1881 Book Ads for Use as a Research Resource and Book Selling Information

1881 Book Ads for Use 
as a Research Resource and Book Selling Information
The following are advertisement pages at the end of a book published by the Religious Tract Society, London, England, 1881. 

This blog post by Mary Katherine May of Quality Music and Books.

Missionary Books
1. Madagascar and France. With some Account of the Island, its People, its Resources, and Development. By George A. Shaw.

2. Child Life in Chinese Homes. By Mrs. Bryson, of Wuchang, China.
This is a beautiful and touching account of Chinese Child Life from infancy to early manhood and womanhood. Mrs. Bryson has lived and worked for years in China, and hence her book contains nothing but accurate and first-hand information. The second part contains the Stories of a number of Chinese Children. The book gives a true insight into the ways, the joys, the sorrows of the Children of China. 

3. Old Highways in China. By Isabelle Williamson, of the London Mission, Chefoo.

4. Work and Adventure in New Guinea, 1877 to 1885. By James Chalmers, of Port Moresby, and W. Wyatt Gill, B.A. Author of "Life in the Southern Isles," & c. 
This book describes seven years of work along the South-Eastern Coast of New Guinea, the part over which the English protectorate has just been proclaimed. Mr. Chalmers knows more of New Guinea than any other European. Mr. Gill's views on the progress of Christianity and his Botanical, Zoological, and Ethnological observations are of high value.

5. Protestant Missions in India from their Commencement in 1706 to 1882. By the Rev. M.A. Sherring, M.A., LL.B. Newly revised and brought down to date. By the Rev. E. Storrow. With four maps.

6. Among the Mongols. By the Rev. James Gilmour, M.A. (of Peking). With Map and numerous Engravings from Photographs and Native Sketches. 

By-Paths of Bible Knowledge
1. Babylonian Life and History. By E.A. Wallis Budge, B.A., Camb., Assistant in the Department of Oriental Antiquities, British Museum. 

2. Fresh Light from the Ancient Monuments. By A.H. Sayce, M.A., Deputy Professor of Comparative Philology, Oxford, etc. Second Edition, revised.

3. Cleopatra's Needle. A History of the London Obelisk, with an Exposition of the Hieroglyphics. By the Rev. J. King, Lecturer for the Palestine Exploration Fund.

4. Recent Discoveries on the Temple Hill at Jerusalem. By the Rev. J. King, M.A., Authorised Lecturer to the Palestine Exploration Fund. With Maps, Plans, and Illustrations.

5. Just Published. Galilee in the Time of Christ. By Selah Merrill, D.D., Author of "East of the Jordan," & C. With Map. This book, never before issued in England, gives in small compass all that is known of the condition, cities, resources, & C., of Galilee in the days of our Lord's life on earth.

Christian Moral Tales for Young Women of Marrying Age 1881

Wives and Their Husbands
Mrs. George Gladstone, Author
also known as Jemima Compton
London: Religious Tract Society, 1881
95 pages, 19 cm.

Blog post by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com

Christian moral tales directed toward young women engaged to be married or already married.  Five stories to direct young women toward living a Godly life, being a role model children to do the same, and the proper manner of conducting her household to please her husband. 

This copy was given as a prize gift for general progress by her teacher. >>>

The following are summaries of the stories found in Wives and Their Husbands.

Fine Feathers
Wanting beautiful clothes, Mary buys clothing for which she hasn't the money to pay and deceiving her husband Richard Sharp as to what she was doing. 

Hurt by the lie, Richard signs up for military service in India, leaving Mary and their baby starving and living under a bridge. After much prayer Mary is taken in by the woman who raised her, becomes a Christian and goes into household service. 

Illustrator Signature: R. & E. Taylor

In the meantime, while away from England Richard also accepts Jesus as his savior After 10 years he returns from India, battle-scarred and missing a leg. He finds Mary, they have a tearful reunion, and live happily ever after within their financial means.

A Good Manager

"Cut your coat according to your cloth, is a trite old proverb, but a useful one; in other words, it means, make whatever money you have sufficient." 

Mrs. Bracey, with her husband and 4 children, must live very frugally by stretching their meager income to its limit, always remembering to give a portion in offering to God, and leading Godly lives. In her later years Mrs. Bracey is reverenced and loved by all for living a Godly life.

