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Origin and Purpose of Tract Societies

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 24, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 10.

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Origin and Purpose of Tract Societies

By N. Z. TOWN

TRACT and missionary societies among Seventh-day Adventists began with a company of ten sisters, in South Lancaster, Mass., who, in the spring of 1868, banded together and organized what was at first known as the Vigilant Missionary Society. Concerning the object and work of this society, Sister Maria Huntley, the secretary, wrote as follows:—
“It was the fact that in this conference (New England) there were many lonely Sabbath keepers who seldom if ever had the privilege of attending our public services, which first prompted the organization of this society; and it was formed with the view of meeting the wants of such cases, in calling their attention to the importance of such points of present truth as they might be losing their interest in, and affording encouragement and consolation to those who might need them. It was also designed to distribute reading matter and to call attention to such enterprises as might arise from time to time as far as their influence might extend.”
The second article of the constitution of the Vigilant Missionary Society, which was adopted in 1870, reads as follows:—
“The object of this society shall be to awaken and increase an interest in pure and undefiled religion:—
“1. By corresponding with all who we may have reason to believe will be benefited thereby, especially lonely commandment keepers.
“2. By visiting, conversing, and praying with families which we might suppose our Saviour would visit were he here upon the earth.
“3. By circulating tracts.”
Later, this article in the constitution was changed to read as follows:—
“Its object shall be:—“1. To seek openings where publications on the Sabbath and kindred truths may be brought into respectable notice, especially in regions beyond conference limits or Seventh-day Adventist tract and missionary organizations.
“2. To obtain a knowledge, as far as practicable, of all the scattered observers of God’s Sabbath and those who may be influenced to investigate the truths we believe, where they do not have the benefit of conference or church organization.
“3. To take a special interest in the worthy poor and afflicted everywhere; and where they are found within conference limits, or if there are openings for labor within the bounds of any conference where missionary efforts can successfully be put forth, this society shall notify the proper officers of the tract and missionary society of said conference.
“4. To render aid to the General Conference tract organization, and to the various conference tract societies throughout the country, by imparting to them such information as will better enable them to advance the cause of present truth.”
Interest in the work of this society grew so rapidly that within a short time there were scores of what were then called corresponding agents cooperating with the society in every conference in this country, and finally led to the organization of conference tract societies. The first of these was organized Nov. 6, 1870, in the New England Conference. Articles 1-6 of the constitution adopted by this society are as follows:—
“ARTICLE I. This society shall be called The Missionary and Tract Society of the New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
“ART. II. The objects of this society shall be to visit, circulate books and tracts, and to obtain subscribers for our periodicals.
“ART. III. The officers of this society shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five, of which the President shall be one, and they shall be elected annually.
“ART. IV. Any person may become a member of this society who is a member of a church of Seventh-day Adventists, by payment of the sum of one dollar.
“ART. V. Each member shall keep a record of his labor, and report the same quarterly at the quarterly meetings, at which time there shall be sessions of this society.
“ART. VI. The funds to be employed by this society shall consist of the money paid for memberships and freewill offerings.”
We see by these articles which governed the first tract and missionary societies that the original purpose of their organization was:—
1. To promote a purer Christian life,— (a) By correspondence. (b) By visiting and praying with families. (c) By circulating tracts and other literature.
2. To assist worthy poor.
3. To aid the General Conference in carrying on the work.
It is worthy of notice that the missionary phase of the work was made most prominent in the work of these early societies, as the first conference society was called the missionary and tract society instead of the tract and missionary society.
As the work has grown and become better organized, the tract societies have become distributing centers, not only for tracts and periodicals, but for our large subscription books and home workers’ books; and instead of being supported by donations, as in the early days, they have become largely self-supporting from the commissions they receive on the literature they handle. As the monetary and commercial phase of the work has grown, the old-time missionary phase has, to some extent, been lost sight of, and we have come to look too largely to the machinery of the organization to carry on the work, instead of to individual, personal effort. But we are glad to see in some of the conferences a return to the old-time method, which is proving a great blessing to those conferences.
The following paragraph from one of the workers in the early days shows how the brethren then regarded the advantages of the tract society:—
“The tract and missionary society places within the hand of every man, woman, and child the means of contributing to the spiritual improvement of the world. Our books, periodicals, and tracts will penetrate where no preacher could get a foothold; they will preach where he could not be heard. Our publications will reprove, condemn, alarm, advise, and console in solitude, where no passion interferes to drown their voice. Of these silent preachers thousands and thousands may be sent abroad and reach the honest in heart; and where the good seed of the kingdom is abundantly sown, we may reasonably hope for an abundant harvest.”
In a report given four years after the first society was organized, Elder Haskell, the president, says:—
“It is only four years since the first conference tract and missionary society among Seventh-day Adventists was organized. This was in the New England Conference. Then it was all an experiment. We had everything to learn. But, by the blessing of God, it proved a success. Its influence reached other conferences until there are now ten that have organized tract societies. The annual report of total work done by these conferences during the past year is as follows: Between three and four million pages of reading matter distributed; thousands of volumes placed in libraries; nearly ten thousand families visited and prayed with. Only think of it! Ten thousand prayers offered for particular families and individuals in connection with personal labor, and fifteen thousand subscriptions obtained for our periodicals! We call this a work of no small magnitude, especially when we realize that this effort is made wholly among those who are not believers in present truth. The amount of money raised by the tract societies for this home missionary work is not less than $15,000. This is truly wonderful.”
Speaking of the field in which the tract society should operate, Elder Haskell says:—
“Our field of operation is the world. We should never forget the great fact that there is a world lying in wickedness. There is no reason why the strength of our system should not be felt in every civilized nation on the globe.”
The following forceful words from Elder G. I. Butler, which we quote in closing, are as applicable as in 1874, when he wrote them:—
“The one grand thought which we desire to consider is this: The strength of the organization consists in making every member a worker. The system enables every one to work effectually, but the work must be done by the members. The machine will not work alone. Each one must do his part; thus astonishing results will be seen. Now that the organization is perfected, we beg of our people to use it. Go forth with the precious seeds of truth, using good sense, judgment, and discretion. Scatter the tracts and papers. If you cannot interest people in present truth of a religious character, interest them in the health question. We need none of us talk of a reaction in the tract and missionary society. There is no need of this, but we do need much greater action. God bless the tract and missionary work. Under him it is bound to succeed.”
N. Z. TOWN.