The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-05
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An Interesting Letter From Gertrude
Reese to the Jailer.
LITERATURE FOR CONvICTS
Statement From Dwight L. Moody
Mr.. Elderkin Has Replied and
VIII Try to Have the Books
Here by Christmas.

The Colportage association, founded
for the advancement OF Christ's king
dom, to help storm the flood Of vicious
literature that is now in circulation.
by supplying clean, healthy and help
full literature at a low price," is ex-
tending its field of usefulness TO Butte,
as shown by the following letter re-
ceived at the sheriff's office from a
niece of Evangelist d. L. Moody. presi-
dent of the association:
Chicago. Nov. 2s. 1895.
"E. d. Elderkin. Chaplain Silver Bow
County Jail:
Dear Friend-My uncle, Mr.. d. L.
Moody. is very much interested in the
spiritual welfare of the convicts In our
country. 1t is his earnest desire to
place a volume of these books in the
hands OF each convict in every jail and
penitentiary in the land. VIII you
kindly fll out and send me the en-
closed application blank. giving espe-
cially the number of prisoners In your
Jail? and the books will be sent, free
of charge. for each one. With the
hopes of your cooperation in this work.
] remains your truly.
Gertrude z. Reese"
Accompanying Miss Reese's letter
was the following statement from Mr..
Moody himself:
II wish to give you brief statement
of the ends we had in view when we
While the country Is flooded with
connection with the Bible Institute for
Home and Foreign Missions, Chicago.
81. To supply good literature at a
price that is within the reach of all.
organized a Colportage association In
cheap novels and impure reading that
Is poisoning the minds of our children
and vftiating their tastes, 1t has been
almost impossible to buy good reading
at low price. We want to counterfeit
this tide of wickedness. We are issu-
ing some of the most widely known
writings of Sturgeon. Talmage and
others at Is cents a copy, and seek to
put them into the hands of the poorer
classes through colporters in every
locality where we can secure young
men and women to cooperate.
''2. To carry the gospel. by means
of the printed page. into neglected and
frontier towns where church privileges
are wanting.
"3. To supply pastors and other
Christian workers with helpful books
to give away to young converts and
those who are awakened to a realiza-
ton of their religious needs.
"a. To reach non-churchgoers. Two
thirds OF the population of the United
States never attend church. Expert
ence shows that numbers of men and
women have been soundly converted by
reading good books.
IS. To supply good books at a low
rate for free distribution. Tracts are
good and serve a good end; but they
are easily destroyed. A book is kept
and handed from one to another. and is
not easily destroyed.
&c. To provide profitable means OF
employment.
Remember that every time a book is
sold IL helps in the distribution OF re-
ligious literature The great problem
OF the church to-day is how to support
its workers. Pastors assistants and
missionaries could support themselves
and be no tax on the church II they
sold books during the day and held
meetings at night. They could then be
multiplied indefinitely. Several Y. NJ.
c. AS and city missions keep a sup
ply OF these books on hand and when a
man comes for help instead of giving
money they give him five or ten books
and tell him to go out and sell them
and keep the profit II the man Is
honest and in earnest, this gives him
fair start. The experience OF the past
months shows US that there Is hun
ger for such books. During the first 10
months we sold more than 10000 vol
umes and the output Is increasing
daily. Bring the plan before the lit
erary committee of the Y. p. S. c. +.
and induce them TO organize an ex-
change or circulating library among
the members. That is, each week let
one or more books be left at home. and
let some one call next week and ex-
change for other volumes. this being
kept up throughout the winter. Inter-
est some gentleman or lady OF means
so that they shall procure books for
distribution in jails. hospitals and
among the poor"
Mr.. Elderkin is very much taken
with the free book idea and has re-
piled to Miss Reese's letter that there
are so prisoners at present In the coun-
ty Jail and he expects to have the
books in time for Christmas gifts for
them. He also intends to call the mat
ter 10 the attention OF the churches
and church societies SO that the hospi-
tai and the poor OF the city may be
provided with the free books.
The largest import order of opera