The Missionary by Anna L. Ingels

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 4, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 42.

The Missionary.

By Anna L. Ingels

California Tract and Missionary Society.

THE sixteenth annual session of the California Tract and Missionary Society was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Woodland, Cal., Oct. 6–19, 1886. The first meeting convened Oct. 7, at 5 P. M., the President, Elder S. N. Haskell, in the chair. The reading of the minutes of the last annual session was waived, and the report of labor for the year was read.

This branch of the International Society includes the States of California and Nevada. The seven districts into which this territory is divided contain forty-one organized societies; of these the following have been added during the year: Virginia City (Nevada), Crystal Springs, Stockton, Selma, Santa Maria, Duarte, and Santa Barbara. The entire membership of the society at present is 1,072, or 137 more than were enrolled a year ago.

The average number of Signs taken in clubs during the year is 2,675 weekly. This is 131 copies more than the average the year previous. Clubs of other periodicals are also taken amounting to 4,001 copies.

During the year, 1,904 quarterly reports have been returned and the members thus represented have performed the following amount of work:—

No. subscribers obtained, 1,961, more than last year, 102 “ visits made, 26,898, “ “ 952 “ letters written, 11,712, “ “ 4,561 “ periodicals distr'td, 232,897, “ “ 11,238 “ pages distributed, 3,885,616, “ “ 1,098,777

There were also 1,812 Bible-readings held during the year. In no phase of the work has the report of previous years exceeded that of the present, with but one exception, that of the number of subscribers obtained in 1883 and '84, when a special effort was made in securing short-term subscriptions to the Signs.

The book sales for the year have amounted to $1,038.35; and tracts to the amount of $571.69 have been sold. This does not include the sales made by agents, or those of ministers and other workers who deal directly with the Office.

The Signs of the Times has been donated by the society to 33 public libraries or reading-rooms, the Good Health or Pacific Health Journal to 50, and the Sentinel to 27. The Sentinel has also been furnished to 265 editors of California.

There are about 230 tract distributors now in use in the Conference. The number owned and supported by the city missions is 96. Of these 18 are supplied daily, 9 tri-weekly, 20 semi-weekly, 35 weekly, and 14 at longer intervals. The cost of the reading matter placed in these per year is $2,651.64. The remaining 134 distributors are owned by local tract societies and individuals who bear the expense of filling.

The annual report of the ship mission shows the number of ship visits to be 1,019; periodicals distributed on shipboard, 11,383, and pages of tracts, pamphlets, and books, 80,492. Of the distributors owned by the city mission, 43 are on board ships, besides 19 Signs files and the same number of Sentinel files. The sales amounted to $126.33.

Remarks were made by the President relative to this report. He was gratified to note the advancement in the work. God's blessing has rested upon this Conference in a marked degree.

Stirring incidents were related, showing the interest awakened in foreign lands as the result of missionary correspondence. In all parts of the world individuals are receiving the light through this medium, and whole companies are embracing the truth. Our field is the world, and our interests, our prayers, and our means should encircle the globe.

Committees were appointed by the chair as follows:— On Nominations, C. H. Jones, Elder G. D. Ballou, and Elder E. R. Jones. On Resolutions, Elder N. C. McClure, Elder A. T. Jones, and Anna L. Ingels. Adjourned to call of the chair.

SECOND MEETING, OCTOBER 12, 5 P. M.

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The Committee on Resolutions made a partial report. The following were presented separately and adopted:—

WHEREAS, God has a message in the world to warn it of the rapidly approaching end, and as a means of proclaiming this truth, the Tract and Missionary Society has been organized; therefore,

Resolved, That we are grateful to God for his approval of this plan of working for souls, and we deem it a privilege to be connected with his cause; and we pledge ourselves to more faithfully labor in the missionary work than we have in the past, and to report our labors to the society.

Resolved, That our ship and city missions are important branches of the Tract and Missionary Society; that we pledge them our sympathy and prayers, and will support them with our means.

WHEREAS, In the past it has been difficult to reach all classes in our large towns and cities, but by actual experience it is demonstrated that this can be accomplished by Bible-readings; therefore,

Resolved, That we fully indorse the effort in this Conference to establish city missions, and a training school for Bible-workers; and we recommend that the Conference Committee select competent persons who may fit themselves for this work.

Resolved, That it is our duty to assist in the maintenance of our Bible-workers in the city missions, and as far as we are able we will furnish provisions, bedding, etc., for the same.

To the first resolution Elder Loughborough spoke of the advantage to be gained in reporting our work. It is a source of encouragement to see what is being accomplished.

