MICHIGAN T. AND M. SOCIETY by J. Fargo; Jennie Thayer

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 11, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 24

MICHIGAN T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By J. Fargo; Jennie Thayer

The first meeting of the eighth annual session of the Michigan T. and M. Society was held according to appointment, in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, at 5 P. M., Nov. 9, 1879. President in the chair. Prayer by Eld. Haskell. The minutes of the last annual meeting were then read and approved, after which the report of labor performed during the year was read. See table.

Churches that did not report: Alaiedon, Almont, Birch Run, Bronson, Burlington, Carson City, Colon, Convis, Howell, Kendall, Marshall, Mattawan, Olivet, Parkville, Pierson, Sheridan, Watrousville, and Westphalia.

FINANCIAL REPORT.

Debt at beginning of year, $1072.85 Paid out during the year, 5303.89 $6376.74 Received, 6306.33 Due Offices Oct. 31, $70.41

Eld. Haskell spoke of the financial advancement of the society since last year, and also of the increase in membership. He called attention to the fact that only about one-half the members of our churches are members of the T. and M. society, and as only one-fourth of the T. and M. members reported any labor performed, it would indicate that about one-eighth of the Michigan Conference were actually connected with the T. and M. work. He recommended that the next annual report show a radical change in this respect.

On motion of E. R. Jones, the Chair appointed the following committees: on Nominations: W. C. White, D. H. Lamson, and W. A. Towle; on Resolutions: E. R. Jones, M. B. Miller, and W. H. Littlejohn.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND MEETING, 1:30 P. M. Nov. 12.—W. C. White, chairman of the committee, presented the following nominations:—

For President, Eld. J. Fargo, Greenville; Vice-Presidents, Elders E. R. Jones and M. B. Miller of Battle Creek, and Eld. A. O. Burrill of Marshall; Secretary and Treasurer, Jennie Thayer, Battle Creek. Directors: Dist. No. 1, E. D. Snyder, Pittsford; No. 2, James Roberts, Concord; No. 3, M. B. Miller, Battle Creek; No. 4, Alex. Carpenter, Otsego; No. 5, E. H. Root, Coopersville; No. 6, F. Howe, Lyons; No. 7, F. Squire, Pompeii; No. 8, E. S. Griggs, St. Charles; No. 9, Wm. Ostrander, Elmwood; No. 10, Samuel Woodhull, Linden; No. 11, C. N. Stuttle, Vernon; No. 12, John Sisley, Spencer Creek; No. 13, Geo. O. States, Memphis; No. 14, J. F. Carman, Potterville; No. 15, L. G. Moore, Hastings; No. 16, Leonard Lawrence, Rochester.

As Article II. of the Constitution of the T. and M. Society reads: “The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice-President, State Secretary,” etc., the report of the Nominating Committee could not be accepted unless this article be amended. On motion of Eld. Littlejohn, Art. II. was amended to read as follows: “The officers of this Society shall be a President, one or more Vice-Presidents,” etc. The report was then accepted, thus electing these nominees to their respective offices.

Eld. E. R. Jones, chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, submitted the following, which were adopted:—

Whereas, Convincing evidences have been given in the conversion of very many to the truth, that the tract and missionary work is of the Lord, and a powerful means of spreading abroad the light of the third angel’s message; therefore—

Resolved, That we urge every member of the T. and M. society to take a deeper interest and manifest greater activity and perseverance in this work.

Resolved, That we earnestly request the ministers of our Conference, the elders and the leaders of our churches, and the librarians of the various T. and M. societies in the State, to labor earnestly and persistently to the end that all the members of our churches, and all others interested in present truth, who do not already belong to our T. and M. societies, shall immediately become members of the same.

Whereas, The Publishing Association has been greatly crippled in its usefulness by the necessity which it has been under of furnishing to the different State T. and M. societies large amounts of tracts on long credit; therefore—

Resolved, That we recommend that the State T. and M. Society of Michigan shall raise a reserve fund of $3,000.00, to enable it to purchase publications and periodicals without asking for credit on the same.

Resolved, That we recommend that the matter of raising the above reserve fund shall be referred to Elds. J. Fargo, E. R. Jones, M. B. Miller, and A. O. Burrill, and the different T. and M. directors of the State, with the request that they shall take steps for the raising of the same by subscriptions and donations, as soon as may be.

At a meeting of the ministers and directors of the Michigan T. and M. Society, held in the Office Chapel at 5 A. M. Nov. 16, the previously offered resignation of Alex. Carpenter, Director of Dist. No. 4, was considered, and after remarks from several, was rejected by a rising vote of the directors.

THIRD MEETING, 9:30 A. M. Nov. 17.—The power of directors to pay the expenses of any director was called in question, and the T. and M. Constitution being referred to, it was found that no such provision was made therein. On motion, the Chair appointed W. H. Littlejohn, W. C. White, and E. S. Griggs a committee to consider the Constitution, and prepare such amendments thereto as will make provision for paying the necessary expenses incurred by directors while in the discharge of their official duties.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

FOURTH MEETING, 9:15 P. M. Nov. 20.—The following resolution was unanimously adopted, after extended remarks had been made by Elds. Fargo, Miller, Jones, Burrill, and others, in regard to the importance and bearing of the resolution, and the necessity of earnest and systematic effort on the part of our T. and M. workers:—

Resolved, That we, as ministers of the Michigan Conference, and directors of the T. and M. Society, will put forth a persistent effort to get all our people in this Conference to pay a tithe into the Conference treasury, and a sum equal to one-third of that tithe into the T. and M. fund.

Moved, by Wm. Ostrander, that our State Secretary be properly remunerated for her services during the past two years. Carried.

It was further moved that the amount of remuneration be decided by the Conference Committee. Carried.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

J. FARGO, Pres. JENNIE THAYER, Sec.

NOTE.—The address of the Secretary in Dist. No. 10 is Sophia Wilson, Holly, Mich.