THE GENERAL CONFERENCE TRACT ORGANIZATION.
By S. N. Haskell
At the extra session of the General Conference, held at Battle Creek, Nov. 12 and 13, it was voted to revive this Society, with sister M. J. Chapman as treasurer. By virtue of his office the president appointed sister Chapman secretary. The necessity of such an organization has been felt for years. It was organized at the session of the General Conference in 1874. A pressure of other matters and unavoidable circumstances have prevented this organization from receiving that attention which it otherwise would. There are small companies of Sabbath-keepers in different parts of this country, also in Europe and other portions of the world, that are not connected with any Seventh-day Adventist Conference, and these, when they learn of us, are anxious to co-operate with us in the missionary work. There are also individuals who have never seen any of like faith, except it be their own families, who have embraced these doctrines and are observing the Sabbath of the Lord. A few words from those of experience are a source of encouragement to them. One object of this organization is to reach this class of individuals and such companies, and to link their interests with the cause of God in a special manner. Reading matter should be furnished them, and also such assistance as would build them up in the most holy faith. Again, if there is a necessity of having organized churches unite in a State Conference, and the various State Conferences unite in one general Conference, that unanimity of action and a concentration of strength may exist throughout the body, there is far more necessity of consolidation of all our Tract Societies in one general head that will sustain the same relation to the various Tract Societies as the General Conference sustains to our State Conferences. In short, we are one people. No rending schism breaks our ranks. We are a unit in faith. In Europe, Asia, and Africa, there is a union of sentiment which is truly wonderful among those who keep the commandments of God. This is attributable to the fact that God is the author of those truths which have characterized this people for more than a quarter of a century. There are companies who have embraced the views held by Seventh-day Adventists of America, in Spain, France, Italy, Prussia, Holland, Austria, and Africa; and in a number of these cases, these companies arose without any knowledge of the fact that there were any other of like faith in the world. Having learned of our existence, they extend their hands for sympathy and help. They are greatly encouraged by receiving a knowledge of the extent of this work, and by reading periodicals and publications treating upon these truths. There have been hundreds of dollars expended in sending publications and periodicals to different parts of the world by some of our Conferences. There has therefore arisen a necessity for a General Conference organization, supported by the various Conference Tract Societies, to extend that light and truth, which give hope and joy, and which we have so bountifully received, to those precious souls who are looking and longing for the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We bid them a hearty welcome to our ranks, we invite them to participate in the joys and sorrows which are common to those who are waiting for the coming of the Son of man. No national caste should exist as a barrier to those whose hearts have been made to rejoice in present truth. All who revere God’s holy law can meet upon this one platform,—“commandments of God and faith of Jesus,” and wait for the salvation of Him who is the joy of their hearts. It can be readily seen that there is no place so fitting for the headquarters of this organization as the headquarters of this work, where our publishing houses are located. It is to this place that our publications direct the inquirer after truth. There is no individual so fitting to be president of such a Society as the president of the General Conference. No person is so fitting to be its secretary as some one connected with the publishing house at Battle Creek. It is with such officers that this organization is revived, and we invite our friends, both in the Old World and in different parts of this country outside of the bounds of Conference organizations, to correspond with the general secretary, Mrs. M. J. Chapman, Battle Creek, Mich., or with the president, Eld. James White, Oakland, Cal. There are companies in this country who have joined the New England Tract Society, having had their attention first called to the truth by that Conference, in the absence of this General Conference organization. Now their names will be transferred to the secretary of this general organization. Donations can be sent to her, as she is treasurer, and all business pertaining to the missionary work relating to such individuals and companies will be promptly attended to by her. This does not include scattered individual members of churches which belong to any of our Conferences. These can retain their membership, and labor as heretofore. But those who have become interested in present truth, and are desirous of reading matter, North, South, East, or West, or in any part of the civilized world outside of present Conference organizations, are invited to co-operate here. This in no manner is designed to prevent individuals and Tract Societies from laboring to call the attention of as many as possible everywhere to these solemn truths as heretofore. There are scores to-day observing the Sabbath as the results of such labor, and far more might be accomplished in this direction than ever has been, would our friends generally take an interest in it. Our field is the world; and God’s providence has led the way far in advance of us, and bids us follow. We long to see the time when there will be a blending together, a hearty co-operation of every company of Seventh-day Adventists on this globe, including those Chinese who have in their houses the Lord’s prayer and ten commandments, which is the first that their children commit to memory. The prophet Zephaniah calls for a gathering together of all the meek of the earth “before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you.” Zeph. 2:1-3. We expect before the next session of this Society, which will be at the next General Conference, that we shall have a definite report from those co-operating with us in different parts of the civilized world. We invite all our Tract Societies to co-operate in sustaining this organization. The New England Conference has to some extent, although under great disadvantages, tried systematically to prosecute this work. For this purpose they organized a Vigilant Missionary Society, and they rejoice to see some fruit of their labor. Now they cheerfully unite their interest to sustain this general organization. They have raised a fund for this purpose, and now from its limited treasury they donate $50, and invite our sister Conference Tract Societies to do in proportion as God has blessed them.