The fourth quarterly meeting of the California Tract and Missionary Society was held at Santa Rosa, July 18, 1880. It being the busy season of the year, there were but two directors present, Eld. M. C. Israel of district No. 8, and T. M. Chapman of district No. 1. The companies of our brethren in the district, as well as the scattered345members, were well represented, Bro. Pratt, secretary of district No. 3, was also present. The meeting commenced at 9:30 A. M. After singing and prayer, the report of the previous meeting was read and accepted. The president then explained the import of some of the resolutions adopted at that meeting relative to the manner of conducting the business of the society, and also in relation to the reserve fund, which was voted should be raised, and to which our brethren in the southern part of the State so generously pledged at that meeting. The work reported by the State for the quarter was then read which is as follows:— Some of the districts show a gain, but in others there is a falling off from the report of last quarter. This is doubtless owing to the fact that many of our brethren are hurried, being in the midst of harvest. The reports from Vacaville and Hanford, and from some of the smaller companies, have not yet been received. The number of reports returned, unless there is some special reason why they cannot be returned, shows the interest taken in the missionary work; and by them we are to judge of the vitality of the society. We hope that there will be an effort on the part of all to keep a memoranda of the work done during this present quarter and then report at the church quarterly meetings. Pass-books have been prepared with printed headings. This will make the work of reporting very simple. Every member should have one. These can be furnished by the librarians. The subject of furnishing SIGNS to Eld. Loughborough for his work in England was introduced by the president, and the article respecting it in the SIGNS of July 1 was read. It was voted that all our brethren in the State be invited to assist in making up a club to replace those which have expired. A paper was drawn up and circulated in the meeting, and fifty-three copies were immediately subscribed for at $1.50 each. This being the amount necessary to cover the expense of sending them, when sent direct from the office, at the number recently subscribed for in other places make about one hundred copies. The book sales of the State society for the quarter amount to $759.69. The standing of the districts at present is as follows: District No. 1 has a balance in its favor of $4.29; No. 2 is owing the State society $496.39; No. 3, $29.72; No. 4, $15.63; No. 5, $224.12; No. 6, $33.24; No. 7, $32.80; No. 8, $53.79; No. 9, $6.51. The larger part of the indebtedness of district No. 2, as well as quite a portion of that of the other districts is covered by the publications on hand. There is also a balance of $391.48 against the Seaman's Mission. A special effort should be made to cancel the indebtedness of each district as nearly as possible by the time of the annual meeting which will be held in connection with our camp-meeting. It is expected that each church and district pay at the close of each quarter all indebtedness for periodicals, except it be those taken on the installment plan. All our publications should also be paid for unless it be bound books and pamphlets which are held for sale, and in that case the amount on hand in the churches and districts should be reported. The work of the past year in some respects has been gratifying. Two hundred copies of the Review have been subscribed for in the State, and about 350 copies of Good Health. There has also been an increase in the number of SIGNS taken in clubs for missionary work. The remarks made at this meeting were of importance to all. We were shown our defects, especially our lack of feeling the necessity of a connection with God, that his Spirit might attend our efforts. On motion the meeting adjourned. S. N. HASKELL Pres.
BARBARA C. STICKNEY, Sec.