THE USE OF TRACTS AND OTHER LITERATURE TO PROMOTE A REVIVAL – REV. H. W. POPE

The indiscriminate use of tracts by those whose zeal exceeds their wisdom has led many good people to have a strong prejudice against them. The character of the tracts used has also strengthened this prejudice.

Some tracts are so antiquated as to be almost useless in the present age. They were good in their day, but their day has gone by. Others are so lacking in pith, point or power as to be of little value. To use a modern phrase, they do not “get there.” Others still are so offensive in style as to defeat the very end for which they were written.

It is foolish, however, to allow prejudice against poor tracts to blind us to the value of good ones. And good ones can be had. The choicest thoughts of the best writers can now be found in leaflet form, and there is moral dynamite enough in some of them to shatter terribly the strongholds of Satan. Indeed, the Bible itself is only a collection of sixty-six little tracts bound in one volume; for, as someone has said, “holy men of God wrote small books on great subjects.”

Making due allowance for unwisdom in the use of tracts and for the inferior quality of many that are used, it yet remains true that a great deal of good has been done by them. Many a soul has been awakened by one of these little “leaves of healing” which the Holy Spirit has blown into the hand at just the right moment.

A man stepped into a street-car in New York, and before taking his seat gave to each passenger a little card bearing the inscription: “Look to Jesus when tempted, when troubled, when dying.” One of the passengers carefully read the card and put it into his pocket. As he left the car he said to the giver: “Sir, when you gave me this card I was on my way to the ferry, intending to jump from the boat and drown myself. The death of my wife and son had robbed me of all desire to live, but this card has persuaded me to begin life anew. Good-day, and God bless you!”

Doubtless many people smiled when these cards were distributed, but who will smile on the day when the Book of Life is opened?

“Though scoffers ask, ‘Where is your gain?’

And mocking say, ‘Your work is vain,’

These scoffers die and are forgot,

Work done for GOD, it dieth not.”

“Press on, press on, nor doubt nor fear,

Through every age these words may cheer;

Whate’er may die and be forgot,

Work done for GOD, it dieth not.”

We adore the kind Providence that led Philip to cross the path of the Ethiopian at the very moment when he was needed, but we forget that the same thing occurs every day. There is no such thing as chance in God’s world, and those who seek to be led by the Spirit often find themselves messengers of mercy to some weary soul. A lady once traveled nearly two hundred miles to tell the writer personally how a little leaflet that he had given her the year before led her to conversion. By the use of a similar card a young man was led to give his heart to the Lord, and through his influence both his father and mother were brought into the Master’s service. A Christian worker in Nottingham, England, tells the following incident: “I was called to see a dying woman. I found her rejoicing in Christ, and asked her how she found the Lord. ‘Reading that,’ she replied, handing me a torn piece of paper. I looked at it, and found that it was a part of an American newspaper containing an extract from one of Spur­geon’s sermons. ‘Where did you find this newspaper?’ I asked. She answered: ‘It was wrapped around a parcel sent me from Australia. ’ Think of that!—a ser­mon preached in London, conveyed to America, then to Australia, part of it torn off for the parcel dis­patched to England, and after all its wanderings giv­ing the message of salvation to that woman’s soul! Truly God’s Word shall not return unto Him void.”

PEOPLE WHO SHOULD USE TRACTS

There are at least five classes of people who can use tracts to advantage.

First, ministers. Some ministers make constant use of them in their pastoral work. They open the way for conversation, and oftentimes they are better than words, for a soul in exercise will sometimes quarrel with the one talking to him, but could hardly quarrel with a tract. A tract never gets out of patience, never answers back, and it sticks to what it has said. In many places where a Christian could not enter, a tract can slip in and speak a word for Christ. The sick, the aged and, above all, the boys and the girls, appreciate a leaflet adapted to their condition. Other pastors use tracts to supplement their preaching. The tract recalls the sermon and deepens the impression made. A judicious use of the right kind of tracts has in some cases been a mighty factor in promoting a revival.

