HELP THEM TO HELP THEMSELVES.
By James White
Every Christian, however poor in the things needful to the present life, will feel best, prosper in the Christian life best, and be surest of Heaven, to do all they can to help themselves. But there are those who are so situated that it is almost impossible for them to observe the Sabbath and obtain a livelihood. These persons need help. And, in most cases, nearly all the help they need is to a chance to help themselves. Two cases of this kind came under my observation the past week. One of them is a brother who is now with us from Maine. This brother and his wife embraced the Sabbath about four years since, under the labors of Elders Loughborough and Cornell with the tent in Brunswick. His business had been lumbering, which commanded good wages. But keeping the Sabbath threw him out of this kind of employment, and not being able to get steady work anywhere, his family expenses soon consumed the few hundreds he had accumulated. Want stared him full in the face. Rich men would offer him large wages if he would “work on Saturday.” But this he could not do. A few weeks since he decided to come to Michigan. But after selling all his household goods they could spare, and paying some pressing debts, found that he had not money enough to take his family to this State. He informed his brother-in-law, who is in my employ, of his condition, and found work at haying to earn the amount needed to get to Michigan. When I learned the facts I immediately sent him $30. This reached him sixth-day, p. m., and the next fifth-day he and family were at my house in Greenville. But before the money reached him, he was offered $3.50 per day, if he would work Saturday. That was a trying hour. He decided to accept the offer; but his faithful wife plead in tears with him on sixth-day morning not to break the next Sabbath, and he decided that he would not. That afternoon relief came. Beyond a little immediate assistance, all this family needs is a chance to help themselves. Here the brother finds enough to do in the employ of Sabbath-keepers. His wife is thankful for the humblest home, where her husband can get work, and they bring up their little family to keep the commandments of God. There may be others, similarly situated, who should be assisted. They should make their wants known to brethren near them. It seems cruel that such should suffer, and perhaps some of them apostatize from the truth, for want of a little help, while many of our brethren are actually burdened with their abundance. The other case, which I would briefly notice, is a sister, a widow with five children. Her husband died, leaving forty acres, some thirty miles north of Greenville, embarrassed. She has nobly struggled with her double burden until all debts are removed, and she has well provided for her family. But in the struggle she has lost her health. Sickness in her family recently brought debts upon her, and she decided to teach school. She walked in feebleness fifteen miles to secure her school, and pass examination as a teacher. She then returned the same distance on foot, which brought on sickness which continued two months, when she was obliged to abandon the school. That effort seemed to be nearly the last finishing stroke to her feeble health. She was obliged to scatter her dear children among unbelievers, and came to Greenville to attend to business matters, and remain a few weeks. She should have made her case known to me. She asked board with Sabbath-keepers, but was told that it was not convenient. She went to a hotel, engaged with the landlady to work for her. In discouragement she gave up the Sabbath. She had been within two miles of us in the most fiery furnace for three weeks before we knew it. When we learned some of the facts in the case one day last week, in a few moments Mrs. W. and self were at the hotel hearing her sad story, which she related with deep emotion. This good woman does not ask money, but she needs help to help herself as far as she is able. Her children shall be gathered, and she comfortably situated with them by her side. We first met this woman at Monterey, two years since. She and I were visiting there at that time. And there are others similarly situated. Brethren and sisters, look them up. But should they come to you, for Christ’s sake, and your souls’ sake, do not treat them like strangers. Here is a neglected branch of the work. Every elder and deacon in all our churches is called upon by the officers of the Seventh-day Adventist Benevolent Association to act a part in searching up the cases of the needy. If you cannot relieve them it is your duty to apply for help in their behalf to the officers of this Association. You can address Elder James White, Greenville, Montcalm Co., S. H. King, Orleans, Ionia Co., M. S. Burnham, Allegan, Allegan Co., or Uriah Smith, Battle Creek, all of Michigan. We may expect many unworthy applicants. There are those who can help themselves, yet lack industry and economy, and are in want. Such would still want do ever so much for them. We must not be deceived by, or in relation to, any. But we must not let worthy persons, like those I have referred to, suffer for want of care, and a little help. Brethren who would delight to help the needy, can send their donations for the Benevolent Association to Elder James White, Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich.