The Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund
By Arthur G. Daniells
For Special Work at Home and Abroad Plans for Raising This Fund
At the late General Conference Committee Council held in Washington, very careful consideration was given to the best plan for raising the $150,000 fund. After a most thorough discussion of various suggestions, the conference presidents submitted the following recommendations:— “In harmony with the action taken to raise $150,000, to prosecute various enterprises, we recommend,—
“1. That to accomplish this work the General Conference Committee immediately establish an active agency at headquarters to disseminate information to forward the raising of this amount, with such auxiliary agencies in other publishing centers as the committee may deem advisable.
“2. That each union conference provide a man to directly engage in this work.
“3. That each union and local conference be free to adopt such measures as in its judgment are best suited to its locality.
“4. That as conference presidents we pledge ourselves to do all in our power to accomplish the raising of this fund as soon as practicable.
“5. That the publishers of the REVIEW AND HERALD be requested to publish the donations by conferences, and in aggregate only.”
The first recommendation advises the General Conference Committee to establish an active agency at headquarters to disseminate information that will assist in raising this fund. In harmony with this counsel, the committee appointed the officers of the General Conference Committee and the editor of the REVIEW to send out from the General Conference office the information required. As calls for definite statements regarding various phases of the enterprise are beginning to come in from conference presidents, we shall soon be able to send out the desired information, which we hope will be helpful to all. The second recommendation urges that “each union conference provide a man to directly engage in this work.” We learn from the Southern Union Conference that in connection with the president of the conference, Elder J. S. Washburn has been selected to push the work in that union. Although the brethren and sisters in the South are not generally in as good financial condition as our people are in other parts of the States, the leaders are taking hold of this enterprise with courage and energy to raise their share of this large fund. We believe they will succeed, and we shall watch the developments with deep interest. From his long and very intimate connection with the general work of this cause, Elder Geo. I. Butler, the president of the Southern Union, will do more than to aid in raising the amount that it is thought should be secured in the South. Brother Butler will speak to all our people through the REVIEW. Brother Washburn will also furnish articles for the REVIEW regarding the situation in the South and the work generally. The third recommendation provides that each union and local conference shall be left free to adopt such measures as each may consider best suited to its locality. While all will work earnestly and harmoniously for the one great purpose, all are free to form and carry out such plans as local conditions may suggest. Number four in the list of recommendations is a splendid, assuring covenant on the part of the presidents. It reads as follows: “As conference presidents we pledge ourselves to do all in our power to accomplish the raising of this fund as soon as practicable.” This pledge means the success of the enterprise. These men hold important official positions in this cause. They have the confidence of the people. They have confidence in the undertaking. They mean what they say, and will keep their pledge. As soon as these recommendations were adopted, it was plain to all that the presidents had planted their feet for lifting the load. It has been very encouraging ever since to see them shaping their plans for earnest, successful work. By this action of the conference presidents, a great burden is lifted to a large extent from the shoulders of the General Conference officers, and laid upon many strong shoulders. This distribution of this kind of responsibility is in harmony with the whole plan of organization which we have adopted. And now the responsibility assumed by the presidents should be shared by all the church officers in every local conference. If the officers of every church will do their best to raise their share of the whole amount, this burden will be still further distributed, and thus made lighter for all. The fifth recommendation is that the contributions be acknowledged through the REVIEW from conferences instead of from individuals. In raising the $100,000 fund the names of all persons as far as secured were printed in the REVIEW with the amount given. There was more or less objection to this. It is understood that each local conference will keep a faithful record of all donors, and will send receipts for all money received. As the conferences forward their sums from time to time, these will be printed in the REVIEW. After the name of the conference is once entered in the REVIEW, it will remain until the entire fund is raised, and each week will show just what has been received at the General Conference treasury from the various conferences. Thus the plans are all well laid for harmonious, earnest, successful work. Some have already begun. Soon the reports will begin to come in, and in a short time the whole amount will be raised. There is no doubt about this. Without this special organization for general effort, $115,000 was raised in eighteen months. This large amount was given by many; no one is poorer today for having raised that sum. And so it will be in the present case. But what a help it will be to our glorious cause which is ever struggling to make advancement! The hearts of the workers in many fields will be encouraged.