To the S. D. Treasurers of Iowa.
By George I. Butler
I DESIRE to call attention to the following resolution passed by the Iowa State Conference of S. D. Adventists at its late meeting in Marion, as published in a late REVIEW. “Whereas, Our State Conference Constitution makes it the duty of all S. D. Treasurers to report to the Conference Secretary once in three months; and, “Whereas, There has been a neglect of this duty on the part of some, therefore, “Resolved, That this Conference make it the duty of its Secretary to publish through the REVIEW, within four weeks after the time when these reports are due, the names of all delinquent churches.” It is important in all public enterprises that the finances be carefully attended to, and that the public officers connected with them be able to fully understand their condition.47This is the reason why the constitution requires this of the Treasurers. The object is important; the duty, an easy one. The report is to be made to the Conference Secretary, so that he can tell just how much money is paid to the ministers and to the Conference Treasurer, and thus be able to keep an account with the churches themselves. The Conference furnishes blanks to all the church Treasurers, and it would not probably require five minutes’ time for any one of them to make their report. The first report will be required by the middle of September, and every three months thereafter. Let the Treasurer take his blank, fill in the name of the church, then the date. If he has sent any money to the State Treasurer during the three months just past, let him put down the amount opposite the words in the blank concerning it. If he has not sent any, let him simply draw a horizontal line opposite those words, for a report should be sent regularly, whether any money is paid or not during the preceding quarter. If he has paid any Conference money to any of our ministers during the preceding months, put in the amount; otherwise, draw the line as above, then sign his name as Treasurer of the church of which he is a member. Inclose it in an envelope, direct it to L. McCoy, Sigourney, Iowa, and the job is done. Remember that the report goes to Bro. McCoy, the Conference Secretary, and not to Bro. Kilgore, the Treasurer. The money goes to the latter. This may take five minutes. It is very important for the interests of this Conference, that this be done. I have made the matter very plain, and yet I fear that some will not attend to it. If not, the Conference has made it the duty of the Secretary to make the delinquents known. Now lay this paper aside for future reference, if you should still be in doubt, so that you can understand just what to do, and be faithful in that which may seem to be small, but which is really very important. I write this for the benefit of some who have had no experience in our system of doing business in the past, and for some who have been sadly delinquent.