX.
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN RAISING UP COLPORTEURS
ILLUSTRATED.
Sketch of the history and labors of an American colporteur-Narrative of a
converted German Catholic colportetir,.....      158
4 
HO0ME EVANGELIZATION.
CIIAPTER I.
EXTENT AND CIIARACTER OF TIHE HOME FIELD.
OUR  COUNTRY-OUR  WHOLE  COUNTRY-MUST  BE
EVANGELIZED.   "Beautiful for situation, the joy of
the whole earth," stretching from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, and from the lakes to the gulf of Mexico,
there are motives of overwhelming interest to the
patriot, the philanthropist, and the Christian, to ceaseless effort for its intellectual and moral elevation.
Vast enough, when our territory was restricted
to the twenty-nine great states recently embraced
in the confederacy, to appal the boldest moral reformer, we have witnessed within the last four years
such an extension of our boundaries as is unprecedented in the history of nations.  Texas, Oregon,
New Mexico, and California, are estimated in the
President's annual message for 1848 to contain an
area of 1,193,000 square miles, or more than thirteen hundred million acres-constituting a country
more than half as large as all the United States
before the acquisition.  "The Mississippi, so lately
the frontier of our country, is only the centre. With
the addition of the late acquisitions, the United
States are now estimated to be nearly as large as the
whole of Europe." We have a sea-coast on the 
HO,IME EVANGELIZATION.
Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific, of more
than five thousand miles, and, including bays and
islands, more  than  thirty-three  thousand  miles.
The mind staggers under the idea of vastness sug gested by these statistics. But when it attempts to
rasp the thought of the present and prospective
greatness of the people inhabiting this territory; the
boundless resources to be developed by the skill and
industry of a free people; the influences that will
emanate from such a nation for good or evil; and
the urgent necessity, coupled with the herculean
difficulties of its evangelization, the mind is overwhelmed. Such a problem was never before presented. On its solution, under God, may hang the
destiny of the world.
It does not lessen the difficulties in the way of the
philanthropist, that a large part, especially of our
newly acquired territory, is at present uninhabited.
So was Texas, comparatively, but a few years since
So was Iowa, now a flourishing state. So was Wisconsin, when, a few years ago, the President of the
United States recommended the removal of the New
York Indians to that vacant territory, on the ground
that there they might remain for ever, uninterrupted
by the encroachments of the white man. Now Wiscoisin is estimated to contain 220,000 inhabitants.
The cry of "gold" has already drawn thousands, and
will draw tens of thousands more to California.
6 
THE HOME FIELD.
Oregon and Minesota and Nebraska, and we know
not how many states besides, may be knocking at the
door of our Union for admission as equal and sove reign nations, before we are fairly familiar with their
names. The venturesome, roving spirit of our peo ple will soon dot every fertile valley and verdant hill side of these new possessions with hardy settlers, baffling all the calculations of political economists and
all the enterprise of Christian benevolence, by the
rapidity of their emigrations, and the isolation of their
dwellings.
We are beginning to realize the stupendous results
of steams, in changing the face of society and the laws
of civilization. Beneficent as are its influences, in
the main, as contributing to national thrift and general improvement, there is an incidental drawback,
deeply affecting the intellectual and moral condition
of tire people, worthy of remark. Before the invention of the steam-engine, the tide of civilization and
Christianity in this country nearly kept pace with the
tide of emigration as it rolled slowly westward. Our
frontier was a slender belt, easily penetrated by the
border missionary. But the steam-boat converted
the illimitable region, skirting our 20,000 miles of
navigable rivers and lakes, into border land as in a
day. The barriers of civilization were all thrown
down, and the restraints of public opinion, neighborhood influence, and gospel truth were cast off. A
7 
HIOME EVANGELIZATION.
rush for the virgin lands of the West ensued. Settle menlts were made without respect to social, educa tional, or religious advantages. The country became
dotted over with the log-cabiins of agriculturists,
whose first and chief ambition was to acquire wealth,
and whose last concern, generally, was for the school house and the church. Perhaps a few families, devoted to mechanical, mercantile, or professional life,
clustered together around the court-house-ordinarily
the only compact community in the county. A few
large market-towns or cities in each state formed the
connection with the great commercial cities of the
East. But the chief elements of civilized society
needed to be imported or re-created, and the Gospel
had to be planted afresh in a thousand new and uncultivated fields. Then, just when vigorous and
long-continued effort of individual and associated benevolence had begun to cope with these difficulties,
and the blessing of God was giving ascendency to religious principle, and society was becoming compacted
into something like order and beauty, another stride
is made in the achievements of art. Ocean steamers open up a highway to a Pacific "El Dorado."
A million square miles of new territory glitter with
gold to the eye of the avaricious adventurer, and
lure from their just finished dwellings and productive
farms tens of thousands, whose families were beginning to prize the blessings that Christian enterprise
8 
THE HOME FIELD.
had gathered around them. Another time of dispersion has come.   Who can calculate the extent or the
consequences of this exodus? Who can define the
limits of our Pacific settlements, when the thirst for
gold shall fail to be satiated within our territories
when powerful cities and communities, controlling
vast steam marine, shall line the western coast; and
when the weak and distracted states of Mexico and
South America shall tempt the cupidity of a grasping
people by their wealth, or invite aggression by their
imbecility?
But we will not prophesy evil. We have to do
with the actual. Whatever may be the future progress of emigration or "annexation," there is a present work to do, more stupendous and difficult of accomplishment than has yet been conceived. Let us
inquire into the condition of the country, especially
as relates to the great question of education and evangelization. ARE THE MASSES OF OUR POPULATION
East, West, North, and South, BROUGHT UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF THIE MEANS OF INTELLIGENCE AND VIRTUE?  All other questions are of minor account to
the American patriot and Christian, compared with
this, and the related question, How shall these meani
be rendered universal?
We are aware that many good men regard the
means of domestic evangelization as already adequate,
9 
10       hIOME EVANGELIZATION.
Restrictingf their view to the relations of their particular denomination, or to the localities they inhabit,
there are some who suppose the great work is accomplished, and that the note of alarm occasionally sounded is causeless, if not impertinent. With imperfect
apprehensions of the geography of the country, or the
miode of settlement; with little knowledge of the extent or character of the emigrant classes, and the prevalence of error, and the means of corruption among
the masses, they seem willing to believe that all is
secure, if there be a missionary or two of their particular faith, with a Sabbath-school attached to the
church and a Bible auxiliary, in each county. Whereas the fact may be demonstrated, that notwithstanding the numbers and zeal of pastors and missionaries,
and the efficiency of auxiliary agencies, millions of our
countrymen, scattered over our vast territory, enjoy
almost none of the stated means of grace; are destitute of the preached and written word; deprived of
educational blessings, and as much demand effort for
their intellectual and moral elevation as do the inhabitants of Papal and Pagan lands.  There is an aspect
in which the gospel is less like the sun that shines
on all, than like the lamp that needs to be lighted in
every dwelling. And men often forget, that while so
many lights may be blazing around them as almost
to dazzle their eyes, and prevent their seeing the
existing desolations, there may be, and there are, tens 
THE IIOME FIELD.
of thousands of abodes in the midst of us, cheered by
no gospel ray-with no book divine to be' a light to
their feet, and a lamp to their path."
If the system of American Colportage has accomplished no other good, it has been a blessing of
unto]d value to our country by exploring and rcvealing its moral wastes.   Though its revelations
may humble national pride, they may contribute not
a little to national safety.  Dangers from ignorance
and vice are not lessened by closing our eyes to their
existence, as the mariner dashes his vessel on a rocliky
coast by wilfully neglecting his observations and
soundings. Colportage takes nothing for granted
respecting the spiritual condition of the district to be
explored; for its experience has a thousand times
shown that, almost under the eaves of a well-filled
sanctuary, families may be found as far from God and
as ignorant of religion as the Hindoo; that within a
stone's throw of a Bible depository, habitations are
without the sacred treasure; that in sight of a bookstore, men are often as blameless of having a good
book as if the art of printing were unknown.
The picture of society drawn by the great Dr. Chal
mers is found to be any thing but a fancy sketch
When urging such an exploration, he says, it will
show "how families within the distance of half a
mile may lapse, without observation or sympathy oil
our part, into a state of practical heathenism-ho-i
I I 
12      IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
within less than an hour's walk, hundreds may be
found who morally and spiritually live at as wide a
separation from the gospel and all its ordinances, as
do the barbarians of another continent-how many,
in our crowded recesses, which, out of sight and out
of Christian sympathy, have accumulated there,
might at length sink and settle down into a listless
and lethargic, and, to all appearances, impracticable
population; leaving the Christian teacher as much
to do with them as has the first missionary when he
touches on a yet unbroken shore. It is vain to ex.
pect, that by a proper and primhnary impulse, originating with themselves, these aliens from Christianity
will go forth on the inquiry after it. The messengers of Christianity must go forth upon them. Many
must go to and fro among the streets and the lanes,
and those deep intricacies that teem with human
life, to an extent far beyond the eye or imagination
of the unobservant passenger, if we are to look for
the increase either of a spiritual taste, or of scriptural knowledge among the families."  The colporteur is expected to thread these "deep intricacies,"
to penetrate these "crowded recesses"-in a word,
to visit every abode; and his reports, based on personal observation furnish perhaps, the most availabl3e materials for a moral census of the country.
At the outset of these inquiries, let us look at the
provision for primary edu-:ation. While the New 
TIIE HOIME FIELD.
England states, and some of the Northern and Middie states, have systems in operation by which the
greater proportion of children and youth may be
taught the elementary branches of learning, it is
Iknown that several states in the West, South, and
fouth-west, through mistaken economy or gross negligence, have furnished no adequate provision for instructing the rising generation. The fact that in
some of the states, one-seventh or one-eighth of the
white population over twenty years of age were unable to read, according to the late census, and that in
the aggregate more than half a million of adults were
in the same state of ignorance, is a fearful comment
on the legislation of many of the states on the subject
of popular education. It is only within a year, we
are informed, that one of the oldest and most populous states in the Union enacted a law, for the first
time, jpermitting each county to levy a tax for the
support of common-schools-and in this case some
members of the legislature were repudiated by their
constituents for their votes in favor of the bill. It is
conceded, that in many sparsely settled states, the difficulties are immense of extending the blessings of ed
ucation to the widely scattered inhabitants.  HGcU  ccn
the children in counties with no more than three or
five inhabitants to the square mile be gathered into
schools, unless some system of itinerant instruction
is devised which shall reach them at the fireside?
13 
14       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
But another obstacle to general education exists in
the paucity of books and difficulty of access to them
in vast districts of our country. What inducement
can be presented to obscure and illiterate families to
learn. to read, if the art must remain without use?
One of the Western states, comprising a territory
nearly equal to all New England, and a population of more than 100,000, is said not to contain
a single bookstore; and a mountainous region, nearly
two hundred miles wide and five hundred miles long,
is not known to have such a necessary accompaniment of civilization. One of the most effective preliminary movements to the introduction of a universal system of education, is such a general circulation
of reading matter as colportage is effecting in the
wastes of the land.
Another characteristic.of the wide field before us,
is the inadequacy of mninisterial instructionz and
other means of grace.  Notwithstanding the vigorous and praiseworthy efforts of our noble missionary
institutions, the fact stares us in the face, that an
aggregate of not far from one-half of our entire population habitually neglect the sanctuary, or hear
"another gospel."  Even in our great cities, with
their compact population, their able ministry, and
their hundreds of places of public worship, this estimate would be found more favorable than the facts
would  warrant.   And  the  mountainous  regions, 
THE HOME FIELD.
stretching down for a thousand miles in the central
portion of the country, as well as the more recently
settled agricultural districts of the West and Southwest, would present a darker picture. Distance from
places of worship, engrossment in temporal aflairs,
neglect of eflort on the part of Christian professors,
and prejudice and error have much to do in producing this state of things. The fact is undeniable.
There is a wide-spread famine of the word of God.
Even in New  England, with its dense population,
intelligent ministry, and flourishing churches, competent witnesses testify that fully one-third of the families neglect the sanctuary. Is it then incredible that
the population of the thinly inhabited districts in
other parts of the country enjoy so few gospel privileges?  Or, when the difficulties of complete evangelization are considered, is it not a matter of surprise
and gratitude that so many of the people, scattered
over the mountains, along the prairies, and in the
forests of our vast country, are reached by the voice
of the living teacher?
An intelligent and careful survey of the field
would show that multitudes of the people are not
reached by the stated ministrations of God's word.
The church organization and the regular ministry
are specially effective, and exert the greatest influence on villages and compact communities; and
it is natural that the missionary force should seek
15 
16       IIOME EVANGELIZATIO)N.
these centres. But the mass of the population of
this country are engaged in the culturc of the earth,
and dwell on their farms or plantations. Probably
one-third or one-half of all the counties in the Union
contain no more than a single village, and this often
so small as to be scarcely worthy the name. The
country intervening is occupied by scattered settlers,
with axe and plough making steady inroads on the
surrounding forest, or drawing from the earth their
support. Others build log-cabins by the sides of
little streams or in ravines of the mountains, where
they plant patches of corn, while their herds roam
among the hills; or with their rifles they hunt the
game that abounds in the interminable forest. There
is no neighborhood, and none is sought. The restraints of refined society and Christian institutions
are irksome. Sensual pleasures and worldly pursuits
engross the attention. Curiosity is satisfied with the
current gossip of the "court-day" gathering.   The
bustle and enterprise which characterize the commercial classes do not reach the log-cabin. The
Sabbath brings a day for rude sports instead of sacred rest. Perhaps the news of a camp-meeting in
their native forest may draw the people forth for a
season to hear some exciting preacher. But they
are as "sheep without a shepherd," so far as pastoral
care or stated gospel instruction is concerned; and
from the circumstances of their settlement they must 
TISl IiOMBI FIELLD.
remain so, unless pastors can be indefinitely mul tiplied.
That this picture of the state of society, in many
parts of the country, is not too deeply shaded, may be
more impressively shown by a brief detailed description of two districts-the one serving as an illustration of the mountainous and grazing, and the other
of the level or agricultural districts.
A region of country lying between the Alleghanies
and the Ohio river, contains more than fifty counties,
with an average population of some five thousand
souls in each county, or about six to a square mile.
The whole district is an ocean of mountains, and
the chief occupation of the people that of herdsmen
or hunters. Less than ten of the villages have a
population exceeding three hundred each: in one
county, seventy miles by thirty-five, the only village
contains five buildings. The inhabitants live along
the streams, or in the "coves" and valleys, generally
remote from each other, and so situated as to forbid
their general enjoyment of schools or preaching.
There are not a dozen points in all that district
where the Gospel is statedly preached each Sabbath
by any one denomination, and those who are favored
with the Gospel rarely hear it oftener than once a
mionth; while thousands remain from year to year
without listening to the preached word. In one
county, larger than the state of Rhode Island, the
ITome Evn.             2
17 
18       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
only preachers are two self-denying circuit-riders
Another county has an equivalent to the time of two
and a half ministers bestowed upon it. Other counties are equally destitute, while some have a more
adequate supply of preaching.  The other means of
grace are altogether inadequate. Thousands of families have been found without the Bible. Comparatively few of the families had a supply of religious
books, or the opportunity of procuring them.   Sabbath-schools were infrequent and inefficient. Common-schools were neglected. Newspapers had a
limited circulation. The standard of piety among
Christians was depressed. Religion became much
a matter of feeling, and sectarian strifes took the
place of Christian zeal.
Let it be remembered that this sketch, drawn from
the statements of natives of the region, who lmow
whereof they affilrm, has relation to the newer parts
of a state which has been populated for two centuries, and has contained churches sufficiently intelligent and wealthy to have carried the Gospel to
every dwelling, had there been enough of zeal and
skill in the application of means to this end. And
it should also be borne in mind, that the district
described is substantially like the immense mountain range extending from the Hudson to the Tennessee rivers, and embracing portions of New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North 
THE HOME FIELD.
and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee
and Kentucky, and that a constant tide of emigration
is pouring from these mountains into the more in
viting territory of Indiana, Southern Illinois, Mis souri, Arkansas, and Texas. Whatever may be the
influence on their temporal condition, it is not prob
able that their spiritual condition is essentially improved by the change. Indeed, the mass of the
poorer inhabitants of the South-west are so far destitute of the means of intellectual and moral eleva
tion, as to excite the deepest compassion.
If we turn now to the great states of the North
west, we shall have a farther illustration of the
difficulties of cultivating the vast field of home
effort, and of the inadequacy of the ordinary means
of grace. The average population in the states of
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin,
and Michigan, does not exceed six, or about one
family, to each square mile. An increase of half a
million inhabitants annually would only add another
settler to each square mile of territory. And the
mode and motives of settlement give the greatest
possible dispersion to the population.   "From our
own observation," say two of the best informed
and most discriminating of the American Tract
Society's general agents at the west, "families live
three, five, and ten miles from each other, as a gencral thing, in such a relative position as to ren
19 
~) IOMNI EVANGELIZATION.
der it difficult to bring any stated religious influenice to bear upon them. This obstacle, combined
with many others, renders it next to impossible to
gather even a tithe of this population into schools
and churches.  From rigid examinations during the
year, we are convinced that it can be reduced to a
certainty, that less than one-third of the population
on our field —-embracing Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa-is under the direct influence of any
evangelical instruction." This view is corroborated
by the statements of pastors, one of the most prominent of whom writes from Ohio, "We  have fifty
towns, with an average population of 800I each,
almost entirely without any kind of preaching. We
have fifty more, with a still greater population, but
very partially supplied. In view of these facts, the
synod felt that we must resort more to colportage
and tracts."
The reader must be referred to the annual reports
of the American Tract Society and other institutions, and to the current numbers of the American
Messenger, for a more full illustration of this topic.
The more intimate the acquaintance with the facts,
the deeper will be the conviction that there is a field
of untold magnitude, restricted by no landmarks ot
states, demanding the application of aggressive agencies, which may reach the family circle and the
individual soul. Though it may require unexam 
THE IIOME FIELD.
pled self-denial and pains-taking to hunt out these
scattered millions, and involve a large expenditure
of means to convey gospel instruction to them, it is
as clearly a duty to prosecute this work and persevere in it to the end, as it is to obey the Saviour's
compassionate injunction, to "preach the Gospel to
every creature;" and we shall see as we advance,
that a catholic enterprise like that of colportage,
has important advantages in reaching the classel
deprived of the ordinary means of grace.
The difficulties of home evangelization are un
doubtedly enhanced by the spirit of sect, and the
diversity of creeds among  evangelical Christians.
The family of Christ is divided into more than
twenty separate bands, all of whom professedly hold
the Head, and are agreed in the great fundamental
articles of Christian faith. Many of these difler
only as to the question of psalms and hymns for
public worship, or on some point of church order,
or policy of church extension, or in respect to the
philosophy rather than the facts of religion. These
differences would present no essential drawback,
perhaps, to the great cause of evangelization, and
might even contribute to its advancement, if they
were only subordinated to the greater matters of
agreement, and were not obtruded as the occasions
of bitter controversy. But when the champions of
a particular creed assume that it alone contains the
21 
22        IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
truth, impeaching the motives and questioning the
purity of sister communions hlaving equally the seal
of divine approval, and bearing their part in the work
of the world's conversion; and when such onsets are
made upon fellow-builders of the temple, that the
trowel of Christian industry must be dropped for the
sword of Christian polemics, so that the enemy is
allowed to triumph; or when denominational ambition courts the places crowded already with
churches of kindred evangelical faith, to the neglect
of the waste-places where souls are perishing for the
want of their efforts  then sectarianism belies the
gospel it professes to honor, and rather embarrasses
than promotes the work of evangelization. Every
such exhibition of partisan zeal strengthens infidelity
in its unbelief, rivets the fetters of superstition on
the followers of the man of sin, and hardens the
hearts of a scoffing world. Yet so wide-spread is
this evil, that it extends to the habitual ministrations of hundreds of unlettered preachers, and is not
yet banished from thie pulpits or presses of leading
and cultivated communions. The result is, that
among thousands of the less-informned classes, more
is known of controversial than of practical theology.
Men will often discuss with much heat the questions
in dispute between their own and some sister church,
while poorly able to explain the way of salvation to
anll inquiring sinner. 
THE HOME FIELD.
Another result is the feeble and distracted state of
churches, and the half-starved condition of the ministry in new settlements.   "The churches in this
region," writes a colporteur at the west, "have for
some time been rent by divisions and dissensions:
wome have become extinct; others have seemed oa
the point of annihilation. Spiritual declension has
abounded, and fatal error has increased in many
places, especially Universalism; and in these places
thcre has evidently been a great defection in morals.
The ministry has not been as well sustained as formerly, and in some places public worship is wholly
neglected."  Emigrants carry their prejudices, if not
their piety, with them.   And unless they can find or
establish a church of their own peculiar stamp, often
give their support to none.  Hlence the multiplication of feeble churches in a community scarcely able
to support a single church, instead of uniting in the
establishment of a common Christianity, where
Christians are few and sin abounds. 0, for the
promised day wheL the watchmen on the walls of
Zion shall see eye to eye, and when every soldi(r of
the cross shall employ "the sword of the Spirit' in
the conflict with  the powers of darkness, instead
of using it in fratricidal warfare!  Then will one
of the greatest hinderances to the evangelization
of the  countiy and the world  be  removed, and
the great heart of Christianity will beat in sympa
23 
24       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
thy with the heart of Christ in the work of redemption.
But there is another element to be taken into the
account, in estimating the difficulties in evangelizing
the home field. The perfect freedom of religious
opinion in this country has been the occasion of the
existenwe of nuniberless fatal errors.  Their name is
"legion." From blank Atheism and Deism, through
all the grades of infidelity, to Mormonism, Universalism, Swedenborgianism, Romanism, and Puseyism,
all the changes of error are rung by confident and
zealous adherents. Disagreeing among themselves
amd with each other, they are agreed in rejecting
the great principles of the Rceformation and of Paul,
The just shall live by faith," and unite in denouncing and opposing evangelical truth. Good men
may affect contempt for these bands of errorists; but
when a single class among them numbers more
than a thousand organized churches, and another
boasts more than a tenth part of our entire population in her corrupt communion, and others have
vigorous and widely circulated journals steeped with
blasphemy, and others are invading our sanctuaries
and proselyting men of influence, and all are industriously sowing the seeds of error by the press and the
living teacher, it becomes considerate men to pause
and inquire whereunto all this may grow, in a land
as open to the assaults of error as to the teachings of 
THE IIOME FIELD.
truth, and among a people maldng haste to be rich,
and "by nature the children of wrath, evenii as
others."
Now it is notorious, that those who hate the Gospel and have banded with its enemies, with rare
exceptions turn away from the house of God, and
from Christian influences. As a general thing, the
engrossment in parochial duties prevents pastors
from visiting their abodes. False delicacy, sloth, or
fear keeps Christians from efforts to remove their
prejudices and convert their souls. Is it not true
that millions, with souls more precious than worlds,
are living without hope and without God; it may be
in sight of the sanctuary, where Christ and him
crucified is preached in simplicity and sincerity?
And is this all that the Gospel is designed to do foi
poor erring man?  Shall error triumph by aggression, while Christianity shrivels by passivity? Is
there not vitality enough in the truth, not merely
to exist, but, through its author, to tiiumpnh?
Yes; a redeeming spirit is abroad.  Experience is
teaching the world that thousands are the adherents of some gross error, from prejudice rather
than conviction-just as there are thousands ol
nominally Protestant Christians, who are so only in
name-and that God bestows the blessing of success
on labors directed kindly and wisely towards these
classes, as freely as among those more apparently
1)5 
26       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
hopeful. Their relations as men and sinners, and
their conscious wants in these relations, are paramount to their casual connection with some scheme
of error; and the glorious plan of salvation through
the mnerits of the Crucified, when once made plain,
and enforced by consistent example and kind en
treaty, sweeps away the refuge of lies which the
burdened soul sought, perhaps in ignorance of any
other covert from the storm.  This view is sustained
by the fact, that while works like Nevins' "Thoughts
on Popery," "Universalism not of God," and other
books aimed at the overthrow of particular errors,
have been widely instrumental in convincing and
converting the classes for whom they were intended,
yet there are more frequent instances of conversion
among Papists, Universalists, etc., by the blessing
of God on the perusal of Baxter's "Call," Doddridge's "Rise and Progress," and other practical
authors, than by almost any other means. Had
colportage no other relation than that it sustains as
a direct channel through which God's truth may be
brought in contact with errorists of every name,
and as a means of exciting compassion, prayer, and
effort in their behalf, it would be entitled to the cordial support of every friend of the truth. The facts
it developes as to the feasibility of gaining access to
classes otherwise left in an almost hopeless conditionl, and the success given to its labors in this direc 
TIlE IIOME FIELD.
tion, are among the most hopeful indications of the
approach of the day when none shall need to say to
his brother, Know the Lord, for all shall know him.
