A Reply to an Inquiry by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1905

A Reply to an Inquiry

By Editor

An esteemed brother, who thinks that others may look at the matter as he does, writes as follows:—

“I do not recall any published statement in the REVIEW as to what disposition has been made of the insurance money of the burned property at Battle Creek. Until the meeting of the last General Conference I took it for granted that this insurance would apply to the building of the new plant at Washington. The call for an overflow of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund for this purpose largely suggests my inquiry as to the disposition of the above insurance.”

For the benefit of this brother, and of any others who may not understand the matter, we will briefly state the facts. At the time of the destruction of its printing plant by fire, the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association of Battle Creek, Mich., was carrying a large indebtedness, a considerable portion of which was covered by notes and certificates of deposit. The insurance money was almost wholly used in the payment of these notes and certificates of deposit. This, of course, reduced the indebtedness, but left no ready cash for the erection of the new plant in Washington. As the Washington Association has been unable thus far to dispose of any of the real estate at Battle Creek since it came into possession of the property there, and as there are large obligations still to be met, it seemed necessary to ask for some assistance from our people in building the new plant here. Furthermore, the new association has been asked to cancel a balance of fifteen thousand dollars due to it from the old Seventh-day Adventist Educational Society, assumed first by the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association, and now by the General Conference Corporation, which has taken over the Battle Creek College property. Thus the amount of the overflow of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund asked for is only equal to the amount of the indebtedness of the General Conference Corporation to the Review and Herald Publishing Association which has been cancelled.

We hope this explanation will make the situation clear to all, and that there will be a favorable response to the call for continuing the donations. The preliminary arrangements are already being made for the erection of the new printing plant here, and the actual work will begin in a few days. More than one third of the fifteen thousand dollars suggested to be raised for this purpose is already in hand, and a united effort will supply the remainder without distressing any one. We are thankful for what has been done, and are hopeful for the future: