New-York tribune., 1875-05-17
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY'S FIFTIETH YEAR.
COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES IN THE FIFTH AvEN NUE
pDrcuN-TrRIAN CUT'PCU


The spacious new Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church was crowded last evening, the occasion of the
commemorative exercises OF tho semccntcnnial Of the
American Tract Society Many persons Were unable To
obtain seats Among the clergymen present were the
Rev Drs John Hall. Gansc. william Adams, Hallock'
Rogers, Stevenson, and Rand. Devotional exercises
were conducted by the Rev. DR. Rogers The hymn De-
ginning Blow 20 the trumpet, blow, was then sung
and the presiding officer. Jud5 Strong OF tie United
states Supreme Court, said that in these
days it is common 10 celebrate cen
tennal events. Early in the century the Chris
tan community united to form several organizations ior
The spread Of Christianity. Then were formed the Amer
lean Bible Society tBe Board Of Foreign Missions ana
the American Sunday School Union. In 1s25 the Amer
lean Tract Society organized, the anniversary OF
whose birth We celebrate We ascribe praise TO God for
this effort and its success Its birth was an m-
portant event in the history of the coun-
try, of the Church. and of the life OF many
soul II is well to celebrate this hut not for what We
have done Why build monuments and memorials bu
for the present and future We should only look back III
order that we may go forward with greater energy and
greater ZEAL With our brothers the
and from other parts OF land pledge ourselves
with renewed activity to this work.
Tho Rev G. L. 5hearer. Financial Secretary o. the So
cicty then condensed tement OF the hst0y ara
wor OF tie Sore. In O3 he said IN" Massachusetts
Society the Promotion OF Christian kn0wedfe was
formed at Andover, Mass The RELIGIOUS Trrct Soylety
y
was esta bished in Isl and lis Name Is chand IN Io2
to the American Tric Society In 325 thls united with
Tho New-YOrk Sooaty, and together trey ioriled
the American Tract Society. The cornerstone OF us
building was aid the corner Of N-isGi and SpIucat
since thon the Society h.Ls had I,ouO members ana
directors IL Is not rian. nut EN- braces az ~ oli
nations Its daily Issue $4,000 publications. II Las
prated volumes ana tracts ia 40 dEcrrn' iduSid-. :.
and dialects. Ia channels i exp udlture are ,ifc IIi
grants 20 foreign missionaries distribution OF puDica
tons at nome. and is sy stem Ol cOipOriage.
Judsc strong then introduced the Rev. Dr. NJ H. An
derson President of Rochester University, who said in
substance: We are Ir sent tonight simply 20 record our
Thanksgiving for the moral ard spiritual work accom-
centennial OF an institution. It repres. nts series OF
memories embodes sacrifice, endurance patient lahor
Many of those who founded it gone Dut their
memory remains. 4 church or nation bacoi4es
an incarnation Of principles 0f Thought and action winch
men are wiling scr, ana Labor, ana die for Our fei
zion Is "A series of memories. When ths Society began AZ
was only name and PROMISE possibility; now IL s
through the WORK " has accomplished
The Hev William Gi!lies Of Edinburgh sad that per
hans some present what scotland owes tn America
Tor the example 10 In the sibut)n of tracts The
scottish society did not prosper tl lo13, when thty
aGoue the system Of cOporiGgr. Now IN scotland thTe
are 3l coiporcu-s and IN thc United Kingdom between
400 and 500. The impulse was carried over 10
ireland, ana there is nov BiDc anu COporlig,
society there. The speaker tLcn prtsen ga
the fratcrna greetings II the Religious Book and Tract
ocetv of SEQ land, Wlcl ne repre- MED, ana gave me
account the fruits ol she coiportage system blei
al lrcsses were also made BY tEe rev Dr. George mac
losue OF Princeton. =. J tie Rev DR.. samuel Manning
OF London, and the Rev. William piiner d. D., Ot Coi-
.trnl.ta :