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The Missionary

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 20, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 48.

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The Missionary.

International Tract and Missionary Society.

THE first meeting of the eighth annual session of the International Tract and Missionary Society was held at Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 11, at 9 A. M. The State Societies were represented by one hundred and nine delegates.
Remarks were made by the President, in which he stated the object of the Society, and briefly reviewed the labor of the past year. He also set forth to some extent the work to be accomplished the coming year. Publications to the value of over $3,500, at much less than wholesale prices, consisting of bound books for libraries, "Life of Christ" (Library), in pamphlet form, other pamphlets and tracts, clubs of the SIGNS, and old periodicals have been distributed since the last annual meeting by this Society, to different parts of this country and to other countries, including the following places: Boston, New Bedford, Providence, New York, Chicago, life-saving stations along the coast, different points in the South, Canada, Dakota, Oregon, N. A.; Hayti, Tobago, Trinidad, W. I.; British Guiana, S. A.; Hull, Bristol, Liverpool, and London, Eng.; Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany.
This work has largely been accomplished by persons to whom publications have been sent in quantities. In addition to the avenues already opened for sending reading matter free of cost, the demand for it at several points in the West Indies, South America, Nova Scotia, and other places, is such as to require a free transportation to these countries. With the exception of bound books presented to libraries, about one-half of this reading matter has been sent from So. Lancaster, Mass., and the balance from Oakland, Cal., and Battle Creek, Mich.
SECOND MEETING, NOV. 13, AT 10 A. M.
The President stated the following points for consideration: 1. Certain defects in the Constitution. 2. Shall the Society use new periodicals for distribution in the place of old ones? 3. What relation does this Society sustain to such missions as the Chicago and New York City Missions?
A letter was read from Boise City, Idaho, containing an earnest appeal for labor, as illustrating the many existing openings where clubs of SIGNS could be used to advantage. This letter called forth interesting remarks from Brn. White, Cudney, Loughborough, and Sisley.
It was voted that the Executive Board be privileged to have all the publications which it can use judiciously.
Eld. Loughborough spoke in behalf of the mission at Liverpool, and Bro. Wm. J. Boynton, of the New York City Mission, both urging the need of more publications. The wants of the Chicago Mission were also spoken of, as well as the necessity of systematic missionary labor in other cities. Eld. S. H. Lane spoke in behalf of Indianapolis, and Eld. J. O. Corliss, of Washington, D. C. In view of the great demand now existing for reading matter, it was suggested that our brethren should carefully preserve their papers, and when they do not longer need them for reference, that they should donate them to the missionary work. A portfolio was exhibited, and recommended, for the purpose of receiving periodicals as they come from the publishing houses week by week.
The committee appointed for the purpose at a previous meeting, reported a revised Constitution, which will appear in the next issue of the SIGNS.
The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:—
1. WHEREAS, The holding of Bible-readings in families and with individuals, accompanied with other colporter work, is one of the most effectual ways to interesting people in the present truth; and, WHEREAS, The distribution of the SIGNS has been found to be the best introduction of the Bible-readings; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend to our colporters the following plan: First, Let the fields be thoroughly canvassed for trial subscriptions for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES; Secondly, Visit all subscribers once in two weeks, or oftener, to arouse the interest of those who have not read their papers, and to answer the queries of those who begin to be interested, by reading or persuading them to read such Scripture texts as will answer their inquiries; Thirdly, Continue the work by frequent Bible-readings, the judicious circulation of tracts, the sale of larger works, and by other missionary work as the way may open.
2. WHEREAS, Four weeks is too short a time to fully interest readers in the SIGNS; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend trial subscriptions to be taken for six weeks at twenty-five cents.
3. WHEREAS, There are many persons who, in connection with other business, can secure short-term subscriptions for the SIGNS, but who are unable to re-visit and carry forward the work; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend such to do all they can, placing their lists in the hands of the State Secretary, or some Vigilant Missionary Society, who will send the papers, and follow up the work by correspondence.
4. WHEREAS, The Conferences in which most of our city missions are located, are unable to fully meet the expenses of those missions; therefore, Resolved, That this Society furnish them with periodicals and books as the Executive Committee may think best.
5. WHEREAS, It is very important that our leading books be widely circulated, and the public libraries present one of the best avenues of circulation; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend "Sketches from the Life of Paul," "The United States in Prophecy," and "The Sanctuary," to be placed in those libraries having the ten volumes; and that all these volumes in their best binding, be placed in the best libraries of our large cities which have not the ten books; and that this society furnish these volumes to the State Society, for this purpose, at one-fourth the retail price.
6. WHEREAS, The city of Washington, D. C., is an important missionary field, and should be entered by some of our workers; and, WHEREAS, Bro. Reuben Wright is quite thoroughly acquainted with that field, and is one whose circumstances would permit him to devote time and means to the work; therefore, Resolved, That we invite him to immediately engage in the work of introducing the printed truth in that vicinity, doing colporter work, or aiding others to do the same, and that he have the oversight of that field. Resolved, That this society furnish for that field periodicals and books as the Executive Committee may deem advisable.
7. WHEREAS, God has given us great light on the subject of temperance; and, WHEREAS, Our health journal (Good Health) occupies a position in the temperance field that no other journal does; therefore, Resolved, That we earnestly recommend our State Societies to labor diligently to secure the subscriptions of all the Sabbath-keeping families in their territory.
8. WHEREAS, Some of our successful canvassers for "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation" have secured many subscribers for Good Health without detriment to their other work; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend our experienced canvassers for "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation" to work for Good Health at the same time.
9. WHEREAS, We believe the steel engraving, "Christ the Way of Life," teaches an important lesson, and may be successfully used in the missionary field as an introduction to our other religious works; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend it to our agents and colporters as a valuable auxiliary to the financial success of their work.
10. WHEREAS, Experience in canvassing and colporter work is more valuable than oral or written instruction; therefore, Resolved, That, as far as possible, beginners should be sent out in company with experienced workers; and where this is not practicable, we recommend them to labor in companies of two or three, in order that they may frequently meet to compare experiences, and counsel with each other for mutual encouragement.