John Parker's Birthday Present
Mr. and Mrs. John Parker are a Godly couple who honor the Lord by putting Him first in their lives and never forgetting to trust Him in all things.  As John's birthday nears she works day and night to give him a special gift. 

When their daughter Alice dies, John wonders if the gift will need to be sold to pay the doctor bills but Mrs. Parker encourages him to trust God to see them through. Soon after, Jane's sister dies and 4 of her 6 children come under the Parker's care but John is almost angry because he has no idea how they can financially support them. 

Through it all they remain faithful in faith. Another girl is born who they again name Alice but the first Alice is never forgotten.

The Little Teacher
Mrs. Jones had created a happy home for her family. She works hard while her husband is at work and never worries him when comes home. Though Mrs. Jones is always helpful when needed by her neighbors, she never gossips or spends time chatting with the ladies. 

Their daughter Nellie, was very sick and couldn't walk any longer. At Sunday School, Nellie heard a missionary speak. Taking his words to into her heart, she gave her life over to Jesus Christ. Soon after she introduces Jesus to her parents and they are saved. Mr. and Mrs. Jones agree that their home is now even happier and they can bear all things better through Christ who strengthens them.

The Happy Homestead
Mistress Page and her husband Farmer Page keep a neat and tidy home with everything in its place, though their clothing and belongings are threadbear and worn. Their two daughters, one an invalid who contributes to the family household by doing needlework while reclining on the couch and the other a teacher. 

When their old gray horse died, Mr. Page wonders what they would do. Mistress said she will pray, and she does.  She prays earnestly, believing God will provide, and He does. Their neighbors, hearing of their need for a horse with no money to pay for one, take up a collection and buy them a horse, presumably because the Pages are a kind and loving Christian family.

A Letter on Fairs and Feasts from a Superintendent to Sunday Scholars Religious Tract Society 1889

The Religious Tract Society

A Letter on Fairs and Feasts from a Superintendent to Sunday Scholars
The Religious Tract Society, 1889
8 pages. 2-1/8 x 4-1/8 inches, 11 cm.

Blog post by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com. From the Christian perspective.

Description and Summary
A short sermon in letter form encouraging children to abstain from public gatherings such as community fairs. Printed on the back cover are three stanzas from Solomon's Choice, a hymn by poet Jane Taylor (1783-1824), who also wrote the nursery rhyme Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. 

Quantity vs. Quality
For as long as it has been possible to print them Christian tracts have been an essential evangelism tool.  They were an in-hand tangible for potential faithful in the Kingdom of God that could be read, re-read, left here and there for others to find, and passed on to others by the newly saved.

In publication the quality was not nearly as essential as the quantity.  People on fire for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ would always want to have some on hand for salvation was, and is, essential to an eternal life with no sorrow, sickness or sighing (Rev. 21:4).  The tracts need to be affordable, but the cheap paper created a genre of (perhaps) unintended ephemera like newspapers that were meant to be thrown out after use.

Many tracts are dated or relevant to the era while others, with updated language, are still inspirational in current times.  One example of relevancy is the publication I wrote about yesterday on this blog titled The Writing on the Shutter.

A Letter on Fairs and Feasts

A Letter on Fairs and Feasts from a Superintendent to Sunday School Scholars was not only an evangelistic witness but also intended for raising children with Godly character. It is a tract about the practice of certain Christians who avoid common public entertainment venues and activities to keep from being where temptation might cause them to sin.  A quote from this tract sums up its topic.

Do you ask me what evil there is at the fair?  You should rather ask what evil is not there; for evil so abounds, that it may be seen in all directions.  Gaming, cheating, drinking, cursing, swearing, taking God’s holy name in vain, quarrelling, fighting, mingling with bad company, and stealing, are but a part of the evils of a pleasure fair.  You may not mean to do such things; but if others have been tempted by the evil one to do them, why may not you?  

