The American Tract Society (ATS) was a non-denominational organization founded in 1825 with the purpose of publishing and distributing Christian literature. The organization was established in New York City by a group of Protestant ministers who wanted to promote evangelical Christianity and spread religious literature to a wider audience. The ATS published a variety of literature, including tracts, pamphlets, and books, on a range of religious and moral topics.
The Founding of the American Tract Society
The American Tract Society (ATS) was founded in 1825 in New York City by a group of evangelical Christians. The idea for the society came from two men, William A. Hallock and James H. Broun, who had been inspired by the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society. They believed that the United States needed a similar organization to distribute religious literature.
The founding members of the ATS included some of the most prominent evangelical leaders of the time, such as Lyman Beecher, Gardiner Spring, and William R. Williams. These men believed that the distribution of religious literature was essential for the spread of the gospel and the moral improvement of society.
The first meeting of the ATS was held on May 11, 1825, at the home of William A. Hallock. At this meeting, the members discussed the need for a society that would produce and distribute religious tracts. They also elected officers for the society, including Lyman Beecher as president and William A. Hallock as secretary.
One of the first actions of the ATS was to send a letter to the British and Foreign Bible Society, asking for advice on how to establish a similar organization in the United States. The British society responded with a letter of encouragement and offered to donate 6,000 tracts to the ATS.
The ATS quickly set to work producing and distributing religious tracts. In its first year, the society distributed over 200,000 tracts, and by 1830, it had distributed over a million tracts. The tracts covered a wide range of topics, including salvation, morality, and the dangers of alcohol and other vices.
The ATS also established a network of agents and colporteurs, who were responsible for distributing the tracts across the United States. These agents traveled to remote areas, often on horseback or by foot, to distribute tracts and other religious literature.
The founding of the ATS was a significant event in the history of American evangelicalism. The society played a vital role in the spread of evangelical Christianity and the moral improvement of American society. The ATS continued to grow and expand its mission throughout the 19th century, and it remains an important organization in American Christian history.
Early Successes
In its early years, the American Tract Society (ATS) experienced significant growth and success in spreading its message of evangelical Christianity. This chapter will explore some of the key factors that contributed to the organization’s success in its formative years.
One of the key factors in the ATS’s early success was its focus on publishing and distributing literature. From its founding in 1825, the society dedicated itself to producing and disseminating religious tracts and books that could be easily distributed and read by a broad audience. The society’s founders recognized that there was a great need for easily accessible religious literature, particularly among the working-class and rural populations of the United States.
To meet this need, the ATS established a system of agents who traveled throughout the country, distributing tracts and books door-to-door, in churches, and at public gatherings. By 1835, the society had more than 2,000 agents working in 28 states, and had distributed more than 12 million tracts and books.
The ATS’s commitment to producing high-quality literature also contributed to its success. The society hired talented writers and editors to create its tracts and books, and placed a strong emphasis on accuracy and theological soundness. Many of the society’s publications were written by prominent evangelical figures, such as Charles G. Finney, Lyman Beecher, and Horace Bushnell, which helped to establish the ATS’s reputation as a leading voice in American evangelicalism.
The ATS’s publications also had a wide range of appeal. While many of its tracts and books were aimed at a Christian audience, the society also produced materials that were meant to be accessible to non-Christians. For example, one of the society’s most successful publications was a tract entitled “The Way of Salvation Made Plain,” which explained the basic tenets of Christianity in simple language that could be understood by anyone.
Another key factor in the ATS’s early success was its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. For example, in the 1830s, the society began to shift its focus from distributing tracts door-to-door to placing them in public places such as hotels, steamships, and railway stations. This change allowed the society to reach a much larger audience and helped to increase its visibility and impact.
The ATS also responded to the changing religious landscape of the United States. As the country became more diverse in terms of religious belief, the society began to produce materials that addressed the concerns and beliefs of non-Protestant groups, such as Catholics and Jews. This allowed the ATS to expand its reach and influence, and helped to establish it as a truly national organization.
Finally, the ATS’s success was due in part to its ability to forge strong partnerships with other organizations and individuals. The society worked closely with churches and religious denominations, as well as with secular groups such as temperance societies and abolitionist organizations. By partnering with these groups, the ATS was able to expand its reach and influence, and to promote its message of evangelical Christianity to a much broader audience.
The American Tract Society experienced significant growth and success in its early years due to its focus on publishing and distributing high-quality religious literature, its ability to adapt to changing circumstances and audience needs, and its strong partnerships with other organizations and individuals. These factors helped to establish the ATS as a leading voice in American evangelicalism and set the stage for its continued success in the years to come.
