The times., 1897-04-12
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY
Address by DR.. JudsOn Swift, Its
Field Secretary.
Extension of the Society's Work.
What Led TO Its sFormation-Per-
forming a Great Mission.

The Rev. Judson Swift, field secretary
| of the American Tract Society, delivered
an interesting address last evening on the
nature and scope OF the work OF that So
ciety before a large congregation at the
West Street Presbyterian Church, George
town.
IL was expected that the pastor of the
| church, the Rev. DR.. Alexander, would be
| present and preach sermon, but illness
! contracted since the arrangements for the
meeting were perfected, prevented. 1t was
| also expected that Senator Burrows, Of
| Michigan, who is deeply interested in the
work of the society, would preside, but
| unfortunately he, too, was unayoidably
| absent.
| After thanking the pastor and the session
| for the courtesy extended to the society,
in the use of the church, DR.. Swift said
| he was doubly sorry that the Rev. Dr.
| Alexander was absent, because be once
| knew a minister of that name in New York,
who said that the American Tract Society
was the greatest missionary agency i'll the
world. In connection with this state
ment, the speaker said there was hardly "A
! person, whether a minister or layman, who,
| after thorough investigation of the merits
| of the society, did not pronounce it at
least among the foremost disseminators
| of the Gospel.
DR.. Swift then gave a brief history of
the circumstances which led TO the forrna-
| ton of the society, which, he said, would
| celebrate its seventy-second anniversary
| next month The society was organized,
lac said for the special purpose OF putting
| the gospel in tract form and sending it
abroad through the land. Its object, ne
said, in great measure had been at
tanned, as could readily be seen, from the
| reports of the society. Thoughts agency
the gospel had been carried to the homes
| of thousands who have not the advantages
! of a church and its teachings. and also
to those W ho would not take advantage of
such blessings
The work Of the society has been ex-
! tended year after year since its forma-
| ton but at the same time it must he re
| rendered be said, that the population was
| increasing at the same time There are
| thousands, he said, who have the oppor-
| tunty who do not attend church, but the
| causes which swerved them from the right
| path, whether it be bicycle riding. carriage
riding or any other amusement. 1t was not
| his purpose to discuss at this time. The
fact remains the same, and it is these
| whom it is intended the gospel leaflet
| should reach.
1t has been stated, DR. Swift said, that
| there are &c, ,000, 600 outside the church. He
| did not think the number so great, but
| knew it was appalling, especially when
we think that it was for the privilege of
| worshiping God according to the dictates
| of our own conscience that our forefatherS
shed their life's blood. DR.. Swift main
! tanned that man without the love and
| fear and acknowledgment of the power
| of God in his heart could not serve his
| feilow-men as could one who was. whether
| he be President or a Senator. When oc-
! casion demands the Christian is always
! equal to the emergency.
The Tract Society. he said, was inter
denominational, and for this reason was
! able to do an immense work In dissent
mating the Gospel and evangelical truths.
| The tracts or leaflets, he said, which were
printedin So languages and dialects, were
cast in millions all over the earth. Emil
grants were always given them, in their
own language, as soon rs they arrived
| in this country. The whole number of
| separate publications issued by the so
| cietyis is 3 900, and the number OF volumes
in all languages over 81 100000. Over
| 500 600 600 leaflets or tracts were dis
tributed annually.
In conclusion, DR.. Swift spoke of the
work of the colporteurs, who &c out among
| the people not only to talk, but to make
house to house canvass and leave the
| Gospel leaflet. During the last year the
colportears had spoken at over a million
! and half meetings, had talked to over
| fourteen and a half million families, and
| had left the Gospel either in leaflets or
Bibles with over eight and half million
| families He also told of the work Of
| the colporteurs in the South among the
| colored people and cites many instances of
| the good results obtained.
One of these was especially interesting.
| 1t was the story of old colored man
! with whom bible had been left His
brother wanted it but he would not give
| il up However, not wishing his brother
| to be without the word of God, he divided
| the Bible, giving his brother the Old
| while he retained the books of the New
| Testament.
At the conclusion OF the address a col
lection was taken up for the benefit OF
the society, which was generously re
sponded to by the congregation