p. 91 | NEW YORK T. AND M. SOCIETY

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 5, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 6

NEW YORK T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By E. H. Whitney; B. L. Whitney

EIGHTH ANNUAL SESSION.

The first meeting of this session was held at Adams Center, at 9:30 A. M. Sunday, Dec. 21, 1879. After the opening exercises, the minutes of the last annual meeting of the New York and Pennsylvania T. and M. Society, at which the division between the societies was made, were read and approved.

Eld. Haskell followed the reading of the report by remarks on the efficiency of the tract-society system in carrying out the various enterprises, financial and otherwise, connected with the work.

The report of labor for the year was then presented as follows:—

	First Quarter	Second Quarter	Third Quarter	Fourth Quarter	Total
Number of Members			273
Number of Members added		6	4	1	11
Number of Members Reporting	63	83	104	76	326
Number of Families Visited	386	773	529	386	2074
Number of Letters Written	363	349	222	195	1129
Pages of Tracts, etc., distributed	74426	10175	96264	80318	271183
New Subscribers for Review	13	25	5	5	48
New Subscribers for Good Health	6	15	1	5	27
New Subscribers for Instructor	79	69	32	13	193
New Subscribers for Signs	121	23	7	5	156
New Subscribers for others	53	2			55
Signs in Clubs	99	83	7	42	231
Annuals Distributed	581	1298	253	39	2171
Periodicals Distributed	3026	4292	3205	3294	13817

FINANCES.

	First Quarter	Second Quarter	Third Quarter	Fourth Quarter	Total
Donations and Membership	$88.80	131.46	$89.90	195.01	$505.17
Book Sales	30.69	38.58	37.58	10.72	117.57
Periodicals	139.49	275.69	155.72	152.47	723.37
One-Third	70.00	114.55			184.55
Life Membership	130.00	35.00	30.00		195.00
Dime Tabernacle	51.95	28.15			80.10
Oakland Church	17.60	26.80			44.40
Totals	532.53	653.98	313.20	358.20	1857.91

NOTE.—The society has received $461.71 on general book sales, and $238.77 on books sold by individuals. This, added to the $117.57, gives a total of $808.05. The one-third for the third and fourth quarters is included in “memberships and donations.”

The President remarked upon the system of general book sales adopted by the New York and Pennsylvania tract societies at the last annual meeting in connection with the Conference in 1878, noticing the fact that the book sales for the year just closed showed more than double the amount reported for the preceding year, the happy result, under the blessing of God, of the working of the system adopted.

Being instructed by the meeting to appoint the several committees, the Chair announced the following: On Nominations, J. Q. Foy, S. N. Walsworth, and A. H. Hall; On Resolutions, E. W. Whitney, C. C. Lewis, and M. H. Brown.

The meeting now adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND MEETING.—The second meeting was called Sunday, Dec. 28, at 2:30 P. M. After the usual opening exercises, and the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting, the report of the Committee on Resolutions was presented, as follows:—

Whereas, We recognize in the work of the tract and missionary society an efficient means for the spread of the truth, and

Whereas, God, through the spirit of prophecy, has also recognized this as a most important branch of the third angel’s message, therefore

Resolved, That we hereby express our increased confidence in the plan adopted, and its efficiency, and we pledge ourselves to labor earnestly to advance the interests, and increase the efficiency of the society in carrying out the various enterprises which are connected with it.

Resolved, That we adopt the recommendation of the General Conference, relative to the matter of raising a sum equal to one-third of the tithes paid for the support of the ministry, for the direct support of the tract and missionary work; and that we urge upon all our churches the importance of acting in harmony with this recommendation.

Whereas, The Lord has in mercy again spoken to us as a people through the gift of prophecy, and

Whereas, The writings of Sister White, especially Vols. 1, 2, and 3 of Spirit of Prophecy, and the Testimonies, contain matter of great importance to the world as well as to the people of God, the reading of which is the most effectual means of removing prejudice against this gift, and increasing the spiritual growth and prosperity of our people, therefore,

Resolved, That we will use our best endeavors to secure their introduction into every family of Sabbath-keepers, and the adoption of the plan of reading recommended by the General Conference, and we pledge ourselves to use earnest efforts to give these writings the widest possible circulation.

