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NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 19, 1878

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 25.

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NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

By B. L. Whitney; E. H. Whitney

The seventh annual session of the New York and Pennsylvania Tract Society was held at Rome, N. Y., in connection with the State Conference, Nov. 13–18, 1878.
The first meeting was called at 10 A. M., Nov. 14. President in the chair. Prayer by Eld J. N. Loughborough. The minutes of the last meeting were presented, and after some correction were approved.
By vote of the society, the president was authorized to appoint the committee on nominations, also one to audit the accounts of the society.
By request, Eld. Loughborough occupied some time in speaking of the work in Europe, giving instances of the rise of the truth, especially in Italy and Egypt. His remarks were of deep interest to all, and were very encouraging to vigilant missionary workers.
The following committees were then appointed by the president: On nominations, J. W. Raymond, David Carr, Darius Tabor; on auditing, Isadore L. Green, Geo. D. Ballou, Eld. A. H. Hall, P. Z. Kinne, L. T. Nourse.
The question of the division of the Conference came before the meeting, as the division of the Conference involved also a division of the tract society. It was moved and carried that the division be made to correspond with that of the Conference.
Voted, That two members be added to the nominating committee already appointed, and that this committee nominate the officers for both societies.
The request was made that Tompkins county and all of Cayuga county south of the New York Central railroad be set off from Dist. No. 8, and made a separate district.
After remarks, it was voted that the question be referred to the committee on nominations, and that they be empowered to re-district the Conferences.
J. G. Saunders and P. Z. Kinne were appointed as additional members of the nominating committee, according to the previous vote.
The report of labor for the year was presented, as follows:—
Report Amount
No. of families visited 2,409
No. of letters written 1,867
No. of pages distributed 956,775
No. of subscribers obt’d for periodicals 805
No. of periodicals distributed 21,412
Money received on donations $1063.06
Money received on membership 89.50
Money received on book sales 150.25
Money received on periodicals 1217.44
Money received on the one-third 511.48
Money received on school fund 335.00
Money received on Eu’pean Mis’n 234.50
Money received on gen’l book sales 356.62
Total $3957.85
The president made some remarks in explanation of the fact that no financial report had ever been given. A report of finances was then presented, covering the time between Aug. 8, 1872, and Nov. 10, 1878, as follows:—
Received on Amount
Educational Aid Fund $5.00
Kansas Relief Fund 134.85
Book Fund 811.75
Delinquent Fund 641.69
Widow & Orphan Fund 199.45
Hygienic Book Fund 963.45
Pacific Mission 1028.50
European Mission 484.76
School Fund 2025.30
Periodical Fund 7633.56
Tract Society Fund 8528.67
Total $22451.98
Paid on Amount
Educational Aid Fund $5.00
Kansas Relief Fund 134.85
Book Fund 811.75
Delinquent Fund 578.19
Widow and Orphan Fund 256.15
Hygienic Book Fund 963.45
Pacific Mission 1023.50
European Mission 484.76
School Fund 2025.30
Periodical Fund 7514.94
Tract Society Fund 7754.46
Total $21552.35
Leaving a balance on hand of $899.63.
This report covers the money transactions of the society, but does not show all that has been done in the different enterprises by the State, as some have transacted business directly with the Office. For instance, on the school fund only $2,025.30 has passed through the society, but the actual amount paid from the New York and Pennsylvania Conference to this enterprise is $5,504.50.
After remarks from several members, the report was adopted by a rising vote.
Eld. Loughborough here introduced the work and needs of the General Tract and Missionary Society, stating something of the object and extent of the work, then, referring to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, he gave some interesting facts regarding the publishing interest in California.
The matter of taking the SIGNS in clubs was considered, and it was recommended that fifteen hundred copies of the SIGNS be taken in clubs in the New York and Pennsylvania Conferences the coming year. Several of those present who had been in the field the past summer testified to the efficient help rendered by the SIGNS in preparing the way for the preaching of the truth. The motion was carried.
