California Tract and Missionary Society.
THE fifteenth annual session of the California Tract and Missionary Society was held in connection with the camp-meeting in Good Water Grove, near Stockton, Cal., September 17-29, 1885. The first meeting convened at 5 P. M., September 20, vice-president, Elder Wm. Ings, in the chair. Prayer by Elder Loughborough. The minutes of the last annual session were read and approved. The chair expressed regrets that our president, Elder S. N. Haskell, could not be with us upon this occasion, as we greatly miss his presence and counsel in the meeting.619 Committees were appointed as follows:—
On Nominations—Elder J. D. Rice, W. N. Glenn, and Elder A. T. Jones.
On Resolutions—Elders J. N. Loughborough, E. J. Waggoner, and N. C. McClure. The second meeting was called at 5 P. M., September 21. Prayer by Elder McClure. The summary of work done by the entire State for the year was then presented. The membership of the tract society is 935, which is 114 more than the number enrolled a year ago. The members have returned 1,562 quarterly reports, from which we learn that the number of families visited during the year is 25,946, or 17,424 more than the previous year; this is 16,163 more than has ever been reported for the same length of time in the past. The number of letters written is 7,151, or an excess of 1,217 over last year. The number of pages of reading matter distributed by the members is 2,786,839, or 1,715,669 more than last reported; and the number of periodicals circulated was 221,659, an increase of 67,753. The average number of SIGNS taken in clubs during the year is 2,544. This is 740 more than the average last year. The number of subscriptions obtained for our various periodicals is 1,859. The SIGNS has been furnished free to 33 public libraries or reading-rooms, and the Good Health or Pacific Health Journal to 39. The book sales during the year have amounted to $1,523.11; tracts to the value of $634.50 have been sold. These sales exceed those of last year by $1,198.42. As each item in this report is compared with that of last year, it is seen that in but a single instance has the work decreased; while in all other respects the excess is very perceptible. The yearly report of labor performed by the ship mission is as follows: Number of ships visited, 1,713; this is 513 more than were reported last year. The reading matter distributed on board these ships amounts to 280,390 pages, which is a difference of 105,015 in favor of this year. The number of periodicals distributed, is 27,641, an increase of 8,628. The book sales for the year amount to $251.91, almost 20 per cent. more than has ever been received during the same length of time in the past. Cash received on memberships.....$ 82 50
“ “ “ donations ............... 697 51
“ “ “ one-third ............... 199 90
“ “ “ book-sales ............. 911 84
“ “ “ SIGNS ................. 2,074 11
“ “ “ other periodicals .. 924 86
“ “ “ city missions ....... 384 35
“ “ “ reserve fund ......... 6 00
“ “ “ individual accts ... 407 38—$5,688 45
Paid SIGNS Office ...............$5,054 91
“ Review “ ..................... 400 00
“ incidentals ................... 15 15
“ individuals ................... 40 00
“ postage ....................... 101 04
“ publications .................. 77 35—$5,688 45 ASSETS.
Due from districts on account .....$2,996 76
“ “ individuals ................ 208 19
“ “ city missions ............. 955 67
Reserve deposit ................... 3,019 05
Foreign publications .............. 222 58
Other stock on hand ............... 235 35—$7,637 60
LIABILITIES.