The "world lying in wickedness" must abide in its
wickedness, if men in error cannot be evangelized
and saved.
Another characteristic of the home field deserves
notice, namely, the jfee circulation and perusal oj
a cor,~n)2t literatur)e.  The popular press is teeming with works of vapid or unl-iallowed fiction, or
grossly immoral books and prints. It is estimated
that there are five thousand five hundred publications of this class on the trade lists. They are as
varied in their degrees of moral obliquity as the
national characteristics or the associations and habits of their authors, or the scale of morals of their
publishers and readers. All the way down from
salvation without a Saviour, or morality without the
Gospel, to the grossest licentiousness and the boldest
infidelity, readers of every measure of false taste and
false principles are catered for with infernal skill.
The great thoroughfares are infested with the youthful venders of these vile wares. Respectable, and
even Christian publishers have lent their presses to
multiply these piracies on all decent literature.
Christian booksellers are almost necessitated by the
customs of the trade, and by the vitiated taste of the
,ommunity, to deal, more or less, in trash and poison
27 
28       110MIE EVANGELlZATION.
And even religious households are invaded by authors
whose touch is pollution.
Add to this the infamous issues of the periodical press, doing the miserable work of scavengers
of the police-office, or openly desecrating the Sabbath, or pandering to the worst passions, or busy in
undermining the Gospel. Of the extent of such
issues few are aware. The statement of a respectable English writer, that 10,400,000 copies of "infidel or polluting" newspaper sheets are circulated
in the British realms, besides more than 18,000,000
sheets "manifestly pernicious," "is enough," says an
author who quotes fiom the "Power of the Press,"
"if any thing can do it, to send a thrill of horror
through the whole nation, and to rouse into activity
every friend of his Bible, his country, and his God."
But is there not ground for apprehension, that with
the greater number of readers, and the cheaper rate
at which papers circulate in America, a much
greater number of demoralizing papers are issued
here than in Great Britain? Nearly seventy millions of newspaper sheets are published annually in a
single city.  Grant that the influence of four-fifths of
them all is on the side of good morals and religion,
and it would leave a residuum of evil equalling
one-half the combined circulation of all the corrupt
presses of England, Scotland, and Ireland.   But is
not this too much to grant, when 2,766,000 papers, 
TilE HOMNE FIELD.
or nearly a twentieth part of the whole number, are
issued on the Sabbath, and other periodicals, having
each a total circulation of from 200,000 to 1,000,000
annually, are filled with trash or pollution?
The effects of such a wide-spread diffusion of corrupting publications cannot be otherwise than disaq
trous. They are a blight on public morals and private
virtue. Parental authority is weakened; the imagination is unduly developed; habits of mental intoxication are formed; every-day duties are neglected;
a disrelish for sober, solid reading is engendered; religious books, and even the Bible, are slighted; the
Gospel is undermined; the Spirit of God is grieved,
and many, many souls destroyed. The process is
secret and unobserved, but none the less certain.
Here and there, the poison can be found beside the
victim. Instance the youth, of respectable parentage
and refined education, who turned away from a revival of religion: his convictions dissipated; and
his course of desperate wickedness, which ended at
the yard-arm, chosen under the fascinations of the
"Pirate's Own Book." Or the case of the young
burglar of sixteen, who stole away from a kind parental roof, and was caught in the vaults of a government-office with the implements of his unrighteous craft, and on his person the memoirs of notorious
villains, detailing the processes of successful housebreaking. And who has forgotten that tale of pas
29 
30       HOMw, RVANGELIZATION.
sion and crime, involving the life and the peace o.
parties high in public confidence;  and the solemn
testimony of a fond father, that his daughter's fall
must be attributed to "the impure works of Eugene
Sie and Bulwer?"  How many more revelations of
the destructive influence of an unprincipled press are
needed, before an outraged and indignant community
will seal these fountains of pollution? The plagues
of Egypt were tolerable, compared with this coming
uip into our dwellings of the loathsome swarms of literary vermin to "corrupt the land," to deprave the
hearts, and ruin the souls of our citizens.
The eloquent and earnest remonstrance of an
English writer, Rev. John Angell James, should be
made to ring in American ears.  "Let it be imagined," he says, "if imagined it can be, what must
be the moral state of multitudes in this country,
when nearly thirty millions of such pestiferous publications are annually going out among the masses of
our population.  Let the minds of all Christian people be fixed upon these facts. Let them dwell upon
the insult offered to God, the ruin brought upon
souls, the injury done to morals, and the mischief
perpetrated in the nation by such a state of things.
Friends of Christ, lovers of your species, professors of
religion, you must pause and ponder these statements. You must not read and dismiss them, as
you would the statistics of political economy. The 
TII E IOME  FIELD.
~iriter of these facts has led' you to the door of Satan s
workshop, and has thrown open to you the scenes of
that awful laboratory of mental and moral poison
He has shown you authors, compositors, printers, en
gravers, publishers, booksellers, venders, by myriads,
all busy and indefatigable, to do-what?  To destrol
the Bible, to pull down the cross, to dethrone God.
to subvert religion, to uproot the church, to turn
man into a thinking and speaking brute, and as a
necessary consequence, to overturn all morality, to
poison the springs of domestic happiness, to dissolve
the ties of social order, and to involve our country in
ruin. Is this so, or is it not? If it be, you are
summoned to ponder this awful state of things, and
to ask what can be  lone to arrest this tide of ruin,
this awful cataract of perdition, which is dashing
over the precipice of infidelity into the gulf of the
bottomless pit, and precipitating millions of immortal souls into the boiling surges  and  tremendous
whirlpools below."
And where is the remedy? Who is there to "'entreat the Lord" that this plague may cease? Remonstrances from the pulpit and the press are infre
quent and feeble. Parental watchfulness seldom
extends to this insidious evil. Public opinion, ener.
vated by the very poison it should expel from the
system, is slow in concentrating its power on the
guilty parties, lest it should infringe one of our mos
31 
32        I1OME EVANGELIZATION.
precious rights-the freedom of the press.  Laws
are inoperative, with the exception of the grossest,
and perhaps least injurious violations of the statutes.
There seems to be almost no other recourse but to
the vigorous employment, and the universal diffusion
of tile moral and religious press. Newspapers, books,
and tracts, able in matter, attractive in style, and
cheap in price, rapidly multiplied and widely circulated, may do something to draw off the minds of
the people from trash to truth. If the pure river of
the water of life is made to flow beside the muddy
streams of earth, so that whosoever will, may drink
and live, may it not be hoped that fewer will attempt
to slake immortal thirst from the fountains of pollutlon and death? Over every door where the traffic
in unholy books is carried on, we would inscribe the
expostulation, "Wherefore do ye spend money  for
that which is not bread?" And on every place
where eternal truth invites the purchaser, "Buy the
truth, and sell it not;"  Eat ye that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in fatness." 
TIlE HOME FIELD.
CHAPTER II.
CHARACTER OF THE HOMIE FIELD CONTINUED-FOREIGN
IIUIIGRANTS.
THE foregoing remarks have had special reference
to America proper, and deserve to be pondered irrespective of the vast crowds of immigrants from the
various nations of Europe who throng our shores.
But it should not be forgotten, that we have a German America, an Irish, Welsh, French, Spanish,
Swedish, Dutch, Norwegian America, as well as an
English America. How does this fact complicate
and embarrass the question of home evangelization!
It is not a single, homogeneous nation that demands
our efforts, but a dozen intermingled; speaking different languages, with different customs, prejudices,
and creeds-agreeing only in a common love of freedom and scramble for wealth. Famine, pestilence,
and war are driving thousands from their European
homes into this land of peace and plenty. Thousands more only await the issue of the revolution
now in progress, to place themselves under the shelter of the only government on earth which no one
desires to change.  "Immense numbers of the Britisb
population," says the London correspondent of the
Journal of Commerce, "still continue most restlessly
anxious to cross the Atlantic, and it is expected that
Home Evan.              3
33 
7 4       HOMIE El,VANGELIZAT'ION.
during the ensuing spring emigration will increasE
to an unprecedented extent, and be altogether unequalled in point of diversity of character. Even ii
the prospective treasures of California did not-as
they are now doing-allure thousands to the Western world, the combined pressure of taxation and
mortgages absolutely obliges many important classes
and communities to leave their native land, and seek
relief in regions where they will have an ample and
free sphere of action. Persons thus encumbered are
daily taking their departure, not only from Ireland,
where pestilence is superadded to famine and social
disorganization to both, but also from England."
Has any but the infinite mind measured the bearings of this great providential movement on the future character and destiny of this country, or on the
hordes that flock hither; or its reflex influence on
the nations whence this emigration flows?  Hav
the necessity, the difficulties, and the agencies for
evangelizing these masses been properly considered?
It will be found to be a problem so complicated and
so difficult of solution, that the strongest intellect
and the boldest heart will stagger under it. Yet it
must be solved, theoretically and practically, or the
most direful consequences will flow to us and them.
The most we can attempt, will be to direct attention
to the subject, and suggest some thoughts bearing on
a single plan, of many that are demanded for the 
TIIE HOME  FIELI)D.
speedy instruction and elevation of the immigrant
classes.
The estimates of the numbers of foreign immigrants are as various as the data on which they are
formed. Some years ago, a distinguished German
historian, who made the tour of America, set down
the German immigrant population alone at nearly
5,000,000. This is a manifest exaggeration. But
taking the statistical returns of immigration, and allowing for the population which arrived before such
statistics were collected, we suppose the following
estimates to approximate the truth: namely,
From the Germanic states,..
From Great Britain and Ireland,.
From France and Switzerland,..
From Wales, 75,000; Norway and Swe  den, 45,000,...
From Spain, Italy, Holland, and other
European states,....
Total, say,.
In round numbers, four millions and a half will
be found a moderate estimate of European immigrants in the midst of us, including their immediate descendants. This amount exceeds one-fourth
of the entire population as returned by the census
of 1840, and is larger than the entire population of
35
3,000,000
1,000,000
300,000
120,000
100,000
4,520,000 
36       IOME EVANGELIZATION.
the United States at the beginning of this century
Incredulity on this subject would yield to faith, if
tile doubter would take his station on the wharves at
New York, and witness the landing of living cargoes,
as in one or two instances, to the amount of 10,000
souls in two days; or if he would ride on some ot
the immigrant trains of cars, or take a deck passage
on some of the 1,300 steamboats that navigate our
western i'vers; or visit the thousands of settlements
where the new settlers have built their cabins.  A
hundred German newspapers must have readers,
and a thousand Roman Catholic priests must have
tels of thousands of adherents. More than 2,000
Lutheran and German Reformed churches indicate
an immense population sympathizing with the Gernlan ecclesiastical symbols of faith. And how vast
must be the population left to roam in neglect.  Our
great cities swarm with churchless, Christless Europeans.  Our kitchens are supplied with workwomen
firom Germany and Ireland. Our canals and railroads are lined with the shanties of immigrant laborers. Our agricultural districts abound with Prussian,
Bavarian, and Norwegian farmers.  Western New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa,,
Illinois, Indiana, Missouri-the great grain-growing
districts of the countrv are overrun with a German
immigration; while Maryland, the finest portion of
Virginia, and parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisi 
THE HIOME FIELD.
ana, and Texas, have large settlements of these
hardy sons of toil.
It is not easy to sketch the character of the immigrant classes in a single paragraph.  It is as various
as the diversified influences of national, religious,
social, and industrial institutions and habits. Paupers and princes, ignorant boors and university professors, street rag-pickers and high-minded, intelligenlt farmers, Jesuit priests and republican reformers, Rationalists and Papists, Jews and Christians
mingle indiscriminately in the great drag-net of emigration. It is believed, however, that of late there
has been an improvement in the character and condition of the population emigrating hither, especially
from the Germanic states. Men of wealth and
morals have come. And some large settlements
from Lippe, and other districts where religion has
been revived, have fled from persecution, and sought
our shores for conscience' sake. A thousand welcomes to them!
Still the question recurs, "Who are these that fly
as clouds, and as doves to their windows?" What is
their intellectual and moral condition? We answer,
as to the Irish, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and
French, that they are substantially what they are
in their respective countries, bound hand and foot
by a corrupt priesthood and a false faith, the victims
of a superannuated and rotten superstition. True,
37 
38      HIOME EVANGELIZATION.
the fetters are less galling than where civil powel
aids to fasten the rivets of their chains; and the
air of freedom they breathe gives them strength to
endure the wrongs they cannot, or dare not abate.
True, also, the system of Papal oppression is softened
and modified by the new circumstances in which it
;s found. Moreover, there are those from among all
these nations, who have found deliverance from
Rome, by plunging, on the one hand, into infidelity,
and on the other, by fleeing to the cross. But the
mass remain in almost unbroken ignorance of saving
truth, and in blind submission to a corrupt church.
But the Germans, as they are the most numerous,
so are they the most hopeful class of immigrants.
Possessing great depth, earnestness, and constancy ot
character, they only need the full influence of the
Gospel to become a most valuable accession to our
population. As a general fact, however, admitting
many noble exceptions, the immigrant Germans give
little evidence that an evangelical faith is even
known, much less experienced. A cold, dead formalism holds the place of vital godliness, even among
nominal Protestants; while more than one-third, probably, are embraced in the Romnish church.  The idea
Df a spiritual faith, manifesting its power in a prayer-,
ful, holy life, is rarely comprehended. Experimental
religion, social or family prayer, and benevolent associations, are regarded as fanatical. The Sabbath, as 
THiE HOME FIELD.
on the continent, is regarded as a day for recreation;
and the transition from the morning ehureh-service
to the beer-house or dancing-room, seems to them
natural and proper. The use of intoxicating drinks
is perhaps nearly as common and as unrebuked as
with us a quarter of a century ago. Ii a word, the
recent immnigrants from the old world are substantially what they were at home, and what the population of the continent is, with the deterioration consequent on all emigration in the early stages of settlement. And what the populace of Europe is,
every traveller knows.
The fact should not be overlooked, that German
and most other immigrants come from kingdoms
where for generations the state has controlled all
matters of education and religion.  To the voluntary principle, which is the life of our educational
and religious institutions, they are almost strangers.
Religion and taxation are inseparably associated; so
that with many, the notions of freedom embrace the
'dea of deliverance from all pecuniary responsibility
for the support of Christian institutions. How, then,
can it be expected that they will make adequate
efforts, on their arrival here, to erect churches, support pastors, establish schools, or provide for the wants
of the soul; especially when there is not vitality
enough in the religion they bring to incite to voluntary sacrifices in its behalf? But for the mischiev
39 
40      H1tOME EVANGELIZATION.
ous practice of demanding fees for funerals, baptisms,
confirmations, etc., in Protestant as well as Papal
churches, even the comparatively few pastors now
sustained among our European population, could
hardly rely on a scanty subsistence. Very much of
the machinery of gospel means, for a generation to
come, needs to be set in motion by the benevolence
of American Christians, if we would prevent millions
from becoming neglecters of religion, or from being
caught up by a priesthood deriving its resources from,
as it owes its allegiance to, a foreign court. In this
light, and in view of the proverbial parsimony of this
class, large expenditures will be demanded for colporteurs, missionaries, books, and Bibles, until they
can be taught the value of a pure faith.
The proportion of evangelical ministers to the
number of foreign immigrants, is lamentably small,
notwithstanding the zealous efforts of a few excellent
institutions in this country, and in Europe. Very
few churches enjoy the entire labors of a pastor;
many have the Gospel preached to them only once
in one, two, or three months; and tens of thousands,
once members of Protestant churches, do not hear a
sermon from year to year.  We see not how it is possible fully to meet the demand for pulpit instruction
during the present generation. All the pious ministers in the old world are assuredly needed there in
the present crisis, to cast the leaven of the Gospel 
THE HOME FIELD.
among the elements of social and political regeneration; while the men and means are both deficient
here for supplying a fifth part of the pastors required
to gather the dispersed flock into the fold of Christ.
Hordes of Romish priests from European nations are
rnaking their way  hither-forty-one  monks of La
Trappe having arrived in one vessel the week this
paragraph was penned.   "Their name is legion:"
while the inducements for evangelical pastors to emigrate are comparatively small, and their adaptation
to the necessities of Americanized foreigners questionable. So that we have not merely to provide
for this "lack of service," but to encounter the multiplied emissaries of the man of sin-the deadly foes
of a free gospel.
Another obstacle exists in the anti-evangelical in
fluence of the popular literature of the immigrant population.  A large part of the German and French
newspapers are either papal, or infidel, or semirationalistic; and, besides plays and romances of the
most extravagant character, there are blasphemous
and licentious works in these languages, that rival
the ribaldry of Paine, and the immoralities of Byron.
German theatres spring up in all the great cities,
and intemperance contributes its share inl the work
of demoralization, which is going on with a rapidity
imperfectly appreciated by their American neighbors.
There are lighter shades in this picture of the im.
41 
12       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
migrant classes.  Contact with our institutions, and
with our bustling, driving population, will awaken
dormant energies and stimulate to enterprise. The
free discussion of political questions, and the easy
exercise of the elective franchise, will inspire selfrespect and conscious independence. The popish
yoke cannot set long on the neck of freemen without galling the wearer. By degrees, the English language and American customs and habits will beeome
familiar.  Industry and frugality will be rewarded
with wealth. The cheap press will shed its light oa
their humble dwellings. The Bible will make its way
to their cabins. Tract visitors will hunt up the neglectful and erring, and drop words of kindness on their
ears, and messages of love on their hearts. Colporteurs will seek them out, and begin to found libraries of their own fatherland authors, in their dwellings. Churches will spring up in the midst of them.
Pastors will multiply. Little by little, light will
break in; prejudices will be softened; old errors
renounced, and the work of God will triumph. But
these things will not come of themselves, nor by miracle. Persevering, self-denying, wisely-directed effort,
on a scale vastly greater than has been thought of,
will be demanded to accomplish such results.  Shall
it be given? How?
It is a circumstance of great significance, in considering the feasibility and the means of evangeliza 
TIlE HOME FIELD.
tion, that a very large pnoportion of the immigrant
classes can r'ead. The increased attention to instruc tion in Ireland has made a much larger number of
tolerable readers among the Irish, than is ordinarily
supposed; and nearly every recent immigrant from
Germany is an intelligent reader. This is also true
of the Welsh and the Norwegians. The avenue of
access to the mind through the eye, then, is open an inconceivable advantage, which few but mission aries to ignorant tribes of heathen can appreciate.
And if the labor and expense of establishing schools,
and preparing a literature for barbarous nations, be a
legitimate channel of benevolence, which none will
doubt, would not the policy that should overlook
millions of readers on our own shores, and suffer
them to degenerate into barbarism, be short-sighted
and ruinous? We throw away the advantages, for
all the purposes of education and evangelization, of
having a generation taught at the expense of foreign
governments, and expose ourselves to a greater cost
to furnish schools for the next generation, than would
be involved in conveying the Gospel to all now upon
the stage: while, if we evangelize the present generation, the next will take care of itself. True economy, wise forethought, as well as common-sense, humanity, patriotism, and piety, urge to the immediate
diffusion of a printed Gospel, accompanied by oral
instruction, among all classes of our immigrant pop
43 
44        IItOME EVANGELIZATION.
ulation Those most favored with other means of
grace, need it; and tens of thousands must be ap
proached through the " eye-gate," or remain  intrenched in error and sin.
Still another circumstance points to colportage as
an important means of imparting religious instruction
to immigrants. When they arrive among us, all is
new and strange to them.   Curiosity is awakened.
They would gladly know what is peculiar in our
civil and religious institutions-the secret of that
unwonted prosperity, the evidences of which are all
around them. In this condition, what is more suited
to cheer and impress them, than the visits of a Christian colporteur, speaking their own tongue;  who
comes as the representative of American charity, to
welcome them to a participation in all that is precious in our institutions, and in the Gospel on which
these institutions are based; to warn them of their
dangers, and inspire them with new hopes; to teach
them salvation by faith, as Paul and Luther and
Zuingle taught it; and to place in their hands the
writings of Arndt, Krummacher, and D'Aubign6, or
translations into their vernacular from the spiritual
classics of their adopted country? Will not such
visits, from cabin to cabin, and from county to county, prove as cold waater to thirsty souls, or like the
fire and the hammer to stubborn hearts? Can any
more effective or practicable method be devised of 
TIiE I1OMNE FIELD.
converting the earliest and most permanent associations of these strangers in the midst of us, into Christian channels; or of commingling the elements of our
civilization and piety with these new and incongruous materials of republican citizenship?
Such is the broad field demanding the application
of a system like colportage.  It stretches across the
continent, and includes the Canadian provinces and
the Mexican states.  Almost or quite every town,
county, and city demands its efforts.  Inadequate
provision for the education and religious instruction
of the people; the paucity of good books and Bibles;
the prevalence of a corrupt literature; the injurious
influence of the spirit of sect; the existence of various forms of fatal error; the vast influx of foreign
immigrants, and their imperfect evangelization, all
demonstrate the necessity of a direct, economical,
catholic-spirited enterprise for  difitsing oral and
printed truth among the scattered and neglected
masses of our fellow-countrymen.   Whether existing
agencies might not, in process of time, convey the
Gospel to the entire population in a field thus characterized, or whether denominational zeal might not
ultimately cultivate such wastes, need not be debated.
It is enough, that in the most compact and easily
cultivated fields, where the ordinary means of grace
are most abundant, multitudes are not brought under
the influence of the Gospel; that the population
4.5 
IIOME EVANGELlIZATION.
fn new territories is distancing the most strenuous
efforts of all evangelical enterprises; and that the tide
of emigration is rolling on with such accumulated
force as to baffle the wisest plans for controlling and
sanctifying it by the usual means of evangelization.
Cive the highest possible efficiency to all the ordi
nary agencies for spreading the truth, and it will still
be found indispensable to employ an itinerant agency
like colportage, to diffuse the Gospel on the printed
page and in fireside conversation, among the hetero
geneous and widely dispersed masses of this great
country.
46 
AUTHORIZED MEANS.
CHIIAPTER III.
THE AUTHIIORIZED MEANS OF EVANGELIZATION.
THERE is a happy agreement among all evangelical
Christians regarding the fundamental truths of the
Bible.  However they may differ as to philosophy
and religious order and ordinances, the doctrines of
" Ian's native sinfulness; the purity and obligation
of the law of God; the true and proper divinity
of our Lord Jesus Christ; the necessity and reality
of his atonement and sacrifice; the efficiency of the
Holy Spirit in the work of renovation; the free and
full offers of the Gospel, and the duty of man to
accept it; the necessity of personal holiness; and an
everlasting state of rewards and punishments beyond
the grave," and related truths-all centering in the
glorious doctrine of Justification by Faith-are rec
ognized and loved alike by the great family of the
redeemed, of every name and nation.
And there is nearly equal unanimity in respect to
the obligation to promulgate these truths, and in regard to the means appointed or sanctioned of God for
the diffusion of this common salvation. The divine
commission ruos, "Go, teach all nations;"  " Go,
47 
'48    IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
preach the Gospel to every creature." The execution of this weighty trust involves the wise application of all available means for "holding forth the
word of life," whether indicated by the word or
providence of God.
A preeminence is given to the ministry of recon
ciliation in the work of the world's conversion, by
the appointment of God; by its admirable adaptation to man in all countries, and in all ages; and by
the common consent of the Christian church.
"1 The pulpit
Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall stand,
The most important and effectual guard,
Support, and ornament of virtue's cause."
