Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-15
SPIRIT OFTHE AGE.-Devoted to Tenperaace.

have the first one I eyer received The
Dairyman's Daughter'1which was given me
by a Colporteur two years ago, when was
wicked and ~thoughtless. | had not then
been to preaching in nearly 4 years, the
nearest church being 6 miles, and none o. my
children-the oldest about 10 years-eyer
heard a sermon or prayer before. After that
good man here talked about my duty to God
and my children, | had new thoughts l
then read the tract and saw the ~Dairyman's
Daughter had something in her soul which |
needed to support and comfort me. This led
me to read my Bible for instruction, and,
through the kindness of a n~eighbor, | went
to church occasionally. In about 5 months
| was led to Christ. Soon after my CONVEX
sion the Colporteur revisited me and gave me
a package Of tracts, and I paid him % cents
for another, which | read and loaned to my
%neighbors who meet in my house once a
month for prayer and singing, and to hear a
tract read. The tract Do yoa1pray in your
family" caused me to. commence praying
with my children, night;<nd morning, by re-
peating only the Lords Frayerat first end.
although it has been a great Grass, yet it mas
proved a great blessing to me and my hill
dren."
In visiting these families the usual objec-
tons to denominations, education, Sunday
Schools, &C., are forestalled by our statement
that we are sent to their houses by christians
of more than 30 churches, and our single OBJ
ject in talking and supplying them with
books is to point them to Jesus, and after
they are joined to Christ they can join what
church they choose. And that we wish to
talk together only with somthing Of the feel
ing that we will have if we meet in heaven,
1 -rG.at. I'LL - - 20 Observation-Disclosures n4r,,rI
: or fear, but of love for God AL zach other.
After thus addressing everS7 Post preju-
diced, at their homes, we seldom iail to OBJ
tain a hearing so as to demonstrate religion,
education and Sabbath Schools, by the beau
tiful good books and catechisms, which they
frequently express interest in, showing clear
ly that their prejudice is the result, general
ly, of ignorance. which can be met most eff
: fectually in their houses.
=. With these classes a Colportage, free of
sectarianism, seems to be indispensable for
the saving of their souls, and as the %forerun-
l ner of denominational efforts. Two Colpor-
tours (now Ministers) of a denomination
! board recently told me that their success was
almost double when they followed in the
r track ola Colporteur of the American Tract
Society, for the prejudices were removed and
the way opened for religion and books. From
the peculiar condition of hundreds of these
: families, it is clear that God has provided this
system to reach, enlighten and convert souls,
a and hence there should be prompt indiyidu-
al and united effort to bring Divine truth in
: contact with them. And at this point there
I is work for each one-some to go and carry
the truth, and others to pay for sending the
men and printing the truth, for these men
cannot feed upon the wind, and the Bibles,
~ hOoEc and fraotC do not rrour 31nop Rrooc
God having graeiously arranged the whole
plan so as to give each one the privilege of
doing something to save souls.
As | passed through the fields of 10 Col
: porteurs, seeing the good of their visits, and
the gratitude of the cabin families for the
primer" "Baxter's Call" practical
Thoughts" &C., all the religious books they
had, | felt it good to bow with these families
} in praise to God for raising up men willing
to give up home, ease, worldly honors and
n gain, to thus go about doing good and for
r. disposing benevolent friends to pay the salary
($150) of these laborers, and have these Cos
pei pages printed-1500 pages for $1-which
will continue to live and preach Jesus long
n after the Colporteur and Donor shall meet in
g Heaven.
During the quarter new cou1 les have beer
} supplied with Colporteurs, ID donations
III given in amounts from $100fdd n to the wild
a. owls and child's penay, as ad 1owledged in
Ia the American M~essengeE2 Ylut there arc
over 30 counties in North Catolina not yet
> supplied, and the cry from perishing souls is
!" Come and help us, "send us the gospel.
he Are there not other friends wh6will give spec
IS Oily to support Colporteurs in these counties
er Surely the best use of life ant money, which
be we can keep but a short time, is to use then
as as to raise monuments of grake in immorta
is souls, for which God will reward us e~ternally
he Let each one, daily, so use the life, strength
he skill and means loaned III by God so as t
its raise these monuments, which will stand t
n bless and honor when this world, with it
glitter and honors, shall perish.
Yours truly,
to W. j. ". CROWDER, Gen. Ag't.
of of Am. TT. Soc. for N. {
IN Raleigh, Sept. 1st, 1868.