v\ \ WHO AN HISTORICAL SKETCH AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY Ninetieth Anniversary 1825-1915 -•* * v * l / * I i 1 ! * I ( THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. An Historical Sketch. On May 12, 1915, the American Tract Society celebrated the ninetieth anniversary of its existence. This notable occasion offers a favorable opportunity for a review of what has been accomplished, and in¬ vites a statement as to the possibilities of the future.. The object for which the American Tract Society was founded is to diffuse a knowledge of Christ as the Redeemer of the World and to promote the progress of His Kingdom by means of the printed page. To this object the Society has remained true through all the years of its history, and it still maintains this high aim as the one purpose of its existence. There are; two agencies by which God has pro¬ vided that His saving truth shall be made known in these latter days—the voice and the press. Whatever precedence may be conceded to the living voice on account of its direct appeal, yet there are certain ad¬ vantages in favor of the printed page which cannot be disputed. It does not challenge the spirit of contra¬ diction, and is not silenced by it; but it quietly holds forth the truth as a permanent light, biding its time until it shall receive the welcome that is its due. It is in the printed page, moreover, that the choicest utter¬ ances of the human voice are preserved for posterity. Besides, one of the most effective methods of work which the Tract Society has adopted is to commend the printed page by the voice of the colporter .or Christian friend, thus giving to both press and voice their fullest influence. The organization of the American Tract Society was a result of the progressive spirit of the early years 2 AN HISTORICAL SKETCH 3 of the nineteenth century. The formation of the Re¬ ligious Tract Society of London, England, had stim¬ ulated the establishment of similar organizations in the United States. Among these were “The New York Religious Tract Society,” organized in 1812, and “The New England Tract Society,” organized at Boston, Mass., in 1814. In 1823 this latter so¬ ciety changed its name to the “American Tract So¬ ciety,” and in 1825 it became a branch of the na¬ tional organization, which was then instituted, bearing the same name. FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY The American Tract Society was organized in the City of New York on May 11,1 825. The design of the founders was to establish a central society for the whole Union, inviting the co-operation of Christians of all denominations, and of dther tract associations as auxiliaries, in publishing and circulating whatever would best “diffuse a knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of sinners, and promote the interest of vital godliness and sound morality,” pro¬ vided only that such publications should be “calculated to receive the approbation of all evangelical Chris¬ tians.” The wisdom of thus planting the Society upon a broad evangelical basis has been abundantly dem¬ onstrated in the fact that over a score of different de¬ nominations have been represented among its friends and supporters. GREAT PURPOSES WHICH IT FULFILLS The supreme object of the work of the American Tract Society has already been stated—namely, to benefit humanity by the diffusion of the saving truths 4 THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY of Christianity through the medium of the printed page. In attaining this end, however, several subordinate aims are kept constantly in mind. Among these are the following specific objects: The Society aims to preserve for lasting usefulness the best works of the writers of earlier times, such as Bunyan, Baxter, Barrows and Legh Richmond. The writings of these, and of many more who might be mentioned, are really spiritual classics, worthy of preservation for all time. It seeks to provide an appropriate instrumentality by which the choicest thoughts of the best Christian minds of the present age may be imparted to the; world. It endeavors to counteract and displace the flood of evil literature poured forth in the interest of infi¬ delity, licentiousness and crime. The most effective antidote to a bad book is one that is pure and uplift¬ ing. It is the constant aim of the Tract Society to abolish trashy literature by providing something in¬ finitely better to take its place. The Society aims to provide publications suitable for all classes—not for Christians alone, but for in¬ quirers and for those who need to be awakened from their indifference. It aims especially to issue books and tracts that shall be helpful under all the varying circumstances of life. Its publications cover the whole range of human experience, from the lullabies written for the little ones to the words of comfort prepared for those who have reached the Beulah Land of life. One exceedingly important function of this Society has been to prepare Christian literature in many lan¬ guages suitable for the spiritual wants of the immi¬ grants as they land upon our shores. