Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-16

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fresent number. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 279
Making loss Of five since the last anniversA-
ry Before proceeding to other matters we
would express our disappointment that with the
growth OF this city and the increase II commCni-
| cants in all the churches we should not find a
large addition to our numerical strength instead
Of thia dimiuution.
All over the world this year has been marked
by enlarged openings for the word Of God aud
| growing demand for agents to promote Its dis
tnbution. Is It not against the plainest rule OF
Gospel economy that the supply does not keep
| pace with the demand
| Need We do more than lay the foregoing fig
ures before the servants of Christ in this house
| to obtain q large accession TO our membership
/ 10 the managers themselves these facts come
home aud need no further argument.
Although this is the year for our general visit
alton, very few reports have come to hand
| These, however, present some cases Of interest,
which may be noted here. The visitor OF Dis
i trict writes
Visited 45 families. large proportion OF them
/ remain Catholics. Gave six Bibles, but two OF
the recipients feeling able to pay anything for
them One OF these, colored woman received
me very cordially. She had wanted new Bible
/ for long time, as the one she had WAS 30 old
and torn the could scarcely keep it together
/ She show ed 1t 10 me tAttered dlscolOred thing
| She cannot read herself but she wished it for
| her children, as they read aloud to her She
hoped soon to pay the whole price, put now
could only give half that sum. She is member
| Of the African Bethel church, and her children
| attend st, Andrews S. School.
To another family gave a Bible where the
! husband Interested me. He tried to disc uade
his wife from taking it, as he felt rather proud
| about accepting 1t as gift. telling me he meant
some day to buy large one worth $12. After
| converting with him for some time, and asking
| If he could Afford to wait 80 long without the
| word Of God, 9 said the fact WAS he was
perfect deist If there eyer was one, but he should
like TO have Bible and would read it, 80
| put the book into his hands as gift to himself
as we'll TO his wife, and told him | should
| come again to see what be made of it. He
seemed very sincere IN expressing a wish that
| would do 80.
SIX families were supplied with Bibles. With
| the exception of the colored women, none Of
there were III the habit of attending any place
of worship, excusing themselves because their
very young children needed their care at home. "
Another says We visited l52 families 20 OF
| these are Roman Catholics. All received us kindly
| except two. Que of these shut the door upon
| Us, the other said she had her own Bible re-
marked, - We are trying to seek out those who
| have no Bibles. Yes, she sad, - and to per-
leuade people to leave the only true church to lead
| them astray"
"Oh no l replied Our object is to do good.
| O41 Bible teaches US to love an She was very
abusive, and we left her. In several instances
we had lutte quiet talk with them, and lett
| tratca with several
We distributed 8, and promised one Of large
and clear type to an old lady who told us her
sight had tailed 80 it hurt her poor old eyes to
read her own.
Our visiting this year is fraught with more in
cident than usual. Ii no good results to those
we visited, We have derived lessons which we
pray may be lasting benefit to ourselves"
District l5 Contains 1870 families. Protestant
families destitute of the Bible, two. Many young
mothers detained at home. The greater
humber expIess desire to attend worship, aud
10 30 when they can leave their families"
" District Is, l52 families, all supplied with
Babies except one. They said they were toe
poor to buy one, and seemed much pleased tu
have one given. Was kindly received by ter
homan Catholic famlhes but told thGy had theil
| own Bibles. Distributed 2OO pages of tracts
winch we're gladly received, aud trust they MAY
prove word III season. l found young mar
aud his mo, her In a poor desulate home. The
old woman was deaf The man said he neve
went to church aud did not care to go. Afte
speaking to him kindly for some time he took
tract and said he could read 1t, though at fret h
| had told me he could not"
=. visitor whites - An old man who had no
attended a place of worship for 40 years. ha
. been persuaded to seek the Lord When fire
visited he was living in great wretchedness. HI
1 drank. lie swOre and abused his wife, and d
not provide for her support He had no Bible
nor had he read word in the blessed book 70
more that 40 years. / obtained Bible for hin
from our del OsitorY, and he has now become
new man in Christ. He goes to the house o
q
fess his Savior before men
, A lady who visited a sick managers district il
! hbr place, saws Visited more than 200 fami
lies, and distributed several hundred tracts
Had three applications for Bibles. The colore
people IN Taylor street were anxious for Bibles
but few could read, All there were formerl
slaves and had no opportunity to learn, bu
hoped to do 80 now They seemed comfortabl
and happy, all able to get living without beg
gng, None of the cheeress poverty l sa
n m trii int hot fsNFt 81.
. Visited one rum shop in fear and trembling
, Dut was received kindly. Said few words an
left tracts.
T 81 believe this to be work which has God
!. blessing. How many there are who never hes
J preaching"
. A review Of these reports has deepened ou
B convictions OF the importance of faithful dlt
tnct visiting. The persons chiefly met with /
: t4ese visits are women burdened with the car
Oh families and seldom going to hear the GOe
Q pei preached. An ordinary Bible agent canno
often push into the interior OF their homes, bu
friendly woman easily gains admission. Sh
. sits down and listens patiently to the story Of
3. womans trials aud then speaks out of heal
/. which understands those trials, OF the lovinf
. sympathslng Savior. She engages her to rea
o Of Him IN the written word, and prays her
8 heed His gracious invitations.
"Ths night, this night" He saith
l. | 81 stand at u e door aud knock"
And do I on knjw woman pale fer want,
That on tiny lot much thought ls spent In heaven.
| Aud lie Will speak, speak IN the desO.ate night
In the dark hight, ''tor me a thOrny crown,
, Men W I'VE and nails were driven IN my nAnds
l. And ieet. III re was al earthquake, and did
i died, and tm alive foreYermore.
n | died for thee. For tnee am alive,
: And my humanity doth mOarn for hee
For tnou art mine, and AL thy little ones
Il they TOO are mlnei are mine.
Q "Behold the house,
i Is dark. but there is brightness wnere the sons
: VI God ore lngIng; anu behold the heart
|
Iney nave 1UrgO ten how to weep aud thou
n | Snail also come and Will fOster thee
! | a nd s.tlsfy thy soul and thou shall warm
l. Thy tren ling life beneath The smiles Of God.
IS This mode Of working is very dear to us. "
4 hnd no difficulties which cannot be surmounte
" by . feet AhOd with the preparation OF the gosp
0 of peace, and we would not rellnquish at Il
y any other
d Within this year we have. secured the Sc
|. | vices VI a " Bible woman who is warmly inte
ested in her work. Iu this we feel that mar
j, prayers were answered A few extracts from he
:. stated reports will explain the matter of h,
h duties.
II commenced May 18th In that time to th
}. present have paid ia visits.
I found some sick and near their home, vii
whom have read and prayed. Some do M
d know Jesus but promised TO seek him, and
r, my feeble way pointed them to Christ "Son
d WHO were sick at the time Of my last report ha'
(. gone home rejoicing in Christ. One of the
When speech Was denied her, pointed upwar
m and by all OF her actions let us know she was 9
D. most there
3, Il have visited one who is an infidel who d