RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, a society for the promotion of religion by the publica tion and circulation of religious tracts and small books. By far the most important religious tract society in the world is that of London, which was founded in 1799.
There are now, indeed, numerous religious tract societies in different parts of the world, comparatively limited in their field of gyrations; this great society reckoning many of them as its branches and auxiliaries. The advantage likely to accrue to the cause of religious truth by the diffusion of tracts and pamphlets was thoroughly appreciated at the time of the reformation, but no society was formed for the purpose. In the 17th c. several traces are found of associations for printing and promoting the sale of religious works, but none of them seems to have existed long, or to have been intended for per manence. The English "society for promoting Christian knowledge," founded in 1701; avowed, for one of its,objects; "to disperse, both at borne and abroad, Bibles and tracts of religion." In 1750 a society was formed in England called " The Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor," not, like the former, confined to the church of England. but embracing Christians of all denominations, which published many tracts•anil books; and shortly after similar societies were founded in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which, however, were of brief existence. The design of the religious tract society originated with Mr. Burder, it minister at Coventry, and amongst its founders were Rowland Hill, Matthew Wilks, and other ministers eminent in their day. It was founded on occasion of the annual meeting of the London missionary society. Its beginnings were humble, but it soon expanded, until its income, from contributions of benevolence, has for many years been always above £4,000, sometimes nearly twice that sum. It derives also a large income from the sale of its publications. Its operations
have extended over all quarters of the world, and it has issued books and tracts in more than 100 different languages and dialects, thus rendering very efficient assistance to missionary and othef evangelistic operations. Many of the publications of the society, except during the first years of its existence, have been books rather than Rubs. It has produced many new works, and also many reprints and abridgments.
Objections arc sometimes strongly urged against its mode of operations, as inter fering with the natural course of the book-trade and checking free commercial enter prise; to which it has been always replied that the diffusion of good and cheap books has increased the demand for them, and that the influence of the society has been favorable and not unfavorable to the book-trade in general. It is impossible, however, to accept this as any proper answer to the objections in question. Fair competition in trade is a sacred principle not lightly to be interfered with, and it is sufficient to say that certain members of the general publishing business complain of being encountered by a_ system of production which leaves them no hope of competing successfully with the society. That tracts distinctly religious may be rendered a valuable engine of spiritual and social advancement is not to be disputed; and those impressed with this conviction cannot but regret that among the immense mass of tracts issued in Great Britain and the United States not a few, owing to the exaggerated and mistaken views they present not only of the facts of life but of the teaching of Scripture, are perhaps more calculated to damage than promote the cause they are meant fo serve.