p. 2 | NEW ENGLAND T. AND M. SOCIETY

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

NEW ENGLAND T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By S. N. Haskell; Eliza Thayer

The annual meeting of the New England T. and M. Society was held at South Lancaster, Mass., Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. The first business meeting was held Dec. 1, at nine o’clock A. M. President in the chair. Prayer by Eld. Loughborough.

Reports of the last quarterly and annual meetings were read and accepted, also reports of labor performed during the past quarter and year. As these have appeared in Supplement to REVIEW, Vol. 52, No. 20, they are omitted here. The financial report showed the receipts of the society for the year to be $3,006.72; expenses, $2,948.22, not including the amount expended for publications for the general depository. The whole amount expended by this society exclusively for missionary work since its organization is nearly $12,000. The present debt of the society is $804.49, while the wholesale value of publications on hand is over $900.

The reading of reports was followed by practical remarks from Elds. Haskell, Loughborough, and Hutchins. The amount of labor which may be performed by a well-organized society is vast, and the importance of order and system in the T. and M. work very apparent. Hence a Missionary Institute to instruct laborers seems a necessity.

The distribution of SIGNS and the work upon the Pacific coast were subjects which were presented with much interest.

It was voted that the chair appoint a committee of three to nominate officers for the coming year and also a committee upon resolutions. The following persons were then named: On nominations L. W. Hastings, C. W. Comings, J. Philbrick; on resolutions, A. S. Hutchins, M. Wood, D. A. Robinson.

The objects of the General T. and M. Society and its work were fully discussed. Eld. Haskell, president of that society, stated that the objects of a general society were twofold: 1. To secure harmonious action in all the different societies. The advantages of having such a society are already seen and felt, although it has been so recently organized. 2. To seek out new fields of labor outside the limits of any Conference. Hundreds of dollars have been expended by New England in sending our publications to foreign countries and to various islands. This work is more appropriately the work of the General T. and M. Society. An opportunity was then afforded for all who desired to do so to become life members of the General T. and M. Society. The query arose with somewhat benefit would be derived from uniting with this society, when they were informed that they could have the privilege of paying $10 for membership and donating again whenever they chose; they would also by this act become members of every society throughout the country; but the chief consideration presented was the reward of seeing souls saved in glory as the result of the publications sent out by means thus invested. The names of forty-four individuals were then enrolled as members of this society.

Eld. Loughborough referred to a meeting which he held here fifteen years ago, when the Lancaster church was organized. The church then comprised eight members; one of these is now resting in hope, while the other seven were present on this occasion, and their names now appear upon the list of life members of the General T. and M. Society.

The Spirit of God rested upon the meeting. Interesting remarks were made by several of those present. A copy of the first number of PRESENT TRUTH, published by Bro. White in Middletown, Ct., in 1849, was presented, and by a comparison with the periodicals published by S. D. Adventists at present the rapid advancement of the work during the past thirty years was forcibly illustrated.

The Committee on Nominations reported the following persons for officers, all of whom were unanimously elected: President, S. N. Haskell; Vice-president, D. A. Robinson; Secretary, Eliza Thayer; Assistant Secretary, Laura C. Bee, South Lancaster, Mass. For Directors: Dist. No. 1, J. C. Tucker, Kingston, R. I.; No. 2, M. Wood, South Lancaster, Mass.; No. 3, S. Martin, West Rindge, N. H.; No. 4, H. P. Wakefield, North Newport, N. H.; No. 5, S. J. Twing, Montville, Mass.; No. 6, E. G. Bolter, South Amherst, Mass.; No. 7, A. P. McDuffy, Salem, Mass.; No. 8, N. Orcutt, South Vineland, N. J.

The following resolutions were then presented and adopted:—

Whereas, The Lord by his providence has connected with this work the gift of prophecy, and designs that it shall aid in bringing us to the unity of the faith, therefore

Resolved, That we recommend each church in this Conference to furnish itself with the books called “Spirit of Prophecy” and “Testimonies for the Church” for a circulating library, and that these books be read by all our brethren and sisters.

Resolved, That the sum of $2,000 be raised in the six New England States, as a reserve tract fund for a general depository for these Conferences; and that we recommend that this sum be apportioned as follows: $500 each to Maine and Vermont, and $1000 to the New England Conference.

Whereas, Sister E. Thayer has served us so efficiently as secretary of this society, therefore, Resolved, That we show our appreciation by donating her the sum of $75.

Whereas, We acknowledge it to be in the providence of God that we are so highly favored as to have the presence and efficient labors of Elds. Haskell, Loughborough, Sanborn, Hutchins and others during our quarterly meeting, therefore, Resolved, That we tender them a vote of thanks, and pledge ourselves to remember them in our prayers and assist them with our means in carrying forward the work God has assigned them.

Resolved, That we recommend the taking of six hundred copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES in this Conference.

The business of the session occupied three meetings, the last of which was held Dec. 2. The meeting then adjourned sine die. S. N. HASKELL, Pres. ELIZA THAYER, Sec.