California Tract and Missionary Society.
THE first meeting of the thirteenth annual session of the California Tract and Missionary Society was called to order by the President, Eld. S. N. Haskell, Sept. 9, at 9 A. M. Prayer was offered by Elder Colcord. The reading of the minutes of the last annual session was waived, and the report of the April meeting, showing the plans of labor for the summer, was read, also the following report of the workings of the Society for the past year:— The membership of the Society is 699, the number of new members added during the year being 86. There were 1,142 reports returned, which is an increase of 200 over the previous year. Number of families visited, 9,783; increase, 4,776. Letters written, 3,946; pages of tracts given away, 1,195,366; increase, 106,892. Periodicals distributed, 158,564; increase, 74,464. The number of Signs taken in clubs is 2,000; increase, 446. Number of subscriptions obtained to the various periodicals, 2,184; and 1,184 of these are yearly subscribers. In addition to this, 171 yearly subscriptions were taken upon the camp-ground, making 1,355, of which 156 were for the Review and Herald. During the year, books to the amount of $1,016.47, and $598.42 worth of tracts have been sold, making a total of $1,614.89, not including books sold by subscription. The expense of freight, postage, stationery, furnishing Signs and Good Health to public libraries, etc., is $201.24. On account of the increased agitation on the Sunday question last fall, it was thought advisable to issue a special edition of the Signs previous to the election. Over 300,000 of this edition were sent out, the greater portion of them to the citizens of this State. This cost $1,779.62, the most of which was paid at the time by subscriptions and donations. The remainder, $383.55, has been paid since the quarterly meeting in April, when pledges were made for this purpose and for the support of the Seaman's Mission. The Seaman's Mission has steadily increased in interest and importance since its beginning, and at present one missionary is devoting all of his time, and two others spend a portion of their time, in the work. They have visited 1,113 ships, and with the officers and crews of these vessels, 176,096 pages of reading matter, and 14,152 periodicals have been left; for these they have paid $174, which shows their interest in the truth. Donations to the amount of $1,000 have been received from the friends of the cause throughout the State, leaving about $616.45 now due on pledges made last April. A reading-room has been secured, with a library of over one hundred volumes. A general assortment of our publications is kept on hand, and meetings held with those that are interested. The workers also receive fifty copies of the Signs, and a club of each of the foreign papers, with which to supply the ships. A number have been baptized, and many are reported as interested. On some ships the entire crew are keeping the Sabbath, as the result of this work. The Signs is considered as an important means of forwarding the truth; and experience has proved that the people will read with more interest that for which they pay, hence the plan of obtaining monthly subscribers was adopted. During the short time devoted to this work, more than 1,000 subscriptions were taken, and many of these have renewed for a longer period. This being an experiment, it was thought that the cost would exceed the income; but this has not been the case, as $18.00 above the expense have been received. The President spoke of the success which has attended the efforts of those engaged in the work of obtaining short-term subscriptions to the Signs. Eld. Israel mentioned the plan of missionary work adopted in connection with the tent-meetings at Downey, Los Angeles County, and the favorable results which attended the Bible-readings. Bro. McClure also gave some of his experience in the missionary work. The President appointed the following committees: On Nominations—N. C. McClure, John Judson, J. W. Gardner; on Resolutions—W. C. White, M. C. Israel, G. D. Ballou. The second meeting was held Sept. 17, at 5:30 A. M. Prayer by Eld. Ballou. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The following resolutions were presented:— WHEREAS, The experience of our colporteurs in many conferences has been such to give us great confidence in the results to be gained by obtaining short-term subscriptions for the Signs of the Times, and following the interests thus aroused by supplying other reading matter; and WHEREAS, Some would engage in this work who cannot make a second visit; therefore Resolved, That we recommend to such the plan of taking monthly subscriptions, with the understanding that some Vigilant Missionary Society shall furnish the papers, and follow up the work by correspondence. Resolved, That we regard with pleasure the increasing usefulness of the Seaman's Mission, and heartily approve of the steps taken in the opening of a reading-room. WHEREAS, We have arrived at a time in the history of the Message when greater efforts should be made by all our Tract Societies to carry forward the work, Resolved, That each director be requested to visit every church in his district as often as once in three months, that he may be able to direct the work, and see that a supply of books, tracts, and papers, is provided for the use of the members, and that proper persons are encouraged to act as colporteurs and canvassers, and that he visit families and conduct Bible-readings. WHEREAS, A revised and enlarged book of instructions has been prepared by the officers of the International Tract and Missionary Society, containing the constitution of International, State, and Vigilant Missionary Societies, besides many valuable hints and suggestions which are indispensable to those who would be successful missionary workers; therefore, Resolved, That we recommend this book to all who desire to work intelligently and harmoniously in the cause; and we recommend that our directors, district secretaries, librarians, and all others who have any interest in the tract and missionary work, study this new work, and endeavor to carry out its important suggestions in connection with their work. These resolutions were adopted, after remarks showing the importance of the officers and members' taking steps to put them into effect. In favor of the first resolution, Eld. Haskell related the partial result of the work in Nevada, where, in a short time, 273 subscriptions were obtained. The papers were furnished by the California Society. As the canvasser could not revisit the subscribers, the Secretary corresponded with them, and in nearly every instance they expressed themselves as very interested in its contents, and some have renewed. He thought those traveling could call on families, take their subscription, and the Signs be furnished by some society which will also correspond with them and receive the subscription price, thus helping pay for the club of Signs. The Nominating Committee presented the following names for officers, who were duly elected: President, Eld. S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, Eld. M. C. Israel; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. B. C. Rice; the Assistant Secretary to be appointed by the other officers. Director of District No. 1, Wm. Ings; No. 2, W. G. Buckner; No. 3, W. A. Pratt; No. 4, J. D. Bandy; No. 5, Wm. Butcher; No. 6, Jos. Leininger; No. 7, W. J. Bostwick; No. 8, H. C. Palmer; No. 9, A. F. Brown. It was voted that Nevada Tract Society join us as District No. 10, with J. W. Bond as Director. The Treasurer's report was read as follows:— Cash received on memberships: $86.00; donations, $430.53; one-third, $574.27; book sales, $643.27; Signs, $1,557.40; periodicals, $543.95; Special Signs and Ship Fund, $1,170.15; Reserve Fund, $207.56; International T. and M. Society, $20.00; Tent Fund, $1.00—$5,234.07 Paid Signs Office: $3,835.23; Review, $862.79; incidentals, $55.00; individuals, $113.55; International T. and M. Society, $60.00; Tent Fund, $1.00; Seaman's Mission, $99.00; Reserve Fund, $207.50—$5,234.07 FINANCIAL STANDING OF THE SOCIETY.
Due from districts on account: $1,236.35
“ individuals: $253.25
“ Signs to England: $40.75
“ Seaman's Mission: $250.72
Reserve deposit: $2,451.45
Foreign publications on hand: $287.00—$4,519.52
Society owes Spanish Mission: $131.00—$131.00
Assets: $4,388.52 Adjourned sine die.
S. N. HASKELL, Pres.
ALICE MORRISON, Sec. WHAT sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure, but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.