But the ministry, without the Bible in the hands of
the people, always did, and always will lord it over
God's heritage, and bind the conscience in the chains
of superstition and error. And the ministry and the
Bible, without the cooperation of parental example
and instruction, could never train a generation for
heaven. Nor could all these control the mind of a
reading and inquiring age, corrupted by a demoralizing
literature, without the influence of a sanctified press
And these, again, could never impress an unbelieving race with the reality and power of the religion
of Jesus, without a spiritual church, as a witness
for God; nor could they give universality to the
Gospel, even in a Christian land, without the active, 
AUTHORIZED MEANS.
personal cooperation of individual Christians, ill
spreading the Scriptures, imparting instruction to
the children of careless or ignorant parents, seeking
out the destitute at their homes, and placing the
writings of godly men in their hands, and gathering
the scattered and the prejudiced into the sanctuaryt
Happily for the humility of the instruments, and the
efficiency of the work, there is no monopoly in doing
good.  "The hand" may not "say to the foot, I
have no need of thee;" or, if it does, it is likely to
find its need of such an appendage to carry it where
it may employ its superior skill, or to bear it away
from the difficulties this presumptuous spirit occasions.  "One soweth, and another reapeth;" but all
rejoice together, when they bring their sheaves into
the garner of the Lord, while they ascribe the glory
of "the increase" alone to the Lord of the harvest.
Thme rdative impo-tanwe of the several agencies
for making known the unsearchable riches of Christ,
depends on providential circumstances. In the days
of the Reformation, Luther was wise in seizing the
trumpet-tongued press, whose hoarse blasts waked a
slumbering world from the night of ages. Had he
neglected this new-borni power, and restricted his
exposures and anathemas of papal superstition, and
his expositions of a saving faith to oral discussion,
his reformation might have been drowned by the din
of ecclesiastical denunciation, or smothered by inquimi  Home Evan.              4
49 
50  HIIOME EVANGELIZATION.
torial fires, like those of Jerome of Prague, and Huss
of Bohemia. Whlen two thousand pulpits were
closed against their incumbents, and as many ministers of Christ were driven from their homes, such
men as Bunyan, Baxter, and Flavel, had no other
recourse but to preach the Gospel to the eye, since
the avenue to the mind through the ear was closed
to them. And there is little room to doubt, that the
Dream of the tinker of Elstow, and the "Call" and
' Rest" of the army chaplain, and the "Fountain of
Life" of the John-like fiugitive from royal and ecclesiastical power, have been productive of more spiritual
benefit to the race, than all the personal labors for a
lifetime of these men of God-perhaps more than the
joint personal influence of all the Non-conlformist band
combined. Thus is the wrath of mnan overruled to
the praise of God. Thus does Satan outwit himself,
and bring down his violent dealings on his own
head. Thus does God sanction means of grace his
providence indicates, as well as those his word appoints.
So when the crater of French infidelity overflowed,
and England was deluged with its fiery lava, a Wilberforce met and stayed its waves as they rushed up
the high places of the land; while a gifted woman
helped to slield the peasant and the ploughman
from the scourge.  The "Practical View of Christianity," and the "Cheap Repository Tracts," besides
1' 
AUTHO)RIZED MEANS
answering their immediate purpose, subserved a
more important end, in becoming the indirect cause
of bringing into being, or preparing the public mind
to foster and sustain the Religious Tract Society, and
the British and Foreign Bible Society-which  in
turn became the parents of Tract and Bible societies
thlrougfhout the world. And it is an instructive fact,
that the institutions now most active in undermining
infidelity in France, and in strengthening the influ
ence of a pure Protestant faith in that agitated na
tion, are the very same which thus owe their origin
to the assaults of French infidelity! Just as the
press with which Voltaire threatened to obliterate
Christianity is said now to be in use to print the
Bible.
In Papal countries,  where a free Gospel is pro
scribed, and the public heralding of the truth is forbidden, the chief means of grace hitherto available
have been the private distribution of the Bible and
other printe(d truth, and the conversation of pious
itinerants by the wayside, or at the fireside; and the
vast population under the sway of the Greek church
has been accessible only to kindred labors.  In the
early stages of missions amongf the heathen, unaccustomed as they are to public gatherings for instruction, and ignorant of letters, the work of evangelization has been carried forward for a time by personal
exhortation, or through the school; and in every
61 
52       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
stage of successful missionary effort, native converts
have been greatly instrumental in extending the
knowledge of the truth.  Williams remarks, "I do
not know that the inhabitants of any of the South
Sea islands, except Tahiti, have been evangelized
through the labors of English missionaries: the svork
las been done by native converts."
For all the great purposes of conservation and defence of the truth, the edification of the church, and
the conversion of orthodoz sinners-if we may use
such a phrase to indicate those who are accustomed
to attend the sanctuary, and are instructed in religious thingsthe church organization and the ministry are indispensable, and have an admirable adaptation. No community can be completely evangelized
without them. But scarcely a community can be
found, even in the most favored portions of our land,
where an exclusive reliance on the attractive principle of evangelization has completely succeeded;
while, in many parts of the country, it has failed to
bring more than one-half of the population under
direct religious influences. Perhaps the ground of
surprise should be, that it has accomplished so
much, rather than that it has done no more; and
no argument for neglecting or undervaluing it, should
be drawn from the fact that it has not done every
thing. It was never designed to do every thing.
But what is needed to perfect the schemes for evan 
AUTHORIZED MEANS.
gelizing this and other lands, is the principle of aggression-or the carrying of the Gospel to all who
need it, without trusting to the uncertain hope of
their coming after it. It is not enough that a banquet is provided, and the guests invited: our SaviouI
has taught us to go into the highways and hedges,
and "compel them to come in."  It is not enough,
on a coast lined with the decoy-lights of pleasure,
or obscured by the fogs of error, that a lighthouse is
erected to guide the tempest-tossed to a haven; but
the life-boat must buffet the surf, and breast the
waves, to pick up the victims of the storm.  It is not
enough to plant a fort on the borders of the enemies'
country, dangerous only to those who assail it, or
come within the range of its guns; but it is also
required that the church-militanlt should be its the
field, extending its conquests to every hamlet and
every heart.
That the aggressive  }rinciple ought to be more
largely infused into our schemes of evangelization, is
obvious. The example of the Saviour in his itinerant labors; of Paul preaching the Gospel "in the
regions beyond,"  "not boasting in another man's
line of things made ready to his hand;" of the
primitive disciples "holding forth the word of life,"
and going "everywhere preaching the word;" and
of a few holy men in all ages, who have caught
their spirit-all encourage to it. The promises ol
I' I.-, 
54      IIOME EVANGELIZATFON.
success to those who "go forth weeping bearing
precious seed," and of reward to those who "turn
many to righteousness," invite  to it.   The  fact
that religion is a personal concern; that men are
converted singly and not in groups, and that one
soul led from the ways of sin to holiness, is of more
account than worlds, impels individual Christians to
the work of saving individual souls.  And the overwhelming evidence, that even where for centuries the
arrangements for evangelization on the attractive
principle have been in operation, large masses of men
are still ignorant of the plan of salvation, or too preiudiced to place themselves in the way of learning
it, demands the speedy and efficient use of any and
all available means of conveying the Gospel to them.
Souls are too precious, life too short, and eternity too
near, to admit longer delay or neglect. Millions
even at home, and countless millions abroad, will
miserably perish, unless more prompt, energetic, and
aggressive means are employed to impart the Gospel
to the individuals and families comprising the masses
of men.
The application of these thoughts to honie evangelization is clear. Patriotism is a part of religion.
While we are bound to "do good to all men as we
have opportunity," we are specially bound by contig,uity, by love for our country, by a wise forethought
for our posterity, by a regard for the cause of Christ 
AUTHORIZED MEANS.
throughout the world, nay, by the very principle of
self-preservation, to give universality to that Gospel
which underlies the whole framework of republican
institutions.  That benevolence is ill-judged, if not
spurious, that melts and burns for India or for China,
while it turns a deaf ear to the moans of dying spir;ts in Iowa or Texas. That charity is questionable,
which opens its hand to the cry of famine from the
Emerald Isle, but clenches it like a vice against the
wail of the poor Irishman who is perishing of a fammne of the word of God at our very door.  That sympathy with freedom which thrills the heart when the
struggles of Luther's countrymnen for their rights
greet us, would have some claims to Christian consistency, if with a hundredth part of Luther's zeal,
we were seeking to enlighten and save the German
immigrants who flock to our shores by millions. And
what principle should impel a believer to contribute
of his means for sustaining a missionary to teach a
Malay heathen the way to heaven, that should not
impel him personally to point the American heathen
within his influence to the Lamb of God? Is there
any burden of obligation resting on Scudlder, or Jud
son, or Boone, to proclaim Christ's love in the hearing of the Hindoo, the Burman, or the Chinese, that
does not rest on the Christians who send them to
seek the salvation of benighted souls aroiund( them?
Or are not the facilities, enrcouragemeLts, and mo
55 
56       HOME EVANGELIZATION,
tives greater for spreading the Gospel among eves
the most hopeless classes of our population, than
among any heathen nation?   Not that the work
abroad should not be prosecuted, and with tenfold
efficiency, if practicable; but that every Christian
should be a missionary in his legitimate sphere, and
give to the present field of toil unwearied and welldirected effort, until called to a distant field, or to
his great reward.
The cry of the ministry is, "The work is too heavy
for us.  We are not able to perform it ourselves alone:
provide out of all the people, able men, such as fear
God-men of truth, hating covetousness-and they
shall bear the burden with us." The call of Bible,
Tract, Sabbath-school, and other institutions, is loud
and piercing: "Here are the tools withi which to
build; 0 take them, and build for Christ and eternity."  The voice of our statesmen is, "Our institutions, based on the intelligence and virtue of a free
people, will founder without the universal application of the means of intellectual and moral elevation
among the masses." And from the depths of degradation, and ignorance, and error, into which millions
of our fellow-countrymen have sunk, there arises a
groan, as it were the voice of many waters: "Bring
us salvation, or we bring you ruin." While from
the old world, above the roar of the waves of civil
commotion, and the din of the conflict of right with 
AUTHORIZED MEANS.
might, we seem to hear a voice of warning and
entreaty, as it were a blast from the trump of an
angel: "For the sake of these agitated, struggling
millions; for the sake of civil and religious freedom
throughout the world; for the sake of national deliverance from the inconceivable burden of Papal domination, which has crushed us to the earth for centuries; for the sake of the principles of government
you now enjoy, and which we aspire to possess; for
the sake of God and humanity, preserve, purify, and
perpetuate your glorious institutions, by giving'to
every creature' a pure Gospel, which teaches men
at once their rights and their duties, and secures
to them their political, industrial, social, and relig.
ious blessings, by showing them how to be men and
Christians."
57 
68       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
CtIAPTEt IV.
COLPORTAGE.
Tim  internal arrangements, the leading character
istics, and the past experience and results of a Christian enterprise having important relations to such a
field of benevolent effort, cannot be altogether uninteresting to any reflecting mind.  And some minds
will eagerly peruse the page that seeks to unfold the
wvoriings of a system of evangelization that has alri,ady conveyed religious instruction to millions of
Pouis, and that is destined to bear some humble part
in filling the world with the kniowledge of the Lord.
THiE AMERICAN TP.ACT SOCIETY, under whose auspices the system of colportage was introduced and
applied to the American field, was founded for the
purpose of printing evangelical truth ill every form
in which the great cardinal truths of Christianity can
be presented to the mind through the eye; and circulating that truth through all the channels of access
to a world lying in wickedness.  It received its name
not to indicate the size of the publications it was to
issue, but, like the parent institution in London, as
expressive of a publishing institution, in distinction
from a 7zissio~tary society; and it was supposed to
be comprehensive enough to cover all the diversified
operations of a great evangelical printing establish 
COLPORTAGE.
ment. Its constitution and charter contemplate the
" ci)-czlcttioiz" and " clisio~t" of its publications,
by agencies to distribute books and tracts where they
are needed, and where they might never be sent
without such agencies.  Under this sanction it can
not send forth laborers otherwise than as book or
tract distributers or colporteurs; it cannot and does
not employ "missionaries," in the usual acceptation
of the term, either lay or clerical; nor under its cath.
olic organization can it establish churches, or do any
of the work appropriate to the several denominations.
But it may urge its co-laborers, and all other Christians, to fidelity to souls while engaged in the distribution of printed truth; it may and does press on
the conscience the obligation of every disciple of
Christ, and especially those who  are visiting the
abodes of the destitute and neglected, to warn them
of coming wrath, and entreat them to be reconciled
to God.   This they have done in a million families,
with the manifest approval of Heaven.
The nature of its organization, and the scope of
its relations, tend to seczure the Society fro)?, prejudliced zieuvs of the field of evangelization, or of the
means of its cultivation. Its relations to foreign and
Pagan lands are too  wide-spread and important,
reaching to nearly every American missionary station, and to all the associations for European evangelization, to allow of its sympathies and labors becom
50 
60       HOME EVANGELIZATiON
ing  engrossed in the domestic field.  Its domestic
operations are too wide-spread, and the pressure of
providential claims too heavy and constant, to admit
of its neglecting destitutions at home, for the sake of
cultivating foreign fields. It is so based on the principle of evangelical catholicity, that no single denomrnination or family of sects will be likely to swerve it
from its union policy and spirit; yet this very fact furnishes the safeguard that no denomination will suffel
the invasion of its rights, the infringement of its principles, or the counteraction of its plans, by the publications it issues or the enterprises it undertakes.
Conducted by, and dependent, under God, on the ministry and the members of churches jointly for favor
and support, and employing among its agencies large
numbers of both, it is not likely to foster the spirit of
pride or domination in the ministry, or of discontent
and ambition in the laity. If it seeks to develope the
talent and piety of the churches, so much of which
lies dormant, it is in a way to add to the efficiency
of the leaders of the consecrated host, who should
give direction to that talent in prayerful labors for the
souls of men. All the tendencies of its publications
are to increase popular esteem for the ministry, and
to lead the people to profit by their instructions. Indeed, a major part of the publications of the Society
are prepared from the pulpit productions of the ablest
rministers of Christ who have blessed the world. And 
COLI'ORTAGF.
while regarding the press as one of the mlost potent
agents for reforming and converting the world, its
power for good, through grace, is seen to depend, in
a great degree, on the aid of the ministry in preparing, and on the laity in circulating its issues.  In its
extensive business relations, requiring accuracy and
promptness in its transactions, the Society might degenerate into a mere publishing establishment, but
that it has benevolent relations wide as the world;
and that the claims on its charities, none of which are
denied. impel to unceasing exertions that its resources
may not be exhausted, nor its streams of living waters
dried up. Destitute of any permanent funds, and
depending on God and his people for the means ot
meeting its daily expenditures; often brought into
straits to pay its current dues; the child of Providence, exposed to sectarian jealousy and infidel hatred; wielding no power but that of doing good-its
very weakness is its strength-its dangers are its safeguards.  It claims no support of any-it asks it of all
who approve its principles and plans. It contends
with none who prefer other modes of doing good, and
it welcomes every kindred agency. It is on its good
behavior before the world.  When it swerves from
its course of usefulness, and ceases to do the Lord's
work, or to receive the divine blessing, it ought to
perish.
The publications of the Society are selected by a
61. 
62       lOMEIE EVANGELIZATION.
Committee composed of six members, no two belonging to the same ecclesiastical connection; and no
book or tract is issued without the unanimous approval of the Committee. They are intended and believed to be the choicest standard productions of evangelical authors, in the whole range of their several
subjects; and are so varied in their topics as to meet
nearly every want in the successive stages of Christian experience, and almost every class of irnpen.
itent, inquiring, or erring sinners. It is believed that
an equal number of publications cannot be found in
any language, more rich in soul-humbling, God-ex,
alting truth, or having more of the marrow of the
Gospel, than the fourteen hundred books and tracts
now on the Society's catalogue. The sainted Milnor,
and his surviving associates, have toiled nearly a
quarter of a century in vain, if they have not culled
the gems from the mine of truth open before them.
Feeling the responsibility of their position, ill providing a literature for permanent and unrestricted
circulation, they have not been exposed to be swayed
by denominational sympathy, and have kept steadily
in view the wants of the soul and the honor of Christ,
as the only test of excellence in their issues. Tenfold more publications have been laid aside as unworthy of a place on the Society's list, on the score of
deficient spirituality, and the want of high-toned
evangelical character, than for any other cause. And 
COLPORTAGIE.
never was a work rejected because it contained too
much of biblical truth. The Committee is a unit in
the common love for all that ministers to the con version of the sinner, the edification of the believer,
and the glory of the precious Redeemer. All that is
vital to evangelical Christianity, all that is essential
to the salvation of the soul, and to the perfection of
Christian character, is loved by the Committee, and
set forth in the publications of the Society in its
fulness aind entireness. If there is a more ample exhibition of the workl of atonement, as provided and
applied, than in the Fountain of Life and Method oi
Grace of John Flavel; or a clearer unfolding of providence and grace than in the History of Redemption
by Edwards; or a more searching analysis of true and
false religion than in his work on the Affections; or a
plainer unfolding of the way of life than in Doddridge's Rise and Progress, we know not where they
are to be found. If Baxter's Saints' Rest and Call
to the Unconverted, Alleine's Alarm, Pike's Religion
and Eternal Life, and many other books of the Society, do not furnish safe and explicit instructions and
appeals to the impenitent, then there are none in the
language. The Spirit of God has for centuries bestowed his blessing on these and kindred publications, and thousands have been led to the cross by
perusing them.
The varicty of the Society's publicatio,ts, and their
C) 3 
64       IIOME EVANGELIZATION
adaptation to the multiplied wants of the people, is
greater than is often apprehended. From childhood
to old age, it is not easy to conceive of a condition that
h,as not been provided for.  Even before the Art of
reading has been acquired, the mother has furnished
to her hand a series of beautiful engravings, illustrating scriptural scenes, with which to impress some
lesson of wisdom on the opening mind.  The "Tract
Primer," with its beautifully illustrated alphabet, its
spelling and simple reading-lessons, and its hymns
and Bible stories, is suited to the nursery, as well as
to the log-cabin, where "children of larger growth"
often need elementary instruction. Juvenile readers
find hundreds of tracts and volumes, suited to their
several stages of advancement, so attractive in the execution, and so enlivened by illustrations, as to invite
them away from the idle tales that once allured them.
The "young man from home" is met by James'
admirable work, or encountered by MIorison's "Counsels," or persuaded to "Early Piety," or advised by
the "Young Christian."  The awakened sinner is
pointed to Christ in the "Anxious Inquirer," and the
"Call to the Unconverted."   The recent convert receives the " Guide for Young Disciples," or such
models of Christian excellence and consecration as
htarlan Page, James Brainerd Taylor, Sarah Lar.man Smith, or Harriet L. Winslow. The doubting
Christian is aided by Edwards' Affections, and search 
C(OLPORTAGE.
ed by Flavel's Touchstone, or Fuller's Backslider.
The covetous man is melted by Harris' Mammon.
The sceptic is cured of his infidelity by Nelson, Greg-ry, Plumer, or Spring.  The Universahlist is taught
lhat his system is "not of God" by one who has tested it by a bitter experience. The Romanist is shown
the absurdities of his scheme by Nevins, or has unfolded the great doctrine of justification in the brilliant pages of D'Aubi,gn6's History. The self-rig,,hteous
politician, or man of the world, may trace the process of converting grace and the triumphs of evangelical faith in the glowing Memoir of Milnor. While
the ripened Christian may feast his soul on the repast
spread by the giant theologians of the seventeenth
century, and may "eat that which is good" in the
"Sermons for the Aged," or plume  his wings for
"The Saints' Everlasting Rest" with Baxter's help,
Dr enter the river hand in hand with Bunyan's "Pilgrim." In a word, the Tract House is a vast arsenal,
whence the soldiers of the cross may be supplied with
weapons for their holy warfare, suited to every
emergency; proved a thousand times; easily multiplied without limit; "mighty, through God, to the
pulling down of strong holds," and confounding the
hot ts of sin as they pierce the hearts of the King's
enemnies.
A brief description of the mechanical arra?genents for multiplying the publications of the Society
Home Evan.             5
65 
66       IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
may not be out of place here, especially as it may
aid in forming just conceptions of the magnitude
of the work, and the facilities for its indefinite expansion.
Fronting the Park, and looking out on the City
Hall, stands a building of simple architecture, eighty
by niiety-four feet, five stories in height, owned and
occupied by the American Tract Society.  On the first
floor are four stores, the largest of which is occupied
as the general place of business of the Society, with
offices for the Treasurer and the Messenger in the rear.
On the second floor, several benevolent societies are
accommodated in the twelve apartments into which
it is divided. The third floor furnishes convenient
rooms for the secretaries and their assistants, for the
mneeting of committees, a sheet-room, and the large
general depository, in which boxes are packed for
the country and the world. The fourth and part of
the fifth stories are devoted to the bindery, where
more than one hundred females, and forty men, puirsue their busy task, folding, stitching, covering, and
finishing more than 3,000 books and 25,000 smaller
publications each day.   Ascending to the fifth floor,
you witness a strange scene. The mere exhibitions
of mechanical  genius  are wonderful.   Ponderous
presses seem to have become instinct with intelligence and Christian zeal.  They seize the moistened
sheet with their iron fingers, draw it over the wait 
COLPORTAGE.
ing type, stamp it with immortal truth, and place it
onil a wooden hand, which lays it gently upon the
table, while it seems to say, "There, I have given the
truth more wings, that it may fly abroad and fill the
earth." The press on which the Messenger is print
ed, is compelled to roll round some fifteen or eighteen
times a minute, for eighteen days, to supply the more
than 140,000 families who welcome its coming.
Twelve of these oracular machines pursue their endless task, without weariness or suffering; preaching
more of Flavel's sermons in a week than he preached
in a lifetime-dreaming Bunyan's Dream over a thousanld times a day-reiterating Baxter's "Call" until
it would seem that the very atmosphere was vocal
with, "Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?"  If
one could follow the rills of the water of life flowing
from this fountain along their course, and see how
many who have been sickened or maddened by
draughts from the corrupted streams of earth, have
been induced to take the cup of salvation; how many
who were fainting in "the land where no water is,"
have found a book or tract as "cold waer to a thirsty
soul;" how many have been cheered, or refreshed, or
comforted, in their heavenly pilgrimage-if all tho
influences for good flowing from this "upper room,"
could be traced, what rapture, what gratitude would
fill the heart of the beholder. "All for Christ, all
for Christ," one cannot help exclaiming, as he book
67 
Hb IOME EVANGELIZATION.
around, and remembers, that no page was ever print
ed here that was not baptized with gospel truth.
But let us hurry through the remaining apart
ments.  There, in a snug corner of the printilng-office,
is the engraver's room, where the beautiful illustra
tions which add so much to the attractiveness of the
Society's publications, are prepared.  Just in a convenient place, a stean hoist-way does the drudgery
of many men, and carries its burdens of paper or
books floin loft to loft. Descending the stairway of
the rear wing, you pass the drying-room, the stampilg-room, tie cover-making and gilding room, the
hydraulic-piess room, the engine-room, the wetti?igdownz room, and the basements for storing paper, to
the coal-cellars, the boiler-room whence steam passes
through wrought-iron pipes into  all the fifty-five
apartments fuinishing a genial heat, and the vault
for stereotype plates running the whole length of the
edifice under tbche street.
It is probably one of the most complete printingoffices in the woild; and when enlarged to meet the
growing wants of the Society, it will be among the
most extensive.
However complete these arrangements for preparinlg food for the mind and heart, millions would starve,
or feed on the husks of a frigid morality or the vanities of a vapid literature, were there not facilities for
conveying this bread of life to their abodes. Unhap. 
COLPORTAGE.
pily there are no such natural instincts as prompt
the hlungry man to seek his food, to impel him to
provide himself and others with that bread of which,
if a man eat, he shall never hunger. On the coiltrary, the greater the need the less is it realized.
Men must be sent now as of old into the highways
and hedges of sin, to compel the poor, the halt, the
maimed, and the blind to come to the gospel supper.
