The Missionary Acre Fund
By S. H. Lane
For several years our brethren and sisters in various parts of the country have planted missionary gardens. Sometimes an acre or more has been cultivated, and the proceeds given to some branch of the work. As the idea among us originated with the managers of the Sanitarium, the medical work has perhaps been most largely benefited. The foreign mission work has been aided some, and at times more local interests have been served. But the plan has never been fully adopted throughout our churches. Where it has been, the cause has been materially benefited, and the individuals who have engaged in this missionary work have been encouraged to repeat their effort. The sanitarium work at Battle Creek has grown so rapidly that the situation has called for the training of a large number of doctors and nurses, and the Medical Missionary College was organized for this purpose. The classes have been held in a part of the old Battle Creek College building. As the College needed more land than it could obtain, being situated too near the city, it was thought best to locate elsewhere. So at the late General Conference it was decided to transfer the property, when free from debt, to the Medical Missionary College. It has been decided to agitate this matter from one end of the country to the other, requesting our brethren and sisters everywhere to sow and plant for the Lord during this present year, and give the proceeds to this work. Those who are so situated that they cannot do this, are requested to donate of their means to aid in this enterprise. This work will be carried on by a committee, of which the writer is chairman, P. T. Magan secretary, H. M. Mitchell treasurer. We expect to agitate this matter by voice and pen. A reading will be sent to all our churches to be read Sabbath, April 5. This matter will be fully explained in the REVIEW and the State papers. We trust that all will decide immediately to farm or to donate for the Lord, and that we shall see a general move in this matter throughout the United States and British provinces. As soon as you decide to what extent you can aid, please address P. T. Magan, Berrien Springs, Mich. And as soon as you have any money to forward, please address H. M. Mitchell, Battle Creek, Mich. Brother Mitchell is treasurer of the General Conference and of the Foreign Mission Board. We expect that every one will take hold of this matter, that thousands of dollars may be gathered into the treasury for this noble work. Since the burning of three of the buildings of the Sanitarium, the College property is indispensable to the carrying on of the work of the institution, which praise the Lord, still lives. The Sanitarium needs this property. Will you assist in acquiring it, free from debt, to be used to forward this grand and noble work? Please pray over this matter, and let us hear from you as soon as your decision is reached.