THE LAST MAIL by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1879

THE LAST MAIL.

By James White

We walked a mile to the post-office the morning of the 18th, and found letters, one from Sister Jennie Ings, Bâle, Switzerland, to Mrs. White, in her usual clear and affectionate style, inclosing a beautiful book mark, on which is the gracious promise, written by the hand that has a hundred times ministered to our comfort,—“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

As we opened another from Mary A. Kelley, we found one of our relief pledge papers for the house of worship at Oakland, California, inclosing $20, which this sister loans without interest. We shall forward a note by next mail.

Another from Bro. Simpson contained a draft for $250, which he loans without interest, for the benefit of the Oakland church, till December, 1880.

Then came the REVIEW, with appropriate articles from Elders Canright, Littlejohn, Butler, and others. The editorial pages are rich in thought, pointed, and sharp. They contain good reports from Elders Canright and Matteson. But as we looked through this paper, we were disappointed to find so little said and done for our houses of worship at Oakland and Battle Creek.

True, Bro. C. W. Stone reports a meeting on New Year’s at Eden, Vt., where the sum of $21.92 was pledged for the relief of the Oakland church, of which $11.47 was paid; and $3.70 was paid for the Dime Tabernacle. And besides these there is no report of what was said or done on New Year’s for these houses of worship, excepting from the correspondent at Mackinaw, Illinois, who says: “At the business meeting held the same day, the sum of $20.20 was pledged to the houses of worship at Oakland, Cal., and Battle Creek, Mich.,—$15.20 to the Oakland house and $5.00 to the Tabernacle at Battle Creek. Two little boys, sons of Bro. and Sr. Wordel, gave their Christmas presents, ten cents each, to the Oakland house.”

We did expect that in every meeting of our brethren, great and small, in every part of the land, something, more or less, would be done to raise the debts from these houses. And we shall expect to see reports from all our ministers in the near future, stating what was done here and there for these houses at the great centers of the work. Ohio is a rich State. We have sent our ablest and best ministers to that State. And it is reasonable to expect fruit. So when we opened the REVIEW of Jan. 16, containing two reports from Ohio by Elder Canright, we were disappointed to find not a word in response to our appeals. No, not a word even from one of the General Conference Committee. Just so sure as we lead off and set the example, and ask the brethren to follow us, they will come into line. If we do nothing and say nothing, they will be content to do nothing.

Elder S. N. Haskell has recently reported that the church at South Lancaster, Mass., raised $8.00 for the Oakland church, and $8.00 for the Battle Creek Tabernacle. Here is a church composed mostly of poor mechanics, dependent on their daily labor for their daily bread. But they have become willing and able to give by giving. There is scarcely a church of S. D. Adventists in Ohio but has more property than the South Lancaster church. And yet many of the Lancaster church have given to the cause of God, during the past twenty years, four times as much as they are worth to-day, and yet they give.

The churches at Oakland, San Francisco, and Woodland have done nobly. The example set by the Oakland church, most of whose members are poor, has gained the day for their house of worship. The Signs of the Times of Jan. 9, 1879, reports that the amount raised in San Francisco on Christmas eve was one hundred dollars. In Oakland it was a splendid success. Amount raised, in money, $800; and other property valued at about $250. Over $1000 in all. Sixty-three dollars are reported from Woodland. The rising sun of Jan. 1, 1880, will cast its morning rays upon our good house of worship in that city free from debt.

But the church at Battle Creek, God bless the people of our charge there, has loved her neighbor across the continent better than herself. The REVIEW of Jan. 9 reports: “In subscribing on New Year’s day nearly twice as much for the house in Oakland, Cal., as for the Tabernacle here, the church has shown in a marked manner how it can waive home considerations and home interests in behalf of a church in a far-distant State. But the cause is one and the same everywhere; and we feel an interest in the work on the Pacific coast the same as at our own doors, the same in Europe as in America.”

This morning, Jan. 22, we received a letter from our old friend, Bro. Sanford Rogers, of La Fayette, Indiana. He says:—

“I send you in this a draft for $200, which you can have for one year without interest, to use in the Lord’s cause where you think it is most needed at this time. We may not want it at the end of the year, unless we should buy a small home. I will notify you if we should want it, in time for you to raise it without trouble.

“I want to tell you how I came to get it. About ten days ago I received a circular in the Signs, with your name and that of Sister W., showing how much you had given to the good cause in California. I thought how glad I would be to have a little money to do the same; but I had none due me till spring, and then but a small amount of interest. I had promised to pay the schooling of one of my nephews at Battle Creek College for one year, and this would take all my interest money for this year, so I thought that I should have to give up doing anything more at present; but in less than five days the man in Ohio who was owing me sent me this draft. It was not due yet for about fifteen months. I had not even asked him for any money. I took it as an evidence that the Lord would try my motives and my liberality, and I thank God that my heart was not only willing but anxious to send it to you as soon as it came into my hands. I therefore send it, hoping that it may do some good.”

Bro. Rogers has set a good example, which we hope will be followed by others. We shall not be discouraged that so few respond to our appeals. The money must be raised. We shall be able to report just how the matter stands in an address which we shall prepare to be read in all our churches on the first first-day in February. In like manner the matter must be kept before our people until relief shall come. Each month a printed report can be read, showing what progress is made.

We request that reports from all our churches, accompanying pledges and money donated and loaned, be forwarded immediately to Elder James White, Denison, Texas. J. W.