Or, in the case before us, they may carry immortal
food to the destitute, and awaliken the appetite for it,
if the Holy Spirit blesses the eflbrt.
The necessity of such agencies has been sufficiently
shown il the preceding pages of this volume.   We'
have now to do with the agencies themselves. These
are as diversified as the localities and the classes to
be reached. In Pagan lands, missionaries, catechists,
and native helpers constitute almost the only available channels of distribution. Here and there a colporteur, as in China and in Syria, is demonstrating
the efficiency of this auxiliary to missionary labors in
the vast regions wlhich the foreign missionary does not
penetrate. In Papal and nominally Protestant countries, the chief reliance is on kindred organizations
and their laborers, or on individual Christians ol
ntelligence and zeal, who are ready to make sacrifices for Christ and the Gospel. By these means,
nearly every nation of Europe has had the seeds of
divine truth scattered by this Society in its cities, and
00 
70      IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
along its rivers and hill-sides. Pious sea-captains,
sailors, and seamen's chaplains at foreign ports, furnish facilities for reaching tens of thousands of minlds
with the truth, and make the commerce of thb world
tributary to the world's conversion. In our owni
country, the more important channels of circulation
are monthly tract visitors, many thousands of whom
pursue their noiseless, useful work in our cities and
large towns-their words of kindness and messages
of love distilling like the dew on ten thousand hearts;
the missionaries in new settlements, all of whom may
have annual supplies, if requested; the pastors of
churches, of every name, who are giving increased
attention to the supply of their parishioners, and the
destitute around them, with religious truth on the
printed page; students of theology, who find health,
pecuniary means, and skill in doing good, all promoted by devoting their vacations to colporteur labors; and lastly, an organized systemn of colportage,
without which there can be no assurance that all the
wastes will be sought out, and all the destitute families furnished with the means of religious instruction.
The history of co1portage in this country is recent
and brief It had its origin in compassion for the
iestitute, and a conviction that more aggressive and
-omprehensive plans of evangelization than those in
operation, were imperiously demanded. The plan of
volume circulation, so successfully prosecuted for sev 
COLPORTAGE.
eral years, had served to awaken the attention of the
Christian community to the power of the religious
press; made them familiar with the excellence of
the Society's publications, and trained a class of men
to become the superintendents of the more extended
scheme, when it took the direction of seeking out the
desolations of the country.   It was at a juncture
when the tide of emigration began to set strongly to
our shores; when Romanism, throwing off its disguises, became bold and confident in its intrusions
into educational and political afikirs; when our western territories were beginning to be filled by the
overflowing of eastern and foreign states; when intelligent minds were boding evil from the increasing
masses of the ignorant and vicious; and when the
sources of corruption from a polluted press, and from
imported infidelity and socialism awakened just
alarm, that the foundations of the Colporteur enterprise were laid. God's hand was in it, indicating the
period, preparing the public mind, raising up the
agencies, and guiding the counsels of this movement
(br carrying the Gospel into "the regions beyond"
the scenes of its present triumphs.
In May, 1841, the Society's annual report directed
attention to the moral wastes of the VWest and South,
and urged the importance of extending the circulation of its publications among the destitute.  A visit
of the principal agent of volume circulation at the
71 
72       HlOMB EVANGELIZATION.
West at this time was opportune. At the amlniver
sary of the American Tract Society, Boston, the same
month, one of the Secretaries of the Society at New
York made a public appeal for well-qualified laborers
to go to destitute places. Several persons responded
to the appeal, of whom two young men were selected,
one for Indiana and the other for Kentucky. Soon
others were raised up for needy parts of the country,
and at the close of the year 11 colporteurs or volume agents had been in commission; at the close of
the next year, 23; during the succeeding year, 76;
the next, 143; the next, 175; the next, 267; theo
next, 397; and during the last year, 480 were in
commission for the whole or part of the year, including students for vacations. As the practical results
of the enterprise were developed, it was seen to have
an adaptation to the several classes of our heterogeneous population, and it was applied successively to
the German, Irish, French, Welsh, and Norwegian
immigrants; and more recently to the Spanish population in Mexico, and to the Germans in Canada.
From the feeblest beginnings, colportage has become
a movement of great interest, having wide-spread
and important relations. Simple in its principles,
benevolent in its spirit, comprehensive in its plans,
its future history may be hoped to be full of promise
to the church and the world.
The  principles of co7portage may be stated in 
COLPORTAGE.
few words. It assumes and illustrates the substantial unity of the great body of evangelical Christians.
Concerning itself solely with the matters of agreemenlt among believers, it seeks everywhere to make
known the great fundamental truths of a common
Christianity.  While thus employed, it concedes the
right of every denomination, and of every member of
every denomination co6perating with it, to propagate or defend their own peculiar views of doctrine
and discipline, in any and all ways. While it regards
the Christian ministry as alone appointed to expound
the Gospel authoritatively, and as the most influential agency for diffusing the truth, it claims that
other and auxiliary influences are warranted by the
word and providence of God, and demanded by the
wants of the age; that pious church-members, ot
competent talent, are under as solemn obligation to
"confess Christ with the mouth," as to "believe on
him with the heart;" that if all Christians may and
ought to do good in the several spheres in which they
are placed, some, and, if needs be, many may be and
are called to devote all their time and influence to
the work of Christ, and in other relations than the
ministry, though auxiliary to it; that the distribu
tion of religious books and tracts, accompanied with
faithful, prayerful effort for the salvation of individuals and families, is such work as good men may
devote themselves to, with great advantage to the
73 
74       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
interests of morals and religion, and with great benefit
to their own souls; that it is better for the people
to pay for the books the expense of issuing them,
than to receive them as a gratuity; but that the poor
and the erring, if unable or unwilling to purchase,
should be supplied with printed truth without money
and without price; that no distinctions of language
or creed should prevent kindly effort for the spiritual
good of all the people; and that all effort and ali
truth must depend on the quickening Spirit for its
saving efficacy.
There are obvious limits to the scope of an enterprise based on such principles. It does not plant
churches or supply pastors; it does not send forth
men as public heralds of the Gospel; it does not administer ordinances; it does not advocate or defend
the peculiarities of any particular sect: nor could it
do any of these things without becoming denominational, and losing one of its most powerful elements
of usefulness. Ecclesiastical and missionary organizations must be relied on and sustained for these
purposes. But it helps to fill churches already
formed, and reaches multitudes who were previously
without the pale of gospel influences. It paves the
way for permanent religious institutions in districts
where ignorance or error had rejected them. It
strengthens and sustains every other good influence,
and hinders none. It spreads the leaven of truth 
COLPORTAGE.
among the masses that most need its power.  Though
restricted in the scope of its agencies, it is unrestricted
in the range of its adaptation. It can go every where, if it cannot do every thing; and all its tendencies are purely evangelical and saving.
The character and qualijfcations of colporteurs is
a topic vital to the whole scheme. The work they
have to perform requires much judgment, tact, and
zeal. Besides the talent to address public assemblies
acceptably, as opportunity shall present; and a spirit
of fraternal kindness in their intercourse with all
Christian denominations; and skill in plying the
truth in household visits; and accurate business habits, so as properly to account for all the property of
the Society in their possession, they must have enough
of self-denial to live on small salaries, to endure a
homeless life, encounter the rudest treatment, and
subsist on the humblest fare. A Christian with Howard's philanthropy, Brainerd's devotion, Page's fidelity, and Milnor's business accuracy, would furnish a
model colporteur. Alas, that there are not more such
men in the churches!
The responsibility of selecting and commissioning
men for such a work, is one of the most delicate and
difficult of all the labors of the Committee and executive officers.   A  few indiscreet or incompetent
men might bring the whole enterprise into discredit,
and do irreparable mischief; while every efficient,
75 
76      IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
well-qualified laborer adds another to the "many"
of Daniel's prophetic vision, who "shall run to and
fro" and increase "knowledge" among the people.
There is abundant occasion for gratitude to God for
so guidinglff the counsels of those having this matter
ii charge, -that very few of the many hundreds who
have received commissions as colporteurs have seriously disappointed the expectations of the Committee in their spirit or labors.  There has been great
inequality, of course, in the efficiency and results of
their efforts; but, with rare exceptions, they have
accomplished manifest good, and have realized substantially the hopes and expectations with which
they were sent forth.
A few very simple principles, like the following,
which govern the selection of colporteurs, with the gunidance of God, have contributed to such a result: 1.
Let the salary be so small that no motive but a benevolent one can operate on the mind of the candidate.
2. Appoint no man because he or his friends may desire it, for the sake of health, acquaintance with the
world, or for employment merely; but because there
is a field for the man, and he is a qualified man for
the field. The Society was not formed to bestow
c arities upon its laborers: it is not an almshouse nor
a hospital, but a workshop. 3. Mere recommendations are regarded of little account, except as they
furnish facts as data on which an independent judg 
C,OLPORTAGE.
ment may be formed. The leading points of the history of the candidate furnish the best materials for
judging of his adaptation to colporteur labors.  If it
appears that his conversion was sound and thorough;
that he has cultivated habits of active usefulness in
his particular sphere; that he is of good report among
those who know him well, and that Providence has
led him to desire this mode of doing good, the way is
clear. In order to such knowledge of the candidate,
4. It has been usual to seek personal interviews, either
on the part of the secretaries, general agents, or superintendents, that a careful judgment may be formed
of his character and qualifications; and, if commissioned, that he may be instructed in the principles and
plans of the Society. It is only by such pains-taking
that this enterprise has been thus far preserved from
serious drawbacks, and has won the measure of public
confidence with which it is favored. If colportage
should ever forfeit its claim on the affections and
patronage of the Christian community, it will be the
result of carelessness in this respect. Should denominational zeal, or friendly partiality, or mistaken benevolence become the passport to this field of activity;
should the attempt be made to subsidize an agency
peculiarly fitted for catholic evangelization, and thrust
into the general field a class of men without charity
or prudence, without supervisory agencies, and with
mere nominal responsibility, the whole scheme may
77 
IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
be brought into reproach. Of this, however, there
is perhaps little danger.  The fact that the several
denominations are equally watchful and sufficiently
jealous of each others' influence, will prevent the
exclusive control of this agency for sectarian ends;
while the necessary degree of care and impartiality
in the selection and supervision of laborers, will be
found impracticable for bodies formed for other purposes, and engrossed with other duties.
It was a question of much interest at the outset
of this movement, whether an adequate number of
competent men could be found who would forsake
secular pursuits, forego the prospect of pecuniary
emolument, and for the sake of Christ's kingdom encounter the toils of itinerant labor among the destitute, for an annual compensation ordinarily no more
than $150. Experience encourages the-belief, that
if God should put it into the hearts of his people to
provide the means for sustaining four-fold the number of colporteurs now in the field, his providence
would raise up the men. Without any public appeal
for laborers, and without any special seeking, they
have come forward in increasing numbers, and quite
as rapidly as the means of the Society  oiild admit
of their being commissioned. The truth is, that the
missionary spirit burns in the hearts of thousands
who for some reason have been prevented from enter
ing the ministry; and when such a field of Christias
78 
COLPORTAGE.
enterprise as colportage is opened to them, the num ber who stand ready to obey the call of Providence,
from among all the branches of the church of Christ,
and familiar with the language of the various classes
of immigrants, is large enough to execute the broadest
plans of evangelization.  No  protracted process ox
scholastic training is necessary to fit them for this
work.  Without delay, they can be engaged in sowing and reaping fields but poorly cultivated, and
little likely to be cultivated, for the most part, without some such laborers. When the harvest is perishing, can the church afford to turn aside her sons
who pant for engagement in the great harvest-field?
Is there no place in the army of Christ for volunteers,
when the final conflict is thickening; when the hosts
of the enemy are rapidly multiplying, and when the
inadequacy of the force now in the field is painfully
apparent? Or shall we not rather say, in the name
of the Lord, to every Christian, of every name, who
is well adapted to colporteur labors, and who is prov
identially raised up for it, "Go, work in my vine
yard," until every desolate district shall be evangel
ized, and "the desert shall blossom as the rose?"
Besides the regular corps of colporteurs, whose
time is exclusively devoted to this immediate enterprise, Providence has indicated the employment of
large numbers of students for the ministry in our
various colleges and theological seminaries, during
79 
80       HOMIE EVANGELIZATION.
their vacations; many of whom have shown admirable qualifications for the work.   They throw much
youthful ardor into their efforts; and as they come
in contact with all classes of the people, soon find
occasion for all their acquisitions; learn how much
and what kind of mental furniture is needed to grap.
ple with the world as it is; and return to their studies
with invigorated constitutions, a deeper knowledge
of human nature, an humbler estimate of their own
attainments, and a stronger desire to make preparation for and full proof of their ministry, when called
to the pastoral office. We shall revert to this topic
in another connection.
The providence of God in raising up colporteurs,
is often so marked as to forbid all doubt as to the
duty of sending them forth. This topic is illustrated
in the APPEImx, by a sketch of the history and labors
of a valuable colporteur in Ohio, a convert from the
ranks of German Romanists, who has told his own
narrative with almost Bunyan like simplicity and
interest. 
81
CIIAPTER V.
THE necessity was apparent at an early day, for
the employment of some interniediate agency for
supervising the labors of colporteurs in particular
fields.  "Captains of fifties," and "captains of hundreds," were  demanded, as in olden times.  No
measure of industry or watchfulness on the part of
the Committee and executive officers could oversee
the labors of hundreds of men, scattered over all the
states and territories; or attend to the thousand details involved in their agency.  Yet none but those
perfectly familiar with the Society and experience(d
in its work, could discharge the difficult duties of
such a station. Providence had been training a
class of men for this velt work, in the kindred labor
of "volume  circulation;" and from  these ranks
chiefly were taken those who hold the relation of
superintendents of colportage.  One  has the oversight, under the direction of the Committee, of about
seventy-five colporteurs in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkanlsas; another, of
son-ice thirty in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri; another,
of twelty or more in Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico;
another superintends the laborers in Alabama;
another, in Georgia; another, in Virginia; another,
Homne Evazi.           6
COLPORTAGE.
COLPORTAGE-CONTINUED. 
82       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
in Wlestern Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, ete
The publications pass through the hands, and are
generally charged to the account of these superintendents; monthly statements are forwarded to, and
quarterly accounts adjusted with them; while a regular quarterly and annual report from each colporteur
is sent to the Committee. No colporteur is employed,
however, and no important change made, without
the express sanction of the Committee. Such an arrangement as the above secures prompt attention to
the business of each laborer, promotes economy, and
increases the efficiency of the whole enterprise. The
fact that the superintendents have been in the service of the Society an average period of more than
six years, is an evidence at once of their interest in
the work, and of the confidence of the Committee in
them; and gives the public the assurance that other
than novices are concerned in the conduct of the
enterprise.
Besides the safeguards thus furnished, the Society's general agents visit annually nearly every field,
learning the character of the colporteurs for efficiency;
conferring with them respecting their labors, and
securing the means for their support: and their reports furnish some light for the guidance of the Committee when the question of renewing their cornmissions comes up. And then the numerous friends
of the Society scattered over the country, in their 
COLPORTAGE.
visits to New York, or in their correspondence, often
give valuable information respecting, the standing
and influence of the various laborers in the Society's
service.  With such guards, with extreme caution
in the appointment of laborers, and great care to
instruct them  in their duties-with  fill printed
iiiLstuctions and other documents for their use-with
a well-arranged plan for the constant and minute su
pervision of their labors, and the reiiewal of theio
commissions being subject to the decision of the Corm mittee, we see not how any human arrangements
could be more safe or complete for conducting evan gelical labors. And the best practical comment on
these plans is furnished in the fact, that scarcely a
complaint has reached the Committee, of the inefficiency or indiscretions of their fellow-laborers; while
abundalit commendations have been given by ecclesiastical bodies, pastors, missionaries, and others, in
various parts of the land. We would thank God,
take courage, and go forward.
The ad()ptatioz  of colportage to every class and
condition of our varied population, is a feature which
must have arrested the attention of its patrons and
friends, and lhas contributed greatly to the acceptableness anld usefulness of the enterprise.  First applied to the West, it was soon found to be equally
necessary to the South and South-west.   The destitutions developed there excited the inquiry whethei
8, 
84       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
the middle, northern, and eastern states might not
demand a like exploration and supply; and the investigation of a few districts demonstrated the necessity
and illustrated the adaptation of such a movement
to almost every county. The system seemed to be
peculiarly suited to the rural districts, but experiment proved that our great cities and populous
towns contain thousands and tens of thousands who
demand just such a process of evangelization; and
New York, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Sandusky,
Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Natchez, Vicksburg, New Orleans, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, etc., etc.,
great thoroughfares and centres of influence, have
been explored by colporteurs of this Society. Begun
wvith special reference to native destitutions, it soon
was seen to have equal if not greater fitness for the
rapidly increasing classes of immigrants, and it was
extended successively to our German, Irish, French,
WVelsh, and Norwegian population.  Intended  for
nominal Protestants, Providence early led to its in troduction among nominal and real Papists, and has
clearly indicated by the blessing so richly bestowed,
that it is to become one of the mightiest agencies
for the conversion of the adherents of Rome. Pro iected with reference to families at their homes, it
has come to meet a long-felt want as a means of
supplying the thoroughfares with attractive, health ful reading, in place of the poisonous trash hitherto 
COLPORTAGE.
urged on the attention of the traveller; and during
the past year, tens of thousands of publications have
entered this channel of circulation. So far has the
public taste been changed, that numbers of hawkers
and pedlers come daily to the Tract House for supplies, while the traffic in fictitious and demoralizing
publications is on the wane. Designed to meet the
wants of our own country, it has already penetrated
Canadla on the north and Mexico on the south, and
is now sowing the seeds of life along the recent
pathway of carnage  and death.  And before this
page meets the reader's eye, it will be scattering
along the Pacific coast such treasures as are "more
precious than gold; yea, than much fine gold."
Already familiar to Europe, and demanded on a
vast scale there, it is destined to be incorporated
with the plans for evangelizing the heathen nations,
and may be the means of bringing into active employment thousands of native converts, now, like
thousands of Christians at home, comparatively useless in the church of Christ. Wherever, in the wide
world, there are sinners who need a Saviour, having
eyes to read or ears to hear the gospel message, we
see not why colportage may not and should not be
employed, in connection with other agencies, in the
stupendous work of evangelizing the earth.
The system of colportage is conducted with scrupulous economy.  The funds to sustain it are often
85 
66  IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
contributed by persons in humble circumstances, and
are the fruits of Christian self-denial; and the Conmmittee feel constrained to make the most of the means
placed at their disposal for sending the Gospel to the
poor.,Yith few exceptions, they have adhered to
the arrangement by which colporteurs receive no
more than $150 salary for each year of actual service. A reasonable additional sum-not exceeding
$50 per annum-is. allowed for the use of a horse
and wagon. And the current travelling expenses,
varying greatly as the habits of hospitality difier, are
also paid by the Society. A colporteur spent a year
in Kentucky, and his entire expenses were but fifty
cents! Another travelled nearly 7,000 miles in Tennessee, and his whole expenditure for meals, horsekeeping, tolls, etc., amounted  to  $2 62! While
others, who fall into inhospitable families, are taxed
roundly for seeking to do good to them and their
neighbors. The average total expenses of the colporteur may be $75; yet tens of thousands of dollars have
been bestowed upon the Society, in gratuitous kindness
to its fellow-laborers. Another item of outgoes, and
a very large one, consists of the necessary grants of
publications for the destitute. These will average
not far from $100 annually for each colporteur,
though restricted ordinarily to a single small book
for each family destitute of religious reading and too
poor to purchase.  It is perhaps a question w\het.her 
COLPORTAGE.
it would not be true economy to make a more free
distribution of publications among isolated and ignorant families, where the trouble and expense of
reaching their dwellings has been incurred, were
the means placed at the disposal of the Society adequate to such an enlargement of grants. But even
on the present restricted scale, the total amount of
expenditure for publications gratuitously circulated,
which, including  grants through other channels,
amounted last year to $31,926, furnishes an item
so considerable as to deserve the attention of the patrons of the Society.  We have spoken of-the economy of the colporteur system intrinsically, and not
in comparison with other plans of doing good which
are not analogous to this, and should not be affected
by its economical arrangements.
But with the utmost economy, very large pecuntiary expenditures are necessary in the prosecution of
the Society's enterprises, and especially in the efficient
employment of colportage;  and no small measure
of faith in God is requisite to conduct the financial
affairs of such a movement. Some two hundred
printers and binders must have their weekly dues.
Bills for printing-paper, materials for the bindery, etc.,
amounting to six or eight thousand dollars a month,
must be promptly met. Hundreds of fellow-laborers
must be paid quarterly. And the sole dependence,
under God, for meeting all these liabilities, excepting
87 
88       I10IOME EVANGELIZATION.
the receipts for publications sold, is on the freewill
offerings of good men scattered over thirty great
states. Uncertain as this source of revenue would
seem to be, it should be recorded to the praise of the
Gospel, and as no more than justice to the benevolence of the people professing it, that though often
in straits, there has never been a failure in meeting the engagements of the treasury.  Providential
helpers have been raised up, in perhaps an unexpected quarter, and the Society's credit is as unquestioned as that of the first commercial houses. Thus,
on one occasion when the Committee met, it was
found, that, with an  empty treasury, more than
$7,000 in notes and other liabilities, must be paid
within the succeeding fortnight, in addition to current expenses, amounting to several thousands more.
It was a period of commercial embarrassment. To
human view, there was no escape from failure, or the
necessity of suspending the work in the manufacturing departments, for a time at least, which would have
been disastrous. But Providence interposed, as in a
hundred other instances. A legacy of $5,000 was
paid. More than $2,000 were contributed in a single city.  When the Committee met, a fortnight
afterwards, the current expenses had all been met,
the appalling debt paid, and every wheel was moving forward.
On another occasion, applications for colparter 
COLIPORTAGE.
commissions increased greatly. More than twenty
cases were pending, most of which were clearly
marked by the finger of Providence as worthy of
affirmative action. But large expenditures had been
incurred in providing new presses and machinery;
and notes were outstanding for paper to a considerable amount. Must not these candidates be sent away,
in such circumstances? No; not so long as the same
Providence that opened the fields, and raised up these
men for their cultivation, has the hearts of all men in
his hands, and owns the silver and the gold, and the
"cattle on a thousand hills."  Every qualified man,
nearly twenty in all, was commissioned. Now, mark
the sequel.  Before half of them  had reached their
fields of labor, the Committee were advised of the
intention of a benevolent gentleman at the South,
previously unknown, to contribute $3,000, to pay
the salary of twenty colporteurs for one year. In a
few weeks that sum was remitted; and subsequently
the generous donor made provision for a similar donation annually for the succeeding three years. Other
cheering incidents of a similar sort characterize the
Society's history. Colportage was commenced without a dollar in the treasury, and has been carried
forward thus far, expanding its efforts with a rapidity
unprecedented in the history of modern evangelization, depending on the blessed promnise, "Trust in the
Lord, and do good; and verily thou shalt be fed."
89 
90        IIO11E EVANGELIZATION.
It is indeed a "work of faith, and labor of love."
BLt the promises of God are sure.  The "bank of
faith" never fails.
The simple statistics of colportage are full of instruction. Though incomplete until within the last
four years, they present results highly satisfactory alnd
cheering.  In the first year, ending April, 1842, the
number of coliorteurs and volume agents was but
eleven, and the total receipts of the Society were
$91,155.  In 1843, twenty-thlree colporteurs wero
employed; in 1844, seventy-six; and the aggregate
receipts reached $108,484. In 1845, the number
of colporteurs increased to one hundred and fortythree; the number of families visited amounted to
153,000; the volumes circulated to 375,000, of which
47,000 were distributed gratuitously; and the receipts advanced to $152,376. The results of the succeeding years (1846-7) were on a somewhat enlarged scale. In 1848, there were three hundred and
ninety-seven colporteurs; more than 254,000 families were visited; 693,300 volumes sold; more than
81,000 books distributed gratuitously; and the receipts advanced to $237,296.   In 1849, there were
four hundred and eighty colporteurs; of 341,000 families visited, 52,500 families were neglecters of public
worship, and 45,500 were destitute of all religious
books; 734,664 books were circulated-98,400 gratuitausly.  The receipts of the year were $258,300. 
