California Tract and Missionary Society.
The State meeting for the quarter ending April 1, 1883, was held in Oakland, with the President in the chair. Prayer was offered by Eld. Waggoner. The directors present were Wm. Ings, W. A. Pratt, Wm. Saunders, E. J. Waggoner, and M. C. Israel. As no meeting has been held for several quarters, simply a summary of work done during the past quarter was read, as follows:— | Districts |
No. of Members |
Reports Returned |
Members Added |
Members Dismissed |
Missionary Visits |
Letters Written |
Signs taken in clubs |
Review |
Signs |
Good Health |
Instructor |
Other Periodicals |
|---|
| No. 1 |
142 |
50 |
11 |
1 |
294 |
292 |
235 |
2 |
18 |
|
|
|
| No. 2 |
81 |
30 |
|
1 |
14 |
186 |
184 |
|
4 |
1 |
|
|
| No. 3 |
84 |
48 |
1 |
1 |
49 |
261 |
159 |
2 |
10 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
| No. 4 |
23 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
| No. 5 |
102 |
21 |
8 |
|
59 |
32 |
139 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
| No. 6 |
13 |
10 |
|
|
2 |
5 |
26 |
1 |
5 |
|
1 |
1 |
| No. 7 |
132 |
34 |
6 |
|
156 |
264 |
504 |
|
5 |
6 |
|
|
| No. 8 |
87 |
41 |
1 |
3 |
796 |
228 |
197 |
2 |
13 |
18 |
|
10 |
| No. 9 |
21 |
15 |
1 |
|
21 |
12 |
19 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
|
| Ships |
|
|
|
|
241 |
|
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
695 |
255 |
34 |
8 |
1635 |
1283 |
1630 |
7 |
59 |
29 |
7 |
16 |
| Districts |
Pages tracts and pamphlets |
Periodicals |
Donation |
Membership and Sales |
Periodicals |
Total |
|---|
| No. 1 |
61201 |
3045 |
$ 55 63 |
$ 9 40 |
$127 75 |
$191 78 |
| No. 2 |
14451 |
606 |
44 90 |
1 10 |
15 50 |
61 50 |
| No. 3 |
13892 |
2316 |
16 65 |
11 10 |
57 70 |
85 45 |
| No. 4 |
20 00 |
4 00 |
21 30 |
45 30 |
|
|
| No. 5 |
12533 |
1014 |
29 90 |
1 25 |
37 60 |
68 75 |
| No. 6 |
6810 |
875 |
2 95 |
|
|
2 95 |
| No. 7 |
49908 |
4770 |
95 10 |
3 00 |
167 50 |
267 60 |
| No. 8 |
54240 |
2285 |
34 80 |
23 60 |
52 60 |
111 00 |
| No. 9 |
4112 |
40 |
8 10 |
15 00 |
23 10 |
|
| Ships |
17459 |
2059 |
14 00 |
65 00 |
|
79 00 |
| Total |
234606 |
17010 |
$322 93 |
$126 55 |
$474 95 |
$936 43 |
The President stated that the cause calls for frequent consultations of the leading brethren, and that no Conference can prosper without it, therefore the necessity for State quarterly meetings. The experience of the past should prepare us for greater work in the future. We should have more of the Spirit of God to aid us in laying plans for the advancement of the truth. Though we have done a good work in the past, we should not be satisfied with this. We cannot remain standing still, but must advance. One of the greatest evidences of the nearness of the coming of the Lord is the rapid and wide spread of the message. Those that are engaged in the ship work gave encouraging reports. This work is steadily advancing. Many are interested, and some are keeping the Sabbath. The temperance work has been introduced among the sailors, with favorable results. A letter from a sister in Honolulu, stated that the inhabitants of the island are a church-going people, and that this is a good field for labor. There is no limit to the influence of shipwork. It carries the truth to every part of the world. Eld. Haskell spoke of the importance of the colporteur work. We need twenty laborers where we now have one, to distribute reading matter, and to read and pray with families. A letter from Eld. A. J. Cudney, of Nebraska, was read, showing the plan adopted by that Conference. The colporteur visits families, and gets subscribers to the SIGNS for one month, payment to be made at the end of the month; he also visits families each week, taking tracts with him to enlighten them on any point of doctrine in which they may have become interested. At the end of the month they are induced to subscribe for the paper with the premium. Hundreds of213subscribers are thus obtained and many others become interested to read. A good colporteur receives from thirty to forty subscribers per week. Sister White spoke of the magnitude of the work, and of the responsibilities that rest upon those engaged in it. Whatever God has given us, whether means or ability, should be used to advance the truth. We cannot be too earnest. All, even the sisters, should understand the doctrine, and be able to explain the chains of prophecy, that we may know the time of the earth's history in which we live, and help carry the light to others. The time that is wasted in adorning the body should be spent in the study of the Bible. A selection from Testimony 'Twenty-nine was read, showing the utility of the canvasser's work and the neglect of missionaries in not improving opportunities as the way is opened. Eld. Waggoner spoke of the importance of the work. Eld. Healey, Eld. Rice, and Dr. E. J. Waggoner were appointed as a Committee on Resolutions. After an intermission the Committee presented the following:— Resolved: That we recommend the plan of securing monthly subscribers for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES on trial, and also that our ministers be requested to select and recommend to the Conference Committee, proper persons for canvassers and colporteurs. WHEREAS, The present fund for ship missionary work is exhausted, and, WHEREAS, About $400 has been drawn from the Reserve Fund to pay for the Special Edition of the SIGNS; therefore, Resolved: That pledges be solicited to raise the sum of $2000 to replace this amount, and to carry forward the ship missionary work. As greater results could be accomplished in the ship missionary work, if we had more facilities, it was decided that a reading-room should be opened in San Francisco where a supply of our publications can be kept, and meetings be held for those that become interested in the truth. Pledges to the amount of $1,100 were immediately taken to furnish means for this enterprise, and over $250 were paid. It was recommended that the subscription price for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, in California, for one month be twenty cents. It was also voted that the SIGNS be placed in public libraries where it will be appreciated, at the expense of the State Society. As the director of district No. 2 has moved from the district, it was voted that W. G. Buckner act in his stead. The meeting increased in interest to the close and all were greatly encouraged. On motion the meeting adjourned. Alice Morrison, Sec. S. N. Haskell, Pres.