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH 5 Another important office of the Tract Society has been to aid by means of foreign cash appropriations in the preparation, publication and distribution ot Christian literature in the vernacular at foreign mis¬ sion stations, thus furnishing millions of copies of books and tracts for world evangelization. # Another useful function of the Society has been found in the use of its publications as an aid in pro¬ moting the growth of Christianity in our own home¬ land. Both the settled pastor and the Gospel evan¬ gelist have found in the issues bearing the imprint ot this Society most helpful material, both for their own personal use and for the uplift of those who come under their influence. VARIED METHODS OF WORK For the first two years of its existence the American Tract Society devoted itself solely to the printing and circulation of tracts. In its third year began that development which has since culminated in the produc¬ tion of a body of Christian literature that includes every form of publication adapted to the wants of the Christian public. . The first volume issued by the Tract Society was “The Rise and Progress of Religion ,” by Doddridge. This was quickly followed by other standard works, such as Bunyan’s “ Pilgrim's Progress ,” etc. Since that time a steady succession of useful and timely books have been issued, among which are numbered some of the very best to be found m the English lan¬ guage. Besides books, tracts and periodicals, the publications of the Society now include cards, hand¬ bills, wall-rolls, leaflets and booklets of every descrip¬ tion. 6 THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY A decided impetus to the work of the Society was given in its fourth year by the adoption of the plan of Systematic Tract Distribution, which has continued to the present day—a helpful adjunct to the work of the Society, and the source of inestimable benefits to un¬ told numbers of human souls. The value of the use of tracts in connection with what is now known as “personal work” was early emphasized. Harlan Page was a representative work¬ er in connection with this line of service, and his efforts were rewarded with large success. The Volume Enterprise was a feature of the early years of the Society’s work. This was an attempt to reach every family, first in the South Atlantic States, and afterwards in the West, with one or more vol¬ umes. As a result of this and other practical meth¬ ods, by the seventeenth year of the Society’s existence some 2,000,000 volumes and 60,000,000 tracts had been put into circulation. . THE BEGINNING OF COLPORTAGE IN AMERICA The next important step in the history of the Society was the introduction of Colportage. The existence of a great mass of people, living in lonely regions, un¬ reached by the Churches, and devoid of all the spirit¬ ual privileges that ordinarily belong to every well- established community, was one urgent reason for the institution of colportage work. Another motive was found in the existence of that large class in every community who will not go to the churches, but to whom the Gospel Message must be brought at their very door, if they are to be reached at all. These and other potent reasons led the Society, in the spring of the year 1841, to consider the urgent AN HISTORICAL SKETCH 7 necessity of some agency to carry the Gospel to the neglected and needy ones of this land. The necessity was deeply felt, and finally the plan of colportage was adopted as the best solution of this problem. The colporter was instructed to sell or give his books and tracts from house to house, presenting Christ as the Saviour to all whom he met, and seeking to lead them to Him in prayer. The expenses were met partly by the benevolent funds of the Society and partly by sales of books. Eleven of these self-denying and faith¬ ful workers were commissioned the first year, 23 the second year, 76 the third, 143 the fourth, and before the Civil War over 600 men were annually employed as missionary colporters. Though the force has varied numerically, the Society has never ceased to employ this agency in the dissemination of its Christian litera¬ ture, and the results that have accrued have fully jus¬ tified the wisdom of those who first introduced this fruitful method of work. THE BENEFITS OF COLPORTAGE The good results accomplished by missionary col¬ portage can be summarized only in part. Many of the benefits which the colporters havq brought into the homes they have visited cannot be enumerated in any formal report. The records, however, show that dur¬ ing the past year 59,431 volumes have been distributed by sale and grant; the total number of meetings held by colporters was 6,346, and the number of families visited was 202,877. Since the organization of the Society its missionary colporters have circulated by sale and grant a total of 17,326,937 volumes; they have made 18,406,676 family visits, and they have addressed 585,948 religious meetings. Colportage 8 THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY has been emphatically a pioneer missionary agency. It has met the wants of a rapidly advancing popula¬ tion where no churches, schools or book stores ex¬ isted, and thus it has proclaimed the; message of sal¬ vation where otherwise it would not have been heard. Colportage has also proved to be of marked efficiency in ministering to the spiritual needs of special classes. This has been shown