The Offering of July 6.
By S. H. Lane
We are pleased to report that our brethren and sisters throughout the field took a lively interest in the collection which was taken July 6 for the aid of the Christiania publishing house. Most of the churches, it is supposed, have sent their donation direct to the State treasurer of the tract society, while some churches and quite a number of individuals have sent theirs direct to Brother H. M. Mitchell, Battle Creek, Mich., Treasurer of the General Conference and Foreign Mission Board. The amount received up to date, July 18, since July 6, is a little more than $2,400. This includes the donation of the Battle Creek church, and what has been sent in by near-by churches and through the mails, and a little more than $600 received from Minnesota. One good brother and his aged father, living in New Hampshire, sent $55. An old, tried friend of the cause in Illinois sent $100; and smaller amounts are constantly coming in. We trust that by this time every church in the land has sent its contribution either to the headquarters at Battle Creek or to the treasurer of the State tract society. If so, doubtless the State tract societies will soon remit to Brother Mitchell. We hope so, as the money raised is needed. We are glad that a spirit of liberality is coming in among our people, so much so that every solicitation meets with a response from some tried and true friend of the Third Angel’s Message. The opportunity to give is still open. Calls come often, and we are glad to report that as money comes in, our debts are being diminished. The debts on our colleges and academies are growing less. Our publishing houses and sanitariums are also canceling debt. The debt of the denomination held by the General Conference Association is not increasing, and if the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” is pressed everywhere, the money received through these sales will materially lessen the great school debt. Freewill offerings and money received through wills, also donations from the sale of real estate, are materially lessening our debts, and we believe that the time will come when the denomination will be entirely out of debt; but before we can see this day, we must sacrifice and give our means as the Lord may direct. Should any feel, at any time, a spirit to make a freewill offering, the money will be gladly received, and appropriated to that branch of the work which the giver may designate. A strict account of everything received is kept, and the money is applied to the object for which the donor gave it. We shall be glad to hear from any who may wish to make freewill offerings, or who may be willing to loan the General Conference Association, without interest, which indeed would be a great help. The foreign fields always require money, and the time is here when money is needed very much to build up the work in the Southern field; and especially at the present time money is needed for the work in the British Isles, for but little has been done in that field compared with its importance. We trust the spirit of liberality which has been manifested, will continue until it shall wax exceeding great. The liberal soul shall be made fat. We trust the blessing of the Lord will attend the work more abundantly in the future than it has in the past.