The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-18
roRRfGN AND PAGAN LANDS.

Professor Cyrus NOrthr0p, or New Haven, spoke
of the value OF elevated and Christian literatur,
for the promotion OF the Gospel ana for suppiant
ing the sensational, immoral and anti-Christiar
issues Of the secular press. Valuel The word was
inadequate, utterly Inadequate. What was a Chris
tian literatures One that brought Christ to the
hearts OF men. But who was Christi A poor man,
who taught His people quietly for two years and
was then crucifed. All Christ did not teach these
people few simple lessons only; but ne incul-
and told them to preach the Gospel to all the
world The latter duty they could only fulfil
by MEANS OF THE PRINTING PRESS,
and IL was this very press which had sent pOis.
onoua stream OF literature over the country. So
long as men had made it fashionable to sneer at
God there was great need OF an antid0te. They
needed society like this. Let them go out on the
prairies OF the Illinois ana cOnsecrate them to
human good and 80 let TINS society conquer new
society had never sought to preach a sectarian
Christ, but always the one eternal, uncnangng
Christ. He babe 1t q hearty GOdspeed for the
future, and lett confident that IL would always
meet squarey and fairly the so-called nndellty or
this age. The Church Tor which Jesus died would
live on when the foundations OF the earth were
already crumblng away.
Rev. Robert I. $. Macarthur, OF this city, spoke
OF the personal efforts for the salvation OF sous
called out and assisted by the publications OF the
American Tract Society. He sad the personal,
direct denunciarlon OF ungodliness was but rarely
found because Christians were conscious OF certain
Inconsistencies in their own religious lives. There
were men in this society, however, who, IKE
TO PREACH FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE,
from heart to heart. He could only mention one
instance mr. John Vassar was one OF those who
never missed the opportunity OF speaking TO the
men he met OF the salvation Of their souls. This
w4e the most efficient method or doing Christian
work. The man who spoke in this iace-to- lace
manner was able to overcome all objections
of the intidel or doubtful. The minister mad not
this advantage, for he did not know the objections
and could, therefore, not remove them. Now the
printing press anticipated the preacher every
where and the audience was able TO know before
hand oil the arguments which the most learned or
eloquent minister could bring forth. The sermon
nowadays was written for the newspapers and Tor
Out-Ot0wn readers as much as Tor the cOngrega-
ton. This clearly showed the great necessity Tor
was true that books alone had not effected many
conversions and that personal efforts were also
necessary to accomplish this object. They must
send with the books the loving voice OF men IN
spired by Cod and then success would be certain.
Rev. John Hall said only Few had any idea OF the
amount Of literature when was disseminated ana
which was colored IN hostility to the truth. II
those who sold tins infidcl literature were En0wn
as tnfidcls most OF them would stand agnast at the
number OF the enemies OF Clrtst. There must,
pervaded by the spirit ol christie counterbalance
the lnndel influences referred TO. But why
not leave the publication OF tracts to be
asTnass9 the aw Sad supp a rs
quently asked. The answer was that the evil
was natural to men. 1t was emlnently gratifying
TO know that the machinery OF tee great society
was In admirable order, and that IL did not fail TO
attain Its object. An agreeable circumstance was
also that sbyterians MethOdists, Eptsc0palians
and all other evangelical sects were united In this
great and glorious work.
An anthem was sung BY the choir and. after adj
dresses by Rev. John r McDOuQall and other
reverend gentlemen, the meeting closed.