The Missionary | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 27, 1882

The Missionary.

State Quarterly Meeting.

THE third quarterly meeting of the California Tract and Missionary Society, for the year ending July 1, was held in Oakland, April 23, 1882. After the opening exercises, Eld. Israel spoke of the importance of the work at this time, when so much is being done in regard to the Sunday Law and its enforcement, and considered a special preparation necessary to meet the wants of the cause in this State.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, and mention was made of the manner in which the resolutions adopted at that time, have been carried out. Two editions of the Sunday-Law tract, of 5,000 and 4,000 respectively, have been issued, and the greater part of these have been used here both by the State and by local Societies. The expenses incurred to the State Society, have been met by donations from our brethren. They have been furnished to the newspapers, and all the State and county officers. Several spoke of what had been done in their localities in this direction, and the influence exerted by the tract was shown to be very encouraging. A missionary worker of many years' experience, stated that he had never seen any thing so well received, and so favorably spoken of.

Bro. McClure gave an interesting account of the work done in Sacramento since the camp meeting, and the good impression made at that time. More than two hundred people have been furnished with the SIGNS for a month. Prayer-meetings and Bible readings have been held, and there are about twenty keeping the Sabbath at the present time.

Dr. Waggoner spoke of the interest in his district, especially in Oakland. The Society in this place seems to be doing a good work. Through correspondence, a number have recently stated that they are keeping the Sabbath; others are working for the SIGNS, even ordering clubs for distribution. Nearly all the letters are favorable, and there is one letter received to about every two and one-half written. An encouraging work is also being done with the SIGNS in San Francisco, by the Society there, and by some in other parts of the State. It was stated that seven out of one church were keeping the Sabbath, and others much interested. The pastor of the church wished them all to sign an agreement to keep Sunday, but, failing in this, he hoped the disaffected ones would leave the church.

While a few months ago the church in San Francisco had more papers than they needed, now, although the club had been largely increased, the cry is for "more papers;" and if the Society had sufficient means, a much greater amount of work could be accomplished there than at present. The necessity of having a good missionary in that city, who could give his time to the work, was urged by the brethren acquainted with the needs of the cause there.

Copies of the report of work for the quarter ending January 1, and for that ending April 1, had been printed, and were passed around among the brethren present. The report for the last quarter is as follows:—

REPORT FOR QUARTER ENDING APRIL 1, 1882.

The committee on resolutions submitted the following, which were unanimously adopted:—

Resolved, That, in the present state of our work, it is very important that copies of the following of our bound denominational works be placed in every reading-room and circulating library in the State: History of the Sabbath, United States in Prophecy, Constitutional Amendment, Spirit of Prophecy, vols. 1, 2, and 3, Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation, Nature and Destiny, and Life of Bates.

Resolved, That the churches should supply those libraries in their immediate vicinity, and that the State Society supply the libraries in other parts of the State.

Resolved, That in view of the shortness of time, and the prominence into which our faith has been brought, as a consequence of the Sunday agitation, our people should become thoroughly acquainted with all points of doctrine; and to this end we recommend them to supply themselves with a full line of our publications.

Resolved, That to aid our people in supplying themselves with our denominational works, colporteurs be appointed to canvass each church.

Several spoke to the first resolution, and the importance of such action was clearly shown. The number of volumes supplied to each library should be determined by its size and the interest manifested. It was thought that some aid, in supplying the three volumes of "Spirit of Prophecy," might be obtained from the fund raised to circulate those writings. The third resolution called forth remarks from several. Eld. Waggoner thought our people a little remiss in this matter. In preaching the truth, more ideas are presented than can be appreciated, so that one needs reading up to fully comprehend all points. The importance was shown of our people, not only obtaining these books, but also of studying them, that they may become established themselves, and also be ready to give a reason of our hope to others.

The fourth resolution was then considered. Eld. Waggoner thought, that to carry out any movement, proper steps should be taken; else, if there were no plan laid out, many matters might be neglected. Bro. White remarked that we, as a people, have been reproved for not making more of an effort to get our reading before the public, and spoke of the success which has attended the work of introducing the combined edition of "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation," in some of the Eastern societies. He thought this might grow to be a very important branch of the work, by having a sufficient corps of colporteurs, and other such laborers; and recommended the brethren to see what might be done in the matter.

Bro. Palmer then spoke very encouragingly of the ship work, of which interesting monthly reports are given in the SIGNS.

M. C. ISRAEL, Vice-President. B. C. STICKNEY, Secretary.