The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-28
AMERICAN rRACr socIErY--A GOOD RE
PORT.


AMERICAN rRACr socIErY--A GOOD RE
The following abstract Of TIE annual
report of the Chicago Agency Of The
American Tract Society VIII be read with
interest by all members and friends OF
that institution. ThtHy Colporteurs have
been employed during the year, report
ing Eigenn years and three months labor.
They ~ do As GA family visits, in 49,
314 OF winch, opportunity tor religious
conversation and prayer was enjoyed and
improved, by which they were made gen-
orally Of mutual satisfaction ard they
were often followed by the happicst re-
suits. OF these families S,i37. embra-
cling probably not less than Az, 900 mem
bers, were found thoroughly separate from
ai ctnrch relations, no one OF them ever
attending divine service. Three thou
sand four hunGred two families were des-
tisute OF all neaes 81 reltg1aas instruction
by books. has "a. 80. 80 "uch rs primer
for the children, and ,5xi ,oi them were
without n scrap of the word Of God.
To remove these dsstltutions, and to
meet the incidental demands of those APP.
preciating the value of religious literature
these colpoFteurs have in their cxplora-
tions Effected the sale Of over $1,000
worth Of tracts aud books, while they
have given away ~ the amount OF SOIL
so.
In addition to their daily Preside labors
they have attended at evenings or on Sab
baths, or have gathered in waste places,
and addressed $40 IN etings. Many cases
of interest, aud some REVEALS have been
reported which have resulted in an sggre-
gate Of several hundred hopeful CONVEX.
sions during the year. Among these
converts are numbered some from the
ranks of blackslidcrs. Ro.nanists, inhdel'
and scofers. as WI. AS irom the careless
and Indifferent.
A work OF great interest has also beer
performed in the army and navy. many
ten thousands OF publications having beer
circulated durint he Year IN tue campl
aud hospitals OF the armies of the West
The value of the publications. distributed
among our brave boys has been ID. iSo.2s
while only s2,250.s9 have been specified
in the donations for this particular ser,
vice, being s934.36 less than the grants
The average cost of the salaries and or
ppnses Of the Colporteurs has been S2Il
81, making an aggregate OF Sal ~, t
which the $9ll.5O for grants OF pablica
tions being added, makes S6,Ob2 IS, til
whole expense of colponsge. The dona
tions applicable here have been IS 065. l6
being ST ,9s7.77 less than the expenses
The total donations received have bee
$5,3f6o5. and the total grants and col
portage SS, 23Sl Is, exceeding the dona
lions received by s2,939 IS. The CON
mittse at New York allowed al the begiu
ming Of the year an expenditure OF S7o
per quarter, exceeding the collection
made In the agency, which it will be see
has been overdrawn by Sl22.l3.
The expenses of the store, together wit
the salaries and expenses Of the Secretary
his Assistant, and general agent, 70
three months, have been covered BY th
usual discount made to the trade. on til
amount Of pubiostions sold BY this agenc
during the year. so that donors have tn
satisfaction of knowing that every dim
given has bsen invested without draw
back for collections and superintendenc'
a6rSlent gratitude was well exempl
fed BY the little boy who, when askt
whether be thanked the lady for The site
Of candy she had given him, replied aye
but didn't tell her y"