California Tract and Missionary Society.
THE first session of the third quarterly meeting of this society convened in Oakland, April 23, 1884. The meeting was called to order by the Vice-President, Eld. M. C. Israel. Prayer by Eld. Loughborough. The minutes of the meeting held in January at Healdsburg were approved as read. Mention was made of the extent to which the resolutions made at that time have been carried out. The first two refer to furnishing public libraries with our publications. In various parts of the State these have been visited and supplied. In San Francisco all the prominent libraries, with one exception, manifested a willingness to give our books a place on their shelves, and also to receive files of the SIGNS and Good Health. The resolution referring to the islands of the Pacific was re-read. Eld. Israel stated that a "Hand-book" had been secured containing much valuable information in regard to Australia, also directories from which addresses can be obtained for missionary use. A very interesting letter written to Eld. Waggoner from a gentleman in Collingwood, Australia, was read. He writes that there is no vitality in their worship, and no stirring work; that they have turned the truth of God into a meaningless fable. He earnestly desires that that place be visited in the name of the Lord. A number of libraries in the vicinity of Melbourne have been written to in reference to supplying them with our works. An answer283from the Mechanics' Institute in Geelong has already been received, acknowledging the receipt of sample copies of the SIGNS and Good Health, and stating that they will be received for a year and duly filed. A Committee on Resolutions, consisting of W. C. White, E. J. Waggoner, and Wm. Ings was appointed. Sometime was then devoted to reports from those engaged in ship missionary work. Many incidents of thrilling interest were related, revealing some of the good results of this work. The second meeting was held April 24, at 3 P. M. After listening to the minutes of the last meeting, the report of labor for quarter ending April 1 was read, as follows:— | Districts |
No. of Members |
Reports Returned |
Members Added |
Members Dismissed |
Missionary Visits |
Letters Written |
Signs taken in clubs |
Review |
Signs |
Good Health |
Instructor |
Other Periodicals |
|---|
| No. 1 |
193 |
58 |
29 |
4 |
75 |
238 |
458 |
3 |
50 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
| No. 2 |
91 |
36 |
5 |
8 |
25 |
217 |
206 |
4 |
9 |
... |
1 |
... |
| No. 3 |
77 |
35 |
... |
3 |
23 |
135 |
131 |
... |
... |
... |
1 |
23 |
| No. 4 |
27 |
1 |
... |
... |
... |
107 |
82 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
| No. 5 |
92 |
38 |
2 |
6 |
45 |
98 |
197 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
... |
... |
| No. 6 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
376 |
... |
... |
... |
2 |
... |
... |
... |
| No. 7 |
127 |
72 |
15 |
12 |
477 |
441 |
515 |
1 |
38 |
15 |
2 |
85 |
| No. 8 |
95 |
41 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
180 |
175 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
... |
| No. 9 |
30 |
13 |
10 |
... |
28 |
5 |
30 |
5 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
... |
| No. 10 |
30 |
15 |
... |
... |
... |
40 |
54 |
3 |
11 |
2 |
... |
... |
| Ships |
... |
... |
... |
... |
334 |
... |
50 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
| Total |
769 |
311 |
66 |
41 |
1399 |
1061 |
1898 |
18 |
156 |
19 |
8 |
110 |
| Districts |
Pages tracts and pamphlets |
Periodicals |
Membership and Donation |
Sales |
Periodicals |
Total |
|---|
| No. 1 |
121117 |
2790 |
$167 80 |
$20 15 |
102 45 |
$290 40 |
| No. 2 |
8673 |
1780 |
50 95 |
8 65 |
99 60 |
159 20 |
| No. 3 |
4489 |
1343 |
25 70 |
13 10 |
129 20 |
168 00 |
| No. 4 |
534 |
354 |
... |
... |
... |
... |
| No. 5 |
15373 |
2141 |
5 20 |
2 25 |
127 07 |
134 52 |
| No. 6 |
2650 |
40 |
... |
... |
38 80 |
38 80 |
| No. 7 |
46642 |
6080 |
73 95 |
9 20 |
146 90 |
230 05 |
| No. 8 |
15385 |
19 60 |
44 15 |
29 10 |
117 95 |
191 20 |
| No. 9 |
4644 |
1384 |
11 90 |
9 35 |
... |
21 25 |
| No. 10 |
2134 |
814 |
1 00 |
1 60 |
54 35 |
56 95 |
| Ships |
47299 |
7578 |
62 00 |
... |
... |
62 00 |
| Total |
268940 |
39864 |
$ 442 65 |
$ 93 40 |
$ 816 32 |
$1352 37 |
Collected on miscellaneous funds—District No. 2, $10.00; District No. 5, $7.00. This report shows considerable increase over that of the previous quarter, in the amount of work done. Verbal reports from directors of the various districts were then given, showing their good working condition and increasing interest. The Committee on Resolutions presented the following: WHEREAS, There is an increasing interest manifested by the passengers on board ships and steamers, going to and from San Francisco, to read our publications; and,
WHEREAS, There is no place provided for the keeping of these books; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend our ship mission to place in these ships, as far as possible, cases suitable to hold a loaning library, and that they be furnished with the most interesting of our smaller books.
WHEREAS, The SIGNS OF THE TIMES would find many readers if placed in the parlors and reading-rooms of our best hotels; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend that our local societies supply the SIGNS regularly to these and similar places, where it will be kept and read; and,
WHEREAS, The placing of the SIGNS in a neat binder will secure its care and preservation; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend the use of the Perfect Binder, and that the papers be placed in it, week by week.
WHEREAS, There appears to be a good opening for a health journal on this coast; and,
WHEREAS, The managers of the Rural Health Retreat contemplate the publication of such a journal; therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend the establishment of such a journal, and we pledge our hearty support in securing for it a wide circulation. A number spoke strongly in favor of the SIGNS binder to be used in libraries and other places of public resort to which the SIGNS is furnished. These binders will not only serve to preserve the papers but will attract many readers whose attention would not otherwise be called to them. Forcible remarks were made by several upon the advantages to be gained by having cases in which to keep our publications on board the ships. A model case was presented. It is constructed in such a way as to hold eight pamphlets or tracts so that the title of each can be read. Over one hundred were ordered by those present from different parts of the State to be placed in reading-rooms, hotels, and other suitable places. The place of holding the fall camp-meeting was then discussed. After an expression of those present it was decided by vote that the vicinity of Oakland be the first choice and Stockton the second. Bro. White suggested that as the Camp-meeting Committee are over-burdened with work, and as difficulty often arises in finding help to do necessary work, each church elect a number of brethren equal to the number of its delegates to the annual Conference, to go early to the meeting in order to prepare the ground, pitch the tents, and to assist the Committee during the meeting and at its close. This was sustained by a unanimous vote. The meeting then adjourned.
M. C. ISRAEL, Vice-Pres.
ANNA L. INGELS, Ass't Sec.