An Appeal to Believers in Vermont
By J. W. Watt
“From every country is heard the cry, ‘Come over and help us.’ Rich and poor, high and low, are calling for light. Men and women are hungering for the truth as it is in Jesus.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, page 16. We in this land of gospel light and liberty have been blessed with the glorious light of this last message to the world. How thankful we should be to have a part to act in sending this light to those not so highly favored as ourselves! The ten-cent-a-week plan for the support of the work in distant fields gives all an opportunity to do something in the work of the Lord. In Vermont we are endeavoring to carry out this plan, but we are not succeeding as well as we had hoped. If we should raise a sum equivalent to ten cents a week per capita, we should have two thousand six hundred dollars annually to send to distant fields. Last year our First-day offerings were less than one tenth of this sum, or not quite one cent a week for each member in this State. We are sorry to be compelled to make this statement; but we hope that those who read19this article will think seriously upon this subject. We have reason to believe that many of our Vermont people have adopted this plan, in part at least. We hope during the year 1905 that all our people in the State will adopt the plan in full. We hope our church officers will co-operate with us in this work, and that we shall see a large increase in this fund for the support of missionaries who go to distant lands to carry this blessed message. Our Vermont people have always been loyal to the cause of God; we are thankful for this. But, brethren, can we not by a little planning and faithfulness on our part, greatly increase this ten-cent-a-week fund? I am sure that none of us is opposed to the plan, but we allow the weeks to pass by without the payment of the ten cents. Let us make a sacrifice, if need be, in order fully to carry out this plan. If we do this, doubtless one more laborer can be sent into the distant fields, and supported while there. Vermont is paying one such worker from her tithe. Shall we not support at least one more by the ten-cent-a-week plan? If librarians need envelopes, let them write to F. M. Dana for a supply. May the Lord help his people to do their whole duty. J. W. WATT.