A call was then made for the names of those who wished to unite with the General Tract Society by paying an initiation fee of ten dollars. Twenty-four responded.
The committee appointed to audit the accounts of the society then requested the privilege of presenting a partial report. Their request was granted, and the committee reported as follows:—
“Your committee would report that, having requested the assistance of Sister Loughborough, a practical book-keeper, we have thoroughly examined a portion of the accounts, and we are not only satisfied of their accuracy, but are much pleased with the systematic method in which the books have been kept. Owing to the limited time and the extensiveness of the business covered by the accounts, it would be impossible for us to give the remainder of them as thorough an examination, and we therefore ask as a favor that we be discharged, and thus released from what, in our judgment, is an unnecessary task.”
The report was adopted, and the committee discharged.
The following resolution was then adopted by a rising vote:—
Resolved, That we express our hearty appreciation of and obligation for the untiring efforts of Bro. and Sr. Whitney to bring the accounts of our tract and missionary society to their present creditable and correct condition.
A report of the standing of the society was presented, as follows:—
Item Amount
Stock on hand—books, premiums, etc. $915.00
Amount due on periodicals from districts 1729.88
Amount due on individual accounts 536.81
Due on general book sales 120.90
Cash on hand 899.63
Total $4202.22
Due REVIEW Office $1988.97
Due “Signs” 742.88
Total 2731.85
Balance1 $1470.37
The report of the Committee on Nominations was as follows:—
“The committee to whom was assigned the duty of districting the New York and Pennsylvania Conference Tract and Missionary Societies, and nominating officers for said T. and M. Societies, would report, recommending that in the New York Conference T. and M. Society, the districts formerly known as Dists. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 retain their former numbers and boundaries; that Dist. No. 8 be divided, Oneida and Onondaga counties to constitute a district to be known as Dist. No. 8; that Cayuga, Tompkins, and Cortland counties constitute a district to be known as Dist. No. 9; and that Lewis county form a district to be known as Dist. No. 10.”
“In reference to the Pennsylvania Conference Tract and Missionary Society, your committee would further recommend as follows: That the district formerly known as Dist. No. 9 be hereafter known as Dist. No. 1, retaining its former boundaries; that Dist. No. 10 be divided, the eastern part of Allegany county, N. Y., and of Potter county, Pa., including the Niles Hill, Wellsville, Ulysses, and West Pike churches, to constitute a district to be known as Dist. No. 2; that the western part of Allegany county, N. Y., Potter and McKean counties, Pa., and Portville, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., constitute a district to be known as Dist. No. 3; that Cattaraugus county, N. Y., including the Clear Creek church, and Warren county, Pa., constitute a district to be known as Dist. No. 4; and that Chautauqua county, N. Y., and Crawford county, Pa., constitute a district to be known as Dist. No. 5.”
“Your committee would further report by way of nomination of officers for said societies and districts as follows: For President, Eld. B. L. Whitney; for Vice-president of the New York T. and M. Society, P. Z. Kinne; for Secretary, E. H. Whitney; Assistant Secretary, Addie Bowen. For Vice-president of the Pennsylvania T. and M. Society, J. W. Raymond; for Secretary, Addie Bowen, the president of said society to appoint a resident secretary at his own option.”
“For directors of the New York T. and M. Society: Dist. No. 1, Eld. B. F. Cottrell; No. 2, S. N. Wright; No. 3, Wm. H. Brown; No. 4, H. H. Wilcox; No. 5, I. N. Russell; No. 6, David Carr; No. 7, N. C. Wheeler; No. 8, P. Z. Kinne; No. 9, E. S. Lane; No. 10, Eld. Jacob Wilbur. For directors of the Pennsylvania T. and M. Society: Dist. No. 1, F. B. Reed; No. 2, D. C. Phillips; No. 3, S. L. Strang; No. 4, S. Thurston; No. 5, John B. Stowe.”
The report was unanimously adopted and the officers elected.
Eld. Loughborough suggested that a more substantial manifestation of appreciation of the work of the secretaries be made, and the society voted that one hundred dollars be paid from the tract society fund for the services of the secretary and assistant secretary, and to meet their traveling expenses.
Adjourned sine die.
B. L. WHITNEY, Pres.
E. H. WHITNEY, Sec.