HOW REV. EDWARD JUDSON USES TRACTS

During a ministerial experience of twenty years this very successful pastor has made constant use of tracts. He seldom makes a pastoral call without having in his pocket an assortment of tracts adapted to almost every member of the family, and especially to the children. In this way he leaves behind him definite souvenirs of his visit and seeds of truth which will bring forth fruit later on. Then each tract generally, has printed on it the notice of his services, and acts as a constant invitation to church.

At the close of the Sunday-evening preaching serv­ice he has often put some good brother in the chair, and while the meeting proceeds he goes down into the audience and gives to each person a choice leaflet, at the same time improving the opportunity to say a timely word. In this way he comes into personal touch with the whole audience, gives every stranger a cordial welcome and leaves in his hand some mes­sage from God.

At least once a year he selects some one tract that has in it the very core of the Gospel. On this he prints a notice of the services and, selecting his church as a center, he has this tract put into the hands of every person living within half a mile in each direc­tion, regardless of creed or condition. He sometimes uses ten thousand tracts at one distribution and finds it very fruitful in results.

A second class is business men. Some business men use them constantly, passing them out when the right person appears, or inclosing them in packages of goods. Ticket agents give them out with tickets. One agent says that twenty persons wrote to him that they had been converted by the tracts he had given them. I remember a business man who said to me: “I am a timid man and cannot speak in meeting, but if you will buy some good literature I will pay for it and enclose it with our packages of goods. ’ ’ He dealt largely with fishing-vessels, and thus he “cast his bread upon the waters. ’ ’ Recently I read of a drum­mer who stopped in St. Louis and called on a merchant to sell him some diamonds. The merchant said: “I do not need anymore diamonds.’’ “Never mind,’’said the drummer, “I am going to show you my goods, if you have no objections.’’ He opened his case, and exhibited his wares so attractively that in a short time he sold the man a bill of goods in spite of himself. Then closing up his samples, he said: “Now I have something to show you better than all these. Here is something very choice; it is the pearl of great price. ’ ’ And pulling out a little pocket Bible, he said: “Are you a Christian, my friend?’’ And then for a few moments he talked Jesus Christ to him in the same earnest way he had talked of diamonds before. Mix religion with your business. Let the two go hand in hand. I believe in doing as did the blacksmith in southern Vermont, who, after he was converted, was asked to shoe a horse on Sunday. “No, sir!” said he. “I am a Christian now, and I do not work on Sunday.” The man met him with an oath, but he replied: “Hold on, friend! you can’t swear in this place. I want you to understand that this is a Gospel shop. ’ ’ So should we maintain a Christian atmosphere in every place which we control, and not allow anything to be said or done there which would displease our Master.

There is no better way of rebuking profanity than by the use of little cards or leaflets prepared for this purpose. Here is one man’s testimony:

“The other evening I arrived at S— , and walked over to the hotel. I entered, and, after checking my things, started to mail a letter, previous to going in to supper. Between the coatroom and the mailbox stood three traveling-men. Two of the number swore, as they talked, imagining doubtless that they were emphasizing their point more forcibly.

“Overhearing them, and praying for guidance, I took from my pocket some attractive cards, with differ­ent colored backs, which had upon the reverse side, ‘Why do you swear?’ while underneath were four Scripture texts against swearing. I walked toward the group and, without uttering a word, threw the cards out between my hands, with the backs up, and offered them to the first drummer, a little fellow who had sworn the most. He looked at me curiously, reached out his hand and drew a card. I immediately turned to the other man who had sworn, and offered him the cards, and he drew one. Then, without pay­ing any attention to the third man, or even looking at him, I mailed my letter and started for the dining­room, without having all this time spoken a word. Turning the corner, I heard a shout of laughter from the drummer who had not sworn, and knew my shot had taken effect.

“I was just comfortably seated at the table, when the little drummer came to the dining-room door and, looking around, spied me at the table. He walked right in and, coming up to where I sat, said: ‘Say, that is the best rebuke I ever had in my life; and I want to say I’m sorry I spoke as I did and that I had no busi­ness to do so. Could I get two or three of those cards?’

