Missionary Department by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1875

Missionary Department.

By John Norton Loughborough

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Eccl. 11 : 6.

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Cal., State Tract and Missionary Society.

The society convened 9 o'clock, Sunday, Sept. 26, on the Fairfax Camp-ground.

Meeting opened with Eld. Loughborough in the chair. Minutes of the last meeting read and accepted. Remarks were made by Eld. Loughborough that it might prove to be desirable to redistrict the State, and elect new officers.

Moved and Carried That the Chair appoint a committee to consult concerning redistricting the State and appointing new officers for the coming year. A committee was appointed to scatter tracts and SIGNS OF THE TIMES to visitors who might come upon the ground during the day. This committee consisted of the district directors who were present, as follows: District No. 1, T. M. Chapman; No. 2, Wm. Harmon; No. 3, J. W. Bond; No. 4, J. S. Howard; No. 6, J. H. Disher; No. 7, D. B. Rickey; No. 8, H. H. Stevenson. The director of No. 5 being absent, Alfred Mason was appointed to act in his place. The directors were instructed to use the help of such district secretaries as might be needed to assist them during the day. After remarks of caution and advice as to the manner of working, the meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair.

SECOND SESSION.

Sunday, 5:30 P. M. The President appointed as Committee on Nominations, M. G. Kellogg, J. Dimmick and Ruel Stickney; Committee on Resolutions: J. H. Waggoner, Wm Saunders; as a committee to inspect the books of directors and secretaries: J. W. Bond, Lucie Bush and May Kelsey. Report of the workings of the society for the past year read as follows:

No. of families visited, 745; of ships, 65; of letters written, 676. Money received for memberships - $99.00 " " By Donations - 154.10 " " From Booksales - 46.36 " " For Widows and Orphans 4.50 Total amount received, $303.96 No. of new subscribers for Review, 67; for Instructor, 216; for Reformer, 147; for SIGNS, 415. No. of Reviews distributed, 645; Instructors, 223; Reformers, 297; SIGNS, 1,783. No. of pages of tracts and pamphlets loaned 75,740; value of the same, $61.57. No. of pages of tract and pamphlets given away 286,319; value $259.14. Books furnished to Libraries 4, value $4.00. Total No. of pages 362,059, value $324.71.

The report which showed more than 3 times the amount of work done this year than last, was accepted. Eld. Loughborough suggested that the directors consider themselves a committee to solicit memberships. Remarks were made by Elder White concerning the publishing interest as connected with the society, saying that efforts should be made by the members for the extension of the circulation of the SIGNS; and giving encouraging reports of what has been done by the eastern societies by the circulation of tracts and papers only. Meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair.

THIRD SESSION.

Monday, Sept. 27, 5:30 P. M. Report of the Nominating Committee read as follows: "We nominate for President: J. N. Loughborough; for vice president, and to act as director of district No. 1, T. M. Chapman, of Petaluma; Secretary, Lucie Bush, Woodland; Treasurer, W. C. White, Oakland; for director of district No. 2, Wm. Harmon, Healdsburg; No. 3, W. A. Pratt, St. Helena; No. 4, John Judson, San Basquol; No. 5, G. C. Martin, Woodland; No. 6, J. H. Disher, Red Bluff; No. 7, D. B. Rickey, Oakland; No. 8, H. H. Stevenson, San Jose; No. 9, Charles Chittenden, San Francisco. We also recommend that District No. 4 as now existing be united with No. 3, and the two hereafter be designated as district No. 3. That the counties of San Bernardino, be separated from district No. 9 and a new district be formed to be designated as district No. 4." Report excepted to be thought upon and taken up for action at the next meeting. Adjourned to call of the Chair.

FOURTH SESSION.

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 5:30 P. M. Nominating Committee's report changed as follows: Bro. Mavity should retain his old position as director of district No. 3, instead of Bro. Pratt as suggested. J. N. Loughborough was then elected President for the coming year; T. M. Chapman was elected vice president and to act as director of No. 1. W. C. White declined to accept an election, and Emma L. White was elected Treasurer. Lucie Bush elected Secretary for the coming year. Board of directors elected in a solid vote.

Treasurer's report was read showing: Cash on hand, Oct. 9, 1874 - $554.89 Received on SIGNS - 5.25 " " Book Sales - 157.54 " for memberships - 121.00 " By Donations - 166:30 " On T. and M. fund - 41.00 Interest - 15.95 Total receipts, $1061.93 Paid out for books and freight - $603.21 For extra copies of SIGNS for missionary work - 111.30 For postage - 10.87 For wrapping cord - .40 Review subscription - 2.00 For printing 5,000 supplements - 10.00 Pasting supplements in SIGNS - 1.13 Total amount paid out $738.91 Amount on hand - $323.02 G. D. Hager, Treas.

Report was accepted and remarks were made concerning finances of libraries. It was inquired if the Danish and Swedish publications could be drawn from the libraries the same as American, and was answered that they could although costing a little more. The Danish brethren donated the money due them from the camp-meeting fund, to the society. Remarks were made on finances and future operations.

Moved and Carried That the doings of this meeting be published in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Meeting adjourned. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Pres. LUCIE BUSH, Sec.