Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-11
For the Spirit Of the Age.
annual Report Of Colportage IN N. G.
bz american Tract Society.

A -
Another Cnlportage year, with its bless =
ings, tolls and Affections, is forever past J
In reviewing it, | find in myself many 9
short -comings. Through Gods goodn oss, /
and kind friends, ami in the success met '
with, find much, very much, to fill my
soul with dovout praises to the Lord, and
to stimulate me to increased effort in His
strength, in this work of great self denial, .
faith and love. until all the Lords poor, I
each family and iniivid1ai IN our State,
shall own printed gospel message, and
hear the voice of prayer in their houses
by the b Iinble Colperteur.
In my more extensive travels, as Agent,
the past year, | have been impressed more
than ever with the Importance and results
of this Golportage work, by the voluntary,
united effort of Christians Of every denon-
ination, as a help TO Gods ministry and
the other agenciss, in the salvation of per-
ishing souls. Although find great
number of elegant churches, able ministers, I
aud pious, intelligent people, yet in passing
through various sections, End no church |
n 6 or miles, and several churches with
ut Pastors. In mauy Of these families
here are 70 religious books or papers, and
but few in some whole neighborhoods -
and no Sunday Schools in some entire
counties, as | was told. The Sabbath,
with many church members aud older per-
sons, is day of visiting and feasting; aud
with the more wicked and younger day
of amusement and intomperance. In ma
ny such sections our Colporteurs have visi-
ted AMI prayel with thousands of families !;
some had been members of the church for
years, who never had religious visit or
prayer before and in hundreds of houses
these pious, praying men have left the first
page that was ever there about Jesus
Thus we are installing in every house.
hold Pastor in the form of religious
book by Baxter, Doddridge, Summerfeld,
Bishop McIlvaine, and others, which are
being blessed of God to the quickeniug of
christians to duty in private and family
prayer, social prayer meetings, the forma-
ton of Sabbath Schools, and in the con-
version of souls; builiing churches and
bringing out men to be Pastors of whatev-
er denomination they may choose this
work having nothing to do in teaching and
deciding the denominational views and re-
lations of any one.
Passing through county last summer
l stopped at log cabin, and proposed tc
the parents to talk a little with theil
family. Soon all were in, the oldest chile
being Is, and four youger. After talking
and praying for the first time the children
ever heard such in a family, / asked i
they had some religious books. yes,
he replied, and brou hit them to me say
ing, " Now, l will tell you how I got tn
first ones. A Colporteur, with books, me
me in another county and wanted to sci
me some; but told him had no money
After talking to me about my soul and tn
souls of my family, be gave me book 70
each of my children, AMI they are the frs
we ever owned. | have read them a
through to the children and the two oldes
are nearly through the Tract Primmer
and three Of my neighbors have read ther
through, which were the first religion
books they ever read, except one who ha
and read the Pilgrims Progress And W
have ali bought a good Family Bible an
are now reading that, and we have COG
menced gong to preaching once month
which is about miles off, and have mos
of the logs cut to build us mesting-he
to have preaching in next year.
In another county, stopped with ger
tleman who told me that two years ae
one of our Colporteurs made the first +,
ligloas visit to his house he ever had, an
although he was then one of the mo-
bigoted and fatal errorists that ever GveC
yet the kindness of the Colporteur Unfit
eneed himto take aud Rad tract-"Co
to Jesus'-which showed him his hear
all full of sin, in manner he never sa
!, it before, and that he found no rest uni
l he found it by faith in Jesus After whie
he formed Sabbath School of 27 poor j
Dorant children, which was the only OF
in IA miles of him, and there was no re
ular preaching nearer than s miles
These facts, and many others We cou
: give, fully illustrate the objects and resul
of this work, which is being done in over
! counties in our State Such blessed inf
ences produced, together with the liber
. donations to support the cause by Chr
:, tians and patriots of the various denomiu
i tions and classes, and the prayers of Goo
! people encourage me to press onward
4 this arduous though delightful work.
K During the year, visited 1904 fan
d lies, prayed with 1883; of these fou
Is 169 neglecting Church; 81 destitute of t
d Bible; 217 without any religious books c
W cept the Bible held 81 religious or pra
r er meetings; aided in forming 27 Saba
,e Schools; distributed over 1884, pas
J. of printed truth, nearly half of whicl
lie gave to the poor, and the other sold OF
D. at cost, as all Colporteurs and Agents
be directed. And although much detair
v from my work by extreme family afiicti
ht yet my collection of funds for the cause
Mt eeeds that of last year $614.25. This
n been done by friends increasing the amol
IN, of their donations, and others giving .
n sending contributions to me by mail. A
he are there not others who are willing to e
nd $150-the salary ola Colporteur who 81
labor in some destitute county not yet
tied? Any amount wiz be thankfully
ceived. May God teach us what to g
ION and as we give to water others, may
ip- own souls be watered BY Him.
len Yours truly,
mo VIM. j. W. CRoWDER, Gen. Ag'
L a ~