ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ENGLAND TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY by S. N. Haskell; Maria L. Huntley

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 1, 1877

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ENGLAND TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

By S. N. Haskell; Maria L. Huntley

The New England Tract and Missionary Society met at South Lancaster, Mass., Oct. 21, 1877. Meeting opened with prayer by Eld. D. M. Canright. Report of the last meeting read and approved; after which the report of labor performed since the last quarterly meeting, and also during the year, was read. The annual report was as follows:—

Reports returned during the year, 306; families visited, 1,106; letters written, 1,648;

subscribers obtained for periodicals, 1,405; periodicals distributed, 10,525; almanacs, 10,000; tracts and pamphlets, 337,925 pages.

The financial report showed that the receipts during the year were nearly $900 less than the expenditures of the society, notwithstanding there had been donations in addition to the one-third.

The Tract Society in New England was organized in November, 1870. The first year the expenses were about $700, which is only about one-third the amount of systematic benevolence paid in the Conference at the present time. The expenses of the society have increased yearly, until last year they were about $2,000, and this year they have exceeded $2,500, which is several hundred dollars more than the S. B. raised in this Conference; and double this sum could be used to advantage. The question naturally arose, whether the tract and missionary effort should be reduced to correspond with the income arising from the one-third, or whether the brethren would supply the lack by donations. The latter course was decided upon in a practical manner, nearly $500 being pledged to the Tract Society at this meeting, of which $350 were paid down. This was done without any public appeal for means in this department, but not until after various other calls for means had been considered, and it had been voted to raise a reserve fund to be loaned to various enterprises, such as building meeting-houses, &c., until pledges on the same could be paid. This fund is to be under the control of the Conference Committee, and is to prevent any delay in carrying forward enterprises that may demand immediate attention. Over $1,600 were pledged for this purpose, which, in addition to means arising from sale of the camp-ground, gives a cash capital, for this reserve fund, of about $2,300, of which $1,800 is on hand. In addition to this, $410 were pledged directly to the meeting-houses in Danvers and Lancaster.

The annual report of the Vigilant Missionary Society showed that the number of letters written by its members during the year was, 1,113; received, 547; families visited, 331; subscribers obtained for periodicals, 309; periodicals distributed, 4,280; also 19,709 pages of tracts and pamphlets have been distributed; 225 copies of the SIGNS have been taken by this society, which have been sent to about a thousand different individuals.

As usual, the Missionary Worker was filled with interesting matter which had been prepared by the editor, Miss Mary Martin.

It was moved that the Chair appoint a committee of three to nominate officers for the ensuing year, whereupon C. W. Comings, C. K. Farnsworth, and J. Crandall were named as said committee.

Meeting adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND SESSION.

Meeting opened with prayer by Eld. U. Smith. It was voted to adopt the constitution as amended, combining the offices of secretary and treasurer.

Committee on Nominations reported the following persons for officers the coming year. President, S. N. Haskell; Vice-president, D. A. Robinson; Secretary, Maria L. Huntley; Assistant Secretary, E. Thayer, South Lancaster, Mass. For directors: Dist. No. 1, J. C. Tucker, Kingston, R. I.; Dist. No. 2, M. Wood, South Boston, Mass.; No. 3, S. Martin, West Rindge, N. H.; No. 4, H. P. Wakefield, Newport, N. H.; No. 5, S. J. Twing, Montville, Mass.; No. 6, E. G. Bolter, So. Amherst, Mass.; No. 7, J. R. Israel, Ipswich, Mass.; No. 8, N. Orcutt, So. Vineland, N. J.

The meeting was favored with the presence of Elds. Smith, Canright, and Cottrell, who added much to the interest. Although late in the season, the meeting was held under canvas, the chapel at this place being much too small to accommodate those who attended.

S. N. Haskell, Pres.

Maria L. Huntley, Sec.