One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund
By J. S. Washburn
For Special Work at Home and Abroad DEFINITELY the question I desire to ask is, What do you purpose to donate to the $150,000 fund? For if you have not already given, you surely purpose to make a gift soon to this fund, in which every true Seventh-day Adventist is interested. And if you have already given, probably you intend to give again. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man, according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” A forced gift does not please God nor bring the blessing to the giver. The tithe is not a gift. That is a debt we owe to God. The exact proportion of our income is specified. But in the matter of offerings, the Lord leaves it to every man, according as he purposeth to give cheerfully. He lays down the principle that he who gives sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he who gives bountifully shall reap bountifully. A very plain principle in the matter of offerings is laid down in 1 Cor. 16: 2, and that is, “as God hath prospered him.” This may primarily mean as he hath prospered us financially, but how many times there are spiritual blessings, and blessings that can not be measured by dollars and cents, for which a thank-offering is due to God. Surely God has in some way prospered every one who reads this article. The Lord help us to give willingly, cheerfully, and not measure our gift by that of any other man, who may not be able to give one tenth as much as we. How clear the principle of giving. “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” O what a blessing would come to many Seventh-day Adventists, if they would give, not simply that which costs them nothing, and which can be easily spared, but would give bountifully; and even in this life would they reap a bountiful harvest. Remember, brother, sister, that, if you give a small gift, you reap a small harvest. Let us not give a small amount, thinking that we have discharged our duty in the matter of the $150,000 fund, when God has enabled us to make a large donation. The Spirit of the Master, who was rich, and became poor that we through his poverty might be rich, must some day take possession of the heart of every true believer in the third angel’s message. The Lord give us all that Spirit to-day, and take the love of money, which is the root of all evil, out of every heart. Send all donations through your church and conference treasurers; or, if inconvenient to do this, to I. H. Evans, Treasurer of the General Conference, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Received on the $150,000 Fund
up to March 12, 1907
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England Conf. ........ $1,222.41
Chesapeake Conference ............ 130.70
Eastern Pennsylvania Conf. ....... 406.92
Greater New York Conference ...... 400.75
Maine Conference .................. 160.97
New Jersey Conference ............. 164.45
New York Conference ............... 917.17
Southern New England Conf. ........ 563.73
Vermont Conference ................ 615.13
Virginia Conference ................ 207.12
Western Pennsylvania Conf. ........ 502.67
West Virginia Conference .......... 157.62
Western New York Conference ....... 378.91
Total .................... $5,828.55
Canadian Union Conference
Not specified ..................... $130.41
Maritime Conference ............... 281.43
Quebec Conference ................... 6.00
Ontario Conference .................. 3.00
Total ...................... $420.84
Central Union Conference
Colorado Conference ............... $244.94
Iowa Conference .................. 1,302.91
Kansas Conference ................ 1,020.27
Missouri Conference ............... 423.55
Nebraska Conference .............. 1,614.90
Wyoming Conference ................ 319.87
Total .................... $4,926.44
District of Columbia
Washington churches ............. $1,083.27
Lake Union Conference
East Michigan Conference ........ $592.01
Indiana Conference ............. 1,990.06
North Michigan Conference ........ 83.30
Northern Illinois Conference .... 915.94
Ohio Conference ................ 1,994.62
Southern Illinois Conference .... 619.46
West Michigan Conference ....... 1,943.74
Wisconsin Conference ........... 1,333.80
Total .................... $9,481.93
North Pacific Union Conference
Conference not specified ........ $305.30
British Columbia Conference ...... 10.00
Montana Conference .............. 130.65
Upper Columbia Conference ....... 970.50
Western Washington Conference ... 842.39
Idaho Conference .................. 44.90
Western Oregon Conference ....... 524.97
Total .................... $2,828.71
Northern Union Conference
Alberta Conference ............... $65.80
Manitoba Conference ............... 64.00
Saskatchewan Mission Field ....... 21.85 Minnesota Conference ............ 2,361.64
South Dakota Conference .......... 977.35
North Dakota Conference .......... 751.23
Total .................... $4,241.87
Pacific Union Conference
Arizona Conference ............... $15.00
California-Nevada Conference ... 1,946.68
Southern California Conference ... 119.95
Utah Conference .................. 30.50
Total .................... $2,112.13
Southern Union Conference
South Carolina Conference ....... $13.00
Alabama Conference ................. 5.00
Tennessee River Conference ........ 24.60
Florida Conference ................ 32.95
North Carolina Conference ......... 12.25
Kentucky Conference ................ 12.40
Cumberland Conference .............. 12.84
Louisiana Conference ............... 72.95
Mississippi Conference .............. 3.00
Tennessee River Conference .......... 1.00
Total ...................... $189.99
Southwestern Union Conference
Arkansas Conference .............. $208.14
Oklahoma Conference ............... 595.81
Texas Conference .................. 524.33
Indian Territory .................... 3.00
Total .................... $1,331.28
Unknown
Unknown .......................... $146.20
Foreign
Australia ........................ $122.45
China .............................. 3.00
South Africa ..................... 128.16
Jamaica ............................ 3.17
Yukon Territory ................... 10.00
England .......................... 249.65
Gold Coast, West Africa ........... 10.00
Mexico ............................. 1.50
Costa Rica ........................ 2.00
India ............................. 12.48
South America ..................... 23.35
Switzerland ......................... 5.81
Panama .............................. 1.00
Nicaragua ........................... 2.00
Trinidad ............................. .34
British Honduras ..................... .50
Norway ............................. 25.00
Total ...................... $600.41
Grand Total ............... $33,191.62
I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.
The treasurer of the Ohio Conference reports in a recent number of their conference paper, the receipt of the following inspiring letter from W. H. Wright:— Please find order for $6.12, balance due from the Leesburg church on the $150,000 fund. This fund should have been $300,000 instead of $150,000. It is so much like giving a person but one day’s work in the year. It is idleness that ruins us. The Lord is waiting for us to go forward. Shall we keep him waiting longer? It is very tiresome to wait. Is it possible that we shall have to stand idle until this $150,000 comes in at the slow rate at which it is now coming? Wake up, brethren! We poor people want another $150,000 call this summer. Have you not heard that this is to be the “banner year” for missions? “Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Ask God where he would have you glean for a few days. Let us prepare the way for our God.