THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT, 1882.
THE object of this Association is the increased circulation of religious and healthy literature among all classes, in order to counteract the evil of the vicious publications which abound, and lead, to much immorality, crime, and neglect of religion. This object is carried out in a twofold manner: — 1st. — -By means of Christian Colporteurs, who are paid a fixed salary, and devote all their time to the work, visiting every accessible house with Bibles and good books and periodicals for sale, and performing other missionary services, such as visitation of the sick and dying, and
conducting meetings and open-air services as opportunities occur. This is the most important method, enabling the Colporteur to visit every part of the district regularly.
The average total cost of a Colporteur is from f75 to f80; but the Committee will appoint a man to any district for which f40 a year is subscribed, if the funds of the Association will permit.
2nd. — By means of Book Agents who canvass for orders for periodicals, and supply them month by month; these receive a liberal percentage on the sales to remunerate them for their trouble.
This second method is admirably adapted to the requirements of districts where the guaranteed subscription for a Colporteur cannot be obtained.
Shopkeepers or other persons willing to become Book Agents may communicate with the Secretary.
The Association is unsectarian in its operations, “doing work for the friends of a full and free gospel anywhere and everywhere.”
Cheques may be crossed London and County Bank; and Post Office Orders made payable to W. C. JONES, at the Chief Office, St. Martin’s-le- Grand. All communications should be addressed to REV. W. CORDEN
JONES, Colportage Association, Temple Street, St. George’s Road, Southwark, London, S.E.
IN presenting the Sixteenth Annual Report, the Committee desire to record their deep thankfulness to God for the amount of work which the
Association has been enabled to accomplish through its Colporteurs during another year, and that in so many instances their labors have been crowned with manifest blessing.
The number of districts occupied has been 79, as compared with 78 in the preceding year. Eight of these were new; but as 13 had to be discontinued because of the failure of local subscriptions, only 65 men were actually employed at the close of the year. While the Committee deeply regret this reduction, they did not feel justified, with the funds.at their disposal, in working districts where no adequate assistance could be obtained towards the total cost, but trust that many other localities will be found where f40 a-year can be raised for a Colporteur.
But, although the number of men was rather less, the actual results ‘were considerably in advance of previous years. The gross value of sales by Colporteurs was f8,038 2s. 2d., being an increase of f364 18s. 8d.; but, besides this, sales by Book Agents, etc., amounted to f214 7s. 9d.
Considering, however, that a large proportion of this amount was realized by the sale of Magazines and Books varying in value from a halfpenny to sixpence, an amount of minute and persevering labor is evident, which it is difficult to estimate, either in its wide-spread area or in its far-reaching moral and spiritual results. The following statement will furnish some further illustration of the extent of the work: — 152,085 Books were sold;
290,373 Magazines; 620,850 visits to families; 7, x49 Services conducted;
74,000 Tracts given away. So considerable a quantity of thoroughly reliable literature, embracing ]Bibles and Testaments and many books which faithfully present the Gospel of Jesus Christ, having been purchased, and therefore probably read, cannot but have a powerful influence for good upon the readers; and numerous cases of conversion to Christ are reported as resulting therefrom.
But it should be remembered also that, in connection with their business of bookselling, the Colporteurs constantly visit so many thousands of homes as Christian Missionaries, and that they have, in a simple way, given so many Gospel Addresses.
Ihere can be no doubt that this appeal to the eye of the mute, yet eloquent, printed page, and to the ear of the more persuasive power of the living voice of a sympathetic Christian man, constitutes an agency of unusual efficiency.
By these means the Colporteurs have been instrumental in making known the glad tidings of salvation so thoroughly and so widely that, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, an abundant harvest of souls shall be gathered, of which some first-fruits have already appeared, particulars of which are recorded in the extracts from the Agents’ letters which follow.
Besides statistical testimony, however, many unsolicited commendations of the work have been received, accompanied in one instance by a donation of
£100.
The need for Colportage was never greater than at present. Infidelity is industriously using the printing press for circulating its blasphemies by means.of tracts and pamphlets even in quiet rural districts, and the pack of the Colporteur contains the surest antidote in sound literature and
scriptural truth. Sacerdotalism, and a religion of forms, is spreading in many localities where the only available and efficient counteractive is the Colporteur’s quiet work.
Worse than all, perhaps, is the alarming indifference to all religion now so prevalent. But if the people will not go to a place of worship, the
Colporteur goes to them, carrying the gospel of the Sanctuary to their places of labor and homes, both in affliction and health. The young, too, are being educated and will receive injury from the dangerous sensational publications in “Novelette and Penny Dreadful” form, which they will read unless some agency places within their reach the attractive and instructive serials so plentifully issued by many respectable publishers, and to do this is eminently the Colporteur’s mission.
The Committee again call attention to the cheapness of the Agency, as only
£40 a-year is required from a district towards the Agent’s support; also to its undenominational character, the Colporteur being sent to labor amongst any evangelical Christians willing to co-operate for his support. The
employment of Colporteurs is earnestly commended to the consideration of County Associations, Young Men’s Christian Associations, Town
Missions, and large employers of labor, any of whom might adopt
Colportage with great advantage and economy. And while thankful for the
assistance rendered by so many donors, the Committee trust that during the coming year the General Fund, which has to supplement almost all District Subscriptions, will be liberally supported. The thanks of the Committee are also due to the Religious Tract Society for liberal grants of Tracts and Books at a reduced rate, and to the British and Foreign Bible Society for the favorable terms upon which the Association has been supplied by them.