THE $150,000 FUND
HOW SHALL OUR SHARE BE RAISED?
AN important question in the Southern Un-
ion Conference at this time is, How shall we
raise our share of the $150,000? The Gen-
eral Conference Committee, after long and
careful consideration, have deemed it abso-
lutely essential that the above sum should be
raised to properly carry on our work at the
present time.
By a careful estimate, it was unanimously
agreed upon by our delegates and the Gen-
eral Conference officers that the sum of $6,000
would be the reasonable share for this Union
Conference. Considerable has been said
through the WarcuaMAN and the Review con-
cerning this matter, but as yet we have come
far short of raising it. ‘The writer appre-
hends that the faithful brethren and sisters
who are true to this cause in this field would
never for one moment be willing to fail in
doing their just share in raising this sum.
In view of the fact that our Southern field
receives fifty thousand dollars of this fund for
its own benefit, to equip its suffering institu-
tions, without which they could not be placed
on vantage-ground, how could any self-re-
specting believer here in the South be willing
to see this Union Conference fail in raising
its share? It would be a great disgrace to
us, indeed, that could not be forgotten. It
would be more than that, a sin against God's
cause. This needs no further argument.
We call attention to an article in this num-
ber from the pen of Elder R. M. Kilgore, the
vice-president of the Southern Union Confer-
ence, concerning the movement at Graysville
to raise the five hundred dollars that is about
the share of that church. Let every reader
of this paper carefully consider this excellent
plan of our largest church in the South to
raise its proportion of this fund, one twelfth
of the share of the Union Conference.
We urge all to carefully study this plan, for
it seems to us ‘most excellent. It is business-
like, and it enlists all in the work. It makes
provision for collectors to either visit every
member, or if absent, write to them. If these
solicitors are wide-awake, earnest men, filled
with solicitude for the success of this im-
portant work, setting before the members the
consistency, reasonableness, and importance of
this work, and the benefits to be derived from
the fund to this poverty-stricken field in build-
ing up its needy institutions, the proportion
of each one can easily be raised, and all over
- this Union Conference great rejoicing will re-
sult.
We heartily indorse this suitable plan set
forth by Elder Kilgore, and ask the cordial co-
operation of every officer and member in this
conference. How much better to have some
fixed point ahead to aim at than to be drizzling
along in some indefinite way. The plan re-
quires energy, push, complete unity of effort,
and a loving, longing desire to see this great
effort to carry on the work of God made a
success.
Sabbath, May 4, is the objective point when
THE WATCHMAN
this plan should reach its consummation. We
have put it off so long in order to give enough
time to enable each conference to put all the
machinery into vigorous operation. We have
not a moment to spare in getting right at this
work. Every member of each and all of our
churches composing the Southern Union Con-
ference ought to feel a holy zeal in doing his
part to raise this large fund. Qur great desire
is to see this Union Conference earnest and
faithful in all that pertains to the advance-
ment of this best of all causes. We need to
cultivate this sacrificing spirit, dear brethren
and sisters. That spirit, thoroughly alive,
will make any conference where it is present
successful. Where it is absent, coldness, in-
difference, and spiritual death are the sure
result.
In view of these facts, we solemnly call upon
each state conference or mission field, and the
committee of the same, to at once set in mo-
tion every church and the officers thereof.
The president of each state conference should
at once call his committee together, and obtain
from the conference secretary the number of
members in each church, and give to the elder
or officers of each local church the amount ap-
portioned to be raised by that church. Then
as quickly as possible the officers of the local
church should proceed to appoint solicitors to
secure from each and all of the members the
amounts they could reasonably pay to secure
the full amount of the apportionment sent by
the conference committee, and have it all
raised by the first of May. The members of
the conference committee should keep a con-
stant supervision over this work in their con-
ference, and assist all in their power to raise
the various apportionments.
The success of this excellent plan will
largely depend upon the interest taken in it by
the officers of the conference and churches,
and the amount of earnestness and enthusi-
asm they put into it. The plan is so reason-
able, the needs of the cause so great, and the
importance of its success so self-evident, that
it ought easily to succeed.
Giving to the cause of God is lending to the
Lord his own. All is his, and we are his by
creation, preservation, and redemption. To
fail in bestowing our offerings is called * rob-
bing God.” Mal. 3:8. “The liberal soul
shall be made fat” “The Lord loveth a
cheerful giver.” Gro. I. BUTLER,
President Southern Union Conf.
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Raising the $150,000 Fund.
Tus is quite a large sum of money; yet
Seventh-day Adventists have undertaken to
raise it for missionary extension, and important
institutional work.
If the burden of raising this amount of
money devolved upon one man, it would be
crushing. If ten men were given the task,
there would be delay. If a hundred of our
people were set to work, it would require each
one of these to raise $1,500, but few of whom
could perform the task in the time allotted for
it. If all our people were to put their shoul-
ders under the load, it is estimated that each
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one would be required to raise only $2.53.
How many are there of our people who could
not raise that amount? ‘There may be a few,
but there are many others who would not and
ought not to be satisfied to give so small an
amount. Some will give $10, others $25, while
others will willingly give $50, and some will
make their gifts to this fund $roo and more.
By this plan of co-operation, the $150,000
could be easily and speedily raised.
When this plan was set before us by Elder
A. G. Daniells in last week's Review, the
Graysville church immediately set itself to
work. The officers of the church met in
council. We found we had nearly $500 to
raise as a church. This was ascertained by
multiplying our membership by the amount
allotted to each one, as suggested above. In
order to make the amount for the church
sure, it was suggested by some that $3.00 to
each one would be better than the smaller
amount.
A soliciting ' committee of four or more
earnest, active members was appointed. This
committee is supported by the entire church,
and is provided with credentials of authority
to call on every member of the church, and
present to each one personally their duty in
this matter, and to collect the money. To
those who may be absent, earnest letters must
be written, soliciting their co-operation in
making up the sum total for the church and
for the large fund. Those who are able to
give more than the individual share must be
constrained to give double, or quadruple, and if
possible, more still than the individual share,
in order to make up for those members of
the church who are not able, such as the desti-
tute, the widows, and those who have large
families. Those who are poor will be in-
vited to give all they can toward their share.
Thus all the members of the church will be
importuned to do all that is in their power to
enable the church to raise its share of the
$150,000 fund. Those who are not prepared
to pay all at once will be asked to render
their share in instalments, as may be arranged
between themselves and the solicitor, while
others will ask {for time, being willing to
pledge. In this way every one can do some-
thing, and have a part in this good work.
Now, in order that the church may know
when, and that .its share is made up, it is
understood that all money must be gathered
in, and every pledge listed by the first of
May. This will give ample time for all in-
stalments to be collected, and pledges to be
enrolled; so by that time we shall know that
the great task is accomplished, or just how
much is yet to be done.
The work is progressing, and is well under
way. The officers and members of the church
are awake to the fact that when all work
unitedly in faith and with willing hearts, the
yoke is easy, and the burden is light.
R. M. KircoRE.
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EvERY noble life leaves the fiber of it inter-
woven forever in the work of the world; by
so much, evermore, the strength of the human
race has gained. —Ruskin.