Questions and Answers by John Norton Loughborough

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

Questions and Answers.

By John Norton Loughborough

Bro. C. C., District No. 9, inquires, "What is to be done with the commencement we have made in this state on Vigilant Miss. Societies, and are their reports included in the Quarterly reports of their church and district?"

Reply. On this matter I wrote Bro. Haskell and will quote his answers. "The Vigilant Missionary Society is simply a wheel within a wheel. That is, it is an organization, in which a special point is made to correspond with any person or persons in any part of the world where there is any probability of doing them good. The reporting once in six weeks has nothing to do by way of filling out blank reports such as are filled out in reporting to the Tract Society; but it is general items of interest to the V. M. Society alone. I do not think you will make a success of that Society until you get your Tract Society well running."

Bro. W. H., District No. 2, says, "I would like some instructions in regard to starting a widow and orphan's fund in this district, and also how to conduct the Missionary meetings in general. I wish to start right.

Reply. You will find some wholesome instructions in Bro. Haskell's answer to J. W. B. of your district, relative to your first question. I would not advise any move to raise a fund, until after our State Quarterly meeting. It can be considered at that meeting by our board of directors and a move be made simultaneously in all the districts. On your question of conducting meetings, you will find instructions in the Missionary Department of this page.

Bro. A. W. E. District No. 3, asks, Can the Business Agent take from strangers to the truth half price subscriptions, or $1.00 for the SIGNS for one year?

Reply. Yes. If outside parties wish the paper and are disposed to give $1.00 toward it, take that, if they are not disposed to do more.

Bro. A. W. E., District No. 3, also inquires, Is it the Business Agent's duty to be able to show when each subscriber's subscription expires, to any of the S. D. A. Periodicals?

Reply. Yes, I shall soon furnish a list of subscribers to the directors of each District. They will furnish to the Business Agent of each church in their District who will then be prepared to act in collecting arrearages.

Bro. C. M. K., District No. 5, inquires, Are the pamphlets to be given to members?

Reply. If you mean to inquire whether pamphlets are to be given to members for their own benefit, I say emphatically, No! I hope none will be inclined to pay $1.00 to become a member of a tract society and then draw books simply for their own reading by the four or five dollars' worth. It is expected that members will pay for books they get of the Society for their individual benefit. It is proper for members to draw tracts to give away, also pamphlets. In most cases unless sending them off to a distance, it may be better for members to loan books and pamphlets, than to give them too freely. On this matter you can use discretion under the counsel of your director.

J. N. L.