in the work among the immi¬ grants, the Mormons, the negroes and among the Spanish-speaking people of Mexico, South America, and elsewhere. A WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF PERIODICALS The periodicals of the American Tract Society have been an important factor in its work. The first to be established was The American Messenger , the official organ of the Society. This was founded in 1 843 and is an illustrated monthly paper devoted to the upbuilding of Christian character and the pro¬ motion of Christian living. In 1847 the American- ischer Botschafter was established for circulation among the German-speaking population. In 1879 Apples of Cold was founded for the children in the home and Sunday School. In 1903 Manzanas de Oro , a counterpart in Spanish of Apples of Cold t was established for circulation in Latin America and other Spanish-speaking parts of the world. Thus the So¬ ciety issues four distinct periodicals which take rank with the foremost of their class, both in the excellence of their contents and in the attractiveness of their ex¬ ternal features. The ability of the Society to meet new exigencies has been illustrated on many occasions, and notably during the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish- Colporter Louis Toth and his Hungarian Sunday School 10 THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY American War and at the present moment in the great European War. Special missionaries have been employed at times to distribute the best of Christian literature in camp and on shipboard. New publica¬ tions of great merit have been prepared to meet the needs of the soldiers and sailors, and these have been scattered broadcast by. chaplains and the army mis¬ sionaries of the Society. Special editions of “77ie Soldier s Text Book ” have been prepared and sent for distribution among the soldiers in the field in Europe at the present time. The adaptation of the; Society to meet various needs is illustrated by the different classes among which its colporters find ready acceptance and large usefulness. Thus it has colporters at work among the negroes, the Mormons, the immigrants and the Spanish-speak¬ ing population in Cuba and Porto Rico. THE CALL OF LATIN AMERICA. Attention is being called to the spiritual destitution of what is popularly known as Latin America. This contingency finds the Society amply equipped to meet the needs thus disclosed, for it has a large; and valuable collection of Spanish literature, containing the essen¬ tial truths of the Gospel and fitted to lead minds dark¬ ened by superstition into the light of a pure faith. Grants in aid of foreign missions have been an important feature of the benevolent work of the So¬ ciety. These grants began to be made in the second year of the Society’s existence, and have proved a most valuable assistance to the missionaries on the foreign field. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH 1 I A SPLENDID LIST OF PUBLICATIONS Since its organization the Society has issued 9,117 distinct publications, which constitute a body of Chris¬ tian literature the value of which can hardly be over¬ estimated. These publications embrace every variety of re¬ ligious literature. The evidences of Christianity are ably presented by such authors as Mcllvaine, Keith, Schaff and Herrick Johnson. There are choice biog¬ raphies, such as those of John G. Paton, Jerry Mc- Auley, Eliza Brightwen and many others; missionary works, such as “ Pioneer Missionaries ,” by Rev. Charles C. Creegan, D. D.; books for the Christian life, such'as “Growing Towards God,” by Rev. G. B. F. Hallock, D. D.; “Heart Life,” by Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler; helps to Bible study, including a splendid Bible Dictionary (revised edition), by Rev. W. W. Rand, D. D., the Self-Explaining Bible, a Bible Readers Guide, a Harmony of the Gospels, and many other standard books of the greatest helpfulness to Sunday School teachers, Bible Institute students and all others interested in the study of God’s Word. There are many attractive books for children, such as “Songs for the Little Ones at Home,” beautifully illustrated and adapted to the youngest readers. There are volumes of sermons and addresses by such able preachers as Rev.David J. Burrell, D.D., Rev. Edgar Whitaker Work, D. D., Rev. Louis Albert Banks, D. D, and many others. For young people there is a host of volumes by such authors as Mar¬ garet E. Sangster, Amy Le Feuvre, Annette L. Noble, Amos R. Wells, Julia McNair Wright, Hope Dar¬ ing and Rev. C. A. S. Dwight. Besides all these 12 THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY there are books bearing on History, Astronomy, Geog¬ raphy, Natural History, etc., each book having been published with a view to its value in throwing light upon the Scriptures or as illustrating the workings of God’s providence. Among the publications issued from the home of¬ fice of the Society are books in over a score of foreign languages, including German, French, Italian, Span¬ ish, Portuguese, Welsh, Dutch, Norwegian, Hunga¬ rian, Finnish, Danish, Polish, Armenian, Hebrew and Chinese. These publications are of inestimable ser¬ vice in the work among the immigrants, for whom scarcely any other Christian literature; is provided, but