The New York herald., 1851-12-20
Anniversary OF the New York City Tract
Society.

The New York City Tract Society celebrated
its twenty fifth anniversary at the Tabernacle, in
Broadway, last Wednesday evening. Considering
the extreme coldness of the weather the attend.
ance was very numerous comprising, as is usual in
such cases, large number of the gentler sex.
The president, the Rev. DR.. De Witt, took the
chair at seven o'clock, after which the Rev. Mr.
Barnard delivered an appropriate prayer
From the Treasurer's report, which was read by
the Rev. William Walker we learn the amount of
receipts and expenditures for the yea< lS5l;-
Amount paid for Balance on hand as
issionary Eer- - per last account, S603 II
Amssn p;a Tract sO'0S' s1sa RsSassa from III: ss
Printing and other Collections in sun
cssSP saPin's In Treasury. lssss 81 dry CHURCHES s.
----- Total. sl5.osl 81
Total. ......Sl5.06l 81
The annual report was then read. It says :-Se-
venty yeers ago, when our city contained only
23OC0 inhabitants, there place of worship for
every 1853 persons; but new, with an increase of
half million to our population, we have not one
for every 2,l00 persons, even though we include
those in which Jesus is not preached the Messiah
or as the Mediator, or as the atoning sacrifice
Yet there but few of our churches that are filed
with hearers; and of those persons who Of sui-
cent ege to attend our sanctuaries there are more
than one. half who habitually neglect doing it.
When asked to account for this neglect, some un-
blusbingy avow their enmity to religion; some de-
clare their preference for Sabbath excursions; some
complain that our church arrangements are made
for the rich and intellectual rather than for the
poor and unlearned, and others make other ex-
cuses but, whatever their excuses may be, the ap-
pallpg fact remains, that there are in the city we
inhabft abou. two hundred thousand persons who
beyond the reach of the ordinary ministrations
of our clergy.
During the last year twenty one missiena aries
Laor ako.r roI oIrl.
sicnaries, one for seamen, one for resident Ger
mans, and two for immigrants. The addition of
missionary for the recently formed Twentieth ward
has been hitherto delayed, but cannot with pro-
Der Of visiters is l7S and the same has been the
average number through the year. The results re-
ported during the year are as follows-!, ,63l 800
tracts, containing 6,392 49l pages, have been dis
tributed. These have been chiefly in Engish, but
many Of them in foreign languages 1866
bibles and 2, 1877 testaments, have been supplied to
the destitute on behalf of the New York Bible So
cieiy; 67 volumes have been lent from ward libra.
ries; 9l4 children gathered into Sabbath and 35l
into public schools; lag persons induced to attend
Bible classes, and 6i7 to attend church, l026 tenn
perance pledges obtained; l ,372 district prayer
meetings held; AZ backsliders reclaimed; I89 per
sons hopefully converted, and l30 converts united
with Evangelical churches.
The Rev. Mr.. STONE addressed the audience,
and, after referring to the proceedings of the so.
ciety last year. be discoureed on the benefits which
it confers those of the community who ca no. be
reached in any other way than by through such q
society rs this. Such society is essentially
cary in this city, into which emigration Is pouring
at such an unprecedented rate; but what is the
measure ofour success and the prospect of increased
usefulness This depends on the me ans employed
They are represented in the report. The mission
ary gees to the destitute finds them out, and, sf
ter feeding the hungry and clothing the naked,
they speak OF heaven and glory, and God. Bat
what can tract do towards all this Let us see
In the Birmsn empire man lwho had killed thirty
Of his fellow creatures, stole tract stuck in his
heart; and the result was, he was converted, and
scores were turrea to Chris..ianity by his iabors
las 90 cd Example Of what is done through tracts;
w nat has been done during the last sixteen years
% ,i0o persons were induced to attend church.
20 657 temperance pledges obtained; SIS back
slidtrs were re claimed 1898 persons were no pefuy
converted and 2Si6 converts united to ingelical
churches. Thus God has set his seal on this society
ar thus he approves Of this and kindred stutions
The speaker then appeale for increased donations
in order increase the usefulness of the society par.
ticuarly in consequence of the increased i'm mixra-
ton OF our population, fifth is foreign, French
German, Irish, &c. and in the year 1910. the GEN.
sus Of this country will show hundred millions of
people, twenty millions Of which will be foreign
The most Of these will come through New York
Hence the recessitv for increased means and in
creased usefulness for this society. The greatest
fear which our statesmen should have for the per-
manence of our institutions Is, not in the exten.
sion Of our territory but in the danger OF disinte
grafton As IL l., there wards In this city and
districts in other States, inhabited by people who
speak different languages, and owe allegiance
to other countries. Look at the militia Of this
city The other day, during the procession, there
were Irish, and German. and Italian regiments,
showing a spirit Of clannishness, and separation
from the stars and ltripes, which might be extreme
ly injurious In case Of war. Nothing will remedy
this but the gospel Of Jesus Christ.
Other addresses were made during the evening;
collection was taken up in aid Of the society, and
the exercises were concluded.