The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-21
Anniversary OF the New York City Tract
SOcletys

The thirty FIRST anniversary of the New York City Tract
society and the thirty fifth Of the female branch
celebrated last night at the Presbyterian church. Madison
square DR. W. Adams presided in the absence Of the Pre-
a;dent Rev. Thomas De Witt D d. The ceremonies
opened with prayer by Rev. DR. Ed. Lathrop The
nua report tho society read by Rev Isaac Orchard
By which appeared that the Society after the eighth
year Of it's existence employed missionaries visit the
hospitals prisons, markets and other places of public
throughout the CITY, and distribute tracts This sys
them successfully continued for % years During
the last year the Society sent out Il Ward missionaries
and ASSISTANT missionaries to the German residents
70 the French, to the Jews, to emigrants and TO
20 seamen-naking a total of so missionaries 10 the TWEEN
ty-two wards city The average number of visit
ers to families oil. Of tracts distributed in differ
en-. languages there 257 45S of Bibles so7 of tes
taments ll4 5949 volumes lent out from the ward Ii
brsries; 1881 children gathered in the Sabbath
schools and $40 in other schools PIG in Bible classes 354
induced to attend church; 392 temperance pledges
obtained 2,2s6 religious meetings held so backslid
reclaimed 1854 persons hopefully converted and 1913
converts united with evangelical churches. The report
of the Treasurer showed that the annual receipts together
with the cash balance hand, amounted to SIT ao3 49,
and the expenditures were-for the support of mssiona
res &c. for publication of tracts to the American
Tract Society s45 o5 and for printing and other ex
pense $3.50 3d. leaving balance due TO the American
Tract Society Of 1904 So The Of the female branch
was by Mr. s. W. Sebbns, showing that the receipts
amounted to $3.50 co. OF which 1917 10 was paid to the
Rev JOHN McCIsTocK, ID. d. then delivered an address
He said that while in conversation with Roman Catholic
acquaintance the other day the division among Chris
tsns nhdel who standing by observed that when
they put end to the division among different sects Of
Christians they might begin 10 talk to ndels about Chris
tany And he said to him that that remark would apply
well to humanity the Christian religion, because
man was divided into many natures There doubt
that al sometimes feel little uneasy, and ask
selves whether this is the normal state Of things, and
whether mankind shall remain also - For himself, he
believed in the Catholic church, in the words Of
ahe creed called "apostolc," and in the communion
of saints. But the holy Catholic church had
L,pt ,pfov
ton, and all knew what the attempt to form such
organization had ended in. This church cannot consist in
a unity Of belief on all matters But all those that
IN Christ formed the Catholic church. though they
knowledgcd proud hierarchy visible head But he
thought there should be active union deeds Of
personal activity and sacrifice to develope the Catholic
church We may not agree on the FIVE points OF theology
but we can agree as to going to the Five Points Of New
York and spreading the word of Christ there. The church
loses great deal OF moral power as far division
INTO sects inerferes with active virtues The Protes
tant church has yet shown her full moral power
though she has done far than the Catholic church
has done She has let herself down in her
standard of virtue and Of the gospel to the standard of
the world. II only by bringing up her Christian &C
tiyty 70 the highest point that the church to
come out clear as the moon and bright ~ the sum- yet
terrible as an army with banners We have no faith in
Christianity. What We want most OF all is to believe
God, and believing in Him shall believe that He ia
humblest efforts to assist the poor. This city
tract society he urged offered the best channel for per
Of all sects to contribute their money with com
plee and thorough faith. Upon studyng the claims Of
the society before undertaking this address he found that
there no sectarianism about him. He found by in
EeStighton that II As 10 thc tnOdc IN
which the money contributed was disposed Of was
of the most complete organizations Of personal ysiatons
from house to hpuse ever known in this or any other
country. II WIS the growth OF years and had
gathered experience from The speaker then referred
the statements of the Of the society contained
in the report and the amount OF temporal good the mis-
onares and visitors could do TO he poor These agents
told OF 400 souls saved from hesaved ont Of the worst
camp OF Satan-from that great army which constitutes
the thieves and murdercrs Of the city The speaker drew
attention the effect visit OF refined
nsn-one OF the oil visitors OF this societyto the
abode of wrechedness and vice, and yet there thou
OF such visits paid within He urged the
good this II would be nvdious 10 ask whether OF
these angelic visitors Presbyterian anything clse
enough 10 that the divinity OF Christs charity
was shining her face, and that We knew she doing
Christ's work among the poor. There in this city
from hfty 10 eighty thousand children who, If they had
any knowledge o God at all could lin their voices 10
His throne aud say "on this earth there is not who
I'd charity, was these poor helpless children. We
all assist them individually, but aid this
society In doing the good work There a time
when the test OF Christianity more strongly ap
piled the rich of New York than at this and
may God strengthen them in standing Il,
bre[ address was then delivered by nr A. ~ GASsE
IN behalf OF the Tract Society after which collection
was taken up In aid OF the funds Of the society.
DR. ADAMS then addressed tho meeting, urging tina
cesy OF supporting the Tract Society not only because Of
the spiritual comfort the Of bringing 10 the
hearts Of the poor and eDdless but the physical good
extended TO the personal comforts o. poor and destitute
families
hymn was then sung by the whole congregation and
after n bcnedction by the President the meeting
plratcd.
Coroner's Once.