Harris, Joseph, 1790-1863.

Joseph Harris (1790-1863), "Missionary to the seamen," was a Presbyterian minister at the Spring Street Church in New York City. He was a member of the American Tract Society.

The American Tract Society was organized in Boston in 1814 under the name New England Religious Tract Society. In 1826, it joined with the New York Tract Society, formed in 1825, to form the national American Tract Society with its headquarters in New York City. Its purpose was to promote "godliness and good morals" through the distribution of religious books and tracts to Christians of all denominations. This mode of distribution was termed "Colportage," i.e., the distribution of religious publications by sale or gift with spiritual conversation and prayer. Besides the general series of tracts, the Society issued the Family Christian Almanac and the Tract Magazine.