The New York herald., 1844-12-20

Eighteenth Anniversary OF tho New York
Tract Society, and Twenty-Second Of the
Female Branch OF the Same.

Eighteenth Anniversary Of tho New York
Tract Society, and Twenty-second OF the
Female Branch OF the Same.
This society held its usual anniversary meeting
yesterday; in the morning for devotional exer-
cises in the lecture room Of the Amty street Bap-
tst church, the Allen street Presbyterian church,
and the Broadway Tabernacle. In the afternoon,
at two o'clock, united prayer meeting and ex-
hortaion in the Central Presbyterian church,
Broome street In the evening, at seven O'Clock,
the annual meeting at the Broadway Tabernacle.
The latter was crowded by highly respectable
audience. At the hour mentioned,
Rev. JAMES MILNoR, ID D., took the chair. The
choir ofthe Tabernacle then performed beauti-
piece of music. After this the Rev. Thomas DE
Witt, ID, offered up prayer.
The Treasurer's report was then read by Mr..
VIM Walker, by which il appeared that during
the past year, the society had received S9753 so,
expended 81, 1888, s; that there remainded due TO
the American Tract sSociety, $945 73. There
were no funds remaining on hand.
The Rev o. EASTMAN read the annual report of
the Female Branch of this Society.
Tne Rev. J. ORCHARD read the annual
report OF the City Tract Society, by which
II appeared that there were at present four
teen Missionaries employed; the average num-
ber Of visitors 1927, principally females !;
77s6l4 tracts had been distributed, many
Of them in the language of foreigners visiting this
country and contained 800, 1868 pages; the So
clety had supplied $50 bibles, and 1868 testa-
ments 1853 volumes had been lent from ard Ii.
braries 2 262 children have been gathered into
Sabbath, and 32i into Public Schools; several
other beneilcal acts were performed by the Socie-
", and several persons had become Missionaries to
foreign parts. and were highly useful
The Rev. EDWARD LATHRoP moved that the re.
ports just read be adopted and printed underline d.
recton OF the Board. In doing so, he said he would
avail himself OF the opportunity OF expressing his
opinion of the value OF the Society, and his vii.
lingness 10 support the same with all his humble
ability With pleasure, in looking over the re-
ports for the last two years, did ne observe its broad
Evangelical principles; and above al other Socie-
ties had the benefit OF fellow creatures at heart
This Society was most valuable auxiliary to all
others; it was one which helped most materially
to carry out their views more successfully. The
gentleman then adverted TO the want OF visitors,
and entered into an inquiry why it was
SO, and argued that there was not anything in
the Society or its laws to cause any repug-
nance TO the most fastidious-t moved, liv-
ed, and had lis being in prayer therefore, all en-
good was TO be derived from being engaged in its
services as that OF any other society, and was
more valuable than the giving OF money or the
tleman alluded to the general good resulting from
the workings OF the Society. The report would
give ample Information on that point and also
gave an instance OF what good IL had done from
wish that a history OF some one little tract was
written, if 1t was, what amount OF good would be
known, and how much it would cheer and encour-
age those who now labor in this cause-what
sensation would thrill every heart present but il
was written by the recording angel on high. which
will be made known on that day when all other
things are displayed, and the heart of man laid
bare The gentleman concluded by reading the
resolution, which was unanimously adopted.
piece of music by the choir then succeeded.
The Rev. GEORGE PECK, ID d. of the Methodist
Episcopal Church then addressed the meeting by
saying that he loved the tract cause, and AZ
Adam. Clark said on a similar occasion, !" ]
wish 1t success in the name of the Lord
amidst the destitute Of this city, and no where
was it more required; like the prophet of old,
j, came into the y valley ey, Of Drybonsss which
annual reports. lie loved the tract cause because
it went to supply the poor with what they need
ed the poor were the more immediate children OF
God, and his ministers and disciples should pay the
greater attention to them, as they were more liable
to temptation Il was case in which all eyange.
heal churches could unite to break down the pha-
lanx OF sin and he gorled in all such proceedings
where christians could mlngle together and break
through the barriers OF error, for all had the same
object in view. He loved the tract cause, because
it was divnely sanctioned. The first tract was
written by God on stone, and Moses was the first
distributor; the Holy Scriptures were a series Of
divine tracts; and written instruction was more
valuable than oral, because the former lasted for
ever He loved the tract cause, because il tended
to ortfy the mind against the literature oi the age
which was poisonous to the christian mind. You
might get book for cd. that would damn a thou
sand souls therefore, it was necessary to meet tht
devil on his own ground, and SOW wheat where he
sowed tares. He, therefore, wished those en-
gagged in il, successin the name OF the Lord There
nothing undor heaven cu important as the sal
walton of sinners, and this cause would accomplish
this great and important object. He recomme ndeC
the getting up the steam, and going forward with the
tlopsa lid Il
hortng his hearers not to be discouraged in the
cause.
The Rev G. H. REID, Of Pearl street Presbyte.
ran Church, then addressed the meeting on the
value Of the agencies employed by this society
and proceeded TO take statistical review of its
workings since lS40, strongly dwelling on various
points, and recommending its proceedings; and
said there were in this city at the present time not
fewer than 5000 souls that did not attend regu-
lar place Of worship this showed what the society
required from the hands OF his hearers and these
desolate creatures were principally strangers and
foreigners, who sought in this land employment.
He gave or two instances Of this. There was
another cassethat required assisaHce--the infirm
poor OF this city and these abounded in great num-
bers. Another class, who were kept away from the
means Of grace, by the costness of sttings in the
VARIOUS churches The style in many of the
churches was such as 10 forbid the poor joining,
unless at such cost that they could not afford
therefore, they did not attend them. But this
was no, the religion Of Jesus; for il was 10 the
poor that he preacned the gospel; and u his fOl
lowers chose such splendor, let them beware tina,
the poor were not neglected but that they had the
gospel preached TO them. The gentleman pro.
ceeded TO take a review of all the good the So
ciety had done since is formation, and said that
| the amount OF benefit now gwen, was not greater
than at its formation, while population, and de.
mands upon the society were considerably in
creased, and concluded by urging his hearers to be
| liberal.
subscription and collection was then entered
into
| scd the meeting. He said that a Methodist Epis
copa minister had expressed his love for the trac
cause, which Inc wished to repeat. He loved the
| tract causc---and the American Tract So
| ciety. The Church OF Rome said that in Protes
tantlsm there was no unity-bui this wa,
not the case, for Protesants in the Tract Society
showed there was unity throughout the body
that different sects, notwithstanding their various
forms, all agreed in this--and when the Church o.