The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-25
THE SEED SoWN BY TRACTS.
Maj. Gen. o. o. Howard Tells of the
Good Accumulated

Mai. Gen. o. o. Howard, President
of the American Tract Society, occupied
the pulpit at the Gunton Temple Memo
rial Church, Fourteenth and Streets
northwest. yesterday morning Before
General Howard began his address in be-
half OF the American Tract Society, Rev.
Dr.. Fiske, pastor of the church. intro
duced Judson Swift. secretary of the So
ciety. who gave a short history of it.
He said that its publications were in all
the languages of the world, and empha-
sized the fact that the American Tract
Society had created a distinctive native
Christian literature. He praised the work
of the colporteurs. who. he said. had Wis
tied % 10000 of people since the society
was founded.
They go where missionaries don't CO.
Mr.. Swift said; "the colporteur is found
in the distant mountain regions, in the
lumber camp, and in the coal mines"
Mr.. Swift also spoke of the good work
the society was doing in the island pos
sessions and in Utah among the Mormons.
and complained that though money had
been literally given to build libraries and
endow institutions of learning. none was
being given to the Church and toward
those who preach the gospel.
General Howard followed with general
talk on the good work the society was
performing. He said its object was to
diffuse the knowledge of Christ, the Re
deemer. by the printed page. Speaking OF
missionaries of other denominations Gen
eral Howard said there was not one in
the field who did not get his supply of
literature from the American Tract So
ciety. which he characterized as the most
catholic of all similar institutions. Cen
eral Howard continuing. said in part:
"One important phase OF the work OF
the American Tract Society is its inter-
UNCONVENTIONAL character. 1t emphasizes
Christian union in most effective and
practical way, and its influence and ex-
ample have been important factors in the
growth of that spirit Of unity in Chris
tian effort which has become a distin-
gushing characteristic Of the present
age. The principles on which the Tract
Society is founded are the fundamental
principles OF evangelical Christianity, and
avoid all that savors of UNCONVENTIONAL
characteristics. The society serves as
handmaiden to every other good cause.
Almost every religious and benevolent
organization IS aided with publications
adapted to the special needs Of each case.
In this way il is linked with home and
foreign missions, with work among sea-
men and soldiers, and with the efforts
made to reach the Incorporate, the crimi-
nal, and the spiritually needy and desti-
tute everywhere. 1t has promoted the
formation of Sunday schools, the proper
observance of the Sabbath. and the ex-
tension of the Kingdom of God wherever
it's influence has been felt. Great as has
been the work which, under the provi-
dence of God has already been done,
there opens in the future vista Of mag
nificent possibilities which call for still
more strenuous activity on the part of
the society, and for a greatly increased
generosity the part of the Christian
public This Is the golden time of oppor-
tunity for scattering the word of truth
everywhere
General Howard concluded his very elo-
quent address with short narratives OF
personal "reminiscences of the civil and
Spanish wars, and his work there as a
Christian soldier