UPPER COLUMBIA TRACT SOCIETY PROCEEDINGS.
By Mrs. L. A. Fero
THE eighth annual session of the Upper Columbia Tract Society was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Dayton, W. T., May 30 to June 6. The first meeting was held at 4 P. M., May 31, President Elder H. W. Decker in the chair. Minutes of the last annual session were read and approved. The president then appointed the usual committees, as follows: On Nominations, Elder J. Bartlett, Moses Hunt, T. L. Ragsdale; on Resolutions, Prof. E. M. Morrison, Elder D. T. Fero, Sister H. Scoles. The second meeting, at 9 A. M., June 5, was opened with prayer by Elder W. C. White. The Committee on Resolutions being called upon reported, requesting that the resolutions of last year be reaffirmed. After some discussion the report was referred back to the committee. The Committee on Nominations presented the following report: For President, Elder H. W. Decker; Vice-President, Elder D. T. Fero; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. L. A. Fero; Directors: Idaho, H. W. Carr; Washington Territory, L. D. Cargill; Oregon, T. L. Ragsdale. The report was adopted by considering each name separately, and each was elected to the office designated. The president called attention to the fact that Montana having been added to our Conference, steps should be taken to organize the Tract and Missionary work there. On motion of Elder Fero it was voted that Montana constitute District No. 4. The Committee on Resolutions presented the following report:— Resolved, That we labor to introduce the great truths of the Third Angel's Message to the traveling public, by placing the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and the American Sentinel in public reading-rooms, and by furnishing them to such of our leading hotels as will give them a permanent place in their parlors or reading-rooms. WHEREAS, The canvassing work is one of the most effectual means of spreading the truth and warning the people; and, WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated by work done last year, that canvassing can be made a success in this Conference; therefore, Resolved, That we enter upon the work of canvassing this year with renewed energy and perseverance. WHEREAS, The American Tract Society has issued a $500 prize essay on the Sunday question, and the American Sunday-school Union has issued a $1,000 prize essay on the same subject; and, WHEREAS, These two publications being issued by these representative bodies may justly be considered the strongest presentation of the subject that can be made; and, WHEREAS, Under the title, "The Abiding Sabbath and the Lord's Day," the Pacific Press has issued a thorough and valuable review of both of these prize essays; therefore, Resolved, That we will make an earnest and continued effort to place this pamphlet in the hands of all classes of readers. These resolutions were considered separately. The first was discussed by Elders A. T. Jones, E. R. Jones, H. W. Decker, and others, and an effort made to impress forcibly upon us our duty with reference to circulating our periodicals, and especially the Sentinel at this time. The second resolution called out remarks from Professor Morrison, Elders Decker, White, and others, to the effect that canvassing can be made a success financially in this Conference, and for demonstration of this, called upon Bro. W. W. Steward to relate his experience. Elder A. T. Jones was in favor of the brethren helping in the canvassing work by word, deed, feed, etc., and his ideas were approved by a rising vote. Elder White remarked that the devil and all his agents are doing all they can to discourage every worker, and we don't want to join their ranks. After the reading of the third resolution, Elder A. T. Jones was asked to explain the contents of the pamphlet, "The Abiding Sabbath and the Lord's Day," which he did. The resolutions were unanimously adopted. No. of members, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
" missionary visits, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 555
" letters written, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693
" pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed and sold, . . . 155,671
" periodicals distributed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,007
" subscriptions obtained, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Cash on hand April 1, 1887, . . . . . . . . . $ 87 56
Received during the year, . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,804 78
Total, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,892 34
Paid out during the year, . . . . . . . . . . . 2,037 18
Cash on hand April 1, 1888, . . . . . . . . . $ 855 16 Due from various sources, . . . . . . . . . . $ 809 73
Value of stock, book-cases, etc., . . . . . . . . 575 70
Cash on hand, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 855 16
Total, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,240 59
Debts unpaid, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 930 94
Balance in favor of the society, . . . . . . . $1,309 65
MRS. L. A. FERO, Secretary.