The Missionary | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 24, 1884

The Missionary.

State Quarterly Meeting.

The quarterly session of the California Tract and Missionary Society was held at Healdsburg, Jan. 4, at 3 P. M., the Vice-President presiding. Prayer was offered by Eld. Corliss. A summary of work for the quarter ending Oct. 1, was read. A Committee on Resolutions, consisting of E. J. Waggoner, W. C. White, and Wm. Ings, was appointed.

The report of ship missionary work was read by H. C. Palmer. Bro. Brorsen related items of interest in regard to that branch of the work. A file of the SIGNS is placed on each steamer of the different lines; these are renewed each trip. Out of sixteen steamers visited, only one refused to accept the papers. Publications are placed on ships going to every part of the world; through this means a wide-spread interest is aroused. As the result of the establishment of a reading-room, sixteen have decided to observe the Sabbath.

Wm. Ings referred to several interesting incidents that have come to his notice,—one of a captain who has strictly kept the Sabbath for two years.

Sr. E. G. White was present, and, in view of the shortness of time in which we will be permitted to work, urged all to activity, to the putting away of worldliness, and the cultivating a spirit of humility and meekness,—that the world may see we really believe what we teach.

A responsibility rests upon each church, however small. This work is to go forward till the whole world is warned. Although we may not always see the fruit of our labor, we should not become discouraged.

At 3 P. M., Jan. 10, the second meeting was held. Prayer by Eld. Waggoner. The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted, after which the report of labor for the quarter just closed was read as follows:—

Missionaries	No. of Members	Reports Returned	Members Added	Members Dismissed	Missionary Visits	Letters Written	Signs Taken in Clubs	Review	Signs	Good Health	Instructor	Other Periodicals
No. 1	166	58	28	6	153	448	310	6	41	6	1	…
No. 2	94	37	2	3	86	156	210	…	2	…	…	…
No. 3	80	44	2	…	43	101	156	…	1	…	…	…
No. 4	27	3	…	…	13	201	50	…	…	…	…	…
No. 5	98	39	…	7	6	83	135	25	70	…	74	…
No. 6	10	…	…	…	395	557	480	…	172	…	…	…
No. 7	124	38	2	4	395	207	480	…	172	…	…	…
No. 8	96	45	7	2	221	88	180	2	61	4	…	4
No. 9	20	…	…	1	23	66	64	…	3	…	…	…
No. 10	30	18	…	…	23	66	64	…	3	…	…	…
Ships	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…
Total.	745	282	36	23	1313	1390	1670	33	359	10	75	4

Missionaries	Pages Tracts and Pamphlets	Periodicals	Membership and Donations	Sales	Periodicals	Total
No. 1	68626	4030	$81.50	$16.35	$91.85	$189.70
No. 2	17052	2730	11.55	8.80	44.76	65.11
No. 3	5137	2028	51.80	1.75	53.22	106.77
No. 4	3481	650	…	…	…	63.00
No. 5	20547	1755	11.60	5.95	45.45	63.00
No. 6	…	…	…	…	…	…
No. 7	17049	6219	85.65	40	175.85	211.90
No. 8	44057	2340	102.05	5.00	68.00	175.05
No. 9	…	455	…	…	…	…
No. 10	2622	832	8.40	2.50	23.12	34.02
Ships.	49813	4589	93.70	34.15	…	127.85
Total.	228877	25628	$396.25	$74.90	$502.25	$973.40

This report showed the following increase over that of the previous quarter: Members added, 13; reports returned, 7; missionary visits, 342; letters written, 171; subscribers to Review, 13; SIGNS, 89; Instructor, 52; pages distributed, 59,491; periodicals, 4,621.

The committee submitted the following resolutions:—

WHEREAS, The International Society has recommended that “Sketches from the Life of Paul,” “The United States in Prophecy,” and “The Sanctuary,” be placed in those libraries having the ten volumes; and that all these volumes, in their best binding, be placed in the principal libraries of our large cities, which have not the ten books; and has offered to furnish these volumes to the State Societies for this purpose, at one-fourth the retail price; therefore,

Resolved (1), That we accept the above liberal offer, and that we consider it to be our duty to supply the libraries within the boundaries of our Society.

WHEREAS, The SIGNS and Good Health, placed in reading-rooms, find many interested readers, and in many cases are highly valued by the managers of the rooms; therefore,

Resolved (2), That these periodicals be placed in all the libraries and reading-rooms where they will be properly cared for.

Resolved (3), That the above-mentioned books and papers be furnished at the expense of the State Society.

WHEREAS, There are many new readers, whose subscription to our papers is now expiring, who, on account of negligence, or the expense of the papers, will not renew their subscription unless solicited to do so by some one interested in the work; therefore,

Resolved (4), That we call for volunteers, and that we appoint agents in every church and neighborhood where our papers are taken, to canvass for renewals, and for new subscriptions; also

Resolved (5), That we recommend that agents canvassing for renewals of subscriptions to our periodicals, take with them “Sunshine at Home” and some of our other juvenile books, and that they take orders for these at the same time.

Resolved (6), That we again call attention to the following excellent plan of labor recommended at the late General Conference:—

“WHEREAS, There are many persons who, in connection with other business, can secure short-term subscriptions for the SIGNS, but who are unable to revisit and carry forward the work; therefore,

“Resolved, That we recommend such to do all they can, placing their lists in the hands of the State Secretary, or some vigilant missionary society, who will send the papers, and follow up the work by correspondence.”

WHEREAS, In the case of Humboldt County, we have seen the good results of systematic and continued labor put forth in one locality, by the members of a single society,

Resolved (7), That we deem it a good plan for each local society to select some special territory, to which to mail SIGNS, and to give it a thorough canvass before leaving it for another field.

WHEREAS, There has been considerable emigration from the United States to Mexico; and,

WHEREAS, By position that country is more closely related to California than to any other State; therefore,

Resolved (8), That we urge our local societies to immediately occupy this new field, and to make thorough work of sending the truth to all the English-speaking people of Mexico.

WHEREAS, The islands of the Pacific Ocean present a vast, unoccupied field, which must very soon receive the light of the Third Angel’s Message,

Resolved (9), That we urge our T. and M. workers to anticipate and prepare the way for the living messenger, by a thorough and judicious canvass of these islands with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Resolved (10), That we also urge upon our missionary laborers the importance of working up an interest in the Territories of Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, which are rapidly being settled by a class of persons who are usually susceptible to the influence of the truth.

Resolved (11), That in view of the great amount of work opening up before us, as indicated in the three preceding resolutions, we earnestly request all our societies to prepare for more vigorous work, by immediately renewing their clubs of SIGNS, and increasing them whenever it is possible to do so.

These resolutions were acted upon separately, and unanimously adopted. The first was commented upon by W. C. White, Vice-President of the International Society, and others. Books placed in public libraries are read with interest, and are the means of accomplishing much good.