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Report of the N. E. Missionary Tract Society

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 21, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 23.

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Report of the N. E. Missionary Tract Society.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell; Frank Buzzell

The N. E. Tract Society met at the time of the quarterly meeting in New Ipswich, Oct. 29, 1871. The president in the chair. Prayer at the opening of the meeting by Eld. Rodman. Previous to Tract Society business, Eld. Haskell presented the following reports:
1. Camp-meeting report.
Amount pledged for camp-meeting, $602.35
” paid on pledges, 579.15
Received on sales of camp-meeting property purchased last year, 141.31
Property on hand purchased this year, 75.00
Camp-meeting expenses, 379.51
Receipts on sales at camp-ground, 172.82
Balance between receipts and expenses, in cash, 493.17
2. Report on delinquent subscribers.
Receipts by personal donations to pay arrearages, and for REVIEW to the poor, $87.20
Sum paid out on the same, 152.64
Balance now due, 65.44
3. Report of the financial standing of the widows’ fund.
Receipt by personal donations, $85.68
Money paid out, 32.29
On motion, a committee of three was appointed by the Chair to make a disposition of the surplus camp-meeting fund.
Missionary Society then organized. Report of the last meeting was read and accepted. Reports of individuals were then called for, and read, which showed that quite a list of subscribers have been obtained for the REVIEW, Instructor, and Reformer. Also quite a number had been furnished, at the expense of individuals, to their friends. Total distribution of tracts, pamphlets, and bound books, stood about as follows: Fifty bound books, two hundred and thirteen pamphlets, twelve hundred and sixteen tracts at a value of fifty-eight dollars and eighty-five cents. Fifteen libraries have been furnished with three of our best bound books. These figures fall far below the real numbers as circumstances prevented the reception of many reports.
This being an annual meeting, the annual report showed that nearly four thousand individuals have been induced to read on present truth since the formation of this society. Some have embraced the Sabbath, many sick have been visited and prayed with. Prejudice has been removed, and God has blessed the enterprise.
Amount received on donations and memberships, $566.88
Number of members, 104
Value of publications distributed to churches and individuals at reduced prices, 577.22
Quite a degree of interest was manifested in obtaining subscribers. An effort will be made the coming quarter to increase the list of subscribers to our periodicals at least five hundred; which can be done if all take a lively interest in the work. Proposed amendments to the constitution were then offered and adopted as follows:
Article 1 was changed so as to read—This society shall be called the Christian Philanthropic Missionary Society of the Seventh-day Adventists of the New England Conference.
Article 4 was altered so as to read—Any person may become a member of this society who comes recommended by any church of Seventh-day Adventists, by the payment of one dollar.
To article 7 was added this clause: “And shall act as agents in collecting funds for this society.”
Voted, That article 8 should become article 9 and that article 8 should read as follows: This society shall take the responsibility of collecting arrearages on the periodicals of the S. D. A. publications, within the limits of this Conference, by means of duly appointed agents who shall be appointed annually and shall report to the Executive Committee as they may require.
At this point, Bro. Haskell stated the plan he had already adopted, which met the minds of the brethren present. The plan was this: twelve agents for the ensuing year have been appointed, whose business was as follows: 1. To notify all in their respective sections when the pay on their subscriptions becomes due, and remind them of the amount due for a year in advance; to receive the same, and forward it to the Office. 2. At the expiration of the quarter, each agent shall report to Eld. S. N. Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass., every one who has paid, and how much; also each one that has not paid. Therefore no agent is to stop any paper, or to pay any arrearages in behalf of the Conference, but report the same, with any suggestions they wish to make, and the Executive Committee will do what in their judgment is thought best.
It was voted that the Vigilant Missionary Society of South Lancaster, Mass., become anauxiliary to this society, in laboring by correspondence and otherwise, for the encouragement and help of scattered ones of like precious faith, for those who are falling back from discouragement, and to interest all within the reach of our influence in the great truths connected with the last message of mercy to the world.
It was voted and carried that the Chair appoint a committee to nominate officers for the ensuing year, who, after a recess of one half an hour, reported as follows:
President, Eld. S. N. Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass., Secretary, M. L. Huntley, South Lancaster, Mass., Treasurer, Josiah Webber, New Ipswich, N. H., Executive Committee, S. N. Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass., H. B. Stratton, Boston, Mass., C. K. Farnsworth, Washington, N. H., A. P. Green, Shannock, R. I., Frank Buzzell, New Ipswich, N. H.
Committee on appropriation of camp-meeting fund reported, which report was ratified as follows:
Donated to Book Fund at Battle Creek, $200.00
For past arrearages on periodicals, 65.44
Missionary and Tract Society, 50.00
REVIEW to worthy poor, 60.00
Widows’ fund, 67.00
The balance to be kept for a reserve fund.
S. N. HASKELL, President,
F. BUZZELL, Secretary.