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being that upon which the Religious Tract Society lately established at Wem is conducted.

This is not a visionary scheme, but has been put in practice in the above market-town and its vicinity, About ladyday last, a few persons, friends to the Gospel, of different denominations, formed themselves into a Tract Society. They have hitherto been supplied with Tracts from the Liverpool Institution, though they are, in other respects, independent, not being connected with it either as an Auxiliary or Branch Society.

Their mode of distribution is as follows:-Wem, with its neighbourhood, is divided into districts, and over each a distributor has been appointed; and these constitute the Committee for transacting the affairs of the Society. Each district in the town contains in it one large street, or two or three small ones; and in the country, a village with its adjacent houses. It has been found necessary, by experience, in order to make a few Tracts go a great way, and for the better regulation and dispatch of business, that the districts: should be allotted as equally as possible; for instance, suppose a village with its neighbourhood consists of 120 houses, and they are desirous of instituting a Tract Society, these should be divided into four equal parts or districts; and then twelve different sorts of Tracts, thirty of each sort, exchanged from one district to another, will furnish every family with a fresh Tract weekly, for twelve weeks: the whole number of Tracts wanted will be 360. This is upon a very small scale, but the proportion will be the same on a larger one.

It should be particularly noticed, that the above are small Tracts, but when large ones are procured, a week being insufficient, a fortnight should be allowed: in that case, the 120 houses should be divided into eight parts, and then twenty-four different sorts of Tracts, of fifteen of a sort, will be sufficient to have an exchange for a much longer time than twelve weeks. The large Tracts ought to be covered.

The duty of a distributor is to provide every house in his own district with a fresh Tract every week, or every fortnight; and to collect such subscriptions as occur within his district, and also to endeavour to procure additional ones; all which are to be paid to the Treasurer at the quarterly Committee Meeting of the Society, which is held on each of the quarter days of the year. The Subscriptions asked for are only 6d per quarter, but several voluntarily give more.

As a town in general furnishes more persons than are necessary to act as distributors within its precincts, several of these become distributors for the nearer country districts; but at a greater distance many respectable persons offer their services for this important work.

Our Society had, even in so short a space of time as a quarter of a year, extended its districts eight or nine miles from the town of Wem; but we all concurred in opinion, that on account of the

distance merely, it would be more beneficial for the general good that they should form Societies among themselves, and 'this they have lately put into execution.

The time that has been judged most fit for the distribution of the Tracts has been on the Sabbath mornings, when some part of the family are most likely to begin to read them, instead of laying them by, and forgetting them, which might be the case were they delivered out on week days; and several of the distributors have had the gratification to observe, that the moment they appeared at the door of most of the houses, the Tract that had been read during the previous week was readily brought to them, as if it had been kept at hand on purpose, with expressions of thankfulness for the new one then delivered. In the town, this business of taking in the old Tracts and delivering out the new ones, takes up about one hour; and in the country, it is always performed between the early morning prayer meeting and the regular morning service, and that even by a distributor residing in the town. On Monday morning, at eight o'clock, (or any other week day would do,) the old Tracts that have been read during the previous week are taken to the Depository, when he receives a fresh lot, tied up, with a label on it, containing the number of his district, which are to be given out on the ensuing Sabbath. The person who presides at the Depository should have a board with the number of the districts across the top, and under the number of each district, the number of Tracts wanted for each; and then columns under the above, in which, every week, is entered the printed number of the Tracts, so that it can be seen at one view what Tracts have been distributed to each district.

One very encouraging circumstance is, that persons in the higher ranks of Society, as well as the poor, still continue to permit the Tracts to be left at their houses, their first introduction having been owing to a civil request from the distributor, that a Tract or two might be left for the benefit of the servants. It is granted that in a few instances, (but they have been very few indeed,) the distributors have met with some repulses; but this has not discouraged them; and, with a very few exceptions, the Tracts are still delivered to every family, high and low, rich and poor; and to persons of every denomination, whether belonging to the church of England or Dissenters.

With respect to the final disposal of the Tracts after they have been read, it was in contemplation to have sent them into Ireland to be sold at a low rate, but if this is not done, they will be divided among the subscribers.

Should it be objected that this Society only being quite in an infant state, we are unable to judge whether it can subsist any length of time, I would answer, first, That to gain an admission for a dozen religious and evangelical Tracts, not only in the houses of the poor, but also in those of our most wealthy neighbours, is a matter of no small importance; secondly, That though our Society has

been but of short duration, it at present goes on prosperously, and is likely to do so; and, thirdly, To delay communicating any thing that might have the most distant prospect of doing good till we have had more experience of its utility, would be culpable, particularly as providence so evidently opens a way for every exertion of this kind, by affording such abundant means for the distribution of Tracts throughout the kingdom, and inclining so many to receive them, when offered.

It must be evident to all who peruse this paper, that the plan here proposed has respect only to the mode of distribution; a material question then arises, where are a sufficient number of Tracts to be found to supply every family in the kingdom? The answer is plain and short; more must be printed; and, to effect this, let other large towns establish Institutions similar to the one at Liverpool.

It is reported that at Shrewsbury a meeting has been just held to propose measures for the formation of a Tract Society there, and it is to be hoped that every county town in the kingdom will follow the example.

And lastly, it is to be remarked that the above plan is recommended to all persons of every denomination, whether in the esta blishment or out of it, who are friends to the Gospel of Christ, are desirous of doing good to their fellow-creatures, and wish to promote the increase of the kingdom of God our Saviour.

Address of the Workmen's Auxiliary Religious Tract Society, Ray-street, Clerkenwell.

