p. 150 | Meeting Houses by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1867

Meeting Houses.

By James White

The building of meeting houses by subscription is generally a long and tedious job, and generally unequal. The order in which things usually progress is as follows: They are first built, a few bearing most of the burden; second they are put under a mortgage; and third, they are dedicated to the Lord. But we doubt whether the Lord accepts them in this condition.

The best plan on which we have seen a house of worship built is by regular taxation of all the members of the church according to the property of each as found upon the Assessor's roll, or upon the church Systematic Benevolence book. This is far more equal than the first plan mentioned, yet this may be improved in the following particulars:

1. There are young men in our churches who have no taxable property who should do more in building a meeting house than that feeble brother who has a large family, though he be worth three or four thousand dollars. Health, strength and ability to labor and acquire should be taken into the account.

2. That young brother who has property, with small family, and firm in health, and keen in ability to acquire, should do twice as much in such an enterprise, as that brother who has the same amount of property, yet has poor health, and a large family upon his hands. And,

3. Location is an item not to be overlooked. Our houses of worship in the country are generally located near some farmer. On Sabbath and first-day his barns are filled with horses who consume his hay and his grain, and his house is filled with brethren who by urgent invitation fill several tables. And he lives so near that he is left to build fires, sweep the house, have the principal care of building, and boards the hands very cheap. Those at a distance are free from a hundred such little burdens which amount to a large sum during the year, and his brethren at a distance are not only free from them, but share his liberality as stated above.

It is not always convenient for those coming to meeting, especially on the Sabbath, to take along with them hay, grain and refreshment. And these cold dinners are not always healthful. Neither would we discourage the friendly gathering around the farmer's ample board, by the friends of the Lord. But let the friendship be strengthened by those living at a distance occasionally bringing in a few bags of corn, oats and wheat.

In this locality are two houses of worship about ten miles apart. One is called Bro. Maynard's meeting house, because it is just across the road from his house, and the other is called Bro. King's, because it is near his ample home. But on inquiring, we learn that these houses are quite properly named. They cost about $1,000 each, and Bro. Maynard really has $400 in the one near him, and Bro. King has nearly $800 in the one near him. Whereas, by regular tax, Bro. King would have about $300 in the house in Orleans, and Bro. Maynard would have about $200 in the house near him.

We would close by saying that the members of both these churches now seem more than willing to work on the plan of equality, and will soon settle the expenses of their houses upon the scriptural plan of equality.

JAMES WHITE.