Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-09
SPREADING THE GOSPEL.
Unicn Meeting Of the Members Of Evan
gelical Churches.

Last night there was a large meeting OF
the members OF the several Evangelical
Churches held at the Mountain View Church
for the purpose OF taking concerted action
to aid in the work of the American Tract
Society in Montana. Rev. W. E. King.
Rev. Samuel Wood. Kew. Dr.. Shipper, and
Rev. DR.. Lamont, OF Anaconda, each made
appropriate addresses, after which Mr.. j.
B. knight, General Agent OF the American
Tract Society made the following stats-
| ment:
The American Tract Society is not a sec.
| tartan institution, but National. taking in
| all the Evangelical Churches of u country,
| the publishing committee being composed
oil fourteen members from the leading
| churches. Since it's Incorporation in 1925
it has received in donations and the sale OF
books the sum OF S17.334, 249.35, all OF
which has been expended but the sum of
S1O5. 973.43, which the society holds in the
| shape Of real estate, a stock OF books n
cash in hands,.
The number OF different books and tracts
published by the society in G1 years are
6,931, amounting in toto to 9,149,312,92 S
pages, making all together in book form
427 .2OO,472 books or tracts which have
| been published in l47 languages and dia-
lects. l may here state that 4G, 1885, COG
tracts AVE been granted tC the different
foreign missions and 5000, 1874 books, be-
side As, 154 books to the different Indian
tribes OF our own country. Thus are we en-
to take the gospel to every kindred and
tongue. In reaching out toward this null
titude, what arm of the church is broader,
what messenger more feet to run 100 the
errands OF merc,, what stream OF gospel
grace purer and more welcome to the
thirsty soul. With a Christ-like love for
those scattered abroad as sheep having no
shepherd, and with 4 vision as broad as
the continent it goes forth in divine strength
to fulfill it's high and holy mission. In the
forty-four years that the society has been
engaged in the work OF co!portirage. or
working through agents, families have been
visited md may be summarized in the fol-
lowing manner Families found destitute
OF all religious books except the Bible,
1,1O1. O9S. Protestant families destitute
Of the Bible, 661,178; families of Roman
Catholics visited. 1907, OBS; Protestant
families habitually neglecting evangelical
preaching. $40, ZIG; families converted
with our personal religion or prayed with,
1883, 9S7.
My own work has as yet been small, but
l have been enabled t" address fifteen meet
ings at which seven persons have made a
COLleSsiOu Oi ldlLn. 1 nave Nl5llSu 200
families and found ~thirty-slx who have no
religious books and thirteen who have not
even the Bible; and have spoken or prayed
with 219 different families and organized
four Sunday Schools, thus showing what a
wide field is open here in Montana. The
Society does not stand before the churches
asking that workers i'll the vineyard should
be displaced to make room for those whom
it wishes to send III, but that means should
be given it to enable it to occupy he vacant
portions OF the field. The churches must
come up to the appreciation Of thefactthat
although there has been an increase in
the number OF institutions for Christian
work, there has been a greater increase in
the field to be occupied, and it is not t"o
much to say that for many Of these wait
ing multitudes the only gospel that will
ever reach them is the printed gospel,
and for this reason I appeal to you
tonight to respond literally to the
call made upon o. to help forward the
Masters cause. The experience ofthe past
encourages and impe.6 to more prayer and
more earnest work for the days to come.
We would do well IL part even all that We
can. for the scattering OF the light Of the
gospel until it shall fill the whole earth,
reaching every home and gladdening every
heart.
"lhe dying millions all shall prove |
The matchless power of bleeding love,
And teel their sins forgiven:
All join TO praise, a joyful throng
And raise on high redemption's song,
Along the path to Heaven
At the conclusion OF the remarks OF Mr.. |
knight, a collection was taken up, which,
though not large, was satisfactory. Asub-
scription will, however, be obtained by |
personal canvass.