Envelopes for Tithes and Offerings
By I. H. EVANS
THE late session of our General Conference should mark a new era in the progress of our denominational work. This conference was distinctly a missionary conference. From nearly every mission field a leading representative was present to speak upon the growth of the cause in his territory, and the needs of the field for more aggressive work. These men spoke with power; they knew the needs of the various fields. They were well acquainted with the superstitions, the darkness, the ignorance, and the degradation of these benighted lands. They knew full well what the gospel can do for these poor souls. They had seen the soul transformation that takes place when the darkness of heathenism has given place to the light of the third angel's message. No heart that listened to these soul-stirring reports was untouched with a desire to render the long-delayed help. The delegates themselves responded to these appeals in every possible way. Day by day large delegations spent hours in earnest committee work, studying plans and methods for securing more means for the work in these benighted lands. It seemed incredible to all, that conditions should continue as they have for the past few years, and so small an amount of funds be raised for the work in the regions beyond. The General Conference while in session passed the following recommendations to secure more funds for the mission fields as well as to increase the tithes paid to the local conferences:— That suitable envelopes of uniform size and quality, with texts and other reading similar to the attached copy, be provided by the General Conference, at small expense, for use in all the churches for the purpose of securing regularity and uniformity in taking up the weekly offerings and in the collection of the tithe weekly. TITHES AND WEEKLY OFFERINGS
“YE SHALL CELEBRATE MY SABBATHS” “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” “Bring an offering, and come into his courts.” For God hath said, “They shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God.” “Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse . . . and prove me. . . . I will pour you out a blessing, saith the Lord.” “Will a man rob God?” Tithe ........................................ $..... Foreign Missions .......................... $..... Literature in Home Fields ............... $..... For Needy Poor ............................ $..... Church Expense ........................... $..... “God loveth a cheerful giver.” “Honor the Lord with thy substance.” “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.” “Well done. . . . Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Name ................................................ Address ............................................. These envelopes are now ready. The General Conference Treasury Department has had one million envelopes prepared for general distribution. Many States have already placed their orders. Others should send in their orders at once. These envelopes are to be distributed each Sabbath for the people6to take home, and during the week they are to place within the envelope their tithes, and offerings for all purposes, taking pains to write opposite each item the amount enclosed for each specific offering. If there is fifty cents of tithe, mark down opposite Tithe, fifty cents; if twenty-five cents for missions, write it down opposite Foreign Missions, and so on to the end. Be sure to sign your name, and bring your envelope to the Sabbath meeting. We believe if each of us will adopt this plan, we shall find it will greatly increase the tithe and offerings for both home and foreign work. Will not every church at once write to its State secretary for a good supply of these envelopes, and let us get this plan in operation at the earliest possible date? Remember, each individual is to have an envelope every Sabbath, and bring it back with his tithe and offerings enclosed the following Sabbath. Thus each Sabbath there will be envelopes given out, and envelopes taken up. We would suggest that the envelopes be distributed and the collection gathered each Sabbath right after prayer, before the second song is sung. Of course all will take the offering when most appropriate, and need not follow this suggestion. We trust this plan will greatly increase both the tithe and the offerings.