“ ‘Yes, but be sure before you give them to anyone that you set the example yourself by not swearing again. ’

“ ‘All right, I will do so.’

“So I gave him the cards and he left. The follow­ing Saturday I found my man in Albany in a large retail grocery store. The minute he saw me he pulled out one of the cards, showed it to the buyer of the department, told him his experience and read the upper text: ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guilt­less that taketh his name in vain. ’ God not only used His Word, as printed upon the cards, to rebuke this man, but also used him as an instrument in His hands all over the country in passing on the message to others.’ ‘

I know of many business men who use tracts con­stantly, passing them out with a pleasant word to their customers, or putting them in their correspondence. One man who did the largest business of any firm in his line between New York and Chicago, always had one-half of his private desk devoted to a choice assort­ment of tracts. A Chicago business man had a thou­sand leaflets printed and scattered them among his friends. Some time afterwards he received a letter from another city asking him to plan to spend a Sun­day there when he next passed through. He did so, and was driven to a new church in the outskirts of the city. “What do you think of that?’’ asked his host. “Why, that is a very pretty church, I think, but what of it?’’ “That church is the result of a tract which you sent me some time ago. I read it and my soul was so aroused by it that I read it in the Endeavor Society, and it had the same effect upon them. As a result we looked around to see what we could do for the Master, and finally started a mission in an empty store which has grown into this church.’’

A business man in Brooklyn saw a tract lying on his desk and, without much thought, put it into a letter and mailed it. No sooner had he done this than the devil whispered to him: “You have made a fool of yourself. What do you suppose that man will think of you to put a religious tract in a business letter?’’ For a moment he was ashamed and he turned to the Lord, saying, “Was it a mistake?’’ Back came the answer: “Why would it not be a good idea to put a tract in every letter you send?’’ “Lord, I will,’’ was the reply. This was in 1882, and a few days ago the man told me that to the best of his knowledge he had never sent out but one letter since without enclosing some kind of Christian literature, and in that instance he was ordering some goods and forgot to put one in, and the goods proved to be the worst lot he ever received— “Presumably,’’ he said, “because I did not enclose a tract.”

A third class who can use tracts profitably is teach­ers. The writer owes more to a district schoolteacher than to all the professors he ever met in college or seminary. Dr. Channing used to say: “There is no office higher than that of a teacher of youth, for there is nothing on earth so precious as the mind, soul and character of a child.’’ Professor Tyndall said: “If there is one profession of paramount importance, I believe it to be that of the schoolmaster.’’

Granted that the special work for which teachers are employed is to educate the mind; still, is it not their duty also to lead them into the realms of spiritual knowledge and, above all, to introduce them to the Great Teacher, who said: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls.’’ We all know that young people do not like to have religion thrust upon them continually, but they do, without exception, admire a manly Christian char­acter, and they appreciate a loving interest in their welfare and an occasional earnest word upon the subject.

Those who cannot talk freely with their pupils can, at least, put into their hands the wise words of others; and who can estimate the good that would be done by occasionally giving to each pupil a choice leaflet on some vital subject? Old-fashioned tracts will not do for boys. They need something down to date, some­thing which sets forth in a terse and manly way the attractions of the Christian life and the dangers which beset the pathway of youth.

Another class of people who ought to use tracts is housekeepers. Have them on the parlor table, so that callers may read them while waiting. There is time enough for a person to be converted while a lady is finishing her toilet; and time enough to backslide, too, before some people get down to the parlor. Place them in your guest-chamber, so that your friends will have something to turn their thoughts toward the Blessed One. White Cross tracts will do your boys and girls no harm, and even Bridget may absorb a good deal of the Gospel through an innocent little leaflet. Give them to the butcher and marketman, always accompanied with a kind word and a prayer, and God will not fail to bless them.

