ANNUAL SESSION OF THE CALIFORNIA TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
THE tenth annual session of the California T. and M. Society was held upon the Alameda camp-ground. The first meeting convened Sept. 19, at 9 A. M. After the usual opening exercises the president made some remarks relative to the extent and importance of the work. The minutes of the last annual meeting were then called for, read and approved, after which the report showing the amount of work for the present year, contrasted with that of the previous year, was read, as appears in the following table:— | | THIS YEAR. | LAST YEAR. | INCREASE | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | New members | 71 | 30 | 41 | | Reports returned | 962 | 858 | 104 | | Families visited | 1,708 | 1,547 | 161 | | Ships visited | 389 | 250 | 139 | | Letters written | 4,564 | 2,589 | 1,975 | | Pages, books and tracts distributed | 920,141 | 1,071,086 | 21,682 | | Periodicals distributed | 60,349 | 38,667 | 21,682 | | Signs taken in clubs | 1,148 | 655 | 493 | | New subscribers obtained | 774 | 221 | 553 | | Annuals distributed | 8,034 | 1,615 | 6,419 | | Amt. received for new members | $ 71 00 | $ 30 00 | $ 41 00 | | " Donations and one-third | 1195 34 | 744 27 | 451 07 | | " Sales | 856 83 | 198 56 | 158 27 | | " Periodicals | 1718 06 | 398 40 | 1319 66 | | " General fund | 416 50 | 354 71 | 61 79 | It will be noticed that there is a decrease of 151,845 pages of tracts in this year's report, but the increase of periodicals distributed reduced to pages would make an aggregate increase of about 2,000,000 pages. The present membership of the society is 511. The treasurer's report for the year was also read as follows:— On hand Sept. 23, 1879 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 442 06
Received on account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3163 27
" Tent fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 45
" Reserve fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 50—$4554 28
Paid SIGNS office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3073 90
" Review and Herald office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 532 80
" Incidental expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 23
" Tent fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 95
Cash on hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 607 40—$4554 28 FINANCIAL STANDING OF SOCIETY TO DATE. Due from Districts on account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 762 01
" " Ministers and agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 99
" " Seaman's Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466 16
" " Oakland V. M. Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 50
" " On pledges for Signs to England . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 50
Cash on hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 607 40—$2201 51
The Society owes Review and Herald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 31 40
" " " Tent fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 50— 42 90
Total assets after debts are paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2158 61 After some explanations and remarks concerning these reports by the president, Eld. Waggoner spoke favorably of the progress made by the society, its effective organization, and the important place it fills in extending the knowledge of our work. The Chair then appointed the following committees: On nominations, W. C. White, John Morrison, and W. A. Pratt; on resolutions, Wm. M. Healey, Wm. Saunders, and W. C. White; Auditing Committee, J. D. Rice, Wm. Saunders, and B. C. Stickney. A second meeting was called Sept. 24, at 9 A. M. The Committee on Nominations reported the following who were duly elected as officers for the ensuing year: President, Eld. S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, Eld. C. Israel; Secretary, Barbara C. Stickney. For Directors, District No. 1, T. M. Chapman; No. 2, J. M. Loveland; No. 3, John Mavity; No. 4, J. D. Bandy; No. 5, Wm. Saunders; No. 6, D. S. Hemstreet; No. 7, W. J. Bostwick; No. 8, M. C. Israel; No. 9, Alexander F. Brown. The Committee on Resolutions then submitted the following:—
Whereas, Our tract and missionary efforts are among the most efficient means to spread the truth, and those who take part therein receive an experience in the work of God, therefore
Resolved, That we recommend each of our brethren and sisters to join the society and so co-operate in the spread of the truth.
Whereas, We consider it of great importance that we have an individual understanding of present truth, and as our publications clearly present every point thereof, and as our ministerial laborers are few.
Resolved, That we consider it the duty of our brethren to provide themselves as far as possible with a complete set of our publications, and become familiar with their contents, the volumes of the Spirit of Prophecy and the Testimonies.
Resolved, That we consider the ship work an excellent means of spreading the truth, and hereby express our sympathy in this branch of the tract and missionary work, and recommend the raising of an additional $1000 for that purpose the coming year.
Resolved, That we recommend the raising of an additional $1000 for a reserve tract fund in this State.
Resolved, That we recommend each district to keep on hand, stationery, Sabbath-school appliances, and such works and helps as should be in demand by our brethren to assist them in this work.
Resolved, That we recommend all members of V. M. Societies to endeavor to realize the importance of the work in which they are engaged, and the value of salvation to man.
Whereas, The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a very efficient means of spreading the knowledge of God and his truth in the earth, therefore,
Resolved, That we recommend all our brethren, whether living in organized companies or alone, to take as many copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES as is consistent with their circumstances, and use them for missionary work, these papers to be paid for by monthly installments when necessary. These resolutions were unanimously adopted, several of them calling forth remarks. Eld. Waggoner spoke to the second resolution, and urged the necessity and importance of complying with its recommendations, and becoming familiar with our publications, and also possessing them to loan to others. The third and fourth resolutions were considered and in about twenty minutes pledges were made amounting to over $2500. Before leaving the ground this was increased to $3,231.50. This with what had been previously pledged for the same purpose amounts to $5,139.75. Of this $416.50 has been paid. Thirty-four names were taken for life members of the General Tract and Missionary Society. Fourteen of these paid upon the ground, making thirty-two members in this State, beside forty-nine who are pledged to become members. One hundred and thirty-nine subscribers were obtained for our periodicals upon the camp-ground. Instructions in regard to the manner of keeping the member's pass book and librarian's journal were given, and the accounts illustrated on black-boards, upon which they had been previously arranged. Many important questions were asked in regard to the system and the general working of the society which were of interest and called forth much desirable information. On motion the meeting adjourned.
S. N. HASKELL, President.
BARBARA C. STICKNEY, Secretary.