Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-07-04

their last Report, just published, that the American
Tract Society has dcceded to their request and un-
dertaken to supply this State with regular system
Of Colportage. The Society hassccured the serVi-
ccs of Mr.. E. L. KEnRIsoy, retired merchant of
Charleston to superintend gratutousy its operations
in this State The Rev. N. ALDR1cu has been act
ing as Agent for the Society, throughout the year
past. In consequence of these arrangements great
impulse has been given to the cause.
From official sources we learn that the number
of permanent Colporteurs has been increased to ht
teen, and that FIVE students Of SemInares will give
their services to this work. during their summer va
cations The receipts of this Society from this State
have been increased to the amount of S5,oOO; but
even this is not sufficient to meet eprobable ex-
penses, as they propose to engage Copor'eur IN
each District in tho State which will increase their
liabilities to about $4,000 per annum.
A Colporteur Of this Society visited our Town in
November last, and spent three weeks. In his re-
port Of his labors, he says, GAS general thing
was we'll received, especially among the poor; and
seldom left house without leaving some books,
either by sale or grant, Whenever | made Sc
cond call. was welcomed, and new books were
eagerly examined" Some he found without Bibles,
even among those who were intelligent and affiuent.
Within two hundred yards of the Depository,
found two families in house, neither of whom
could read, or had Bible, or had received a visit
of any Christian friends, though they had lived in
the village three years, and been sick most OF the
time" The friends of the Society were surprised
at his success. Instead of distribution mostly
gratutous, as they predicted his sales amounted to
three hundred volumes. How many others were
gladly received as grants by those who were not
able or willing to pay qr them, we are not informed
He adds that he left Temperance Tracts at the shops
where liquor is sold, and speaks of the sad sight
he witnessed in more than one of these "where
the victims Of alcohol were gathered around the de-
canters," with glaring eyes and sunken cheeks.
But we rejoice to think that such sights will soon
be no more seen in our Village, as our municipal
authorities have resolved not to renew the licenses
of those who supply this means of misery and vice.
Another Colporteur has been residing in the VII
lagc, and aboring in the District since February,
Mr.. J. LAWRENCE. He has made many friends for
the Society-and has found ample occasion for his
labors. He has visited between three and four hun
drcd families, circulated by sale and grant upwards
of seven hundred books, and more than one thous-
and tracts, and found families destitute of the Bible.
We are informed that the expenses Of the Society
for carrying on its work in this District cannot be
less than $780, and it is earnestly hoped, that the
friends Of the cause will at least relieve this Society
of this burden, and recognize the duty incumbent
upon us of providing for our own household. AS
we are under obligations to this great national So
ccty for its efforts to promote the best interests Of
our community, we should not be content with pur-
chasing its publications. without also increasing its
resources. Nay, we hope and pray, that He who
has moved us to begin this good work, will enable
us to carry it on with zeal and lbcrality worthy
of its object, so that we may soon be able to give
important assistance to the great work spreading
the Gospel through the darkest corners of our land
and to the ends of the EartK