OHIO QUARTERLY MEETING by E. H. Gates; Mrs. Ida Gates

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · May 5, 1885

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 18

OHIO QUARTERLY MEETING.

By E. H. Gates; Mrs. Ida Gates

The quarterly meeting of the Ohio Tract and Missionary Society was held at Bellville, Richland Co., Ohio, April 13, 14. Meeting was opened by singing. Prayer by Eld. G. W. Anglebarger. Minutes of the last quarterly meeting (held in 1884) were read. One encouraging feature of the work was that it was increasing and good results had been accomplished the past year. The committee on resolutions submitted the following:—

Whereas, The Spirit of the Lord has spoken plainly and concerning our duty to send out canvassers and colporters everywhere to spread the truth; and—

Whereas, There are many towns in Ohio that have never heard of the coming of the Lord; therefore—

Resolved, That we recommend that an effort be made to engage as many as possible of our brethren and sisters in this work, to engage in canvassing for “Sunshine,” “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Great Controversy,” Good Health, etc.

Whereas, We have been looking forward for many years to the time when the silent messengers of truth should fall like leaves of autumn; and—

Whereas, Much success has attended the putting of our books into reading-racks in hotels, depots, steamboats, and other places; therefore—

Resolved, That we recommend our brethren to take steps to place the new Signs of the Times supplement in depots and other public places, in reading-racks, which can be easily purchased.

Whereas, The canvass for “Sunshine” and the Signs has been successful in getting the truth into hundreds of families; and—

Whereas, The time for the greater proportion of the three years’ subscriptions for the Signs has expired and should be renewed at once if possible; therefore—

Resolved, That we favor the plan suggested by Eld. Haskell to follow up the work by using “Great Controversy,” and getting renewals for the Signs.

Whereas, The success attending our city missionaries has demonstrated that God’s providence is going before us and preparing the people of our cities for the reception of the truth; and—

Whereas, The large cities in Ohio are unwarned, and not entered by our canvassers; therefore—

Resolved, That we recommend that steps be taken immediately to send one or more canvassers into the city of Cincinnati.

Whereas, We are in need of energetic canvassers in all our cities; and—

Whereas, Bro. H. W. Cottrell, who is now working in capacity in the city of New Orleans, is a member of the Conference; therefore—

Resolved, That we invite him to return to this State and join in the work in connection with our city missions.

Whereas, In many cases where the Signs has been sent to persons unacquainted with our theory and manner of work, and been left in the post-office, the parties to whom it has been forwarded supposing if such papers were drawn from the office, pay for them would eventually be expected; therefore—

Resolved, That those sending our papers to such persons also write to them, giving full information respecting the matter.

Resolved, That those sending our papers to individuals acquainted with our work should, after a few weeks, write a letter to them of the interest taken; and where no orders are made after writing two or three times, discontinue sending them.

The consideration of the first resolution drew out interesting remarks from Brethren Fisher, Watts, Gray, Underwood, Beaman, and Thompson. It was stated that one brother, canvassing for “Sunshine” and the Signs, in less than twenty days took one hundred and five orders; and another in the same locality, in less than a week, twenty-one orders; while a brother spending less than ten days at the work took forty orders; showing what can be accomplished when the work is taken hold of in earnest.

It was thought advisable to make a change in the location of the State depository, and Columbus, capital of the State, was suggested as a good place to locate. Considering the subject an important one, it was voted that the Chair appoint a committee of five to recommend in regard to this matter. This committee afterward reported, recommending the adoption of the following resolutions:—

Resolved, That we request the executive committee having in charge the State depository and the financial interests of the cause, to remove the depository to Columbus, Ohio, as soon as provisions can be made for the same. This resolution was carried by a unanimous vote. The following resolutions were also considered:—

Whereas, The city mission funds are now in the hands of the tract society secretary; and—

Whereas, This fact causes confusion in settling with our city missionaries; therefore—

Resolved, That we recommend that the city mission funds be held by the Conference treasurer, to be paid out by order of the president of the Conference, like other Conference funds.

Whereas, Influential men will be needed to labor in connection with the State depository in Columbus; therefore—

Resolved, That we invite Bro. W. H. Gilmore to locate there to labor in the interest of this important city mission.

Whereas, It has been demonstrated that each department of the cause demands a leader; therefore—

Resolved, That our canvassers and colporters should work in organized companies, each company having a judicious leader who shall take the oversight of the work.

By vote, these resolutions were taken up separately, and adopted after pointed and interesting remarks. The director of Dist. No. 4 having moved away, it was voted that the chairman be requested to appoint a director to act until the next yearly meeting. As many canvassers are expected to go into the field this summer, it was suggested by the president that each canvasser report every week to the tract society secretary the work he has done, so that arrangements can be made to have enough Signs to fill all orders that come in.

E. H. GATES, Pres.

MRS. IDA GATES, Sec.