Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-10-19

| ing august 3lSt, 1858.
For the most part during the past quar-
ter, my field of operation has been hig ghly
interesting one, promising much for the fu-
ture. have visited, talked on personal re-
ligion, and prayed with SIG families. Found
1877 of them destitute Of all religious books
except the Bible, 81 without Gods Word,
and "a habitualy negIecting divine worship.
Sold 800 volumes, containing about It's 600
fpages, in value $170 80; and gave away
23s volumes, containing nearly 23, 900 pages,
10 value $50 Oh.
In doing this work my plan is to visit all,
from the richest and most refined to the poor
est and most degraded The former treat
me with great respect and kindness express
ing hearty approval Of our work by saying,
: 1t IS just what we need, because it goes
everywhere. making good and useful citizens
Of those who have ever been clogs to us''-
And another, "This is the work, under God.
to secure his blessings upon US all, because
these books come to us not trammeled with
gain, being sold at cost, loaded with PRAYERS
by the Authors, Publishers, Committees. and
Christians Of IA different denominations, free
from sectarianism, bidding all mankind to
come to Jesus and finally go to the Saints
everlasting rest in Heaven" The latter gen
eray receive me kindly, treat me civiIIv, and
listen to me attentively. Many of the log
cabins to which ] have trudged with INV
! saddle bags Of books on my back, were made
vocal with praises to God, while others sent
, forth loud cries for mercy. Several of these
! said, /" Well, Sir, you are the first man that
ever come to our house to talk about God
y and Jesus Christ we love to hear it. although
? we are wicked, and would be glad if some
, body would come to talk and pray with us
every week"
:, spent few days, previous to late cleo
ton, in and about an interesting village
was greatly delighted with all visited
: and spoke kindly to the dealers in ardent
;, spirits of the effects they produced upon the
= very society with which their children must
- mingle, and told them, as they would have
- those promising children to enjoy the very
Il important help Of good society to aid them
: in taking high and useful position in the
- world, they should keep constant watch
- ont to get rid of and keep out everything
- - which would tend 10 corrupt that society,
and s 5Hd and tea aAf il SRg aKssfv
s se and as had come to help them improve
" their society | should stay at the election to
l0 see if there were any corrupting il, and by
~ ~ what means they were doing it.
- Early IN the morning of the election
u u spread my books on a table in the grove, and
near by | saw class of men, fathers of chill
" " dren, set out and sell ardent spirits until a
- ~ few got drunk, and several others in con.
70 ho Ike AZ HI
~ was sorry for them, and especially when ]
~ - heard the entreaty Of men, Come boys, all
- and drink lemonade, for you must be trained
" to do things right Many went, but Oh
~ :. finding it dashed with liquor, most drew
~ ~ back, and their parents Immediately inter.
y fered. Q what a sad sight this was!-
Around my table persons crowded, who
N 7e- seemed to be deeply interested with tho
tG facts gave them, and my books and tracts
Very soon every temperance book and trac
,o Le was sold, and many more applied for; alsc
= nc sold nearly all the religious books-tota
lor sold, 47,000 pages. One Of these dealers il
'ii liquor has expressed dissatisfaction to me il
W being engaged as he is, and said, " | intend
as soon as possible, to 60 to farming, which
nd u ono o,,, horn,, '"O "li ~
Ids II H. ,,o;oIt.L 90
U.s. lies, and found Al without the Bible The,
number 22l souls over 10 years old: only
% of them could read and Z write. Th,
AN average of their going to church was once il
~ years-several from 80 to 45 years ole
;ck had been but once or twice in their lives
me some grown children had never been at ali
,er- nor heard prayer until my visit, and di,
the not know there was such being as the Sa
SER viour; also, boys and girls IL and Is year
rch :ch old, passing about without any clothing, no
~ ~ knowing who made them. All of one famI
ion ion ran off, when kneeled to pray, to the neigh
the boris to know what was going to do wit
nen them, as they afterwards said. Some {
One other families fell upon their faces instea
ties Of kneeling. At one house got several {
.ra, these families together, where | spent some
tGd d;d time teaching them the fundamental doctrine
oin- of religion, and while giving the children
ed talk about how good mothers and Sunda
not School teachers talked aud prayed with Il
ave children, asensible girl-Mary- said, wi
the tears filling her eyes, wish had such
of mother and Sunday School teacher" I'll
ON On led to the organizing of Sabbath Sche
uNdT OY Ol IL llJ6liOtIS. II IdlLDIuI Cupt
a. intendant and good teachers took charge
visited the school last Sunday, found {
put house filed, all looking clean and nice, an
ket- ous to shake hands with me, and show /,
ulty far they had gotten in their Tract Primm
max In the weeks, many of them had learn
res their letters, to SPELL aud TO read that bea
te1 tn0 tiful paragraph, page 26, The Bible is
! a.. best Of all books" DC. Little Mary a
urth those children who once ran from me a
/ fla hid in the bushes, were among the deligl
o rth full group. How cheered and happy
lass! seemed! The School now numbers upwar
= e,.9 70 Of 60. A move is being made to build
ratar rae church among them.
mt . In nearly every instance in these thl
sent communities ardent spirits was the first
them main thing spoken of as the cause of tn
/. and miserable condition. Many Of them said.
appy know liquor is running me, and ought
turn quit it keep trying to quit it, and belle
ldlng would. although love it so well, if it w
naa [naPs not for Others; l wish there want drop
irrn hare be had except as medicine" Several, "
were nearly always drunk. are now so