The last class which I wish to speak of embraces all who were not included in the other four classes. Tract work is one which everybody can engage in. Here is something which all can do, old and young, rich and poor. It is a business that does not require much time or capital, but it does require tact and prayerfulness and an earnest desire to be used of God. Timid people can in this way “hold forth the word of life. ’’

How many people are mourning because they “do not know what to say”—but here is a way by which they always have something to say. Some who have begun very timidly to engage in this silent evangeliza­tion have become not only brave, but enthusiastic, and by their efforts have enlisted many others in the same work.

HOW TO USE LEAFLETS

That depends upon the person you are addressing. First of all, you must know what you are using and not be giving tracts on swearing to Sunday School teachers or “Growing Old Gracefully” to little chil­dren. If you meet an acquaintance on the street you can say to him, in a playful way, as you pass a leaflet to him, “Don’t say that I never gave you any­thing.’’ Or you can say: “I have something here that I think you will be interested in. Will you read it if I give it to you?’’ To a stranger on the cars who has no newspaper: “Would you like something to read?” Then it is an easy matter for you to inquire: “What do you think of it?” Sometimes you can interest people in a leaflet by telling them some fact concerning it; as, for instance, you can say of Dr. Chickering’s “What Is It to Believe on Christ?” “Here is a little book which has a remarkable record. The author before he died had the names of over seventeen hundred people who had written him or told him personally that they attributed their conversion to this tract. ’ ’

Another way is to say: “Here is a little book that has helped me. Perhaps you would enjoy it.” Leave them in the cars when you travel, or on the parlor table in the hotel. Give one to the waiter. He will appreciate it and read it especially if you have pre­viously shown your interest in him in some substantial way. Never use cheap-looking tracts. They belittle the cause you wish to help.

Never be ashamed of the work you are doing, but act as if you were conferring a favor upon people, which is really true if you are sowing good seed in a Christian spirit.

I am convinced that churches and Christian workers could greatly increase their influence by a more liberal use of printer’s ink. The methods of using tracts are innumerable. Let each member be encour­aged to keep on hand a choice supply to inclose in his letters. After a missionary sermon, let there be given to each person as he passes out a good tract bearing upon benevolence or missions. Tracts on temperance or narcotics may be wisely distributed in the Sunday School. Visit the jail, almshouse or hospital, and give to each inmate an occasion to thank God on your behalf. It is said that there is a gentleman in France who watches the obituary column in the morning papers and sends to the bereaved ones little tracts adapted to their situation. Some railroad companies will allow a box to be kept in the station filled with good literature for the use of waiting passengers. Occasionally select a good tract and, printing upon it the name of your church, Sunday School or Endeavor Society, with an invitation to attend the services, can­vass the whole neighborhood, leaving a tract at every house. Have a rubber stamp for this purpose. Accompany each tract with a silent prayer that God’s blessing may attend it. Make yourself familiar with what you distribute in order that you may bestow them wisely, and remember that if you trust Him the Holy Spirit will guide you in every detail of this work.

Some tracts will doubtless be wasted, just as many a sermon fails to reach the hearts of careless hearers; but we are encouraged to “sow beside all waters,’’ and we never know on what soil the good seed may fall. One thing we do know, however, and that is that Jesus will appreciate the effort, for He hath said: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

USEFUL IN OPENING CONVERSATION

It is not an easy matter to open conversation on the subject of religion, especially with a stranger, but a leaflet will often open the way very happily. I sat down beside a stranger in a railroad car. He called my attention to a fire which had occurred the night before, and then went on to speak of his own experi­ence in having a factory burned and the difficulty which he had in collecting his insurance. When he had finished talking I handed him a card saying: “If you insure in that company you never have any trouble in securing your money.” The card contained the question: “Are you Insured in the Everlasting Life Insurance Company?” with an attractive description of its advantages. After he had read it I asked him if he had ever taken a policy in that company. He said: “No, I never did, and it is a strange thing that I haven’t, too. My family are all Christians, and if any man ever tried hard to get hold of it I am the man. Perhaps you can tell me wherein I failed to grasp it.” The result was a delightful talk on how to become a Christian and, as he left me, he thanked me warmly for the help I had given him. Think of it! two entire strangers sit down together and, in five minutes’ time, each is laying bare his heart to the other on the most sacred of all subjects. Without that leaflet to open the way, it would have been well-nigh impossible.

