THE SOCIETY'S WORK IN THE

UNITED STATES

AGENCY AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH

This Agency was established in 1901, and aims to reach the colored people in fifteen southern states. The circulation in 1913 amounted to 44,547 volumes, an increase of 1,580 copies over that of 1912, and brings the total circulation during the twelve years up to 355,353 volumes of Scripture. The Agency Secretary is the Rev. J. P. Wragg, D.D., 35 Gammon Ave., Atlanta, Ga.

HE year in this Agency has not been unlike preceding years, and judged by the results cited above, it was not a lean year. The states of Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Kentucky have been canvassed by fifteen persons at various times of the year, who traveled 20,673 miles, visiting 311 towns. A large part of their journeyings have been in rural regions or among settlements of colored people who reach out into the country. Three of the colporteurs were young women. All of them have had many opportunities without neglecting their proper business of Bible distribution, incidentally to comfort, exhort, and in simple fashion instruct those who needed their ministry of love. How widespread their influence was may be suspected, but not measured absolutely, by the fact that they visited 34,326 homes and found 2,489 of them without even a single Gospel or any portion of the Bible. Dr. Wragg reports as follows:

"Without me ye can do nothing." Thus speaks the leader to his followers. It was the constant impression upon our mind that contact with the divine head for guidance was the only sure and certain means for success in this work. This work is far reaching, and to lose sight of this fact of constant and always pervading divine presence is to rob it of the power that makes for its beauty and impression.

The states traversed were Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

66

Bibles, Testaments, and portions donated from Depository.. by Colporteurs...

1,762

1,397

As to the extent of the rural work, at least two thirds of the towns visited are in reality rural, and many of the rural sections are reached by visits to churches.

During the year we had in our employ either for a long or short period fifteen persons. Three of these were young women. Some of our colporteurs were quite active in pushing out for success, while others were quite stationary. If they had all been of the active kind there can be no doubt but there would have been quite a larger circulation. The whole number of days reported was 2,095. This was about 650 less than the preceding year.

As our colporteurs are constantly on the move, not staying in any given place but a short time, the mileage in travel must be great. The number of miles reported for the year is 20,673. This matter of travel carries with it many hardships and much patience in suffering for the necessities of simple comforts of life. Travel is often the cause of the loss of many excellent persons from this field of labor.

How often these faithful workers reach a town and find it very difficult to find a stopping place. They must often make one or two changes before they are located. They are used to the customs and "endure hardship like a good soldier," "counting it all joy" as they go about distributing the good book.

During the year 311 towns were visited in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Very many of these towns were rural, having less than fifteen hun

dred inhabitants. From these centers our colporteurs frequently worked their way to the churches in the rural or farming sections. Many coal mines and sawmills were taken in, also schools, secular and sabbath, were visited.

The reports for the year show as a circulation that there was an increase of 208 Bibles; a decrease of 1,563 Testaments; an increase of 2,933 portions, giving a total increase for the year of 1,578 copies.

Partial reports show that the colporteurs visited 34,326 homes and found 2,489 of them without any portion of God's Word. They noted the sick and needy.

Our grants for the year numbered 3,159, at a cost of $594.63. The demands made upon us for grants are frequent. We try as far as possible to give ear to all calls, and strive to serve all as far as consistent with the large demands upon us when the full extent of the large field to be covered is understood.

Our Colporteurs and What They Met by the Way

A short talk with Mr. Benton will give you a peep into his work:

Mr. Benton

“As I have stated to you before, I have put in more hours in the Bible work this year than in any year since I have been a colporteur. First, on account of good health. Second, on account of keeping a good supply of books on hand. Third, I have studied the people and have found out how and when to reach them. The thing that has given me the most thought is how to reach the greatest number of people in the shortest time. The mining camps and the rural work are ever before me. The towns must be worked. I am on my way of putting out the Scriptures before six o'clock most mornings. The new year, 1913, dawns upon me in the state of Kentucky. I find here a large number of colored people.

"The center for my work is a town where farmers come from all directions to trade. The Bible here is much appreciated, and as other things are purchased for the home our better bindings for the Bible are also carried. No begging or coaxing, but to show the Bible is to sell it, and as they buy we are busy trying to tell them just how it is possible for us to let them have them at such prices. They are very proud and send up thanks for them.

"I reached this town when the snow was very deep, and it is snowing now. I have the Christmas spirit and shall go out in his name to give the people a chance to have their Christmas Bibles. ... Christmas week finds the snow cleared away from around me and my table (made of goods boxes), filled with portions, Testaments, and Bibles of various kinds, and I tell you the people are carrying them home with them.

"A very sad thing happened to-day-the sheriff was killed on the street, and do you know, just as soon as the man was arrested another