On Fairs, Wakes and Revels (source: Google Books)
From The Teacher's Visitor Vol. 3, July-December, 1845
edited by William Carus Wilson

On Fairs, Wakes and Revels -1

On Fairs, Wakes and Revels - 2

On Fairs, Wakes, and Revels - 3

Understanding the Intent

This poses a dilemma, however, for believers who want to witness publicly the value of Godly life in the presence of the unsaved. How are Christians to be in the world but not of the world if they are not there?  I am not disputing the practice, but it is a question that comes to my mind, and if I think of it no doubt so do others. One solution is to be in the world until temptations start to be come so strong they feel unavoidable and then remove oneself.  Jesus spoke of that in Matthew 5:30, which common sense tells us that what He commanded is not to be taken literally.

And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (NIV)

How do Christians know that their weakness will allow succumbing to temptation?  It's a very good question, and one that is not unique to them only.  Parents do it all the time to protect their children from possible threat of harm.   Jews created rules to be fences, or hedges, around the Torah to keep themselves obedient to God's commands.  In the article, How Can the Rabbis Add to Torah, author Tzvi Freeman makes a relevant point. LINK to full article.

Prohibitions without fences are like books without covers--pretty soon, the best parts of the story have gone missing.

Ultimately temptations whatever they may be are overcome some of the time, but not necessarily all of the time.  Strength and maturity will usually allow us to walk away, but not always. Perhaps it is the people who create the fences who know themselves well enough to know that every pit is an open hole that is waiting for someone to fall in.   It's something to think about.

For another thought-provoking article on this topic read Build a Fence to Protect You from Yourself  by Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran. LINK to article.

Antique The Writing on the Shutter Religious Tract Society Halfpenny Reward Books Packet H

The Writing on the Shutter

The Writing on the Shutter
Religious Tract Society Reward Book
Halfpenny Story Books Series
Packet H
3 x 4.5 inches, 12 cm.

This blog post by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

About the Book

Tied String Binding

A Christian Tract-Size booklet with frontis illustration.  16 pages in periwinkle blue paper wrap with gold-tone title in floral border. 

These were sold in packets containing 24 copies with two copies each of twelve stories.  (From General Catalogue of the Religious Tract Society’s Publications, sole agent in the United States: Fleming H. Revell Co., September, 1893).   This story was published in The Sunday Home Family Magazine for Sabbath Reading. London: Religious Tract Society, 1879.

Frontis Illustration
The Writing on the Shutter

Story Synopsis

     The Widow Hacklott lives a simple life with her son William on the island of Marken in Holland where he is in the business of unlading stranded ships. When Lenna Becker, niece and orphan of farmer Peter Grunken is apprenticed to William’s mother to learn domestic skills, a romance develops and eventually they marry. 

     Tragedy strikes when William is hurt while working at his business. Even when all hope for healing seems fruitless, the Widow and Lenna trust in God, clinging to the Bible promise, “In thy trouble keep thine eyes on God.” Having no paper on which to write the verse, Mrs. Hacklott writes it on the window shutter where she and Lenna can see it and be in constant reminder of God’s promise.  

In thy trouble keep thine eyes on God.

     Miraculously, William recovers. Long after the three have been received into Heaven, the story ends thus: 

Peasant mothers point it out to the children they lead by the hand, and travelers from far distant countries, who chance to visit Marken, yet linger awhile in front of the old cottage, to read and inquire about the writing on the shutter. 

     The booklet closes with the last three stanzas from the hymn (with slight variation), Come, Let Us Sing Our Maker’s Praise by John Burton (1803-1877).

God’s richest blessings from above

Prove his kind care and tender love;

What thanks to Him should we express,

The Father of the fatherless. (4)

Let us rejoice: above the skies

We have a Friend who never dies;

To him we may our prayer address,

The Father of the fatherless. (5)

Our Father, let thy heavenly grace

On every heart thine image trace;

Then shall we never cease to bless

The Father of the fatherless! 6)

John Burton

     John Burton (1803-1877), was a cooper by trade. His first contributions to hymnody were made when deacon of the Congregational Church of Plaistow under the ministry of Mr. Curwen.  He had a wonderful knowledge of Scripture.  As it turned out that he was suffering from smallpox caught in visiting a poor sweep, all his papers containing his last hymn revisions were burned. (Hymns and Hymn Makers by Rev. Duncan Campbell, Fourth Edition, 1908, p. 88.)

In all thy trouble keep thine eyes on God.
The Writing on the Shutter, The Religious Tract Society