Society owes SIGNS Office .........$2,171 64
“ “ Review “ ................. 976 24—$3,147 88
Assets over liabilities ...........$4,489 72 Remarks were made by several upon the encouraging nature of this report. Elder Loughborough said that when he arrived upon this coast seventeen years ago, ten Sabbath-keepers could not be found between the boundaries of British Columbia and Mexico; since that time the work has grown so rapidly that during the present season it was found necessary to hold six camp-meetings to accommodate those who have accepted the truth within these limits. And this is but an illustration of what is being done throughout the world. While he is gratified by what he has seen during the past year, he feels that it is no time for us to congratulate ourselves, but that the progress of the truth should only be a source of encouragement and thus stimulate us to still greater efforts. In reference to this subject Elder Waggoner stated that the way in which the message has spread is incontestible evidence of the Lord's soon coming. Comparatively a small part of the work is due to the ministers, and that which is now being done by the missionary workers will be made still more apparent as we near the end, for many will then reap the benefit of the seed that is now being sown. The tract societies are laying the foundation for a great work. This labor of faith and love will not be lost, though it may never be known until revealed in the kingdom; for one plants and another waters, but the increase is from God. Still there is a lack among us. We are not doing all that we might, but are too well satisfied with what is being accomplished. He hoped that the present meeting would very much advance the work in California. The Committee on Nominations recommended the following persons as officers of the society:
For president, Elder S. N. Haskell; vice-president, Elder Wm. Ings; secretary, Anna L. Ingels; assistant secretary, Marian Kleabir. Directors—District No. 1, Elder N. C. McClure; No. 2, Elder J. D. Rice; Nos. 3 and 4, W. N. Glenn; No. 5, W. G. Buckner; No. 6, Elder John Fulton; No. 7, J. W. Bond. These persons were elected for the ensuing year. The third meeting of the session was held at 5 P. M., September 22. Elder Ings expressed gratitude for the advance steps taken in the missionary work during the past year, among which is the establishment of the city missions. He referred to the important work accomplished by these missions, and to the necessity of such missions being established in other large cities. He spoke particularly of the distributor work, and the good resulting from their use. He said that he had often taken occasion to notice them, yet in all his observations he had never seen any of the reading matter taken from them destroyed. He expressed thanks for the co-operation of our people thus far, notwithstanding that the work is crippled financially. Many more of the distributors could be used to advantage. He would like to see them hanging in every available place of public resort in the city. The estimated cost for filling once a week for one year is $12. If individuals would take upon themselves the responsibility of keeping them supplied at their own expense, much more could be accomplished. Elder Waggoner thought San Francisco an important missionary field, as its population is about one-third that of the State. During the past summer a training-school was very successfully conducted in this city by Brother Ings. As it continued but a few weeks, the same results could not be accomplished as though it were an established school. The following resolutions were acted upon separately and unanimously adopted:—- Resolved, That we see reason for devout gratitude to God for the good already apparent from the efforts made in circulating our reading matter through the medium of the distributors, and we request our people to put distributors in every available place where they can be judiciously used and cared for.
- Resolved, That the success that has attended the efforts to place our reading-matter on the trains in Oakland and Los Angeles is such as to encourage us to extend these efforts to other cities.
- Resolved, That we request our people to pay their over-due pledges to the city missions and to make further pledges, that this work be not crippled.
September 25, at 9 A. M., the fourth meeting of the session convened. The time was occupied by Brother Ings in giving instruction in reference to missionary work. In any ordinary vocation of life, to become proficient it is necessary to obtain a thorough knowledge of the trade or profession undertaken. A preparation is equally important to become successful workers in the Master's vineyard. In sending the SIGNS out through the mail, they should be carefully wrapped and addressed, that they may present as neat and attractive an appearance as possible. Some cases have come to notice in which the privileges of membership have been misunderstood; where papers are drawn from the society and sent to friends for an indefinite period of time, without the knowledge that they are accomplishing good. This is wrong. These societies were organized for the purpose of warning the world, therefore members should not appropriate the papers to their own use by sending them as presents to friends. A sample of an introductory card was read. Its object is to notify the one receiving the papers that they are not sent by the publishers with a view of collecting the pay for them, but that they will be sent free for a short time. If a card or letter is not sent with the first paper, in many cases the SIGNS will not be taken from the office. A copy of a letter was then read, such as should be sent with the fourth paper. It is thought advisable to use tracts in answering questions in reference to our faith rather than to give our own explanations. These publications were written by men of deep thought, assisted by the Spirit of God. A pass-book for the purpose of recording the work done by the members was presented at the meeting, and an illustration of the method here adopted was explained by means of a blackboard. The work of reporting is thus simplified, and an accurate record can be kept with but little difficulty. If all could realize the importance of reporting, and be prompt in this duty, it would be a great source of encouragement to see the amount of work that is being accomplished. An appeal was made for means to support our city missions during the coming year. As a large number of those present had heavy unpaid pledges to this fund, which they were unable to meet, but $280.40 was pledged, of which $169 was paid. The meeting adjourned sine die.
WM. INGS, Vice-President.
ANNA L. INGELS, Secretary.