The Washington times., 1902-03-17
Hailed as Advance Agent
of Christianity.
AMERICAN SOCIETY MEETS
Practically Rounds Out CentuIy-Re-
port Of Field Secretary Shows Won
derful Work Done - Almost Billion
Documents Distributed.

n meeting OF the American tract 80
cie;y. practically the Tooth anniversary OF
the organization, was held yesterday
afternoon at ST. Johns Episcopal Church.
Rev. DR.. Mackay Smith presided. and Rev.
Judson Swift, of New York, field secretary
of the society, delivered an address.
Dr. Mackay- Smith. after a briet re-
ligious service, eulogized the society,
praising its work and its great power.
"The American Tract Society is great
favorite of mine" said the divine. ut
does enormous work, feeding Christians
spiritually 1t was founded a century
ago, and since then has made use of the
printing press to spread the gospel of
Jesus Christ throughout the world.
From the Bible down it prints and dis
tributes annually countless documents
tracts. papers, and helpful lessons. In
scores of languages it sends the message
of Christianity to all climes and all peo-
pie. These pamphlets are sold at a low
price to those who can pay. but to those
too poor to purchase thousands of docu-
ments are given away every year. The
American Tract Society is one of the sus-
tanning influences of the Christian church.
Advances Christianity.
"It keeps Christianity going The
Christian religion is one which cannot be
let alone. man cannot be converted
and then neglected. Like the mamma of
the old Hebrews, it cannot be stored up.
for it will spoil. Christianity is a work.
ing religion.
Christ ordered his disciples to move.
Five hundred years later at Rome we
see, after the example of Paul, Gregory
sending monks away to the islands of the
sea to spread the blessed teachings Of the
Master. They went to Britain, and the
result of their labors is today the great
est Christian empire in the world.
-Four hundred years after that Anna,
the sister of the emperor at Constanti-
nople. went northward with her semi
civilized, half-conyerted husband. What
We have today is Russia. Christian ma
tion of Europe. What would II mean to
the world if Russia, with its population
of 120, 600 900 souls was today pagan
country.
This work of going out is what the
American Tract Society is doing in our
own time. and for all the peoples of the
earth. 1t works quietly, SO that few
others than its officers know what glorious
progress it is making"
Secretary Pleads Support.
Rev Judson Smith was then introduced.
He described the work of the society, and
made a plea for greater support. The
question was raised some hundred years
ago. he said, in what manner the people
OF the world could be better benefited. 1t
was realized that the Christian religion
must be scattered broadcast up and down
the world. The American Tract Society.
he declared, is The outgrowth OF this germ
CT thought.
Some idea of the marvellous extent to
which this work has grown may be had, -
said DR.. Smith, when 1t is realized that
500, 900 600 documents,-Bibles. pamphlets.
lesson sheets-all bearing the message Of
Jesus Christ, have been sent forth into
the world to teach the heather. Through
them the teachings of Christ have gone
to all the people of the world.
ITEMS of thousands of people have
heard, through this method, of Jesus
Christ, who would otherwise have died
in ignorance of him. Without this agency
many would have perished who are now
saved. Among those to whom the So
ciety's books came as a means of saliva
iion is Gen. o. L. Howard, who. during
the war. was a lieutenant just out Of
West Point. He read one of the tracts,
which resulted in his conversion. There
have been many, even In your city Of
Washington, men far up in public life.
who first learned of Christ in this same
way.
Many Agents Out.
"The society has travelling throughout
the world what are known as col
porteurs' They are men who go about
laden with the tracts which the society
publishes They go into all homes. carry
ing the gospel into inaccessible portions
of the globe They work from house TO
house, sowing seeds of Righteousness.
They have been into 100000 homes,
reaching on an average of four persons
TO every family.
"A good work is being done among the
Southern cofored people and among the
ignorant white mountaineers in almost all
parts OF the United States.
THE tracts are published in 153 differ
ent languages and dialects, enabling the
Christian religion to find a hearing by all
nationalties.
when it is realized that last year 49,
500 foreigners came to these shores some
idea may be obtained OF the immensity of
the work within the borders of our own
country. Hundreds Of languages are rep
resented in our foreign population, yet
the American Tract Society is the only
one able TO reach them
Infidel Tracts Afoat.
'In Chicago. when endeavor was made
TO introduce Christian literature among
the Poles and Bohemians. it was found
that they were already supplied with in
fidel doctrines. OF the entire population
OF the United States 35, 100000 are not
counted in Our churches and il cannot
be gainsaid that the salvation of our
country and the life of our institutions
depends upon Christianity"
In concluding his remarks the secre-
tary said that since the Spanish-Ameri-
can war 2 2.000 coo pages Of Christian teach
fngs have been distributed among our ISL
and possessions and nearly 5000. 900 pages
in other Spanish countries.