COLPORTAGE.
In each case, the entire number of colporteurs for the
whlole or part of the year is given above, including thleological students for their vacations. The statistics of
the American Tract Society, Boston, are not included.
Thle aggregate of the first eight years' labors of
colportage, scattered over all the states and territories, furnishes the amplest evidence of the efficiency
of the system, and is an earnest, we trust, of other
years of more extended and useful toils. Not far
from twzelve hzt2dired and thirty thousandfam1ilies,
embracing perhaps six millions of souls, or about
one-fourth part of our entire population, have been
visited at their firesides by the colporteurs of the
Society, who have conversed on personal  religion
with a large majority of them.   During the same
period, more than three millions of books have been
placed in the hands of the people; more than three
hundred thousand of which have been distributed
gratuitously, mostly in families previously destitute
of religious reading.  The statistics of five years show
that more than one h]undred and eighty-twvo thou,and families were destitute of all religions books exrept the Bible.   Within the last four years, during
which statistics on this subject have been gathered,
about ninety thousand families have been found destitute of the Bible, who have been supplied, so far
us copies of the Scriptures could be procured.
A separate statement of the results of the labors
91 
H) IOME EVANGELIZATION.
of theological students, included in the above statis
ties, (with the exception of 18-48,) may serve to show
the value of that branch of the work. The number
employed increased from twenty in 1846, to one hundred and six in 1848; and during the summer of
1S18, one hundred students, connected with more
than twenty different institutions, were engaged in
these labors. In all, during the past four years, 2'70
students have devoted the aggregate period of 53-4
months to colportage; have visited 108,000 families, with a large part of whom they conversed or
prayed; have sold 126,478 volumes, amounting to
more than $30,000, besides the circulation of 37,894
volumes gratuitously in poor families.  Not far from
$10,000 have been paid by the Society to students, for
their labors; thus rendering essential aid in carrying
many of them forward in their course of preparation
for the ministry.
We leave the naked statistics to speak for themselves. They record such evidences of industry and
cnergy, and such a broadcast sowing of the seed of
the word, as can rarely be found on the pages of the
history of evangelization.
The results of colportage must be left, in a great
degree, to the developments of future years, or to
the revelations of that day when the veil shall be
lifted that conceals the combined working of the ten
thousand agencies embraced in the economy of re 
COLPORTAGE.
demption.   The fact that the labors are itinerant;
that the particular fields are so larme, a'ad the number of colporteurs so inadequate as yet, has, for the.
most part, prevented the revisiting of districts. But
God has graciously bestowed sufficient tokens of approval to animate the laborers, encourage the friends,
and reward the patrons of this enterprise. Besides
important incidental results, indicated in other connections, the correspondence of the Society is filled
with incidents of individual conversion, by the blessing of the Itoly Spirit on the personal labors of the
colporteur, or on the publications he has distributed.
Nearly every mail brings such intelligence, or the
more cheering news, that in some destitute place,
the work of God has been revived, and numbers have
been "added to the church."  It would be impracticable in such a statement as this-and with the readers of the Messenger and Reports of the Society it
would be unnecessary-to present the facts illustrati:g this topic, gathered from the reports of colporteurs, even for the last quarter-much less for the
year. The most that can be admitted will be a
sketch of the results on a single restricted field, as
illustrative substantially of the general results in the
country at large.  For this purpose, we have selected
the district alluded to page 28, a convention of the
colporteurs there having been recently held, and the
facts having been carefully verified.
93 
94        IIOMEI EVANGELIZATION.
Of the 38,864 families visited in the mountainrs of
Virginia, within the space of four years, 7,612, or
more than one-sixth, wvere destitute of all religious
books, and 4,348 were destitute of the Bible: of the
latter, 3,971 have been supplied. More than'75,000
volumes have been sold, for $18,000; and 19,600
volumes distributed  gratuitously-making  a total
circulation of 94,600 volumes, or more than 20,000
each year. Besides personal conversation with 25,467
families, 2,456  prayer-meetings or public meetings
have been held.
Among the results of this efficient toil, we notice
the increased attention to popular education.  Most
of the colporteurs speak of the rapid change going on
in this respect.  "Even parents who cannot read
are now interested in the matter, and begin to lament
the want of schools.  Children who are supplied with
books, manifest an intense desire to learn to read, and
many of them are succeeding. The minds of parents
and children are waking up to this subject."  Another, illustrating the same topic, says, "I found a
family of twelve children without a reader in it, and
all careless about the soul. Now, two children are
sent to boarding-school, and I have been invited to
hold religious meetings at the house."  Another remarks, that there were but five day-schools when he
commenced his labors; now there are fourteen: oth
ers state that schools are increasing, and the (ldisposi 
COLPORTAGE.
tion to establish them wherever it is practicable, is
developing itself.  The changre, though gradual, is
looked upon as a certain result of the universal cirui
rlLtion of good books.
The same general remarks are applicable to Sab.
6:lth-schools.  In most of the counties they were few
and feeble. The results of the voluntary efforts of
the colporteurs in this direction, are truly cheering.
One states, that in the field he entered two years
ago, there were but seven; now there are fifteen.
Another has formed six schools in a single county
In another county, containing but one school a yeai
since, there are now seven, which embrace many
scholars who never attended a day-school. Another
established nine Sabbath-schools, and supplied them
with libraries worth from  $5 to $37.  Another
formed five schools in a county forty miles long, in
which no school existed when he entered it. Similar statements are made by nearly all.  More than
one hundred new schools have already been organized on this field. Though incidental to the main
work of the colporteur, the bearings of this system
on the cause of education alone, are sufficiently important to warrant all the expenditure of money and
labor ever bestowed upon it.
Sabbath-observantce is promoted on this field, as
the result of colportage. Besides individual instances
where the reading of the" Sabbath Manual," or other
05 
9   IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
works, has effected a reformation in this respect,
and repeated evidences that attendance on the means
of grace has been increased, one of the colporteurs
states, on the authority of an intelligent gentleman
on the spot, that the numerous salt-works on the
Kanawha river, with a single exception, have ceased
their labors on the Sabbatih.
Tem2perance finds an efficient auxiliary in colportage. Many a distiller's fire has been put out. Let
the following fact serve as an illustration.   One of
the clerical colporteurs states, that he visited a family on L      creek, in which there was no professor
of religion.  There was a distillery, connected with
a large farm.  He commenced conversation, and the
distribution of tracts among a group on the porch o(
the house. To a young woman he gave Baxter's Call,
and suitable publications to all. The father finally
requested him to select $10 worth of his best books,
for which he paid. At a meeting held the next day,
a few miles off, all this family were present. After
a few weeks, the colporteur called again at that habitation.  The distiller "had never read such a book
as the' Saints' Rest.'"   The daughter, to whom Baxter's Call was given, was in tears. The son bought a
packet of temperance tracts for reading and distribution. Subsequently, the farmer, his wife, and daugihter were hopefully converted and united with the
church, and the distillery was abandoned for ever. 
COLPORTAGE.
Intelligent piety is promoted by this enterprise.
Much of the preaching of this region, as in all similarly situated districts, has more of heat than of light.
Then, sermons are so infrequent, and other meals of
grace are so little enjoyed, that few comparatively
of those who profess religion are well instructed, and
the means of discriminating between true and false
conversions are imperfectly enjoyed. Many of the
converts are gathered at camp-meetings, in the midst
of excitement and confusion. We know of no way
in which sound instruction, in the absence of an educated ministry, can better be furnished, than by the
universal circulation of the writings of Baxter, Flavel, Bunyan, Doddridge, Edwards, and James. A
colporteur, who has had long experience, remarks,
that the converts brought into the church by the
influence of religious reading, generally "hold out,"
and can be relied on for thoroughness of the work
of grace. Another says he has not heard of a backslider among the multitudes who trace their conversion, under God, to the reading of the Society's books.
fIany revivals of religion in these mountains are
traceable directly, through the power of the Spirit, to
the influence of colportage. The facts respecting one
or two may be inserted.  In N   -county, colporteur M       heard of a cluster of eight families in an
isolated valley difficult of access, and where no minister of the Gospel had ever been. He procured a
Home Evan.              7
97 
H98    IOME EVANGELIZATION.
guide, and reached the spot.  The men, with a sin.
gle exception, fled on their approach. The women
and children, however, gathered into one of the cabins, where the colporteur explained the way of salvation in an address of an hour. He supplied them with
tracts, and left one for each of the men, with tho
message, that if he came there again, he would stay
a month but that he would see them and tell them
of Christ. About a year afterwards, when passing
through the same county, he sought the old guide, who
said," I've blessed news: there are seventeen persons,
in the little valley we visited, who are now professedly pious; and they attribute the change to God's
blessing on your visit, and the tracts you distributed."
Another, who has been longest in the service,
states, that soon after he commenced his labors, he
placed one or more volumes in every family in W-.
Last winter a revival occurred, and forty or fifty
hopeful conversions ensued; but there had been no
regular dispensation of the word. The same individual states, that a committee of ministers was appointed to explore the region he visited, who organized five
new churches. In one case a tract, incidentally dropped, was loaned from hand to hand; the people as
sembled to hear it, and talk it over; a prayer-meeting was then established, a church formed of thirty
two members, and a house of worship built. No
preacher has yet been found for them. 
COLPORTAGE.
Indiviclual conve-sions, in connection with col porteur visits or publications, are reported by most
of the laborers, and in some cases, many sheaves
have thus been gathered. One of the laborers states.
that during the four years he has been connected
with the Society, not a week has passed without one
or more individuals having been whopefully converted
in imm2ediate connection with his colporteur labors
The smile of God rests on the enterprise in this field.
and faithful, humble labor is richly rewarded. Many
a rude cabin has been made vocal with prayer and
praise, where once the voice of cursing was heard
since this mode of conveying gospel truth was introduced into this state. The blessing of many ready
to perish will descend on the heads of the self-denying men who climb these mountains, and on the
patrons who provide the means to send them. And
future generations, as they crowd these hill-sides, free
and happy, will recount, among the incidents and
influences that tended to usher in the brighter day
when they began to share with more favored portions
of the country the blessings of educational and religious institutions, the introduction and vigorous prosecution of colportage.
Such, substantially, are the results, so far as they
are gathered up, on all the fields to which this system has been applied. They are such as imper
atively demand its universal application,.aad th
e *;e 
HlOME EVANGELIZATION
rapid multiplication of laborers for this purpose.
When something like an adequate colporteur corps
shall be in the field, so that they may frequently
traverse the same district, and be enabled to apply
the truth to the known condition of each individual,
and trace the influence of their successive visits, we
may hope for such a demonstration of the power of
the Gospel as shall rejoice all hearts.
WIe can imagine the joy of a persevering, self-denying colporteur, who should see, from year to year,
the ripening fruits of his toil on some desolate field.
Here a school-house and a Sabbath-school springs up
in the forest, where no such agencies were employed
when he entered the district. There a church and
a ministry dispense their blessings, where God's day
was disregarded and the ordinances of his house were
unknown.   Habits of reading have superseded the
idle gossip of this neighborhood; and in that, the
prayer-meeting and religious conference have supplanted the gamilng-table and the noisy revel. The
foul-mouthed infidel has become, through grace, a
praying Christian. The zealous Papist has renounced
his superstition, and is the champion of the faith he
once reviled. The interstices of society, where error
lurked and ignorance abounded, are filled up with
the means of light and salvation. As the colporteur
revisits some neighborhood, and enters an abode of
thrift (nd comfort, he seems to recall the unchanged
100 
COLPORTAGE.
scenery, and the faces seem familiar; but his memory fails to recall such a habitation and such a household as now greet him.   Can it be the same?  What
a resurrection! Yes, it is the family found a few
years before in poverty and wretchedness. The
drunken father turned from his cups, under the power
of that earnest appeal: the almest despairing mother
found relief from the burden of sin and sorrow at the
foot of the cross, to whin.ch her soul was led by Doddridge. The ragged children had been prompted by
curiosity and encouraged by their renovated parents
to attend the school and the Sabbath-school, that
they might learn the contents of the beautiful new
books the colporteur placed in their hands. And
here is the man who sought them out in their distance from God and happiness, and brought to them
the means of salvation. They had longed for his return, that they might express their gratitude. There
is joy in that house.
This is no fancy sketch. Almost the very day the
above paragraph was written, a letter was received
from a devoted clerical colporteur in Arkansas, containing the following remarkable statement. What
Christian can read it without gratitude to God for an
instrumentality which, by his blessing, is turning
houses of dissipation into houses of prayer, or without
looking forward with hope to the future developments of this system of evangelization?
101 
102        IOIME EVANGELIZATION.
"I have received satisfactory evidence," he writes,
"of the hopeful conversion of sixteen persons in one
month, as the fruit of my labors.  I will relate the
history of one family, consisting of the parents and
six adult children. The father was wholly given
up to intemperance, and the rest of the family to low
sports. There was not a book of any kind ill the
family. I gave the wife a Bible and Baxter's Call,
which she commenced reading, and soon became
concerned about her soul.  She also attended public
worship until threatened with severe punishment
if she did so.  She was obliged to keep her books
secret ed. Her husband comning home unexpectedly
one day, found her reading the Bible.  Being intoxicated, he became enlraged, tore it from her, and
threwN it into the fire, dancing around it and singing profanely while it was burning.  The poor distressed and conscience-smitten wife  had now no
source of instruction but Baxter, by the blessing of
God upon which, she was soon rejoicing in hope of
eternal life. By her meek and Christian temper in
bearing the reproaches of the rest of the family, and
Liso, doubtless, in answer to her prayer, it was not
long before her husband and three of her children
became the subjects of converting grace.  I leave
you to judge of my feelings when that husband applied to me for a Bible to replace the one he had
burned: my pen cannot describe them." 
COLPORTAGE.
Such scenes are multiplying. May they continue
to increase until every "wilderness and solitary place
shall be glad for them; and the desert shall blossom
as the rose. In the wilderness shall waters brealc
out, and streams in the desert. And the parched
ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land
springs of water."   "The voice of Him that crieth
in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley" of ignorance "shall be exalted, and(
every mountain" of error "and hill" of prejudice
"shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made
straight, and the rough places plain."
103 
IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
CIIAPTER VI.
THE RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
THEu wide-spread relations of colportage may be
partly inferred from the preceding pages. Simple as
it is in its elements, and humble in its sphere, it has
a scope in its relations reaching a great variety of
interests, and affecting widely different classes. We
can only glance at them.
The great subject of Christian union is illustrated
by this enterprise, as almost nowhere else-not a barren, constrained, abstract union, but a free, fruitful,
practical union in counsel, prayer, and effort, in the
simple, sublime, Christlike work of saving souls. It
was a great step towards evangelical brotherhood,
when various denominations united in the circulation
of the Bible "without note or comment;" and that was
supposed to be the limit of approximation. But how
much more distinctive and clear is the demonstration
of substantial unity in the family of the redeemed,
when the great body of evangelical believers vie, in
their love and zeal, in receiving and diffusing their
common Christianity, spread out on seventy thousand
diftierelit pages of the Tract Society's fourteen hundred
different publications; selected for their standard
merit, by a Committee from six bodies of Christians,
from the writings of Congregationalists, Baptists,
104 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans,
Reformed Dutch, Moravians, Friends, and other com munions, and circulated by colporteurs connected with
fifteen different evangelical denominations!  And all
this without infringing on denominational indepen dence, or sacrificing a single truth intelligently regarded as having any vital relation to the salvation of
the sinner, or the edification of the believer. With all
the centrifugal tendencies of Protestantism and of the
age, the pious mind will contemplate this and other
centripetal agencies, suited to attract the great Christian family nearer to each other and to Christ, with
intense satisfaction. It is a partial answer to the
incomparable prayer of the Saviour, " That they all
may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may  be one in us; that the world
may know that thou hast sent one."  Who will not
plead for the speedy and complete fulfilment of this
memorable petition? But this cannot be hoped for
until there is a more prompt and general obedience
to the command, "Go, work in my vineyard:" " Go,
teach all nations." Working Christians are loving,
peaceful Christians. Union of hearts and hands will
come long before union of heads.  Hence,
The relations of colportage to individual Charis
tian efort for the conversion of souls, are important.
It illustrates the necessity of such effort, by revealing
moral wastes which the gospel ministry lan  never
ee..~.
'~ 
100 
IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
reached. It shows the feasibility and safety of employing the individual members of the church in direct labors for the good of souls, in cooperation with
the ministry. It encourages men of humble talents
and acquirements to seek the spiritual well-being of
those less informed than themselves in the things of
the Gospel. It demonstrates the truth, that classes
supposed to be too prejudiced to tolerate the approaches of Christian kindness, are accessible to messengers of love. Its results, on almost every field, in
souls graciously converted and saints quickened, are
an abiding rebuke to the spirit of sloth, and a living,
burning incentive to kindred labors.  Such has been
the influence a thousand times; and the simple and
truthful narratives of toil and success in this work,
as they are read in a hundred thousand families in
the columns of the Messenger, are educating the conscience of tens of thousands to a higher standard of
consecration to the great work of primitive evangelization. In due time-God grant that it may be
speedily-the yearning want of the age-" an earnest,
out-going ministry in all who  are the Lord's-in
Dorcas as in Paul"- will be realized; and we utterly
mistake the elements and the influence of colportago,
if it is not to contribute, under God, mightily to such
a result.
The relations of colportage to the popular litera:ure ofhli9 country, are worthy of a passing remarki
* *,
106 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
.No nation on the globe, perhaps, has so large a read ing population; and in none is the press more active,
or more influential.  What the reading matter pre pared for such a nation would be, if left solely to pri vate enterprise, may be inferred from an examination
of the catalogues of some of the most respectable and
even Christian publishing houses. Self-interest would
shape the supply to the demand; and the mightiest
agent God has given to the world for moulding public opinion and sanctifying the public taste, would be
moulded by it, and be made to reflect its character,
were there no conservative, redeeming influences.
What would prevent the prevalence of habits of mental intoxication as generally as intemperance once prevailed, if there were no efforts like those of the temperance reform to stay the ravages of a corrupt press?
There are three important bearings of colportage
on our popular literature: namely, the counteraction
of a corrupt press, the encouragement of the booktrade, and the supply of those destitute of bools.
The evils of a fictitious or licentious press are so
prevalent and insidious, that it were worthy tenfold
greater effort than has ever yet been employed to
expose and counteract them. Colportage performs its
humble part in this work, by public addresses on the
subject; by spreading the "American Messenger"
with its earnest warnings and expostulations; by
the wide-spread circulation of tracts on the subject;
107 
IOeME EVANGELIZATION.
by preoccupying the ground where the pestilence has
not yet spread itself; by personal remonstrance at
the firesides of those who have been insnared; by
supplanting mischievous abhors with works of abiding excellence; and by visiting the thoroughfares
where the poison had previously been retailed without rebuke, and contesting with the adversary his
right to the time and attention of travellers.  Thus
an antidote is placed beside the poison. Thus the
river of the water of life is made to flow where bitter
streams of earth and hell are maddening the brain
and destroying the soul. We have reason to believe
that thus, by correcting the taste, exposing the evils,
and lessening the demand for trash or poison, the
fountains of pollution are beginning to be dried up;
while the issues of moral and religious books by thet
trade were never so abundant or profitable as at the
present time.
That the prosperity of the book-trade is increased
by the action of a benevolent enterprise like colportage,
there can be little doubt. So far as it counteracts
the mischiefs of vicious books-which are the bane
and curse not only of the community, but of the trade
itself-it certainly encourages all honest dealers, and
especially all religious booksellers. But there are
other and more important bearings. It penetrates
the remote and sparsely settled districts of the couiitry, and hunts up the scattered families unblest as
108 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
yet even with the influence of a newspaper; destitute of all good books, and deprived of all access to a
bookstore; perhaps indifferent about schools, church
es, and all means of mental or moral improvement.
By aggressive effort, at great expense, and by forced
and largely gratuitous circulation, such as benlevolence alone would prompt, it deposits an average of
one or two small volumes in each family. By public
addresses and in private intercourse, and the perusal
of the publications, the people are taught the value
of printed truth. Now, is it possible that such a process, carried forward in all the desolations of the
country, can have any other influence than to stimulate the desire for more reading of a kindred sort?
When curiosity and a thirst for knowledge are once
excited, and the number of readers is greatly increased, will the people be content with the scanty supply
brought to their door by a colporteur, whose footsteps
may never be seen again? Or, will not the demand
increase on every side for a cheap, healthful literature among the people?  And may not private enterprise reap its harvests from the pioneer work of
Christian benevolence in sowing scattered seeds of
truth among the mountains and along the watercourses of an almost illimitable field?
But facts are better than arguments. It is a fact
which challenges contradiction, that the circulation
of moral an.eligious books by the trade, is many
109 
HIOME EVANGELIZATION.
fold greater than when this and kindred benevolent
enterprises commenced their operations. It is a fact
that some of the most prosperous publishing houses in
the country, as a matter of interest, if not of conscience, confine their issues to practical religious
works exclusively, and gain a circulation of 10,000
or 20,000, and even 50,000 copies of large religious
books of the same general character as those issued
by this and other charitable publishing institutions.
It is a fact that the most intelligent, enterprising, and
successful religious booksellers are among the best
friends and most liberal contributors to the Society;
and taking a broad view of their interests, regard all
that is done in the supply of the destitute with religious reading, as contributing immediately or remotely
to their interest and prosperity. We rejoice in such
a result. It is a stimulus to benevolent effort, that
the popular taste may be purified, and such a thirst
for knowledge excited among the ignorant masses, as
will greatly increase the number and the business of
publishers and dealers in good books-even if a hundred "public poisoners" are driven to seek an honest
livelihood.
Particular facts, like the following, might be given
n great numbers to illustrate and sustain our general
position. A poor man in North Carolina procured a
copy of Doddridge's Rise and Progress of a colporteur.
It was the means of his conversion. He loaned it to
110 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
others until it was worn out. He knew nothing of
the process of bookmaking, but felt an irrepressible
desire to renew his means of usefulness. For this
purpose he took a long journey on foot to Richmond,
Virginia, to get ten books made like the sample. He
did not know that they were not manufactured, like
a hoe or a rake, to order. Being directed to a bookstore, he procured his ten copies of Doddridge, and,
for aught we know, is now pursuing his private colportage, and creating a demand for other supplies.
Again and again do colporteurs report the fact that
the circulation of their books excites a desire for com.rn
mentaries, concordances, etc., for which orders are
sent to bookstores.
But we refrain fiom any farther discussion of this
subject. For, even if our premises and conclusions
were mistaken as to the effects of colportage on the
bookselling trade, it would not remove the obligation
to prosecute the work. The souls of ignorant millions
are not to be sacrificed to the possible additional pecuniary gain of a few dozens or hundreds of individuals. The word of God is not bound, nor is it likely
to be, so long as our institutions remain what they
are. The masses have their rights, as well as individuals; and Christians have their duties, and among
them as clear a call of Providence as ever sounded
from on high, to move forward in the univeosal diffu
sion of printed truth.
III 
HOMNIE EL'VANGEh1ZATION.
The fact should )ot be overlooked, that notwithstanding the combined efforts of benevolence and private enterprise, millions of our fellow-countrymen,
speaking our language, are to this day destitute of
the blessings.of a Christian literature; and that hundreds of thousands of families have not a single page of
religious truth: and they are likely to remain so, and
live and die unblest by the writings of pious authors,
unless supplied, in the first instance, by benevolent
zeal. They will not seek them; self-interest will never
climb the mountains and thread the valleys to carry
them to the abodes of poverty. What a humiliating,
exciting statement is that on a preceding page, that
more than osne hu.tdred  and eighy-two thousand
families, embracing at least 900,000 souls, have already been found destitute of all religious authors
Not a hymn-book, nor a catechism, nor a copy of the
writings of godly men, whose works have survived for
two centuries-but not for them! And how many
other hundreds of thousands have only a scanty, inadequate supply of those authors who wrote for a
world, and on whose productions the Holy Spirit has
bestowed his saving blessing for generations!  But
for some such channels of circulation as colportage
affords, it were as well for millions in America, that
Baxter and Bunyan and Edwards and others had
never lived and given their spiritual classics to the
church.  To dry up such channels, through which
112 
RELATIONS Ot' COLI'ORTAGE.
the water of life is flowing to tliirsting millions,
would be like placing an embargo on the charity
vessels freighted with bread for Ireland, unless a percentage were allowed on the cargo; or like destroying the Croton water-pipes, if denied the profits on
the hydrants for the poor.