USEFUL TO CLOSE CONVERSATION

Often a conversation is interrupted by the entrance of a third party, or the lack of time, and one has to leave before he has finished what he had to say. In such cases an appropriate tract will carry on the con­versation and perhaps lead the soul to Christ. Riding on a train, I fell into conversation with a stranger. He said that he was a skeptic and was puzzled to know which of the many different religions was the best. “The Mohammedans say their prophet is the one to follow, and the Chinese have another, and the Mor­mons another. I suppose you would say that Jesus Christ is the one to worship. ” I said: “My friend, did you ever embrace any of these religions?” “No, I never did,” he replied. “Don’t you think it would be better for you if you would? If you think Moham­medanism is the true religion, give your heart to Mohammed; and if you can get salvation from it, well and good. If that fails, try Buddhism, or become a Mormon, and if these do not satisfy, then become a Christian.” There is a fable which tells of a horse which stood between two stacks of hay, each of which was so fragrant that he could not tell which to bite from, and so he stood there and starved to death because he could not decide which to choose. This man was in precisely the same position on the subject of religion, and I tried to make him see it and realize that he was starving his soul because he could not decide which to choose. As I urged him to embrace some religion, and that, too, without delay, he said: “My friend, there is a good deal of truth in what you say. I am sorry I have to leave you for this is my station. I hope we shall meet again.” I put into his hand Dr. Chickering’s tract, “What Is It to Believe on Christ,” and Mr. Torrey’s “Life Card,” both of which make the way of life plain to any honest inquirer. The man had to leave me just as he was becoming interested, but the tracts enabled me to carry on the conversation even after he had left me. On the same journey I had an opportunity to talk with two other unsaved men without leaving my seat and, in each instance, just as they became really interested, they had to leave the train. In both cases, however, I gave them an appropriate leaflet which would preach to them long after I had to stop.

USEFUL TO COUNTERACT INFIDELITY

There is much infidel literature in circulation among the factory population, and thousands of pernicious books and pamphlets are scattered among the schools of the land. Unless Christians do something to coun­teract this influence we are allowing the devil a very great advantage. In some cases the young people’s societies have done excellent work in the spread of good literature.

How tracts can be used to counteract error was well illustrated in Portland. Col. Robert Ingersoll came there and lectured, it is said, to fifteen hundred people. Christians could not hinder it, but they could and did do something to counteract his influence. At the sug­gestion of one of the ministers, eighteen Christian Endeavorers stood at the door of the hall on the night of the lecture and gave to each person as they came out a copy of Rev. H. L. Hasting’s address, “Will the Old Book Stand?” A more powerful refutation of Ingersoll’s talk could hardly be found, and his attacks upon the Bible would make them all the more eager to see what could be said upon the other side. Wherever any apostle of infidelity appears, let Christian people answer his arguments in the same effective way.

USEFUL IN PROMOTING A REVIVAL

The first thing to do in promoting a revival is to awaken the spirit of prayer and expectation, and to set Christians talking about Jesus Christ and the Great Salvation. Suppose a minister, or, better still, all the ministers in the place, preach on a given Sunday on the same subject, “Prayer,” and at the close of the sermon let each minister say to his people that as they go out of the house they will receive at the door a choice leaflet on the theme of the sermon. Let him urge them to read it and pass it on to someone else. If they wish more of the same kind they can obtain them of such a person. In this way the whole town will be led to talk and think about the same subject all the week. The next Sunday let the ministers all preach on Repentance or Conversion or Sin or the Holy Spirit and follow the sermon with a good tract on the same subject. In a little while scores of people will be found using tracts to supplement their conver­sation, and in their correspondence, and a deeper in­terest in spiritual work will be awakened.

