Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-11-13
CITY ITEMS.

r Sth, in the Methodist Church, Market street
Though not very large, the meeting was en-
couragng in spirit, all those present evincine
5 deep interest in the exercises of the occasion
f The Rev. j. d. Pope, President Of the Socie
ty, presided. After the singing of hymn
) the meeting was led in prayer by the Rev
Mr.. Edwards
| Quarterly RepOrts.-This being the regular
time for reports from the members of the Elk
ccutive Committee, the gentlemen composing
the Committee were called on in turn by the
President. The reports showed in general,
that the tract work had been pretty vigorous
ly prosecuted during the past three months,
except the month of October, the latter part
of which was so wet and unfavOrable as to
prevent many of the visitors from fully can
vassing their districts. Over 1000 tracts
were distributed throughout the city during
the quarter; some half dozen Bibles were
supplied to the destitute; others were found
without Bibles, and DESTROYS of having them !;
and a considerable number of children were
gathered into Sabbath Schools. The tracts
were generally well received, though in some
instances they were refused, in not.the most
kindly manner. 1t seemed, however, to be
the uniform experience of the visitors, that
more practical opposition was met in the
work of distributing tracts among the richer
and better informed classes in our city, than
| ~, Tho cbi11inU
difference of the former in many cases, tries
the faith and sincerity of the tract distributor
more than the open opposition of Others from
whom less sympathy might be reasonably
expected. Though the tracts are designed in
general to ''preach the gospel to the poor" it
is not thought best to pass by any house in
the city, whatever be the position of their
occupants, as such kindly, unobtrusive little
messenger as the tract should certainly offend
no one. If it cannot instruct, perhaps it can
at least bring to the mind in salutary man
ner, that which we do know, but are in dam
ger of forgetting, amid the cares OF life.
| Numerous little incidents full of interest
and encouragement were related at the meet
ing, showing that the tract work is meeting
want in our city that must long have been
felt by every Christian heart-the want of
proper sympathy with the poorer and less in
structed classes of our community, and OF
some adequate medium through which to APP
preach them and show them that they are
not forgotten or uncarcd for by those who
are more comfortably situated in life. The
tracts afford a medium by which to express
our sympathies, and the work of distributing,
and visiting among the needy, tends ever
| more and more to increase these sympa-
| thies.
Remarks Of Req. E. D. NeM Mr.. Neill
commenced by saying that this was the first
Monday evening Tract Meeting was held
when he found himself at leisure to attend,
and that it gave him pleasure to be present,
and in reply to request that he should speak,
made few remarks.
| He proceeded to say that the Tract cause
meets an exigency in our community that
could scarcely, if at all, he supplied in any
other way. A city is different from the coun-
try it has a character of its own-a cOncen-
tration-a meeting of mind with mind which
develops an intensity of life, and a power as
well as capacity for good or evil, which is
to be found no where but in our cities. AS
it has peculiar advantages, so has it peculiar
wants and evils. AS it is source Of power
and good, so it is also source of evil. Hence
the necessity for peculiar institutions to meet
the wants and exegincies of city populations
as well as to cultivate the piety Of individual
christians.
In the first place the Tract work develops
the latent energy and talent of Christians-
Many who are untitled for the more public
services of the church, here find proper and
useful sphere for their labors. The pious and
unobtrusivc female, by the simple yet labori-
GUS work of distributing tracts, may bring to
bear an energy that will result in incalculable
good-an energy, however, which but for such
an institution as the Tract Society, would
have perhaps always remained dormant, and
| lOSC 10 Tie cnuICll dS I'll DIS lilOlN lUuttl
Again, the Tract work tests piety. No one
can for months distribute tracts from house
to house, meeting all sthe difficulties and dis
couragements incident to that employment,
without having his own piety severely test
ed, and feeling the need of support from
above, if he would continue to do his
| v-orl- potioptlv opd faithf,111y
In the third place, the Tract Work teaches
those that are employed in it that religion is a
reality. We are so accustomed to the public
exercises of the church and the common forms
of Christianity, that they seem to grow lifeless
from mere familiarity. But when we mingle
with all classes, and see religion in its simpler
and more undenominational forms-the power
of its simple presence in the heart, as well as
the frequent abject misery where it knows no
home-we begin to prize it more-we see
that it is a reality, and something entirely diff
ferent from books or forms-something that
above all things else we should prize
Lastly, the tract work draws out our COM
mon Christianity. All denominatonal feelings
for the time are swallowed up in the one COM
mon desire to do good to our neighbor, while
E we rejoice together in the blessings of com
f mon salvation, and work shoulder to shoulder
| in the attempt to make all taste the sweetness
of these blessings.
Mr.. Neill continued to speak for some time
and related several interesting incidents, which
however, cannot be introduced here. The
meeting then closed with the Doxology.
An EDITOR IN TRoUBLE-Under the head
"Heart Rending Accident" we find the fol
lowing announcement in the Monticello Times
Poor Kenton Thou vast a jolly fellow once
but now, alas The Times says:
eve are happy to announce that the editor
&c nd IL