Missionary Department

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 17, 1874

Missionary Department.

"Philip saith unto him, Come and see." John 1:46.

Our Work.

THIS is the last time I will be able to speak to our Missionary members, through the paper before the Quarterly meetings. I had hoped all the directors would act with promptness in the matter of appointing the officers which it devolves upon them to appoint. If they have done so, have they reported to the State Missionary Secretary the name of the district secretary of their district, and the name of the librarian and business agent in each church in their district? Sister Bush reports to me that she is only advised of the appointments in her own district, No. 5. Since writing the above I have received the list of officers from district No. 2.

You will see in Nos. 9 and 10 of SIGNS that I requested each director to send us a list of the books, tracts, pamphlets, Reviews, Reformers, Instructors, SIGNS, pass books, and blanks for quarterly reports on hand in each church. Reports of this kind have come in from districts No. 3, 4, 5 and 9. I have no report from the others. The object of these reports is to have just the standing of our State tracts, and tract fund appear on the State Secretary's book as we start out under the new constitution. Those who have reported will receive their supply of tracts, SIGNS, &c. immediately. . We will supply the other districts as we hear from them. I do not know what to send to each district unless I know what they now have.

Some are acting on the matter of obtaining new subscribers for the SIGNS, as you will see by reports in this number. Let each district take hold of it so that the reports at our Quarterly meetings may give a basis for a wholesome report at our State Quarterly meeting. Let there be activity, brethren, in the work assigned us. We have not a millennium to work in. What we do for the Master must be done quickly. Don't neglect these missionary matters until you have a "convenient" time to attend it, but up and at it. I asked a brother, the other day, if he had seen another brother on an important matter connected with our publishing and tent enterprises in this State. He said, "No!" he "had not happened to meet him." It seems to me God would be pleased in such cases for us to "make something happen," by going on purpose to see people on the Lord's work. We must each have an earnest desire in our hearts to do in this cause, and improve each and every opportunity in doing if we make progress. I hope all will pay particular attention to the reporting of what they do in the line of visiting, circulating tracts, or papers, and obtaining new subscribers for our periodicals. Let the directors in each district stir up all their members to the work.

Now as some of you will be left to yourselves to try your skill in conducting your Quarterly meetings, you may be glad of some instructions relative to it. I here insert a table of directions which I have received from our brethren East. I hope it may be of advantage to all our directors.

MANNER OF CONDUCTING QUARTERLY MEETINGS.

I. The Report of the previous Quarterly Meeting should be read by the District Secretary, and accepted, with such amendments as may be necessary.

II. Read the workings of the Tract and Missionary Society of the present quarter, but not to accept it till the next Quarterly Meeting, as it will not be complete till it embraces all the business of that meeting.

III. Next bring forward all other business that should come before the meeting.

IV. The director who (in absence of the President) presides over the meeting, can make such remarks at the reading of the Report by the Secretary (either before or after), as will more clearly give an understanding of the working and wants of the Society.

V. After the business, let the remainder of the time be occupied in relating individual experiences, and giving such instruction (which may often be illustrated by experiences related) as seems necessary to guard against extremes, and lead to a correct understanding of how to carry forward this work.

The Report of the present quarter might be written, taking up each church separately, something like the following:—

Church at —— has —— members; which have returned —— reports; which show —— families visited; —— letters written; obtained —— subscribers for Review, —— for Reformer, —— for Instructor, —— for SIGNS. Distributed —— Reviews, —— Reformers; —— Instructors; —— SIGNS. Distributed by loaning and otherwise, —— pages of tracts and pamphlets; value, $——. sold —— pages; value, $——.

FINANTIAL STANDING. Quarter ending — (which is the previous quarter), their account stood with the District, $——, (Dr. or Cr., as the case may be.) They have received during the quarter, —— pages; value, $——. Donated during the quarter, $——. Paid on memberships, $——. Which makes their present standing, $—— (Dr. or Cr., as the case may be.) After the report of each church is given, something like the above, give the sum total of the whole, with the standing of the District with the Tract and Missionary Society of the Conference.

The Report of the previous meeting, which should be read first, might commence by stating when and where the meeting was held, and in such manner as is usual in giving such reports.

If money is raised for the Widow and Orphan Fund, or for any other enterprise, it should be stated, how much.

At the close of the meeting a copy of the Report should be forwarded at once to the State Secretary; for his Report respecting the working of the Society depends upon the Report received from the Districts.

The State Quarterly Report will take up each District separately, about as the District Quarterly Report takes up each church, and also gives the standing of the Tract and Missionary Society.

J. N. L.