APPLICATION FOR HELP

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 25, 1868

APPLICATION FOR HELP.

Bro. C. A. writes from Pleasantville, N. Y., “My wife requests me to apply for means to procure a sewing machine, that she may have a way to support her little family. I have been unable to work since last November, when I received a shock of paralysis which has left me a cripple. The support of the family has since fallen upon my wife, and she now has but about one day’s work in a week, and we are obliged to live on that, with four little children to look after. She can have plenty of work with a machine, if we could procure one. We have been helped to a good little house by the church here, and other friends, for which we feel truly thankful. Bro. P. C. Rodman is acquainted with us and our situation. We have both been members of the S. D. A. church since last fall, and it is our greatest pleasure to try to keep God’s commandments. We are sometimes without a cent, or anything with which to help ourselves, yet I do not feel to distrust the Lord who has been so merciful to us.”

On receiving the above we immediately sent it to Bro. White, President of the Benevolent Association, remarking that the assistance rendered by the Benevolent Association to sister ——, of Pleasantville, to procure a sewing machine, had, it seemed, called out another application from the same place, and asking what should be done with it. This he returned with the following note:

“We cannot help strangers by sending them means, without they are recommended to us by reliable ministers or elders of churches. The proper way for the needy is to apply to ministers or elders, and then let them lay the case before us.