The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-13
Tract Society is Doing Much
for the Country
MORE MONEY is NEEDED
Thousands of Documents Are Distri-
buted Annually to Persons Com
ing to This Country to Guard
Them from Pitfalls.

ton meeting of the American Tract socl-
ETY. was held today In the Presbyterian
church and the Grace Reformed church.
Justice Brewer, honorary vice president,
presided and made a brief address set
ting forth the important work carried
forward by the society President Hoose-
welt delivered the address. and the Rev.
Judson Swift, field secretary at New
York, made a report.
The report stated that the society VIII
celebrate its eightieth anniversary IN
May next; that immigrants are coming to
the United States in increasing numbers,
and If the average of the past four
months continues. the million mark Will
be reached for the year. The tract soci-
ety's colporteurs among the immigrants
are converted foreigners. They meet
item on arrival and follow them to their
homes and places of employment ols-
tributing Christian literature In the Ian
guage or dialect which they speak. Ex-
perience proves this to be the most sue
cessful way of evangelizing them, the.
forerunner of the organized church. The
colporteur at Ellis Island distributes
Cnr1Stldn HteTdtuie III N"SAN5
guages or dialects.
The last annual report shows that the
society has published the gospel message
in 100 languages or dialects and that
ninety new publications have been added.
These were In eight different languages.
Greater Than Ever Before.
The call for the secretarys special and
unique work. the report says, is greater
than ever before il its history, and It's
resources are greatly overtaxed. The
society is wholly dependent upon dona-
tions and legacies and. says the report.
some of its most important work of
necessity will be curtailed unless there
Is more generous response on the part
of evangelical churches and individual
donors. A most earnest appeal is made
for increased gifts
The President Speaks.
The President spoke as follows:
Mr.. Justice. Mr.. Sick and you, my
fellow members Of this congregation and
our guests who are with us today, l am
glad on behalf of this church to say
amen to the appeal that has been made
by DR.. Swift on behalf of the great So
ciety to the account of whose work
you have been listening. Mr. Justice, you
quoted the advice of a poet to be doors
rather than dreamers.' In the book of all
books there is sentence to the Same
effect, BE We does Of the word, and not
hearers only
Let us show ourselves today doors of
the word. upholders in fact of what has
been preached to us by DR.. Swift.
He has set forth the needs of the
society, and he has set forth the great
field over which it works. wish to
touch only on small portion of that
field. but after all the portion that most
concerns us Is the need here at home
here in this country of furthering in
every way the work of the society, the
work Of all kindred societies both among
the native born and among the thousands
who come to these shores from abroad.
Dangers Are Very Great.
1.-THE United States government does
not endeavor to do it's duty by the immi-
grants who come to these shores, and
was glad, DIR. Swift, to listen to what
you said as to the work that is being
done on Ellis Island, for 1t is a just tri-
butte to that work. But unless people
have had some experience with the dang
ers and difficulties surrounding the
newly arrived immigrant they can hardly
realize how great they are. The immi-
grant comes here almost unprotected: he
does not as a rule know our language;
he Is wholly unfamiliar with our insti-
tutions, our customs our habits OF life
and ways OF thought: and there are,
am sorry to say. great numbers Of evil
and wicked people who hope to make
their livelihood by proving on him.
HE Is exposed to innumerable tempta-
lions. innumerable petty expressions on
almost every hand; and unless some one
Is on hand to help him, he literally has
no idea where to turn. No greater work
can be done by philanthropic or reii-
gious society than to stretch out the
helping hand to the man and woman
who comes here to this country to be-
come citizens, and the parents of citi-
zens. and therefore do their part in MAX
ing up for veal or for woe the future of
our land. II we do not take care of
them, If we not try to uplift them. then
pay the penalty. If we do not see that
the immigrant and the children of the i'm
migrant are raised up. most assuredly
will our own children and childrens chill
dren be pulled down. Either they will
rise or we will sink. Therefore it means
much not merely to the immigrants but
to every good American that there should
be at Ellis Island the colporteurs of this
society. and the representatives of other
religious and philanthropic societies to
try to care for the immigrants body, and
above all. to try to care for the immi-
grants soul"
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imposing Palace is Leased.
CO pata,shnro March 10 do.fs n ~, \