Controversies and Challenges
The American Tract Society faced a number of controversies and challenges over the course of its history. These challenges tested the organization’s mission, leadership, and vision, and forced it to adapt and evolve in response to changing social and cultural dynamics. In this chapter, we will explore some of the key controversies and challenges that the ATS faced, and how the organization responded to them.
One of the most significant controversies that the ATS faced was the issue of slavery and abolitionism. In the early years of the society, many of its members were opposed to slavery and were actively involved in the abolitionist movement. However, as tensions over slavery grew in the years leading up to the Civil War, the ATS found itself in a difficult position. On the one hand, it wanted to maintain its reputation as a Christian organization committed to social reform. On the other hand, it did not want to take a stand on a controversial issue that could potentially alienate some of its members.
As a result, the ATS adopted a policy of neutrality on the issue of slavery. It continued to publish tracts that condemned slavery as a sin, but it did not take an active role in the abolitionist movement. This position proved to be controversial, and some members of the society resigned in protest.
After the Civil War, the ATS became more actively involved in the issue of race and civil rights. It published tracts that advocated for the education and uplift of African Americans, and it supported the work of missionaries who were working to promote racial equality around the world.
Another challenge that the ATS faced was theological controversies within the Christian community. As a nondenominational organization, the ATS had members from a wide range of theological backgrounds. This diversity sometimes led to disagreements over theological issues, particularly around the question of salvation and the role of good works in the Christian life.
One of the most significant theological controversies that the ATS faced was over the doctrine of conditional immortality. This doctrine held that the soul was not inherently immortal, but that immortality was a gift bestowed by God on those who accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. This doctrine was controversial because it challenged the traditional Christian belief in the immortality of the soul.
The ATS ultimately decided not to take a position on the doctrine of conditional immortality, but the controversy highlighted the challenges of maintaining unity within a diverse organization.
The ATS also faced challenges from changing social and cultural dynamics. As American society became more secular and diverse, the ATS found itself struggling to maintain its relevance and influence. The rise of secularism and the decline of traditional religious institutions made it more difficult for the ATS to connect with a younger generation of Americans.
In response to these challenges, the ATS began to broaden its focus beyond traditional religious topics. It began to publish tracts on a wide range of social and cultural issues, including temperance, women’s suffrage, and child labor. By doing so, it sought to connect with a wider audience and demonstrate its commitment to social reform.
The ATS also faced challenges from technological change. The rise of the internet and digital media made it more difficult for the organization to compete with other sources of information and inspiration. The ATS responded by launching a digital platform and expanding its online presence.
The American Tract Society faced a number of controversies and challenges over the course of its history. These challenges tested the organization’s mission, leadership, and vision, and forced it to adapt and evolve in response to changing social and cultural dynamics. Through it all, the ATS remained committed to its core values of spreading the Gospel and promoting social reform, and it continued to be a leading voice for Christian evangelicals.
Expansion and Innovation
As the American Tract Society (ATS) continued to grow in popularity, its leadership saw opportunities for expansion and innovation in the ways it spread its message.
One of the key innovations of the ATS was the introduction of the “colporteur” system. Colporteurs were individuals who traveled from town to town, selling and distributing tracts and other religious materials. The ATS hired and trained thousands of colporteurs, many of whom were women, to spread their message across the country. This system was incredibly successful, and the ATS quickly became one of the largest publishers in the United States.
In addition to the colporteur system, the ATS also embraced new technologies to spread its message. The society was an early adopter of the telegraph, which allowed them to quickly communicate with their branches and agents across the country. They also invested in steam-powered presses, which allowed them to print and distribute materials more quickly and efficiently than ever before.
The ATS also expanded its reach beyond the United States. In 1844, the society established the American and Foreign Christian Union, which was tasked with spreading the gospel around the world. The society also began publishing tracts in multiple languages, including Spanish, French, German, and Chinese, to reach a wider audience.
As the society continued to grow, it faced new challenges and controversies. In the mid-19th century, the ATS became embroiled in debates over slavery and abolitionism. While some members of the society supported the abolitionist cause, others were staunch defenders of slavery. This tension eventually led to a split within the organization, with some members forming a new society called the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.
Despite these controversies, the ATS continued to be a major force in American religious life throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. The society continued to innovate, developing new technologies and strategies for spreading its message. In the late 19th century, the ATS even began producing films to spread its message, a medium that was still in its infancy at the time.
Today, the American Tract Society continues to operate, albeit on a smaller scale than in its heyday. The society still produces tracts and other religious materials, and it remains a powerful symbol of the importance of evangelism and missionary work in American religious history.
The ATS and the Civil War
As the United States approached the Civil War, the American Tract Society (ATS) found itself in a difficult position. While the organization had always been politically neutral, the issue of slavery was a divisive one, and many members of the Society found themselves on opposite sides of the debate.
