DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE TRACT SOCIETIES by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 18, 1881

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE TRACT SOCIETIES.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

It is expected that the president will understand the entire working of the tract society in the Conference to which he belongs; that he will know at all times what is going on in each district, and will bestow his labor more especially in those districts where it is most needed, in order to keep up an interest in every enterprise connected with the cause of God. And the larger the Conference, the more responsible is his position, and the more necessary that he should be in the field. He should be in constant correspondence with the secretary, as the secretary in keeping the books will be able to give many particulars which he would not otherwise have the means of knowing.

The prosperity of every tract society depends very much upon union of action. I do not believe that any tract society can prosper unless this is the case. Each district should be engaged in the same enterprise at the same time. A united and harmonious effort should be put forth in every advance step taken. It is when we all lift together that the cause moves. It is therefore the duty of the president to see that this is the case. He must be on the field of action at such places where there is the greatest lack of interest, to give such instruction as will assist the directors in carrying out the object of the society. Also he should examine the books of the district secretary and see if they are correctly kept. And through the directors he can learn whether all are promptly paying tithes as they should. He should also make inquiry if there are not some worthy poor who have not our periodicals. There are many times when his personal influence will be needed in each district, in bringing about that uniformity of action which is necessary for the prosperity of the society. It will be nothing strange if there should be some discouraging circumstances to meet. But there is no room for discouragement in a cause like this in which all Heaven is interested, and when God himself has ordained it shall prosper. It is for us to do our duty in the fear of God, and leave the results with him.

If those who have borne the burden and heat of the day could have courage when there were scarcely any friends of the cause on earth, and when they had no financial resources to back them up, nor scarcely any publications to carry into new fields, what will be said of us who really know nothing of hardships and privation, if we get discouraged while every S. D. A. Conference in the country is anxious to work for God if they can have proper instruction.

It is a privilege to take responsibilities and bear burdens in a cause like this. Therefore no president of any tract society should think of resting satisfied until each district in his Conference is making one united effort to carry out the purposes and object of this work.