Sustaining Our Institutions
By Francis M. Wilcox
A Great Need Appealing to a Loyal People
In the development of this second advent movement many agencies and instrumentalities have been brought into being. Church and conference organizations, schools, publishing houses, and sanitariums have all borne an important part in the work that has been accomplished. The organization, under God's guidance, has given definite form to the movement, preserved its unity and integrity, and secured from the believers concerted and harmonious effort. Our schools have supplied the consecrated workers, who have gone forth to practically all the nations of the world. From our publishing houses have gone out millions of silent messengers into many places where the living gospel heralds could not enter. Our sanitariums have contributed no unimportant part to the sum total of missionary effort. To them has been drawn a class of people who doubtless would never have been reached through other agencies. Thus these institutions have had the privilege not only of ministering to human suffering, but of presenting before those who came to them concrete examples of the power of a living gospel and a saving truth. As with the work of God in every age, many crises have arisen in the history of this movement. These have been permitted by an overruling providence as a test of the faith and loyalty of this people, and to stimulate them to greater endeavor. And right royally have the believers in this movement demonstrated their loyalty to God and to this cause. In the darkness as in the light, they have followed the pillar of God's leading. To the promulgation of the principles of this truth they have devoted their property, their sons and daughters, their own lives. No sacrifice has been counted too great for the cause they loved. Never has there existed a more sacrificing people than those connected with the work being carried forward by Seventh-day Adventists. A fresh evidence of this loyalty was seen in the recent council held in Mountain View, Cal. Here were assembled nearly one hundred conference workers, including a large majority of the General Conference Committee in America, a score of conference presidents, representatives of leading denominational institutions, and other prominent church workers. The special occasion of the gathering was to consider the present financial situation of our schools and sanitariums, and the steps that should be taken to provide for their pressing needs. At this period of our church work no more important question could demand the consideration of the representatives and leading workers of this denomination. Elder A. G. Daniells, president of the General Conference and chairman of the meeting, placed before the delegates the situation that had been created in the establishment and operation of our institutions, and the urgent need of relief which the present condition of this department of the work demands. He saw nothing calling for discouragement, and no situation that could not be met, as similar situations in the past have been met, by the active, earnest cooperation of our people. He believed that the need of our institutions was the call of Heaven to this denomination to rally to their support, and that the representatives assembled should devise ways and means whereby these agencies of the cause of God in the education of our youth for service and in the relief of human suffering could have brought to them the hearty support and cooperation of the entire church. He placed before the council a plan which had been under prayerful and careful consideration for some time by several of the committee, and which, it seemed to them, afforded an excellent means whereby the situation could be successfully handled. Facts and figures presented by Elder W. T. Knox, treasurer of the General Conference, emphasized the importance of the question and the imperative need of the present call for help. Other speakers expressed similar convictions. The question in its general bearing, together with the arrangement proposed for meeting the situation, was submitted to a representative committee for study. After careful consideration the plan referred to the committee was unanimously recommended for adoption. The action of the council is outlined in detail in an article in this department by Elder A. G. Daniells, and need not be repeated here. The proposition appealed to the judgment of the entire council. All present, so far as our knowledge extends, expressed hearty approval of the method, believing that it would be the most natural and the easiest means whereby the aid of our entire church-membership could be enlisted to help our schools and sanitariums. The plan equalizes the burden. Every member, rich or poor, may share in the giving and have a part in the blessing. Confident that God had directed their deliberations, and with gratitude to him for his leadings in pointing the way to freedom from the heavy indebtedness which now hampers the operation of our institutions, and with unbounded confidence in our faithful people that they will respond liberally and cheerfully to this great call for help, the measure proposed was adopted and will be presented to our church-members for their kindly consideration. The Spirit of God, we are confident, led in the council. Light and courage supplanted perplexity and anxiety. We know that in this crisis, as in all the crises of the past, a loyal people will royally rally to the present call. By united effort the difficult task will be made easy, the heavy load light to bear. The call now is to the whole church to take hold of this proposition. Let none be found, like the mixed multitude which came out of Egypt, among the complainers and faultfinders. Rather let every one, as did the children of Israel in the days of Nehemiah when the walls of Jerusalem were to be rebuilt, have a mind to work. Let our forces be joined in the conflict, and let every man stand by his brother, and every man say to his neighbor, Courage in the Lord. We can accomplish this work. No power can hinder the united effort of the people of God. Let every member respond to the appeal which is presented by the president of the General Conference in this issue. F. M. W.