The Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 31, 1907

The Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund

By Arthur G. Daniells

For Special Work at Home and Abroad

The Plan Has Worked

SOME weeks ago I reported through the columns of the REVIEW the plan adopted by the churches in the District of Columbia for raising their share of the $150,000. In that report it was stated that there were 467 members in the District, and that on the basis of an equal sum from each church-member in the United States, the amount to be raised in the District was $1,181.51. Owing to certain conditions, it was decided by the District Committee to request the churches that would take part in this effort to place the amount for each member to raise at $4 instead of $2.53, the exact sum that would be required from each providing all the members paid an equal sum. Then there was placed on blackboards for the different churches, a block of small squares. There was a square for each member of the church, and each square represented the sum of $4.

On the first Sabbath in December this matter was presented to the churches of the District in the regular services. Short, earnest talks were given on the needs of God's cause, and the spiritual as well as temporal blessings that come to us as a result of giving. It was then explained that each square on the board represented $4, that there was a square for every member of the church, and that every square should be taken by the church. The members began immediately to respond; and as fast as squares were taken, the names of those who took them were written down, and the squares were crossed off. In the regular service of the day, which lasted only about an hour and a half, nearly every square was taken, all of which represented the full amount to be raised. This made our people rejoice, “for the thing was done suddenly.” 2 Chron. 2:36. Within a few days, more than our share was provided for.

The members were given forty days to raise the sums they promised to pay. It was pointed out that by laying aside ten cents a day for each square during that time, they could pay the sum promised. Collectors were appointed to collect this money each week or month. It is now fifty days since this obligation was assumed by our brethren and sisters, and nearly one thousand dollars has been paid into the General Conference treasury. The small amount unpaid may be in the hands of the collectors, or may be ready for them to gather up. No doubt the whole sum could have been paid in by the expiration of the forty days if a special effort had been made by the collectors to do so.

This is a plan that works. It works smoothly. There was no friction, nothing unseemly, and nothing unpleasant about it. It works quickly. In one hour and thirty minutes practically the whole sum was provided for, and in sixty days it will all have been raised. It works successfully. It materializes. It produces just what is wanted,—the money.

The District Committee, the church officers, and the brethren and sisters are happy over the fact that in so short a time this task is performed. No one has been overtaxed. All are now ready for the next thing.

I believe that the experience of the churches in the District of Columbia could have been the experience of all our churches if they had worked on the same plan.

It is not too late now to adopt this plan in many of our conferences. A letter has just come from a conference president, in which he says:—

I want to say, Elder Daniells, I have become fully converted to your plan of raising the $150,000 fund. We held Thanksgiving day services at ——, and I presided at the meeting. We took up a special collection each Sabbath during the month of December; all told, the collections amounted to only $25.80. We have 69 members, and I know of one family that gave $10 of this $25.80. Last Sabbath we took up the block plan, and when we closed the service, not only 69 blocks had been taken, but two additional blocks had been taken, making 71 in all. A number of the members were not present. I spent the Sabbath prior in ——, and by request took up the block plan in that church, where the fund had not been presented at all. They have 150 names upon their records. When the services closed, we had taken 154 blocks. There were only about 80 present. I think this is just an ideal way of securing the funds, because it interests the young people who are not members, to agree to take squares, and thus they become interested in missionary work.

This is a clear, practical illustration of the way the plan works. I earnestly recommend it to every conference president, minister, and church elder in his effort to assist in raising this fund.

A. G. DANIELLS.