The bearings of colportage oni tnefarlaily circle are
so palpable as almost to need no discussion.  "France
needs a Washington," said Lamartine.  "France
needs a people," one of our orators replied.  "France
needs mothers," was the yet more profound remark
of Miadam Campan to Napoleon. The family, after
all, is the great school for training freemen-the
great nursery of piety. It is there that the key-note
of character and destiny is struck by a rude or gentle
hand. It is there that the passions are disciplined,
and the motives of action are implanted deep in the
soul. It is there that habits are formed of reverence
for authority, obedience to law, submission to wholesome discipline, and affection for kindred, which are
the elements of good citizenship, and the types of
those graces which are alone perfected in the kingdom of Christ. Our government is essentially paternal, and has its best model in the domestic constitution.   The church is the great family of the
redeemed on earth; and heaven has no counterpart
so complete as in the wvell-ordered, sanctified earthly
household.  Every influence, then, that tends to ele  H~vmi~ Evan.   
113 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
vate and purify the family, so far promotes the safety
and well-being of the state and the prosperity of the
church.
But there is, perhaps, no single instrumentality that
contributes more powerfully to such results than the
Christian press. It furnishes appropriate mental and
spiritual aliment for the opening mind of childhood,
the ripening intellect of youth, and the vigorous powers
of manhood. It conveys to the mother such counsels,
aids, and encouragements as may contribute to the
wise and prayerful discharge of her great trust.  It
furnishes the nursery and the parlor with reading
adapted to win and instruct children and youth in
the ways of virtue and piety. It provides the poor
and isolated household with the means of self-instruction. It sets up family-altars and awakens "sacred
songs" in abodes unused to prayer or praise.  It helps
to sanctify the Sabbath where it had been a day of
sport and revelry. It gathers the household around
the hearth-stone, and beguiles the winter-night hours
wvith Bunyan's mystic "Dream," or the enchanting
narrative of the "Great Reformation." It sends a
welcome "Messenger" with its "glad tidings which
shall be to all people," to a hundred thousand families every month. To provide for such wants, is the
noblest province of the Tract Society; and to be the
purveyor of such blessings to the millions of families
dispersed over the face of the land, is the highest
114 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
honor of the colporteur enterprise.  Its direct action
is on the family-not merely in dwellings where
w.ealth and refinement and Christian institutions
have showered their blessings, but in the log-cabin,
the rude cottage, and the lonely farm-house.  Tears
of gratitude shed by the mother struggling with want
and neglect to support and educate her offspring, as
a Christian colporteur has threaded his way to her
abode, to cheer her heart with pious counsel, and
place in her hands the means of instruction for hex
children, and of edification for her own soul; and the
joyous shout of childhood, when assured that the
bright, new "Primer" held in its hand is its ownits first treasure-such are the best tributes and
rewards' of colportage, as it dispenses the blessings
of a printed Gospel among the families of the land.
The relations of colportage to our civil and educational institutions are more intimate and important than would appear at first thought. Unlike
the institutions of the old world, all power is here
retained in the hands of the people: in theory, at
least, each citizen is a sovereign rather than a subject, and each ruler is but a servant of the public,
intrusted only with such delegated authority as is
indispensable to public order and private security.
No trust is committed to local authorities, that individual or associated enterprise can accomplish;
nothing is delegated to state governments, that coun
115 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
ties can manage; nothing is referred to the control
of the federal government, that state legislation can
provide for. Our whole policy is shaped so as to
give the largest liberty and concentrate the greatest
responsibility on the individual citizen. And tims
verv foundation and groundwork of our institutions,
like those of every stable republic, rest on the virtue
and intelligence of the people-the entire people.
But this presupposes the active use of means for the
cultivation of the intellect and conscience, not among
a moiety of the people only, but among the masses.
The school-house, and the pulpit, and the Christian
press, and active Christianity, are as necessary to the
being and the well-being of a republic, as a standing army is indispensable to a despotism.
In such a light, an enterprise as republican as our
institutions, which contemplates, and is actually realizing as it advances, the carrying of some of the
most potent means of intellectual and moral improvement to every habitation in every district it reaches,
cannot but be regarded with interest simply as a
patriotic movement.   It goes to the masses, with
pages of truth and words of love. It furnishes read ing for the million, suited to elevate the taste, im prove the morals, cultivate the intellect, educate the
conscience, and by God's grace convert the soul. It
serves to check sectional animosities, by the kindly
intercourse of laborers, who come from widely dis
116 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAOE.
taut districts of country, with the people who have
imbibed prejudices against their fellow-countrymen.
It gives an impulse to primary education, by spreading abroad among the ignorant and the destitute
the means of knowledge, and prompting to effort
that they may be made available. It increases the
numbers in our colleges and theological institutions,
by creating a demand for an educated ministry; by
stimulating the zeal of young men whose minds are
brought in contact with Martyn, Buchanan, and
Brainerd Taylor, to abandon secular pursuits and
give themselves to the work of God; and by bringing large masses of men under a religious influence,
and to cherish the desire for pastoral instruction. It
also contributes some influenoe to Americanize our
foreign imnmigrant population, and to bring them into
sympathy with our institutions, by leavening it with
evangelical truth, and encouraging it to fraternize
with our views of religion and government.  Such
impressions of its influence led one of the most eminent of our statesmen to remark to a colporteur, to
whose simple address he listened, "You have got
hold of the right string, sir; unless the masses of
the people have such religious instruction as the
Tract Society and other institutions are carrying to
them, our political institutions are not safe for a
day."
A lesson of vast moment is taught respecting the
117 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
value of religious knowledge as the basis of republican institutions, by the throes of France in her attempt to secure the blessings of freedom.  Does not
every friend of freedom tremble for the issue of an
experiment of self-government, where the family, and
the Bible, and the school-house, and the Sabbath,
and the pulpit, and the Christian press have so little
power? But what France is, we may become, by
the neglect of those agencies which have made us
what we are, or by overlooking the necessity and the
means of making them coextensive with our expanding territory, and our dispersed and heterogeneous
population. When all the people of this great nation are furnished with the means of education and
salvation, then, and not till then, are we secure of
the well-being and perpetuity of our institutions;
anld only then may we safely raise our song of triumph, as dynasties and despotisms which have encumbered and oppressed the world for centuries,
crumble and melt away.
These relations will be more clearly traced by
glancing at the moral and relig,ious enterprises directly or indirectly promoted by colportage.
The Sabbath, for example, the proper observance
of which is essential to the safety of society and to
the prosperity of every religious movement, is nowhere
more ably illustrated in its sacred and universal
obligation, or its temporal and spiritual benefits, than
118 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
in the Sabbath Manual by Dr. Edwards, of which
several hundred thousand copies have been put in
circulation by the Society. It is the vade vzecum of
every eolporteur; and its influence is becoming apparent in the lessened amount of Sabbath desecration by railroads and other public conveyances, by
government mails, and by individuals in various
parts of the country. At least one entire state, and
many counties in other states, have had this volume
placed in every household, with manifest benefit.
Similar statements bearing on the temperance
movement would be justified by facts.  Every eolporteur is, in a sense, a temperance agent. He
encounters the evil everywhere, and is everywhere
and by all proper means its foe. Many a distiller has
ceased his work of ruin, at the instance of one of these
faithful, humble men, or under the influence of truth
conveyed to the offender against conscience and the
best interests of society.
The Bible cause finds an humble, but earnest
coadjutor in the eolporteur. Brought face to face
with the appalling destitutions of God's word which
abound in spite of the zeal of national and local
organizations, he seeks a supply, at any sacrifice, of
the precious Scriptures for such families as are destitute, and are likely to remain so without his intervention; or where his efforts fail to effect a personal
supply, he reports the facts to the organization on
119 
.20      IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
whom rests the immediate responsibility of placing
the Bible in every family within its bounds.
The Sabbath-school iZtercst has some incidental
regard in the colporteur's work. Though foreign
from his immediate object, as a Christian and a phi lanthropist he cannot neglect such a simple and efficient means of doing good to the rising generation,
where competent teachers can be found, the children gathered under their care, and a library fuirnished for their use. Thus, in hundreds of instances,
these nurseries of piety have been revived or established in destitute districts, as the colporteurs have
passed over their fields, on their errand of mercy.
Important as are these and other incidental bearings of colportage, as affecting our native destitutions, they are greatly enhanced when considered in
their aspects towards the immigrantpopulation, who
have almost no Sabbath, among whom the Bible is
inadequately circulated, and the Sabbath-school is
either an almost unknown, or a proscribed institution. To a great degree, this humble agency must
be chiefly relied on to promote all these interests, for
a season at least, among the various classes of our
foreign population; and it were worthy of an amplei
support, even if this were the only relation it sus
tained to that most interesting portion of our fellowcitizens. That it is not the only one, has been sufficiently shown in the foregoing pages. 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
The bearings of colportage on the rising gninistry
have arrested the attention of thoughtful observers
of the times.  Yaluable as have been the aids to
ministerial instruction afforded by theological seminaries, their professors and friends have deeply felt
the want of the practical elerent, for which no
measure of scholastic attainments can compensate,
in an eminently practical country and age. Abstraction from the world and exclusive devotion to study
during the period when those preparing for other
pursuits are gaining a knowledge of men and things,
and are becoming skilled in their respective professions and trades, have been. felt to leave some deficiency in the training of pastors.  And nothing
seems so well to compensate for the loss of that familiarity with the routine of pastoral duties to which
candidates were accustomed when pursuing their
studies with an experienced country minister, as the
employment of theological students, during their
vacations, in colportage and kindred labors.
In this service they are brought in contact with
that degenerate human nature, in all its phases,
which they are to devote a lifetime to the work of
elevating and sanctifying.  Here they encounter, in
the living present, the Protean errors, the imperfect
and shifting forms of which they have found in the
records of the past. Here they learn to adapt their
pulpit preparations to the actual wants of the soul.
1 i-I i 
122       HOME EVANGELIZATION.
Here they may discover that their own is not the
only Christian sect who love the truth, and may be
taught the charity that "hopeth all things, believeth
aill things" of the true people of God.   The exercise of benevolent sympathies, and devotion to the
one work of salvation, will have a reflex influence
on the piety of the laborer, and send back to the
seminary an earnest missionary spirit, which may
leaven others. It is a fact of striking import, that
a large number of the early student colporteurs are
now toiling as missionaries of the cross in India,
China, and the islands of the sea. And the testimony of the professors of colleges and seminaries,
and of the young men themselves, is uniform, that
the periods devoted to this service are among the
most profitable of their preparatory course. The
active, restless mind of the nation cannot be curbed
and controlled by novices and recluses. Practical
men and practical truth, and practical measures for
applying and diffusing the truth, are the paramount
want of a practical age. In the words of president
Hopkins, "If there were ever needed in the ministry
men, true nien, whose hearts were in sympathy with
the great beating and throbbing heart of an agitated
liumanity, and at the same time in sympathy with
God, they are needed now, when these moral earthquakes are overturning thrones, and convulsing the
nations. Men, true men, men of God, earnest, prac 
RELATIONS OF COLPORTAGE.
tical men, fitted, not to fill places, but to do a great
work, are what the church needs.
"How, then, shall such men be trained?  Not by
study alone; not by action alone. I am far from
supposing that any mode of training will make all
such-that any mode will prevent some from becoming such. Still, it will be generally true, that
men will be what their training tends to make them.
And what better can a young man do to this end,
than to spend three months a year in this service?
If it had been the design of Providence to institute
a method of training to meet the case, we hardly
see how any thing better could have been devised.
Let him take his bundle of books, and, with his eyes
and ears open, go on foot to all classes of people.
Let him go where all the conventional restraints are
removed, where poverty is pressing, where enterprise
is struggling, where iniquity, and sensuality, and
infidelity, and a backslidden Christianity are hiding
themselves-where  various religious interests and
denominations are conflicting,-where men have been
drifted by the tides of emigration from every state
and nation-and he will get more insight into the
true feelings of the people, their wants, their prejudices, their strange misapprehensions, and the best
way of approaching them, than he could by hearing
lectures or preaching as a settled pastor all his days.
Let him do this three months in a year for three
123 
124      IO0ME EVANGELIZATION.
years, and his training will be all that could be
desired."
But besides the benefit to themselves, the good
done to destitute communities should not be overlooked.  Their vacations, redeemed from social en.
joyment or mental dissipation, become often the
most useful portion of their lives.  The simple statistics previously recorded, giving the results of the
labors of 270 students employed within the past four
years, reaching more than 108,000 families, and cir
culating more than 160,000 books, show how wide.
spread is the blessing they have conveyed to others
while enjoying preparatory discipline for the high
duties of their sacred station. In every view of this
movement, is it not entitled to approval and encouragement?  It is thrice blessed-blessing  the
families visited, the agent in this labor of love, and
the people who are hereafter to enjoy his ministrations.
New developments and new applications of colportage will be suggested and controlled by provid(lential circumstances. The press and the ministry
must be prepared to meet the varying phases of a
changing age. We quote again the language of the
president of Williams college. "Let us have such
a mninistry as we need, controlling the religious press,
and modifying, to some extent, the secular press; let
the myriad tracts and volumes from the presses of 
RELATIONS ()Ol' CoII'.'RTAGE.
this Society spread over the la,nd, accompanied by
the liviing voice of sylmpathy and love, and we have
nothing to fear.  Then may we safely welcome the
emigrant, whatever his creed.  Then  no  priestly
power, and no jesuitical subtlety, can prevent the
potent influence of light and of love from reaching his
mind.   Then, having secured the foundations of our
own free institutions, we would not wait for the emigrant to come; we would go to him.  With such
a preparation of those coming, with such a preparation here, the single individual settling among  us
would assimilate himself to us, as the snowflake
melts into the ocean; and even those aggregations
so zealously held together, would be but like icebergs
coming  down into a warmer region.  They would
gradually melt away, till there should be substantial
unity among our people, and the blessing of rational
liberty and of a pure and spiritual Christianity would
be put, under the smiles of God, beyond the reach
of danger."
125 
IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
CHAPTER VII.
FACILITIES FOR UNIVERSAL EVANGELIZATION.
A WORK having such vital and important relations
to the civil, social, and religious interests of oui
country, ought to be carried forward on a scale in
some degree proportioned to the magnitude of the
field, and of the interests involved. Rapid as has
been its progress hitherto, it has hardly kept pace
with our expanding territory, the natural increase oi
population, or the tide of foreign immigration. But
foundations have been laid, in the confidence of the
public and the experience of the Society, for such a
future expansion of the enterprise as Providence may
indicate.
It is a matter of grateful surprise, that hitherto
there should have been such a correspondence between the number of laborers raised up, and the
means for their support, so that no well-qualified
candidate for this service has been turned aside from
the work for want of funds. The principle so strikilgly set forth in the Third Annual Report of the
Society, has governed the Committee in the conduct
of colportage, as well as the other enterprises under
their direction. They say, in 1827, " In view of the
responsibility in so great a degree devolving upon
them, of carrying forward this department of benevolent exertion in our country, the Committee have
126 
FACILITIES FOR EVANGELIzArinId. 127
never dared to look fJtrst into the treasury, and
graduate their efforts accordingly; they have felt
that they must pressforward in the work, and trust
in God, through the liberality of the friends of the
cause, to sustain them.  This course they feel that
they must still adopt." On this principle all the
policy of the institution is yet shaped —keeping the
community apprised of their plans and movements,
and the providential calls on their efforts. Such a
principle leaves no room for splendid theories, which
men so often form only to be thwarted. On the
contrary, it commits the enterprise to Providence,
and finds the answer to the prayer, "Thy kingdom
come," in opening fields, and increasing laborers, and
abundant toils, and gracious blessings; while it is
taught to express the feeling of dependence on God
for present means, in the cry, "Give us this day our
daily bread." This does not forbid the desire, nor
weaken the purpose which nerves every effort in this
enterprise, to impart gospel instruction to the entire
existing generation, especially in this land.
That such a work isfeasible, notwithstanding the
difficulties alluded to in the description of the field
before us, may be seen by glancing at the peculiar
facilities enjoyed here for the work of evangelization,
arising fiom the nature of our institutions, the num
ber and character of laborers, and the abund.nt re
sources in the hands of good men. 
HOMLE EVANGELIZATION.
Our institutions afford unexampled facilities for
universal evangelization.  Here all religious systems
are protected-none are patronized.  Truth and error
have a fair field, and are left alike to their own resources. This is scarcely true of any other nation on
the globe, notwithstanding the mighty charnges in
the old world which are tending to such a result.
As yet, the censor and the policeman give a doubtful
phase to the constitutional rights of a free press, in
the dominions of Popery. Established hierarchies
have fettered, and may for ages cramp the free and
elastic spirit of Christianity, and prescribe the forms
of its manifestation in the Protestant monarchies of
Europe; the persecuting spirit of Mohammedan nations may shut out all hope of saving this generation
of the followers of the false prophet; while difficult
barbarous languages and idolatrous customs may long
baffle the missionary in Pagan lands: but here,
Christianity is unshackled, and she may walk forth
in her own native strength, dispensing salvation in
the palace and the log-cabin; to the mountaineer in
his secluded home, or the traveller on the crowded
steamboat; to the emigrant on the wharf, or the
western boatman on his craft; to the child at his
play, or the aged man on his deathbed; to one, to
all —" to barbarian, Scythian, bond, and free." Is
t,is all for naught?  Or is not this marked charac
teristic as the finger of God pointing to the immedi
t2S 
FACILITIES FOR EVANGELIZATION.  129
ate employment of all needed resources for the salvation of a people thus conditioned? Universal evangelization is as much "the price of liberty" as "eternal vigilance."  WYrere there a colony of 10,000,000
souls in the farthest corner of the globe, thus open to
the Gospel, the Christian church would be guilty of
treason against divine authority, if it neglected or
refused to "evangelize every creature" of them all,
though it should cost the sacrifice of tens of thousands of lives, and millions of treasure. Is the obligation less, and are not the facilities manifold, when
these ten millions are on our own soil, "bone of our
bone, and flesh of our flesh?"
That laborers can be found in sufficient numbers
to do the work of evangelization for this generation
while it is upon the stage-at least in this department —we have already shown. We undervalue the
amount of talent and piety among the laity, that
seeks and longs for development in Christian channels. There are more than 7,000 men who have not
bowed the knee to the Baal of worldly ambition, nor
sacrificed to the Moloch of earthly riches. If patriotism, or baser motives can call forth their tens of
thousands to the field of battle, who can doubt that
thousands, from motives of benevolence and philanthropy, would respond to the rallying cry for recruits
in the army of evangelization? When the number
of candidates for the ministry, and colportage, and
Home ilvan.            9 
130      HIOME EVANGELIZATION.
other Christian service falls below the scale of the
resources and liberality of the churches, and not before, will it be time to doubt whether all the land
can be evangelized.
The remaining question, of the extent of' tle re
so,trces for carrying forward colportage, and every
other good worlk, on a scale equal to the exigency,
would hardly seem worthy of remark, but for th~
apprehension sometimes expressed lest the prosperity
of one department of benevolence may hinder the
progress of another, or the claim sometimes made
that a particular scheme of doing good must engross
the charities of the people of God, of one or another
denomination, to the exclusion of some other and sister
effort. As though there were not resources enough ia
the hands of Christians to meet the reasonable wants,
and carry forward the plans of all!  As thoiugh there
were not power enough in covetousness and avarice to
restrain men from giving too much, but an apology
must be furnished them for steeling the heart, and
closing the purse against some heaven-blessed charity!
Yes; there is enough money in the hands of Christians
in this land, to make the reader of the Bible tremble
lest the curse of Meroz shall fall upon them; and to
shut up the outlets through which this wealth should
flow forth in blessings for a perishing world, or seek
to turn it all on a little patch of ground, would be
like damming a living fountain, and mnaking it a 
FACILITIES FOR EVANGELIZATION. 131
stagnant pool creamed over with the scum of indolence, and infested with the reptiles of selfishness,
instead of directing it where its waters might irrigate
the parched earth, and bear spiritual health and refreshment to famishing souls. Want of money! when
the official valuation of the products of the soil foi
the last year exceeds S650,000,000; when the manufactures of the year amount to $350,000,000, and
$470,000,000 are employed in commerce alone-and
far more than half of this thousand million dollars is
in the hands of the friends of religion and of religious institutions. Yes, and when the sums worse
than squandered for the playhouse, or other worldly
amusements, far exceed the aggregate charities of
the nation.  The stupendous strides in wealth which
the people of this country, and Christian people, have
made within the last quarter of a century, are beyond the bounds of comprehension; and the development of our boundless resources, and the expanding schemes for acquisition in all the great branches
of industry, in another quarter of a century, with
the continued smiles of Providence, will make this
the richest nation on the globe. It needs no prophet's
eye to foresee, that unless channels are open through
which the gold that perisheth shall be converted into
the "fine gold" that endureth, and unless the possessors of wealth siall be taught its true value, and
trained to habits of benevolence, we are in danger of 
132      IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
entering on a career of luxury and extravaganceof being given up to "the lust of the eye, the lust
of the flesh, and the pride of life," which have proved
the precursor of the downfall of other nations. Our
safety, then, is coincident with our duty to apply
with a generous, liberal hand, the superabundant
means which God has bestowed upon us, in cultivating every moral waste within our borders; in giving
increased energy to every scheme of home evangelization, and in spreading abroad through every land
the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, to which we
may trace all our temporal as well as spiritual prosperity. Our coal-mines, and gold-mines, and mountains of iron, and wheat-fields, and cotton plantations, and spindles, and ships, will roll in upon their
owners wealth more than enough for all their wants,
should they bestow millions, where thousands are
now contributed, to enlighten and save the country
and the world.
Let us then address ourselves anew to the great
work of domestic evangelization. Let us not pass
over to another generation the work that belongs to
this, when the facilities and resources we enjoy are
adequate to the task. And while proportionate aid
and efficiency are given to every other agency, let
colportage receive such patronage as it deserves, and
as the exigencies of the country demand. It asks no
more. The manner and degree of that support must 
FACILITIES FOR EVANGELIZATION. 133
be left to the benevolent promptings of the individuals, churches, and communities who appreciate its
relations, and love its spirit.  The following sugges
tions are intended more as hints than guides, as to
TIlE MANNER OF AIDING COLPORTAGE.
1. One of the best ways of aiding the American
Tract Society in accomplishing the work before it, is
to provide one's self with its publications, and set
about hunting up the neglected families in the vicinity; or circulating tracts and books when abroad on
tours of business or pleasure, accompanying them
with religious conversation. This will be the surest
way of ascertaining the necessity for employing colporteurs, and will give some insight into the nature
of the work.  If Christians generally would keep a
supply of evangelical publications to loan, sell, or
give to destitute families around them, it would narrow the field requiring paid laborers, and facilitate
the speedy communication of the Gospel to all. It
would also lead to cheerful contributions for the benefit of those not thus personally reached.
2. Individuals, male or female associations, and
congregations may contribute the amount ($150)
necessary for the ordinary salary of one or more colporteurs. Mlore than a hundred such associations or
congregations have contributed in this way several successive years, and with growing satisfaetim, 
IIOMIE EVANGELIZATION,
When desired, some particular colporteur is assigned,
and his reports copied and sent quarterly to his patrons, giving directness of connection between the
donors and the agents they employ in works of mercy.
An assistant being devoted to this department, a
good degree of promptness and regularity is secured
in the reception of intelligence from the fields of colporteur toil.
