BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY

At the last session of the General Conference, recommendations were made with the view of directing in a measure the work of the society during the biennial period just closed. These, briefly stated, with comments on their application, are given in order as follows:—GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.1

1. “That the office of the International Tract Society be removed from Battle Creek, Mich., to some large central city.”GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.2

This action was taken in direct compliance with a Testimony which urged the change of the location of the office. Soon after the close of the Conference, the secretary of the society went to Boston to determine if a suitable place at moderate expense could be found in that city. After a thorough search he went to New York, where he met a committee of brethren, who looked over that city, and with far more satisfactory results than were realized at the first-named city. A good office at reasonable expense was found in the American Tract Society Building, No. 150 Nassau St. This place is near the central post-office, the terminal of Brooklyn Bridge. The elevated and surface systems of street railways of the city, and most important of all, near the greatest harbor on the continent. Here is represented the sail and steamship craft of all the nations of the earth.GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.3

2. “That the officers of the society be encouraged to issue tracts for the blind.”GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.4

Previously to the Conference, this work had been in progress. A printing outfit had been purchased, with a stock of materials, and a number of tracts had made their appearance. These had been received with favor by the blind, and a demand seemed to exist for the continuation of the work by the society; but when it came time to remove the office from Battle Creek, it seemed impracticable on account of the expense involved to undertake the printing for the blind in connection with an office in New York City. Therefore this work was left at Battle Creek in charge of the General Conference officers. Tracts have not been issued, but a monthly paper instead, and encouraging success has attended the work.GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.5

3. “That a greater effort be made to circulate English literature, as the Signs of the Times, etc., where English is not general spoken.”GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.6

Responding to this, purchased and donated reading-matter was sent to many parts of the world where our literature had not previously gone. A large number of the Signs of the Times have been sent weekly to English-speaking people of Greece, West Africa, nearly all the South-American countries, and shipments have frequently been made to the soldiers of the Philippine Islands.GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.7

4. “That greater effort be made to provide foreign literature for foreigners in this country.”GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.8

Something was accomplished in this direction. The society took clubs of our foreign papers, and distributed them as opportunity afforded. Correspondence was had with the State tract societies, pointing out the colonies of foreigners in the various States and the importance of this work.GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.9

There are a large number of Finns in Greater New York. A Sabbath-keeping Finlander is engaged among his people as colporteur and canvasser, and success is attending his work. The society is assisting this brother as his necessities require.GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.10

During nearly half of the biennial period just closed a large club of the Spanish paper published at Guadalajara, Mexico, was taken at the office of the society, and the papers mailed to separate addresses of responsible persons in Porto Rico.GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.11

The work in New York Harbor deserves special mention. The society owns a small yacht, which has been used in its work of circulating literature in this very important field. The vessel has been in charge of Capt. J. L. Johnson, who with his wife, have done faithful work in selling books, loaning, and giving away literature as opportunity came to them. Some excellent fruit has already appeared, there being many precious souls who owe their knowledge of present truth to the harbor work. The society has borne the expense of this effort from the start, but owing to lack of funds, as much could not be done as should have been done. Our yacht, the Sentinel, is not the best suited for the purpose for which it was designed. It seems important that this work should be continued, and with a better and more suitable vessel than the one now employed. The yacht now in use should be sold, and a new one, at moderate cost, suitable to the demands of experience, should be constructed. New York Harbor is constantly swarming with yachts of all descriptions, many of which are the finest in the world, but the Sentinel, designed to represent our work, is perhaps the most out-of-date of anything afloat in the vicinity. A vessel properly constructed would accommodate a small force of workers who could devote their entire time to their work, it being possible to continue during the winter season in the Southern harbors of the United States.GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.12

Following is the Treasurer’s report:—GCB April 22, 1901, page 399.13