Whose Debts? by L. A. HANSEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1910

Whose Debts?

By L. A. HANSEN

A NOTICEABLE feature in the consideration of our sanitarium relief campaign among our German brethren is the inclination to look at the matter from what they believe to be a practical view-point. This was seen at the North Dakota meeting; when one brother arose with the statement that he believed that “those who made the debts should pay them,—that is the way farmers have to do.”

An excellent answer was given by Elder G. F. Hafner, superintendent of the German Department, giving principles suitable for general application. He said: “I agree with the brother. It is right that those who have made debts should pay them. That is something that every Seventh-day Adventist believes in doing. That is what we did in the case of our Christiania work. When not one of the other denominations involved offered to meet any of their obligations, we paid every dollar of ours, and that very thing gained for us a reputation, a standing, in that country that is invaluable. It is this same thing that we are proposing to do now; for these sanitarium liabilities are ours; they belong to the denomination. They do not belong to some individual, and individuals were not responsible for them. They are the result of the establishment and conduct of work that has been and is being done by us as a denomination, under conference direction. These institutions that we are helping are not private concerns; they are ours, yours and mine, and their debts are ours. Will you now say, ‘Well, I did not know there were these debts when I joined the denomination; I did not know that it meant I would be called upon to help pay obligations’? Suppose you did not count the cost, would you now prefer to give up your part in this work rather than to bear your share of the responsibilities?”

L. A. HANSEN.