ORGANIZATION OF THE TRACT SOCIETY

The second annual meeting, a meeting which, in its form and the nature of the business transacted, corresponded to our State Conferences, although as yet no Conference had been organized in Switzerland, was held at Bienne, Dec. 12, 1875. There was a good representation of the brethren of the different churches, and the meeting was interesting and profitable. The committee appointed the year before for the general oversight of the work reported what had been done, and a treasurer’s report was made, showing what use had been made of the funds paid into the treasury. The report of the committee showed that there had been printed during the year three thousand copies of each of the tracts, “The Millennium,” “The Second Advent,” “The Two Thrones,” “The Judgment,” and “The Sanctuary;” and ten thousand copies of “Which Day do you Keep, and Why?”HSFM 21.4

The subject of systematic benevolence received considerable attention at this meeting, and the pledges of the brethren for the coming year amounted to 2300 francs, or about $460. There were at this time seventy-five Sabbath-keepers, besides a considerable number of Sabbath-keeping children. The executive committee chosen for the ensuing year consisted of Brn. J. N. Andrews, Albert Vuilleumier, and J. E. Dietschy. Brn. Andrews and Erzenberger received credentials, and five persons were granted license.HSFM 21.5

But the most important work of this meeting was the organization of the Tract and Missionary Society. This was done as nearly after the model of the American societies as the circumstances would allow. Previous to this time there had been apparently but little opportunity for tract and missionary work. As there had been no tracts in the French language, the brethren had been limited to what they could do by personal effort for those with whom they associated. It was true also that they did not realize the importance of this kind of work, and their early zeal had been much abated through the discouraging influence of the unfortunate course of the one from whom they had first received the truth. These brethren had manifested a commendable zeal and willingness to sacrifice of their means for the extension of the work; but it was not surprising that, not having had special instruction on this point, they did not feel that sense of personal responsibility which was desirable in view of the great work before them. As they now had a limited supply of publications in their own language, it was hoped by means of this organization to bring all into useful activity, and to lead to an individual co-operation for the extension of the important work which had been commenced.HSFM 21.6