3. Another acceptable method of aiding colportage
is to contribute larger or smaller amounts to furnish
the publications necessarily bestowed as grants to the
destitute. Individuals or associations contributing
$150 for this purpose, are provided with correspondence as above. If the donor desires the circulation
of a favorite book, like the Sabbath or Temperance
Manual, Baxter's Call, or Alleine's Alarm, he may
specify his gift for that object, with every confidence
that his benevolent purpose will be executed. If
another would reach the German, Irish, French, or
Spanish population, the channels for distribution are
open. Cotton Mather said, two centuries ago, of the
distribution of good books, that "the man deserves to
be condemned to the mines who would rather hoard
up his money than employ it on such a charity."
4. Providence is opening the door for the more
general employment of colportage in France, Germany, and all Europe; and is calling for increased
eooperation from American Christians. Contribu.
134 
FACILITIES FOR EVANGELIZATION.  135
tions in aid of this work will be remitted promptly,
and it would rejoice our hearts if they were ample
enough to sustain all the laborers there fitted for the
work, and to circulate as many publications as thi
wakening, inquiring mind of Europe demands.
5. The facilities for the distribution of printed
truth by missionaries, colporteurs, and native converts, are multiplying in heathen lanids, and large
annual appropriations are demanded for this purpose.
6. The circulation of the American Messenger, the
Society's monthly paper, while it will stimulate to
Christian activity, and convey invaluable religious
instruction to the households it visits, will also make
fast and intelligent friends for the colporteur enterprise. Although it has reached the immense circulation of more than 140,000 copies monthly-the
widest in the world-millions of families know nothing of it, and never will, without the voluntary intervention of the Society's friends.
7. Besides systematic contributions annually, some
of the Society's patrons may be prospered ill woarldly
matters so as to desire some specific mode of presenting a thank-ofFering to God.   One of the most
enduring plans of usefulness conceivable, is to contribute the means for stereotyping and perpetuating
some valuable book or tract, to be circulated througl
all time. Or provision may be made for supplying
the students of a college or theolo(gical seminary, or 
136      HOME EVANGELIZATION.
the inhabitants of a town, with a religious book annually. Such a fund, furnished by the liberality of a
benevolent gentleman, has been a lasting blessing to
the inhabitants of a large towun at the East.
8. Every man who is worth a thousand dollars,
should make a twill.  Those who are blessed with
riches will judge how far the American Tract Society
should have a place among the charities they would
promote by the property they solemnly consecrate to
God in their last will and testament. 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION
CHtAPTER VIII.
MOTIVES FOR HOMTE EVANGELIZATION.
IT would seem that the foregoing views of the relations of colportage might serve to quicken its friends,
ald the friends of all domestic enterprises, to redouble
their diligence and liberality; and that no farther
motives need be presented. But there is a view of
the providences of God, as they surround us and are
passing before us, which we cannot forbear sketching, and which may deepen the impression of solemn
responsibility to extend the work of evangelization
without delay through all our borders. We notice,
1. The providential facilities for the rapid diffitsion of the Gospel. We have referred in another
connection to the facilities furnished by our free institutions, and the abundance of laborers and of pecuniary resources.  We here allude to the advantages afforded by those triumphs of science and art
which characterize our day. If steam has facilitated the process by which half the continent has be
come border land, and created an almost intenrmi
nable frontier, it has also made a highway by its
thousands of miles of railroads, and other means of
rapid intercommunication, for missionaries, colporteurs, books, and Bibles.  And, as if steam were not
prompt enough to answer the demands of the age,
nor swift enough to execute the ripening purposes of
137 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
Providence, magnetism is made to yield its secret to
American genius- annihilating space, and bringiing
the extremes of a continent into fraternal neighborhood. The Hudson and the Mississippi flow side by
side. The waves of the Northern lakes wash the
shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly "deep will
answer unto deep"-the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Add to this the intense employment of the scientific mind of the world in new discoveries, and the
immediate application of the results to the useful
arts-the prodigious improvements, especially in all
that pertains to the art of printing, so that impressions can be taken with tenfold rapidity, and with
corresponding cheapness; reducing the price of the
Bible from an equivalent to a year's toil of a laboring
man a few centuries ago, to the value of a few hours'
work in our day. Contrast the period in our history.
not a century and a half ago, when a single news
paper,. the size of a letter sheet, with a total circulation of three hundred, served for a continent, with
the enterprise and wide-reaching  influence of a daily
journal of our own times. Compare the prediction
of one now  living, that "the time Knight come
when this country would sustain a religious newspaper," with the prosperous condition of a hundred
periodicals devoted to religious intelligence-a single religious journal (the American Messenger) having a circulation exceeding the one-7aif of all the
138 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   139
secular papers issued in this country at the time this
prediction was uttered! (See Thomas' History of
Printing, vol. 2, p. 527.  The whole number  of
newspapers in this country in 1810, was three hundred and fifty, with an average circulation of less
than eight hundred.)
Other illustrations will suggest themselves to every
reflecting mind.  One by one these wonderful engines
of power have been given to the world, as fast as
they could be made to contribute to the advancement
of the kingdomn of Christ.  Wvhat new marvels of science and art may characterize the age, we know not;
but we know that Christ is "Head over ALL THINGS
to his chlurch," and that every invention by which
the world is made smaller and wiser, will facilitate
the plans for making it better. The steamboat and
the rail-car, and the telegraph, and cheap printing,
and cheap postage, enable good men and good institutions to more than double their efficiency, and to
concentrate the labors and the influence of a century
into a brief generation. Shall these advantages be
thrown away? Shall we content ourselves with the
post-coach speed of the eighteenth century, in schemes
for evangelization, while all worldly schemes are propelled with the locomnotive speed of the nineteenth
century? Shall we creep along the beaten path our
fathers trod, and becautsc they trod it, eschewing or
neglecting all the increased facilities Providence has 
140      IIOME EVANGELIZATION.
given us for publishing the great salvation, while
steam, and electricity, and the printing-press are left
to be the agents of ambition, avarice, and revolution? Or is not the voice of God- so beautifully
echoed in the first telegraphic dispatch ever penned,
"What hath God wrought!"-sounding in the ears
of his people, "I the Lord have given you power
and wealth, mountains of iron and valleys of gold, a
boundless territory and a free government. I have
held back the hordes of Europe till you could consolidate the foundations of your institutions, and prepare
your magazines of light for these ignorant millions
I have added the ocean steamer, and the rail-way
and the steam printing-press, and the telegraph: employ all these for my glory and for the establishment
of my kingdom! Use them all, till it shall be anniiounced along the lightning wires that encircle the
globe,'Their line is gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.'"
2. The recent accession of territory, and the circumstances contributing to populate the Pacific
coast, present the strongest motives to immediate
evangelization. The facts respecting this wonderful
movement are of too recent occurrence, and of too
striking a character, not to have arrested the attention
and filled the thoughts of every reader. If published
and even official accounts may be credited, the mineral wealth of the Sierra Nevada mountains andl the 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   141
Sacramento valley exceeds the wildest imaginings of
other days. But whether fully reliable or not, the
influence of the reports from the Pacific has extended
to all parts of the civilized world, and has set hundreds of thousands in motion for "the gold region."
Numerous expeditions are on foot in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and Denmark, and ships are
fitting out, for the Pacific, from the various European
ports. The South American coast swarms with vessels
for San Francisco. The Sandwich islands are losing
their foreign, and a portion of their native population.
India and China are furnishing adventurers. Meanwhile, every Atlantic port helps to swell the fleet for
California, and the passes of the Rocky Mountains
are becoming thoroughfares of emigrant gold-diggers.
A new crusade is proclaimed, not of chivalry, but of
avarice-not for the holy land, but for the land of
gold.  Some have "left their country for their country's good;" but many of the sons of our best citizens
have gone to seek a fortune, perhaps a grave, perhaps
both, in this new E1 Dorado. The passions that paralyzed the industry, and corrupted the morals, and
effected the ruin of Spain, are raging in the breasts
of millions of our countrymen: whether they shall
be controlled and sactified, depends, under God, oa
the promptness and efficiency of the movements for
throwing the restraining, conservative influence of the
Gospel around them. 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
It may not be easy to fathom the divine purposes
respecting these new developments of Providence.
But it is obvious that one design is to quicken the
zeal of Christians in the work of God. When Cotton
Mather was in the midst of a sermon on "the voice
of God in the thunder," he says a message just their
received, that his own house was struck by lightning,
gave "a sensible cdge" to his discourse!  Such "a
sensible edge" is given to all the preexisting motives
to holy living and zealous effort, by the truth, stranger
than fiction, respecting our new possessions. And
now, if we would not have the land desolated by the
plague of consuming covetousness; if we would save
the Sacramento valley from becoming a Pandeminonium; if we would keep the nation firom rioting, and
drunkenness, and destruction, the people of God must
stand steadfast in their integrity, and not merely
breast the waves of selfishness and worldliness that
will sweep across the continent, but now more than
ever multiply and sustain the agencies for aggressive
evangelization. To relax the oar now, is to plunge
down the cataract.   To  falter when  the conflict
thickens, is certain defeat.
But there is another aspect of this matter.  This
strange movement has brought another million square
miles of territory into the field of domestic evangelization, and is populating portions of it with unexampled rapidity.  Home and foreign missions have
142 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   143
struck hands on the Pacific.  Bible and tract operations have girdled the globe.  Anglo-Saxon civilization will spread along the Pacific, building cities,
founding colleges, and schools, and churches, setting
up priniting-presses, making railroads, and propelling
steam-shlips. The commerce of the far east will seek
the marts of our far western ports, and find its outlets through the channels formed by American enter
T)rise across our continent. May it not be, that the
causes which have thronged the Atlantic states with
European immigrants, will crowd the Pacific shores
with the teeming population of the Asiatic nations?
And as Germany, France, and Ireland have been
leavened, in a measure, with republican and evangelical principles, and will be in a greater degree by
the reflex influence of their emigration; so, may it
not be that China, India, and even Japan, shall receive missionaries, in due time, from the converts
among their native emigrants to the American coast?
Thus it may be, and doubtless is the design of God to
turn the ftanik of heathenism, and from a new and
unexpected quarter, with all the advantages of contiguity and facilities of intercourse, to assail the kingdom of darkness. San Francisco may become a great
centre of missionary operations for the South American republics, the islands of the sea, and the Asiatic
nations. Bible and tract organizations may thence
penetrate the dominions of idolatry through all the 
144      HOME EVANGELIZATION.
avenues of commerce and charity. The Sandwich
islands, under gracious and providential preparation
for a quarter of a century, may serve as the great
"maritime de6p6ts" of the army of evangelization.
Mammon may not lift his eyes from his "muckrake" long enough to see all this. Demas may not
look above his "Hill Lucre." Standstill may put his
hands in his pockets and wish the church and the
world would be quiet. Doubtful may think it will
all be plainer when it is over.   But Evangelist
thinks all these strange providential developments
have a solemn evangelic import, when he reads, "HE
shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the
river to the ends of the earth."  "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents." "To
Him shall be given of the gold of Sheba."   "And
let the whole earth be filled with His glory."
Are Christians ready for such an answer to their
daily prayer, "Thy kingdom come?"  When providences more wonderful than miracle are preparing to
overrule human cupidity for purposes of mercy, at
the same time taking from us our last poor excuse
for reluctant zeal, the want of means; and bringing
us, as it were, face to face with paganism, and summoning Christendom to move forward to the valley
of decision with all her heavenly  enginery —e
Christians ready? Are their supplies of menteachers, preachers, and colporteurs: of weapons 
MOTIVES FQR EVANGELIZATION.   145
tracts, books, and Bibles: of money-the widows'
mites and the rich man's thousands: of graces-faith,
courage, zeal, patience, prayer-say, are they ready?
Are you ready?
3. The unprecedented changes in the political
condition of the old world furnish a cogent mo.
tive for the complete evangelization of the United
States. They have passed before us like a panoramic view. Revolutions sufficient in number and
importance to fill the pages of the world's history for
a century, have been crowded into a twelvemonth.
Crowvns and coronets have fallen thick as meteors in
the November "shower of stars."  Despotic power
has melted before popular rights. Louis is an exile;
Ferdinand has abdicated his throne; Pope Pius is a
fugitive; Prussia has wrested a constitution from
Frederick.  Italy and Hungary have sought to cast
off the authority of Austria.  Europe is waking from
the slumber of centuries. The nightmare of popery
is passing away. Absolutism in church and state
has received its death-blow. Freedom of conscience,
freedom of speech, freedom of the press-in other
words, the liberty of being men and Christians, and
of making others such-these have been the watchwords of revolution-the incentives to heroic, if un
successful, struggles with despotism. Though there
have been many reverses and drawbacks, may we
not adopt the expressive language of Robert Hall,
Home E-an.            10 
146      HOME EVANGELIZATION.
"The empire of darkness and of despotism has been
smitten with a stroke that has sounded through the
universe.  W~hen we see whole kingdoms, after reposing for centuries on the lap of their rulers, start
from their slumbers, the dignity of man rising up
from depression, and tyrants trembling on their
thrones, who can remain entirely indifferent, or fail
to turn his eyes to a theatre so august and extraordinary?  These are a kind of throes and struggles
of nature to which it would be a sullenness to refuse
our sympathy. Old foundations are breaking up;
new edifices are rearing. Prospects are opening on
every side, of such amazing variety and extent, as to
stretch farther than the eye of the most enlightened
observer can reach."
We leave to others to note the warnings which
these events should convey to the civilian, while we
endeavor to interpret the lessons of divine Providence
to the philanthropist and the Christian in a single
particular.   Loud as seven thunders, the voice oi
God is sounding above the roar of the waves of civil
commotion and "the tumult of the people," " Evanzgelize Amnerica." For the sake of all that is precious
iki our institutions, civil and religious, we must give
feet and wings to the Gospel, that it may run and
fly through all our borders-conveying to every abode
the surest, the only element of complete civilization,
genuine republicanism, and pure Christianity. Do 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   147
this, moreover, for the sake of Europe.   Who is to
sow the seed of divine truth on the fields from which
the great Husbandman is blasting out the rocks, and
tearing up the roots of despotism and superstition?
Who is to plant the Gospel in the furrows which the
ploughshare of the Almighty is casting up? Are not
the desires of the millions of Europe directed hither?
And will not the great lesson sooner or later be
learned, that our civil institutions are inseparable
from our simple, vital Christianity?  And is there
any other repository of a pure Protestant faith, from
which the agitated nations will sooner receive relig.
ious truth?
Whatever may be the issue of the great conflict
in Europe as to forms of government, it is earnestly
hoped that religious liberty will be secured, and the
press be unshackled. But resources for making
these blessings available in the work of general evangelization, will be inadequate, unless help come from
abroad. American Christians and societies will havo
an enterprise of untold magnitude before them. Already societies and delegates from Germany, Fiance,
and Ireland are pleading with almost desperate importunity for the crumbs that fall from the table of
our charity. When the din of arms, and the conflict
oi' opinions and races shall die away, there will come
such a cry as never before pierced the ear of the
church: not the Iuffled wail of stupid idolatry, nor 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
of bigoted Islamism, nor of blinded Judaism, but the
trumpet-call of wakening intelligence and conscious
w,ant, from nations yearning for such a faith as has
afforded us anchorage, while they have been tossed
and driven and almost wrecked by the tempest.
Are we prepared to meet and cordially to respond
to such a providential claim? Is our conviction of
the value of the Gospel, as the grand conservative
element of a republic, deep and practical enough to
impel us to give universality to it at home, and then
with open hand to provide for its diffusion abroad, on
the divine principle, "Freely ye have received, freely give?" Is our faith strong enough to connect all
these wonders in the drama of Europe with the
throne of God, and with his purposes of mercy towards an apostate world?
4. Another motive for complete domestic evangelization is found in the relations of the American
churches to the heathen world.  That Pagan lands
are to be converted, no Christian doubts who is familiar with the prophecies and promises of God.
The only questions the intelligent friends of missions
entertain, relate to the means and the period of such
a blessed consummation. And the solution of these
problems involves other questions like these: What
is the standard of piety in the churches at home?
Does missionary zeal attest its genuineness by attempting personally, and at its own door, the work
148 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   149
of evangelization, which it sends forth laborers to
accomplish abroad?  If the foreign missionary enterprise has been nearly stationary for ten years, is
it not because we have so much heathenism in our
own country?  And would not the complete evangclization of America result in such an increase of
men and means, as to give promise of the speedy
diffusion of the Gospel among the heathen?
The indications of Providence are clear, that the
utmost energies and resources of Christendom, and
especially of the American churches and institutions,
will be called into requisition to give the word of
life to the Pagan world.  Within a little more than
a quarter of a century, that Providence has cast down
cnearly all the barriers of access to the most benighted
nations. British cupidity has been so overruled as
to open the door for the Gospel into India and China,
containing half the population of the globe. A
flourishing republic has been founded on the shores
of the darkest continent that exists. Papal dynasties, whose power was employed to persecute and
hinder the work of Protestant missions, have been
overthrown. New channels of access to the Asiatic
nations are opening on the Pacific. The whole current of God's providences-sweeping nations away,
and forming others like delta from the rubbish of
those which have perished-is bearing the world
forward on its bosom to the glorious consummation 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
of prophecy and promise. Are not all these changes
the foreshadowiing of vast revolutions. in religious
opinion, and hereditary customs, and cherished prejudices? W hy will not the analogies of Providence warrant the hope, that the same impulses which have
actuated the people of Europe to discard oppression
and cast off the shackles of civil and religious despotism, may pervade the heathen nations-more surely,
if less suddenly, upheaving the foundations of idolatry, breaking the bands of caste, and emancipating
the world from its bondage to superstition?
It should be remembered, that the world is not
lhalf as large as it was a quarter of a century ago,
and that ocean-steamers, and the press, and the telegraph, and commercial and missionary operations,
afford facilities for making the pulsations of the heart
of the world felt at the extremities, with amazing
rapidity. It is also true, that old systems of error,
weakened by the attrition of time and by the waves
of an advancing civilization, have been subjected to
% gradual but steady undermining process, by missionary labor, for a quarter of a century; so that
their downfall, long promised and predicted, may be
less remote than we have been wont to suppose.
The wonderfill preparations of Providence and triumphs of grace among the Karens, and the occurrences at the Sandwich Islands-which have taken
rank as a Christian nation, from the lowest depths
150 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   151
of heathenism, within a generation-ought to rebuke
our unbelief. And the stupendous scale, and millennial-like rapidity, with which changes are wrought
in this day of wonders-as if it were the purpose of
God to "cut short the work in righteousness "-and
the fact that great providential movements are ordinarily the precursors of wide-spread moral changes,
all sulggest the possibility, at least, of such an overturning among heathen nations as has been witnessed
in European kingdoms. Were there any more premonitions in 1847, of the revolutions in France,
Italy, or Austria, than there are now of the abolition of caste in India, or of idol worship in Burmah,
within a dozen years?  Was there any more probability a few years ago, that Louis Philippe, confessedly the ablest monarch of Europe and the wealthiest
man in the world, in the midst of an immense standing army, and surrounded by fortifications built with
unexampled skill and strength, would leave his throne
to be burned by a noisy crowd, and become a needy
fugitive; or that the Pope would flee in the disguise
of a footman from Rome, and leave his subjects to
proclaim a republic, than that the priests of Juggernaut will ere long be cast out, and the ugly remorseless idol be committed to the flames?
But we will not pursue the thought. It is enough
to know that God "will overturn, overturn, overturn, until He shall come whose right it is." The 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
idols which men's hands have fashioned, "shall be
cast to the moles and the bats." The times and
the seasons are with God. He worketh, and no man
hindereth. But we trust there is no presumption in
so reasoning from his providences to his prophecies,
as to stir up the zeal of his people to grapple with
the real, and provide for the possible work of home
and foreign evangelization. Let it be that the long
night of pagan idolatry is only to be broken by the
gradual and gentle dawning of the Sun of righteousness; and would this weaken the obligation to give
universality to religious influences at home, in order
to the amplest resources for the protracted work
abroad? But should the heathen nations be shaken
by the tempest which has burst on Europe, who does
not see that the ability to cope with the gigantic
enterprise laid to the hand of American Christians,
must depend, under God, on the completeness of the
home work? Two millions of Christians cannot
discharge the responsibilities of twenty millions;
nor will their resources of men and means be adequate to the conquest of the heathen world, if nearly
overwhelmed with the conflict with ignorance, error,
and vice on our own shores. The broadest view,
then, of the great missionary work demands redoubled effort for the complete evangelization of
America. Cultivate our own moral wastes till the
whole land shall be as the garden of the Lord, and
152 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   153
we shall be prepared to sow the seed of the kingdom
beside all waters.  "There shall be a handful of
corn on the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof
shall shake like Lebanon." Let our prayer, then,
be, " God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and
cause his face to shine upon us.   That thy way
enty be known upon earthi, thy saving health among
all stations."  "God shall bless us, and all the ends
of the earth shall fear him."
5. Should all the motives for home evangelization,
drawn from providential facilities, and providential
changes, and providential relations fail, there is one
motive left more potent than all, and which gives
energy to every other-TIIE CROSS OF CIIniST.  As
the Greenland missionary turned from all other
teachings in despair, and by the simple tale of Calvary converted years of fruitless toil into a blessing,
so would we exclaim, "Behold the Lamb of God."
Look on the cross, Christian, and in those agonies
learn what thine would have been but for that scene
of wonder. Look again, and tell us what should be
the measure of your gratitude for redemption mercies. Was that blood poured forth from sacred
wounds that you might enjoy the blessings and
immunities of salvation alone; or was it that you
might "be redeemed from all iniquity, and purified
unto God a peculiar people, zealous of good works?"
Do you not hear "a great voice out of heaven," cry 
1 101ME EVANGELIZATION.
ilng, "The Spirit and the bride say, Come;  and let
"hit  blaft hccretA say, Co~;e; and let him that is
athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely?"  Is it yztr epitaph that reads,
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they /nayy rest
fron their labors; and theirt works do follow them?"
Turn your eyes once more to the cross, and in its
light tell us, if you can, the worth of the soul, as
you try to measure the infinite value of the ransom.
Does it outweilgh the world-nay, worlds? Then
why waste on the world immortal powers which
souls need and Christ demands? Is it because there
is not "plenteous redemption," that such multitudes
in the midst of us remain in a Christless, hopeless
condition? Or is it not because of our heedlessness
of obligation and neglect of duty? Are they poor?
But is it not the crowning glory of the religion of
the cross, that "to the poor the Gospel is preached?"
Are they scattered among the mountains, or along
the valleys; or do they hide in the cellars and garrets of our streets? But do not thousands leave
their homes and peril their lives, to seek the gold
that perisheth, on sickly streams or mountain ravines? In the light of the cross, the millions of
souls scattered over the vast field before described,
seem like so many diamonds-blackened indeed by
sin, and needing to be polished before they can be
154 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGELIZATION.   155
set in the Saviour's diadem. But the eye of faith
discerns their value.  Were its vision clearer and the
light stronger, who can say that there might not and
ought not to be the same enthusiasm and energy
among Christians in working the mines of mind
on the Atlantic slope and along the Mississippi valley, which actuate hundreds of thousands to work
the mines of gold on the Pacific coast and the valley
of the Sacramento? Are immortal spirits and enduring riches of less account, and worthy of less sacrifice and self-denial, than temporal wealth, though
it load argosies, or freight navies?
Another glance at the cross of Christ-and the
pursuits of earth, with its pleasures and honors, so far
as they eclipse the Sun of righteousness, or rob the
soul of heavenly joys, seem utter folly and madness.
In that light, who would exchange the humblest
place in the service of Christ, for the highest worldly
station?   The  toil-worn missionary soars;  while
pampered princes sink. The weary colporteur shouts
home his harvest of souls, the fruits of his bountiful
sowing; while the miserly worldling wails with the
whirlwind-his only harvest from life-long "sowing
to the wind." The Dreamer of Bedford jail treads
the streets of gold, and climbs with angelic bands the
Delectable mountains; while the noble but Christless poet is bound in chains of darkness for ever, and
writhes under the taunts of the thousand victims of 
It OME EVANGELIZATION.
his seductive song.  "I had rather be a door-keepel
in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tcnt,
of wickliedness."
