Tract Society. In the 17th century several traces are found of associations for printing and promoting the sale of religious works, but none of them seems to have existed long. The 'Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge,' founded in 1701, had for one of its objects 'the dispersion, both at home and abroad, of Bibles and tracts of religion.' In 1750 was formed '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.
The Religious Tract Society (1799) originated with the Rev. George Burder (q.v.). Its beginnings were humble, but it soon expanded; its income, from sales of publications and contributions of benevolence, including a small balance from the previous year, amounted in 1891 to £201,119, 5s. 5d., and the total expenditure, in trade and grant departments, to £199,444, 14s. 10d. In the same year 678 new publications were issued, 113 of which were tracts; the issue of books, tracts, &c. from the foundation of the Society until 1891 was 2,830,763,810. Its operations have extended over all quarters of the world, and it has issued books and tracts in 204 languages and dialects. The business of the Society is conducted by a committee chosen annually, which consists of four ministers and eight laymen, and six trustees. Half the number are members of the Church of England and the other half Nonconformists. It has produced many new works, reprints, and abridgments, and has half-a-dozen thriving periodicals, such as the Leisure Hour, Sunday at Home, Boy's Own Paper, and Girl's Own Paper. The number of separate tracts, books, &c. in the Society's catalogue is about 4000. Within recent years its publishing area has been much extended, and now the catalogue embraces works in many departments of literature, competing with, and approaching closely to, the class of productions emanating from houses conducted by private enterprise.