Annual Meeting of the California Tract and Missionary Society.
THIS society held its eighth annual meeting, August 30, 1878, on the Yountville camp-ground at 5 P. M. as per appointment. The meeting opened with prayer by the president, after which the minutes of the previous meeting were called for, read and approved. The secretary's report was also called for and read as follows:— The State is divided into eight districts. The present membership of the society is 410. The increase of members during the year has been 58. Number of families visited, 2,251; ships visited, 125; letters written, 1,415; pages of tracts and pamphlets given away, 440,231; pages loaned, 183,631; total number loaned and given away, 623,862. Number of SIGNS distributed, 27,647; periodicals published at Battle Creek, Mich., 4,593; Health Annuals, 11,713. Number of new subscribers obtained for the SIGNS, 368; for periodicals published at Battle Creek, Mich., 441. Am't. rec'd for new members $58.
“ “ by donations, 1014.94
“ “ from book sales, 374.50
“ “ for widows and orphans 157.26—1604.70 In connection with this was the reading of the treasurer's report, which reads:—
Cash on hand, September 14, 1877, $15.80
Received from districts on acct., $2449.22
“ on the $1000 Reserved Fund, 1029.85
“ from sale of books, 5.55—3484.62
Total, $3500.42
Paid Review Office on acct., $164.00
“ SIGNS “ “ 2399.10
Cash in SIGNS Office on deposit, 790.92
“ on hand, August 30, 1878, 146.40—3500.42 On motion the treasurer's report was accepted. The following figures show the financial standing of the society to date:—
Due from dist's. on acct. $405.12
Books on hand 600.45
Cash on hand 937.32—1942.89
The society owes the Review Office $64.98
“ “ “ District No. 5 1.69—66.67
Assets after all debts are paid $1876.22 After some remarks by the president relative to the election of new officers for the coming year, it was
Voted, That the chair appoint a nominating committee. After due consideration the following committees were announced:—
On nominations—T. M. Chapman, John I. Tay, and J. W. Cronkrite; on auditing, Alfred Mason and Mrs. Lucie Bush; on resolutions, W. M. Healey, A. Mason and J. D. Rice. September 2, 5 P. M. A second session of the society was held, when the nominating committee presented the following:—
Your committee on nominations beg leave to submit the following names of persons as officers for the coming year: For president, Geo. I. Butler; vice-president, E. R. Gillett; secretary and treasurer, Sister Mittie Severns, Sister L. D. Abbey to act till Sister S. returns from the East; director of district No. 1, Wm. Harmon; No. 2, M. J. Church; No. 3, John Mavity; No. 4, John Judson; No. 5, Wm. Saunders; No 6, D. S. Hemstreet; No. 7, E. R. Gillett; No. 8, M. C. Israel. The report of the committee being accepted the persons named were unanimously elected. The report of auditing committee reads:—
Your committee on auditing is prepared to state that the district secretaries' books for Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 7 are correct. These are all we have been able to find. We have also made an examination of the business book of the secretary of the California tract and missionary society, as far as time would permit, and find it free from error and a testimonial of fifty dollars be tendered said secretary, showing appreciation of her faithful labors during the past year. The following resolutions were presented by the committee on resolutions:—
Whereas, Our tract and missionary department is a great help in spreading the last message to the world,
Resolved, That we will endeavor to labor faithfully for its support, financially and otherwise.
Resolved, That we extend our thanks to Brother and Sister Loughborough for their faithful labors in this State, as president and secretary of our tract and missionary society, and hope their zeal and love for souls will be as fully appreciated in their new field of labor as in California.
Resolved, That we invite the various churches to organize the vigilant missionary society where it is not already established, as it has proved an effective agent in calling attention to the precious truths which we have espoused.
Resolved, That we recommend the immediate adoption of the books recently provided for our district secretaries and librarians, as they have been found to be a great improvement on those hitherto used.
Resolved, That the SIGNS OF THE TIMES be requested to publish these resolutions. On motion, the above resolutions were adopted as a whole.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.
MRS. A. M. LOUGHBOROUGH, Secretary.