The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-07

Oldes', richest and most influential religious 10
stitutons in the 10 ted States. Its operations
extend throughout the whole length and breadth
of the land. The business of the Society is the
printing and distribution of religious tracts
The distribute is made chiefly through col
porteurs, and the expense of this one branch of
the operations of the Society is not less than one
hundred thousand dollars per annum. The
superintendent Of the Society's publications is
confded to publishing committee of five reve
rend doctors, who decide finally as to what
medicine is the best for the souls of the heather
at home and abroad. Now, it happens that
large proportion OF the tracts are distributed
among the brethren in the Southern States of
this Union and that these brethren hold
opinions precisely dissimilar to the brethren of
the North upon the question of slavery. TIE
Publishing Committee has endeavored to steer
clear Of the vexed question altogether, aud, in
80 doing has offended the radical factions on
both sides. During the heat of the last Preei-
Dental contest religion and politics we're pretty
we'll mixed up at the North, and it was then
that the committee became involved in the diff
culties which were only temporarily adjusted
after heightened contest at the anniversary
meeting of the Society in 1857. The basis
of that temporary settlement was a vote by
which the action of the Publishing Committee
emitting any reference to the slavery ques
ton from the issues of the Society-was sus-
tanned. But this truce was only temporary
one. Disaffection still existed among the ultra
abolition faction that is represented by the In
DEPENDENT and the Publishing Committee deemed
it expedient to issue rather elaborate and not
over lucid defence of its course. This action
has thrown the whole question open to the re-
ligious press, and it forms prominent topic in
their columns. 1t is claimed by the con-
sentative Observer and Christian Intelligencer
that the Independent party is faction of
ipsurrect.onists and revolutionists that its
design is to make the Tract Society "tbe in
strument of dscord and disunion;'' that if the
revelutionists succeed in displacng the present
Publishing Committee, the society ''must be-
come a sectional, sectarian, one idea institu-
tion." The Independent, on the other hand, is
not sparing of its denunciation Of its Chris
tian brethren. 1t openly charges them with
deserving the worship of God for that of NAM
mon. The committee is charged with pursuing
"temporizing, vacillating and dishonorsble
policy and it is declared that the motto of
the committee is, "Only buy our tracts and
you may have your choice of sins"
The annual meeting and election of officers
take place on Wednesday next and the regu
lar political wirepulling system has been init
tiated by the Independent party, through secret
circular calling for private caucus of the op-
position two days before the meeting, to devise
plans by which the society may be relieved
from its present "cr'tical position" Here is
the circular -
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
NEW YORK, April Is, 1858
DEAR sIR-The present critical position OF the American
Tract society in consequence Of the attitude assumed by
the Executive Committee upcn the subject OF slavery
cal upon the friends OF the society FOR conference
and delibe. atom. You are, therefore, invited to be
Clinton Han Aston place room No 6, second floor, on
Monday, May 10. at o'clock, and to bring with you
any friend or friends whom you may select. You're,
respectfully.
This is very pretty quarrel as IL stands; but
we are sorry to see that our religious cotempo
raries do not carry ii on in that spirit of meek
ness and Christian charity which should distin-
guish them above ali others. We are not as
tonished to find the 7rJtne calling its opponents
bad names-nothing better can be expected
from such source but we really looked Cor
something better from the pious Observer and
the staid Intcllgnoer. Perhaps there may be
something in the insinuation of the Independent
as to the funds. The society has received and
spent, in thirty years, about five millions o. dol
lars and the present breeze may so far clear
the atmosphere as to let the public know ex.
actly what has been done with the money. In
the end we should not be surprised to see the
society split upon the same rock where the
Methodist book concern foundered; but for the
present the Independent is probably right in say
ing that as long as the South buys the tracts
the brethren may have their choice Of sins. "
THE MAYOR AND THE GAMBLING DENs-OB-
sTRUcTioSs TO REFoRM.-Gieat complaints are
made against the police for inefficioucy, and no
doubt in many cases these complaints are well
Al "a b... Ind