Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-12-14
O. 0 Mt NJ

FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
Abstract Of the Quarterly Report,
Of w. j. CRowDER, Colporteur for Wake
County, ending NoU. 80, 1853.
For reasons satisfactory, | did, compare.
lively, but little regular visiting for the past
quarter Notwithstanding, l have been great
ly cheered in my humble labors, by the sue
cess given, and the warm-hearted friends
met with, taken in connection with the man.
ifcst increasing interest in behalf of religion
and education which is clearly proven from
the increase and improvement of churches
and school houses, and by the regular atten-
dance on divine worship of many seldom
seen ct such places in years past, and tho
faithful efforts being made by the poor as
we'll as the Weather, to have good schools in
which the heads and hearts of their children
may be properly educated. While some agen-
cies contribute more, yet colportage is regar-
ded, by most, as not being the least in help
ing to hasten on this cheering state of things.
Most of my visiting, recently, has been in a
highly interesting part of the country, where
the people generally are in easy circumstan-
ces and possessing n good degree of intelli-
gence.
| have visited, talked on personal religion,
and prayed, with 158 famiiies-found 80 of
them destitute of all religious books, except
the bible 10 without it, and "a habitually |
neglocting divine worship. Sold TAI vol
umes, containing about 166 900 pages, in
value 1882 50, and gave away 1877 vols, con-
tanning about II 900 pages, in value SIS 3d.
Also, received donations from sundry per-
sons, in aid of the Tract cause, amounting
to $50.
About six weeks ago Ispent an hour pleas
antly with a family, and as | shook hands
with the mother on leaving, the babe in her
arms threw out one of it's little hands in
which / placed a small Tract of the " Scrip
ture Tracts" This mother was happily con-
verted on the twelfth day afterwards, and
says the Tract was the means of her awaken
ing.
Not long since l met two strangers in the
market, to each Of whom | gave two Temper
ance Tracts, telling each to give one of his
Tracts to the first friend he could find who
habitually drank liquor. On yesterday five
men came to me, two proving to be the stran-
gers | met in the market place, with two of
their neighbors and q neighbours son-all
stating that they had drank ardent spirits in
tomperately, more or less, until they read
the tracts | handed them since which they
had not tasted a drop and never expected to
again.
The two following cases, both in religious
families, struck my mind with great force, as
| representing two classes of mothers, showing
9 clearly how the one succeeds in raising her
5 children to be good and useful, while those
of the other class grow up to be proud and
5 prodigal: | visited a highly respectable fam
l ily and found the mother and children at
r. -
ion, education, &C., | spoke Of the character
e of the books | had, the object of the society
in circulating them, and some of the good re-
S suits. She told me to spread them out, for,
G although she had a great many books, she
G yet wanted more. Soon she selected SIC
5 worth. In a few days she sent for me, and
on my arrival said, she was so much pleased
d with her books that she wanted to get more
d of them for she wanted to select such relig.
g ious books for her children as would present
to them plainly and forcibly the great funda
mental truths Of christianity, without secta
rianism, so that they would be properly i'm
pressed with their duty to God and man
and she again selected $40 worth. l then
asked her why she was getting so many
books for her children, while they were sc
young ?-the Oldest being about 8 years.
! Her reply was" Because, first, l want tx
d know that 0very book placed in their hand;
n is entirely healthy to both mind and morals
S and secondly, because I acant to read them
c 1vih prayer, IN my closet, and get my owl
head and heart impressed with every truth
so that Imay first be profted by them, anc
thereby be better enabled to interest and in
n struct my children in them" / left, think
ing if every mother was like this one, truC
godlincss would soon reign supreme.
D Tho SaonpJ Iav n flor thiS aSt visit I nollof
y on another family of equal standing. Find
ID ing the mother and children at home, ! en-
m dcavored to interest them in conversation
and then spread out my books. The chi
Is dren gathered around, al delighted; but tn
mother seemed Indifferent, and remarked
t. We have so many religious books that W
IS have never read, and hardly ever will, Their
'r is no use in buying any more" Only sic re
a ligious books could be found! l gave som
tracts and said | might call again when
IN would probably be more convenient to her
s, get some of my books. She replied"
he could get them now if | wished, but | don
y want them, because it is not our plan to &c
IN books this way. Our plan is for our chi
n dren's teachers to select their school book
until they are educated, then they will knoV
st what religious books will suit them an
IS then re give them money to get such as the
ld may want" l examined the plan a littl
ne with her, and advised some respecting it.
OF At our Court, last week, a man came to m
table and said, in the presence Of many, tina
mt the Tract Who Slew all these ?"-wa
ict given him on the Fair Ground, last month
which so impressed him that he at once abar
doned the liquor traffic.
ne | was also credihly informed that "Ba,
oil ter's Saints Rest" has been made the NEAR
Of another conversion. The book was loane
The to the gentleman by his fatherin law,
for whom | sold the book last July. Upwar,
Of 80 have been converted in the county d
ir- ring the quarter, seven of whom attribute
VS. their awakening to the blessing of God upc
Ids the Tract publications. To God be all Il
ity glory.
ty December |, 1853.
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