p. 24 | The July Offering for Christiania

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1902

The July Offering for Christiania

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

What may be considered fairly complete returns from the July offerings for Christiania have now been received by the Mission Board. No doubt more or less money will continue to come in for several months yet, as was the case last year. But the larger portion of the gifts is undoubtedly in.

Up to October 23 we had received $13,103. The receipts for the same period last year were about $15,000, and this was added to during the winter and spring until about $18,000 was received.

While the returns this year are not so large as they were last year during the same period, and are much below the amount called for, yet under all the circumstances they are very encouraging. About thirty-six thousand dollars had already been contributed toward this fund. During the last year many calls for live, progressive work have been made to our people. These calls for fresh operations are of a more encouraging character than is the Christiania affair, and naturally receive a heartier response.

But we have great reason to praise God for the blessings that have attended our efforts to do our duty in the payment of the Christiania bills. Four payments of eleven thousand dollars each have been made, and we have it to record that not one payment has been a minute late in reaching the hands of the lawyer who has charge of the business. We now have enough in the treasury to make the fifth payment, which will be due Jan. 1, 1903. Only one payment after that will have to be made. Then the great burden we assumed two years ago will have been removed, we shall have proved true to our fellow men in Christiania, and they will have all the money they advanced to our publishing house. Furthermore, their confidence in our Christian fairness and honesty will have been fully established. In fact, it seems to have been fully established already. Our assuming the obligations we did without being legally compelled to do so, and after they had agreed to take a small per cent, is a great marvel to them. This is a cause of great joy to our brethren in Christiania. They can walk the streets of their city knowing that they have the fullest confidence of their fellow citizens, as a truly upright people.

As we contemplate the unspeakable blessings that have come to the cause of God as a result of meeting this financial trial as we have, only praise and thanksgiving can rise up in our hearts for the help our God has given us since we placed our shoulders under what seemed an almost crushing load. Any further help that any reader of this article may desire to render will be thankfully received by the Mission Board.

Praise God for the victory so far.

A. G. DANIELLS.