Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-13
O. 0 m M limitations
FOR TIE SPIRIT OF TIE AGE.
Quarterly Report of Colportage.
BY W. J. W. CRoYDER.

The success attending my humble efforts
in the Tract cause, during the past quarter,
greatly encourages and stimulates me to be
more faithful in helping to speedily extend
this blessed work to every county in this
State, so that every fatally, rich and poor,
shall be visited and revisited by pious,
praying Colporteur, that the ignorant may
be instructed, poor sinners pointed TO Jesus
and christians aroused to diligently seeking
a deep and active piety. In three months
Wis ted, distributed books To, and prayed with
376 families of whom 40 had no religious
book except the Bible, and s never owned
the Bible. and found q habitually neglect
ing church. | took part in holding 90 public
religious meetings, met and addressed more
than 800 children in Sabbath Schools and
cotton factories, scattered by sale or grant
over 500 worth Of printed truth, and receiv-
ed donations in money and subscriptions
amounting to $500 for Colportago, besides
near S400 to build a church.
In four neighborhood,, that Twisted a
year ago, found 1917 famihes-l03 of these
had no Bible, 147 no religious books except
the Bible, and the average of the whole at
tending church was once In about years
some of the parents had not been to church
in 33 years, and many children nearly grown
had never heard a sermon or prayer, and but
few knew what Sabbath School was Out
of the 1917 families, only l9 took a news
papers, of which were religious, but
not single paper taken for children. /
know of 81 religious papers now being regu-
larly taken by these families-60 of which
are the 'Child's Paper and II the Amer
lean Messenger In each of these four
neighborhoods there is now a good Sabbath
School supplied with books 10y the Tract So
ciety. 2l7 children, 19 fathers, and Is moth
ers, are being instructed every Sabbath in
these schools, many Of whom are now able
to spell and read, who two years ago knew
not the alphabet. There are two churches
being completed in two of the neighborhOods,
and good school house in another, and an
old grog shop in the other is used for the
school and preaching. Many of these, who
were heretofore reduced to beggary and dis
grace by the bottle and other vices, are now
sober, industrious and respected, and several
have been hopefully converted to God.
The Reports Of the other Colporteurs whose
labors now extend over about 40 counties in
this State, show similar degree of igno-
rance, destitution and degradation, and also
similar results from their religious visits
and the printed truth left behind.
| am greatly cheered in seeing the hand
of Providence guiding this humble work in
North Carolina, which is very manifest in
the raising up of Colporteurs and bringing
in means for the work. An excellent man
under embarrassing circumstances, agreed
on one day recently, to become Colporteur
and the next day a gentleman proposed tC
me to give the usual ColpOrteurs salary
$3.50, to help support this Colporteur.-
Another well-qualifed man walked l6 miles
to see me about engaging as a Colporteur, tc
enable him to do more good to souls; anc
the day after his visit two gentlemen told
me they would help literally to pay his sal
airy every year. And others are giving S2(
and $50 to constitute them Life members anC
Life directors of the society-some of thes'
are given without my application and a
mounts, down to shilling, are being freely
given and gladly received, to help push for
ward Gods work in saving perishing sinners
May God continue to direct US all in this
and every work for eyangeli2ing the world
and to Him shall be all the glory.
Yours truly, w. j. w. CROWDER,
asst. Ag't. an N. C. for ColpOrtage By tn
Am. IT.. Society.
Raleigh, June lst, 1855.