Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-12
For the Spirit of the Age
7 VI OIIO PIIIO OI tIIO 1AtoC
The Agents Sketch of Colportage in
North Carolina.

God has graciously brought fnetthrougfIi !
the labors Of another Colportage year,
which makes A months and ID DAYS | /
have now tried to serve in this department
of Christian toll; during which, I have
sold 8,502 volumes, containing 2,612, ,500I
pages, in value S2,041 Go; and given
away 2,779 volumes, containing upwards
of 100000 pages, in value $463 So
Visited, talked on religion or prayed with
$500 different families; of whom [ found
753 habitually neglecting church, 1882
destitute of all religious books or papers
except the Bible, and 4l2 without Cod
Word 1,729 of these never had reli-
gious visit and prayer with their families
before. | have been informed Of more
than 100 persons who attribute their con-
version to the blessing of God upon books
and tracts [ have distributed, besides a
great many who have given up iquor-sell-
ing and drinking, Sabbath breaking, and
other vices, from reading publications on
these subjects. I have, in the rough cabin,
taught scores of children, and many pa
rents, the alphabet and to spell many of
whom L have since heard read well in the
Bible, and some of whom are now Sabbath
School teachers [ have also aided in
holding 474 public meetings, and received
donations for the Tract Cause in North
Carolina amounting to 5000 so. In
view Of these humble labors, feel to give
God all the glory for the success and bless
ings given, and humbly ask His forgive
ness for all my unfaithfulness and errors
During the year just closed, | have had
very much to comfort my own soul and en-
courage me to persevere, in God strength,
until the hundreds in this my native State
who are rapidly flying to Gods bar and
sinking to ruin without correct knowl
edge Of Jesus as the Saviour Of sinners
shall be supplied with printed truth, anc
persuaded, around their fresides, to come
to Christ, that they may live for Him IL
this world and with him in Heaven.
In doing the double work of a Colpor
teur and Collecting Agent, [ have, th
past year, visited l, ,253 families In thi
number met ministers and Christians @
every denomination among US, and togethe
our hearts were made to burn within us
IlOlA 1CClIhS anu opCdhlnS VI tH0 1OfC !
Christ to sinners, and Of the same heavenl
home for which we were striving throug
faith in the same blessed Jesus. And i
this number l met with every class, frol
our highest rulers in Church and Stat
down to the poorest and most degrade
subject; and with humble thankfulne
to God | can say, that [ left every OF
with an increase of courage to toll on
the highways and hedges" of the Lord
vineyard. Of these 1858 | found !
families who had not been to church fro
l to 80 years, and the average of the
going to church was once in Al years; 81
had never had religious visit or pray
around their fresides before. To eve
poor, destitute family, gave books, whic
in the year, has amounted to S92 IS.
have met and addressed more than 2 A
children in Sabbath Schools and factori,
Although I have been greatly hindered
J my work by the severe affliction of mys
e and family, and other uncomfortable c
r cumstances, yet the amount of donatic
| have received is $3.50 so greater th
! during the preceding year; and still
: fall behind supporting our own work,
, cause, first, of the great destitution