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MINUTES OF MISSOURI 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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MINUTES OF MISSOURI TRACT SOCIETY.

By D. T. Jones; Clara E. Low

The ninth annual session of this Society was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Independence, Oct. 3–14. The first meeting was called Oct. 6, at 5:30 A. M. The president, D. T. Jones, in the chair. Prayer by Eld. Farnsworth. Minutes of last annual meeting read and approved. Reports of labor for the first three quarters of this year were read.
The President spoke of the encouraging increase of the work, of the establishment of a depository at Sedalia, and the advantages gained thereby. He also called attention to the fact that a copy of the Sentinel had been sent to every editor in the State, and that many had given favorable notices of it in their papers. Eld. Farnsworth made interesting remarks on the importance of tract and missionary work.
On motion, the Chair was authorized to appoint the usual committees, which were named at a subsequent meeting as follows: On Nominations, N. W. Allee, Eli Wick, Wm. Evans; on Resolutions, N. W. Allen, J. M. Gallemore, and Wesley Hoff. Adjourned to call of Chair.
SECOND MEETING, OCT. 9, AT 9 A. M.—Prayer by N. W. Allen. Secretary’s report read. Report of labor for past quarter was read, also the summary of labor for the past year ending Sept. 30, which is as follows:—
No of members 184
“ “ reports returned 315
“ “ members added 19
“ “ “ dismissed 8
“ “ missionary visits 1,688
“ “ letters written 761
“ “ Signs taken in clubs 254
“ “ new subscriptions obtained 304
“ “ pages tracts and pamphlets distributed 259,699
“ “ periodicals distributed 7,572
“ “ trial subscriptions obtained for Signs 312
The Committee on Nominations presented their report as follows: For President, D. T. Jones; Secretary and Treasurer, Clara E. Low; Directors: Dist. No. 1, Marcus Adams; No. 2, C. J. Dasher; No. 3, Rufus Low; No. 4, J. F. Klostermyer; No. 5, Eli Wick; No. 6, E. C. Slawson; No. 7, J. M. Gallemore.
The report was found to be incomplete, the committee having failed to nominate any one for Vice-President. This part of the report was referred back to the committee.
Remarks were made by Brn. Butler and Allee about the change of Treasurer, it having been the custom for the last four years to have the office of Secretary and Treasurer separate. The report was adopted, after which stirring remarks were made by Bro. Butler, urging all to engage in the missionary work.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
THIRD MEETING, OCT. 12, AT 9 A. M.—Prayer by Eld. D. T. Jones. The Committee on Nominations finished reporting by presenting the name of J. G. Wood for Vice-President. He was unanimously elected.
The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:—
Whereas, We believe that the greater part of the third angel’s message is to go to the world through the medium of the tract and missionary work,—a work in which every believer in the soon coming of the Lord can bear some humble part; therefore—
Resolved, That the directors of our several districts and the librarians of our societies exert themselves in getting every consistent Sabbath-keeper to become a member of the tract society, at the same time placing tracts in their hands and instructing them as to the most judicious way of using them.
Resolved, That we urge our ministers, when organizing churches, not to fail to organize tract societies at the same time, and to instruct the members in this part of the message, that they may at once become active workers in the cause.
Resolved, That the officers of the tract societies be furnished with a supply of our printed envelopes, filled with assorted tracts at our depository.
Resolved, That our ministers be requested to give some attention to the keeping of librarian’s and district secretary’s books, that they may be the better prepared to give instruction in this part of the work as they visit our churches.
On motion, the resolutions were considered separately. The first and second were adopted after remarks by Elds. Butler, Wood, and Chaffee. Resolution three was spoken to by Eld. Jones, who explained the printed envelopes, and mentioned the work that had been done with them. On motion, this resolution was amended to read as follows:—
Resolved, That it is the judgment of this society that all our church societies supply themselves with our printed envelopes, filled with tracts at our depository.
Adopted as amended.
Adjourned to call of Chair.
FOURTH MEETING, OCT. 13, AT 9 P. M.—Prayer by Eld. Jones. Minutes of last meeting read and approved. Amendment to resolution three again discussed by Brn. Allen, Hobbs, Jones, and others.
On motion, the resolution was amended to read as follows:—
Resolved, That it is the judgment of this society that all our church societies supply themselves with our printed envelopes, to be used in missionary work.
Adopted as amended. The financial statement of the society was read as follows:—
Balance due REVIEW AND HERALD $1,828.69
“ “ Signs Office 130.48
“ “ Dist. No. 2, on periodicals 5.60
“ “ individuals 6.00
Total liabilities $1,970.77
Value of publications on hand $1,418.98
Cash on hand on T. and M. and periodical fund 326.89
“ “ “ reserve 271.50
Due from ministers and agents 933.71
“ “ districts on periodicals 226.06
“ “ ministers and agents on periodicals 78.99
Total assets $3,256.13
Balance in favor of Society 1,285.36
Adjourned sine die.
D. T. JONES, Pres.
CLARA E. LOW, Sec.