The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-30

Troubles OF The Tract Society
The American Tract Society is an Institution
established for the salvation Of the souls Of all
sorts Of people, FROM the Maine lumberman 10
the Georgia cracker; the Cape Cod fisherman 10
the Grass Valley miner. The business is an ex-
tensive one, running from two to three millions
year, which is expended in printing and dis
. tributing pious tracts, which we fear are too
often used on the borders for rifle wads rather
than peruscd by the camp fires of the pioneer
Part Of this money is raised from the sale Of
pious books; tharest is levied upon Wall street
and the Sabbath schools, and Is paid up without
groan. The managers Of the society have con-
siderable patronage in their hands in the shape
of appointments of colporteurs or distributors Of
tracts-a kind of religious Custom House officers,
who receive pay and mileage, after the manner
of members of Congress. 1t was nice sort Of
family arrangement for the Tract Society lead
crs, until about two years ago somebody got into
the peaceful fold with little niger under his
arm The little niger has been kicked out
several times; speeches of interminable length
and scriptural citations innumerable have been
hurled at his Sims; but it is all Of no avail back
Tonson in the farce
The little niger has turned up again ia q
quarrel about the manner in which the society's
money is expended, and particularly as to the
question Of oolportage-two thirds of which duty
is done III the South and Southwest. After the
little niger was finally put out in the cold Last
year, and it was firmly resolved that the feel
ings of the Southern brethren on the slavery
question should be respected in the Society's
publications. the colportage row commenced a.
collateral issue. 1t was held on The Que side
| that the system Of colportags was absurd and
| extravaeant, and that the business Of salvation
ought to he carried on as it is by the London Sc
| city, 'oH sound commercial principles and
| that The whole thing was q hurubug and ought 10
| be smashed. To this attack came a reply from
| the other side, and the controversy was carried
| on in that gentle, meek Christian, forbearing,
courteous manner for which the religious press
is 80 highly distinguished. Finally, as the time
wore on towards the anniversary, when the Wall
street brethren would lie called on for funds, it
became necessary that something should be done.
Consequently the names Of a number Of leading
men, merchants Of the highest standing, we've
obtained and appended to letter TO the Rev.
Russell s. Cook, who has been connected with
the London Tract Society. Mr.. Cook has writ
ten lengthy statement in reply, and he
states that he believes in colportage al
practised here, and that there can be no
fair comparison between the way in which
the business Of salvation Of souls is carried on
abroad and at home He omits TO say why such
q comparison cannot he made, but the inference
is that the American sinner is tougher GUS
toner than his English cousiu,who generally
pays for his tract, while the Yankee will not read
1t gratis unless persuaded TO do 60 by trained
men," Again, Mr.. Cook argues that the cues
tion of economy cannot properly be entertained
| in matter of this kind. Whatever Che says) ia
| necessary, wise md christian must he economi-
| GAIA general proposition, the truth of which
no one will deny; but logically Mr.. Cook must
prove that colportage is necessary, wise and
Christian, which the other side does deny. Dir.
Cook justifies the system on missionary grounds,
and wines up by saying that Christian beneyo
lence like commerce, has its rights which should
not be invaded, and thai the colporteurs need
not be afraid that either the blessing of heaven
or the cash of Wall street will be denied To
them.
THIS is a very curious quarrel Commencing
with the slavery question, it has narrowed down
into squabble for the spoils almost as bitter
and as vulgar as caucus at Tarnmany Hall,
Weed junta meeting at the Aston House, or
cenyocation Of the Washington and Albany lob
bies. II the Tract Society managers can SECURE
the colporteurs' influence, then they can
| retain Office and defy the outs. On
the other hand, if the colportage system
should be broken down, and the outs conc in,
there viii be separation of the society, as there
was Of the Methodist Book Concern, under the
auspices Of which the Southern soul is saved on
altogether different principles from those which
obtain ia the North That is one result which is
probable. Tie immediate consequence Of tue
letter to Mr. Cook, and his reply is to stir up dis
| scnsion to q higher pitch than before, to abase
Christianity down to Wall stree. level, ar. 10
return to the temple thieves and mcney chargers,
whom our Saviour cast out. The gentlemen
who signed the letter no doubt did SO vith.the
best intentions in the world, and were ertsspped
By the parsons as large troat to tempt smaller
ones into the Det--the pence from the eale Of ell
to 60 into the pockets Of those who keep the
Christian preserve as park for ycsEg deer Of
the family to roam in. When The question OF
cash comes to be considered |. is 6. toss NJ be.
tween the parsons and politicians. That's al.
TIE Coup FIELDS or TmE I,sERrsa--la on.
other column viii be found o batch Of Interesting