The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-16

Estimated
From this it appears that the receipts during
the year 1854 were greater than those of 1855,
but will fall short of 1856. The years 1853
and 1854 were very prosperous years; the coun-
try then was in fourishing condition, and
money was easily made: quite naturally the
means thus acquired were as easily dissipated,
and happily the religious societies came in
for their share of the spoila In 1855 men
were more cautious, more economical, less
prosperous, hence the religious harvest was
smaller. This year, the societies promise to
prosper again; and no doubt the exhibit pub
lished in May, 1857 will be more gratifying
ever than the one above.
1t appears from these figures that one
million and half is contributed yearly
to the societies above mentioned by the people
OF this country: a sum about equal to the pro-
duct of the half mill tax in this State. This
enormous sum of money is usually expended
in the publication of books and the hire of
clergymen and other agents, who 60 to various
parts of the earth with view of spreading the
gospel.
Such a fact as this cannot but be gratifying
to every citizen. The State must be very rich
which can afford to pay million and half
annually for these purposes; and it argues a
very remarkable degree Of prosperity and
home comfort that over one-third of this is
spent in endeavors to ameliorate the condi-
ton Of the heath en-. In short while, it is to
be hoped that even more good may be effected
by means Of the large incomes of the religious
societies than is now the case. As the country
is developed, emulation will doubtless induce
publishers to compete actively with the socie-
ties in the publication of religious works; and
no doubt, individual enterprise being so much
ADLER than any corporate skill, the publishers
will drive the Tract Societies out of the
market which they have SO long held. This OF
course will not come to pass for some time;
the pions contributions Of the faithful ena-
BILE the societies to distribute their publ
cations at price barely covering the cost
OF paper; and no doubt, the light is thereby
brought to the home of many poor person
who would not otherwise see it. But it is not
in the nature of things that monopoly of
this kind should continue; when it is broken
down, the societies will have more leisure and
more means for werks of more direct useful
ness.
1t is hoped that when the societies meet in
May, some Of their ablest men will take in
hand the singular question Of foreign missions
in the abstract, will prove their usefulness,
and will account in full and satisfactory
manner tor the remarkable theories which
travellers have told us of the failure Of seve-
raj renowned missions. 1t is high time some
explanation of this kind were made; for the
vulgar, always too ready to cavil at the high
and holy ministers of God, have it already
among them that missions are a mistake; that
no conversions of the heather are made, and
that the money which is obtained from the rich
here is expended in paying the travelling ex-
penses OF young gentlemen who want to see
the world, and in supporting easy going per-
sons who are too idle to work. These very oul-
pable ideas are going abroad, and it would
De well that some person Of authority at the |
coming anniversaries took in hand to refute |
them.