Under the second resolution reports of the ship work were given by Brethren Swayze, McClure, and Hickox. There is a willingness on the part of sea-faring men to read our publications. Rarely do the officers refuse to accept them and frequently they offer to carry packages to other parts of the world to be distributed.

In connection with the third and fourth resolutions, Elder McClure gave some statistics of

the city mission work. This mission was established May 7, and during the 17 weeks that followed, with an average force of seven workers, 2,919 visits were made and 1,180 Bible-readings held. The greatest number of readings held during any one week was 90. As the result of this mission work, 13 have embraced the truth. That more effectual work may be done with less effort, it seems necessary that the mission be removed to a different part of the city.

Adjourned to call of the chair.

THIRD MEETING, OCTOBER 13, 9 A. M.

Prayer by Elder Loughborough.

The following resolutions presented by the committee were adopted:—

WHEREAS, The knowledge of the Third Angel's Message must reach all lands; and, WHEREAS, An experience in canvassing is an important step to carry on this work; therefore,

Resolved, That we recommend that our brethren and sisters thus educate themselves by canvassing for "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," Vol. 4 "Great Controversy," and "Marvel of Nations."

Resolved, That we recommend that every Seventh-day Adventist family subscribe for one or more copies of our periodicals, and not depend on the Tract and Missionary Society, or on borrowing from their neighbors, for their family reading.

Resolved, That we consider it the duty of the directors of districts, to devote what time may be necessary to visit the churches and scattered families in their districts, and seek to bring them up in all branches of the work, giving instructions in Bible-readings, and holding the same on different subjects.

Resolved, That where faithful labor is performed by the directors, their accounts be handed in to the Auditing Committee.

Resolved, That it is and shall remain our fixed purpose to regard Wednesday of each week as a day of special prayer that the blessing of God may rest upon the missionary work and our Tract and Missionary societies.

FOURTH MEETING, OCTOBER 17, 5 P. M.

Elder Loughborough read a letter from Elder W. C. White, written from Basel, Switzerland, in reference to the foreign work. The following resolutions were read and adopted:—

Resolved, That the foreign brethren among us be encouraged to educate themselves for Bible work, and labor among their countrymen in our towns and cities; and,

Resolved, That we request them to secure the addresses of their friends, both in America and foreign lands, to be used by the Tract and Missionary Societies for the furtherance of the work.

It was moved by C. H. Jones that District No. 1 be divided, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte Counties, formerly included in No. 1, to be known hereafter as district No. 8; and that San Luis Obispo County be transferred from district No. 4 to No. 6. As rearranged, the districts will stand as follows:— No. 1—Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, Lake, and Napa Counties. No. 2—Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, Tehama, Plumas, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Yolo, Sacramento, El Dorado, Amador, and Solano Counties. No. 3—Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Alpine, Mono, and Mariposa Counties. No. 4—San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties. No. 5—Merced, Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, and Kern Counties. No. 6—San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties. No. 7—State of Nevada. No. 8—Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte Counties. This motion was carried.

The Nominating Committee presented the following names for officers for the ensuing year:—

For President, Elder S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, Elder N. C. McClure; Secretary, Anna L. Ingels; Assistant Secretary, Marian Kleabir; Directors, District No. 1, F. R. Dunlap; No. 2, Elder John Fulton; No. 3, W. N. Glenn; No. 4, S. Thurston; No. 5, W. G. Buckner; No. 6, J. D. Morton; No. 7, S. K. Shannon; No. 8, S. McElhaney.

TREASURER'S REPORT.

Cash received on membership, $95.55; on donations, $1,206.46; on book sales, $719.95; on Signs, $2,288.57; on other periodicals, $976.24; on City Mission Fund, $1,847.06; on individual accounts, $990.15. Total, $8,123.98. Cash paid to Signs Office, $5,723.39; to Review Office, $1,919.75; to Good Health publishers, $280.00; to individuals, $109.95; for publications, $36.05; for postage, $40.49; for incidentals, $14.35. Total, $8,123.98.

FINANCIAL STANDING.

ASSETS. Due from districts on account, $2,157.54; due from individuals, $458.28; due from city missions, $891.58; Reserve deposit, $3,020.05; Foreign publications, $211.22; Other stock on hand, $203.51; Cash on hand, $74.10. Total, $7,016.28. LIABILITIES. Society owes Signs Office, $2,228.87; owes Review Office, $48.28; owes Good Health publishers, $67.92. Total, $2,345.07. Assets over liabilities, $4,671.21.

Adjourned sine die. ELDER S. N. HASKELL, Pres't. ANNA L. INGELS, Sec'y.