In the light of the cross, how beautiful is the sisterhood of charities, each in her sphere seeking to
proclaim Christ and him crucified to the sinning and
sorrowing in this and every land:  Bible societies
spreading the inspired word-Missionary societies
gathering churches, providing pastors, and laying
broad and deep foundations for civil and religious
institutions-Tract societies filling the air with the
"leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing
of the nations," and speeding their messengers to tell
the story of the cross in every abode: all actuated
by one spirit and aiming at one object-the glory of
the Redeemer in the salvation of souls. Shall not
every Christian share in these toils, and sustain these
charities?  Shall not all these heaven-born institutions receive fourfold greater sympathy and support
than ever before?  Are they not doing the Lord's
work?   Are you not a steward of God?  Would
you be denied the privilege of aiding them in proclaiming the cross in the hearing of all within our
borders, when your joys and hopes and rewards all
centre in that cross?
The purposes of God in respect to America-its
duty and destiny-seem to be luminous when viewed
from Calvary. It is not that this nation may riot in
156 
MOTIVES FOR EVANGEI,LIZATION.   157
wvealth, and roll in luxury, and perish in sin, like the
republics of old, that God hath given us so goodly a
heritage, and blessed us above other nations; but
that he may fashion a seal with which the right
hand of the Almighty may stamp his impress and
superscription on the kingdoms of the earth. Writhl
our inestimable civil institutions, we only need the
pervading influence of a pure, spiritual faith, and
the baptism of the Holy Ghost; and the great family
of nations may be moulded by our model for a Milleninial day. 
158      11iOMIE EVANG(LIZAT1ON.
APPENDIX.
PROVIDENCE IN RAISING UP COLPORTEURS ILLUSTRATED.
IT would be easy to furnish a volume of illustrations of this topic, drawn from the various classes of
laborers engaged in the service of the Tract Society.
Again and again, when the field has been opened and
the means provided, has God provided the man
adapted to the special work, as subsequent results
have shown.
The only illustration we present here, is drawn
from the interesting band of Germani  laborers.  Perhaps it may give interest and variety, to insert the
narrative in the broken English of the colporteur
himself, as the simple story was told in the hearing
of the faculty and students of Lane Seminary, and
reported vcrbatim et literatier by one of the number.
To tratnslate it into pure English would weaken its
impressiveness.
Mr. L      R       was the first German colporteur
iii this cotuntry, and the success with which God
crown-ed his labors, especially among Romanists, had
much to do with the subsequent expansion of the
system of colportage among all the immigrant classes. 
APPENDIX.
One of the most successful German Catholic colporteurs was the fruit of his early labors. Another of
the number was led to Christ by this second convert,
and a fourth by this third colporteur-all from the
ranks of Rome-all still in the field, and all winning
souls to Christ.
The reporter remarks, that in reading his sketch,
"you must forego all the effect and interest produced
by the manly appearance of a large, well-built converted German, with a full, open, serene countenance-a large, sparkling, dark eye, bespeaking at
once intelligence and honesty, and best of all, a heart
glowing with Christian benevolence and love."
A GERMIAN COLPORTEUR'S NARRATIVE.
After alluding to his early life and habits in Alsace, on the borders of Germany, he proceeds, in
stammering English, thus:
"Vell, me come to dis counthry to make rich, and
mrie vork hart, and me drink blendy of visky, and den
me git sick, and have do lay down on de bet, and
me drink blendy of visky den, and me send for de
docter, and de docter give me some metsin, and me
drink visky all de dime. And den me send for de
preas, an(d de preas come, and me confess'm de sins,
and de preas dell me he forgive me de sin. Den (lde
docter metsin not git me better, and de preas come
agin, and me dell de preas, vy you dont forgive me
I,") 9 
1(0o        Hu.IM  EVANGI, YIZATION.
my sin? You dell me you do, bud you dont. Den
ini comes very sick, and de docter cant cure me mit
metsin; and de docter dell my vife she may give me
vat me vant, visky and any ding, me not can come
up any more from dis bet. Den my vife come and
stan before my bet, and my boor vife cry, and dell
me vat de docter say. Den I cant drink any more
visky, kos me doo sick. Den me git frait, and me
begin do pray do Got, and me send for de preas, and
ven de preas come, me dell him, vy you not forgive
my sin? And de preas say, Yell, now dell me all
your sin, and me vill forgive em. But me dell de
preas, me not can dink of me sins since me little boy.
Yell den, dell me all vat you can. And den me begins, and ven me git don, den de preas dont forgive
me.  And den me begin, do dink, maby you cant.
And den me dell de preas agin, vy you dont forgive
me? And de preas dont say nottin. Den me dell
de preas, maby you not can pardon my sin. And
den de preas go right out de door, and go home.
"Den me pray to Got for his Sperit, and me fealt
better, and den de docter not come any more, and do
preas not come any more, and dey leave me mitout
docter and mitout preas. Den me begin to git better. Bud, 0 me, sich a bat sinner, and de preas
dont come any more. Yell, den me git better every
day, and ven me get mos vell, me go do see de preas.
Alnd me ask de preas, Vat book eas dat big book 
APPENDIX.
vat you preach from in de bulbit? and he say, de
Bible.  Den me  dell him me  vant one.  But he
say,'0 no, de Bible eas for de preas, not for de
beoble.' But me dell him me vant one, and me
mus have one, and me dell de preas, me viii give
him den dollar for one, but he say no: den me say,
Vell, me vill give you dwendy dollar for one; but de
preas dell me, You mus not have one; come to de
shurch every Sunday, and hear de vords from my
lips. But me dell de preas, me hear de vord from
your lips dirdy-dree  (thirty-three) years,  and me
confess, and you none can pardon sin. Den de preas
say, Vell, pray to Shesus Chris, and he vill forgive
you. Den me dell him, for vat you dont dell me dis
before? And den me dell dis preas, me mus have
a Bible do reat for mine self.  And if you dont sell
me one, me get me Lutern Bible. But de preas
say, de Lutern Bible, heratic Bible. Vell, me dell
him me mus have de Bible, and me vill have do
Bible. Den de preas open de door, and take hol me
and poosh me out, down doo or dree steps, and me
fall down on de groun; but me very veak, or me not
let de preas done dat. Me vould dake de preas by
de collar, and come him down along mrit me on de
groun. But dis not would be right. Deni me go
home, and me dink all de time, all de time about
vat a big sinner me be. And me pray do Got do dell
me vat is de right Bible; and me pray do Got do
I ome Evan.           ] 1
161 
I10IME E VANGELIZAT'IO0.
give me de right Bible.  And do nex noroiging ma
start do go all over de city do find a Bible; and purty
soon r te meet a voman mit a Bible under her arm.
She be a Catolic, and me dell her, vat book you got?
And she dell me, de Bible; and me dell her, viii you
sell him? and she dell me, Yes, for fifty cent; but
he is a Lutern Bible, mit de Luter cut out rnit de
shears.  (Mr. R. and some other colporteurs cut the
name of Lutther from the titlepage of the Bible, on
account of Papal prejudice.)
"Y Vell, den me dake dis Bible, and look at him inside, and den me ask, eas he all here? and she dell
me, yes; and den me buyt him right ol'-me dink
heratic Bible wort fifty cent any how. And den me
dake him home, and me reat him.   But my vile dell
me, You got ]ieratic Bible.  Yell, me dell my vile,
me reat him, and if he not dell de trute, me sell
him.  But if de preas lie, me?ot can sell him.  Den
my frens come and dell me, You got heratic Bible,
and you vill go to burgatory. But me not care; me
reat every day, and me pray do Got for de Sperit.
And by and by me come to de New Testament, and
me reat about Chris, and den me pray to Chris for
his Sperit, and dis make me feel better. Deni me
move do Cincinnati. Here me vork hart daydime,
and reat hart night, and me pray do Got all de dime
for heas Sperit; and den get little meetin in mine
house, and reat de Bible do em, and den me begin
162 
APPENDIX.
do pray mit em. Den my vife not lik dis. She say
do me, you heratic, and you got heratic Bible. And
den my vife h?ert me mit de preas, and den de preas
dell me you heratic, and you mus be cut off from de
shurch, and den you go do burgatory. But my vrift
dell me, you not can stop at burgatory, dis is doe
goot for you, you mus go on do hell. But me dell
my vife, mit hier and de preas, and my oder frens,
me not have do go do hell; hell come do me.  Me
have hell all de dime in mine house for six years.
Den me dell my vife, for vat yoe dont like me? Me
dont drink visky, me dont swear like me dit, me dont
lease you alone mnit de childer; me stay mit you, me
only reat de Bible, and pray; for vat you dont like
dis? But my vife dont vant do leafe de Catolie
fait.  But after long dime my vife begin do dink
and dink, and reat de Bible; den comes big lode
on her Itort; dis is sin, and she confess him do de
preas, but de loat get bigger, not littler. Den my
vife begin do pray do Got, and purty soon de loat
fall off; and my vife come convert, and my childer
come convert. Den me hold blenty meetin, and me
reat in de Bible, and me pray mit em, and some git
convert, and den dey pray doo. And den poorty
soon de brickbat and de stone come in do de window;
but Got dont let cm hurt. And me holt meetin all
de dime. Yell, den dey call me convert Catolic
But me not convert Catolic, me convict Catolie,
163 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
and me pray much every day. 0, me got a bick loat
oli my hort, and me pray all de dime do Got for heas
Sperit, and den de Lort fall off de loat of sin, and me
fealt happy, and me fealt glat. Den me go out in
de counthry, and me buy a dary, and me live dare,
and me make money fas.
"Den me go to Sharmantown. Here me keep
store, and me begin do holt meetin agin among de
Catolic, and me have goot time. Some git convert,
and all de dime me dink me mus go preach, and me
dont vant dis, but me dink about dis all de dime,
and me dink me not can preach. Den me go and
dalk mit a Universalian, and me pray mit em, and
mit heas family. And so soon as me leaf de house,
dis universal man dalk and pray mit heas own family, and poorty soon he and heas family come convert. Den me all de dime dink me mus preach dis
Gospel do de Sharman Catolic. Den me see a man
in de roat, and dis man be Catolic; den me dell de
Lort, Now you convert dis man, and dat vill be de
sign: den me vill know my duty to preach de Gospel. Den me go and dalk mit dis man, but dis
man not much feel.  Den me dalk mit him again,
and he come some convict; den me give him a Bible,
and pray mit him, and he git big loat on his hort,
and he go do de preas, and dell de preas vat a big
sinner he is; but de preas not can pardon deas kind,
kos deas is Got vat convict.  Den me pray mit lhim.
1 t'j4 
APPENI)IX.
and poorty soon he loose hens loat, and come convert.
Den te dell de Lort, now me vill go and preach ven
you open de door.  Den me begin do look for de field
where do go do labor for de Lort.  Aboud dis dime,
a man from de East, Mr. Cook, fi'om de Drack Soci ety, come do Cincinnati, and vant do find some
convert Catolic do labor among de Sharman Catolic.  And somebody dell him, maby he can git me;
and me be in de city at dis time on bisness, and dey
call me do see Mr. Cook, and he dell me, me valnt
do hire you do be a colporteur among de Sharman.
But me dell him, me not can hire. But me dell
him, me vill go and dry if me can do dis, and me not
dake any pay.
"Den me dake some books and some dracks mit
me home, and me dake a young voman mit me in
my carriage do see hler brodder who leaf in Sharmantown. Yell, me dink dis good dime for me do begin;
and den me dalk mit dis gal all long de roat, and
me tells her about Got, and about Chris, and she
dinks much on dis, and me give her de Bible, and
she read him much, and den she come convict, and
me dalk mit her after dis, and pray mrit her.
"Vell, now me stay home doo or dree days, and
me pray do Got, and me dell de Lert, now me vill
go and dry dis virk dree mont; and if you go mit me,
and convert de beoble, den dis vill be de sign. Del
me vill know my duty. Vell, den me go do Cincia
165 
166      1'IOMtE EVANGELIZATION.
nati, and me dell dis do Mr. Cook, dat me vil go
dree mont, and dry if me can do dis, and me not
sharge notin. Den me begin, and me go among de
Sharman. Me go do a house, and me dalk do em,
and me pray mit em, and me give em book, and
drack, and de Bible.  Den me go do anoder, and me
do dem jus de same.
"And poorty soon de wort of Got begin do virk,
and make de beoble feelt bat, kos de Bible dell em
vot great sinners dey be; and me holt meetin mit em
every night, and me dalk mit em, and me pray mit em.
"Me dont dalk about Catolic shurch. Me not
dell em, dis bat shurch-e let de Bible do dis. Me
dell em, you can stay in de Catolic shurch, if you
rant do.'le know all de dime dey vont do it,
ven con,vert. Den dis gal vat me dake do Sharmantown, come back do Cincinnati, and she come right
avay do de prayer-meetin, and in doo or dree days
%he comes rejoicen in de Lort. And in doo or dree
veeks seven family most all git Christian; and den
dis is happy family. And dis is de seven fus (first)
families vat me visit since me ben colporteur.
"Dis make incourage, and me virk dis vay five
reek, and many git convert. Me gif one man de
New Testament, and he lay him on de shelf four
veeks; den he dink, Vell, me reat dis book vat Ritty
gif me, and see vat is in em. And den he dake em
down from de shelf, and brush off de duss, and begin 
APPENDIX.
do read, and read, and read, and de Bible soon show
him vat he vas; and den me dalk mit em, and pray
mit em, and den soon he git a light hort.  He come
convert.
"Now, me leaves Cincinnati, and me go do Columbus," (capital of Ohio;) " dis is hart place. Me
look at de city, and me look at de beobles, and me
dont know vat do do; den me go and pray, and den
dis passage come do me:'Dis beoble can kill de
body, but dey cant kill de soul.' You know vat dis
passage is, me dont can dell you all. Den me begin
do go do de houses, and me dalk mit em, and me sell
em books, and me give em books, and me give em
Bibles, and me pray mit em. Den by and by one
voman come under conviction, and me pray mit her,
and den she git de loat off her hort, and de light
come in; and den anoder one git convict, and poorty
soon many come convict, and dey go do de preas, and
de preas try hart do forgive em, but he not can pardon dis kind. Den dey come do de prayer-meetin,
and den git poorty soon convert.  Me virk very hart
here. Me virk all day, distribute books, and dracks,
and de Bible, and me hold meetin every night, and
den by and by me git sick.  Me bleat at de lungs,
and denr me mus go home and git cured, and anoder
man go do Columbus, and make one shurch out of
dis beoble vat come convert dare, and dis very goot
slulrch now.
167 
168      1HOMIE EVANGELIZATION.
"And ven me git veil, den me go do Lanlcaster,
and me labor here, and in dis mycinity, mos one
year, and me see much good dime in dis place. Me
see many convert, me not can dell you all vat de
Lort do among de beoble, but me can dell you some.
Vell, firs ven me come here, me begin do give em
blendy books, and dracks, and Baxter Call, and Bilgrim's Brogress, and de Bible; and me dalk mit em,
and pray mit em in de family, and hold meetin in de
brivate house, and de house git more beoble dan he
can hold em. And den de minister dell me, Come
in do my shurch.
"But not all de minister dell me dis. 0, no.  Some
dis minister not vant me dare, and dell de beoble dis
man metodis, and dis be not de virk of Got, but de
virk of de debil. Den me go in de shurch and dalk
do de beoble, vat come in and day stan at de vindow
outsite, and me dalk do em, and me dell em aboud
Shesus Chris, and me don't dell em nottin else; and
me dell em, all dis vat me dell you, you fine em ini
dis Bible vat me give you. Me do git em all dare;
kos me know nottin only vat me fine dare. Great
many beoble come convert and comes good beoble in
dis blace.
"Den me go out of de city vare de big steal (distillery) stand right in de middle of de beoble; doo
or dree hundred beobles leafe here.  And me begin
to dalk mit em and dell em aboud Chris, and me 
APPENDIX.
gave em Bible, and me dalk and dalk; and den me
hold meetin.  After dis da call me schwaamer," translated by Prof. Stowe, fanatic, " but da come do do
meetin all de time, and do Sperit of Got come down
mit power, and day mos all stop drink em visky.
And ven me go dare fus, da all drink visky. De
vonten shus like de nen, all drink em.  Me stay
here five mont. And ven me go vay from dis blace,
de beoble mos all not sware, not drink viskey, andi
hundred sixty convert.
"Den do beoble in a little blace seven miles from
Lancaster send for me. But one man in dis blace
swear if me come dare he vill git me kilt, and dis
man be Deist. But me dink Got vill duke care of
me, and me viU go. Den me git some book, and
Bibles and dings, and me go. And me go right off
and see dis man, and me dalk do him in sperit of
Shesus Chris, and me dell him me dont hurt you,
you can be Deist if you rudder: and after dis he dont
hurt me; and me begin do hold meetin, and de Sperit
of Got come down, and de beoble some git convert;
and den dis Deist come to do meetin, and den me go
and dalk mit him. And me dont dalk mit him about
de bad Deist and de bad Infidel, but me dalk mit
him bout Shesus Chris all de dime. And soon he
ax me do pray mit em, and me do; and in doo dree
days he git de light hort, and 0 how he pray den,
and help me; and twenty-six come convert in dis
169 
HOME EVANGELIZATION.
place." Mr. R. then alluded to his labors in Dayton
and Pickaway, Ohio, and in New Alsace, and other
places in Indiana.
"And now," continued the speaker, "me corn back
to Cincinnati, and begin do labor mit de Sharman in
dis blace some more. And now me fint great many
Sharman in dis city vat vant do know de right vray
O brudern, dis beobles all in de dark.  You dont
can know how dis beoble feel.  You got de Bible, and
always have em, and you know de right vay; but dis
boor beoble got none Bible, and got no body do dell
em de right vay. De preas dell em you mus come and
hear de vord from my lips, and me forgive you sins.
But ven he do, he dont; and da shus de same kind
of sinner like da be before. One voman vat me visit
dree year go come convict den, but dont tell me;
and she keep convict all de dime dis dree year, and
she confess and confess to de preas seven dime, but
de loat stay on de hort all de dime. Den dis voman
dink, maby dis city preasdoo young, he not learn yet
how to forgif dis kind. And den she valk fifty miles
out in de counthry do see an old preas, vat have a
rite heat (white head) shus like dis man," pointing
to Dr. Beecher, who sat near him, and whose moistenedcl eye betrayed the secret emotion of his heart;
and ven she come dare, dis old preas dry and dry, but
he not can forgive dis kind nudder. Den she come
home, and cry all along de roat. Den me go and
170 
APPENDIX.
see her, and dalk mit her bout Shesus Chris. And
den she dell me, me feel like dis all de dime for dree
years since you dalk mit me.   Den me pray mit her,
and she come rejoiciil in Got." Mr. R. then concluded his address with a most pathetic exhortation
to his audience to faith and faithf]lness in the
cause of Christ.
171 
1
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AMIERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
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for the great body of intelligent readers throughout the country, and the most watchful parent may supply them to his
family or to others, not only with safety to their best and eternal interests, but with hope of the richest spiritual blessings.
D'Aubign6s History of the Reforma- OwNen on Forgiveness, or Psalm 13(0.
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]2mo, with portraits. Price $1 75, Riches of Bunyan.
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Bunyan s Pilgrim s Progress, 12mo, Dr. Spring's Bible Not of Man, or
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Flavel's Method of Grace, or Re- Memoirof Mrs. Sarah L. Huntington
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Bishop Halls Scripture History, or   notes. Also, the Hymns separately.
Contemplations on the Historical iEleant Narratives, Select Tracts,
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President Edwards' Thoughts on Re- Volume  on Infidelity,  comprising
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Leslie's Method with Deists r-  Universalism Not of God.
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Anecdotes for the Family and the Who are the Happy?
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Wilberforce's Practical View.         Harris' Mammon.
Hannah More's Practical Piety.        Gurney's Love to God.
James' Anxious Inquirer.              Foster's Appeal to the Young.
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Nevins' Practical Thoughts.           Abbott's Mother at Home.
MIelvill's Bible Thoughts. selected Abbott's Child at Home.
by the late Rev. Dr. Milnor.       James' Young MIan from Home
CHRISTIAN MEMOIRS.
Rev. Claudius Buchanan, LL.D., in- James Brainerd Taylor.
eluding his Christian Researches Harlan Page.
in Asia.                           Normand Smith.
Rev. John Newton.                    Richard Baxter.
Rev. Henry- Martyn.                  Archbishop Leighton.
Rev. David Brainierd.                Matthew Henry.
Rev. Edward Payson, D. D.             Rev. Samuel Pearce.
Harriet L. Winslow, Missionary in Rev. Samuel Kilpin.
India. 
OTHER SPIRITUAL VWORKS.
Edwards on the Affections.            Pike's Religion and Eternal Life.
Baxter's Call to the Unconverted.    Baxter's Dying Thoughts.
Alleine s Alarm to the Uncouvertid. Matthew Henry on Meekness.
Flavel's Touchstone.                 Andrew Fuller's Backslider.
Flavel on Keeping the Heart.          Scudder's Redeemer's  Last Com.
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Sherman's Guide  to an Acqaint- Scudder's Appeal to Mothers.
ance with God.                      Burder's Sermons to the Aged.
MISCELLANEOUS WORKS.
3ogne's Evidences of Christianity.  Mason on Self-Knowledge.
Keith's Evidence of Prophecy.         Sherman's  Guide to an AcquaintMorison's C      oun sels to Young Men.    ance with God.
The Reformation in Europe.            Divie Law of Beneficence.
Nevins' Thoughts on Popery.           Zaccheus, or Scriptural Plan of BeSpirit of Popery, [12 engravings.]      nevolence.
The Colporteur and Roman-catholic. Hymns for Social Worship.
POCKET MANUALS.
Clarkeis Scripture Promises.         Chaplet of Flowers.
The Book f Psalms.  Heavenly IManna.
The Book of Proverbs. ecil and Flavel's Gift for MouraDaily Scripture Expositor.              ers.
Tell Commandments Eplained.    Daily Texts.
Bean and Venls Advice to a Mlarried Diary, [Daily Texts interleaved.]
Couple.                            Crumbs from the Master's Table.
I-ymns for Infant Minds.              Milk for Babes.
lioa-'es of Repose.                  Provision for Passing over Jordan.
Daily Food for Christi'als            Dew-Drops. 
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
,IANY OF THtEMI BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH E]NGRAVINGS.
Gallaudet's Scripture Biography, 7
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Gallaudet's Youth's Book of Natural
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Peep of Day.
Line upon Line.
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Hannah More's Repository Tracts.
,lary Lundie Duncan.
Charlotte Elizabet'h.
Martha' T. Sharp.
Fletcher's Lectures.
John D. Lockwood.
MIemoir of Caroline E. Smelt.
Gallaudet's Child's Book on the
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Anzonetta R. Peters.
The Night of Toil.
Advice to a Young Christian.
Mladam Rumpff  and Duchess  de,
Broglie. 
Scudder's Tales about the Heathen.
Amelia, the Pastor's Daughter.
Trees, Fruits, and Fl owers o  f the
Bible, [9 cuts.]
Jessie Little.
Isabel.
Walker's Faith Explained.
Walker's Repentance Explained.
Margaret and Henrietta.
Bartimeus.
Children invited to Christ.
The Dairyman's Daughter, etc.
Peet's Scripture Lessons.
Child's Bcok of Bible Stories.
Children of the Bible.
Amos Armfield, or the Leather-cov  ered Bible.
The Child's Ilymn-Book. Selected
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Scripture Animals: [16 cuts.]
Letters to Little Children, [13 cuts.]
Great Truths in Simple Words.
Pictorial Tract Primer.
Watt's Divine and Moral Songs.
With numerous similar works.
ALS
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Dr. Edwards' Temperance Manual.
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iN FRENCH-Sixteen volumes.
IN SPANISH-D'Aubigne's History of
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Authenticity of the  New Testa ment,  Pilgrim's  Progress, Illus  trated Tract Primer, Primitive Ca  tholicism. Andrew Dunn, Sabbath
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Evangelical Hymns, Temperance
Lransual, an d Ianeual for Children.
I\ WELSII-Pil,rim's Progress, Bax tle r's  Saints  Rest and Call, Anx ious Inquirer, History of Redemp  tion.
I.N DANisi —Doddridge's Rise and
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i
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