The Offering for Our Orphans
By Arthur G. Daniells
THE time for taking the annual offering in behalf of our orphans has been appointed by the General Conference Committee for the first Sabbath in April. At the last session of the General Conference held at Washington, it was thought best, in view of the rapid advancement and the constant development of the message in both the home and foreign fields, to make a change in the arrangement hitherto existing for taking contributions for the support of our orphans. That there might be a more equal distribution of the funds to the different phases of our work in all parts of the field, it was decided that five annual collections be taken at such times as the General Conference Committee might designate,—two for foreign missions, one for religious liberty, one for the work among the colored people throughout the United States, and one for the Haskell Home and similar institutions. In harmony with this action of the General Conference, the executive committee designated the first Sabbath in April as the time for the offering to be taken in all our churches for the orphans. This action to take one annual offering, instead of two as formerly, was not taken because we have less interest in caring for the orphans among us than in the past. But, as stated, the demands made upon us for the extension of our work in the vast, unworked fields of the world made a change in our former plan necessary. Other institutions for the care of orphans are being started, and these are appealing to us for help. The children in these institutions should receive help, as well as those in the Haskell Home. For this reason the recommendation of the conference was that the collection be taken for “the Haskell Home and similar institutions.” This arrangement for the securing of funds to care for our orphans was made after careful consideration, and will no doubt be concurred in by all our people. At the present time there are about one hundred children in the Haskell6Home. Besides these, a number of faithful, hard-working, self-sacrificing teachers and helpers are necessarily employed to look after these homeless little ones. All these must have support, and unless the offering is a liberal one, financial pressure may be brought upon those connected with this institution. This is a church offering, and should be sent through the same channels as all other annual offerings. We urge, brethren and sisters, that this offering in behalf of our orphans be a liberal one.