One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund
By Arthur G. Daniells
For Special Work at Home and Abroad The Purpose and Basis of the Appeal At the General Conference Committee Council held in Washington last April, it was decided by a unanimous vote to proceed at once to raise the sum of $150,000 for our work in the South and in Washington. This council was attended by nearly all the members of the General Conference Committee in America and by several presidents of local conferences. The council had hardly closed when word came telling of the partial destruction of the Pacific Press printing plant by the California earthquake. With a desire to aid the Pacific Press, it was decided to take a special collection in all our churches in the United States to restore the building, and to take no steps to start the $150,000 fund until after that collection had been taken. When this collection had been taken, and we had completed our plans for raising the $150,000 fund, and had taken the initial steps to start the movement, the entire plant of the Pacific Press was destroyed by fire. This terrible disaster caused us to again delay the effort to raise the large sum required in the South and at Washington. As it appeared evident that the Pacific Press would require immediate financial assistance, it was finally decided to send General Conference representatives to Mountain View to counsel with the brethren on the Pacific Coast as to what arrangements it was thought should be made. At the same time it was decided to call a special council of the General Conference Committee and the presidents of local conferences to meet in Washington immediately after the Mountain View meeting. The Washington Council convened September 27, and was attended by a large number of our leading men in the United States and Canada. The list of names has been given in recent numbers of the REVIEW. This large council gave the question of providing means to meet the urgent needs of our growing cause days of prayerful, thorough consideration. As a result of this study it was decided to readjust our plans so that the Pacific Press could receive reasonable assistance without adding to the $150,000 which we had planned to raise before the fire at Mountain View. The decisions of the council are given in the following resolutions, which were adopted:— It is recommended, That a fund of $150,000 be raised, to be distributed as follows:— The South ........................$ 50,000
As apportioned by the Southern Union Conference:—
Nashville San. ......$25,000
Huntsville San. ........ 5,000
Graysville San. ....... 1,500
Atlanta San. .......... 3,000
Graysville Academy. ... 2,000
The Watchman .......... 2,500
To be apportioned by
Southern Union ....... 11,000
Washington Sanitarium ....... 50,000
Pacific Press ................ 20,000
Review and Herald ........... 10,000
British School .............. 10,000
Williamsdale Academy (Nova
Scotia) .................... 2,000
Skodsborg Sanitarium ........ 2,000
West Indies .................. 4,000
Chilean Printing House and
School ..................... 2,000
Total ........................$150,000 That the first fifty thousand dollars raised be given to the South. That the remaining one hundred thousand be divided on a pro rata basis as received. A meeting of conference presidents was then held to recommend plans for carrying the action of the council into effect. The report of this committee was presented, and after discussion and amendment was unanimously adopted, as follows:— 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. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars seems like a large sum to call for in addition to the means required to carry forward our regular work. The officers of the General Conference did not feel free to make such a call without first laying the whole situation before the majority of the conference presidents. We are profoundly grateful for the earnest, thorough study these brethren in positions of responsibility gave this question in the council. To all it appeared to be duty to raise this amount. All were united on this, and all will unite in the effort to raise the sum. It will be seen that a large share of the $150,000 to be raised is for our mission fields, and for our institutions that have suffered so severely from fires. One third of the whole amount is for the South, which we all recognize as a home mission field. Twenty thousand dollars is for fields outside of the United States, thirty thousand for the Review and Herald and Pacific Press, and fifty thousand for the Washington Sanitarium, which the spirit of prophecy has repeatedly urged should be established without delay. Our growing, advancing cause demands that all that is here proposed shall be done. Believing this, we take hold of this effort with confidence, feeling assured that the Lord, who is ordering the battle, will grant us help. When we think of the sixty thousand loyal believers in this country, who are being so greatly blessed in the truth, and prospered with means, we know that this sum can soon be raised. The gift of only ten cents a day for one month by all these believers would raise more than the amount called for. Surely this is not an impossible undertaking for this prosperous people. Of course many who have been blessed in financial affairs will give large sums, hundreds or perhaps a thousand, to make up for widows, orphans, and dependent ones who are numbered among the Lord’s people. There is much we wish to say to our brethren and sisters regarding this matter, and we would like to say it all just now, but space and time will not permit of this. We shall follow this general statement with articles dealing with every phase of the question, and explaining all points about which our people desire information. The officers of the General Conference Committee and the editor of the REVIEW AND HERALD were appointed a committee to do such work as is called for at headquarters. We shall be pleased to aid our brethren in every way possible in accomplishing this task. If any of our people desire any information which we may fail to give through the REVIEW, please be free to correspond with any member of this committee.