Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-18
For the Spirit of the Age.
Quarterly Report Of Colportage in N. G.


Gods hand has graciously opened my
way, and upheld me through the pleasant
tolls Of another quarter While trying to
perform my duties as Agent, lam delight
ed in passing along, also to do the work Of
aColporteur, by going into the houses of the.
poor in the "highways and hedges" and
there reach the hand of kindness to them,
SIT with them on tils ass Together
talk about Jesus and His Gospel, which is
to be preached to the poor, then supply
them with books, instruct and pray with
them. In this way during the three months
| gave away more than 10000 pages Of
printed truth Whole number of families
visited 632, prayed with 400 of them; 64
of whom neglected preaching; 80 with
out Gods Word 81 had no religious books
except the Bible; and 81 never had reli-
gious visit or public prayer before around
their flresides, some of whom had belonged
to the church many years. In families
that could not spell [ have taught Ii per-
sons the alphabet in part, and among them
were three parents, all Of whom promised
to continue learning some Of the Ca
, ses got persons to visit and instruct them.
!, This humble labor has been done as tray
eled through 16 of our counties, in all Of
!, which | found much intelligence and piety,
many elegant churches and good minis
try. But in addition to what saw in some
Of these counties, several intelligent and
responsible persons gave me facts Of their
own knowledge, showing degree Of igno-
9 rance, destitution, superstition, and belief
e in witchcraft Of highly startling charac-
V ter to the Christian and Patriot One was
Y a Physician of high standing and extern
e sive acquaintance, who told me that chad
Y good reason to believe that nearly half Of
e the lower class in his county were in this
! condition. Another was prominent clergy
e man, who informed me that he spent night
i with magistrate that had no religious
i book except a small copy Of the New Tes-
n lament, which had never been read at all,
V and thought it was book which all magis-
e trates were furnished with, simply to swear
e people upon Most of these counties have
d but few Sabbath Schools, some having but
If twoor three, and [ was told that two Of the
A. counties had not even that many.
i To aid Gods ministers in correcting this
state of things, we now have Colporteurs
IF in several of these counties, who are com
N mencing to do noble work by impartins
ic light to families around their fresides, tt
# the liquor-seller in lis grog-shop, and to al
% wherever found also by forming Sabbath
If Schools. To do this work effectually oul
Or Colporteurs have to give away large por
at ton of the printed truth they distribute
of now and then selling book at cost price
: In order to pay for the printed truth thu
ly given away and to pay the Colporteur 81 8
t. year for giving his whole time to th
. work, also to further extend these labor
I'D of love in all our dark regions in N. c.,
no WHY we solicit donations from all christian
Ia and patriots of our State. That all ma
nd give understandingly and freely to th
to cause. we ask each one to look this whol
m system through to its core, and see its e
mr. fectual operations among that class nj
oty reached by any other means All who u
ci derstand the work express the one sent
of ment, that this is just the work our coul
- try now needs, and we must support it. -
ian During the last quarter | received s6t
in for the work in sums from $50 down to t
negro woman's two copper cents-some
The which was sent me by mail, and the 9th
ats, given me as I passed along, and In ma
be instances it was done without my aski
r is for it. A gentleman handing me 500 sa
,th- " I will give this and an additional amou
Ken every year for this good work" Anotl