Missionary Work by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 11, 1876

Missionary Work.

By John Norton Loughborough

I HAVE been requested to make a brief statement of the duties of the different officers of our Tract and Missionary Society. Some have said that they were willing to do faithfully their part, if they only knew what was expected of them. For their benefit I will pen a few lines:—

To have our work prove a success, it will require time and thought, prayer to God for strength and prompt action. We must be willing to do each duty in its proper time, and not keep putting them off till a more convenient season. This is true of the officers as well as the members. Of course much of the success of the Society is due to efficient officers who should seek to stimulate to activity and promptness all subordinate officers, and they, in their turn, should infuse life into the members. Yet the officers of the society must have the hearty co-operation and support of each individual member.

THE STATE SECRETARY.

This is really one of the most important offices in the Society. The State Secretary should know at all times the standing of the State Society and the standing of each district with the State Society, and just where there is a lack of promptness and activity in the work. By his books in which he has a record of the workings of each district, he may learn their standing. In case any district is failing to be prompt in their duties, financially or otherwise, it is the duty of the State Secretary to write, stirring them up to duty. It is also the duty of the State Secretary to be so thoroughly acquainted with the workings of the Society that he could, at any time, give instruction to other officers, should there be any who did not fully understand how to properly perform their respective duties. This would, perhaps, require patience and often much labor in letter writing, but who could be better prepared to do this work more effectively than the Secretary, as he has an opportunity of knowing just where help is most needed, and should know how to render the required assistance? As before stated the success of the Society depends largely upon the efficiency, activity, earnestness, and devotion of the State Secretary.

The State Secretary needs at least four books.

1. A book containing a list of all persons in the State who have paid $1.00 to become members of the Society. These names should be arranged by the respective districts of the State and by the respective churches or postoffice addresses of scattered individuals, in any district.

2. A record book in which is kept the minutes of the State quarterly meetings, and the yearly meetings of the society.

3. A business book or books, in which is entered a minute of subscriptions sent, and T. and M. business transacted at the Review or Signs Office. For convenience in reference to letters afterwards, it is well that each letter written to the respective offices should be numbered, and that each item of business in each letter should be also numbered. The business books should contain copies of these letters dated and numbered with their items to correspond with the business letters.

4. The State Secretary is expected to keep a cash book. In the first part of this cash book should be an account of all documents purchased by the President for the use of the Society. In the same book should be two debit and credit accounts with each district. One of these is their periodical account with its debit and credit. The other is their book and tract account. The credit on periodical account should be furnished by each district secretary to the State Secretary, when the director pays over the money to the State Treasurer.

All periodical accounts with each district are expected to be square at the end of each quarter. If the periodical account of each district is not square after each State quarterly meeting, it is the duty of the State Secretary to write to the district secretary and director of each district to have the account balanced.

On the book and tract account, credits are given for all memberships, donations and book sales. These credits are not to be taken by the secretary from reports of labor, but from a direct request of the President or district secretary to make said credits. If it is discovered that the quarterly report contains book sales, donations and memberships which have not been credited on the cash book, the State Secretary should call on the district secretary for an explanation.

When money is paid from the State treasury on account at the Review or Signs Office, it should be reported by the President or Treasurer to the State Secretary, so that the record of the same, with date, amount, and to which office paid, can be entered upon the business book.

In case missionary members move from one part of the State to another they should inform the State Secretary, giving the place they have moved from as well as the one they have moved to, so that the Secretary can transfer their names.

The State Secretary should be sure that each district is supplied with blanks before each quarterly meeting. If the report from any district fails to come in before the State quarterly meeting, the Secretary should write to such district immediately after quarterly meeting, calling for said report. Each district secretary should call in all additional reports by the end of one month from the district quarterly meeting, and then spread the report of their meeting, with its workings for the quarter, upon their minutes. All additions to their report thus obtained should be forwarded to the State Secretary that his report may be completed and spread upon the State record by one month from the State quarterly meeting. We will speak of directors and district secretaries in our next.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.