Resolved, That we express our satisfaction with the plan adopted by all the ministers in this Conference, of giving the tract society the benefit of all profits on book sales, etc., while in the employ of the Conference, believing it to be in accordance with the spirit of sacrifice that should actuate all who are engaged in the work of the third angel’s message.

Whereas, It has been decided by the trustees of the Publishing Association, to enlarge and greatly improve the REVIEW, without increasing its subscription price, and

Whereas, We believe these improvements will tend to increase its circulation and usefulness, both among our own people and others, therefore

Resolved, That we express our hearty approval of this change, and pledge our earnest co-operation in giving to the REVIEW as extensive a circulation as possible.

Whereas, “The world is to be warned, educated, and tested on the subject of appetite, and other departments of hygiene, as well as upon the Sabbath and other important truths,” and

Whereas, The publishers of Good Health liberally offer to send that journal four months on trial for twenty cents, therefore

Resolved, That we heartily second the request of the publishers that “a club of trial-trip subscribers be obtained in every community where there is a church of Seventh-day Adventists,” and recommend that individuals take this opportunity to introduce Good Health to their friends.

Resolved, That as ministers and tract-society officers we will do all we can, (1.) To secure permanent paying subscribers to Good Health; (2.) To meet the call of the publishers for fifteen thousand trial subscribers.

Resolved, That our people should not take advantage of the liberal offer referred to, for their own benefit, but should become permanent subscribers.

Whereas, The various periodicals issued by the S. D. A. Publishing Association contain matter of the greatest vital importance to all our people, and

Whereas, Many families of S. D. Adventists take none of these periodicals, therefore

Resolved, That we urge our ministers and tract-society officers to use their most earnest endeavors to secure a wide circulation of these periodicals, especially among our own people.

Whereas, The Signs of the Times has already accomplished great good as a missionary paper, and has been an effectual means of carrying the truth to all parts of the world, and

Whereas, The publishers have made improvements in its form, and at the same time have reduced its price, so as to adapt it especially to the missionary work, therefore

Resolved, That we will use our earnest efforts to increase its circulation, thus enlarging its sphere of usefulness.

Resolved, That we tender a vote of thanks to the officers of the R. W. and O. R. R., for the favor shown our people, in granting a reduction in fare over their road to those attending this meeting, also to the employees of the road for the uniform courtesy manifested toward us by them.

The resolutions were considered separately, and unanimously adopted.

The Committee on Nominations then presented the following report: For President, Eld. B. L. Whitney; Vice-president, M. H. Brown; Secretary and Treasurer, Addie Bowen; Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, E. H. Whitney; Director of Dist. No. 1, Eld. R. F. Cottrell; No. 2, Wm. Treadwell; No. 3, Wm. H. Brown; No. 4, Frank Hall; No. 5, I. N. Russell; No. 6, David Carr; No. 7, N. C. Wheeler; No. 8, P. Z. Kinne; No. 9, E. S. Lane; No. 10, Eld. Jacob Wilbur. The report was accepted, and the officers named were unanimously elected.

A report of the financial standing of the society, including New York and Pennsylvania, was then presented, as follows:—

		Amount
Cash on hand at time of last report,		$1,196.25
Received during year,		3,951.88
“	“ on European Mis.	66.00
“	“ Ed. Relief,	10.00
“	“ Reserve Fund,	47.00
		$5,271.13
Paid out during the year,		5,189.69
Cash on hand,		81.44
Due on General Book Sales,		145.65
“	Periodicals from Districts,	311.18
“	from Individuals,	386.93
“	Conferences,	14.57
“	S. S. Associations,	41.79
Stock on hand,		623.17
Total assets,		1,604.73
Due at REVIEW Office,		$268.71
“	Signs	157.52
Other Liabilities,		200.00
		$626.23
Balance, Dec. 18, 1879,		978.50

A good degree of interest was manifested throughout the meeting, and the brethren separated to go to their work for the coming year with renewed courage.

E. H. WHITNEY, Sec. B. L. WHITNEY, Pres.