p. 199 | PIOUS SWINDLERS by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 19, 1879

PIOUS SWINDLERS.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

That men should swindle for money and worldly goods is not strange, but that they should swindle God's cause out of sacred means, to obtain religious reading, is a little strange. What good can such persons expect to do with such matter; or what good can it do them? Yet we frequently find such. A man in eastern Ohio writes a piteous tale to obtain the REVIEW and other matter free. He professes wonderful love for all the third angel's message, but is in deep poverty and great persecution. He has the modesty to ask for the Instructor, the Testimonies, books, pamphlets, tracts, and other things all in one letter. Now this man lives among our brethren, near a church, uses tobacco, tea, coffee, and pork, has kept the Sabbath for fifteen years, never gives a cent, and has no fellowship for his brethren nor they for him. But how shall we avoid being imposed upon without withholding from the worthy poor? In nearly every case the officers in each State will know all the worthy Sabbath-keepers in their Conference. Hence such matters should be referred to them, to be looked up. Why should not each Conference supply its own worthy poor with reading matter, instead of the Office being asked to do it? Ohio will do it, and pay full price too.

D. M. CANRIGHT.