RESULTS OF TRACT WORK

While Barnum’s circus was in Brooklyn a member of the troupe came into the prayer meeting of the Grace Baptist Church. He paid very close attention and, at the close of a hymn, he arose and said, with a voice full of emotion: “I have never heard that hymn since I heard it in Sunday School the day before I ran away with the circus. I was then nine years old; I am now fifty. During all these years I have led a life of sin, and the only thing I had to remind me of my innocent childhood was a little tract given me in Sunday School the day before I ran away. I was led to come here to-night by seeing the light in the windows, and I want you to pray that if there is any mercy for such a sinner as I am the Lord Jesus may save me.” He went home that night rejoicing in a Savior. He began at once to work among the members of his troupe, giv­ing them tracts and inviting them to come to church, and of those who came one professed to be saved, and another, of his own accord, asked the prayers of God’s people. A good report has since been heard from the first man, who, through all those forty-one years’ had treasured that little souvenir of his Sunday School days.

A pastor gave a tract to a young man who came to call on him. He was converted, and then his father and mother, and all three became active workers in the cause of Christ.

A servant girl in New York placed a searching leaflet on the dressing-case of her mistress. Her attention was arrested, her heart touched and, though a woman of wealth and a leader in fashionable society, she became a humble Christian and devoted her splendid talents to the Lord, ever after giving much of her time to the distribution of tracts.

I know of many instances, and I think it is safe to say that more than two-thirds of those who publish tracts have been led to engage in this work through some personal benefit received from tracts themselves.

A lady in Virginia writes us that in reading the King’s Business she came upon an article on “The Use of Tracts,” and sent at once for the appended list. At first she gave them out very timidly, but so eager were the people for them that now she can hardly keep any by her. “Last night I was talking with a poor wretched man who has hitherto evaded me, but now manifests a deep interest in his salvation, and, on inquiring the reason of the change, found that he had been reading some tracts which I gave to a neighbor of his some months ago.

“Last fall I sent out two hundred tracts to the employees on the Pulaski Division of the Norfolk & Western R. R. Returning here in May, I was told by an engineer that the tracts had been read and passed from hand to hand until literally worn out, and there had been at least ten conversions among the trainmen.

“I am but a beginner in this work, with no training, and no methods, but I go on my knees for all I need to know, and ask God for opportunities, and for the wisdom and power of the Holy Ghost. All the time and everywhere I go I find the way opening till, in view of the great need of workers, I am constrained to cry out: ‘Lord, send forth more laborers into the har­vest. ’ All my work is by littles, so little that I can­not tell much about it, and yet I do know of quite a number who have been converted. My eyesight is so poor that I seldom can write a letter, and read no book but the Bible, but I pen a few words on the tracts which are then sent forth on the wings of prayer.”  If this feeble woman, an invalid in fact, can accomplish so much for Christ in this way, what could others do who have more strength?

A little boy belonging to a Sunday School in Phila­delphia was telling a friend of an expected visit into the country and what he was going to do there. “And what do you expect to do for your heavenly Father?” his friend asked. “Why, nothing,” said the boy; “what can such a boy as I do for God?’’ “You can do much,’’ was the reply. “Now, I will give you a bundle of tracts to take with you, and you can dis­tribute them among your friends.’’ He had not been in the country many days when a boy in the neighbor­hood asked him to help drive his cows home. Here was his chance to use the tracts; so, taking out one of his silent preachers, he gave it to him, saying: “Here’s something for you.’’

“What is it?’’ looking it over. “What is it?”

“It is something good to read,” said the lad.

“But I cannot read. Never mind, I’ll take it home; they can read it there. ”

Some days after, the country boy met his city friend. “Well,” said he, “that little book you gave me made a great stir at our house, I tell you. ’ ’

“Did it, though? How do you mean?”

“Why,” he replied, “they read the tract, and then they read the Bible, and when Sunday came they made me get out the old carriage and clean it up, and then we all got in that could, and the rest got on before and behind, and rode off to church. That tract’s done great things, I tell you.”

Subsequently it was ascertained that this one tract was the means of converting several souls.