Your ShelfYour Projects

Missionary Department

8%

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 8, 1875

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 35.

Read the full edition

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.

System.

ANY great work, if it proves a success, must be conducted systematically as well as energetically. In the missionary work, as in any other, if it prove a success there must be conformity to order, and an endeavor on the part of all to learn the mode of doing T. and M. business. It is said that “a body without a head is a monster.” The same would be true of a State T. and M. Society, of a district, or of a church. In order that this difficulty may be avoided, each State society has its president and secretary who, together, are supposed to understand and keep a record of all that is done in the State in missionary operations.
Their information and items of business are received from the director and district secretary, who occupy the same relation to each district that the president and State secretary do to the State. The director and district secretary receive their items of business from the librarian and business agent in each church, while the librarian and business agent occupy the same relation to the individual members of a church that the president and State secretary do to the whole State, or that the director and district secretary do to the district. The directors also constitute a sort of president’s cabinet who may be called together at any time to consult upon and decide relative to important items of business, especially those that might involve any new departure from the ordinary and usual workings of the society. On the system of T. and M. work I quote the following interesting remarks from the pen of Bro. Haskell :——
“It is absolutely necessary that the tract societies, if they would prosper, should strictly adhere to the present system adopted by Seventh-Day Adventists. Not because there may be no opportunities in the future to improve it; but considering the nature of our work, and what is to be accomplished by it, it is according to the best light we have at present. Each member of the various tract societies should keep a small pass-book, in which a record can be kept of the number of pages of tracts and pamphlets which are distributed, also the number of periodicals distributed, and the number of the names of subscribers obtained for each of our periodicals.
“Near the end of the quarter, a blank report will be placed in the hands of each member of the tract society by the librarian. Then the members will be prepared to copy from their pass-books, and fill out the blank report, and return the same to the librarian. The librarian will forward all the blank reports to the district secretary. The district secretary will then make a condensed report after the manner described in a sheet, ‘How to Conduct Quarterly Meetings,’ which report is to be read at the district quarterly meeting. Each director and district secretary should have one of these sheets. And if there are any directors or secretaries which have none, let them apply to their State secretary.
“Each individual member should take an interest to induce all members of the different churches of Seventh-Day Adventists to join the tract society. Also scattered individuals that do not have the privilege of meetings on the Sabbath, who are conscientiously keeping the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, should be invited to join it. Correspondence should be opened with them. Art. 4, of the ‘Constitution of the Tract and Missionary Societies,’ reads as follows: ‘Any person may become a member of this society who is in good standing in one of our churches, or who may be recommended by a church of Seventh-Day Adventists, by the payment of one dollar.’
“All business should be sent directly to the secretary of the State tract society, whose business it is to forward the same to the Office. The librarians can also do this in sending names of subscribers for our periodicals; but pay the money to the director. Each director should visit each church in his district once a quarter, to see that each part of his district is coming up and taking hold of the work. This is especially necessary in those districts where they are not fully in working order.
“It is expected that each librarian will take an interest in every member of the church to which he may belong, and see that they join the tract society, and then have tracts to distribute, unless there be reason for withholding them; in that case, he should consult with the director. He should also see that they have a blank report at the proper time, and assist them, if necessary, in filling it out. If tracts or pamphlets are wanted, he should call on the director, and the director will order through the president.
“Each director should have a supply on hand, so that as he visits the different churches, he can supply the librarians. But a bill of what each church receives should be given to the district secretary, that a debt and credit account may be kept by the district secretary with each church in the district. The State secretary in each Conference will keep on hand a supply of blank reports, ‘How to Conduct Quarterly Meetings,’ and the ‘Constitution of the Tract Societies,’ to supply directors and secretaries; and also blank reports in Danish in those Conferences where there are Danish brethren. And when they get out, they can obtain them on application at the Office of publication.”
J. N. L.