In the years leading up to the war, the ATS attempted to remain neutral on the issue of slavery, focusing instead on spreading the gospel and promoting moral values. However, as tensions between the North and South escalated, it became increasingly difficult for the Society to stay out of the political fray.
In 1860, the ATS found itself at the center of a controversy when it was discovered that one of its tracts, titled “The Bible View of Slavery,” had been plagiarized from a pro-slavery publication. The tract, which had been widely distributed by the Society, was denounced by abolitionists, who accused the ATS of promoting pro-slavery propaganda. The Society quickly withdrew the tract and issued a public apology, but the incident highlighted the difficulty of maintaining political neutrality in a time of crisis.
Despite these challenges, the ATS continued to promote its mission of spreading the gospel throughout the country. During the war, the Society distributed thousands of tracts and Bibles to soldiers on both sides of the conflict. In addition, the Society established a special fund to provide spiritual support to soldiers, raising over $100,000 for the cause.
One of the most significant contributions of the ATS during the Civil War was its role in the publication of the Christian Commission’s Soldiers’ Hymn Book. The Christian Commission, a non-denominational organization dedicated to providing spiritual and material support to soldiers, had approached the ATS with a proposal to publish a hymnal specifically for use by soldiers in the field. The ATS agreed to fund the project, and the resulting hymnal was a great success, providing comfort and inspiration to thousands of soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
In the aftermath of the war, the ATS continued to play an important role in the rebuilding of the country. The Society established a special department dedicated to the education of freed slaves, providing textbooks and other educational materials to schools throughout the South. The ATS also worked to promote the establishment of Sunday schools and other educational programs throughout the country, believing that education was a key component of the moral and spiritual development of the nation.
Despite the challenges of navigating the political turmoil of the Civil War era, the American Tract Society remained true to its mission of promoting the gospel and promoting moral values throughout the country. The Society’s commitment to spreading the word of God and providing spiritual support to those in need remains a legacy that continues to this day.
Decline and Legacy
By the early 20th century, the American Tract Society (ATS) was facing a decline in its influence and relevance. The rise of other forms of media, such as radio and film, made printed tracts seem outdated and less effective. Additionally, the ATS had become embroiled in controversy over its stance on certain social and political issues.
One of the key controversies that plagued the ATS was its position on slavery. While the organization initially opposed slavery, it later became more ambivalent on the issue. Some members even supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. This stance led to a loss of support among abolitionists and other reformers.
Another issue that caused division within the ATS was its position on women’s suffrage. While some members supported the cause, others opposed it, believing that it went against biblical teachings on gender roles.
As the ATS struggled to maintain its relevance, it also faced financial difficulties. The organization had relied on donations from supporters, but as its influence waned, so did its funding. In 1924, the ATS merged with the International Tract Society, a move that helped to alleviate some of its financial woes but also marked the end of its independence.
Despite its decline, the ATS left a lasting legacy. The organization’s tracts played a significant role in shaping American culture and values, particularly in the areas of religion and morality. The ATS also helped to promote literacy and education, especially among marginalized communities.
Moreover, the ATS served as a model for other Christian organizations that sought to use printed media to spread their message. The success of the ATS inspired the creation of similar societies in other countries, including the British and Canadian Tract Societies.
In addition to its impact on religious and social issues, the ATS also made significant contributions to the development of the publishing industry in the United States. The organization pioneered new methods of printing and distribution, which helped to make books and other printed materials more accessible to the general public.
Despite its decline in the early 20th century, the legacy of the American Tract Society lives on. The organization’s dedication to spreading the gospel and promoting moral values continues to inspire Christians around the world. The ATS also serves as a reminder of the power of printed media to shape public opinion and influence cultural values.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the American Tract Society (ATS) played a significant role in American society for over a century. Founded in 1825, the organization sought to spread Christian values and morality through the publication and distribution of tracts and other religious materials.
Throughout its history, the ATS faced a number of challenges, including criticisms of its evangelical approach, accusations of religious intolerance, and competition from other organizations with similar missions. However, the ATS persevered, adapting its strategies and expanding its reach to remain a major force in American religious life.
Despite its successes, the ATS ultimately faced declining fortunes in the latter half of the 20th century. Shifting cultural attitudes, changing media technologies, and other factors contributed to the organization’s decline, and the ATS ultimately ceased its operations in 2016.
However, the legacy of the ATS lives on. The organization played an important role in shaping American religious culture, and its tracts and other materials continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars and historians. Moreover, the ATS’s emphasis on spreading Christian values and promoting social morality remains an important goal for many individuals and organizations today.
In the end, the American Tract Society stands as a testament to the enduring power of religious conviction and the importance of engaging with the broader culture to effect positive change. Despite its challenges and ultimate demise, the ATS remains an important part of American religious history, and its legacy will continue to inspire future generations of believers and activists alike.
