ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NEW ENGLAND T. AND M. SOCIETY by Stephen N. Haskell; Eliza Thayer

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 18, 1879

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 25

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NEW ENGLAND T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By Stephen N. Haskell; Eliza Thayer

The T. and M. Society of New England held its annual meeting at South Lancaster, Mass., Dec. 5-9. The business session occupied three meetings, the first of which was held Sunday, Dec. 7, at 9 A. M. President in the chair. Prayer was offered by Eld. A. S. Hutchins, President of the Vermont Conference.

Reports of the preceding quarterly and annual meetings were read and approved, reports of the labor of the two past years were read and compared, and the report of labor performed by the V. M. society during the year was given. These opening exercises were interspersed with remarks by the President, who spoke of the rapid advancement of this work since this T. and M. society was organized nine years ago. Since that time similar societies have been formed in every Conference in this country, and several now exist in foreign lands as the result of reading matter sent out from New England. He stated that five thousand copies of the Signs are now taken this side of the Rocky Mountains and weekly remailed to different parts of the world, and also gave some interesting facts relative to the work of the General T. and M. Society in placing reading matter in different seaports and on board ships. Our work is aggressive, and in reviewing the past we find that we as a people have never moved out too soon in any of the advance steps taken. The necessity of a correct and thorough system of doing business was mentioned, in order to avoid the confusion and perplexity which will otherwise follow. The President dwelt briefly upon the subject of sacrifice, styling it the backbone of our strength, that which must be shared by every true follower of Jesus. The work of the V. M. society, as shown by report, comprises no small part of the work performed, and the importance of these societies is thus clearly seen.

The financial report showed the total receipts of the society during the year, aside from the reserve fund, to be $2,195.67; expenses, $2,183.09. Of the $2,000 voted last year to be raised as a reserve fund by the three N. E. Conferences, N. E. has raised $1,405.20, and Maine and Vermont respectively, as per report of their secretaries, $50 and $109. The present indebtedness of the society is $69.21. Several hundred dollars is still due the Publishing Association, but this indebtedness is covered by indebtedness to the society.

On motion, the Chair appointed the following committees: On Nominations, L. W. Hastings, H. A. Weston, and G. H. Murphy; on Resolutions, D. A. Robinson, J. Rice, and M. Wood.

At the second meeting of the session, held at 1:30 P. M., the Nominating Committee submitted the following report: For President, S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, D. A. Robinson; Secretary, Eliza Thayer; Assistant Secretary, C. W. Priest; all of So. Lancaster, Mass. For Directors, Dist. No. 1, J. C. Tucker, Kingston, R. I.; No. 2, M. Wood, Worcester, Mass.; No. 3, F. W. Mace, Amherst, N. H.; No. 4, C. W. Comings, Cornish Center, N. H.; No. 5, H. L. Warner, Canaan Valley, Conn.; No. 6, E. G. Bolter, So. Amherst, Mass.; No. 7, Frank Fiske, Danvers, Mass.; No. 8, N. Orcutt, So. Vineland, N. J.

The motion was made and seconded that this report be accepted. It was spoken to by Eld. Haskell, who expressed his willingness to act as President of this society upon condition that should circumstances call him away from the Conference, the duties and responsibilities of the President might be taken by the Vice-President. With this proviso, the motion was carried. After the election of officers, the President gave some account of the T. and M. work on the Pacific coast, the missionary meetings held there in the seaports, and of the readiness with which the people accept and read the papers and tracts furnished them. A sister who is engaged in a similar work upon the Atlantic coast related some of her experience in distributing reading matter upon the ships here, which showed the interest in our publications to be the same from sea to sea.

At the third meeting, held on the evening of Dec. 8, the chairman of the Committee on Resolutions presented the following, which, after some remarks by the President and Vice-President of the society, were adopted:—

Whereas, The T. and M. society is, in the providence of God, an efficient means of spreading the light of present truth, therefore

Resolved, That we will pledge it our hearty support and co-operation.

Whereas, A more general circulation of the writings of Sr. White has been recommended by the General Conference, and whereas we deem the carrying out of such recommendation of great importance, therefore

Resolved, That we will immediately take steps to place these works in all the families of our brethren and sisters as far as practicable, and that we urge all to furnish themselves with these works.

At this meeting the President urged the importance of taking advance steps in this work. Colporters should be found among us who will visit from house to house, and with hearts filled with love for the truth and for perishing souls, will converse and pray with the people. This has been tried in some places with good success.

Canvassers for the Youth's Instructor are needed, and should be in the field; and the youth among us are best adapted to this work. The present effort to obtain trial subscribers for Good Health was mentioned, and all were invited to take some stock in the interesting and promising work. There are certainly very few who cannot do something by way of sending this journal to their friends, for four months, at 20 cts., and all should feel it a privilege to do what they can.

On motion, the meeting adjourned sine die.

S. N. Haskell, Pres.

Eliza Thayer, Sec.