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California State Quarterly Meeting

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 25, 1877

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 3, No. 41.

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California State Quarterly Meeting.

By J. E. White; A. M. Loughborough

The first State quarterly meeting of the California Tract and Missionary Society of this Conference year was held in Oakland, October 21, 1877.
In the absence of the president the vice-president, J. E. White, presided. The opening prayer was offered by Wm. Harmon.
Of the eight districts in the State only three were represented by directors, namely, Nos. 1, 3 and 7. The minutes of the previous meeting were called for, read and approved. The treasurer's report was also read and accepted.
The report of the workings of the society for the quarter, being called for, was read showing the following results:—
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 Total
Libraries Furnished 4 4
Other periodicals distributed 350 66 169 17 210 175 987
Signs distributed 680 28 376 57 2,427 3,456 7,024
New subscribers for other periodicals 12 2 9 49 14 86
New subscribers for Signs 5 5 2 30 16 58
No. pp. Tracts, etc., given away 7,337 2,938 9,608 3,787 30,597 22,869 79,476
No. pp. Tracts, etc., loaned 440 5,948 6,781 1,560 19,641 7,016 41,384
Widows and Orphans $101.15 $29.50 $130.65
Book sales $20.45 $1.30 $10.65 $8.65 $1.80 $20.00 $62.85
Donations $13.55 $8.90 $27.21 $164.15 $102.10 $315.91
New Members $1.00 $2.00 $5.00 $2.00 $10.00
Letters written 19 20 32 6 47 89 213
Families visited 17 2 34 10 112 230 405
No. of Reports 30 14 37 14 43 31 169
Memberships 118 54 50 26 57 43 348
Some of the features in the above mirror look well, while others are defective. For instance, the money received for memberships, donations, book sales and widows and orphans, figure, $519.41, which added to $481.41 received on the general fund, makes a total of $1000.82, an excess over last quarter of $687.84. The total number of pages of tracts and pamphlets loaned and given away are 120,860, while the number of last quarter was 144,426, a decrease of 23,626 pages.
Our membership as seen above is 348; of this number only 169 have found in this large field missionary work to do, while 178 have been inactive, without employment for three long months, one-fourth of a year; and, strange as it may seem, all this while the cry for laborers has unceasingly sounded.
Following the reading of the secretary's report the vice-president read an address, prepared for the occasion, setting forth the work to be done and showing how to do it. This address embraced the manner of conducting vigilant missionary societies, as explained in the Advent Review supplement. After the reading of the constitution it was
Voted, That the constitution as read be adopted.
The expediency of issuing a supplement of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES wherein the constitution and other articles pertaining to the interest of the missionary work could appear, thus obviating the necessity of publishing in a pioneer sheet like the SIGNS so much matter of a local nature, was duly considered and
Voted, That 2,000 copies of this supplement be printed, and the expense apportioned by the State secretary to the several districts according to their financial strength.
The question of vigilant missionary societies then claimed attention, when a motion was made and carried, That we recommend to the various churches in the State the organization of such societies.
The resolution relating to the one-third, passed at the General Conference, November 12, 1876, being fully discussed, it was finally
Voted, That we raise a sum equal to one-third of our S. B. pledges for the year, to meet the demand for means, to be used as far as necessary in the proposed increase of the circulation of the SIGNS, the Reformer, and other publications; this offering to be paid quarterly to the church treasurer with the regular S. B. The church treasurer will pass the same to the librarian.
On motion the meeting adjourned till 2:30 P. M.

SECOND SESSION.

The society met as per adjournment. Prayer by E. R. Gillett. It being decided that the quota of Health Annuals for this coast should not be less than 15,000, the question arose how to apportion them; an apportionment was then decided upon, and after due deliberation a motion was made and carried, That the State secretary be requested to write to the different directors, stating the number apportioned to their districts, and asking them to accept their proportion as a bona fide order.
The fact that so many of the directors absented themselves from a meeting of so great importance and interest as this one, elicited remarks from many, and as none attributed the non-presence of any to a lack of interest, it was
Voted, That the traveling expenses of the directors to and from the State quarterly meetings be paid by the society, the districts being taxed to meet this extra sum according to their financial ability.
The interest of this meeting was greatly increased by the presence of Sister White, whose touching remarks strengthened and deepened the missionary spirit in the hearts of those present. She said, we do not realize what our publications are doing; the Annual is doing a great work in advertising our institutions and publications, while the Health Reformer alone is bringing hundreds to our Health Institute, located at Battle Creek, Michigan, where very many become acquainted with our views and embrace the truths we hold so dear.
Following these remarks a motion was made and carried, That the directors be requested to see that every family of believers in the State subscribe for the Health Reformer.
The director of district No. 1 presented a request made by one of the officials connected with the International Reading-room, at Lakeport, for our books, stating that the expense of transportation would be met by those connected with the reading-room. A vote was passed granting district No. 1 the privilege of placing in this reading-room as many of our publications as were desired.
Much might be added showing the increased interest awakened in missionary work as the result of this meeting, but space forbids. We will say, however, that Oakland, whose apportionment of Annuals is 3,000, expressed a wish that it was double that number. The 3,000 are already ordered by a few individuals who become responsible for them, and with the zeal and earnestness now manifested 6,000 could be used in that district as well as more. One sister in San Francisco subscribed for 1,000 and mentioned two others in the church who would probably take 1,000 each.
With the words of Sister White still sounding in our ears, “Send forth the Annual, let not false dignity or a lack of humility hinder the work,” we close the report, regretting that all the members and officers of the T. and M. society of this State did not enjoy, with us, the privilege of this good quarterly meeting.
J. E. WHITE, Vice-President.
A. M. LOUGHBOROUGH, Secretary.