October, 1869.
Dearest A—,
It seems as though I must, once more, take up my pen to address you on certain matters, connected with the work of evangelization, which have forced themselves upon my attention for some time past. There are three distinct branches of the work which I long to see occupying a far more definite and prominent place amongst us; and these are the Tract depot; the Gospel preaching; and the Sunday School.
It strikes me that the Lord is awakening attention to the importance of the Tract depot as a valuable agency in the great work of evangelization; but I question if we, on this side of the Atlantic, are as thoroughly in earnest on the subject as our friends in America and Australia. How is this? Have books and tracts lost their interest and value in our eyes? Have they become a mere drug amongst us? Or does the fault he in the mode of conducting our Tract depots? To my mind there seems to be something lacking in reference to this matter and it is high time we should inquire what that something is. I would fain see a well-conducted depot in every important town in the three kingdoms; and by a well conducted depot I mean one taken up and carried on as a direct service to the Lord; in true love for souls; deep interest in the spread of the truth; and, at the same time, in a sound business way. I have known several depots fall to the ground through lack of business habits on the part of the conductors. They seemed very earnest, sincere persons, but quite unfit to conduct a business. In short, they were persons in whose hands any business would have fallen through. For example, I have visited some places in which the Tract depot was managed or rather mismanaged by invalids. In one place, I found the service in the hands of a poor old bedridden woman. She was a most dear person, and it was quite delightful to spend an hour by her bedside; but how could she possibly manage a depot? I believe she had been confined to her bed for three years. One might pass her door for years and never know that there was such a thing as a tract or a book to be had. There was no shop, no sort of advertisement, no exposure of the tracts in the window.
Nor is this a solitary instance; were it so, I should pass it over in silence. In many places there is the most deplorable failure as to the valuable and interesting work of conducting the depot. You may go to a large town and inquire for the place where tracts arc to be had, and you will be directed to some obscure street, and a still more obscure room, where, in the midst of dust and confusion, a few ill-assorted and ill-kept tracts may be seen huddled together in a manner which I must call utterly disgraceful.
Now, I should like to know who can be expected to purchase tracts under such circumstances? Most assuredly the generality of people will not do so. Some few may be found with sufficient interest and energy to surmount all sorts of difficulties, and ferret out the tracts wherever they may be found. But then the people whom we really want to reach are just those who have not this interest and energy. And how can we best reach them? I believe by having the books and tracts exposed for sale in a shop window so that people may see them as they pass, and step in and purchase what they want. Many a soul has been laid hold of in this way. Many, I doubt not, have been saved and blessed by means of tracts seen, for the first time, in a shop window or arranged on a counter. “Would such persons have sought out the obscure room above referred to? Would they have knocked at the door of that poor old bed-ridden woman to ask for tracts? The idea is perfectly absurd.
Hence, therefore, it is plain, to every well-adjusted mind, that there is a real want of a tract shop, in every large town, conducted by some one of intelligence and sound business habits, who would be able to speak to persons about the tracts and to recommend such as might prove helpful to anxious enquirers after truth. In this way, I feel persuaded, much good might be done. The Christians in the town would know where to go for tracts, not only for then own personal reading, but also for general distribution. Surely if a thing is worth doing at all it is worth doing well; and if the Tract depot be not worth attending to, we know not what is.
But it will, perhaps, be said in reply, “The sale of tracts would not yield a living to anyone. The demand is so small in country towns that it would never be worth any one’s while to embark in the business, unless indeed in London, Glasgow, Manchester, or some very large city or town. And even in those towns, unless a man can combine the printing and publishing business with the sale of books and tracts, it would never pay.”
Now, I fully admit that a man must live and he must support his family. But, at the same time, the Tract depot must be taken up in direct service to Christ; and I feel assured that where it is so taken up, and so carried on in energy, zeal, and integrity, God will supply, in His own liberal way, all His servant’s need. But, on the other hand, where the work of selling and circulating tracts is less than secondary—where you find the tracts thrust into a corner, shut up in a drawer, or hidden under the counter—where other branches of trade are sedulously cultivated, but the tracts barely tolerated! need we wonder if the sale of tracts fads to remunerate? God says, “Them that honor me I will honor.” But is it honoring Him when His business is flung into the shade, and our own business placed in the foreground? Clearly not. And does not this objection on the score of remuneration savor of those to whom Malachi addresses his burning words, who would “not open a door or kindle a fire for naught?” Is there no one who will take up this valuable work for Christ’s sake and not for the sake of remuneration? Is there no one who will enter upon it in simple faith, looking to the living God?
Here lies the root of the matter, dearest A —. We want men for this branch of the work, as for every other branch, who, like Gideon’s three hundred, are prepared to trust God and to deny themselves. It seems to me that a grand point would be gamed if the business of the Tract depot were placed on its proper footing, and viewed as an integral part of the evangelistic work, to be taken up on the principle of individual responsibility, and carried on in the energy of personal faith in the living God. I question if this is seen with sufficient clearness. Every branch of gospel work—the Depot, the Preaching, the Sunday School, must be carried on in this way. It is all well and most valuable to have fellowship—full cordial fellowship, in all our service: but if we wait for fellowship and co-operation in the starting of work which comes within the range of personal responsibility, we shall find ourselves very much behind.
I shall have occasion to refer, more particularly, to this point, when I come to treat of the Preaching and the Sunday School. All I want now, is to establish the fact that the Tract depot is a branch, and a most important and efficient branch, of evangelistic work. If this be thoroughly grasped by our friends, a great point is gained. I must confess to you, dearest A —, that my moral sense has often been grievously offended by the cold commercial style in which the publishing and sale of books and tracts are spoken of—a style quite befitting the drapery or hosiery hue; but most offensive when adopted in reference to the precious work of God. I admit m the fullest way—nay, I actually contend for it—that the proper management of the depot demands good sound business habits, and upright business principles. But, at the same time, I am persuaded that the tract shop mil never occupy its true ground—never realize the true idea, never reach the desired end—until it is firmly fixed on its holy basis and viewed as an integral part of that most glorious work to which we are called—even the work of active, earnest, persevering evangelization. And this work must be taken up wholly on the ground of personal responsibility to Christ and in the energy of personal faith in the living God. It will not do for an assembly of Christians, or some wealthy individual, to take up an inefficient protégé, and commit to such a one the management of the affair in order to afford a means of living. It is most blessed for all to have fellowship in the work; but I am thoroughly convinced that the work must be taken up in simple faith. It must be viewed as direct service to Christ, to be carried on in love for souls, and in real interest in the spread of truth; and where such is the case, we may rest assured, God will take care of His dear servants.
I hope to address you again on the other two branches of my theme.
Meanwhile, allow me to subscribe myself, dearest A —,
Your deeply affectionate yokefellow,