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INTERNATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, November 25, 1884

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 61, No. 47

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INTERNATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY.

By S. N. Haskell; M. L. Huntley

(Continued.)
FOURTH MEETING, Nov. 9, at 9:30 A. M.—Prayer by W. C. Sisley. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, followed by the consideration of resolutions presented by the committee at the previous meeting. This discussion embraced many points of interest, and all present seemed impressed with the necessity of urging forward the work in all departments by every means in our power. The good that it is possible for local societies to accomplish by thoroughly canvassing their several localities with our publications, was set forth. We as individuals owe a greater duty to our friends and neighbors than to those farther away. The idea entertained by many that nothing can be accomplished in their immediate neighborhoods is not true. The experience of the Battle Creek church, in the vicinity of which, more than in other places, people are supposed to be acquainted with our people and work, was related. Three years ago about fifty persons volunteered to canvass the city with our publications. The territory was divided among the workers so that the burden was not heavy on any one. This work has been carried on until the present time. The result outside was not great at first, but the church was much benefited. The workers frequently met together for prayer and consultation, and by this means maintained a lively interest in the work. The fruit of this labor has now become apparent in the city. Quite a large number have embraced the truth, fifteen the past year, and some Sabbaths as many as one hundred persons from outside attend meetings at the Tabernacle. The plan set forth in the resolution was highly commended. After carefully considering the work, local societies should organize their forces, divide up their territory, and make an earnest and continued effort to carry the truth to as many as they can reach. Many present expressed the opinion that a work of this kind properly conducted, would give life to many churches which are now in a languishing condition.
The second resolution had special reference to towns and villages not in the vicinity of local societies, and not sufficiently large to sustain city missions. In several Conferences the experience of two or more persons who have made a thorough canvass of small cities, doing colporter work and holding Bible-readings, has been very encouraging, in some instances from ten to twenty having embraced the Sabbath as the result.
The discussion on the third resolution involved important considerations. Several present related their experience in holding tent-meetings immediately after the locality had been canvassed for the Signs, from which it appeared that the Signs canvass was productive of evil rather than good. In other instances the results were different. In one Conference five series of tent-meetings had been held during the summer, three of which were preceded by colporter work and were successful; the other two were not preceded by this kind of labor and they were failures. In those cases in which the effort was successful, the colporters did their work quietly without reference to the tent-meetings which were to follow. When the time came for lectures, the tent was pitched, notices circulated, and the meetings commenced as quickly as possible. The opinion was expressed that some time should elapse between the effort of the colporter and the tent-meeting, and also that the work is not injured by the opposition, or even abuse, which the colporter often receives from the ministers in the place. These resolutions were adopted, also the balance of the report, with the exception of the tenth resolution. During the consideration of this resolution the meeting adjourned to call of Chair.
FIFTH MEETING, Nov. 10, at 9:30 A. M.—Prayer was offered by Eld. Waggoner. The sum of $100 was subscribed to the society. The whole number of life members was stated to be over six hundred and sixty. The consideration of resolution ten was resumed, and after some slight alterations by the committee, it was adopted.
At this point remarks were made by Elds. Haskell, Whitney, Starr, and others, concerning city missions. The plan of holding Bible-readings with families was highly recommended. Persons connected with reading-rooms were unanimous in the opinion that while they are indispensable auxiliaries in the city mission work, they are not a success independent of outside personal labor. Interesting remarks were made by Bro. W. C. Sisley and others respecting the utility of city missions as training schools for inexperienced workers. The experiment of sending students from the Battle Creek College to the Chicago mission, for the purpose of gaining an experience in the missionary work, the past summer, has been highly satisfactory. In speaking of the wants of this mission, it was suggested that donations of bedding, fruit, flour, potatoes, etc., would be very acceptable, and it was recommended that persons desiring to make donations of this kind, should send them together as much as possible, so as to avoid the expense of transportation in Chicago. It was also recommended that the donors should pay the freight. These suggestions are equally applicable to other city missions, and it was thought that most of them might be largely sustained in this way. Many persons, especially farmers, could make donations from their large supplies, and never feel it, excepting in the way that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The plan of having registers in our city missions was commended. The Committee on Resolutions presented the following:—
Whereas, We desire uniformity in all our work, and believe that the use of a uniform name in our advertising, etc., in the various State Societies would tend to bring our work more prominently and effectually before the public; therefore—
12. Resolved, That our State societies adopt the use of such expressions in advertising, etc., as will represent them as branches of the International Society.
Whereas, It has been shown by experience that “Sunshine at Home” is a book that sells readily, and that creates a favorable impression, which assists in introducing other reading matter, such as the Signs of the Times and other periodicals, “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” etc.; therefore—
13. Resolved, That in our judgment “Sunshine at Home” should be sold by our canvassers in connection with our books and periodicals, as a means of defraying expenses and aiding in other directions.
After remarks, resolution twelve was adopted. Discussion on the thirteenth called out the experience gained in the canvassing work in different States, particularly with respect to “Sunshine at Home,” in which both the advantages and disadvantages of its use were set forth. This resolution was rejected.
The Committee on Nominations recommended the following persons as officers for the ensuing year: President, S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, W. C. White; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss M. L. Huntley; Assistant Secretaries, Miss Anna L. Ingels, Oakland, Cal.; Mrs. F. H. Sisley, Battle Creek, Mich.; Miss Jennie Thayer, Great Grimsby, Eng.; Mrs. B. L. Whitney, Bâle, Switzerland; Executive Committee, S. N. Haskell, W. C. White, Geo. I. Butler, O. A. Olsen, M. H. Brown, W. C. Sisley, and M. L. Huntley. On motion the report was accepted as a whole.
On motion, the presidents of our Conferences and State societies, also representatives from each of our institutions, were appointed a committee to make arrangements for representing our work at the New Orleans Exposition, and also to devise means for increasing the circulation of our pioneer sheet.
Meeting adjourned to call of the Chair.
SIXTH MEETING, Nov. 14, at 2:30 P. M.—Prayer by Eld. Van Horn. The question of getting out new large certificates bearing the present name of the Society, was introduced, and after some remarks, it was voted to retain and use the old large certificate.
It was moved and carried to resolve the meeting into a committee of the whole, to discuss the circulation of our periodicals. Bro. W. C. White spoke in behalf of the Signs, presenting a new Signs circular, offering three premiums,—“History of the Waldenses,” “Sketches from the Life of Paul,” by Mrs. White, and “Sunshine Series.” Terms to subscribers and State Societies the same as last year. Several reasons were given for selecting the “History of the Waldenses” as a premium with the Signs. It is a book that will be acceptable and also beneficial to all Protestants. For our own people, whose experience will be similar in some respects to that of the Waldenses, it is a book that every one should read. Remarks were made by Elds. Haskell, White, Lane, Kilgore, Starr, Boyd, Daniels, and Ballou, after which it was moved and carried that we as a committee of the whole recommend the use of the premiums as presented in the Signs circular for the coming year.
Brn. Butler and Henry spoke in behalf of the REVIEW, but no definite plan was suggested. Remarks were made respecting the duty of ministers to obtain for the REVIEW the subscription of persons embracing the truth. Those who can take but one paper should have the REVIEW in preference to the Signs.
Moved and carried that the Committee rise.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to call of the Chair.
S. N. HASKELL, Pres.
M. L. HUNTLEY, Sec.
(Concluded next week.)