All the means of grace have their peculiar advantages, and many are adapted to peculiar circumstances. The dissemination of Religious Tracts is especially so. There are persons who never read the word of God, who never attend public worship, who have no fellowship with pious people; and who, from heedlessness, prejudice, or hatred, concern not themselves about the things that belong to their everlasting peace; nay, who run into danger, as far as they can, purely to escape from the fear of it.

Á Tract is a missile weapon, discharged by an arm ignorant of the mark to which the Spirit of God may direct it; who may consecrate it to the conviction and conversion of a sinner, unassailable from any other quarter. It falls in the way of such a one. He would be ashamed to look at it before his companions; but he is alone, and he has nothing else to do;-something in the title attracts his eye; its brevity tempts his indolence :-he begins to read it with indifference, perhaps with repugnance; but his curiosity being excited, and feeling himself gradually more and more interested, he proceeds, with diminishing prejudice and increasing seriousness, to the end.

He has got through it; but he has not done with it. He lays it out of his hand, but he cannot lay it out of his mind: its story has not passed through his imagination only, like an arrow through the

invulnerable air; but it has pierced his heart, his understanding, his conscience; and in each it has left a wound that cannot be healed," the anguish of which is only inflamed by vain arts to assuage it;" for the more he shuns the recollection of the things that alarmed' him, the closer they haunt him; and the very attempt to forget the words, indelibly fixes them in his remembrance. In his distress, he seeks pleasure where formerly he found it, but he finds it no more; he seeks rest in unbelief and obduracy, but rest is no more there :his peace is slain; the world can never again be to him what it has been-happiness and repose he must possess in Religion, or renounce all prospects of either for ever.

Then, and not till then, when every refuge of lies has failed him, he lays hold of the hope set before him in the Gospel, and in bitterness of soul exclaims, "What shall I do to be saved?"—The answer is nigh unto him; he finds it in the very page that condemned bin;-"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Thus the man who but a short time ago was a slave to the god of this world, is the Lord's free man."" If the Son make you free, then shall ye be free indeed." When religion takes hold of a man's heart, he becomes a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things become new :-he will say, with Joshua," as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ;" and with David, " as long as I live, will I praise my God."

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Family prayer will be attended to, the Bible will be read with diligence, and with prayer. Instead of spending his evenings at the ale-house, as perhaps he once did, he comes home when his daily calling is over, rejoicing in the goodness of God in preserving him and his family through the day; his children will be trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: so that by means of these small Religious Tracts a radical change is effected; and this change proves beneficial to the family and to all around. The Lord blesses them; they live in peace and harmony; for godliness hath the promise of this life, and of that which is to come. Their earnings, which were before very inadequate to supply the wants of the family, are now enough and to spare; so that they experience what the wise man says:-" Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are paths of peace."

The Committee, in sending forth this brief address, encourage themselves in the hope of seeing many Societies of this kind formed. They earnestly recommend to their brethren of other manufactories to take into consideration the importance, utility, and advantages of such societies: and would rejoice to see every factory or work-shop have a Religious Tract Society established in it; for, unquestionably, the good order of a shop, where there are employed perhaps from ten to two hundred men, greatly depends upon the religious and moral character of those men; and if such societies as these were adopted in every town, city, or village, our country would be universally benefited; and instead of beholding, as we now do, shops open on the Sabbath-day, and the proprietors going

on with their business as on other days; public houses filled with persons who ought to be at home with their families; goods exposed for sale in the streets to the annoyance of every reflecting passenger; and all in defiance of our excellent laws; we should find that every article necessary for the use of their families would be purchased on the Saturday, that the sacred day might not be profaned, and those persons with their families might then go to the House of God.

Masters, feeling the importance of these truths, would pay their men as early on Saturday evening as convenient, and that not at a public house; for by the former the industrious wife would have an opportunity of regulating her weekly concerns in time, so likewise by the latter the husband would be exempt from paying out of his earnings, every Saturday night, a certain sum for beer, which is a most baneful practice, and injurious to the whole family; for it is well known, that men have frequently spent a considerable part of their earnings before they have left the tap; which sufficiently evinces the impropriety of such a practice. The committee therefore trust that, under the blessing of the Lord, this humble attempt to do good to their fellow-creatures will not be in vain; but that, like a great river, it may run through the whole land, fertilizing the soil; that the inhabitants of the earth may learn righteousness.

PARENTAL FAITHFULNESS REWARDED.

[We have solicited permission to publish the following letter received by a Clergyman in a neighbouring state, from his own daughter, as it exhibits at once the efficacy of Divine grace in subduing the enmity of the natural heart, and a most gratifying instance of the reward which frequently attends parental faithfulness and persevering prayer.]-Boston Recorder.

October 26, 1818.

I hope, my dear father, you will pardon the manner I now take of communicating a desire which presses with much weight upon my mind. Though fully sensible of my own unworthiness of such a privilege, yet it is my most ardent desire to profess my faith in that Redeemer, who, I humbly trust, has permitted me to hope in his boundless mercy. I have been waiting in silence, hoping that you or some one would introduce the conversation; but thus far have waited in vain, and considering it criminal any longer to conceal from you my real feelings, have resorted to pen and paper as the easiest method of conveying my ideas on the subject. So evidently does it appear to be my duty that, with your approbation, I wish next Sabbath publicly to devote myself to the service of that God whose I am and whom I will serve. You will probably wish to know when my mind was first seriously impressed. Living, as I have, in this highly favoured land of gospel instruction, I can never remember the period when I have been destitute of some serious reflections; the thoughts of death and judgment ever alarmed me,

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