thousands of whom are thus enabled to read “in their own tongue the wonderful works of God,” and to whom the message of the Gospel is thus presented on the very threshold of the new land which they have chosen for their home. Of the Society’s periodicals a total of 295,460,1 68 copies have been issued, the entire circulation for the year just completed being 2,047,000 copies. Of volumes, a total of 35,01 8,140 have beep print¬ ed, including 134,160 issued during the year just closed. The total number of tracts that have been issued is 31 7,830,428, of which 915,000 were pub¬ lished during the past year. The number of titles of new publications issued during the year was twenty- one, of which eighteen are in English and three in foreign languages. The grand total of all publica¬ tions in all languages issued by the Society from its Home Office during the ninety years of its history amounts to 791,142,050 copies. Distributing Tracts in Hibiya Park, Tokyo, Japan 14 THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY WIDESPREAD GRATUITOUS DISTRIBUTION The value of the Christian literature distributed gratuitously by the Society during the; past year is $15,439.05. The grand total of free distribution since the organization of the Society amounts to $2,61 7,820.90. Grants of publications have been given to missionaries, chaplains, pastors and Christian workers of every description, and by their co-opera¬ tion the Society’s literature has been circulated in pris¬ ons, hospitals, Sunday Schools, missions and chapels, on the streets of the city, in remote and lonely hamlets, among soldiers and sailors, in homes and churches, on land and on sea. IN FOREIGN LANDS. Besides these grants made on the home field, help has been extended to the missionaries on the foreign field for printing Christian literature in the native lan¬ guages at their own stations. The foreign cash appro¬ priations for the past year amount to $2,600.00 Since the organization of the Society foreign cash ap¬ propriations to a total amount of $796,137.39 have been made for this purpose. Through the assistance thus given over 5,600 different publications have been issued abroad in 1 78 different languages, dialects and characters. UNITY AND OPPORTUNITY One important phase of the work of the American Tract Society is its interdenominational character. It emphasizes Christian Union in a most practical way, and its influence and example have been vital factors in the growth of that spirit of Christian federation which has become a distinguishing characteristic of the present age. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH 15 Great as has been the, work accomplished by the American Tract Society, there; now open before it still greater opportunities which call for still more strenuous activities and also increased generosity on the part of both Churches and individual givers. The recent awakening in behalf of Latin America, for so many years sitting in darkness, even in the valley and shadow of death, and especially the call for a greatly increased supply of Christian literature in the Spanish and Portuguese languages for the moral uplift and the spiritual enlightening of the bruised and wretched peoples of South America, offer the Tract Society opportunities heretofore unknown. There are also popular but fatal delusions in the homeland, and the darkness and superstition of heathenism abroad, which demand the enlightening teachings of the Gospel. To disseminate these teachings in many languages and dialects has been for ninety years the one aim and pur¬ pose of the American Tract Society, and will con¬ tinue to be throughout all the years that are to follow. During its entire history the Society has been strengthened and encouraged by the gifts and prayers of a great multitude of devout men and women. The work before us awaiting accomplishment is both so great and so vital that only through complete self- mastery and the laying down of all at the feet of Him who gave Himself for us, realizing that not only are we His, but also that what we have belongs to Him, shall we see the work performed and behold His Kingdom coming swiftly among the nations. Donations should be forwarded to Louis Tag, Treasurer, American Tract Society, Park Avenue and Fortieth Street, New York, N. Y. Life Members and Directors The donation of $30 at one time constitutes a Life Member of the American Tract Society ; the addition of $70, or the donation of $100 at one time, a Life Director. Life Members may receive annually tracts to the value of $1; Life Directors to the value of $2, if applied for within the Society’s year, from April 1st to April 1st, in person or by written order. No in¬ dividual can draw more than one annuity any year for himself. Colporters are not authorized to supply Life Members. Form of Bequest I give and bequeath to “THE AMERICAN Tract Society,” instituted in the City of New York, May 1825, the sum of. dollars to be applied to the charitable uses and purposes of said Society. Three witnesses should state that the testator de¬ clared this to be his last will and testament, and that they signed it at his request, and in his presence and the presence of each other. AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY Park Ave. and 40th St., New York City